Indian squash player Anahat Singh produced a remarkable comeback at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Japan’s world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe 3-2 in the women’s singles semifinal. The 18-year-old lost the opening two games 9-11 and 11-13 but fought back brilliantly. She saved two game points in the third game to win 12-10, followed by an 11-6 victory in the fourth. Anahat then dominated the deciding game 11-3 to complete the comeback. The victory makes her the first Indian woman to reach the Asian Games squash singles final and guarantees her at least a silver medal. (PC: AP)

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide on September 18, began an indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, demanding action against those named in the case. The couple had initially planned to protest outside the IIT Bombay campus but were stopped by police, who said they had permission to demonstrate at Azad Maidan instead. They have alleged that Sahil faced caste-based discrimination and sought a speedy, independent investigation. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the death, while IIT Bombay has constituted an internal committee. A faculty member named in the FIR has been sent on leave pending the probe. (PC: PTI)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel to 16 September 11 attacks, measuring the deaths proportionally to the populations of Israel and the United States. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu said about 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 people were taken hostage during the attack. He used the comparison to illustrate the scale of the assault for an American audience. Netanyahu also rejected allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and defended Israel’s military actions. His speech was marked by a mass walkout of delegates as he approached the podium. (PC: NDTV)

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke renewed his demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation after former Kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson alleged that Kumar offered him a BJP candidature in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Thomson reportedly said Kumar asked him in 2016 whether he would contest from Pathanamthitta, but he declined. Dipke shared the allegation and called for Kumar to step down. The controversy comes amid wider disputes over the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has maintained that differing views are part of institutional deliberations and that its decisions were taken through established procedures. (PC: ANI)

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals at the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki in the Round of 16. Sindhu controlled the contest from the beginning, winning the opening game 21-9 and maintaining a strong advantage over the Japanese shuttler. Her composed play and effective shot placement kept Miyazaki under pressure throughout the match. Sindhu had earlier defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-chian in straight games to reach the pre-quarterfinal stage. The quarterfinal victory keeps Sindhu’s campaign for an Asian Games singles medal on track. (PC: Reuters)

Indian shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor won the silver medal in the men’s shot put at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday. Toor recorded his best effort of 20.64 metres, securing his third consecutive Asian Games medal after golds at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022. Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebise won gold with a Games-record throw of 20.81m, surpassing Toor’s previous record of 20.75m. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Tolu took bronze with 20.48m. Rain and difficult conditions affected the competition, while Toor had also been managing minor injuries before the Games. (PC: AP)

Sahil Majothi, a 23-year-old engineering student from Morbi, Gujarat, travelled to Russia in January 2024 to study. He was arrested in Moscow in April 2024 in a drug-related case and later said he was pressured into joining the Russian military. In October 2025, Sahil surrendered to Ukrainian forces after reportedly being sent toward the battlefield and is now held at a prisoner-of-war facility in Lviv. His mother, Hasina Majothi, has been seeking his return to India. The Ministry of External Affairs has secured consular access and is pursuing his release with Ukrainian authorities. 

The Odisha government has reported 1,741 errors in textbooks for Classes 1 to 8, despite spending around ₹175 crore on their printing and publication. According to School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, the errors include 1,075 grammatical, typographical and spelling mistakes, five factual or conceptual errors, and 661 suggestions for improvement. Class 8 Science had the highest number, with 294 errors, followed by Class 7 Urdu with 121. The government said revised, error-free editions are being prepared. Several education officials were suspended or face disciplinary action, while stronger expert fact-checking and proofreading procedures have been introduced. (PC: X)

At least 11 people were killed and 30 others injured after a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at a roadside police checkpoint in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on September 26. Police and rescue officials said two Customs and Excise Department officials were among those killed. Several injured victims were reported to be in critical condition and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Bomb-disposal teams were deployed to determine the type of explosives used. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with significantly expanding energy access in India, saying more people gained access under Modi’s leadership than in any decade, region or country in history. Speaking at an Asia Society Policy Institute event, Albanese also highlighted the strengthening relationship between Australia and India and described Modi as a leader with whom Australia has developed close ties. His remarks come amid global energy-security concerns linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. India has sought to maintain energy supplies by diversifying crude oil, LPG and PNG imports across 41 countries, compared with 27 previously. (PC: ANI)