Podcasts about Lok Sabha

This week, host Pratyush Deep is joined by Newslaundry's Shivnarayan Rajpurohit and Sumedha Mittal.Shivnarayan talks about his profile of BJP president JP Nadda, diving deep into his rise from an ABVP worker to the president of the world's largest political party. He also sheds light on the Chetna Sansthan, an NGO run by Nadda's wife which received significant corporate and government-linked CSR funding after the BJP came to power.Sumedha talks about her report which looks at an unusual surge in the number of voters in Devendra Fadnavis's constituency in Nagpur South West between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra elections. A section of poll staff told her about alleged lapses in the manner these voters were added to the electoral rolls. Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:36 - J P Nadda00:21:59 - Unusual spike in the voter roll00:33:20 - RecommendationsRecommendationsShivnarayanSirSumedhaOfficial SecretsPratyushThe Bilaspur blueprint: JP Nadda's political rise and the parallel growth of his family-run NGOIn 6 months, Fadnavis seat added 29,219 voters. Poll staff claim lapsesProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mr Shivraj Patil served as the Minister of Home Affairs of India from 2004 to 2008 and held the esteemed position of Speaker of the Lok Sabha between 1991 and 1996. He later served as the Governor of Punjab and also as the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Born in the village of Chakur in the Latur district of Maharashtra, Mr Patil rose from humble beginnings to occupy some of the highest offices in the country. He attributes this remarkable journey to the divine grace of Bhagawan, who drew him to His feet early in life.Such was Bhagawan's love for Mr Shivraj Patil that He Himself visited Latur and Chakur—Mr Patil's hometowns—sanctifying not only his residence but also blessing countless rural devotees across the region. Wherever Bhagawan went, multitudes thronged for a glimpse, drawn by His love and presence.In this satsang, Mr Shailesh Patil, son of Mr. Shivraj Patil, takes us through this Divine Visit of Bhagawan to Maharashtra in 2001 and shares how Bhagawan has remained the spiritual foundation of the Patil family for generations.

The Income Tax Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha recently. It seeks to modernise and simplify the Income Tax Act, 1961.  While the Bill is indeed shorter in length than the original Act it seeks to replace, there is one major concern: privacy experts believe it institutes a regime of tax surveillance, in complete violation of the Supreme Court judgement in the landmark Justice Puttasamy case where it ruled that privacy is a fundamental right.  Tax experts hold that under the provisions of this Bill, the state can claim complete access to the entirety of a person's “virtual digital space” merely on suspicion that she may be hiding income and evading tax.  Critics have also said that the Bill does not rationalise monetary thresholds for various compliances and deductions, nor does it provide meaningful revisions in the penalty and prosecution changes.  Guest: Deepak Joshi, Advocate-on-Record in the Supreme Court and a qualified Chartered Accountant.  Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

Dr. Walter C. Ladwig III, senior lecturer at King's College London, sits down with Vanshika Saraf and Tanmay Kumarr Baid to unpack the surprising findings of his latest research on India's legislative behavior in the realm of foreign security. Drawing on a unique dataset of over 10,000 parliamentary questions from 2004 to 2019, Dr. Ladwig challenges the notion that Indian MPs are disengaged from defense and external affairs.Why do some members of Parliament prioritise foreign policy despite its perceived low electoral salience? What can written questions tell us about democratic oversight in the world's largest democracy? And what do these patterns reveal about accountability, expertise, and the nature of parliamentary engagement? Tune in to this episode of All Things Policy as we explore the intersections of data, politics, and security.The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more on our research and other work here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://takshashila.org.in/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our public policy courses here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://school.takshashila.org.in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 8th of April and here are today's headlines.Nations are taking different stances toward US President Donald Trump's rising tariffs. China has vowed firm retaliation, rejecting Trump's threat of adding 50% more duties unless Beijing backs off its 34% counter-tariff. China's Commerce Ministry pledged strong countermeasures. Japan, in contrast, is opting for diplomacy, preparing to send a trade negotiation team to Washington. Trump confirmed speaking with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba about this move. The contrast highlights a global divide — between confrontation and cautious cooperation — in response to America's increasingly aggressive trade policies.In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court declared Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's decision to reserve 10 re-passed Bills for Presidential consideration as illegal. The court held that the Governor showed scant respect for judicial precedent and unduly delayed action. Using Article 142, the bench declared that the 10 Bills are deemed to have received assent, overriding the governor's withholding. This rare step sends a strong message about constitutional propriety and reinforces legislative autonomy amid growing tensions between elected governments and appointed constitutional heads.Pandemonium broke out in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as NC members demanded discussion on the Waqf Act, which the Speaker had already dismissed through an adjournment motion. Tensions peaked when PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para approached the Well of the House, insisting he had filed a fresh resolution. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accused the Chair of silencing opposition voices. Para was marshalled out as disorder continued, highlighting growing friction in the Assembly and the sensitivity surrounding the Waqf Act debate in the politically tense region.Former Odisha CM and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik is facing internal dissent over the party's sudden U-turn on the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. Despite long-standing opposition to the Bill, the BJD chose not to issue a voting whip, leaving the decision to individual MPs' conscience. The move triggered unrest within the party, reminiscent of a 2002 rebellion when six of its 10 Lok Sabha MPs challenged Patnaik's leadership. With the BJD lacking Lok Sabha representation but wielding influence in the Rajya Sabha, the shift has raised eyebrows.President Trump on Monday claimed the US and Iran are set for direct nuclear talks, but Tehran quickly clarified the dialogue would remain indirect. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed high-level indirect talks in Oman on Saturday, calling it both an “opportunity and a test.” His remarks came after Trump warned of severe consequences if the negotiations fail. Iran has previously rejected Trump's demand for direct talks under threat of bombing. The announcement revives fragile diplomatic hopes amid deep mistrust and escalating nuclear tension.That's all for today. This was the CatchUp on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 4th of April and here are the headlines.The Trump administration's new tariffs on global trade partners, including a 27% duty on imports from India, will affect sectors like diamonds, smartphones, solar PV modules, and apparel. While certain products like critical minerals, energy products, and pharmaceuticals may be exempt, most of India's top exports, including pharmaceuticals worth $8 billion, are not. Petroleum oils derived from bituminous minerals could benefit, but tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles remain unchanged. These measures could reshape trade relations with India, despite limited relief for some sectors.After nearly 12 hours of debate in the Lok Sabha, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill moved to the Rajya Sabha for further discussion yesterday. BJP MPs accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation, while TMC MP Mohammad Nadimul Islam criticized the Bill as cultural vandalism, accusing the Centre of seeking excessive control over Waqf. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill with 288 votes in favor and 232 votes against. The amendment now awaits a decision in the Rajya Sabha after being tabled by Kiren Rijiju.The Indian Army accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Poonch's Krishna Ghati sector. According to Army PRO Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal, Pakistani forces intruded across the LoC and triggered a mine blast on April 1, followed by unprovoked firing. Indian forces responded in a "controlled and calibrated manner," keeping the situation under close watch. Tensions have risen despite the ceasefire agreement, with the Army asserting that India's borders remain secure and that further developments are being monitored.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly condemned the statement by Bangladesh interim government advisor Muhammad Yunus, who claimed that Bangladesh is "the only guardian of the ocean" for Northeast India. Yunus had stated that Bangladesh holds a unique position to benefit from the economic possibilities of the region. Sarma called the remark offensive, highlighting its connection to India's vulnerable "Chicken Neck" corridor, which connects the Northeast with the rest of India, emphasizing India's territorial integrity and strategic concerns.Bajinder Singh, a self-proclaimed Christian pastor, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a rape case dating back to 2018 by a Mohali court. Singh had been convicted for luring a woman under the pretext of helping her settle abroad, only to rape her and threaten to post a video of the act online. The court convicted him under IPC sections related to rape, voluntary hurt, and criminal intimidation. Singh had been arrested at Delhi airport in 2018 and released on bail until his recent conviction.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 3rd of April and here are today's headlines.The Trump administration's new tariffs on global trade partners, including a 27% duty on imports from India, will affect sectors like diamonds, smartphones, solar PV modules, and apparel. While certain products like critical minerals, energy products, and pharmaceuticals may be exempt, most of India's top exports, including pharmaceuticals worth $8 billion, are not. Petroleum oils derived from bituminous minerals could benefit, but tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles remain unchanged. These measures could reshape trade relations with India, despite limited relief for some sectors.After nearly 12 hours of debate in the Lok Sabha, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill moved to the Rajya Sabha for further discussion. BJP MPs accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation, while TMC MP Mohammad Nadimul Islam criticized the Bill as cultural vandalism, accusing the Centre of seeking excessive control over Waqf. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill with 288 votes in favor and 232 votes against. The amendment now awaits a decision in the Rajya Sabha after being tabled by Kiren Rijiju.On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi criticized the government over the border row with China and tariffs imposed by the U.S. He claimed China had taken over 4,000 sq km of Indian territory, stating that the government's actions, including a cake-cutting ceremony with the Chinese ambassador, were inappropriate. Gandhi stressed that normalcy could not proceed without restoring status quo and recovering lost land. He emphasized that the martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers should be honored, and their sacrifices should not be undermined by diplomatic gestures.The Supreme Court reprimanded Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy over his comments regarding bypolls in the state Assembly. The two-judge bench questioned whether they erred in letting him off last August when he made allegedly contemptuous remarks. The bench was hearing cases about the delay in disqualifying BRS MLAs who had joined the Congress. This development highlights ongoing tensions over political defections and the role of the judiciary in overseeing the actions of state lawmakers and their impact on public affairs.After the Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court's decision to dismiss over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff hired illegally by West Bengal schools, Opposition parties criticized the ruling TMC. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her disagreement, suggesting political influence from the CPI(M) and BJP. She questioned the judicial process, pointing out the contrasting decisions from different Chief Justices. The dismissal followed the 2016 illegal recruitment by the School Service Commission, requiring the affected staff to return salaries with interest, marking a significant blow to the state's education sector.That's all for today. This was the CatchUp on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Waqf Bill clears Lok Sabha | Will Sail Through Rajya Sabha | Warning to Muslims| Bhau Torsekar, OCN

