Top news of the day: Cabinet approves 3% DA hike for central government employees; train collision leaves at least 30 dead in Spain, and more

Cabinet approves 3% hike in dearness allowance for central government employeesThe Cabinet on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) approved a 3% hike in dearness allowance and dearness relief, benefiting over 1.17 crore central government employees and pensioners. Announcing the decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to increase the DA and DR ahead of Diwali.Two trains collide in Spain’s Toledo Province; at least 30 deadA high-speed train slammed into the rear of another train that had stopped, derailing two cars and killing at least 30 people on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) in central Spain, according to local media. Spanish authorities initially reported 10 deaths, but Esther Padilla, spokeswoman for the Castilla La Mancha region, added “that number will surely rise.”Asian Para Games gold medallist Neeraj Yadav found deadAsian Para Games gold medallist Neeraj Yadav was found dead at his residence, with a post-mortem examination underway at a Delhi hospital on Wednesday (October 28, 2026). S. Satyanarayana, head coach of the Indian para-athletics team, confirmed the incident, saying he had learnt of the tragedy. “Unfortunately, such a thing has happened,” Mr. Satyanarayana said.Delhi SIR: Supreme Court asks ECI to extend deadlines, simplify enrolmentThe Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to extend deadlines for the SIR in Delhi, and to simplify the enrolment process. The court also observed that Form 6 of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls (SIR) is “cast in stone”, and that all forms, including 6, 7 and 8, cannot be changed.Three killed in Andhra after landfall near Narsapur; Cyclone ‘Arnab’ weakensCyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts about 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur early on Wednesday (October 28, 2026). It has since weakened from a very severe to a severe cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The landfall was complete by 8.30 a.m.Rahul Gandhi says Tata Group ‘being criminally destroyed’, questions India Inc.’s ‘silence’Questioning the silence of India’s business class, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) said no business leader has dared to speak up even as the Tata Group is being “criminally destroyed”. Mr. Gandhi is the first high-profile politician to speak out on the bitter leadership dispute in Tata Sons. The battle has already split trustees and spilled into the Tata Sons boardroom as well.Rajnath Singh, Hegseth review progress of India-U.S. defence pactDefence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) reviewed the progress of a 10-year India-U.S. defence framework pact that seeks to drive strategic convergence in critical technologies, information sharing, and co-production of military hardware.Supreme Court allows petitioner seeking pre-loaded drop-down caste menu in Census to approach Registrar GeneralThe Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) gave the OBC Federation of India liberty to approach the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI) with their petition for a pre-loaded drop-down menu of recognised Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the digital tools for Census 2027.Theni jailbreak: Two more prisoners secured; two still at largeTwo more escaped prisoners from the Theni district jail have been arrested, bringing the total number of persons secured to 15. Two more prisoners are still at large, and the police continued their combing operations for the second consecutive day on Wednesday (October 28, 2026).Netanyahu bloc leads after half of Israeli votes counted but no majorityThe camp of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ahead of his rival’s Opposition bloc but still short of a majority on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) after 50% of the votes were counted in Israel’s pivotal general election. Voters turned out in the highest numbers in decades to give their verdict on Mr. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, who has pushed the country sharply to the right and unleashed a wave of wars in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.