Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | Vol. 69 No. 8 | 30 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation GAMES NATION With new criminal laws, India's system driven by justice rather than punishment: Shah Briefs Tejashwi’s RJD gets 135 seats, Cong 61 Grand Alliance, bickering over Bihar assembly seats for weeks, have come to an arrangement that involves marginal climbdowns for both Lalu Yadav's RJD and Congress, sources said. RJD, which was angling for 144 seats, will contest 135. Its ally Congress, which had its eye on 70 seats, will contest 61, NDTV reported. The balance of Bihar's 243 seats will go to Left Front and Mukesh Sahani's VIP. But the biggest factor the allies thrashed out was the one on which Congress was fence-sitting for days, projecting Tejashwi as CM face of alliance, sources said. There was no word on his deputies. Tejashwi Also, Tejashwi will file his nomination for Raghopur constituency on Oct 15. Inflation dips to 1.54%, hits 8-year low India’s annual headline inflation slowed to 1.54% in Sept 2025, recording an 8year low, government data indicated, leaving room for RBI to cut rates one more time. Early Oct, the apex bank had projected CPI inflation for 2025-26 at 2.6% with Q2 at 1.8%; Q3 at 1.8%; and Q4 at 4%. CPI inflation for Q1: 2026-27 was projected at 4.5%. Data released by ministry of statistics & programme implementation shows a dip of 53 basis points in headline inflation of Sept 2025 as compared to Aug 2025. It is the lowest YoY inflation after June 2017. SEE MONEY GOLD, SILVER RECORD FRESH HIGHS MONEY Edit Brave, most certainly, but by no means a beacon of light HOPE FOR PEACE | As US prez declares ‘the war is over’ in first real pause in two years of relentless conflict in Gaza, Israelis and Palestinians erupt in joy Hamas frees all 20 hostages Trump sets sights on Af-Pak conflict Agencies GAZA STRIP Hamas on Monday released all 20 remaining living hostages in Gaza, a landmark move that marks the first real pause in two years of unrelenting war and offers a fragile hope for peace. The hostages were released in two batches - seven early in the day, followed by thirteen a few hours later. The men, now in the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross, were taken to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) facility for medical and psychological evaluation before being reunited with their families. As Israeli TV channels confirmed the safe transfer of the first group, crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square erupted into cheers and tears. Public screenings drew tens of thousands of people who watched the emotional homecoming unfold live. Among the first photos released by the government was one of 28-year-old twins, Gali and Ziv Berman, embracing after being held separately in captivity since the war began. Agencies WASHINGTON PM hails move n a post on X, PM Narendra Modi said, “We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump, and the strong resolve of PM Netanyahu. We support President Trump’s sincere efforts to bring peace to the region.” He described it as a moment of hope and resilience reaffirming India’s support for lasting peace in the region. I 4Contd on | nation 4See also | world US President Trump on Sunday declared that he was “good at solving wars,” and, brushing aside questions about the Nobel Peace Prize, set his sights on the escalating conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was en route to the Middle East aboard Air Force One and he once again claimed to have stopped conflict between India and Pakistan, claiming that he’d slap 200 per cent tariffs if it didn’t stop in 24 hours. Trump insisted that his peace efforts were motivated Agencies In recognition of their groundbreaking work on how innovation drives long-term economic growth, three economists - Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt were awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Monday. Their collective research has deepened the understanding of “creative destruction,” a concept that explains how new technologies replace old ones, fueling progress and productivity. The trio represents distinct yet complementary approaches to the study of economics. Mokyr, 79, a Dutch-born economic historian from Northwestern University, explored long-term trends using historical sources. Aghion, 69, 4Contd on | nation For example, between India and Pakistan, I said, if you guys want to fight a war and you have nuclear weapons, I am going to put big tariffs on you both - 100%, 150%, 200%. I said I am putting tariffs, and I had that thing settled in 24 hours. If I didn’t have tariffs, you could have never settled that war. Donald Trump, US President IRCTC SCAM FPJ News Service NEW DELHI A Delhi court on Monday framed criminal charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, and several others in connection with the alleged IRCTC scam case. The case will now proceed to trial as all the ac- cused have pleaded not guilty. Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order, framing charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating against Lalu Yadav. Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi have been charged with conspiracy and cheating, the Bar and Bench reports. The Central Bureau of Inves- tigation (CBI) has alleged that Lalu Yadav and his family accepted prime land and shares as a bribe in exchange for awarding contracts to a private firm when he was the Railway Minister. According to the CBI, during Yadav’s tenure from 2004 to 2009, two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri were leased to Sujata Hotels through a manipulated tender process. In re- Big NE hydel push SC orders CBI probe with eye on China into Karur stampede investigation. “The issues have a bearing on the fundamental rights of the citizens. There The Supreme Court on Mon- cannot be any doubt that fair day ordered a probe by the investigation is deserved by CBI into the Karur stampede the citizens,” the Court obin Tamil Nadu that served. As reported occurred on Sepby Live Law and Bar tember 27 during a and Bench. rally of actor Vijay’s To ensure transparpolitical party, Tamiency, the Supreme laga Vettri KazhaCourt constituted a gam (TVK), claiming three-member Super41 lives. Committee Scan & watch visory A bench of Jusheaded by former Sutices JK Maheshwari and NV preme Court judge Justice Anjaria said the shocking Ajay Rastogi to monitor the incident, which “has shaken CBI investigation. the national conscience,” 4Contd on | nation required a fair and impartial FPJ News Service flows on the Indian side by up NEW DELHI to 85%. When completed it will be the world's largest The government has drawn up hydropower dam, overtaking a Rs 6.4 trillion transmission the Three Gorges dam. plan