Daily Briefing: India-China to hold Corps Commander talks in Northeast after Doval-Wang boundary meet

With that, let’s move on to the top five stories from today’s edition:

🚨 Big Story

Several Christian groups in West Bengal have suspended house prayers and pastoral visits in parts of the state following a series of alleged attacks and disruptions at religious gatherings. The groups say the incidents, including attacks in Howrah, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur, have created fear among worshippers. The latest incidents come amid allegations by right-wing groups that Christian gatherings are being used for forced conversions, a charge denied by Christian representatives. The state government has said people have the right to practise their religion but warned that action would be taken if forced conversions were found to be taking place.

⚡ Only in Express

What if the next great food pairing is not discovered by a chef’s instinct, but by an algorithm? Artificial intelligence and computational gastronomy are changing how flavour is understood, using vast databases of recipes and the molecular composition of ingredients to uncover combinations that may seem unlikely to the human palate. By mapping shared flavour compounds and analysing thousands of culinary possibilities, AI can suggest pairings that chefs might never think to put together — turning food into a playground where chemistry, data and creativity collide. The technology is not replacing the chef at the stove; instead, it is offering a new way to ask a delicious question: what else could work?

💡 Express Explained

India’s latest GDP numbers may point to strong economic growth, but they have also revived an old question: why do many Indians remain unconvinced by the headline figures? The debate is less about whether the numbers are manipulated and more about the gap between aggregate growth and everyday economic experience. Weak job creation, pressure on wages, subdued consumer sentiment and the lingering impact of inflation can make rapid GDP growth feel distant from household realities. At the same time, changes to the methodology and data sources used to calculate GDP have added to public confusion. The result is a trust deficit that cannot be settled by the GDP number alone — it requires looking at the wider set of indicators that reveal how the economy is actually performing.

✍️ Express Opinion

In our Opinion section today, President Droupadi Murmu reflects on the profound role teachers play in shaping not just students, but the nation itself. Drawing from her own experiences as a student and teacher, she writes about the values of curiosity, compassion, independent thinking and ethical conduct that educators can instill in young minds. At a time when India looks towards a knowledge-driven future, she argues that teachers must be held in the highest esteem for the lasting influence they have on generations to come.

🎥 Movie Review

If there is one thing Mirzapur: The Movie knows exactly how to deliver, it is the kind of chaos its fans have come to love. In her review, Shubhra Gupta finds the film an overlong but enjoyable ride, powered by Pankaj Tripathi’s return as Kaleen Bhaiyya. The film plunges audiences back into a world of revenge, violence, shifting loyalties and the relentless battle for power, with Tripathi bringing back the swagger and menace that made the franchise such a phenomenon. Despite its bloated runtime, the dark humour, action and twists keep the ride engaging, making it a familiar yet entertaining return to the Mirzapur universe.

That’s it for today! Have a lovely weekend!

Until next time,
Anupama