Media personnel surround Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty as she arrives at Narcotics Control Bureau, in Mumbai, India, September 6. Francis Mascarenhas / Reuters
Media personnel surround Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty as she arrives at Narcotics Control Bureau, in Mumbai, India, September 6. Francis Mascarenhas / Reuters
Media personnel surround Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty as she arrives at Narcotics Control Bureau, in Mumbai, India, September 6. Francis Mascarenhas / Reuters
The Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who in one film played the cricketer MS Dhoni, was found hanging in his Mumbai apartment on June 14. The Mumbai police said it looked like suicide. Shortly thereafter, the late actor's father called for his girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, also an actor, to be investigated, accusing her of abetment of suicide, a charge that didn't hold. But she was subsequently arrested last week by India's Narcotics Control Bureau on the unproven charge of sourcing drugs for Rajput.
Why does such clearly misogynistic content, where people are deemed guilty without proof, have takers at all?
From being largely unknown, Chakraborty's name over the past couple of months has been yelled so much in a handful of TV studios and amplified on social media to such an extent that it has guaranteed her an unwelcome legacy, the sort you wouldn't wish on anyone.
Last month Chakraborty filed a plea in India's highest court, of an "unfair media trial", one in which a staggering number of television anchors, without evidence, set off hashtags on the dangerous, easy-to-manipulate arena that is social media, demanding her arrest.
Media people in the know say the best way to not allow low brow TV material to gain traction is to not watch it. This would at least prevent their ratings from shooting up. But why does such clearly misogynistic content, where people are deemed guilty without proof, have takers at all?
Rhea Chakraborty arrives at the Narcotics Control Bureau in Mumbai, India, September 6. Punit Paranjpe / AFP
It can be argued that no sensible viewer takes these channels seriously. One can't help but think of the time in 2018 when the actor Sridevi was found dead in a bathroom in Dubai and a gentleman from one TV channel climbed into a bathtub, presumably to help viewers imagine what it means to be found dead in a bathtub. He may have been parodied but the channel was also watched, and those views furthered the notion that this is what viewers want.
Enough people watch these programmes and begin to feel like they have skin in the game, a righteous vigilante mob starts to seek 'justice' – television shorthand for everything from seeking entertainment to seeking vengeance.
Broadly speaking, television ratings, which determine a channel's earnings, are dependent on revenues from advertisers. The more hysterical the news presented is, the more people watch. And the longer they keep watching, the more money gushes into the channel. It is how the cycle sustains itself.
At least two journalists at a disreputable but popular TV channel recently quit, because of this – using the actress-girlfriend as target practice. One of the two journalists tweeted about the "aggressive agenda" being run by the channel to "villify" Rhea Chakraborty. The journalist couldn't take it anymore. Several of her colleagues too spoke on record about being discomfited by what passes off as journalism.
In a piece for The Wire on witch-hunts, a Delhi-based researcher, Panchali Ray, wrote about a time in 1998 when she went through a similarhounding but was spared Chakraborty's fate because what happened to her was before social media, before TV debates where 'guests' (why do they keep agreeing to come on air?) are out to deafen their co-panelists.
And yet, even as Panchali Ray was spared the extent of this ugliness, in the years and decades since, she says has not stopped looking over her shoulder. Residual fears evidently exist even after the storm has passed.
Assuming Chakraborty gets out of judicial custody, is lucky enough to stay out and there is no court case, how does she move on from this unwarranted ordeal, which frankly is a matter of shame for a number of Indians. How many of us women, if similarly dragged over coals, lives shredded, presumed guilty with no proof, would function normally or get any sleep at all? The trauma may shadow Chakraborty for years.
A couple of weeks ago, I watched her being interviewed on a more sober channel. She was a figure of composure. Chakraborty told the news anchor, who she addressed 'ma'am', that this has torn her family apart. She wasn't crying. She wasn't dodging questions. "Sushant loved me," she said with what seemed like pride. It was tough to watch and not feel for her. One had to hand her respect for the remarkable job she was doing just holding it together.
The late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, on 10 April 10, 2019 at a book launch in Mumbai, India. Sujit Jaiswal / AFP
Chakraborty may have an army of women – not just women, though – rooting for her and citing 'smash the patriarchy', but she is now locked up in a Mumbai jail till at least September 22.
Watchers of Indian TV news ought to be forgiven if they assumed, however naively, that there was nothing to report in India besides the repercussions of an actor's unfortunate suicide.
In the middle of Charaborty's media trial though, a flicker of optimism seeped through in a tweet by a film producer, Nikhil Dwivedi, who expressed his wish to work with the actress once this nightmare subsides and the mob presumably moves on to its next victim.
He wrote: "Have the courts convicted her? In case they do, we shall wait for her to do time and reform. In case she doesn't reform then I shall take my words back. But the media and public needs to stop passing judgment". He also mentioned an important reminder, a truism that nevertheless bears repeating: "this is not how civilised countries behave."
Nivriti Butalia is an assistant comment editor at The National
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
An arms embargo
A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night. Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning. Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector. Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Agolico BMC
Andy Schleck Cycles-Immo Losch
Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
Cogeas Mettler Look
Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport
Hitec Products – Birk Sport
Kazakhstan National Team
Kuwait Cycling Team
Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
Minsk Cycling Club
Pannonia Regional Team (Fehérvár)
Team Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Team Ciclotel
UAE Women’s Team
Under 23 Kazakhstan Team
Wheel Divas Cycling Team
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
