UK-based energy major Cairn has gotten a step closer into seizing India’s foreign assets as part of their winnings following a tribunal decision in their favour. Could do with some of that “India’s honour” that the central govt has been touting ever so often no? In other news, Indian scientists have found a new plant species in Antarctica. A new research has established that just one does close to nothing to the Delta variant.
INDIA NEWS
Day 1️⃣: The new Cabinet announced major decisions – Rs 23,123 cr for health infra, Rs 1 lakh crore fund to APMCs to improve infra.
“This is not a pleasant sight and it should instill a sense of fear in us”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
on many people not observing Mask and Social distancing protocols
🦠 Coronavirus News: India has approved GSK-Sanofi vaccine, which had shown 95% efficacy in phase 2 global trials, to undergo phase 3 clinical trials in India.
🙏 Leader rests: Himachal Pradesh’s longest serving chief minister (6 terms) Congress’s Virbhadra Singh, 87, died of Covid-related complications.
“Facebook is a platform where political differences are reflected. They cannot wash their hands off the issue as this is their very business.”
Supreme Court on FB appearing before Delhi assembly panel over the Feb 2020 riots
⚔️ Much violence: On the day of filing of nominations for the post of block panchayat head, Uttar Pradesh saw violence in many parts of the state.
💬 Twitter Trouble: The Delhi high court has refused to give Twitter anymore leeway and allowed the Centre to act against it under the IT rules.
😐 That’s Strange: Former MoS for labour Santosh Gangwar ordered the transfer of 120 officials from the EPFO on July 6, just days before he demitted office. They were not even given joining time and were told to take up their new roles immediately. This, some said, was unprecedented.
🦠🦟 Another one: Kerala reported one case of Zika virus that is transmitted through the Aedes mosquito.
WORLD NEWS
🇭🇹 Political Turmoil: Haiti has been sent into further chaos, politically at least, with the question of who is running the country after the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse. While the country’s interim prime minister says he was, and declared martial law, the Moïse’s appointee PM Ariel Henry contested it.
🇦🇫 Afghanistan: UK Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that all British troops had exited Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghanistan troops have retaken a western provincial capital from the Taliban.
“The mission hasn’t failed — yet.”
“I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan”
“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. And it’s the right and the responsibility of Afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to run their country.”
“No nation has ever unified Afghanistan, no nation. Empires have gone there and not done it (referring to Britain and Soviet Union).”
“We will continue to provide civilian and humanitarian assistance, including speaking out for the rights of women and girls.”
“Do I trust the Taliban? No.”
US President Joe Biden
*🌍 Need a Change*: At least 12 people have died in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland and Africa’s only absolute monarchy. The UN has expressed concern over authorities’ “disproportionate” use of violence. Analysts say this is part of a generational protests against long standing rulers, similar to the ones happening in Nigeria and Uganda.
Surrender: Former South African president Jacob Zuma surrendered before the police after his conviction in a contempt of court case that gave him a 15-month jail sentence. This could be reduced to just four months considering his health. Zuma had refused to give evidence to an inquiry panel that was looking into allegations of corruption against his government when they allegedly allowed three Indian businessmen to “plunder” the state resources.
🇭🇺🏳️🌈🇪🇺 Hungary Law: The EU has decided to act against Hungary for its anti-LGBT law that bans depiction of homosexuality to children. The grouping said the law went against EU values. The action could result in reduced budgetary allocation to the country.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
💰 India vs Cairn: Cairn Energy has gotten a French court’s approval to seize Indian assets to recover its $1.2bn in taxation arbitration it won against the Indian govt. India says it has not yet gotten an official notice from the court and said it would challenge it when it did. The govt is facing a similar challenge from Devas Multimedia.
💊 Paying Fine: Last year, Purdue Pharma had acknowledged that it promoted the painkiller Oxycontin knowing well that it was addictive. Now, the company is expected to enter into a multi-billion dollar settlement with at least 15 US states.
“Companies inhibit [the right to repair] because it gives the companies power, control, over everything. It’s time to do the right thing.”
Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder
🔎 Google Trouble: The company is facing a lawsuit from 37 US states that allege its Play Store had a monopoly that allowed the company to rake in millions enough to buy off its competitors.
🚗💨🚫 Profit Only: The EU has fined carmakers VW, Daimler and BMW $1bn for colluding and limiting the development of emission systems.
ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE & TECH
🌱 Life will find a way: A team of Indian scientists have discovered a new species of moss in Antarctica and called it Bryum Bharatiensis– Bharati is the Hindu goddess of learning and the name of the Indian mission there.
SPORT
“In any other line of work, you would be forgiven for taking a personal day here and there, so long as it’s not habitual.”
Naomi Osaka, Tennis player on empathy and privacy for athletes
🏊 Only on TV: With the Olympics opening ceremony just weeks away (July 23), Japan has declared a state of emergency from July 12 till August 22 as Covid-19 cases are increasing. There will be no spectators to watch athletes perform.
NEWS OF YESTERDAY
South Sudan declared its independence from Sudan on this day in 2011.
News Of Today 
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