 "FirstUp: Ukraine's FM to meet Jaishankar and more... The big news")
As we approach the weekend, it’s time to slow down.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba is on a two-day visit to India to boost bilateral ties and cooperation with India.
BJP and JD(S) leaders have scheduled a joint coordination meeting in Bengaluru.
The Election Commission has sought response to their notices to Supriya Shrinate and Dilip Ghosh over their derogatory comments on women.
Let’s take a look at how the day will unfold.
Ukrainian foreign minister in New Delhi
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba is on a two-day visit to New Delhi to boost bilateral ties and cooperation with India, which considers Russia a time-tested ally from the Cold War-era.
He is expected to meet his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar today, as well as well as the deputy national security advisor, the Foreign Ministry said.
His visit comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladmir Putin, whom India has so far avoided criticising over the war in Ukraine.
BJP, JD(S) leaders’ joint coordination meeting in Bengaluru
A joint coordination meeting of both BJP and JD(S) leaders will take place on Friday in Bengaluru to ensure that there is a proper understanding between leaders and workers of both parties in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections this year.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsFor the uninitiated, JD(S) joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last September and has forged an electoral alliance with the saffron party in Karnataka.
According to the arrangement, JD(S) will be contesting in three seats – Mandya, Hassan, and Kolar.
Supriya Shrinate and Dilip Ghosh asked to respond to EC notices by today
The Election Commission issued a show-cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate and BJP’s Dilip Ghosh for “insulting, offensive and derogatory remarks against the honour and dignity of women,” as per India Today.
The panel has sought their response by 5 pm on Friday.
Shrinate has come under fire over a derogatory post against BJP’s Mandi Lok Sabha candidate Kangana Ranaut. She later clarified that the post was made by someone else, who had access to her social media account.
On the other hand, former West Bengal BJP chief Ghosh, who is contesting from the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, had earlier mocked Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee’s family background.
Kamal Haasan to launch campaigning for DMK-led alliance candidates
Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan will launch his campaign for DMK-led alliance Lok Sabha candidates from Erode today and would canvass votes in Salem on Saturday.
MNM has joined hands with the DMK-led alliance in the state, including DMK, CPM, CPI and VCK, for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls but was not allocated any seats. However, MNM would be allotted a Rajya Sabha seat.
Three-day BMS national executive meeting in Telangana
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) national executive meeting will be held starting today at Rashtriya Vidya Kendra in Ghatkesar’s Annojiguda.
About 150 representatives from 44 organisations working with both organised and unorganised labour are expected to attend the meeting.
Earlier BMS Telangana president K Srinivas said that the organisation has been demanding that the state government provide EPF pension of 5,000 for the workers in the unorganised sector and establish a welfare board for them, as per The Hindu.
BCCI to reintroduce women’s red-ball tournament
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has organised a multi-day women’s competition in Pune starting today.
It is the first time domestic red-ball cricket for women is reintroduced in the calendar since it was last played in the 2017-18 season.
This eagerly anticipated event will feature teams representing six zones - East, West, North, South, Central, and NorthEast - competing in a series of five matches.
A day to remember
Good Friday
World Piano Day
On this day in 1867, with the British North America Act, the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada were united as the Dominion of Canada, and the province of Canada was separated into Quebec and Ontario.
Canadian ice-hockey player Wayne Gretzky, considered to be the greatest player in NHL history, scored the final goal of his career.
Birth anniversary of American entertainer Pearl Bailey
Birth anniversary of American tennis player Jennifer Capriati
Birth anniversary of former UK prime minister John Major
Death anniversary of French filmmaker Agnes Varda
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