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.

Baranica Elangovan made history at the 2026 Asian Games by winning bronze in the women’s pole vault in Nagoya, securing India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the event. The 29-year-old athlete cleared 4.15 metres to finish on the podium. She shared the bronze with Russia’s Polina Ivanova, who also cleared 4.15m before both athletes failed to clear 4.25m. Baranica entered the Games as India’s national record holder, having raised the mark to 4.23m earlier this year. Her breakthrough follows a 2026 season and adds another major achievement to India’s athletics campaign in Nagoya. The medal also marked India’s first Asian Games pole vault podium finish across both men’s and women’s competition. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are planning a meeting of their military chiefs to discuss support for Riyadh amid escalating Houthi attacks. The move follows talks in New York between Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and Turkey’s Hakan Fidan on implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Signed last month, the pact establishes deterrence and states that an armed attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all three. The ministers condemned attacks targeting Makkah and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, while stressing sovereignty, non-interference and freedom of navigation. The meeting comes as Saudi Arabia reports Houthi attacks, including six missiles intercepted recently. (PC: Reuters)

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has warned that China could restrict US access to valuable areas near the Moon’s south pole if it arrives first. Speaking at the Off World conference in Houston, Isaacman said China’s delayed Chang’e 7 mission was targeting Shackleton Crater, where permanently shadowed “cold traps” may contain water ice and useful materials. The mission is designed to use an orbiter, lander, rover and mobile hopper. Isaacman said establishing a presence first could allow exclusion zones around landing sites, potentially limiting rivals’ access. China’s delay has created an opportunity for NASA, with Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 planned for spring 2027. China aims for crewed lunar missions by 2030. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping that any direct or indirect Chinese assistance to Iran was “totally unacceptable”, according to US Ambassador to China David Perdue. The warning included intelligence, military equipment and components that could support Tehran’s war effort. Perdue said Washington had raised the issue with Beijing weeks earlier and claimed China had provided assurances that it would stop such assistance, with some movement already observed. Trump confirmed he discussed the Iran conflict with Xi during the Chinese leader’s Washington visit. China has called for de-escalation, with Xi urging a return to negotiations and a peaceful resolution. The discussions also covered efforts to keep the strategically important Strait of Hormuz open. (PC: Reuters)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declined to answer questions about terrorism and the prosecution of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed during his visit to the United Nations headquarters. Reporters first asked Sharif when Pakistan would stop harbouring terrorists as he entered the UN complex, but he did not respond. Later, while leaving, he was again asked when Saeed would be prosecuted and again refused to answer. The exchange occurred a day before Sharif’s address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Hafiz Saeed, a designated terrorist under Indian law, is wanted as an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case. The NIA has named him in its Pahalgam terror case supplementary chargesheet. (PC: X)

The UN Security Council has condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure that injured civilians. The escalation has prompted Riyadh to seek stronger coordination with Pakistan and Turkey under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August. The pact treats an attack on any member as an attack on all three. Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish foreign ministers discussed arrangements for an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to consider ways to support the kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti also called on troops to remain prepared to defend the country and borders. The Houthis have intensified attacks since July, targeting Saudi interests and energy infrastructure.

India held 44th-ranked Panama to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday. Ryan Williams gave India the lead shortly before half-time after receiving a long pass, running into the box and calmly finishing his one-on-one chance. Panama, which featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, responded in the second half through Omar Valencia. The Panamanian midfielder produced a stunning left-footed strike from outside the penalty area, finding the top corner to level the score. Both teams continued to attack in search of a winner, but neither could break the deadlock. The result gave India a notable draw against a significantly higher-ranked World Cup opposition.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping placed artificial intelligence at the centre of their White House summit, while outlining different approaches to managing the technology. Trump described “Super Intelligence” as a major discussion topic and said he wanted to leave AI “exactly where it is”, with the US Department of Justice serving as a guardrail. Xi called for the US and China to develop and manage AI for society’s benefit while ensuring it remains “under human control”. He also backed continued bilateral dialogue on AI’s risks, benefits and misuse. The contrasting remarks highlighted differences over AI guardrails even as both leaders emphasized cooperation and competition in the future.