FirstUp: What to expect from the final Friday of 2023

Fridays indeed have the most grins of the entire week. However, today is more special since it’s the final Friday of the year. So, to save you some time, here’s a brief overview of what’s going to happen during the day. JD(U)’s national executive meeting in Delhi The Janata Dal (United) will hold its national executive meeting in Delhi today. The meeting has been convened by Party president Lalan Singh amidst speculation that he could step down to make way for Nitish Kumar, the Bihar chief minister, to once again take over the reigns of the party. [caption id=“attachment_13361292” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] File photo of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. PTI.[/caption] Amid these speculations, Kumar has said that the Friday meeting is part of the party’s tradition and it takes place once a year. The possible Centre-ULFA peace deal The Indian government has finalised a peace deal with the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). According to media reports, the pact is likely to be signed today in the National Capital. Notably, this will be a significant step towards lasting peace in the northeast and offer an unprecedented economic boost and strong protection for indigenous communities. Noida schools to stay shut Due to the cold wave and worsening fog conditions in Delhi and Noida, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has ordered the closure of all schools across Noida and Greater Noida today and on Saturday. [caption id=“attachment_13542542” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] (File) Vehicles on the Agra-Delhi National Highway amid low visibility due to fog, in Mathura on 22 December, 2023. PTI[/caption] However, teachers and other staff members would continue to work, as per the order issued by Basic Education Officer Rahul Panwar. Captain Vijayakanth’s funeral in Chennai The DMDK party yesterday announced that Captain Vijayakanth’s funeral will take place today with full state honours at the party headquarters in Chennai’s Koyambedu. The 71-year-old actor-turned-politician passed away on Thursday morning after he was admitted to a private hospital due to pneumonia. INTUC mega rally in Thrissur Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) will organise a mega rally today in Thrissur against the anti-labour policies of the State and Centre. Speaking at a press meet, INTUC state president R Chandrasekharan said that the workers will have to start a massive agitation against the governments and the rally will be attended by nearly one lakh labourers. Dalai Lama’s 3-day teachings in Bodhgaya Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will give three days of teachings, starting today, at the Kalachakra ground in Bihar’s Bodhgaya. On the first two days, he will teach on Nagarjuna’s “In Praise of Dhammadhatu.” Some anniversaries to remember…

• Birth anniversary of actor Rajesh Khanna
• Birth anniversary of actress Twinkle Khanna
• First anniversary of the death of football legend Pele
• The first American YMCA opened in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1851
• Sun Yat-sen became the provisional President of the Republic of China in 1911