News Dabba for 10 February 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 the Turkiye-Syria earthquake death toll crossing 21,000, ISRO's successful new launch, Texas mulling a ban on Chinese buying land.

BBC Live Updates: Turkiye-Syria earthquake death toll crosses 21,000

More than 21,000 people are now known to have died after Monday's earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria, BBC reports. Six UN lorries carrying aid have now crossed the border from Turkey into Syria - the first international help people there have had. The report adds that without shelter, water, fuel or electricity, the World Health Organisation fears many survivors could yet lose their lives. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has visited a hospital in the city of Aleppo - which was one of the areas hit by the earthquake, in his first reported visit to an affected area, the report mentions. Meanwhile, it is being said that poor enforcement of building regulations contributed to the collapse of many buildings in Monday's earthquakes. Read the full report here.

ISRO successfully launches SSLV's second developmental flight with three satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its second developmental flight of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle — SSLV-D2 — and placed three satellites in its precise orbit on February 10 morning. The Hindu reported that the three satellites are ISRO’s Earth Observation Satellite - EOS 07, US-based firm Antaris’ Janus-1 and Chennai-based space start-up SpaceKidz’s AzaadiSAT-2. SSLV-D2 lifted off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR, Sriharikota at 9:18 a.m. The report adds this is the first satellite launch in 2023. Read the full report here.

The Straits Times reports Texas, other US states mulling ban on Chinese buying land

The Straits Times reports that the US state of Texas is considering barring Chinese citizens from buying property on national security grounds. As tensions with Beijing rise, the report adds, other states may follow suit. The draft proposal was offered up in November 2022 by Republican Lois Kolkhorst, a state senator in Texas in the southern US. The Texas proposal also would bar Russians, Iranians and North Koreans from owning real estate, but the principal target appears to be Chinese nationals. The report further says that Florida, Arkansas, South Dakota and eight other states are considering legislation to restrict foreign ownership. Read the full report here.

Jairam Ramesh hits back at PM on Cash-For-Query scam, NDTV reports

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on countered the attack and posed fresh questions to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, targeting his strong attack on Congress led UPA alliance. NDTV reports that Ramesh tweeted, "In his long rant yesterday, the PM blamed UPA for the cash-for-query scam when in fact 6 of 11 involved were BJP MPs. It's BJP that walked out during the vote to expel the MPs after resolutions moved by Pranab-da and Dr Singh. Would the Chair now expunge PM's lies." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Lok Sabha a day after Congress's Rahul Gandhi's attack on his government, had lashed out at the 10 years of UPA rule. The report also mentions that the PM took veiled digs at Rahul Gandhi who had made a sharp attack on the government over the Adani issue in his speech during the debate on Tuesday. Read the full report here.

TeleSUR on State of Disasterin South Africe due to energy crisis

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a national "state of disaster" due to "a deep energy crisis" in the country that "has progressively evolved to affect all parts of society". TeleSUR reported that the country's economic growth is expected to be reduced to just 0.3 percent this year due to the power outages. In a state of national disaster, the government allows for emergency procurement procedures with fewer bureaucratic delays and oversight. The South African President called for action to lessen the impact of the crisis on farmers, small businesses, water infrastructure and transport network, the report adds. Read the full report here.