3 Things

The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt and Rinku Ghosh join us as a part of our year-end series and talk about the major trends that were seen in the health sector in 2024 all the way from skin care to weight loss drugs and more.

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

This is the Catch-Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express, and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 25th of December, and here are the headlines:

BJP Meets NDA Leaders to Counter Opposition Narrative
Amid Congress and the INDIA bloc's attack over Amit Shah's remarks on B.R. Ambedkar, top BJP leaders, including Shah and J.P. Nadda, met NDA allies to discuss a united front. They focused on countering the opposition's narrative, especially on Shah's comments, caste census, and social justice issues. Shah emphasized Congress's attempts to create false narratives, urging NDA leaders to stand together against the opposition's criticism.

Delhi CM Takes Action Over Fraudulent Notices
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced strict administrative action against two officers for disowning two AAP schemes. The officers released public notices calling the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana fraudulent. The schemes, which aim to provide financial aid to women and free medical treatment for seniors, were targeted in the notices. Atishi condemned the officers' actions and vowed immediate steps to address the situation.

Uttarakhand Bus Accident Leaves 3 Dead, Dozens Injured
A tragic road accident in Uttarakhand's Bhimtal area resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to over two dozen. The bus, traveling from Bhimtal to Haldwani, fell into a 100-meter deep ditch with 20-25 passengers on board. Rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), swiftly responded, taking the injured to nearby hospitals. The rescue operation is ongoing as authorities investigate the cause of the crash.

Plane Crash in Kazakhstan Leaves 30 Dead, 32 Survive
A plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, involving an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, has left over 30 dead, with 32 survivors. The flight from Baku to Grozny crashed during an emergency landing attempt approximately 3 kilometers from Aktau. Disturbing footage shows the plane bursting into flames upon impact. Emergency teams extinguished the fire, and survivors were rushed to hospitals. Investigations are underway into the cause of the crash.

Russia Strikes Ukraine’s Energy System on Christmas Day
On Christmas Day, Russia launched a brutal missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving at least seven people dead or injured. Strikes on Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk caused blackouts and heating disruptions, with half a million people left without heat. President Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, calling them inhuman, as Russia fired more than 70 missiles and 100 drones during the holiday assault.

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

Veteran journalist and contributing editor at The Indian Express, Neerja Chowdhury, joins us to kick off our year-end series and discuss some of the most significant moments that defined Indian politics this year.

Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Audio clips sourced by Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch-Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express, and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 24th of December, and here are the headlines:

A day after Prime Minister Modi attended Christmas celebrations in Delhi, a senior Orthodox Church Bishop in Kerala criticized the event. Bishop Yuhanon Meletius, Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, shared his thoughts on Facebook, referencing two incidents of disruption at Christmas celebrations in Palakkad schools. He pointed out how bishops are revered and cribs honored at one event, while in Kerala, cribs are destroyed, following incidents involving VHP leaders and ongoing investigations into the disturbances.

Telugu actor Allu Arjun appeared before police today, following a notice issued after a stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2 on December 4. Police are working to establish a timeline of events leading up to the stampede at Sandhya Theatre. Investigators aim to gather detailed information to assist in preparing the chargesheet. Three VHP leaders were arrested in Palakkad in connection with one incident, and authorities are continuing their search for additional suspects.

Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi criticized the selection process for the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). At a recent meeting, they labeled the process "fundamentally flawed" and accused it of being a "pre-determined" exercise. They suggested Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph as possible candidates. However, V Ramasubramanian, a former Supreme Court judge, was appointed as the NHRC chairperson on Monday, despite their objections.

Goa may face a beef shortage as meat vendors went on strike to protest "harassment" after an altercation with members of a cow protection group in Margao. Three vendors were injured during the incident, leading to a shutdown of vendors at the SGPDA market complex. The traders cited safety concerns and called for police protection for beef transporters. The strike is expected to continue, and vendors are demanding the government take action against vigilante groups targeting them.