The last days before the Great Hunt.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.“Can the scorpion ever stop being a scorpion? “"Do we get our legally permitted weaponry back?" The bishop still held my hand."Sure. If it makes you feel better.""I would like to meet your people then," he gave my paw one last shake then released me. "Shall we go?""I will have someone take you to your car. I want to briefly meet with the President, of Havenstone, then I'll join you in the garage. We'll drive over to JIKIT and I'll make the introductions. Good enough?""That is acceptable," he nodded."What about you two?" I regarded the nun and the Swiss Super-soldier. The nun remained vigilant, and silent. The Swiss' eyes flickered to his boss before settling back on me."It is what I volunteered for," he stated firmly."Okay. Please never say I didn't give you a chance to take the sane way out. Also, Bishop Nicolö, circumstances have conspired to up my prospective wedding date to January 1st.""That will be more difficult. Why the change?" he remained grim."We are having twins. By March, this will be very visible.""That is, unfortunate," he shook his head."You have no idea," and then a brainstorm. "And I am curious about resurrecting the Order of the Dragon, the Societas Draconistarum." Technically that meant 'Society of the Dragonists' which was more appropriate than the literal Ordo Draconis."Precisely how do you plan to recreate a crusading Christian Order which was the purview of the Hungarian monarchs?" he didn't sound the least skeptical, just curious."I have billions of euros to fund such a thing," I winked. "Of far greater critical importance, I know where I can find the supernatural guidance and spiritual imperative for such an organization.""You are going to produce a dragon?" his eyes grew larger even as he fought down his fear. Good man. He was adaptive. He'd need to be."I never said such a thing. That would make me sound crazy," I smiled broadly. "Besides, when I say 'dragon', you think 'devil' and that's way too pedestrian for where we are going.""I am not a moral relativist.""Neither am I. I'm out to save lives and nurture the drive in the human spirit to reach for freedom, love and liberty. As you might imagine, I'm pretty freaking outnumbered.""I think you are crazy," he re-evaluated things."I just might be. In all honesty, you should back out now. Take your two compadres back to 25 East 39th Street (the Holy See's Permanent Observer Offices to the UN in NYC) and report 'Mission Failure'. You'll most likely live longer," I reasoned."I am not afraid to die," Sister Rafaela Sophia finally voiced an opinion."That's idiotic," I scoffed before the bishop could reprimand her for opening her mouth. "You should be.""My soul is in God's hands," she set her jaw."Does he talk to you?" I countered."His message is clear.""Not what I asked. I asked if he specifically directed you to toss your life fruitlessly away as an object lesson for the reckless, or careless?""This is uncalled for," Nicolö intervened."Nope. I bet you a phone call to my Brother to physically restore your bishopric that there are four people in this room who have murdered in cold blood," I kept eye contact with the nun, "and she's the odd one out. Right Juanita?""Yes, Ishara," Juanita slipped up. Her spycraft, like mine, needed work."You were in the military?" the bishop asked my bodyguard."Was? I am. Right now," she related. "I will be until I die."That earned me looks from the three Catholics."She is loyal," Nicolö nodded slightly toward her, referring to Juanita's declaration."Huh? To me? Nope. She's loyal to my office, which we shan't get into right now. Back to you, Sister Rafaela Sophia. Are you out to be a martyr, or has some saint, or angel, given you a directive the other two seem to be unaware of which causes you to devalue your life?""I am devoted to the One True God, Christ, our Savior," and Juanita snorted, "and the Virgin Mary," the nun stated firmly. "I don't hear voices in my head.""Juanita, that was rude. Apologize to our guest," I kept looking forward."No." Well, fuck you too."Gun," I commanded. I held out my left hand."What? No. I will not give you one of my guns," she resisted."Juanita, give me your primary weapon, or I will ask Pamela to beat you up the moment I depart for the Great Hunt. After yesterday's stunt, you know she will," I threatened. Fair, I was not. She drew a Glock-20 and handed it to me. I went through the routine, dropped the magazine then ejected the round before opening the door.Oh look, there were four SD chicks outside, ready to escort my visitors downstairs. I didn't even need to waste a phone call. It wasn't like the conference room wasn't being monitored."Excuse me," I took a half step out the door then hurled all three items down the hall. Looking back at Juanita. "Go fetch.""Fuck you," she snapped."And insulting her faith was as degrading to both her faith and her as me doing this to you is degrading to you right now," I lectured her. "It is important to her, therefore it is important to me because she is my guest in the same way it is important to me that I let my bodyguard do her job without being a total asshole all the time. Now go get your God-damn weapon," I barked. Off she went. I left the door open."Now Sister Rafaela Sophia, the point of all this is: I don't give a crap if you are willing to die for God. In fact, that makes you less than worthless to me and the team. I want to know if you are willing to put other motherfuckers in the ground so that Bishop Nicolá, or Mathias, might get to keep doing their jobs.""Murder is a sin," she declared."Go home," I sighed while shaking my head."She answers to me, the Church and God, not you, Mr. Nyilas," the bishop stepped forward."Then you can go home too," I shrugged. "I'm not asking for remorseless killers. I'm asking for people willing to kill to get the hard work done and best of all, for people who know the difference.""Everyone on JIKIT is a professional soldier, or killer?" he asked."No, but the ones who aren't don't carry guns and know to get down when things get funky," I bantered."I vouch for her," he insisted. Juanita came running back into the room."Cool beans. I don't know you either.""You apparently know my service history," he volleyed."Yeah. Ten years a foreigner in the service of France, then you went straight into a university which turns out Jesuits," I riposted."What turned your life around?" he evaded. That was okay. I'd gotten what I wanted. I was willing to bet he had read every bit of public information about me and it was rumored the heavy Catholic membership in the FBI had its benefits to the Church as well. Not so much as to give them insight into JIKIT, but,"Someone risked their life for me. It's been pretty much downhill from there," I confessed. It was the truth. After Katrina gave me the life line on Day Two, it had all spiraled to the revelation of my heritage, Dad's death, Summer Camp, the Hamptons, Romania and Aya's kidnapping."A person, a soldier, died saving my life," the bishop empathized. "Her story is similar. She seeks redemption. She is not suicidal. I am staking both our lives on it."Did he mean him and Mathias, or him and me? I wasn't certain. Still, it was good enough for now. I'd gotten a look at their emotional make up, even the relatively quiet Swiss."Very well," I agreed. "I have to go see the President about my new job description. I'll catch up with you at your car." To the SD team leader, "Take them to the garage. I will join the group of you very soon.""Yes Ishara," she nodded. I exited the room, Juanita in tow. Two SD entered. I was gone before the Papal team left. Upstairs we went, with one last chore to discharge. I had to check on Ms. French to be absolutely freaking sure it was Shawnee, because anyone else would spell disaster.{8:30 am, Monday, September 8th. Last day}A Room full of asistants:Well, there it was, the office of the Executive Director to the President, and not 'Executive Assistant', because this was Katrina's final 'fuck you, no, just her final 'fuck you' before the Great Hunt got underway. I shouldn't assume things, dang it!Anyway, according to the gray-haired matron running gatekeeper to the Office of the President, this was where I was supposed to show up. I shot Juanita a worried look. She glanced my way and shrugged, momentarily willing to not give me shit about the past 24 hours because where I was situated would determine how easily she could do her job.In we went. In the suite were three desks, the 'big' desk situated at the far end of the office space and two far more modest ones on either side of the entryway. The room expanded beyond the chokepoint formed by the two closest desks into a cluttered area. The walls were cluttered with inset bookshelves and portraits of women. Facing one another were a loveseat on my left with bookend plush chairs in an 'L' facing and a full sofa on the right. There were end tables at the ends of the sofa and the corners between the loveseat and each chair.As the door opened, I hadn't knock as this was my office, or so it seemed, the occupants, who had all been sitting in quiet conversation in the central section, began reacting. Oh look ~ Constanza! I nearly had a heart attack before I realized there were three other Amazons also in the room. Sadly, none were behind the 'big desk', so I couldn't tell who was in charge. Two of the other three choices weren't too much better. First off,"Ishara," Marilynn Saint John stood to greet me. I'd last seen her when I'd dedicated her grandmother's (Hayden's) spirit to the halls of my ancestors, not hers, after forcing the political crisis leading to Hayden's suicide ~ her taking herself to the cliffs and in doing so, destroying the Amazon Cult of Blood Purity. Marilynne was clearly still bitter with me. Umm, I could still incite passion in women I hadn't slept with, yet, woot?"Cáel," the senior-most and only friendly face in the room spoke next. Thank goodness it was Beyoncé Vincennes, Head of House Hanwasuit and House Ishara ally."Cáel Ishara," the third individual was deferential which I wasn't sure how to take as the last time I'd encountered her, yeah, things hadn't gone well either."Beyoncé," I started off with a smile. From there, I had to figure out, ah, Beyoncé's eyes flickered to Constanza then Sabia. I knew Marilynn, with her young age, had the least seniority, "Constanza, Sabia, Marilynn. How's tricks?"Glum faces by everyone except Beyoncé. I didn't ask about Sabia's particular well-being. It had been months since I'd beaten her into the mats of the Full-blooded gym. She'd attacked Yasmin, the Brazilian Hottie and my Brazilian Jujutsu sparring buddy, and I'd retaliated by ambushed her when she turned her back on us. Besides, she'd been giving me shit before I even could see straight.Constanza was minus her left eye because of her dire insult to me. If she wasn't capable of working, she wouldn't be here. If she appreciated my 'mercy' in sparing her life ~ her insult was worthy of her death ~ Constanza hid it well. I hadn't spared her expecting a change of heart. I hadn't felt words alone warranted anyone's death. I was a big boy and could take a few insults. House Ishara, as represented by me, could care less. These days, my sisters would be less understanding despite them knowing my heart."Constanza Landau of House Jaya and Marilynn Saint John of House Anahit are Assistants to President Shawnee French," Beyoncé eased things along, "so will be working closely with us, at least for the short term. Sabia Noel of House Guabancex, who I now think you know as well, has joined you as the other 'Assistant' to the 'Executive Director to the President', (that would make me an 'adept', but adept at what?), and since two of the three Regents are unfamiliar with the workings of Havenstone proper, Shawnee has asked me to perform in that role."Beyoncé was, or had been, Havenstone HQ's CFO (Chief Financial Officer). From what I was quickly piecing together, she would essentially be making all the day-to-day decisions concerning the running of Havenstone (how the Host made the majority of its money) until the Regents got up to speed.Only Buffy had actual experience with the New York office and, from what she had told me, solely within Executive Services. While ES knew 'who' did what inside Havenstone, they weren't aware precisely how those Amazons got their jobs done. That would have been an impossible task. Katrina could do it, but she knew it was beyond the ability of most of us 'mere mortals'. Since we were currently at war, the Host needed Katrina completely focused on her duties as Chief Spy-mistress, not baby-sitting the adults.Shawnee indeed had much gravitas among the other House Heads. Not only had she risen up to lead a First House, she had performed heroically during the final days of the last Secret War. Afterwards she had moved into the realm of Amazon jurisprudence and mediation. Until yesterday, she had lived in a House Arinniti freehold in Minnesota's Great Lakes region thus her desire for the 'Training Wheels' period.The Regency would not rule through telecommunication (the upper echelons feared being eavesdropped upon beyond the standard Amazon (read: paranoid) levels) and Havenstone: New York was the center best situated for the current war-fighting operations, so here she lived. I was sure a team from Executive Services was buying, outfitting/spy-proofing and fortifying a dwelling suitable for the President of a Fortune 500 company. Hayden's home would remain the domicile of Sydney thus Marilynn.The same rigmarole would be done for Rhada and Buffy (though I imaged Buffy would bitch endlessly). Publically, they were VP's of a company worth hundreds of billions of dollars and they had to present the public trappings of such leaders.Why did the Amazons do this ~ unmask their leadership to public exposure? Legal-simple: they could request and expect all levels of public and private security for their executives who happened to also be important officials of the Host. Certainly not all executives at Havenstone were officeholders, House Heads, or House Apprentices, but the high level of competence which permitted one often led to the other.Beyonce:As an example: Beyoncé wasn't the most 'bad-ass' lethal chick in House Hanwasuit. As she was preparing to be casted, her intelligence, creativity and diligence at her future craft, finances, was noted by the Host and the members of her House. In due time her name was circulated as Apprentice and the elders approved. When her elder cousin, the prior House Head, took herself to the cliffs, Beyoncé assumed the top spot. Beyoncé wasn't even one of that woman's three daughters.Mirroring her advancement in her House was her advancement in Havenstone's Accounting, Acquisitions and Banking Divisions until she was appointed CFO Havenstone HQ ~ the supreme financial authority inside Havenstone, though the individual regional branches had a greater degree of autonomy than you might normally expect from a 21st century conglomerate, or a Bronze Age autocracy.I had to constantly remind myself, despite the near-constant feuding, Amazons exhibited a phenomenally higher level of trust than I'd ever found in any other society I'd ever witnessed, or read about, before. Though technically Beyoncé could have gone to President Hayden to enforce her decisions ~ or now the Regency ~ she was far more diplomatic in her approach in dealing with the other 'continental' CEO's and CFO's.That meant she had to wrangle the aspirations and resources from:North America (including Latin America, the 'Canadian Arctic' and the North Pacific Ocean),South America (includes both the South Atlantic and South Pacific as far as Samoa),Europe (mostly Central Europe these days plus Antarctica, the 'Russian' Arctic and the North Atlantic),Africa (mostly West-central Africa),India (the subcontinent plus the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean) and,Southeast Asia (which includes Australia)All of which suggested Havenstone hadn't redrawn the Amazons' geographic demarcations since the late 19th century. As an example, an East African venture, say in Tanzania, was as likely to be under the purview of Havenstone: India (due to its control over the Indian Ocean) as Havenstone: Africa (which traditionally had no East Coast holdings due to their constant struggles versus the Arabic slave trade).Returning to Beyoncé: initially she had held the proper 'conservative' (aka man-hating) mindset. My behavior during that first Board Meeting began to change her opinion of me and the New Directive. After the Archery Range incident, Beyoncé became a vocal proponent of the New Directive and faced challenges within her ranks. House Heads do not have to accept challenges and Beyoncé didn't, reasoning with her detractors they had no alternatives save the 'Old Ways' which spelled doom for the Amazon Race.Bing-bang-boom ~ I became the Head of a resurrected House Ishara by the Will of the Ancestors and Beyoncé was vindicated. Not necessarily in the New Directive, but in her support of me thus the rebirth of a sister First House. The purge following High Priestess' Hayden's death was her ultimate absolution. The Ancestors and Destiny had spoken and shown Beyoncé had been piloting House Hanwasuit along the proper course all along.Back to my current circumstances:Oh, why was I Assistant to the Executive Director to the President? It gave me direct access to the finances of Havenstone which was a critical leg of the war-fighting stool ~ people, morale, money and equipment. As Chief Diplomat, I helped with all four of those in varying degrees, allied troops, allied victories, allied bank accounts and allied armaments.The Great Khan, my spiritual 'Blood-Brother', was ramping up his logistic support for my Amazons in Africa, Asia and the Americas. We were 'Allies in the Struggle' and he wasn't going to wait for the Condottieri to begin coordinating with the Seven Pillars to declare them to be his enemies. They were already fighting the Amazons and 9 Clans, his allies, so their fates were sealed.In Japan, my Amazons provided small yet highly effective strike groups which the Ninja families furnished all the support services for. Everything from food to bullets to medical attention as needed. Without reservation, we shared their death-grapple with the Seven Pillars.From the dispatches I was getting back from my family members and envoys in Japan, we were making serious diplomatic inroads with the Ninja. Once again, it was the Amazons shocking capacity for violence as well as their fanaticism, professionalism and proficiency which all impressed our hosts and terrified our enemies, and this from people of a philosophical mindset which had them historically battling samurai.The Black Lotus were running around like rhesus monkeys on crack cocaine unleashed in a China Shop and given RPG's. While the Amazons couldn't help them in China, Indochina & Thailand ~ the Khanate could and was. The Amazons were of more help in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, where the Black Lotus and Amazons were going everywhere on the offensive against the Seven Pillars while the normal tight cohesion and iron-clad confidence, traits which made the 7P's so dangerous ~ were shaken by their horrendous losses in the 'Homeland' aka Mainland China.Less we forget, the 'military intelligence' wing of their organization had been decimated by the Khanate's Anthrax attack due to members of the Earth & Sky sacrificing themselves by being injected with the toxin then allowing themselves to be captured, which always ended in torture and death.Furthermore, the People's Republic of China, while having a scary 18% of the population either captured, imprisoned, dead, or displaced due to the Khanate invasion, that had come with the loss of 63% of their landmass (they had lost all of Nei Mongol, Ningxia & Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regions, Qinghai and Gansu as well as 90% of Yunnan, 80% of Sichuan and 20% of Shaanxi provinces) to the Khanate and the 'abomination' that was a free Tibet.Then came the Russian 'stab in the back' which entailed the loss of another 10% of their people falling under foreign dominion as well as losing 8% of their most industrialized territory, Manchuria (Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces ~ the Nei Mongol portion of 'Manchuria' was in the Khanate's greedy clutches, from the viewpoint of a Seven P's warrior).Don't get me wrong, they weren't about to throw in the towel. If anything, they were becoming more dedicated to trying harder, digging deep into their knowledge of every atrocity, inhumanity and perversion now deemed necessary to re-chart history back onto its 'correct' path. It was this willingness to act in an even greater sociopathic manner which was being used against them. After all, the 7P's had plenty of proxy allies, who were starting to get really nervous about what their paymasters were now asking them to do,We Amazons were getting some extra special help too. The Booth-gan (Do not call them Thuggee ~ the confederate 9 Clan member based out of India though long since ensconced within various Hindi enclaves across the Globe) had created an all-female group of ultra-fanatical Kali-devotees ~ a gift for the upcoming battle fomented by the Will of the Goddess herself.While Aya was our Queen and the Regency would rule until she wished to assume command of the Amazon People, the nuts-and-bolts of the Host's activities were handled by Saint Marie as Golden Mare (our Minister of War) (technically she held the top spot due to our State of War, though no Golden Mare had ever exercised such authority over a Queen (and she definitely believed Aya was our Queen)), Katrina (as Minister of Intelligence and Security), Beyoncé (as Havenstone (the multinational corporation) ~ our Treasurer/Economic Tsarina) and me (our Foreign Minister).Saint Marie had decided to forgo a public face in order to better facilitate her moving around to various battle fronts and holding clandestine meetings with her junior regional commanders. Her Havenstone corporate title was 'Chief of Security Training and Certification'. As an extra level of deception, the head of Security Services wasn't even a Director-level position, instead being folded into the duties of the Office of the President.To my current circumstances ~ I had been given Constanza's house name which could only mean she wasn't currently assigned to the Security Detail; a fact that couldn't have made her bad attitude any better. Marilynn had completely lost her way as an Amazon when I first met her, burying her pain and confusion in endless partying and intoxicants. I believed only her grandmother's status as High Priestess kept her from the severest of reprimands, or death. I didn't even know what Marilynn's caste was. Sabia,"While I'm sure you are both far more qualified than I, precisely how did you two get these jobs?" I had to ask my two non-coworkers. Constanza glowered. Marilynn flinched."I have an in depth knowledge of Havenstone security procedures and resources," Constanza replied."Shawnee requested me," was Marilynn's comeback. "I also have intimate knowledge of the City of New York and its environs.""Actually, Buffy Ishara recommended you both to Shawnee," Beyoncé corrected their misconceptions. I knew the score. I'd be working intimately with the tight community around the President (Shawnee) and Vice Presidents (Buffy & Rhada). Buffy wanted me to be surrounded by women who hated my guts, so I wouldn't end up boinking them. It rarely worked that way. All too often ladies who hated my