Quick Reads
News Dabba for 18 February 2025: 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 US and Russia's talks on Ukraine War, SC's interim protection to Ranveer Allahabadia, to Mamata Banerjee's remarks on Maha Kumbh.
US and Russia begin talks aimed at ending Ukraine war, BBC reports
The US and Russia are holding talks in Saudi Arabia about the war in Ukraine. BBC reports this is the first face-to-face discussions between the two countries since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh, but neither Ukraine or any European countries are invited. As per the report, the US says the talks are a first step to see if Russia is "serious" about ending the war, while Russia says the goal is to normalise relations with America. Read the full report here.
SC grants Ranveer Allahabadia interim protection from arrest, Indian Express
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia interim protection from arrest in the FIRs registered against him for his alleged objectionable comments during the YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’, Indian Express reports, even as it condemned his language. The court asked, “in this country, if this is not obscenity, what is that standard of obscenity?”. The court also directed that no new FIR shall be registered against Allahabadia on the basis of the show and that he shall be at liberty to approach the local police in Maharashtra and Assam for protection of life and liberty in the event of any threat. Read the full report here.
Hindustan Times on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's comment on Maha Kumbh
Hindustan Times reports that Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking in West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, slammed the central government and BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government of over alleged mismanagement at Maha Kumbh Mela, underway in UP's Prayagraj. “Maha Kumbh has turned into ‘Mrityu Kumbh'” said Mamata Banerjee in Bengal assembly on Tuesday. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to prove allegations of her having connection with Bangladeshi fundamentalists, the report adds. Read the full report here.
Al Jazeera: Children in Gaza suffer as Israel mulls future of ceasefire
Children are continuing to suffer in the Gaza Strip, with little access to food and water, shelter, healthcare or even clothes nearly two months into the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to a UNICEF spokesperson who visited the enclave. “Yes, the bullets and the bombs may no longer be threatening their lives after 15 months of fear and horror, but the humanitarian crisis persists, and that crisis is really having a serious impact on children in Gaza more than any other person,” she said as per the report. Read the full report here.
Rahul Gandhi calls Poll Chief selection "disrespectful", NDTV reports
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has slammed the centre's 'midnight decision' to appoint Gyanesh Kumar as the next Chief Election Commissioner, NDTV reports. He called his nomination a 'violation of the Supreme Court order (by) removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee". Gandhi, part of that three-member panel, as are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, had last night objected to picking a new CEC at this time, pointing out a challenge to the law governing his/her selection is to be heard by the Supreme Court this week. The Congress leader had shared a dissent note, which he posted on X today. Read the full report here.
