✈️ PIA debuts new uniforms amid financial woes

Pakistan International Airlines unveiled fresh crew uniforms during a gala event this month as part of an image makeover. The airline, based in Pakistan, recently added three planes while cutting discounts and flight frequencies due to jet fuel costs. PIA suspended several international routes amid global supply disruptions linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Online users criticized the focus on uniforms, urging the airline to fix aircraft and improve services first. The carrier was partially privatised in December 2025 when a 75 per cent stake was sold for PKR 135 billion. ✈️

⛈️ Typhoon Dujuan hits Tokyo with major warnings ⛈️

Powerful Typhoon Dujuan is approaching Japan's eastern coast, prompting severe weather warnings across the country. Authorities in Tokyo have issued Level 3 alerts, urging vulnerable people to evacuate from affected areas. As of the reports, nearly 500 flights have been cancelled in Haneda and Narita airports. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has delayed her US trip to monitor the storm's impact. Events like concerts and parts of the Asian Games have been postponed or cancelled due to the weather threat.

📉 Oil dips as traders hope for Iran peace talks

Crude oil prices started the week on a downward trend due to renewed diplomatic hopes for the Middle East conflict. Brent crude was trading at $102.05 per barrel, and WTI at $98.50 per barrel, focusing on a UN meeting this week. Despite this hope, the US president threatened Iran with collapse, which Tehran countered with a harsh response threat. Meanwhile, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia escalated over the weekend, but optimism prevailed. Saudi Arabia has boosted its Strait of Hormuz daily exports to 2.9 million barrels, up from 700,000 barrels in August. 📉

📱 iPhone 18 Lead Times Set to Go Up

JPMorgan has indicated an expected increase in lead times for the iPhone 18 in the second week. This projection involves the supply chain impacting availability across various global markets. Specific figures mentioned relate to shipment schedules around early next month, detailing production bottlenecks. This trend reflects ongoing high consumer demand coupled with manufacturing constraints in the tech sector. Analysts suggest that this might lead to slight price adjustments in the coming quarter.

🙏 Belagavi social worker passes away at 75

G. N. Gopikrishna, a social worker from Belagavi, passed away on September 20 at Lakshmeshwar in Gadag district, Karnataka. He was 75 years old and had built a vast network of artisan communities across India and globally. He was instrumental in giving modern design to khadi and handicraft products, helping producers expand markets internationally. Notably, he fought when Prada used Kolhapuri chappal designs without permission, leading to training for local artisans. His efforts established organizations like 'Mitan' which has been exporting goods for 20 years. 🌟

🗳️ Putin's party leads first post-war Russian polls

Russia's ruling United Russia party is leading the first parliamentary election since the 2022 Ukraine war. The election took place in the town of Podolsk near Moscow, Russia. With about 58% of precincts counted, United Russia secured nearly 58% of the vote for the 225 State Duma seats. This outcome was expected as anti-war opposition was largely barred from contesting the race. The Kremlin is set to keep its dominant position in the State Duma amidst ongoing conflict.

🚨 Minors harassed in Jamui, two detained by police

Two minors were identified as the victims in a viral video showing harassment in Jamui, Bihar. The incident occurred between 6 PM and 7 PM on Saturday, September 19th. Currently, two individuals have been detained by the Jamui Police in connection with the event. An FIR has been filed, and the police are actively working to identify all other accused involved. Efforts are ongoing to ensure justice for the affected youngsters.

🦟 16yo student's malaria model wins $50k

Sixteen-year-old Rajarshi Mandal developed a mathematical model to optimize mosquito net distribution for malaria prevention. He is a rising junior from Lexington, Massachusetts, who built the ordinary differential equation simulation. His optimized allocation prevented twice as many infections as standard population-based methods using the same supply. This suggests better allocation, not just more nets, can boost public health impact. Mandal received a $50,000 Davidson Fellows Scholarship for his innovative research.

🎬 India's 'Angh' Bags Toronto Film Festival Award

The film 'Angh' has secured a Platform Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. This recognition was given to the movie by the festival organizers in Toronto. The film was screened during the festival which concluded on October 29, 2023. This award automatically qualifies 'Angh' for consideration at the Academy Awards. The filmmakers are now preparing for the next phase of global film promotions. 🎬

🍞 Austrian bakery drops $60 rye loaf in NYC

An Austrian family bakery opened a new shop in Soho, New York, featuring a single 3.3-pound rye loaf priced at $60. The Auer family, whose business has over 40 locations in Austria, brought Graz baking traditions to Manhattan. This specialty loaf uses only organic rye flour, water, and salt, fermenting naturally for up to 24 hours. The high cost reflects premium ingredients, imported German equipment, and the slow, labor-intensive process. Customers can also purchase smaller slices topped with ingredients like caviar. 🍞

🧠 New brain research targets Alzheimer's with immune protein mod

A research team discovered that modulating the immune protein PD-L1 can restore brain immune balance in Alzheimer's disease. This work was done by Taeyoung Park et al at Sungkyunkwan University and Yonsei University College of Medicine. The study, published on September 21, 2026, used Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. Blocking PD-L1 restored impaired microglial function and reduced abnormal neuronal hyperactivity. This suggests brain immune modulation could be a new therapeutic route for the disorder. 🧠