India-UK Sign Defence Deal During Starmer Visit; SBI MD Post Open To Private Sector; And More

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UK-India Sign £600 Million Defence Deals During Starmer's Visit

The United Kingdom announced two major defence agreements with India worth approximately £600 million ($800 million) during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Mumbai on Thursday.

The landmark deals include a £350 million ($470 million) contract supplying UK-manufactured Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems to the Indian Army, significantly boosting India's air defence capabilities. The agreement will be processed through a government-to-government route.

Additionally, both nations signed the next phase of a £250 million ($330 million) collaboration developing electric-powered naval propulsion systems for Indian naval platforms, advancing sustainable maritime technology.

Following bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi, both leaders emphasized moving towards "defence co-production and connecting the defence industries of both countries." An Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for maritime electric propulsion cooperation will be finalized.

The partnership extends to training cooperation, with Indian Air Force Qualified Flying Instructors set to integrate into UK Royal Air Force training programs.

Modi Raises Khalistani Extremism Concerns with UK PM Starmer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also discussed Khalistani extremism with UK counterpart Keir Starmer during Thursday's meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed. Modi emphasized that violent extremism has no place in democratic societies and shouldn't abuse freedoms, urging action within legal frameworks.

The talks, focusing on strengthening India-UK relations in trade, defence, and technology, come amid India's ongoing concerns about pro-Khalistan activities in Britain, particularly following a March 2023 attack on India's London High Commission.

Starmer's two-day visit, beginning Wednesday with 125 business leaders, follows a recent free trade agreement aimed at doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

Israel Approves Trump-Brokered Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Ending Two-Year War

Israel's Cabinet approved President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan early Friday, marking a crucial step toward ending the two-year conflict that began with Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack.

The deal includes releasing all remaining hostages held by Hamas, with Trump stating "they are all coming back on Monday." Approximately 20 of 48 captives are believed alive. In exchange, Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including all women and children held in Israeli jails, and withdraw from most of Gaza.

Israel lost 1,200 people in the Hamas attack, with 251 taken hostage.

Under the agreement, five border crossings will reopen, including the Rafah crossing with Egypt, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UN has 170,000 metric tons of supplies ready for transport. The US will deploy 200 troops to monitor the ceasefire as part of an international team, while forces from Arab and Muslim countries will handle security inside Gaza.

Trump plans to lead a massive internationally funded reconstruction effort. Hostage and prisoner releases are expected to begin Monday, with Israeli military withdrawal potentially starting immediately.

PM Modi Congratulates Netanyahu on Gaza Ceasefire, Calls Him 'Close Friend'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused a security cabinet meeting Thursday to take a phone call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who congratulated him on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release agreement.

Modi praised the deal as "a reflection of strong leadership" and a step toward restoring peace and humanitarian relief in Gaza. He emphasized that Netanyahu "has always been a close friend" and reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation on regional issues.

"Terrorism in any form is unacceptable anywhere in the world," Modi stated, welcoming the agreement for hostage release and humanitarian assistance.

The conversation followed Modi's call with US President Donald Trump, whom he congratulated on the "historic Gaza peace plan."

Other developments

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Bihar State Legal Services Authority to provide comprehensive assistance to approximately 3.7 lakh individuals excluded from the voters list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymlaya Bagchi declined to pass blanket orders on exclusions, instead instructing affected persons to file appeals with the Chief Electoral Officer while receiving free legal aid.

"We request the executive chairman of Bihar Legal Services Authority to send a communication to all secretaries in local authorities to provide free legal aid counsel, para legal volunteers to help the excluded ones file their appeals," the Court stated.

The direction came after the Court noted discrepancies in affidavits submitted by petitioners. Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Election Commission, challenged the veracity of some submissions, calling one affidavit "completely false."

Social commentator Yogendra Yadav highlighted serious irregularities, alleging "45,000 gibberish names" and houses with over 800 registered voters. He also noted that gender gains were reversed, with the male-female voter gap increasing from 7 lakh to 16 lakh.

The SIR reduced Bihar's voter count from 7.89 crore to 7.42 crore, with 47 lakh deletions. The case will be heard again on October 16.

SBI Opens Managing Director Position to Private Sector for First Time

In a historic move, the Indian government announced on Thursday, October 9, 2025, that it would open one Managing Director position at the State Bank of India to private sector candidates for the first time, marking a significant departure from tradition.

The position is likely for MD Vinay M. Tonse, whose term ends on November 30, 2025. This groundbreaking decision aims to bring private sector expertise into India's largest public sector bank, which holds approximately 23 per cent of the banking sector's assets and employs nearly 2,50,000 people.

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) will oversee the selection process, with the final appointment requiring approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This initiative reflects the government's broader efforts to modernise public sector banking by incorporating external talent and expertise, potentially enhancing innovation in areas like digital banking, risk management, and global operations.

Amit Shah Reviews J&K Security After Pahalgam Attack, Vows Terrorism-Free Region

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised Jammu and Kashmir's administration and security agencies Thursday for strengthening the region's security following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, on April 22.

Chairing a high-level security review meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Shah emphasized coordinated efforts to eliminate terrorism. The three Pakistani terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack were killed in a July 28 operation.

With winter approaching, Shah cautioned security forces to remain vigilant against cross-border infiltration attempts. He affirmed the government's commitment to achieving a terrorism-free J&K, noting the terrorist network is "almost crippled."

Shah assured continued resources and "full freedom of action" for security forces to counter any threats to regional peace and security.

Australia-India Strengthen Defence Partnership with Key Agreements

Australia and India significantly expanded their defence cooperation during the inaugural Defence Ministers' Dialogue in Canberra on Thursday, with Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chairing discussions.

The meeting, marking five years of comprehensive strategic partnership, resulted in three major agreements: information sharing, submarine search and rescue cooperation, and joint staff talks framework. Both nations signed an Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support, a milestone in maritime collaboration.

Key initiatives include a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap enhancing operational interoperability, and Australia's first defence trade mission to India (October 7-10, 2025). India offered maintenance facilities for Royal Australian Navy ships in Indian shipyards.

Educational exchanges will expand, with more Indian students joining Australian Defence College in 2026. Both ministers discussed cooperation in emerging technologies including AI and unmanned systems.

The dialogue emphasized shared commitment to a free, open Indo-Pacific, with enhanced cooperation through Quad and trilateral formats. Marles accepted Singh's invitation for the 2026 Dialogue in India.

You’re all caught up. Until next time.