Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has officially announced her candidacy for the Lok Sabha by-election in Wayanad, Kerala, by signing her nomination papers on Wednesday. The by-election became necessary after her brother, Rahul Gandhi, decided to vacate the Wayanad seat, which he had previously won along with the Raebareli constituency. Priyanka Gandhi will participate in a roadshow with Rahul Gandhi before filing her nomination. This election marks Priyanka's first entry into the electoral arena, and her candidacy is crucial for Congress as it aims to retain the Wayanad seat in the upcoming polls.

Odisha and West Bengal are preparing for Cyclone Dana, expected to make landfall on Thursday evening in Odisha's Puri and West Bengal's Sagar Island. Twenty teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on standby in Odisha, while 14 teams are ready in West Bengal. Both states are evacuating residents from high-risk areas, and educational institutions in these regions have been closed. In response to the cyclone, over 150 trains in the South Eastern Railway jurisdiction have been canceled. Relief teams are in place, ready to assist with rescue and recovery efforts as the cyclone approaches.

Germany will deploy warplanes capable of tracking Russian submarines off the coast of Scotland starting next year, under a new defense pact with the UK. The agreement, to be signed on Wednesday by UK Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, will also allow a German defense company to establish a factory in Britain to manufacture artillery gun barrels. This move will be the first production of such weapons in the UK in a decade, addressing the urgent need for expanded military manufacturing capabilities highlighted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Israel's army announced on Tuesday that it "eliminated" Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah's Executive Council and a potential successor to slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a strike in southern Beirut three weeks ago. The army's statement confirmed that Safieddine and Ali Hussein Hazima, head of Hezbollah's Intelligence Directorate, were killed alongside other commanders during the attack. This development highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with significant implications for the group's leadership and future operations. The Israeli military continues to target key figures within Hezbollah amid the conflict in the region.

A thick layer of smog covered the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), leading to "very poor" air quality. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented stage two of the anti-pollution plan, GRAP, to address the situation. Real-time data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) showed that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 354 at 8 am, indicating very poor air quality. The AQI classifications are as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-450 (severe).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold bilateral talks today at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. This is their first formal meeting in five years and comes after India announced a truce with China to resume patrolling in disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, ending a four-year military standoff. The discussions follow a formal dinner on Tuesday night, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for BRICS leaders. The meeting aims to address ongoing tensions and improve diplomatic relations between India and China.

An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers has resulted in one death and 49 reported illnesses across 10 states, with Colorado having the highest count at 26 cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that 10 individuals have been hospitalized. The strain identified is E. coli O157, which can cause severe illness. This outbreak echoes a similar incident in 1993 when undercooked hamburgers at Jack in the Box led to the deaths of four children. Health officials are investigating the source of the contamination and advising consumers.

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith, and their alleged middleman James Jacobson were arrested on charges of running a prostitution and international sex trafficking ring. Prosecutors claim the trio used force, fraud, and coercion to involve victims in violent sexual acts. Jeffries and Smith have previously denied these allegations. Jeffries' lawyer announced that they would respond fully once the indictment is made public. The charges highlight serious allegations of exploitation within the fashion industry, with potential legal consequences for those involved.

An under-construction building collapsed in Bengaluru's Hennur area due to heavy rain, resulting in one death and several people trapped. Eight individuals have been rescued, with five sustaining injuries. Seven people are still missing. Fire and emergency teams, along with other agencies, are conducting rescue operations using two rescue vans. The incident occurred during severe rainfall, and efforts are ongoing to locate the missing individuals. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse, and rescue work is continuing in the affected area.

At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his strong rapport with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that Modi could understand him "without a translator." The leaders reaffirmed the robust "privileged strategic partnership" between their nations. Modi also advocated for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, underlining India's commitment to diplomacy. Discussions included bolstering cooperation and India’s decision to open a Consulate General in Kazan, further strengthening their ties.