Podcast appearances and mentions of Sonia Gandhi

This week on Hafta, Newslaundry's Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Shardool Katyayan are joined by senior journalist Nirmalya Mukherjee and NewsX editorial director Priya Sahgal. The panel first discusses communal unrest in West Bengal's Murshidabad, where protests against the Waqf Amendment Act turned violent this week. Nirmalya says, “This is the first time that Bengal is going to face a situation where religion has become a very important issue.” On the West Bengal CM's response to the violence, he says, “Mamata first blamed the riots as a Congress conspiracy. Then, the blame shifted to the BSF, and now [it's an] international relations conspiracy.”“No riot can happen without the complicity of the state,” Jayashree notes.The panel then talks about Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi being named in the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet in the National Herald case. Raman says, “If you dissect the case, it's extremely vague right now. And misappropriation doesn't carry a strong criminal connotation.” Priya mentions that it is important to take into consideration the timing of the ED chargesheet. “Most of the battles in India are perception,” she says. This and a lot more. Tune in!We 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.Timecodes00:00:00 – Introductions and announcements00:03:09 – Headlines 00:13:24 – Murshidabad violence00:45:38 – National Herald case01:18:53 – How are Trump and Modi similar?01:25:58 – Letters01:43:47 – RecommendationsCheck out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Ashish Anand. Production assistance by intern Pragya Chakroborty.This episode is outside of the paywall for now. Before it goes 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.

First, we talk to The Indian Express' Udit Misra who discusses the impact of the Trump administration on the US' global reputation amid the geopolitical tensions.Next, The Indian Express' Deeptiman Twary talks about ED's recent chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and the leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. (14:54)Lastly, we talk about the Supreme Court's observations on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. (20:52)Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced and written by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi Arrest Soon | Subramanian Swamy Factor | Sanjay Dixit

Listen to the latest updates from India. 16/04/25

What's the row over Sonia Gandhi's remarks on President Murmu? 

This week on Cyrus Says, we have Mani Shankar Aiyar who’s known for his razor-sharp wit and unapologetic honesty, Aiyar offers a rare glimpse into the corridors of power, recounting his journey as a three-term Member of Parliament, India’s first Minister of Panchayati Raj, a UPA cabinet minister, and a Rajya Sabha member. True to form, Aiyar spares no one, not even himself. The panel delves into his candid recollections of political titans like Sonia Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh, while also discussing his take on key issues like the BJP’s rise in Indian politics, the Kaveri Water Crisis, and the Harshad Mehta Scam. Through these anecdotes we discover realities of Indian politics and the personal cost of being a non-conformist in a system dominated by conformity. Don’t miss this engaging discussion that brings humor, wit, and sharp insights into the life and times of one of India’s most intriguing political figures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

