FirstUp: Vikram Misri to brief parliamentary panel, Starmer to host a summit of EU leaders... Headlines of the day

It is set to be a busy Monday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will brief Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs on the current situation with Pakistan today. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will welcome European Union chiefs to Britain for the first regular summits designed to reset Britain’s relationship with the bloc.

Authorities ordered the reopening of all schools in the Jammu division from today. Meanwhile, the 78th session of the World Health Assembly will convene from today in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day.

Misri to brief Parliamentary panel

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will brief Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs on the current situation with Pakistan. The committee’s chairman and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that Misri will brief the panel on Monday on the developments, which were marked by India striking terror sites in Pakistan, followed by days of intense conflict between the two countries before they agreed to stop military actions. Misri has regularly briefed the committee on a host of foreign affairs issues, including developments in India’s neighbourhoods like Bangladesh and in its ties with Canada.

Starmer hosts summit of EU leaders to discuss plans to reset ties

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to welcome European Union chiefs to Britain for the first of regular summits designed to reset Britain’s relationship with the bloc. Starmer will host European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, reported news agency AFP.

He added it would be the first of “annual summits” as the Labour leader seeks closer relations with European neighbours following the rancour of Britain’s 2020 departure from the bloc under the previous conservative government.

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Schools to reopen in Jammu

All schools in Jammu are set to reopen today, post rising tensions with Pakistan. The direction came from the Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ). Under this all schools, both government and private schools in Jammu division, which were yet to reopen post ceasefire, shall resume functioning from May 19.

According to the news agency Kashmir News Observer, Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) have been instructed to ensure that all schools under their jurisdiction strictly follow the safety guidelines issued by the School Education Department and other relevant authorities.

Heads of institutions have also been asked to ensure a smooth resumption of academic activities and maintain close coordination with local administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure the well-being of students and staff.

World Health Assembly to convene

The 78th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA78) is scheduled to convene from May 19 to May 27 in Geneva, Switzerland. This year’s theme is “One World for Health,” emphasising global solidarity and equity in health.

A significant agenda item is the consideration of the Pandemic Agreement, a landmark proposal developed over three years by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, comprising all Who Member States. The adoption of this agreement aims to enhance global collaboration in pandemic preparedness and response, aiming to prevent a repeat of the suffering caused by the Covid pandemic .

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With inputs from agencies