Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

White House releases Gaza peace plan as Trump meets Netanyahu

A White House peace plan for Gaza released on Monday (September 29, 2025) proposes an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants and the return of all hostages, living and dead, within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the agreement. Mr. Trump on Monday (September 29, 2025) laid out a 20-point plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war and establishing a postwar governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory. Mr. Trump’s plan would establish a temporary governing board that would be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Ladakh groups reject talks with government, Ministry says open to dialogue

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been spearheading the movement for constitutional safeguards in Ladakh, have called off the proposed talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials in Delhi on September 30, saying “talks cannot be held at gunpoint.”

Portal glitches and ‘missing records’ slow down registration of Waqf

Nearly four months after the Centre launched UMEED portal – a centralised digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties – only around 4,000 properties have been registered so far compared to the total 8.72 lakh Waqf establishments spread across 30 States/UTs, covering more than 38 lakh acres of land.

Netanyahu calls Qatar PM to apologise for Israeli strike targeting Hamas officials in Doha

Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday (September 29, 2025) apologised to Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for a military strike targeting Hamas officials in the emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare condemnation by the U.S. of Israel, according to two people, including a diplomatic official, familiar with the matter.

India-Bhutan rail links costing ₹4,033 crore announced

India on Monday (September 29, 2025) announced two new rail links totaling 89-km between India and Bhutan, i.e. Kokrajhar-Gelephu (Assam) and Banarhat-Samtse (West Bengal), at a cost of ₹4,033 crore. These two projects are part of the first set of rail connectivity projects between India and Bhutan, Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, announced at a press conference. The MoU for these projects was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year and a formal agreement will be signed later on September 29 on the occasion of Bhutanese Foreign Secretary to New Delhi.

Government proposes sound alert system for all electric vehicles from October 2027

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed making acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) mandatory for all electric cars, buses and trucks with effect October 1, 2027, keeping road safety in mind. The Ministry in a draft notification said that all new models of electric passenger and goods vehicles manufactured after October 2026 must be equipped with AVAS, a safety feature in EVs to emit an artificial sound to alert pedestrians and other road users about their presence.

Kochi NIA court sentences two Coimbatore natives in IS recruitment case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Kochi has sentenced Mohammed Azarudeen and Sheik Hidayatullah of Ukkadam, Coimbatore, for eight years of rigorous imprisonment in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu Islamic State (IS) recruitment case. N. Seshadrinathan, the Special Judge, awarded the convicts rigorous imprisonment of eight year each on three counts. However, the punishment shall run concurrently, the court held on Monday (September 29, 2025). The special court had found the two guilty of recruiting and propagating the ideology of the IS.

Index of Industrial Production growth slows to 4% in August 2025, dragged by consumer-facing sectors

Growth in industrial activity in India slowed to 4% in August 2025 from its 6-month high growth of 4.3% in July. Growth was dragged down by the consumer durables and non-durables sectors, as well as slower growth in manufacturing, capital goods, and infrastructure sectors, government data showed. Data on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday (September 29, 2025), showed that growth in the index this August was considerably faster than the 0% growth seen in August last year. On the other hand, mining activity, the primary goods sector, and electricity output saw a positive turnaround.

FTA talks going on with several countries, including U.S., says Goyal

India is negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with a number of countries including the U.S., New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Chile, and the European Union, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday (September 29, 2025).  He said that Qatar and Bahrain too are keen to negotiate trade pacts with India. “Talks are going with the U.S. (for a trade agreement). Talks are also underway with the EU, New Zealand, Oman, Peru and Chile,” he said at U.P. International Trade Show, Greater Noida.

Iran executes ‘one of most important spies’ for Israel

Iran executed a man named Bahman Choubi-asl on Monday (September 29, 2025), the judiciary’s news outlet Mizan said, saying the defendant was “one of the most important spies for Israel in Iran”. Mizan reported, “The main goal of Mossad in attracting the defendant’s cooperation was to obtain the database of governmental institutions and create a breach in Iranian data centres, along with which it also pursued other secondary goals, including investigating the route of importing electronic equipment.”

Typhoon Bualoi becomes a tropical storm that rips through Vietnam, killing at least 9 people

Heavy rain and strong winds from the former Typhoon Bualoi flooded roads, knocked off roofs and caused at least nine deaths in central Vietnam before it weakened to a storm that moved on Monday (September 29, 2025) into Laos, state media reported. The storm tore through communities, damaging houses, schools and power poles, sweeping away temporary bridges and flooding roads and low-water crossings across several provinces. Flooding in cities submerged vehicles, and many highland communities were cut off. State media said rescue teams were searching for 17 missing fishermen.

Nepal imposes travel ban on ex-PM over protest violence

Nepal has imposed travel bans on ousted Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and four former senior officials as part of an investigation into deadly unrest earlier this month, the Interior Minister said on Monday (September 29, 2025). In addition to Mr. Oli, travel bans have been placed on former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, former Head of the National Investigation Department security agency, Hutaraj Thapa, and two other senior bureaucrats. Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal told AFP on Monday (September 29, 2025) that the ban is “already in effect.”

Battle for Asia Cup trophy continues even after final match

Devajit Saikia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, has condemned the act of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi taking the Asia Cup trophy along with him from the dais after India declined to accept it from him. Mr. Saikia also confirmed that the BCCI will take up the issue in the next International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Board meeting in November. India captain Suryakumar Yadav said it’s the winning team that is remembered, not the trophy as he reacted to his side not being presented the Asia Cup after it refused to accept the top prize from Asian Cricket Council chief and Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi.