News Dabba for 24 June 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 paper leak in UP, attacks on churches and synagogue in southern Russia, to Lok Sabha monsoon session kicking off.

NDTV on how four engineers leaked review officer recruitment exam paper in UP

Amid the furore over the alleged paper leak in medical entrance exam NEET, police investigation reveals reveals the extensive conspiracy and planning in another leaked exam. NDTV reports that the qualifying exams for the post of Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer in Uttar Pradesh, held on February 11, was cancelled amid allegations of paper leak. When allegations of the questions being leaked surfaced, administration strongly denied it, the report says. More than 10 Lakh students had appeared for the examination that was cancelled. Read the full report here.

Nineteen dead in attacks on churches and synagogue in southern Russia, BBC reports

BBC reports that attacks on police posts, churches and a synagogue in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan have left 19 police officers and several civilians dead. Six gunmen were also killed. The apparently coordinated attacks targeted the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala on the Orthodox festival of Pentecost, the report adds. The assailants have not been officially identified, but Dagestan has in the past been the scene of Islamist attacks. The republic's head, Sergei Melikov, said it was understood who was behind the organisation of the attacks, without giving details. Two churches and a synagogue were targeted in Sunday's attacks, as well as a police post in Makhachkala, Dagestan's largest city. Read the full report here.

Haryana govt increases reservation for OBC category from 15 to 27 pc: Indian Express

Maintaining that it will provide “significant benefits” in employment for the OBC category, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced an increase in annual income limit for creamy layer from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh, which is similar to the Centre. Indian Express reports, Saini also announced that the reservation for the backward classes in Group-A and Group-B posts, currently at 15 per cent, will be increased to 27 per cent, “in line with the Central government’s policy”. The move comes months before the Haryana Assembly elections which is likely to be held in October. Read the full report here.

Al Jazeera: Netanyahu says war will continue even if ceasefire deal agreed with Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that he is open to a “partial” deal that would facilitate the return of some captives still held in Gaza, even if not all, Al Jazeera reports. He reiterated, however, that he would not agree to any deal that stipulated an end to Israel’s war on Gaza, despite previous claims by the United States that an Israeli proposal would be a pathway to ending the offensive. Tens of thousands of Israelis have consistently rallied against Netanyahu and his government, demanding early elections and a deal to return the captives, the report adds. Netanyahu also told Channel 14 that Israel’s “intense” military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah was nearly over. Read the full report here.

Modi highlights Constitution, Consensus as Lok Sabha kicks off, The Wire

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stripped short of a majority on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, The Wire reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extolled the virtues of consensus in a democracy and upholding constitutional values while taking aim at the opposition by saying that the country wants “debate and not drama”. In his address, outside the new parliament building ahead of the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha, Modi said that while a majority is essential to run the country, a consensus is important to govern. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 240 seats on its own, the report adds, and has had to rely on its NDA allies to form the government. Meanwhile, opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc held a protest. holding copies of the Constitution outside the parliament, in a bid to remind the BJP-led NDA government to uphold constitutional values. Read the full report here.