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This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 7th of June and here are the top stories of the week.
The Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Party is set to return for a third term by winning 293 seats in the 18th Lok Sabha elections. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party suffered a major setback as it fell short of a majority – with 240 seats – on its own as it was heavily dependent on alliance partners such as the TDP and JD(U) to secure 272 seats required to form the government.
The Opposition INDIA bloc combined by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won a total of 232 seats. The Congress got back on its feet with 99 seats and the SP gave a stunning show by winning 37 seats from a mere 5 seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2019. The TMC won 29 seats in West Bengal while the DMK had leads in 22 seats. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP won 7 seats and the Shiv Sena of Uddhav Thackeray secured 9 seats. In Bihar, the RJD was ahead in 4 constituencies and the AAP and JMM in 3.
In Odisha, the BJP is all set to form a majority government of its own for the first time, winning 78 out of 147 seats in the assembly elections of the coastal state. The outcome brings to an end the five-term reign of Naveen Patnaik’s BJD, which managed to retain only 51 seats this time. Patnaik was eyeing to become the longest serving Chief Minister in India, but fell short by 76 days.
Actor Kangana Ranaut, who recently won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket, was allegedly slapped by a woman constable of the CISF at the security area of Chandigarh airport. Afterwards, the CISF constable, Kulwinder Kaur, suggested her actions were linked to a statement Ranaut had made about women joining the farmers’ protest. The CISF suspended the constable, initiated departmental inquiry, and lodged a police complaint against her. Ranaut, who was taking a Vistara flight to New Delhi and was accompanied by members of her family, said she will file a complaint with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, which congratulated Narendra Modi, the BJP and NDA on their election victory, has protested the exchange of messages between Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and Modi on the poll outcome. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, responding to a question on the interaction between Modi and Lai, said there is no such thing as ‘president’ of the Taiwan region and that China opposes all forms of official interactions between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China. She further stated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express’ Dheeraj Mishra tells us why the BJP lost the Faizabad seat (of which Ayodhya is a part) to the Samajwadi Party, and the lessons it holds for the party.
Next, Indian Express’ Udit Misra reviews the biggest economic reforms under the previous two BJP-led governments and discusses the challenges and advantages of passing reforms under a coalition government (12:45).
And finally, Indian Express’ Avaneesh Mishra informs us about the nine people from Karnataka who passed away during a trek to Sahastratal in Uttarkashi (26:48).
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Produced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
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This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 6th of June and here are today's headlines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place on the evening of 9th of June, according to sources. Earlier, the ceremony was slated to take place on the 8th of June, but now it may be held at 6 pm on Sunday. The swearing-in of Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh is likely to be postponed to 12th of June from 9th of June, as he has to attend PM Modi’s swearing-in first.
Meanwhile, there were more than 150 politicians who shifted from one political party to another in the fray in the elections. Of these, 13 candidates or their family members are facing probes either by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Income Tax Department, or the Enforcement Directorate. Of the 13, eight had switched sides to the BJP — seven from Congress and one from Trinamool Congress; two had switched sides to the Shiv Sena Shinde faction from the Shiv Sena, one switched to TDP from YSRCP; and two to Congress from the Jharkhand Vikas Party and Punjab Ekta Party, respectively.
The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and lightning in Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts starting today. Similarly, the Pune Fire Brigade had received 50 calls related to water logging and tree falls as rainwater logged major portions of roads due flash floods that hit several parts of the city. The rainfall, which meteorologists said, was very close to a cloud burst that was localized in nature.
Nine trekkers from Bengaluru died in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi after their 22-member team which was on a trekking expedition to Sahastra Tal was hit by bad weather on Tuesday afternoon. Officials confirmed today after four more bodies were recovered. The deceased were part of a 19-member group of trekkers from The Karnataka Mountaineering Association.
In global news today, Israel targeted a Gaza school that it alleged contained an Hamas compound, killing fighters involved in the Oct. 7 attack. On theother hand, the Gaza media said the strike killed at least 27 people seeking shelter. The Hamas-run government media office, rejected Israel's claims that the UN school in Nuseirat, in central Gaza, had hidden a Hamas command post. Israel's military said that before the strike by Israeli fighter jets, the military took steps to reduce the risk of harm to civilians. Israel has said there will be no halt to fighting during ceasefire talks.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Flora Swain is joined by Indian Express' Sujit Bisoyi and veteran journalist Sandeep Sahu to discuss BJP's very first victory in Odisha which broke the 24 year long streak of Naveen Patnaik and the BJD. They discuss at length why it happened and where VK Pandian stands in this whole situation.
