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Monday, May 6, 2024

PoV

JK Rowling has always been tone-deaf. Just look at the Harry Potter Universe

One look at Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise can tell you how embarrassingly undiverse it is — afterthought postscript revelations about characters do not count.

Black Lives Matter isn’t just challenging racism, but also the ‘both side-ism’ of journalism

The protests that have erupted across America over the custodial killing of George Floyd have brought up a central question for journalists — what is objectivity?

Saying ‘Lal Salam’ now counts as sedition. Is Che Guevara T-shirt next?

The National Investigation Agency has cited use of phrases like “comrade” and “Lal Salam” as evidence for sedition charges against student leader Bittu Sonowal.

What if India’s cities gave mayors the power to tackle pandemic? Time for a new urban model

Imagine if mayors gave city-specific daily briefings on coronavirus, and not a joint secretary sitting in New Delhi. India needs to give more powers to its mayors.

Would Indians still care about Safoora Zargar or Kerala elephant had they not been pregnant

The media has reduced the identity of a fierce Muslim activist resisting state repression, to a pregnant, subjugated woman.

New India has a solution to all its problems — Blame the Muslim

The ‘Muslim’ angle ensures that the otherwise silent Modi ministers turn into overnight activists, and the social media 'warriors' are never short of an issue to let their bigotry out.

Donald Trump is having a bad week. He must find an Amit Shah of his own

Donald Trump needs to learn that the President of the US doesn’t have to stoop low on social media. He can get an IT cell to do that job for him.

Rana Ayyub to Vikas Khanna, many stars in lockdown crisis. But BJP loves only Sonu Sood

Instead of being attacked by trolls, Sonu Sood’s relief efforts during Covid-19 have been praised by the BJP, with many ministers asking for his help.

The night curfew in unlock 1.0 is outdated. Indians still think ‘bad things’ happen in the dark

The virality of Covid-19 remains the same, be it night or day. Centre imposing futile night curfew disregards professionals who work through the night.

AI is already putting journalists out of job. But there will never be AI Arnab or Ravish

Microsoft recently fired dozens of journalists responsible for curating and editing news stories to be replaced with automated systems.

On Camera

‘Trade, not aid’—Narasimha Rao’s 1991 reforms speech that changed India’s economic landscape

On 9 July 1991, then-PM PV Narasimha Rao addressed the nation days before the Budget presentation, admitting that the job of repairing India's sick economy won't be easy, quick, or smooth.

Air India reduces baggage allowance by 5-15 kg, bringing it in line with rest of industry

Air India’s new policy, effective from 2 May, introduces new weight limits for tickets in each of the different 'fare families' — Comfort, Comfort Plus, and Flex.

China builds road through Shaksgam Valley, India registers protest

New Delhi has, in past, too, objected to Chinese construction activities in Shaksgam Valley. Work in this strategic region gathered pace after the 2017 Doklam stand-off.

Frontrunner is letting the challenger define this poll campaign. Modi still hasn’t found a big theme

A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.