INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Gains Singapore’s Backing for Patrols in Strategic Malacca Strait

India secured Singapore’s support for its interest in patrolling the Malacca Strait, a vital global shipping lane.

The Strait of Malacca connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) with the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean) and is among the world’s busiest maritime routes.

Joint patrolling of the Malacca Strait is currently conducted by Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong visited India (2–4 Sept 2025) at the invitation of PM Narendra Modi, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Discussions focused on political, economic, security, technology, education, and cultural cooperation.

Both nations agreed to progress on the Third Review of CECA and achieve substantial review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) in 2025.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on space collaboration was signed between IN-SPACe (India) and Singapore’s Office for Space Technology & Industry / Economic Development Board.

An MoU on advanced manufacturing skilling was signed between India’s Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, establishing a National Centre of Excellence at NSTI Chennai.

Another MoU on a green and digital shipping corridor was signed between the two governments.

Partnership to be strengthened through green energy cooperation, especially in hydrogen and ammonia production and trade.

United Nations Security Council Extends UN Interim Force in Lebanon

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously extended the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate for a final time until the end of 2026, after which a year-long drawdown and withdrawal will begin.

UNIFIL, which was established in 1978, patrols Lebanon’s southern border with Israel.

The decision was based on a French-drafted resolution, which was adopted after a compromise with the United States, as the U.S. stated it would not support further extensions.

UNIFIL currently has 10,800 peacekeepers, and 903 of those are from India.

 

BANKING

Punjab National Bank Signs MoU with Rajasthan Government

Punjab National Bank (PNB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Rajasthan to support the state’s socio-economic development.

Under the agreement, PNB pledged ₹21,000 crore investment through the state’s ‘Rising Rajasthan’ initiative.

In August’ 2025, Punjab National Bank (PNB) inaugurated its first startup-centric branch in New Delhi.

State Bank of India Organises First-Ever “Dream2Demo”

State Bank of India (SBI), through its Start-up Branch, hosted its first-ever Start-up Pitch Fest – Dream2Demo.

The event provided a platform for entrepreneurs to present ideas directly to leading investors.

SBI showcased customized financial products for start-ups, including equity-linked funding solutions.

SBI highlighted its collaborations with Startup TN and IIT Madras Incubation Cell.

The initiative reaffirms SBI’s commitment to supporting innovators and aims to guide start-ups from grassroots to global stage.

Axis Max Life Partnered with India Post Payments Bank

Axis Max Life Insurance Limited and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) announced a partnership to deliver affordable life insurance solutions in rural and regional India beyond Tier 1 cities.

The partnership will use IPPB’s network of 650 banking outlets and over 64 lakh access points through post offices to expand reach.

Customers in Tier 3, Tier 4, and rural markets will gain access to a comprehensive suite of need-based life insurance products.

The initiative supports the Government’s financial inclusion objectives.

It also aligns with IRDAI’s vision of “Insurance for All by 2047.”

Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank,National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and AquaExchange Collaborated

Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank (APGB), in partnership with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and AquaExchange Agritech Private. Limited., has launched collateral-free shrimp crop loans for aquaculture farmers.

The official launch was held at AquaExchange's Veeravalli premises, located near Hanuman Junction in Krishna district.

As part of the NABARD–AquaExchange MoU, a Shrimp Farming Rating Score (FRS) will be developed to serve as a benchmark for creditworthiness in aquaculture financing.

The APGB–AquaExchange agreement will see the disbursement of ₹25 crore worth of collateral-free crop loans to approximately 100 shrimp farmers over the next 3–6 months.

The first installment of ₹1.2 crore was sanctioned to five farmers from different regions.

AquaExchange plans to scale up the disbursements to ₹100 crore in FY 2025 and ₹250 crore in the next financial year.

Under this program, APGB will provide low-cost, collateral-free working capital loans, while AquaExchange will offer crop disease insurance to the farmers.

