Source: The Hindu, Indian Express and others

Gaza aid flotilla says Israeli warships intercepted boats

A flotilla carrying aid to Gaza said Israeli forces had on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) intercepted its latest bid to break an Israeli blockade of the war-battered Palestinian territory. “Around 8:30 pm Gaza time (1730 GMT), several vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including the Alma, Sirius and Adara, were illegally intercepted and boarded by Israeli occupation forces in international waters,” the flotilla said.

CJI Gavai’s mother Kamala Gavai says she won’t attend RSS centenary function in Maharashtra

Kamala Gavai, Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai’s mother, on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) said she would not attend a centenary program of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Maharashtra’s Amravati on October 5. She decided not to attend the programme as chief guest in view of the controversy the news generated and the accusations and slander she faced, she said in an open letter.

White House says firings ‘imminent’ as plan to reopen U.S. government collapses

Efforts to swiftly end the U.S. government shutdown collapsed on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) as Democrats in Congress rejected proposals to resolve an acrimonious funding stand-off with President Donald Trump and the White House threatened public sector jobs. With the government out of money after Mr. Trump and lawmakers failed to agree on a deal to keep the lights on, federal departments have been closing since midnight, with the White House warning of “imminent” firings of public sector workers.

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife writes to President Murmu for his release, seeks intervention on ‘witch-hunt’

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) reached out to President Droupadi Murmu to seek her intervention for the release of the climate activist, who has been lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan since being taken into custody following the September 24 violent clashes in Ladakh.

Release of coin, stamp on RSS insult to Constitution: CPI(M)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) termed the release of a postage stamp and a coin to commemorate the centenary of the RSS a “grave injury and insult” to the Constitution, which the Sangh “never accepted”. In a statement, the Politburo of the CPI(M) said it is highly objectionable that an official coin should replicate the ‘Bharat Mata’ image of a Hindu goddess promoted by the RSS, adding that the postage stamp showing uniformed RSS volunteers at the 1963 Republic Day parade too falsifies history.

Centre hikes Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief by 3%; to benefit 1.18 crore employees, pensioners

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) increased Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) by 3% for about 49.19 lakh central government employees and 68.72 lakh pensioners. The DA/DR increase of 3% over the existing rate of 55% of the basic pay/pension to compensate against the price rise is effective July 1, 2025.

Cough syrup linked to deaths of two children in Rajasthan; 22 batches of the drug banned

A generic cough syrup supplied to the Rajasthan government has been linked to the deaths of two children and others falling sick in the state over the last two weeks, prompting authorities to ban 22 batches of the drug and order an inquiry, officials said on Wednesday (October 1, 2025). The syrup was distributed through government health centres.