Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of hostages held in Gaza “in the coming days.” He said both diplomatic and military pressure brought progress. Netanyahu warned that Hamas “will be disarmed and Gaza demilitarised — the easy way or the hard way.” The comments came after Hamas accepted a US peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump. Trump warned Hamas to “move quickly or else all bets will be off.” Hamas still seeks talks on some parts of the plan. “I feel hope that I can hug my son again,” one mother said. (PC: X)

Chandrashekar Pole, a 27-year-old student from Hyderabad, was shot dead by miscreants at a gas station in Denton, Texas, where he worked part-time. He had gone to the US for higher studies after completing his BDS degree in India. Former Telangana minister T Harish Rao said the student was from LB Nagar and urged the government to bring his body home. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy offered full support to the family. The Indian Consulate in Houston said it was helping the family and following the police investigation. Local authorities in Texas are probing the incident. (PC: India Today)

Cyclone Shakhti has intensified into a ‘severe’ storm over the Arabian Sea, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. The cyclone is moving west-southwest at around 15 kmph and is expected to weaken from Monday. IMD warned of thunderstorms and lightning in Mumbai, Pune, and nearby areas, with rough sea conditions and wind speeds up to 100 kmph near Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts. Fishermen have been advised not to enter the sea until Tuesday. However, officials said there is no direct threat to India’s west coast. Light rainfall may continue in Mumbai and Thane till October 8. (PC: X)

Actor Rhea Chakraborty said she finally got her passport back after five years following the Bombay High Court’s order. The 33-year-old actor shared a photo on Instagram holding her passport and wrote, “Patience was my only passport for the past 5 years.” Rhea had surrendered her passport after being arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a drug case linked to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in 2020. She was later granted bail. Known for “Sonali Cable” and “Jalebi,” Rhea was last seen in “Chehre” (2021) and recently appeared in “MTV Roadies: Karm Ya Kaand.” (PC: The Hindu)

The Supreme Court will hear on October 6 a plea by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, seeking his release. Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and sent to Jodhpur Central Jail for allegedly inciting violent protests in Ladakh on September 24. Four people were killed and 80 injured during the clashes. Angmo said she has no information about his health or the reasons for his detention. She accused the Ladakh police of “misusing power” and working with an “agenda.” Her plea also challenges the Centre’s handling of the unrest and demands his immediate release. (PC: HT)

Pakistan’s interior minister and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi will receive the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal for his “courageous stance” during the Asia Cup trophy controversy. The issue began after India defeated Pakistan in the final and refused to take the trophy from Naqvi, who had earlier shared a controversial post. Naqvi then took away the trophy himself, sparking mockery online. He later said he never apologised to the BCCI and did nothing wrong. The award ceremony will be held in Karachi, with Bilawal Bhutto invited. The BCCI plans to raise the issue at ICC’s November meeting. (PC: Mint)

People in Gaza are shocked after US President Donald Trump said Hamas was ready for peace. Hamas gave a mixed response to Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza. The group agreed to release Israeli hostages and let Palestinian technocrats run Gaza but avoided clear answers on other points. Trump welcomed the reply and asked Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Many Palestinians felt hope, while others feared it was a trap. Activist Khalil Abu Shammala said Hamas’s move was about staying in power. Residents now wait to see if peace talks will finally end the two-year-long war. (PC: BBC)

A 28-year-old Indian student, Chandrashekar Pole, was shot dead by an unknown gunman at a gas station in Dallas, Texas, on Friday night. Chandrashekar, from Hyderabad, went to the US in 2023 for higher studies after completing dental surgery in India. He had finished his master’s and was working part-time while seeking a full-time job. His family has asked the Indian government to help bring his body home. Telangana leaders T Harish Rao and Sudhir Reddy met the grieving family. The killing comes just a month after another Indian-origin man, Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, was brutally murdered in Dallas. (PC: X/ Harish Rao)

Pakistan has offered US President Donald Trump a deal to build and run a civilian port in Pasni, Balochistan, close to India’s Chabahar port in Iran. The proposal, worth $1.2 billion, comes as Pakistan tries to reset ties with the US. Advisers to army chief Asim Munir reportedly pitched the plan, highlighting mineral wealth in the region. The port would not be used for military purposes but for trade and mining links. The offer follows a $500 million US investment in Pakistan’s minerals. India is closely watching, as the Pasni port would sit just 300 km from Chabahar. (PC: India Today)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit India on October 8-9. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai. The two leaders will review progress on the India-UK free trade agreement, which is expected to boost trade by $35 billion. Talks will also cover defence, technology, climate, and migration. India is likely to raise issues of terrorism, pro-Khalistan groups, and the return of fugitives. Starmer’s trip follows Modi’s visit to the UK in July, where both sides signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. (PC: @MEAIndia X/ File)