India is closely monitoring developments in Myanmar

Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Rajya Sabha today. The bill will replace Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance of 2021 which merged the J & K cadre of the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Forest Service with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory cadre, also known as AGMUT cadre.The President had promulgated the ordinance last month to amend the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

-Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed continuous adjournments following opposition uproar against three farm laws. After resuming proceedings at 8:30 PM, the lower House took up Zero Hour.Earlier when the House met for the day at 4 PM, Opposition members created ruckus leading to repeated adjournments of the House. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and presiding officers repeatedly urged the agitating members to maintain order in the House saying they will get ample time to raise the issue but to no avail. Members from Congress, DMK, TMC, Left, SP, Shiv Sena and others trooped into the well raising slogans against the government.

-India has said it is closely monitoring the developments in Myanmar. In response to a media query  External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India and Myanmar are neighbours with close cultural and people-to-people ties, bolstered by trade, economic, security and defence related exchanges. He added that India is also engaged on the issue as a member of the UN Security Council.India has extended assistance to Myanmar in its fight against COVID-19 by providing medicines, test kits and vaccines.  The spokesperson said India remains committed to continuing humanitarian support for the people in Myanmar in mitigating the health and economic impact of pandemic.

-In the United Kingdom, the broadcasting regulator Ofcom has revoked China Global Television Network's (CGTN) license to air its programs in the country. In a statement issued,the Ofcom said, the company, Star China Media Ltd (SCML), that owns the UK licence for China Global Television Network (CGTN) does not have day-to-day control over the channel, which is against its rules.The regulator said, Star China Media Ltd, had failed to show that it had editorial oversight over CGTN.In the UK, broadcasting laws say licensees must have control over their service and its editorial policies. The English-language satellite broadcaster has long faced criticism for parroting the Chinese Communist Party line in its global broadcasts.

-In Assam, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls, two newly formed regional outfits Assam Jatiya Parishad and Raijor Dal have decided to fight the polls in alliance. Talking to newspersons in Guwahati, the Chief of Assam Jatiya Parishad Lurinjyoti Gogoi informed that a formal announcement would be made soon. The Congress, AIUDF, Anchalik Gano Marcha and Left fronts already declared to contest the polls together while the ruling BJP would continue its tie with Asom Gana Parishad. The UPPL will join the BJP and Asom Gana Parishad.