News Dabba for 10 July 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 Rain fury in North India, Madras HC to quash criminal cases against minor boys, to missing migrants in waters off the Canary Islands.

Madras HC to quash criminal cases against minor boys for consensual relationships with minor girls

The Madras High Court has decided to embark on an exercise of quashing, en masse, all criminal cases registered against minor boys for having consensual relationships with, or having eloped with minor girls, The Hindu reports. This will be done if the court finds that these cases are against the interest and future of the children involved, besides being an abuse of the process of court or an abuse of the process of law. The report also adds that Justices N. Anand Venkatesh and Sunder Mohan have also decided to put an end to the two-finger test conducted on victims of sexual offences and the archaic potency test conducted on the suspects, by collecting their sperm. They directed the police to come up with a standard operating procedure to conduct a potency test by merely collecting blood samples. Read the full report here.

Rain fury in North India leaves towns, cities battling flood: India Today

Heavy rains in several parts of north India has disrupted lives of lakhs of people who live in the region. India Today reports that everal towns and cities remained inundated in waist-deep water as incessant rains lashed Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation as landslides and flash floods, triggered by heavy rain in several parts of North India. Related incidents have claimed over 20 lives in the past three days, the report adds. In worst-hit Himachal Pradesh, a red alert has been sounded and all schools and colleges will remain closed for two days. Read the full report here.

Indian Rafale Jets reach France to take part in Bastille Day Parade

NDTV reports that Indian Rafale jets reached France where they will take part in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees, Paris. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the guest of honour. Taking to Twitter, France's ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain said, "A warm welcome to France for the Indian Rafale jets that will soar in the skies of Paris on Friday for #BastilleDay!" The report adds that PM Modi's visit will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the "strategic partnership" between France and India. Read the full report here.

Al Jazeera reports six killed in stabbing at kindergarten in China

Six people, including three children, have been killed and one injured in a stabbing at a kindergarten in southern China. Al Jazeera reports a spokeswoman for the city government said the attack took place in Lianjiang in Guangdong province on Monday. As per reports, the victims include one teacher, two parents and three students. Police have classified the case as “intentional assault”. Read the full report here.

Boat carrying 200 migrants missing near Canaries, BBC reports

Spanish rescuers are searching waters off the Canary Islands for a boat carrying at least 200 African migrants, BBC reports. The migrants went missing more than a week ago. The aid group Walking Borders says the fishing boat sailed from Kafountine, a coastal town in southern Senegal that is roughly 1,700km from Tenerife. The group says many children are on board, BBC reports as per a local news agency. Two similar boats carrying dozens more people are also said to be missing. Read the full report here.