The Catch Up: 27 February

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 27th of February and here are the headlines.

The Uttarakhand High Court reviewed provisions of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) amid a public interest litigation. The court questioned the state’s ability to make changes to the UCC, particularly regarding mandatory live-in registrations. Senior advocate Vrinda Grover argued that the UCC imposes unnecessary surveillance, as information about individuals is sent directly to local police stations. The court also questioned whether the UCC grants police powers for domiciliary visits, which it found to be a potential violation of rights.

Congress leader Sam Pitroda caused controversy with a speech where he claimed to have spoken at the "Indian Institute of Technology-Ranchi." The Ministry of Education fact-checked his statement, clarifying there is no IIT in Ranchi but an IIIT, which Pitroda had not been invited to. The ministry condemned his remarks, asserting they were reckless and could damage the reputation of the prestigious institute. Legal action was warned for any attempt to malign its image.

A probationary primary teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Jehanabad, Bihar, was suspended after videos of her making derogatory comments about Bihar went viral. The teacher criticized her posting in Bihar, calling it “unacceptable” and disparaging the people of the state. She claimed Bihar’s citizens lacked civic sense and blamed the state for India’s development struggles. The video sparked outrage, with many questioning the appropriateness of such remarks from an educator.

US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on European Union imports, particularly targeting cars. Trump criticized the EU, claiming it was "formed to screw the United States." He pointed out the EU’s higher tariffs and value-added taxes, which are significantly steeper than those in the US. The announcement comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the US and the EU, with officials raising concerns over European taxation policies.

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their New Mexico home on Wednesday. Authorities confirmed the couple’s deaths, along with their dog, but stated that no foul play was suspected. Hackman, known for iconic roles in films like The French Connection, had lived in the Santa Fe Summit community. Sheriff Adan Mendoza assured that while the investigation is ongoing, foul play is not considered a factor in their deaths.

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