still-beating heart ended up punishing me with sex. I wasn't sure why that happened, but it did."Beyoncé, didn't the Chief Diplomat of the Host have her own office? I'm pretty sure Troika had one before her unfortunate collision with Saint Marie," I felt entitled to inquire."Do you feel you've earned that office space?" she riposted."Oh, fuck no!" I waved my hands one over the other to accentuate my denial. "I was just wondering where I could stick Juanita while I'm hanging around, here.""She has the desk right outside the door, Cáel," Beyoncé smiled knowingly. "So there is no way you can sneak past her.""Oh," I grunted. "Buffy again?""No. Pamela Pile put in that particular request.""Oh, Sweet Mother of God, now she is conspiring against me too?""Yes. Some of us realize the greatest hazard to your health is yourself, Ishara," Beyoncé chided me. "We'd like to keep you around, so we listen to those charged with that nigh impossible task.""Is she going to be hanging around the office often?" Constanza asked, either myself, Juanita, or Beyoncé; I wasn't sure. She = Pamela."Please, Constanza," I attempted to intervene, "don't make Pamela kill you. It will upset Mona." Constanza's scowl was accentuated by the eyepatch covering her ruined left socket, the one Pamela had carved out when Constanza had insulted me and House Ishara on our first day of rebirth. I didn't tell Juanita this, because Juanita might just shoot Constanza over the insult before Pamela got a chance to finish the job.The tension was palatable."Mona and I have talked, about Romania, and other things," Constanza grudgingly allowed. It took me a second to realize there was a hidden meaning to what she said. Mona was part of my personal Security Detail bodyguard unit. If she felt Constanza, the woman who had raised her after her birth-mother had died, was a threat to me, she'd feel duty-bound to snuff Constanza first. Amazons were hard-ass bitches alright and I think Mona had made that clear."I hope things can improve between us," I offered to Constanza. "Beyoncé, I just stopped in to say 'hey'. I'm off to JIKIT and I've got three of the Pope's people waiting on me in the garage so,""Vice President Varma requested a moment of your time," Beyoncé smirked. "She is in 2604.""Who?""Vice President Rhada Varma, a moment of your time, alone?" she clarified."Sure thing," I backed out of the office. Once I had some space, I turned to Juanita. "Give me three minutes then bust in and say, I don't know, a tsunami is about to overwhelm the city, or something. Otherwise, I won't get out for at least an hour and I think I've put the Bishop and his people through enough delays as it is.""Are you actually asking me to stop you from having an in-office liaison?" she studied me intently as we walked in the direction of Rhada's office."Yes. It's not likely to happen often, believe me.""Oh, I do, in that you won't ask me to do it often," she grumbled. I'd deal with Juanita's morale problem later. Right now, I had to gird my loins so they wouldn't do anything else with Rhada. I had work to do, damn it!Rhada was sitting at her desk, working on something, stylus raised up so she could chew on the end. Her hair was pulled back in a half-ponytail, the type that captured the rear half of the hair in a ponytail while leaving the front and bangs free to flow down. Rhada's blouse was white & billowy and, as I was soon to discover, her pants were ultra-tight and contour hugging."Mr. Nyilas," she greeted me. "I would like a moment of your time," she relayed what I already knew. She was more than a tad nervous to boot."Vice President Varma," I started off."When in private you may call me Rhada," she interrupted."Rhada, you look more ravishing than ever."That got up her and coming around her desk, which revealed her ultra-tight pants with no sign of her wearing underwear. Yikes! My cock was preparing to do what a cock was meant to do and I just didn't have the time, Really!"Do you have any time?" she let her bosom heave."Not today, ugh," I groaned. See, Rhada took the stylus and dragged it down her chin, throat and in between her bountiful mounds.All of which exposed the top of her black bra."Are you sure, Master?" she enticed me by turning around and then leaning over her desk, point that ass in my direction. My mouth began salivating and my groin ached. I found myself quick-stepping to her and giving those buttocks two firm slaps, one on each cheek."No, damn it, though I'm going to make you pay for this when I get back," I rumbled."Master will make me wait?" she taunted me."That will cost you even more," I growled. "I have business which simply won't wait and here is my captive teasing me with the treasures of her flesh. Bad, war captive," I spanked her yet again, hard. "Bad!" and I spanked her a fourth time. With each beating, Rhada gasped in pain and then exhaled in pleasure."If I've been bad, Master must be extra harsh with me when he returns in triumph from the Great Hunt," she gloated. Rhada had gotten what she wanted, which was another affirmation of my lust for her and our 'game'. I could provide her the release she so desperately craved while allowing her the safety of remaining in the Amazon fold. It was a perfect pairing, for her.I had other problems, such as all the other baby mamas in my life plus the extra-marital affairs I was contemplating. I still took the moments we had to snuggle with Rhada, her grinding that tush into my rod while I held both her arms tightly to her side while raining kisses down onto her neck and head."Sir! A giant tsunami is approaching the city!" Juanita exploded through the door."What?" I coughed. I had a face full of hair."Huh?" Rhada pushed up and away from me. I let her go."Right now," Juanita insisted. She really needed to stop taking me so seriously when I gave her such advice."Really?" from Rhada. She shot me a curious look so I shrugged. What else was I supposed to do with such a flimsy lie forcing our separation? At least I got out of there on time?{9:50 am, Monday, September 8th ~ Last day}(JKIT HQ)"Is this a common occurrence?" Sister Rafaela Sophia whispered to the closest woman, who happened to be Wiesława, the Polish Amazon. Since she hadn't arrived with us from Havenstone, the nun might have assumed she was with the 'Americans', or British."What?" Wiesława responded evenly."Weapons combat, they look real," the nun clarified."They are real. We always practice with real weapons.""Really?""Of course," Wiesława smiled at her. "We believe a few cuts and scrapes now will save lives when the true tests come.""Oh, you are with, Havenstone?" Rafaela clued in."Yes. I am Wiesława of House Živa. I am currently assigned to Unit L, Cáel's unit within JIKIT," she offered her hand to shake. Despite being a full-blooded Amazon from a freehold, her 'human' skills were progressing nicely. The nun shook it."I am Sister Rafaela Sophia of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that is a Roman Catholic Religious Order." Pause. "Do you hate Catholics too?""Yes. We have lived beside your people for many centuries and found your clergy to be much more dangerous than your pagan predecessors. Still, Cáel thinks you can be relied on and he's proven we can trust outsider women, which I was raised to believe was unlikely, and outsider men, which was basically anathema, so I'm willing to set aside my prejudices and judge you as an individual," the Pole imparted."Outsider men?" Rafaela mumbled."Well, yes," Wiesława smirked. "You are a nun, right?""Yes.""So you set aside the World of Men to live mostly among women, right?""Not entirely," the nun chose her words carefully. "We still rely on priests for religious rights and of course obey the life teachings of Christ and follow the leadership of his Holiness, the Pope, a man.""No one is perfect," the Amazon bantered back."Do you know the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ?" Rafaela ventured into dangerous waters."Yes. He was the semi-historical Son of your supposed One True God. We are not monotheists. We are Polytheists. Živa is my House's matron Goddess. It is also the name of the first woman to lead the House, her birth name surrendered to Destiny so all the daughters who came afterwards would be equals.""Oh, is Mr. Nyilas also pagan?" she inquired."I am unsure. From what I have been told, he has commended the spirit of his fallen father to your Jesus in a sacred ceremony then, in the presence of your Trinity and the Goddess Ishara, brought in new members to his House. I suspect he may be both," Wiesława reasoned. "Why don't you ask him?""Because he's fighting for his life?" Rafaela looked my way.See, the entire time their discussion had been going on, I had been sparring in a spare room at JIKIT HQ with Estere Abed, the Hashashin assassin (rather redundant ~ like saying the Sahara Desert). I had two tomahawks while she had a scimitar and curved dagger. While we sparred using the furniture as obstacles, Agent-86 was briefing me on various World events to get my input.Addison Stuart (CIA) and Lady Fathom Worthington-Burke (MI-6) were having a chat with Bishop Nicolé de Santis, verifying for themselves he was worth adding to the team. Juanita was having a similar discussion with Rikki Martin (US State Department) concerning my earlier encounter with the Papal team. Nicolé's buddy, Wachtmeister Mathias Bosshart of the Swiss Guard, was getting acquainted with the other security personnel.In comparison, those two had it easy. Both men were in their elements. Nicolé was a spook who pretended to be a diplomat for the Pope and was well acquainted with terms like 'deniable assets', 'plausible deniability' and your direct superior referring to requests concerning your identity/diplomatic status by saying 'I never heard of him and if I had, I have no idea what he was doing when you caught him doing what I don't know what he was doing', or something like that.Mathias was in the company of military-security specialists, brother professionals who were introducing him to his 'sister' professionals. Our Homeland Security gang were almost entirely former military by now. They got along with our JSOC folks and both had gained a limited acceptance with the Amazon security contingent.They bonded over the fact they were forced to work with really shady characters ~ the 9 Clans menagerie ~ who didn't always appreciate JIKIT operational security. Without going into particulars, the Wachtmeister was given the impression the abnormal was the norm and if you didn't think there was a 'down-side' to being able to carry your personally favorite bang-bang (the SG 552-2P Commando in his case) with some serious attachments (read: grenade launcher) around in downtown Manhattan, you probably didn't belong on this team.Back in the room,"He's not fighting for his life," Estere laughed. "He is fighting for mine.""Right," I responded sarcastically. We went through a flurry of exchanges, ending up with me kicking a chair at her. Estere stepped over it, colliding with me.I blocked her dagger, disarmed her scimitar and,"You are dead," she panted down at me, smiling. I was on my back, her straddling me. She had a belt-knife to my throat. I hadn't see her draw it. The scimitar 'disarm' had been a distraction."Woot!" I exhaled."But you're dead," Sister Rafaela misunderstood my good humor."He survived a minute and thirty-four seconds more today than his previous record," Estere responded. She slithered off of me, doing my arousal no good whatsoever, then offered me a hand up."And that's better?""He's a rank amateur with a few months on the job. I've been training to kill people for nearly two decades," Estere smiled. "Care to have a go?""With him, or you?""Either," Estere offered."I don't have a knife, or any hand weapons," she stated."We'll need to remedy that," Wiesława stated. "You should at least carry a knife.""Really? Why?""It is a nearly universal tool," I verbally stepped up. "Even if you are disarmed, you should be able to find one relatively easily, people are less likely to miss a stolen knife than a purloined gun, and a concealed blade could come in handy.""Do you train in knife-work?" Rafaela eye-balled me."Absolutely. It is part of my culture," I grinned."Okay. Can we spar, hand-to-hand?""Sure," I nodded. I put my tomahawks in their harnesses then put my harnesses aside. Estere gave me a wink before giving us the fighting space."So," Rafaela began to circle, "are you Christian?""By your definition, or mine?""By the definition of the Catholic Church."Oh cool, she went for a Savate stance. This was going to get ugly.My "no," was followed by her kick and my block, lunge and grapple. She wasn't nearly as good as Felix. I had her down and in a choke hold within fifteen seconds.Perhaps she thought I'd take it easy on her. She tapped out. I released her, retreated and flowed back to my boxing stance. It took her a moment to realize this was 'practice', not 'an interview'. She hadn't failed in anyone's eyes. We were both doing this to get better."See, I really, truly believe I have talked to supernatural entities ~ some who are considered divinities," I continued. This time she was more careful, trading jabs and blocks with me. "They don't claim to be the One True God. I believe in such a thing, but I also believe having been given the Message, Humanity has been left to muddle things out for ourselves."Whoops, she popped me one."The Woman-Thing this morning?""Yep," I evaded another flurry. She got cocky and I landed three blows, dropping her to the ground. I didn't help her up. Instead, I withdrew and let her get back up on her own before deciding if she wanted to continue. She did."I believe I've seen dragons and ghosts. I have felt legions of my ancestors give me quiet encouragement when I needed it. I know the dead have been brought back to life," I came at her. This time we both went for body blows, knees, elbows and fists. She was not SD-caliber and she needed to be. I grappled and she was forced to tap out again. After she regained her feet, she held up a hand for a pause."Do you believe any of that?" she addressed Estere."I am an adherent of Ismaili Islam yet nothing Cáel has encountered is contrary to my belief system. The Universe is a complex place and the Divine Light is often seen through a fractured lenses," she counseled the nun."Among the escapees were lawyer Francisco Luemba, Catholic Priest Raul Tati, economist Belchior Lanso Tati and former policeman Benjamin Fuca who are serving jail sentences of between three and six years each for supposed links to the rebel group FLEC (Frente para a Libertaé'o do Enclave de Cabinda), which carried out the attack on the Togolese football team at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations in January, 2010," Agent-86 read off yet another bit of global minutia."We need to get to them," I half turned. Sister Rafaela punched me in the gut and I folded up."Oh!" she gasped. "I'm sorry.""Okay," I mumbled. I had to keep with the plan. "Those men. We need to contact our Coils people in Kinshasa and the Warden of the Mountain Ways ('she' was the Amazon Host's leader of Africa ~ in the ancient times, the mountain ways had been the routes of southern vulnerability for the Amazon tribe thus the name).""Okay," both Agent-86 and Estere answered."Why?" 86 added."The Coils and the Host have had a serious problem with no nation in Africa giving them even back room recognition so we are going to take over our own country, Cabinda. It's been struggling to be free of Angola since 1975 and, by latest estimates, we've got strike elements of over 2,000 Amazons ready and waiting next door in Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.""So you are going to go to war with Angola?" Estere frowned. "Don't we have enough enemies?""Au contraire," I grinned wickedly. "The resistance movement is genuine," I ticked off my points, "they have tons of offshore oil, and after we set off some spectacular explosions in the two main Angolan ports which are just down the coast, we allow global panic to bully the UN into intervening before the Angolan military launch an effective counter-offensive ~ considering the Angolan Armed Forces (I'd been reading up on a ton of CIA & MI-6 briefings) will most likely involve attrition warfare since they can't beat us in a stand-up fight.""They, the Angolans, have no overland access, they are separated by 60 kilometers of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo over some sad ass roads Plus the Congo River itself which is freaking huge by the time it gets that close to the Atlantic, Cabinda rests on the Atlantic Ocean by the way. No bridges. The Angolan Navy is anemic. Let me think."I began pacing."Hmm, they have no paratroopers though they have some Special Forces, we will need to hit as many of them in the barracks as we can. Their last invasion was from the north, overland, from the Republic of the Congo, in 1975, not likely to happen this time, though I may have my 'Brother' weasel up a battalion of Indian paratroopers to act as convincing peacekeepers after the initial take over.""Perhaps we can recruit some Vietnamese. I'm sure they'll love fighting in someone else's jungle for a change. We'll need some of 'our' guys to seize the port of Soyo, it is on the wrong side of the river, but has the major refinery the Cabindans will need. Since the entire surrounding province are the same ethnic make-up as the Cabindans, we'll have to take that too.""Man-o-man, I bet by the time this is over they'll really wish they'd given little Cabinda independence back in 1975. As for their other refinery, it is in their capital, Luanda, a few big explosions there too will get the markets jittery. Check that ~ the complete and utter destruction of their major petroleum facility will create a stampede for Peace," I continued. I walked over as our resident computer intelligence genius worked his magic."Blowing things up, you mean killing people," the nun blanched."Yes. This is what I do," I spared her a sympathetic glance. "I've got a madman roaming around in my head who provides me truly epic military advice which normally, but not always, means blowing shit up and killing folks. Welcome to the team," then as the data appeared, "Holy Shit! Did they build their oil refinery in the midst of their ghetto?" I was staggered. The refinery in Soyo was isolated from the town so it could be easily (and safely) seized. It was the one in Luanda which was the 'Holy Shit' site."It looks that way," Agent-86 agreed nonplussed. "Hmm, yeah, here is the port facility then your neighborhood of shoddily constructed one- and two-story dwellings between the refinery and the inland storage tanks, the perimeter barrier appears to be a chain link fence. I'd hate to be their Chief of Security.""Oh yeah," I choked. Estere slipped around to get a look."Whoops," she snorted."What are these people thinking?" I continued. "The whole shebang is exposed to the northern quarter of the city. The storage tanks have residential dwellings on all four sides with numerous side streets. Two teams with RPGs and four rounds apiece, Holy Crap. Sorry Sister.""But I want to save lives," she sputtered."Limiting the collateral damage could be pretty tough," Estere frowned. She toggled throw a series of maps to multiple pictures."Oh, look (dripping sarcasm); they light up the refinery at night. You can sit off the coast in a speed boat under cover of darkness and attack from there," she noted."Damn. Those are a lot of lights," Agent-86 agreed."24-7 operation," I suspected."We will need some experts," the government agent nodded."Or we are going to kill a fuck-load of innocent people. Not just the workers, but can you imagine a fire spreading to those neighborhoods? Shit," I muttered."You can't seriously be contemplating doing something like this," the nun sputtered. "It is inhumane. Think of the families, the children.""Lady, yes I am. Do you have any idea what the Human Rights record of the Angolan Army in Cabinda is? It is truly horrific and in case you missed it, one of the guys in dire need of rescuing by me, due to him being a huge rebel leader who has managed to escape, is also a Catholic priest. He's going to be part of the new government we are going to install once we kill a few hundred Angolans ~ mostly soldiers (more like well over a thousand).""We are going to kill a few hundred so a few hundred thousand can live free, democratic lives without worrying about the local police and political establishment torturing and murdering them. It is all part of the plan.""I think I need to talk with the Bishop.""Hang on. Let me finish," I forestalled her. "He'll get briefed along with everyone else. After all, it is a majority Roman Catholic country as is Angola, so I'm sure your guy can be of immense help.""The people you are putting at risk don't deserve this," she protested."They never do," I nodded in agreement with her. "It rarely stops terrible crap from happening to them though."I felt sorry for the Sister. She thought the Bishop was going to put a stop to this. Poor girl; he was going to do the exact opposite. See, the two competing forces at play here were a communistic kleptocracy (currently ruling Angola) and Catholic liberation theology united with a Cabindan national identity dating back to 1885. At stake was 900,000 barrels a day of petroleum. That was a bunch of funding for somebody. Last I checked, the state run energy conglomerate had misplaced $32 billion, in just three years.Mind you, the Coils of the Serpent and the Amazon Host didn't want to help the People of Cabinda out of the goodness of their hearts either. They wanted cover for the importation of weapons and other war-fighting material so they could kill the Condottieri in Africa. If the rebel leaders-turned-legitimate government didn't play ball well, the Coils were in the 'assassinating people' business and somewhere along the line the survivors would figure out keeping 'us' happy kept them alive. Problem solved.It was Bishop Nicolé de Santis' job to facilitate that understanding. If certain people with Vatican credentials explained the 'facts of life' to the new regime a lot more lives could be saved, Catholic lives. In turn, he could work to make sure the new group in power wasn't nearly as corrupt as the gang we were tossing out. Better education and quality of life, improved infrastructure & security and a nice shiny cathedral, or two.We, as in JIKIT and our component members, didn't want to rule the country and dominate the people's lives. We needed the ports and the airfields with a blind eye turned to our skullduggery. Sure, there would be future considerations. Amazons and Coil members would be fighting and dying for these people's freedom ~ public recognition definitely not required. No; the Amazons wanted to be left alone in their deep jungle homes which was an isolation they basically already had. This was a future chit which said 'don't come looking'.The Coils? Let's just say in the future Cabinda would have embassies around the globe and if occasionally they wanted someone to slip through under diplomatic cover ~ they were good for it. And if the Cabindans ever needed help in the future they knew they had friends in dark places who were now invested in Cabinda's survival. It was a win-win-win, unless you were an Angolan big-wig, or one of their foot-soldier currently serving in Cabinda. Amazons weren't big on taking prisoners, or even giving the opposition the option of giving up.For me, it wasn't lunch yet and here I was plotting to overthrow yet another government in yet another country ~ though in only two, small provinces this time. Thank the Goddess I had the rest of the week

