(1) NDA and INDIA bloc release their manifestos for upcoming Bihar Elections 2025
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) released its joint manifesto for the upcoming Bihar Assembly election on Friday (October 31, 2025). Urging voters to choose Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister, the NDA’s slew of promises include creation of one crore jobs, freebies in power, ration, education, medical treatment, and to women, apart from large investments in developing the State’s infrastructure.
Apart from countering NDA’s promises by offering to end contact employment in government jobs, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has also offered freebies to women and in power, education, agriculture, and more. INDIA bloc’s Chief Minister pick is Tejashwi Yadav.
Here’s a look at what these parties’ manifestos promise in different sectors:
(2) Cyclone Montha leaves a trail of destruction in Andhra Pradesh
Over the past week, cyclonic storm Montha made landfall in Andhra Pradesh and resulted in widespread loss in the State. Rainfall recorded in the State since October 24, when the low-pressure area formed, show the State as having received rainfall of around 47 mm till October 31 against a normal rainfall of around 28 mm for the same period. It weakened into a deep depression on October 30.
The northeast monsoon season’s rainfall contributes over 30% of the State’s rainfall, as per IMD, with the season usually seeing around three cyclonic disturbances in the Bay of Bengal.
Flooding occurred in several coastal districts, with losses to the power sector amounting to around 2,200 crore rupees. Srikakulam, Anakapalli, East Godavari, and Konaseema circles of the APEPDCL recorded heavy infrastructure losses, including broken poles and snapped conductors.
(3) ECI announces phase 2 of Special Intensive Revision
The Election Commission of India announced the phase two of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 States and Union Territories from October 28, 2025. The ‘SIR 2.0’ will cover 51 crore voters.
The 12 States and UTs where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will begin from tomorrow are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep.
The printing of Enumeration Forms will begin on October 28 and would be given to each voter in States where SIR would take place now.
(4) Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica with record-tying windspeeds
With windspeeds touching 296 kmph, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica and left a trail of destruction through the destruction of homes and public infrastructure as shown in the graphic below. The death toll across the Caribbean due to the storm has reached 60 as per various news reports.
In Jamaica, the destruction comes just 15 months after Hurricane Beryl impacted more than 50,000 farmers and 11,000 fishers, and caused 4.73 billion Jamaican dollars (about USD 29 million) in losses, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining.
The storm caused havoc in Cuba and Haiti too, and was responsible for at least 31 deaths in the latter.
Relief efforts across the northern Caribbean are focused on immediate needs for now, as first responders and humanitarian organizations provide shelter, health care, food and clean water, and restore power and communications.
(5) Israel has killed at least 200 Palestinians in Gaza since the start of the ceasefire
Between October 27 and 28, Israel carried out heavy airstrikes across Gaza that killed at least 104 people, including 46 children, according to local health officials.
This is not the first time Israel has carried out attacks since the start of the U.S.-brokered agreement for a ceasefire on October 10, 2025. Over 200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since.
Mr. Netanyahu called the return Monday (October 27) of body parts a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement, which requires Hamas to return all the remains of hostages in Gaza as soon as possible.
That was compounded by the shooting and killing an Israeli soldier during an exchange of gunfire in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump, on a trip to Asia, defended the strikes, saying Israel was justified in carrying them out after Hamas killed the Israeli soldier, who also held U.S. citizenship.
Hamas denied any involvement in the deadly shooting and in turn accused Israel of “a blatant violation of the ceasefire deal”. It also said it would delay handing over the body of another hostage to Israel because of the strikes.
Published – November 03, 2025 05:32 pm IST