THE HEADLINES:

• Government convenes all party meeting today ahead of Winter Session of Parliament.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India’s G20 Presidency is a unique opportunity to showcase the country's strengths to the world.

• Nation pays homage to architect of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar on his 67th Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal says India must strive to become global capital of millets.

• Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremasinghe seeks India's help to emulate white revolution in the island nation.

• And in football, Brazil and Croatia enter quarterfinals of FIFA World Cup.

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The government has convened an all party meeting today ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament. In the meeting, the centre will seek cooperation from all political parties for smooth functioning of both the Houses of Parliament during the session.  The Winter Session of Parliament will begin tomorrow and will continue till 29th December. The session will have 17 sittings spread over 23 days. Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had expressed hope for a constructive debate and discussions on legislative business during the session.

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The Winter session of Parliament begins tomorrow. On the eve of the session, News Services Division of All India Radio will bring you Special discussions tonight at 9.30 pm on “Issues Before  Parliament” in English and  “Sansad Ke Samaksh Mudde” in Hindi. Members of Parliament and Spokespersons from Recognised National Parties will be participating and sharing with us, the issues that the parties want to discuss in the upcoming winter session.“Issues Before Parliament” programme can be heard on  FM Rainbow Channel and “Sansad Ke Samaksh Mudde” programme can be heard on  FM Gold,Indraprastha and  AIR Live News 24/7 channels from 9.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. This programme will also be available on our website NEWS ON AIR DOT COM and on our YouTube Channel NEWS ON AIR OFFICIAL.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired an All Party meeting yesterday to discuss aspects relating to India’s G20 Presidency. The meeting witnessed participation from political leaders across the length and breadth of India. The Prime Minister stated that India’s G20 Presidency belongs to the entire nation, and is a unique opportunity to showcase India’s strengths to the entire world. Mr Modi also pointed out that there is global curiosity and attraction towards India today, which further increases the potential of India’s G20 Presidency. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, and sought the cooperation of all leaders in the organization of various G20 events. Mr Modi pointed out that the G20 Presidency would help showcase parts of India beyond the conventional big metros, bringing out the uniqueness of each part of the nation.

The Prime Minister took note of the potential for promoting tourism and boosting the local economies of the venues where G20 meetings would be organized. Various political leaders shared their insights on India’s G20 Presidency, including former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, J.P. Nadda, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee,  Naveen Patnaik, Arvind Kejriwal, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sitaram Yechury, and  Chandrababu Naidu. Brief interventions were made by Home Minister and Finance Minister. A detailed presentation of aspects of India’s G20 priorities was also made.

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In Gujarat, more than 64 percent polling has been reported in the second and final phase of assembly elections. Election Commission has said that barring few minor incidents, polling remained peaceful and error free. The counting of votes will take place on Thursday.

Evms are now kept under high security in strong rooms and they are being monitord continuously. Election commission as well as district administration across the state are giving final touch to the preparations for counting. Although the polling percentbthis time is less than the previous elections but people from rural and tribal areas participated enthusiastically in the festival of democracy. Districts like banaskatha and sabarkantha voted more than 70% while urban areas like Ahmedabad lagged behind with lowest percentage of turn out in final phase of elections yesterday. SUSHIL TIWARI, AIR NEWS, AHMEDABAD

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The counting of votes for the assembly elections of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will take place on Thursday. Counting of votes for bypolls held in six assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat in five states will also be taken up on the same day.

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Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India must strive to become the global capital of millets.

Addressing 'Millets-Smart Nutritive Food' Conclave in New Delhi, he said that this conclave and the first international buyer-seller meet on millets will help prepare the country for the 'International Year of Millets 2023'. Mr Goyal said that the UN has accepted 2023 as the international year of millets at India's request which was endorsed by over 70 countries. Last year, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution tabled by India along with Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia and Senegal to mark 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets'. Referring to India's presidency of G20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), he said that this mantle of leadership clearly reflected India's growing stature on the world stage. Mr Goyal pointed out that India had celebrated its Year of Millets in 2018 and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had consistently promoted millets as a food that will help take nutrition to the remotest parts of India and the world.

