The International Space Station has emerged as a contender for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, with experts citing it as a symbol of global cooperation amid weakening multilateralism. Other names mentioned include US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ukrainian children’s advocate Mykola Kuleba, Save the Children, Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. The Norwegian Nobel Committee received 287 candidates, with slightly more than a quarter being organisations. Experts stress that predictions are speculative. Trump has openly sought the prize, while critics point to the US-Israel war in Iran. The winner will be announced October 9. (PC: X)

Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda will carry India’s flag at the 2026 Asian Games closing ceremony after winning three medals. The 27-year-old trap shooter secured two gold medals and a silver, emerging as a top performer in Asian Games shooting. She first won silver in the women’s trap team event with Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win Asian Games gold in individual trap, setting an Asian record with 28 in the final after topping qualification with 118. She later won mixed-team trap gold with Kynan Chenai, with their 34 hits breaking the previous Asian record of 33. The closing ceremony is scheduled for October 4. (PC: X)

Indian hockey umpire and technical official Gurinder Singh Sangha was sent home from the 2026 Asian Games in Japan following multiple complaints of alleged sexual misconduct. A Hockey India source told PTI that Sangha allegedly misbehaved with a female hockey official from Malaysia and a hotel staffer during his stay in Nagoya. Hockey India said it would consider action after receiving a detailed report from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), which appoints hockey umpires and technical officials for the Games. The AHF declined to comment. Sangha had also faced a complaint during the 2025 Hockey India League in Ranchi. Hockey India said a three-member committee investigated that earlier matter but found no substantial evidence against him. (PC: X)

India is set to face five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on October 3 in one of the biggest fixtures in Indian football history. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, India head coach Khalid Jamil and defender Anwar Ali addressed the media during a pre-match press conference. Brazil, meanwhile, were represented by head coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Marquinhos at their respective press conference. The star-studded Brazilian side includes players such as Vinicius Jr. and Endrick. The Blue Tigers are preparing for the historic encounter against Brazil, with Jamil and Ali discussing the challenge ahead. The article introduces their pre-match comments before the Kolkata clash. (PC: X)

Pakistan presented a man it claimed was Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Mohammad Asif, a day after India said it had killed him in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district. India had identified Asif, alias Hashim Musa, as a former Special Service Group (SSG) commando and claimed he was killed on Wednesday. Pakistan’s presentation of the man was intended to challenge India’s account, according to the report. However, the claimed identification quickly came under scrutiny, with independent OSINT accounts pointing to alleged mismatches in the man’s facial and anatomical features. The report said this led to accusations on social media that Pakistan had presented a lookalike to dispute India’s version of events.

UAE Presidential Advisor Anwar Gargash described the attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv by its Omani co-pilot as “terrorism,” marking the first such designation by the Emirati side. Gargash praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar for his professionalism and courage during what he called a dangerous terrorist act and potential disaster, calling him a “true hero.” He also urged caution against premature conclusions and unverified explanations as international teams investigate the incident, including the co-pilot’s alleged motives and background. Reports said pro-Palestinian material was found among the co-pilot’s belongings, while investigators are examining possible radicalisation. The September 30 incident involved an alleged cockpit stabbing, steep descent and hijacking distress signal.

Lovlina Borgohain won the women’s 75kg boxing gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, defeating China’s Bao Ziyi in the final to claim her maiden Asian Games title. The victory ended India’s 12-year wait for a women’s boxing gold since Mary Kom’s 51kg triumph in 2014, making Lovlina only the second Indian woman boxer to achieve the feat. She entered the final after a thrilling 3-2 semifinal victory over Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova. Against Bao, Lovlina overcame an aggressive challenge, particularly in the second round. She won the opening round 3-2 with patient counterpunching, then produced cleaner blows under pressure to take the second round 4-1, moving 2-0 ahead on the judges’ scorecards.

The Indian rupee is facing pressure from foreign portfolio outflows, stronger dollar demand and rising global bond yields, moving towards 97 per dollar. SBI Research has called for “protective guardrails” against speculative forces and said risks have tilted towards a 25-basis-point rate hike at the October 5-7 monetary policy meeting. The report cited broadening inflation, global macroeconomic conditions and renewed risk repricing. CPI inflation rose to 4.82% in August, while September inflation is projected at 5.65% and October-November inflation above 6.5%. SBI expects core surplus liquidity to decline sharply by March 2027. It also flagged weak monsoon conditions and risks to Rabi output and food inflation amid continued global economic uncertainty. (PC: X)

Ankush Panghal won the men’s 80kg boxing gold at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating South Korea’s Kim Minseong 4-0 in the final. The 21-year-old Haryana boxer became the first Indian male boxer since Amit Panghal in 2018 to win Asian Games gold. Ankush controlled the bout throughout, taking the opening round 4-1, dominating the second 5-0 and winning the final round 4-1. His victory completed a hat-trick of boxing gold medals for India at the Games. Lovlina Borgohain had earlier won the women’s 75kg title, while Parveen Hooda claimed gold in the women’s 65kg category. Ankush’s triumph also ended India’s wait for a men’s Asian Games boxing champion since 2018.

Actor Naseeruddin Shah visited Shivaji Park on October 2 to support Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke during his protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The report says Shah has supported Dipke since his movement over an alleged NEET paper leak through student protests in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. The CJP has raised three demands: the Election Commissioner's resignation and criminal proceedings against him, a pause on the SIR exercise, and restoration of the January 2025 voter list. During the meeting, Dipke became emotional and hugged Shah. The actor praised Dipke’s work, thanked him for inspiring people to raise their voices publicly, and said he wanted to thank him.