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.
Modi-ji goes to Moscow
The Prime Minister just wrapped a two-day visit to Russia. He straddled the difficult line of showing solidarity with Moscow—without overly annoying Washington. Hence, sound bytes such as:
The entire world’s attention is centred on my visit and they are coming out with various interpretations of this meeting… I am satisfied that you (Putin) spoke with such an open mind… and I noticed several new ideas crop up… and a new thinking has emerged. I assure the world that India is for peace, and I have a new hope after speaking to you yesterday.
But, but, but: The timing was a bit unfortunate—coming on a day when a Russian missile strike on a children’s hospital in Ukraine killed 43 people. President Volodymyr Zelensky growled:
“It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.”
Modi responded with dramatic declarations of personal anguish: “[Any person who believes in humanity feels pain when people die, and especially when innocent children die. When we feel such pain, the heart simply explodes.”
In happier news: President Putin agreed to send back all Indians stranded in Russia—after being duped into joining the army. Moscow is also offering a compensation package and citizenship to the families of the deceased. The Hindu has that story. (The Telegraph)
Meanwhile, on the Gaza front: The UN is concerned about attacks on aid convoys—by mobs looking for cigarettes being smuggled into the strip. Packs of cigarettes sell for up to $30 (New York Times)
ANI is suing Wikipedia
The press agency is suing the platform for “false and misleading” content on its page dedicated to ANI. It says stuff such as:
[T]he news agency has been criticized for having served as a propaganda tool for the incumbent central government distributing materials from a vast network of fake news websites and misreporting events.
This is, of course, true. But ANI may have sadly lost its ability to differentiate from fact and fiction. It wants Rs 2 crore (20 million) in damages. (Bar and Bench)
Meanwhile, over at Spotify: The platform will now allow comments on podcasts—in hopes of increasing engagement. Creators can decide which ones will be visible. (TechCrunch)
No med school fees at John Hopkins
Bloomberg Philanthropies has donated $1 billion to cover tuition and living expenses for medical school students:
Hopkins said Monday that students from families earning under $300,000 would receive free tuition starting in the fall. Students whose families earn as much as $175,000 will have their living expenses covered. The school estimates nearly two-thirds of its students would qualify for either of the benefits.
FYI: the tuition fee at Johns Hopkins is nearly $65,000 a year. The donation marks a new trend in American philanthropy. Similar gifts have made medical degrees at New York University and Columbia University entirely tuition-free. (Wall Street Journal, paywall, NPR)
Gender battle over Afghanistan’s Olympic team
Three women and three men will represent Afghanistan at the Paris Olympics later this month. But Kabul only recognises the male athletes: “Currently, in Afghanistan girls' sports have been stopped. When girls' sport isn't practised, how can they go on the national team?" The IOC, however, says it has not consulted the government—or invited its officials to the games. The team members were picked by Afghanistan's national Olympic committee—whose president and secretary-general are both living in exile.
Why this matters: This is the first time Afghanistan will send a gender-equal lineup to the Olympics. The IOC says that it sends a symbolic message—to Afghanistan and the world—of what is possible through the Games. (AFP via France24)
You are free to eat bugs in Singapore
You can now order grasshoppers, crickets and locusts for dinner on your next visit. The government just approved the import, farming, and processing of 16 species for human consumption or as animal feed. But, but, but: they have to be actually—not randomly harvested from the wild. As you may know, insects are a great source of protein—and kinder to the planet than methane-producing cows. So don’t be wrinkling your nose at silkworm satay. (CNN)
Moving on to Copenhagen: The city will give free lunch, coffees, glasses of wine, and kayak rentals to tourists who are kind to the environment. How it works:
For example, visitors who take plastic waste to the National Gallery of Denmark will gain access to a workshop where they can turn it into a piece of art, while those who cycle or take public transport to the city’s famous heating plant will be allowed to ski down an artificial ski slope on the building’s roof.
This is way friendlier than other plans to limit tourism’s impact on cities (see: our Tuesday Big Story). BBC News has more.
Meanwhile, in Rajasthan: It became the first state in the country to adopt a road safety action plan—aimed at reducing road accidents by 50%. FYI: The state had 10,939 accidents in a single year—of which 5,000 were fatal. But, but, but: The most dangerous roads are in Delhi. (The Hindu)
Four things to see
One: Spain beat France in the Euros to enter the finals—thanks to this glorious goal by 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal. He became the youngest goalscorer in Euros history for this absolute worldie from 25 yards out—Kylian Mbappé’s reaction sums it up perfectly:
Two: Novak Djokovic went on a full-fledged rant against fans at Wimbledon’s Centre Court, claiming that they were booing him during his fourth-round win over Holger Rune. However, even the interviewer felt the fans were chanting “Ruuuunne”, which could have sounded like “booo”s to Djokovic. Oh well. (NDTV Sports)
Three: The wheels are falling off for Boeing—literally! A wheel came loose and fell to the ground during a United Airlines flight headed from Los Angeles to Denver. Mercifully, no one was hurt, and the plane landed safely at its destination. Yeah, Boeing… not having a good decade. (Hindustan Times)
Four: If you loved Marvel’s ‘WandaVision’, you’ll be excited about ‘Agatha All Along’! The spinoff series brings back Kathryn Hahn as the witch Agatha Harkness, who now finds herself without her superpowers. The first two episodes will be released on September 18. You can check out the teaser below. (Hollywood Reporter)
