Hezbollah’s attempt to avoid Israeli surveillance by switching to old-fashioned pagers backfired in a deadly attack, killing at least 9 people and injuring nearly 3,000 across Lebanon. The militant group, which had stopped using mobile phones due to security concerns, adopted a new brand of pagers that were reportedly rigged with explosives. The blasts occurred simultaneously, leaving both Hezbollah fighters and civilians wounded, including children. Hezbollah has accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, calling it "criminal aggression" and vowing retaliation. The explosions have raised concerns of escalating tensions in an already volatile region.

A runner in the U.K. received a surprise personal concert from Ed Sheeran while out for a jog. In an Instagram video posted on September 17, the 33-year-old singer was seen floating on a canal boat filming a video when he spotted the runner alongside the vessel. After Sheeran waved and asked, “Any requests?” the runner asked him to perform "Tenerife Sea." Sheeran immediately began singing the song while playing his acoustic guitar. The runner, thrilled by the unexpected serenade, pulled out her phone to record the special moment. The encounter quickly gained attention on social media.

Grammy-winning siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas have publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president, urging fans to vote early on National Voter Registration Day. In a joint Instagram video, they advocated for the Harris-Walz ticket, emphasizing the importance of protecting reproductive freedom, the planet, and democracy. Eilish stated, "We're voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they're fighting for our freedoms and future." Finneas added, "We can't let extremists control our lives; voting for Harris is the only way to stop them." 

Indian government has rescued and repatriated dozens of its citizens who were deceived into fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine. A total of 91 Indians, primarily from low-income backgrounds, were falsely promised employment and financial benefits. Instead, they were deployed to the war zone without proper military training, exposing them to life-threatening situations. Following urgent appeals, the government intervened, securing the release of several individuals, including former soldier Urgen Tamang. Efforts continue to bring back the remaining citizens, highlighting India's commitment to protecting its nationals from exploitation and harm. The incident has sparked concerns over human trafficking and exploitation.

India's Union Cabinet has approved the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), a major advancement in its space exploration program. Scheduled for a March 2028 launch, the mission will send a spacecraft to orbit Venus, with a budget of Rs. 1,236 crore (about $149 million). Of this, Rs. 824 crore will be dedicated to spacecraft development, managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The VOM aims to deepen understanding of Venus's surface, subsurface, and atmospheric conditions, as well as the Sun’s impact on its atmosphere. The mission will also explore Venus's historical potential for habitability and its evolution compared to Earth.

The Modi Cabinet has approved the 'One Nation One Election' proposal, which seeks to align Lok Sabha and state assembly elections to a single schedule. The high-level committee's report on this initiative, presented to the Cabinet on Wednesday, recommends simultaneous elections for both central and state legislatures. The bill for this proposal is expected to be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament. Headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, the committee's report was submitted to President Droupadi Murmu on March 15, 2024. It also suggests creating an 'Implementation Group' to oversee the execution of these recommendations.

In Beirut, a series of pager explosions resulted in at least nine deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. The explosions, which impacted various locations across Lebanon, were linked to devices used by Hezbollah members. The militant group has accused Israel of orchestrating the attacks. The blasts have caused widespread chaos, with Beirut described as a "zombie city" due to the destruction and disruption. The situation remains tense as investigations continue into the origins and responsibility for the explosions.

independent probe into the 2021 death of 27-year-old Jack Last has revealed significant NHS failings. Last died from a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, despite being ineligible due to his age. His GP mistakenly called him up early for vaccination, denying him a safer alternative recommended for under-30s. The report attributed Last's death to "a combination of system shortcomings, human error, and tragic unfortunate timing," highlighting the need for improved vaccine administration protocols. The findings have led Last's family to accuse the NHS of a "litany of errors" that cost a young life.

A new, more contagious Covid-19 variant called XEC is rapidly spreading across Europe and could soon dominate. First identified in Germany in June, XEC has since appeared in the UK, US, Denmark, and other countries. This variant, a hybrid of the omicron subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, is showing signs of increased transmissibility due to new mutations. Despite its spread, experts believe existing vaccines will still be effective in preventing severe cases. To date, XEC has been detected in 500 samples across 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, and China.

China is building a new heliport 20 kilometers east of the Line of Actual Control near the sensitive 'Fishtails' region in Arunachal Pradesh, potentially enhancing its military mobility in the remote Indo-Chinese border area. Located along the Gongrigabu Qu river in Tibet's Nyingchi Prefecture, within undisputed Chinese territory, the heliport could help swiftly deploy resources to the region. Satellite images from EOS Data Analytics reveal that no construction was visible as of December 1, 2023, but by December 31, land had been cleared. High-resolution images from September 16, 2024, show the heliport is now in an advanced construction phase.