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In today’s edition: Ramnath Goenka Awards; amid Covid uptick, Centre on alert; pro-Khalistan protests at India mission in UK; Kerala’s tusker problem; and more

Big Story

At the 16th edition of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, who was also the chief guest at the event, underlined the need to respect divergent views. "Disagreement must not distort into hatred and hatred must not be permitted to evolve into violence," the CJI said.

Check out the full list of winners here!

Only in the Express

Amid the strain in Centre-state relationships in a few states, Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan in an interview with The Indian Express said, "PM Narendra Modi and the President have made me the Governor not to be in Ranchi and rule Jharkhand... I am not a British Governor here to rule, I am an Indian Governor here to serve.”

From the Front Page

With Covid-19 cases increasing over the past three weeks, along with a rise in H3N2 flu cases, the Centre is once again on guard. PM Modi Wednesday directed officials to enhance whole genome sequencing of the Covid-19 virus to track newer variants.

A fresh protest involving pro-Khalistan elements was held outside the Indian High Commission in London on Wednesday. The Delhi Police, meanwhile, removed security barricades outside the British High Commission premises in the capital. The move is being seen as a response to the lack of visible protection outside the Indian mission in London.

The Supreme Court will constitute a special bench to hear a batch of petitions challenging the premature release of 11 convicts in the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of 14 people during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Must Read

There will soon be a new addition to the Indian Army’s rations — millets. This comes against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Interestingly, the indigenous grain was part of the troops’ ration until 1966, when it was discontinued in favour of wheat flour. Here is what you need to know.

The authorities at the Jagannath Temple in Puri have been dealing with a pretty intense rat infestation. The rodents recently chewed through the clothes worn by some of the deities in the temple. The big fear is that they may go after the wooden deities next. To prevent damage, the temple authorities have been polishing the deities with sandalwood and camphor. But as the rat menace worsens, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) may have to step in.

In our opinion section today, Rajib Dasgupta talks about how India should deal with the recent uptick in Covid and flu cases in the country: “As the G20 President, India can represent the concerns of the Global South and help make the international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response more equitable.”

Two weeks ago, negotiators from almost every country in the world finalised a new global treaty meant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources in the high seas. In terms of its significance and impact, this treaty is being compared to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. What are the key provisions and the challenges it faces? We explain. 

And Finally…

The first time the Kerala Forest Department tried to capture Arikomban, a wild elephant that has been terrorising the high ranges of the Idukki district, it failed. This time around, it has an elaborate plan in place — it involves a 71-member rapid response team, and a dummy ration shop.

Delhi Confidential: A man from Dhanbad has been sending e-mails to all the paramilitary forces, claiming he can “revolutionise” their social media presence if given a chance. The sender has been asking the forces to remove their PRO and hire him instead. The man wants the job title of a “joint secretary” and offers to bring along a huge number of social media followers. 

In today’s episode of the 3 Things podcast, we discuss how Interpol's withdrawal of red notice impacts CBI's case against Mehul Choksi, why India is seeing a rise in crypto frauds, and the US State Department's report on human rights in India.

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Until Tomorrow,

Rahel Philipose and Sonal Gupta