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Journalism of Courage
Good morning,
Badminton star P V Sindhu holds a rather unique record: She has never lost to a Chinese at the World Championships. And on Thursday, when she was facing the World No.2, China’s Wang Zhi Yi, the risks were all laid out. Besides the fact that Sindhu currently stands outside of the top 10 in the world rankings, there have been concerns over her recent slow starts. But there was none of that. Sindhu unleashed her trademark power game, defeating Wang and advancing to the quarterfinals. Post-tournament, Sindhu would say that for her it was “like any other player”. Sindhu now eyes a sixth World medal — a feat no shuttler has ever matched.
On that note, let’s get to today’s edition. 👇
Prime Minister Narendra Modi left yesterday for his four-day visit to Japan and China in the backdrop of the global turmoil unleashed by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. India is facing a steep 50 per cent charge, including a 25 per cent penalty for its purchase of Russian oil. Notably, while officials say communications lines are open with their US counterparts, a trade deal remains elusive.
Red lines: The government is mulling ways to soften the blow for the industry, including relief packages, as trade talks have taken a backseat. A senior Commerce Industry Ministry official told The Indian Express that the negotiations may only resume after the penalty is addressed. Trump has projected India’s energy trade with Russia as a deal breaker. One of his closest advisors, Peter Navarro, doubled down on the criticism, calling the Russia-Ukraine war “Modi’s war“, suggesting that the “road to peace runs, at least partly, right through New Delhi”. Democrats in the US have criticised the administration for “sabotaging” ties with India, as China, the biggest buyer of Russian oil, remains sanction-free.
Tightrope: Modi, before departing for his visit, said he was looking forward to meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO), which begins on August 31. The outcome of these meetings will be closely watched worldwide, given the strain in India–US ties and the renewed push to reset relations between New Delhi and Beijing. The challenge for India would be to stand up to Trump, while keeping the US on its side.
Also read: Modi’s visit to Japan will also be crucial, as both nations are expected to enhance their security cooperation, trade and investment. Crucially, the discussions would focus on semiconductors, critical minerals, AI and clean energy. Here’s an overview of India-Japan ties.
Dis/Agree: The government has outlawed real-money online gaming amid concerns over money laundering, terrorist activities and addiction. Is a ban on such platforms the best way forward? Two experts weigh in:
Sandeep Dwivedi, our national sports editor, says the new Gaming Act corrects a wrong, noting that arguments against the ban overlook the statistics on gaming-related suicides and broken homes.
Meanwhile, advocate Malavika Prasad opines that the move reeks of “legislative overreach”. She asks, “At what point do adults get to choose what games they play and take responsibility for the consequences?”
The count: As many as 3 lakh voters, and counting, have been issued notices to appear before the Electoral Registration Officer after discrepancies were found in the documents they submitted as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls. Already, 65 lakh names were deleted from the electoral rolls in the draft stage as they were found to be dead, migrated, doubly enrolled or untraceable.
Meanwhile… The Election Commission is preparing to begin SIR in West Bengal, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced criticism of the process.
The dip: School enrolment has dropped for the third consecutive year. Government data shows that 11 lakh fewer students enrolled in schools in 2024-25 as compared to the previous year. The drop has been attributed to “falling birth rates”.
‘Just three’: During his lecture series in Delhi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat weighed in on the ongoing Kashi-Mathura issue. He stated that the Sangh had only associated itself with the Ram Mandir movement in Ayodhya, and it will not join any other movements. However, he added that RSS workers were free to get involved in the Kashi-Mathura movements, but cautioned against looking for a temple and a shivling in every place. Speaking to the “other side” about “brotherhood”, Bhagwat said it was “a matter of just three (sites), take it”.
Down we go… India has the ambitious plan of sending three humans 6,000 metres below the ocean as part of its Samudrayaan (sea exploration) mission by 2027. Earlier this month, aquanauts, Cdr (Retd) Jatinder Pal Singh and R Ramesh, travelled 5,0002 metres and 4,025 metres, respectively, into the Atlantic Ocean to prepare for the mission. What is the Samudrayaan mission, what challenges does it face, and why is India investing in deep-sea missions? We explain.
Worrying: Just weeks after the Dharali flash floods, which exposed the vulnerability of Uttarkashi to relentless construction, the Uttarakhand Forest Department has given its nod to the contentious Netala bypass under the Chardham project. The approval came even though the Supreme Court’s high-powered panel recommended that the plans be dropped owing to subsidence concerns.
It’s no ordinary love story: Taylor Swift’s announcement of her engagement to American football star Travis Kelce broke the Internet. On the face of it, it was just an unassuming post with a caption that read like an inside joke. But soon, the pictures were everywhere, the Ralph Lauren dress was sold out, American Eagle stocks spiked, and engagement ring searches shot up. Behind all this is something that most artists spend their lifetime creating: a fanbase that knows when and how to react when the moment arrives. Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma reflects on the power of the fandom — the Swifties in particular — to move culture and commerce.
🎧 Before you go, do tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode. The lineup: Floods in Jammu, India’s first Smart Intelligent Village project, and the India-US ties.
That’s all for today, folks! Happy weekend-ing!
Sonal Gupta
