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Good evening, A month after saying he would step back from politics to focus on his businesses, Elon Musk is at it again. On Monday evening (US time), Musk threatened to launch a political party – the America Party – if Senators vote to pass US President Donald Trump’s so-called “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Notably, the bill led to Musk’s break with Trump and his subsequent departure from the government, as it was seen as undermining his efforts with DOGE. Beyond DOGE, Musk’s grievances include a proposal in the bill that would end electric vehicle and other clean energy credits —a subsidy his company, Tesla, has benefited from over the years. Trump was having none of it and issued a threat of his own. He wrote on Truth Social, “Elon may get more subsidy (sic) than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites or Electric Car production, and our country would save a FORTUNE.” 🍿🍿🍿 On that note, let’s dive in 👇🏽
📝 The Debrief
The institution of the Dalai Lamas confronts its most consequential question: who will follow the 14th?
Sometime later this week, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, will turn 90 years old. The build-up has predictably been full of intrigue, with the current Dalai Lama stating on Monday that the institution will continue under “some kind of a framework.” However, what that process will entail is still very much unknown. Big day: Starting tomorrow, a three-day Buddhist religious conference will commence in Dharamshala’s McLeodganj, with the 1989 Nobel Laureate seemingly expected to issue a video statement regarding his successor, which might address the process for selecting the next reincarnation of the holy leader. - The only information we have so far comes from the Dalai Lama’s recent book, Voices for the Voiceless, where he hinted that his successor would be born “in the free world” (read: not China).
- The process is inherently rooted in Tibetan traditions, with the belief that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated after death.
What does it entail? In the case of the incumbent (the 14th Dalai Lama), he was identified as a reincarnation when he was merely two years old, following his predecessor’s death in 1935. - According to the Dalai Lama’s website, the Tibetan government sent a search party to the Kumbum monastery, having been led there by “several signs”, including “the embalmed body of his predecessor.”
- It adds that “during the mummification process, the head was discovered to have turned from facing south to the northeast.”
- That led a senior monk (the Regent) to have a vision, ultimately leading the search party to the village of the incumbent Dalai Lama (born Lhamo Thondup).
- In 1940, Thondup was taken to the Potala Palace in Lhasa and officially installed as the spiritual leader of the Tibetans.
China’s play: China will have its say, including possibly nominating a rival (a pro-Beijing Dalai Lama, as it were), citing traditions that date to the Qing Dynasty (1793), where a selection ritual saw possible reincarnations being drawn from a golden urn. - It has ruffled feathers in the past. In 1995, soon after the Dalai Lama chose Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the Panchen Lama, another revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism, China appointed Gyaltsen Norbu to the post.
- Nyima was allegedly abducted by the Chinese government, three days after the announcement, with his whereabouts still unknown.
- That episode could likely play out again, with the Chinese government now using its diplomatic muscle to get countries to recognise its appointment.
India and the US: Both countries will be paying hawk-eyed attention to the process, and ultimately, to the Dalai Lama’s successor when chosen. - India has been home to the Tibetan government-in-exile, also known as the Central Tibetan Administration, since 1959.
- The US has been a fervent advocate of Tibetan freedom and has pushed for talks between China and the Dalai Lama, with recent presidents—Joe Biden and Donald Trump—passing legislation reaffirming their support.
✍️ From our newsroom Who’s in?: As India gears up to take on England tomorrow, there’s the big question: Will Jasprit Bumrah play? The answer is a soft no, as my colleague Sandeep Dwivedi reports from Birmingham. However, it could come down to the wire, given that the assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said he was “available”. What we do know for sure is that India are mulling playing a batting all-rounder. That could be Nitish Kumar Reddy or even Washington Sundar, who Dwivedi observed, was sweating it out with the bat in an “extended” session with India’s throw-down experts. India’s left-arm wristie Kuldeep Yadav might also sit out, given that the management could prefer Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja as the two spinners for the XI on Wednesday. Whatever that XI looks like, we’ll see tomorrow, but do keep an eye out for Reddy and Sundar making their way in.
🔎 Need to know
Tragic: At least 35 people were killed after a massive blast at the Sigachi Chemicals factory in Telangana’s Sangareddy district. Seventeen people are also reported missing, even as search operations are ongoing. The explosion occurred on Monday, with around 61 workers trapped inside the facility.
Reset: iPhone maker Apple is considering using artificial intelligence technology from Anthropic or OpenAI to power its voice assistant Siri, instead of its in-house models. Get it done: India’s trade negotiators are staying back in the United States to finalise negotiations over a trade deal. Earlier today, the Financial Times reported that India could sign its agreement with the US “as early as this week”, making it among the first trading partners to sign an interim agreement with the US.
🎙️Expresso Playlist!
In today’s Playlist, I’ll recommend an episode from Savor, a food podcast on the fascinating science and history of…tea bags! Dip right in.
✋🏽 One last thing
I am old enough to remember Kodak, the camera company. However, even in its decline and eventual demise, the legend of the company endures. The New York Times has a fascinating story about Kodak’s second coming in Seoul, as a fashion statement.
That’s all from me today. Thank you so much for reading this edition. If you enjoy the Evening Expresso, tell your friends to subscribe to the newsletter. You can do so by signing up for the Morning Expresso. Additionally, you can reach me via email for tips, feedback, or simply to say hello! 😀 Until tomorrow, Venkat Ananth |
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