pWotD Episode 2795: Manmohan Singh Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 954,799 views on Thursday, 26 December 2024 our article of the day is Manmohan Singh.Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: [mənˈmoːɦən ˈsɪ́ŋɡ] ; 26 September 1932 – 26 December 2024) was an Indian politician, economist, academic, and bureaucrat, who served as the 13th prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He was the fourth longest-serving prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. A member of the Indian National Congress, Singh was the first Sikh prime minister of India. He was also the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term.Born in Gah in what is today Pakistan, Singh's family migrated to India during its partition in 1947. After obtaining his doctorate in economics from Oxford, Singh worked for the United Nations during 1966–1969. He subsequently began his bureaucratic career when Lalit Narayan Mishra hired him as an advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During the 1970s and 1980s, Singh held several key posts in the Government of India, such as Chief Economic Advisor (1972–1976), governor of the Reserve Bank (1982–1985) and head of the Planning Commission (1985–1987).In 1991, as India faced a severe economic crisis, the newly elected prime minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao, inducted the apolitical Singh into his cabinet as finance minister. Over the next few years, despite strong opposition, he carried out several structural reforms that liberalised India's economy. Although these measures proved successful in averting the crisis, and enhanced Singh's reputation globally as a leading reform-minded economist, the incumbent Congress Party fared poorly in the 1996 general election. Subsequently, Singh was leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Parliament of India) during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government of 1998–2004.In 2004, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power, its chairperson Sonia Gandhi unexpectedly relinquished the prime ministership to Singh. His first ministry executed several key legislations and projects, including the National Rural Health Mission, Unique Identification Authority, Rural Employment Guarantee scheme and Right to Information Act. In 2008, opposition to a historic civil nuclear agreement with the United States nearly caused Singh's government to fall after Left Front parties withdrew their support. India's economy grew rapidly during his term.The 2009 general election saw the UPA return with an increased mandate, with Singh retaining the office of prime minister. Over the next few years, Singh's second ministry government faced a number of corruption charges over the organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2G spectrum allocation case and the allocation of coal blocks. After his term ended, he opted out from the race for the office of prime minister during the 2014 Indian general election. Singh was never a member of the Lok Sabha but served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Assam from 1991 to 2019 and Rajasthan from 2019 to 2024.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:07 UTC on Friday, 27 December 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Manmohan Singh on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Joanna.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 16th of December and here are the headlines.Kharge Accuses Modi of Misleading the Nation on Nehru's LetterCongress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused Prime Minister Modi of distorting facts about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's letter on reservation, demanding an apology. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on India's constitutional journey, Kharge also criticized BJP leaders for their "bhakti" towards Modi, claiming it was leading India towards dictatorship. He called for a return to democratic values and the safeguarding of the Constitution's spirit.Sri Lankan President Dissanayake Reaffirms Commitment to India's SecuritySri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured Prime Minister Modi on Monday that Sri Lanka's territory will not be used for actions harmful to India. After their meeting in Delhi, Dissanayake expressed gratitude for India's support during Sri Lanka's economic crisis, with Modi highlighting the USD 4 billion in aid. The leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties, covering areas such as defense, infrastructure, and economic cooperation between the two countries.Letter Requests Return of Nehru Papers Taken in 2008Historian Rizwan Kadri has written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, requesting his help in retrieving important Nehru papers taken by a representative of Sonia Gandhi in 2008. The papers include Nehru's correspondence with notable figures such as Edwina Mountbatten, Albert Einstein, and JP Narayan. The matter was raised in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society's meeting in February. Kadri emphasized the historical significance of these documents for public access and preservation.Legendary Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain Dies at 73Renowned tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, a five-time Grammy Award winner, passed away on Sunday at the age of 73 due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hussain, a celebrated figure in Indian classical music, received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002, and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He was also honored with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, one of the highest lifetime honors for artists in India.Israel to Close Embassy in Ireland Over Genocide Case SupportIsrael 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.

This week, Newslaundry's Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pandey were joined by journalist Faye D'Souza.On the BJP's narrative against George Soros, Abhinandan says, “Adani money is good, Soros money bad? No sensible discussion has happened around it.” Faye says, “We are living in a post-truth world where ridiculous claims take root and attention spans have shrunk too much for nuanced conversations.”On the Congress's response to allegations about links with Soros, Manisha says, “Their communication is stale. You can't keep repeating the same thing without innovation.” She points out that news channels have been quoting dubious sources like “nancho.net” to accuse Sonia Gandhi of collusion with Soros.The panel then discusses the misuse of dowry laws and the tragic case of a techie's suicide in Bengaluru. Anand says, “Lawyers often weaponise these cases, and the Supreme Court has already intervened to mandate preliminary investigations before arrests.” Faye emphasises the need for balanced discourse. On media coverage of the issue, Abhinandan says, “The TikTokisation of news has taken over.” On the Kapoor family's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manisha says, “The event was supposed to honour Raj Kapoor, but it ended up being all about praising Modi.”This and a lot more. Tune in!We 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.Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/BL8HPSF9NFsAudio timecodes00:00:00 - Introductions00:0:00 - Headlines00:18:00 - Adani vs Soros00:34:28- Special Message 00:35:27 - Dowry law misuse debate00:56:12 - Bollywood's Modi moment01:06:43 - Subscriber letters and recommendationsCheck out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters Produced & recorded by Prashant & Priyali. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

बुरी फंसी Sonia Gandhi | Modi के दांव का कांग्रेस के पास उत्तर नहीं | सोरोस के साथ संबंध सिद्ध

