This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha SharmaToday is the 14th of March and here are the headlines.In a major development this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius PM Navin Chandra Ramgoolam announced an "enhanced strategic partnership" between the two nations. India also pledged new projects worth 500 million Mauritian rupees (around Rs 100 crore), including building Mauritius' new Parliament. Both nations agreed to conduct mutual trade in local currencies. Modi also outlined a vision for the Global South under the MAHASAGAR initiative, which focuses on mutual growth and security across regions, strengthening India-Mauritius ties in both trade and diplomacy.In news from the Parliament , Opposition parties, including Congress and DMK, staged a protest in the Lok Sabha against a renewable energy project near the India-Pakistan border. Congress leader Manish Tewari raised concerns about national and energy security, arguing the project’s proximity to the border violates security protocols. According to Tewari, major infrastructure should be at least 10 km away from the border. Meanwhile, the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 was introduced, aimed at modernizing India's immigration laws. Opposition parties called it unconstitutional and demanded its referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.In global headlines, separatist militants attacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, carrying 500 people. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for derailing the train, asserting that they had seized control, killed 50 security personnel, and taken 214 passengers as hostages, including active-duty personnel. However, their claims have not been independently verified. Meanwhile, Pakistani army confirmed the end of the rescue operation, stating that 33 militants and 21 hostages were killed, while over 300 passengers were rescued. Ukraine has proposed a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia, contingent on Moscow’s agreement. The announcement came after high-level talks in Saudi Arabia, where the United States declared it would lift its freeze on military aid to Ukraine. This marks a significant shift in efforts to pause the devastating conflict, which began in 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to a joint statement from the White House and Kyiv, the temporary ceasefire could be extended if both sides agree to further terms.Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital for the sixth consecutive year, with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m3, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report. The report reveals that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities globally are in India, including Byrnihat and Faridabad. India ranks as the fifth most polluted country, with a concerning average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 50.6 μg/m3. This is ten times higher than the World Health Organization's annual PM2.5 guideline, highlighting India's ongoing air quality crisis.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

First, we talk to veteran journalist and Contributing Editor for The Indian Express Neerja Chowdhury about BJP's plans in the South and what challenges lie ahead of them.Next, The Indian Express' Jayprakash S Naidu gives us details of the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, the investigation and the reasons behind searches being conducted at former CM Bhupesh Baghel's residence. (15:59)Lastly, we speak about heightened security and mosques being covered in UP on the occasion of Holi. (22:04)Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 13th of March and here are the headlines.Tamil Nadu Replaces Devanagari Rupee Symbol with Tamil Letter in Budget LogoAhead of its budget presentation on March 14, the Tamil Nadu government has replaced the Devanagari rupee symbol with the Tamil rupee letter in its official logo. The logo, featuring the slogan "Ellorkkum Ellaam" (Everything for Everyone), was unveiled by Chief Minister M K Stalin’s office on Thursday. A source from the Chief Minister’s Office explained that this change prioritizes Tamil over Devanagari. DMK spokesperson Savaranan Annadurai affirmed the decision, emphasizing the importance of promoting Tamil, especially amid ongoing tensions over the Centre's three-language policy.Karnataka Withdraws CID Inquiry on Bengaluru Airport Protocol MishandlingThe Karnataka government has retracted its order for a CID inquiry into alleged police protocol mishandling at Bengaluru airport involving actress Ranya Rao. Rao, arrested for smuggling 14.2 kg of gold, had her travel monitored by protocol officers. The withdrawal followed a parallel order from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), which tasked senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta with investigating misuse of protocol services by senior DGP-rank officer K Ramachandra Rao, who is also Rao’s stepfather. The investigation had raised significant political and procedural concerns.SBI Chairman: India Needs 8% Growth for Progress Despite SlowdownChalla Sreenivasulu Setty, Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), emphasized that India must target an 8% growth rate for sustainable progress. While the current growth rate of around 6% is a concern, Setty argued that it may be a temporary slowdown and not a reason for alarm. In an interview with The Indian Express, Setty explained that the country's long-term growth story remains intact, highlighting the importance of consumption and private capital expenditure to fuel future economic growth, even amid recent challenges.Sunita Williams’ Return to Earth Delayed by SpaceX Launch ScrubNASA astronaut Sunita Williams' long-awaited return to Earth has been delayed after SpaceX scrubbed the launch of a replacement crew to the International Space Station (ISS). Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore have been stuck in space for nine months aboard Boeing’s faulty Starliner. NASA had planned a SpaceX rocket launch from Florida to bring a new crew, which would have allowed Williams and Wilmore to return. However, the launch was delayed due to a hydraulic system issue with the Falcon 9 rocket’s ground support clamp arm, NASA confirmed.US Officials to Visit Moscow for Ceasefire Talks Amid Escalating Ukraine ConflictSenior US officials are set to visit Moscow for ceasefire negotiations as Russia ramps up its military activities in Ukraine’s Kursk region. The visit follows a meeting in Saudi Arabia where Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, shifting pressure onto Russia. US President Donald Trump confirmed the upcoming visit, noting that a "positive message means nothing" without Russia's action. While the White House hasn’t confirmed which officials will attend, National Security Secretary Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are reportedly part of the delegation heading to Moscow.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy who discusses the ties between the US-India and the upcoming bilateral trade agreement in the works.Next, The Indian Express Parul Kulshrestha talks about Rajasthan's tribal tradition that is posing an unusual challenge for the centre's housing scheme. (08:40)Lastly, we speak to The Indian Express' Maulshree Seth about the dismantling of the temporary city of Maha Kumbh mela and its restoration. (18:28)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. Today is the 12th of March and here are the headlines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius PM Navin Chandra Ramgoolam announced an "enhanced strategic partnership" between their countries on Wednesday. India also pledged new projects worth 500 million Mauritian rupees (around Rs 100 crore), including building Mauritius' new Parliament building. Both nations agreed to conduct mutual trade in local currencies. Modi also outlined a vision for the Global South under the MAHASAGAR initiative, which focuses on mutual growth and security across regions, strengthening India-Mauritius ties in both trade and diplomacy. Opposition parties, including Congress and DMK, staged a protest in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday against a renewable energy project near the India-Pakistan border. Manish Tewari (Congress) raised concerns about national and energy security, arguing the project’s proximity to the border violates security protocols. According to Tewari, major infrastructure should be at least 10 km away from the border. Meanwhile, the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 was introduced, aimed at modernizing India's immigration laws. Opposition parties called it unconstitutional and demanded its referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Jio Platforms announced a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Wednesday to bring Starlink’s internet services to India. The partnership follows a similar announcement by Bharti Airtel and is contingent on SpaceX securing approval to operate in the country. Jio and SpaceX, historically at odds over satellite spectrum allocation, will move forward after the government opted for an administrative allocation. SpaceX has applied for security clearance with the Indian government, which is currently under review by the Home Ministry. Ukraine has proposed a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia, contingent on Moscow’s agreement. The announcement came after high-level talks in Saudi Arabia, where the United States declared it would lift its freeze on military aid to Ukraine. This marks a significant shift in efforts to pause the devastating conflict, which began in 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to a joint statement from the White House and Kyiv, the temporary ceasefire could be extended if both sides agree to further terms. On Tuesday, separatist militants attacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, carrying 500 people. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, stating they derailed the train, killed 30 security personnel, and took 214 passengers, including military personnel, hostage. According to Radio Pakistan, 27 militants were killed, and 155 passengers were rescued. The BLA issued a 48-hour ultimatum, demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners, threatening to execute the hostages if their demands are not met. This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Deeptiman Tiwary and Adrija Roychowdhury about the India vs Bharat debate that has been reignited by the RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.Next, The Indian Express' Damini Nath talks about the Electors Photo Identity Card Number also known as EPIC number. She shares how Mamata Banerjee has highlighted that several voters have identical EPIC numbers and why that is an issue. (12:49)Lastly, we discuss the findings of the 2024 World Air Quality Report, according to which Delhi continues to be the most polluted Capital city in the world. (19:24)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. Today is the 11th of March and here are the headlines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora upon his arrival in Mauritius on Tuesday. Women performed the traditional Bihari cultural dance, Geet Gawai, to honor him. He was greeted by Mauritian PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who presented him with a garland at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Modi is in Mauritius for a two-day visit as the chief guest at the National Day celebrations. His trip includes inaugurating 20 India-funded projects, ranging from capacity building to community-linked infrastructure. