3 Things Express Audio

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)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
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.

Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
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)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode