Iran claimed it attacked a dozen vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including two US vessels, eight oil tankers and 10 “non-compliant vessels”, while expanding a prohibited zone into parts of the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported vessels subjected to disabling fire. Iran claimed strikes on a US base in Jordan after attacks destroyed five Iranian oil tankers; Jordan said it intercepted 18 missiles. Brent crude closed at $101.21 as disruption intensified. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned tanker strikes would continue if Iran attacks US ships, while Donald Trump predicted the war could end after the midterms. Officials warned it could continue. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran will end “immediately after” the November midterm elections, claiming Tehran cannot sustain the conflict much longer. Trump accused Iran of trying to influence the US vote so it could face weaker politicians and pursue a nuclear weapon. He said Washington was seeking more than a nuclear deal but was not actively negotiating with Tehran, while leaving open the possibility of talks. Trump also warned of more US attacks in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran claimed strikes on 10 vessels. Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel amid concerns over global oil supplies. (PC: India Today)

A labour contractor arrested in the Delhi PG collapse case told police that around three truckloads of debris were moved into the building’s basement during renovation work days before the tragedy. Contractor Sanoj Kumar, 35, also said a wall on the ground floor was removed on the day of the collapse to create space for a shop. Police said the building could not bear the load and collapsed, killing seven people, including five students and two labourers. Kumar said building owner Mahesh Gupta hired him about 10 days earlier. Three accused, including the owner, contractor and PG operator, were granted two days’ police custody. (PC: HT)

Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, 55, died in Delhi on Monday after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of men outside his home in southeast Delhi’s Kilokari. Police and family members said Singh had gone downstairs after objecting to noise near his residence. He was taken to Holy Family Hospital, where he later died from haemorrhagic shock caused by blunt force trauma. The case has renewed concerns over crimes against people from the Northeast. Between 2014 and April 13, 2026, Delhi recorded 2,656 FIRs involving such crimes, but only 33 cases resulted in convictions, a rate of 1.82%.

Apple has launched its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, globally at its ‘Surprise and Shine’ event. In India, the phone starts at Rs 2,99,900 for the 256GB model, while the 512GB, 1TB and 2TB variants cost Rs 3,24,900, Rs 3,74,900 and Rs 4,49,900, respectively. The foldable features a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch cover screen, and is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chipset built on a 2nm process. It has dual 48-megapixel rear cameras, eSIM-only connectivity and MagSafe charging. Pre-orders begin October 16, with sales starting October 23. (PC: X)

The US Department of Labour has suspended India-founded tech giant Cognizant’s ability to file new PERM applications for employment-based green cards amid an investigation into alleged visa fraud. Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito announced the action, saying threats to American workers would not be tolerated. The suspension does not directly affect H-1B petitions, but could affect Indian workers seeking permanent residency through Cognizant. The company received 3,510 approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2026, with Indians accounting for a large share of H-1B beneficiaries. Cognizant was founded in Chennai in 1994 and is now headquartered in the US.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz clashed with AfD leader Alice Weidel in parliament after the far-right party won nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt. Merz called the AfD a “destructive force” and said its “remigration” plans could amount to “ethnic cleansing” of skilled workers with migration backgrounds. Weidel said Merz’s coalition had failed and warned that mass migration was fuelling crime and insecurity. The AfD fell three seats short of an outright majority and is seeking potential coalition support to form a government. The result marks a major breakthrough for Germany’s far-right and has been praised by US President Donald Trump. (PC: BBC)

Indian-origin couple Anuradha and Vikas Sinha have donated $20 million to the University of North Texas to establish a new College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics. The university said the college will be named the Anuradha and Vikas Sinha College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics. It will bring together programmes and research in AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, health informatics and information science. The donation will also fund six permanent endowments supporting scholarships, professorships, entrepreneurship, research and emerging technologies. Vikas Sinha, who earned his doctorate from UNT in 2023, said their gift reflects their experience as immigrants and students. (PC: India Today)

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India this weekend for the Brics summit, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. The visit follows years of cautious efforts by Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve relations strained by the deadly 2020 Himalayan border clashes. Bilateral trade reached a record $155 billion last year, rising 12.4%, while trade increased another 23% in the first seven months of this year. The two countries have also resumed border patrols, direct flights and trade at three Himalayan crossings. Despite the thaw, mistrust and strategic differences remain significant. (PC: Financial Times)

Speculation is growing over whether former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest the October 6 bypolls from one of two Bengal seats—Nandigram or Rejinagar. Nandigram was vacated by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee there in 2021. Rejinagar was vacated by Humayun Kabir. Political observers see Nandigram as the safer option, while Rejinagar, with a 65% Muslim population, could also favour Banerjee. TMC insiders have suggested an alliance with Congress. However, the party faces uncertainty over retaining its “twin flowers” symbol amid a rival faction’s claim to being the “real Trinamool”. The BJP plans to contest both seats. (PC: NDTV)