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Journalism of Courage
Good morning,
Let’s address the elephant in the room… err, the jungle. Meet Omkar, a 10-year-old elephant with an adventurous spirit. He may sound like a character straight out of a Disney movie, but Omkar is very real — and causing havoc for the residents of a Goan village. The story goes that Omkar was separated from his herd in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg and crossed over to Goa, where he has made the Tamboxem village his home. But worries among residents about their livelihood as Omkar ransacks paddy fields in search of food have prompted state officials to step in. If all goes as planned, Omkar could soon find his way to a camp in Karnataka.
On that note, let’s get to today’s edition. 👇
After weeks of strained ties, the trade negotiations between India and the United States are back on track. Talks had fallen through after the US imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% charge for Russian oil purchases. Remarks by US President Donald Trump and his aides repeatedly criticised India for its high tariffs and non-trade barriers, as well as for “funding” Russia’s war in Ukraine — a charge Trump reiterated in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly yesterday.
What next: An Indian team led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and comprising chief negotiator, Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, is now in Washington to hold high-level talks. New Delhi is expected to offer additional concessions, such as defence purchase commitments and nuclear collaboration, to sweeten the deal.
A hitch: The Trump administration’s recent decision to include a $100,000 one-time fee for H-1B visas may figure in the talks as the move impacts thousands of Indians who wish to study or work in the US. On Tuesday, the administration further proposed to replace the existing lottery system for H-1B visas with a wage-based selection, giving weightage to employers who pay high wages if annual requests exceed the cap. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also flagged “defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals” as key issues in the bilateral ties.
Deadline? Both sides are also exploring the possibility of an in-person meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump. If all goes well and talks are finalised before October 26, they may have an opportunity to meet at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur next month.
“There are Assembly elections in Bihar. One should discuss Bihar’s problems.”
Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor thinks that the discourse around the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision, Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” allegations and the BJP’s ghuspaithiya (infiltrators) pitch are not the real issues in the state. Kishor, whose Jan Suraaj Party faces a critical test this election to emerge as the third front, sat down with The Indian Express to discuss his rivals’ campaigns, his party’s stance, and whether Bihar is ready for socialist rule. Read the full interview.
Double check: The Election Commission has rolled out a new ‘e-sign’ feature on its ECINet portal and app, which requires those seeking to register as voters, or applying for deletion and corrections, to verify their identity using their Aadhaar-linked phone numbers. This comes days after Rahul Gandhi alleged misuse of online voter deletion forms in Karnataka’s Aland seat. Know all about the new feature.
Tragic: The run-up to the Durga Puja celebrations was marked by the tragic deaths of at least 10 people, including nine from electrocution, as heavy rainfall ravaged Kolkata. The city recorded 251.4 mm of rain on Tuesday, marking the third-wettest September day since 1978. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed “poor dredging” of the Farakka Barrage and lapses by a private power utility, CESC, for the deaths. Educational institutions have been shut for the next two days, while private and government offices have been advised to implement work-from-home arrangements.
🎧 For more on the Kolkata rains, tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode.
Losing bite: Apple cultivation is the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, supporting at least 2 lakh families in the state. However, heavy rainfall this monsoon — the wettest in 20 years — has damaged crops and disrupted supply chains. Farmers complain of lower yields, while others in remote orchards have had to throw away their produce. But the problem isn’t this year’s alone. Read about the growing crisis in Himachal’s apple industry.
Rallying behind: On Monday, France became the latest global power to recognise Palestine’s statehood, a day after the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia did so. They join a growing list of countries that have recognised Palestine, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump have criticised the move as a “prize for terrorism”, while Hamas welcomed it, insisting, however, that they will “not disarm” until the “end of the occupation”. Bashir Ali Abbas explains what the recognition as a “state” means for Palestine, and how this impacts the war.
Rest in peace: Harold Bird, better known as “Dickie”, played 93 county cricket matches for Yorkshire before umpiring in 66 Test matches between 1973 and 1996. He found love and respect from players across generations — some may remember him as the umpire who cut Sunil Gavaskar’s hair when the latter found it disturbing his vision while batting. Sriram Veera writes a fitting tribute to the global umpiring superstar, who passed away at the age of 92 on Monday.
That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
