Milind Deora, who recently joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena after leaving Congress, is likely to contest against Aaditya Thackeray from Mumbai’s Worli constituency in next month’s Assembly polls, as reported by sources. Aaditya, the son of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, currently holds the Worli seat, having won in 2019. The Shinde-led faction is reportedly finalizing their candidate to run against him in this significant electoral battle, which could see Deora directly competing with Aaditya in a high-stakes Mumbai contest.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flash flood warning for 16 districts in Odisha due to heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Dana. The districts at risk include Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, and Puri, among others. In Kolkata, significant rainfall has caused inundation in several areas. Mayor Firhad Hakim announced that all pumping stations have been activated to prevent further waterlogging. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is utilizing suction machines to clear gully pits and manholes to improve drainage. Officials are closely monitoring the situation to ensure public safety as the cyclone impacts the region.

Bruce Springsteen endorsed Kamala Harris at a rally in Clarkston, Georgia, calling Donald Trump a "would-be tyrant." He urged voters to support Harris, emphasizing the need for a president who respects the Constitution and protects democracy. Springsteen highlighted the importance of the rule of law, the peaceful transfer of power, and women's rights, advocating for a middle-class economy that benefits all citizens. The rally drew around 20,000 attendees, making it Harris's largest campaign event to date, surpassing her previous rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, which attracted 17,000 people. The event underscores the Democratic push ahead of the presidential election.

India's domestic stock market continued its downward spiral, with the Sensex plummeting below 80,000 points on Friday. The benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, fell sharply due to sustained foreign investor selling and disappointing Q2 corporate earnings. Sensex dropped 628.64 points to 79,436.52, while Nifty50 declined 254.30 points to 24,145.10. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have withdrawn a staggering Rs 98,085 crore from Indian equities this month, severely impacting market sentiment. Investors remain cautious as the market struggles to recover from its steady decline, fueling concerns of a prolonged downturn.

A North Korean balloon carrying trash landed on the South Korean presidential compound in central Seoul on Thursday, marking the second incident of this kind. The balloon burst, releasing bags of rubbish but no hazardous materials were found, according to South Korea's presidential security service. This event occurred amid heightened tensions between North and South Korea, following North Korea's accusations that South Korea sent drones over Pyongyang to distribute propaganda. Since late May, North Korea has been sending balloons filled with waste, part of a psychological campaign reminiscent of Cold War tactics. Security concerns regarding key sites in South Korea are rising.

The Chief Minister's office confirmed no casualties during the landfall of Cyclone Dana, attributing this success to effective planning. Approximately 600,000 people were relocated to safer areas ahead of the storm. Officials reported that road blockages are expected to be cleared by 1 PM, and power restoration is anticipated by 6 PM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah communicated with the Odisha Chief Minister to assess the situation and response measures. Modi assured the Odisha government of full support from the Central government in managing the impact of the cyclone.

Georgians recall Russia's past aggression as they prepare for a pivotal election on Saturday, framed by opposition groups as a choice between aligning with Russia or pursuing European integration. The opposition, including four coalitions, aims to end the 12-year rule of the Georgian Dream party, which they accuse of moving closer to Russia. In Gori, a city affected by the 2008 conflict, campaign leader Mindia Goderdzishvili emphasized the memories of Russian occupation, suggesting the government manipulates these memories to maintain power. The opposition seeks to revive Georgia's stalled bid for European Union membership, highlighting the country's complex geopolitical landscape.

A 23-year-old labourer, Srikant Ramchandra Satre, was killed by a wild elephant in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, while attempting to take a selfie. Satre and two friends had traveled from Navegaon for cable laying work and decided to view the elephant in the Abapur forest on Thursday morning. While the other two friends managed to escape, Satre was attacked and trampled. The elephant had reportedly been spotted roaming in the area after emerging from the Chittagong and Gadchiroli forest regions. Local authorities had received warnings about the elephant's presence prior to the incident, highlighting the risks of approaching wildlife.

Big Brother has edited out an image on a contestant’s T-shirt that was linked to anti-Israel sentiment. Ali Bromley, a contestant on the ITV2 show, wore a T-shirt featuring a watermelon slice in the colors of the Palestinian flag. The Campaign Against Antisemitism highlighted that the watermelon symbol is often associated with anti-Israel messaging. In response, the show issued an apology and edited the episodes to remove the image. Big Brother stated that they aim to ensure no content causes offense and have taken the necessary steps to address the concerns raised.

Flight operations at Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport and Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport resumed at 8 am on Friday. Both airports had suspended services as a precaution due to Cyclone Dana, which made landfall along Odisha’s coast. The shutdown aimed to ensure passenger safety during the severe weather. Following the cyclone’s landfall and an improvement in weather conditions, authorities allowed flight services to restart. Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports confirmed that operations are back on track, with normal schedules resuming as the situation stabilizes after the storm passed.