The National Commission for Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is organising a national consultation titled 'Khel Shakti' on Tuesday. The event aims to address challenges faced by women athletes, strengthen their safety, welfare, and participation, and promote equity and leadership in sports. Key stakeholders will discuss expanding participation, ensuring safe environments, and fostering career continuity for women in the Indian sporting ecosystem.
Nvidia's board has initiated an independent investigation into reports that CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a Chinese intelligence operation involving a businesswoman with whom he allegedly had a romantic relationship. This comes as former US President Donald Trump defended Huang as an "honourable guy" and China dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign.
The Defence Ministry invoked national security to deny information regarding the appointment process of the Chief of Air Staff, including names of officers considered and policy guidelines. This denial, upheld by the Central Information Commission, came after multiple defence offices were unable to identify the authority holding such records, highlighting transparency issues.
India has issued an advisory to its nationals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to abide by local rules and regulations, particularly regarding filming or publishing information about missile and drone interceptions. This comes amidst escalating regional tensions and recent drone and missile attacks. The advisory also includes updates on flight suspensions by Air India and Air India Express to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah, with some suspensions extending until 2026. Indian missions are providing assistance to affected nationals and liaising with Saudi authorities.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will inaugurate the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad on Monday. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Gujarat government, the event on 12 October 2026, under India's BRICS Chairmanship, will feature traditional sports like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India. The non-competitive Games aim to foster cultural exchange and knowledge-sharing among BRICS and partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Africa, and the UAE.
For the first time on foreign soil, 'Vande Mataram' was played before a cricket match, preceding the national anthem at the India vs Japan T20 International in Sano, Japan.
An ad-hoc committee overseeing Indian table tennis has removed official ranking points from national tournaments, including the upcoming Panchkula edition, causing significant anxiety among players like Ankur Bhattacharya. The committee, formed after the Table Tennis Federation of India's suspension, states its mandate is to protect athletes but will only award points once an official calendar is finalised, impacting team selections.
US President Donald Trump has publicly defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, calling him a 'very high-quality person' amidst allegations of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy and an ongoing FBI probe. Trump stated that Huang denied any knowledge of the woman's alleged ties to Chinese intelligence, and the President believes him.
The embassy of India to Yemen has successfully evacuated 19 Indian seafarers who were stranded in Hodeidah and Sana'a (Yemen) for the past two weeks, the Indian embassy in Yemen said on Sunday.
India has strongly rejected a civil lawsuit filed in a US court by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former R&AW chief Samant Goel, calling the allegations "fabricated and malicious." The US State Department confirmed it delivered the summonses through diplomatic channels, clarifying that this does not indicate a US position on the merits of the case.
The US Treasury Department has sanctioned a Chandigarh-based couple, Suniel Kumar Sharma and Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, and their network of companies. They are accused of providing false flags and certifications to support Iran's shadow fleet, enabling the transport of petroleum and evasion of international restrictions. Their operations involved defrauding maritime regulatory administrations and establishing fraudulent flagging registries across multiple jurisdictions.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh raised concerns with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh regarding the sealing of the Indian Air Force's sports complex within the Race Course Air Force Station by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The move, which led to the cancellation of a farewell event, is part of a broader government drive to reclaim prime land parcels in the area, despite the IAF citing operational importance and a 2014 joint survey.
Barricades around Delhi's Jantar Mantar have been removed following its denotification as an authorised protest site. This decision, based on recommendations from a Home Ministry committee, was communicated to the Supreme Court by Delhi Police, citing concerns over public safety, traffic, and security. Three alternative protest venues have been designated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet and interact with India's medal-winners from the recent Asian Para Games on Thursday at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. India achieved its best-ever performance at the Games, securing 114 medals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed peace efforts for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Modi reaffirming India's commitment to a peaceful resolution. Zelenskyy also sought India's mediation in establishing food corridors for Black Sea grain exports.
India has lost 23 nationals in the ongoing conflict in West Asia, including 15 Indian seafarers, while five Indian nationals have been killed in attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea region and two others remain missing, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday.
India is intensifying diplomatic efforts to secure the release and safeguard the legal rights of Merchant Navy Captain Ajay Pant, who has been in UK judicial custody since June following the interception of an oil tanker over alleged violations of Russian oil sanctions.
India may have a vast coastline and a strategic location, but it will become a true maritime nation only when its people understand, value and actively participate in the maritime ecosystem, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
An Indian sailor was killed in an attack on a commercial vessel near Limah, Oman, last evening, prompting India to strongly condemn the strike and call for immediate de-escalation of tensions in West Asia. This incident brings the total number of Indian nationals killed in the region's conflict since February to 23, including 15 seafarers. India is pushing for a diplomatic solution to restore peace and stability.
Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has called for the inclusion of popular sports like arm wrestling and Mallakhamb in the Olympics, citing their growing global popularity. His remarks came during the opening of the 47th WAF World Armwrestling Championship in New Delhi, an event also attended by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who pledged full government support.
Punjab Police, with central agency support, has secured the deportation of wanted gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi from Ethiopia after a 10-month international manhunt. This marks the first time Punjab Police has secured a fugitive's deportation from an African country. Afridi, a key kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang, is wanted in over 30 heinous criminal cases, including five murders, and was allegedly directing organised crime from abroad. The operation, codenamed 'Operation SHAHID', involved extensive international coordination and tracking across multiple continents.
Iran's powerful secretary of the supreme national security council Major General Mohsen Rezaei has issued a warning to the US after Donald Trump indicated that the war is unlikely to resume.
Pakistan is currently deliberating its participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Civilisational Dialogue Forum, scheduled to be held in India later this month. The invitation from India is significant given the historically strained bilateral relations, particularly after recent military confrontations and India's consistent concerns about cross-border terrorism.
India has strongly asserted that human rights should not be weaponised for political pressure or selective targeting of nations, pushing back against attempts to negatively characterise the world's largest democracy based on unverified allegations and incomplete statistics.
The Indian Golf Union (IGU) has approved significant amendments to its Memorandum of Association, including the addition of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit, creation of a Dispute Resolution Committee, and modifications to its election process, all aimed at aligning with the National Sports Governance Act.
The AICF's proposed constitution could change the symbolism of its top office. The president may no longer remain merely the king on the chessboard -- important to the organisation but with limited reach -- and could become something closer to the queen, influencing internal governance, external representation and emergency decision-making.
The Centre has announced a major bureaucratic reshuffle, appointing Prakash Rajpurohit as Deputy Election Commissioner and approving appointments for 27 civil servants at joint secretary and equivalent levels across various ministries and departments.
The US midterm elections saw the Democratic Party gain control of Congress and key gubernatorial posts, leading international affairs experts to view the outcome as a referendum on President Donald Trump's policies. Analysts suggest the results signal a desire for change in his behaviour and could prompt a more pragmatic approach in his remaining term, with potential implications for global politics and India-US relations.
A Bangladesh opposition leader, Nahid Islam of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has issued warnings against facilitating an Indian transit corridor through Bangladesh and called for a fair renewal of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, which expires in December. His remarks were made at a rally in Dhaka, where he also criticised the current government. The allegations about the corridor follow Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to Japan, which focused on economic cooperation and regional connectivity, though Bangladesh officials deny discussing third-country issues. India has also expressed interest in strengthening regional linkages with Japan involving its northeastern states.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a three-day visit to India to discuss bilateral ties in energy, trade, investment, defence, and critical technologies, as well as the West Asia crisis. His visit aims to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership amidst existing friction, with a focus on finalising a proposed bilateral trade deal.
NITI Aayog has called for a fundamental overhaul of urban governance in India, advocating for empowered city governments, directly elected mayors with five-year terms, and greater financial autonomy for urban local bodies to manage the country's rapidly growing urban population.
Engagement with neighbours has gathered pace, particularly as the conflict in West Asia has exposed their vulnerability to energy supply disruptions.
India has issued a fresh advisory for its nationals, particularly Umrah pilgrims, in Saudi Arabia due to ongoing flight cancellations and regional tensions. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah is providing assistance, coordinating with Saudi authorities, and helping facilitate the early return of affected individuals amidst disruptions caused by drone and missile attacks.
The Union Sports and Education Ministries, in collaboration with UNESCO, have launched the 'Sports Values in Every Classroom Toolkit' to promote clean sport values and integrity among students nationwide. The initiative, announced at NADA India's Clean Sport Conclave, aims to integrate values like respect and fairness into education through multilingual video modules. Ministers Mandaviya and Joshi emphasised the importance of this partnership in strengthening India's sporting ambitions and bridging the gap between education and sports.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's Rajya Sabha bypoll affidavit reveals his wife, Laxmi Puri, possesses significantly greater wealth, including higher annual income, movable assets, and bank deposits. The affidavit details their respective financial holdings, income sources, and also mentions Puri's acknowledged past meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, while confirming no criminal cases are pending against him.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has denied its over-50s team permission to participate in the International Masters Cricket World Cup in India next January, citing government refusal. This follows a similar decision by the Pakistan Hockey Federation, highlighting ongoing strained relations between the two nations.
European security agencies are on high alert following jihadist calls for suicide bombings and vehicle attacks against police and demonstrators during widespread economic protests across Europe. Messages linked to the Islamic State urged extremists to exploit crowded demonstrations in countries like France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. India has also issued advisories for its nationals in affected European nations, urging vigilance.
An Indian national was killed and ten others injured in an attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Indian Embassy confirmed the death and ongoing medical care for the injured. India has strongly condemned the repeated attacks, which Saudi Arabia blames on Yemen's Houthis, and called for an immediate cessation of violence.
US President Donald Trump has issued a waiver from sanctions under the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, citing national interest. This move comes after a deal with Russia for diesel supply and ahead of a US official's visit to India, where concerns about the act's impact on India's oil imports were raised.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on October 20 for talks aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Discussions will cover energy, trade, defence, and critical technologies. The visit also includes celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US Independence. This meeting follows earlier confusion regarding Rubio's visit and will also touch upon the India-US bilateral trade agreement, which both sides are close to concluding. The MEA clarified that hosting foreign dignitaries outside Delhi is a common practice.
