This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 7th of March and here are this week’s headlines.

Starting in the news from the North, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring full statehood for the union territory. Speaking at the opening of the Budget Session, he acknowledged the emotional and political significance of statehood to the people of J&K and emphasized ongoing efforts to engage stakeholders. Sinha stated that the government is working to address the people’s desires while ensuring peace, stability, and progress. His remarks come as political activity in J&K intensifies, with opposition parties challenging the government on sensitive issues like Article 370.

Now, from news in the South, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin led an all-party meeting that unanimously rejected the upcoming Parliamentary constituency delimitation process, set for 2026. The resolution passed in Chennai argued that the process would weaken Tamil Nadu and threaten India’s federal structure. It claimed that basing the delimitation solely on the upcoming census population data would harm the political representation of Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states, especially those with successful population control measures.

In another news making headline, Kannada film actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a raid at her residence, recovering jewellery valued at ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash. Rao, 33, is the stepdaughter of a senior Karnataka IPS officer and was intercepted after returning from Dubai, a frequent destination for her trips.

In global headlines, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness to sign a minerals deal with the United States, despite not finalizing it during his visit to Washington. Zelenskyy acknowledged the challenges of his meeting with US President Donald Trump but reaffirmed Ukraine's openness to constructive dialogue. He emphasized that Ukraine’s position needs to be heard. The minerals deal was seen as a step towards strengthening security ties between the two nations. However, tensions over peace talks with Russia have led to growing frustrations between the US and Ukraine.

New 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 20% tariff hike on Chinese goods have sparked trade tensions between the US and its top three trading partners. Canada quickly retaliated, announcing tariffs on $20.7bn worth of US goods, with further measures planned if Trump’s tariffs remain. China also imposed additional 10%-15% tariffs on US imports, alongside export restrictions on US entities, escalating the trade conflict. These tariffs came into effect immediately, adding strain to global trade.

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