Actor and athlete Saiyami Kher has been named the official ambassador for Ironman India, becoming the face of the event after completing the gruelling Ironman 70.3 triathlon twice in less than a year.

Saiyami, known for movies such as "Ghoomer", "Choked", "Jaat" and "8 A.M. Metro", successfully completed her first Ironman 70.3 in September 2024 and her second in July 2025, a feat that makes her the only Indian actor to achieve the milestone, according to a press release.

The Ironman 70.3 — also known as the Half Ironman — is one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world, requiring participants to cover a total distance of 70.3 miles (113 km) comprising a 1.9 km swim, 90 km cycle ride, and 21.1 km run, all in a single day.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday presented the MY Bharat-National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards for the year 2022–23 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awards recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions of NSS volunteers, programme officers, and units across India for their commitment to social service, community development, and nation-building.

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Secretary (Youth Affairs) Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary (Sports) Hari Ranjan Rao, and other senior officials of the Ministry.

Instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1993-94, the MY Bharat-NSS Awards are conferred annually to acknowledge outstanding voluntary community service. For 2022–23, a total of 50 awards were presented – 10 NSS Units, 10 Programme Officers, and 30 NSS Volunteers – for their exemplary service and leadership. Each winning NSS Unit received ₹2 lakh and a trophy, Programme Officers received ₹1.5 lakh, a certificate, and a silver medal, while Volunteers were honoured with ₹1 lakh, a certificate, and a silver medal.

In Jammu & Kashmir, the 69th National School Games (NSG) event commenced with all comprehensive arrangements put in place for the smooth execution of this prestigious national event. The event is being organized by the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports, J&K.

This year’s National School Games has drawn participation from 30 teams representing various States and Union Territories across the country, with matches scheduled to be played at six different venues. The events include competitions in Football, Wushu, Taekwondo, and Table Tennis.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah officially declared open the 69th National School Games at TRC Football Ground in Srinagar, by ceremonially kicking a football, marking the formal commencement of the national-level sporting event. Addressing the players and athletes. J&K Director General of Youth Services & Sports, Anuradha Gupta talked about the features of the event in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Assembly Elections of Bihar will be conducted in two phases on 6th and 11th November this year. The counting of votes will take place on 14th of November. The Election Commission today announced the poll schedule for the 243 members Bihar Assembly elections. With the announcement of poll schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Bihar. Polling will be held in 121 assembly seats in the first phase while, 122 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the second phase.

Briefing media in New Delhi today, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that over 90 thousand 712 polling booths will be set up for seven crore 43 lakh voters in the state. He informed that the notification for the first phase of voting will be issued on 10th of this month and candidates can make their nominations till 17th of October. For the second phase of polling, the notification will be issued on 13th of this month and the nomination can be filed till 20th of October.

Major CGHS reform: In a relief for both central government employees and pensioners as well as for private hospitals, the central government has made a major revision in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates after a long time. These new rates will come into effect from October 13. The move is likely to benefit approximately 4.6 million CGHS beneficiaries.

The government says the new rates are based on the hospital’s accreditation, city category, hospital type, and patient ward.

A quarter of a century after it joined NATO and amid rising tension on its eastern frontier, Poland will finally join the alliance's fuel pipeline network, the government said on Friday (October 3, 2025).

The Western allies operate a 10,000-km network of European pipelines, bringing fuel and lubricants for tanks and aircraft to where troops might need them in time of war.

But the system was set up during the Cold War, when Poland was still a member of the opposing Warsaw Pact, and NATO's pipelines still do not reach its bases closer to the borders with Russia and Belarus.

Poland has been considering joining the NATO Pipeline System (NPS) for many years, and on Friday, the Defence Ministry and national pipeline operator PERN unveiled a 4.7-billion-euro plan to do so.

"This is one of the largest investments in the security of the Polish state in the last 30 years," Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk told reporters at the signing ceremony.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is planning to launch the National Camel Sustainability Initiative (NCSI) — a national mission aimed at reversing the steady decline in India’s camel population.

The proposal has been outlined in a draft policy paper prepared in consultation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which was circulated on September 29 for public comments.

“To reverse the rapid decline of India’s camel population and restore its economic and ecological significance, a multi-dimensional strategy is essential,” the draft notes.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the nationwide celebrations to mark the 150 years of the national song, 'Vande Mataram'.

Addressing a cabinet briefing, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Keeping in mind the role played by the song during the freedom struggle, a decision was taken to hold country-wide celebrations to mark its 150th year. The celebrations will be held across the country, especially for our youth and students, many of whom may not be well-acquainted with historical events."

The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom.

Known as the “Amazon of the seas”, the Coral Triangle is a 5.7 million sq. km expanse across the tropical waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste — and the richest marine ecosystem on the earth. The Triangle is home to more than three-quarters of the world’s coral species, a third of all reef fish, the vast mangrove forests, and six of the seven marine turtle species. It also sustains the food security and livelihoods of more than 120 million people.

The Coral Triangle is also facing mounting dangers. Growing carbon emissions, destructive fishing, air, water, and soil pollution, and the accelerating effects of climate change are all driving coral bleaching, habitat loss, and species decline, placing both biodiversity and coastal communities at grave risk.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday granted self-regulatory organisation (SRO) status to the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC).

According to the central bank, it had received three applications to be recognised as self-regulatory organisations in the NBFC space, including that of the FIDC.

“Based on the examination, it has been decided to recognise the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) as an SRO for NBFCs. The remaining two applications were not considered since they were incomplete as on the last date of submission of application,” the RBI said in its press release.