Digest for 07 October, 2025
Public Health Alert Issued as Contaminated Cough Syrups Linked to Child Deaths
A public health crisis is unfolding as at least 14 children have died in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly after consuming a contaminated batch of Coldrif cough syrup. An investigation revealed the syrup contained toxic Diethylene Glycol, leading to kidney failure. A doctor has been arrested and an FIR filed against the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer. The events have triggered nationwide alerts, with states like Karnataka and Telangana issuing urgent advisories against the indiscriminate use of cough syrups for children and launching testing drives.
Bihar Assembly Elections to be Held in Two Phases on November 6 and 11
The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections, with polling for the 243 seats to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14. This will be the first election in the state following a controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. With 7.43 crore eligible voters, including 14.01 lakh first-timers, the polls are a major political event for the nation.
Lawyer Attempts to Attack Chief Justice of India in Supreme Court
In an unprecedented security breach, a 71-year-old lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai inside his courtroom at the Supreme Court. The lawyer reportedly shouted slogans related to 'Sanatan Dharma' before being apprehended by security. The act drew widespread condemnation from political leaders and legal bodies as an assault on the judiciary's independence. The Bar Council of India immediately suspended the lawyer's license pending disciplinary action. CJI Gavai remained composed and continued with the day's proceedings.
AMD Secures Landmark AI Chip Deal with OpenAI, Challenging Nvidia's Dominance
AMD has announced a multi-year deal to supply artificial intelligence chips to OpenAI, a move poised to generate tens of billions in revenue and disrupt Nvidia's market dominance. The agreement gives the ChatGPT creator the option to acquire up to a 10% stake in AMD. This transformative partnership highlights the immense demand for computing power in the AI industry and provides OpenAI with a crucial hardware supply line as it aims to develop advanced artificial intelligence.
India to Launch RBI-Backed Central Bank Digital Currency
Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India will introduce its own digital currency, which will be backed by a Reserve Bank of India guarantee. The move is aimed at simplifying and speeding up transactions, reducing the use of paper currency, and ensuring full traceability. Goyal contrasted this with private cryptocurrencies, stating that while they are not banned, they are heavily taxed to discourage use due to their lack of sovereign backing and inherent risks.