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.

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah used his first United Nations General Assembly address to warn that climate change and conflicts are disproportionately affecting South Asian nations. Referring to Nepal’s August floods, Shah said Nepal, Bangladesh, India and other nations in South Asia were “hit by the climate we did not warm, and hit again by the wars we did not start”. He contrasted weapons deliveries with shortages of food, fuel and fertiliser, describing “flawless logistics for war and broken logistics for food”. Shah proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China, focusing on satellite data sharing, glacier monitoring, joint early-warning systems and coordinated cross-border disaster assistance efforts.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping placed artificial intelligence at the centre of their White House summit, while outlining different approaches to managing the technology. Trump described “Super Intelligence” as a major discussion topic and said he wanted to leave AI “exactly where it is”, with the US Department of Justice serving as a guardrail. Xi called for the US and China to develop and manage AI for society’s benefit while ensuring it remains “under human control”. He also backed continued bilateral dialogue on AI’s risks, benefits and misuse. The contrasting remarks highlighted differences over AI guardrails even as both leaders emphasized cooperation and competition in the future.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to a Pakistani reporter who questioned India over terrorism during an interaction on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. While speaking alongside Liberia’s Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Jaishankar was asked when India would stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. He replied, “A terrorist country is asking me that question,” before leaving. The exchange followed Jaishankar’s remarks at the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, where he highlighted repeated attacks on commercial vessels and seafarers in the Gulf, Red Sea and Black Sea. He said such attacks were “no longer exceptional occurrences” and called for stronger cooperation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the “disturbed area” status under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, across most of Manipur for six months from October 1, 2026. Thirteen police station areas across five districts remain excluded. Under Section 3, the declaration permits armed forces to assist civil authorities in areas considered sufficiently disturbed or dangerous. AFSPA powers include using force after due warning, destroying armed facilities, arresting people without warrants on specified grounds, and conducting searches without warrants. The Centre has also extended AFSPA in nine Nagaland districts, parts of five others, and Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap, Changlang and Longding, citing a review of the law and order situation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised concerns over attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said such attacks in the Gulf, Red Sea and Black Sea are “no longer exceptional occurrences”, citing incidents involving Indian sailors. Jaishankar highlighted the killing of an Indian sailor aboard the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV Cape Dao in the Gulf of Oman and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and Black Sea. He urged countries to “close ranks” to deter attacks and strengthen security. Jaishankar also highlighted Narendra Modi’s proposed seafarers emergency support network for distress alerts, medical assistance, family communication and evacuation support.

Gulveer Singh won silver in the men’s 10,000m final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, finishing 1.87 seconds behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew. Gulveer clocked 28:29.38, while Balew took gold. The result gave Gulveer his second consecutive Asian Games medal in the 10,000m, following his bronze at the 2022 Hangzhou Games. He had also won silver in the event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the 10,000m. Gulveer’s latest podium finish adds another major medal to India’s athletics campaign at the Asian Games and further strengthens his record in long-distance running across major international competitions in recent seasons.

Baranica Elangovan made history at the 2026 Asian Games by winning bronze in the women’s pole vault in Nagoya, securing India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the event. The 29-year-old athlete cleared 4.15 metres to finish on the podium. She shared the bronze with Russia’s Polina Ivanova, who also cleared 4.15m before both athletes failed to clear 4.25m. Baranica entered the Games as India’s national record holder, having raised the mark to 4.23m earlier this year. Her breakthrough follows a 2026 season and adds another major achievement to India’s athletics campaign in Nagoya. The medal also marked India’s first Asian Games pole vault podium finish across both men’s and women’s competition. (PC: X)

US intelligence assessments cited by CNN say Chinese groups have provided satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence that helped Iran improve targeting of US military bases and vessels. The support reportedly aided a July strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan that killed three American service members, with officials saying its precision would have been difficult without outside intelligence. Chinese geospatial data has also helped Iranian forces track maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and better time drone attacks on ships. US officials said China’s assistance is one of several factors behind Iran’s improved capabilities, alongside Russian support and battlefield experience. The extent of Beijing’s involvement remains unclear, however. (PC: X)

Pakistani and Taliban forces clashed along the disputed Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan’s Chaman sector on Friday, ending three months of relative calm. Pakistani security sources said their forces thwarted an attempted attack from across the border and killed several Afghan Taliban fighters. CNN-News18 reported that Pakistani forces destroyed at least seven Taliban positions with concentrated artillery fire, while security sources put the Taliban death toll at at least 17. Taliban officials said Pakistani strikes hit Afghan refugees expelled from Pakistan. The clashes followed Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan this week, including strikes in Kunar, Paktika and Kandahar. Islamabad repeatedly accuses the Taliban of sheltering TTP militants, while Kabul strongly denies the allegations.