Digest for 10 October, 2025
Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire Deal; US to Deploy Monitors
Israel’s Cabinet has approved the first phase of a US-brokered peace plan, pausing the two-year war in Gaza. The agreement includes the release of remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops. To support the deal, the United States is deploying approximately 200 troops to establish a civil-military coordination centre in Israel. The centre will facilitate humanitarian aid and monitor the ceasefire, though no US troops will enter Gaza itself.
India Issues First Legally Binding Emission Targets for Heavy Industries
The Indian government has notified its first legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 282 industrial units in carbon-intensive sectors like aluminium, cement, and paper. Under the new rules, these facilities must lower their emission intensity from a 2023-24 baseline over a compliance period starting in 2025-26. The move operationalizes a domestic carbon market where compliant companies can earn tradable credits, while non-compliant ones face penalties, aligning India with its Paris Agreement goals.
7.6-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines, Triggering Tsunami Warning
A powerful and shallow offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 has struck off the coast of Davao Oriental province in the southern Philippines. The quake prompted tsunami warnings for coastal areas within 300 km of the epicentre, including parts of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Palau, with authorities urging immediate evacuation to higher ground. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned of potential damage and aftershocks from the significant seismic event in the disaster-prone region.
Owner of Pharma Firm Linked to Child Deaths Arrested in Chennai
The owner of Sresan Pharma, the company that manufactured the toxic Coldrif cough syrup, has been arrested in Chennai. The arrest follows the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly after consuming the syrup. Laboratory tests confirmed the product contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical. The proprietor, Ranganathan Govindan, faces charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and adulteration of drugs.
New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted on Federal Bank Fraud Charges
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led a high-profile civil fraud case against Donald Trump, has been indicted on federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a lending institution. The U.S. Justice Department's probe relates to allegations of mortgage fraud. The indictment has drawn criticism from Democrats, including New York's governor, who called it a "weaponization of the Justice Department," while the Trump administration maintains it is a matter of criminal acts and breaches of public trust.