India’s September 26 news cycle was marked by developments at the United Nations and a notable achievement in athletics, with India responding to Pakistan’s remarks on Kashmir at the UN General Assembly and Sawan Barwal winning a silver medal in the men’s marathon at the 2026 Asian Games.
India exercised its right of reply after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif referred to Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the UN General Assembly. India’s representative Petal Gahlot reiterated New Delhi’s position on cross-border terrorism and said India maintains the right to respond to terrorist threats.
The exchange came after Sharif raised Kashmir and the Indus Waters issue in his address. India rejected Pakistan’s assertions, keeping the long-running disagreements between the two countries over terrorism, Kashmir and water-related matters in focus at the international forum.
Indian athletics celebrated a significant milestone at the Asian Games in Japan. Sawan Barwal secured the silver medal in the men’s marathon, completing the 42.195-kilometre race in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 37 seconds. Barwal’s performance also resulted in a new Indian national record. His silver ended India’s 44-year wait for a medal in the Asian Games men’s marathon. Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita won the gold medal, while China’s Peiyou Feng finished third.
The result marks an important moment in Barwal’s developing marathon career. He had earlier broken the long-standing Indian marathon record and has continued to improve his performances over the distance. The two developments offered contrasting highlights from September 26, with diplomatic tensions involving India and Pakistan again surfacing at the UN while Barwal’s performance provided a major moment for Indian athletics at the Asian Games.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
The US State Department has launched a new online reporting portal that allows members of the public to flag suspected visa fraud, immigration violations and other forms of misuse involving the US immigration system. The new platform covers a broad range of visa and immigration categories, including tourist and business visas, employment-based visas, student and academic programmes, as well as family-sponsored and permanent immigration routes. A separate option is also available for reporting other suspected violations.
Announcing the initiative on X, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stressed the importance of complying with US immigration rules, saying that “a US visa is a privilege, not a right.” He encouraged people in the United States to use the new reporting system to provide information about suspected unlawful activity or misuse of immigration benefits.
The department's reporting form allows users to submit detailed information about individuals they believe may have violated immigration or visa rules. Depending on what is available, reports can include a person's name, Alien Registration Number, passport or visa information, petition or receipt numbers, date of birth, address, email, phone number, citizenship and social media accounts.
The portal is not limited to individuals. Reports can also be filed against businesses, educational institutions, law firms and other organisations allegedly connected to immigration-related violations. Users can provide details such as the organisation's name, address, website, social media accounts, contact information and information about relevant employees. People submitting information can choose to remain anonymous. Those who provide their name and email address, however, may be contacted by authorities if investigators require additional information or clarification.
The reporting form asks users to explain the suspected violation in detail and provides space for any additional information, including details about previous reports or related incidents. The State Department has also warned that knowingly providing false information could result in legal consequences, including fines, imprisonment, or both.
According to the department's privacy guidance, information received through the portal may be used to support law enforcement investigations or immigration-related administrative proceedings. The information may also be shared within the government for official purposes or provided to federal, state, local, tribal, territorial or international law enforcement agencies when appropriate.
Authorities have clarified that the portal is intended specifically for immigration and visa-related concerns. Reports involving unrelated crimes should instead be submitted to the relevant local law enforcement agency or government authority. Any situation involving an immediate threat to public safety or national security should be reported through the appropriate emergency channels.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia’s economy remains heavily dependent on major buyers such as India, China and Turkey, arguing that reducing their purchases of Russian energy could increase pressure on Moscow and affect its ability to continue the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy made the remarks in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, where he discussed the role of Russian energy exports in supporting the country’s economy. He urged major buyers to reconsider their purchases of Russian oil as Ukraine continues to seek stronger international pressure on Moscow.
India has become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude since the start of the Ukraine conflict. Indian refiners increased purchases after Russian oil became available at discounted prices following Western sanctions and restrictions on Moscow’s energy exports. New Delhi has consistently defended its decision to purchase Russian crude, saying energy security and affordable supplies are important considerations for India. Indian officials have also maintained that purchasing oil from Russia is not a solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the war ultimately requires dialogue and diplomacy.
Recent trade data, however, indicates that India's purchases of Russian crude have been declining. Reuters reported that Indian imports of Russian oil fell to around 2.1 million barrels per day in August, down 16.5% from July. Russia nevertheless remained India's biggest oil supplier during the month. The issue has gained additional significance following increased pressure from the United States on countries continuing to purchase Russian energy. Washington has been considering and implementing measures aimed at reducing Russia's oil revenues, with potential consequences for major importers.
