FirstUp: World Health Assembly in Geneva, UP court hearing in 2018 defamation case against Rahul Gandhi… Headlines today

Today’s significant events range from local political hearings and elections in India to international cultural and technological developments.

But the most important one that has the potential to change how health sectors across the globe operate, especially during a pandemic, is the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

We explore:

World Health Assembly & the pandemic accord

The 77th World Health Assembly will kick off today, bringing together health ministers and officials from around the world to discuss global health policies, strategies, and challenges. Key topics likely include pandemic preparedness, health equity, and the implementation of international health regulations.

Countries are approaching the conclusion of negotiations on
a new international ‘pandemic accord,’
also known as a ‘pandemic agreement’ or ‘pandemic treaty.’ For over two years, representatives from World Health Organisation (WHO) member states have conducted a series of meetings to draft this agreement. A vote on the final text is anticipated at the World Health Assembly (WHA) on 27 May, 2024.

UP court to hear 2018 defamation case against Rahul Gandhi

The Uttar Pradesh court is scheduled to hear a defamation case filed in 2018 against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The case involves allegations of objectionable remarks made by Gandhi targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

This follows the appointment of a new judge to the special court. The defamation suit was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra six years ago. According to the plaintiff’s advocate, Santosh Pandey, the case will be heard today.

This case is one of several legal challenges faced by Gandhi in recent years.

Criminal appeal of Afzal Ansari

The Allahabad High Court had adjourned the hearing of a criminal appeal filed by Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari to 27 May. Ansari is challenging his conviction and four-year sentence in a Gangsters Act case handed down by a trial court.

This case, involving the killing of BJP MLA Krishna Nand Rai in 2005, has significant political implications.

Ansari is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Ghazipur seat as a Samajwadi Party candidate. If the high court upholds the trial court’s verdict, he will be disqualified from participating in the elections, which are scheduled for 1 June.

MSBSHSE Maharashtra Board class 10th result date and time

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has announced the date and time for the release of the Class 10 results. The Maharashtra Class 10 SSC results will be declared today at 11am. Following the announcement in a press conference, the results will be made available on several official websites:

Students can check their scorecards using their roll number and roll code. According to the official announcement, the SSC result link will be active at 1 pm.

By-elections in Telangana

Elections for the Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from the Graduate constituency of Warangal-Nalgonda-Khammam are being held today. These elections are crucial as they can impact local governance and political representation in the Telangana region.

A by-election for a vacant MLC seat in Telangana is also taking place.

In other news, Microsoft faces a deadline to respond to the European Commission’s questions regarding the potential risks associated with its AI functions integrated into Bing. This inquiry is part of the EU’s broader scrutiny of AI technologies and their implications for privacy, security, and ethical standards.

Today in History – 27 May

Significant World Events:

• 1703: St. Petersburg Founded by Peter the Great
  After securing access to the Baltic Sea through victories in the Great Northern War, Czar Peter I founded the city of St. Petersburg on 27 May, 1703, establishing it as the new Russian capital.

• 1851: World’s First Chess Tournament
  The inaugural chess tournament took place in London during the Great Exhibition. Adolf Anderssen, a mathematics teacher from Wrocław, emerged victorious.

• 1935: US Supreme Court Decision on National Industrial Recovery Act
  In the case of Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, the Supreme Court unanimously struck down the National Industrial Recovery Act, a cornerstone of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

• 1936: RMS Queen Mary Maiden Voyage
  The Cunard liner RMS Queen Mary departed England on its maiden voyage to New York.

• 1937: Golden Gate Bridge Opened
  The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, connecting the San Francisco peninsula with Marin County, opened to pedestrian traffic on this day. Vehicle traffic began the following day.

• 1941: Sinking of the Bismarck

  The British Royal Navy sank the German battleship Bismarck off the coast of France, resulting in the loss of about 2,000 lives. This occurred three days after the Bismarck sank HMS Hood, resulting in over 1,400 fatalities.