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Nation pays homage to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his 67th Mahaparinirvan Diwas today. A number of functions are being organised all over the country to highlight the contribution of Dr Ambedkar in the nation building. Eminent dignitaries and Parliamentarians will offer tributes to the architect of the Constitution at his statue in Parliament House complex in New Delhi.

Lakhs of followers from all over the country are gathered at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar in Mumbai to pay tribute to the great leader.

BMC has provided civic services and facilities, including toilets, bathrooms, sitting arrangements, electricity and mobile charging stations in the Chaityabhoomi area, Shivaji park, Dadar railway station, Hindu Colony, Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Vadala, and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at Kurla. Temporary residence facilities are also provided by the BMC in six municipal schools in Dadar area. On this occasion, BMC published a booklet on the inspirational work of Dr Ambedkar and preparations for Mahaparinirvana Day yesterday. This booklet will be provided free of cost to the followers of Dr Ambedkar. An e-copy of a brochure is also available on the website of BMC. With Shailaja Tiwale, , Air News Mumbai.

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Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremasinghe has asked for Indian assistance to emulate white revolution in the island nation. National Dairy Development Board and Amul will be providing technical support to the Indian neighbour to double its milk production. Mr. Wickremasinghe has appointed a committee which will work with NDDB to prepare short, medium & long-term plan to increase local milk production. India is the world's largest milk producer, with 22 percent of global production.

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In the FIFA World Cup Football, Brazil crushed South Korea 4-1 and secured their spot in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals at Stadium 974, in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar last night. Earlier, Croatia secured their spot in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals after defeating Japan 3-1 on penalties after both sides were levelled 1-1 round of 16 draw at the end of scheduled playtime at the Al-Janoub Stadium, Qatar.

Brazil made a strong statement in their quest for a sixth World Cup with a brutal 4-1 demolition of South Korea in the Round of 16. They went in at the halftime 4-0 up and it could easily have been seven or eight. Yes, South Korea made a mistake by pushing so far up the pitch and leaving so few players back but Brazil exploited it. They dominated the  entire show after Vinícius' opening goal, quickly followed by a Neymar penalty. In fact Brazil,  paid the best tribute to ailing Pelé by their glittering display of art of latino theatre soccer. Earlier Croatia won the first penalty shootout at the 2022 World Cup to progress to the quarter-finals in Qatar by beating japan 3-I. Japan missed three spot kicks during the shootout while Croatia only missed one. Croatia's goal keepar Dominik Livakovic saved three. The penalty shootout came after a 1-1 draw in normal time. With Pratyush Ghosh this is RYENA, AIR NEWS, NEW DELHI.

Today, in the another round of 16 match, Morocco will take on Spain at the Education City Stadium in Qatar at 8:30 PM Indian Time.

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For the first time since the COVID outbreak in March 2020, India is all set to resume the e-Visa facility for UK citizens travelling to India. High Commissioner of India to UK, Vikram K Doraiswami said that the service will be made available to the citizens forthwith and the dates will be announced shortly. He further added that the resumption of the facility will enable friends from the UK to travel far more easily to India.

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TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE:

"India, Germany ink migration agreement, with respect to ease of travel for research, study and work; Jaishankar defends Russian oil purchase" reports The Hindu.

While hearing a PIL, the Supreme Court has noted that forced religious conversion went against the Constitution and the purpose of charity should not be religious conversion, writes The Tribune.

 BS3 petrol, BS4 diesel vehicles banned in NCR with immediate effect, reports Hindustan Times.

"BCCI marks a first: Women umpires in Ranji Trophy soon" headlines The Indian Express.

Britain's opposition Labour Party vows to abolish House of Lords  and bring reforms, reports The Asian Age.

The death of author Dominique Lapierre has been reported in the front page of many dailies.  "City of Joy creator dies" headlines The Pioneer.

And Finally, "Goblin mode" is Oxford Dictionary's word of the year, with the runner-up being Metaverse, writes The Times of India.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

• Government convenes all party meeting today ahead of Winter Session of Parliament.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India’s G20 Presidency is a unique opportunity to showcase the country's strengths to the world.

• Nation pays homage to architect of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar on his 67th Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal says India must strive to become global capital of millets.

• Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremasinghe seeks India's help to emulate white revolution in the island nation.

• And in football, Brazil and Croatia enter quarterfinals of FIFA World Cup.

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