France has formed a new government under Prime Minister François Bayrou, marking the fourth administration of 2024. The appointment follows the collapse of former Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government due to disagreements over budget reforms. Bayrou, leader of the centrist MoDem group allied with President Macron, is tasked with stabilizing the country and passing the 2025 budget. Macron hopes the new government will navigate the political and economic challenges facing France amid ongoing crises.

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

During the festive season, people across the country come together to celebrate, with food—sweet, savory, and deep-fried—often taking center stage. While these treats are fine in moderation, we often indulge more than we should. But how much is too much, and are there ways to make our celebrations healthier?

To explore these questions, we speak to Dr Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head, Nutrition And Dietetics, Max Super Speciality Hospital (Delhi).

(Note: We kick-off our year-ender series tomorrow).

Hosted 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 23rd of December and here are the headlines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the central government’s efforts to provide ‘lakhs of government jobs in the last 1.5 years’. Addressing a Rozgar Mela virtually today, PM Modi said that his government set a “record” by giving permanent government jobs to almost 10 lakh people in the course of the last 18 months. PM Modi stated, quote, “There is a campaign going on to provide government jobs in various ministries, departments and institutions of the country. Today also, more than 71,000 youths have been given appointment letters,” unquote.

Meanwhile, Three members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force, who were allegedly involved in grenade attacks at police establishments in border areas of Punjab, were killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district today. The encounter was jointly conducted by the police forces from Punjab and UP. While the Punjab Police said in the morning that the men had been arrested, police in UP confirmed later that the men had died a little before 10 am. The deceased have been identified as Gurvinder Singh, Virendra Singh alias Ravi, and Jasan Preet Singh alias Pratap Singh, all residents of Gurdaspur.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today that six Bangladeshis have been apprehended by the Assam Police for entering the Indian territory illegally and handed over to the authorities of the neighbouring country, He, however, did not mention the sector of the India-Bangladesh border, where they were held. The chief minister said on X, quote ‘No place for illegal infiltration in Assam, carrying out their strict monitoring against infiltration attempts, Assam police apprehended 6 Bangladeshi nationals and pushed them across the border,” unquote.

Meanwhile, the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor said today they arrested the main accused in the abduction of comedian Sunil Pal and actor Mushtaq Mohammed Khan after an encounter late Sunday. While the police arrested the main accused Lavi Pal, his accomplice Himanshu managed to escape during the cross-firing. Lavi Pal was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head and had been absconding since being booked by the Meerut and Bijnor police for abduction or ransom of Mushtaq Khan on 20th of November and Sunil Pal on 2nd of December.

On the global front, US President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Sriram Krishnan, an aide of billionaire Elon Musk and Microsoft’s ex-employee, as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social said, quote “Sriram Krishnan will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI and help shape and coordinate AI policy across Government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.” unquote.

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

First, The Indian Express' Arun Sharma explains why the Katra ropeway project in Jammu is facing opposition. He talks about the project, the changes it will bring and how it will impact the trek to the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine. He also shares the reasons behind the protests and how it may impact the project.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Bijin Jose who breaks down the recently launched o3 model of AI by OpenAI. He shares what makes this model the most advanced OpenAI model yet and how it is different from all the previous existing AI models. (9:58)

Finally, we talk about PM Modi being awarded the highest national award of Kuwait. (20:13)

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 Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 20th of December and here are the headlines.

The ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’ was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with strong opposition from Congress and Samajwadi Party. The bill, supported by 269 MPs, aims to synchronize elections across India. Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal defended it, while Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called it unconstitutional, warning of its impact on democracy. The bill seeks to amend three Constitution articles, based on recommendations from a committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the 'Sanjeevani Yojana' on Wednesday, promising free medical care for all citizens over 60, in both government and private hospitals. The scheme is seen as a counter to the BJP-led Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Kejriwal aims to attract senior voters ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

In the wake of an altercation on Parliament premises, Congress MPs, led by Pramod Tiwari, filed a complaint with the Sansad Marg police station accusing BJP MPs of manhandling Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Priyanka Gandhi, witnessing the incident, described how Kharge fell after being pushed, with a CPIM MP also collapsing on him. She expressed concern that Kharge might have been seriously injured. The confrontation follows tensions between NDA and INDIA MPs during parliamentary proceedings.

