3 Things

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 9th of January and here are the headlines.

PM Modi Inaugurates Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Highlights India's Global Rise
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, emphasizing India’s increasing global stature over the past decade. He inaugurated and toured four exhibitions showcasing the efforts of both central and state ministries. PM Modi credited the government's economic initiatives for uplifting over 25 crore people from poverty. He also highlighted that India, now the world’s fifth-largest economy, is set to become the third-largest economy soon, reflecting the nation’s rapid growth and development.

Nikhil Gupta’s Plea for Help Amid U.S. Legal Trouble
Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national facing murder-for-hire charges in the U.S., has revealed that since his extradition from the Czech Republic, he has received no assistance from the Indian government. Gupta, held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, shared his frustration with The Indian Express, stating that despite his family’s multiple requests, no Indian official has reached out. Gupta’s case has sparked concerns about the lack of diplomatic support for citizens facing legal challenges abroad.

Meta’s Shift in Fact-Checking Program Raises Concerns in India
Meta’s recent decision to end its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. is causing alarm among Indian fact-checking organizations. Many of these groups, which depend heavily on Meta’s funding, are now facing uncertainty about their future. A senior anonymous source described this move as a potential "existential threat" to their operations. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg also announced significant content-related changes across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, fueling worries about the impact on fact-checking efforts globally.

India’s 2036 Olympic Bid Could Involve Multiple Cities
India is considering expanding its bid for the 2036 Olympics beyond Ahmedabad to showcase its diverse sporting capabilities. Proposed venues include Bhubaneswar for hockey, Bhopal for rowing, Pune for canoeing and kayaking, and Mumbai for cricket. Discussions with the International Olympic Committee’s Future Hosts Commission are ongoing, following India’s Letter of Intent submitted last October. The aim is to create a nationwide movement, ensuring a collective effort from various regions to make the event a success.

Wildfires Rage in Los Angeles, Destroying Homes and Lives
A new wildfire has erupted in the Hollywood Hills as five other blazes continue to ravage Los Angeles County. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, the fires have claimed at least five lives and destroyed hundreds of homes. More than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate as properties worth millions in areas like Pacific Palisades, home to celebrities, were consumed by flames. Over 1,000 structures have been destroyed, with firefighters battling the fast-spreading fires across the region.


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

First, The Indian Express' Jayprakash Naidu tells us about Mukesh Chandrakar, a journalist from Chhattisgarh who was allegedly murdered last week by two men, including his cousin and childhood best friend, Suresh Chandrakar.

Next, The Indian Express' Vidheesha Kuntamalla explains how IIT campuses across the country have changed six years after implementing the 20% quota for women (10:00).

Finally, we discuss the ongoing "Sheesh Mahal" controversy between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (20:40).

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 8th of January and here are today's headlines.

AAP Leaders Protest Near PM's Residence, Demand Media Tour of House

AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh staged a protest near the Prime Minister's official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, Delhi, but were blocked by security forces. Bharadwaj criticized the BJP-controlled police, questioning why the public is prevented from viewing the PM’s residence. The leaders also questioned the barricading at the 6 Flagstaff bungalow and demanded that the media be allowed a tour amid allegations of extravagant modifications made during former CM Arvind Kejriwal’s tenure.

Priyanka Gandhi Calls Ramesh Bidhuri’s Remarks 'Ridiculous'

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra dismissed former BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri’s controversial remark about her cheeks as “ridiculous,” emphasizing that important issues should dominate the Delhi assembly polls. Responding to the jibe, Priyanka mocked BJP candidate from Kalkaji, Ramesh Bidhuri, by questioning his own appearance. She stated that such irrelevant matters should not be discussed and stressed the need to focus on serious political issues instead of personal attacks ahead of the upcoming elections.

Dr. V. Narayanan Appointed New ISRO Chairman

Dr. V. Narayanan has been appointed as the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), succeeding S. Somanath. Narayanan, known for his pivotal role in advancing India’s cryogenic technology, was instrumental in diagnosing and recommending solutions to the Chandrayaan-2 failure, contributing to Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing. Having spent much of his career at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Narayanan will now lead ISRO into its next phase of space exploration.

