Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh represented India at the 'Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit' in Egypt's Red Sea resort city.
The high-level meeting, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and co-chaired by US President Donald Trump, focused on bringing lasting peace to Gaza and the broader Middle East.
The summit aimed to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhanced efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and usher in a new phase of regional security and stability.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Sanjay Kumar Hansda and Sonali Sen Gupta as Executive Directors (EDs) to the bank.
As ED, Gupta will look after the consumer education and protection department, financial inclusion and development department and inspection department. Hansda will look after the department of economic and policy research.
Three Indian Ports Named Green Hydrogen Hubs
India took a significant step toward building a future-ready green energy ecosystem by designating three major ports as Green Hydrogen Hubs. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), under the framework of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, formally recognised Deendayal Port (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port (Odisha) as focal points for green hydrogen production, distribution, and usage.
Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India aims to become a global hub for green hydrogen production and export. These hydrogen hubs are intended to serve as integrated zones, where clean hydrogen is produced, stored, transported, and consumed across various sectors such as shipping, logistics, fertilizers, and refining.
Dragan Stojkovic Resigns as Serbia Coach Following Defeat to Albania in World Cup Qualifying
Dragan Stojkovic resigned as Serbia coach following the 1-0 home defeat to Albania in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying.
The Serbian football federation said that he offered his resignation after the loss in Leskovac. Serbia's Under-21 coach Zoran Mirkovic took interim charge for Group K match away to Andorra ahead of a meeting regarding further changes in the national team set-up.
Shanghai Masters: Valentin Vacherot Becomes lowest-ranked player to triumph at ATP Masters 1000 event
Valentin Vacherot created history at the Shanghai Masters by becoming the lowest-ranked player to triumph at an ATP Masters 1000 event and first-ever player from Monaco to win an ATP singles title.
Vacherot rallied from a set down and defeated his cousin, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the final.
Inspector Bhawna Chaudhary Becomes BSF Air Wing's First Woman Flight Engineer
The Border Security Force (BSF) air wing got its first woman flight engineer in its over 50 years history following completion of a first in-house training capsule.
Inspector Bhawna Chaudhary along with four male subordinate officers was recently awarded their flying badges by BSF director general Daljit Singh Chawdhary.
India, Australia Start Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025
The fourth edition of India and Australia's bilateral military exercise 'AUSTRAHIND 2025' is being held from October 13 to 26 at Irwin Barracks in Perth, Australia.
The exercise aims to further strengthen the operational capabilities of both the armies in undertaking joint Company-level operations in urban & semi-urban terrain, under the United Nations mandate -- reflecting the shared commitment towards global peace and security.
The High Commission welcomed 120 troops from the Indian army to Australia for 'AUSTRAHIND 2025'.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed on October 13 every year across the globe.
In 2009, the UN General Assembly decided to designate October 13 as the official date for this day, and also changed the name to International Day for Disaster Reduction. The word Risk was added to the name later.
Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who lives in hiding, won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for fighting dictatorship in the country, receiving the award despite U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated insistence he deserved it.
Machado was blocked in 2024 by Venezuela's courts from running for President and thus challenging President Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power since 2013.
Jharkhand Board Introduces Competency-based Format with New 30-50-20 Formula
The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) announced a major overhaul of the Class 10 and 12 board examinations, set to take effect in 2026. Moving away from the traditional syllabus-based format, the new system will emphasise competency-based and application-oriented questions aimed at testing students' critical thinking and real-world problem-solving abilities.
The reform aligns JAC with national educational standards, including CBSE and ICSE, and seeks to better prepare students for competitive exams and future careers.
Historically, JAC exams have primarily featured direct, textbook-based questions. The 2026 update marks a significant departure from this approach. Question papers will now be designed to assess core competencies, analytical skills, and practical understanding, rather than rote memorisation.
KEY FEATURES OF THE NEW PATTERN
- Competency and skill-based questions: Students will face questions evaluating logical reasoning, analytical thinking, social awareness, and sensitivity.
- Focus on real-life applications: Theoretical knowledge will now be tested in practical, real-world contexts.
- Interdisciplinary approach: Questions may integrate concepts from multiple subjects to encourage holistic learning.
- Revised traditional questions: Even conventional short and long-answer questions will prioritise conceptual clarity over memorisation.
Pottery, Terracotta Products at Mati Kala Mahotsav
The Khadi Bhawan in Lucknow came alive with the inauguration of the Mati Kala Mahotsav 2025, a 10-day celebration of Uttar Pradesh's traditional pottery and terracotta craftsmanship. The festival was inaugurated by Rakesh Sachan, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Khadi, Handloom, and Textiles, who described it as a confluence of tradition and innovation.
During the event, the minister launched the Mati Kala portal and e-Verification Mobile App, developed by the Uttar Pradesh Mati Kala Board to streamline digital registration and verification of artisans across the state. The platform aims to provide a transparent and accessible interface for potters to access govt benefits, training, and marketing support.
The Mati Kala Mahotsav 2025 concludes on October 19.