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This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 1st of April and here are the headlines.Domestic Stock Market Crashes Ahead of Trump's Tariff AnnouncementOn Tuesday, Indian stock markets experienced a sharp decline due to massive selling, driven by uncertainty over the upcoming US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs set to be implemented on April 2. The BSE Sensex plunged by 1.69%, losing 1,313 points, while the Nifty fell by 1.41%, down 332 points. Investors are awaiting details on how these tariffs will impact various sectors globally, with market reactions likely hinging on the specifics of the tariff announcement tomorrow, said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments.Assam CM Condemns Bangladesh Official's Statement on Northeast IndiaAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly condemned the statement by Bangladesh interim government advisor Muhammad Yunus, who claimed that Bangladesh is "the only guardian of the ocean" for Northeast India. Yunus had stated that Bangladesh holds a unique position to benefit from the economic possibilities of the region. Sarma called the remark offensive, highlighting its connection to India's vulnerable "Chicken Neck" corridor, which connects the Northeast with the rest of India, emphasizing India's territorial integrity and strategic concerns.Ruckus in Lok Sabha Over Question Hour AdjournmentA heated scene unfolded in the Lok Sabha after the Question Hour concluded, with Samajwadi Party MPs protesting the decision and demanding that Akhilesh Yadav be allowed to speak. Despite Speaker Om Birla assuring that Yadav would get time during Zero Hour, the MPs continued with slogans and placards, leading to the adjournment of the House until 2 pm. In the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge called for an immediate decadal census and caste census, highlighting the delay's impact on welfare schemes. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is scheduled for discussion tomorrow.Mohali Court Sentences Pastor to Life for 2018 Rape CaseBajinder Singh, a self-proclaimed Christian pastor, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a rape case dating back to 2018 by a Mohali court. Singh had been convicted for luring a woman under the pretext of helping her settle abroad, only to rape her and threaten to post a video of the act online. The court convicted him under IPC sections related to rape, voluntary hurt, and criminal intimidation. Singh had been arrested at Delhi airport in 2018 and released on bail until his recent conviction.Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs Could Lead to Uncertainty in Global TradeAs trade tensions escalate, all eyes are on the US President's announcement of reciprocal tariffs scheduled for April 2. Trump's plan to impose tariffs matching those charged by other countries has raised concerns about how the levies will be rolled out. With over 200 trading partners and thousands of tariff categories, the US could face an administrative nightmare. The initial focus is likely on the 20 countries the US has trade agreements with, with some speculating a blanket tariff could simplify the process but complicate global trade relations.That's all for the today. This was the CatchuUp on 3 Things by The Indian Express

Listen to the latest SBS Hindi news from India. 28/03/2025

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about the country's effort to eliminate tuberculosis as a part of which a new set of tools ranging from AI-powered screening to strip tests for treatment adherence is being integrated into India's TB elimination drive.Next, The Indian Express' Abhinaya Harigovind talks about the Centre withholding funds for the Samagra Shiksha scheme in Tamil Nadu due to the state's refusal to implement the New Education Policy (NEP) of 2020. (11:42)Lastly, we speak about Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. (19:57)Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha SharmaToday is the 27th of March and here are the headlines.A day after a face-off in the Lok Sabha over Speaker Om Birla abruptly adjourning the House after noting that members, especially Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, should conduct themselves “in a manner that maintains the high standards and dignity” of Parliament, a delegation of INDIA bloc parties met Birla today and raised concerns over a range of issues, including the “politicisation of the statement made by Birla outside the House”. A letter was submitted by the delegation to Birla, which The Indian Express has learnt contained eight broad points, including “non-appointment of Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha”, “denial of speaking opportunity to the Leader of Opposition (LoP)”, and “disregard for Business Advisory Committee (BAC) decisions”.Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy moved a resolution against delimitation in the legislative assembly today. The resolution read, quote “The house expresses its deep concern on the manner in which the impending delimitation exercise is being planned, without transparent consultations with stakeholders.” unquote. The resolution was later adopted by the House and passed. Reddy posted about it on X stating:quote  “…We passed a resolution today asking the Centre not to take any steps that compromise the political self-respect and legitimate rights of our people. People of Telangana and citizens of all other states of south India are united in protecting our rights”, unquoteThree separate Private Member Bills are coming up in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly – two by the ruling National Conference legislators and the third by an independent legislator – seeking the restoration of statehood. The Bills for restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir would come up for discussion on April 7. The Private Member Bill introduced by National Conference legislator reads, quote “The House resolves that statehood be restored immediately as promised by the central government in the Parliament of India,” unquoteRussian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India soon, the country's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed in a televised address today. Speaking at the “Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda” conference, hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Lavrov said preparations for Putin's visit are underway. While the date of Putin visit has not been disclosed, it follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Russia in July 2024—his first in nearly five years. Modi had previously visited Vladivostok in 2019 for an economic conclave. During last year's visit, he formally invited Putin to India.US President Donald Trump has decided to expand his trade war to the world's most traded product — automobiles and auto parts — by announcing 25 per cent tariffs on them from April 3. This has raised the uncertainty over Indian exports of auto components worth nearly $7 billion to the US and their future growth potential in the North American market. Citing national security concerns, the White House said that automobiles would be subject to 25 per cent tariffs starting on April 3 — a day after US reciprocal tariffs are set to come into effect — while auto parts would face similar tariffs “no later than May 3 2025,” unless such actions are expressly “reduced, modified, or terminated.”This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha SharmaToday is the 20th of March and here are the headlines.Both Houses of Parliament were marred by protests staged by the DMK over the delimitation issue, with the presiding officers calling their behaviour unbecoming of the dignity of Parliament. Lok Sabha was adjourned within two minuates after it met at 11 am, as DMK MPs came wearing identical T-shirts as a mark of protest against the proposed delimitation. Speaker Om Birla said they cannot come to the House wearing T-shirts and protest in ways that lower the dignity of the House, and adjourned Lok Sabha till noon. The delimitation is expected after 2026 following the decennial census unless the Parliament extends the freeze yet again by amending the Constitution.The Cyberabad police in Telangana booked 25 people on Sunday, including Tollywood actors and social media influencers, for allegedly promoting illegal betting, gambling and casino apps, causing financial losses to the public. Among the 25 named in the FIR are actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Devarakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha and Nidhi Agarwal. Named accused 1 and accused 2, Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj are alleged to have promoted Junglee Rummy through pop-up ads. Vijay Devarakonda is accused of promoting A23 Rummy, Manchu Lakshmi Yolo247, Praneetha Fairplay Live, and Nidhi Agarwal Jeet Win, all by way of pop-up ads, the police said.Billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has filed a lawsuit against the Central Government, challenging the creation of a “parallel” and “unlawful” content censorship regime through a provision under the Information Technology Act. In its petition filed in the Karnataka High Court earlier this month, the company has contended that through the use of Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, multiple government departments and agencies are now issuing content takedown notices to social media companies like X, “attempting to bypass the multiple procedural safeguards” prescribed under Section 69A of the IT Act, which also allows for content blocking.A jawan and 22 Maoists were killed in two encounters in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region today. One encounter broke out at 7 am while security forces were undertaking an operation based on intelligence indicating the presence of Maoists in the jungles under the jurisdiction of Gangaloor police station in Bijapur district near the Dantewada border. The encounter involved intermittent firing for hours, said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range. A jawan from the Bijapur District Reserves Guard (DRG) and 18 Maoists were killed in the firing. “We have recovered explosives and weapons. Search operations are going on,” the officer said.An Indian researcher at Georgetown University, Badar Khan Suri, has been detained by US immigration authorities days after another Indian national's student visa was cancelled over accusations of supporting Hamas. According to a report in Politico that cited court documents, the US government has accused Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, of allegedly having connections with Hamas — a Palestinian group that the US and several other Western countries have designated as a terrorist organisation. This comes just days after the student visa of Columbia University student Ranjani Srinivasan was revoked by the Donald Trump administration.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 18th of March and here are the headlines.Tulsi Gabbard, Director of US National Intelligence, emphasized strengthening security ties with India at the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi. She highlighted collaboration in cybersecurity, emerging tech, and AI. Gabbard acknowledged India's security concerns and reaffirmed that “America first is not America alone.” She stressed the importance of continuing a long-standing partnership, taking advantage of the new administration's momentum to explore further opportunities for collaboration.Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis described the violence in Nagpur on Monday as a “planned incident.” It followed a protest by VHP and Bajrang Dal members demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. Police were attacked, vehicles set on fire, and tear gas was used to disperse crowds. The violence spread across several areas of Nagpur, leaving several injured.Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, calling it a milestone for an awakened nation. Speaking in Lok Sabha, he linked the event's success to the spirit of the nation, reflecting the progress towards the next 1,000 years. Modi also noted how the Ram Mandir ceremony last year foreshadowed the national collective consciousness, reinforcing the country's strength and unity.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the 'Make in India' initiative in the Rajya Sabha, stating it had gained significant momentum, contrary to Opposition claims. She highlighted the success of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, which attracted Rs 1.5 lakh crore in investments and generated 9.5 lakh jobs, countering criticisms of the government's manufacturing policies.Israel launched major airstrikes on Gaza early Tuesday, killing at least 326 Palestinians, including women and children, as reported by hospital officials. The airstrikes targeted Hamas positions, escalating tensions as ceasefire talks stalled. Israel's military vowed to continue its offensive against Hamas, accusing the group of rejecting multiple ceasefire proposals. Prime Minister Netanyahu's office stated that Israel would intensify its military response.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

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.

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.

In this podcast, Kushal speaks with Tehseen Poonawalla about the future of the Indian National Congress. With back-to-back losses at the assembly elections post the Lok Sabha loss, what can the Congress do to make a dent in the Indian political landscape? Follow them: Twitter: @tehseenp #indiannationalcongress #rahulgandhi #ucc ------------------------------------------------------------ Listen to the podcasts on: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kushal-mehra-99891819 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rVcDV3upgVurMVW1wwoBp Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-c%C4%81rv%C4%81ka-podcast/id1445348369 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-carvaka-podcast ------------------------------------------------------------ Support The Cārvāka Podcast: Buy Kushal's Book: https://amzn.in/d/58cY4dU Become a Member on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPx... Become a Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carvaka UPI: kushalmehra@icici Interac Canada: kushalmehra81@gmail.com To buy The Carvaka Podcast Exclusive Merch please visit: http://kushalmehra.com/shop ------------------------------------------------------------ Follow Kushal: Twitter: https://twitter.com/kushal_mehra?ref_... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KushalMehraO... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarvakap... Koo: https://www.kooapp.com/profile/kushal... Inquiries: https://kushalmehra.com/ Feedback: kushalmehra81@gmail.com

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.

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.

BIG MOVE by Modi Govt - Waqf Passed and Renamed as UMEED | Lok Sabha में पास होगा Bill | WaqfReforms

This week on Hafta, Newslaundry's Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan are joined by The Caravan's Hartosh Singh Bal and Delhi University professor Tanvir Aeijaz. The panel begins the show by discussing Narendra Modi's meeting with Donald Trump which Manisha terms “a test of statecraft” for Modi. The discussion then moves to the Delhi election result, which saw the BJP returning to power after 27 years. “This is a new BJP. It has gained strength since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” says Hartosh. “...These elections were not fought on Modi's back. The party now has organisational strength. Even if Modi falls to the wayside, it does not make a difference to the BJP.” As the panel discusses the AAP and Congress's performance, Abhinandan says, “One thing BJP has pulled off well is that they won Delhi without a [chief ministerial] face.”Tanvir talks about the controversy surrounding the new UGC draft guidelines that give state governors a prominent role in selecting vice-chancellors. “This regulation comes in the backdrop of the idea that we need to have one curriculum, one education system across the country,” he says. “But education is a concurrent subject…everything in a monastic form creates a problem for federalism.”This and a lot more. Tune in!Hafta letters: Economies and ‘police states', the question of ads, courts and paroleWe have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. Download the Newslaundry app. Contribute to our latest NL Sena here.Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/9Az11BtCKQ8Timecodes00:00:00 - Introductions and announcements00:04:57 - Headlines00:11:48 - Modi in America00:18:20 - Delhi elections 00:45:13 - Manipur developments00:51:20 - UGC guidelines 01:22:16 - Tanvir's recommendation01:29:55 - Hartosh's recommendation 01:33:17 - Letters01:46:01 - Recommendations Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Ashish Anand.This episode is outside of the paywall, just for the week and just for you. Before it goes back behind the paywall, why not subscribe? Get brand-new episodes of all our podcasts every week, while also doing your bit to support independent media. Click here to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From being a fringe political party in 2013 to sweeping nearly half of the state s forty-two Lok Sabha seats in 2019, the BJP has gained ground in West Bengal, aided partly by the RSS s exponential growth during Mamata Banerjee's chief ministerial tenure (2011 onwards). With a consistent and concerted criticism of the TMC, the saffron camp managed to create a strong wave of anti-incumbency. So much so that the BJP s prospects of forming the next government in Bengal in 2021 seemed to have brightened considerably, while the Left, which had ruled Bengal for over three decades, appears to have been reduced to a fringe political entity. However, the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, combined with Banerjee s course-correction drive, designed by strategist Prashant Kishor, indicate that she might yet script a turnaround, with Bengal turning into the laboratory of a unique political experiment.  Mission Bengal: A Saffron Experiment (HarperCollins India, 2020) documents the BJP s extraordinary rise in the state and attempts to look at these developments in the historical context of Bengal from the rise of Hindu nationalism and Muslim separatism in the nineteenth century, the Partition and its fallout, the impact of developments in Bangladesh, the influence of leftist ideals on the psyche of the Bengali people, to the demographic changes in the state over the past few decades. About the Author:  Snigdhendu Bhattacharya is a Kolkata-based journalist who has reported for different national media houses including the Hindustan Times, The Wire and Outlook. He has been writing on politics, security, history, socio-economic and cultural affairs since 2005. His book Lalgarh and the Legend of Kishanji: Tales from India's Maoist Movement was published in 2016. About the Host:  Stuti Roy has recently graduated with an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies from the University of Oxford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

From being a fringe political party in 2013 to sweeping nearly half of the state s forty-two Lok Sabha seats in 2019, the BJP has gained ground in West Bengal, aided partly by the RSS s exponential growth during Mamata Banerjee's chief ministerial tenure (2011 onwards). With a consistent and concerted criticism of the TMC, the saffron camp managed to create a strong wave of anti-incumbency. So much so that the BJP s prospects of forming the next government in Bengal in 2021 seemed to have brightened considerably, while the Left, which had ruled Bengal for over three decades, appears to have been reduced to a fringe political entity. However, the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, combined with Banerjee s course-correction drive, designed by strategist Prashant Kishor, indicate that she might yet script a turnaround, with Bengal turning into the laboratory of a unique political experiment.  Mission Bengal: A Saffron Experiment (HarperCollins India, 2020) documents the BJP s extraordinary rise in the state and attempts to look at these developments in the historical context of Bengal from the rise of Hindu nationalism and Muslim separatism in the nineteenth century, the Partition and its fallout, the impact of developments in Bangladesh, the influence of leftist ideals on the psyche of the Bengali people, to the demographic changes in the state over the past few decades. About the Author:  Snigdhendu Bhattacharya is a Kolkata-based journalist who has reported for different national media houses including the Hindustan Times, The Wire and Outlook. He has been writing on politics, security, history, socio-economic and cultural affairs since 2005. His book Lalgarh and the Legend of Kishanji: Tales from India's Maoist Movement was published in 2016. About the Host:  Stuti Roy has recently graduated with an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies from the University of Oxford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 14th of February and here are this week's headlines.Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a four-day trip to France and the US, starting Monday. In France, Modi co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron from 10 to 12 of February. During his visit, he also inaugurated India's first consulate in Marseille and paid tribute to Indian soldiers at the Mazargues War Cemetery. Before embarking on his visit Modi referred to both Macron and US President Donald Trump as his "friends" and emphasized strengthening international cooperation in the fields of technology and diplomacy.Meanwhile, Manipur's Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, resigned, setting off discussions about his replacement. The BJP's central leadership is expected to take time in finalizing a consensus candidate. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has asked Singh to remain in office until alternative arrangements are made. Meanwhile, Singh recommended suspending the Assembly, allowing time for MLAs to agree on a new leader. With no clear majority support for a successor, the Centre may consider imposing President's Rule. The resignation led to the nullification of an earlier order to convene the Assembly.In another news making headline, Ranveer Allahbadia, founder of the popular YouTube channel ‘Beer Biceps', has become the subject of a Mumbai police probe for the allegedly obscene comments he made during a guest appearance on Samay Raina YouTube show ‘India's Got Latent'. Maharashtra cyber police summoned several celebrities, including comedian Tanmay Bhatt, actor Rakhi Sawant, and influencer Uorfi Javed.Meanwhile, Samay Raina's lawyer sought more time for her client as he is travelling overseas, but the state cyber police refused to give any time and served him a second notice asking him to remain present before them on 17th of February. In other news, the Uttarakhand High Court addressed concerns about the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act, 2024, particularly regarding live-in relationships. The court emphasized the importance of self-respect and privacy, especially for children born from such relationships. Chief Justice G Narender questioned the regulation of live-ins and the declaration of such marriages as void or criminal. The petition challenging these provisions highlights concerns about the infringement of religious rights and the adverse impact on individuals involved in live-in relationships.Meanwhile, in news from the parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the new Income Tax bill in Lok Sabha on Thursday. The new Income Tax Bill will replace the six-decade old Income Tax Act and will likely come into effect from 1st of April, 2026. With no major structural changes in the new Bill, experts say its majorly a simplification exercise and its key features are — crisp language, removal of extra provisos and explanations along with expanded definition of income. In the new I-T Bill, virtual digital assets have been included in the definition of property to be counted as a capital asset of the assessee and several provisions have been provided in tabular format such as TDS provisions, presumptive taxation rates, assessment time limits among others.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express

