THE HEADLINES:-

• Government holds all party meeting in New Delhi ahead of Winter Session of Parliament.

• New Delhi hosts first India-Central Asia meeting of National Security Advisers; Asserts connectivity with Central Asian countries remains key priority for India.

• Delhi High Court rules mother's choice is ultimate in termination of pregnancy.

• Nation remembers Dr BR Ambedkar on his 67th Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

• World Bank upgrades India’s GDP growth forecast for 2022-23 to 6.9 percent from 6.5 percent.

• In FIFA World Cup at Qatar, Morocco to take on Spain while Portugal to lock horns with Switzerland for last two spots in quarterfinals.

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The government held an all party meeting in Parliament Complex in New Delhi today ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, which is scheduled to begin from tomorrow.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and V. Muraleedharan have attended the meeting. Several opposition parties including Congress, DMK, TMC and NCP among others were also present in the meeting. Briefing media, after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the government is ready to discuss any issue allowed by the chair in parliament.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has urged the government for extensive debates on various issues during the winter session. He demanded that issues like unemployment, inflation, situation on the Indo-China Border, and MSP for farmers may be discussed during the Winter Session.

The Winter Session of Parliament will continue till the 29th of this month. The session will have 17 sittings spread over 23 days.

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On the eve of the Winter Session, the News Services Division of All India Radio will bring you a Special discussion 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 in the discussion on the issues that the parties want to raise 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 pm.

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National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval today said that the connectivity with Central Asian countries remains India's key priority. Speaking at the first India-Central Asia meeting of the National Security Advisers, in New Delhi, Mr Doval said, a peaceful, secure and prosperous Central Asia is in our common interest.

Mr Doval  said, countering terror financing should be everyone’s equal priority. He also spoke on the security situation in Afghanistan and said that it is an important issue concerning us all.

This is the first time India is hosting a conclave of top security officials from Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan focussing on the evolving security situation in Afghanistan and ways to deal with the threat of terrorism emanating from that country. In an apparent message to Pakistan, Mr Doval said that India should appeal to all UN members to fulfill obligations enshrined in relevant counter-terror conventions.

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India’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj has said that terrorism remains a global challenge. Ms. Kamboj said that only a unified and zero-tolerance approach to terrorism can eventually defeat it. Indian envoy to the UN also talked about the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. She said, India believes that the credibility of the collective fight against terrorism can be strengthened only when we can ensure accountability for the grave and inhuman acts of terror committed by terrorists and take strong measures against those who encourage support and finance terrorism.

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The G20 meetings under India's Presidency, which will be held in different cities of the country over a period of one year, will give a major boost to India's economic recovery. Addressing a press conference at Udaipur in Rajasthan, Officer on Special Duty of the G20 Operations, Muktesh Pardeshi said G20 meetings will augur well for enhancing tourism potential and strengthening the cultural aspect of the country. He said, it will give a much required push to the employment generation which has been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Melinda Gates called on Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister lauded the country's frontline healthcare workers as heroes for their role as both caregivers and leaders during the pandemic. Highlighting the importance of documenting their stories, Dr. Mandaviya and Ms Gates unveiled a report titled Grassroot Soldiers: Role of ASHAs and ANMs in the COVID-19 Pandemic Management in India. Ms. Gates also congratulated Dr Mandaviya for India’s successful Covid-19 vaccination drive and praised the colossal efforts in managing the pandemic. Both of them also discussed the potentials and new opportunities for India’s ambitious health sector reforms, and emphasised on strengthening the digital health mission under the aegis of Ayushman Bharat.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate three national Ayush institutes to the nation on Sunday at the 9th World Ayurveda Congress in Goa. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, inauguration of the three institutes is a step towards fulfilling Prime Minister’s vision of expansion of infrastructure and promotion of research in the traditional medical system. The three institutes include, All India Institute of Ayurveda in Goa, National Institute of Unani Medicine in Ghaziabad and National Institute of Homoeopathy in Delhi.

