News Dabba for 24 October 2023: Five stories for a balanced news diet

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 RSS Chief's last Vijayadashmi address, Israel's new evacuation warnings, to Iceland's strike over the gender pay gap.

Indian Express on RSS Chief's last Vijayadashmi address before 2024 polls

Indian Express reported the last Vijayadashmi address of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It says he cautioned the Sangh volunteers that debates were about to get “abusive” and needless issues may come up, and that they should keep their “cool”. “Never get provoked. Voters have by now seen everyone, they will choose the available best,” he said, calling for “a feeling of oneness towards the entire country”. Bhagwat lauded the government over its organisation of the G20 Summit and asked RSS workers to organise programmes to mark the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration, the report says. He also raised Manipur, suggesting that the government had done its best to bring about peace. Read the full report here.

Israel issues new evacuation warnings: Al Jazeera live updates

Al Jazeera reports that Israeli army has repeatedly urged residents to evacuate northern Gaza – causing the displacement of more than a million people. It adds that meanwhile Israel has continued to bombard the strip’s southern areas. Hamas says 140 Palestinians killed in new Israeli air strikes in northern Gaza’s al-Shati refugee camp as well as in southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. Two elderly women were released by Hamas on Monday have been reunited with their families. The report says that Indonesian Hospital, the largest medical facility in northern Gaza, was left in total darkness overnight as fuel ran out, but power has since been restored. At least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while more than 1,400 people killed in Israel since October 7. Read the full report here.

The Hindu: FSSAI recommends inclusion of QR code on food products

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), The Hindu reports, has recommended the inclusion of QR code on food products for accessibility by visually impaired individuals. It stated that this will ensure access to safe food for all including individuals with special needs such as visually impaired individuals. In its recent advisory signed by Director, Science and Standards Division, Amit Sharma, the authority notes that ensuring inclusive access to information is a fundamental right of citizens. The FSSAI under its Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations, 2020 has comprehensively outlined the information to be included on the labels of food products. Read the full report here.

Government decides to cut export floor price for basmati rice

The Union government has decided to cut the minimum export price (MEP) it had set for basmati rice, Hindustan Times reports as per its sources. This followed complaints by traders that overseas shipments had become unviable. The government imposed a floor price of $1200 a tonne for overseas shipments in August to cool domestic prices. It has approved a decision to reduce it to $950 a tonne in a meeting late on Monday evening, as per the report. Read the full report here.

Iceland's PM strikes over gender pay gap, BBC reports

Tens of thousands of women in Iceland, including Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, are refusing to work on Tuesday. BBC reports that the "kvennafrí", or women's day off, has been called in protest at the gender pay gap and gender-based violence. Fields in which women form the majority of workers, such as healthcare and education, are especially affected. The planned walkout marks the first full-day women's strike since 1975. The report says women and non-binary people have been urged to refuse paid and unpaid work on Tuesday, including household chores. Read the full report here.