News Today: 21 December 2021 - Quick Reference

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21 December, 2021

News Today:

Adding six assembly seats in the Jammu region and one in Kashmir

A commission redrawing poll constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday proposed adding six assembly seats in the Jammu region and one in Kashmir, sparking sharp responses from parties in the Valley that condemned the proposal and distanced themselves from the process. HT

Omicron now main strain in USA

The fast-spreading Omicron variant is now the main coronavirus strain in the United States, accounting for 73.2 percent of new cases over the past week for which data is available, health authorities reported Monday. HT

PM Modi to visit Prayagraj today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Prayagraj on Tuesday to participate in a programme being organised to recognise women empowerment. The PM would be in Prayagraj for just a little over two hours. HT

Resolution demanding repeal of AFSPA  

The Nagaland Assembly Monday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the repeal of AFSPA, during a special session held in the aftermath of the botched security ambush that claimed 14 lives earlier this month. Indian Express

Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that seeks to link electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem was passed by Lok Sabha Monday amid protests by Opposition members who raised strong objection to the Bill, saying it violates the fundamental right to privacy. Indian Express 

 

Hindi News: 

( so that you don’t miss out )

बेअदबी के शक में भीड़ के हाथों मारे गए युवक का एक वीडियो सामने आया

पंजाब में कपूरथला जिले के निजामपुर गुरुद्वारे में बेअदबी के शक में भीड़ के हाथों मारे गए युवक का एक वीडियो सामने आया है। इसमें युवक उन्हीं कपड़ों में नजर आ रहा है, जो उसने गुरुद्वारे में पहन रखे थे। यह वीडियो इससे एक दिन पहले शनिवार का है।वीडियो में युवक विक्षिप्त लग रहा है। Bhaskar

ऐश्वर्या राय बच्चन से प्रवर्तन निदेशालय (ED) ने 7 घंटे पूछताछ 

पनामा पेपर लीक मामले में सोमवार को ऐश्वर्या राय बच्चन से प्रवर्तन निदेशालय (ED) ने 7 घंटे पूछताछ की। ऐश्वर्या से उनकी कंपनियों और बैंक अकाउंट्स के बारे में सवाल हुए। भास्कर को सूत्रों ने बताया कि ED ने ऐश्वर्या से पूछा कि उन्होंने 50 हजार डॉलर में खरीदी कंपनी महज 1500 डॉलर में क्यों बेच दी। अमिताभ बच्चन की बहू बनने के बाद कंपनियों को बंद क्यों कर दिया गया? Bhaskar

एस-400 की पहली खेप भारत पहुंच गई है

रूस में बने ताकतवर एयर डिफेंस सिस्टम एस-400 की पहली खेप भारत पहुंच गई है। रूसी राष्ट्रपति पुतिन के हाल में हुए भारत दौरे के दौरान इसकी सप्लाई जल्द करने का भरोसा दिया गया था। अगले साल इसकी दूसरी खेप भी आ सकती है। भारत को ऐसी कुल 5 यूनिट मिलेंगी। चीन और पाकिस्तान के खतरे को देखते हुए भारत को एस-400 की बहुत जरूरत थी। हालांकि अमेरिका इस सौदे का शुरुआत से विरोध कर रहा है। Bhaskar

 

Google Trends Today

Christmas Lockdown?

The government “can’t make hard, fast guarantees” that there will not be a Christmas lockdown, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has said.

Shark Tank India

Sony Entertainment Television brought the long-running series with its own version, Shark Tank India, to India on Monday, airing the first of 30 episodes that will be beamed weekdays with a promise of seven tycoons, or “sharks”, committing funding worth Rs 41.68 crore to 67 budding businesses.

Shriram Properties

Shriram Properties shares made a weak debut on Dalal Street today as the real estate issue opened at 90 per share, which is around 23.70 per cent lower from its upper price band of 118 per equity share.

Compiled from Google Trends

 

Twitter Trends 

  1. Sensex crashes over 1,800 points amid fears over Omicron
  2. Moderna’s third dose boosts antibodies against omicron
  3. Peng Shuai’s disappearance, and later retraction of her sexual-assault claim, were not surprising to people who know how China punishes its wayward elites
  4. How the young are at the forefront of a perilous global migration surge

 

Compiled from Twitter

 

Startup
24 February, 2024

Byju’s, once heralded as a flagship in India’s edtech sector, is grappling with severe financial and operational challenges, marked by a dramatic valuation drop. The company, which sought to stabilize its operations and finances, is now raising funds at a valuation significantly lower than its peak. This development comes amid efforts to address a substantial debt burden, with Byju’s proposing a repayment plan for its $1.2 billion loan. Investor confidence appears shaken, with some stakeholders pushing for drastic changes in leadership to navigate the crisis effectively. The turmoil reflects broader sectoral pressures and raises questions about the sustainability of high-growth trajectories in the edtech industry

Energy
10 February, 2024

Australia’s energy market is witnessing significant transitions and investments aimed at bolstering renewable energy infrastructure and securing gas supplies. Key developments include a $179 million investment by the Queensland Government for community battery projects, Santos’ $5.7 billion gas pipeline project following a legal battle win, and a $206 million energy savings package for NSW households. Additionally, the Australian government has secured new gas supply deals to support the east coast market, emphasizing the role of gas in transitioning to a renewable grid.

India 2024
9 February, 2024

The latest opinion polls, including the Mood of the Nation survey by India Today, predict a comfortable victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with a projected win of 335 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections. This forecast suggests a slight decrease from the 2019 elections but still ensures a majority. The survey, involving interviews with over 149,000 respondents, reflects Modi’s enduring popularity based on his nationalist policies and economic reforms. Other polls echo these findings, although seat projections vary slightly. The opposition INDIA alliance is expected to secure a significant number of seats, yet not enough to challenge the NDA’s majority. These predictions highlight a political landscape that remains largely favorable to Modi and the BJP as the election approaches