 "FirstUp: Trump-Putin call on Ukraine war, Sunita Williams to return to Earth... The new’s today")
It is set to be a busy Tuesday with several events lined up for the day.
Firstly, US President Donald Trump is set to hold a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Zelenskyy today. Meanwhile, Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will be returning to the Earth after more than nine months in space.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to host French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin today. Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s US visa documents are set to be made public today.
In India, the Raisina Dialogue will enter its second day while Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar will hold a high-level meeting today.
Here is all that is likely to take place today.
Donald Trump to dial Vladimir Putin
US President Donald Trump is set to hold telephonic conversations with Russia’s Vladimir Putin today to discuss the Ukraine War. Confirming the news on Monday, Trump said, “I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend.”
Sources close to the matter suggest that Trump and Putin are likely to touch upon several critical topics , including the state of US-Russia ties, geopolitical issues and ongoing international conflicts specially the Russia-Ukraine War. The call is expected to draw significant attention given the complex dynamics between the two leaders during Trump’s presidency and the current global political climate.
Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore to return to Earth
Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will be returning back to Earth today along with another Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The journey will take place aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday (March 16).
Originally on the ISS to test the Boeing Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed flight, the duo has remained there since June due to propulsion issues that prevented the spacecraft’s return to Earth.
Live coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 return to Earth from the ISS will be provided, beginning with Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 pm EDT Monday, March 17 (around 8:30 am on March 18 in India).
Germany’s Scholz to host Emmanuel Macron
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to host French President Emmanuel Macron on March 18 for high-level bilateral talks in Berlin. The meeting is expected to focus on deepening Franco-German cooperation amid growing challenges in the European Union and global affairs.
Key topics on the agenda include joint defence initiatives, economic strategies, energy security and the European Union’s (EU) approach to current geopolitical tensions. According to sources, the two leaders are also expected to address issues surrounding climate policy, industrial competitiveness and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Day 2 of the Raisina Dialogue to commence
The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue will continue into its second day on March 18 in New Delhi. The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship multilateral foreign policy and geoeconomics conference.
Organised by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, this year’s event has drawn high-profile participation from global leaders, diplomats, scholars and policymakers.
The second day is expected to feature a series of critical sessions addressing pressing global issues such as strategic partnerships, climate change, cyber security, and the evolving world order. Delegates will also discuss multilateral cooperation, economic resilience, and technology’s growing role in international affairs.
High-level CEC meet on linking Aadhaar with voter ID
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has called a high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss the linking of the voter identity card with the Aadhaar card, reported the New Indian Express. The meeting will see Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Legislative Department Secretary Rajiv Mani and UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar in attendance.
The scheduled Tuesday meeting is occurring against a backdrop of serious allegations, brought forward by the Opposition, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress, concerning the duplication of voter ID numbers and the manipulation of electoral roll data.
Prince Harry’s visa records to be made public
Prince Harry's US visa application documents are set to be made public today. The development follows a US judge’s March 15 order for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release redacted copies of the files.
At the heart of the issue is his own admission of past drug use in his memoir Spare, where he openly spoke about experimenting with cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. The records could reveal whether Harry disclosed his drug history when applying for entry into the country.
On this day…
Birth anniversary of actor Shashi Kapoor
Birth anniversary of actor Eknath Solkar
Birth anniversary of actor Navin Nischol
Birth anniversary of swimmer Rebecca Soni
Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov, leaving his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, became the first person to walk in space in 1965
American Express was founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo in 1850
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