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The Delhi High Court today ruled that the mother holds the ultimate choice in the pregnancy cases involving fetal abnormalities and emphasised that medical boards in such cases must be given qualitative reports. The High Court said this in a ruling, while allowing a 26-year-old married woman's plea seeking medical termination of her foetus of over 33 weeks suffering from cerebral abnormalities. The High Court said that the medical board ought to interact with the woman in a congenial manner and assess her physical and mental condition. It said the opinion should briefly mention the risks for the woman in either continuing the pregnancy or undergoing termination. This right gives a woman the ultimate choice as to whether to give birth to the child that she has conceived.

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The World Bank today said that the Indian economy is set to grow at 6.9 per cent in 2022-23, raising its forecast of 6.5 per cent growth made in October. It said India has demonstrated resilience despite a challenging external environment. In a statement, the World Bank said, India is expected to register strong GDP growth and remain one of the fastest growing major economies in the world, due to robust domestic demand. It noted that India’s economy is relatively insulated from global spillovers compared to other emerging markets.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has approved Sri Lanka’s request to access concessional financing from the International Development Association. The concessional financing will enable the country to implement its reform program to stabilize the economy.

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Reiterating India's commitment to Sri Lanka, NITI Aayog CEO Parameswaran Iyer said that India will support Sri Lanka with more investments. Speaking at the Sri Lanka economic summit virtually, Mr Iyer recalled that India is one of the largest FDI generators for Sri Lanka. Mr. Iyer expressed confidence that Sri Lanka possesses potential to emerge as a stronger and more resilient economy. He enumerated three major dimensions towards economic recovery of the island nation. 

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India’s total coal production has increased by 11.66 per cent to 75.87 Million Ton (MT) from 67.94 MT during November this year as compared to November last year. Coal Ministry says, 24 mines out of the top 37 mines in coal production have produced more than 100 per cent and production of five mines stood between 80 and 100 percent.

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Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has appealed to students to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sixth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2023 to be more prepared for the examinations. The Minister said that the students will get freedom from stress their fear of examination will also go away. The Prime Minister will also interact with the parents and teachers, to help and enable them to support students in accomplishing their dreams and goals. To particiapte in the 6th edition of PPC, the applicants have to submit their entries at - www.innovateindia.mygov.in by the 30th of this month.

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The Nation is paying homage to architect of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar on his 67th Mahaparinirvan Diwas. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar at Parliament House Lawns in New Delhi this morning. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tributes to Dr Ambedkar at Parliament House.

In his message, Prime Minister Modi said Dr BR Ambedkar's struggles gave hope to millions and his efforts to give India such an extensive Constitution can never be forgotten.

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In FIFA World Cup at Qatar, Morocco will take on Spain while Portugal will lock horns with Switzerland today for the last two spots in the quarterfinals.

The Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain will begin at 8:30 PM Indian time. Our correspondent reports, Spain's journey began on a shaky note with a shocking loss to Japan in their last group-stage game.

The team hasn’t been able to advance to the quarterfinals since FIFA 2010, when they won the competition. Spain would like to take the Group E flag ahead. On the other side, Morocco have performed better than anticipated thus far at the competition and won their group. Only the second time in history, they are appearing in the round of 16. Yesterday, Brazil thrashed South Korea 4-1 and secured their spot in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals. In another match, Croatia entered the quarterfinals after defeating Japan 3-1 on penalties after both sides were levelled 1-1 at the end of scheduled playtime.  Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic was the hero, as he saved three spot-kicks. Croatia will now meet Brazil in the Quarterfinals on Friday. England, France , Argentina and the Netherlands have already sealed their spot in the last eight of the tournament. Arti Rana, AIR News.

The other Round of 16 clash between Portugal and Switzerland will take place at 12:30 am tonight. Brazil, Croatia, England, France, Argentina and the Netherlands have already sealed their spot in the last eight of the tournament.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-

• Government holds all party meeting in New Delhi ahead of Winter Session of Parliament.

• New Delhi hosts first India-Central Asia meeting of National Security Advisers; Asserts connectivity with Central Asian countries remains key priority for India.

• Delhi High Court rules mother's choice is ultimate in termination of pregnancy.

• Nation remembers Dr BR Ambedkar on his 67th Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

• World Bank upgrades India’s GDP growth forecast for 2022-23 to 6.9 percent from 6.5 percent.

• In FIFA World Cup at Qatar, Morocco to take on Spain while Portugal to lock horns with Switzerland for last two spots in quarterfinals.

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