Indian batter Shubman Gill faced social media backlash after scoring an 8-ball duck in the first Test against Bangladesh at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. Dismissed by Hasan Mahmud, Gill was caught behind by Liton Das, failing to replicate his recent form from a century against England. Fans compared him to Pakistan’s Babar Azam, accusing Gill of being in the team due to PR, not performance. Despite Gill’s failure, Yashasvi Jaiswal (56) and Rishabh Pant (39) helped India cross 300 runs by the end of Day 1, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja adding 150-plus for the seventh wicket.

Vice President Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump by 1 point in Pennsylvania, 48% to 47%, according to a Washington Post poll. The battleground state shows Harris ahead on issues like abortion (52%-34%), health care (48%-40%), and protecting democracy (48%-45%), while Trump leads on immigration (52%-39%), the economy (51%-42%), and crime (50%-43%). Voters prioritize democracy (90%) and the economy (89%) in their decision-making. Harris is viewed more favorably (47%) than Trump (43%). A separate poll shows Harris with a 4-point lead in Pennsylvania. The poll surveyed 1,003 registered voters with a margin of error of 3.6%.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Thursday, targeting multiple locations to degrade the group's capabilities. The strikes followed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's televised speech condemning Israel’s alleged involvement in recent pager and walkie-talkie attacks that killed 37 people. The attacks, which shook Beirut with sonic booms, are part of a larger cross-border conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, ongoing since the Gaza war last October. Nasrallah warned Israel that this escalation could be considered a "declaration of war."

Residents of Jhulasan, Gujarat, are praying for the safe return of astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been stuck in space for 107 days. Williams, 58, and Barry Wilmore, 61, launched on June 5 but faced issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, delaying their return to February 2025. The village, which once hosted Williams’ father and grandparents, holds daily prayers and a space-themed exhibition for her 59th birthday. The community cherishes memories of her visits and continues to be inspired by her achievements.

Artillery shells from Indian arms makers have been diverted to Ukraine by European buyers, despite Russia’s protests, according to Reuters. The munitions, shipped in small batches since 2022, were modified with explosive-laced batteries. India has not halted this trade, which has been ongoing despite Moscow's concerns voiced during diplomatic meetings. The move is seen as part of India's strategy to expand its arms export sector. While the Indian government claims it has not sold arms directly to Ukraine, customs data reveal a significant increase in ammunition exports to Europe.

An Israeli shell company, BAC Consulting, has been linked to the deadly pager explosions in Lebanon, according to the New York Times. The company, which concealed its operations, is reported to have manufactured pagers with explosive-laced batteries for Hezbollah. These devices, first shipped in 2022, detonated recently, killing at least 20 people and injuring hundreds. The explosions were allegedly planned by Israeli intelligence to disrupt Hezbollah’s communications. The incident has sparked outrage and fears over compromised security in Hezbollah's network, prompting demands for accountability and heightened scrutiny of supply chains.

A lab report has confirmed that Tirupati laddoos, offered as prasad at the Tirumala temple, contain animal fats, including beef tallow, fish oil, and lard. The report by NDDB CALF follows accusations from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu against the previous YSR Congress (YSRCP) government for using substandard ingredients. YSRCP has dismissed these claims as politically motivated. The findings have sparked demands for a probe and criticism from various political and religious leaders, highlighting concerns over the sanctity of the sacred offerings.

A 120-foot asteroid, 2022 SW3, will safely pass by Earth today, according to NASA. The asteroid, roughly the size of a small airplane, will come no closer than 1.6 million miles from Earth—about three times the distance from Earth to the Moon. NASA assures there is no threat from this close encounter. The event offers scientists a valuable chance to gather data on near-Earth objects (NEOs), enhancing their ability to predict and prepare for potential future threats. This close flyby highlights the importance of ongoing asteroid monitoring and planetary defense initiatives.

The Indian government has criticized Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s lawsuit against the Centre and NSA Ajit Doval in the US as “ridiculous” and malicious. Government sources claim the lawsuit, filed just before Prime Minister Modi’s US visit, is intended to defame India and disrupt diplomatic efforts. Pannun, accused of orchestrating attacks on Indian consulates and promoting separatism, is wanted in multiple cases in India. Authorities demand his immediate extradition to face charges of terrorism, sedition, and unlawful activities.

New reports suggest Israel orchestrated a complex operation involving the creation of shell companies to manufacture explosive pagers for Hezbollah. Contrary to earlier beliefs that Israel infiltrated the supply chain, it is now claimed that Israeli intelligence set up a front company, BAC Consulting, in Hungary to produce and rig pagers with explosives. The pagers, used by Hezbollah for secure communication, detonated across Lebanon on September 17-18, causing numerous casualties. This revelation marks a dramatic escalation in Israel-Hezbollah tensions, with Israel not officially claiming responsibility for the attacks.