Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat will contest the Haryana Assembly election from the Julana seat after joining the Congress Party. Her candidacy was confirmed during the party's Central Election Committee meeting. Meanwhile, fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia has been appointed Working Chairman of the All India Kisan Congress. Both athletes had protested against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh in 2023. Phogat emphasized her commitment to fighting for athletes' rights and expressed pride in joining Congress. Talks of a Congress-AAP alliance in Haryana are ongoing.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose referred the recently passed anti-rape bill to President Droupadi Murmu for review. The bill, passed amid protests following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, proposes capital punishment for rapists. Bose criticized the Trinamool Congress-led government for "glaring defects and lapses" in the bill. He urged the government to act effectively, stating, "Justice must be delivered within the existing legal framework." The case is currently being investigated by the CBI after a Kolkata Police volunteer was arrested.

US officials warn of increasing Russian military activity around undersea cables, raising concerns about potential sabotage. Russia has strengthened a secretive military unit, GUGI, which deploys surface ships, submarines, and naval drones for undersea operations. The US and its allies closely monitor Russian ships near critical maritime infrastructure worldwide. Undersea cables carry vital global communications and electricity, making them potential targets. A coordinated attack could disrupt telecommunications, financial markets, and energy supplies. The US considers such sabotage a significant escalation, with risks of miscalculation and unintended conflict.

NASA has prepared an emergency plan for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore during their ISS mission. In extreme situations, they can evacuate using temporary seats with straps, created from space station items and configured in Crew Dragon’s cargo area. NASA also tested airflow for proper ventilation and trained the astronauts in hand signals for communication. The seats were built to ensure safe landing with acceptable body loads. Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore have participated in over 42 experiments, logging 100+ hours in science and research during their ISS stay.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined Congress on Friday ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls. Phogat criticized the BJP for its treatment of wrestlers during their protest against ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. She accused the BJP of spreading lies about their careers and praised Congress for supporting them during tough times. Punia echoed her sentiments, accusing the BJP of siding with injustice. Phogat expressed pride in joining Congress, calling it a stand against injustice towards women, especially after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024.

Ngā Wai hono i te pō, 27, was crowned as the second Māori queen during an elaborate ceremony in New Zealand's North Island as her father, King Tuheitia, was laid to rest. The new queen, youngest daughter of King Tuheitia, inherits leadership of the Māori monarchy. The Māori movement, Kiingitanga, sees her ascension as a generational shift, symbolizing renewal. Her father’s burial, attended by large delegations, ended a week of mourning. Ngā Wai hono i te pō, a master’s graduate in Māori cultural studies, is seen as a positive influence for younger Māori members.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty to federal tax charges after evading $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019. He faces up to 17 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for December 16. The case, which revealed his extravagant spending on drugs, escorts, and luxury items, has drawn public attention ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Despite not having a leniency agreement, Biden stated he pleaded guilty to spare his family from the trial. The White House confirmed that President Biden will not pardon his son.

India's Praveen Kumar, 21, won gold in the men's high jump T-64 category at the Paris Paralympics, setting a new Asian record by clearing 2.08 meters. Overcoming childhood feelings of inferiority due to a shorter leg, Praveen displayed immense confidence throughout the competition, successfully completing his first seven jumps. This victory marks his second Paralympic medal, upgrading his Tokyo silver to gold. The Delhi native’s remarkable achievement solidifies his status as a leading Paralympian in India, inspiring many with his determination and resilience.

The Northern Hemisphere experienced its hottest summer ever recorded, with global temperatures soaring 0.69°C above historical averages from June to August. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that this year broke last year’s previous high, raising global temperatures 1.64°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate change continues to drive extreme weather, leading to deadly heatwaves, wildfires, and storms worldwide. The Mediterranean and Eastern Europe faced the most extreme conditions, while over 1,300 heat-related deaths occurred during Saudi Arabia's Hajj pilgrimage. U.S., China, and Australia also witnessed record-breaking heat and climate impacts.

A 26-year-old American woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces during a protest in the occupied West Bank. The protest was against settlement expansion. The woman was rushed to Rafidia hospital in Nablus, where she was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts failed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are investigating the incident, while the US Embassy has not commented yet. The protest aimed to protect Palestinian farmers from settler violence, a growing concern in the region. This follows recent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages, sparking international outrage.