Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, part of India's Chess Olympiad gold-winning team, decided to forgo defending his title at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial Chess Super Tournament in Azerbaijan. Instead, he returned to India for a felicitation ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gujrathi shared his excitement on social media, thanking the event organizers for understanding his decision. Aravindh Chithambaram will replace him in the Azerbaijan tournament. Gujrathi expressed pride in India's historic Chess Olympiad win, calling it the "golden era for Indian chess." The Indian team dominated the event with a strong performance in both men’s and women’s categories.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy plans a temple visit and urges prayers across the state on September 28 amid allegations of animal fat being used in Tirupati laddoos. This follows claims by former CM N Chandrababu Naidu that beef tallow and lard were used in the ‘prasadam’ during the YSRCP's governance. Reddy dismissed these accusations as “political malice” aimed at tarnishing the sanctity of the temple. The Telugu Desam Party retaliated, questioning Reddy's faith and commitment to the deity, suggesting divine retribution for the alleged adulteration.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urgently convened a meeting of Moscow's top security council to discuss nuclear deterrence amid concerns over Ukraine's potential use of Western-supplied cruise missiles against Russian targets. This follows reports that the UK has cleared the use of Storm Shadow missiles for Ukraine, prompting fears of a direct confrontation with the West. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the meeting will address war strategies, with discussions marked as "top secret." Analysts warn that Moscow may consider nuclear options if Ukraine escalates its attacks.

The UN reports over 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since Monday due to escalating violence, bringing the total to over 111,696 since October 2023. Israeli air strikes have killed at least 51 individuals, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The Israeli military claims to have targeted 280 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, following missile attacks on northern Israel. As tensions rise, the UK and other countries urge their citizens to leave Lebanon. This conflict continues to threaten the region's stability, with many civilians caught in the crossfire.

Kolkata is set to lose its historic tram service as the West Bengal government plans to discontinue operations on all but one route. Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty cited increasing vehicular traffic and narrow roads as reasons for the decision, stating, "To ensure that people don't get late to office during peak hours due to traffic jams, we have to take certain difficult measures." Currently, only two tram routes remain operational, down from 37 in 2011. Environmental organizations, including the Calcutta Tram Users Association, plan to protest against this move, emphasizing the need to preserve the city’s iconic transit system.

An Emirates flight from Chennai to Dubai was delayed on September 24 after smoke was detected from its tail during refueling. Passengers were evacuated and made to wait outside for 50 minutes due to safety protocols following a fire in the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of the Boeing 777-300ER. Ground staff and fire services quickly responded to manage the situation. Emirates confirmed the delay was due to a technical fault and issued an apology, emphasizing passenger safety. The flight eventually departed after receiving clearance from engineering teams.

The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) has flagged 53 drugs, including paracetamol, as "Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) Alert" in its latest monthly report. The list features popular medications, including calcium and vitamin D3 supplements, anti-diabetes drugs, and high blood pressure medications. Notably, antibiotics like Clavam 625 and Pan D have been deemed "spurious." Manufactured by companies such as Hetero Drugs and Alkem Laboratories, these drugs failed quality tests conducted by state drug officers. Pharmaceutical firms have denied responsibility, claiming the flagged batches are spurious and not produced by them, pending further investigation.

Abhijit Chakraborty, founder of Alphanumero, has launched an innovative “Birthday Plus One” leave policy, granting employees two additional days off annually, one for their birthday and another for a loved one’s birthday. This initiative aims to enhance work-life balance and celebrate personal milestones within corporate culture. Chakraborty shared his personal experiences of workplace disapproval for taking time off, emphasizing the importance of recognizing celebrations without guilt. The policy has received overwhelmingly positive feedback on social media, with many praising its empathetic approach to employee well-being. Chakraborty hopes to expand the policy as the company grows.

Big game hunting in South Africa thrives as lions are bred in captivity for hunting trophies. Hunters pay up to $25,000 to shoot a male lion, with farms referring to the process as a "harvest." While the industry has faced international criticism, domestic opposition has grown, prompting the government to propose voluntary closures and compensation for breeders. However, with legal challenges looming and hunting deeply rooted in local culture, the industry shows no signs of stopping. Animal welfare advocates foresee a compromise, moving lions to large reserves to live semi-wild lives before being hunted.

The second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on September 25 recorded a 54% voter turnout by 5 PM. Over 2.5 million voters from 26 constituencies in six districts are deciding the fate of 239 candidates. Key constituencies include Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi, regions with heightened security due to previous terror incidents. The first assembly election in 10 years follows the abrogation of Article 370. Voting in the first phase saw a 61.13% turnout. National Congress' Omar Abdullah and BJP’s Ravinder Raina are among the key candidates in this crucial electoral phase.