Meanwhile, an Indian Navy craft, which was undergoing trials for a newly fitted engine, experienced malfunction and crashed into a passenger ferry boat, off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday that killed 13 people. An inquiry has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the incident but it is believed that the engine malfunction led to the rider losing control of the craft, resulting in the collision. After the Mumbai ferry accident, boat operators are pointing to the lack of regulation and monitoring in one of India’s busiest harbours. They said the Navy generally conducts its boat testing during non-peak hours, primarily in the mornings.

On the global front, Israel has announced it will close its embassy in Ireland after Dublin supported a petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing genocide. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israeli policies” for backing the case. In response, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris stated that Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights, and supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, emphasizing Ireland's commitment to international law.

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

First, The Indian Express’ Vikas Pathak discusses the ongoing row over Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and tell us about the relationship between Ambedkar, the Congress, and the RSS.

Next, The Indian Express’ Legal Affairs Editor Apurva Vishwanath talks about the recent anti-Muslim remarks made by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav during an event organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (14:30).

Finally, The Indian Express’ Ritika Chopra provides an update about a 19-year-old B.Tech student who duped a top US university but was later exposed after bragging about it (25:05).

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

This is the Catch-Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express, and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 19th of December, and here are the headlines:

Telangana ACB Files Case Against KTR Over Formula E Race Irregularities

Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a case against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao (KTR), the son of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, over alleged irregularities surrounding the Formula E car racing event in Hyderabad. KTR, a former minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, was named the primary accused. The case involves mismanagement of funds during his tenure, with former MAUD secretary Arvind Kumar and ex-HMDA chief engineer BLN Reddy also implicated. The event took place in February 2023.

Congress Claims BJP MPs Blocked and Attacked Opposition in Parliament

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused BJP MPs of blocking and attacking opposition members attempting to enter Parliament on Thursday. Kharge said BJP MPs physically stopped them at the gate, even pushing female MPs, while BJP MP Pratap Sarangi claimed Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP, injuring Sarangi. Gandhi denied the allegation, stating BJP MPs were the aggressors. The incident follows an ongoing clash between NDA and INDIA MPs, with Congress lodging a formal complaint against the BJP at the Sansad Marg police station.

Congress Files Complaint Over Misbehaviour in Parliament Scuffle

In the wake of an altercation on Parliament premises, Congress MPs, led by Pramod Tiwari, filed a complaint with the Sansad Marg police station accusing BJP MPs of manhandling Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Priyanka Gandhi, witnessing the incident, described how Kharge fell after being pushed, with a CPI(M) MP also collapsing on him. She expressed concern that Kharge might have been seriously injured. The confrontation follows tensions between NDA and INDIA MPs during parliamentary proceedings.

13 Dead in Mumbai Ferry Collision: Lack of Safety Regulations Blamed

A tragic collision between an Indian Navy speedboat and a passenger ferry near the Gateway of India on Wednesday resulted in 13 deaths, including Navy personnel and civilians. Boat operators in Mumbai have criticized the lack of safety regulations and monitoring in the harbor. Although Navy personnel claim the accident was due to losing control during testing, they stated no specific testing location exists. An investigation is ongoing, while operators highlight that such tests are typically conducted in non-peak hours for safety.

French Court Sentences Dominique Pelicot to 20 Years in Landmark Abuse Case

Dominique Pelicot, 72, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping his wife, Gisele, over a decade, while also allowing dozens of other men to assault her. A French court found 50 men guilty, though most received shorter sentences than the prosecution's recommendations. The case, which came to light in 2020, uncovered disturbing footage of the abuse on Pelicot’s computer. Gisele, who waived anonymity, has spoken out to help other survivors, saying her fight is for all rape victims.

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