Researched by: Aarthi Ramnath, Anannya Parekh & Aakriti Anand
Wanted: A fabulous editor for Advisory
Our weekend edition—the Advisory—is all about helping our community get the best advice on what to watch, where to travel, what to buy etc. All of it served with wonderful essays on art, music, food, history and more. We are looking for someone who really gets what makes the Advisory special—and can take it to the next level. Requirements of the job include:
- At least five years experience in lifestyle/culture content.
- A well-informed taste in books, travel, movies and more—and the network to commission content across a range of categories.
- Impeccable writing and editing skills is a must.
- Ability to work closely with our partners—and forge new relationships with institutions and brands.
- Willingness to explore lifestyle & culture in new and innovative ways.
- A knowledge of and love for splainer is a huge plus—since we’re not the usual news product.
Please note this isn’t a job for someone who is looking to edit the standard lifestyle section of a newspaper or site. Our aim is to break new ground—and build something truly valuable for our subscribers.
As for the rest: There is a six-month probation period and the pay will be industry standard. We are an equal opportunity employer and work remotely. Please send your resumes and cover letter—telling us why you want this job—to talktous@splainer.in. We will reach out to you if you’re shortlisted.
Macron makes a battle move
The context: First, the French president called for snap elections—three years early—making no one happy. The gamble failed and his party got walloped by the Left—which emerged as a surprise winner with 182 seats. However, since no party scored a majority in parliament, France ended up with a hung parliament—the prospect of gridlock. For lots more context, see this Big Story.
What happened now: Everyone was waiting to see who Macron would pick as PM. As President, he has the freedom to pick anyone he likes—but it is tradition to choose the leader of the largest party/alliance. But it is no secret that Macron and the head of the biggest Left party—Jean-Luc Mélenchon—loathe one another. Now it seems Macron is spoiling for a fight.
In an open letter to the French public, he claimed no one won the election. And he has called for a coalition government made up of “republican forces”—which will not include Melenchon’s France Unbowed party. It has explicitly not been invited to be part of the negotiations to form the new government. The move lays the ground for a battle royale:
Believing himself victorious in the election, Mr. Mélenchon will not go quietly. “I intend to govern this country,” he said last month… “I fear Mélenchon will try to take the battle to the streets,” said Thierry Dana, a former French ambassador to Japan who is now a business executive.
New York Times has more on Macron’s call to combat.
Government targets yet another NGO
The context: The government has been steadily cutting off funding for NGOs it doesn’t like—by cancelling their licence to accept foreign funding. Its previous victims include Centre for Policy Research, Oxfam India, and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. See this Big Story for how this works.
What happened now: The latest target is the Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA)—whose recent report revealed the environmental damage caused by Adani projects in the Kutch region. It has now lost its foreign funding licence (FCRA)—allegedly for incorrect tax filings for the years 2018 and 2019. CFA chief Joe Athialy is, however, determined to carry on:
We are not going to get bogged down by such actions. We will continue our work. We recognise that the government wanted to throttle our work. We will find innovative ways to carry forward our work, which includes domestic donations. There is a life beyond FCRA.
Reminder: Since 2015, the FCRA registration of more than 16,000 NGOs have been cancelled due to various “violations.” (The Hindu)
A landmark voice-box transplant
A patient—suffering from a rare cancer called chondrosarcoma—lost his larynx due to the disease. Six surgeons working over 21 hours have given him a new voice box. The person’s voice is still hoarse, but he is “able to keep up an hour long conversation.” Point to note: Cancer is the leading reason patients lose their larynx—and are forced to breathe through a tracheostomy tube in their neck. CNN has more on why this surgery matters.
In other health news: A new study has discovered a hormone—called CCN3—that helps keep the bones of breast-feeding women strong—and prevents osteoporosis. This is excellent news for menopausal women—who lose bone density when estrogen levels fall. (Interesting Engineering)
Elon Musk’s big plans for Mars
According to a New York Times exclusive, the SpaceX founder has asked employees to design a Martian city—and more:
One team is drawing up plans for small dome habitats, including the materials that could be used to build them. Another is working on spacesuits to combat Mars’s hostile environment, while a medical team is researching whether humans can have children there. Mr. Musk has volunteered his sperm to help seed a colony, two people familiar with his comments said.
