 "FirstUp: Jimmy Carter’s state funeral, UK's Starmer to meet Macron... The news today")
It is set to be a busy Thursday with several events lined up for the day.
Firstly, a state funeral is set to take place for former US President Jimmy Carter today while the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will also be celebrated today.
The Lebanese Parliament is set to hold a session today to elect a new President. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is set to host German far-right leader Alice Weidel for an online chat on X. Isro is set to dock two satellites in orbit today.
Here are some of the important events that will take place throughout the day.
State funeral for former US President Jimmy Carter
A state funeral will be arranged for former President of the United States Jimmy Carter today. He passed away on December 29 at the age of 100.
Carter served as president from 1977 to 1981, elected as an outsider following the Vietnam War and Watergate. His four-year tenure was marked by economic turmoil and international challenges, culminating in his defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan, reported news agency Reuters. However, he lived to witness historians reevaluate his presidency more favourably than voters did in 1980.
Earlier, the 39th president’s remains were kept at the Capitol for the public to pay their respects to as part of the state funeral rites.
Celebrations for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The celebrations of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will take place across the country today. Celebrations have been underway in Odisha since Wednesday (January 8).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event on January 9 and also launch the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designed for the Indian diaspora, reported NDTV. This year’s theme is ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat’.
As a testament to the Overseas Indian community’s vital role in India’s development, the government established Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a flagship event celebrated every January 9 since 2003.
Lebanese Parliament to elect a new President
A session of the Lebanese Parliament will take place today to elect a new president. The session will be held at 11 am local time (2.30 pm IST), reported local media quoting state news agency NNA.
Lebanon has lacked a president since Michel Aoun’s term ended in October 2022. The top contenders are Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, and Marada Movement leader Suleiman Frangieh, a Hezbollah ally.
Elon Musk set to host German far-right leader on X
Elon Musk is likely to host the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel on social media platform X, reported news agency Reuters. This comes ahead of Germany’s February 23 national election.
In December, the Tesla CEO voiced support for the AfD, an anti-immigration and anti-Islamic party classified as right-wing extremist by German security services. This sparked concern in Berlin, where all other parties have rejected collaboration with the AfD , viewing it as dangerous and undemocratic.
Starmer and Macron to meet
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Britain on Thursday, a Downing Street spokesman said.
The meeting comes after the two leaders earlier this week hit out at tech billionaire Elon Musk over his increasingly strident interventions into domestic European politics.
Illegal migration and support for Ukraine are likely to be among the topics up for discussion when they pair meet at Chequers – the UK PM’s country residence.
On this day…
Birth anniversary of Indian-American biochemist and academic, Nobel laureate Har Gobind Khorana
Birth anniversary of author and Padma Bhushan awardee Vrindavan Lal Verma
Birth anniversary of Indian economist Kaushik Basu
Birth anniversary of Sunderlal Bahuguna
Birth anniversary of actor and film director Farhan Akhtar
Birth anniversary of singer Mahendra Kapoor
The Afghans defeated the Marathas in 1760 in the Battle of Barari Ghat
Mahatma Gandhi reached Mumbai after returning from South Africa in 1915
The first Indian expedition to Antarctica – the Indian Antarctic Programme – landed on the ice continent in 1982
Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007
With inputs from agencies
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