You can buy Rajdeep's book here: https://www.amazon.in/2024-Election-that-Surprised-India/dp/9362135299 Rajdeep Sardesai is an Indian news anchor, reporter, journalist, and author. He is a consulting editor and anchor of India Today Television. Rajdeep began his career in journalism with The Times of India before moving on to television news. He has over 35 years of experience. Sardesai is well-known for his coverage of Indian elections. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2008. He has also authored books that analyze India's political landscape and democracy including "2014: The Election That Changed India", "2024: The Election That Surprised India", and many more. In this episode Vinamre and Rajdeep talk about: - His Experience Interviewing PM Modi, Sonia Gandhi, and Bal Thackeray - Why 2024 Was an Unfair Election and Why BJP Didn't Get a Majority - The Washing Machine Politics of BJP and the Impact of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra - Parivaarvaad in BJP and Congress: The Future of the Congress Party - Predictions for the 2029 Elections, Media Neutrality, and the Future of Journalism Watch this episode to know more about Indian politics, politicians, and how elections are contested now. Timestamps: 00:00 - Interviews: Then vs Now 4:36 - Interviewing Bal Thackeray and Lalu Yadav 7:25 - Why he is the most hated journalist in India 12:00 - Condition of the Left in India 16:30 - Unfairness in the 2024 elections 19:12 - Interviewing PM Modi 22:25 - Interviewing Sonia Gandhi 26:03 - Regrets in his career 27:54 - Dealing with work burnout 32:51 - Why BJP didn't get a majority in the 2024 elections 35:45 - Nepotism in politics and the future of Congress 44:04 - Washing Machine Politics of BJP 45:55 - "Mohabbat Ki Dukan" narrative of Rahul Gandhi 48:30 - Neutrality in journalism 54:00 - Sachin Pilot is more popular in North India than Rahul Gandhi 55:53 - Predictions for the 2029 elections 56:52 - Most difficult politician to interview 1:00:02 - His love for music and cricket 1:02:25 - Conclusion ==================================================================== This is the official channel for Dostcast, a podcast by Vinamre Kasanaa. Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinamre-kasanaa-b8524496/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinamrekasanaa/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/VinamreKasanaa Dostcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dostcast/ Dostcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dostcast Dostcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557567524054 ==================================================================== Contact Us For business inquiries: dostcast@egiplay.com

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.

Hello, this is your daily dose of news from Onmanorama. Tune in to get updated about the major news stories of the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Modi-Xi bilateral today, first in 5 years, after China confirms LAC agreement, Cyclone Dana: Odisha, Bengal to evacuate people; Coast Guard on high alert, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to file nomination for Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll today, reaches Kerala with Sonia Gandhi, KL Rahul should sit out if Gill plays second Test against New Zealand: Manjrekar, Harvey Weinstein Diagnosed With Bone Marrow Cancer: Report

The ongoing legal wrangle involving Republic TV Chief Editor, Arnab Goswami, and the Congress party has started a broad-fledged debate. The main topic isn't just the case at hand anymore; it has extended its dimensions. Now it spills over to deeply rooted issues with potentially significant implications. One such issue that has come to mass attention is Sonia Gandhi's Christian faith and the resultant questions that are being raised about her son, Rahul's religious inclination.For years, the family's religion has been subtly spoken about in political circles but never brought to the public's firm notice. Sonia Gandhi, the former president of the Indian National Congress, has spent most of her life embracing the political arena's tumultuous reality. Born to Stefano and Paola Maino in a small town near Turin, Italy, Sonia Gandhi's Christian faith has always been an open secret.Her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, a dignitary belonging to the Nehru-Gandhi family, saw her relocated to India, where her life took a dramatic move towards public service—marking her firm presence in India's political landscape. Along the way, Sonia's faith was her private domain, a component of her life not vividly discussed, and never directly addressed in the public arena. However, the current legal battle has brought it back into focus.What raises eyebrows now is the religious identity of her son, Rahul Gandhi. Riding high on his mother's political reputation, Rahul has been a prominent figure in Indian politics. The recent revelation of his mother's faith has raised questions about his own. In a country where faith plays a significant role in shaping public perception, the political ramifications of this revelation could be large. Rahul's religious beliefs are now being questioned in the court of public opinion.Arnab Goswami's legal tussle with the Congress party originally centered on a different issue altogether. The case focuses on several charges born out out of republic TV's contentious style of journalism. It has now ended up indirectly forcing an open discussion about the religious affiliations of one of India's most notable political families.What remains to be seen is how this revelation is going to impact the family's political fortune and the Congress party at large. This ignited debate is a glimpse into how religion plays a critical role in Indian politics and how public figures and their personal lives are closely observed. This incident stands to serve as a watershed moment that can influence Indian politics and its interplay with religion in the future.

