Karnataka has a new CM
A day after BS Yediyurappa announced his resignation, the BJP announced his successor: current state home minister Basavaraj Bommai. He is from the highly prized Lingayat community—which is a key voting bloc and hence crucial to the 2023 state elections. He is also a Yeddy loyalist—which indicates that BSY had a big say in the decision. Most importantly this:
“Significantly, not from the RSS stables and earlier associated with the Janata Dal (United), Mr. Bommai joined the BJP only in 2008. This makes him an exception among BJP Chief Ministers in the State. He is a moderate face not known to take a hardline Hindutva stance and an amenable man across party lines.”
So Karnataka doesn’t have to brace for a new BJP broom that will sweep in big changes. Known to be easygoing and open to compromise, some BJP insiders describe him as “too acquiescing”—which given the hardline politics of some other BJP CMs may not be such a bad thing. Read our explainer for the significance of BSY’s exit and Bommai’s appointment.
Tokyo Olympics: A quick update
- India had a relatively better day: Boxer Lovlina Borgohain advanced to the quarterfinals, and the men’s hockey team beat Spain 3-0 to register their second win.
- On the flipside: Table tennis player, Sharath Kamal lost out to reigning world champion—China’s Ma Long.
- Also not faring well: Indian shooters. Mixed duo Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker made it to the finals unlike their teammates—only to finish in seventh place. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president is now blaming the coaching staff for the dismal showing.
- Naomi Osaka crashed out of the Olympics after losing her third round match against Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova. She said: "How disappointed am I? I mean, I'm disappointed in every loss, but I feel like this one sucks more than the others."
- British freestyle swimmer Tom Dean brought home the gold—despite enduring two bouts of Covid during training this year.
- Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz scored the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold medal in the 55 kg division, so yay!
- Also making her country very proud: Bermuda’s Flora Duffy who got the gold in triathlon. It is now the smallest nation to win an Olympic gold medal. FYI: the 51 km triathlon was longer than an “end-to-end walk” across the length of Bermuda which is only 40 km long.
A big brain-related Covid concern
There is increasing evidence that changes effected by the infection permanently alter the brain—or worse, set the stage for Alzheimer’s disease:
“PET scans taken before and after a person develops COVID-19 suggest that the infection can cause changes that overlap those seen in Alzheimer's. And genetic studies are finding that some of the same genes that increase a person's risk for getting severe COVID-19 also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's.”
Also this: Alzheimer's diagnoses are also more common in patients in their 60s and 70s who have had severe Covid. And in these older patients, the first long Covid effect is loss of smell—which in turn is related to memory loss. NPR has more on why doctors are worried.
In other Covid-related news: New research shows that antibody levels start declining as early as six weeks after a full Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccination—and can reduce by more than half over 10 weeks. What this means: We may need to take a booster shot. Also: those who were vaccinated the earliest (i.e. older people) may be the most vulnerable to variants. (Mint)
Whale excreta trade in Mumbai
First, let us explain what ambergris is:
“Occasionally, a rogue squid beak gets lodged in a sperm whale’s intestines. To protect its soft innards against the sharp irritant, the animal produces a waxy secretion called ambergris (“gray amber”), much like an oyster forming a pearl. Excreted ambergris is turned into a rock-like mass by saltwater and sunshine. By the time the weather-beaten clump reaches shore, it may be worth thousands of dollars.”
It smells dreadful but is ironically highly prized by perfume-makers. So much so that 1 kg of the stuff can fetch Rs 1 crore. While legal in other parts of the world, it is illegal in India as it is part of a protected species: the sperm whale. And for some reason, it has become a hot smuggling item within India. There have been six seizures in Mumbai and Thane just over the last month. That’s quite a lot considering there have only been two in recent memory—in 2018 and then 2019. The police are just as baffled by this ambergris smuggling storm—which may have something to do with fishing communities growing more savvy to their value. Indian Express has more theories.
Hearts ‘heart’ a little booze
A new significant study shows that a small amount of alcohol each day is linked to a lower risk of having another heart attack, stroke, angina or an early death. But this only among those who have already suffered some kind of a cardiac event. The recommended limit: 105 grams of alcohol each week—the equivalent of just over a bottle of wine or a six-pack of medium strength beer. OTOH: "If your main health condition risk is cancer, then the safest level of drinking is probably zero." (CNN)
Creepy QR codes in restaurants
The QR code has become a dining out staple thanks to the pandemic, and we don’t think twice before we point and scan. But that little square isn’t as innocent as it seems:
“That’s because QR codes can store digital information such as when, where and how often a scan occurs. They can also open an app or a website that then tracks people’s personal information or requires them to input it. As a result, QR codes have allowed some restaurants to build a database of their customers’ order histories and contact information.”
And there is nothing preventing restaurants from sharing that information with third-parties. New York Times has the original investigation, but you can read a summary over at Gizmodo.
Too much shit in the Yamuna
A new report found that levels of fecal coliform—i.e. microbes from human and animal excreta—is above desirable limits at all points tested in the river as it passes through Delhi. There isn’t even a “minimum environmental flow”—the water flow required to sustain freshwater ecosystems—to achieve bathing quality. (The Hindu)
In much happier news: Puri in Odisha is now the first Indian city to provide high quality drinking water directly from the tap—24 hours a day! And the government plans to devote resources to ensure the water stays clean:
“The state government is ensuring stringent quality control through technology-based, real-time surveillance. There will be a quick response team, comprising mobile crews set up for prompt redressal of leakages, quality of water, pressure supply and other issues.”
‘The Exorcist’ is coming baaack!
The world’s most successful horror movie production company Blumhouse (of ‘Halloween’ and ‘Get Out’ fame) will be bringing us a trilogy of ‘The Exorcist’ movies. Ellen Burstyn—who played the mother of the possessed child in the original 1973 flick—is coming back, alongside Leslie Odom Jr. (‘Hamilton’, ‘One Night in Miami’). FYI, the entire deal to buy the franchise cost a head-spinning $400-plus million. It isn’t a flat-out remake. Rather, Odom Jr. plays the father of a possessed child who seeks Burstyn’s help: “Suffice it to say, Satan is not thrilled to see her again.” (Hollywood Reporter)
An upside down archaeological decision
Usually, archaeologists uncover ruins and reveal their wonders. But in Mexico—where they’ve found intriguing reliefs carved around a 400-year-old tunnel—experts are reburying their find. The reason: the project has lost government funding due to pandemic-related priorities. So it doesn’t have the funds to properly protect the site, and turn it into an exhibit. So they will be putting dirt back on the ancient artwork, hoping that will keep them safe. (Gizmodo)
