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Journalism of Courage
Good morning,
You may have watched the psychological thriller Mindhunter on Netflix. Did you know it’s adapted from a series of books written by an FBI special agent, John Douglas? In the 1970s, Douglas visited prisons across the US, interviewing serial killers and sex offenders. He helped develop comprehensive psychological profiles of some of the most notorious criminals at the time. A similar project is set to take off in Maharashtra, where 10 MBBS students will have access to prison inmates involved in serious offences to help build a profile. Intrigued? My colleague Mohammed Thaver has more details.
On that note, let’s get to today’s edition. 👇
Drama unfolded in Dubai on Wednesday amid rumours of Pakistan’s withdrawal from the Asia Cup. Perturbed by the snubbed handshake at Sunday’s India-Pakistan clash, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded an inquiry into the incident and the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft for allegedly blocking the captains from shaking hands. Let’s sift facts from rumours:
Zoom in: The Indian team has denied that any such instructions were passed. According to sources, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) investigated the incident, it found Pycroft not guilty of the “handshake not happening”. The ICC refused to grant PCB’s request for an inquiry as “they did not furnish any concrete proof or… what exactly needed to be investigated.”
Zoom out: This was the first time India and Pakistan were playing against each other since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military strikes. Many had criticised the Indian government’s decision to allow the match. Subsequently, the Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts before and after the game. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav also dedicated their win to the Pahalgam victims and the Indian Armed Forces in the post-match presentation. In a press conference in Lahore, the PCB declared “politics and sports can’t go together,” objecting strongly to Yadav’s remarks.
Dialogue: PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that a boycott had not been too far away, and they had the support of the Prime Minister and other senior officials. The Pakistan–UAE match eventually began 90 minutes late after Pycroft reportedly apologised for “miscommunication”. However, as my colleague Sandip G writes, the handshake row may not be over just yet.
The third edition of TharoorThink, MP Shashi Tharoor’s weekly column, is out today, spotlighting the socialism vs capitalism debate. In the US, only 54% of Americans now view capitalism positively — the lowest since surveys began — while support for socialism has steadily risen. The debate isn’t America’s alone: in India too, capitalism’s sheen is fading, though both terms carry their own baggage. Tharoor unpacks the argument and where India stands.
Mutual benefit: The European Union (EU) announced that it has adopted the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ as the official pathway to bilateral ties. It focuses on partnership in a range of areas from trade and technology to defence and climate change. However, the EU has also flagged issues such as India’s engagement with Russia and non-tariff barriers. As both partners seek to carve out a trade deal, India is eyeing investment commitments from the EU.
Join in: As the Armed Forces move towards enhanced integration, the military has decided to form joint military stations — a first in the country. They have also decided to merge the education branches of all three services into a single tri-services Education Corps. Here’s what we know about it.
Good news: India has the third-largest carbon dioxide emissions in the world, with the electricity sector accounting for a major chunk (~40%) annually. However, breaking the long-term trend, CO2 emissions from the sector dipped in the first half of this year.
New sheriff in town: A day after the US Federal Reserve got its new Governor, Stephen Miran, it decided to cut interest rates by 25 basis points. When central banks cut rates, it makes borrowing easier. This marks the first time the US Fed has lowered rates this year, in a move with only one dissenter — Miran, who was in support of a 50 basis points cut. You’d remember Miran, Trump’s top economic adviser, as the architect of his tariff policy. How will his appointment at the Fed change policy matters? We explain.
Have you watched Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra yet? The film has stormed past the Rs 250 crore-mark worldwide, becoming Malayalam cinema’s second-highest grosser. The film elevates local folklore into international prototypes, delivering an admirable vampire saviour and adding to India’s short roster of superheroes. But beyond its spectacle, the film’s triumph lies in a cultural shift: the ready embrace of women-led action. The acceptance did not come easily. A decade ago, such scenes risked disbelief. But today, packed theatres for Lokah signal a new era — Indian audiences are ready for female superheroes.
🎧Before you go, do tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode. The lineup: US negotiators in Delhi, a cloudburst in Uttarakhand, and the PM’s 75th birthday.
That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
