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Sanity Break #1
The only—and we mean the only—good thing about Trump’s presidency: he was internet meme gold. So it is only fitting that we mark his departure with one such treasure: The . Wah!
Headlines that matter
BIGBASKET HAS BEEN HACKED The database for the supermarket chain has been hacked—and is being hawked on the dark web for $40,000. At risk: 20 million users whose names, email IDs, password hashes, phone numbers, addresses, date of birth, location, and IP addresses are up for sale. The company has filed a complaint with the cyber crime division in Bangalore. () In other fraud-related news: The World Bank is warning Indians about fake credit and debit cards carrying its name and logo. () ARNAB SOUNDS THE ALARM The TV anchor was being held at a quarantine centre in Alibaug, but has now been shifted to the Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai—along with the other two co-accused in the suicide of Anvay Naik. : > “Police inspector Jamil Shaikh, Local Crime Branch (LCB), Raigad, said that Mr. Goswami was found to be using a mobile phone > from the quarantine centre. The police found that he was active on social media and wrote to the Alibag Jailer asking about the > same. ‘We have initiated an inquiry into how he was using the mobile phone as his personal mobile was seized by us during the > arrest,’ Mr. Shaikh said.” As he was being shifted, Goswami spotted reporters near the jail and shouted out: “I am not allowed to speak to my lawyers, my life is under threat. My life is in danger, please tell the courts to help me.” (see vid) A related read: details the summary report which was submitted to the courts after the initial investigation—and was the reason why the case was closed. To sum up, it says there is no evidence of collusion between the three suspects. Naik was not paid due to shoddy and incomplete work. OTOH, the police officer who prepared the report has been accused by Naik’s family of a cover up—and is now being investigated. SERIOUS CONCERNS OF A VIRUS MUTATION The Danish government recently ordered the culling of 17 million minks over concerns that they carry the coronavirus—which now account for at least 200 human infections. Mink-related infections have now been detected across the world, including the Netherlands and the United States. But the more serious concern: scientists found that 12 of the infected people carry a mutated strain of the virus—specifically the spike protein that enables it to pierce and enter the human cell. As one medical expert explains: > "If the mutation is on a specific protein that is being currently targeted by the vaccine developers to trigger an immune > response in humans then it means that if this new virus strain comes out of the mink back into the humans, even with > vaccination, the humans will start spreading it and the vaccine will not protect.” Point to note: It is far too early to know if this is definitively the case. has more. Closer home...: India numbers breached the mark—with 45,674 new cases over the past 24 hours. The cause for worry: Delhi which is adding around 7,000 cases a day after dropping to nearly 1,000 in September. The number of deaths: 79, the highest since June. Also reacting to rising numbers: The Goa government which has . In more encouraging news: A startup incubated in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, is developing a ‘’ that can be stored at 37 degrees Celsius—which will be a game changer for India. The reason: All other vaccine candidates require extremely cold or even freezing temperatures. And that is a huge problem given the shortage of cold storage facilities (We explained this challenge ). EXIT POLLS PREDICT A BIHAR UPSET The Nitish-BJP jodi may be in for a rude shock. Exit polls predict a victory for the mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav in alliance with Congress and other Left parties. According to the latest prediction: the opposition coalition will win 128 of Bihar's 243 seats and the NDA, 99. () PUBG PLOTS ITS RETURN Back in September, the government banned the gaming app because the mobile version was published by the Chinese company Tencent. The offered reason: concerns about misuse of user data. The South Korean company quickly broke its partnership with Tencent—and will now store all its data on Microsoft’s cloud platform Azure. Also: Microsoft has data centers in India—which will likely host any local user data. All of which clears the path for its return at the end of the year. But we wouldn’t get our hopes up until there is official confirmation. () Also plotting a return: to the good old days of TV: Netflix. Yup, the company that totally disrupted the entertainment industry is testing a TV channel in France. has more. A MOLLEM-SIZED VICTORY IN GOA The government had planned three major development projects that would have destroyed great swathes of Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. Activists and local citizens rallied in protest. And now at least one of the projects—to lay down railway tracks to transport coal—has been . (Don’t know what this is about? Read our explainer ) In less happy Goan news: The police have charged Milind Soman with obscenity after he posted a photo of himself running in the buff. Also charged with obscenity for baring way too much flesh: Poonam Pandey. Well, at least they are equal opportunity party poopers. Point to note: Soman has been charged with obscenity before—for the iconic advertisement that featured a naked Soman and Madhu Sapre posing with a snake. He was finally acquitted after a 14-year trial. explains obscenity laws in India.
Sanity Break #2
Is it more valuable to collect questions or answers? Answers are reassuring and offer certainty—but can be misleading. But are questions any good if we can’t find good answers to them? Founding member Kruthika Ravi Kumar sent unique and wonderful comic strip—‘A Day At The Park’ by Mused—to us in the midst of the chaos of the US election. It offered a rare moment of quiet self-reflection. Important note: It is impossible to read on a phone so we don’t recommend trying.
Smart & Curious
A LONG LIST OF GOOD READS Specially curated by our wonderful team of trainees! * Paging chai-biskoot lovers: you will love ’s brilliant read on the history of biscuits in India. * Speaking of chai: takes a trip down memory lane—to a few days in 1995, when many Indians believed Ganapathy idols were drinking milk. * This totally insane movie review of ‘Dhoom’ on reads way-too-deep meaning into Hrithik Roshan’s finest moment. * Our favourite chef and splainer subscriber Pooja Dhingra talks to about food, courage and entrepreneurship. Bonus: her favourite quick and easy recipes! * Audrey Truschke in pens a brilliant essay on the Mahabharata—a epic about corrupt politics, ill-behaved men and warfare—and why it is more relevant than ever today. * Two good reads from Atlas Obscura. : Why do sister cities break up, like Osaka and San Francisco? : An overlooked inspiration for Dracula, i.e. our very own Vetala. * Two useful reads: on how to beat pandemic fatigue. on why incognito mode gives you zero protection when you’re surfing porn. * An excellent reading list for cat people via . * Can we ever balance the right to offend with the right to be offended? Sandip Roy in argues that it is time to embrace the great Indian philosophy: It’s okay. Thoda adjust kar lenge (we will adjust a little).
Feel Good Place
AN EXCELLENT LIST OF CATS : “Two cats pissed off drawn by an artist as smiling.” Enuf said. : Cat as performance art. : Fat cat. This one is Simon Cowell. Check out Richard Branson, Elton John and the story behind this 2014 Times UK photo.
