3 Things

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Amit Kamath who shares everything we need to know about the World Chess Championship. He talks about D Gukesh, the Indian challenger at the championship who is fighting to become the youngest World Chess Champion in the world. And to achieve said target he has to defeat the reigning champion Ding Liren.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt who explains why packaged drinking water has been added to the high risk food category in a recent notification by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). (13:46)

Finally, we talk about the FIR that has been filed against YSRCP leaders for the forcible acquisition of Kakinada Seaports Ltd. (20:12)

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 4th of December and here are the headlines.

The Congress delegation, led by Lok Sabha MPs Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, was stopped at the Gazipur Border today while on its way to violence-hit Sambhal. Constitution in hand, Rahul said, quote “I am ready to go alone to Sambhal with police, but I am not being allowed.” unquote. The district administration and police had already put up a blockade at the border to stop the delegation to Sambhal, where outsiders have been barred from visiting. Prohibitory orders are also in place in the district, where last week, several Samajwadi Party MPs were stopped from entering the district.

The Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar Mahayuti alliance claimed a stake in forming the government with the Maharashtra governor today. Addressing the press conference, Fadnavis said, quote “CM is a technical post… a technical arrangement for us…we have always made decisions together and will continue to do so. We will work together to take Maharashtra to greater heights.” unquote. Meanwhile, the BJP core committee has endorsed Devendra Fadnavis for the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s post. The nomination will now be laced before the state BJP legislative party, where newly elected 132 MLAs will have to endorse it. The Mahayuti government’s swearing-in ceremony is set for 5th of December in the evening at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.

Meanwhile, a man said to be a former militant Narain Singh Chaura attempted to fire at former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today when he was sitting on guard duty as part of his religious sentence outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Harpal Singh, ADCP, Amritsar Rural, said, quote “We had deployed security nearby. During this time, an individual attempted to create a disturbance but was unsuccessful. The accused has been taken into custody. Only after interrogation will we know the motive behind his actions.” unquote.

The Andhra Pradesh government has suspended former Andhra Pradesh CID Additional Director General of Police and senior IPS officer N Sanjay after an inquiry by the Vigilance and Enforcement wing allegedly found him to have misappropriated Rs 1 crore when he was Director General of State Disaster Response and Fire Services. As CID chief, Sanjay, a 1996 batch officer, investigated some high-profile cases that included the alleged scam in the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation in which TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu was made an accused. On 23rd of September last year, Sanjay oversaw the operation in which CID officers arrested Naidu at dawn at Nandyal.

On the global front, a manic night played out in South Korea’s capital Seoul with President Yoon Suk Yeol declaring a surprise martial law in the country, only to reverse it after overwhelming opposition to the move. Yoon, now cornered as he faces criticism from his own ranks, is staring at calls for resignation and impeachment. Opposition leaders and protesters held a rally at the National Assembly, holding placards demanding President Yoon to step down. The country’s largest umbrella labour group, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, has decided to go on an indefinite strike till Yoon quits.

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

First, The Indian Express’ Dheeraj Mishra discusses his latest investigation into sewer deaths in Delhi over the past 15 years, covering details about convictions, compensations, and wages.

Next, The Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor, Shubhajit Roy, explains the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and India’s reaction to this development (14:28).

Finally, we look into the Odisha police arresting a man for animal cruelty (24:16)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced and written 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 3rd of December and here are the headlines.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Lok Sabha today about the recent developments in India-China bilateral relations over the recent agreement on disengagement and patrolling along the Line of Actual Control.  Jaishankar said, quote “India-China ties cannot be normal without peace in border areas.” unquote. He also said that the immediate priority was to ensure disengagement from friction points, this has been fully achieved. Jaishankar acknowledged that 2020’s disruptions adversely impacted bilateral relations, necessitating recalibrated engagements for long-term peace. Both Houses of Parliament resumed normal proceedings today after a week-long standoff between the government and the Opposition, which ended in a resolution and two Bills are expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha – The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill and The Railways (Amendment) Bill.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have killed a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant involved in the killing of seven employees of a construction firm that was building the Z-Morh tunnel near Sonamarg. The name of Junaid Ramzan Bhat, a Lashkar militant from south Kashmir’s Kulgam, surfaced after he was identified by the police as one of the two attackers from the CCTV footage of the incident. Police said Bhat was killed during a gunfight in Dachigam forests on the city outskirts.
Four workers were killed in a boiler blast at an industrial unit in Ank-leshwar GIDC in the Bha-ruch district of Gujarat today. Bharuch district administration confirmed that the blast occurred at the premises of Detox India Private Limited, which is in the business of industrial waste treatment and disposal. Following the blast, teams from the fire department, industrial safety and health departments, and the police reached the spot and have begun a primary probe into the incident.

