🛰️ SpaceX gets massive deal to fly more NASA crews

NASA awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract to execute three additional astronaut missions to the International Space Station. This extension boosts the total contract value to $5.92 billion, covering flights until 2030. NASA relies on SpaceX to keep astronauts traveling while a backup option via Boeing is developed. The contract covers ground prep, launch, in-space operations, and capsule recovery. This ensures US access to the ISS even if one provider faces issues. 🚀

🏍️ Sia says she'll be back on the bike soon

Sia declared she will soon return to riding after a severe accident in Gurugram. She was hit by a car while biking in Gurugram, India, resulting in an injured left leg. The incident occurred after four men in a car deliberately targeted her, leading to the impact. Sia admitted not wearing her riding jacket was a mistake but stressed others' intentions are unpredictable. She insists women bikers will not stop their passion because the system must handle the unruly elements. 🏍️

⛰️ Sonam Wangchuk leads symbolic march in Leh

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk announced he will lead a 20-km symbolic march in Leh on September 23, 2026. This action is aimed at safeguarding Ladakh’s culture, environment, and democracy for the region. The march was postponed from September 19-23 due to weather and political climate. This is followed by a martyrs' day event on September 24, marking the first anniversary of violence. Activists continue to push for Statehood and inclusion under the Constitution's sixth schedule. ⛰️

⚖️ Congress candidate faces murder charges in Nandigram bypoll

Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, linked to rioting and murder cases from 2007, is scheduled to appear in court on Saturday, September 19, 2026. He was arrested in Chandipur, Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, on Friday, September 18, along with Subhasish Bhattacharya. The charges stem from four cases registered in 2007, including three at Nandigram and one at Khejuri police stations. State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar questioned the arrest timing, alleging BJP pressure before the October 6 bypoll. The party plans a rally in Kolkata to protest Mr. Pradhan's detention. ⚖️

🏛️ Congress won't drop Nandigram candidate, calls it national issue

Congress has decided not to withdraw its candidate from Nandigram. K C Venugopal stated that the issue would be raised as a matter of national importance. This stance comes amidst political tensions surrounding the election. He emphasized that the matter would not be dropped despite external pressures. The party plans to push this issue on the national agenda moving forward.

🛰️ New AI method merges radar and optical satellite images

Researchers introduced a deep neural network framework to fuse heterogeneous radar and optical remote sensing imagery. This work was conducted by teams from various institutes, published on September 19, 2026. The method achieved 91.38% overall accuracy and a 0.892 Kappa coefficient on the SEN1-2 benchmark. It successfully surpasses ten competitive baselines while keeping inference cost low at 11.4 ms per sample. Future work will likely focus on applying this robust fusion technique in diverse remote sensing applications. 🛰️

🏏 BCCI assures Asia Cup trophies are coming to Mumbai

The Asia Cup trophies for both men's and women's teams are currently in Dubai after India declined to accept them from Mohsin Naqvi. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed this during the 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on Friday. The trophies were left behind after both teams refused the presentation, following the women's T20 Asia Cup final last week. Saikia stated this was a firm institutional decision, not targeting the players or the sport. He guaranteed that both pieces of silverware will eventually reach the BCCI head office at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 🏏

⚽ Barcelona seals 16-year-old attacking midfielder deal

Barcelona has officially completed the signing of 16-year-old attacking talent Dany Freire. The Portuguese-Luxembourgish youngster joins the club after passing his trial with Barcelona. Born on September 19, 2010, he developed his game with Racing FC Union Letzebuerg. His versatility, allowing him to play multiple attacking roles, caught the club's attention. He is expected to start his career with Juvenil B to continue his development.

🦟 Dhaka hospitals overwhelmed by dengue surge

A sharp rise in dengue cases has severely pressured hospitals across Dhaka. Mugda General Hospital is seeing patients treated on floors and verandas due to extreme overcrowding. Over 747 new patients were admitted nationwide in the 24 hours leading up to Friday morning. This intense surge follows 59,147 hospitalizations since January 1st across Bangladesh. Officials state that additional beds and manpower are urgently needed to manage the worsening situation.

🏡 Alia & Ranbir's first Ganesh Chaturthi at new home

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor celebrated their first Ganesh Chaturthi at their new bungalow with their daughter, Raha. The celebration took place at their residence, marking a significant milestone for the celebrity couple. While specific dates are not mentioned, the event highlighted their family life. This celebration adds another layer to their public image as a family unit. The couple continues to share glimpses of their life with fans. 🏡

💨 German filters tested for Delhi's smog problems

A special broadcast of 'Pollution ka Solution' explored innovative technologies to fight air quality crises in Delhi hotspots. Mann+Hummel's Filter Cube, brought to India by MRH Technologies, was tested in Stuttgart, Germany, and validated by IIT Delhi. This forced air circulation device cuts localized pollution by 60 to 70 percent, filtering road dust, smoke, NO2, and SO2. The system provides about 17,500 cubic metres of clean air per hour for creating clean air zones. Experts stressed the need for real-world solutions involving public and private sectors to protect citizen health. 💨