CDC Director Robert Redfield now has to sign off on the recommendations from the independent panel.
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Sunday, December 13, 2020
Saturday, December 12, 2020
First vaccine shipments will arrive in states on Monday
The FDA late Friday authorized Pfizer’s vaccine for emergency use.
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Karnataka Congress questions why BJP is selective in implementing beef ban
In a press conference, former CM Siddaramaiah questioned why the BJP’s stance in Karnataka is diametrically opposite to that in Goa.
Karnataka Congress leaders in a joint press conference on Friday said that the ruling BJP leaders must prove their "real commitment" to protecting cows by taking steps to ban beef export completely in the country, instead of adopting double standards by banning cow slaughter in select states. On December 9, the ruling BJP government in Karnataka passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020, which is one of the most stringent anti-beef laws passed in the country. The law defines beef as the flesh of any cattle, and those caught smuggling, illegally transporting, or involved in any atrocities against cows and cattle will be stringently punished. Read: Karnataka Assembly passes stringent anti-cow slaughter law amid ruckus In the press conference in Bengaluru, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said that the BJP should have a uniform stance when it comes to matters like ban on cow slaughter. "The BJP's stand on cow slaughter ban is diametrically opposite in Goa state to what the party has taken here. In both the states it is the ruling party," he pointed out. He also claimed that the Congress will not have a problem if the BJP bans beef across the country, or even bans the export of beef completely. Siddaramaiah alleged that it is the BJP supporters who are among the leading beef exporters in the country, which is why the BJP does not take a firm stand on such issues. "The very premise of moving the contentious Bill two days ago is clear, they want to play emotional card in the ongoing two-phase gram panchayat polls slated for this month," he said. Read: Karnataka beef ban: Beyond restaurant menu, here's how things will change Quoting prominent Hindu seer Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, Siddaramaiah said that beef exports have risen since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government came to power in 2014. "So I demand, ban beef exports, bring uniform policy across the country," Siddaramaiah said. "In Goa, their own party is in power but do not talk a word about banning it, while in Karnataka, they have brought a most draconian and unscientific' Bill, why is this duplicity?" he asked. The former Chief Minister added that in 2012-13, beef exports stood at 10.76 lakh tonnes, and rose to 14.75 lakh tonnes in 2014-15; the number hovered over 13 lakh tonnes in the subsequent three years. "Why the BJP has failed to control it? On one hand you give permits for exports and encourage making money from it, on the other hand you bring in such laws without proper thinking," he said, adding that the new law could lead to economic problems, unemployment and farmer distress. The BJP hurriedly tabled the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020, which was passed by the assembly on Wednesday, amid stiff opposition led by the Congress. The Congress party eventually boycotted the remaining Legislature session. The contentious Bill is yet to be tabled in the Legislative Council, which has been adjourned sine die. The state government is now mulling to make the Bill a law by bringing it through the ordinance route. Terming the Bill as "draconian, unscientific and anti-farmer,” Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar demanded the state government to purchase and protect all unproductive cattle from farmers, to ease the pressure of nurturing them, instead of burdening the farmer community.
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Experiencing Pakistan through the lens of journalist Declan Walsh at Bangalore Lit Fest
Declan Walsh has recently published the book, The Nine Lives of Pakistan - Dispatches from a Precarious State.
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The Bangalore Lit Fest kicked off on Saturday in the city, with many of the panels and sessions going virtual, in line with precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. In one of the sessions, Irish journalist Declan Walsh, formerly bureau chief for Pakistan for the New York Times, spoke about his experience in the country and his recently published title The Nine Lives of Pakistan - Dispatches from a Precarious State. Neena Gopal, the resident editor for Deccan Chronicle and the moderator for the session, asked Walsh to elaborate on his book and how his expulsion from Pakistan affected the narrative. It is known that Walsh was expelled from Pakistan in 2013 after his visa was cancelled over unspecified “undesirable activities”, and he was given no further explanation, despite requests for the same. According to an intelligence report at the time, Walsh was reportedly expelled for ‘false journalism’ against Pakistan and ‘defamatory pieces’ against the country; and for visiting troubled areas in the country without a clearance. Walsh told Neena, “The story of the book personally began for me after my expulsion which was right before the 2013 elections. The book is my attempt at revisiting this country I was involved with for almost a decade by then and my experiences there.” Declan, who has also worked with The Guardian, recalled that against the backdrop of hostile political climate caused by movements like Azad Kashmir, and insurgency of Balochistan, travelling within the country had become difficult. The establishment tried to curtail publishing of “sensitive” stories, he alleged. His privilege as a foreign journalist lasted only a while until his expulsion. Per the book’s description on Amazon, The Nine Lives of Pakistan - Dispatches from a Precarious State is an “electrifying portrait of Pakistan over a tumultuous decade that captures the sweep of this strange, wondrous, and benighted country through the dramatic lives of nine fascinating individuals.” Asma Jahangir, a human rights activist and lawyer, was one among the nine lives that Walsh wrote about in his book. Declan said, “Asma was undeniably one of the most dazzling people I met. Certainly, she came from the elite part of the society, however, she used her privilege to fight against injustice and discrimination.” Declan ended the session on a hopeful note. “Despite multiple disturbing trends of extremism rising, the youth there (in Pakistan) have a very different perception of what they want and they are rebelling, participating in the political affairs and trying to bring a change.” Declan Walsh has previously also published a book titled Insh’Allah: A Journey Through Modern Pakistan, in 2010.
