Quick Reads
News Dabba for 21 December 2023: 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 LS clearing bill on ECs appointment, Kejriwal writing to ED on summons, to the arrests of hundreds in Pakistan over a protest march.
Kejriwal writes to ED on summons, The Hndu reports
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that the summons sent to him was unlawful and politically motivated, The Hindu reports according to its AAP sources. Kejriwal will not appear before the ED on December 21 for questioning in connection with the Delhi excise case, as he left Delhi on December 20 for a 10-day Vipassana meditation in Punjab, the report says. The AAP chief has also requested the ED to withdraw the summons. Kejriwal claimed that in similar circumstances, where individuals are neither informed about the case details nor the capacity in which they are being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate, High courts have declared such summons of Enforcement Directorate invalid and quashed the summons. Read the full report here.
Indian Express live updates on Parliament session: LS clears bill on ECs appointment
The Lok Sabha has passed the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, which seeks to regulate the appointment of top officials of the Election Commission. Indian Express reports that the Bill seeks to regulate the appointment of the CEC and two ECs by constituting a three-member selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and a Cabinet Minister. The Bill, already passed by the Rajya Sabha, retains the status of the ECs on par with the Supreme Court judges. This comes amid the suspension of 97 MPs from Lok Sabha, earlier this week. Read the full report here.
Egypt seeks to broker Gaza ceasefire as Hamas: The Straits Times
The United States said “very serious” negotiations were taking place on a new Gaza ceasefire and release of more Israeli hostages, The Straits Times reports. But prospects for a deal remained uncertain as Hamas insisted it would not discuss anything less than a complete end to Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian enclave. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh visited Egypt on Dec 20 for the first time in more than a month for discussions with Egyptian officials, the report says. Israel has insisted all remaining women and infirm men among the hostages be released, it adds. Read the full report here.
Brij Bhushan's aide wins wrestling body polls, NDTV
NDTV reports that a close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India who came under fire for sexual harassment allegations, was today elected the new chief of the national wrestling body. Sanjay Singh won 40 out of 47 votes in a sweeping victory over Anita Sheoran, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist who was backed by top wrestlers protesting against Singh. He is a six-time MP from Lucknow's Kaiserganj who has led the wrestling body for 12 years. The report adds Sanjay Singh has earlier served as vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh wrestling body. Read the full report here.
BBC reports hundreds arrested as women-led protests reach capital
Pakistani police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse women-led protests in Islamabad on Thursday, BBC reports. At least 200 people were arrested, including protest leader Mahrang Baloch, as they entered the capital. Protesters have been marching across the country for weeks against alleged enforced disappearances of men in Balochistan province. The report mentions this was sparked by the death of a Baloch man whose relatives allege was shot dead while in police custody. The protesters were prevented from entering the Red Zone, which houses executive, judicial and legislative buildings in Islamabad, by police officers bearing batons and wearing protective headgear. Read the full report here.
