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11:39 PM

Congress to give 50% reservation to women, youth at all party positions

The Congress carried out 85 amendments in its constitution at its 85th plenary session here on Saturday to provide a 50 per cent reservation to scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), other backward classes (OBCs), women, youth and minorities in its working committee and at all party positions.

According to the amended constitution of the party, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will now include former prime ministers from the party and former AICC chiefs, besides leaders of the Congress in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The party decided to provide 50 per cent reservation to SCs/STs/OBCs/minorities vertically and provide horizontal reservation to youth below 50 years and women in both reserved and unreserved categories.

11:12 PM

India, UK finance ministers agree to make further progress on FTA

India and the UK have agreed to make further progress on the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) and also to swiftly organise the next bilateral Economic and Financial Dialogue soon, the British government said on Saturday.

 

At the conclusion of UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's India visit for the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, held under India's 2023 Presidency, the UK's Treasury department said the finance minister held talks with Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman with a focus on deepening bilateral economic and financial ties.

 

At a meeting with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, both sides agreed to make further progress on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and deepen bilateral economic and financial ties, the Treasury department said in a statement.

10:54 PM

Earthquake in India's Himalayas to be felt in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's capital Colombo and the northern capital of Jaffna are likely to feel the effect of any powerful earthquake happening in the Himalayan range as predicted by Indian geologists, a geologist said here on Saturday. If India experiences a quake of magnitude 8, it would be felt in Colombo and Jaffna, Athula Senaratne, a local university professor, told reporters.

 

Two years ago a quake that happened in the Himalayan range of magnitude 5 was severely felt in Colombo, people even came out of buildings, Senaratne said.

 

He said the area concerned was where the Eurasian and the Indo-Australian plates could come into conflict. Senaratne was referring to a warning issued by the Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Institute of the potential high-magnitude earthquake in India's Uttarakhand region.

10:37 PM

G20 nations agree on the language to deal with debt vulnerabilities

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the G20 nations have agreed on language to deal with the debt vulnerabilities of developing countries.

 

The G20 Chair's Summary and Outcome Document issued after the meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG) meetings said the ministers recognised the urgency to address debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries.

 

"Strengthening multilateral coordination by official bilateral and private creditors is needed to address the deteriorating debt situation and facilitate coordinated debt treatment for debt-distressed countries," the outcome document said.

10:19 PM

G20 recognises risk attached, agrees to discuss IMF-FSB paper on crypto assets in upcoming meetings

Recognizing the risks attached to the private virtual assets, G20 nations moved a step closer to developing a coordinated and comprehensive policy approach to deal with the crypto assets by considering macroeconomic and regulatory perspectives.

According to the chair's summary released at the end of the two-day meeting of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) on Saturday, the grouping will be looking forward to the IMF-FSB Synthesis Paper on crypto assets.

"I am glad to say one thing: there is almost a clear understanding that anything outside the central bank is not a currency. And this is a position that India has been taking for a very long time and we are glad that such a position of India is now getting also acknowledgement from so many different members. People recognise that the technology is very useful for fintech," she said after the conclusion FMCBG.

9:44 PM

Peace not only beneficial for Russia-Ukraine but also for developing nations: Foreign Secretary

Peace not only beneficial for Russia-Ukraine but also for developing nations: Foreign Secretary Kwatra

9:38 PM

'Education, skilling have equal emphasis under new NEP', says PM Modi

The new National Education Policy (NEP) has reoriented and placed emphasis on both education and skilling according to the aptitude and demands of the youngsters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post-budget webinar on Saturday.

 

Addressing the webinar 'Harnessing Youth Power- Skilling and Education', the PM Modi lamented on the lack of flexibility in the education system over the years and said that the sector has been "rigid". READ MORE...

9:29 PM

India, Sri Lanka review defence, security cooperation at annual dialogue

Top defence officials of India and Sri Lanka have held the seventh edition of their annual dialogue during which the two sides reviewed the bilateral defence and security cooperation and identified new avenues for engagement.

The two-day meeting of the 7th edition of the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) between India and Sri Lanka, which began in New Delhi on Thursday was chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Armane and his Sri Lankan counterpart General Kamal Gunaratne.

During the meeting which ended on Saturday, the two sides reviewed the defence and security cooperation, the Indian High Commission said.

9:04 PM

Development of Karnataka top priority of Centre, state govt: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the development of Karnataka has been a top priority of the ruling BJP whereas those running the previous dispensations in the state used to divert its money outside.

 

He also said his government has worked for India's progress by taking along traditions as well as technology.

 

"There was a time when people after forming government in Karnataka would take its money outside. Today, the country's money and resources are honestly directed towards Karnataka's development," he said after inaugurating the "Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava" cultural festival.

8:51 PM

India's presidency (G20) received strong support on all key priorities: FM

8:35 PM

G20 presidency: W20 inception meet to be held in Aurangabad on Feb 27-28

The W20 (Women 20) inception meeting as part of India's presidency of the G20 forum will take place in Aurangabad in Maharashtra on February 27-28, an official said.

The W20 is an official engagement group under G20 and was established during the Turkish presidency in 2015.

Its primary objective is to ensure gender considerations are mainstreamed into discussions of G20 and get translated into the G20 Leaders' Declaration as policies and commitments that foster gender equality and women's economic empowerment, a release said.

W20 India took over the presidency from W20 Indonesia on December 12 2022.

8:22 PM

Ragi is a part of Karnataka's culture and social identity: PM Modi

8:03 PM

G20 members agree to quick response from international institutions for debt stress faced by some nations: FM

G20 members agree to quick response from international institutions for debt stress faced by some countries, says FM Sitharaman

8:03 PM

There is recognition that crypto involves several risks, need to develop international architecture: RBI Guv

There is recognition that crypto involves several risks, need to develop international architecture, says RBI Governor after the G20 meeting.

8:02 PM

Reforming of multilateral banks needed to make them more nimble-footed: FM

Reforming of multilateral banks needed to make them more nimble-footed to meet development needs of developing countries, says FM Sitharaman.