Next, Indian Express’ Premankur Biswas speaks to political analyst Jayanta Ghoshal about Trinamool Congress' win in West Bengal despite the talks about it facing anti- incumbency. And the BJP losing ground in the state with its tally decreasing from 18 to 12 seats. Jayanta has been writing about the state for the last 40 years. (15:12)
And in the end, we talk about China congratulating PM Modi on NDA's win in the Lok Sabha elections. China has said it wants to work on the bilateral relations between the two countries. (30:05)
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Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
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 5th of June and here are today's headlines.
The National Democratic Alliance is likely to stake a claim to form government for the third consecutive time today, after the meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. Earlier today, Modi tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu along with his Council of Ministers. He is likely to take oath for a third consecutive term on the 8th of June. This is the first time since Jawaharlal Nehru that a prime minister will be returning to power for a third consecutive term. With the BJP failing to go past the majority mark on their own, their allies Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar are in Delhi today for a meeting.
As the INDIA bloc leaders prepare to meet at Congress President Malllikarjun Kharge’s residence today, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar said that there had been no discussion within the bloc on reaching out to the TDP or JD(U) to shore up the numbers of the alliance for government formation. Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the INDIA bloc’s tally in the Lok Sabha Elections was “excellent” and that the alliance leaders would discuss their strategy at the meeting.
While taking responsibility for the setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party Maharashtra in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, Devendra Fadnavis today offered to step down as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and work for the party. Fadnavisa said the Lok Sabha election results were way below the party’s expectations.This is the second time that Fadnavis has expressed his wish to remain outside the government and lead the BJP unit.
A city court has rejected Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail plea in a money laundering case related to the excise policy, even as it extended his judicial custody till 19th of June. Special judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Courts dismissed Kejriwal’s plea seeking interim bail for seven days on medical grounds. The blow comes just a day after the Kejriwal’s party AAP failed to make a mark in the Lok Sabha elections, with the BJP dominating the national capital for the third time in a row, winning all seven Lok Sabha seats.
Wishes poured in from across the world for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance for a third term in a row as they won 293 Lok Sabha seats. The American daily The Washington Post called India's Lok Sabha election results 2024 as determined by Indian voters to be an "unexpected repudiation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership." British daily The Guardian said "it was clear that the landslide for the BJP predicted in polls had not materialised and instead there had been a pushback against the strongman prime minister and his Hindu nationalist politics in swathes of the country."
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
From the BJP managing to win only 240 seats (despite a '400 paar' campaign), to the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh emerging as the party with the third-highest number of seats in the country, to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) pushing back strongly in West Bengal, and the Congress party significantly increasing its tally, today on the podcast, we decode the rather surprising results of the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls.
Guests: Indian Express’ Vandita Mishra, Neerja Chowdhury, Asad Rehman, Shubhajit Roy, Liz Mathew, Deeptiman Tiwary, and Hamza Khan.
Hosted and written by Shashank Bhargava
Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Additional support from Mahiyar Rohinton Patel -
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 4th of June and here are today's headlines.
With the NDA poised to form the government for a third consecutive time, bagging at least 290 seats, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “historic feat”. As the INDIA bloc managed to halt the BJP’s march towards majority, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came out to hit out at the BJP, saying that the mandate today was a clear indication that the people of the country do not want to PM Modi and Amit Shah to run the country. The Opposition INDIA bloc has reversed all exit poll predictions, leading in at least 228 seats, according to the latest numbers. However, despite a stiff contest, the BJP-led NDA is inching closer towards the 300-mark, standing at 297 at the moment.
In what is probably the biggest upset state-wise, the tug-of-war for Odisha between BJP and BJD ended today with the Bharatiya Janata Party set to form the next government. Though the ruling BJD party hels various rallies and election campaigns, the saffron party has crossed the majority mark of 74. Odisha CHief Minister Naveen Patnaik served for five consecutive terms, but now the lotus party will form its first cabinet in the coastal state.
In a major setback for the BJP, Union minister Smriti Irani lost to the Congress’s K L Sharma in Amethi, as Congress wrest back power. The Amethi win comes as a big boost to the Congress, with Rahul Gandhi losing the seat to Irani in 2019. In neighbouring Rae Bareli, a Congress party bastion for decades, Rahul defeated BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh, who apologised to the people of Rae Bareli.
Behind the remarkable turnaround for the Opposition Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh where the INDIA bloc was leading, some fascinating factors may have given them an upper hand over the BJP. One of the factors that may have worked in favour of the SP, is its ticket-distribution strategy. Unlike previous elections, the SP ticket distribution focused on non-Yadav OBCs. Also, the SP changed candidates in several constituencies, depending on feedback from local cadre and local caste equation.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its allies, the JanaSena Party (JSP) of Pawan Kalyan and BJP, are headed for a landslide in Andhra Pradesh, in what is a complete reversal of the 2019 results. This is quite a turnaround for the TDP-led alliance, which was almost written off months before the elections after its chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest. Jagan seemed to have lost focus on governance issues in trying to implement his nine welfare schemes, which he had promised during his padyatra ahead of the 2019 polls.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah joins us to talk about Arunachal Pradesh's assembly elections. She shares the results of the assembly elections and the seat distribution that it has led to.
Next, Indian Express’ Damini Nath speaks to us about the BJP and the opposition INDIA Bloc approaching the Election Commission with concerns, days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results. She shares the issues that were expressed and the election authority's response. (8:26)
And in the end, we talk about BRS leader K Kavitha who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate due to her involvement in the Delhi excise policy scam. Her judicial custody has been extended till June 3. (14:53)
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Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
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 3rd of June and here are today's headlines.
With less than 24 hours to go for the counting of votes to start, all eyes are on whether the exit poll predictions will hold ground — the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government coming back to power with thumping majority. While the Opposition’s INDIA bloc has rubbished the exit polls, the BJP is confident of easily crossing the majority-mark, even planning out how they want to celebrate the landmark victory. All major exit polls have projected a resounding victory for the NDA with the BJP expected to better its own 2019 tally of 303 seats.
A day before the vote counting of 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Monday said the EC had failed to counter “mischievous” narratives – starting with allegations that the electoral roll was faulty, then questions raised on EVMs and voter turnout, and now the counting processes. Asked whether there were any learnings from the election process, he said that in hindsight, given the heatwave, the polls should have been finished within a month. Additionally, he said that the EC has to be better prepared to counter “false narratives”.
The Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court, seeking increased water allocation from neighboring states due to an acute water crisis caused by extreme heat waves. While Himachal Pradesh has agreed to share surplus water, the Haryana government is not providing necessary support. The Supreme Court has called for an urgent meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board to address the critical situation.
Bengaluru experienced a heavy downpour on Sunday, during the Southwest Monsoon, breaking a 133-year-old record for the highest daily rainfall in June. According to the India Meteorological Department, the city received 111.1 mm of rainfall on that day, surpassing previous 101.6mm in 1891. The current forecast suggests that rainfall will continue for the next two days, accompanied by overcast conditions and light to moderate thunderstorms. This recent heavy rainfall has put Bengaluru on track to potentially break its highest monthly rainfall record for June, which currently stands at 228.2 mm recorded in 1996.
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including one who has long evaded security forces, were trapped in a gunfight with a joint team of security forces in Kashmir's Pulwama. The militants, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Dar (a militant since September 2015) and Rayees (who joined in 2021). A joint team comprising personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army, and paramilitary forces cordoned off Pulwama’s Nehama village after specific inputs about the presence of militants in the village.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
Large parts of the country are currently experiencing an intensely hot summer, with temperatures soaring to record levels. The extreme heat has already claimed lives in states like Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat and Delhi.
So today, we dedicate this episode to discussing heat waves, how they affect our bodies, and the precautions you should take to stay safe. Joining us for this discussion is Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, honorary professor and former director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar.
Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Timestamps:
What counts as a heatwave (01:21)
What happens during a heat stroke (04:40)
Prickly heat, heat cramps, and heat syncope (06:36)
The difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion (07:26)
Precautions to take when stepping out (10:46)
When your job requires you to be outside (12:53)
Is electrolyte better than water? (14:23)
Does the temperature of drinking water matter? (15:25)
When you don't have access to air conditioning (18:42)
Should you avoid showering when the water is not cool? (21:35)
A note for kids and pregnant women (22:53)
Why cities are getting hotter (23:41)
The best time to exercise/workout (26:26)
Changes that can be implemented to cities (27:06) -
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 31st of May and here are the top stories of the week.
After a three-month-long hectic campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kanyakumari on Thursday, to begin a 45-hour meditation retreat. For his visit, the PM chose the historically significant Dhyana Mandapam inside the Swami Vivekananda Memorial, situated on a rocky islet. Modi started his meditation with prayers at the renowned Sri Bhagavathi Amman Temple before boarding a special boat to the mid-sea Vivekananda Memorial.
The National Capital on Wednesday witnessed light rains and thunderstorms amidst record breaking temperatures and a severe heatwave. On the same day, Mungeshpur in Northwest Delhi had recorded the highest-ever temperature in the city at 52.3 degrees Celsius. Delhi water minister Atishi announced that a Rs 2000 fine would be imposed on anyone found to be wasting water. This included washing cars with a hose, letting their water tanks overflow or using private connections for commercial activity.
With the BJP turning up the heat on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD over the growing influence of his aide and former bureaucrat V K Pandian, Patnaik on Thursday sought to make it clear that Pandian is not his “successor”, and speculation suggesting this is “an exaggeration”. On whether his party has a succession plan, Patnaik reiterated that the successor “will be decided by the people of the state. That is the natural result in these things”.
Days after former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif admitted that Islamabad had violated the Lahore pact, India on Thursday said an objective view is emerging on the issue in the neighbouring country. Sharif on Tuesday said Islamabad had “violated” an agreement with India signed by him and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, in an apparent reference to the Kargil misadventure by General Pervez Musharraf. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said quote, “You are aware of our position on the issue. I need not have to reiterate that. We note that there is an objective view emerging in Pakistan as well on this matter,” Unquote.
On Sunday night, an Israeli air strike on an area designated for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, resulted in the deaths of 45 people and injured 249 others. A social media campaign titled 'All eyes on Rafah' emerged after the loss of at least 37 lives on May 28, gaining significant attention. In response, Israel launched the campaign “Where were eyes on October 7th?” referencing the October 7 Hamas-led attacks that killed at least 1,200 people.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Sweety Kumari joins us to talk about Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, who went missing after his arrival in Kolkata and now has allegedly been brutally murdered. She shares about the investigations done by the CID and the Dhaka Police and the speculations being made.
Next, Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha speaks to us about Cyclone Remal and the destruction that it has caused. He also shares about the early warning systems in place and how the cyclone became a multi-hazard disaster. (9:32)
And in the end, we talk about an Israeli air strike that happened on an area that was designated for displaced Palestinians in Rafah that killed 45 people and has sparked a global outrage. (19:02)
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Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode -
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 30th of May and here are today's headlines.
Addressing his final Lok Sabha election rally in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared the works of his government with the ideology of Guru Ravidas. He also attacked the INDIA bloc, particularly the Congress, for violating the Constitution during the Emergency and the 1984 riots against Sikhs. He also accused the Opposition of trying to divide the country based on religion through reservation. Punjab goes to polls on 1st of June in the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
A Delhi court today issued notice to the ED on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking regular bail in a case related to the alleged excise scam. The court directed the central agency to file its response by Saturday. The judge also sought ED’s response on another plea of Kejriwal seeking seven-day extension of his interim bail on medical grounds, in case the regular bail petition is not allowed. Meanwhile, The Delhi government is set to hold an emergency meeting regarding the water crisis in the city amid a prevailing heatwave.
Speaking of heat, he India Meteorological Department announced that southwest monsoon set in over Kerala today, two days ahead of its normal onset date of 1st of June. With this, the country’s four-month-long chief monsoon season has commenced. The monsoon has also simultaneously commenced early in some parts of Northeastern India, where it usually arrives between June 2 and 5.
Security has been stepped up in New York after terror group ISIS-K made a “global” threat year against the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup match featuring India and Pakistan. According to a report by CNN, Nassau County Police Commissioner said the event first received an ISIS-K-linked threat in April which was followed by more specific threats on the India versus Pakistan game, scheduled for 9th of June. He added that the threats also had references to a viral video circulating online, which calls for “that lone wolf to act out.”
Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos today successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle. It was powered by the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, after calling off its launch at least four times previously. Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) lifted off this morning in a mission of many firsts. While it is the second launch by a private startup in India, it is the first to use a private launchpad that the company has set up at the country’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
As we draw closer to the end of the Lok Sabha polls, today on the podcast, we are taking a break from our usual programming to share a conversation that we recently had with Vandita Mishra, Indian Express' National Opinion Editor.
Throughout these elections, Vandita traveled across five crucial states - Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal. In this discussion, we talk about the concerns of voters in these states, the reasons behind many choosing to vote for the ruling party, the current state of opposition, and the biggest factors that will determine the outcome of these polls.
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Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode
Additional support from Ichha Sharma and Mahiyar Rohinton Patel -
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 29th of May and here are today's headlines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hinted at a “conspiracy” behind the “deteriorating health condition” of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Addressing a rally in Baripada, Modi said there is a need for a detailed probe to “uncover the mystery” about Patnaik’s health. Though the PM did not mention anyone by name, his comments are ostensibly a reference to Patnaik’s close aide and former IAS officer V K Pandian, whom he had earlier accused of capturing the CM’s office and residence.
The Delhi government today announced that a Rs 2000 fine would be imposed on anyone found to be wasting water. This includes washing cars with a hose, letting their water tanks overflow or using private connections for commercial activity. The announcement comes as the national capital faces a water crisis and soaring temperatures. The Regional Meteorological Centre of Delhi has warned of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in all districts today. Delhi Lieutenant-Governor V K Saxena, in view of severe heatwave conditions in the national Capital, directed for paid leave to labourers at construction sites from 12 noon to 3 pm.
Two men died when an SUV that was allegedly part of the convoy of BJP candidate Karan Bhushan Singh allegedly hit their motorcycle. Karan, the son of incumbent MP Brij Bhushan Singh is contesting in Karnalganj police station area of Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district that voted on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls. The police have seized the SUV and arrested its driver.
After DNA samples matched with those missing after the Rajkot TRP gaming zone fire, investigators confirmed today its co-owner Prakashchand Hiran alias Prakash Jain was among those killed on 25th of May. Hiran, who was also among the six TRP Game Zone partners facing charges of culpable homicide (not amounting to murder) over the fire, was reported missing by his family on Tuesday. Forensic investigators on Wednesday confirmed the identities of 25 of the 27 DNA samples and remains they collected from the fire site. In all 28 people are suspected to have been killed in the fire.
The escalation of Israeli shelling and airstrikes resulting in the tragic loss of at least 37 lives outside the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Tuesday has ignited widespread international condemnation with the "All Eyes on Rafah" campaign gaining momentum on social media. The "All Eyes on Rafah" campaign, spanning across social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, serves as a poignant call to action from activists and humanitarian groups. It's a plea for global awareness, urging people not to turn away from the war unfolding in Rafah. More than 108k posts on Instagram with #alleyesonrafah have been shared on Instagram till now.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Ankita Upadhyay joins us to talk about the fire that broke out at a children's hospital in Vivek Vihar in Delhi. She shares the red flags that were discovered by the authorities, steps taken by them and everything that has happened since then.
Next, Indian Express’ Film Critic Shubhra Gupta speaks to us about the Indian film All We Imagine As Light winning the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival and Payal Kapadia, the writer and the director of the film. (9:25)
And in the end, we talk about record breaking temperatures in Delhi, with the maximum temperature nearly touching 50 degree Celsius and the capital being on a Red Alert for a severe heatwave. (24:10)
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Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode -
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 28th of May and here are today's headlines.
Delhi Rouse Avenue Court today issued summons to Delhi Education Minister Atishi in connection with a defamation case filed by Praveen Shankar Kapoor. The case relates to Atishi’s accusations that the BJP attempted to poach Aam Aadmi Party MLAs. Atishi has been ordered to appear in court on the 29th of June. Meanwhile, the court has denied the bail plea of Umar Khalid, who is accused in the ‘larger conspiracy’ case related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. Khalid, who was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), had earlier told the Delhi court that other accused facing graver allegations than him were out on bail as well as people allegedly involved in similar activities were not even made an accused by the Delhi Police.
At least 15 people have been killed in multiple landslides across Aizawl today. This included 11 deaths in a stone quarry collapse, with Mizoram witnessing storms caused by Cyclone Remal. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma told The Indian Express that more bodies continue to be trapped in the debris. The state government sanctioned an amount of Rs 15 crore for relief work, and approved Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia payment for the families of the deceased.
A sessions court in Mumbai today sentenced two colleagues to life imprisonment for the murder of Kirti Vyas, a finance manager at BBlunt salon in Andheri, who was reported missing by her family six years ago. The Sessions Judge found Siddhesh Shantaram Tamhankar and a woman colleague guilty of murder, kidnapping for murder, wrongful restraint, and destruction of evidence, among other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and four others in the 2002 Ranjit Singh murder case. A division bench allowed the appeals filed by Ram Rahim Singh, Jasbir Singh, Sabdil Singh, Krishan Lal and Avtar Singh against the conviction order by a CBI court in connection with the murder of the Dera manager Ranjit Singh. The high court has yet to release the detailed order.
India announced immediate relief assistance worth US$ 1 million to Papua New Guinea in the wake of the devastating landslide. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences and conveyed India’s readiness to extend all possible support and assistance to the Pacific island country in its time of difficulty. More than 2,000 people were buried alive by a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea last week as treacherous terrain and the difficulty of getting aid to the site raised the fear that few survivors will be found.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Gopal Kateshiya tells us about the fire that broke out at an indoor game zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Saturday, killing 28 people, including children, and injuring nine others.
Next, Indian Express' Udit Misra explains how unemployment has fared under the Modi government and how it is distributed across religious and caste lines (11:02).
Finally, we discuss why two doctors from a government hospital have been booked in the Pune Porsche crash case (26:35).
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Produced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Additional support by Mahiyar Rohinton Patel
Edited and mixed Vijay Doiphode -
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 27th of May and here are today's headlines.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in an exclusive interview with the Indian Express. He expressed confidence in forming the government based on the results from the first five phases, with a projected tally of 300-310 seats. He said, quote, “We are somewhere between 300 and 310. This is without counting the sixth phase. We are in a comfortable position. This time, we went to the people with 10 years of track record and 25 years of a powerfully positive agenda.” Unquote.
In the Pune Porsche crash that resulted in the deaths of two young engineers, the Pune police said that doctors of Sassoon General Hospital the blood sample of the minor driver in a dustbin and sent another person’s blood to the forensic lab. Dr Ajay Taware, the head of the Sassoon Hospital’s forensic medicine department, and Dr Shrihari Harnol have been arrested for allegedly changing the blood sample of the minor boy.The Pune Police Commissioner said the second blood sample of the minor was sent to another government-run hospital in Aundh as a preventive measure.
The Gujarat government today suspended 7 officials for negligence and dereliction of duty in the Rajkor gaming zone fire incident. The seven officials included two police inspectors, two executive engineers, one assistant engineer, one town planner and a fire station officer. An official release from the state government said the officers were suspended following instructions from Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who visited the Rajkot fire site on Sunday. It said the officers allowed “the gaming zone to open without due approvals and thereby showed utter carelessness and committing dereliction of duty”.
The National Commission of Women today directed the Delhi Police to obtain call records of all relevant individuals in the Swati Maliwal assault case investigation, including those of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In a post on social media platform X, the NCW also mandated strict action against individuals issuing rape and death threats to Maliwal. Earlier, the Tiz Hazari court heard Kejriwal’s aide, Bibhav Kumar’s bail plea in relation to the alleged Swati Maliwal assault case.
JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna who is facing sex abuse allegations spoke out a month after the case surfaced, saying that he will return to India and appear before the Special Investigation Team on 31st of May. In a video statement aired on a local channel, Prajwal said he will cooperate with the investigation and will respond to it (charges). PTI news agency reported the statement where he said, quote, "I have faith in court and I am confident I will come out of false cases through court,” Unquote.
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Hamza Khan joins us to talk about the BJP and what challenges it might face when it comes to Rajasthan. The party that made a clean sweep in the state for two consecutive elections, might not be able to do so this year.
Next, Indian Express’ Flora Swain speaks to Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs editor Shubhajit Roy about a post-Raisi Iran and how everything will function now that the President and the Foreign minister of the country are no more. (12:14)
And in the end, we talk about a massive fire that broke out in a children's hospital in east Delhi killing seven newborn babies. (21:48)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar - Show more