Yup, we included this item purely to cackle with glee at that last line. Feel free to use our gift link to read more.
A historic wall collapses in Bihar
Parts of a 2,600 year old wall collapsed during heavy rains last week. It had been grossly neglected—and was falling apart—despite being under the aegis of ASI. Few know that India is home to one of the oldest walls in the world:
[T]he Cyclopean Wall is considered among the world’s oldest protective masonry or stone fortifications and predates the Great Wall of China. It is built of undressed and semi-dressed stones without any mortar.
The 45 km wall with height varying from 3 ft to 15 ft and width between 12 ft and 14 ft ran across the hills and encircled Rajgriha (Rajgir), the capital of the ancient Magadh Empire, to protect it from invasions. According to Buddhist texts, the fortification had at least 24 gates with bastions and watchtowers.
The word ‘Cyclopean’ refers to a form of construction technique that deploys enormous blocks of stone without mortar. The Telegraph has this important—but little-reported story.
Yes, you can move from Android to Apple
If you’re switching from Android to Apple devices (cue Android users booing), you can now directly move your photos and videos uploaded to Google Photos to iCloud. For those who worry about files getting deleted: “Initiating a transfer sends a copy of each file to your iCloud account, so the originals will remain in Google Photos unless you delete them manually.” FYI: Apple started allowing direct transfer of media files from iCloud to Google Photos back in 2021. (The Verge)
Three things to see
One: Move over, Apple Watch—Samsung’s putting a ring on it. They’ve just launched a $400 titanium Galaxy Ring that will track vital stats, period cycles, and sleep—and last a whole week on a single charge. The ring comes in nine sizes and they’ve even got a kit to figure which size works best. For good measure, the company has also launched a Galaxy Watch Ultra for $650. This is the slick demo vid for the ring. (Bloomberg News, paywall, BBC News)
Two: The US Olympics team for Gymnastics has set a new record—for bling! Their leotards will now feature 10,000 Swarovski crystals—up from 5,000 on their outing in 2016. (New York Times, paywall, People)
Three: This is a true story. First, a museum in Australia sparked a gender war when it unveiled a women-only exhibition (no men allowed)—called Ladies Lounge. It reportedly featured Pablo Picasso paintings. Annoyed by this gender discrimination, a man filed a lawsuit and won. In response, the curator Kirsha Kaechele moved the paintings to the ladies restroom. Wait, there is more. Now it turns out the Picassos are fake—and were painted by Kaechele:
I knew of a number of Picasso paintings I could borrow from friends, but none of them were green and I wished for the Lounge to be monochrome. I also had time working against me, not to mention the cost of insuring a Picasso—exorbitant!
The very best bit: This awesome Insta photo of Kaechele with her ‘Picasso’. We’re loving the shameless hussy vibe. (Washington Post)
Takshashila: A doorway to public policy
Editor’s note: We are delighted to unveil our partnership with Takshashila Institution. It is one of India’s foremost think-tanks on public policy. They also run valuable courses that teach students how to tackle complex policy challenges—bringing together academic experts and policy practitioners from across the world. We will be showcasing their courses and community in splainer. Please note: This is not paid content.
Over to Takshashila… The doors to knowledge and innovation in public policy are now wide open for everyone. Takshashila Institution, the pioneer in public policy education in India invites you to join OpenTakshashila, a free space for learning, exploring and engaging with the public policy community.
What’s happening on OpenTakshashila? Educate Yourself: Our "Open Course in Public Policy" is a free, self-paced online course designed to equip you with the fundamentals of public policy. It's your foundation for understanding, analysing, and influencing policy decisions.
Join the Conversation: Participate in "Open Mic" sessions where nuanced discussions on current policy issues thrive. It's your chance to voice your thoughts, listen to diverse opinions, and engage in debates that matter.
Dive into Books: Our "Books & Banter" book club invites you to share your latest reads, discover new insights, and discuss ideas that can transform society. It's a space where policy enthusiasts and book lovers unite.
Have Fun Learning: "OffBeat" offers a unique blend of events and fun games focused on public policy. This is where learning meets play, allowing you to grasp complex concepts through engaging and interactive activities.
Explore Open Takshashila—and sign up here
