India's Suchika Tariyal won a historic bronze medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games 2026, but she left the arena in tears after missing out on the final by just 700 grams.   In the women's traditional 60kg semifinal, Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo was declared the winner after extra time. India's federation protested, and judges reviewing the footage ruled the bout a draw. As per the rules, the tie was then settled by pre-fight weight, and the lighter Teo advanced.   Tariyal, 36, became India's first Asian Games MMA medallist. (PC: India Today)

Age is no barrier for 85-year-old Lal Chand Godara, an Army veteran who has completed his Master of Arts from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), scoring 965 out of 1,200 marks.   Godara, who served in the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars, returned to his books at 76 after his grandchildren's questions revived his wish to finish his education. He graduated in 2023, at 81.   He joined the Army before turning 20 and later worked as a Yard Master in the Haryana Transport Department. His son, Dr Sahib Ram Godara, confirmed the news. Godara now plans to pursue a PhD or a law degree. (PC: The Indian Express)

The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will come into force on October 20, 2026, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. The date falls on Vijayadashami.   The pact, signed in April, gives Indian exports 100% duty-free access to New Zealand. India will open about 70% of its tariff lines in phases, while protecting sensitive sectors such as core dairy and onions.   New Zealand has pledged $20 billion in investment over 15 years and a quota of 5,000 temporary work visas for skilled Indian professionals. Both nations aim to double trade to nearly $5 billion in five years. (PC: X)

More than 1.6 million people across five Japanese prefectures have been urged to evacuate as Typhoon Dujuan moves close to Tokyo, bringing the threat of record rainfall.   In Kanagawa prefecture, firefighters fear a woman has been buried alive after a landslide crushed a house. About 300 flights have been cancelled and some train services suspended.   Dujuan has sustained winds of 130km/h, with gusts of up to 194km/h. Up to 350mm of rain could fall in the Tokai region.   The storm is the latest in a wave of Pacific storms, made more intense by this year's "super El Niño", which has warmed the ocean. (PC: BBC)

India has served eight times as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, most recently in 2021-22, and continues to press for a permanent seat.   New Delhi first put forward its candidature in 1994 and says the Council must expand in both permanent and non-permanent categories to reflect today's world. The five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, have not changed since 1945, and each holds veto power.   India cites its size, democracy, economic weight and peacekeeping role. It has also launched a campaign for a non-permanent seat for 2028-29. China has not explicitly backed India's bid.

IIT Bombay has removed Prof Suryanarayana Doolla as dean, three days after second-year student Sahil Wakode died by suicide following a mid-semester exam.   Wakode died on September 18, hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during the exam. Doolla, the invigilator, had reported the alleged malpractice. Wakode's parents have alleged harassment and caste-based discrimination, and Doolla's name is in the FIR. The allegations are under investigation.   The action followed Director Prof Shireesh Kedare signing an 18-point charter of demands from protesting students. It includes an independent inquiry and reforms in counselling and discipline. The institute said Kedare has not resigned. (PC: India Today)

India had a strong second day at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, adding four medals to its tally, which now stands at six.   Shooters led the way. Himanshu Dhillon won silver and Rudrankksh Patil took bronze in the men's 10m air rifle individual event. Earlier, the two teamed up with Parth Mane to win team silver.   Suchika Tariyal secured a historic bronze in MMA after losing a close semi-final to Singapore's Victoria Teo.   The men's kabaddi team beat Japan 49-24, the women's hockey team thrashed Indonesia 17-1, and the men's badminton team defeated Bangladesh 3-0. Swimmer Srihari Nataraj finished 10th in the 50m backstroke final. (PC: NDTV Sports)

The United States and China have discussed setting up a "notification mechanism" for artificial intelligence incidents that could affect national security, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday.   He made the remarks after what he called "successful" talks in New York with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The meeting comes days before President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are due to hold a summit in Washington.   Bessent said greater transparency between the world's top two AI powers is important. The two sides also discussed a "Board of Trade" to identify possible tariff cuts. A tariff truce expires on 10 November. (PC: BBC)

The Trump administration has prepared sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC), broadening Washington’s campaign against the tribunal. The measures could be announced during the UN General Assembly, and would target the court as an institution, rather than only judges and prosecutors. US Treasury sanctions could bar US citizens and companies from providing funds, goods or services to the ICC without authorisation, affecting IT services, insurance, investigator recruitment and financial transactions. Washington has urged the ICC to withdraw arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and end its investigation into US troops in Afghanistan. The court was established in 2002 under the Rome Statute to prosecute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. (PC: X)

Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces two days after the September 18 Kohat bombing in Pakistan, which killed 21 people and injured more than 50, according to the supplied report. At least three people were killed in Kunar, while several others were reportedly injured. Two separate strikes hit the Rakha and Torkandi areas of Barmal district in Paktika, with no casualties reported there. The strikes mark another escalation after months of tit-for-tat military action between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hundreds have been killed in cross-border fighting since February, when Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes after earlier Pakistani airstrikes. The Taliban condemned the latest strikes and vowed retaliation against Pakistan.