Researched and collated by: Vagda Galhotra & Sheya Kurian
Ukraine invasion: The latest update
While the world was focused on Texas, Russia is pressing ahead in Donbas. At risk: Sievierodonetsk—which is the largest city in the region that is still held by Ukraine. Officials say it is being bombed “200 times an hour”—and estimate around 1,500 deaths. Point to note: The increased intensity also puts pressure on the EU. Its leaders are meeting in Brussels to impose a total oil embargo on Russia—but with an exemption for Hungary which has refused to go along with the move. New York Times has more on the widening cracks within the union.
A Rs 500 question about demonetisation
A Reserve Bank of India report notes that the number of counterfeit notes in circulation has spiked in 2021/22. The biggest jump was in the number of Rs 500 notes—which have surged by 102%, while fake Rs 2,000 bills increased by 54.2%. This isn’t good news for the government—which demonetised the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes to curb black and fake money. Unsurprisingly, the opposition has been quick to make hay of the new data. (India Today)
In other notable data: India has a new #1 economic BFF. In 2021/22, the US sped past China to become our biggest trading partner. Bilateral trade jumped from $80.51 billion to $119.42 billion over the past fiscal year. The number for China: $115.42 billion. Yeah, it’s not a big gap—but it marks New Delhi’s pivot away from Beijing and toward Washington and its allies.
The other bit of good news: The US is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus—when exports exceed imports. Also relevant: The recently formed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)—a new economic alliance which brings together 13 nations including India and the US. The Hindu has a good explainer on it. (Quartz)
A big Google bet on ShareChat
The parent company of the short video app received $300 million in funding from Google—in a round that raised its valuation to $5 billion. That’s up from $3.7 billion in the last round. Also betting their money: The Times Group and Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Why this is noteworthy: It is an eye-popping raise at a time when Indian startups are struggling to find investors. Interesting point to note: Twitter is already an investor in ShareChat—which means Elon Musk will potentially own between 6-8% of the company. (Reuters)
A 4-day workweek for Brits
Starting in June, 3,000 workers from 60 UK companies will participate in a six-month trial of a four-day working week—the world’s largest such experiment. The aim is to test the hypothesis that countries that work fewer hours experience higher productivity. It sounds great but there are two big challenges. One, it is difficult to measure productivity in jobs where the work is qualitative. Two, it is easier to implement in some sectors than others—such as retail, food and beverage, healthcare and education. (AFP via NDTV)
Also testing something new: The Indian postal service—which delivered mail using a drone for the very first time. The drone covered a distance of 46 kms in 25 minutes to deliver a medical parcel in Kutch, Gujarat. (Economic Times)
A massive storm in Delhi
A short but raging thunderstorm—with speeds up to 100 kmph—devastated the city. At least 300 trees fell—killing two people. That said, pre-monsoon storms are normal for this time of the year. The last time Delhi experienced this kind of storm was in 2018—when the speeds hit 103 kmph. (Times of India)
Sad news about the trapped orca
Over the past few days, scientists have been desperately trying to save an orca—which got lost and ended up in the river Seine in France. It was suffering from mucormycosis or black fungus. This can spread to the heart, brain and lungs—and probably explains the whale’s disoriented trip into freshwater. The orca has finally died of natural causes—before any attempt at euthanasia could be made. (The Guardian)
Three things to see
One: A 2,073 foot walkway—suspended 492 feet off the ground—in Vietnam has been officially dubbed the longest glass-bottom bridge in the world. It is strong enough to accommodate 450 people at a time—and an SUV was driven over it recently to test its strength. (CNN)
Two: A man disguised as an old lady in a wheelchair tried to vandalise the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris. He first tried to smash the display case. When that failed, he smeared cake (yes, cake) all over the glass—and strewed roses around, yelling: “Some people are trying to destroy the earth, think of the earth!” Nope, we don’t advise adding that one to your climate change toolkit. See the painting and the culprit below. (NDTV)
Three: A series of Chinese math textbooks have provoked great outrage—sparked by the illustrations in them. Among the concerns: “pictures of children with small, drooping, wide-set eyes and big foreheads as ugly, offensive and racist.” Also potentially “pornographic” images like these:
“Some of the pictures show little boys with a bulge in their pants that looks like the outline of their genitals; in one illustration of children playing a game, one boy has his hands on a girl's chest while another pulls a girl's skirt; in another drawing, a girl's underwear is exposed as she jumps rope.”
See an example below. The government has now ordered a nationwide review—though many worry this is just an excuse for more censorship. (CNN)
Good stuff to check out!
On the latest episode of the splainer podcast ‘Press Decode’, the splainer team looks at the laws involved in the mandir-masjid controversy—and the way we use the word ‘like’. Be sure to head over to the IVM website, Spotify or Apple Podcasts to listen to it.
