Good evening. Tuesday, September 2, was a busy day with news headlines being dominated by PM Modi accusing the opposition of abusing his late mother during a campaign in Bihar and the ongoing flood situation in Delhi-NCR. But much more has happened in the worlds of politics, business, technology, sport, and entertainment. Don’t worry, Express Catch-up is here to bring you up to speed.
- 01
Maratha quota protesters claim victory
Maratha quota protest leader Manoj Jarange Patil on Tuesday claimed victory after a delegation of Maharashtra ministers met him at the Azad Maidan, where he was on a hunger strike. The government has accepted the primary demand of the protesters – to implement the Hyderabad gazette that will give Kunbi status to Marathas of Marathwada. The government has also agreed to withdraw all cases filed against those protesting in demand for the reservation. Read more
- 02
Umar Khalid denied bail in Delhi riots case
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to former JNU student leader Umar Khalid in the ‘larger conspiracy’ case in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. This was the sixth time the courts have denied bail to Khalid, who was arrested in September 2020. Eight others, including student activist Sharjeel Imam, who have also been arrested in connection with the riots, were also denied bail on Tuesday by the Delhi High Court. Read more
- 03
Belgium to recognise Palestinian state
Belgium has become the latest European Union (EU) member country to announce plans to recognise the state of Palestine. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on Tuesday that his country will recognise the Palestinian state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in September. He also added that Belgium would impose sanctions against the Israeli government, paving the way for a “two-state solution.” Several other countries, including France, Canada, and the UK, are also set to recognise Palestine during the UNGA session. Read more
- 04
Kim Jong Un travels to China to meet Putin, Xi
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday travelled to neighbouring China, where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim is in China to witness the “Victory Day” parade commemorating the surrender of Japan in World War II. Unlike other world leaders, who travel on official jets, the North Korean leader boarded a train for his journey to China. The Victory Day parade, which will have the presence of 28 heads of states will be the first multilateral meeting attended by Kim. Read more
- 05
AI-powered stethoscope that can detect heart problems in seconds
In what could be a pathbreaking development in the early detection of cardiovascular diseases, a group of doctors in the UK has developed an AI-powered stethoscope. According to researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust, who developed the AI-powered stethoscope, it can detect heart conditions in patients within 15 seconds. The new stethoscope can detect conditions including heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms in patients by analysing tiny differences in their heartbeat and blood flow. Read more
