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Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the celebrations for India's 75 years of independence should reflect the spirit of the country's freedom movement
 "Narendra Modi")
PM Narendra Modi
Rahul Gandhi to address Indian Youth Congress' national executive meeting today
Ahead of upcoming Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address the national executive meeting of Indian Youth Congress office-bearers in the national capital on Monday. Taking to Twitter, Youth Congress National President Srinivas B V said: "Indian Youth Congress is all set to organize National Executive meeting 2020-21 at IYC HQ." The Election Commission of India on February 26 announced the schedule for upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Polling will be held between March 27-April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
SAD holds protest march to Vidhan Sabha against Punjab govt
Uzbek Army troops in New Delhi for Dustlik II joint Army exercise.
Women from Punjab reach Tikri on Delhi-Haryana border to join the ongoing farmers' protest
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am as Congress MPs raise slogans
International Women's Day: Punjab govt to start 8 new schemes aimed at empowering, protecting women
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said that his government will start eight new schemes aimed at empowering and protecting women on the occasion of International Women's Day.
The Chief Minister also said that the government will issue appointment letters to 2,047 women teachers and launch 181 Saanjh Shakti Helpline and Police Helpdesks.
"This #InternationalWomensDay we will kickstart 8 new schemes aimed at empowering and protecting women, including issuing appointment letters for 2047 Lady Teachers, 181 Saanjh Shakti Helpline and Police Helpdesks. More power to our women!" he tweeted.
TMC seeks adjournment of Parliament session, cities elections in five states
The Trinamool Congress on Monday sought an adjournment of the Parliament session citing assembly elections in five states of the country.
In a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, TMC national spokesperson and RS member Derek O'Brien said due to the polls, MPs of his party would not be able to attend the Parliament session.
"I am writing to you as the Parliamentary Party leader (Rajya Sabha) for the All India Trinamool Congress. Sir, we urge you to consider the adjournment of the ensuing Parliament session, because of the declaration of elections in five states," he said.
International Women's Day: SCG to have first statue of female cricketer
Cricket Australia on Monday announced its commitment to continue addressing gender imbalance on this International Women's Day, with the formation of a "Recognition of Women in Cricket Working Group". As a major first step, the NSW Government's stadiums authority Venues NSW has committed to housing the first sculpture of a women's cricketer at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The sculpture will be the first of its type for a female cricketer, compared to the 73 known statues or sculptures of male cricketers across Australia. "Just as this year's International Women's Day theme promotes 'choose to challenge', we are committed to challenging ourselves to continue to address gender inequality across our game. Precisely one year ago to the day, we were celebrating a ground-breaking moment when 86,174 fans packed out the MCG for the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup," Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia's Interim CEO said in an official statement.
Punjab FM to present Budget in Assembly today
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal is scheduled to present the Budget 2021 in the Legislative Assembly today at 11
The Budget Session of the state Assembly commenced on March 1 with an address by Governor V P Singh Badnore. The session is scheduled to continue till March 10.
On Friday, all Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLAs were suspended for the rest of the session due to uproar during the Chief Minister's vote of thanks.
Meghan tears into royal family in Oprah interview
Meghan Markle told Oprah Winfrey that she was utterly unprepared for the "monster machine" of the British royalty when she married Prince Harry. Markle said she didn't "fully understand what the job was" when she, as an "American", waded into "the firm" - her description for the British royal family. Within the first 15 minutes of the hotly anticipated interview, Meghan revealed to Oprah that all she wants is to "go back to the basics" and that the reality of royalty wasn't something she was ever ready for. Around the 40th minute, Markle told Oprah that the royal family was "concerned" that her child would have "dark skin". Markle stopped short of saying who within Buckingham Palace was having these conversations with her or Harry. Disclosing that "would be very damaging to them", she told Oprah. "That's what was really tricky over those past few years, is when the perception and the reality are two very different things," Meghan said. "And you're being judged on the perception, but you're living the reality of it."
PM Modi extends greetings & salutes women power on International Womens Day
Blinken writes to Ghani for UN-led meeting of India, 5 other countries on Afghan peace process
US State Secretary Antony Blinken has written to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani proposing a United Nations-facilitated peace conference with representatives of six countries including India to discuss a "unified approach to supporting peace in Afghanistan". In the letter sent to Ghani on Sunday, Blinken said that Turkey will be approached to host a senior-level meeting of both sides in the coming weeks to finalise a peace agreement. According to the letter published by TOLO News, the UN should convene a meeting of foreign ministers and envoys from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India and the US to discuss a unified approach to supporting peace in Afghanistan. It further said that US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad should share with President Ghani and the Taliban leaders written proposals "aimed at accelerating discussions on a negotiated settlement and ceasefire. These proposals reflect some of the ideas included in the roadmap for the peace process".
Second part of Parliament's Budget session starts today
The second part of the Budget session of Parliament will commence from Monday with all COVID-19 precautionary measures in place. The Rajya Sabha will function from 9 am to 2 pm while Lok Sabha will function between 4 pm to 10 pm. The second part of the session will conclude April 8, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had informed. The Budget Session of Parliament, which commenced with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind on January 29, concluded on February 29. The Union budget was tabled in the Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1. The Lok Sabha clocked 99.5 per cent productivity during the first phase of the two-part Budget session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Secretariat said. Birla informed that during the first part of the Budget Session 2021, Lok Sabha sat for 49 hours and 17 minutes against the stipulated time of 50 hours.
Australia ends defence cooperation with Myanmar over coup
Congress releases names of 3 more candidates for first phase of Assam Assembly elections
Congress on Sunday released a list of three more candidates for the first phase of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. Congress leader Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah will contest from Titabar, Bharat Ch Narah from Naoboicha and Padma Lochan Doley from Dhakuakhana. The main opposition party had on Saturday released the first list of 40 candidates for the upcoming three-phase election for the 126-member Assam Assembly. Polls to the 15th Legislative Assembly polls in the state will begin on March 27 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India with counting slated to be held on May 2. Leader of Opposition Debabtata Saikia will contest from Nazira, his traditional bastion and former minister Rakibul Hussain will contest from Samuguri.
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First Published: Mar 08 2021 | 7:16 AM IST
