The Catch Up: 26 December

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 26th of December and here are the headlines.A roadside biryani vendor, Gnanasekaran, was arrested in Chennai for allegedly sexually assaulting a student at Anna University’s campus on Monday night. The arrest led to a political uproar, with BJP and AIADMK accusing Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK of ties to the accused. However, the DMK denies any association. The attack reportedly occurred around 8 pm when the student was in a secluded area of the 180-acre campus, chatting with a friend. Authorities are investigating the case while the political parties continue their accusations.At a Patna event commemorating the life of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a protest erupted when folk singer Devi performed the line "Ishwar Allah tero naam" from the bhajan "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram." Protesters interrupted the performance, claiming it was inappropriate. BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain condemned the disruption, calling it "the height of intolerance." The song, which has been closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, was being sung as part of a tribute to Vajpayee, leading to tensions during the event.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal expressed frustration with Congress over complaints filed against AAP leading up to Delhi’s 2025 elections. Kejriwal criticized Congress for alleging AAP was anti-national despite seeking its help during campaigning. Delhi CM Atishi questioned why Congress formed an alliance with AAP if they had such doubts. She accused Congress leaders in Delhi of aiding BJP in the upcoming polls and possibly making secret pacts to harm AAP’s electoral prospects.Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met with major figures from the Telugu film industry on Thursday, rejecting their demand for increased movie ticket prices. Reddy stressed the importance of respecting the law and not offering any more concessions for film screenings. He also urged industry leaders to support government campaigns against drugs, promote women’s safety, and help with ecotourism and temple tourism initiatives. The meeting followed concerns over a stampede during the premiere of "Pushpa 2," which tragically killed a woman.In Gaza, five Palestinian journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Thursday, according to local authorities. However, the Israeli military stated that the airstrike targeted a vehicle carrying Islamic Jihad militants. The journalists were reportedly in a broadcast vehicle outside Al-Awda Hospital in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp when the attack occurred. The Palestinian Journalists Union confirmed their deaths, which were part of a series of airstrikes that also killed at least 16 others. This violence comes as ceasefire talks remain stalled after months of fighting.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.