@Evening: Why So Much Focus On MCD Elections?

1. 📰 Catch up

• Jagdeep Dhankhar came down heavily on the Supreme Court for striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Bill.

• EAM Dr S Jaishankar said in parliament that India will "not tolerate" unilateral attempts to alter LAC.

• AAP won 134 seats, BJP 104 and Congress 9 in MCD elections.

• Latin catholic church announced 'temporary' halt to protests against Vizhinjam port after talks with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

• 5G service has been rolled out in 50 cities and towns across the country, Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed.

2. 🔦 MCD elections in spotlight

'Tyranny of distance' was highlighted by many netizens as mainstream media covered MCD elections throughout the day.

• Hardik Rojgar pointed towards low coverage of "floods in North East, violence in Bengal or stories from the South."

• Pratyasha Rath pointed at "Delhi media bias" and called the "minute by minute coverage 'The Benevolence of Proximity'".

Other municipal elections: Many netizens said that even BMC elections don't get this amount of coverage, even when the BMC budget is comparable to the Delhi state government's budget.

• The issue of Bengaluru BBMP not having an elected council since 2020 but the media not covering it was raised by Vikram Sampath among others.

• The Karnataka government had sought more time from the High Court over its order to conduct BBMP elections by 31 December.

3. 📘 The Song of the Cell

The book combines seamlessly the history of cell science, that of medicine from the mid-19th century to the latest cutting-edge explorations.

• It also explores how medical science gives hope to patients who are fighting for their lives and physicians who are fighting for their patients.

• Mukherjee combines the actual treatments made to the patients with the narrative of the discoveries that led to the treatments.

Who should read this: If you are an artist then you should study this book to get an experience of science that will enhance your art.

• If you are a student of science then you should read this book to get inspiration to do good science – both as your Sadhana—quest for truth—and Seva—service towards all humanity.

• If you are simply interested in reading good books then make sure you read this – you will never again see any living organism as just another living organism.

4. 🪑 Akshay Kumar as Shivaji

Akshay Kumar announced yesterday that he began shooting for Marathi movie Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat.

• The movie is based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj where Kumar is playing the role of Shivaji himself.

• His first look image was shared by another Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, to which Kumar replied, "Thank you bhai."

The controversy: Netizens reacted to it sharing doubts over how a "commercial actor" like Kumar will be able to do justice to the character of Shivaji.

• They also pointed towards Kumar's earlier movie Samrat Prithviraj where he played the role of Prithviraj Chauhan but the movie was a flop.

• Swarajya wrote why Kumar offering chadar at the grave of Chishti and venerating Prithviraj Chauhan cannot go hand-in-hand.

5. ⚔️ Armed Forces Flag Day

Armed Forces Flag Day is celebrated on 7 December since 1949 to remember the bravery, courage and sacrifice of our armed forces.

• Saluting the valour and the sacrifices of the armed forces, PM Narendra Modi said thatthey are at the forefront of protecting our nation and contributing to a stronger India.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Modi appealed to everyone to contribute in the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund for the welfare of India’s breavehearts.