News Dabba for 18 November 2022: 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 the launch of India’s first private rocket, Blackouts caused by Russian strikes in Ukraine, to no loss and damages yet in the COP27 draft deal.

The Hindu's report on launch of India’s first private rocket Vikram-S

Vikram-S, the first privately developed rocket, lifted off from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spaceport in Sriharikota at 11.30 am on Friday. The Hindu reported that Skyroot Aerospace-designed Vikram-S, named in a befitting tribute to the father of the country’s space programme Vikram Sarabhai, tasted success in its maiden mission. The report adds that the three satellites riding piggyback on the 6-metre tall launch vehicle are from Chennai-based start-up SpaceKidz, Andhra Pradesh-based N-SpaceTech and Armenian BazoomQ Space Research Lab. The mission is titled Prarambh. Read the full report here.

House Republicans say 'top priority' is to probe Biden family, BBC reports

One day after retaking a majority in the US House of Representatives, BBC reports Republicans saying that they will investigate the president's family as a "top priority". It adds that the lawmakers said the inquiry would focus on overseas business dealings of the president's son, Hunter Biden. The 52-year-old is already under federal investigation but has so far not faced any charges. The younger Biden is not involved with the administration in any capacity, but top Republicans insist their inquiry will determine the extent of Joe Biden's alleged involvement in his son's business dealings. Read the full report here.

NDTV reports SC benches to hear 10 matrimonial cases, 10 bail pleas each day

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud today said the Supreme Court has decided that all the 13 benches will hear 10 transfer petitions pertaining to matrimonial disputes and an equal number of bail petitions daily. NDTV reports that the CJI said this is in a bid to lessen the pendency of cases. At the start of the proceedings, the bench said the decision has been taken at a meeting of all top court judges. The bench said, the report adds, as of now, there were 3,000 petitions pending in the top court pertaining to matrimonial cases where parties are seeking transfer of cases to a place of their liking. Read the full report here.

Blackouts caused by Russian strikes hit 10 million in Ukraine, Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera's report states that more than 10 million Ukrainians are without electricity after dozens of Russian air attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure as winter sets in, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.  Russia blamed the civilian suffering on Ukraine’s refusal to negotiate an end to the war that began on February 24. Several Ukrainian cities were attacked as the latest assault coincided with the season’s first snow, and officials in Kyiv warned of “difficult” days ahead, adds the report. Read the full report here.

The Straits Times: No proposal yet on 'loss and damage' funding in COP27 draft deal

The United Nations climate agency on Friday published a draft negotiating text of the deal that delegates at the COP27. However, the Straits Times reports that the text, which builds on earlier, less formal iterations, did not set out the proposed solution to one of the most contentious issues at the summit, the ‘loss and damage’ financial arrangements. Instead, it contained placeholder text, indicating delegates were still seeking consensus on the matter. The report adds the issue has made it onto the formal summit agenda for the first time. Read the full report here.