Pallekele Test: India target first away series whitewash in rain-hit Kandy

Political sparring has intensified in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp verbal assault on the Samajwadi Party and AIMIM, alleging they harbour affection for Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators while neglecting farmers, youth, and marginalised communities. Adityanath accused previous regimes of patronising rioters and criminals instead of aiding the poor. Concurrently, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, demanding the party rename itself to Samajwadi Yadav Parivar over alleged dynastic dominance and diminished Muslim representation across key constituencies like Azamgarh and Firozabad. Owaisi also raised the Muzaffarnagar riots, accusing the Samajwadi Party of failing the Muslim community during its tenure. In response, Samajwadi Party leaders hit back at Owaisi, questioning his track record and accusing AIMIM of functioning as a facilitator for the Bharatiya Janata Party by contesting primarily in seats with established opposition Muslim leaders.

The Israeli government and Defence Minister Yisrael Katz have dismissed allegations of a feud between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Defence Forces regarding plans for a pre-poll strike on Iran, describing the claims as baseless. The clarification comes on the eve of the Israeli general election, where Netanyahu faces a challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. While US President Donald Trump has endorsed Netanyahu, calling on citizens to re-elect him, polling suggests a potential stalemate between the major political blocs, with neither side currently assured of the 61-seat majority required to form a coalition government. Analysts note voter attention remains divided between ongoing regional security tensions, post-war reconstruction, and domestic economic pressures. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israeli expatriates are travelling from North America and Europe to Ben Gurion Airport to vote in person on 27 October, as Israel does not permit postal or remote absentee voting for regular citizens living overseas.

A political controversy emerged in Tamil Nadu over remarks concerning past governance and welfare schemes, while authorities conducted inspections of key water bodies ahead of the monsoon season. Simultaneously, an investigation into a child abuse case prompted sharp administrative and political exchanges. In Andhra Pradesh, preparations intensified as a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal escalated into a cyclone expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to coastal areas. Meanwhile, in Kerala, police registered a case against a social media vlogger over an online video targeting a Fort Kochi cafe, leading to accusations of inciting communal discord. In Karnataka, concerns were raised regarding the adequate representation and fair employment opportunities for local residents in the Bengaluru information technology sector. Additionally, authorities in Hyderabad confronted persistent drinking water wastage by commercial establishments amidst broader concerns over regional water scarcity, enforcing penalties and calling for stricter resource conservation measures.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed a gathering of supporters following his historic election victory, thanking the Brazilian people for granting him a fourth democratic term in office. Emphasising national sovereignty and popular strength, he declared, "nós não cabemos no quintal de ninguém," and expressed deep gratitude to the youth who took to the streets to safeguard democracy. He noted that once elections conclude, governance must serve all 215 million citizens across every city, leaving partisan rivalries behind. He also pledged greater citizen participation in public policymaking and addressed the need to regulate digital platforms to prevent foreign interference.