This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 14th of January and here are today's headlines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 150th anniversary celebration of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), praised the country’s meteorological advancements for enhancing disaster management and limiting casualties. Modi emphasized how India’s accurate weather forecasts have benefited both the region and the world, contributing to the nation’s global image. He highlighted how these advancements have minimized economic losses, underscoring that scientific progress is a reflection of a country's overall development.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who chairs the Communications and Information Technology Committee, announced plans to summon Meta over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s statement regarding the electoral defeat of incumbent governments post-Covid. Zuckerberg’s comment about 2024 elections prompted Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to refute the claim. Vaishnaw emphasized India’s progress under PM Modi, highlighting free vaccines, food distribution, and India’s growth as the fastest-growing economy, contradicting the claim that Modi's third term victory was unlikely.
The Telangana government's crackdown on BRS Huzurabad MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and other party leaders sparked controversy. The incident followed an altercation between Kaushik and Congress MLA Sanjay Kumar. Kaushik was arrested on charges of physical abuse and obstruction, later released on bail. Subsequently, senior BRS leaders, including K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Kumar, were placed under house arrest. Kaushik criticized Congress’s stance on constitutional rights, alleging consistent violations in Telangana's politics.
Delhi Police filed an FIR against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for using images of Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Shah in social media posts. The complaint, filed by BJP office secretary Brijesh Rai, accuses AAP of misusing these images in their posts on X. Investigations are ongoing, with elections in Delhi approaching on February 5. The FIR was filed at the North Avenue police station, where AAP’s posts are under scrutiny during the pre-election period.
Los Angeles firefighters faced high winds overnight as they battled two massive wildfires that have caused extensive destruction, killing at least 24 people. The fires, which have scorched an area the size of Washington D.C., were exacerbated by Santa Ana winds, with gusts reaching up to 75 mph. Over 8,500 firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the blazes and prevent further spread, as authorities issued a red flag warning for dangerous conditions in the region.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.
