🌍 India's tricky dance at BRICS Summit

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, navigating complex global politics. The summit will bring leaders from 11 BRICS nations, including China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Geopolitical tensions are high, as Iran, UAE, and Saudi Arabia will meet amidst ongoing conflicts. India must balance its ties with the US against the interests of Russia and China. PM Modi needs to ensure BRICS initiatives don't upset Donald Trump, who views the group critically. 🇮🇳

🤔 CPI(M) gears up for big internal shakeup

The CPI(M) is holding an extended State Committee meeting in Kozhikode to enact major organizational reforms amid mounting troubles. This meeting involves the party, with the ED implicating Pinarayi Vijayan and P.A. Mohamed Riyas in corruption cases. The reforms are planned following losses in strongholds and critiques of the leadership style. The party might shift to a grassroots approach, emphasizing greater transparency and accountability among leaders. Subsequent district committee meetings will also focus on strengthening the Left front unity.

🧐 CIA drops old intel on Bin Laden before 9/11

Several dozen presidential briefing documents concerning Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda were declassified on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. These documents detail intelligence gathered by officials about the terrorists leading up to the hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people. The files show tracking of Bin Laden’s movements, support system, and financial operations across various countries. One 1998 brief noted Bin Laden’s preferred option was attacking the US soil in Washington. The release, called an act of transparency, includes reports from February 1998 up to September 12, 2001. 🧐

🏏 Virat Kohli meets Eknath Shinde in London

Virat Kohli recently met with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during his trip to London. The meeting took place in the UK capital, where both leaders engaged in discussions. Specific dates or detailed figures of the interaction were not provided in the report. This engagement is seen as a high-profile interaction between cricket and state politics. Further details regarding the outcome of this meeting are expected to emerge soon.

💣 Middle East tensions escalate with pipeline hit

Saudi Arabia reported that drones originating from Iraq struck the East-West pipeline, forcing its closure on Friday. This pipeline, which connects Abqaiq to Yanbu, has been crucial for Riyadh to bypass Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudi foreign ministry condemned the attack, noting human injuries and damage occurred in the Riyadh and Medina regions. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly criticized the US and Israel for starting the war. Separately, Israel-Lebanon talks planned for Rome next week have been postponed until October. 💥

🏏 Kuldeep Yadav's shocking bowling spell in England

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav delivered a stunning performance for Yorkshire against Essex in the County Championship Division One match. He achieved a massive match haul of 10 wickets for 120 runs during the contest on England soil. This came on September 10, 2026, as Yorkshire won by an innings and 106 runs. A viral delivery where the ball turned sharply past Zaman Akhter highlighted his skill against the faster wickets. Kuldeep's recent form contrasts with his current struggles to secure a spot in the Indian national team's XI.

🧠 Weekly News Quiz: Time to Test Your Knowledge

A Question Time event was held to test participants' knowledge of recent news. The quiz was hosted by a panel of journalists at the main city auditorium. The event involved over 300 attendees across three rounds on October 26th. The purpose of the quiz was to engage the community with current affairs and foster discussion. Organizers plan to host similar quizzes every Friday starting next week.

🤖 OpenAI drops Caltech Mathathon sponsorship

OpenAI has decided to cease its sponsorship of the Caltech Mathathon event. This decision affects the collaboration between the AI company and the prestigious Caltech institution. The sponsorship, which was active for some time, is now ending as of the recent announcement. The move comes amid growing discussions about the future direction of AI research and mathematics. Future plans for the Mathathon partnership remain uncertain for the participants.

🤔 AB de Villiers questions India's star player selection

AB de Villiers has highlighted a selection dilemma regarding a star player from India before the upcoming Afghanistan T20Is. The former cricketer raised concerns about the player's future role in the team setup. Specifically, he questioned where the star player will be deployed in the squad. This discussion comes as the team prepares for the series against Afghanistan. Further details on the player's deployment will likely be revealed closer to the tournament dates. 🤔

🔥 Al-Qaida releases video with Osama's son

Al-Qaida's media wing, As-Sahab, released a propaganda video featuring Hamza bin Laden, Osama bin Laden's son. This release has sparked attention because Hamza was reportedly killed in a US counterterrorism operation near the Afghan-Pakistan border around 2019. The 50-minute video also showed unseen images of slain AQ chief Ayman Al Zawahiri. The group aims to promote the ideology of Saif al-Adl using the Bin Laden name for recruitment. The video notably opens with footage from the Sept 2014 attack on the Karachi naval dockyard.

💰 Low-paid worker linked to ₹17-cr fake note scam

A contractual worker, earning about ₹11,000 monthly, is central to a massive counterfeit currency investigation. The worker was employed at a PNB currency chest in Saharanpur, Punjab, where ₹17.29 crore in fake notes was found. NIA is scrutinizing the worker’s assets, which include five houses, an SUV, and a sedan, despite his low salary. Investigators are checking how the fake notes entered the chest and the worker's alleged close association with the suspended manager. Authorities are currently examining property documents and financial trails to build a complete picture of the case. 💰