News Today: 31 December 2021 - Quick Reference

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31 December, 2021

News Today:

All political parties in UP want elections as per schedule

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is committed to holding free and fair assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh with strict implementation of the Covid-19 protocol, chief election commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra on Thursday said, adding that all political parties in the state wanted elections as per schedule. HT

Biden and Putin talk amid Ukraine buildup

Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke frankly for nearly an hour late Thursday amid growing alarm over Russia’s troop buildup near Ukraine, a simmering crisis that’s recently deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its demands for increased security guarantees and test fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands. HT

AFSPA extended in Nagaland

The Centre on Thursday extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for another six months in Nagaland, a routine move that sparked criticism in the northeastern state still mourning the killing of 14 civilians in a botched army operation. HT

Karnataka urban local body polls results

Congress emerged as the single largest party, winning 501 of 1,184 wards that went to the polls on December 27. BJP won 433 wards and the JD(S) won 45. A total of 195 Independents also won in the elections. AAP and Janata Party have won one seat each, while AIMIM and SDPI won two and six, respectively. Indian Express

Fresh encounter in Srinagar taking toll of killed militants to 9

Three more militants were killed and four security personnel were injured in a fresh encounter in Srinagar on Thursday night, taking the toll of militants to nine in the past 36 hours in three separate gunfights in the Kashmir Valley. Hindu

 

Hindi News: 

( so that you don’t miss out )

खालिस्तानी तत्व मुंबई में आतंकवादी हमले कर सकते हैं

मुंबई में खालिस्तान आतंकियों ने हमले की धमकी दी है। इसके बाद पुलिस ने शहर की सुरक्षा और कड़ी कर दी है। नए साल से एक दिन पहले यानी शुक्रवार को सभी पुलिसकर्मियों की छुटि्टयां कैंसिल कर दी गई हैं। मुंबई में तैनात प्रत्येक पुलिसकर्मी ड्यूटी पर रहेगा। Bhaskar

ओमिक्रॉन 1 हजार के आंकड़े को पार 

देश में ओमिक्रॉन के मरीजों की तादाद शुक्रवार को 1 हजार के आंकड़े को पार कर गई है। भारत में सिर्फ 28 दिनों में ही 25 राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों में ओमिक्रॉन के मरीजों की कुल संख्या 1201 के आंकड़े तक पहुंच गई। Bhaskar

चीन ने अरुणाचल प्रदेश की सीमा से लगे क्षेत्र में 15 स्थानों के नाम चीनी और तिब्बती रख दिए

चीन ने चार साल पुरानी हरकत को फिर दोहराया है। उसने अरुणाचल प्रदेश की सीमा से लगे क्षेत्र में 15 स्थानों के नाम चीनी और तिब्बती रख दिए हैं। चीन की सिविल अफेयर्स मिनिस्ट्री ने गुरुवार को इस फैसले को सही बताते हुए कहा- यह हमारी प्रभुसत्ता और इतिहास के आधार पर उठाया गया कदम है। Bhaskar

Google Trends Today

Happy New Year 2022 and New Year’s Eve

It will be a quiet New Year’s Eve at restaurants and bars due to night curfews and bans on celebrations in various states. Cafes and clubs have either cancelled or scaled down their events depending on local restrictions. Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have imposed a night curfew while Chennai has decided to ban all vehicular movement except emergency vehicles from Friday midnight to 5 am on Saturday.

Red Alert in Chennai

Heavy rains lashed Chennai and its suburbs on Thursday, inundating roads and causing traffic congestion. Tamil Nadu disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachadran said a total of three persons have lost their lives due to electrocution.

 

Compiled from Google Trends

 

Twitter Trends 

  1. Where’s Biden
  2. Delhi’s color-coded action plan for COVID-19: How does it work?

 

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