📉 TMC candidates drop out ahead of bypolls

Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has encountered significant setbacks before the October 6 West Bengal bypolls. The faction's Nandigram candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew her nomination on September 18. Following this, Rejinagar candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury also pulled out of the race on September 19. Chowdhury reportedly cited pressure on party workers and issues with the new election symbol. This withdrawal marks a major political turmoil for the Mamata-led faction.

🤖 IIT Kanpur launches AI course with Agentic AI module

IIT Kanpur has announced the Third Cohort of its intensive online course focusing on Applied Machine Learning and Agentic AI. This specialized program will be conducted from December 1, 2026, until January 19, 2027, for 50 days. The course covers seven modules, ranging from Python to Agentic AI, and is coordinated by Prof. Rajesh M. Hegde and Prof. Ketan Rajat. Early bird registration must be completed by September 30, 2026, before fee increases take effect. Graduates will receive certificates and exclusive IIT Kanpur merchandise upon completion.

🤒 Amit Shah misses Hubballi function due to sickness

Union Home Minister Amit Shah missed a scheduled inauguration event in Hubballi. He had arrived in Hubballi on Friday, September 18, 2026, to attend the opening of KAHER’s JGMM Medical college and KLE Hospital. The planned inauguration was set for Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 11 a.m., with thousands gathered nearby. KAHER Chancellor Prabhakar Kore announced Shah's absence, stating he was unwell and resting in a hotel. Shah was reportedly healthy in the morning but later fell ill.

🤒 Home Minister Amit Shah skips Hubballi event due to sickness

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was scheduled to inaugurate KAHER’s JGMM Medical college and KLE Hospital in Hubballi. He arrived in Hubballi on the night of September 18, 2026, for the event planned for September 19. Although he was healthy in the morning, Mr. Shah subsequently fell unwell. KAHER Chancellor Prabhakar Kore announced his absence, stating he was resting at a hotel following a doctor's advice. This cancellation meant thousands waiting near Gabbur missed the inauguration.

⛽ EIL eyeing big oil infra projects in Saudi Arabia and UAE

Engineers India Ltd (EIL) is discussing consultancy for oil and gas infrastructure with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These nations are planning $1 billion investments in pipelines and terminals to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions are happening as the Iran conflict disrupts crucial energy shipping routes globally. While current orders have slowed down, EIL sees potential opportunities if Gulf producers accelerate alternative infrastructure builds. The company aims to leverage this geopolitical shift for major international growth.

🏸 India's Badminton Squad for Asian Games 2026

Indian shuttlers are set to compete in the Asian Games 2026 badminton tournaments starting September 20. The 20-member squad includes PV Sindhu and reigning men's doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Players will contest five individual and two team events at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium. Sindhu aims for her first gold medal, while younger players like Tanvi Sharma are also gaining attention. The focus remains on both established stars and rising talent for the competition. 🏸

🏛️ DMK functionary faces FIR in temple land row

An FIR has been registered against DMK functionary Ramkumar regarding a property dispute linked to the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple. The controversy centers on a piece of land allegedly dedicated to the temple for public use in 1930. The complaint claims the property was registered in 2022 using forged documents. Furthermore, a political party office was allegedly set up on this disputed land afterward. Authorities are now looking into the allegations surrounding the ₹50 crore property.

🚨 Bangladeshi temp worker arrested at Naval Academy

A Bangladeshi temporary employee was arrested at the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala. The individual, 32-year-old Viplav Soren, was working at the academy for approximately one year. This marks the sixth Bangladeshi national detained in Kannur over the last four days. Police are investigating whether Soren's name is real and the nature of his employment. The recent arrests follow five other Bangladeshi nationals detained for illegal stay in the district.

🚨 Nandigram Congress candidate arrested after 19 years

West Bengal Police stated that the arrest of Nandigram Congress candidate Milan Pradhan on Friday, September 18, was a lawful action. He was arrested in four cases dating back to 2007 during the Nandigram protests, including charges of murder. The police confirmed that Mr. Pradhan had been absconding and evading legal process for nearly 19 years. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the arrest political revenge and a murder of democracy. Congress leaders plan a protest rally in Kolkata on Saturday, September 19, regarding this event. ⚖️

🚨 Nandigram candidate arrested; police say it's lawful

The West Bengal Police confirmed that the arrest of Nandigram Congress candidate Milan Pradhan on Friday, September 18, was a lawful police action. The arrest relates to four cases dating back to 2007 during the Nandigram protests, which include murder and attempt to murder charges. These pending cases are nearly 19 years old, and the police state Pradhan was absconding for this duration. Rahul Gandhi reacted to the news, calling it political revenge and a murder of democracy. Congress leaders plan a protest rally in Kolkata on Saturday, September 19, against the detention.

🚨 Trump targets H-1B employers cutting US jobs

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to scrutinize H-1B applications from companies laying off American workers. This move targets companies laying off US workers or planning job cuts that could affect "similarly placed" American employees. The order comes after the USD 1,00,000 fee for H-1B visas was extended for another year. This indirectly impacts Indian tech workers, who hold about three out of four approved H-1B visas. Agencies now have 30 days to review previously filed Labour Condition Applications for necessary action.