Indian shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar bagged the silver medal in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions event at the 2023 Asian Games on Friday. Tomar finished second behind China's Linshu Du with a score of 459.7 after making a remarkable comeback in the standing position. Earlier in the day, Tomar had won gold along with Swapnil Kusale and Akhil Sheoran in the 3 positions rifle team event. With Tomar's silver, India's total medal tally in shooting has now gone up to 18 medals at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

The Indian women's squash team bagged the bronze medal after losing 1-2 to Hong Kong, China in the semifinals on Friday at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Joshna Chinappa's win in the second match leveled the tie at 1-1 but Anahat Singh could not get past Ka Yi Lee of Hong Kong in the decider. With this bronze, India now has a total of 31 medals including 8 golds and sits fourth in the overall medal tally.

India's High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami met Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf during his visit to the Scottish Parliament and discussed cooperation across sectors like fintech and agriculture. Responding to FM Yousaf's comments on British national Jagtar Johal who is jailed in India with 8 serious terror charges, Doraiswami stressed due legal process is underway. The HC also attended the First Minister's Question session and met parliamentary leaders including Scottish Conservative chief Douglas Ross, and Scottish Labour head Anas Sarwar. Doraiswami's engagements with Scottish stakeholders highlighted India's focus on boosting ties with Scotland across government, business, and legislature. 

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah stated he will consult legal teams on future action regarding the Cauvery water release row, amid a statewide strike called by farmer groups and pro-Kannada outfits. 44 flights were canceled at Bengaluru airport as protesters blocked roads and transport. Pro-Kannada activists disrupted actor Siddharth’s promotional event demanding his exit, citing inappropriate timing given the water dispute. Additional police were deployed as strike actions intensified over the Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with Cauvery regulating bodies' order to release water to Tamil Nadu. The tense situation has triggered large-scale disruption.

Curfew has been relaxed in Imphal from 5am to 11pm on Friday after a tense night following violent clashes and an attempt to attack Manipur CM N Biren Singh's unoccupied ancestral residence. The relaxation was to allow buying of essentials but mass gatherings remain prohibited. On Thursday night, a mob tried to attack the CM's vacant ancestral home despite heavy security, but forces foiled the bid after firing tear gas shells. Many were injured in clashes between protesters and security personnel at various Imphal spots. A house was also torched in Imphal East by a mob late Thursday.

The United States has asked India at the WTO to immediately lift its export ban on non-basmati rice, calling it an unnecessary trade barrier. At the WTO agriculture committee meeting, India argued the ban was a regulation crucial for the food security of 1.4 billion people. India said it exempts countries in need upon government requests. Citing India's record estimated production, the US stated that with ample domestic supply, the export prohibition created unwanted barriers. India accounting for 40% of global rice exports stressed the temporary regulatory measures are regularly reviewed and are vital to ensure its own food security.

An FIR has been registered by Gujarat police against banned Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for threatening terror activities at the ICC World Cup starting October 5 in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi stadium. The cybercrime branch FIR states people across India received a pre-recorded message from a foreign number by Pannun declaring October 5 will be the "World Terror Cup" start, not cricket. It threatened SFJ would storm Ahmedabad with Khalistani flags to avenge separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing. Pannun was earlier designated a terrorist by India for trying to spread fear and enmity. 

Chaos erupted in a Pakistani news debate when PTI supporter Sher Afzal Marwat and PMLN's Afnanullah Khan lost their cool and engaged in a live fisticuff. The video shared by blogger @Bukhari2204 shows Marwat throwing the first slap, prompting Khan to shove back. Soon the leaders were brawling behind the desk as the shocked anchor and crew scrambled to separate them. The crazy footage of the suited panelists walloping each other over political differences went viral. Understandably, hilarious reactions followed online to the live TV spectacle that quickly descended into pandemonium. "If you abuse the Murshid, the disciple will answer. And the answer is made! Someone is going to understand them in their language! To catch or to leave," read the text accompanying the video on X.

December 22 will witness a mega box office clash as Shah Rukh Khan's 'Dunki' and Prabhas-starrer 'Salaar' are set to release on the same day. While 'Dunki's date was announced last year, 'Salaar' makers revealed the new release date on Friday after postponing from September 2023. The SRK-Rajkumar Hirani film and Prabhas' action thriller locking horns underscores a high-stakes battle between two superstars. Meanwhile, SRK's recent 'Jawan' has been a smash hit, still going strong. The December 22 showdown marks an exciting finale to the year for Indian cinema with the Khan and Baahubali stars pitted against each other.

Train operations were affected in Punjab as farmers' 'rail roko' agitation entered the 2nd day demanding a financial package for flood losses, MSP guarantee, withdrawal of protest cases, and compensation for deceased farmers. Some trains were canceled, diverted, or short-terminated due to the 3-day stir by groups like the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. Protesters squatted on tracks at 17 places including Moga, Amritsar, and Bathinda. In Hoshiarpur, Azad Kisan Committee members sat on dharna at the railway station. The stir left many passengers stranded in Punjab and Haryana. Farmers said the agitation against the Centre will continue till September 30 if demands are not met.