THE HEADLINES:
Both Houses of Parliament face adjournment after protests by Opposition parties over Hindenburg Research's report on Adani Group and other issues.
BJP announces seat-sharing pact with NDPP for Nagaland assembly election; To contest on 20 seats while NDPP to field candidates in 40 constituencies.
BJP also releases list of all 60 candidates for Meghalaya assembly polls.
First Sustainable Finance Working Group Meeting of G20 under India's Presidency begins at Guwahati in Assam.
G20 Employment Working Group meeting to commence at Jodhpur in Rajasthan this afternoon.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says, America is expanding cooperation with India to address global challenges.
And in Women's Cricket, India to lock horns with Hosts South Africa in the final of T20 Tri-Nation Series at Buffalo Park this evening.
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Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till 2 PM today following protests by opposition parties over several issues including Hindenburg Research’s report on Adani Group and its reported impact on the Indian stock market.
When the Lok Sabha met this morning, opposition members including Congress, TMC, DMK and others trooped into the well demanding a probe into the matter. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla repeatedly appealed to the members to go back to their seats and maintain the decorum of the House. But protesting members did not pay heed leading to the adjournment of the House till 2 PM.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha. Several opposition members had given adjournment notices to discuss the issue of investment by LIC, Public Sector Banks and financial institutions in companies losing market value. The adjournment notices were disallowed by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying that these are not in proper order. This prompted Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP, Samajwadi Party, the Left and other opposition party members to create noisy scenes in the House. The Chairman urged the members to maintain order in the House. As the noisy scenes continued, the House was adjourned till 2 PM.
A total of 10 flights of Air India between India and the United State of America were cancelled last month due to the deployment of 5G mobile services in the USA. This was stated by Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. He said, the government is aware of the concerns expressed by airlines and manufacturers of aircraft upon the rollout of 5G mobile services in the USA and its potential interference with the aircraft radio altimeters.
In another written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said, after four rounds of bidding under UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik) scheme, 459 routes have commenced, operationalizing 72 airports including two water aerodromes and nine heliports till the 20th of last month. He said more than 2.16 lakh UDAN flights have been operated and over 1.13 crore passengers have so far availed the benefits of the scheme.
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandviya has lauded the huge increase of 11.5 times in budget allocation for the Pharma industry this year. The Finance Ministry has allocated 12 hundred 50 crore rupees to the Pharmaceutical Industry for the financial year 2023-24 as compared to one hundred crore rupees in 2022-23. The Minister expressed hope that the Amrit Kaal Budget will take the Pharmaceutical Industry of the country to greater heights.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament yesterday.
The BJP has decided to contest the upcoming assembly election in Nagaland in alliance with the National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). The BJP will be contesting on 20 seats while the NDPP will field its candidates in 40 constituencies.
Addressing a press conference at the Party headquarters in New Delhi today, BJP State President Temjen Imna Along said, the decision was taken at the Central Committee meeting held under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The party has also released the list of the candidates for the upcoming polls in Nagaland. Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton will contest from Tyui seat and Temjen Imna Along will contest from Alongtaki constituency.
The NDPP also announced the name of its 40 candidates. Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio will be contesting from Northern Angami-II Assembly Constituency.
The BJP also released the list of the candidates for the assembly polls in Meghalaya. The Party has decided to contest on all 60 seats on its own in the state. State BJP chief Ernest Mawrie will contest from the West Shillong Seat.
Speaking at the press conference, Party Spokesperson Rituraj Sinha said, the decision was taken keeping in view the sentiments of the people.
Voting for Nagaland assembly and Meghalaya Assembly will be held in a single phase on 27th of February. Both assemblies have 60 members each. Results will be declared on 2nd of March.
Filing of Nominations in the two states started on 31st January and the papers can be submitted till 7th of this month.
Our correspondent covering the assembly election in Meghalaya has filed this report:
"TMC, Congress and NPP all have declared list of all 60 candidates while UDP has announced a total number of 45 candidates including 15 from Garo Hills. Meanwhile BJP got a shot in the arm when 5 times MLA and NPP candidate from Ranikor constituency, Martin M Danggo yesterday joined the party. SUSHIL CHANDRA TIWARI, AIR NEWS, SHILONG."
The first G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group meeting under India’s Presidency got underway at Guwahati in Assam today.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day meeting this morning, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged the representatives of the G20 member countries to act collectively to make sustainable lifestyle a mass movement. He said, India has adopted and is promoting the sustainable development for its national development.
