Kolkata rape case: The latest update

Researched by: Aarthi Ramnath, Aakriti Anand & Raghav Bikhchandani

We need advice on the Advisory

In our two-part series last month, we explained the slow collapse of digital news around the world. The dwindling attention to news, ongoing inability to find a reliable revenue model—all of it is behind our new editorial strategy. We’re not the New York Times, but we are inspired by its success in leveraging Cooking, Games, WireCutter (product reviews) etc. to thrive in a difficult market. Can the Advisory become the foundation of something as valuable for a wider audience?

Every day, we help you ‘discover’ news that is valuable, relevant and—above all—reliable. Much like the news, we are buried in lifestyle content—and yet it seems impossible to find what to cook, watch, read, listen to, or buy. How can we be your trusted guide who helps you figure that out?

To answer that question, we need your help. Please take 10-15 minutes to fill out our survey. It’s mostly multiple choice questions—but detailed answers would be really helpful. If you’d rather speak than type, you can sign up for a quick 15 minute chat, as well. Here’s the form—please fill it out when you have a little time.

Kolkata rape case: The latest update

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar hospital. In other words, the justices didn’t wait for anyone to petition the Court. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday. This follows the Calcutta High Court ruling—which transferred the case to the CBI. (The Hindu)

The doctors’ strike: The Indian Medical Association has ended its 24-hour strike—but supports the decision of doctors to continue their protest—calling for stricter law and order measures to keep them safe. Also showing solidarity: Fans of legendary football clubs—Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting—who put their rivalry aside to stage a joint rally in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, in London: An Air India crew member was sexually assaulted at a hotel room near Heathrow. The attacker entered her bedroom at night—while she was asleep. She has since flown back to Mumbai—and the local cops are investigating the crime.

FYI: The hotel chain in question—the Radisson—was known to have security issues:

Over the past few months, some cabin crew members had raised concerns about the hotel where the incident occurred, it is learnt. Although a star-rated hotel, cabin crew members alleged that the hotel did not have proper security and was inadequately manned late at night, according to sources.

Indian Express and The Hindu have the details.

A freefall in demand for Ayodhya flights

When the Ram Mandir was inaugurated in January, airlines introduced daily flights to Ayodhya from over 20 Indian cities—with international flights planned for the future. Those giddy days have come to an end. At least 13 of those 20 cities have stopped operating flights to the ambitiously named Maharshi Valmiki International Airport. Among them: Hyderabad, Patna, and Kolkata.

The reason: Aviation officials are blaming bad monsoon weather, but some admit that the initial buzz is now history: “Initially, people were curious about the Ram temple, and so they arrived in large numbers. But that excitement is gradually subsiding.” And not a single airline has expressed any interest in putting Ayodhya on its international routes.

Reminder: Phase one of the airport cost Rs 1,450 crore (14.5 billion)—and was built to accommodate up to one million passengers each year. (The Telegraph)

War on Gaza: The latest update

One: The health ministry has confirmed the first case of polio—in more than 20 years. The patient: a 10-month old child. The UN has been urgently demanding a humanitarian pause to conduct a vaccine drive for more than 640,000 children. The children are at high risk due to “the spread of sewage water in the streets, shortages of medical supplies and lack of personal hygiene products due to the Israeli blockade.” Reminder: polio is highly contagious, and can cause paralysis and death.

Data point to note: According to the World Health Organisation, 99% of the people in Gaza were vaccinated against polio, before October 7. That rate has dropped to 86% in the last 10 months. (Washington Post, paywall, NBC News)

Two: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in Israel for the tenth time since October 7—pushing for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel killed 10 people—including children—in the deadliest strike on Lebanon since the war began. Enuf said. (Reuters)

Meanwhile, in Chicago: Gaza looms large over the Democratic National Convention—which kicked off on Sunday. At least 40,000 activists are expected to stage highly visible protests. Expect disruption both inside and outside the convention centre:

The party is on guard for disruptions to high-profile speeches at the DNC, with one pro-Palestinian group called Delegates Against Genocide… Delegates Against Genocide said it would exercise its freedom of speech rights during main events at the four-day convention. Its organisers declined to give details, but said they would offer amendments to the party platform and use their rights as delegates to speak on the convention floor.

The Guardian has that story.

Say hello to Thailand’s youngest PM

The context: Thailand went to the polls in 2023 and—after a decade of military rule—voted for opposition parties. And the progressive Move Forward Party seemed poised to form the government (see our Big Story). However, the party couldn’t secure enough votes from the military-appointed senate to become PM. Later in 2023, the coalition between Move Forward and its ally Pheu Thai collapsed. Earlier this month, a Thai court unanimously dissolved the Move Forward Party and banned its leaders from politics for a decade. All of which was a huge step backward for Thailand’s hopes for democracy.

