| Good morning, Pigeons have become a persistent issue in Indian cities, with their population rising by over 150% since 2000. Cities like Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad are struggling with pigeon-related challenges, including damage to historic structures, traffic bottlenecks at feeding spots, and health concerns due to pigeon droppings, which can spread zoonotic diseases like Bird Fancier's Lung. Who would have thought that the tussle between man and another bipedal species would take such a turn one day? With that, let's move on to the top 5 stories from today's edition:
🚨 Big Story Tragedy struck Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on Friday as a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, killing at least 144 people and injuring over 700. The epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where buildings collapsed, and major damage was reported. In Thailand, nine people died, including eight in Bangkok, where a high-rise building under construction collapsed. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with 81 people still trapped under the rubble. Myanmar frequently experiences earthquakes due to the Sagaing fault and since 1900, at least six quakes of magnitude greater than 7 have occurred. Over the last 100 years, Myanmar has witnessed 14 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above. But one of the worst earthquakes to occur in the region came in 1839.
⚡ Only in Express Comedian Kunal Kamra recently made headlines for calling Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor) during a stand-up show, leading to Shiv Sainiks vandalizing the studio where he performed, sparking debates on free speech and political tolerance. Writing over the matter, Neerja Chowdhury, the Contributing Editor of The Indian Express, points out how historically, Indian leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee handled criticism with humour and grace. Nehru, for instance, once asked for a signed copy of a cartoon that mocked him, and Vajpayee responded with wit when criticized by a fellow MP. Even Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi faced criticism without retaliation, showing resilience in public life. Kamra’s satirical remarks may have stung Shinde, but instead of resorting to legal action or violence, a humorous counter-response could have lightened the situation. In a thriving democracy like India, there should always be room for humour, satire, and free expression, even when it offends those in power, she writes.
💡 Express Explained On March 19, massive protests erupted across Turkey following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s Mayor and a key political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In our Explained section today, Bashir Ali Abbas writes on how Erdogan’s government has increasingly targeted opponents, undermining the judiciary and suppressing dissent, particularly after a failed 2016 coup. Erdogan’s authoritarianism has been bolstered by his manipulation of Islamist politics and foreign policy, especially concerning Syria and Kurdish militants.
✍️ Express Opinion In today’s Opinion section, Aditya Vishwanath and Ujwal Thakar write on how in today’s India, a new kind of literacy is crucial for the future — AI literacy. As AI increasingly impacts all sectors, understanding and leveraging it is essential. AI literacy involves more than coding; it’s about collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving with AI, empowering people to shape their futures, they write.
🎞️ Movie Review Black Bag is a spy thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, featuring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett as George and Kathryn, a married couple working as spies. Their relationship is fraught with mistrust, which adds complexity to their professional mission involving a dangerous device, Severus, that could cause catastrophic nuclear reactor failures if misused. The film’s intrigue lies in who can be trusted, especially as George suspects Kathryn of being involved in the conspiracy. Read Shalini Langer’s review here. That’s all for today. Have a lovely weekend! Until next time,
Rounak |
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