National News - India

Cyclone Montha Weakens After Making Landfall, Heavy Rain Persists

New Delhi: Cyclone Montha has weakened into a deep depression after making landfall near Kakinada on the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast. The storm has claimed at least two lives in Andhra Pradesh and triggered landslides in Odisha. While the immediate threat from the cyclone's wind speeds has diminished, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall across several states.

Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha continue to experience significant downpours, leading to concerns about flooding and damage to crops. The IMD has forecast that the weather system will continue to move north-northwestwards, bringing widespread rain to Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal in the coming days. Authorities in the affected states remain on high alert, advising citizens in low-lying areas to take necessary precautions.

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Union Cabinet Approves Terms for 8th Central Pay Commission

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), a move that will impact the salaries and pensions of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners. The commission, which is to be chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, has been given 18 months to submit its recommendations.

The commission's mandate includes reviewing the current pay structure, allowances, and retirement benefits. A key consideration for the panel will be the country's economic condition and the need for fiscal prudence. The establishment of the new pay commission is a significant development for government employees, who have been anticipating a revision in their pay scales.

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PM Modi to Launch Projects Worth ₹1,140 Crore in Gujarat

Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to begin a two-day visit to Gujarat today, during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a series of development projects valued at over ₹1,140 crore in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia. The projects include the inauguration of the Birsa Munda Tribal University in Rajpipla and a fleet of 25 electric buses.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stones for several new initiatives, such as a Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India and a sports complex. On October 31st, Mr. Modi is scheduled to participate in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) celebrations to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

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Regional Spotlight

West Bengal

Kolkata: The remnants of Cyclone Montha are bringing intense rainfall across West Bengal, with the IMD issuing alerts for heavy downpours in several districts until October 31. South Bengal districts, including Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, and Medinipur, are experiencing significant rain and gusty winds. The rain is expected to shift towards inland districts like Purulia, Birbhum, and Murshidabad today. Authorities have warned of potential waterlogging and disruptions to traffic.

In political news, a controversy has intensified over the death of a 57-year-old man, allegedly due to fears related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee visited the deceased's family and blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for creating a climate of fear, announcing protests.

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Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: A tragic boat accident in Bahraich district has resulted in the death of a 60-year-old woman, with eight others, including five children, reported missing. The boat, carrying 22 villagers, capsized in the Kaudiyala River due to strong currents. Search and rescue operations are currently underway to locate the missing individuals.

In a major decision for the state's agricultural sector, the Uttar Pradesh government announced a ₹30 per quintal hike in the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane for the 2025-26 crushing season. This move is expected to provide an additional payment of nearly ₹3,000 crore to 46 lakh farmers. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to complete the construction of the 594-km Ganga Expressway connecting Meerut and Prayagraj by December 2025.

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Assam

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered police to file a treason case against Congress leaders in Sribhumi district for allegedly singing the national anthem of Bangladesh at a party meeting. Sarma stated that this act endorses the claim by some in Bangladesh that the northeast region is part of their nation. The state Congress party has dismissed the allegations as an attempt to divert attention from other issues.

On a positive note, the Assam government announced it will donate its entire share of GST revenue from the final film of the late cultural icon Zubeen Garg, 'Roi Roi Binale', to the Kalaguru Artiste Foundation, an organization he founded. Additionally, the new Guwahati Gateway Terminal, India's first modern river ferry terminal, is set to revolutionize the state's transportation and tourism sectors.

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International Desk

Bangladesh

Dhaka: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed satisfaction with Bangladesh's performance in controlling inflation and maintaining foreign currency reserves. Following the first round of meetings of its 5th Review Mission, the IMF noted that the country's net reserves currently stand at $20.5 billion, exceeding the targets set for both September and December 2025. The IMF advised the Bangladesh Bank to continue its tight monetary policy to keep inflation in check.

However, the IMF delegation raised concerns about Bangladesh's low tax-to-GDP ratio, describing it as a key structural weakness. Broader economic sentiment in the country remains cautious, with many business leaders and economists suggesting that a full economic recovery is unlikely until a new elected government is in power, which would restore investor confidence. Foreign direct investment has seen a decline, and private sector credit growth has slowed.

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Pakistan

Islamabad: Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated dramatically after four-day peace talks in Istanbul collapsed. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a stern warning, threatening to "obliterate" the Afghan Taliban if any future terror attacks are traced back to Afghanistan. The talks failed as Pakistan claimed the Afghan delegation gave "no assurances" on taking action against militant groups using Afghan soil for cross-border attacks.

In domestic security matters, Pakistani military forces killed seven militants in an operation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border; six soldiers were also martyred in the engagement. In other news, Lahore continues to suffer from extreme air pollution, ranking as the most polluted city in the world with a "hazardous" Air Quality Index (AQI). The Punjab government has implemented measures such as revising school timings to mitigate the effects of the dense smog.

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Sports Update

Cricket: Key Matches on October 30, 2025

Cricket fans have a packed day of action to look forward to. The highlight for many will be the second semi-final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, where India Women will face off against Australia Women. This high-stakes match will determine who proceeds to the final of the prestigious tournament.

In other fixtures today:

India A vs South Africa A: The first unofficial Test match between the two sides is scheduled to take place at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
United Arab Emirates vs Nepal: This match is part of the ICC CWC League 2, 2023-27, and will be held at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

Upcoming Matches and Events

Looking ahead, the action continues with the second T20I between Australia and India scheduled for tomorrow, October 31st, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The first match of the five-T20I series was unfortunately called off due to rain. Fans are eagerly anticipating the start of several other series in November, including the South Africa Tour of India and The Ashes.

October 2025 has been a busy month for sports globally, featuring events like the MLB World Series, the Chicago Marathon, and the F1 United States Grand Prix.

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Top Headlines for October 30, 2025: Cyclone Montha Weakens, India-Pakistan Tensions Rise, and Key Economic Updates

National News - India

Cyclone Montha Weakens After Making Landfall, Heavy Rain Persists

Union Cabinet Approves Terms for 8th Central Pay Commission

PM Modi to Launch Projects Worth ₹1,140 Crore in Gujarat