News Dabba for 20 October 2023: 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 India slamming Canada's reasons for diplomats' withdrawal, the inauguration of the first train of Delhi-Meerut RRTS service, to Mahua Moitra slams ethics committee head.

PM flags off first train of Delhi-Meerut RRTS service, The Hindu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) called Namo Bharat in Ghaziabad. The Hindu reports that the 17 km priority section on the Delhi-Meerut line from Sahibabad to Duhai will be open to passengers from October 21. The entire Delhi-Meerut corridor is scheduled to be completed by 2025. The inauguration ceremony took place at Sahibabad station of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor. Once fully completed, the report adds, it will reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to a little less than an hour. Read the full report here.

India slams Canada's seasons for diplomats' withdrawal: NDTV

The centre today said that no international norms were violated in India seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa, NDTV reports. The statement came just hours after Canada withdrew 41 diplomats accusing India of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. "We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the external affairs ministry said in a statement, as per the report. Canada also paused all in-person services at the consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Bengaluru and urged its citizens in these three cities to exercise caution. Read the full report here.

French arrests after bomb scares trigger evacuations, BBC reports

BBC reports that at least 18 people have been arrested after a wave of bomb threats prompted evacuations across France. The Palace of Versailles, the Louvre as well as schools, airports and hospitals have been targeted, it says. Those behind the disruption are mostly minors, authorities say. The threats come at a time of heightened tension in France, the report says, after a teacher was fatally stabbed by an alleged jihadist last week at a school in the northern city of Arras. Bomb scares have led to the Palace of Versailles being evacuated four times this week. Read the full report here.

Hindustan Times reports that Mahua Moitra slams ethics committee head

Hindustan Times, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday hit out at Lok Sabha ethics commiitee head Vinod Sonkar for ‘openly’ speaking to media before the complaint related to the ‘cash for query’ case is heard. She asked asked how did the media have access to the affidavit filed by businessman Darshan Hiranandani. The TMC MP pointed out an excerpt from the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha where it is mentioned that the evidence given before the committee shall not be published by any member or anyone else until it has been laid on the table. Read the full report here.

Asean and GCC leaders condemn attacks on civilians: The Starits Times

Leaders of Asean and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have condemned all attacks against civilians. The Straits Times reports that the organisation has called for a durable ceasefire as the Israel-Hamas war escalates. They also called for the immediate and unconditional release of civilian hostages and detainees, the report adds. The joint call from the two regional groupings comes in the wake of a growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Read the full report here.