🎬 IDSFFK 18 kicks off with powerful Afghan artist's story

The 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) is opening this Friday, September 25, 2026, in Kerala’s capital. The festival debuts with 'A Fox Under a Pink Moon,' focusing on 16-year-old Afghan artist Soraya. She documented five years of escaping Iran for Austria, covering her abusive marriage and dangerous attempts. This self-shot film offers a raw look at refugee struggles and artistic resistance. The opening event will be inaugurated by Minister for Cultural Affairs P.C. Vishnunadh. 🎬

🛡️ Rajnath Singh: Security Threats Are Not Old School

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that national security threats have moved beyond traditional military concerns. He made these remarks while speaking at the Defence Conclave in 2026. Singh emphasized the necessity of a holistic defense approach against modern hostile actors. This focus is happening amid the rise of cyber warfare, AI, and space threats. India is actively working to strengthen its defenses and achieve self-reliance moving forward. 🛡️

🌿 Idukki construction ban to be lifted, says minister

The State government plans to lift the construction ban in Idukki district, according to Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar. He announced this while speaking at the title deed fest in Cheruthoni on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The government will also renew the Cardamom Kuthakapattam lease before September 30 and remove hurdles for farmers. So far, nearly 7,000 title deeds have been distributed as part of the 100-day action plan. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is scheduled to visit the district on Friday to discuss land issues.

🏛️ Trump and Xi meet at White House on major issues

Trump and Xi Jinping are set to hold talks at the White House on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The leaders are meeting during Xi's State visit to the US from September 23 to 25. Key agenda items include trade, AI competition, Taiwan, and the wars in Iran and Ukraine. An existing 11-month trade truce was recently extended by two months to allow for dispute resolution. Future discussions will focus on balancing geopolitical tensions and technological supremacy. 🤝

🏗️ Interarch pumps ₹300 Cr into Nellore steel expansion

Interarch Building Solutions is investing ₹300 crore in its manufacturing facilities in Athivaram Industrial Park, SPSR Nellore district. The company inaugurated a new heavy structural steel facility with an initial capacity of 25,000 MT per annum on Thursday. They plan to double this to 50,000 MT over two-and-a-half years and are also investing ₹80 crore for export capabilities. This expansion aims to meet the growing need for high-performance steel in Andhra Pradesh's infrastructure projects. The new plant is expected to boost employment from 450 to 1,000 people once all phases are complete. 🏗️

👮 Bengaluru police issues guidelines on transgender harassment

Bengaluru City Police released new guidelines to control harassment and extortion by transgender individuals. These directives address complaints received at traffic signals, markets, and public venues across the city. Police must verify all complaints regarding aggressive solicitation or obstruction, taking legal action as needed. Furthermore, stations must increase patrolling in areas with repeated complaints and hold awareness meetings. The guidelines mandate respecting transgender rights while ensuring public order and advising citizens to call 112. 👮

⚖️ Death sentence commuted for child killer

The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a man convicted of raping and killing his 6-year-old stepdaughter. This happened in Waris v. State of Madhya Pradesh, with a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and Vijay Bishnoi. The convict faced the sentence after being convicted in December 2018 and confirmed by the High Court in November 2019. The court determined that while the crime was grave, the convict was not beyond reform, thus denying the death penalty. He was ordered to spend the rest of his natural life in prison without remission. 😔

🛡️ Defence Minister discusses India's next defence era

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke at the CNN-News18 Defence Conclave about the future of Indian defence. He acknowledged the media's role in bringing national security into mainstream conversations. These conclaves are instrumental in boosting public awareness regarding the armed forces. They also encourage broader citizen discussions on defence and national security matters. Singh emphasized the importance of this continuous dialogue for the nation's security. 🛡️

🏛️ Gandhi slams CEC, Nair gets bail in Gujarat

Rahul Gandhi called on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and 'turn approver' in Delhi. He also claimed that PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah would be investigated for 'stealing the votes' of ordinary Indians. This came after an Indian Express report showed two election commissioners objected 14 times in 10 months to electoral roll revisions. Gandhi asserted that anti-incumbency vanished because votes were stolen, stating this destroys the Constitution. Meanwhile, Gujarat court granted bail to journalist Ravi Nair in a defamation case from 2020-2021. 🗳️

👮 IPS Officer Transferred Amid POCSO Case Controversy

Senior IPS officer A. Arun has been transferred and placed in Vacancy Reserve without a new posting. This action follows controversy regarding the city police's handling of a POCSO Act complaint involving Gem Granites' owner, R. Veeramani. Coimbatore Commissioner N. Kannan IPS was also transferred to VR under the same circumstances. Ranjan Kumar reported that a complaint was filed with Chennai police in November 2024, but no action was taken. Consequently, Arun and Kannan are now under compulsory wait as of September 24, 2026.

💥 AI, old intel linked to deadly Iran school strike

An outdated intelligence and rushed targeting process may have caused the death of over 150 people in a US airstrike on a school in Minab, Iran. The incident involved the US military's targeting 'kill chain' and reliance on the AI-enabled Maven Smart System. The attack occurred on February 28, and the site was wrongly flagged as an IRGC facility. Investigators noted that civilian-harm checks were reduced, and analysts expected the system to catch outdated data. The Pentagon is investigating, and Central Command has since updated its targeting procedures. 😔