A Jammu and Kashmir High Court granted pre-arrest bail to an Indian Air Force Wing Commander accused of rape and harassment by a 26-year-old woman Flying Officer. The court's order, issued under the Probation of Offenders Act, prevents the accused from leaving the Union Territory without consent and requires him to present himself to investigators between September 14 and 16. The woman alleges continuous harassment and sexual assault over two years, including an incident in 2023 where she claims the Wing Commander molested her. The IAF is cooperating fully with the investigation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified the MVA-BN vaccine as the first mpox vaccine, enhancing access to vital immunization against the disease. Approved for individuals over 18, the vaccine is administered in two doses, four weeks apart. It can be stored at 2-8°C for up to eight weeks. The WHO emphasizes urgent procurement and distribution to tackle ongoing outbreaks, particularly in Africa. While the vaccine is not licensed for those under 18, it may be used "off-label" in high-risk outbreak settings. Data shows the vaccine's effectiveness at 76% for single-dose and 82% for the two-dose regimen.

Hamza bin Laden, previously reported dead, is reportedly alive and leading Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan. Intelligence sources reveal Hamza, the 15th child of Osama bin Laden, is commanding the terror group’s resurgence. Based in Jalalabad, Hamza is said to be planning future attacks on Western targets. Senior Taliban figures are reportedly providing him and his family with protection. Despite previous claims by former US President Trump of Hamza’s death in 2019, recent reports indicate he remains active and influential within Al-Qaeda, alongside his brother Abdullah bin Laden.

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, will light up the UK skies again on Friday night into Saturday morning. After a stunning display on Thursday night, the Met Office predicts the phenomenon will be visible from northern parts of the UK, including Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England. Some reports even suggest sightings as far south as Suffolk. The best viewing time is expected to be around midnight. Stargazers are advised to find low-light areas and look towards the northern horizon for optimal viewing. Conditions are expected to be favorable despite ongoing severe weather warnings.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail after being granted bail by the Supreme Court in the excise policy corruption case. Kejriwal, accompanied by senior AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Atishi, thanked supporters gathered in the rain, stating, “My morale has increased 100 times.” Addressing the crowd, he expressed his unwavering dedication to the country, noting that despite numerous hardships, God had supported him. The Supreme Court’s decision included conditions, barring him from official duties. Meanwhile, the BJP demanded his resignation, while AAP criticized the BJP for imprisoning an “honest” leader.

Tech giants like Apple, Dell, and IBM have laid off over 27,000 employees amid an industry shift toward AI and cybersecurity. Companies such as Cisco and Intel are also restructuring due to declining IT product demand and a focus on emerging technologies. As traditional IT skills lose relevance, the layoffs underscore the need for upskilling in fields like AI, cloud computing, and data analytics. Experts suggest IT professionals should proactively learn new skills to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving landscape, as adaptability will be key to career survival and advancement.

A Kolkata court has rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal to conduct a narco analysis test on Sanjay Roy, the accused in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case. Roy initially agreed to the test in front of the CBI but later refused before the magistrate. The court emphasized that consent is mandatory for the test, referring to a 2010 Karnataka High Court judgment. The CBI had hoped the narco analysis would help verify Roy’s account of the crime. A polygraph test had already been conducted earlier on Roy.

During a community event in Geneva, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared a personal connection to a 1984 hijacking incident. As a young officer, Jaishankar was part of the team handling the situation, only to discover his father, K Subrahmanyam, was aboard the hijacked Indian Airlines flight. The plane, which was hijacked from Pathankot to Dubai, saw 12 pro-Khalistani hijackers surrender after 36 hours. Fortunately, all passengers were released unharmed. Jaishankar reflected on his unique position, managing the crisis while also part of the group of families pressing the government for action.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the renaming of Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram. Shah stated that the move is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to "free the nation from colonial imprints" and honor India’s freedom struggle. Port Blair was named after British naval officer Captain Archibald Blair. Shah highlighted the island’s historical significance, including the first unfurling of the Indian flag by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the presence of the Cellular Jail where freedom fighters, like Veer Savarkar, were imprisoned.

Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner and her team discovered that a rogue star passing near our solar system disrupted the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), shifting them from their original paths. Through 3,000 simulations, the researchers found that the flyby of a star, slightly lighter than the Sun, likely caused the eccentric orbits of TNOs like dwarf planet Sedna. This stellar event stretched the boundaries of the solar system and might explain the different types of moons orbiting Jupiter, Saturn, and other outer planets.