Quick Reads
News Dabba for 24 April 2026: 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 Raghav Chadha joining BJP, Iran ceasefire extension, to El Nino set to return as early as May.
Opposition submits fresh notice for removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Rajya Sabha
The Opposition Friday submitted a fresh notice to Rajya Sabha for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with the signatures of 73 MPs from different parties, on the grounds of “proven misbehaviour”. Indian Express reports as per its sources that a new notice was submitted with “fresh grounds” for the removal of Kumar, with the coordination and collection of the notice handled by the TMC and Congress. Read the full report here.
Raghav Chadha to join BJP, says 2/3rd of AAP Rajya Sabha MPs also merging: Indian Express
Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha said on Friday that the two-third members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha are merging themselves with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), exercising the provisions of the Constitution of India, Hindustan Times says. The decision, a move to ensure retention of Rajya Sabha membership, comes days after the AAP removed him as the deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha over allegations of not raising key issues against the government and doing “soft PR” instead. Raghav Chadha made the announcement in a press conference two more MPs he said are part of the merger - Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, the report says. Interestingly, Ashok Mittal is who the AAP picked as the replacement of Raghav Chadha for the Rajya Sabha deputy leader post. Read the full report here.
Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks, BBC reports
US President Donald Trump says the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will be extended by three weeks after talks at the White House, BBC reports. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah have accused each other of ceasefire violations. IDF said it killed three "Hezbollah terrorists" overnight, while Hezbollah said it fired rockets at northern Israel. One of the key obstacles to a permanent deal between Lebanon and Israel is a decision about Hezbollah's arsenal, the report says. Read the full report here.
NDTV on Supreme Court clearing pregnant minor's 31-week abortion
In a hugely significant ruling on Friday, NDTV reports that the Supreme Court allowed a 15-year-old girl to medically terminate her 31-week pregnancy. A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said compelling the child to carry the pregnancy to term violated her fundamental rights and that a woman's reproductive autonomy must be given the "highest importance". The court noted her psychological distress and the fact she had twice attempted to die by suicide, and said, "Forcing her to continue is a direct affront to her right to live with dignity." Read the full report here.
El Nino set to return as early as May, The Straits Times
The Straits Times reports that the return of El Nino weather conditions are expected from as early as May, potentially affecting global temperatures and rainfall patterns, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which typically lasts from nine to 12 months, according to the WMO. The report says that a clear shift has been observed in the Equatorial Pacific, with sea-surface temperatures rising rapidly, suggesting a high likelihood of El Nino conditions developing between May and July. Read the full report here.
