India and China to step back

After multiple rounds of talks, the two countries finally arrived at an agreement to begin “synchronised and organised disengagement” starting February 10. Both sides will retreat to their pre-April positions around Lake Pangong in Ladakh. There is still no agreement on other points on the border that are equally strategic—like the Depsang plains (locations explained here).  (The Hindu)

Trump impeachment is underway

And it’s not going well for the former president. The trial in the Senate kicked off with a debate over whether it is constitutional to impeach Trump now that he’s out of office—and his lawyers performed so disastrously that they became instant memes. Now, the House managers—who act as the prosecution—are currently laying out the case against him. Trump could also be in trouble in Georgia where the state prosecutors are opening a criminal investigation into his alleged effort to overthrow the election results.

The good news for Trump: Only six Republicans joined Democrats in clearing the way for the trial—a sure sign that there won’t be the required two-third majority to convict him.

In other US-related news: President Biden has announced sanctions against the military regime in Myanmar—which recently seized power from leader Aung San Suu Kyi. These include sanctions on the military leaders and their families, and blocking access to the roughly $1 billion the government holds in the US. An expert says: That’s serious targeting… Those sanctions brought Iran to the table” [eventually leading to the 2015 nuclear deal] So maybe it’ll work?” (Vox)

Tapovan tunnel rescue flounders

First, the rescue effort was stalled for most of the day due to a flow-back by a “sludge” of rocks, slush and water. According to the rescue team: 

“Debris and water are flowing back while we are cleaning the tunnel. We need to be careful because the water and debris might flow back with enormous force when we try to move forward.”

As a result, they were not able to move past the first 100 metres of the 180-metre tunnel. But the bigger blow: now officials have informed the rescue teams that they are digging in the wrong tunnel. So instead of moving forward into the tunnel, they will be drilling down—after a dangerous delay of three days.

Another unhappy update: The Indore court has rejected the bail application of Sadaqat Khan—who was arrested along with Munawar Faruqui. Point to remember: Khan was a member of the audience, and not a performer or an organiser. And yet here we are, and here is Khan being assaulted as he is taken back to jail:

The great pandemic: A quick update

• The assumption that children rarely get seriously ill may be a myth. New data out of India shows that there were more than 2000 cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome—where  multiple organs such as the heart, lungs and brain are affected. 
• Convinced that the Oxford vaccine offers “minimal protection” against the South Africa variant, the country is planning to sell or swap its doses for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine—despite WHO’s advice to the contrary.
• Millions of people in Japan will not receive the Pfizer vaccine due to a shortage of specialist syringes—which are required to extract the final sixth dose from the vial. That bit of medicine will just have to be thrown away.
• A recent study—which, to be fair, only looked at older adults—found that the loss of smell can decrease sexual motivation and emotional satisfaction with sex. Why this matters more now: One of the main symptoms of ‘long Covid’ is anosmia, i.e. losing your sense of taste and smell.
• The Indian Express’ investigation into Covid testing in Bihar shows that most of the data is faked. 
• Researchers at IIT Bombay have discovered the reason why the virus survives longer on plastic or steel—compared to porous surfaces like cloth and paper.

Fossil fuel is a killer

A Harvard study found it accounts for nine million deaths each year—which is “significantly higher” than previous estimates. Top of the list: China and India—which accounts for just under 2.5 million, i.e. 30.7% of the total. Within India, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of fatalities, followed by Bihar and Bengal. (The Telegraph)

In more heartening news: Putting on a little weight when you grow older may be a good thing. New research shows that “people who begin adulthood with a body mass index (BMI) in the ‘normal’ range and eventually reach a BMI in the ‘overweight’ range actually live the longest. The mortality rate for people who fit this description is even lower than those who maintained a normal BMI throughout their lives.”

Justin Timberlake is taking heat

Fans of Britney Spears are swarming his Instagram demanding an apology. The reason: A newly released documentary ‘Framing Britney Spears’ which shows how she was vilified as a slut after their breakup—while Timberlake thrived, playing the heart-broken, cheated-upon boyfriend. The pattern—of profiting from unfortunate events while women around him paid the price—repeated itself when he accidentally ripped off Janet Jackson’s top during the 2004 Super Bowl. Why any of this matters: Reevaluating pop culture moments reveals how much we’ve moved the needle on misogyny. Today, CNN, and Buzzfeed News agree that Timberlake made his wildly solo career by throwing women under the bus. Washington Post analyses why we see women of the 90s—be it Princess Diana, Britney or Monica Lewinsky—so differently.

Indians are paying to emigrate

The number of wealthy Indians who are using investments to get foreign residency has more than doubled during the pandemic. Nearly 5,000 millionaires—or 2% of the total number of high net worth individuals—left the country in 2020. And that’s way higher than the global average. Their favourite destination in Europe: Portugal, which requires a minimum real estate investment of $280,000. (Mint)

Pablo Escobar’s hippos pose serious threat

The hippos illegally imported for Escobar’s private zoo have long gone feral—abandoned after his death due to costs and logistics. Now there are an estimated 65-80 of them roaming the Colombian countryside without any natural predators—the largest population outside Africa. A group of scientists warn that their numbers will rapidly grow, and they must be killed before they destroy native species, calling it “one of the greatest challenges of invasive species in the world.” But that is not likely given their huge popularity “You can’t even talk about [it] because the rejection is staggering … I am being called a murderer.” The Guardian has more. Or you can watch a clip from this excellent short film below:

In happier animal-related news: A mandarin duck was spotted in the wetlands in Assam for the first time in over a 100 years.