What happened now: The Thai Parliament voted in 37-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra—of the Pheu Thai party—as the country’s youngest PM. She replaces Pheu Thai leader Thavisin Srettha—who took the post after breaking with Move Forward. But Srettha too is history—after being disqualified by an ethics investigation.

Who is Shinawatra? She is the daughter of billionaire and former PM Thaksin Shinawatra—who was ousted in 2005 in a military coup. Her entire family has been hounded and ousted from office by the military. But the dynasty’s history is also riddled with accusations of corruption. New York Times has lots more on Shinawatra. (BBC News)

Burger King vs Burger King: An India story

Back in 2011, the US fast food giant sued a Pune-based burger joint for calling itself ‘Burger King’—demanding a modest Rs 20 lakhs in damages. In response, the Pune restaurant changed its name to the rather minimalist ‘Burger’. But hallelujah, the local court has now restored its rights—claiming the Indian Burger King has been in operation since 1992—well before BK entered the Indian market. And to be fair, who is likely to mistake this modest joint for its Amreeki cousin? (Indian Express)

Look: A 3,500-year old bill!

Archaeologists unearthed a small 3,500-year-old clay tablet at a Mesopotamian site in Turkey. It surfaced after a series of massive earthquakes hit Turkey last year. They are written in cuneiform—one of the oldest forms of writing used across the ancient Middle East. And what does this ancient tablet reveal? The “purchase of a large amount of furniture.” But, hey, the experts are excited: “[T]hey provide incredible insights into the ancient society and economy of Alalakh — we are literally reading the bookkeeping accounts of an ancient accountant from almost 3,500 years ago!” You can see the tablet below. (CNN)

what caught our eye

business & tech

Citing various documents, Reuters reports that SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch continued earning revenue from a consultancy firm even after joining the regulatory body—representing a potential violation of a 2008 policy.
According to the Financial Times, at least 56% of Fortune 500 companies see AI as a threat—which is a sharp jump from 9% of companies in a survey from 2022.
Sticking with AI, OpenAI says Iranian disinformation campaigns are using ChatGPT to churn out fake news about the US elections.
Four years after being removed by Apple, the popular online game Fortnite returns to the iOS app store, but only in the EU and only via parent company Epic’s new mobile store.
X announced that it is closing its operations in Brazil amid a legal battle with the country’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over election disinformation and “digital militias”.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) expects Raksha Bandhan sales across the country to surpass the Rs 120 billion (12,000 crore) mark this year.
Economic Times reports that India’s white collar industry is hiring at only half the rate in FY2024 that it did five years ago.

sports & entertainment

The 1970s-era Rock Against Racism movement has been revived in the UK with new gigs scheduled in towns that were hit by racist riots earlier this month.
The horror-comedy film ‘Stree 2’ has smashed box office records by recording the biggest Hindi film global opening weekend total of the year.
Father-and-son comedy duo and stars of ‘Schitt’s Creek’—Eugene and Dan Levy—will host the 76th Emmy Awards.
A Missouri woman has been charged in an alleged scheme to extort Elvis Presley’s family and steal their estate—Graceland.

as for the rest

Ukraine has continued its incursions into Russian territory via the Kursk border by blowing up bridges.
IIT-Delhi has received a show cause notice from the GST directorate general, demanding Rs 120 crore (1.2 billion) in GST on research funding acquired between 2017 and 2022.
A good read on Israel’s war in Gaza and tensions within the Middle East: Wall Street Journal reports on how Israel killed the low-profile Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
A new study has revealed that the asteroid that killed Earth’s dinosaurs 65 million years ago, came from beyond Jupiter.
Nearly five years after sealing its borders due to the pandemic, North Korea will reopen to tourists from December onwards.

Five things to see

One: Vinesh Phogat returned to India on Saturday after her heartbreaking ordeal at the Paris Olympics. She rightly received a hero’s welcome at the airport. See scenes of celebration below. Business Standard has more on the celebrations in her hometown.

Two: What better way to celebrate I-Day than terrorise the national animal—in the country’s best known tiger reserve. Fourteen SUVs roared into a restricted area of Ranthambore on a private safari organised by a group called Adventure Tours. Their cars have been seized—and they will have to pay a fine of Rs 100,000. None of which is enough to discourage this kind of behaviour—or the corruption that made it possible. (NDTV)

Three: A viral video captured Bangalore residents throwing two-wheelers off a flyover—after they caught the bikers performing wheelies on a busy road. Looks like the Ranthambore folks could learn a lesson or two here.You can see the bikes meeting their maker below. (News Minute)

Four: NASA astronaut Dominick Matthew shared a breathtaking photo of a lightning strike in India—taken from the International Space Station (ISS)! The cool bit: You can also see the layers of Earth’s atmosphere. (Mint)

Five: To start your Monday on a musical note, we leave you with this fab Sixties—inspired collab between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars—‘Die With a Smile’. Watch and enjoy here. (The Telegraph)