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India Grapples with Cyclone Montha, While World Faces Hurricane Melissa, Trade Talks, and Geopolitical Tensions

October 29, 2025, 06:39 AM IST

India is currently dealing with the aftermath of Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Montha,’ which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts late Tuesday night. The India Meteorological Department warns of continued heavy rainfall in several areas of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

Globally, Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, has slammed into Jamaica, prompting widespread preparations for catastrophic winds, flooding, and landslides.

On the trade front, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reports significant progress in India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations following discussions in Brussels. Both sides aim to bridge the remaining gaps and finalize the FTA.

Geopolitical tensions remain high as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered “powerful strikes” in Gaza, leading Hamas to retaliate by delaying the return of a hostage’s body, further jeopardizing a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Meanwhile, peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Istanbul have failed to reach a resolution, dealing a blow to regional stability after recent deadly border clashes.

Domestically, the Supreme Court continues to review the Election Commission of India’s authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, even as the Commission announced the second phase of the exercise covering 51 crore voters across 12 States and Union Territories. Concerns regarding the Commission’s powers and procedures remain under judicial scrutiny.

In other news, Air India’s revised rest and duty norms for cockpit crew, already under legal challenge, are facing renewed criticism from pilots who call the changes a “breach of law.” The Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has issued a new policy framework mandating that relocation of forest-dwelling communities from tiger reserves must be a last resort, emphasizing voluntary and evidence-based measures.

Finally, in connection with the tragic deaths of 25 children in Madhya Pradesh allegedly linked to an adulterated cough syrup, a medical representative of Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals has been arrested.

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