Over 100 delegates from the G20 member countries, guest countries and different international organizations are attending the meeting.
Briefing the media, the Minister said, the climate change has created a difficult situation for the human race and during the meeting, deliberations will be held to chalk out a roadmap on how to mobilize sustainable finance for climate action.
The first G20 Employment Working Group meeting is set to commence at Jodhpur in Rajasthan this afternoon amid tight security arrangements. Delegates from 19 countries, European Union and 9 guest countries along with regional and International organisations will be participating in the three-day meeting. The meeting will start with a panel discussion on exploring strategies for global skills and qualifications harmonization and developing a framework. Our correspondent has filed this report:
"Two topics will be discussed in this meeting tomorrow. In the first topic on global skills gap, demand and supply of skills will be discussed. Discussion on the issue of providing social security to gig and platform workers will also be held. On the last day on Saturday, brainstorming on social security and sustainable financing will be held. The delegates will have the glimpse of Rajasthani folk dances in cultural programmes this evening at Umaid Bhawan Palace. In the morning hours, the guests will go to heritage walk and will see the heritage, architecture and culture of the Sun city. Jitendra Dwivedi, AIR News, Jodhpur"
The G20 education working group meeting is underway in Chennai on the second and final day. During the meeting, deliberations were held on building capacities, promoting lifelong learning in the context of the future of work, strengthening research and promoting innovation through richer collaboration. We have a report:
"On the second day today, the delegates engaged in discussions on bilaterals on education. The delegates attending the G 20 education working group had the opportunity to understand the richness of Indian Culture through a dance drama on Velu Nachiyar, the Queen of Sivaganga. The 40-minute presentation which was co-organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Tamilnadu Tourism department enthralled the audience spellbound. Later the delegates were given a sumptuous dinner with Indian menu. On the first day, a classical dance on the five elements of Nature was displayed to the G 20 delegates. The delegates were also taken for an excursion to the UNESCO heritage site at Mamallapuram where the State Tourism department had arranged for a presentation of various folk dances of Tamilnadu. Joy, AIR News, Chennai."
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington yesterday. Both sides exchanged views on a wide range of global and regional issues of mutual interest and discussed the strengthening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
In a tweet after the meeting, Mr Blinken said, the United States is expanding cooperation with India to address global challenges.
US Deputy Secretary of Defense, Dr. Kathleen Hicks also called on Mr Doval. They discussed a range of topics including India-US defence cooperation and regional security issues.
Mr Doval is leading a high-powered delegation to the United States. He co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Today is the World Wetlands Day. The day is celebrated every year on 2nd of February to create awareness about conservation, significance and the role of wetlands in the protection of biodiversity.
The theme of World Wetlands Day 2023 is “It's Time for Wetlands Restoration”.
With 75 Ramsar sites covering over 13 lakh Hectares, India has the largest number of Wetlands in South Asia. In his Mann Ki Baat last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that now the total number of Ramsar sites in the country has increased to 75. Whereas, before 2014, there were only 26.
In her Union Budget presentation in the Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman proposed two schemes to protect Wetlands and Mangroves namely Amrit Dharohar and Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes MISHTI.
News Just In:
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned for the day following protest by opposition parties over Hindenburg Research’s report on Adani Group and its reported impact on the Indian stock market and other issues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Krishnaguru Eknaam Akhanda Kirtan for World Peace at Barpeta in Assam tomorrow through video conferencing. The Prime Minister will also address the devotees of Krishnaguru Sevashram.
Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar established the Krishnaguru Sevashram in 1974, at Nasatra village in Barpeta. He is the ninth descendant of Mahavaishnab Manohardeva, who was the follower of the great Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) sold over eight Lakh Metric Tonnes of wheat under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) on the first day of e-auction across 22 states yesterday. The FCI offered 22 Lakh Metric Tonnes out of 25 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Wheat stock earmarked for e-auction from the Central pool stock.
In Women's Cricket, India will take on Hosts South Africa in the Summit Clash of the T20 Tri-Nation Series at Buffalo Park in East London this evening. The match will start at 6.30 PM Indian time. West Indies is the third team in the tournament.
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
Both Houses of Parliament adjourned for the day after protests by Opposition parties over Hindenburg Research's report on Adani Group and other issues.