Quick Reads
News Dabba for 13 October 2025: Five stories for a balanced news diet
Here are the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites.
Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from TN govt shutting down Sresan Pharmaceutical, bypolls to 5 assembly seats, to Hamas returning all remaining hostages.
NDTV on Election Commission's notification for bypolls to 5 assembly seats
NDTV reports that the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday issued notifications for the bye-elections to five Assembly constituencies across the country. The polling is scheduled for November 11, and the counting of votes is to be held on November 14. The report says that elections will take place in Nuapada Assembly Constituency in Odisha, Tarn Taran Assembly Constituency in Punjab, Anta Assembly Constituency in Rajasthan and Nagrota Assembly Constituency and Budgam Assembly Constituency in Jammu and Kashmir. Read the full report here.
TN govt shuts down Sresan Pharmaceutical, Indian Express
The Tamil Nadu government Monday ordered the shutdown of Sresan Pharmaceutical, the manufacturer of the adulterated cough syrup Coldrif, Indian Express reports, and completely revoked its manufacturing licence. According to the statement, the state Drug Control Department officials had found 48.6 per cent of Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic substance in the cough syrup during an inspection. This medicine is linked to the death of children in Madhya Pradesh. The report says that department officials also found that the company lacked proper good manufacturing practices (GMP) and good laboratory practices (GLP) and they recorded over 300 critical and major violations. Read the full report here.
China accuses US of 'double standards' over tariff threat, BBC reports
US President Donald Trump's latest threat to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods is "a typical example of US double standards", China's government has said. BBC reports that a commerce ministry spokesperson also said China could introduce its own unspecified "countermeasures" if the US president carries out his threat, adding it was "not afraid" of a possible trade war.On Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing's move to tighten its rules for rare earths exports, accusing it of "becoming very hostile" and trying to hold the world "captive". He also threatened to pull out of a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping later this month. Read the full report here.
PM Modi meets Canada FM Anita Anand, Hindustan Times reports
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who is on her first visit to India, Hindustan Times reports. PM Modi said that the Canadian foreign minister's visit would impart new momentum to the India-Canada bilateral partnership, a government statement said. During the meeting, PM Modi recalled his visit to Canada in June for the G7 Summit during which he had a productive meeting with Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, the report says. Read the full report here.
Hamas hands over all remaining hostages to Israel: The Straits Times
Hamas released the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages under a ceasefire deal, which The Straits Times reports calls a major step towards ending two years of shattering war in Gaza. The Israeli military said it had received all hostages confirmed to be alive after their transfer from Gaza by the Red Cross, prompting cheering, hugging and weeping among thousands waiting at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. Buses carrying released Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons as part of the accord also arrived in Gaza, the report says. Read the full report here.
