1 Malaysia will host the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26.
Malaysia will host the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 , along with other summits themed on inclusiveness and sustainability . All ASEAN leaders will attend the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit. During this ceremony, the Declaration on the Accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN will be signed, marking its formal entry as the 11th ASEAN Member State . These summits include the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Plus One Summit between ASEAN and seven Dialogue Partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States. They also include the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN-UN Summit, and the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to commemorate 50 years of Dialogue Relations.
2 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated digital and welfare initiatives during the Commanders’ Conference in Jaisalmer.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated several major digital and welfare initiatives during the Army Commanders’ Conference in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan . These include Edge Data Centers for the Konark and Fire and Fury Corps . These centers are designed to enable fast, secure, and quick data processing , enabling operational decision-making in a timely manner. The Defense Minister also launched the Modern Equipment Helpline Portal , which will provide AI-enabled maintenance support and real-time technical assistance to the Army . On this occasion, the Sainik Yatri Mitra app, designed by the ARMMAN platform, was also unveiled to digitize the management of Defense Duty Quota seats on over 1,200 trains . This will bring transparency and convenience to military personnel’s travel.
3 Indian-origin Sunil Amrith wins British Academy Book Award for The Burning Earth
Renowned Indian-origin historian Sunil Amrith has won the British Academy Book Prize 2025 for his outstanding book, The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years . The prize is awarded annually to a non-fiction book that offers a deep understanding of global history, culture, and society . The prize money is £25,000 (approximately ₹26 lakh). Sunil Amrith is a Professor of History at Yale University. He was born in Kenya, raised in Singapore, and received his higher education from the University of Cambridge, England.
4 Odisha government intensifies preparations in coastal districts in view of cyclonic storm ‘Montha’
The Odisha government has intensified preparations in the state’s coastal districts in view of the expected Cyclone Montha in the Bay of Bengal . Leave for all government employees in Balasore district has been cancelled, while officials in Ganjam district have been asked to remain at their headquarters until further notice. The state government has asked all district administrations, especially those in the southern and coastal districts, disaster response forces, and local bodies to remain on 24-hour readiness to deal with any possible emergency.
5 ANRF launches Maha MedTech Mission in collaboration with ICMR and Gates Foundation
The National Research Foundation (ANRF), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Gates Foundation, announced an ambitious initiative called “ Maha MedTech .” This landmark initiative aims to accelerate innovation in India’s medical technology sector , reduce dependence on high-cost imports, and promote equitable access to affordable and high-quality medical technologies. The Mission will provide financial support to various entities, including academic and R&D institutions, hospitals, startups, MSMEs, the medtech industry, and collaborations between various institutions. With milestone-linked funding of ₹5-25 crore (and up to ₹50 crore in exceptional cases) per project, the Mission will support projects that contribute to the introduction of impactful medtech solutions into the market.
6 TEC signs MoU with IIT-Hyderabad for collaboration on joint studies and technical contributions in telecommunication technologies and standardization activities
The Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC) , the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) to collaborate on joint studies, research, and technical contributions to advanced telecommunication technologies and global standardization activities . The partnership aims to develop India-specific standards and testing frameworks, explore future network technologies such as 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), and enhance India’s participation in ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunication Standardization Sector) study groups. This partnership creates a formal framework for TEC to work closely with IIT Hyderabad on next-generation telecommunications and standardization activities. Key areas of collaboration :
- Mobile Communication Technologies : Studies and technical contributions on network architecture, signaling and protocols for 4G, 5G, NB-IoT, etc.
- Open RAN : Collaborative research in Open RAN and network disaggregation, focusing on open interfaces and orchestration.
- 6G : Exploring architecture and enabling technologies for 6G, with contributions to standardization activities in 3GPP and related global forums.
- Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) : Research and standardization on NTN, HAPS and integration of Terrestrial Networks (TN) with NTN.
- Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) : Joint work on SAR exposure, compliance framework and health effects studies.
7 First Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft ‘Mahe’ built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi inducted into Indian Navy
The first of eight anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW SWCs) built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, ” Mahe ” was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 23, 2025. Named after the historic port of the Union Territory of Puducherry, “Mahe” symbolizes India’s rich maritime heritage. The ship was indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, demonstrating the country’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding. It is equipped for coastal surveillance, low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and has advanced minelaying capabilities. With a height of approximately 78 meters and a displacement of approximately 1,100 tons, the ship is equipped with torpedoes, multi-role anti-submarine rockets, and advanced radar and sonar, enabling it to perform underwater warfare capabilities.
