Supreme Court bails out Arnab
After being rebuffed by the Bombay High Court, the Republic TV news owner turned to the highest court—which did the needful, so to speak. It ordered his release on interim bail in a ruling that offered a stirring defense of personal liberty.
“If this court were not to interfere today, we are travelling on a path of destruction of personal liberty undeniably…Is this what our state governments will do to those who have to be nailed…? Don’t watch the channel if you don’t like… Left to myself I will not watch… If state governments target individuals in this manner, let’s send out a message that the Supreme Court is there.”
Of course, there are many others who are languishing in jail, also targeted by local officials—but sadly without the benefit of the Court’s intervention. Activists like 83-year old Stan Swamy who has been reduced to going to court just to beg for a straw—because his hands shake due to Parkinson’s disease. The Telegraph has a short list here.
A quick Trump update
The President has moved on to firing almost everyone at the top of the Pentagon—part of what many leading journalists are calling an attempted “coup,” while others insist it is a cover up. Also: He’s set up an “election defense fund” that will instead funnel money toward his own debts.
In Trump-related news: His big ban on TikTok appears to have fizzled out amidst this drama. Quartz has that story.
In more upbeat US news: Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff will soon be the first Second Gentleman in the nation’s history—and he plans to quit his day job (while Jill Biden keeps hers). A political expert says:
“We’ve been waiting for this sort of gender switch for decades now… There is a lot of symbolism from a man stepping back from his high-powered career in order to support his wife’s career.”
Ambani is not #1 on this list
Mukesh-bhai is the richest man in Asia by a mile. But he is only #3 on the 2020 list of Indian philanthropists—and by a mile, as well. At #1: Wipro founder Azim Premji who gave away Rs 7,904 crore of his money—which is Rs 22 crore per day! He is followed by HCL Technologies' Shiv Nadar with Rs 795 crore. Mr Ambani’s total: Rs 458 crore. Guess not all contests are worth winning. (Quartz)
The great pandemic: A quick update
- The Indian government is poised to announce a fresh stimulus of $20 billion to help kickstart a shrinking economy. This on top of the $27 billion package of incentives to manufacturers announced on Wednesday.
- Delhi’s numbers continue to soar—adding 8000-plus new daily cases for the very first time.
- New research shows that previous cold infections offer some level of immunity from Covid—especially for kids.
- Fake Covid-negative certificates are the newest challenge in places like France, Brazil and the UK—typically used by tourists to board international flights. Point to remember: 19 Indian passengers from Delhi to Wuhan who tested positive on arrival also had similar certificates.
- On a lighter note, a famous bookstore in Oregon is now selling a designer unisex perfume that replicates the scent of books for pandemic-deprived customers: “With hints of violet, wood and biblichor, the $24.99 perfume aims to replicate the smell of old paper that ‘creates an atmosphere ripe with mood and possibility, invoking a labyrinth of books; secret libraries; ancient scrolls; and cognac swilled by philosopher-kings.’"
- Also pivoting in the time of Covid: everyone’s fave beer company Bira which is planning to roll out a range of carbonated drinks, juices, sports drinks and sparkling water.
- A good read: Washington Post on why India holds the key to the vaccine for most of the developing world.
A bizarre BBC scandal
- Back in 1995, BBC scored a major scoop: An exclusive, first-of-its-kind candid interview with Princess Diana where she talked openly about her marital problems and struggle with bulimia.
- The interviewer: Martin Bashir. The interview made waves across the world and was hailed as “the scoop of the century.”
- Turns out the scoop was secured under false pretenses. Bashir forged bank documents to make Diana believe that her personal royal staff were being bribed—by tabloid journalists and security forces—to spy on her.
- Worse, when BBC finally ordered an internal investigation in 1996, it let Bashir off the hook as an “honest man” who was “deeply remorseful.” But blacklisted the designer who created the documents—thinking they were going to be used as movie props.
- Now, Diana’s brother Earl Spencer is on a rampage. BBC is promising yet another inquiry. But Bashir is out of commission thanks to a quadruple bypass surgery and complications from Covid.
- Why this story matters: Sometimes the line between a “respectable” news source and a tabloid is very, very thin. And it’s always good to remember that when you read the news.
- New York Times has the most details.
Three cool things
One: During the upcoming T20 international series with India, the Australian cricket team will debut a new jersey that pays tribute to the nation’s indigenous tribes—and designed by two Indigenous women. According to authorities, “The design is an ode to the ancestors and past, present and future aboriginal cricketers.”
Two: Playboy Mexico will make history by featuring the first-ever transwoman on its cover. This is especially important because the country has the second highest rate of murders of trans women in the world. Point to note: She is not the first ever tran woman to appear in the magazine:
“[I]n 1981, Caroline (Tula) Cossey, a transgender English model, appeared in a Playboy pictorial for the James Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’ alongside other Bond girls [in the United States]. She was outed shortly afterward by a British tabloid, but returned to the pages of Playboy in 1991 for a solo pictorial, a first for a transgender woman.”
The US edition also featured Ines Rau as the first ever trans Playmate of the Month in 2017. The Playboy Mexico cover is below:
Three: It’s never too late to create things of great beauty. Splainer subscriber and supporter Aparna Jain started teaching herself how to paint three years ago, and turned it into a daily practice. One painting a day for 15 minutes every morning at 5:45 am. That hobby turned into a passion during the lockdown—and now a small but exquisite collection of table linen featuring her no less exquisite floral watercolours. You can check them out—and grab a set—at her website. This is the one we are eyeing (PS: we don’t get paid for supporting the amazing work of our subscribers. We happily do it for free!):
