🤢 Cockroach sighting sparks major food safety scare

A cardiologist spotted a baby cockroach on his table at JW Marriott's Romano restaurant in Mumbai. Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, noted the incident occurred while he was attending a medical programme. Reports indicated a cockroach was also seen in the buffet area around 15 minutes prior to the sighting. Dr Seth stressed that this is a public health issue, as pests carry germs according to WHO guidelines. He expressed concern over the lack of visible corrective action from the hotel management. 🤢

🇮🇳 BJP recited full Vande Mataram in Karnataka assembly

BJP legislators recited the full version of Vande Mataram during the Legislative Assembly and Council proceedings on September 21, 2026. This happened at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru during a special session addressing drought and the Kasturirangan report. The official recording only played two stanzas before BJP MLAs became agitated. They started reciting the complete song, protesting the government's order. The Congress government mandates only the first two stanzas be sung in most programs. 🇮🇳

🔪 The 'Stoneman' Mystery: 13 Skulls Crushed in Night Attacks

A series of brutal killings, dubbed 'Stoneman' cases, took place in Mumbai and Kolkata decades ago. In Kolkata, 13 pavement dwellers were murdered starting in June 1989, with their heads smashed by heavy objects. These attacks were similar to earlier incidents in Mumbai during the 1960s and mid-1980s. Investigators never conclusively identified a single killer across these separate events. The unresolved nature of these crimes keeps the 'Stoneman' mystery alive today. 😨

💉 Dr Reddy's to distribute Takeda's dengue vaccine in India

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Takeda have signed an agreement for QDENGA dengue vaccine distribution across India's private market. The partnership will see QDENGA become available in the first half of 2027, following CDSCO's approval in July 2026. This makes QDENGA the first approved dengue vaccine in India for ages 4–60. Dengue cases in India have seen an 11-fold increase over the last two decades, making this a big health step. Both companies aim to address the country's dengue burden through this collaboration. 💉

🎤 BJP MLAs defy order, sing full Vande Mataram

Karnataka BJP MLAs sang the entire Vande Mataram despite a government order limiting it to two stanzas. BJP MLA SR Vishwanath criticized the Congress-led Karnataka government for this move in the Vidhana Soudha. The order, issued on September 8, 2026, restricts singing to just two stanzas at state programs. This decision was reportedly made to appease the Congress central leadership, as the Congress opposed the song pre-independence. BJP MLAs stated they would sing the full version regardless of attempts to stop them. 🎤

⚖️ SC orders fresh probe in Sowjanya rape-murder case

The Supreme Court ordered a reinvestigation into the 2012 rape and murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya in Karnataka’s Ujire. This directive comes after Sowjanya's mother, Kusumavathi, filed a plea citing overlooked evidence in the initial CID and CBI probes. Despite investigations, the person responsible for her death remains unidentified as of October 2012. Santhosh Rao, previously arrested, was acquitted by the CBI court on June 16, 2023. The Court mandated that a compliance report detailing the steps taken must be filed within three months. ⚖️

✈️ IAF brings back multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti

The Indian Air Force has announced the resumption of its major multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti, in Jodhpur. This second edition will gather air forces from various countries for joint tactical training and aerial operations. The exercise is scheduled to take place from September 26 to October 12. It aims to boost interoperability among participating air forces and allow them to exchange operational practices. This follows the inaugural 2024 edition which included nations like the US, UK, and Australia. ✈️

🚜 $40k semester for farm work at US school

The Mountain School in Vermont, US, charges about $40,000 per semester for a unique educational program. High-school juniors from various places attend to balance academics with farm work and chores. Students engage in tasks like harvesting crops and cleaning, as reported by the WSJ. This environment helps them gain independence and strengthen college applications. Graduates leave with skills and perspective, aiming for top colleges. 🚜

🤔 Why NRIs advise others against moving abroad

Many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are advising other Indians against migrating overseas. This sentiment stems from varied personal experiences and observations regarding life abroad. Specific data points about employment or cost of living were not provided in the source material. The general context suggests a cautionary perspective on the challenges of international relocation. Further discussions are expected to clarify these advisory points in the coming days.

😔 IIT Bombay retracts statement on student's death

IIT Bombay issued an apology regarding its previous comments about a student's death. The institute stated this on Monday, confirming that the details leading up to the incident are still under investigation. This follows the death of a second-year BTech student from Yavatmal district on Friday evening. The initial FIR named a professor due to allegations of harassment and caste-based discrimination. The case has since been transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch for further inquiry. 😔

🪐 Youngest planet found, challenging science theories 🪐

Astronomers have confirmed Elias 2-24 b, the youngest known planet, which is only less than a million years old. This discovery was made by researchers in Chile observing the planet orbiting a star 450 light-years away. The planet is roughly Jupiter-sized and is still surrounded by its initial gas and dust. Its rapid formation challenges current leading theories about giant planet assembly. Future instruments like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope should help make more such detections.