News Dabba for 31 January 2025: 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 FM Nirmala sitharaman presenting Economic survey, BJP slamming Sonia Gandhi for calling President 'poor thing', to live updates on DC crash.

NDTV on economic survey: GDP growth at 6.3-6.8 pc

NDTV reports that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2024-25 today and according to this economic survey the Indian economy is projected to expand at a rate of 6.3 percent to 6.8 percent in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26). Released ahead of the Union Budget 2025, the survey cites strong domestic economic fundamentals, a declining unemployment rate, stable inflation and the need for further reforms to sustain growth momentum. The report further states that the GDP rate of 6.3 percent to 6.8 percent will be the lowest since 2020-21 - the Covid year - when India registered a negative growth of 5.8 percent. While the year 2021-22 witnessed a GDP rate of 9.7 percent, 7 percent in 2022-23 and 8.2 percent in the last fiscal year. India's economic prospects for FY26 are balanced. Headwinds to growth include elevated geopolitical, trade uncertainties, the report highlights. Read the full report here.

BJP slams Sonia Gandhi for calling President Murmu 'poor thing', Hindustan Times

Veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday stoked a controversy over her reaction to President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint session of the Parliament, calling her a “poor thing”, states a report by Hindustan times. According to the report, while talking with reporters Sonia Gandhi said, "The President was getting very tired by the end... She could hardly speak, poor thing." After Gandhi's remark Union minister and BJP president JP Nadda slammed the Congress parliamentary party chairperson, the report mentions. Posting on X Nadda said “Former Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi’s use of the phrase “poor thing” to refer to the President is deeply disrespectful and underscores the opposition’s continued disregard for the dignity of the highest constitutional office. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.” Gandhi's comment came as Murmu's address kickstarted the Budget session of Parliament. Read the full report here.

BBC says DC crash jet black boxes found as details of victims emerge

BBC reports that investigators have recovered the flight data recorders, also known as black boxes, from an American Airlines jet which collided with a US army helicopter on Wednesday near Washington DC. These black boxes can help offer clues about what may have gone wrong on the flight. The data recorder logs operational data from the aircraft's systems, down to the position of certain switches and levers as well as the pilots' inputs. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says a preliminary report will be issued in 30 days - we should get a clearer picture then on how and why the crash happened, the report says. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump yesterday told reporters he does not know what led to the collision, but said he has some “very strong opinions and ideas”. In the same report, BBC says that in a press conference on Thursday, Trump blamed diversity initiatives at the Federal Aviation Administration for the deadly crash that occurred over Washington DC, without providing evidence. Read the full report here.

Russia closes in on key Ukrainian city, seeking gateway for future advances, Reuters reports

Reuters says that the Russian forces are slowly tightening the noose around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub whose main supply lines are under threat nearly three years after Moscow invaded its neighbour. While Ukraine is stubbornly defending the city, its encirclement or fall could put Russia in a strong position to mount attacks in several directions in the east and increase pressure on Kyiv at a critical juncture in the war. As per the report, life is bleak inside Pokrovsk as only 7,000 residents remain out of a pre-war population of 60,000. On either side of the city, Russian troops are within artillery and drone range of a crucial highway that runs east to west along the entirety of Ukraine, and most cars now take detours along backroads into Pokrovsk for their safety, report states further. With US President Donald Trump pressing the sides to reach a peace deal, Moscow's occupation of a part of this region could strengthen its hand in future negotiations, the report highlights. Read the full report here.

Two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank’s Jenin, Al Jazeera reports

Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in the Jenin governorate of West Bank, Al Jazeera reports, bringing the total number of people killed in the area since a major assault began almost two weeks ago to 19. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, two Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces late on Thursday during an Israeli army operation inside the Jenin refugee camp. Al Jazeera further cites a report by The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, where it says it received three middle-aged Palestinian women in Jenin who were wounded by shrapnel from an Israeli air strike on a building in the refugee camp. During a visit to the refugee camp On Wednesday Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the assault was aimed at destroying “terror infrastructure”, adding that after the completion of the operation, the Israeli army will remain in the camp. Read the full report here.