to move over 76 gigawatts The CEA plan covers 208 of hydroelectric capacity from large hydro projects across 12 the Brahmaputra basin by sub‑basins, with 64.9 GW of 2047 to meet rispotential capacity POWER PLAY ing electricity deand an additional mand, the Central 11.1 GW from Electricity Authority (CEA) pumped‑storage plants, said in a report on Monday. Reuters said. The BrahmaThe development comes putra basin covers Arunachal against the backdrop of China Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Mizobuilding in Tibet a dam on the ram, Meghalaya, Manipur, NaYarlung Zangbo, Brahma- galand and West Bengal. putra's upper course before it 4Contd on | nation enters India, and could cut Agencies NEW DELHI 3 share Nobel economics prize Espionage angle in peace prize? STOCKHOLM purely by humanitarian goals. “I did not do this for the Nobel. I did this for saving lives,” he said, claiming his interventions had already brought an end to several global conflicts. Trump was heading to Israel and Egypt to mark the end of the Gaza war, calling the IsraelHamas ceasefire the “eighth war” resolved during his presidency. He said his visit - his first since brokering the truce - would focus on consolidating the ceasefire, advancing Gaza’s reconstruction, and maintaining regional stability. Court frames charges against Lalu, kin Sebi chief warns against market abuse Sebi urged trustees of mutual funds to leave no stone unturned to ensure every investor—from the small SIP contributor to the large institution—feels confident their savings are in safe and responsible hands. “AMCs are now mandated to establish structured mechanisms to prevent market abuse— including front-running, insider trading and misuse of sensitive information. Trustees are expected not just to verify the presence of such mechanisms, but to ensure they function in spirit and in substance,” Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey said. SEE MONEY Cinema Salman addresses Arijit issue, Murugadoss allegations West Indies batters stretch Delhi Test into Day Five but India on course affiliated with the Collège de France and the London School of Economics, and Howitt, 79, from Brown University, relied on mathematical models to explain how creative destruction operates in practice. When reached by phone as he was about to have his morning coffee, Mokyr expressed surprise at the announcement: “People always say this, but in this case I am being truthful - I had no clue that anything like this was going to happen.” He said his students had often speculated about his chances of winning. “I told them that I was more likely to be elected Pope than to win the Nobel Prize - and I am Jewish by the way.” Mokyr, who turns 80 next summer, said he has no plans to retire. 4Contd on | nation Agencies STOCKHOLM The winners advanced the understanding of creative destruction - a term popularised by economist Joseph Schumpeter in his 1942 book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. The process describes how beneficial new innovations inevitably dismantle older technologies and industries, leading to continuous economic renewal The Nobel Institute has said it suspects espionage may have caused a leak that revealed Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as this year’s Peace Prize winner hours before the official announcement. Norwegian media reported on Saturday that the breach was “highly likely” linked to spying. Her chances of winning had unexpectedly surged from 3.75% to nearly 73% overnight on the predictive betting platform Polymarket, AFP said. The spike occurred hours before the Nobel Committee in Oslo officially announced the winner. What further raised suspi- cion was that no experts or media outlets had named Machado among the frontrunners before the announcement, sparking questions over whether confidential information had been leaked. Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Nobel Institute and secretary of the Nobel Committee, told Norway’s TV2 that it was “highly likely it’s espionage.” He said the institute would investigate and, if necessary, tighten security. He added that espionage “could make it appear as if someone on the inside deliberately leaked information,” but said that was unlikely. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | edit turn, land worth crores was allegedly transferred to a company linked to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav at a fraction of its market value. The Yadav family has questioned the probe, maintaining that the case is politically motivated and that no evidence supports the charges. 4Contd on | nation India, Canada map ‘forward looking’ course as ties reset Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI The long chill between India and Canada appears to be thawing. The signs of a “reset” in bilateral relations were unmistakable during Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s three-day visit to India from October 12–14, made at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Anand’s visit marks the first high-level engagement between the two countries since relations plummeted in 2023, when former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separ- atist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The allegations led to a diplomatic freeze, mutual expulsions of diplomats, visa curbs, and the suspension of trade talks. 4Contd on | nation HC to hear `77K crore Tata fund plea in Dec Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI The Bombay HC will hear in December a plea by the Abhinav Bharat Congress, led by researcher-activist Prof. Pankaj Phadnis, seeking recovery of over $9,186 million (around `77,000 crore) allegedly meant for public causes. The petition accuses industrialist Nusli Wadia of “orchestrating a conspiracy since 1972” relating to the estate of Edulji Framroze Dinshaw (EFD) and its shareholding in Tata Sons. A special bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Sarang Kotwal took the matter on board last week after Phadnis sought an urgent hearing, citing “recent media developments” over the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group’s push for a public listing of Tata Sons. Phadnis claims such moves HC to hear plea seeking recovery of `77,000cr ‘Cy Pres’ fund linked to Tata Sons; petitioner alleges decades-old conspiracy, Wadia denies charges threaten what he calls a “Cy Pres fund”—charitable assets allegedly traceable to Tata Sons shares held through Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd, an SP Group entity. The plea urges the court to protect these assets and restrain Tata Trusts and related bodies from creating third-party rights until cases pending in India and New York are resolved. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | money