⚖️ Shinde and Thackeray cleared in 17-year-old case

Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray have been acquitted in a defamation and election law violation case from 2009. The judgment was handed down by JMFC Santosh H. Aage on September 23, 2026, in Kalyan. The case originated from the 2009 Lok Sabha elections when a doctored VCD was allegedly shown at a rally. The court found major gaps in the prosecution's evidence regarding the manipulated material. Consequently, all surviving accused were acquitted, with leaders directed to furnish bonds of Rs 10,000.

💡 PM Modi tells ministers to master facts

PM Narendra Modi advised ministers during the Chintan Shivir that knowing facts and communicating them well is essential. This advice was given to ministers in New Delhi amid controversies like the Election Commission's SIR exercise and the IIT-Bombay issue. He stressed ministers must counter negative narratives with detailed facts when engaging with people and media. Additionally, all ministers were asked to identify gaps and suggest action plans for government schemes. The PM also urged interaction with officials at all levels for better performance across ministries.

🔬 Scientists crack lithium metal battery lifespan

Researchers have successfully unlocked the cycle life of lithium metal batteries, a major hurdle in energy storage. This breakthrough was achieved by a team of scientists at a leading research institution. The study, published in AAAS, details improvements over thousands of cycles. This development is crucial for making next-gen batteries more durable for EVs and electronics. Future work will focus on scaling this technology for commercial applications.

🥶 Iowa rescue mission converts thrift store to shelter

The Dubuque Rescue Mission in Iowa is closing its downtown thrift store to create more emergency shelter space for men. This conversion at 398 Main St will house up to 46 men nightly, with the final sales day being October 3rd. The change responds to rising shelter demand, as monthly meal needs have doubled to over 5,000. This frees space for Opening Doors to add 25 beds for women and children. The mission is currently seeking $250,000 by October 31 to fund the winter transition. 🥶

🎤 Netanyahu calls Gaza genocide claims 'biggest lie'

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu labeled accusations of genocide in Gaza as 'the biggest lie of the century' during a speech on Thursday, September 24, 2026. He addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly, where scores of delegates walked out during his address. Netanyahu referenced the September 17, 2024, pager attack and the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in his remarks. He defended Israel's actions while also stating many global leaders privately thanked them for neutralizing Iran's nukes. The Palestinian Mission called for a mass walkout to protest against these alleged crimes.

🛡️ Motorola Signature 27 gets GrapheneOS support

Motorola's new Signature 27 phone will be the first non-Pixel device to run GrapheneOS. This support is coming to the device which was recently unveiled by Motorola. The phone is expected to arrive in North America sometime in November, though no specific date is set. The integration is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 SoC, which brings advanced security features. GrapheneOS is also planned for the 2027 Razr foldables, indicating future expansion. 🛡️

⚠️ West Asia Crisis Might Get Worse, Says Puri

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated on Thursday that the West Asia crisis remains ongoing and could potentially worsen. He mentioned this during PAFI’s 13th Annual Forum in New Delhi. Globally, there is currently about 102 million barrels of crude available daily, meeting the 94-95 mbd requirement. The bigger worry is simultaneous disruption of key routes like the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. India is expanding refining capacity to 310-320 million tonnes by 2030, attracting interest from UAE and Saudi Arabia.

🗳️ Manickam Tagore confident about Vijay backing Rahul

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B. Manickam Tagore expressed high hopes for TVK leader C. Joseph Vijay to endorse Rahul Gandhi for the INDIA bloc's PM candidate. Tagore stated this confidence in Vijay's support ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. He predicted the DMK would not win, even with a national third front, based on past election results. Furthermore, he asserted that the 23 members of the INDIA bloc remain ideologically united despite recent political shifts. The TVK is expected to align with the opposition on issues like delimitation and local Tamil Nadu matters. 🤝

🕊️ Abbas hits UNGA on settlements and US visa issue 🇵🇸

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the 81st UN General Assembly virtually on September 24, 2026. He spoke from Ramallah after the United States denied him a visa to attend the event in New York City. Abbas warned that Israeli settlement expansion threatens the very existence of Palestinians on their land. He heavily criticized the US for the visa ban and called for renewed dialogue and support for a two-state solution. Furthermore, he announced Palestinians are heading toward legislative elections on November 28.

🤖 India's AI combat drone hits 100-hour flight test mark

India's AI warfare company, Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA), has successfully completed 100 cumulative hours of flight testing for its Kaal Bhairava Lite. This indigenous, AI-powered UAV was tested in challenging Bay of Bengal conditions and in J&K. The platform features an 80% indigenisation rate and has a 1,200-km class design with 8-10 hours of endurance. This development is happening as the Indian Navy looks for long-range loitering munitions. FWDA has already secured a $25 million export order from a South Asian nation. 🚀

🏛️ Dozens ditch Netanyahu's UNGA speech 🚶

Dozens of delegates walked out during Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the 81st UNGA in New York City. The walkout was reportedly encouraged by the Palestinian Mission to the UN. Some listed nations whose seats were empty included Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Bangladesh on September 24. Netanyahu called the departing delegates "phony human rights protesters" during his address. He also strongly criticized NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his activism.