West Bengal is now the second most visited state in India for foreign tourists, after Maharashtra, says the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025. The state saw 31 lakh international visitors in 2024, a rise of 14.8% from 2023. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the growth comes from new tourism plans such as festival tourism, religious tourism and MICE events. Most visitors came from the US, Russia, the UK and Italy, even though there are no direct flights to Bengal from these regions. The state is also building new circuits, including coastal, hill and heritage routes. Bangladesh arrivals dropped sharply. (PC: X)

Two rare storms, Cyclone Senyar and Cyclone Ditwah, have caused massive destruction across Southeast Asia. More than 1,000 people have died, and thousands have lost their homes in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and parts of India. Senyar brought record floods and landslides to Indonesia and Thailand, blocking roads and cutting power. Ditwah hit Sri Lanka with heavy rain and flash floods, causing hundreds of deaths and leaving many missing. India’s Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh saw strong rain but limited damage. Rescue teams are struggling to reach remote areas as officials warn that more rain may follow. (PC. HT)

Mumbai has enforced the strictest GRAP-4 pollution control measures after air quality in areas like Mazgaon, Deonar, Malad, Borivali East, Powai, and Mulund reached ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ levels. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has halted construction and dust-generating activities at over 50 sites. Small industries must switch to cleaner processes or face action. Flying squads with engineers, police, and GPS-tracked vehicles are monitoring emissions. Residents report breathing problems and sore throats. Celebrities and local politicians have called for urgent action. The BMC plans a ‘Clean Air Action Plan’ including tree planting, stricter norms, and round-the-clock pollution monitoring. (PC: NDTV)

Scientists say Africa is slowly breaking apart and may form a new ocean in 5 to 10 million years. The East African Rift, stretching from Jordan to Mozambique, is pulling the continent apart like “a zip on a jacket.” The Afar region, where three rifts meet, shows early signs of this split. Magnetic data from the 1960s confirms slow seafloor spreading. The eastern landmass would include Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia, while the western landmass would have Egypt, Nigeria, and Algeria. The process is very slow, moving only a few millimeters each year, but will reshape Africa’s geography over millions of years. (PC: X)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India on December 4-5 for the 23rd Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Defence cooperation is expected to be a key topic, including a possible new S-400 missile deal. Russia may supply two to three additional S-400 regiments, with up to 50% technology transfer for local assembly. India aims to strengthen its air defence and reduce delays in deliveries. The summit will also review joint projects like BrahMos missiles, T-90 tanks, and MiG-29 jets. Talks will focus on timely deliveries, after-sales support, and boosting India’s domestic defence capabilities. (PC: India Today)

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu and filmmaker Raj Nidimoru got married on Monday at the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore. Samantha shared pictures of their ring exchange and wedding ceremony on Instagram, making the news official. The couple performed a traditional ceremony in front of Linga Bhairavi, took aarti, and posed with smiles for photos. Raj wore a white kurta with a beige Nehru jacket, while Samantha looked stunning in a red and gold saree with fresh flowers in her hair. Celebrities and fans congratulated them online. The couple had been dating since early 2024 amid public speculation. (PC: Instagram)

Elon Musk said his partner, Shivon Zilis, is half-Indian and was given up for adoption as a baby. Speaking on Nikhil Kamath's podcast, Musk revealed that one of their sons has the middle name “Sekhar,” after Indian-American physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Zilis grew up in Canada and now works at Musk’s AI company, Neuralink, as Director of Operations and Special Projects. She has a degree in Economics and Philosophy from Yale. The couple has four children: twins Strider and Azure, daughter Arcadia, and son Seldon Lycurgus. Musk praised Indian talent in the US amid rising visa restrictions. (PC: NDTV)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks with Ukraine over ending the war with Russia were productive, but more work is needed. The meeting in Florida included Ukraine's new chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Umerov replaced top negotiator Andriy Yermak after an anti-corruption raid. Talks followed a leaked US peace plan that upset Ukraine and Europe. Rubio said the focus is on Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and long-term prosperity. President Trump and Ukraine’s Zelensky expressed hope for progress. Key issues, including Russian-controlled territories, remain unresolved as diplomacy continues. (PC: BBC)

Cyclone Ditwah weakened into a deep depression on Monday as it moved close to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Heavy to very heavy rain hit Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Vellore. Strong winds of up to 70 kmph caused rough seas and local flooding. Three people died in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu. Before reaching India’s coast, the storm caused major destruction in Sri Lanka, killing 334 people and leaving nearly 370 missing. Over 20,000 homes were damaged there. India evacuated more than 400 stranded citizens from Colombo and continues to assist Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu. (PC: HT)

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday after he said the Opposition was creating “drama” in Parliament. Modi made the remark while criticising Opposition MPs for raising repeated objections during the Winter Session. Priyanka responded that speaking on key issues like the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and Delhi’s dangerous air pollution was the duty of MPs, not drama. She said people want delivery and answers from the government, not remarks that dismiss serious concerns. Both leaders were present as the Winter Session began in New Delhi. (PC: India Today)