Indian and Bangladeshi border forces are stepping up surveillance to stop the illegal movement of hilsa fish between the two countries ahead of the festive season. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has sought the Border Security Force’s (BSF) help to prevent Padma hilsa from entering India illegally and Gujarat hilsa from being smuggled into Bangladesh. According to BSF sources, high demand and limited supplies have pushed up hilsa prices in Bangladesh. Dhaka recently stopped importing Indian hilsa, citing quality concerns. Officials say smugglers use river routes, small boats and commercial vehicles to transport fish across the border. (PC: The Telegraph)

India won five medals in athletics at the Asian Games on Sunday. Ancy Sojan secured silver in the women’s long jump with an effort of 6.53 metres, while Sarvesh Kushare won silver in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.25 metres. Tejaswin Shankar claimed bronze in the men’s decathlon, and Parul Chaudhary finished third in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. Harita Bhadra added another bronze in the women’s 200m. These results strengthened India’s athletics medal tally at the continental event, with Indian athletes continuing to compete across track and field disciplines.

Five baby orangutans rescued from a forest in Odisha’s Balasore district have recovered from anaemia and fever and are steadily gaining weight at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. The three males and two females were found abandoned in a casuarina forest on September 8 and later shifted to the zoo for treatment. Officials said all five are eating normally, while their appetite, activity and behaviour have improved. Their weights increased between September 14 and 26, according to zoo records. Meanwhile, Odisha Police’s Special Task Force is investigating suspected smuggling from Indonesia. No arrests have been made so far. (PC: The Telegraph)

At least 29 trekkers stranded at Auden’s Col in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, were rescued by helicopter on Monday after heavy snowfall blocked their route. They were airlifted to Harsil, where medical teams are conducting health checks at an Army Base facility. The rescue operation was launched after weather conditions improved. Meanwhile, a separate operation is underway to rescue trekkers stranded at Kalindi Khal. Seven people have been rescued from the area so far, while efforts continue to evacuate those remaining. The district administration, SDRF, NDRF, police and Army are assisting in the operations. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Delhi government has announced a winter pollution control plan to tackle rising air pollution in the national capital. The measures include doubling parking charges from November 1 and requiring 50% of government and private office staff to work from home from November 1 to January 31, 2027. Office timings will also be staggered to reduce traffic congestion. Construction and demolition activities that generate dust will face restrictions during the winter months. The plan aims to reduce vehicle emissions and dust pollution before air quality worsens. The measures will remain in force during the winter pollution period. (PC: NDTV)

Boeing has identified a software glitch in some of its 737 MAX aircraft that could affect around 96 planes operated by Indian airlines Air India Express and Akasa Air. The issue may reduce automated flight guidance when pilots change the planned route after a missed landing attempt. Air India Express operates around 53 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, while Akasa Air has 43. Boeing said it had informed all 737 operators about the issue last month and is developing a permanent software fix. Akasa Air said the glitch does not affect its operational safety. Air India Express has not issued a statement.

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response to a plea challenging the introduction of the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain UPI payments above ₹2,000. The petition, filed by advocate Anjan Datta, challenges the new framework announced by the government, which is scheduled to take effect on October 15. Under the rules, a 0.4% MDR will apply to specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000, with some sectors attracting lower rates. The petitioner has questioned the framework’s legal basis and alleged a lack of transparency. The plea also raises concerns about the potential impact on merchants and consumers. (PC: HT)

India’s Esha Singh won the silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol individual event at the Asian Games 2026 on Monday. The shooter qualified eighth for the final but fought back strongly, surviving five shoot-offs to challenge China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan. The contest was tied 38-38 in regulation before Esha narrowly missed gold by one hit. Her medal came after India missed out on a podium finish in the team event. Elsewhere, Pincky Balhara won bronze in women’s 78kg kurash, while Lovlina Borgohain reached the women’s 75kg boxing semi-finals, assuring India another medal. (PC: NDTV)

The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of recent alleged rape and sexual assault cases involving women and minors across Delhi-NCR. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran sought a response from Delhi Police and raised concerns over the safety of women and children in public places. The court referred to incidents reported in Kalkaji, Swaroop Nagar and a bus travelling from Greater Noida to Delhi. Drawing a parallel with the 2012 Nirbhaya case, the bench questioned whether lessons had been learnt and highlighted the need for effective policing, patrolling and surveillance. (PC: News18)

The incident occurred as authorities began removing a portion of the Shahi Masjid to widen a road ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh in 2028. Protesters opposed the move, and police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. More than 2,000 police personnel were reportedly deployed, with movement restricted around the site. The road project aims to improve traffic management during the religious gathering. The mosque committee has challenged the proposed removal in court, and an appeal was scheduled for a hearing on Monday. (PC: India Today)