Congress’s Nandigram candidate arrested hours after getting Mamata’s support
The Election Commission of India assigned new symbols and names to the two factions of the All India Trinamool Congress. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction is now called ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ with the symbol of a ‘football player’. Shortly after Ms. Banerjee announced her support for the Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, Mr. Pradhan was arrested by West Bengal police in an old case. Earlier, the candidate of Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), withdrew her nomination from the Nandigram Assembly seat.
U.S. national arrested by NIA under terror charges gets bail after 180-day probe deadline lapses
As the National Investigation Agency did not file a charge sheet covering the alleged terror offences within the mandatory 180-day period, a Delhi court on Friday granted default bail to U.S. national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, who was arrested in March in connection with an alleged cross-border conspiracy involving ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.
Surendra Koli, accused in Nithari killings, found dead in his Haridwar tea shop
Surendra Koli, the man at the centre of the sensational Nithari killings who was subsequently acquitted in all 13 cases, was found dead in his tea stall in Haridwar, Uttarakhand on Friday (September 18, 2026), police said. Koli, who worked as a domestic help at the Noida house of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, appears to have ended his life, police said.
Passports for children below 15 years valid for 5 years or till they turn 18: MEA amends rules
The ordinary passport issued to a child under 15 years of age will be valid for five years or until the child turns 18 years, whichever is earlier, as per the new rules notified by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified this week amend the Passports Rules, 1980. The notification also stated that the rules came into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette.
FSSAI initiates legal action against Nestle India over infant nutrition products
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday said it has initiated legal action against Nestle India Limited for alleged non-compliance with food safety norms in three infant nutrition products. According to FSSAI, it examined NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, Lactogen Pro 1, and a follow-up formula along with their promotional material available on e-commerce platforms. FSSAI said it had sought clarifications from Nestle India on these claims.
Karnataka accords second official language status to Tulu
Fulfilling a long-pending demand, the Karnataka Cabinet decided to accord the second official language status to the Tulu language, widely spoken in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, as well as in the neighbouring Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made the announcement during the Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on September 18, 2026
Tamil Nadu government firm on two-language policy, not to provide land for Navodaya schools
Tamil Nadu Minister for School Education Rajmohan on Friday (September 18, 2026) asserted that the government remained firm on its two-language policy in schools and would continue its existing stand of not providing land for establishing Navodaya schools (CBSE syllabus). Mr. Rajmohan was responding to a question during a press conference at the Secretariat in Chennai on the Supreme Court giving three months’ time to the Tamil Nadu government to comply with its December 15, 2025, direction to identify the requisite land in each district to establish Navodaya schools.
Telangana High Court declares Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender disqualified as Legislative Assembly member
The Telangana High Court on Friday (September 18, 2026) set aside the order of Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, which dismissed petitions seeking Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender’s disqualification. The Bench headed by the Chief Justice, Aparesh Kumar Singh, declared that ‘Danam Nagender stands disqualified from April 23, 2024, as a member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly having contested from Secunderabad Lok Sabha on the Congress ticket in 2024, after getting elected as MLA as a BRS candidate the previous year.’
Blast rips through mosque during Friday prayers in northwest Pakistan; 16 killed, dozens injured
At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured in a powerful suicide blast during Friday prayers (September 18, 2026) at a mosque near police lines in Kohat district in northwest Pakistan, officials said. The blast occurred at the mosque located near the old Police Lines in Kohat district, around 60 kilometres southwest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital, Peshawar, they said.
At least three students killed in Philippine school shooting, including suspected gunman
At least three people were killed in a school shooting in the southern Philippines on Friday (September 18, 2026), including the 16-year-old suspected gunman, with eight others injured, the town’s Mayor said. Four of the eight injured were in critical condition, and all the victims were students aged 14 to 17, Banga town Mayor Albert Palencia told Reuters.
Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman, a post he has held since 1970
Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after serving in the role for more than 50 years. Mr. Buffett, 96, will become chairman emeritus and will take on his new role immediately, the company said Friday (September 19, 2026). His son, Howard, will become Berkshire Hathaway's new chairman. Howard Buffett has been on the Berkshire Hathaway board since 1993. Warren Buffett will remain a director. He had served as Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman since 1970.
