Times of India

India's defeat to New Zealand by 58 runs in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup has jeopardized their knockout hopes. Former captain Anjum Chopra emphasizes the need for a strong comeback against Pakistan. With India's current net run rate at a crisis point, they must win all remaining matches by significant margins to advance.

A woman confined to her in-laws' house for 16 years was rescued by Mahila Thana police in Bhopal. Her father, Kishanlal Sahu, reported she hadn't met her family since 2008. She was found in a critical condition and hospitalized. The exact reason for her confinement will be determined after statements from her in-laws.

India's T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, came 17 years after their previous title win in 2007. The victory was secured thanks to Hardik Pandya's pivotal strike to remove the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, which shifted momentum from a point when South Africa needed a run a ball while chasing India's 176 for 7.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's call for an arms embargo against Israel, describing it as a disgrace. Netanyahu emphasized that while Iran arms militant groups, Israel faces disarmament demands, framing the conflict as a battle against radical forces threatening global civilization.

India's T20 World Cup final earlier this year between India and South Africa featured a clever ploy by Rishabh Pant who delayed proceedings, breaking Heinrich Klaasen's momentum. This tactical move, alongside Suryakumar Yadav's catch and Hardik Pandya's crucial spell, helped India secure a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the final.

Junior doctors in Kolkata initiated an indefinite hunger strike after a 24-hour deadline passed without their 10-point demands being met by the Bengal government. Six doctors, including three women, from multiple medical institutions are participating. The protest follows the 9th August incident involving a PGT's rape and murder, which triggered statewide demands for justice and healthcare reforms.

FBI agents arrested Shreyas Chaudhary, from Gandhinagar, in Georgia for scamming elderly US citizens out of $4.8 million using fake IDs and targeting senior citizens via pop-up ads. His partner, Trusha Chaudhary, also from Gandhinagar, was found with stolen funds and multiple fake IDs.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has strengthened ties with ally BJP during his party's state executive committee meeting. He praised PM Narendra Modi, Union minister Amit Shah, and BJP president JP Nadda for the financial help in the Union Budget. Nitish encouraged the Centre to provide more financial assistance and highlighted the increase in Bihar's annual budget under his tenure.

A senior BJP leader in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, faces charges for incitement and religious insult after allegedly threatening to burn down shops of the minority community and harm them due to incidents involving 'love jihad.' The police have taken legal action, citing directives on derogatory speeches.

A nine-year-old girl's body, showing signs of severe abuse, was discovered in a ditch in Joynagar, South 24 Parganas, leading to furious protests against the police. Villagers alleged that the police ignored their initial complaint. A 19-year-old local, Mostakin Sardar, has been arrested for the murder, though he denies rape allegations.

Sanjeev Sanyal has been offered the post of chancellor of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics following Bibek Debroy's resignation citing moral grounds. The Servants of India Society, which manages the institute, awaits Sanyal's acceptance. Debroy's resignation stemmed from a legal dispute over the dismissal of Vice-Chancellor Ajit Ranade.

Home Minister Amit Shah will review the security situation and development schemes in eight left-wing extremism-affected states. This comes after security personnel eliminated 31 Naxals in Chhattisgarh, raising the total this year to 238. The government aims to eradicate left-wing extremism by March 2026.

Haryana's single-phase assembly elections witnessed a nearly 67% voter turnout, lower than previous years' figures. Fatehabad district recorded the highest turnout exceeding 74%, while urban districts like Gurgaon reported lower participation at 57.2%. Overall, some districts like Nuh experienced a slight increase, with 72.2% voter turnout compared to 2019.

Congress is predicted to win decisively in Haryana, potentially securing up to 65 seats in the 90-member assembly. In Jammu & Kashmir, the NC-Congress-CPM alliance is likely to lead over BJP, but may fall short of a majority. These projections signal a boost for the INDIA bloc and concerns for BJP.

The 28th Malabar naval exercise, hosted by India, starts on October 8 in the Bay of Bengal. Involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia, the exercise aims to enhance interoperability and address shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions amid China's assertiveness.

The government will soon launch NULM 2.0 for urban poor, targeting six groups like domestic and gig workers. Eligible individuals can avail microcredit to start enterprises. A pilot in 25 cities will identify poor families and issue unique ID cards for welfare scheme access.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will attend the SCO heads of government meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16 but will not discuss bilateral ties with Pakistan. Jaishankar underscored Pakistan's continued support for terrorism as a barrier to SAARC summits and emphasized regional integration efforts with neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

A delegation of civil defence volunteers met LG V K Saxena in Delhi regarding their dismissal. LG assured a solution within a week. BJP and AAP blamed each other for the issue, with protests and detentions occurring. AAP passed a proposal seeking reinstatement.