News Dabba for 31 October 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 SC hearing pleas challenging electoral bonds scheme, Apple's response to Opposition leaders claiming hacking attempt, to Netanyahu rejecting Gaza ceasefire.

Andhra Pradesh HC grants interim bail to N. Chandrababu Naidu, The Hindu

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has granted interim bail to former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, The Hindu reports, in the alleged Skill Development scam case on health grounds for four weeks. While conceding Naidu’s plea for bail, Justice T. Mallikarjuna Rao ordered that he should surrender on November 28 before the Superintendent of Rajamahendravaram Central Jail, where he has been on judicial remand since September 10. The judge also gave him the liberty to get himself examined and treated for the eye and skin ailments at a hospital of his choice and at his expense, as per the report. Read the full report here.

SC hearing pleas challenging electoral bonds scheme: The New Indian Express

The Supreme Court on Tuesday commenced hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties. The New Indian Express said that the scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding. Electoral bonds may be purchased by any citizen of India or entity incorporated or established in India. The four petitions include those filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Read the full report here.

Company found guilty over New Zealand volcano disaster, BBC

A New Zealand tour company has been found guilty of not "minimising risk" to 22 people who died in the 2019 White Island volcano disaster, BBC reports. Judge Evangelos Thomas criticised what he said were "astonishing failures" by Whakaari Management Limited (WML) - which licenses tours to the island. The case is the largest action of its kind, the report mentions, brought by New Zealand's regulator, Worksafe NZ. The company faces up to NZ$1.5m in fines. The December 2019 eruption killed 22 - almost half of the people who were on the island at the time. Read the full report here.

NDTV: Apple responds to Opposition leaders claiming hacking attempt

Apple on Tuesday responded to opposition leaders' claims that they received messages warning them of "state-sponsored" hackers trying to access their iPhones. NDTV reports that the company said it "does not attribute the notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker". The manufacturer also said, "it is possible that some Apple threat notifications may be false alarms". Apple said "State-sponsored attackers tend to be very well-funded and sophisticated... detecting such attacks relies on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete," as per the report. Read the full report here.

Israel PM Netanyahu rejects Gaza ceasefire: The Straits Times

The Straits Times reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas “will not happen”. The United Nations warned not enough aid was coming in to meet “unprecedented humanitarian needs”. The report adds that Israeli ground forces fought inside the Gaza Strip, along with Israeli air strikes there, in response to the October 7 attack. The intensifying military operations have sharply heightened fears for the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza. Netanyahu said in a press briefing that a ceasefire would amount to surrendering to Hamas, the report mentions. Read the full report here.