Editor’s note: We are experimenting with making our headlines round-up more ‘snackable’—keeping the items short and easier to quickly scan. Let us know what you think at talktous@splainer.in:)
Lakhimpur Kheri: The latest update
Here are the latest developments in the hit-and-run tragedy in Uttar Pradesh. ICYMI, here is our detailed explainer on the incident:
A flurry of new videos: New (unverified) clips seem to rebut BJP officials’ claims that the farmers provoked the violence. This one shows more clearly how the cars came from behind—and rammed into the farmers at great speed:
Another one appears shows BJP workers fleeing a car—while a person is trapped under its wheel:
And a third appears to show a police officer interrogating one of the occupants of the car. According to Indian Express, the ‘Bhaiya’ referenced in this clip is likely Ankit Das, a former Congress MP’s nephew—known to be close to Ashish Misra.
A second autopsy: of Gurvinder Singh once again failed to report any bullet injuries—much to his family’s dismay. They allege Ashish Misra shot him while trying to escape angry farmers. Meanwhile, the family of journalist Raman Kashyap—who was also killed in the melee—alleges that authorities took him directly to the morgue while he was still breathing.
Gandhis go on a visit: Both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were allowed to visit the families of the deceased farmers. See photo below:
We were also treated to this bizarre image of Rahul at the Lucknow airport—in the company of Punjab and Chattisgarh Chief Ministers, and insane numbers of armed police.
Supreme court steps in: The Court has independently listed the Lakhimpur Kheri case for hearing in the next 24 hours. This is interesting since the justices recently seemed to blame the farmer protests for the violence. (The Hindu)
A related read: The Print profiles the Misra father-son duo and their murky political history.
Dengue vaccine is coming
A Japanese pharmaceutical company is seeking approval to bring a dengue vaccine called ‘TAK-003’ to India. Trial data shows that it prevents hospitalizations in 83.6% of people and 62% reduction in illness. Why this matters: Dengue is an endemic disease in India, affecting nearly 100,000 people each year. (Mint)
Speaking of vaccines: The WHO approved the world’s first anti-malarial vaccine—which is expected to save tens of thousands of lives. Data to note: Every year, the disease kills more than 260,000 African children below the age of five. (The Hindu)
And the Nobel Prize goes to…
German-born Benjamin List and Britain’s David MacMillan have received the highest honour in the field of chemistry. Their field: catalysts that break down molecules or join them together. They found a “simple, green and cheap” way of creating catalysts—which are essential for everything from creating elastic and durable materials, storing energy in batteries or inhibiting the progression of diseases. (New York Times)
Cruise ship drug bust: The latest update
Aryan Khan is still in custody while a political fight over the cruise ship arrests rages on. The latest controversy was triggered by a video that shows a BJP-linked person escorting one of the accused—Arbaaz Merchant—into the NCB’s office. Also: A selfie taken by a private detective with Aryan Khan—while he was sitting alone in custody. See the clip below, and the photo here:
Nationalist Congress Party leaders are calling it evidence of a conspiracy, while the NCB insists the two men are “independent witnesses.” Indian Express has all the details.
Russian prisons: A horror story
More than a thousand videos that were leaked to a human rights group show gruesome scenes of rape and torture in men’s prisons—carried out by authorities. The source: a Belarusian IT specialist and former inmate who reportedly gained access to footage stored in prison computers. You can read a sanitised version over at Radio Free Europe or read a more gruesome account on Daily Mail.
Tesla pays $137 million for being racist
A Black lift operator sued Elon Musk’s company for the racist abuse he suffered as an employee: “He said employees had drawn swastikas and scratched a racial epithet in a bathroom stall and left drawings of derogatory caricatures of Black children around the factory.” And he’s won a big settlement in a San Francisco court. Tesla has responded with a highly defensive and tone-deaf statement. (New York Times)
Two key medical studies for the aging
One: Scientists have developed a pellet-like implant that can be injected into the eye to prevent cataracts—and even reverse them. How it works: by lowering calcium levels in the eye. Before any of us get our hopes up, it’s still in the trials stage. (Daily Mail)
Two: Researchers have discovered why all creatures—humans and mice—lose hair when we get old. According to the old theory, our stem cells—which replenish tissues and organs—eventually die. The new theory: They escape! They literally run away from the hair follicles and vanish—likely consumed by our immune system. New York Times has the story. Watch the gif of the great escape below.
Say hello to the world’s best restaurant
The name is Noma, which is Danish chef René Redzepi's three-Michelin star restaurant in Copenhagen. It marks a bit of a comeback since it took the top spot back in 2010. Next in line: Geranium also in Copenhagen, followed by Asador Etxebarri in Spain. Nope, not a single Indian-led or Indian-themed restaurant made the top 50. To check out the list, head to CNBC or the awards website.
This is a 2,700-year-old toilet
Archaeologists in Jerusalem have uncovered a very old private toilet—from a time when such a thing was an immense luxury. It is made of carved limestone and “was designed for comfortable sitting, with a deep septic tank dug underneath.” Umm, we’re going to disagree with the ‘comfortable’ bit. (Associated Press)
The death of a gorilla
A two-month old gorilla was rescued by rangers at the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was found clinging to the body of her dead mother—and then raised with great love in the sanctuary. Ndakasi went viral when her caretaker, Mathieu Shamavu, posted this fabulous selfie with her:
Now, she has gone viral again because of a much unhappier reason: Ndasaki died at the age of 14 after a prolonged illness. This is her last photo, lying in the arms of Mathieu. RIP Ndasaki. The silver lining: Over the course of her lifetime, the number of gorillas in Congo have grown by 47%. CNN has the story. You can see lots of photos over at Daily Mail.
Three things to see
One: A climate change activist crashed the Louis Vuitton show—and walked down the runway with a sign that read ‘overconsumption = extinction’. None of the celebs in the front row flinched, and security carried her away. Irony alert: “The show itself had a punk flavor, with sleeves ripped off suit jackets, leaving arms bare, and accessories including studded boots and chainmail headpieces.”
Two: Adele is getting ready to release her first album in six years. And it will likely be titled ‘30’. Here’s the teaser she posted on Twitter:
Three: Want some ‘balloon bread’? That’s what food channel Cookist is calling what the rest of us know as phulka/roti—except it has yeast and milk in it. Behold:
