India on Wednesday successfully test-fired its Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile ‘Agni 5’ from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. The Defence Ministry confirmed that the missile validated all operational and technical parameters during the launch. “The test was conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command,” the Ministry said in a statement. The successful test strengthens India’s deterrence capability and comes as North Korea also test-fired cruise missiles into the sea last week. (PC: HT)

Panic gripped Milan’s Malpensa Airport in Italy after a man with a hammer attacked the check-in area of Terminal 1. He smashed screens, set fire to a rubbish bin, and tried to hit security staff before being restrained by staff and passengers. Thick black smoke filled the terminal, forcing an evacuation. Emergency services quickly put out the fire and secured the area. The attacker, a Malian resident with no prior criminal record, was arrested. Authorities confirmed no major injuries were reported, but the incident caused heavy disruption for travellers and raised fresh concerns about airport security in Italy. (PC: News18)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three new Kolkata Metro corridors ahead of Durga Puja, promising faster and budget-friendly commutes. The East–West (Green) Line now links Howrah Maidan and Salt Lake Sector V—India’s first underwater metro stretch—cutting Howrah–Sealdah travel to 12 minutes at fares ranging from ₹5 (for the first 2 km) to ₹70 end-to-end . The Yellow Line connects the airport to Noapara (₹20), Esplanade (₹40), Kavi Subhash (₹45), and Howrah (₹50) . The Orange Line extension from Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing) to Beleghata features integrated fares—₹50 to Howrah Maidan and ₹65 from Airport to Ruby. (PC: The Indian EXPRESS)

Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic Juhu residence, Prateeksha, is flooded due to heavy rains in Mumbai. Now owned by his daughter Shweta Bachchan, videos on social media show water reaching ankle height around the property. Cars struggled through the waterlogged streets, and pedestrians used road dividers to move safely. Prateeksha, purchased by Amitabh in 1976 after the success of ‘Sholay,’ is estimated to be worth over Rs 50 crore. Both Shweta and Abhishek Bachchan were born there. Originally, Amitabh lived at Prateeksha with his parents, Harivansh Rai and Teji Bachchan, before moving to their current home, Jalsa, nearby.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised three bills introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha. The bills include the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill. They allow removal of the Prime Minister or chief ministers if arrested for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. Rahul Gandhi said the laws take India “back to medieval times,” comparing them to kings removing people at will. During the debate, opposition members tore copies of the bills amid chaos in the House. (PC: India Today)

Russia has captured three villages in eastern Ukraine, claiming fresh gains despite ongoing peace efforts. The Russian defence ministry said troops advanced in Donetsk, taking Sukhetske and Pankivka, near the front line between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka. In Dnipropetrovsk, Novogeorgiivka was also taken. Moscow’s forces first entered the region in July, previously spared from fighting. These moves come as US and European leaders push for a peace deal to end the fourth-year conflict. US President Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin agreed to meet Ukrainian President Zelensky and accept some Western security guarantees, though European capitals remain cautious. (PC: NDTV)

Mumbai is facing severe disruption as heavy rains submerge roads and halt transport. Over the past four days, the city received 800mm of rain, far above normal. Local trains are delayed, flights cancelled, and a monorail stopped mid-track, stranding 600 passengers. Waist-deep water has flooded several areas, forcing 350 people into temporary shelters. At least 21 people have died in rain-related accidents across Maharashtra this week. Authorities issued a red alert for Mumbai and nearby districts, warning of more heavy rain. Citizens and opposition leaders criticised poor planning and weak drainage systems amid growing population pressures. (PC: BBC)

The opposition in Parliament strongly protested a bill that would remove ministers, chief ministers, or the Prime Minister if arrested for 30 consecutive days while facing charges with a minimum five-year jail term. Lawmakers tore copies of the bill and threw them at Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the debate. The opposition called the proposal unfair and politically motivated. Supporters of the bill argued it would ensure accountability and prevent misuse of office by accused leaders. The bill is now under further discussion in Parliament amid heated arguments from both sides. (PC: India Today)

Heavy monsoon inflows have prompted the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to open the Bhakra Dam’s floodgates for the first time in two years, releasing around 45,000 cusecs of water into the Sutlej River as the reservoir neared capacity . Simultaneously, Pong Dam will discharge an additional 6,000 cusecs into the Beas River starting early Wednesday . Authorities have issued flood alerts and imposed 24×7 vigilance across Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, and Tarn Taran, urging residents to stay alert amid rising water levels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a recent phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, briefly suggested hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Russia for a direct, one-on-one meeting—though officials quickly dismissed the proposal as unserious . At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that arrangements for such a summit are underway, with multiple venues under consideration . Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized a cautious, phased approach starting at the expert level before any leaders meet . On Ukraine’s end, Zelenskyy expressed readiness for diplomacy, saying summit plans could be formalized “in the next week or 10 days”.