 "US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to hold talks with Russian officials aimed at ending Moscow's nearly three-year war in Ukraine. Reuters")
It’s going to be a crucial Tuesday, as key events are lined up for today.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other Russian officials in a bid to end Moscow’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine.
In India, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who is in India for a two-day official visit, will meet PM Narendra Modi. The Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand legislative Assembly’s budget sessions will commence today.
Here’s how the day will unfold.
US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to President Vladimir Putin, aiming at ending Moscow’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine.
Rubio will meet Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, alongside US President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The talks come after Trump last week spoke to Putin by phone and ordered top officials to begin negotiations on the war, which he repeatedly vowed to end during his presidential campaign.
Qatar’s Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani in India
The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on February 18.
He will also hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu, who will also host a banquet in his honour, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Emir is on a two-day state visit to India and is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers, senior officials and a business delegation.
Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand legislative budget session
The Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly’s budget session will commence today. It is likely to have 11 sittings and continue till March 5, as per the tentative agenda of the house.
The budget session of the Uttarakhand assembly is also set to begin on Tuesday, and the session’s duration will depend on the legislative workload, as determined by the government.
Crucial court hearings
Supreme Court’s bail hearing of British national Christian Michel in AgustaWestland case
The top court will hear the plea filed by BRS party officials urging the Telangana Assembly to swiftly decide on their petition against seven BRS MLAs who defected to Congress, the ruling party in Telangana
Delhi Court to hear arguments on the quantum of punishment against ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, facing 2 more cases
Delhi Court to pronounce order on Sanjay Singh’s plea seeking modification in bail condition in Excise policy case
Calcutta HC hearing over scam in RG Kar financial irregularities case
Kerala HC to hear plea of transgender man to preserve his eggs
Madhya Pradesh HC hearing over Union Carbide waste containers
End of ceasefire deal in war between Hezbollah and Israel
The fragile ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, which has been in effect since November 27, 2024, ends today.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has issued an ultimatum for Israel to fully withdraw from Lebanon by Tuesday.
The demand followed Israel’s previous delay in its planned withdrawal, initially scheduled for earlier in the year.
CEC Rajiv Kumar set to retire
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will demit office on Tuesday after having successfully conducted 31 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Following his departure, Gyanesh Kumar will become the senior-most Election commission, with his tenure extending until January 26, 2029.
Chinese FM to chair UNSC event
As the rotating President of the UN Security Council for February, China will hold a Security Council high-level event on Tuesday.
The neighbouring country’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the event in New York under the theme of “Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance.”
Results of the first phase of Chhattisgarh’s panchayat election
Results for the first phase of the panchayat elections in Chhattisgarh will be announced today.
Voting was held in 53 blocks on Monday.
The panchayat elections are being held in three phases and the voting of the other two phases will be held on February 17, 20, 23, with results being announced on February 21 and 24.
Results of local body elections in Gujarat
Voting for elections in Gujarat’s Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 66 other municipalities and three taluka panchayats, including Gandhinagar, was conducted on Sunday.
Now the counting of votes will be held today.