News Dabba for 17 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 fresh violence in Manipur, China’s population drop, to Iranian strike on Pakistan.

SC declines to stop Yavatmal, Raipur events, Hindustan Times reports

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the administrations of Chhattisgarh’s Raipur and Maharashtra’s Yavatmal districts to remain “cautious” and prevent any incitement of violence or hate speech. Hindustan Times reports that this comes ahead of two events organised by Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator T Raja Singh. The Court ordered the district administrations, as per the report, to take all possible steps, including the installation of CCTV at the venue of rallies to identify the perpetrators of hate speeches. The Court was hearing an application filed by one Shaheen Abdullah seeking orders to stop the event organised by the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti in Yavatmal on January 18 and a series of rallies by BJP MLA from Telangana Raja Singh in Raipur from January 19 to 25. 

Fresh violence in Manipur, commando killed: NDTV

A Manipur Police commando was killed today in an attack in the border town Moreh, 110 km from the state capital Imphal, NDTV reports. Firing has been going on since morning, government sources said. According to reports, the attackers today threw bombs and fired at a security post near Moreh. Moreh is a key trading town on the India-Myanmar border. The report says police said the attackers also fired RPG shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity. Read the full report here.

The Straits Times on China’s population dropping for second year in 2023

The Straits Times reported that China’s population fell for a second consecutive year in 2023. Official data showed on January 17 that a record low birth rate and a wave of Covid-19 deaths when strict lockdowns ended have accelerated a downturn that will have profound long-term effects on the economy’s growth potential. China’s National Bureau of Statistics said the total number of people in the country dropped by 2.08 million, or 0.15 percent, to 1.409 billion in 2023. Read the full report here.

Indian Express: IIM Calcutta removes acting director over sexual harassment complaint

Indian Express reported that the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) has removed its director-in-charge Sahadeb Sarkar following a sexual harassment complaint against him. The institute, in a statement issued late on Tuesday evening, said it took action against Sarkar based on the recommendation of the internal complaints committee (ICC) and the allegations are being probed. The IIM-C, meanwhile, appointed the next senior-most faculty member, professor Saibal Chattopadhyay, as the director-in-charge with immediate effect. The report says the step was taken to ensure “impartiality” so that the inquiry is duly compliant with principles of natural justice. Read the full report here.

Pakistan says children killed in Iranian strike, BBC reports

Pakistan says two children were killed and three others injured in strikes by Iran on Tuesday. BBC report says this is the third country targeted by Tehran this week. Iran said it hit two sites linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl, according to a news agency affiliated with the country's military. BBC reports Pakistan called it an "illegal act" and warned that it could lead to "serious consequences". Iran has also attacked sites in Iraq and Syria this week. Iran said those attacks were "targeted" operations to punish those who breach its security. Tuesday's strike hit a village in the vast south-western province of Balochistan, which borders the two countries. Read the full report here.