Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khyliuk has returned home after spending 3.5 years in Russian captivity without facing any charges. He was taken by Russian forces in 2022 and held in several prisons, where he faced beatings, starvation, and cruelty. Dmytro was freed last month in a prisoner swap that also released seven other Ukrainian civilians, a rare move by Russia. He immediately called his mother and began contacting families of fellow prisoners to confirm who is alive. His family had only received two short notes from him during his detention. Over 16,000 civilians remain missing in Ukraine. (PC: BBC)

BCCI announced Apollo Tyres as Team India's new lead sponsor after parting ways with Dream11, marking Apollo's first-ever foray into Indian cricket. The partnership, secured through rigorous bidding, spans two and a half years until March 2028. Apollo Tyres' logo will feature on Indian men's and women's national team jerseys across all formats. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia praised the partnership as testament to teams' consistent performance, while Vice-President Rajeev Shukla highlighted bringing together cricket's spirit with Apollo's pioneering legacy. Apollo Vice-Chairman Neeraj Kanwar emphasized cricket's unmatched popularity and the honor of supporting Indian sport at the highest level. The competitive bidding process demonstrates strong market confidence in BCCI and Team India's global brand value. (PC: BCCI, Siasat.com & Trading View)

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has vaccinated 46,122 stray dogs against rabies in the past month. It also microchipped 12,000 dogs for identification and tracking. The drive follows a Supreme Court order that bans culling and stresses humane management. The GCC runs five Animal Birth Control centres, conducting 115 surgeries daily. After sterilisation, dogs are kept for recovery before release. A pet registration drive has begun, making rabies shots mandatory with a Rs 50 fee. Officials urged citizens to avoid abandoning pets. Chennai’s stray dog population is estimated at 1.8 lakh, raising safety and health concerns. (PC: India Today)

At least ten people were killed and eight remain missing after a devastating cloudburst struck Dehradun late Monday night, triggering torrential rains and widespread destruction. The disaster, centered in Sahastradhara, unleashed flash floods that swept away hotels, shops, and houses while causing severe infrastructure damage. SDRF and NDRF teams rescued 300-400 people, including 200 students trapped at Devbhoomi Institute. Multiple incidents occurred across Uttarakhand: four people swept away near Shikhar Fall, eight laborers missing in Parwal village after being carried by Asan River, landslides in Mussoorie killing one worker, and severe waterlogging in IT Park. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected affected areas, directing authorities to expedite relief operations while monitoring the crisis from the State Disaster Operations Centre.

Indian-origin motel manager Chandra Nagamallaiah, 50, was brutally beheaded in Dallas, Texas, by Cuban national Yordanis Cobos-Martinez. The accused had a violent criminal record and was released into the US after Cuba refused to take him back. The murder happened in front of Nagamallaiah’s wife and son following a dispute at the motel. US Homeland Security warned that “barbaric criminals” will no longer be allowed to stay in the country. Donald Trump called Nagamallaiah “a respected person” and vowed to bring first-degree murder charges. Officials said the killing was preventable if the accused had not been released earlier this year. (PC: HT)

Jaish-e-Mohammad has, for the first time, admitted that Masood Azhar’s family was killed in India’s Operation Sindoor strike on May 7. In a viral video, senior commander Masood Ilyas Kashmiri said Azhar’s family was “torn into pieces” when India targeted the group’s Bahawalpur headquarters, Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah. The strike came after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 25 tourists. Reports said 10 relatives, including Azhar’s sister, her husband, and children, died, along with four aides. Pakistan never confirmed the deaths, but state funerals were held. Azhar has since been spotted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif begins a crucial three-nation diplomatic tour on September 17, visiting Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and United States to strengthen bilateral ties. Accompanied by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Sharif will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Sept 17), UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London (Sept 18-21), and potentially US President Donald Trump during the UN General Assembly session (Sept 24-25). Sharif addresses UNGA on September 26, highlighting Pakistan's stance on Kashmir, climate change, and economic challenges. Munir will conduct parallel security meetings focusing on defense cooperation and counterterrorism. This diplomatic outreach represents Pakistan's effort to reassert its international role amid evolving regional dynamics and follows previous high-level engagements including Munir's June White House meeting. (PC: X & Wikipedia)

A United Nations commission of inquiry has said Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The report says Israel carried out 4 of the 5 genocidal acts under international law, including killing, serious harm, destroying living conditions, and preventing births. It cites statements by Israeli leaders and Israeli military actions as proof of intent. Israel has rejected the report, calling it false and biased. The commission said Israel’s actions are “attributable to the State of Israel.” Over 64,900 people have been killed in Gaza since 2023, according to local health officials. (PC: BBC)

A senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander has alleged that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir ordered military honours for slain relatives of JeM chief Masood Azhar's family. Speaking at the 38th Annual Mission Mustafa Conference in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Maulana Mufti Muhammad Masood Ilyas Kashmiri claimed that during Operation Sindoor, Munir directed corps commanders to attend funerals with Air Force providing security. He alleged Pakistan Air Force "avenged JeM militants' killing" and brought the Army "under jihadi ideology umbrella." Operation Sindoor was India's May 7 response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, targeting nine terror launchpads. These explosive claims renew scrutiny of Pakistan's counterterrorism commitments despite Islamabad's denials of supporting terror outfits. (PC: X & The Economic Times)

Mother Dairy has announced a price cut across its dairy and processed food products following the government’s GST 2.0 overhaul. Effective September 22, the company will pass on 100% of the tax benefits to consumers, with most items now falling under the zero or 5% GST slab. Prices of paneer, butter, cheese, ghee, milkshakes, and ice creams are dropping e.g., butter (500g) now costs ₹285, down from ₹305. UHT milk sees a ₹2 reduction, but regular pouch milk remains unchanged due to its GST-exempt status. Managing Director Manish Bandlish emphasized the consumer-centric move. With this initiative, Mother Dairy leads the way, and consumers await similar steps from other FMCG brands. (PC: ET Retail & News 18)