A Map of Maladies
SANITY BREAK This is the gorgeously scored teaser for Discovery India’s eye-popping documentary, ‘Wild Karnataka’. The film premiered this week on various channels—and is still available on . The film was made by award-winning filmmakers and wildlife photographers Amoghavarsha JS and Kalyan Varma—and the English version is narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
HEADLINES THAT MATTER CHINA AND INDIA DEFUSE BORDER TENSIONS The two countries—which have been clashing on the Ladakh border— some sort of an agreement. Chinese sources said: > “Partial deinduction has happened from some points in Galwan and Hot Springs areas. [The] Chinese side removed some of the tents > and some troops and vehicles have been moved back, and the Indian side too has reciprocated.” But all this talk of peace makes no mention of the primary unresolved issue. China moved into India-controlled territory at Lake Pangong Tso on May 5—and they haven’t moved out even though New Delhi says it is “firm” on restoring the status quo to pre-May 5 positions. defence analyst Ajai Shukla: > “Government sources conservatively estimate that the PLA has captured more than 60 square kilometres of Indian-patrolled > territory in the last month—equally divided between the northern bank of the Pangong Lake and the Galwan River sectors.” THE LATEST COVID GYAAN IS HERE WHO changes its mind, again! First, its senior official claimed that it is very rare for people who don’t have symptoms to transmit the disease to others. A lot of medical experts pushed back, and now the same official says that there has been “a misunderstanding.” offers a sensible overview of what we know and don’t know about asymptomatic transmission. About that second wave: Most global health experts say it : “Nobody has a crystal ball… We can only look at what other seasonal coronaviruses and seasonal influenzas do. Based on that, most of us feel comfortable that there will be a second wave.” A more important warning for all of us here: > “The race doesn’t always belong to the swiftest. The public and political pressure is for a vaccine as soon as possible. Public > pressure is not data… We have individual countries, individual mayors, governors, senators, the House and the president all > inferring their own recommendations. What the public hears is just static.” Hospitals are dangerous: Scientists spread a harmless virus on a hospital handrail. And then : “They found that after 10 hours, the surrogate genetic material had spread to 41% of sites sampled across the hospital ward, from bed rails to door handles to arm rests in a waiting room to children’s toys and books in a play area.” Worse news: it stayed there for five days! THE COVID EFFECT: THE INDIA EDITION * Parle-G biscuits witnessed the highest sales in over eight decades due to an uptick in demand for its Rs 5 packs. The reason: “During the lockdown, Parle-G became the comfort food for many; and for several others it was the only food they had on them. This is a common man’s biscuit; people who cannot afford bread–buy Parle-G." () * Airlines in India, OTOH, are flying at almost : "Bookings across key routes in June have increased by 45-50% as compared to May last week when domestic flights had just reopened. Airfares have also decreased 20-25% week-on-week, making flying an attractive option for all travellers planning their immediate trips.” * A Bangalore church—dubbed Worship on Wheels—is planning to conduct a at a newly acquired plot of land that can accommodate cars and two-wheelers. * Restaurants and stores high rents at Delhi’s most upscale locations. Eight to ten Khan Market establishments have already shut shop—including Cafe Turtle, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaves and Harry’s Bar. And many more are due to follow. Another 20% have downed their shutters in other prime locations including Connaught Place, Hauz Khas Village etc. THE BLM EFFECT: AN UPDATE * Hollywood classic Gone with the Wind has been HBO Max—after ‘12 Years a Slave’ writer, John Ridley, wrote a scathing opinion piece in the . * The longest running reality show ‘Cops’ in America has also . Also nixed: * Also canceled: Crossfit CEO Greg Glassman who responded to a tweet that said “Racism is a public health issue” with this: “It’s FLOYD-19.” And in a Zoom call with gym owners and staff, he : “We’re not mourning for George Floyd—I don’t think me or any of my staff are.” BIG B TO YOU: ‘IN 1 KILOMETRE, TURN RIGHT’ According to heated rumours, Google has asked Amitabh Bachchan to be the voice of Google Maps. According to “a source”: "Amitabh Bachchan has the most influential and recognisable baritone. Hence, he is the best choice for the voice of Google Maps. He has been approached, but the contract has not been signed yet." Hmm, sounds like a PR leak to us. () INDIAN UNIS DON’T RANK THAT GOOD Not one of our colleges or universities made it to the top 100 list of the World Universities Rankings. The highest ranked: IIT Bombay at #172, IISc at #185 and IIT Delhi at #193. There are only 21 Indian institutions in the list of 1,000—down from 25 last year. Number one uni in the world: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by Stanford University and Harvard University. Colour us surprised. ()
SANITY BREAK New Zealand PM Jacinda Adern said she did a little dance when she learned that her country is finally corona-free. Sadly, none of us were able to witness that moment. So someone did a ‘Love Actually’ —and it’s perfect consolation!
SMART & CURIOUS A LIST OF INTRIGUING THINGS * Singapore’s widely touted contact tracing app relies on software developed by an . * Merriam Webster is changing its official due to the single-minded efforts of one woman. * The rise of face masks will fuel a boom in cosmetic procedures for the eyes and the forehead. But, surprisingly, it the demand for lip fillers. * Think ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ referred to LSD? We present this to prove you wrong:) (h/t @MikeWarburton) A LIST OF GOOD READS * Ethiopia plans to plant 5 billion trees in 2020. Sounds fantastic, right? explains why this isn’t entirely good news. * interviewed leading brand experts on Sonu Sood—and whether he can ‘capitalise’ on his moment in the good-samaritan sun. It offers an interesting look at the relationship between charity, corporate brands and celebrity. * weighs in on racism on and off the field in Indian cricket—and is one of the few Indian sports writers to do so. * reports on the exodus of expats from Dubai—driven out by the virus and sky-high cost of living. It may trigger a “death spiral” for its economy. * profiles a single multigenerational Indian family of 17—all of whom contracted the virus. It reveals the benefits and drawbacks of a joint family during a pandemic.
LIFE ADVISORY A LIST OF END-OF-LOCKDOWN ADVICE explains why the thought of going out in the world is creating severe anxiety, and how to cope with it. This is very, very useful for all of us right now. Also: a from artist Debjyoti Saha that our planet likely has more reason to feel anxious about our return than us. : Hair salons have reopened in India. And while the attention has focused on hair stylists, we ladies have other concerns: For example, eyebrows. This is one form of jugaad that some salons may adopt. (h/t @Aparna) has a handy list of quarantine rules in every state. Please bookmark and consult when you plan your next trip.
THE FEEL GOOD PLACE mock Netflix auditions for ‘Sacred Games’, ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Money Heist’ are very funny! eating ice cream for the very first time is all of us. female avatar—Vinayaki—is stunning! : Wildlife official Akhtar Imam has willed half his property to his two elephants—Moti and Rani. He said: "Animals are faithful, unlike humans. I've worked for the conservation of elephants for many years. I don't want that after my death my elephants are orphaned.” : This conversation between the Chief Justice of India and a Supreme Court lawyer during a virtual hearing is peak Delhi. CJI: Mr. Rohatgi are you sitting in a museum? Mukul Rohatgi, pointing to the artefacts behind him: This is my farmhouse. I shifted here so I can swim twice a day.
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