8 NASA confirms discovery of Earth’s temporary second moon, 2025 PN7
Earth recently acquired a new space companion— a small asteroid named 2025 PN7 , officially confirmed by NASA . It’s not a true “moon ,” but orbits the Sun in a nearly Earth-like orbit , making it appear as if it’s traveling through space alongside our planet. This asteroid doesn’t orbit Earth directly, but rather orbits the Sun in an orbit that nearly matches Earth’s. This makes it appear to “pass” Earth, although in reality, it’s moving independently through space. Researchers estimate that 2025 PN7 has been orbiting Earth for approximately 60 years and may remain so until 2083 , after which it will slowly drift into deep space. At its closest point, the asteroid comes within about 4 million kilometers of Earth—about 10 times farther than our Moon. At its farthest point, it moves about 17 million kilometers away. Astronomers at the University of Hawaii first spotted it during a routine sky survey in 2025. It was a faint speck slowly moving against a backdrop of stars. After weeks of study, NASA confirmed its orbit and classified it as a ” quasi -moon ” —a quasi-satellite that temporarily shares orbit around the Sun with Earth.
9 Bajrang Setu: India’s first glass suspension bridge will transform Rishikesh by 2025
Rishikesh, one of India’s leading spiritual and tourist destinations, is about to acquire a new architectural identity. The Bajrang Setu, a modern suspension bridge over the Ganges River , is nearly ready and is expected to open by December 2025. This bridge will replace the historic Lakshman Jhula , which was closed in 2019 for safety reasons. Built in 1929 , Lakshman Jhula was Rishikesh’s hallmark and a major attraction for pilgrims and tourists.
10 Disarmament Week 2025
Disarmament Week is observed annually from 24 to 30 October , marking the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The week aims to raise awareness of global arms control and disarmament issues and their role in peace, security, and sustainable development. Disarmament Week was initially proposed in 1978 at a special session of the UN General Assembly (Resolution S-10/2). Later, in 1995, the General Assembly encouraged governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to actively participate in the week (Resolution 50/72 B). Since the UN’s founding (1945), disarmament and arms control have been a central mission for peace and security. The objective is simple, yet powerful: to promote dialogue, cooperation, and trust instead of fear and the arms race.
11 Actor Satish Shah passed away today at the age of 74.
Renowned actor Satish Shah has passed away at the age of 74. Born on June 25, 1951, in what was then Bombay , Satish Shah graduated from St. Xavier’s College and subsequently enrolled at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune . In an acting career spanning over four decades, he worked in theater, film, and television. He began his film career with supporting roles in Hindi cinema in the late 1970s and 1980s . He gained popularity with his iconic performance in the 1983 film ” Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro .” He also starred in films such as “Shakti,” “Hum Aapke Hain Koun , ” “Hum Saath Saath Hain , ” “Main Hoon Na , ” “Kal Ho Na Ho , ” “Fanaa , ” “Om Shanti Om,” and others. On television, Mr. Shah’s role as Indravadan Sarabhai in “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai ” is considered one of Indian television’s most iconic comedic performances.
12 Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit dies at the age of 93
Thailand’s beloved and revered monarch, Queen Mother Sirikit , passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the age of 93. The Royal Household Bureau confirmed that she died at a hospital in Bangkok, where she had been admitted since October 17 for treatment of a blood infection. Despite continued medical care, her condition did not improve. Although often overshadowed by the popularity of her husband, King Bhumibol, Queen Sirikit distinguished herself through her humanitarian and development work. She initiated numerous royal projects to improve rural life, reduce poverty, and revive Thailand’s traditional arts. She provided income-generating opportunities for villagers by training them in silk weaving, jewelry making, painting, ceramics, and other traditional arts . Known as the ” Green Queen ,” she initiated projects such as Forest Loves Water and Little House in the Forest , which highlighted the importance of forest and water conservation . He established wildlife breeding centers, open zoos, and turtle conservation centers to protect endangered species.