China and India defuse border tensions

The two countries—which have been clashing on the Ladakh border—have reached 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. According to 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.” NPR 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 is inevitable: “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 this happened: “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." (Economic Times)

• Airlines in India, OTOH, are flying at almost full capacity: "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 drive-in service at a newly acquired plot of land that can accommodate cars and two-wheelers.
• Restaurants and stores are fleeing 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 taken off HBO Max—after ‘12 Years a Slave’ writer, John Ridley, wrote a scathing opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times. 
• The longest running reality show ‘Cops’ in America has also been cancelled. Also nixed: Little Britain.
• 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 said: “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. (Mid Day)

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. (Hindustan Times)