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Journalism of Courage
Good morning! Here are the top stories from today’s edition:
🚨Big Story
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is back to the drawing board with the law around broadcasting. Sources have told The Indian Express that the ministry has withdrawn the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, after it faced criticism for curbing freedom of speech and expression.
Puzzled stakeholders: The ministry has offered additional time till October 15 for stakeholders to comment on the draft Bill. However, it referred to an earlier draft Bill placed in public domain in November last year, instead of the 2024 draft (now withdrawn). The statement has confused stakeholders, especially those who were not part of the group with which the government shared the 2024 version of the draft Bill.
Concerns over the draft Bill: The ministry had proposed introducing onerous regulations on independent creators of news events on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and X. The reason? Well, it is understood that some of the big Indian creators of current affairs and news content on YouTube are on the government’s radar. The proposal raised questions over the government’s power to regulate freedom of speech.
⚡Only in Express
Curtains are down on the Paris Olympics. Have you ever wondered what it’s like being right in the middle of all the action? Well, Mihir Vasavda documents his days in Paris — of missed trains, witnessing love lost and found, and bracing for the oft-asked question: Will India win a gold?
The next Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028. LA faces a ‘Mission Impossible’ to outdo the Parisians, who showed the size of investment could be scaled down with a little imagination. (link awaited)
“We need to ask if state involvement in elite sports is the best way of using public money and who benefits from it.”
Sanjay Srivastava, in our Opinion section, writes of the role of the state in a nation that aspires for Olympic glory.
📰From the Front Page
What’s happening in Bangladesh? In urging safety and protection of Hindus and all other minorities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first message to Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government, had underlined Delhi’s expectation from the new players. Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-government, there have been reports of at least five deaths and 200 incidents of attacks on members of Hindu community. Stakeholders are set to meet Yunus today.
RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has become the epicentre of protests following the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor that occurred late Thursday night. The doctors’ protests have intensified following the decision to transfer the college principal to another institution. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed that if the police fail to resolve the case by Sunday, it will be handed over to the CBI.
👉Must Read
In the latest developments from the Hindenburg report saga, The Indian Express has learned that Mauritius-based IPE Plus Fund 1, which is central to the controversy involving SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch, had investments from Vinod Adani, the elder brother of industrialist Gautam Adani. Additionally, this fund was linked to two of the 13 overseas funds under investigation for opaque fund flows into Adani Group companies since 2016-17.
To make things clearer, here’s a detailed graphic showing the web of funds and investments:
In case you missed it, here’s a quick rundown of the Hindenburg-Adani-Buch saga: On Saturday, US-based Hindenburg Research alleged that SEBI Chairperson and her husband had stakes in offshore funds involved in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. The Buch couple has denied any involvement, SEBI is defending its chief, and the Opposition is calling for a JPC probe. Here’s everything you need to know about this financial saga.
📌And Finally…
Kerala has long been a vibrant blend of different cultures and traditions and among the many communities that have added to its rich cultural mosaic is the Jewish community. With the recent news of the death of the last woman from Kochi’s Paradesi Jewish community in Mattancherry at the age of 89, leaving only one surviving member, we take a moment to explore the history of the once-thriving Jewish communities in the state.
Delhi confidential: While the central government promptly addressed Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav’s complaint about the lack of a new expressway in Uttar Pradesh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has now released a helpline number for “distressed” Bangladeshi Hindus seeking assistance from the organisation. Don’t miss our latest column for more details.
🎧 In today’s episode of 3 Things Podcast, we talk about the gruesome rape and murder case of a junior doctor at a state-run medical college in Kolkata. Further, we also cover the sanitation workers’ protest in Rajasthan and reflect on the death of India’s former Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh.
Until next time,
Sonal Gupta and Aradhana Kalia
