News Dabba for 8 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 the protest against the Georgian 'foreign agent' bill, Indian Navy chopper's emergency landing, to a general strike in the West Bank.

Thousands protest at Georgian 'foreign agent' bill, BBC reports

Protesters have clashed with police in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, after parliament backed a controversial draft law. BBC reports that the law would require non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and independent media who receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to declare themselves as foreign agents. Critics say it limits press freedom and suppresses civil society. The report adds that riot police used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse the crowds outside the parliament building. Some protesters were seen falling on the ground and coughing, while others waved EU and Georgian flags. Read the full report here.

The Hindu report on Indian Navy chopper's emergency landing off Mumbai coast

An Indian Navy Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) on a routine sortie with three personnel on board made an emergency landing off the Mumbai coast on March 8, The Hindu reported. The crew was rescued by a naval patrol aircraft, said the official. “Indian Navy ALH on a routine sortie off Mumbai ditched close to the coast,” an official said. As per the report, 'ditching' refers to an emergency landing on water. An inquiry to investigate the incident has been ordered. Read the full report here.

Al Jazeera: General strike in West Bank after Israeli raid kills six in Jenin

A general strike is being observed across the occupied West Bank one day after Israeli forces killed six Palestinians and wounded dozens of others. Al Jazeera reports, businesses in cities including Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah shut their doors on Wednesday morning in response to the killings. Schools and public institutions also said they were observing the strike, but they had already planned to close. Wednesday is also an official public holiday in the occupied West Bank in observance of International Women's Day. The report says the Israeli army launched a large-scale attack on the Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank on Tuesday afternoon, killing six men and injuring 26 others. Read the full report here.

Protesting job aspirants lathicharged in J&K, NDTV reports

NDTV reports scores of protesting job aspirants were detained as the police resorted to lathi-charge during attempts to block roads in Jammu on Wednesday. The aspirants were protesting against a backlisted agency engaged by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to conduct recruitment exams for government jobs. The agency has been blacklisted by several states in the country. The report says even the court had imposed a penalty on it for alleged fraud and manipulations in the recruitment. Protests were being held simultaneously in Srinagar, demanding fair exams and a transparent recruitment process. Read the full report here.

Nafed to begin procurement of onion in Gujarat: Indian Express

In wake of a fall in prices, the Centre has directed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (Nafed) to procure Kharif onion in Gujarat. Indian Express reports that the intervention is aimed at giving “immediate relief” to the farmers and providing “stability to the onion market” in the state. NAFED will start procurement of onion from 09.03.23 in Bhavnagar (Mahua), Gondal and Porbandar, as per the report. On Tuesday, the Gujarat Government had announced a Rs 330 crore assistance package for onion and potato farmers. Read the full report here.