India to take on New Zealand in third and final T20 international in Ahmedabad on Feb 1
Foreign Secy Vinay Mohan Kwatra & US Under Secy of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland co-chairs annual India-US Foreign Office Consultations
GST collection at Rs 1.55 lakh crore in January, second highest-ever
Sri Lanka's Headline inflation drops to 54.2 percent in January
BJP criticises Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Aam Aadmi Party for boycotting President Droupadi Murmu’s address
Former wrestler Babita Phogat joins Oversight Committee panel formed to probe allegations against WFI
Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan passes away
First meeting of G20 Education Working Group to be held in Chennai on Feb 1
G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting concludes
Economic Survey 2022-23 presented in both Houses of Parliament; envisages Indian economy to grow at 6.5 per cent in 2023-24
THE HEADLINES:
Campaigning reaches crescendo for first phase of Assembly polls in Gujarat; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address four election rallies today.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to co-chair 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue today with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu in New Delhi.
China witnesses massive protest against President Xi's Zero Covid policy.
53rd International Film Festival of India to conclude in Goa this evening.
And, in the FIFA football World Cup 2022, Croatia knocks out Canada and the match between Spain and Germany ends in a draw.
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In Gujarat, the poll campaign for the first phase of the Assembly election is in its final stage as just two days are left for the campaigning to end. Political parties are going all out to woo the voters. Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address four election rallies today in Palitana, Anjar, Jamnagar and Rajkot. Home Minister Amit Shah will also address election meetings at four places in favor of the party candidates. Apart from this, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhai Patel, Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sharma, Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Purusottam Rupala as well as many senior BJP leaders including Manoj Tiwari will hold public meetings and road shows at various places. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will address a press conference in Ahmedabad today. He is also scheduled to address election rallies in Mehsana and Ahmedabad. Senior party leader and Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot will also campaign for the party. Senior leaders of Aam Aadmi Party will also address public meetings for the party candidates.
For the first time in the country, health booths and animal booths have been set up in Junagadh district of the state to increase the voting turnout. There was 63.15 percent voter turn out in the last Assembly elections in the district, but this time the administration is trying to ensure more than 80 percent voting. Collector and District Election Officer of Junagarh Rachit Raj told our correspondent that one such booth each has been set up in each of five constituencies of the district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India's upcoming G20 Presidency is a big opportunity to focus on Global Good and welfare of the world. Addressing the nation in the 95th episode of Mann Ki Baat programme on All India Radio yesterday, Mr Modi said that the G20 has a partnership comprising two-thirds of the world's population, three-fourths of world trade, and 85 percent of world GDP. He exuded pride that India is going to preside over such a big and powerful group from the first of December and it becomes even more special as India was awarded this responsibility during Amrit Kaal.
Mr Modi stated that during India's G-20 Presidency, many programs related to G20 will be organized in different parts of the country in the coming days. He expressed confidence that people will showcase the diverse and distinctive colors of their culture to the world.
The Prime Minister also urged schools, colleges and universities to create opportunities for discussions, debates and competitions related to G20.
Mr Modi stated that the whole country had witnessed history being made in the space sector on the 18th of this month when India sent the first rocket 'Vikram -S', designed and prepared by its private sector into space. He said, its development cost is much less than the cost incurred by other countries involved in space missions.
Mr Modi informed that India is sharing its success in the space sector with its neighbouring countries as well. The Prime Minister lauded the youth for doing wonderful work in Space, Technology and Innovation.
The Ministry of Textiles will give away Shilp Guru and National Awards to master craftpersons for 2017, 2018 and 2019 in New Delhi today. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the Chief Guest of the award ceremony. Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal will preside over the function. The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has been implementing the scheme of National Awards for master craftspersons since 1965. Shilp Guru Awards was introduced in 2002.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will co-chair the 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with the French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in New Delhi today. Mr Lecornu is on two-day visit to India. As part of the Annual Defence Dialogue, both the Ministers will hold wide-ranging talks, including operational defence ties, counter-terrorism, maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, and industrial and technological partnerships in line with India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” policy.
Mr Lecornu is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
A high level delegation led by the French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu yesterday visited the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant. The delegation also interacted with the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi on board the carrier. The discussions ranged from enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest to maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. The French Minister acknowledged India's indigenous potential and self-reliance.
The 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will come to an end in Goa today. The closing ceremony will be held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium near Panaji in the evening.
"Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will be present on the occasion. A host of film personalities will also grace the occasion. They include Akshay Kumar, Asha Parekh, Ayushman Khurana, Manushi Chhillar, Esha Gupta, Rana Duggubati and Anand Rai. Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi will be given the Indian Film Personality of the Year 2022 award at the closing ceremony. Polish film ‘Perfect Number’, directed by Krzysztof Zanussi, is the closing film of this year’s IFFI. A number of awards including the Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Male and Female) and Special Jury Award will be presented at the closing ceremony. Rahul Gowlikar, AIR News, Goa."
In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” tonight, we will bring you a live discussion with Kiran Gopal Vaska, Director of National Health Authority on Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and Ayushman Bharat Health Account.
Listeners can ask questions to the expert on Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) card, registration procedures, benefits and other queries related to the digital health ID card. Listeners can ask the questions from 09:30 PM onwards on telephone numbers: 011 - 23717106 and 011-23314444. You can also post your queries on our Twitter handle @airnewsalerts by #tag Askair.
This Live Programme can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies. This programme will also be available on our website NEWS ON AIR DOT NIC DOT IN and on our YouTube Channel NEWS ON AIR OFFICIAL.
The bilateral training exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22” between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army will begin at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan from today. The exercise will continue till 11th of December. This is the first exercise in the series of AUSTRA HIND with participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies.
The Australian Army contingent comprised of soldiers from the 13th Brigade of the 2nd Division. The Indian Army is represented by troops from the DOGRA Regiment.
China is witnessing massive protests against President Xi's Zero Covid policy. Continuous lockdowns have been imposed many big cities including capital Beijing and financial hub Shanghai. Demonstrators gathered in the capital Beijing yesterday and the protests continued in Shanghai for the second night shouting anti-government slogans and calling for easing of the COVID restrictions.
"Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Chaoyang district in the heart of capital beijing late night yesterday and took part in the protest holding blank paper to express their discontent and acknowledge the censorship. Among other slogans, they called for release of protesters in Shanghai who were arrested earlier. Protesters in Shanghai again clashed with police last night as protests have flared and spread to several cities and universities which started in response to the anger after a deadly fire killed 10 people in Urumqi, Xinjiang apparently due to strict lockdowns. This wave of civil disobedience is unprecedented in mainland China since President Xi Jinping assumed power a decade ago, as frustration mounts over his signature zero-COVID policy. Anshuman Mishra, AIR News Beijing."
In the FIFA football World Cup 2022, Croatia knocked out Canada 4-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium at Doha in Qatar last night. The match between Spain and Germany ended in a 1-1 draw in a Group E match at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
By virtue of late equaliser from Niclas Fullkrug, Germany have given themselves a fighting chance to make it to the Round of 16 after getting a 1-1 draw against Spain. Now Germany have to depend their match against Costa Rica on 1st December. The match will decide whether the four-time champions will go to the next round or get eliminated for the second time in a row. However, they will also have to depend on the result of the Spain vs Japan match, which will be played at the same time. The four-time champions suffered their earliest tournament exit in 2018 when they crashed out in the first round and now face a similar scenario in Qatar. Earlier in the day, Croatia thrashed Canada 4-1 to rise to the top of Group F with four points in two matches and a better goal difference than Morocco, who beat Belgium 2-0 to produce one of the upsets of the tournament in the second match. In the first match, Costa Rica gain their first points in Group E with a 1-0 win over Japan. With Pratyush Ghosh this is Anupam Mishra sports desk.
Today, there will be three matches. Cameroon will take on Serbia in Group 'G' match at the Al-Janoub Stadium at 3:30 pm Indian Time. South Korea will clash with Ghana in Group 'H' match at Education City Stadium at 6:30 pm and Brazil will lock horns with Switzerland in Group 'G' match at Stadium 974, in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha at 9:30pm.
TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE:
Hindustan Times quoting Prime Minster Narendra Modi in Gujarat Poll salvo writes, "Congress was soft on terror".
The Asian Age quotes the PM as saying "G20 Presidency opppurtunity to focus on global good".
"Egyptian President Sisi to be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations", reports The Hindu.
"Budget may widen free health cover", speculates The Financial Express. The paper writes that "last part of middle class likely to be included in PM-JAY.
"Anti-lockdown protests widen in China with calls for Xi to step down", notes The Statesman.
"PT Usha set to be elected as Indian Olympic Association chief", reports The Indian Express.
And finally, "Messi-mesmerising! Late Stunner tears anti Mexican wave to shake off scare", writes the Hindustan Times. "Argentina live to fight another day" says The Times of India.
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN: