The Catch Up: 24 February

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 24th of February and here are the headlines.

Eight workers remain trapped after the SLBC tunnel in Telangana partially collapsed on Saturday. Despite efforts, Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said survival chances are “very remote”. A team of rat miners, previously deployed in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel collapse, joined the rescue team. Around 300 personnel, including NDRF, SDRF, and Army members, are involved. However, muck and debris are hampering progress, with rescuers 13 km inside the tunnel, and water blocking access to the trapped workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s rise as a business hub during the Global Investors Summit 2025 in Bhopal. Praising the state’s skilled workforce and growing industrial sectors, Modi noted that India will remain the world’s fastest-growing economy. He emphasized Madhya Pradesh’s role in the electric vehicle revolution and aerospace sector, assuring investors of the state’s lucrative opportunities. He urged global businesses to tap into the state’s flourishing market.

The Uttar Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that the well near the disputed mosque in Sambhal is on public land and not connected to the mosque. The well, known as 'Dharani varah koop,' is located near, but not inside, the disputed site. Tensions have risen over claims that the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid was built over the demolished Hari Mandir temple. The case continues to stir religious disputes between local communities.

In the 2025 German election, the conservative CDU/CSU alliance led by Friedrich Merz emerged victorious, with the far-right AfD securing its best result, placing second with 20.8% of the vote. US President Donald Trump praised the win, calling it a rejection of policies on energy and immigration. Incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD dropped 10 percentage points, finishing in third. Merz is now poised to become Germany’s next Chancellor.

The Trump administration announced a massive reduction in USAID personnel, putting nearly all employees on leave and eliminating around 1,600 positions. This decision follows a legal battle where Trump sought to cut thousands of USAID jobs but was halted by a federal judge. The judge ruled that the pause would not be permanent. The cuts are part of a broader “reduction in force” effort, impacting the agency’s global operations.

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