3 Things

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 22th of November and here are this week’s headlines.

Karnataka’s Anti-Naxal Force shot and killed fugitive Naxal leader Vikram Gowda in a gunbattle on Monday night in Udupi. The 44-year-old had been a key member of the banned CPI (Maoist) group, considered one of the last remaining major Naxal leaders from Karnataka. His death follows the 2021 arrest of another top leader, B.G. Krishnamurthy. With Gowda’s death, the remaining underground Naxals in Karnataka come down to just seven, including four women.

Delhi’s air quality hit alarming levels early Tuesday, with an AQI of 492, placing the capital in the "severe-plus" category. Certain areas, including Alipur and Anand Vihar, surpassed the 500 mark. This means Delhi residents are breathing in pollutants equivalent to 50 cigarettes a day, posing serious health risks to everyone, not just those with pre-existing conditions. The government has implemented its highest emergency measures, and the Supreme Court has ordered these actions to remain in place until further notice. Additionally, Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced a 50% work-from-home policy for both private and government offices due to severe air pollution.

As polling concluded in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, urban voter ahpathy remained a challenge for the Election Commission, which frequently ran campaigns to encourage people to come out in large numbers and vote. Despite being the state’s largest city and the country’s financial and entertainment hub, Mumbai recorded the lowest vote turnout at 51.27 per cent, just 1 per cent higher than 48.4 per cent turnout in 2019. Meanwhile, Gadchiroli saw the highest turnout at 69.63 per cent. In Jharkhand, Jamtara recorded the highest turnout at 76.16 per cent, while Bo-ka-ro had the lowest at 60.97 per cent. After casting his vote in Thane, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his confidence in securing a thumping victory in the ongoing Assembly polls. Shinde said, quote “People have seen their two-and-a-half years of rule vis-a-vis the work done by us in the same amount of time. People will vote for development and for the work done by us,” unquote.

In a major legal development, US prosecutors have indicted Gautam Adani, the chairman of Adani Group, along with seven others, accusing them of orchestrating a $250 million bribery scheme. The charges allege the group bribed Indian officials to secure power contracts in India. Alongside the indictment, the US SEC is seeking penalties and a jury trial for Adani and his associates, citing their operations in the US and impact on American investors. The political war over the Adani bribery case heats up as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accuses the Indian government of supporting Gautam Adani, who was indicted in the US for allegedly offering over $200 million in bribes. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit back, accusing Congress of destabilizing Indian markets with false propaganda. He questioned why Congress-ruled states had welcomed Adani’s investments despite the controversy.

On the global front, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from its southern Astrakhan region in an attack against Ukraine. Kyiv’s air force said this is the first time since the war broke out that Russia has used a long-range missile. Meanwhile, Ukraine on Wednesday said that Russia hit it with a “a massive information-psychological attack” by dispersing fake warning, alledgedly from Ukrainian military intelligence, about an imminent mass air attack. Following the Main Directorate of Intelligence’s statement Reuters reported, quote “This message is a fake, it contains grammatical errors typical of Russian information and psychological operations,” unquote

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

First, The Indian Express' Shubhangi Khapre shares details of the incident that led to the accusations that BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde was distributing cash for votes on the eve of Maharashtra assembly elections. She shares the facts of what happened, Vinod Tawde's reaction and more.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha about the developments at the COP29 conference being held at Baku in Azerbaijan. He shares the agenda of the conference, the major topics of discussion and the expectations of the outcome. (13:34)

And in the end, we talk about Delhi's slightly improved AQI and the predictions for the upcoming week. (24:44)

Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
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 21st of November and here are the headlines.

1. US Indicts Adani Group Executives for Bribery Scheme

In a major legal development, US prosecutors have indicted Gautam Adani, the chairman of Adani Group, along with seven others, accusing them of orchestrating a $250 million bribery scheme. The charges allege the group bribed Indian officials to secure power contracts in India. Alongside the indictment, the US SEC is seeking penalties and a jury trial for Adani and his associates, citing their operations in the US and impact on American investors.