From being a fringe political party in 2013 to sweeping nearly half of the state s forty-two Lok Sabha seats in 2019, the BJP has gained ground in West Bengal, aided partly by the RSS s exponential growth during Mamata Banerjee's chief ministerial tenure (2011 onwards). With a consistent and concerted criticism of the TMC, the saffron camp managed to create a strong wave of anti-incumbency. So much so that the BJP s prospects of forming the next government in Bengal in 2021 seemed to have brightened considerably, while the Left, which had ruled Bengal for over three decades, appears to have been reduced to a fringe political entity. However, the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, combined with Banerjee s course-correction drive, designed by strategist Prashant Kishor, indicate that she might yet script a turnaround, with Bengal turning into the laboratory of a unique political experiment.  Mission Bengal: A Saffron Experiment (HarperCollins India, 2020) documents the BJP s extraordinary rise in the state and attempts to look at these developments in the historical context of Bengal from the rise of Hindu nationalism and Muslim separatism in the nineteenth century, the Partition and its fallout, the impact of developments in Bangladesh, the influence of leftist ideals on the psyche of the Bengali people, to the demographic changes in the state over the past few decades. About the Author:  Snigdhendu Bhattacharya is a Kolkata-based journalist who has reported for different national media houses including the Hindustan Times, The Wire and Outlook. He has been writing on politics, security, history, socio-economic and cultural affairs since 2005. His book Lalgarh and the Legend of Kishanji: Tales from India's Maoist Movement was published in 2016. About the Host:  Stuti Roy has recently graduated with an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies from the University of Oxford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

From being a fringe political party in 2013 to sweeping nearly half of the state s forty-two Lok Sabha seats in 2019, the BJP has gained ground in West Bengal, aided partly by the RSS s exponential growth during Mamata Banerjee's chief ministerial tenure (2011 onwards). With a consistent and concerted criticism of the TMC, the saffron camp managed to create a strong wave of anti-incumbency. So much so that the BJP s prospects of forming the next government in Bengal in 2021 seemed to have brightened considerably, while the Left, which had ruled Bengal for over three decades, appears to have been reduced to a fringe political entity. However, the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, combined with Banerjee s course-correction drive, designed by strategist Prashant Kishor, indicate that she might yet script a turnaround, with Bengal turning into the laboratory of a unique political experiment.  Mission Bengal: A Saffron Experiment (HarperCollins India, 2020) documents the BJP s extraordinary rise in the state and attempts to look at these developments in the historical context of Bengal from the rise of Hindu nationalism and Muslim separatism in the nineteenth century, the Partition and its fallout, the impact of developments in Bangladesh, the influence of leftist ideals on the psyche of the Bengali people, to the demographic changes in the state over the past few decades. About the Author:  Snigdhendu Bhattacharya is a Kolkata-based journalist who has reported for different national media houses including the Hindustan Times, The Wire and Outlook. He has been writing on politics, security, history, socio-economic and cultural affairs since 2005. His book Lalgarh and the Legend of Kishanji: Tales from India's Maoist Movement was published in 2016. About the Host:  Stuti Roy has recently graduated with an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies from the University of Oxford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 13th of February and here are the headlines.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold talks with US President Donald Trump, after his meeting with the country's intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard. PM Modi is currently on a two-day visit to the United States, landing in Washington DC after wrapping up his visit to France where he co-chaired the Paris AI Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. PM Modi is set to be the third foreign leader to be hosted by the White House since President Trump took office on January 20 for the second term.Meanwhile, in news from the parliament, Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the new Income Tax bill in Lok Sabha. The new Income Tax Bill will replace the six-decade old Income Tax Act and will likely come into effect from April 1, 2026. With no major structural changes in the new Bill, experts say its majorly a simplification exercise and its key features are — crisp language, removal of extra provisos and explanations along with expanded definition of income. In the new I-T Bill, virtual digital assets have been included in the definition of property to be counted as a capital asset of the assessee and several provisions have been provided in tabular format such as tax deducted at source provisions, presumptive taxation rates, assessment time limits among others.In other news, The Adani Group has withdrawn from a 484 megawatt wind project in northern Sri Lanka after the government in Colombo allegedly moved to renegotiate the terms of the project. Adani Green Energy Ltd told Sri Lanka's Board of Investment yesterday that it would “respectfully withdraw” from the wind project following discussions with officials who indicated that fresh committees would be formed to “renegotiate the project proposal”. The wind project has been under intense scrutiny since the election of Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in September last year, after he promised to cancel the “corrupt” project in the runup to the elections.Meanwhile, facing growing revenue and fiscal deficits and a mounting debt, the Mamata Banerjee government diverted some of its spending on social welfare from its flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme to one for building rural houses, in the Budget tabled yesterday. The Chief Minister, who has accused the Centre of not releasing “a single paisa” for the PM Awas Yojana in Bengal, had announced the Banglar Bari housing scheme in December last year.In news from Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi today amid speculations of trouble within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra after NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar recently felicitated Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Thackeray, the former Maharashtra minister, is also likely to meet AAP national convenor and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal later in the day.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 11th of February and here are the headlines.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, co-chairing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, highlighted AI's transformative potential and called for global governance to address its challenges. He stressed that AI is “writing the code for humanity in the 21st century,” acknowledging both its immense promise and inherent biases. Modi urged collective global efforts to shape AI's future and promote innovation while tackling risks. He emphasized the need for global collaboration to ensure AI benefits humanity and upholds shared values.The Mumbai police have contacted podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia and YouTuber Samay Raina for an inquiry regarding controversial remarks made by Allahbadia during Raina's 'India's Got Latent' show. Allahbadia, known for his BeerBiceps channel, made a joke that sparked nationwide controversy after the video went viral on social media. The remarks, widely criticized as insensitive and vulgar, led to backlash from viewers. The Mumbai police confirmed they are investigating the incident, and Allahbadia, along with other guests, is being questioned regarding the matter.Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the latest Union Budget, claiming it is designed to benefit the wealthy, including industrialists. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Yadav stated that the budget's focus is on the rich, rather than on creating a roadmap for India's development. He expressed concerns over the lack of a long-term vision for the country's growth, adding that recent budget announcements seem tailored to elites rather than addressing the needs of the general population. He criticized the budget's priorities and questioned its impact on India's future.The Indian stock market took a hit on Tuesday, with the Sensex dropping over 1,000 points and Nifty falling by 1.3% amid concerns over Donald Trump's tariff announcements and weak corporate earnings. The Sensex was trading at 76,259, down 1,047 points, while Nifty50 was down by 303.5 points, trading at 23,078. Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 25% and announced plans for reciprocal levies on several countries, shaking market sentiment and triggering a decline on Dalal Street.Following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs, India's top security agencies have compiled a list of 12 gangsters based in the United States. Sources reveal that this list may be shared with U.S. authorities during Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to the U.S. The list includes notorious criminals like Anmol Bishnoi and Goldy Brar. While central agencies have long tracked criminals abroad, the recent directive focuses specifically on gangsters based in the U.S., aiming to address their legal status and facilitate international cooperation.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 3rd of February and here are the headlines.Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, alleged that 70 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra's electoral rolls between the Lok Sabha and state elections. He demanded that the Election Commission provide voter data to opposition parties. Gandhi questioned the integrity of the 2022 Maharashtra polls and expressed doubt that the EC would release the requested details. He emphasized that the Constitution relies on secure votes, without which its significance is diminished.In his reply to the President's address, Rahul Gandhi criticized both the UPA and NDA governments for failing to provide a clear employment plan for India's youth. He expressed dissatisfaction with President Murmu's inaugural address, calling it similar to past speeches. Gandhi emphasized that the country's future hinges on young people and highlighted that any proposals should address their concerns and challenges, urging the Opposition bloc to focus on this issue.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded to Rahul Gandhi's claims regarding his U.S. visit in December 2024. Gandhi had alleged that Jaishankar went to the U.S. to secure an invitation for PM Modi's attendance at Trump's inauguration. Jaishankar denied the accusation, stating that his visit was for meetings with U.S. officials and to chair a consuls general gathering. He clarified that the Prime Minister typically does not attend such events and India is represented by special envoys.The Supreme Court called the January 29 stampede at the Maha Kumbh “unfortunate” but directed the petitioner to approach the Allahabad High Court, where a judicial commission had already been set up to investigate the incident. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, hearing the case, stated that the matter was concerning but advised that the High Court be approached. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi confirmed that the judicial commission was already in place to address the issue.U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staffers were instructed to stay out of the agency's Washington headquarters after Elon Musk claimed he and President Trump had agreed to shut down USAID. Over 600 employees were locked out of USAID's computer systems, and those still in the system received emails about the closure. Musk, who is leading a review of the federal government with Trump's approval, said the two agreed on shutting down the agency, which has been active for over six decades.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 15th of January and here are today's headlines.Rahul Gandhi's Remarks on RSS and BJPOn Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, accused the BJP and RSS of “capturing every single institution” in India. He criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his controversial remarks on India's Independence and called them treasonous. Gandhi argued that India is witnessing a clash between the visions of the Congress and RSS. He stated that Congress is now fighting both the BJP, RSS, and the Indian state itself, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP.PM Modi Commissions New Naval CombatantsPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday commissioned three advanced Naval combatants—INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer—at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Calling the occasion a “giant leap forward” for the Navy's empowerment, Modi celebrated India's growing defence self-reliance. Designed and built entirely in India, these combatants enhance India's naval capabilities. They have undergone rigorous trials and are now fully operational, marking a significant milestone in the country's indigenous shipbuilding and defence production.Meta Apologizes for Zuckerberg's Election RemarksMeta India apologized on Wednesday for CEO Mark Zuckerberg's claim about several governments, including India's, losing power in post-COVID elections. Meta clarified that the statement was an "inadvertent error." In a message to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Meta's Shivnath Thukral explained that while the remark applied to many countries, it was incorrect regarding India. The apology came after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey announced that a Parliamentary panel would summon Meta to seek an apology for the controversial comments.Committee Recommends Action in Khalistan Plot CaseA high-powered committee set up by the Union government has recommended legal action against an individual in connection with an alleged plot to kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The committee's report follows inputs from US authorities regarding Vikash Yadav, a former Indian official, accused of directing a foiled assassination attempt in New York City. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Yadav is no longer employed by the Indian government, and legal action is now being considered based on the findings.South Korean President Arrested Amid ImpeachmentOn Wednesday, South Korean authorities arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from his residence, following a weeks-long standoff with law enforcement. Yoon, who had previously declared martial law in December, was impeached by the parliament. In a pre-recorded message, Yoon claimed that his arrest was illegitimate and the investigation illegal. He explained that he stopped resisting to avoid a violent confrontation. Yoon's controversial actions and impeachment have sparked political turmoil in the country.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by the Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Niharika Nanda.Today is the 31st of December and here are the headlines.On the last day of the year, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh expressed “regret” and “apologised” for the ethnic strife that has gripped the state since 3rd May, 2023, leaving dozens dead and thousands homeless. Addressing the press in the first such comments, he said, quote “This entire year has been very unfortunate. I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what's happening till today since last May 3.” unquote.Walmik Karad, who has been in the eye of a storm since the murder of a sarpanch in Maharashtra's Beed district, Tuesday surrendered at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department in Pune. Karad is a former NCP corporator and an aide of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde. He is also a group leader in Parli Nagar Parishad, president of the Ladki Bahin Yojana in Beed, and NCP's member of the Beed district planning committee.The family of Santosh Deshmukh (45), a sarpanch of Massajog in Kaiz tehsil, has alleged Karad's involvement in Deshmukh's murder on 9th December.An analysis of the data released by the Election Commission showed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw 800 women candidates contesting across 390 parliamentary constituencies, the higher-ever since the second general elections in 1957. With 800 women candidates in the fray, this also led to a decline in the number of seats having no women candidate to its lowest-ever of 152. Over the years, the number of women candidates has been on the rise.On Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Maharashtra BJP minister Nitesh Rane's statement calling Kerala a “mini Pakistan" is highly provocative and deplorable.Addressing a function in Pune, Rane had said, quote “Kerala is mini Pakistan… that is why Rahul Gandhi and his sister are elected from there. All terrorists vote for them. This is the truth, you can ask. They have become MPs after taking terrorists with them.'' unquote. In a sharp response, Vijayan said, quote “The Maharashtra minister's words reflected the Sangh Parivar's approach towards Kerala. Sangh Parivar is of the view that it can alienate places where it finds it difficult to gain control, by unleashing such hate campaigns. The minister is not fit to continue in his post. It is surprising that the leadership of the party that rules the country has not reacted to the statement of the minister, who has breached the oath of office by insulting the Constitution of the country.” unquote.A federal appeals court has upheld a $5 million verdict against Donald Trump for sexually abusing and defaming magazine writer E Jean Carroll, marking a legal setback for the president-elect, The Guardian reported. The three-judge panel at the second US circuit court of appeals in Manhattan rejected Trump's appeal for a new trial. They ruled that evidence, including testimonies from other women who accused Trump of sexual misconduct and the infamous Access Hollywood tape, was properly admitted in court. The tape famously recorded Trump boasting about grabbing women.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Watch ThePrint Word of the Year for 2024 is ‘khatakhat', a catchphrase coined by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign which reshaped India's political economy. Unlike PM Narendra Modi's 2022 critique of ‘revdi culture', which failed to gain traction, ‘khatakhat' resonated because it was ideology-free, focused on immediate, non-controversial benefits like financial assistance and job guarantees, especially for women and farmers. In Episode 1582 of #CutTheClutter, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks at how ‘khatakhat' forced BJP, others to adopt populist strategies they once opposed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watch Rahul Gandhi's Jhansi Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1sFOe2E1mo