India experienced its second warmest November in 123 years and this warming trend has continued since the post-monsoon season in October, and could contribute to making 2024 the warmest year ever on record, globally. According to meteorologists, there were two main reasons for the above normal temperatures in India, first the lack of strong western disturbances affecting the plains of northwest India, and second lack of cyclonic disturbances or low pressure systems — both of which kept the rainfall activity at its lowest across the country.

The Trinamool Congress asked the Centre today to appeal to the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Bangladesh where according to the party “the minorities and the Hindus are being tortured and being killed”.  The party’s appeal in the Lok Sabha came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a similar request in the state Assembly. Speaking during the Zero Hour, party MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay sought a statement in the House by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar about the latest situation in Bangladesh. He added that the West Bengal government had adopted a resolution that it would work together with the Centre on the matter and stand by its decisions.

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

First, we speak to The Indian Express' Shubhangi Khapre who breaks down the Maharashtra assembly election result and its consequences for us. She shares the details of everything that is happening in the state and within the Mahayuti alliance and talks about the reasons why the CM candidate has not been announced yet.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Parul Kulshrestha who shares the story of the Mewar royal family and their decades old property feud which has recently resurfaced. She also talks about the kind of influence the royal families still hold in the region. (18:30)

Finally, we talk about the destruction that is being caused in Tamil and Nadu and Puducherry due to  Cyclone Fengal. (29:15)

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 2nd of December and here are the headlines.

The Congress accused the government of avoiding discussions in Parliament on issues like the Adani bribery allegations and Sambhal violence. Both Houses were adjourned amid opposition protests demanding debates. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh remarked, quote “There was hardly any sloganeering. But the Modi government simply did not want Parliament to function. The Opposition wants a discussion but the government is running away from it,” unquote. Before the adjournment, the Lok Sabha introduced the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was scheduled to brief on India-China relations.

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed its concern over DMK leader Senthil Balaji being reinstated as minister in the M K Stalin-led government in Tamil Nadu shortly after it granted him bail in a money laundering case. The court was hearing a plea that sought to recall the September 26 order granting bail to Balaji on the ground that his reinstatement would put witnesses under pressure. The Supreme Court had granted him bail on the ground that there was no likelihood of the trial beginning anytime soon. Justice A S Oka questioned quote, “We grant bail and the next day you go and become Minister? Anybody will be bound to be under the impression that now with your position as a senior Cabinet Minister witnesses will be under pressure. What is this going on?” unquote.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been formally invited to visit India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the dates for his visit will be set in early 2025. This will be Putin’s first visit to India in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war that started in February 2022. Putin’s India visit will come as part of a laid-down structure between the two countries for reciprocal annual visits by their leaders. The announcement about Putin’s India visit comes days after the election of US President Donald Trump, who is also expected to visit India next year for the QUAD Summit.

Noida authorities on Monday issued a traffic advisory stating Delhi Police and Gautam Buddha Nagar Police will put up barriers and increase security on all the borders adjoining Gautam Buddha Nagar to Delhi, in light of a farmers protest march. Thousands of farmers, under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Samyukt Kisan Morcha and other farmer groups, shifted their ongoing protest demanding the allocation of 10% developed plots for farmers displaced by land acquisition, implementation of new legal benefits, and the adoption of recommendations by a state committee for farmer welfare.

On the global front, the Syrian opposition-run rescue service known as the White Helmets confirmed at least 25 people were killed in northwestern Syria in air strikes carried out by the Syrian government and Russia. Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo.

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

What do AQI levels actually tell us? What are the short and long term effects of air pollution? Why doesn’t the WHO recommend masks for air pollution? Do air purifiers really help? And what steps can the government take to tackle this problem effectively?

Today on the show, we are joined by Dr. G.C. Khilani to discuss everything you need to know about air pollution. Dr. Khilani is the chairman of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine at PSRI Hospital in Delhi and a member of the WHO's Technical Advisory Group on Air Pollution and Health.

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 Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 29th of November and here are this week’s headlines.

The Lok Sabha passed a resolution on Thursday to extend the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill till the last day of the Budget session next year. Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Committee, moved a motion stating, “That this House do extend time for the presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the last day of the Budget Session, 2025.” The Lok Sabha approved the motion with a voice vote. The Centre had referred the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled on 8th of August, to the Committee to scrutinise the Bill following the Opposition’s objections. The panel’s tenure was set to conclude on November 29.  

Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde resigned on Tuesday, marking the end of the 14th Assembly’s term. Shinde, along with deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met Governor C P Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhawan. As caretaker CM, Shinde will oversee the formation of a new government. The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won a clear mandate in the Assembly elections, securing 230 out of 288 seats. Ajit Pawar was also elected leader of the NCP, setting the stage for key decisions in the coming days.

India expressed deep concern over the arrest of Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu in Bangladesh on Tuesday. Prabhu, a prominent member of ISKCON, was detained at Dhaka airport, facing charges of sedition after leading a rally in Chattogram. He’s accused of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag. India urged the Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities in the country, calling for Prabhu’s immediate release.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect, following an agreement brokered by the US and France. Hamas expressed support for Lebanon’s efforts to protect its people and hopes for a broader deal to end the Gaza war. While international peace efforts remain stalled, Lebanon’s military is preparing to deploy in the south to help maintain the ceasefire, urging residents near the border to stay away until the Israeli military retreats. This marks a tentative step toward reducing tensions in the region.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, violent protests erupted on Tuesday after supporters of jailed former PM Imran Khan clashed with security forces. Six people were killed, including four paramilitary personnel, and over 100 injured. The protests, calling for Khan’s release, spiraled out of control, prompting the government to deploy the army in Islamabad. With 'shoot at sight' orders in place, the nationwide demonstrations, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters, have challenged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government, showing no signs of abating.

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

First, we speaks to The Indian Express' Avaneesh Mishra who explains the issue concerning an old mosque in Uttarkashi. He shares how the legality of the mosque was questioned which led to escalating tensions in the town. 

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Nikhil Ghanekar who shares the importance of a plastic treaty. He talks about the final round of talks that are taking place, where over 170 countries are working to develop a treaty to end plastic pollution. (7:14)

Finally, we talk about Hemant Soren taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. (18:48)

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 28th of November and here are the headlines.

The Lok Sabha passed a resolution today to extend the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill till the last day of the Budget session next year. Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Committee, moved a motion stating, “That this House do extend time for the presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the last day of the Budget Session, 2025.” The Lok Sabha approved the motion with a voice vote. The Centre had referred the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled on 8th of August, to the Committee to scrutinise the Bill following the Opposition’s objections. The panel’s tenure was set to conclude on November 29. 

The CBI in an operation with the NIA and Interpol has brought from Rwanda a member of Pakistan-based terror group Lash-kar-e-Taiba who had an Interpol Red Notice against him for a terror offence in Bengaluru today. The officials said, Salman Rehman Khan, an alleged member of the internationally proscribed terrorist organisation, had assisted in providing arms, ammunition and explosives to further terrorist activities in Bengaluru. A CBI spokesperson said in a statement quote “The Global Operations CBI has closely coordinated with the NIA and Interpol National Central Bureau – Key gali for the return to India from Rwanda of Salman Rehman Khan, wanted by the NIA for terror-related offences,” unquote.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today condemned the arrest of Hindu ISKCON monk Chinmay Krishna Das in Bangladesh, saying that she will support whatever decision the Centre takes on the issue. Banerjee said, quote “Attacks on any religion are condemnable, we always condemn that. I talked to the ISKCON head of this state twice after the incident. But it is an international matter. We can’t interfere with the Centre’s decision… but we can condemn this attack,” unquote. The West Bengal BJP also started demonstrations against the arrest, with party MLAs marching to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission office and meeting officials. The state unit also announced that they will block all the Indo-Bangla borders in West Bengal next Monday.

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group has come into effect and thousands of people from war-torn southern Lebanon have started to return to their homes as fear looms on both sides whether the ceasefire will hold. Israel continued its barrage of attacks on Beirut and in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least 42 people until a ceasefire came into effect at 4am on Wednesday. Displaced people of Lebanon were seen driving stacked cars with personal belongings and returning to the southern part of the country, despite warnings from the Israeli army that they should stay away from the area until the Israeli forces remain over there. 

After the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s dismal performance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Pune is likely to insist that the party contest the long-delayed civic polls alone. The city units of the Congress and the NCP, however, are keen on continuing the alliance. Elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation were last held in 2017. With the new government set to be sworn in soon, the long-delayed civic elections are likely to be held in the next few months. Though the MVA enjoyed success in the Lok Sabha elections by winning 31 of the 48 seats in the state, it only won 46 seats in the Assembly elections. Despite the poor performance, however, Prashant Jagtap, Pune NCP chief, said that he believed the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT) should contest the PMC elections as MVA.

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