Quick Reads
News Dabba for 14 June 2024: Five stories for a balanced news diet
Here are the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites.
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 SC notice to Centre, NTA on CBI probe into NEET paper leak over NEET, G7 decision on frozen Russian assets, to severe heatwave alert issued in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh.
Indian Express on SC notice to Centre, NTA on CBI probe into NEET paper leak allegations
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to private parties on a plea of the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking transfer of cases pending in various high courts on the NEET UG row to the top court to avoid multiplicity of litigation. Indian Express reports that the top court has also issued notices to the Centre and the NTA on plea requesting for CBI probe into allegations of question paper leak, other irregularities in NEET UG 2024. A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took note of the submission of the NTA’s counsel that several pleas, seeking cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Under Graduate (NEET UG) 2024 on the allegations of question paper leak and other malpractices, are pending in several high courts. Read the full report here.
G7 agrees $50bn loan for Ukraine from Russian assets, BBC reports
The G7 has agreed to use frozen Russian assets to raise $50bn for Ukraine to help it fight invading Russian forces, BBC reports. US President Joe Biden said it was another reminder to Russia "that we're not backing down", but Moscow has threatened "extremely painful" retaliatory measures. The report says that some $325bn worth of assets were frozen by the G7, alongside the EU, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The pot of assets is generating about $3bn a year in interest. Under the G7 plan, that $3bn will be used to pay off the annual interest on the $50bn loan for the Ukrainians, taken out on the international markets. Read the full report here.
Hindustan Times: Kerala health minister says Centre didn’t let her travel to Kuwait
A row erupted on Friday after Kerala health minister Veena George claimed the ministry of external affairs (MEA) did not give political clearance for her trip to Kuwait, Hindustan Times reports. This comes against the backdrop of the fire this week that killed 45 Indians including 23 from the southern state. The minister said she and Jeevan Babu, state mission director (National Health Mission), were to fly to Kuwait on Thursday morning to oversee the medical treatment being provided to the injured from the state. Kerala has lost the most number of people in this tragedy. Read the full report here.
Severe heatwave alert issued in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh for next five days: India Today
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted some relief for Delhi on Friday, with a possibility of thunderstorms and light rain or drizzle accompanying gusty winds. However, India Today reports that the maximum temperature in the national capital is still expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius today. The weather department issued an orange alert, warning of severe heatwave, for the next five days in Delhi with a high of 45 degrees Celsius, the report adds. The brutal heat baking Uttar Pradesh will continue for another five days, the IMD said, and issued a red alert for the state. Read the full report here.
South Africa’s parliament choosing president amid uncertainty, Al Jazeera
South Africa’s newly elected parliament has convened to choose the country’s next president, Al Jazeera reports, with the country on a political knife-edge since last month’s election. Lawmakers meeting on Friday are expected to re-elect President Cyril Ramaphosa to form an unprecedented coalition government after his governing African National Congress (ANC) party cobbled together a coalition deal following the May 29 vote. Ramaphosa, 71, is seeking a second term but his ANC party has been weakened after losing its long-held majority, gathering 40 percent of the vote, the report adds. It will now need the support of other parties if Ramaphosa is to return as president. Read the full report here.