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha resumed today at 11 am, with discussions centered around new bills and the Manipur budget. The Lok Sabha is set to discuss President’s Rule in Manipur and hear the presentation of the Manipur budget by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. A new bill on immigration services was also introduced, sparking opposition debate. Congress leader Manish Tewari called the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, unconstitutional, while the government defended its legislative competence to introduce the bill under the Union list.Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital for the sixth consecutive year, with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m3, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report. The report reveals that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities globally are in India, including Byrnihat and Faridabad. India ranks as the fifth most polluted country, with a concerning average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 50.6 μg/m3. This is ten times higher than the World Health Organization's annual PM2.5 guideline, highlighting India's ongoing air quality crisis.Gangster Aman Sahu was killed in an encounter on Tuesday morning in Jharkhand’s Palamu district. Authorities said Sahu’s gang attempted to free him while he was being transported from Raipur jail to Ranchi. Sahu was involved in over 100 criminal cases, including murder and extortion. Police also suspected ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. His death follows several convictions in criminal cases. The encounter occurred after an attempt to break him free from police custody during his transfer. Shares on Wall Street plunged on Monday, marking one of the worst trading days since 2022, fueled by concerns about President Donald Trump’s trade policies. Investors are worried that a trade war could push the US economy into a recession, with Trump expressing ambivalence about the prospect. Despite earlier responses to market movements, Trump now hints at economic pain in the short term. The tech-heavy NASDAQ dropped over 4%, with Tesla suffering the most, falling more than 10%, marking a sharp decline from its December peak.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

First, The Indian Express’ Himanshu Harsh tells us about ‘Operation Nataraj,’ which led to the rescue of 47 minors who were forced into sex trafficking.Next, The Indian Express’ Sukrita Baruah explains how individuals end up in Assam’s Matia transit camp and shares the story of two such men. (05:37)Finally, The Indian Express’ Naveed Iqbal discusses a recently held fashion show in Kashmir that has put the Omar Abdullah-led government in a bind. (16:10)Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced and written by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain. Today is the 10th of March and here are the headlines.Proceedings in Lok Sabha resumed after being adjourned due to chaos over the PM SHRI scheme. Speaker Om Birla urged MPs to be seated and respect Parliament or face action. Meanwhile, the opposition staged a walk-out in the Rajya Sabha. Tensions are rising between the government and opposition, with concerns over electoral roll manipulation, violence in Manipur, and India’s handling of the Trump administration. The government aims to secure Parliament's approval for grants, the Manipur budget, and the Waqf Amendment Bill.A fashion show in Kashmir's Gulmarg has sparked controversy, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying his government had no involvement. The event, held during Ramzan, was criticized by Kashmir's chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who called it “outrageous” and “obscene.” Abdullah, responding to the criticism, expressed that the show disrespected local sensitivities during the holy month. The fashion show, organized to mark the 15th anniversary of designer label Shivan & Narresh, took place on snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg on Friday. Kannada actor Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore, has links to a land deal in Karnataka. Rao was the majority shareholder of Ksiroda India, a company that received 12 acres of industrial land in Tumakuru from the BJP government in February 2023. Rao, also known as Harshavardini Ranya, was arrested at Bengaluru airport on March 3 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). A special court later handed her over to DRI custody for further investigation. Mark Carney, former central banker in Canada and the UK, has won the Liberal Party’s leadership race and will replace Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada. In his victory speech, Carney stated, “America is not Canada,” stressing the differences between the two nations. He criticized the U.S. for its resource-driven ambitions and vowed that Canada would never be part of the U.S. Carney’s comments on Canadian sovereignty highlighted his commitment to protecting the country's identity and way of life. Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed to hunt down Bashar al-Assad loyalists after over 830 civilians were killed in brutal massacres on Syria's west coast. The deaths occurred from Friday to Saturday and targeted Alawite communities. Sharaa, whose rebel group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew Assad's regime in December, promised to hold those responsible for the violence accountable. His speech, broadcast on TV and social media, marked a firm stance against Assad loyalists amid escalating violence in the region.  This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

First, we speak with The Indian Express' Nikhila Henry about her investigation into two past reports that raised concerns over the structural integrity of the Telangana tunnel, which collapsed last month, trapping eight workers.Next, The Indian Express' Jayprakash S. Naidu discusses a viral video that has sparked concerns about women's roles in local governance. (12:05)Finally, we talk about a Hindu temple vandalised in the US and India’s demand for stricter action. (18:18)Hosted by Ichha SharmaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar