Researchers investigating Turkey’s boat-shaped Durupınar Formation near Mount Ararat say new radar surveys and drilling have detected unusual underground features, including straight lines, right-angle intersections, possible corridors and cavity-like spaces. The research team has described the formation as a man-made structure, while some reports have linked the findings to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, traditionally dated by some interpretations to more than 4,300 years ago. However, the Ark itself has not been confirmed. Organic material recovered through drilling is being tested, while further core sampling and a specially designed robot investigation are planned. Scientists remain divided over the formation’s origin.

President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at a White House state dinner on September 24, bringing together leading technology and business figures. Forbes estimated that the combined net worth of the attending or expected-to-attend tech moguls exceeded $2.4 trillion, with Elon Musk accounting for nearly 40% of the total. Guests included Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Tim Cook, Sergey Brin, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. The gathering came as AI, trade and US-China technology relations remained major issues surrounding the Trump-Xi meeting. 

A Delhi court has allowed US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals to leave India for one month after granting them default bail in an NIA case. The court released their passports and permitted VanDyke to travel to the US and the six Ukrainians to Ukraine, subject to conditions. They must return to India after the permitted period and provide overseas contact details to investigators. The NIA is continuing its investigation into allegations involving a drone-warfare training programme linked to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. The agency’s September 8 chargesheet invoked immigration-related offences, while the UAPA investigation remains ongoing. 

India’s women’s kabaddi team reached the Asian Games 2026 final after defeating Nepal 48-24 in the semifinal on Friday. The defending champions controlled the contest from the first half, taking a commanding 31-17 lead at the interval. India’s raiders consistently collected points while the defence tightened its grip as the match progressed. Nepal struggled to close the gap in the second half, scoring only seven points. The victory kept India’s unbeaten run intact and maintained their pursuit of a fourth consecutive Asian Games gold medal. India will face either Iran or Chinese Taipei in Saturday’s final. 

A 17-year-old girl has told Delhi Police that three men posing as police officers allegedly sexually assaulted her at Aastha Kunj Park in south Delhi. According to the FIR, the teenager was visiting the park with a male friend after visiting Kalkaji temple on her birthday. The men allegedly questioned them, took their phones and separated the two. The girl said she was taken to a secluded area, threatened with a firearm and knives, and assaulted. Police arrested three suspects—Asif, Hemant Singh and Mukesh Singh—after the victim provided identifying details. The investigation is ongoing. (PC: ANI)

Bihar Police have registered a case against six unidentified young men after a video allegedly showing a woman being harassed and assaulted at Mandar Hill in Banka district went viral. According to police, the footage appears to have been recorded on September 3 and shows the men allegedly behaving indecently and hitting the woman with a slipper. Police received the video through their social media cell on September 22 and visited Mandar Hill to verify the location. The accused and woman have not yet been identified. Police have recorded the video as evidence and launched an investigation under relevant BNS and IT Act provisions. 

Italy’s government has approved new school measures under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that ban face-covering garments such as burqas and niqabs in schools. The rules prohibit covered faces during curricular, extracurricular and school-family activities, with fines of €200 to €1,000 for violations. The government has also introduced a 30% limit on certain foreign students in first-year classes, particularly those with limited experience in Italy’s education system. Officials say the measures aim to promote integration and Italian-language learning. Schools may receive exemptions and additional language-support funding. The decree must be ratified by Parliament within 60 days. (PC: Reuters)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign within 48 hours over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The group threatened a nationwide agitation and an indefinite sit-in in Delhi, described as “Jantar Mantar 2.0,” if Kumar does not step down. CJP also announced an “Election Commission Thik Karo” campaign and called for an independent investigation into SIR-related decisions. The group cited concerns over voter exclusions and changes to electoral procedures. The Election Commission has said differing views among commissioners are part of its normal decision-making process. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House, where the two leaders highlighted improving relations between the United States and China. During the visit, Xi announced that China would send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta in the coming days, continuing a long-standing tradition of panda diplomacy. The announcement came as Washington and Beijing seek to stabilize relations amid disagreements over trade, technology and other strategic issues. The panda arrival is expected to provide a symbolic boost to people-to-people ties. The leaders’ meeting also focused on strengthening communication and cooperation between the world’s two largest economies. (PC: X)

More than 100 people were arrested in New York during protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly. Demonstrators, including activists, politicians and actors, blocked a road near the UN headquarters and called for an end to US military support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Police said 103 people were arrested for disorderly conduct, and all were later released. Among those detained were actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder and congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier. The protests coincided with Netanyahu’s UN speech, during which he defended Israel’s actions and rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza. (PC: Reuters)