Professor Sonia Gandhi talks to Steve and Selina about her research into the biology of Parkinson's disease, and how this understanding could lead to new treatments. Date of episode recording: 2024-06-14T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:47:53 Language of episode: English Presenter: Steve Flemming; Selina Wray Guests: Professor Sonia Gandhi Producer: Patrick Robinson

Top news of the day: BJP invokes Batla House encounter: ‘Sonia Gandhi cried for terrorists', Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at an election rally in Rajasthan on Tuesday, UN report says 282 million people faced acute hunger in 2023 with the worst famine in Gaza, Sourav Ganguly's standing ovation for Rishabh Pant as he does an MS Dhoni during whirlwind knock in DC vs GT match, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be fools to think ‘Frogmore would always be there for them': Royal commentator

BJP invokes Batla House encounter: ‘Sonia Gandhi cried for terrorists', Quota for Muslims in Telangana and Andhra back in focus, Around 282 million people faced acute hunger in 2023: UN report, IPL 2024 | Rishabh Pant declared fit as keeper-batter; set to return as Delhi Capitals captain

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.It's the 21st of March and here are today's headlines.The Supreme Court today stayed the operation of the Centre's March 20 notification regarding the Press Information Bureau's Fact Checking Unit (FCU). The stay will be in effect until the Bombay High Court takes a final decision on petitions challenging the 2023 amendments to the Information Technology Rules. A three-judge bench noted that the Centre had assured the HC that the FCU will not be notified till the petitions challenging Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules 2023 (IT Amendment Rules, 2023 are decided by the HC.In other news from the apex court, the SC today dismissed applications challenging the appointment of retired IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as election commissioners. The bench also declined to stay The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Terms of Office) Act, 2023 which put in place a selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union cabinet minister in place of a committee comprising the PM, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India as directed by the Supreme Court.The Election Commission today instructed the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to immediately stop sending a letter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the account “Viksit Bharat Sampark” to WhatsApp users. In a letter to the MeitY Secretary, the EC asked the Ministry to submit a compliance report immediately. The EC told the Ministry that it had received “complaints from various quarters that such messages are still being delivered on citizens' phones”.The Congress today hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with veteran leader Sonia Gandhi saying that the PM was making “a systematic effort to cripple the Congress financially”. Addressing a press briefing, senior leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke about the freezing of their bank accounts ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, saying that the issue was extremely serious with “far-reaching consequences for not just their party but for our country's democracy.”Two days after the gruesome murder of two minor brothers in Uttar Pradesh's Budaun district, the police today arrested the second accused who had been allegedly absconding after the crime. Officers said Javed, the brother of accused Sajid, surrendered before the Bareilly police late on Wednesday after a reward of Rs. 25,000 was declared on him. Budaun SSP added five teams were formed to arrest Javed, who is around 25 years old.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.It's the 27th of February and here are the headlines.Across 15 states, 56 Rajya Sabha seats are up for grabs today. Heading into polling day, the ruling NDA had 109 MPs in the Upper House, 10 members short of the halfway mark in the 238 member Rajya Sabha. The Opposition INDIA bloc had 89 MPs. The stage is set for a high-octane RS election battle in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh today. Last week, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP chief J P Nadda, new party entrant Ashok Chavan and Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan were among the 41 candidates elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha.Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced the names of the four astronauts that will fly to low-Earth orbit as part of the ISRO's Gaganyaan. Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan and Shubanshu Shukla have been selected to be the astronauts on India's first crewed mission to space. They are all officers in the Indian Air Force and have extensive experience working as test pilots.The Enforcement Directorate today issued summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the eighth time in Delhi excise policy case. The ED has asked him to appear before it for questioning on the 4th of March. Kejriwal has not appeared for questioning for the last seven times but has responded to each summons in written. The Aam Aadmi Party said that “instead of sending summons daily, the ED should wait for the court's decision.” The matter is up for hearing in court on the 16th of March.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India had to suspend the issuance of visas in Canada because Indian diplomats were “not safe going to work”. He further stated that that New Delhi expects action against the culprits involved in last year's attacks on its diplomatic premises in London, San Francisco and Ottawa, among other cities.As per local reports, a Pakistani court today indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra on charges that they allegedly received land as a bribe during his premiership. Khan is in jail since August in connection with other cases, and has previously denied the allegation.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Top news of the day: Great victory for transparency, level playing field in polls: Chidambaram on electoral bond verdict, Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan's PTI nominates Omar Ayub as prime minister candidate, Sonia Gandhi not to contest 2024 LS polls; pens emotional letter to Rae Bareli, Farmers moving like army with tractors; making political comments: Haryana CM, ED questions Paytm officials, gets documents on RBI action: Report

