The Catch Up: 23 December

Dec 23, 2024

Prime Minister Modi emphasized the government's achievement of providing nearly 1 million jobs in just 18 months, highlighting efforts to support youth employment. Meanwhile, a tense encounter in Uttar Pradesh led to the deaths of three alleged militants linked to attacks in Punjab. In Assam, six Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended for illegally crossing the border. Additionally, the incoming US President's appointment of an AI policy advisor was noted, marking a significant step in global tech governance.

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Key Developments and Global Appointments: December 23rd Catch Up

00:00 • 3min

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 23rd of December and here are the headlines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the central government’s efforts to provide ‘lakhs of government jobs in the last 1.5 years’. Addressing a Rozgar Mela virtually today, PM Modi said that his government set a “record” by giving permanent government jobs to almost 10 lakh people in the course of the last 18 months. PM Modi stated, quote, “There is a campaign going on to provide government jobs in various ministries, departments and institutions of the country. Today also, more than 71,000 youths have been given appointment letters,” unquote.

Meanwhile, Three members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force, who were allegedly involved in grenade attacks at police establishments in border areas of Punjab, were killed in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district today. The encounter was jointly conducted by the police forces from Punjab and UP. While the Punjab Police said in the morning that the men had been arrested, police in UP confirmed later that the men had died a little before 10 am. The deceased have been identified as Gurvinder Singh, Virendra Singh alias Ravi, and Jasan Preet Singh alias Pratap Singh, all residents of Gurdaspur.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today that six Bangladeshis have been apprehended by the Assam Police for entering the Indian territory illegally and handed over to the authorities of the neighbouring country, He, however, did not mention the sector of the India-Bangladesh border, where they were held. The chief minister said on X, quote ‘No place for illegal infiltration in Assam, carrying out their strict monitoring against infiltration attempts, Assam police apprehended 6 Bangladeshi nationals and pushed them across the border,” unquote.

Meanwhile, the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor said today they arrested the main accused in the abduction of comedian Sunil Pal and actor Mushtaq Mohammed Khan after an encounter late Sunday. While the police arrested the main accused Lavi Pal, his accomplice Himanshu managed to escape during the cross-firing. Lavi Pal was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head and had been absconding since being booked by the Meerut and Bijnor police for abduction or ransom of Mushtaq Khan on 20th of November and Sunil Pal on 2nd of December.

On the global front, US President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Sriram Krishnan, an aide of billionaire Elon Musk and Microsoft’s ex-employee, as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social said, quote “Sriram Krishnan will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI and help shape and coordinate AI policy across Government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.” unquote.

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