Will Modi Act Against Rahul? | BJP to have Absolute Majority in Lok Sabha? | Uddhav | Bhau, Omkar C

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 20th of December and here are the headlines.The ‘One Nation, One Election Bill' was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with strong opposition from Congress and Samajwadi Party. The bill, supported by 269 MPs, aims to synchronize elections across India. Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal defended it, while Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called it unconstitutional, warning of its impact on democracy. The bill seeks to amend three Constitution articles, based on recommendations from a committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the 'Sanjeevani Yojana' on Wednesday, promising free medical care for all citizens over 60, in both government and private hospitals. The scheme is seen as a counter to the BJP-led Centre's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Kejriwal aims to attract senior voters ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.In the wake of an altercation on Parliament premises, Congress MPs, led by Pramod Tiwari, filed a complaint with the Sansad Marg police station accusing BJP MPs of manhandling Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Priyanka Gandhi, witnessing the incident, described how Kharge fell after being pushed, with a CPIM MP also collapsing on him. She expressed concern that Kharge might have been seriously injured. The confrontation follows tensions between NDA and INDIA MPs during parliamentary proceedings.Meanwhile, an Indian Navy craft, which was undergoing trials for a newly fitted engine, experienced malfunction and crashed into a passenger ferry boat, off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday that killed 13 people. An inquiry has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the incident but it is believed that the engine malfunction led to the rider losing control of the craft, resulting in the collision. After the Mumbai ferry accident, boat operators are pointing to the lack of regulation and monitoring in one of India's busiest harbours. They said the Navy generally conducts its boat testing during non-peak hours, primarily in the mornings.On the global front, Israel has announced it will close its embassy in Ireland after Dublin supported a petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing genocide. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar criticized Ireland's “extreme anti-Israeli policies” for backing the case. In response, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris stated that Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights, and supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, emphasizing Ireland's commitment to international law.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, The Indian Express' Damini Nath explains 'One Nation One Election' at length. She shares the details of the amendments required to implement it, the reaction that it received in the Lok Sabha and all the recent developments.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Abhinaya Harigovind who shares the recommendations of the high level committee that was created post the NEET UG paper leak. She talks about the ways recommended by the committee in which the entrance exam process can be made more like the election process. (13:27)Finally, we talk about a Navy craft losing control and hitting a ferry off the Mumbai coast causing 13 deaths. (23:23)Produced and hosted by Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch-Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express, and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 18th of December, and here are the headlines:Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Ruckus Over Amit Shah's CommentsProceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Tuesday following a ruckus over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks about Dr. BR Ambedkar. The Congress strongly criticized the introduction of the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, calling for its immediate withdrawal. Despite this, the bill was introduced after a vote in the Lok Sabha via an electronic voting system, with Speaker Om Birla overseeing the process.Modi Defends Amit Shah, Slams Congress Over Ambedkar RemarksPrime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition's accusations that Union Minister Amit Shah insulted Dr. BR Ambedkar, claiming Congress's "rotten ecosystem" spread malicious lies to cover up its misdeeds. Modi said the Congress, led by a single dynasty, had humiliated Ambedkar's legacy and the SC/ST communities. His remarks, posted on X, accused Congress of trying to erase Ambedkar's contributions and criticized its tactics to hide its past failures.Kejriwal Announces ‘Sanjeevani Yojana' Ahead of Delhi ElectionsAam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the 'Sanjeevani Yojana' on Wednesday, promising free medical care for all citizens over 60, in both government and private hospitals. The scheme is seen as a counter to the BJP-led Centre's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which provides secondary and tertiary healthcare to economically vulnerable families. Kejriwal aims to attract senior voters ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.CAG Report Finds Undue Benefits to Maharashtra Road ContractorsThe Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that Maharashtra road contractors received undue benefits worth Rs 203 crore due to reduced penalties imposed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). An audit found that NHAI violated concession agreements in projects in Nanded and Thane districts, which resulted in lower damage recoveries than stipulated. The CAG report, tabled in Lok Sabha on December 16, highlighted violations of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines by NHAI.Ravichandran Ashwin Announces Retirement from International CricketRavichandran Ashwin, India's premier spinner, announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane. The 38-year-old spinner, who played in the second Test in Adelaide, revealed his decision following an emotional chat with former India captain Virat Kohli. Ashwin, who is India's second-highest Test wicket-taker with 537 wickets, thanked the fans and expressed that his appearance in Brisbane would be his last day representing India on the international stage.This was the Catch-Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 13th of December and here are the headlines.Bangladesh confirmed on Tuesday that 88 incidents of communal violence targeting minorities, mostly Hindus, occurred after the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Interim government spokesman Shafiqul Alam said 70 people were arrested in connection with the attacks. This announcement came after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri raised concerns about the safety of minorities during talks with Bangladeshi officials, calling the incidents regrettable. The violence has drawn significant international attention and criticism.In a tragic incident in Mumbai, a BEST bus crashed into 22 vehicles, killing seven and injuring 49. The accident took place near Anjuman-E-Islam School in Kurla West around 9:30 pm. Investigators revealed that the driver, Sanjay More, hit cars, two-wheelers, and even a police van. Police are still determining whether more vehicles were involved. The accident, one of the city's worst, has shocked locals and raised questions about traffic safety in crowded areas.After 13 years of civil war and decades of Assad family rule, Syria's rebel group, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has taken control of the country's governance. A meeting between rebel leaders and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali confirmed the handover of power to the rebel-led Salvation Government. This momentous shift offers hope to Syrian refugees abroad, although uncertainty looms over the country's future stability as it transitions from decades of autocratic rule. The situation remains fragile, with global eyes on Syria's next steps.18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju upstaged China's Ding Liren in the final game of their best-of-14-games to become the youngest ever world chess champion on Thursday in Singapore. In 2018, Gukesh became the third-youngest grandmaster in history at 12 years and seven months. In April, earlier this year, Gukesh stunned the world by winning the eight-man Candidates tournament in Toronto and became the youngest ever challenger for the world championship.The Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to two Bills, one of which is a nod to the “one nation, one election” plan of the BJP-led Central government. Since coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been advocating for the plan to hold elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies at the same time. A high-level committee, headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, in March this year recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 12th of December and here are the headlines.In a significant ruling on Thursday, the Supreme Court directed that civil courts cannot hear cases challenging the ownership and title of places of worship. This includes major disputes like the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. The court clarified that no new suits can be filed, and no interim or final orders, including surveys, will be allowed until further hearings. Several similar suits are pending in different locations across India.On Thursday, the Union Cabinet approved two crucial bills related to holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. One bill proposes a constitutional amendment, while the other seeks to align assembly elections in Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. These bills are expected to be introduced in the current Parliament session. This development follows months of discussions after the Kovind-led committee's recommendations on simultaneous elections.Thursday saw chaos in both Houses of Parliament. The Lok Sabha was adjourned after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised allegations about Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's alleged ties to billionaire George Soros. Opposition MPs protested fiercely, even climbing the Speaker's dais. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned after a disruption over a motion by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, leading to further tension in the parliamentary proceedings for the day.Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal announced that the Mahila Samman Rashi Scheme will increase the monthly allowance for women to Rs 2,100, up from Rs 1,000, if AAP is re-elected. The scheme, approved by Chief Minister Atishi's Cabinet, is aimed at supporting women's financial empowerment. The announcement is seen as part of the AAP's strategy to secure women's votes in the upcoming elections.In a clash between security forces and alleged Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, seven Maoists were killed early Thursday. The encounter, which lasted over seven hours, took place in the dense jungles of Abujhmad, a heavily forested and un-surveyed area. The police are continuing search operations to confirm the number of casualties and recover weapons. The region has long been a hotspot for Maoist insurgents, making security operations challenging.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 9th of December and here are the headlines.India called for a “peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process” which respects the interests and aspirations of all sections of Syrian society, in its first statement today since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday. Bashar al-Assad fled Syria for Russia after Islamist rebels managed to advance and capture Damascus on Sunday. The Syrian conflict since 2011 had been frozen for the last few years and the Assad regime had managed to stave off any possible insurrection but that changed in the last few days, as the rebels advanced against the Syrian regime's army.The Lok Sabha faced disruptions amid slogans raised by Opposition MPs, leading to an adjournment. In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House JP Nadda made a brief statement seeking a discussion on the Soros issue. Meanwhile, Congress has called for a comprehensive debate on the India-China ties, encompassing strategic and economic policies. This comes as a response to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent briefing in Lok Sabha on key developments in bilateral relations following the agreement on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control in easter Ladakh.After the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker's election was formally announced in the House today, the Assembly passed the confidence vote in favour of  Devendra Fadnavis led government by majority voice vote. BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar was elected as the Speaker unopposed after Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi parties refused to file nomination. The confidence motion in the assembly was accepted as ruling coalition has 237 MLAs in 288 member assembly. The Opposition MVA has placed a formal demand seeking the Leader of Opposition post and the Deputy Speaker post in the Assembly.In its second list of candidates for the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled in February 2025, the Aam Aadmi Party today changed nominees in 20 of the 70 constituencies in the Capital. There are widespread changes in the AAP candidate list, with the ruling party dropping 13 of its sitting MLAs. Two sitting MLAs, Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Bidlan, have been fielded from new constituencies of Jundpura and Manipur, respectively. Avadh Ojha, a popular UPSC coaching teacher and motivational speaker who joined the AAP recently, replaced Manish Sisodia in Patparganj. Meanwhile, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said today that the alleged links between the Congress and Hungarian-American businessman should be considered “serious” and urged the opposition party  to fight unitedly against “anti-India forces”. He also said the matter should not be viewed through a “political lens.” The BJP minister's statement comes a day after the BJP alleged that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has links to an organisation financed by the George Soros Foundation and which has backed the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 6th of December and here are this week's headlines.BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra on 5th of December along with two deputy chief ministers, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and NCP's Ajit Pawar, at a grand event held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.  The formation of the new government comes after two weeks of intense negotiations among the Mahayuti allies following the 23rd November poll results. The swearing-in ceremony took place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union ministers, and several chief ministers.Meanwhile, India experienced its second warmest November in 123 years and this warming trend has continued since the post-monsoon season in October, and could contribute to making 2024 the warmest year ever on record, globally. According to meteorologists, there were two main reasons for the above normal temperatures in India, first the lack of strong western disturbances affecting the plains of northwest India, and second lack of cyclonic disturbances or low pressure systems — both of which kept the rainfall activity at its lowest across the country.As allegations emerge against its director of “favouritism”, “vindictiveness in faculty selection”, and failure to build a hospital on campus, the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, has responded by issuing show cause notices to as many as 85 faculty members, deepening the rift between the administration and teachers. The institute has also issued orders replacing three heads of departments, who were signatories to a mass petition. The conflict began in September, when the IIT Teachers' Association wrote to the Union Education Ministry, accusing the institute of arbitrary recruitment and other irregularities under the tenure of its current director V K Tewari. The Trinamool Congress asked the Centre to appeal to the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Bangladesh on Tuesday where according to the party “the minorities and the Hindus are being tortured and being killed”. The party's appeal in the Lok Sabha came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a similar request in the state Assembly. Speaking during the Zero Hour, party MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay sought a statement in the House by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar about the latest situation in Bangladesh. He added that the West Bengal government had adopted a resolution that it would work together with the Centre on the matter and stand by its decisions.On the global front, France Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government has collapsed amid a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly and he has been forced to resign after three months into his term, sending the country into a political crisis. Like the former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was asked to continue as the caretaker government, when President Macron dissolved the National Assembly following his party's crushing defeat in the EU elections, PM Michel Barnier will also remain in power as a caretaker administrator.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 3rd of December and here are the headlines.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Lok Sabha today about the recent developments in India-China bilateral relations over the recent agreement on disengagement and patrolling along the Line of Actual Control.  Jaishankar said, quote “India-China ties cannot be normal without peace in border areas.” unquote. He also said that the immediate priority was to ensure disengagement from friction points, this has been fully achieved. Jaishankar acknowledged that 2020's disruptions adversely impacted bilateral relations, necessitating recalibrated engagements for long-term peace. Both Houses of Parliament resumed normal proceedings today after a week-long standoff between the government and the Opposition, which ended in a resolution and two Bills are expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha – The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill and The Railways (Amendment) Bill.The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have killed a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant involved in the killing of seven employees of a construction firm that was building the Z-Morh tunnel near Sonamarg. The name of Junaid Ramzan Bhat, a Lashkar militant from south Kashmir's Kulgam, surfaced after he was identified by the police as one of the two attackers from the CCTV footage of the incident. Police said Bhat was killed during a gunfight in Dachigam forests on the city outskirts.Four workers were killed in a boiler blast at an industrial unit in Ank-leshwar GIDC in the Bha-ruch district of Gujarat today. Bharuch district administration confirmed that the blast occurred at the premises of Detox India Private Limited, which is in the business of industrial waste treatment and disposal. Following the blast, teams from the fire department, industrial safety and health departments, and the police reached the spot and have begun a primary probe into the incident.India experienced its second warmest November in 123 years and this warming trend has continued since the post-monsoon season in October, and could contribute to making 2024 the warmest year ever on record, globally. According to meteorologists, there were two main reasons for the above normal temperatures in India, first the lack of strong western disturbances affecting the plains of northwest India, and second lack of cyclonic disturbances or low pressure systems — both of which kept the rainfall activity at its lowest across the country.The Trinamool Congress asked the Centre today to appeal to the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Bangladesh where according to the party “the minorities and the Hindus are being tortured and being killed”.  The party's appeal in the Lok Sabha came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a similar request in the state Assembly. Speaking during the Zero Hour, party MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay sought a statement in the House by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar about the latest situation in Bangladesh. He added that the West Bengal government had adopted a resolution that it would work together with the Centre on the matter and stand by its decisions.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 2nd of December and here are the headlines.The Congress accused the government of avoiding discussions in Parliament on issues like the Adani bribery allegations and Sambhal violence. Both Houses were adjourned amid opposition protests demanding debates. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh remarked, quote “There was hardly any sloganeering. But the Modi government simply did not want Parliament to function. The Opposition wants a discussion but the government is running away from it,” unquote. Before the adjournment, the Lok Sabha introduced the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was scheduled to brief on India-China relations.The Supreme Court on Monday expressed its concern over DMK leader Senthil Balaji being reinstated as minister in the M K Stalin-led government in Tamil Nadu shortly after it granted him bail in a money laundering case. The court was hearing a plea that sought to recall the September 26 order granting bail to Balaji on the ground that his reinstatement would put witnesses under pressure. The Supreme Court had granted him bail on the ground that there was no likelihood of the trial beginning anytime soon. Justice A S Oka questioned quote, “We grant bail and the next day you go and become Minister? Anybody will be bound to be under the impression that now with your position as a senior Cabinet Minister witnesses will be under pressure. What is this going on?” unquote.Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been formally invited to visit India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the dates for his visit will be set in early 2025. This will be Putin's first visit to India in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war that started in February 2022. Putin's India visit will come as part of a laid-down structure between the two countries for reciprocal annual visits by their leaders. The announcement about Putin's India visit comes days after the election of US President Donald Trump, who is also expected to visit India next year for the QUAD Summit.Noida authorities on Monday issued a traffic advisory stating Delhi Police and Gautam Buddha Nagar Police will put up barriers and increase security on all the borders adjoining Gautam Buddha Nagar to Delhi, in light of a farmers protest march. Thousands of farmers, under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Samyukt Kisan Morcha and other farmer groups, shifted their ongoing protest demanding the allocation of 10% developed plots for farmers displaced by land acquisition, implementation of new legal benefits, and the adoption of recommendations by a state committee for farmer welfare.On the global front, the Syrian opposition-run rescue service known as the White Helmets confirmed at least 25 people were killed in northwestern Syria in air strikes carried out by the Syrian government and Russia. Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 29th of November and here are this week's headlines.The Lok Sabha passed a resolution on Thursday to extend the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill till the last day of the Budget session next year. Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Committee, moved a motion stating, “That this House do extend time for the presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the last day of the Budget Session, 2025.” The Lok Sabha approved the motion with a voice vote. The Centre had referred the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled on 8th of August, to the Committee to scrutinise the Bill following the Opposition's objections. The panel's tenure was set to conclude on November 29.  Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde resigned on Tuesday, marking the end of the 14th Assembly's term. Shinde, along with deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met Governor C P Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhawan. As caretaker CM, Shinde will oversee the formation of a new government. The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won a clear mandate in the Assembly elections, securing 230 out of 288 seats. Ajit Pawar was also elected leader of the NCP, setting the stage for key decisions in the coming days.India expressed deep concern over the arrest of Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu in Bangladesh on Tuesday. Prabhu, a prominent member of ISKCON, was detained at Dhaka airport, facing charges of sedition after leading a rally in Chattogram. He's accused of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag. India urged the Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities in the country, calling for Prabhu's immediate release.A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect, following an agreement brokered by the US and France. Hamas expressed support for Lebanon's efforts to protect its people and hopes for a broader deal to end the Gaza war. While international peace efforts remain stalled, Lebanon's military is preparing to deploy in the south to help maintain the ceasefire, urging residents near the border to stay away until the Israeli military retreats. This marks a tentative step toward reducing tensions in the region.Meanwhile, in Pakistan, violent protests erupted on Tuesday after supporters of jailed former PM Imran Khan clashed with security forces. Six people were killed, including four paramilitary personnel, and over 100 injured. The protests, calling for Khan's release, spiraled out of control, prompting the government to deploy the army in Islamabad. With 'shoot at sight' orders in place, the nationwide demonstrations, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters, have challenged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, showing no signs of abating.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm ichha Sharma.Today is the 28th of November and here are the headlines.The Lok Sabha passed a resolution today to extend the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill till the last day of the Budget session next year. Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Committee, moved a motion stating, “That this House do extend time for the presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the last day of the Budget Session, 2025.” The Lok Sabha approved the motion with a voice vote. The Centre had referred the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled on 8th of August, to the Committee to scrutinise the Bill following the Opposition's objections. The panel's tenure was set to conclude on November 29. The CBI in an operation with the NIA and Interpol has brought from Rwanda a member of Pakistan-based terror group Lash-kar-e-Taiba who had an Interpol Red Notice against him for a terror offence in Bengaluru today. The officials said, Salman Rehman Khan, an alleged member of the internationally proscribed terrorist organisation, had assisted in providing arms, ammunition and explosives to further terrorist activities in Bengaluru. A CBI spokesperson said in a statement quote “The Global Operations CBI has closely coordinated with the NIA and Interpol National Central Bureau – Key gali for the return to India from Rwanda of Salman Rehman Khan, wanted by the NIA for terror-related offences,” unquote.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today condemned the arrest of Hindu ISKCON monk Chinmay Krishna Das in Bangladesh, saying that she will support whatever decision the Centre takes on the issue. Banerjee said, quote “Attacks on any religion are condemnable, we always condemn that. I talked to the ISKCON head of this state twice after the incident. But it is an international matter. We can't interfere with the Centre's decision… but we can condemn this attack,” unquote. The West Bengal BJP also started demonstrations against the arrest, with party MLAs marching to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission office and meeting officials. The state unit also announced that they will block all the Indo-Bangla borders in West Bengal next Monday.The ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group has come into effect and thousands of people from war-torn southern Lebanon have started to return to their homes as fear looms on both sides whether the ceasefire will hold. Israel continued its barrage of attacks on Beirut and in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least 42 people until a ceasefire came into effect at 4am on Wednesday. Displaced people of Lebanon were seen driving stacked cars with personal belongings and returning to the southern part of the country, despite warnings from the Israeli army that they should stay away from the area until the Israeli forces remain over there. After the Maha Vikas Aghadi's dismal performance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Pune is likely to insist that the party contest the long-delayed civic polls alone. The city units of the Congress and the NCP, however, are keen on continuing the alliance. Elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation were last held in 2017. With the new government set to be sworn in soon, the long-delayed civic elections are likely to be held in the next few months. Though the MVA enjoyed success in the Lok Sabha elections by winning 31 of the 48 seats in the state, it only won 46 seats in the Assembly elections. Despite the poor performance, however, Prashant Jagtap, Pune NCP chief, said that he believed the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT) should contest the PMC elections as MVA.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