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.It's the 14th of February and here are the headlines.Moments after the protesting farmers resumed their march to the National Capital today, chaos ensued at the Shambhu border. Security personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowds. Meanwhile, Delhi's borders were further fortified, with security personnel deployed in large numbers and barricades laid out across all possible entry points. Among other things, the farmers are seeking MSP guarantee for 23 crops, waiver of their debts and withdrawal of cases registered against them during the 2020-21 farmers' agitation.Prime Minister Modi began his speech at the World Government Summit in Dubai by thanking ‘his brother' the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for a warm welcome to the country. The PM also said, quote, "Over the last few years, people's trust has increased in the Indian government. People have trust in the intent and commitment of the Indian government. This was possible only because we prioritised public sentiments in governance." Unquote.With a day left for the deadline to submit nomination papers for the February 27 Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP and Congress released their official list of candidates for the polls. The Congress nominated veteran leader Sonia Gandhi as its candidate from Rajasthan, spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi from Himachal Pradesh and former minister Chandrakant Handore from Maharashtra. In Bihar, the party re-nominated party leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh. The BJP, meanwhile, announced Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan as its Rajya Sabha candidates from Odisha and Madhya Pradesh respectively.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has cancelled the Jharkhand leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which was scheduled to start today. He will instead join the ongoing farmers' protest. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on X, quote, "The Yatra will resume at 2 PM on the 15th of February, with a public rally in Aurangabad, Bihar that will be addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi." Unquote.PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, who was widely expected to be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan, has instead nominated his brother, former PM Shehbaz Sharif to lead the next coalition government. Party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Nawaz's daughter and party's senior vice president Maryam Nawaz has been nominated for the post of Punjab Chief Minister. In other news, the workers and supporters of Imran Khan's PTI have launched nationwide protests over the alleged "rigging in the general elections".This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Farmers' protest 2.0: How is 'Delhi Chalo' march different from 2020's stir?, Several MLAs likely to follow Ashok Chavan after his departure from Maharashtra Congress, Sonia Gandhi likely to contest Rajya Sabha elections, health concerns may keep her out of Lok Sabha race, Money laundering case: Eight months after arrest, Senthil Balaji quits as Tamil Nadu minister Pak: Nawaz, Bilawal eye split PM-ship, deliberate on sharing office for 3 and 2 years each

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.It's the 28th of December and here are the headlines.India saw a single day rise of 702 cases of COVID-19, with the number of active cases of the infection rising to 4,097. Six new fatalities — two from Maharashtra and one each from Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Delhi — were reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits by December 5, but the cases have again gone up after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.The death toll in the bus accident in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district Wednesday evening has gone up to 12. The police said that the bus was headed from Guna to Aaron when it collided with a dumper truck, at around 8.30 pm. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, has directed the district administration to provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those killed, and Rs 50,000 each to those injured.The Enforcement Directorate, in a recently filed money laundering case charge-sheet claimed that the purchase of three plots of land in Haryana in 2005-06 by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra from a real estate agent is being probed along with a land deal made by his wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The federal agency filed the charge-sheet in November before a court against NRI businessman C C Thampi, who is allegedly linked to Robert Vadra, and Sumit Chadha, a relative of alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari.Tamil super star and DMDK founder Vijayakanth, fondly called as ‘Captain', passed away at a private hospital in Chennai today after a prolonged illness. He was 71.Vijayakanth's death marks the end of an influential chapter in Tamil Nadu's political history and leaves a void in the state's diverse political tapestry. MIOT Hospital in Chennai released a statement confirming that he was admitted for pneumonia, was placed on ventilator support due to the severity of his condition, before succumbing to illness.The Aam Aadmi Party has slammed the BJP-led Central government for allegedly rejecting its entry for the Republic Day tableau segment and termed the move politically motivated. AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said Delhi wanted to showcase its transformation of education and health facilities in the tableau, but was denied the opportunity. Furthermore, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that he received a letter of R-Day tableaux finalists from the Centre which did not have names of Delhi and Punjab.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express

