FirstUp: President Murmu’s 3-nation visit begins, protests in Pakistan… The news today

It’s the first day of the work-week and a lot is expected.

President Droupadi Murmu is all set to embark on a six-day visit to Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste today.

The Trinamool Congress will on Monday bring a resolution and table a motion on ‘conspiracy to divide Bengal’ in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will carry out nationwide protests on August 5, as the party founder and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, will complete one year in jail.

Here’s how the day will unfold.

President Murmu to undertake a six-day visit to Fiji, New Zealand and Timor-Leste

President Droupadi Murmu, under the Act East Policy, is all set to embark on a six-day visit to Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste today. This will be the first-ever Head of State visit from India to Timor-Leste.

She will visit the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on August 10 at the invitation of President Jose Ramos-Horta.

During the visit, she will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Horta.

Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala “Xanana” Gusmao, will call on President Murmu.

She will also interact with members of the Indian community.

TMC to move a motion on ‘conspiracy to divide Bengal’ in Assembly

Amid the political row over the proposal to divide Bengal, the Trinamool Congress will on Monday bring a resolution and table a motion under Rule 185 of the Procedures and Conduct of Business of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly to discuss the issue and oppose any such move.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the business advisory committee in the assembly.

CM Mamata Banerjee earlier said that her party would resist all attempts to divide the state.

Crucial court hearings

• The Supreme Court to hear on petitions filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia for bail in the excise policy case today.

• The Supreme Court to hear a plea against Uttar Pradesh government’s order that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners.

• Gujarat HC to hear plea over traffic congestion, falling green cover in Ahmedabad

• Bombay HC to hear petitions on Maratha reservations

• Bombay HC order to hear pleas against tender conditions in food kits scheme

Rashtrapati Bhavan to auction selected gift items presented to President, ex-presidents

The Rashtrapati Bhavan through a web portal will auction selected gifts presented to the President and former presidents on different occasions today.

In its first phase, 250 exquisite gifts will be auctioned.

The bidding will be open from August 5 to August 26. After the conclusion of the bidding period, the items will be delivered to the highest bidders.

Imran Khan’s PTI party protest

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced that it will carry out nationwide protests on August 5, as the party founder and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, will complete one year in jail.

PTI has said it will take to the streets to demand Khan’s release and a relief for inflation-broken masses, Geo News reported.

The deposed prime minister was arrested from Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts.

The protest call was made by PTI stalwart Asad Qaiser during a press conference on Sunday, jointly addressed by the party’s Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan and others in Islamabad.

A day to remember

• Article 370 revoked from the Indian Constitution

• PM Modi uses silver brick to lay the foundation stone of Ram Mandir in 2020

• Birth anniversary of astronaut Neil Armstrong

• Birth anniversary of banker Raja MA Muthiah Chettiar

• Birth anniversary of actor Kajol

• Birth anniversary of film financier Bharath Shah

• Justice Leila Seth became the first Indian woman to become the Chief Justice of the High Court in 1991

• Start of second war with Pakistan in 1965

• Henry I was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey in 1100

• A car bomb exploded in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta outside the Marriott Hotel killing 12 and injuring 150 in 2003

• In 1861, Lincoln imposed the first federal income tax

• Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962

• Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: On August 5, 1963, after more than eight years of difficult negotiations, the United States, the Kingdom, and the Soviet Union signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty