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This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 21st of June and here are the top stories of the week.

Under scanner for the cancellation of UGC NET and facing criticism for the NEET issue, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said that the enquiry conducted till now shows evidence of “errors in some regions”, and assured students that everyone involved in the security breach will be punished. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, said the main reason for paper leaks is that educational institutions have been dominated by the BJP and its parent organisation RSS and paper leaks will not stop unless that is reversed. Congress has decided to hold a nationwide protest today demanding justice for the NEET candidates.

Three months after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy case being probed separately by the CBI, AAP leader and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail Thursday by a Delhi court. While granting bail, Special Judge Niyay Bindu also declined ED’s plea to keep the bail order in abeyance for 48 hours. Arrested on March 21, Kejriwal had stepped out last month on interim bail to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections. He surrendered on June 2.

Two days after 10 persons were killed following a collision between the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train in Darjeeling, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Northeast Frontier Railway said on Wednesday that the freight train was moving at a high speed on the day of the accident and that drivers of the train were not ‘following the procedure’. At least nine persons were killed and around 40 injured in the accident.

Around 68 Indians are among scores of those who have died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca amid the scorching heat, a diplomat told news agency AFP. On Tuesday, AFP reported that at least 550 people have died on the Hajj pilgrimage. Out of those, 323 were Egyptians who died due to heat-related illness, the international news agency reported citing two Arab diplomats. According to Saudi media reports, temperatures rose to 51.8 degree Celsius in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday.

In what seemed to be a direct reply to the Canadian parliament's tribute to the pro-khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was allegedly assassinated last year, the Indian consulate in Vancouver reiterated New Delhi's unwavering commitment to combating terrorism globally and gave a reminder of the Khalistani bombing of Air India 'Kanishka' flight in 1985. The embassy further announced that it would hold a memorial next week commemorating the anniversary of the flight bombing resulted in the deaths of 329 individuals, including 268 Canadians and 24 Indians. The Indian Consulate's statement is a sign that bilateral ties between India and Canada are likely to spiral further downwards.

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

First, Indian Express’ Ankita Upadhyay tells us about North India’s first heat stroke unit, set up at RML Hospital, and about Raju Kumar, who was recently admitted there.

Next, Indian Express’ Abhinaya Harigovind discusses the Ministry of Education’s decision to cancel the recently conducted University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) (08:42).

And in the end, Indian Express’ Mihir Vasavda talks about the expert who will be accompanying the Indian Olympic contingent to help them improve their sleep (13:30).

Hosted, written, and produced by 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 20th of June and here are today's headlines.

As the controversy around the NEET-UG 2024 heightens, the Supreme Court refused to put a stay in the counselling process ,while hearing fresh petitions seeking cancellation of the exam. The apex court sought responses from the Centre, the National Testing Agency and others on petitions seeking the cancellation of NEET-UG 2024, and a court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam. Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to hold a nationwide protest on June 21 (Friday) demanding justice for the NEET candidates.

Patna High Court set aside the Bihar government’s notifications to raise reservations in government jobs and educational institutions from 50 per cent to 65 per cent today. On 7th of November last year, the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government raised the Bihar quota and reservation in the state effectively became 75 per cent when the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) is taken into consideration. The bench said that it is “infringing upon right to equality”.

The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Tamil Naidu increased to 34 today, with around 100 others hospitalised — five of them in critical condition. Most of the victims consumed the spurious liquor at Karunapuram in Kallakurichi on Tuesday night. As the spurious liquor started to take effect yesterday, they were admitted to hospitals. Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his shock and sorrow over the incident, and emphasised the urgency of holding those responsible to account.

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has levied a fine of Rs 1.2 lakh — almost equal to a semester’s fee — on a student who participated in a play titled “Raahovan” during the institute’s Performing Arts Festival held in March this year. The play, loosely based on the Ramayana, sparked protests from a section of students who alleged it was disrespectful to Hinduism and derogatory towards Ram and Sita. At least seven other students were penalised, but the nature of disciplinary action and quantum of fine, could not be ascertained.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of multiple development projects in Jammu and Kashmir today. PM Modi will be on a two-day tour in the Union Territory and he will lead the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations in Srinagar tomorrow. Assembly elections are due in Jammu and Kashmir this year and PM Modi’s first visit after forming his third government assumes significance in this backdrop.

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

First, Indian Express' Jayprakash S Naidu explains what happened in Chhattisgarh where 8 Maoists were killed in an encounter by the security forces on June 15. He also shares how the frequency of such anti-Naxal encounters are increasing and why is it so.

Next, Indian Express’ Divya A speaks to us about the extradition of Nikhil Gupta to the United States. Indian national Nikhil Gupta was arrested in Czech Republic last June on the allegation that he was involved in the murder plot of Khalistani Separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. (8:22)

And in the end, we talk about the rise in fatalities due to the heatwave conditions prevailing across many states in India and what the Health ministry is doing in order to improve the situation. (16:31)

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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 19th of June and here are today's headlines.

Beeda Madhuri, the daughter of YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Beeda Masthan Rao, allegedly ran over a 22-year-old man sleeping on a pavement in Chennai on Monday evening. The incident has sparked a furore as Madhuri, who was allegedly driving the BMW car, was released on station bail after she surrendered on Tuesday morning. According to a top police source, the police erred by letting the accused leave on station bail instead of court bail. The incident has triggered anger among locals and the victim’s relatives who have accused the police of inaction.

A Delhi Court today extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till 3rd of July in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy case. His regular bail arguments were also heard. The CM, who is currently in judicial custody, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 21st of March in the case. The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail from 10th of May to 1st of June, allowing him to campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Delhi CS Naresh Kumar has been given additional charge of New Delhi Municipal Corporation Chairperson.

After inaugurating the new campus of Nalanda University, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a golden era of India will begin with the rebuilding of the ancient University. Along with ambassadors from 17 countries, Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were present at the event. Ahead of the inauguration, PM Modi visited the ancient ruins of Nalanda University, located less than 20 km from the campus.

Hundreds of visitors have died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca amid scorching heat, according to press reports and foreign ministries. At least 550 people have died on haj, diplomats told AFP on Tuesday. Saudi state TV said temperatures rose on Monday as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit) in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Three hundred and twenty-three of the dead were Egyptians, most of whom perished due to heat-related illness, AFP reported, citing two Arab diplomats.

A United States group of lawmakers, following their visit to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today, asserted that they would not allow China to influence the choice of his successor. Former United States Congress Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, quote, "His Holiness Dalai Lama, with his message of knowledge, tradition, compassion, purity of soul and love, will live a long time and his legacy will live forever. But you, the President of China, you'll be gone and nobody will give you credit for anything." Unquote.

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

First, Indian Express’ Chief of the National Bureau Ritika Chopra discusses the changes made to the 11th and 12th standard NCERT political science textbooks regarding the Babri Masjid demolition and the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Next, Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath explains why writer and activist Arundhati Roy and Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former professor at the Central University of Kashmir, may soon face prosecution under the stringent anti-terror law, UAPA (10:50).

And finally, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt talks about a private medical college where not a single batch has graduated in 13 years, the reasons the National Medical Commission has taken action against it, and the harassment she encountered while reporting on this story (19:45).

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