News18 Afternoon Digest: Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister unveils budget, Jharkhand bottom test and other headlines

In this afternoon’s digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on Jharkhand Assembly floor test, Uttar Pradesh budget, Election Commission’s new directives to political parties and other headlines.

Uttar Pradesh finance minister proposes budget of Rs 736 crore; Ayodhya Rs 100 crore

Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Monday presented a record Rs 736-crore budget for 2024-25 in the state assembly, focusing on youth development, agriculture and infrastructure development at religious places. read more

Jharkhand News Live: Champai Soren wins field test, gets support from 47 MLAs

The MLAs of Jharkhand’s ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance, led by the ruling Mukti Morcha, were camping in Hyderabad and returned to the state on Sunday to take part in Monday’s crucial confidence vote. After arriving in Ranchi, the MPs expressed confidence in winning the vote of confidence in the Assembly. However, BJP chief whip Biranchi Narain said the alliance will lose the confidence vote on Monday. read more

US professor who threatened to ‘hack’ journalist fired from another job

American professor Shellyne Rodriguez, who was previously caught on camera holding a machete to a journalist’s neck, was fired for “anti-Israel rants”. Rodriguez had earlier been fired from a university in New York and later from Cooper Union University in Manhattan. Rodriguez, 47, was fired from Hunter College last May after she threatened to “hack” a reporter outside her apartment for questioning about a viral video of her attacking an anti-abortion student on campus. . read more

‘Zero tolerance for use of children’: Electoral Commission directive to political parties

India’s Election Commission on Monday expressed “zero tolerance” for political parties using children in any campaign-related work or activities. Governing bodies issue instructions to political parties, candidates and electoral bodies. “Political parties and candidates should avoid the use of children in political campaigns and rallies,” the EC said in a statement. read more

Ravindran says Byju’s pays January wages, ‘We are moving mountains as struggle intensifies’

In his latest communication to employees on February 4, Byju Raveendran, founder and CEO of embattled edtech company Byju’s, announced that the company had successfully distributed all unpaid January salaries to employees in the past two days. “I know you were told you would get your paycheck by Monday. You don’t even have to wait until Monday. I have worked so hard for months to get paid and this time, to make sure you get what you deserve , I faced greater difficulties,” Ravindran said in the new letter. read more