News from here and there.

 Am continuing my analysis of the news that has been grabbing the headlines of late.

(a) The WSJ Report

A report by The Wall Street Journal, last week, alleged that senior Facebook executives had opposed applying hate speech rules to posts by certain BJP leaders has the Congress and the BJP engaged in a bitter war of words. The opposition is demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter, which has been rejected by the BJP.

The Congress has raised the issue of bias with many Facebook and What'sApp executives. But, frankly, what makes me - as a common man - laugh is the biggest hoodwinking in the name of a JPC probe. Remember the hue and cry made by politicians, of all hues, regarding the JPC probe on the Bofors issue. After the usual hedging and hawing, consuming an awfully long period of time, the committee had come to the conclusion that the guns were good (As though it was ever contested) and that bribes were never given nor taken!

And all are aware as to how the facts about the bribes having been accepted by the Indian side had come out in the open, subsequently!

(b) The Indian Vaccine

I find it rather strange. While Russia is trying to impress upon the world that it has come out with an-anti Corona virus vaccine without having gone through the entire third phase of clinical trials, the Indian government has cautioned against pinning too much hope on the vaccines being developed within the country. As per reports, there are three vaccines that are in various stages of development.

The lead time of the evolution of any vaccine could stretch for long periods and I'm reminded of Ivan Ilyich's 'Nemesis' which has said that the evolution and the spread and decline of any pandemic follows a 'normal curve'. And the antidote to the pandemic is usually developed towards the downward slope of the normal curve when, anyways, the ailment would be on a decline!

I endorse the caution shown by the Indian health authorities!

(c) A Bipartisan Resolution

A bipartisan US Senate resolution has condemned China's use of military force along the LAC and accused Beijing of trying to change the status quo while calling for a diplomatic solution on the issue. The resolution was introduced by co-chairs of Senate Indian Caucus, senators John Cornyn and Mark Warner.

In a reference to India banning 59 Chinese apps, the resolution heaped praise on India for taking steps to protect its telecommunication infrastructure from Chinese threats and backed New Delhi on partnerships like 'Quad' to ensure a rules based order in the Indo-Pacific region. Quad is an informal partnership between the US, Australia, Japan and India.

The current bonhomie between India and the US is a game changer in the region.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. A doctor that I know of, gave me a bleak bit of news regarding the rise in Corona cases in Kerala. Today, it's 1962 and he seems to be pretty sure that the numbers would be @ 10,000 cases, after a fortnight. 

I only hope that he's being a bit too pessimistic and is terribly wrong! 

My niece, Reshmi all of 45 years, had to be taken to a nearby clinic because of palpitation of the heart. She's back at her home and is slated to visit Tiny Nair, the cardiologist tomorrow, for a detailed check up.