Today is Kargil Vijay Diwas, the day India pushed back Pakistani aggressors, while commentators in Pakistan too have earlier described it as a “misadventure”, in India, it is claimed to have been a “costly” victory. Politicians still speak on it and shower praises on the sacrifices made. And yet, the border remains warm.
TOP NEWS
➡️ Over 150 people have died in Maharashtra in rain-related incidents
➡️ Rudreswar Temple in Telangana becomes India’s 39th Unesco World Heritage Site
➡️ Tunisia PM sacked over handling of Covid-19
INDIA NEWS
🌧️ Climate Crisis: Maharashtra suffered nearly 150 deaths due to torrential rain. The Union government, however, lashed out at the state government for not announcing relief package and not helping people. In Karnataka, 10 dead as rain hit 11 districts.
🇨🇳 China Says Hi: In Eastern Ladakh’s Demchok, the Chinese “civilians” have erected tents on the Indian side of the border. Both armies have increased ammunition and enhanced their postures at the front.
🎭 Politics: The Congress and BJP in Rajasthan and Karnataka, respectively, have moved to quell or satisfy the different factions in their state party units. In Rajasthan, the Congress high command is looking into a possible cabinet expansion and reshuffle in the district units. In Karnataka, chief minister B S Yediyurappa may step down today, or maybe not because the BJP is yet to announce anything.
WORLD NEWS
🇦🇫 Curbs on Violence: The Afghanistan government has imposed a curfew in all cities (that it still controls), except three, in a bid to curb the violence in the country in the wake of the Taliban’s advance.
🇮🇶 No Troops, Please: Iraq’s prime minister is heading to the US where he will demand the withdrawal of foreign troops in the country, which the US govt is likely to oblige with. There are around 2,500 US troops there and the immediate reason behind the demand is supposedly the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist in a US drone strike last year. Iran and Iraq are close allies.
🇹🇳 Out: Tunisia’s President has sacked his prime minister and suspended parliament after people hit the streets protesting the govt’s handling of the pandemic. The country’s parliament’s Speaker has, however, denounced the move and termed it a “coup”.
🦠 Coronavirus News: Cases are rising in the US and its top epidemiologist has said the country was not moving in the right direction as there was a dip in vaccinations and the CDC guidelines had allowed relaxation of mask rule among the vaccinated. Euopean govts are clamping down on movement of people from other countries.
“We defend unity in a way that actually harms it … We uncritically follow our leaders instead of rectifying their path. We agree to be disciplined, when what we have to do is think and act with our own heads.”
Luis Emilio Aybar, commentator from Cuba over the govt’s handling of the recent protests
🌧️ Climate Crisis: Two hospitals in London were flooded, forcing them to ask patients to stay away; Israel has said it will cut emissions down by 85% from the levels since 2018 by 2050.
💫 Fall From Sky: An unusually large meteor – possibly around 10kg – lit up the Norwegian sky on Sunday, prompting a hunt to find it. Residents reported a loud explosion as the rock passed over, but police say no one was injured.
💊 Avoid Overdose: An Australian study has found that liver injury caused due to an overdose of paracetamol is common.
🚭 Avoid Cigarrettes: Tobacco major Phillip Morris is planning to turn itself into a “health and wellness” company and is actually encouraging the UK govt to ban cigarrettes completely by the end of the decade.
