3 Things

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Naveed Iqbal about the 1990 abduction and killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat, and why a chargesheet filed 36 years later naming former JKLF chief Yasin Malik is significant in the larger context of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt about the Centre’s expanded QR code-based track and trace system for medicines, how it aims to curb counterfeit drugs, and the implementation challenges that could determine whether the initiative succeeds. (8:25)

And in the end, we look at the Centre’s concerns over WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature, which officials fear could make impersonation scams and digital fraud easier despite the platform’s planned safeguards. (19:55)

Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

The care economy is one of the most important enablers of women's participation in the workforce. Women more often than not  perform a disproportionate share of unpaid care work, which often limits their ability to work full-time, or pursue career advancement. When quality childcare services are accessible and affordable, this unpaid burden is reduced, allowing more women to enter, remain in, and contribute to the workforce.

In our fourth episode in association with Mobile Creches, where we talk about where we explore the importance of quality childcare services especially for women, and to have this conversation, we are joined by retired IAS officer Arti Ahuja, As a former Secretary across multiple Union Ministries including Labour, Health, and Women and Child Development, she has been at the forefront of India’s major social and economic reforms.

Hosted and Produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and Mixed by Suresh Pawar

Links to episode in association with Mobile Creches:

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Purnima Sah about a fertility racket that has been uncovered in Maharashtra, where financially vulnerable women were made to donate their eggs multiple times for a payment of Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000. She talks about the network, how it operated and the investigation.

Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Jayprakash S. Naidu who talks about a series of eight murders that took place in Chhattisgarh's Kharve village and how the police realised all these murders were related. He talks about the incidents, the common link and more. (18:14)

Lastly, we talk about an open letter by 117 signatories for PM Narendra Modi and PM Shehbaz Sharif urging them to take steps towards restoring peace and normalcy between India and Pakistan. (22:21)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar 

Links for our episodes with Mobile Creches:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Nihal Koshie about Indian athletics’ remarkable run of performances, with more than 20 national records broken in just over three months, and how changes in coaching, competition, and training are reshaping the sport.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha about Europe’s latest heatwave, why scientists say climate change is making such extreme temperatures more likely, and how a new attribution study helps establish that link. (11:30)

And in the end, we look at an East Delhi property fraud case involving forged identities, shell companies and ₹18 crore in fraudulent loans, a scam that took investigators more than a decade to piece together. (21:15)

Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary about Ayodhya, where allegations of theft and misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple have triggered a major controversy. He shares what the investigation revealed, how the theft was conducted, who has been accused and more.

Next, we speak with The Indian Express' Soham Shah about the Maharashtra Teacher's Eligibility Test (TET) getting postponed due to a paper leak. He talks about the exam, how the leak was uncovered, the investigation and what all the candidates can expect. (7:47)

Lastly, we discuss how monsoon rains are causing floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh. (15:41)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Shashank Bhargava, Ichha Sharma, and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines of the day by The Indian Express

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Rinku Ghosh and Sweety Kumari about West Bengal’s decision to remove eggs from mid-day meals in Kolkata under a new pilot project with ISKCON, the nutritional importance of eggs for children, and the political backlash surrounding the move.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express’ Akram M about Karnataka’s proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project, why farmers are divided over it, and why it has emerged as one of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s biggest political challenges. (22:50)

And in the end, we look at the alleged attempt to carry out mass poisoning at a Muharram procession in Mumbai, where police arrested a Pune man accused of distributing capsules allegedly filled with zinc phosphide to participants in the procession. (30:45)

Hosted by Ichha Sharma
Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha Sharma
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar