 "FirstUp: Alexei Navalny’s funeral, Iran elections… Today’s big stories")
What can we expect in the news today?
India will witness a big celebration: The pre-wedding festivities for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.
In news from around the world, Iran will hold elections and Russia will see the burial of Opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Let’s take a closer look at how these events are expected to unfold.
The Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant pre-wedding bash
All eyes are on Gujarat’s Jamnagar. This is where the who’s who of the world have gathered for a three-day celebration – the pre-wedding festivities of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s younger son Anant Ambani and his fiancé Radhika Merchant – from 1 March to 3 March.
Each day will have a function with a new theme and guests are expected to follow a dress code, according to the “Event Guide” sent to them.
The theme for today, Day 1, is “An Evening in Everland”, where guests are expected to wear elegant cocktail attire.
The Day 2 celebrations will be held outdoors in Vantara, the Anant Ambani-led animal rescue centre and will include “A Walk on the Wildside”. This will be followed by “Mela Rouge”, a potpourri of desi activities, where revellers will don their favourite South Asian attires.
On the last day, the Ambanis will host two events – “Tusker Trails” and “Hashtakshar”. The first is expected to be an encounter with elephants and an opportunity to enjoy Jamnagar’s natural beauty and the final event all guests are expected to be dressed in Indian attire.
Impact Shorts
View AllIran elections
Iran is all set for its parliamentary and legislative election today. However, the real question is not who will be elected but how many people will turn out to vote.
Many people have been saying they will not cast their ballot. Discontent has gripped the public over the economy and the country has seen widespread protests in the past two years.
Officials have urged people to cast ballots but tellingly, no information has been released this year from the state-owned polling center ISPA.
Over 15,000 candidates are vying for a seat in the 290-member parliament, formally known as the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Terms run for four years and five seats are reserved for Iran’s religious minorities, according to a report with The Associated Press.
Under the law, the parliament has oversight over the executive branch, votes on treaties and handles other issues. In practice, absolute power in Iran rests with its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Alexei Navalny’s funeral
The funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died earlier this month in a remote Arctic penal colony, will take place today in Moscow after several locations declined to host the service, his spokesperson said.
The funeral will be held at a church in Moscow’s southeast Maryino district on Friday afternoon, according to Kira Yarmysh. The burial is to be at a nearby cemetery.
Navalny died in mid-February in one of Russia’s harshest penal facilities. Russian authorities haven’t announced the cause of his death at age 47, but many Western leaders have already blamed it on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Abu Dhabi temple opens to public
Abu Dhabi opens the doors of its first Hindu stone Mandir to devotees today, authorities said. The BAPS Hindu Temple was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 February.
A temple spokesperson said, “The temple will be open to the public from 1 March from 9 am to 8 pm. The temple will remain closed for visitors every Monday.”
There are no entry fees to the temple but devotees have to register official website or through the Festival of Harmony app before their visit.
Built at a cost of approximately Rs 700 crore, the unique temple spreads over a 27-acre plot in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway. It is a testament to religious diversity in the United Arab Emirates.
PM Modi to launch BJP’s poll campaign in Bengal
The Indian leader is turning to Bengal once again as he addresses several public rallies in the next six days beginning today.
This also marks the launch of the saffron party’s offensive ahead of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Today, his first stop will be at the Durgapur helipad, from where he will head to neighbouring Jharkhand’s Sindri.
He will be in Hooghly’s Arambagh to inaugurate a few projects, lay foundation stones and address a rally.
PM Modi will make a stopover at the Raj Bhawan for the night.
Joe Biden to meet Giorgia Meloni
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni will visit the United States on Friday.
US president Joe Biden and Meloni will discuss shared approaches to address global challenges, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
She said, “The leaders will discuss shared approaches to address global challenges, including their commitment to continue supporting Ukraine as it confronts Russia’s aggressions, preventing regional escalation in the Middle East, delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, developments in North Africa, and close transatlantic coordination regarding the People’s Republic of China.”
The two leaders are also expected to discuss Italy’s G7 presidencies and coordinate in advance of the NATO summit.
Russia’s ban on gasoline exports starting today
Russia is banning gasoline exports for six months starting today, according to spokesperson for Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees the country’s energy sector.
The Vladimir Putin-led country earlier imposed a similar ban between September and November last year to tackle high domestic prices and shortages.
Only four former Soviet states – Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan – were exempt.
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