headlines that matter
First, the numbers
- Total number of cases: 425,282. Total number of deaths: 13,699. We added 15,413 new cases on Sunday. Most notable spikes: Maharashtra is up by 3,870, while Delhi added 3,000. Nope, it isn’t getting any better.
- We have added 100,000 cases in just eight days.
- About that death toll: BBC News notes that a higher percentage of infected women than men are dying in India: 3.3% compared to 2.9%. This is contrary to trends elsewhere in the world.
- Mint's analysis shows that while their numbers are not as high as the big metros, Tier 2 and 3 cities now have the fastest growth rate. For example: Gurgaon (5.9%), Nashik and Palghar in Maharashtra (4.7%), and Chengalpattu (3.4%).
- Point to note: The data shared with us is very limited. Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, do not release any daily numbers—and Delhi, Telangana, Jharkhand and Assam offer the bare minimum, as does the Union government. There is very little information about specific districts, age, gender etc. Karnataka has now stopped publishing lists of its containment zones.
- Silver lining: Dharavi’s growth rate has fallen from 12% in April to 1.02% in June.
- Silver lining for folks in Kolkata: both Amazon and BigBasket are now poised to start delivering booze in Bengal.
Trump bombs in Tulsa
The US President decided to hold a political mega-rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday—despite fierce objections from local officials worried about the state’s spiking Covid numbers. His campaign boasted that it had received more than a million ticket requests. The number who showed up: 6,200. One reason for this shockingly low turnout: Tik Tok and KPop fans who registered for the free tickets and then never showed. Donald Trump: the first US President to be ghosted by kids! Related read: Vanity Fair reports on the cult of Trump.
The Arctic is heating up
Temperatures in Siberia reached 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius)—which is 32 degrees above normal! As one weather expert noted:
“Likely the hottest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic happened today-100.4 F- What's happening in Siberia this year is nothing short of remarkable. The kind of weather we expect by 2100, 80 years early. For perspective Miami has only reached 100 degrees once on record.”
The average temperature in Siberia has been 10 degrees above normal since December. (CBS News)
Petrol prices are soaring
The rate for diesel is at a record high, while petrol has hit a two-year peak. And prices have been climbing steadily for over two weeks—adding Rs 8.88 per litre in Delhi. And this despite crude oil prices staying low due to pandemic worries. The reason for the spiral: Of the Rs 79.23 per litre charged in Delhi, central excise duty is Rs 32.98 and VAT is Rs 17.71. And it's no different for diesel—Rs 49.43 out of the Rs 78.27 is just taxes. (NDTV)
Johnson & Johnson says no to skin whitening
The company will stop selling its Clean & Clear Fairness products in India, and its Neutrogena Fine Fairness line in other parts of Asia and the Middle East. The accompanying statement declared:
“Conversations over the past few weeks highlighted that some product names or claims on our dark spot reducer products represent fairness or white as better than your own unique skin tone… This was never our intention—healthy skin is beautiful skin.”
Waiting for other companies to follow J&J’s cue? Ok, just don’t hold your breath. Unilever bravely announced a series of race-related initiatives on Instagram—but none of them included shutting down Fair & Lovely. Huffington Post has more on that story.
In related ‘BLM effect’ news…
A movement to rename Yale University is going viral. The reason: the Ivy League school is named after Elihu Yale, who was a slave owner and trader. (Inquisitr)
Still waiting: Liverpool fans
- The team that is almost guaranteed to win the Premier League drew with Everton 0-0 on its first outing—extending the excruciating wait of its fans.
- BBC News sketches out the upcoming matches to estimate just how quickly Liverpool can seal the deal.
- Having the worst weekend: Arsenal fans. Their team has lost two games in a row in a performance that critics are calling a “restart from hell.”
- Sky News takes a closer look at Arsenal’s “deep-lying issues.” Daily Mail has more on its bad transfer picks.
Also poised for a shaky comeback: Tennis
Tennis tournaments are slated to start on schedule in August—in Italy, then Washington, and then the US Open in New York. But it will be less than a glorious return. For starters: prize money has plummeted, and by as much as 40% for non-major tournaments. And we are unlikely to see dazzling performances from rusty players—who have experienced the longest layoff from the courts. Also: no fans. The loss of ticket sales, hospitality suites etc. will cut U.S. Open’s net income by roughly 80%—bringing it down to $40 million. Associated Press has more on why tennis is poised for an uncertain start.
