NDA allies Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha have sought clarification from the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asking it to dispel confusion among people. TDP leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu also called for transparency. The issue intensified as Opposition protests spread across the country. Delhi Police detained Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, CPI-ML(L) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Yogendra Yadav and others during protests. Congress held demonstrations in several states, with police using water cannons and tear gas in some places. The protests follow reported objections by two Election Commissioners over electoral-roll processes and technology.

India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address. Exercising India’s Right of Reply, First Secretary Petal Gahlot called Pakistan a “regime of the army, by the army, and for the army”. She accused Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism and criticised its record on minorities and human rights. Gahlot also referred to Osama bin Laden’s presence near a Pakistani military academy. On Kashmir, she said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and raised concerns over Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. She added that India would continue exercising its right to defend itself against terrorism.  (PC: India Today)

India added two silver medals on Day 7 of the Asian Games 2026, taking its medal tally to 25. Sawan Barwal won silver in the men’s marathon with a personal-best and national-record time of 2:11:37, giving India its first Asian Games men’s marathon medal in 44 years. In shooting, Tilottama Sen, Vidarsa Vinod and Ashi Chouksey secured silver in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event. Dhiraj Bommadevara also qualified for the men’s recurve gold medal match after setting an Asian Games record of 698. India’s teams advanced in fencing and canoe sprint, while Lakshya Sen lost his badminton match. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pause fighting for seven days, The Wall Street Journal reported. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had sent the proposal to Washington through Qatari mediators. Under the plan, the strait would reopen within seven days, while hostilities would stop across the region and talks on Iran’s nuclear programme would begin. Iran also sought the release of frozen assets, sanctions relief on oil and an end to the US naval blockade of its ports. The report said Trump expects US bombing of Iran to resume after the November congressional elections. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are planning a meeting of their military chiefs to discuss support for Riyadh amid escalating Houthi attacks. The move follows talks in New York between Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and Turkey’s Hakan Fidan on implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Signed last month, the pact establishes deterrence and states that an armed attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all three. The ministers condemned attacks targeting Makkah and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, while stressing sovereignty, non-interference and freedom of navigation. The meeting comes as Saudi Arabia reports Houthi attacks, including six missiles intercepted recently. (PC: Reuters)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has warned that China could restrict US access to valuable areas near the Moon’s south pole if it arrives first. Speaking at the Off World conference in Houston, Isaacman said China’s delayed Chang’e 7 mission was targeting Shackleton Crater, where permanently shadowed “cold traps” may contain water ice and useful materials. The mission is designed to use an orbiter, lander, rover and mobile hopper. Isaacman said establishing a presence first could allow exclusion zones around landing sites, potentially limiting rivals’ access. China’s delay has created an opportunity for NASA, with Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 planned for spring 2027. China aims for crewed lunar missions by 2030. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping that any direct or indirect Chinese assistance to Iran was “totally unacceptable”, according to US Ambassador to China David Perdue. The warning included intelligence, military equipment and components that could support Tehran’s war effort. Perdue said Washington had raised the issue with Beijing weeks earlier and claimed China had provided assurances that it would stop such assistance, with some movement already observed. Trump confirmed he discussed the Iran conflict with Xi during the Chinese leader’s Washington visit. China has called for de-escalation, with Xi urging a return to negotiations and a peaceful resolution. The discussions also covered efforts to keep the strategically important Strait of Hormuz open. (PC: Reuters)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declined to answer questions about terrorism and the prosecution of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed during his visit to the United Nations headquarters. Reporters first asked Sharif when Pakistan would stop harbouring terrorists as he entered the UN complex, but he did not respond. Later, while leaving, he was again asked when Saeed would be prosecuted and again refused to answer. The exchange occurred a day before Sharif’s address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Hafiz Saeed, a designated terrorist under Indian law, is wanted as an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case. The NIA has named him in its Pahalgam terror case supplementary chargesheet. (PC: X)

The UN Security Council has condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure that injured civilians. The escalation has prompted Riyadh to seek stronger coordination with Pakistan and Turkey under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August. The pact treats an attack on any member as an attack on all three. Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish foreign ministers discussed arrangements for an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to consider ways to support the kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti also called on troops to remain prepared to defend the country and borders. The Houthis have intensified attacks since July, targeting Saudi interests and energy infrastructure.

India held 44th-ranked Panama to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday. Ryan Williams gave India the lead shortly before half-time after receiving a long pass, running into the box and calmly finishing his one-on-one chance. Panama, which featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, responded in the second half through Omar Valencia. The Panamanian midfielder produced a stunning left-footed strike from outside the penalty area, finding the top corner to level the score. Both teams continued to attack in search of a winner, but neither could break the deadlock. The result gave India a notable draw against a significantly higher-ranked World Cup opposition.