2. Adani Bribery Scheme Details Revealed in US Court Filing

A US court filing reveals that over $228 million was allegedly paid in bribes to an unnamed high-ranking Andhra Pradesh official to secure solar power contracts. The bribe was part of a deal to help the Solar Energy Corporation of India purchase seven gigawatts of solar power. The filing doesn’t name the official or the companies involved, but details indicate this official served in Andhra Pradesh from May 2019 to June 2024.

3. Rahul Gandhi vs. BJP on Adani Indictment

The political war over the Adani bribery case heats up as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accuses the Indian government of supporting Gautam Adani, who was indicted in the US for allegedly offering over $200 million in bribes. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit back, accusing Congress of destabilizing Indian markets with false propaganda. He questioned why Congress-ruled states had welcomed Adani’s investments despite the controversy.

4. Supreme Court on Yasin Malik’s Trial in Tihar Jail

The Supreme Court of India raised concerns about conducting a fair trial for separatist leader Yasin Malik, currently serving life imprisonment in Tihar Jail. The court suggested setting up a courtroom within the prison for his trial in a 1989 kidnapping case. Justice Oka reminded that even Ajmal Kasab received a fair trial in India, emphasizing the country’s commitment to due process, despite the challenges posed by remote hearings.

5. Ukraine Claims Russia Launched ICBM at Dnipro

In a shocking escalation, Ukraine reported that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targeting Dnipro city. If confirmed, this would mark Russia's first use of an ICBM in the ongoing conflict. Ukraine’s air force said the missile was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region. In response, Ukrainian forces intercepted six out of nine incoming missiles, marking a significant moment in the war as both sides intensify their military operations.

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

Last week, Manipur witnessed what was perhaps the worst flare-up of violence since the initial days of the conflict between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zomi community, which began on the 3rd of May, 2023.

In this episode, The Indian Express’ Sukrita Baruah and Deeptiman Tiwary join us to discuss what triggered the recent killings, how the administration has responded, and what this reveals about the ongoing crisis and the state’s failure to resolve it.

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 20th of November and here are the headlines.

Maharashtra and Jharkhand Elections Update
As of 3 pm, voter turnout in Maharashtra stands at 45.53%, while Jharkhand’s Phase 2 polling has recorded 61.47%. Maharashtra's 288 Assembly seats are in play, with the Mahayuti coalition facing off against the Maha Vikas Aghadi. In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren seeks re-election while the BJP hopes to disrupt his plans. Voter engagement is key in these crucial contests, as both states head toward pivotal elections shaping the future of their leadership.

Bitcoin Allegations in Maharashtra Elections
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole have filed complaints with cyber police and the Election Commission over Bitcoin misappropriation allegations. Former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil accused them of using misappropriated Bitcoins to influence the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The BJP has released voice notes, claiming a conspiracy, intensifying the controversy on the eve of voting. The investigation into these serious claims is now underway.

Delhi Air Quality and Work-from-Home Orders
Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced a 50% work-from-home policy for both private and government offices due to severe air pollution. The air quality index (AQI) hit a dangerous 430 on Wednesday, with areas like Mundka reaching 464. While slight improvements were noted, the city remains in a crisis. In response, Gurgaon has also implemented similar measures, urging residents to protect themselves from the ongoing hazardous air conditions.

Suicide Bombing in Pakistan
A suicide bomber attacked a security post in Bannu, northwestern Pakistan, killing 12 security personnel and injuring several others. The bombing, one of the deadliest in recent months, occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Pakistani military responded to the attack, killing six militants from the Pakistani Taliban, or "khwarij," in the ensuing exchange of fire. This deadly assault marks a significant escalation in violence in the region.

