Source: The Hindu, Indian Express and others

Hamas says ready to free hostages; Trump urges Israel to halt bombing

Hamas said on Friday (October 3, 2025) it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signalled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details. Hamas reiterated its agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats.

Cough syrups not contaminated, says Centre; T.N. test detects adulteration

The Union Health Ministry said on Friday (October 3, 2025) that tests had confirmed that cough syrups linked to the recent deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan did not contain contaminants causing serious kidney injury. However, the Tamil Nadu’s Drugs Control Department issued an immediate stop production order to the manufacturer of the Coldrif brand of cough syrup after an analysis by the Government Drugs Testing Laboratory found a batch to be “not of standard quality” and “adulterated with diethylene glycol”.

Bihar Cabinet hikes DA from 55% to 58% for govt. employees, pensioners

As a bonanza ahead of the festive season of Diwali and Chhath, the Bihar Cabinet on Friday (October 3, 2025) approved a 3% increase in dearness allowance (DA) for its government employees, pensioners and family pensioners. “The Cabinet has taken a decision to increase DA by 3% from the existing 55% to 58%. It will be payable with effect from July 01, 2025. The hiked DA will be payable to government employees, pensioners and family pensioners,” Cabinet Secretariat Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar Chaudhary told reporters in a post-Cabinet briefing in Patna.

Karur stampede: Court dismisses anticipatory bail pleas of TVK leaders ‘Bussy’ Anand, Nirmal Kumar

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday (October 3, 2025) dismissed the anticipatory bail petitions filed by TVK general secretary N. Anand, alias ‘Bussy’ Anand, and joint general secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar. They had apprehended arrest by the Karur police in connection with the stampede during a rally at Velusamypuram, in which 41 people died.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs gets four years in prison for case involving sex workers, violence

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced on Friday (October 3, 2025) four years and two months in prison for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters, capping a sordid federal case that featured harrowing testimony and ended in a forceful reckoning for one of the most popular figures in hip-hop.

India’s infant mortality rate touches low of 25; Centre

Infant mortality rate (IMR) in the country has touched a record low of 25, a sharp dip of 37.5% from 40 in 2013, according to the Sample Registration System report for 2023 issued by the Registrar General of India. IMR is a key public health indicator defined as number of deaths of children per 1,000 live births under one year — the lower the number the better the health accessibility.

Centre, Manipur govt, Kuki-Zo groups sign agreement; NH-2 to be opened

The Centre and Manipur governments have signed a fresh agreement with Kuki-Zo groups on Thursday (September 4, 2025) in which all sides agreed to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur, open National Highway-2 for free movement, and relocate militants camps.

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of non-functional CCTVs in police stations

Five years after a Supreme Court judgment made it mandatory to install and maintain CCTV cameras in police stations and offices of central law enforcement agencies with powers of “interrogation”, the Supreme Court on Thursday (September 4, 2025) reopened the issue following reports of custodial deaths in recent months.