Third world bug in thor world country!

In the continuing saga of Third Worldisation of the world, which includes the ongoing MAGA makeover in Trumpland, Iceland is the latest victim. It turns out that the last bastion of mosquito-freedom has fallen. Reykjavik, once a pristine fridge for Viking DNA, now buzzes with the unmistakable whine of machhar. Climate change, that great equaliser, is also doing its bit for globalisation. Except, instead of the tide lifting all boats, this kind of globalisation is sinking all of them via a starter pack familiar to us here: sweat and swarms. Even Kash Patel's Valhalla is not safe.

Iceland was one of only two mosquito-tax havens in the world, partly thanks to its cold climate. The only place now machhar-less is Antarctica. When last week, two female and one male mosquitoes - confirmed to be Culiseta annulata, one of few species that can survive winter - were found in Kjos, a glacial valley to the south-west of capital Reykjavik, another victory was clinched by the bloody blood-suckers. So, the planet seems to be swapping Nordic minimalist stoicism for South Asian maximalist chaos. Soon, Icelanders will be debating ceiling fans vs ACs, ointments vs sprays, and nearby IKEA will be designing sleek mosquito nets. As the ice melts and the mosquitoes thrive, one thing's clear: the world desperately needs a repellent. Including from mosquitoes.