3 Things

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 13th of September and here are the headlines.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her willingness to resign for the sake of the people, saying she too wanted justice for the young doctor raped and murdered at RG Kar hospital. During a press briefing, she apologised to the people of West Bengal for the ongoing impasse with junior doctors, and said that 27 lives had been lost and seven lakh patients were suffering due to their strike. Banerjee reiterated her commitment to dialogue, asserting that while she desires justice, she will not take punitive action against the agitating doctors.  Mamata further appealed to the doctors to return to work and said, quote, “I will not take action against them…they are young and we will pardon them…I wanted a meeting with an open mind.”.

Sitaram Yechury, the affable, soft-spoken and popular Communist leader passed away on Thursday after brief hospitalisation.The CPIM general secretary emerged as a bright young spark in the party’s firmament in the 1970s, to the last nearly a decade that he headed the frontline Left party. A firebrand student leader who fought against the Emergency in the 1970s, he joined the CPIM when he was a university student, and was just 32 when he was made a Central Committee member – one of the youngest to be accepted at the CPIM high table.

A showpiece bilateral jobs scheme, under which Indians would be taken to Israel to work in the construction sector, after over 1 lakh Palestinian workers were banned in the wake of the Hamas attack of 7th of October last year, is threatening to unravel. An Indian Express investigation has revealed that the key reason is a glaring skill mismatch after an assessment process that over-promised and under-delivered when it came to workers’ abilities. Israel has since taken the unprecedented step of allowing these workers to be re-deployed in unskilled or industrial jobs in non-construction sectors to avoid “damage” to “important relations” between both countries.

Meanwhile, in his first visit abroad as the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi attacked the Narendra Modi led government, accusing it of trying to undermine the Constitution and standing in the way of holding a nationwide caste census, themes that defined the Opposition’s campaign in the parliamentary elections. On the three-day visit to the US, Gandhi, accused the BJP government of stifling free speech; indulging in crony capitalism; attacking federalism; capturing Indian institutions, including the media; depriving the Opposition of a level playing field; and spreading communalism in an attempt to destroy India’s pluralism.

On the global front, what started off with a handshake turned into a fierce battle as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other on Tuesday night during the Presidential debate for the first, and possibly, the last time ahead of the November polls. Inflation, abortion, immigration and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were some of the issues that took centrestage in the debate moderated by ABC News anchors David Me-oh and Linsey Davis.The early pleasantries set the tone for the 90-minute exchange, with Harris baiting Trump with jabs over the economy during his presidency, while the latter retorted with jibes similar to his debate with Joe Biden.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express

First, Executive Editor (News and Investigations) at The Indian Express Ritu Sarin talks about her latest investigation that looks into how the showpiece bilateral jobs scheme, under which Indians would be taken to Israel to work in the construction sector, is threatening to unravel.

Next, Indian Express' Sadaf Modak tells us how a goat tied outside a mutton shop sparked a legal dispute over alleged religious offense and animal cruelty, and how a man's statement has now given this case a strange twist (10:58).

And in the end, Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha tells us about the first ‘legally binding’ international treaty on artificial intelligence (15:14).

Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 12th of September and here are the headlines.

The Union Cabinet is expanding the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to provide health coverage to people aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income level. Currently, the scheme is income-based and provides 5 lakh rupees shared annual coverage to all members of eligible families irrespective of their age. According to a government statement, an additional 6 crore people in this age group, from 4.5 crore families, are expected to benefit. The eligible beneficiaries will be issued a new card under PM-Jan Arogya Yojana.

Two young Army officers were assaulted and one of their two women friends was allegedly gangraped by a group of six men who attacked them in the early hours of Wednesday near Jam Gate along the Mahow-Mand lesh war Road in Madhya Pradesh. Police said two of the six assailants had been arrested and a search is underway for the others. DIG Nimish Agrawal said the two officers from the Mhow cantonment town had gone out on a night trip and were sitting in a car with their friends when six men showed up, surrounded and assaulted them.

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on pleas filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking bail on Friday. The plea also challenges the Delhi High Court order upholding Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI in a corruption case in relation to the alleged excise policy scam. Opposing the plea, the CBI had told the Supreme Court that witnesses from Goa, including those who contested the Assembly elections on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket, would turn hostile if Kejriwal walked out of jail. Kejriwal has filed two separate petitions challenging the denial of bail and against his arrest by the CBI in the case. 

A year after multiple IPS officers were sent to Manipur by different states/Union Territories to head their Special Investigation Teams to investigate the violence cases, three states, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh have called back their officers and sent their replacements. The Indian Express has learnt that a discussion to send them back to their kaa druh started when some of the IPS officers who came on Supreintendent of Police rank got promoted to deputy inspector general (DIG) in January and requested their police chiefs to call them back.

