3 Things

The headlines of the day from the Indian Express.

First, Indian Express' Vivek Surendran talks to us about the series of disastrous landslides that has hit Wayanad and how the rescue operations are going forward. He shares that more than 90 people have died and many more are stranded and trapped under debris. 

Next, Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy speaks to us about how PM Modi's recent trip to Russia impacted the Quad allaince and what all was discussed in the meeting. (9:34)

And in the end, we talk about the reaction that the uniform of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics is getting from Indians on social media. (22:04)

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

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Shashank Bhargava
It’s the 30th of July and here are today's headlines.

After massive landslides struck the hilly areas of Kerala’s Wayanad district this morning, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 93 bodies had been recovered so far and 128 people were injured. The Kerala government declared a two-day state of mourning following the disaster. Rescue efforts are underway, with the army deploying 200 soldiers from the Defence Security Corps and a medical team to assist with the operations.

Earlier in the day Manu Bhaker made history by winning her 2nd medal at the Olympic Games, as she clinched a bronze medal in the 10m mixed team pistol event, partnering with Sarabjot Singh. Manu had earlier won the 10m individual bronze as well. For Sarabjot, this is his first medal, after agonizingly missing out in the final in the individual event.

After 22 coaches of the Mumbai-Howrah Mail derailed early on Tuesday in Jharkhand, killing two people and injuring a few others, leaders from INDIA bloc criticized Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Central Government over such accidents that have claimed several lives in the last few months. The incident occurred at 3.45 am in Patobera village, around 40 km from the Saraikela-Kharsawan district headquarters, when one of the coaches collided with another.

The Odisha government on Tuesday suspended IPS officer Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao on the grounds of “grave misconduct” after allegations emerged that he had forcibly entered the home of a married woman inspector and misbehaved with her. The alleged incident took place on the night of the 27th of July. Official sources told the Indian Express that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who returned from New Delhi on Monday evening, was apprised about the incident and he directed action in the matter.

President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the Conference of Governors on the 2nd and 3rd of August at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This is the first Conference of Governors to be presided over by President Murmu. Besides governors from all states who have been invited for the conference, it will be attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar; Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers of Home Affairs, among several others. 

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

First, Indian Express' Nitin Sharma talks to us about India's very first medal at the Paris Olympics. Manu Bhaker, a 22-year-old Indian shooter became India's very first woman shooter to have won a medal at the Olympics. Nitin shares insights about her journey and how her dedication and her family's support contributed to her win.

Next, Indian Express’ Nikhil Ghanekar speaks to us about the government's plan to develop Great Nicobar through the Great Nicobar Development Project. This is a Rs 72,000 crore worth infrastructure upgrade project that is facing opposition by conservationists and researchers and now a high powered committee has given its findings regarding the same. (12:30)

And in the end, we talk about the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Enforcement Directorate’s plea challenging the bail granted to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. (20:47)

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's the 29th of July and here are the headlines.

The Delhi Police have arrested five more people in connection with the flooding of the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Centre, including the driver of a vehicle who purportedly waded through the waterlogged road and contributed to breaking the gates of the coaching centre where three UPSC aspirants died. The owners of the basement are among the five arrested people, including the coaching centre’s CEO, Abhishek Gupta, and coordinator, Deshpal Singh. All the five accused are expected to be produced in court on Monday.

Days after three UPSC aspirants died when the basement of their coaching centre flooded in the National Capital, Rajya Sabha chairman allowed a short-term discussion on the matter after the question hour. While the chair did not agree to suspend the proceedings on the House for the discussion, members of the opposition applauded that the chair allowed for the discussion under another rule, adding that they hoped their request for similar discussions on NEET paper leak and Manipur violence will also be allowed.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the Union Budget of 2024-25 on Monday, calling it a ‘chakravyuh’ created by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress leader said the ‘chakravyuh’ that has captured India has three forces — the idea of monopoly capital and concentration of financial power; institutions and agencies such as the CBI, ED and IT department; and the political executive. Gandhi’s reference was to the Mahabharat, according to which Abhimanyu was killed in a ‘chakravyuh’ — a multi-tiered maze and formation — in which he was trapped. He further said the chakravyuh looks like a lotus (the BJP symbol).

