🌿 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. 👮

🛡️ 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. 😔

🏏 WI Women take first ODI win in Harare

The first ODI between the West Indies Women and Zimbabwe Women took place in Harare on September 24, 2026. West Indies Women batted first and posted a score of 182 runs in 156 overs. The match saw Modester Mupachikwa score a massive 86 runs, while Aaliyah Alleyne took 3 wickets for 44 runs. West Indies Women secured a victory in this 50-over match. The teams are now heading towards the next fixture in the tour. 🏏

🚨 Fake UPI payment scammer busted in Kerala

Feroke police arrested a 29-year-old man named Sabith regarding a supposed fake UPI payment at a jewellery store in Ramanattukara. The accused allegedly bought a 1.2-gram bracelet on September 19 by showing a fake payment screenshot and then left without paying. Authorities found he scouted escape routes beforehand, suggesting involvement in multiple similar scams across Kerala. The police remanded him to judicial custody on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The investigation has already yielded leads in over five comparable cases.

💡 Telangana Govt Scrutinizing 12GW Data Centre Plans

The Telangana government is currently reviewing new applications for data centres totaling 12 gigawatts. Minister D. Sridhar Babu made this statement at the Microsoft AI Infrastructure Summit in the state. Currently, the state hosts 300 MW of capacity with 2 GW more in the pipeline as of September 24, 2026. The goal is to hit 5 GW and attract USD 30 billion in investments by 2029 by using green power and recycled water. The government believes Hyderabad's strong ecosystem is key to attracting global AI and Cloud Computing centres.