Rahul Gandhi challenges PM Modi to debate; Amit Shah counters with SIR challenge

Delhi's air quality has deteriorated sharply into the 'very poor' category in November, with the Air Quality Index touching 350. The dip in air quality comes amid the ongoing paddy harvest season and rising farm fires in Punjab, which recorded 1,612 incidents by 2 November. While overall stubble burning cases have registered a steep drop since the peak in 2020, satellite imagery confirms active hotspots persist across districts like Tarn Taran, Amritsar, and Sangrur, alongside widespread fires in Pakistani Punjab. Farmers state they lack alternatives without direct financial compensation and machinery subsidies, while questioning why agriculture alone is singled out over vehicular and industrial emissions.

Voting has commenced in the United States midterm elections, presenting a crucial test for Donald Trump's presidency with control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate at stake. The elections follow early morning US air strikes in Iran amid ongoing conflict in West Asia. Poll trends and internal Republican party assessments suggest that the Democrats could secure an advantage in both chambers. Heightened campaigning by Donald Trump in traditionally conservative states like Texas, Alaska, North Carolina, and South Carolina indicates tight races, particularly in the Senate.

Political tensions have escalated in Karnataka over an alleged fake sting video row targeting Siddaramaiah. Amid the controversy, Siddaramaiah met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal in New Delhi, expressing serious concerns over the ongoing investigation and alleging party workers were behind circulating the clip. Meanwhile, Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of exploiting and later humiliating Siddaramaiah. The police probe has led to an arrest, with a Delhi-purchased mobile phone emerging as key evidence.

Across the globe, 33 governments have advised citizens to maintain household stockpiles of food and water for at least 72 hours to withstand natural disasters, cyber threats, or infrastructure breakdowns. Meanwhile, supermarkets across seven European nations—including Belgium, Sweden, and Ireland—faced severe disruptions after hackers manipulated remote refrigeration controls, forcing units into defrost mode with temperatures hitting 50 degrees Celsius. Compounding global anxiety, commentator Tucker Carlson warned of potential US nuclear strikes against Iran under Israeli pressure, though unverified by official channels. While such an escalation could disrupt Persian Gulf energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz, spike oil prices, weaken the Indian rupee, and heighten regional tensions, official preparedness advisories stem from established emergency management planning rather than an imminent coordinated global catastrophe.