FirstUp: NDA likely to announce vice presidential candidate and other news of the day

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

Firstly, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to announce its vice presidential candidate today. Meanwhile, Muhammad Yunus is set to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today as part of a three-day official visit to the nation.

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak today. The 40th anniversary of the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash is today.

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

NDA likely to announce vice president candidate

The ruling NDA is likely to announce its vice presidential candidate today, following final discussions at the Prime Minister's level. The NDA Parliamentary Party held a floor members’ meeting in New Delhi on August 7, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

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Later, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and JP Nadda will make the final decision on the candidate.  The vice president’s election is scheduled for September 9, following the resignation of former VP Jagdeep Dhankar last month, who stepped down citing health concerns.

Yunus to meet Malaysian prime minister

Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, is set to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya. Yunus is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia.

Yunus and Ibrahim are expected to oversee the signing of several MoUs in defence, energy, and education. File image/AP

The meeting is a reciprocal gesture following Anwar Ibrahim's visit to Bangladesh in October 2024. The high-level talks are expected to strengthen diplomatic ties and cooperation across multiple key sectors, with a particular focus on trade, investment, and labour.

Following their bilateral meeting, Yunus and Ibrahim are expected to oversee the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in areas like defence, energy, and education. The meeting marks a crucial step for Yunus's interim government in engaging with international partners and charting a path forward for Bangladesh's foreign policy.

Perseid meteor shower to peak

One of the most anticipated celestial events of the year, the Perseid meteor shower, is likely to take place today. It will be visible to viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, mainly Europe, North America and parts of Asia.

Occurring annually when Earth passes through debris left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle (109P), this meteor shower is known for producing up to 100 meteors per hour at its peak. This will be one of the brightest natural displays visible from Earth.

Even with the challenge of an 80 per cent illuminated waning gibbous Moon, stargazers can still enjoy a breathtaking view, particularly during pre-dawn hours.

JAL Flight 123 crash 40th anniversary

The 40th anniversary of the devastating JAL Flight 123 crash will be observed in Japan, commemorating the deadliest single-aircraft accident in aviation history. The incident took place on August 12, 1985.

As with previous years, memorial services will be held at the crash site on Mount Osutaka and at the foot of the mountain in Ueno, Gunma Prefecture. Family members of the victims, Japan Airlines officials, and local residents are expected to make the solemn pilgrimage up the steep mountain trail to the memorial site to offer prayers and pay their respects.

Japan Airlines Flight 123, a Boeing 747 carrying 524 people, was on a domestic flight from Tokyo to Osaka. Just 12 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic structural failure of its rear pressure bulkhead - the result of a faulty repair years earlier. This failure led to explosive decompression and the complete loss of all hydraulic control systems. The pilots, displaying extraordinary courage, struggled for 32 minutes to control the unmanageable aircraft before it crashed into Mount Osutaka. The accident claimed the lives of 520 people, with only four miraculously surviving.

With inputs from agencies