News Dabba for 14 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 I-T 'surveys' at BBC's Delhi, Mumbai offices, earthquake-hit Syria to open two more border crossings for aid delivery, to India eyeing Teja's export to Argentina, Egypt.

I-T 'surveys' at BBC's Delhi, Mumbai offices, Times of India reports

Income Tax department officials are conducting 'surveys' at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai. Times of India reported that this comes amid a raging controversy over a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots. The synchronised action began at 11am with I-T officials reaching the BBC offices on KG Marg in Delhi and at Kalina Santacruz in Mumbai. As per the report, BBC staffers were asked to deposit their phones at a particular spot inside the premises. The investigation is linked to international taxation issues of BBC subsidiary companies, the report adds as per its sources. Read the full report here.

UN says earthquake-hit Syria to open two more border crossings for aid delivery, BBC

BBC reports Syria's government has agreed to open two more border crossings to allow aid into the country devastated by last week's deadly earthquakes. "It's going to make a big difference. We are now using just one crossing," a spokesman for UN Secretary General António Guterres told the BBC. The quakes in neighbouring Turkey are known to have killed almost 40,000 people in the two countries. The report adds that many Syrians have been angry over the lack of aid to their war-torn nation. The government of President Bashar al-Assad has blamed difficulties in rescue efforts on the impact of Western sanctions imposed on the country. Read the full report here.

NDTV reports IIT Bombay reacts to caste discrimination charge after student's death

A day after an 18-year-old student of IIT Bombay allegedly died by suicide due to discrimination, the institute said that they are investigating the case, NDTV reports. The institute said it would be wrong to make accusations of discrimination on campus. Police registered a case of accidental death after Darshan Solanki, a BTech student, died apparently after he jumped off the seventh floor of the hostel building on Sunday. Cops haven't found a suicide note yet, but a student group is alleging that Solanki was driven to suicide due to discrimination against Scheduled Caste students on the campus. Read the full report here.

New Zealand declares National State of Emergency: The Straits Times

The Straits Times reported that New Zealand government has declared a national state of emergency for only the third time in its history on Tuesday due to Cyclone Gabrielle. The storm has caused widespread flooding, landslides and huge ocean swells across the North Island. It has also forced evacuations and stranded people on rooftops. The report says a national state of emergency has been declared only on two previous occasions – following the magnitude 6.3 quake in Christchurch in 2011 and in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read the full report here.

ThePrint on India eying Tejas export to Argentina, Egypt

India is in advanced talks with both Argentina and Egypt for the sale of at least 35 Tejas Mk-1A indigenous fighter aircraft, besides the sale of six Advanced Light Helicopters to the Philippines. ThePrint reports that the deal with Egypt will also include setting up a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility there. Malaysia, which is looking to purchase 36 light combat aircraft (LCA), is also considering Tejas, it further says. But the South Korean FA-50 manufactured by Korean Aerospace Industries seems to have an edge. Read the full report here.