headlines that matter
A global pandemic roundup
- The virus is back! In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel are experiencing a new uptick in cases. It is also surging in previously virus-free regions like Africa.
- Around 220 million women across the world work in sectors threatened by the virus, and 31 million of them may lose their jobs. Loss to the global GDP: $1 trillion. Point to note: This doesn't include China, so the numbers may be higher.
- Spanish night clubs are dance-free. According to the latest head-scratching order, clubs and discos can reopen but they have to replace their dance floors with socially distanced chairs and tables.
- Tata Sky has lost 15 lakh subscribers—making it the only entertainment platform to fare poorly during the lockdown. The result: It is slashing prices, but also subscription packs.
- Geoffrey Boycott is calling it quits as a cricket commentator. The reason: the 79-year old doesn’t want to take the risk of becoming infected.
Vids from the anti-racism protests
This Madonna: The empress of pop showed up at a London protest—jammed in the midst of the crowd. No security posse or face mask.
This is anti-racism macarena: This is the Georgia National Guard ‘winning hearts and minds’.
This is #InfluencerFail. The clip below went viral with the comment: “Stop treating the protests like Coachella pt 17.” At least our made-in-India influencers know how to behave during a protest: stay home and stay entirely mum. More deets on this PR debacle here.
Two global CEOs take a stance
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfe is literally on the warpath. He told his employees that he has now “entered a state of war,” and urged his employees: “Surge forward, killing as you go, to blaze us a trail of blood.” And he’s taking his cue from Beijing. See: CNN on China’s super-aggressive ‘Wolf Warrior’ diplomacy.
Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian has resigned from the company's board in a show of support for the anti-racism protests. He wants the board to replace him with a black candidate. He also pledged to use future profits on his Reddit stock to "serve the black community." Side note: He’s married to Serena Williams. Watch his statement here.
Forbes list of super-rich celebs
Kylie Jenner is #1 (surprise!), followed by Kanye West and then Roger Federer. The next highest-paid athlete at #4: Cristiano Ronaldo—who became the first team player to make $1 billion over the course of his career. As for the India angle: Virat Kohli comes in at #66 with $26 million, and Akshay Kumar is #52 with $33.5 million. (Forbes)
Kangana is making a Ram Mandir movie
Bollywood’s #1 sh**-stirrer plans to direct and produce ‘Aparajitha Ayodhya’—which deals with the Babri Masjid/Ram Mandir dispute. She describes it as a story of “love, faith and unity, and above everything, it’s a story of divinity.” (Indian Express)
The death of an elephant: An update
A worker at a rubber plantation has been arrested. He and his employers—both rubber barons—are suspected of laying out coconuts filled with explosives to discourage elephants. In related news: An FIR has been filed against BJP MP Maneka Gandhi who wrongly identified Malappuram—a Muslim-majority district in Kerala—as the location of the killing, and called it the “most violent district.”