EU Rejects Trump's Claims Over Greenland, Defends Sovereignty

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot responded to President-elect Donald Trump’s comments about acquiring Greenland, stating that the European Union would not tolerate any nation threatening its sovereign borders. Barrot expressed doubt that the U.S. would attempt to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He reinforced the EU’s position, declaring it would defend its sovereignty, and highlighted Europe’s strength and unity in maintaining its territorial integrity against external threats.

Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Strikes China’s Qinghai Province

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit China’s Qinghai province on Wednesday, with its epicenter located near the source of the Yellow River. This follows a series of seismic events in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, including a deadly 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Tibet and a smaller 3.1 magnitude tremor in Sichuan. The earthquake struck Madoi county in Golog prefecture at a depth of 14 km (8.7 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), causing concern over the region’s seismic instability.

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

First, The Indian Express' Kanchan Vasdev speaks to us about the farmers protest happening at the Khanauri and Shambhu border. She also talks about the reason behind the farmer organization's refusal to meet the high powered committee constituted by the Supreme Court. 

Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about the Human metapneumovirus. She shares the symptoms of the virus, how serious the situation is and the cases that have surfaced in India. 

Finally, we talk about the Maldives' defence minister Mohammed Ghassan Maumoon's three-day visit to India to strengthen military ties amid a thaw in the overall relations between the two countries.

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 7th of January and here are today's headlines.

Delhi Election Schedule Announced
The Election Commission of India has revealed the poll schedule for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. Voting will take place on February 5, and results will be announced on February 8. The current Delhi Assembly's term ends on February 23. The Model Code of Conduct will be enforced throughout the election period. AAP chief Atishi reacted to the BJP-led Centre’s decision to revoke her official residence, stating she’ll continue working for Delhi from the streets if needed.

SC Rejects Plea on BPSC Exam Leak
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking the cancellation of the Bihar Public Services Commission (BPSC) 70th Combined Competitive Exams due to an alleged paper leak. The bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, advised the petitioner to first approach the Patna High Court. The petitioner’s counsel highlighted the police’s brutal lathi-charge during demonstrations against the leak, which was witnessed nationwide.

Allu Arjun Visits Injured Boy from Stampede
Tollywood actor Allu Arjun visited the nine-year-old boy who was injured in a stampede during the premiere of Pushpa 2 on December 4. The boy’s mother, M. Revathi, tragically died in the incident at Sandhya Theatre. Arjun, granted bail after his arrest related to the case, stood by the boy, who remains in a coma. Doctors confirmed the boy’s vital signs were stable after Arjun's visit to the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences.

Maharashtra Mandates FASTag by April 1
The Maharashtra Cabinet has made FASTag mandatory for all vehicles in the state starting April 1. FASTag service providers must now thoroughly verify their databases, ensuring that the vehicle details match the national VAHAN registry. This process aims to maintain accurate and updated data across the system to improve efficiency in toll collection and prevent any discrepancies in vehicle identification.

Deadly Earthquake Strikes Tibet
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Tibet on Tuesday morning, leaving at least 95 dead and 130 injured. The epicenter, located near the border with Nepal, lies in a seismically active region where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, with tremors felt across neighboring countries. China’s state media reported severe damage, while rescue operations continue in the high-altitude region at 4,200 meters (13,800 feet).

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

First, The Indian Express’ Sukrita Baruah explains why India is planning to construct the country’s largest hydropower dam in Arunachal Pradesh and why the locals are opposing it.

Next, The Indian Express’ Udit Misra discusses the reasons behind the rupee’s fall against the dollar and the factors influencing the exchange rate (13:42).

Finally, The Indian Express’ Jayprakash Naidu provides updates on the latest Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, which claimed the lives of eight security personnel (27:12).

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

The headlines of the day from The Indian Express.

First, The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy speaks to us about the world's largest dam - The Brahmaputra dam project being constructed by China and how it will impact India.

Next, we talk to The Indian Express'  Ajoy Sinha Karpuram who shares with us how reservation is linked to religion and how over the years it's been studied and challenged.

Finally, we talk about the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). A disease with flu-like symptoms, which is spreading in China.


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

The headlines of the day from 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 episode was first published on the 2nd of December, 2024)