Researched by: Rachel John & Nirmal Bhansali
Islamic State claims Iran bombing
The infamous terrorist organisation claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on a memorial procession for a revered Iranian general—Qasem Suleimani. Eighty four were killed and 284 injured. As to why IS has a beef with Iran, it is an extremist Sunni group—and “considers its mission to kill apostate Muslims, including Shiites”—who are the majority community in Iran. Tehran also played a key role in defeating IS in Iraq and Syria—an effort led by Suleimani. (New York Times)
Sticking with the Middle East: The US and its allies delivered an ominous “final warning” to Houthi rebels—who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea (See: This Big Story):
Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.
Sadly, it hasn’t had much effect. Houthis launched a sea drone within hours of the announcement. For all the sabre-rattling, it isn’t clear if the US has any appetite for a direct confrontation with Houthis—who are backed by Iran. (Associated Press via PBS)
‘Future is Female’ for North Korea
According to South Korean intelligence, President Kim Jong-un has picked his “most likely successor”—his 10-year-old daughter named Kim Ju-ae. Often referred to as the “most beloved child” by the local media, she is the only offspring to be seen in public. Last year, she was pictured watching a long-range missile test in the company of her dad. As you can see in the news report below, father and daughter get along very well. (New York Times)
The not-so-big Jeffrey Epstein reveal
The context: Jeffrey Epstein was a high-profile financier best known for his lavish lifestyle and very famous friends—including Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Bill Gates and Woody Allen. In 2007, he was indicted for sexually abusing dozens of underage girls—but got off with a light sentence. In 2019, he was again arrested—this time for sex trafficking minors who he recruited for his powerful friends. He killed himself in prison while awaiting trial in 2019. We did a Big Story on his shady relationship with the now-disgraced Prince Andrew.
What happened now: The first batch of documents from a case filed by one of Epstein’s victims—Virginia Roberts Giuffre—have been unsealed. No, they do not contain any bombshell revelations. Rather, the documents appear to contradict the many salacious rumours about Clinton and Trump:
Clinton and Trump both factor in the court file, partly because Giuffre was questioned by Maxwell’s lawyers about inaccuracies in newspaper stories about her time with Epstein. One story quoted her as saying she had ridden in a helicopter with Clinton and flirted with Trump. Giuffre said neither of those things actually happened. She has not accused either former president of wrongdoing.
The only person to come out looking sleazy for now: Prince Andrew—who apparently groped a person’s breast while posing for a photo. You can check out the documents here. (CNN)
Google says goodbye to cookies
Internet users rejoice! The world’s most popular browser Chrome will no longer use cookies to stalk your online activity. As of now, Google has disabled them only for 1% of users—but the goal is to eliminate them for everybody by the end of the year. What this means: You will no longer be followed around the web by annoying targeted ads—which is the biggest change in the history of a $600 billion digital advertising industry.
Google will instead offer a different set of tools to businesses that “are intended to help the industry meet business goals while respecting consumer privacy.” Reminder: 60% of the world uses Chrome to access the internet. Wall Street Journal (splainer gift link) has more on why businesses are unhappy with this sudden change. Gizmodo has more on what it means for you.
Say hello to direct-to-cell satellites
SpaceX has rolled out six Starlink satellites that can connect directly to your phone:
Operating like a cell tower in space, the Starlink satellites will work with users’ existing phones, rather than using specialized equipment, to enable text messaging in areas where traditional cell signals are weak or nonexistent.
SpaceX plans to offer voice and data connectivity soon. Point to note: According to founder Elon Musk, the service “will allow for mobile phone connectivity anywhere on Earth” but it is not “meaningfully competitive with existing terrestrial cellular networks.” Rather, SpaceX will partner with these companies to provide total coverage. (Bloomberg News, paywall and TechCrunch)
Good news in the battle against bacteria
Carbapenem-resistant Acientobacter baumanni aka Crab is one of three bacteria that poses the greatest threat to human life because of its resistance to drugs. Scientists have finally developed Zosurabalpin—that is able to penetrate its outer cell layer. Here’s why that’s a big deal:
Antibiotic-resistant infections pose an urgent threat to human health — particularly those caused by a large group of bacteria known as Gram-negative bacteria, which are protected by an outer shell containing a substance called lipopolysaccharide (LPS). “LPS allows bacteria to live in harsh environments, and it also allows them to evade attacks by our immune system,” said Dr Michael Lobritz… No new antibiotic for Gram-negative bacteria have been approved in more than 50 years.
Crab typically infects patients in hospitals—especially those on a ventilator. It’s a bit early to celebrate since there have only been trials on mice. But it is the first such drug to be discovered in 50 years. FYI: 1.3 million people around the world died from antimicrobial resistance in 2019. (The Guardian)
The most punctual airline in the world is…
Avianca—the Colombian airline that most of us haven’t heard of. In Asia, the most on-time airline is Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA). Delta Air Lines takes the top spot in North America—and Iberia Express won the title for Europe. Nah, there isn’t a single Indian airline on the list. (CNN)
Get ready for hologram Elvis!
Elvis Presley will be performing in concerts soon—as a hologram. The concert called ‘Elvis Evolution’ uses AI and holographic projection to create a life-sized digital Elvis that will perform his songs:
The technology will create a lifesize digital Elvis from thousands of his personal photos and home-video footage. The hologram will perform in a celebration of the star’s life and musical legacy after a deal between Authentic Brands Group, the owners of the Elvis Presley estate, and Layered Reality, a British immersive entertainment company.
The show is set to premier in November in London, with more planned in Las Vegas, Tokyo and Berlin as well. FYI: Presley died in 1977. (The Guardian)
Five things to see
One: Researchers have used the latest AI and satellite tech to create the clearest maps yet of human activity at sea. They reveal a staggering number of clandestine fishing, transport and energy vessels—and oil platforms. The Verge has lots more on why these maps are a big deal.
Two: Everyone’s talking about the wedding of Aamir Khan’s daughter Ira—rather the sporty attire of the bridegroom Nupur Shikhare—who jogged all the way to the altar in his tank top and shorts. (NDTV)
Three: Say hello to the Lancashire heeler—the latest dog breed recognised by the American Kennel Club. They’re a “downsized corgi” known for being “courageous, happy, affectionate to owners.” Also: an excellent excuse to sneak in a cute doggo photo. (Associated Press)
Four: The government sent out 6000+ invitations to the inauguration of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya—which got ridiculous amounts of attention, including this sappy vid from Times of India. Here’s our big Q: Can you spot the typo?
Five: Finally, there’s some good news from Kuno national park—home to cheetahs brought in from Africa. The female Aasha has given birth to three cubs. We hope they will fare far better than the four cubs born last year. Three of them died due to hot weather conditions. (Indian Express)
