Daily Briefing: Panama Papers law firm’s links with Kerala CA; stalemate in Parliament over Manipur continues; and more
In today’s edition: Anurag Thakur pulls up CBFC over clearance to Oppenheimer; SC stays Gyanvapi survey on hold till 5 pm on July 26; and more
Top news on Tuesday, July 25 Good morning!
🔎 Express Exclusive
Even after it came under global scrutiny, Mossack Fonseca, the controversial law firm exposed in the 2016 Panama Papers investigation as the key hub for illicit global money flows, outsourced its off-shore transactions to a network of companies linked to an Indian citizen based in Kerala, The Indian Express has learnt. Read the Express Investigation.
🚨 Big Story
The standoff between the government and the Opposition over the Manipur issue continued on Monday, washing out proceedings in both Houses of Parliament for the third day of the Monsoon Session. While Home Minister Amit Shah told Lok Sabha that he was “ready for a discussion on Manipur in the House”, the Opposition parties remained firm on their demand for a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, top BJP leaders on Monday were huddled in meetings to discuss Manipur among other issues, sparking speculation that the BJP may consider some “political steps” in the northeastern state.
📰 From the Front Page
Putting on hold until July 26 the order of a Varanasi district court, the Supreme Court stayed an ongoing survey of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi that the Archaeological Survey of India had begun earlier in the day. So, what is the dispute over this structure? Read our explainer to know
In Rajasthan, the sacking of Rajendra Singh Gudha as minister has taken a new turn, with the Udaipurwati MLA dropping hints of a “red diary” containing incriminating details about Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. On Monday, a day after he repeated the claim, Gudha was involved in a scuffle with fellow Congress leaders inside the state Assembly, while waving a red diary in the House.
Upset over a scene in the recently released Hollywood film Oppenheimer, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has sought an explanation from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on why it cleared the movie in its present form. Read Indian Express report here
The government approved 8.15 per cent interest rate recommended by the Central Board of Trustees at the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for its over 6 crore subscribers for the financial year 2022-23.
👩💻 Must read
With Elon Musk announcing that Twitter’s logo will change to “X”, we take a deep dive into whether the social media platform is better or worse under his leadership.
✍️ In our Opinions section today, Rajni Bakshi writes on why J Robert Oppenheimer’s moral dilemma is as significant as the atom bomb itself: “Oppenheimer remains important primarily as a symbol of those who voice this disquiet and dare to insist that human beings can make future wars impossible.”
Four tribal labourers from Madhya Pradesh on July 21 accused four policemen of robbing a bag of 240 sovereigns, bearing an engraving of King George V. The labourers, who were hired to demolish an ancestral house in south Gujarat in January, had themselves allegedly quietly pocketed the gold after they found it hidden inside a wall. Read this tale of theft worth its weight in gold here
⌛ And finally
🏊🏼 After a record-breaking spree at the Nationals at Hyderabad last fortnight, Aryan Nehra, 19, now hopes to be the first Indian swimmer to dip under-8 minutes over 800 m. Read about this former child prodigy’s dreams and goals here
🤫 BJP leader Shaina N C often wins praises for the way she defends the party on TV news debates. But on Monday, when she visited Parliament House, Shaina was lauded for a different reason. Find out why in today’s Delhi Confidential!
🎧 In the latest episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, we discuss couples caught in the crossfire of Manipur’s ethnic violence, Indian duo win at Korea Open 2023, and Naveen Patnaik becomes the second longest-serving CM in the country.
Until next time,
Anamni Gupta and Arushi Bhaskar
Share
