News Dabba for 16 January 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 AAP, Congress tying up for key polls, Trump winning the Iowa caucus, to Centre's show cause notices to Mumbai airport.

AAP, Congress tie up for key polls, NDTV reports

AAP leader Raghav Chadha has predicted a "historic and decisive" win for the INDIA bloc in Thursday's Chandigarh mayoral election, NDTV reports. The report says he called the INDIA vs BJP contest as the perfect curtain-raiser for the Lok Sabha election due in April/May. "This will be an election where, for the first time, it will be INDIA vs BJP. After this election, the scorecard will be INDIA 1 - BJP 0," he declared. Read the full report here. 

Trump wins Iowa caucus: The Straits Times

Donald Trump secured a resounding victory in the first 2024 Republican presidential contest in Iowa, The Straits Times reports. The win once more asserts his dominance over the party as he seeks a third consecutive nomination and a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. The report adds Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 45, finished well behind in second place, Edison Research projected. He edged out former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, 51, as they battle to emerge as the chief alternative to the former president. Trump’s unprecedented margin in the contest strengthens his case that his nomination is a foregone conclusion, the report says. Read the full report here.

The Hindu on SC's split verdict on quashing FIR against Chandrababu Naidu

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on a plea by former Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu challenging the high court order refusing to quash the FIR against him in the Skill Development Corporation scam case. Indian Express reports that a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi differed on the interpretation and applicability of section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the case. Under Section 17A of the Act, a police officer must seek prior approval from the competent authority for conducting any enquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Read the full report here.

Centre issues show cause notices to Mumbai airport, Hindustan Times

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Tuesday issued notices to the Mumbai airport operator for violating norms and to IndiGo, Hindustan Times reports, for mistreating passengers by not providing basic amenities during flight diversions after a viral video showed passengers dining on the tarmac. The incident took place on Sunday night when the Delhi-bound flight – 6E2195 – was diverted to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport due to poor visibility in the national capital. Officials said that Scindia called the secretary and the joint secretaries for a meeting at 12.30am today to discuss the matter. Read the full report here.

Mauritius raises cyclone level warning to maximum, BBC 

BBC reports that Mauritius has raised a cyclone warning alert to maximum after Cyclone Belal brought torrential rain and flooding to the Indian Ocean island nation. The country's meteorological service said the storm was now moving away eastwards, but warned that "other environmental risks" still existed. At least one person has died in Mauritius, and another in neighbouring Réunion, from the storm. It has left thousands without power, as well as heavily flooded streets, the report adds. The Mauritius Meteorological Service (MMS) said that the level 4 warning, the maximum level, was in place after the storm hit close to the country's southern coast on Tuesday morning at about 90km/h. Read the full report here.