Severe cyclonic storm Murasu is moving towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall expected between Nellore and Narsapur from late Monday night to early Tuesday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph. More than 20 flights have been cancelled, including 11 in Chennai and 10 at Vijayawada airport. Andhra Pradesh has stepped up preparations, with officials directed to evacuate people from low-lying areas. Odisha has placed Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on high alert as heavy rain and strong winds approach. (PC: HT)

A controversy has emerged after All India Muslim Jamaat chief Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi questioned the marriage of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and journalist Nidhi Razdan. He described the marriage as unlawful under Sharia, arguing that Razdan is not Muslim. The cleric said the marriage could have been valid under Islamic law if she had converted to Islam before the nikah. However, the couple reportedly married under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which allows people of different religions to marry without conversion. His remarks have brought their personal relationship into public debate. (PC: India Today)

Israel's election results have left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu short of a parliamentary majority, giving Arab-led parties a crucial role in government formation. Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 in the 120-member Knesset. The Arab-led Joint List and Ra'am secured the remaining 19 seats. A government needs at least 61 seats to secure a majority. Although Arab parties could help the opposition reach that number, several opposition leaders have ruled out forming a coalition with them. The results have set the stage for difficult coalition talks, with another election also possible. (PC: News18)

Russia and Ukraine have reported cyberattacks on their emergency warning apps, which sent false alerts to users. Moscow said a “massive cyberattack” had targeted its app but maintained that the country's wider emergency alert system was operating normally. A Ukrainian espionage group claimed the Russian app had sent fake warnings about nuclear strikes. Separately, Ukraine's air raid warning app issued false alerts about a radiation threat in Kyiv following an apparent hack. Kyiv blamed Russia for the incident, while Moscow has not identified those responsible for the attack on its system. The alerts came amid continuing tensions between the 2 countries. (PC: BBC)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a setback in Punjab as 3 of its leaders joined the BJP in New Delhi on Monday, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The leaders include sitting MLAs Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra from Sanaur and Chetan Singh Jouramajra from Samana, along with suspended MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh. Their move came after they resigned from AAP over the past 2 days. The leaders had criticised the Bhagwant Mann government over issues including drug abuse, corruption and governance. The defections come as AAP prepares for a crucial electoral battle in Punjab next year.

The Congress-led INDIA bloc organised an extensive mobilisation drive ahead of its November 1 rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, with state units given specific crowd targets. According to a Hindustan Times report, party leaders arranged accommodation for workers travelling from different states and coordinated transport to bring supporters to the capital. Some state units also selected artists to perform regional and tribal cultural programmes after weeks of rehearsals. Women workers and student groups were also mobilised for the gathering. The rally was organised to protest alleged electoral irregularities and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. (PC: HT)

A Learjet 60 crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard. The private jet had taken off from Austin, Texas, and was flying to the Bahamas when it went down near Greenacres. The impact left a crater in the road, scattered aircraft debris and sparked a fire. Authorities said around 600 residents from a community were evacuated and moved to shelters as emergency teams secured the area. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.

A 28-year-old man from Patti in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, identified as Simranjeet Singh, died after being run over by a train in Brampton, Canada. According to available information, he had been living in Canada for more than five years and was employed in the trucking industry. Simranjeet reportedly left his home on October 31 but did not return. After he failed to answer repeated phone calls, friends and acquaintances began searching for him. They were subsequently informed that he had been run over by a train. The circumstances surrounding the incident have not been detailed in the available report. (PC: X)

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Murasu on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The storm, whose name means “war drum”, is expected to make landfall on the morning of November 3 between Nellore and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh. Ahead of the cyclone's impact, Chennai and Tiruvallur district administrations announced that schools and colleges would remain closed on Monday, November 2, due to heavy rainfall. Authorities also issued an orange alert for six districts in Telangana and a yellow alert for five other districts for Monday. The cyclone's formation comes days after Cyclone Arnab, adding to weather-related concerns across the region. (PC: The Hindu)

US President Donald Trump said China and Russia spy on the United States, adding that Washington conducts intelligence operations against both countries more effectively. Speaking at a campaign rally in Iowa ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections, Trump recalled being warned about Chinese espionage and responded that the US also monitors Beijing and Moscow. His remarks drew applause from the audience. The comments came amid heightened scrutiny of alleged Chinese intelligence activities targeting American military personnel and installations. Separately, two Chinese nationals were sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to act as agents for China's Ministry of State Security and attempting to recruit intelligence assets within the US military.