The Catch Up: 2 December

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.