US Embassy Closure in Kyiv
The US Embassy in Kyiv closed on Wednesday, citing concerns of a "potential significant air attack." Embassy employees were instructed to shelter in place as a precautionary measure. The closure follows heightened tensions after Ukraine's missile strike on Russia using US-provided ATACMS. The embassy's warning underscores the ongoing risks in the region, as the US and Ukraine face rising threats amid the ongoing conflict.

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

First, The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Shubhajit Roy shares details of the Trump administration 2.0, and talks specifically about the leaders whose appointment will impact the US India relations. 

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Ritu Sharma about a severe case of ragging that happened in a medical college in Gujarat, where a first year student died upon being subjected to ragging by his seniors. (11:00)

Finally, we talk about Indian news agency ANI suing OpenAI accusing the ChatGPT creator of using its published content without permission to help train the artificial intelligence chatbot, something that OpenAI says it has stopped doing. (22:02)

Produced and hosted 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 19th of November and here are the headlines.

Delhi’s Dangerous Air Quality: Inhalation Equivalent to 50 Cigarettes
Delhi’s air quality hit alarming levels early Tuesday, with an AQI of 492, placing the capital in the "severe-plus" category. Certain areas, including Alipur and Anand Vihar, surpassed the 500 mark. This means Delhi residents are breathing in pollutants equivalent to 50 cigarettes a day, posing serious health risks to everyone, not just those with pre-existing conditions. The government has implemented its highest emergency measures, and the Supreme Court has ordered these actions to remain in place until further notice.

Political Tensions Escalate in Maharashtra Ahead of Polls
Tensions flared in Virar, Maharashtra, just a day before state elections, as Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers accused BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde of distributing cash to sway voters. Election officials recovered nearly Rs 10 lakh from Tawde’s hotel room. After a three-hour standoff, a press conference involving political leaders was halted by the Election Commission for violating rules. An FIR has been filed, and the matter is under investigation, with political tensions continuing to rise in the lead-up to the polls.

Karnataka Police Kills Fugitive Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda
Karnataka’s Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) shot and killed fugitive Naxal leader Vikram Gowda in a gunbattle on Monday night in Udupi’s Kabbinale forest. Gowda, 44, had been a key member of the banned CPI (Maoist) group, considered one of the last remaining major Naxal leaders from Karnataka. His death follows the 2021 arrest of another top leader, B.G. Krishnamurthy. With Gowda’s death, the remaining underground Naxals in Karnataka number just seven, including four women.

Tirumala’s New Plans to Improve Temple Experience and Operations
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) under its new chairman, B.R. Naidu, has proposed several changes to improve operations at the Lord Venkateswara temple. Key decisions include setting up a panel to reduce darshan waiting times to just 2-3 hours, banning political statements within the temple, and ensuring the use of higher-quality ghee for laddoos. Additionally, the TTD aims to streamline temple operations using AI to manage the flow of devotees. These decisions follow the recent change in state leadership.

Putin Revises Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine Amid Growing Tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new nuclear doctrine declaring that any conventional attack on Russia, backed by a nuclear power, will be considered a joint assault on Russia. This revision of Russia's nuclear strategy comes on the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine. The move follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use longer-range missiles supplied by the U.S. to strike targets inside Russia, further escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict.

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

As Maharashtra prepares to head to the polls tomorrow, The Indian Express’ Shubhangi Khapre joins us to explore what makes this election unprecedented, the strategies parties have used to engage with voters, and how an overcrowded field is causing confusion among them.

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

The headlines of the day from The Indian Express.

First, The Indian Express' Sophiya Mathew shares details about the implementation of GRAP stage IV in Delhi, starting today. She shares the severity of the pollution and smog situation in Delhi and the measures being adopted by the state government and Delhi police to improve the conditions. 

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Avaneesh Mishra about a horrific accident that caused the death of six people who were in a car that crashed into a container. (16:21)

Finally, we talk about a severe case of ragging in a Medical college in Gujarat where a student died while he was allegedly being ragged by some seniors. (25:25)

Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda. 
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar