News Dabba for 01 February 2024: 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 Budget 2024, the Jharkhand government's political challenges, to Kashmir's first snowfall of the year.

Interim budget leaves tax structure untouched, The Hindu

FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget today,The Hindu reports. In her Budget speech, she said that Indian economy has witnessed a profound transformation in the last ten years and that the Modi government carried out structural reforms and implemented pro-people programmes. She did not propose any changes relating to taxation and said that the government proposes to maintain the same tax rates for direct and indirect taxes, including import duties. Read the full report here.

Kashmir plains receive season’s first snowfall, Kashmir Observer

Srinagar and other plain areas of Kashmir received this winter’s first snowfall on Thursday, bringing cheer to the residents, Kashmir Observer reports. The snowfall in the plain areas began late Wednesday night and continued till the morning at most places, officials said. The higher reaches received moderate to heavy snowfall. The Kashmir valley witnessed a prolonged dry spell this winter with most of the Chilla-i-Kalan — the 40-day harsh winter period, when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent — remaining dry. Read the full report here.

Houthis claims hit on US container ship in Red Sea, BBC reports

BBC reports that the Houthi movement in Yemen says it has struck a US merchant ship in the Red Sea in a fresh attack targeting commercial shipping. It named the ship as the KOI, which it said was US-operated. As per the report, maritime security firm Ambrey said a vessel operating south of Yemen's port of Aden had reported an explosion on board but it did not name the ship. Meanwhile, the US has launched new air strikes in Yemen, targeting 10 drones reportedly being set up to launch. Read the full report here.

Indian Express on Hemant Soren’s succession plan being stalled

Jharkhand woke up on February 1 without a Chief Minister, Indian Express says in its report after the Governor told the ruling JMM-Congress alliance that he will revert to their proposal to appoint JMM’s Champai Soren as the leader of the legislature party after considering all legalities. Chief Minister Hemant Soren had submitted his resignation to Governor C P Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday night, moments before his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. The report mentions that the ruling coalition of JMM, Congress and RJD has 29, 17 and one MLA respectively. The Governor not showing immediacy has led to some concerns in the JMM-Congress camp, as per the report. Read the full report here.

Myanmar’s junta extends emergency rule on eve of coup anniversary: The Straits Times

Myanmar’s military rulers on Wednesday extended a state of emergency in place since a 2021 coup, The Straits Times reports, as the junta battles to contain a bloody, pro-democracy rebellion. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing deemed it necessary to extend emergency rule for a further six months to undertake tasks necessary “to bring the nation to a normal state of stability and peace”, military-run media outlet Myawaddy said on Telegram. A youth-led pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar is morphing into an armed resistance movement after a lethal crackdown on a wave of protests and post-coup dissent, the report adds. The junta has deployed heavy artillery and fighter jets to try to suppress militias allied with a shadow government and ethnic minority armies. Read the full report here.