Amid stalemate between West Bengal government and protesting doctors, state chief secretary sent a fresh letter to the agitators calling for a meeting at 5 pm today. On Wednesday, the government rejected the agitators’ demand to live broadcast talks intended to resolve the month-long “ceasework”. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s direction to doctors to resume work remains in place. In addition, sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate today started search operations at the residences and offices of persons “close” to arrested former principal of RG Kar hospital, Sandip Ghosh, in connection with alleged financial irregularities at the medical establishment.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express

First, Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy talks to us about the India GCC Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. He shares what India had to say regarding the Israel and Hamas war and what the Joint Action Plan 2024-2028 is about.

Next, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt informs us about the current Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) outbreak and the extent to which India should be concerned.(8:30)

And in the end, we talk about Pakistan violating the ceasefire agreement on the Line of control and causing a BSF personnel to get injured. (13:09)

Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 11th of September and here are the headlines.


A 30-member delegation in West Bengal has reached out to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding a meeting to discuss junior doctors’ proposals. In their email, they asserted the need for a larger representation, saying, “We would like to appeal that the delegation team should consist of 30 representatives as there are many stakeholder medical institutions involved.” Previously, the junior doctors rejected the government’s offer for a 10-member delegation, insisting on a group of 25-35. Now, the chief secretary has written to the junior doctors inviting them for a meeting – for the second time since yesterday – at Nabanna, but with a rider: only 12 -15 representatives will be allowed.

Rahul Gandhi’s statements during his visit to the United States has once again stirred trouble back home. Hitting out at the Congress MP over his comments on reservations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that “no one can mess with nation’s security”. Shah said, “I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that as long as BJP is there, neither can anyone abolish quota nor can anyone mess with nation’s security. By speaking about abolishing quota, Rahul Gandhi once again brought Congress’ anti-reservation face to the forefront."

Despite the imposition of prohibitory orders barring the gathering of more than five people at Sanjauli in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district, thousands thronged the sub-town today demanding the demolition of a mosque.At least two people were injured when police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters. They also used water cannons to prevent the protesters from reaching near the mosque, which was cordoned off. Sources in the district police intelligence wing said that people from other districts of the state had reached Sanjauli to join the protest against the mosque.

What started off with a handshake turned into a fierce battle as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other Tuesday night during the Presidential debate for the first, and possibly, the last time ahead of the November polls. Inflation, abortion, immigration and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were some of the issues that took centrestage in the debate moderated by ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.The early pleasantries set the tone for the 90-minute exchange, with Harris baiting Trump with jabs over the economy during his presidency, while the latter retorted with jibes similar to his debate with Joe Biden.

Just a few days ahead of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s bilateral visit to India, two Maldivian ministers resigned following their suspension in January after they insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dawn reported. A government official told AFP News that both had resigned citing “personal reasons”. President Muizzu had suspended three ministers for criticizing PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep to promote local tourism, including calling him a “clown,” “terrorist,” and “puppet of Israel.”

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah discusses the alarm raised by the use of drones to drop crude bombs and improvised rockets in the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.

Next, Indian Express' Pavneet Singh Chadha shares details of his investigation, which reveals how at least two state ministers, several politicians across party lines, and multiple real estate companies in Goa are alleged beneficiaries of a controversial change in the state’s land use law (09:25).

And finally, we examine Rahul Gandhi's recent statement during his current trip to the US, which marks his first visit abroad as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (21:20).

Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 10th of September and here are the headlines.

A showpiece bilateral jobs scheme, under which Indians would be taken to Israel to work in the construction sector, after over 100,000 Palestinian workers were banned in the wake of the Hamas attack of October 7 last year, is threatening to unravel. An Indian Express investigation has revealed that the key reason is a glaring skill mismatch after an assessment process that over-promised and under-delivered when it came to workers’ abilities. Israel has since taken the unprecedented step of allowing these workers to be re-deployed in unskilled or industrial jobs in non-construction sectors to avoid “damage” to “important relations” between both countries.

Hundres of junior doctors today marched towards Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state health department, which is located in Salt Lake. After the Supreme Court’s direction to the agitating doctors to resume their work by 5 pm today, the medics set the same time as the deadline for the West Bengal government to accept their charter of demands. The doctors’ demands include the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner, state Health Secretary, Director of Health Education (DHE), and Director of Health Services (DHS).

During his ongoing visit to the US, Rahul Gandhi has kept up his attacks on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of trying to undermine the Constitution and standing in the way of holding a nationwide caste census, themes that defined the Opposition’s campaign in the parliamentary elections. In his talks at universities abroad in the past few years, Gandhi, has accused the BJP government of stifling free speech; indulging in crony capitalism; attacking federalism; capturing Indian institutions, including the media; depriving the Opposition of a level playing field; and spreading communalism in an attempt to destroy India’s pluralism.

