FirstUp: Biden to host Germany's Scholz, Pakistan poll results... Top news today

Friday is the golden child of the weekdays. With that being said, the news flow today is expected to be sluggish. However, a few things to watch out for today are US President Joe Biden and German chancellor Olaf Scholz’s one-on-one meeting in Washington, Chhattisgarh’s budget presentation and SC hearing in the land-for-job scam case. Unofficial results from the Pakistan election are also expected Here’s a glimpse of what is expected today. President Joe Biden hosts German chancellor Olaf Scholz German chancellor Olaf Scholz will have one-on-one talks with US president Joe Biden to discuss primarily Ukraine, NATO, and the Israel-Hamas war. Scholz’s trip comes amid uncertainty over US support for Ukraine with Congress stalling over Biden’s urgent request in October to approve an additional $61 billion. Republicans lawmakers are insisting that it be tied to an unrelated shift in immigration policy. Unofficial results of Pakistan elections also expected Voting to elect the new government in cash-strapped Pakistan came to an end at 5 pm on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_13704512” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Veiled women cast their vote at a polling station during the country’s parliamentary elections in Hyderabad, Pakistan, 8 February 2024. AP[/caption] According to Geo News, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will begin the counting of votes immediately after polling concludes. The media in Pakistan will start reporting the election results from 6 pm onwards. News channels, portals and other platforms will have to share election results with a disclaimer that these are unofficial and unconfirmed results. The announcement of election results in Pakistan is conducted in a three-step process: provisional results, consolidation of results, and declaration of results. Chhattisgarh budget to be tabled Chhattisgarh finance minister OP Chaudhary will present the budget for FY 2024-25 on Friday, Speaker Raman Singh earlier said. The first budget session of the newly-elected Chhattisgarh legislative assembly began on Monday. SC hearing in land-for-job scam case Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi and her two daughters — Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav – will be appearing in the Supreme Court in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged land-for-jobs scam. Earlier, the apex court had taken the cognizance of prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Amit Katyal, Rabri Devi, Misha Bharti, Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary along with two companies in the land for job scam case. BJP chief Nadda to inaugurate ‘Sushasan Mahotsav’ A two-day ‘Sushasan Mahotsav’ will be inaugurated by BJP national president J P Nadda today. [caption id=“attachment_13506992” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] BJP National President JP Nadda. FILE/PTI[/caption] Chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh will also address the ‘Sushasan Mahotsav’ (good governance festival) hosted by Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, an autonomous charitable trust, at the Amebdkar International Centre on the Janpath Road The two-day festival aims to provide a platform for participants to delve into governance literacy. Union Minister Mansukh Mandavia and Jammu-Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha too will take part in the event Event themed mission LiFE at India Gate A national exhibition and programme of environment-friendly activities on the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) themes is scheduled to be organised on 9 and 10 February at India Gate. Mission LIFE is an India-led global movement to nudge individuals to take simple yet effective, environment-friendly actions in their daily lives. The event will highlight how the youth can inspire behavioural change that leads to individual and collective action towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle. Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival starts today Senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram will discuss his new book during the three-day Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival which will begins on Friday. While Chidambaram, who is also a well-known lawyer, will discuss his new book ‘A Watershed Year’ on Saturday, celebrated writer Upamanyu Chatterjee will talk about his new novel ‘Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life’ on the first day of the literary festival. Anniversaries today

• Birth anniversary of social worker and former Maharashra chief minister AR Antulay
• Birth anniversary of Indian activist Teesta Setalvad
• Birth anniversary of actor Rahul Roy
• Birth anniversary of actor Amrita Singh
• Birth anniversary of English cricket player Jim Laker
• The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing before a “record-busting” audience of 73 million viewers in 1964
• The Davis Cup competition was established in 1900