Morning Digest: Bank unions defer three-day strike after talks with management; police register FIR over alleged rape after protests at Punjab’s LPU; and more

Bank staff wear black dress during their duty in a bank as, on government order, banks open on Sunday for the first time in 3 days on the Eve of 3 days National Bank strike, in Kolkata on September 27. | Photo Credit: ANI Bank unions defer three-day nationwide strike after ‘understandings reached’ with IBABank unions on Sunday (September 28, 2026) deferred the proposed three-day nationwide strike after a meeting with bank management. “All banks will function normally now. There will be no strike...,” C. H. Venkatachalam, general secretary of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) told The Hindu.Punjab’s LPU student protesters block NH-44, clash with police after alleged rape of female studentAllegations that a student was raped on the campus of Lovely Professional University in Punjab sparked an agitation that led to protesters, mainly students, blocking National Highway-44 near Phagwara on Sunday (September 27, 2026), disrupting traffic and clashing with police, hours after they went on a rampage, vandalising university property.Israeli media says Netanyahu made unannounced visit to UAEIsraeli media reported on Sunday (September 27, 2026) that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made an unannounced visit to the United Arab Emirates to meet with the Gulf state’s leader.Trump expects new Iran talks despite rejecting deal offerU.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (September 27, 2026) that he expects talks with Iran to resume in the coming week, despite his rejection of a truce proposal put forward by Tehran.Students, right-wing consumer group members clash on SRFTI campus in KolkataViolence erupted in the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) campus in Kolkata on Sunday (September 27, 2026) as students clashed with members of a right-wing consumer welfare organisation, who were holding a meeting inside the institute’s auditorium.‘Illegal detention’ by Assam Police finally ended: CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka after releaseCockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Ashutosh Ranka on Sunday (September 27, 2026) evening said the “illegal detention” of him and other volunteers by the Assam Police has “finally ended”.U.K. police arrest five for preparing ‘terrorist act’ as incident near air base probedBritish counter-terrorism police were on Sunday probing “a major” incident near a base used by the U.S. air force after arresting five men on suspicion of “preparing a terrorist act”, police said.Election Commission row: Mumbai Police deny CJP permission for October 2 protest at Shivaji ParkThe Mumbai Police have denied permission to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold a protest against the Election Commission at Shivaji Park on October 2, citing court-imposed restrictions on non-sporting activities at the ground, lack of BMC permission and concerns over noise and traffic congestion.Sahil Wakode’s death can’t be seen in isolation, IIT Bombay alumni write to DirectorThe death by suicide of Sahil Wakode cannot be viewed in isolation, alumni of Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IITB) said on Sunday (September 27, 2026). The incident pointed to a deeper problem within the academic environment, they said. In a letter written to the Director of the institute, a group of alumni have also expressed concerns over the increasingly “militarised campus” during exams. Calling for immediate, comprehensive reforms, they sought a survey of the students’ mental health and a humane approach to deal with instances of misconduct.Delhi CM backs Election Commission over SIR amid allegations of OppositionChief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday rejected the Opposition’s allegations against the Election Commission, saying the revision of electoral rolls to remove deceased voters, duplicate entries and other invalid names was being dubbed “vote chori”. DMK MLA E.V. Velu, others booked for illegal excavation of lake bed to level venue for party eventThe Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case against E.V. Velu, DMK MLA and formerly Minister for Highways, Minor Ports, and Public Works, his son E.V. Kumaran, other public servants, and contractors, among others on charges of unauthorised excavation of lake-bed material in Malappambadi village in Tiruvannamalai district for levelling the venue of a DMK Northern Zone Youth Wing Conference held in December 2025. Published - September 28, 2026 06:44 am IST