Taliban has extended its reach in Afghanistan and olive branch to China. The Uttar Pradesh local body polls have seen much violence – a primer to next year’s Assembly elections? Staying in the state, the govt has proposed a law that will essentially see it attempt to regulate population to save on resources rather than the other way around.
INDIA NEWS
🦠 Keep it Down: Centre has written to states to be cautious and control holiday crowds for fear of spread fo Covid-19. The second wave is not yet over. Meanwhile, the R0 value (that represents extent of infections) is back on the incline and so too are active cases.
👶🏻 Honey, Shrink the Kids: UP has brought out a draft bill on population control – more than two kids and parents will be ineligible for govt jobs and promotions and excluded from benefits of 77 schemes. Those who choose at most 2 kids will get tax rebate, preference in govt jobs and free med treatment for single kid.
🇦🇫 Concerned of Af: Indian and Afghan security agencies have reported that Pakistan-based terror groups’ fighters are fighting alongside Taliban in Afghanistan that has now entered Kandahar.
⚔️🗳️ Poll Violence: Elections to local body chiefs in Uttar Pradesh was marred by widespread violence. The BJP has claimed victory in the polls. The Opposition said such polls were a “farce” even as CM congratulated the state election commission for a “peaceful and fair” election.
🙏 Doyen Rests: Proprietor of Kotakkal Ayurveda Dr P K Warrier has died at 100. He took over the company when its turnover was Rs 5 lakh. Now it is over Rs 500 crore. He was instrumental into converting ayurvedic medicine into tablet and capsule form.
🚫 Sacked: 11 people, including the son of a Hizbul commander, have been sacked from their govt jobs in J-K without inquiry. The govt suspected they helped terrorists.
🇮🇳✝️🇬🇪 Returning her home: India returned relics of St Queen Ketevan to Georgia. The queen was tortured to death in the early 17th century for her refusal to convert to Islam. Her remains were smuggled to India.
🛐 Protecting Faith: The Assam govt has created a department to protect “indigenous faith” from the onslaught of immigrants. They will get financial assistance to preserve their tradition.
WORLD NEWS
🇿🇦 Zuma begins: The former South African president has begun his 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court. His jailing has not gone down without incident as many people came out on the streets to protest.
🇨🇳 China-Taliban: The Taliban has reportedly called China a friend and said they would not host Uyghur militants.
🇭🇹🇺🇸 Please help: Haiti has requested troops from the US to protect its critical infrastructure and stabilise the country in the wake of the assassination of its president. This has put US in a bit of a quandary – should it now be involved in another country?
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
💪 More Competition: To reign in Big Tech, US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that will have a greater scrutiny on mergers in the sector, new rules on data collection and unfair competition (big vs small). The order also covers sectors like agriculture, health and travel.
NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird was published on this day in 1960.
News Of Today 