The Supreme Court today stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation case filed by a BJP leader against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor over certain remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tharoor had approached the top court challenging the August 29 Delhi High Court order dismissing his plea to quash the proceedings. Appearing for the senior Congress leader, Advocate Mohammed Ali Khan informed the court that he had only quoted from an article published by the Caravan Magazine in 2012 that contained an alleged remark by an unnamed RSS leader comparing Narendra Modi to “a scorpion sitting on a Shivling”. The counsel wondered how the remark became defamatory in 2018 when it was not so in 2012.

Israeli strikes in a supposedly safe zone of southern Gaza before dawn today, killed scores of people, according to Palestinian officials. Israel said it had struck a command centre for Hamas fighters whom it said had infiltrated the designated "humanitarian" area in al-Mawasi, a vast camp on sandy soil where the military has told hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to shelter since ordering them out of their homes. Hamas denied any fighters were present. The Gaza civil emergency service said it believed at least 65 people had been killed or wounded, but could not provide a breakdown of casualties.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, Indian Express' Abhishek Angad talks to us about the Jharkhand excise constable recruitment physical examination during which 12 people died. Of the 12 aspirants who died, some fainted during the 10km run that was a part of the examination and some lost consciousness post the run. He shares the reason behind the death, the process of the recruitment and how the Jharkhand government has responded to the incident.

Next, Indian Express’ Avaneesh Mishra speaks to us about the signboards that came up in Rudraprayag as a 'warning' to 'non-Hindus' to not enter and work in the villages of the city. He talks about the reasons behind the coming up of such signboards, the police's reaction to them upon identification of the issue and how this impacted life in Rudraprayag. (10:49)

And in the end, we talk about a Congress leader and a former Chhattisgarh minister along with three other men being booked for abetment of suicide of a government school teacher. (18:43)

Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 9th of September and here are the headlines.

The Supreme Court today said there was a delay of “at least 14 hours” in the registration of the FIR in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Led by the Chief Justice of India, the bench was perusing a status report filed by the CBI, which is probing the case. The CBI informed the court that it had decided to resend samples taken from the crime scene to AIIMS and Central Forensic Sciences Labs. Additionally, it was stated that CBI had been given only four video clips of a total duration of 27 minutes. The bench, which sought a fresh status report from the CBI, also fixed the matter for hearing next on the 18th of September. 

During his first international trip as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to the US, Rahul Gandhi said that following the Lok Sabha election results earlier this year, people’s fear of the BJP had vanished. He added that the people realised they would not tolerate attacks on the Constitution, religions, and states. Gandhi is on a four-day unofficial trip to the US during which he will interact with the members of the Indian diaspora and the youth, with stops in Dallas, Texas, and Washington DC.  

A day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival began, Surat city witnessed riots in old wall city areas, after four teenagers allegedly pelted stones to damage a Ganesh idol and injured a man. The damage led to people stone pelting and setting parked vehicles on fire near the Saiyedpura police station, where a huge mob gathered. Police resorted to lathi-charging to control the mob near the station. According to police, they apprehended the four accused, including two teenagers, and detained around 27 people who were said to be involved in the stone-pelting.

According to Syria’s state news agency, SANA, the Israeli airstrikes targeted several areas in central Syria, killing at least four people and injuring 13 late Sunday. The strikes caused significant damage and sparked fires along a highway in Hama province, which firefighters were battling to control earlier today morning. SANA reported that Syrian air defenses responded to the strikes, which hit multiple points in the region.   

According to a report by Informa Connect Academy that tracks wealth, world’s richest person Elon Musk is on track to become the first trillionaire in the world by 2027. The report also adds that the second entrepreneur to hit trillionaire status would be India’s businessman Gautam Adani. Where Musk has seen his wealth growing at an average annual rate of 110 per cent. Adani Group’s founder and chairman Gautam Adani’s wealth has been growing at an average annual rate of 123 per cent.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express

With just under a month remaining until the Haryana elections, the BJP finds itself in disarray. Several senior leaders have opted out of the race, and over three dozen members have resigned in recent weeks, leaving the party scrambling to regain control. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has gained significant momentum by inducting two of India's most renowned Olympians, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. 

In this episode, we examine the crisis within the Haryana BJP, what the induction of Vinesh and Bajrang means for the Congress, and also the challenges the saffron party has been facing with its alliance partners at the Centre.

Guests: Indian Express’ Varinder Bhatia, Asad Rehman, and Liz Mathew
Hosted, produced and written by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar