India’s junior women’s hockey team created history by winning the AHF Women’s Junior Asia Cup for a third consecutive time, defeating hosts China 1-0 in a closely contested final in Moqi on Sunday. Sanika Mane scored the decisive goal, giving India the narrow victory in a tense encounter. The Indian team maintained its composure under pressure and successfully defended its title against a determined Chinese side. The triumph further strengthens India’s dominance in junior women’s hockey in Asia. The achievement also reflects the team’s consistent performances and structured preparation under coach Tim White. 

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to establish a new missile and weapons testing facility at Junput in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, along the Bay of Bengal. The project is intended to supplement the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, and reduce pressure on the existing facility. The Junput range will support testing of weapon systems, radar equipment and short-range missiles. The project had faced delays amid administrative issues and concerns from local fishing communities. With necessary state-level clearances now granted, the facility is expected to strengthen India’s defence-testing infrastructure and indigenous defence capabilities. (PC: Reuters)

Russia has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help facilitate peace talks to end the Ukraine war, as US President Donald Trump faces difficulties in reviving stalled negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed their readiness to assist. The development came during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where Modi, Xi and Putin were seen together. India has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Modi also told Putin during their bilateral meeting that India was ready to assist in peace efforts, while US-led attempts to broker a deal have so far produced no major breakthrough. (PC: X)

Shalini Thakur, a 38-year-old Indian-origin woman, was shot dead outside her workplace in Sacramento, California, on September 8, despite having a restraining order against the man accused of stalking her. Investigators said 22-year-old Rohit Rohit had allegedly harassed Thakur for months, including secretly tracking her with an Apple AirTag hidden under her car, tampering with her vehicle and entering her home while she was asleep. Thakur had obtained a restraining order in May and later reported an alleged violation. Police said Rohit chased and shot her at a shopping centre before fleeing. He later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

An 81-year-old man who was reportedly a former schoolmate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought his intervention in a decades-old land dispute in Mumbai’s Mira-Bhayander area. Asgarali Vohra met PM Modi on September 8 and requested a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. Vohra claims he purchased around 2,810 square metres of land in Navghar, Bhayander East, through a registered agreement in 1989. He has alleged that the property was encroached upon in 2011 and that documents were forged. The allegations are pending before a court, while a police case was registered in 2015. (PC: NDTV)

The debate over the risks of advanced artificial intelligence has intensified after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for a slower pace of AI development. Amodei warned that highly capable systems could become difficult for humans to control, while also raising concerns about their misuse in cyberattacks and bioterrorism.   OpenAI CEO Sam Altman backed Amodei’s call to “pace the frontier” and said independent evaluators should get access to advanced AI systems to assess safety. Elon Musk also supported Amodei, saying, “Dario is right.”   The concerns centre on AI systems that may eventually improve themselves, pursue goals beyond human control or be misused by people for dangerous purposes.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Sunday, a day after paying tribute to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present during the meeting. Anwar is in India to attend the BRICS Summit and held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. His discussions with Modi covered key areas including trade, defence, semiconductors and infrastructure. The meeting with Rahul Gandhi came amid efforts to strengthen India-Malaysia relations. Anwar has previously spoken warmly about his association with Manmohan Singh and his contribution to India’s ties with Malaysia and the wider region.

Russia imported a record 172,000 tonnes of oil products in August, more than seven times its previous monthly high, as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted its domestic refining capacity. India supplied around 70% of Russia’s fuel imports, including about 120,000 tonnes of gasoline worth €78 million. The fuel was refined at the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, which is partly owned by Russian oil giant Rosneft. The development highlights an unusual trade flow: Russian crude is sent to India, refined into fuel and then shipped back to Russia as attacks reduce Moscow’s domestic fuel production.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor Vijay flagged off the Michelin Le Mans Cup race at Silverstone in the UK on Saturday, where actor Ajith Kumar competed for Ajith RedAnt by Virage. Actress Trisha Krishnan was also seen at the circuit supporting Ajith. Ajith’s team made a strong start and climbed as high as third before an incident forced the car off track. After repairs, the team continued and finished 38th overall. However, Ajith’s team secured third place in the LMP3 Pro/Am category. The event brought together Tamil cinema stars and motorsport, drawing strong attention from fans online. (PC: X)

Celine Dion returned to the stage in Paris on Saturday, marking her first full concert in six years after stepping away because of health problems. The 58-year-old Canadian singer, who was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in 2022, performed before around 30,000 fans at Paris La Défense Arena. Dion became emotional several times during the show, telling the audience she had promised to return to the stage. Critics praised her powerful but more vulnerable performance, describing the comeback as high-stakes and deeply emotional. The concert was the first of a 26-show Paris residency that will continue through the coming months. (PC: BBC)