News Dabba for 19 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 call for calm after Iran, Pakistan strikes, Mahua Moitra vacating her bungalow, to Jaishankar's talks with the Maldives foreign minister.

UN, US call for calm after Iran, Pakistan trade strikes on militants: The Hindu

The United Nations and the United States appealed for restraint, after Iran and Pakistan traded deadly air strikes on militant targets on each other's territory. The Hindu reports that the rare military action across the porous border between the heavily armed neighbours has further stoked tensions already enflamed by the Israel-Hamas war. Pakistan's strikes against militant targets in Iran early on Thursday came two days after similar Iranian strikes on its territory, the report saud, and prompted Tehran to summon Islamabad's envoy. At least nine people were killed in the strikes in restive Sistan-Baluchistan province, most of them women or children. Read the full report here.

NDTV on Mahua Moitra vacating bungalow

NDTV reports that Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Lok Sabha last month, vacated her government bungalow today. The Bengal MP had received an eviction notice earlier this week ordering her to vacate the bungalow immediately. In a strongly-worded eviction notice, the Centre asked Ms Moitra to immediately vacate the bungalow, the report says. Justice Girish Kathpalia said no specific rule has been brought before the court which dealt with the eviction of MPs from government accommodation after they cease to be lawmakers. Read the full report here.

Hindustan Times on pro-Khalistan graffiti appearing in Delhi's Uttam Nagar

Slogans and graffiti supporting Khalistan was found on the boundary wall of a government school in Delhi's Uttam Nagar area on Friday, as per a Hindustan Times report. The Delhi Police have initiated a thorough investigation to identify those who sketched the objectionable graffiti. In a similar incident earlier this week, pro-Khalistan graffiti was found on a pillar in West Delhi's Nihal Vihar area and an FIR was lodged in connection with the incident. Read the full report here.

Indian Express: Jaishankar holds talks with Maldives foreign minister

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer on Thursday and held a “frank conversation” on India-Maldives ties. Indian Express report says that India-Maldives relations had turned strained following Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s call for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country by March 15. The duo met at the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala. Read the full report here.

Netanyahu publicly rejects US push for Palestinian state, BBC reports

BBC reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has told the United States that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state once the conflict in Gaza comes to an end. In a news conference, a defiant Mr Netanyahu vowed to press on with the offensive in Gaza "until complete victory": the destruction of Hamas and return of the remaining Israeli hostages. The report mentions he added that it could take "many more months". With almost 25,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza and 85% of the Strip's population displaced, Israel is under intense pressure to rein in its offensive. Read the full report here.