The Hindu Morning Digest: October 28, 2025

Cyclone set to cross coast; red alert in 16 A.P. districts

Cyclone Montha is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada on Tuesday evening or night as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. A red alert has been issued for 16 districts in the State on Tuesday (October 28, 2025).

BJP hits out at Opposition over its stand on SIR 2.0

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday criticised the Opposition, including the Congress, for its stand on the Election Commission’s decision to conduct the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter list in 12 States and union territories. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the Opposition parties were like “‘asantusht atmaon ka jhund (herd of dissatisfied souls)” and a “master class in hypocrisy”.

Muhammad Yunus presents book with controversial map to Pakistan military general

A controversy has broken out after Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus met a high level Pakistani military visitor during the weekend, when he gifted him a book that depicted parts of northeast India as part of Bangladesh. The map in question was printed on the cover of a book that was presented to Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza on at the state guest house Jamuna on Saturday.

INDIA bloc to release poll manifesto today; Rahul to join campaign

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate for the Bihar election Tejashwi Yadav, on Monday (October 27, 2025) said the alliance will release its manifesto for the Assembly election on Tuesday (October 28, 2025). Mr. Yadav said Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will join the election campaign from October 29. Mr. Gandhi, who had earlier led the Voter Adhikar Yatra in the State, will jointly campaign in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts, and for votes for other INDIA bloc candidates.

Japanese PM Takaichi faces her first big diplomatic test with Trump talks

Less than a week after taking charge, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo on Tuesday (October 29, 2025), with trade, investments, the U.S.-Japan security alliance and Indo-Pacific cooperation on the agenda. The meeting will be watched closely in Delhi for any clarity between the two leaders on India’s plans to host the delayed Quad summit. 

Great Nicobar project will boost India’s maritime global trade, says Amit Shah

India aims to be among the top five ship-building countries and significantly increase the port-handling capability by building new mega ports, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Mumbai on Monday, adding that the proposed Great Nicobar project will boost the country’s m aritime global trade multiple times. The $5-billion Great Nicobar infrastructure project, which will include a power plant, transshipment port and airport, has been criticised by activists and local population, citing environmental concerns and violation of forest rights.

Chief Information Commissioner appointments in ‘two or three’ weeks, Centre tells SC

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday that vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC), which has no Chief Information Commissioner and is down to just two Information Commissioners out of a total sanctioned strength of 10, will be filled in “two or three” weeks.

SC raps Delhi police for delay in filing response to bail pleas of 2020 riots accused

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed displeasure over the Delhi Police’s failure to file counter-affidavits to the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and Shifa-ur-Rehman in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.

Turkiye signs deal to buy 20 Eurofighters from Britain for £8 billion

Turkiye agreed to buy 20 new Eurofighter Typhoons from Britain for £8 billion ($10.7 billion) on Monday, deepening the NATO allies’ ties and bolstering Turkish air defences, as Ankara said it was also seeking 24 more jets from Gulf states. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on his first visit to Turkiye since taking office last year, signed the deal with President Tayyip Erdogan and called it a “landmark moment”.

Women’s Cricket World Cup: Shafali Verma replaces injured Pratika Rawal in squad

Dashing opener Shafali Verma has been named as an injury replacement for the in-form Pratika Rawal ahead of India’s Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal against powerhouse Australia at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday (October 31, 2025). Pratika has been ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a right ankle injury during the rain-hit clash against Bangladesh at the same venue on Sunday.