Two brothers have been arrested in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly shooting dead a 19-month-old cheetah born at Kuno National Park after mistaking it for a leopard during a hunting trip. The state government's Special Task Force recovered a vintage double-barrel gun suspected to have been used in the killing. The cheetah, named KNG22, was found injured in Morena district on October 25 and later shifted to Jabalpur for advanced treatment. However, it died on October 27. Doctors had recovered 5 metal pellets from its body during surgery. The investigation is examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Farm fires in Punjab and Haryana contributed to a sharp rise in Delhi's air pollution, with many blazes reportedly starting after NASA satellites passed over the region. A Hindustan Times analysis found that Delhi's AQI rose from 117 on Saturday to 261 on Sunday and reached 324 on Monday. India's INSAT-3DS satellite detected a sharp rise in evening fires, from 17 on October 29 to 90 on November 1. More than 90% of large farm fires in Punjab during 2024 and 2025 reportedly started after 3 pm, making them harder to track through regular satellite monitoring.

BITS Pilani will offer 100% tuition fee scholarships to students securing a rank among the top 1,000 in BITSAT from the 2027 admission cycle. The scheme will cover all 4 years of undergraduate studies for candidates whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 20 lakh. Students must maintain a minimum CGPA of 7.5 to continue receiving the benefit. The scholarship will be included automatically in admission offers, so eligible students will not need to submit a separate application. The expansion follows a 50% rise in admissions among top 1,000 BITSAT rankers in 2026. (PC: Economic Times)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate over allegations of foreign support, accusing him of relying on overseas backing to become and remain in power. In a post on X, Gandhi claimed that India's financial system was supported by foreign interests and that foreign social media platforms backed Modi. He said the Prime Minister could choose any platform and time for the debate. His challenge came after Modi accused opposition forces of trying to destabilise the country, spreading rumours and maintaining links with anti-India elements abroad during his address in Gujarat. (PC: India Today)

The United States has released a rare satellite image of China's secretive Shenlong space plane, offering a closer look at the country's classified space programme. The photograph, captured by Maxar Technologies in 2024 from around 90 kilometres away, shows the spacecraft docked with another satellite, with its solar panels deployed and payload bay apparently open. The image was included in a Defence Intelligence Agency report released on October 26. Shenlong, meaning 'Divine Dragon', is a reusable robotic spacecraft that has reportedly released at least 9 unidentified objects into low Earth orbit since 2022. China has not publicly explained their purpose. (PC: NDTV)

Democrats are heading into the US midterm elections with hopes of making major gains, as polls show them leading in several key House and Senate races. President Donald Trump's low approval ratings and rising living costs have added to Republican challenges. However, recent polling errors have raised questions about the accuracy of these predictions. Analysts say pollsters face difficulties reaching voters, particularly conservative supporters who are less likely to participate in surveys. Political polarisation, Republican campaign spending and changes to electoral boundaries could also limit Democratic gains. Despite the uncertainty, polling averages suggest Democrats remain well-positioned ahead of Tuesday's vote. (PC: BBC)

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has completed 12 consecutive months without an operational fatality for the first time in 47 years. The last operational deaths were reported on October 30, 2025, during an anti-Maoist operation in Jharkhand. CRPF chief GP Singh credited improved equipment, better training, strategic planning and faster medical evacuation for the achievement. The milestone comes after the government declared India free of Maoist activity on March 30, 2026. However, the force continues to face challenges in Manipur, where ethnic tensions and militant violence have increased. Officials are considering deploying additional CRPF personnel in the state. (PC: HT)

Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the 'very poor' category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 324 at 4 pm. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect. The decision came amid unfavourable weather conditions, which are expected to keep pollution levels high over the coming days. Under GRAP Stage 2, authorities must intensify road cleaning, water sprinkling and the use of anti-smog guns to control dust pollution. Measures to reduce traffic congestion and promote public transport will also be strengthened. (PC: India Today)

Actor Imran Khan on Monday tendered an unconditional apology before the Bombay High Court for participating in a protest against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Mumbai. The court strongly criticised the 42-year-old US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, questioning his right to join political demonstrations in India. “Imagine if an Indian citizen does such protests in any other country, take, for example, your country – the US,” the bench remarked. Khan also assured the court that he would not participate in similar protests again. His challenge to the FRRO’s Leave India Notice will be heard on December 7. (PC: India Today)

At least 8 Palestinians, including a four-year-old child, were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, according to hospital officials, despite a ceasefire that came into force last October. In Gaza City, a missile strike near Cairo School in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood killed 3 people. In Khan Younis, a drone attack targeting police officers in Al-Mawasi killed 5, according to the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out 2 attacks on what it described as military operatives but provided no further details. Gaza's health ministry says 1,580 people have been killed since the ceasefire began. (PC: BBC)