A 25-year-old man from Kurukshetra, Haryana, Vishu Sharma, was allegedly stabbed to death by three men outside his room in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday. His family said Vishu was called outside before the attack, while the motive remains unknown. He had last spoken to his family on Monday and was reportedly planning to return to India during Diwali. Vishu had moved to Europe in 2022, first working in Portugal, then undergoing military training and serving in the French Army before relocating to Germany, where he worked in delivery services. His family is completing formalities to bring his remains home. 

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday afternoon. Police detained 62-year-old Pune-based lawyer Jaspal Singh Tejpal, dressed in Nihang attire, who reportedly approached Badal as he descended the steps after prayers. Security personnel immediately intervened, preventing a more serious attack. Badal sustained injuries to his right hand and received two to three stitches, while a security officer was also hurt. Maharashtra Police are questioning the accused and investigating the motive. SAD leaders have demanded a CBI probe, citing possible security and intelligence failures. (PC: India Today)

Lok Sabha proceedings opened with ‘Vande Mataram’ on Thursday, marking the first time the National Song was played at the start of a parliamentary sitting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other MPs were present as 6 stanzas were played on the final day of the Monsoon Session. The Rajya Sabha also closed its session with the National Song. The move came days after President Droupadi Murmu approved a law giving legal protection to ‘Vande Mataram’ and making disruption of its singing punishable. The Monsoon Session ended amid repeated protests and heated exchanges between the government and Opposition. (PC: India Today)

The Defence Ministry has issued a tender worth around Rs 1 lakh crore to buy 60 multirole transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Tata, Mahindra and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are among the Indian companies involved in the programme. About 20% of the aircraft are expected to arrive in fly-away condition, while the remaining planes will be manufactured in India with more than 60% indigenous content. Mahindra Defence has partnered with Brazil’s Embraer for the C-390, while Tata has tied up with Lockheed Martin for the C-130. The move aims to modernise the IAF’s ageing transport fleet. (PC: economic times)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the US against making what he called another “miscalculation” over the Strait of Hormuz as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise. Araghchi accused the US of repeated intelligence failures and said “fake intelligence” could be more dangerous than fake news. His warning came after US President Donald Trump claimed the US had total control of the strategic waterway. Iran’s Basij commander Hossein Taeb, meanwhile, said Hormuz remains under Tehran’s control. The latest exchange highlights growing tensions over the key shipping route, which is crucial for global energy supplies. (PC: x)

India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to focus on their high-profile friendly against 5-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it was not possible to play both competitions. India were initially scheduled to participate in the ASEAN Cup from September 21 to October 6, alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in Division 1 Group A. The AIFF had considered sending a separate squad but dropped the plan. Instead, India will look to arrange other friendlies during the international window. Cabo Verde and Iran are reportedly possible opponents, but neither match has been confirmed. (PC: India Today)

Israel’s military will send more troops to the occupied West Bank village of Qusra after failing to remove Israeli settlers who have trapped 2 Palestinian families in their homes since Sunday. The Abu Ridi and Hassan families said their water and electricity were cut off and food supplies were running low. Israeli forces attempted to remove the settlers on Wednesday but faced confrontations with a larger group and failed. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the settlers, calling them “Israeli terrorists”. The UN says 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the West Bank this year by Israeli forces or settlers. (PC: BBC)

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya has demanded that West Bengal be renamed “Paschim Banga”, saying the state’s name is closely linked to its history and creation in 1947. Speaking during a debate on the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, Bhattacharya welcomed the proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam. He said West Bengal was created after Partition and argued that changing its name to Bengal would ignore the history behind its formation. “West Bengal is not just a name; it has a history. We want the name to be changed to Paschim Banga,” he said. He also supported other renaming demands. (PC: The Telegraph)

A 17-year-old Indian-origin teenager, Arjun Aravind, has been charged with killing his mother and younger brother at their home in Acton, Massachusetts. Police said 45-year-old Sudha Venkatesan and 14-year-old Siddarth Aravind were found dead inside the house on Tuesday with signs of trauma. Aravind allegedly fled in his mother’s Honda Accord after the incident, triggering an overnight search. Police later found him inside the car in Wayland and arrested him without incident. Prosecutors said investigators found evidence that he had recently searched online, including through ChatGPT, for theoretical ideas and fantasies about killing his family. The investigation is ongoing. (PC: NDTV)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said India is showing growing interest in the Northern Sea Route, as Russia seeks to expand Arctic shipping and strengthen trade links with Asia. Putin said India and China are among the countries discussing greater cooperation with Moscow on the route, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans along Russia’s Arctic coast. He said Russia is open to international cooperation under maritime law. The route could provide India with another trade link to Russia and improve access to energy and goods. However, extreme weather, sea ice, high costs and limited infrastructure remain major challenges for wider commercial use. (PC: X)