Good Morning!
Get your weekend started with the top 5 stories from today’s edition:
🚨 Big Story
Dozens of men across India have been duped into going to Russia and eventually forced into the country’s war with Ukraine. From admissions to private universities to visa extensions, Indian Express’ Mahender Singh Manral reports on the CBI findings about how travel agents push Indian youths into Russia.
🔍 Express Investigation
Since Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was launched in 2018, two-thirds of the total money spent under the scheme each year went to private hospitals across the country, an Express Investigation reveals. From widespread utilisation of the scheme in the southern region to how much expenditure the government has incurred, here are the key takeaways from our investigation.
👉 Express Opinion
In his first visit to Kashmir, since the abrogation of Article 370, PM Modi charts the course of development of the region, writes Syed Ata Hasnain. “By speaking about Kashmir’s participation in. the G20 process and mentioning tourism as one of the mainstays, he (Modi) again made it clear that India’s intent was to turn the region into an international tourist hub and link it to J&K’s most important industry,” he writes.
📰 Big Picture
From being the person who stood behind Narayana Murthy as he lived his Infosys dream, Sudha Murty has over the years emerged as a more public person — as a philanthropist, author of children’s books, twice Padma winner and now, a nominated member of Rajya Sabha. Speaking to The Indian Express from Thailand, Sudha Murty said the news of the nomination had taken her by surprise, “I was not expecting it.. I believe this is a big platform for me. I will definitely try to do my best.”
🍿 Movie Review
The horror-thriller movie- Shaitan combines elements of home invasion laced with pops of black magic, falls neatly into the supernatural horror category which Bollywood keeps revisiting, reviews Shubhra Gupta. While Ajay Devgn, in extended ‘Drishyam’ mode, as the family man-cum-all round saviour, comes off stolid, Madhavan who has himself a grand time submitting to the campy tone of his character, is scary to begin with, with a demonic snicker here and a smile there.
Until next time,
Aradhana Kalia