India has introduced revised passport rules, with changes to validity periods and application fees for different age groups. Under the new rules, a 36-page ordinary passport issued to children below 15 will remain valid for five years or until they turn 18, whichever comes first. Earlier, the age limit was 15. The revised fee structure came into effect from July 1, 2026. A 36-page adult passport now costs ₹2,500, while the 60-page version costs ₹3,500. For minors, the normal 36-page passport fee is ₹1,750. Children below eight and senior citizens above 60 continue to receive a 10% discount on fresh applications. (PC: X)

The Supreme Court has questioned the sharp rise in prices of essential cancer medicines after being told that a drug bought by retailers for Rs 2,700 was sold with an MRP of Rs 27,000. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta questioned how patients could be charged 10 times the procurement cost and why authorities had not acted. The court also raised concerns over hospitals buying medicines at high prices and seeking reimbursement under government health schemes. The petitions before the court allege excessive markups, forced purchases from hospital pharmacies and limited access to cheaper alternatives. (PC: India Today)

A bronze statue honoring rescue dog Tsunami has been unveiled in Maracaibo, Venezuela, recognizing his search-and-rescue efforts after a June earthquake. Tsunami helped rescue teams search for people following the disaster. The city presented him with its Honor of Merit award, while the Maracaibo Fire Department awarded him a Medal of Valor. The tribute highlights the role of trained rescue animals in emergency operations. Tsunami’s work during the earthquake response drew attention from local officials and residents, who gathered to honor the dog. The statue was unveiled as a lasting recognition of his contribution to the rescue effort.

India’s men’s skeet team won the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Kazakhstan in a shoot-off. Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmed Khan and Bhavtegh Singh Gill combined to secure the podium finish in Aichi-Nagoya. The Indian team was locked with Kazakhstan after the regulation stage, forcing a shoot-off to decide the bronze medal. India held its nerve in the decisive contest to finish third. Naruka also advanced to the individual men’s skeet final, giving India another medal opportunity in the event. The bronze added to India’s strong shooting campaign at the Asian Games. (PC: The Times of India)

The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has warned Indian nationals against using Malaysia's 30-day visa-free facility to seek employment, calling it a clear violation of immigration rules. The advisory follows a noticeable rise in Indians arriving under the scheme to look for work, many misled by agents making false job promises. This can lead to overstay, illegal status, exploitation, detention and legal action, the mission said. The visa-free entry is meant only for tourism and social visits. Genuine tourists were advised to carry a confirmed return ticket, hotel booking, MDAC registration and a passport valid for six months. (PC: HT)

Canada's immigration authority, IRCC, has issued a fresh advisory warning against marriage fraud, cautioning citizens and permanent residents against entering "relationships of convenience" for immigration purposes. The warning comes amid a rise in so-called "contract marriages" in Punjab, where grooms' families fund a bride's IELTS coaching, education or travel costs in exchange for a promised spousal sponsorship to Canada — only for the bride to cut ties after settling abroad. Punjab Police have registered several such cheating cases this year, including one racket that allegedly extracted over Rs 1.60 crore from victims through fake engagements and marriages. (PC: X)

Indian shooter Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women's 10m air pistol final at the Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, scoring 181.1 points before being eliminated after her 18th shot, which read 9.6. The 24-year-old had qualified third with 579-20x, recovering from a slow start with strong final series of 96, 96 and 98. South Korea's Choo Gaeun won gold with an Asian record 246.3 points, China's Shen Yiyao took silver (241.3), and Jiang Ranxin claimed bronze (221.6). Earlier, India's women's team also missed the podium, finishing fourth by just two inner-10 shots. Esha Singh and Suruchi Singh placed 16th and 26th respectively in qualification. (PC: NDTV)

Bank customers face a five-day disruption from September 26 to 30, as a weekend and a nationwide strike combine to shut branches. Banks will be closed on September 26 (fourth Saturday) and 27 (Sunday), followed by a three-day strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions from September 28-30. SBI, Bank of Baroda and Canara Bank have issued advisories urging customers to complete urgent transactions early. The strike, over demands for a five-day banking week and pension issues, mainly hits public sector banks; private lenders should function normally. UPI, net banking and ATMs will remain unaffected. Unions have warned of an indefinite strike from October 26 if demands aren't met. (PC: Economic Times)

Videos showing a mysterious object with bright, multicoloured lights hovering over Tehran have surfaced on social media, sparking widespread speculation. The clips, reportedly filmed on September 20 near the Azadegan Expressway, show a low-flying object moving through the night sky. Iranian authorities have not identified the object or called it a threat, and its altitude, speed and size remain unconfirmed. Theories range from a military drone to a kite viewed from a distance. The sighting comes amid rising tensions between Iran, the US and Israel. It has also revived memories of the famous 1976 Tehran UFO incident, though no link has been confirmed.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that trade talks with India were making “good progress” and that both countries aimed to conclude negotiations by the G20 summit in December. Carney said he was also looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Canada around the summit, although the exact date of Modi’s visit has not been finalised. Canada and India formally began negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement in March, with both sides earlier aiming to complete the pact by the end of 2026. Carney said the talks were part of Canada’s wider effort to expand trade beyond the United States. (PC: NDTV)