Brazil’s football team is following a tightly controlled diet in Kolkata ahead of its FIFA friendly against India. The squad has brought its own chefs and nutritionists, who are preparing nearly all meals according to specific nutritional requirements. Players are eating almost five times a day, with menus featuring rice, spaghetti, beans, fish, chicken, meat, vegetables and salads. Fish has received particular attention, with the Brazilian players enjoying fresh Bhetki prepared by their own culinary team. Oil use is controlled, while olive oil is preferred. The team is also following regulated beverage and hydration arrangements, including externally sourced drinking water. (PC: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Indian Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar after he was seriously injured during an alleged cockpit attack on Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to reports, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar while the aircraft was in flight, triggering a rapid descent. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene and restrain the attacker. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Modi said Machchhar demonstrated exceptional courage and presence of mind, crediting his actions with helping save passengers’ lives. Machchhar remains under medical care. 

Reliance Industries has proposed setting up a nuclear power plant in West Bengal, with the project potentially attracting around ₹2 lakh crore in investment over six to seven years. The proposal was discussed during meetings between Reliance officials and the state government. The company has reportedly shown interest in Haripur in East Midnapore, where an earlier NPCIL nuclear project was cancelled in 2011 following opposition from local fishermen and villagers. The state has also suggested Nayachar near Haldia as an alternative site. Reliance is additionally exploring investments in hotels, data centres and coal gasification. 

Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain celebrated her 29th birthday with a historic gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Competing in the women’s 75kg category, Lovlina defeated China’s Ziyi Bao by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the final. She controlled the bout after a closely contested opening round and maintained her composure to secure victory. The triumph made Lovlina only the second Indian woman boxer after MC Mary Kom to win Asian Games gold. It also upgraded her silver medal from the 2022 Hangzhou Games. 

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj was detained by Delhi Police on October 2 while attending a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revisions. Several AAP workers and other protesters were also detained. Bharadwaj alleged that police manhandled volunteers at the protest site, while authorities had earlier denied permission for the planned gathering and imposed restrictions on assemblies in New Delhi. Security was tightened around Jantar Mantar, with barricades deployed and several nearby roads and metro stations affected. The protest was part of wider demonstrations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. (PC: X)

The United States is deploying a third aircraft carrier strike group and about 9,000 additional sailors and Marines to the Middle East as tensions with Iran remain high. The deployment includes the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group. If the deployment proceeds as planned, three US aircraft carriers could be operating in the region by the end of October, alongside more than 20,000 US sailors and Marines and hundreds of aircraft. The move comes as President Donald Trump has warned that further strikes against Iran remain possible amid continuing conflict and stalled diplomacy. (PC: AP)

Separate protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar are planned in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of India on October 2, amid a political dispute over the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have announced a nationwide campaign from October 2 to 8, including district-level demonstrations and a march to the Election Commission’s headquarters. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has planned a separate protest in Mumbai. Delhi Police had not granted permission for the proposed Jantar Mantar demonstration. The Election Commission has defended its procedures amid opposition criticism. (PC: Reuters)

India’s Ankita Bhakat, Kumkum Mohod and Kirti Sharma created history at the 2026 Asian Games by defeating South Korea 5-3 in the women’s recurve team final on October 2. The victory secured India’s first-ever Asian Games gold in this event. India had earlier defeated China 5-1 in the semifinal to reach the final for the first time. The contest remained closely fought, with the teams level after the opening two sets. India took control in the third, while 17-year-old Kumkum delivered crucial 10s under pressure, including the decisive final arrow that sealed the historic victory. (PC: Reuters)

Gola, a popular community dog from Delhi’s SDA Market, has been crowned the capital’s favourite “fat dog” after defeating Googoo from Saket. The contest, organised through the Instagram page Fat Dogs of Delhi, began with 64 dogs and concluded after six rounds of voting. Around 94,000 votes were cast, including 92,598 online and 1,042 offline votes. Gola received 66,954 votes, while Googoo secured 27,046. Gola had died before the competition ended but remained on the ballot despite calls for her removal. Organisers said donations and sponsorships will support participating dogs and street-animal welfare. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to help end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying Modi has “very good ideas” for finding mutually acceptable solutions. Speaking at the Valdai Forum in Moscow, Putin said Modi regularly raises the need to end the conflict despite India’s close relations with Russia. He described India’s position as neutral but focused on achieving peace and thanked Modi for his diplomatic approach. Modi has repeatedly advocated dialogue and diplomacy, most recently telling Putin that the war should end and that India supports peaceful efforts to stop the fighting. (PC: NDTV)