Saturday, February 22, 2020

News views.

An analysis of the news that are trending as headlines now.

 (a) US deal with Taliban?

       A week long reduction in violence across Afghanistan, beginning today, is a major condition
      for the US to sign the peace deal with the Taliban and hopes to end the 18-year war. How far
      it's gonna last is anybody's guess with the US being the most anxious as the Taliban has a
      penchant for going back on their words. It will also lay down a timeline for the withdrawal of
      the American troops.

      The peace deal may be signed by this month end. The situation is sure to worry India as many of
      its infrastructure work will get affected when Pakistan plays its own nasty games along with the
      crafty Taliban.

 (b) Trump's impending visit to India.

       It's amply clear that US President Donald Trump is looking forward to his next week's trip to
       India. We have come a long way from the times when the US hyphenated Pakistan with India
       and its leaders always made it a point to visit both the countries one after the other and help
       the former with a generous supply of military equipment. Those have become things of the
       past.

       In an election year, Trump would be looking for support from the Indian Americans and
       expects to get a head start as the presidential campaign picks up speed and heat.

       A trade deal was what he and his delegation was looking forward to, the most, but it's looking
       that it's gonna be a no-show during this visit.

       The one thing that stands out is the tremendous rapport between the US President and the
       Indian Prime Minister. That should be the harbinger of greater US-India co-operation in the
       months and years to come.

 (c) The Rising Temperatures.

       It's terribly warm out here in Kerala with met warnings of greater heat in many districts. Is this
       the new weather pattern? The water table is receding at a fast rate and one can already see water
       bowsers supplying potable water to many areas. And it's only the last week of February, there's
       plenty of time for the monsoons to set in. The convectional rains - rampant during these months
       - are yet to show the presence!

       Wait and watch, as we prepare for the worst. And of course, hope for the best.


Tailpiece.

Was in time for the morning walk. Lekha and Suma kunjamma had gone to the Guruvayur temple and provided Sekhar - he works in the Foundation - and his family a 'privileged darshan'. Sekhar's family had dropped by to spend time with us.

The evening walk was nice while Lekha and Suma kunjamma had gone for the Malayalam movie, "Ayyappanum Koshiyum. 

     

No comments:

Post a Comment