 "View of the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, December 16, 2024. PTI")
Several important events are lined up for today, December 17.
The government is expected to table the ‘One Nation One Election’ Bill, aiming to simultaneously conduct the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
In the Rajya Sabha, discussions on the Constitution of India will continue after the Lok Sabha debated it earlier this month.
In the UK, sentencing is set for Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool, and Faisal Malik, over a year after the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif.
France will send a delegation to Syria to assess the nation’s political and security conditions.
The Academy Awards shortlist for 2025 will be revealed, with nominations scheduled for January 17, 2025.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will meet to discuss the situation in Syria following President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.
Let’s take a look at the events:
‘One Nation One Election’ bill to be introduced today?
The government is likely to introduce the ‘One Nation One Election’ Bill , a constitutional amendment aimed at conducting the Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously.
The bill, likely to be tabled today, proposes an “appointed date” for aligning the terms of all Legislative Assemblies with the Lok Sabha’s tenure. If introduced, it could be referred to a joint committee of Parliament for further discussion.
Debate on Constitution in Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha is set to continue its debate on the Constitution of India today, following a no-confidence motion by opposition parties against Vice President and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman initiated the debate on Monday. The Lok Sabha previously debated the Constitution on December 13 and 14.
Sentencing in Sara Sharif murder case
Over a year after the death of 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif, her father, Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, were convicted of murder. Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing a child’s death. The three convicts will be sentenced today for their crimes.
Sara was found dead at her Woking home in August 2023. Prosecutors described the case as a “campaign of serious and repeated violence.”
France to send delegation to Syria
France will send a delegation to Syria today to evaluate the political and security situation. While most EU governments initially supported the fall of Bashar al-Assad , some are now weighing relations with groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the EU.
France, which severed ties with Assad’s regime in 2012, has since supported the secular exiled opposition and Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, refraining from normalising relations with the Syrian government.
Oscar shortlists to be revealed
The 97th Academy Awards shortlist will be announced today, with full nominations set for January 17, 2025.
The Oscars ceremony is scheduled for March 2, 2025, at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, marking its 24th consecutive year at the iconic venue. Red carpet coverage begins at 6:30 PM ET, leading into the main event at 7:00 PM ET (5:00 AM IST).
UNSC meeting on crisis in Syria
The UN Security Council will meet today to discuss the situation in Syria following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
ALSO READ | Explained: What led to Bashar al-Assad’s downfall in Syria?
Opposition forces seized Damascus, ending Assad’s nearly 14-year rule during a conflict that became a regional and global proxy war. This marked the first entry of opposition forces into Damascus since 2018 when Assad’s forces reclaimed the city’s outskirts after prolonged fighting.
With inputs from agencies