News Dabba for 24 March 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 Rahul Gandhi's disqualification, earthquake in Madhya Pradesh, to the US strike in Syria.

4.0 Magnitude earthquake hits Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, Indian Express

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter Scale struck Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on Friday. Indian Express reports that as per the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake struck Gwalior at 10:31 am. Earlier today, NCS also informed that an earthquake of magnitude on the Richter Scale struck Moirang of Manipur. On Tuesday, people in north India including Delhi and its surrounding areas felt earthquake tremors in the evening. Read the full report here.

The Hindu: Rahul Gandhi disqualified as member of Lok Sabha

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from Lok Sabha, The Hindu reports. This comes a day after a Surat court sentenced him in a criminal defamation case. The report says a notification from the lower House said Gandhi stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction, as per the terms of Article 102 (1)(e) of the Constitution and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. It was signed by Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh. Gandhi was sentenced to two years imprisonment for his “why all thieves have Modi surname” comment he allegedly made during the parliamentary election campaign in 2019. Read the full report here.

Indonesian govt bans civil servants gathering to break fast, The Straits Times

The Straits Times reports that Indonesia has disallowed gatherings by civil servants for the breaking of the fast during the fasting month of Ramazan. This has triggered a backlash from several Islamist political parties, the report states.  Indonesian President Joko Widodo was cited as saying that the move was necessary as the country is still transitioning from the pandemic. During the month of Ramazan, Indonesian Muslims gather for buka bersama or bukber – the breaking of the fast together. Read the full report here.

Arab News reports 11 dead in US strikes on Syria following drone strike on base

Arab News reports that 11 pro-Iran fighters were killed in US air strikes on Syria. It was carried out in retaliation for a drone attack that left an American dead and wounded six others, a war monitor said Friday. A US contractor was killed, and another contractor and five US service personnel were wounded, when a kamikaze drone, allegedly of Iranian origin, struck a maintenance facility on a base. The United States deploys about 900 troops in bases and posts across northeastern Syria. Read the full report here.

World Athletics bans Transgender Women from participating in Female events, The Quint reports

World Athletics has banned transgender women from competing in the female categories, across all international events. The Quint's report says that according to the new directive, any transgender female who has undergone ‘male puberty’ will not be allowed to enlist in the female categories. World Athletics has claimed that the decision is taken with the intention of ‘maintaining fairness’ for female athletes. The report adds that a group has been formed to conduct subsequent research about the plausibility of transgender inclusion in female events. Read the full report here.