Piyush Goyal, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, announced that during his recent Brussels visit, India and the European Union (EU) have closed 10 of the 20 chapters in their free-trade agreement negotiations, with four to five more chapters near consensus. With Indian exports to the EU approximately US $82 billion last year—just below shipments to the US—the deal gains urgency amid steep tariffs imposed on Indian goods by the Donald Trump administration. Key outstanding issues include steel, automobiles, labour-intensive sectors and the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. (PC: ANI/X) 

Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 29 2025, expressing hope for a “golden chapter” in India–Japan relations. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the Special Strategic and Global Partnership through cooperation in defence, technology, economic security, and talent exchange. They also discussed strengthening regional stability amid global challenges. Modi described the exchange as warm and forward-looking, emphasizing that India–Japan ties are crucial for promoting peace, prosperity, and a free, open Indo-Pacific region. (PC: ANI/AP)    

Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian-origin man who spent 43 years in a US prison for a murder he did not commit, now faces deportation. His conviction was overturned after new evidence proved his innocence. Vedam, 64, was preparing to reunite with his family when US authorities took him into federal custody over a 1999 deportation order. He legally came to the US as a baby. His lawyers are fighting to stop his deportation, arguing that decades of wrongful imprisonment should outweigh an old drug conviction. Vedam remains in an immigration detention centre as the legal process continues. (PC: X)

India is working with Thailand to bring back nearly 500 citizens who fled a cybercrime hub in Myanmar. The Indians were tricked into working at the Chinese-run KK Park compound before escaping during a military raid. Many crossed into Thailand, where they are now detained. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said India plans to send a plane to bring them home. The Indian Embassy in Bangkok is helping verify their identities and complete legal formalities. Myanmar’s KK Park is linked to global cyber scams run by Chinese gangs. Thousands from several countries have been trafficked there. (PC: India Today)

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she is living freely in Delhi but would love to return home once fair elections are held. Speaking from exile, Hasina said she will not go back to Bangladesh under any government formed without her party, the Awami League. She called the ban on her party “unjust” and said millions of supporters would be left without a voice. The 78-year-old leader fled to India in August 2024 after student-led protests toppled her government. She denied charges of crimes against humanity, calling the trial politically motivated and unfair. (PC: NDTV)

A video from Oakville, Ontario, shows a Canadian teenager shouting racist slurs at an Indian-origin female worker, telling her to “go back to your country.” The video sparked outrage in Canada and India, with social media users calling the behaviour “disgusting” and “shameful.” Experts say hate crimes against South Asians in Canada have risen sharply. A UK-based report found a 227% jump in such cases since 2019, with online slurs targeting Indians increasing by over 1,000%. Activists warn that racism against immigrants is growing, fuelled by extremist groups and political rhetoric ahead of Canada’s federal election.

Two Indian nurses from Kerala, aged 26 and 29, became heroes mid-air when a 34-year-old co-passenger suffered a cardiac arrest aboard an Etihad Airways flight from Kochi to Abu Dhabi. Acting quickly, they administered CPR and coordinated with a doctor on board, who provided IV fluids, successfully stabilizing the passenger before landing. Their presence of mind and professional training turned a potential tragedy into a life-saving act. Both nurses, employees of Response Plus Medical (RPM) in Abu Dhabi, were later honoured by their employer for their exemplary service and quick medical response. (PC: X)    

Soon after arriving in South Korea on his Asia tour, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that a long-delayed trade deal with India is “only a question of time”, indicating progress in talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussion had been stalled by differences over Indian purchases of Russian oil and high U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. A breakthrough reportedly includes the U.S. reducing tariffs to 16 % and India agreeing to scale back its Russian oil imports. At the same time, Trump repeated his controversial claim of brokering the May 10 India-Pakistan ceasefire, a version New Delhi disputes. (PC: NDTV)

Diana Pundole, a 32-year-old racer from Pune, has made history as the first Indian woman to join Ferrari’s prestigious global racing championship. She will compete in the Ferrari Club Challenge Middle East, driving the Ferrari 296 Challenge across tracks in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia from November to April. Pundole began her racing journey in 2018 under the JK Tyre Women in Motorsport program and went on to win India’s national saloon car title in 2024, inspiring a new generation of women in motorsport. (PC: X)    

Singer Diljit Dosanjh has received a threat from the banned Sikh separatist group Sikh For Justice (SFJ) ahead of his November 1 concert in Australia. The group accused Dosanjh of “insulting” the 1984 Sikh riot victims by touching Amitabh Bachchan’s feet, alleging Bachchan had incited anti-Sikh violence with the slogan “Khoon Ka Badla Khoon.” SFJ demanded the concert’s cancellation, linking Dosanjh’s gesture to “disrespect of Sikh martyrs.” The Indian government has banned SFJ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for its pro-Khalistan agenda and separatist activities.