Ahead of his address at the 78th UNGA session, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with top UN leaders, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis. They discussed India's G20 Presidency, sustainable development goals, and Security Council reforms. Guterres appreciated India's cooperation and leadership in the G20. They also talked about global challenges like Afghanistan and Myanmar. Francis praised India's G20 Chairmanship and discussed UNSC reforms and Sustainable Development Goals Summit outcomes. Jaishankar appreciated UNDP's engagement, met the UAE's Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and had discussions with Madagascar's Foreign Affairs Minister Yvette Sylla on development partnership and cooperation.

A UK health expert has warned that Disease X, a mysterious hypothetical pathogen identified by WHO, could potentially cause a more devastating pandemic than COVID-19. Kate Bingham cautioned Disease X could spark a crisis on the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed 50 million. She stressed the urgent need to prepare for rapid mass vaccination drives if the unknown Disease X emerges. With COVID-19 mortality lower than viruses like Ebola, Bingham warned against complacency as factors like deforestation enable animal viruses to infect humans. Her warning highlights the looming threat of Disease X potentially unleashing an even more calamitous pandemic.

The Mumbai police's crime branch has filed a fourth supplementary chargesheet in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, naming Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana as an accused. Rana is accused of being an operative of ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba and supporting the attack's mastermind, David Coleman Headley, during his reconnaissance in Mumbai. Rana had stayed in a Mumbai hotel for 10 days before the attack. Currently, Rana is imprisoned in the United States in connection with a journalist's murder case. His possible extradition to India is expected in the coming months. 

The Indian government has rejected Moody's claims that the Aadhaar system poses privacy and security risks, emphasizing its global recognition. Moody's had raised concerns about service denials in hot and humid climates and centralized control over-identification. The government criticized Moody's for lacking data to support its opinions and failing to mention contactless biometric options. They clarified that workers don't need biometrics for public job databases or payments. Additionally, a World Bank document at the G20 Summit praised India's Digital Public Infrastructure. 

The Canadian inquiry into the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has gained momentum, with the United States urging India to cooperate in the investigation. Canada alleges that Indian government agents may have been involved in Nijjar's death, a claim India vehemently denies. The U.S. supports Canada's investigation and calls for bringing the perpetrators to justice. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed concern and emphasized the importance of Indian cooperation. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and advocate for an independent Sikh state, was labeled a "terrorist" by India. The situation continues to impact diplomatic relations.

India is aiming for a clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI ahead of the World Cup. A 3-0 win would provide India with a significant advantage over Australia when they meet for the World Cup opener. Despite the absence of key players, India has dominated the first two ODIs, showcasing their strength in depth. Shubman Gill, the only batter with over a thousand runs in the format this year, will be rested. With the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India remains a formidable team. (Image Courtesy: BCCI)

Today marks the 100th birth anniversary of legendary Indian actor and filmmaker Dev Anand. Known for his charismatic on-screen persona and evergreen films, Dev Anand carved a unique place in the Indian film industry over his decades-long career. His passion and dedication to cinema inspired generations. On this special occasion, Dev Anand's former co-star Zeenat Aman paid tribute, calling him stylish, suave, and a dynamo beyond compare who sparked careers like hers. His films continue to enthrall audiences of all ages. Dev Anand's legacy as an icon lives on through his unforgettable cinematic contributions. (Image Courtesy: Shekhar Kapur on X)

Legendary Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman has been named the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting made the announcement, recognizing her outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. Waheeda Rehman, renowned for her roles in classic films like "Pyaasa," "Guide," and "Khamoshi," has a career spanning over five decades. She has previously been honored with a National Film Award and Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards. The award comes as a fitting tribute to her remarkable career and her dedication to philanthropy and social causes. (Image Courtesy: ANI)

  Avishkar Hyperloop, a student team from IIT Madras, created a prototype hyperloop pod designed to travel from Chennai to Bangalore in just 25 minutes. They are the sole Indian team to reach the finals of Elon Musk's Space X International Hyperloop Pod Competition. Hyperloop is seen as a transformative fifth mode of transportation, utilizing electric propulsion in low-pressure vacuum tubes. The IIT-Madras prototype aims to reach speeds of 400 to 450 km/h during the finals in Los Angeles. This innovative technology could significantly reduce inter-city travel times, such as the 5-hour Chennai-Bangalore train journey, down to 25 minutes.

  Efforts to re-establish communication with India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander and rover have dimmed after they entered "sleep mode" during the lunar night. The robots were expected to reawaken when exposed to sunlight around September 22, but contact hasn't been made. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had expressed confidence in their survival but noted that hopes were fading. They plan to continue efforts to contact the spacecraft until September 30, the next lunar sunset. Despite the challenges, the Chandrayaan-3 mission had already achieved its primary objectives, making India a key player in lunar exploration.