Newcastle University has denied that Anant Ambani bought his “Professorship of Practice”, saying it received no donation from him or any company linked to him. The university said the recognition was awarded for his work in wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, animal welfare and environmental sustainability through Vantara and his role in Reliance Group’s green energy transition. The clarification follows criticism reported by The Guardian, with some conservationists and academics questioning the decision. The university said the position does not grant academic qualifications or involve setting its academic direction. It described Ambani as a leader in sustainability and clean-energy transition. (PC: The Telegraph)

Bangladesh is unlikely to export Hilsa to India ahead of Durga Puja 2026 and has also stopped importing the fish from India, traders in West Bengal said. The move comes after India exported more than 500 metric tonnes of Hilsa to Bangladesh over the past two months. According to the Fish Importers Association in Bengal, Bangladesh cancelled import permits through a circular issued on September 23. Traders said the usual window for importing Hilsa before Durga Puja has passed. Bangladesh has restricted Hilsa exports to India since 2012, allowing limited shipments during the festival season since 2019. (PC: The Indian Express)

Nisarga Adhikary, a 19-year-old Indian cybersecurity researcher who flagged security flaws in the CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, has been named in the US Department of Justice’s cybersecurity Hall of Fame. The recognition follows his report of a critical vulnerability in a US law enforcement system, which he said was fixed after the department verified his findings. The Hall of Fame acknowledges researchers who responsibly report security weaknesses. In June 2026, Adhikary joined IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub as an Open-Source Intelligence and Threat Intelligence Engineer. His work highlights the role of ethical hacking in improving digital security. (PC: India Today)

India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address. Exercising India’s Right of Reply, First Secretary Petal Gahlot called Pakistan a “regime of the army, by the army, and for the army”. She accused Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism and criticised its record on minorities and human rights. Gahlot also referred to Osama bin Laden’s presence near a Pakistani military academy. On Kashmir, she said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and raised concerns over Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. She added that India would continue exercising its right to defend itself against terrorism.  (PC: India Today)

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah used his first United Nations General Assembly address to warn that climate change and conflicts are disproportionately affecting South Asian nations. Referring to Nepal’s August floods, Shah said Nepal, Bangladesh, India and other nations in South Asia were “hit by the climate we did not warm, and hit again by the wars we did not start”. He contrasted weapons deliveries with shortages of food, fuel and fertiliser, describing “flawless logistics for war and broken logistics for food”. Shah proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China, focusing on satellite data sharing, glacier monitoring, joint early-warning systems and coordinated cross-border disaster assistance efforts.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to a Pakistani reporter who questioned India over terrorism during an interaction on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. While speaking alongside Liberia’s Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Jaishankar was asked when India would stop sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. He replied, “A terrorist country is asking me that question,” before leaving. The exchange followed Jaishankar’s remarks at the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, where he highlighted repeated attacks on commercial vessels and seafarers in the Gulf, Red Sea and Black Sea. He said such attacks were “no longer exceptional occurrences” and called for stronger cooperation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised concerns over attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said such attacks in the Gulf, Red Sea and Black Sea are “no longer exceptional occurrences”, citing incidents involving Indian sailors. Jaishankar highlighted the killing of an Indian sailor aboard the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV Cape Dao in the Gulf of Oman and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and Black Sea. He urged countries to “close ranks” to deter attacks and strengthen security. Jaishankar also highlighted Narendra Modi’s proposed seafarers emergency support network for distress alerts, medical assistance, family communication and evacuation support.

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah placed India and China at the centre of his first UN General Assembly address, proposing a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China. The initiative would focus on satellite data sharing, glacier monitoring, joint early-warning systems and coordinated cross-border disaster assistance. Shah said climate change does not recognise borders, highlighting the recent floods that affected communities across the Nepal-China border and downstream India. He thanked India and China for their assistance after the disaster. Shah’s proposal reflects Nepal’s effort to deepen regional cooperation while maintaining balanced ties with its two major neighbours. He also called for climate finance and international responsibility.

Bangladesh is unlikely to export Hilsa to India this Durga Puja season and has stopped importing it from India. The move follows India’s export of around 500 metric tonnes of Hilsa to Bangladesh over the past two months, reversing the traditional trade flow. Fish traders in Kolkata said Bangladesh cancelled import permits through a September 23 circular and is not allowing Hilsa imports this year. The annual export window to India, usually announced before Durga Puja, has not been opened. A delegation from the Fish Importers Association visited Dhaka in August and sought permission to import Hilsa. Bangladesh restricted Hilsa exports to India since 2012, while allowing festive windows since 2019. (PC: X)

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.