This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Shashank Bhargava.
It’s the 1st of July and here are today's headlines.

A ruckus ensued in the Lok Sabha during the first speech of Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the 18th Lok Sabha. The commotion began when Gandhi gestured toward the Treasury Bench and remarked, “those who call themselves Hindus talk about violence.” This statement triggered an uproar in the Lower House, prompting intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP has since demanded an apology from him.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has consented to jailed Kashmir leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, taking his oath as an MP on the 5th of July. Tomorrow, Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh will rule on the interim bail plea of Rashid, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi, in connection with a 2017 terror funding case. Rashid won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from the Baramulla constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, defeating his nearest rival, Omar Abdullah, by over 200,000 votes.

A Delhi court today sentenced activist Medha Patkar to five months' imprisonment in the defamation case filed against her in 2001 by Vinai Kumar Saxena, now the Delhi Lieutenant Governor. In 2000, Saxena had published an advertisement against Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan, which opposed the construction of dams on the river. Following this, Patkar allegedly issued a “press notice” against Saxena. In 2001, a defamation suit was filed against Patkar in an Ahmedabad court, which was later transferred to Delhi on the Supreme Court’s directions.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the Opposition to refrain from politicizing the new criminal laws that came into effect today and appealed to them for holding dialogue before resorting to protests. The three new criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) – were approved by Parliament last December to replace the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.

The Russian Defence ministry has reported that the country’s forces have taken over two villages in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. The ministry, in a brief statement on the Telegram messaging app, said its forces have also improved their positions along the frontline around the villages. Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff said that "heavy fighting" was taking place in the area around the villages.

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

Preparing for Civil Services? The Indian Express content that keeps you ahead of the curve is now available also on IAS Saathi. This new AI-driven app provides you credible information and aims to keep a balance of study & health. Download today on Google PlayStore and Apple Appstore.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iassathi.IASsathi&hl=en