#cuttheclutter After an unexpected but good performance in Lok Sabha polls, the Congress-led INDI alliance lost embarrassingly in Maharashtra and exposed faultlines in the Haryana Assembly elections. In episode 1560 of Cut The Clutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta dissects structural issues within the alliance, the contradiction in ideologies, distrust between alliance partners, conflicts of interest, and an apparently overpowering aura of the Congress. He also looks back at the life of Maharashtra's first Chief Minister Yashvantrao Balwantrao Chavan on his death anniversary. Chavan served in the Nehru-Gandhi Union cabinets as External Affairs Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister, and even Deputy PM. Known for modernizing India's military, Chavan's memory may be lost due to the Congress' institutional amnesia. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read ThePrint's National Interest on Congress' dilemma between survival and revival https://theprint.in/national-interest/congresss-central-dilemma-since-1989-survival-or-revival/2329168/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To know more about Y B Chavan, you can refer to the following books: Debacle to Revival: Y.B.Chavan as Defence Minister, 1962-65 by R.D. Pradhan Unfinished Innings: Recollections and Reflections of a Civil Servant by Madhav Godbole --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:32 Recent debacles for INDI Alliance 05:19 Learnings from past alliances 11:43 Congress Overhang 13:00 Ideological confusion & Conflict of interest between Alliance partners 18:26 Key tests ahead 20:33 Tribute to Y B Chavan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  @arvindmenswear66  This Season, Embrace Royalty & Legacy with our New Season Launch of Luxury Primante Collection Fabrics. Discover our latest showcase featuring the esteemed People's Prince, Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar. Own your day, visit your nearest Arvind Store and craft your perfect look. #TheArvindStore #OwnYourLegacy #OwnTheMoment https://tinyurl.com/3wa2zatn

एक वोट, एक मूल्य ये प्रजातंत्र का मूल सिद्धांत है। इसी बात को ध्यान में रखते हुए, बदलती जनसंख्या के साथ लोकसभा की सीटों का बंटवारा भी बदलने की व्यवस्था हमारे संविधान में की गयी थी। हर दशकीय जनगणना के बाद जनसंख्या के अनुपात में सीटों का बंटवारा होना था। लेकिन, इमरजेंसी के दौरान इस व्यवस्था को पच्चीस सालों के लिए स्थगित कर दिया गया।  २००१ में इस बंटवारे को २०२६ तक टाल दिया गया। अब २०२६ नज़दीक आ रहा है। इसके साथ ही जिन राज्यों में जनसँख्या घटी है, उन राज्यों में लोकसभा के सीटें कम हो जाने का डर एक राजकीय मुद्दा बनकर उभर रहा है। इस ज्वलंत मुद्दे को कैसे समझें? क्या हम किसी समाधान पर पहुँच सकते हैं? चलिए, इसी पर आज की पुलियाबाज़ी करते हैं।  One vote, one value is the basic principle of democracy. Hence, Article 81 of the Indian Constitution mandated a regular redistribution of Lok Sabha seats with changing population. After every decennial census, seats were to be reallocated amongst states in proportion to the population, so that the weight of every vote remains more or less the same across the country. However, during the Emergency, this exercise was postponed for twenty-five years. In 2001, it was further postponed till 2026. Now, as 2026 is approaching, delimitation has become a political issue especially in the southern states which stand to lose seats owing to their reduced population. What can be the potential solutions to this? How can we reallocate seats so that we respect the ‘One Vote, One Value' principle, while improving overall governance? We discuss:* One person, one vote* Historical background* Concentration of political power* The extent of malapportionment * Alternatives for new apportionment* Can actual voters be a criteria for seat apportionment?* Possible solution* Strengthening the Upper House * Vertical Devolution Please Note: Puliyabaazi is also available on Youtube in Video format. Please check out Puliyabaazi Hindi Podcast Youtube channel if you have not done so. Readings:India's Emerging Crisis of Representation by Milan Vaishnav and Jamie Hintson The States in Parliament by Lalit Panda and Ritwika Sharma, Vidhi Centre for Legal PolicyTSATU: Shruti Rajagopalan Dives Into DelimitationRelated Puliyabaazi:संसद को सुदृढ़ कैसे करें? Strengthening India's Parliament Ft. M. R. Madhavanसंसद के अंदर. Understanding the Indian Parliament.If you have any questions for the guest or feedback for us, please comment here or write to us at puliyabaazi@gmail.com. If you like our work, please subscribe and share this Puliyabaazi with your friends, family and colleagues.substack:Website: https://puliyabaazi.inHosts: @saurabhchandra @pranaykotas @thescribblebeeTwitter: @puliyabaazi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puliyabaazi/Subscribe & listen to the podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Castbox, AudioBoom, YouTube, Spotify or any other podcast app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.puliyabaazi.in

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 23rd of October and here are the headlines.Cyclone Dana has formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal and is forecasted to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm between the Bhitarkanika and Dhamra areas of Odisha. Officials from the Indian Meteorological Department predict wind speeds of 100-120 km/h on the night of October 24. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that the strongest winds will impact districts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Balasore in Odisha, as well as East Medinipur in West Bengal. The cyclone is also expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to coastal and northern Odisha, affecting a total of 14 districts.Amid ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to resolving issues through diplomacy and dialogue. Speaking at a plenary session of the 16th BRICS Summit, he stated, "We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war." Modi highlighted pressing global challenges, including wars, economic uncertainty, climate change, and terrorism, and emphasized that BRICS can contribute positively to global progress. "We must convey to the world that BRICS is not a divisive group, but one that serves the public interest," he added.Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra officially submitted her nomination papers for the Lok Sabha bypoll in Wayanad, Kerala, marking her first electoral contest. Following a large roadshow in Kalpetta, she arrived at the district collectorate to file her papers with District Collector and Returning Officer D R Meghashree. Priyanka was accompanied by her brother Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while her mother Sonia Gandhi and party General Secretary K C Venugopal looked on.In a ruling that boosts states' coffers, a 9-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that states can tax and regulate “industrial alcohol.” The ruling, a 8:1 majority verdict determined that “industrial alcohol” can be categorised within “the meaning of intoxicating liquor” which states are allowed to tax under Entry 8 of List II (state list). The SC held that state's powers cannot be narrowed only to tax alcoholic beverages. Excise duty levied on alcohol is a key component of a state's revenue, with states often adding an additional excise duty on alcohol consumption to drive its income up. For example, in 2023, Karnataka hiked the Additional Excise Duty (AED) on Indian Made Liquor (IML) by 20%.A prominent student organization that led protests against Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh held demonstrations in Dhaka, calling for the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. This demand follows Shahabuddin's remarks in an interview with the Bangla daily Manab Zamin, where he stated he had no documentary evidence of Hasina resigning before she left the country in August amid mass student protests. The Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which played a key role in Hasina's ousting, gathered in front of the Central Shaheed Minar, demanding Shahabuddin's resignation.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.