 

FINANCE

Financial Stability and Development Council Sub-Committee Meeting

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra chaired the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC-SC), which discussed global and domestic macroeconomic and financial sector developments and their implications for financial stability.

The panel also reviewed the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2025–30.

The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is an apex-level forum constituted by the Government of India in December 2010.

FSDC is not a statutory body and no separate funds are allocated for its activities.

FSDC is chaired by the Union Finance Minister of India.

Members of FSDC include the heads of RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA, FMC, along with the Finance Secretary/Secretary DEA, Secretary DFS, and Chief Economic Adviser.

A Sub-Committee of FSDC, chaired by the RBI Governor, handles financial sector development, stability, and inter-regulatory coordination.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Anuparna Roy Wins Best Director Award at 82nd Venice Film Festival

Anuparna Roy won the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice Film Festival (2025).

She won for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees, which portrays the lives of two migrant women in Mumbai.

The award was presented by Julia Ducournau, acclaimed French filmmaker and President of the Orizzonti Jury.

Songs of Forgotten Trees highlights themes of memory, identity, and survival, focusing on marginalized voices with a minimalistic and layered storytelling style.

The Orizzonti section showcases new trends and emerging talent in world cinema.

Roy’s recognition marks a major international breakthrough for Indian independent cinema, especially women filmmakers.

Other winners at Venice 2025 included:

Golden Lion (Best Film): Father Mother Sister Brother by Jim Jarmusch

Silver Lion (Runner-up): The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania

Best Actor: Toni Servillo for La Grazia

Best Actress: Xin Zhilei for The Sun Rises On Us All

Best Director (Main Competition): Benny Safdie for The Smashing Machine

Special Jury Prize: Gianfranco Rosi for Below the Clouds

Roy’s achievement highlights the growing global recognition of women-led and non-mainstream Indian cinema.

 

SPORTS

India to Host 28th Asian Table Tennis Team Championships in October 2025

The 28th ITTF-ATTU Asian Table Tennis Team Championships will be held from October 11–15, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The event is organized by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).

It will serve as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships.

The top 13 men’s and women’s teams will secure direct qualification.

This is the first Asian-level table tennis championship in Odisha.

Bhubaneswar has earlier hosted the 2019 Commonwealth TT Championships, FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, Khelo India University Games, and the SAFF Championship.

Top nations including China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore will participate.

India’s men’s and women’s teams will aim to use home advantage to qualify.

Carlos Alcaraz Wins US Open 2025 Men’s Singles

Carlos Alcaraz (Spain), age 22, won the US Open 2025 Men’s Singles title, defeating Jannik Sinner (Italy) in the final at Flushing Meadows, New York.

With this victory, Alcaraz claimed his 6th career Grand Slam title and 2nd US Open crown.

He also reclaimed the ATP World No. 1 ranking, ending Sinner’s 65-week reign at the top.

This was the pair’s 15th career meeting and third consecutive Grand Slam final.

Alcaraz has now won 7 of their last 8 encounters, including 5 of their last 6 finals.

Historical milestone: Became the second youngest male player to win six Grand Slam titles.

Joined Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Mats Wilander as the only men to win multiple majors on all three surfaces (Hard – 2, Clay – 2, Grass – 2).

 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Arundhati Roy Publishes Memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me

Arundhati Roy, author of the Booker Prize-winning novel The God of Small Things, released her memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me.

The memoir is a 374-page narrative published by Penguin Hamish Hamilton.

It focuses on her relationship with her mother, Mary Roy, a renowned educator and women’s rights activist.

The book explores themes of childhood trauma, emotional complexity, creativity, grief, and literary formation.

Roy began writing the memoir after the death of Mary Roy on September 1, 2022.

It combines personal reflection with literary depth, portraying Mary Roy as both inspiring and oppressive.

The memoir is considered a significant addition to Indian literary nonfiction and showcases Roy’s introspective and poetic writing style.