FirstUp: PM Modi at Red Fort, Rahul goes abroad, RBI meet… today’s big events

It’s Friday again and weekend mode is nigh for many. But before that, Friday is set to be one to watch for news junkies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the first Indian Art, Architecture and Design Biennale at Red Fort. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will leave for a week-long overseas trip. The RBI’s high-powered panel is set to announce its decision on interest rates today. Meanwhile, Egyptians are slated to go to the polls to pick a new president. Let’s take a closer look at today’s big-ticket items: PM Modi at Red Fort Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Indian Art, Architecture and Design Biennale at Red Fort. The Biennale has been designed to initiate a holistic conversation between artists, architects, designers, photographers, collectors, art professionals and the public to strengthen the cultural dialogue. It will also provide avenues and opportunities to expand and collaborate with the creators of art, architecture and design as part of the evolving economy. Each day of the week, IAADB will hold different theme-based exhibitions such as ‘Rite of Passage: Doors of India’, ‘Bagh e bahar: Gardens as Universe: Gardens of India’, ‘Sampravah: Confluence of Communities: Baolis of India’, ‘Sthapatya: Anti-fragile algorithm: Temples of India’, ‘Vismaya: Creative Crossover: Architectural Wonders of Independent India’ and ‘Deshaj Bharat Design: Indigenous Designs’, among others. The student biennale at Lalit Kala Akademi will provide an opportunity for students to showcase their work, interact with peers and professionals, and gain valuable exposure within the architecture community through design competitions, display of heritage, installation designs and workshops, RBI Monetary Policy announcement All eyes are on the RBI Monetary Policy Committee’s three-day meet which will end today.

Will the Central bank cut interest rates or leave them unchanged?

The RBI’s high-powered rate-setting panel on Wednesday began its three-day brainstorming session on the next set of bi-monthly monetary policy. This, amid expectations of continued pause on the short-term key lending rate as GDP growth is gaining momentum, and inflation remains manageable. [caption id=“attachment_13210192” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] All eyes are on the RBI Monetary Policy Committee’s three-day meet which will end today. PTI[/caption] The RBI left the benchmark policy rate (repo) unchanged in its past four bi-monthly monetary policies. It had last increased the repo rate in February to 6.5 per cent, thus ending the interest rate hike cycle which began in May 2022 in the aftermath of Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent disruptions in the global supply chain resulting in high inflation in the country. Rahul Gandhi’s overseas trip Rahul Gandhi is likely to leave for his overseas trip today. The Congress MP from Wayanad’s visit comes in the aftermath of the grand old party’s disappointing showing in the recently held Assembly polls. Rahul is slated to visit Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Rahul will meet diplomats in Indonesia, while in Singapore and Malaysia he will interact with Indian diaspora. “The Congress leader is likely to meet the Vietnam Communist Party leaders,” the sources added. Egyptian presidential polls Egypt is also set to go to the polls. Will President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi get a third term? Experts say that is extremely likely. The elections come in the backdrop of the war between Israel and Hamas. Ahmed el-Tantawy, a leftist former member of parliament and the most prominent potential Opposition candidate, had pulled out in October. He alleged that dozens of his supporters had been arrested and accused officials and pro-government thugs of hampering his campaign. Egypt’s National Election Authority has dismissed such allegations were baseless. Happy B’day Dharmendra! It’s the birthday of Bollywood icon Dharmendra. [caption id=“attachment_13478942” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Dharmendra’s look from Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.[/caption] The star of many a legendary movie of yesteryear – including perhaps the greatest Bollywood movie ever made Sholay – turns 88 today.

Dharmendra’s last birthday saw pictures of him and wife Hema Malini celebrating going viral.

Much of Bollywood also took to social media to wish the icon. Here’s hoping he has a similarly wonderful day this year. SAARC Day Every year 8 December is celebrated as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Day to commemorate its signing in Dhaka in 1985. This year will be the 39th anniversary of the block which comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Its Secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The group in its charter says its goal is to “work collectively to promote the welfare of people in the region and to improve their standard of living through social progress and economic development.” With inputs from agencies