EC Freezes TMC Name & Symbol, Asks Factions for New Choices Amid West Bengal By-Polls

Two women from Visakhapatnam, 67-year-old Rama Devi and her 33-year-old daughter-in-law Neha, died on the spot in a road accident in Melbourne, Australia, after their Toyota car collided with a Porsche. The former Vizag Cricket Academy joint secretary survived the crash, while the driver sustained serious injuries and was shifted to a hospital. Victoria Police have registered a case and initiated a probe into the mishap. The Telugu community in Melbourne is assisting the family, and efforts are underway to repatriate the mortal remains to Visakhapatnam, which is expected to take around 10 days.

The Election Commission has frozen the All India Trinamool Congress name and its flowers and grass symbol ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly by-elections. In an interim order following hearings before the full bench, the commission barred both rival factions from using the party's reserved name and symbol. Both groups have been directed to submit three choices each for a new party name and free symbols by 11:00 AM on September 18. The interim order comes as by-polls approach in Nandigram and Rajanagar, with the symbol freeze set to remain in effect until the dispute is resolved.

A fresh flashpoint has emerged over the leadership and ownership structure of Tata Sons. The board backed a five-year term extension for the chairman by a four-to-one vote, while the Tata Trusts chair opposed the reappointment, arguing the resolution is legally invalid due to lack of unanimous nominee director consent. Disagreements also extend to a potential public listing of Tata Sons after the Reserve Bank of India rejected an exemption request to deregister as an upper-layer non-banking financial company. The mandatory regulatory deadline lapsed in September 2025, directing the company toward an initial public offering despite internal resistance. The reappointment decision still awaits annual general meeting approval.

Overnight queues formed outside Apple flagship stores and premium reseller locations in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru as nationwide sales for the new iPhone lineup officially commenced. Buyers gathered before sunrise outside Apple Saket in Select Citywalk Mall in Delhi, while customers camped overnight at the Bandra Kurla Complex flagship store in Mumbai. Store footfall in Mumbai saw around 50 to 60 people waiting compared to over 500 in the previous year, with buyers noting price increases across the iPhone 18 lineup. The flagship devices feature major upgrades in performance, camera technology, and artificial intelligence capabilities.