Shiv Kunal Verma was born into an army family and after his initial schooling at St Joseph's Academy and a year at Fort Benning in the United States, he was sent to the Doon School. Having then graduated from Madras Christian College in Tambaram, his initial years were spent working with Tiger Tops Mountain Travel in Ladakh and Nepal. Subsequently a journalist, a film maker and a writer, he has worked briefly with India Today, the Associated Press and with Sanctuary Films before he teamed up with his associate Dipti Bhalla and formed KaleidoIndia, under which banner some classic films like Salt of the Earth and the Standard Bearers were shot and produced. In 1999 he filmed the Kargil War and in the last decade and a half, has authored some exceptional books that include the Northeast Trilogy, 1962: The War That Wasn't and 1965: A Western Sunrise. He is now working on the seminal Value Education Program for schools that aims at bringing India to Indians especially at the school and college levels. His latest book 'Life of an Industani' is a whirlwind journey through critical events in India's 1980s and 90s, narrated in an honest, exhilarating and self-deprecating manner.

Not looking to provoke India, says Canada's Trudeau after tit-for-tat expulsions, Sonia Gandhi to speak on women's reservation bill today; ruckus in Parl likely to continue, YouTube suspends Hollywood actor and comedian Russell Brand from making money off the streaming site and other top news bulletin here

Sonia Gandhi declares support to women's reservation bill, Deepak Chahar chases 'World Cup' dream after injury recovery, Tornado in Eastern China kills 10, Hundreds Relocated and other top news bulletin here.

Clear Message to Sonia Gandhi and Kharge _ Real ByPoll Picture | Harsh Kumar, Sanjay Dixit

"Prime ministership is a continuum. If VP Singh had not done Mandal to empower the OBCs, the story for Mr Modi might have been very different. He is today an OBC PM and he's talking about taking power to the most backward, the Mahadalits, the Pasmanda Muslims; those who have been on the peripheries of power are to be given a stake. If VP Singh hadn't done as he did, maybe the BJP would have continued as a Brahmin-Bania party, which it used to be known as" - Neerja Chowdhury, author, 'How Prime Ministers Decide', talks to Manjula Narayan about Indira Gandhi's religiosity, the central issues that each Indian PM has grappled with, Manmohan Singh and the Indo-US Nuclear deal, the friendship between Vajpayee and PV Narasimha Rao, Sonia Gandhi asking VP Singh and Vajpayee for advice and much more.

First, Indian Express' Jagdeep Singh Deep joins host Utsa Sarmin to talk about the Chandigarh University video leak case where a woman hosteler was suspected of filming fellow hostel mates in washrooms and then leaking the videos. Second, Indian Express' Manoj CG tells us about Shashi Tharoor's meeting with Sonia Gandhi where he showed interest in contesting for the position of the party president and what may happen if Rahul Gandhi indeed doesn't contest for the same. (08:17)And in the end, Indian Express' Abhishek Angad narrates the incident in Hazaribagh where debt collectors mowed down a woman twice who tried to stop them from seizing her father's tractor. (17:33)

Modi's BJP would much rather have Congress as the main opponent than fight regional leaders who are more street-smart and politically nimble Read More: https://theprint.in/opinion/summoning-sonia-gandhi-to-ed-will-raise-public-sympathy-bjp-knows-it-wants-it/1044759/

Queues form outside hundreds of testing centres in the city's Chaoyang district. Also: the Peruvian government is urged to help poorer families affected by Covid, and the Indian politician Sonia Gandhi is being treated for Covid-19 in hospital.