Researched & collated by: Vagda Galhotra & Nivedita Bobal
Two key Covid studies
Two preprint studies—which have not been peer-reviewed—reveal new evidence that the virus originated in animals at Wuhan’s seafood market. What the lead researchers say:
“The new studies take this area of research ‘to a new level’ and are the strongest evidence yet that the pandemic had animal-related (or zoonotic) origins… He called the findings ‘game, set and match’ for the theory that the pandemic originated in a lab. ‘It's no longer something that makes sense to imagine that this started any other way.’”
CNN has more details.
Speaking of the pandemic: UAE has dropped all requirements for outdoor masks and quarantines—in case of contact. Fully-vaccinated passengers travelling to the country will also no longer require PCR tests. (Reuters)
Meanwhile, in India: Our current number of daily new cases is 8,013. But IIT-Kanpur researchers have predicted a fourth wave from June through October—peaking in August. The severity of the wave is still unknown. (Times of India)
Four corporate stories of note
Ashneer Grover: The BharatPe founder’s woes continue to grow. He had filed a petition with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)—asking to block an internal company review of financial irregularities. That application for interim relief has been rejected. Mint has more details.
The NSE saga: The CBI is now investigating the case of the Himalayan yogi—which involved the MD Chitra Ramkrishna and Group Operating Officer Anand Subramanian (explained here). Subramanian has been arrested, and the probe could soon extend to former board members. With both the National Stock Exchange and income tax officials conducting their own probes, the focus is now on unlawful gains. Mint has more on that. CBI is also looking at evidence that Subramanian and the yogi could be the same person. Indian Express has more on that angle.
Future Retail: The company is in a bitter war with Amazon over its $3.4 billion deal with Reliance to sell its retail assets (explained here)—and it is running out of money. In a sudden move, Reliance will take over and rebrand at least 200 of its Big Bazaar stores after the company failed to make lease payments for them. Amazon can’t do much about this as store landlords appear to have independently given the leases to Reliance. (Reuters)
Twitter chief: The Indian arm now has a new policy chief, Samiran Gupta. We wish him all the luck he will need. (NDTV)
Arrest, then arrest again: The story of Fahad Shah
The editor of The Kashmir Walla was first arrested on February 4 for “anti-national” social media posts. He was finally released on bail by a special court on Saturday—and arrested again within hours. The police claim he has been named in three other FIRs for “glorifying terrorism, spreading fake news and inciting general public for creating law and order situation.” Scroll has more on Shah’s arrest, while Article 14 looks at the criminalisation of journalists in Kashmir.
Big moment for Pakistan cricket
The Australian team arrived on Sunday—to play three test matches, three ODIs and one T20I—for the very first time in 24 years! Pakistan has struggled to attract visiting sides since a fatal terror attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team’s bus in 2009—which killed six policemen and two civilians. This time, there will be 4,000 police and military personnel guarding the team hotel in Islamabad and the cricket stadium in Rawalpindi. (Al Jazeera)
Two things to see
One: Argentinian scientists have discovered a new species—called Guemesia ochoai—which roamed what is now Africa, South America and India about 70 million years ago. It walked on two legs and had stub-like arms—even shorter than those of a Tyrannosaurus rex: “It’s so unique and so different from other carnivorous dinosaurs, which allows us to understand that we’re dealing with a totally new species.” See what it looks like below. (SciTech Daily)
Two: JRR Tolkien’s estate has released a treasure of previously unseen photographs and paintings—all created by the great man himself. Here are two examples, but we strongly recommend checking out the others on the website. (The Guardian)
