The death toll from Tuesday's landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district has risen to 308, with rescuers racing to find survivors trapped under debris. Over 200 people were injured in the disaster, triggered by heavy rainfall. Rescue efforts, now in their fourth day, are being expanded to include drone-based radar to locate survivors. Challenges include treacherous terrain, destroyed roads and bridges, and equipment shortages, hindering efforts to clear mud and debris. Emergency personnel are working tirelessly to reach trapped survivors and provide aid to affected areas.

A recent Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump in four battleground states: Arizona (49%-47%), Michigan (53%-42%), Nevada (47%-45%), and Wisconsin (49%-47%). Trump leads in North Carolina (48%-46%) and Pennsylvania (50%-46%), while the two are tied in Georgia (47%-47%). The poll was conducted after Harris announced her 2024 presidential bid, during which she has gained support among Democrats. The results indicate a close contest between the two candidates in key swing states, with Harris holding a slight edge in several crucial areas.

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment today on the NEET-UG medical entrance exam controversy. The court had declined to cancel the 2024 exam despite allegations of paper leaks and irregularities. A 3-judge bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, will provide reasons for its decision. Petitioners had sought re-examination or cancellation of the exam. The verdict will determine the fate of thousands of students who took the exam. The court's decision will be closely watched by students, educators, and the medical community, and will provide clarity on the future of the exam.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with boxer Angela Carini in Paris after Carini's withdrawal from her Olympic bout against Algeria's Imane Khelif. The bout sparked debate on gender eligibility rules in women's sports. Meloni offered encouragement, stating "In an equal competition...you will get what you deserve." The meeting followed calls for revised gender eligibility rules in women's boxing. Carini's withdrawal occurred just 46 seconds into the match. Meloni's support for Carini highlights ongoing discussions around fairness and equality in women's sports. The incident has ignited a wider conversation on the topic.

Three Americans - Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan - have returned to the US after being released from Russian prisons in a prisoner exchange deal. The deal involved the release of 24 people and was negotiated with Russia and other countries over a year. The Americans landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where they were greeted by President Joe Biden. This exchange marks the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, with 13 other Western detainees released to Germany. The exchange was finalized after over a year of secret negotiations.

Heavy rains severely damaged the route in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district on Wednesday night, prompting extensive rescue and relief efforts. According to the Uttarakhand police, 737 people were rescued by helicopter, and at least 2,670 were evacuated to Sonprayag by Thursday. The police, via their official handle on X, stated, "The rescue work of people stranded on the Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra route is continuing. 737 passengers were rescued by helicopter throughout the day. 2,670 passengers were taken to Sonprayag." The rescue operations involve the SDRF, NDRF, DDRF, district police, and administration teams, who are dedicatedly assisting the stranded devotees.

Rahul Gandhi visited a relief camp in Meppadi, Wayanad, where over 800 people affected by landslides are sheltered. During his visit, a victim, Unnikrishnan, appealed for help, saying "humko bachao" (save us). Gandhi responded by speaking with Unnikrishnan one-on-one. The camp, set up at Meppadi Higher Secondary School, provides aid to those rescued from landslide-hit areas. Gandhi's visit aimed to assess relief efforts and offer support to affected individuals. The interaction highlighted Gandhi's engagement with those in need.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has revealed that Enforcement Directorate (ED) "Insiders" have tipped him off about a planned raid against him. The alleged raid follows Gandhi's scathing "Chakravyuh" speech in Lok Sabha, where he criticized PM Narendra Modi's policies. Rahul Gandhi stated that he is ready to welcome ED with "Open arms" and will be offering them "chai and biscuits" . The ED has not confirmed the raid, but Gandhi's revelation has sparked a political storm. The move is seen as a potential retaliation against Gandhi's vocal criticism of the government. Gandhi remains defiant, saying he will not be intimidated.

On Day 6 of the Paris Olympics 2024, India’s Swapnil Kusale secured a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu was eliminated in the women's singles badminton Round of 16, and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also exited in the quarterfinals. Lakshya Sen advanced to the badminton men’s singles quarters, defeating HS Prannoy. In global medal tally, China leads with 23 medals (11 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze). The USA follows with 35 medals (8 gold, 14 silver, 13 bronze), while France has 27 medals (8 gold, 11 silver, 8 bronze). India has 3 bronze medals.

Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that "all those who are alive have been saved" from the landslide-hit villages in Wayanad. The death toll is expected to exceed 300, with 177 confirmed dead and 170 still missing. Vijayan stated, "It is assumed that nobody is left to be saved in the villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala." Rescue workers have also recovered 92 body parts, primarily from the Chaliyar River. Efforts are now focused on retrieving bodies from the affected areas. Among the missing are 29 school children. The state government is preparing to cremate or bury unidentified bodies, with assistance from Karnataka to provide additional storage freezers.