Days after some students from Nirmala College in Kerala’s Muvattupuzha held protests demanding that they be allotted a room at the college to offer namaz, a prominent body of Islamic scholars have asked the students to desist from making such demands that could “create hatred” Dakshina Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Muhammed Thoufeeq Moulavi called the controversy “unfortunate”. Last Friday, a group of girls at Nirmala College in Muvattupuzha held protests demanding a room to offer their prayers but the college management had turned them down saying they were “free” to offer namaz at a mosque some 200 metres away. Significantly, the college is run by the Catholic Church.

A passenger train carrying about 800 parrengers collided with a Kamaz truck, killing at least two and injuring up to 100 people on Monday, Russian media outlets reported, according to Reuters. As per the report, eight carriages were derailed, some of the carriages lay twisted and battered beside the railway track, they said. The train had been travelling from Kazan in Tatarstan to Adler on the Black Sea when it derailed in the southern Volgograd region near the Kotelnikovo station about 1,200 km (750 miles) south of Moscow, the emergencies ministry said.

This was the Catchup on 3 Things on The Indian Express.

First, Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath discusses how the Delhi High Court underlined that the Delhi policemen’s actions in the 2020 Delhi riots amounted to a “hate crime” that was “motivated and driven by religious bigotry”.

Next, Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha examines the environmental concerns surrounding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what Google's annual environmental report reveals (08:18).

And in the end, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt tells us about three targeted cancer drugs being exempted from customs duty (14:25).

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

The headlines of the week from the Indian Express.

First, Flora Swain talks to Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about US President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the US Presidential elections 2024. He shares the reasons behind this development and how it will impact the elections along with the Indo-US ties. 

Next, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt speaks to us about U-Win, a digital vaccination registry initiated by the government of India to maintain records of newborns, their health and their vaccinations. (11:21)

And in the end, we talk about an incident that happened in Madhya Pradesh where a school principal allegedly stopped some students from reciting a Sanskrit verse and forced them to speak in English. (19:21)

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

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 25th of July and here are today's headlines.

Amid heavy rains overnight and persistent downpour, especially in the catchment areas of dams, parts of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad reported flooding this morning. The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ for the next two days in the city. Four deaths have so far been reported in the rain-related incidents, including three due to electrocution and one due to a rock fall. The city witnessed three landslides and a wall collapse as confirmed by the Police Commission.

Meanwhile, due to torrential rains local train services in Mumbai were disrupted, as heavy waterlogging in many places brought traffic to a standstill. The IMD issued a ‘red alert’ for Mumbai and the neighbouring districts of Thane and Raigad. SpiceJet, Air India, and IndiGo also announced potential flight disruptions, while schools and colleges were shut.

The debate on the Union Budget 2024-25 is underway in both Houses of the Parliament. Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi said there is an undeclared emergency in the country citing the crisis in Manipur, the plight of farmers, rape of Dalit woman in UP. Channi also raised the issue of the depreciation of the Indian rupee’s value and questioned the absence of Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the House.

Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition of candidates, and live Artificial Intelligence-based CCTV surveillance are among the measures that the UPSC now plans to introduce to prevent “cheating, fraud, unfair means, and impersonation” during the examinations that it conducts. This comes in the wake of the case of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar who is facing a UPSC probe for allegedly “faking her identity” and a row over the NEET UG paper leak case.

Typhoon Gaemi made landfall in Taiwan, leaving 22 people dead in the Philippines from flooding and landslides, and three in Taiwan, with more than 220 reported injured. The island has seen persistent flooding in low-lying areas, landslides, and damage to homes and shops. Offices and schools in Taiwan were closed for the second consecutive day today and people were urged to stay home and away from the coastline. The island is regularly hit by typhoons and has boosted its warning systems, but its typography, high population density and high-tech economy make it difficult to avoid losses when such storms hit.

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

First, Indian Express' National Education Editor Ritika Chopra talks to us about what the Supreme Court had to say reagrding a re-NEET UG examination. The court gave its verdict about a re-exam while acknowleding the paper leak and grace marks situation. 

Next, Indian Express’ Sohini Ghosh speaks to us about the spread of the Chandipura virus also known as CHPV in Gujarat. She talks about how the virus impacts children, its symptoms and what the medical professionals have to say about it. (12:09)

And in the end, we talk about a devastating aircraft crash in Kathmandu, Nepal that caused the death of 18 people. (23:30)

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