Nepal spirals into political crisis

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has dissolved the parliament—after just two years of a five-year tenure—and called for fresh elections. The reason: He is involved in a serious power struggle with fellow party leader and former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda. The Opposition and the members of the ruling coalition have slammed the move as “unconstitutional”—and petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court. The Hindu has more on the firestorm of criticism while Indian Express has more details on the crisis.

Farmers face tax raids

There has been a flurry of tax raids on middlemen and union leaders in Punjab. The middlemen—who will be sidelined by the new farm laws—have been financially supporting the farmer protests. In response, they plan to shut down all the mandis and petition the Supreme Court. What’s interesting: 

“Even the local police were not informed or taken into confidence, as was the normal procedure, and instead, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was used to provide security during the raids.” 

Also in the crosshairs: One of the biggest farmer unions—Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan)—is accused of accepting funding from Canada without proper authorisation. Its leader said:

"NRIs who have been sending us funds are those who are Punjab and are abroad. They're just helping. What's the problem with that? It is their protest too. We're not taking help from Arthiyas (middlemen)."

In other protest related news:

• Farmers plan to hold relay hunger strikes, gherao tax offices and—most amusingly—clang bartans to drown out the PM’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast next week. 
• To fight government propaganda, farmers have rolled out their own biweekly newspaper called ‘Trolley Times’. As The Telegraph reports, this is part of a broader effort to ‘fact check’ the government’s claims—including those made by the PM.
• Indian Express has a good read on the unity between Punjab and Haryana farmers—who are determined to stick together despite efforts to drive a wedge around water-sharing issues.
• A compelling watch: Widows who lost their sons and husbands to suicide tell their stories at the Delhi border.
• Facebook temporarily took down the page Kisan Ekta Morcha which offers official updates on the protest—and has since apologized for the error.

In related news: The Prime Minister paid an unexpected visit to Gurudwara Rakab Ganj in Delhi and offered prayers. What some folks noticed: the ‘katha’ being loudly recited in the background. It was quickly translated on social media:

“If you are not serving humanity, if the thought of even helping or bettering humanity doesn’t even cross your mind, then beware of just one thing! When karma/fate arrives, and the messengers of justice grasp your neck, where then will you run? Has anyone escaped karmic justice? Has anyone been able to evade it?”

See the clip below:

Apple cracks the whip over Wistron

Last week, hundreds of contract workers were arrested after they rioted at the iPhone manufacturer’s factory in Narasapura. The reason: delayed and unpaid wages and a brutal 12-hour work schedule (See our explainer here). While the Karnataka government stood firmly in Wistron’s corner despite its sins, Apple was quick to crack down. It has placed Wistron on probation, freezing all future orders until it fixes its labour problems. The company—which had first denied any knowledge of wrongdoing—has sacked the Vice President in charge of the India operations and apologised to the workers. Economic Times reveals a big reason for Wistron’s mismanagement: It hired way more workers than it could handle. Also read: South China Morning Post’s scoop based on an internal Karnataka state government report—which confirms serious labour violations. 

Another update on a big story: Muskan Jahan’s husband and his brother have finally been released from jail. The court stepped in after the police could not offer any evidence that she had been forcibly converted. Of course, this is too little too late for the couple. An ultrasound conducted by a private lab confirmed that Muskaan suffered a miscarriage. (India Today)

No vaccine for pregnant mothers?

Women rights groups in the UK are furious at the government because of a new advisory issued for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. It reads: 

“You should wait to have the COVID-19 vaccine: if you're pregnant – you should wait until you've had your baby; if you're breastfeeding – you should wait until you've stopped breastfeeding. If you have the vaccine, you should not get pregnant for at least 2 months after having the 2nd dose.”

And yet, the advisory also acknowledges the fact that there is no evidence the vaccine is unsafe “if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. But more evidence is needed before you can be offered the vaccine.”  So women’s groups are furious that pregnant women are being denied the benefit of vaccines—while mothers are being pressured to choose between their safety and breastfeeding. 

Why this is a big deal: The guidance could affect hundreds of thousands of women, including an estimated 20,000 frontline workers. About 46% of mothers in England were breastfeeding babies aged 6-8 weeks in 2018/19.

Key point to note: Pregnant and breastfeeding women were entirely excluded from vaccine trials—which is standard practice. Also this: A Lancet report showed that pregnant women were excluded from three-quarters of all Covid treatment trials, as well. Wired UK has an excellent deep dive on this subject.

In related news: The Indian government has issued its vaccine advisory—which included recommending jabs for recovered Covid patients. 

Also on point: Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute—which will supply the Oxford vaccine—says the government should protect vaccine companies from lawsuits filed by people who suffer adverse effects. The reason: 

“Because, that adds to the fear and also will bankrupt vaccine manufacturers or distract them if they have to just all day just fight lawsuits and explain to the media what is happening.”

Abdullahs may lose their home

Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is being investigated on charges of corruption. The allegation: He siphoned vast amounts of money when he was chief of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). The Enforcement Directorate has now seized all his properties in the state—a move that may leave both father and his son Omar homeless. What’s notable: The Abdullahs’ home is an ancestral property and doesn’t have any connection to any money that may have been stolen from the JKCA. (The Telegraph).

A Chinese agent in Zoom

A former employee secretly worked to monitor Chinese dissidents, terminated their meetings and accounts, and shared their information with the Chinese government. Also this: “The Chinese government used information from Jin to retaliate and intimidate the users and their family members who lived in the country.” CNN has more on this alarming story.

‘Funny Boy’ is too ‘English’ 

The Academy has rejected the Deepa Mehta film submitted by Canada as its official entry for the international film category. The reason: “Large swathes of “Funny Boy” are in the English language. Of the remaining languages in the film, much of it is in Tamil, with a smattering of Sinhala.” The producers will now submit it for consideration for best picture and other categories. (Variety)

Big sisters are good for you

Researchers tracked the early vocabulary and fine motor skills of 700 toddlers in rural Kenya. They found it made a big difference if the child had an elder sister versus an older brother. The reason: unlike a big bro, she spends time “reading you stories, singing to you, practicing writing letters or counting with you, or doing physical play activities.” In fact, she spends more time on these activities than any family member. NPR has more on this and other studies on the effect of an elder sibling’s gender. 

The big-bang Saturn-Jupiter reunion

The last time the two big planets formed a close conjunction in the night sky was 1226. Tonight, they will appear just one-tenth of a degree apart and create what folks are calling the “Christmas Star.” Astronomers are giddy with excitement: “It’s a very romantic event to see these planets approaching each other.” As are astrologers: “To have these two be so beautifully placed to be so bright and enchanting in the night sky feels very cosmically poetic.” Make sure you catch the big event tonight because another big conjunction ain’t happening again until 2080.  (New York Times)

Ambanis unveil big zoo dream

The nation’s first corporate family plans to build the world’s largest zoo in Gujarat—which will house more than 100 species, and will be called ‘Greens Zoological, Rescue & Rehabilitation Kingdom’. The pet project—to be built across 280 acres—of Mukesh-bhai’s chota beta Anant will open its doors to the public in two years. Irony alert: This symbol of the company’s “interest and passion for wildlife and its conservation” will be located right next door to Reliance’s massive oil refinery in Jamnagar. (Times of India)