The Meteorological department forecasts heavy rainfall in several West Bengal districts, with extremely heavy downpours expected in sub-Himalayan areas. A low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal will bring rain and thunderstorms to south and north Bengal over the next seven days. Coastal districts, including North and South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur, will experience very heavy rainfall through Thursday. Kolkata and other south Bengal districts can expect heavy rain. The weather alert comes ahead of Durga Puja celebrations, potentially disrupting festivities.

The Supreme Court of India granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V. Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case related to the alleged 2014 'cash-for-jobs' scam. The bail was approved by a bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, who set strict conditions for the release. The court had previously reserved its verdict on August 12 after hearing arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sidharth Luthra, who appeared on behalf of Balaji. The decision allows Balaji to be released while the investigation continues.

Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, has ordered troops to prepare for a potential ground invasion in Lebanon amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah. The move follows intensified Israeli airstrikes, which killed 72 and injured 233 in Lebanon on Wednesday. The US has warned of an "all-out war" while UN-led talks aim for a 21-day ceasefire. Halevi stated that airstrikes are degrading Hezbollah and preparing the ground for possible entry. The conflict's escalation prompts international concern, with diplomatic efforts underway to broker a temporary resolution.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was desecrated with anti-Hindu messages on Wednesday, marking the second such incident in the U.S. in the last ten days. The temple was vandalized with the phrase "Hindus go back." BAPS Public Affairs stated their commitment to standing united against hate and called for prayers for peace. Sacramento Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, categorizing it as vandalism. In addition to the graffiti, the vandals also cut water lines at the temple property. Authorities are actively working to identify the individuals responsible for the vandalism.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted as part of federal criminal investigations into his administration. The specific charges against him are currently sealed, and he is expected to be formally charged later today. If confirmed, this will make Adams the first sitting mayor among the city’s 110 mayors to face criminal charges. The indictment comes amid an FBI investigation into the functioning of New York City, along with a series of sudden resignations of high-ranking officials within his administration. 

NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson returned safely to Earth in Kazakhstan on September 23, alongside Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, after spending 184 days in space. The trio traveled 78 million miles, completing 2,944 Earth orbits. Kononenko and Chub set a record with a 374-day continuous stay on the International Space Station (ISS). They departed the ISS aboard Soyuz MS-25 at 4:36 a.m. EDT and landed at 7:59 a.m. Eight astronauts, including Americans Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, remain on the ISS, awaiting their delayed return. The successful landing marked a milestone in international space cooperation. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to the West, stating that Russia may deploy nuclear weapons if struck by conventional missiles or if faced with an existential threat. This shift in Russia's nuclear doctrine is largely seen as a response to discussions in the US and UK about potentially allowing Ukraine to launch Western missiles into Russia. Putin emphasized that any attack supported by a nuclear power would be considered a joint assault, triggering a nuclear response. The move aims to counter emerging threats and risks in the rapidly changing global landscape.

Sky News has won an International Emmy Award for its coverage of the Myanmar civil war. Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his team spent a month undercover with the resistance movement, documenting medics saving lives at a secret jungle hospital and capturing evidence of war crimes. Their report, The Last Hospital: 30 Days in Myanmar, won the current affairs category at the International Emmy Awards for news and documentaries in New York. The investigation highlighted the harsh realities of the conflict and the humanitarian efforts on the frontline, bringing international attention to the crisis in Myanmar.

Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Wednesday, with over 100 mm of rainfall recorded in several areas within five hours. The downpour caused severe waterlogging, disrupted local train services, and diverted 14 flights. In Andheri, a woman drowned in an overflowing drain, resulting in one fatality. While rain intensity eased later at night, more showers are forecasted in the coming days. Schools were closed on Thursday as a precaution. By morning, floodwaters had receded, and vehicle movement returned to normal. Flight operations at Mumbai airport also resumed after a brief suspension due to the weather.

In light of the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the Indian embassy in Beirut has advised Indian citizens against traveling to Lebanon. The advisory, issued as a reminder of a previous warning from August 1, urges nationals already in the country to leave and exercise extreme caution. Meanwhile, the US is proposing a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as recent Israeli airstrikes have resulted in 51 fatalities and 223 injuries in Lebanon. The situation remains tense, prompting increased calls for a diplomatic resolution and a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict.