NEWS 08-10-2025. News For 10th-Oct (Friday) *National News* 1. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the NIELIT Digital University Platform in New Delhi to expand access to nationwide quality digital education. 2. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport, set to become Mumbai region’s largest air hub. *Defence News* 1. UN Peacekeeping Army Chiefs’ Conclave is scheduled in New Delhi from Oct 14–16, 2025. It will host senior military leaders from over 30 nations, less China & Pakistan. 2. DRDO is set to test its next-generation “Dhvani” Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) by end-2025, marking India’s entry into the elite group of nations with operational hypersonic weapon capabilities. 3. India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line, to be set up by TATA Advanced Systems Limited in Vemagal, Karnataka, will produce Airbus H125 helicopters. 4. Nigeria is close to finalising a deal for four HAL Prachand Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) under a soft credit line from India—marking a key breakthrough for Indian defence exports to Africa. 5. The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Androth, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, built with over 80% indigenous content. 6. All three Indian defence forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force—will jointly participate in Exercise Cold Start, focusing on drone and counter-drone warfare. 7. IAF has equipped its Su-30MKI fighters with Israeli-made Rampage missiles. 8. India and Russia began the Indra-2025 joint military exercise on October 6 at the Mahajan ranges in Rajasthan, focusing on counterterrorism and interoperability. *International News* 1. India and China have agreed to resume direct air services between designated cities by late October 2025. 2. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will visit India on October 9 — the first high-level visit from Kabul since the Taliban takeover in 2021. 3. Hamas has agreed to release all Israeli hostages under U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, expressing readiness for mediated talks. 5. India is evaluating the procurement of Russian Su-57 stealth fighters as an interim measure before the AMCA becomes operational. 6. Telangana has secured a $1 billion investment from U.S. pharma giant Eli Lilly to expand manufacturing in Hyderabad. 7. India has launched UPI payments in Qatar, expanding the system’s global footprint. 8. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to U.S.-based scientists John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for pioneering quantum experiments on a macroscopic scale. *Sport News* 1. India’s opener Abhishek Sharma achieved a historic milestone by reaching the highest-ever rating in ICC Men’s T20 Batter Rankings with 931 points, surpassing Dawid Malan’s 2020 record of 919. 2. Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women’s 48kg category at the World Weightlifting Championships 2025 in Norway. 3. India recorded its best-ever performance at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 in New Delhi, bagging 22 medals — 6 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze. < < Back