For India, any substantial reduction in Russian oil purchases would need to be balanced against the country's large energy requirements. Indian refiners can source crude from the Middle East and other suppliers, but changes in suppliers can affect transportation costs, crude prices and refining economics.
Zelenskyy's comments therefore highlight the wider geopolitical importance of India's energy relationship with Russia. While Ukraine wants major economies to cut Russian energy revenues, India has continued to focus on maintaining a reliable and affordable supply of crude while diversifying its sources. The future of Russian oil purchases by India could remain an important issue in India-US relations, the global energy market and the broader diplomatic efforts surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from AFP.
A growing dispute between US President Donald Trump and major American media organisations, protests at IIT Bombay following the death of a student, and India's medal campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan are among the major developments making headlines on Tuesday. In the United States, tensions between the Trump administration and several major media organisations have intensified over access to the White House. CNN, MS NOW and Politico have challenged restrictions on their access in a federal lawsuit, arguing that the issue raises wider questions about press freedom and journalists' ability to cover the US president. The dispute widened after ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC withdrew from a shared television coverage pool for Trump's events. Trump has repeatedly criticised media organisations over their coverage of his administration, while the affected news outlets have maintained that independent reporting is essential to their role.
In India, IIT Bombay continues to face scrutiny following the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode on September 18. The incident, which followed an examination-related episode, has prompted protests by students and renewed discussion about academic procedures, student welfare and institutional accountability. Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was the invigilator during the examination, was removed from his administrative position as Dean of Administrative Affairs, although he continues to remain a faculty member. Students have said their protests should not be viewed as support for cheating or academic misconduct and have instead called for greater attention to institutional processes and student welfare. Wakode's family has also raised allegations of caste discrimination, which remain subject to investigation.
India's campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, is another major focus. Indian athletes are competing across disciplines including shooting, badminton, boxing, kabaddi, hockey and cricket as the country seeks to increase its medal tally. The women's cricket team is particularly in focus as India takes on Sri Lanka in the final. India had won the women's cricket gold medal at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou and will be looking to secure another strong result in the continental tournament.
Shooting has already emerged as an important contributor to India's medal campaign, with Indian shooters securing podium finishes during the opening days of the Games. More medal opportunities are expected as competition continues across different events. The three developments highlight major stories across international affairs, education and sport. The US media dispute is likely to remain under legal and political scrutiny, while developments at IIT Bombay are being closely watched as investigations continue. At the same time, India's athletes will be looking to build on their early performances as the Asian Games progress.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
US President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for concessions on its nuclear programme. Responding to an Axios report on Truth Social, Trump said the claim was false and insisted, “I offered them NOTHING.” The report, citing unnamed US officials, claimed Trump was open to easing sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian funds if Tehran took concrete steps on nuclear issues. CNN separately reported that similar measures could be part of a potential agreement, provided Iran demonstrated progress on the nuclear issue. The reports come amid continued diplomatic efforts to end months of conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. The fighting began on February 28 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases. Trump has said weakening Iran’s nuclear capabilities is among the objectives of the campaign. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and maintains that it has the right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Disclaimer: This video is taken from WION.
Friends of exiled Russian opposition activist Igor Rogov were stunned when he was accused of having ties to the Kremlin. They struggled to believe that the young campaigner they knew could have secretly been working as an undercover agent.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Recent discussions between U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have failed to produce a major breakthrough. Daniel Martin speaks with Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, Professor of Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, for further analysis of the developments.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
More than two years after Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed by Israeli forces while travelling with a World Central Kitchen humanitarian convoy, Israel has cleared the soldiers involved of criminal responsibility. The decision has drawn strong criticism, including from Frankcom’s family and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described it as an “outrage.” With increasing demands for accountability, an apology and possible compensation, political editor Tom McIlroy discusses with Reged Ahmad what the decision means for Australia-Israel relations and whether ties between the two countries have reached a new low.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Only weeks after basking in the success of the World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is now facing growing pressure over his position. Infantino has apologised for his controversial proposal to sell the World Cup, but the apology has failed to stop calls for him to step down. The plan has sparked widespread criticism, raising fresh questions about his leadership and whether this latest controversy could prove too damaging. Why did the proposal trigger such a strong backlash, and could it ultimately bring Infantino’s FIFA presidency to an end? Sport reporter Jack Snape joins host Reged Ahmad to examine the growing crisis surrounding the FIFA chief and what could happen next.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
