• Japan's environment ministry is drafting a law that would require owners of "potentially dangerous animals, such as crocodiles and pythons,' to have microchips implanted in their pets. The cylindrical chips, about a centimetre-long, would carry information that would enable the authorities to trace the owners if the pets go missing.

• The district administration in Gulbarga, Karnataka will organise a four-day workshop in the last week of October to educate rural students on the working of the internet. About 8,000 students are expected to participate.