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Good evening, Did you hear about samosas and jalebis getting cigarette-style warning labels? That’s what the internet would have you believe. Some were even miffed that Indian snacks had been selectively targeted. The truth, however, is far more nuanced. A recent letter from the Union Health Ministry urged government departments to display “Sugar and Oil boards”, which would serve as visual guides showing recommended fat and sugar intake. Sample boards, designed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), included data on popular Indian snacks like samosas, gulab jamun, and vada pav, but also on burgers, cakes, and soft drinks. My colleague Anonna Dutta has more details on the letter and why it matters. On that note, let’s dive into today’s edition 👇🏽
📝 The Debrief It has been over a month since the Air India flight AI 171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed seconds after takeoff. Investigators are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the plane crash, though a preliminary report on July 12 brought attention to a telling cockpit recording. Recap: The report suggests that both the fuel control switches, which allow and cut fuel to the engines, were transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position moments after lift off. A few seconds later, the switches transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN position, evidently in an attempt by the pilots to recover thrust in the engines. But the aircraft did not have enough time to recover the lost altitude. Crucially, during this time, a pilot was heard asking the other pilot why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded that he had not. The report does not reveal who said this to whom, nor does it mention any other exchange between the pilots. As my colleagues Sukalp Sharma and Anil Sasi point out, there are several gaps in the preliminary report that leave many questions unanswered. For instance, the cockpit voice recorder would have likely picked up the sound of the manual switching of controls, but the report makes no mention of it. Then, there’s also the case of the missing time stamps. Many theories: In the absence of all the facts, there has been a kind of Rashomon effect, where everyone seems to be interpreting the event differently. Amid the ambiguity, a report in the American daily Wall Street Journal stated that emerging details have shifted focus on one of the pilots, citing unnamed “people familiar with US officials’ early assessment of the investigation”. Taking exception to the report for “maligning the pilots”, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) said it was contemplating legal action against the WSJ. Zooming in: Our reporter Aditi Raja dug into where the investigation currently stands. Officials in the know have said that the probe is focusing on any technical snags that could have triggered “un-commanded” actions. Notably, the pilot flying the same aircraft from Delhi to Ahmedabad, just hours before it was to take off to London, had noted a “defect” in the Stabilizer Position Transducer, a sensor that controls the up and down movement of the aircraft’s nose. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had also reported two major technical snags before this day. Read our exclusive report.
✍️ From our newsroom Speed bumps: Tesla may have rolled into India, but its journey ahead may be far from a cruise. The Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle giant has so far shown no interest in manufacturing the flagship cars locally, despite the easing of imports into India, conditional on a 'Made in India' guarantee. This means Tesla would be importing its Model Y units from the Shanghai factory in China. Will these cars be able to navigate Indian roads? The problem may not be just the self-driving function (set to be launched later), but also in the hardware and features of the car itself. Read.
🔎 Need to know Warning: The US Embassy in India has issued an advisory for visa holders and applicants, warning that offences like assault, theft, or burglary in the US can lead to visa revocation or disqualification from future visa applications. The warning follows a viral video showing an Indian woman allegedly caught shoplifting goods worth over Rs 1 lakh from a Target store in Illinois. Cleared: In March 2020, as many as 70 Indians associated with Tablighi Jamaat were accused of spreading Covid-19. They were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal conspiracy, for allegedly housing foreign nationals in different mosques. Today, the Delhi High Court quashed the charges and subsequent proceedings. Tragic: The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on Thursday, owing to relentless rains along the Baltal route in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district. The rains triggered a landslide in the area, leaving a woman dead and three others injured.
🎙️Expresso Playlist Is that Instagram-viral tune an AI export? In today’s Playlist, I recommend the latest ‘Switched on Pop’ episode, which deep dives into the world of bot-produced music, the ethical questions it raises, and how you can spot if the latest track was made by a human or a hard drive.
✋🏽One last thing Are you a sneaker head or more of a sandal girl? Well, in this week’s Fresh Take, we either speak your truth or may compel you to change your mind. Read my colleague Stela Dey’s manifesto on why our feet deserve the comfort of open-toed footwear. 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. Also, you can contact me via email for tips, feedback, or just a hello! 😀 Until next time, Sonal Gupta |
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