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Biden starts countering Trump’s messaging on vaccine
With the first shots being prepared for delivery to states next week, Biden’s team is already laying the groundwork for a public education campaign.
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Sudha Murty’s new book has fictional stories revolving around grandparents in lockdown
The 9th edition of Bangalore Literature Fest kicked off on Saturday at Bangalore International Centre.
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The 9th edition of Bangalore Literature fest kicked off on Saturday at the Bangalore International Centre. Like many events this year, the Lit Fest too went virtual, with limited audience and moderators for panels, the speakers for which connected virtually. The two-day affair started off with Infosys Chairperson Sudha Murty’s session. She spoke about Grandparents’ Bag of Stories, her latest book and a sequel to Grandma’s Bag of Stories. When quizzed by children’s author Andaleeb Wajid about what inspired her to write the book, Sudha quipped, “I had only one thing in mind. What would I do if I were a kid stuck in a pandemic and had grandparents in the village? I certainly would want to spend time with them and that’s how this book happened.” According to the description of the book on Amazon, the book is contextualized in the nationwide lockdown that was announced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “A nationwide lockdown is announced and amidst the growing crisis, Ajja and Ajji welcome their grandchildren and Kamlu Ajji into their house in Shiggaon,” it says. The stories revolve around activities like stitching masks together, doing chores, as well as the stories of kings, queens and fantasy worlds that grandparents tell their grandchildren. When asked about which story from the book was dearest to her, Sudha answered that picking a handful of them will be difficult. “The book is more like an anthology of multiple stories. They are all like pearls woven by a common thread: the grandparents. All the stories stem from my imagination. I was visualizing what my grandparents would do during this situation,” she said. With over 24 books and 156 titles to her name, Sudha has made her place in literary circles as a renowned children’s book writer. She says spending more time with children has enabled her to become a better writer over the years. “Children are very frank with you. They will honestly tell you what they feel,” she said, recalling an incident from her time in Kolkata. She was reading a book in a quaint bookstore on Park Street when a child from a group approached her saying that she can write well but cannot read well. Sudha’s stories have always leaned towards having a great deal of visual imagery. How does she manage to do it? “I write what I visualize,” she replied. Moreover, she has also dabbled in non-fiction. “Off late, I have been leaning towards non-fiction more. Fiction comes from your imagination, but life is stranger than imagination. There’s no explanation for everything that happens in life and people have more to learn from life than fiction,” she said. Sudha is known for her philanthropic work as well. Infosys Foundation, that Murthy presides over, has started over 6,000 libraries across Karnataka. She recalled how her grandfather would go to a library every day and that exposed her to the world of books. “My grandfather made me promise that I will donate books to the needy when I have more wealth than I would need. With Infosys’s success, I could keep the promise I made to him,” she said.
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Disgruntled employees vandalise Wistron Corp’s iPhone manufacturing plant in Kolar
The employees have alleged that they were made to work for longer hours and not paid wages on time.
Taiwanese company Wistron Crop, contracted by Apple to manufacture iPhones in Karnataka’s Kolar district, was attacked by disgruntled employees in the early hours of Saturday. Over 1,000 employees gathered outside the plant in Narsapura in Kolar, demanding rightful pay and protesting against the management for alleged non-payment of wages. The employees accused the management of overworking the factory workers and violating norms under the Factories Act. Employees, who tried to reason with the management, pelted stones at the building and set two company vehicles on fire after talks with the higher-ups failed. The Narsapura police were called in and they resorted to lathi charge to disperse the workers. Speaking to TNM, Kolar SP Karthik Reddy said that the incident occurred when the employees were changing shifts. “Employees working the morning shift met the management and demanded that the wages be paid on time. Some of them (employees) have said that salary payments are overdue for two months. We have collected the CCTV footage from the plant and are investigating the matter,” he said. The police have arrested 80 employees of Wistron so far. An FIR has been registered at the Narsapura police station under sections pertaining to rioting, disturbing peace and vandalism, SP Karthik Reddy said. Employees TNM spoke to said that many of them felt helpless and disgruntled as the company had allegedly not paid them wages on time. “They have delayed payments every month. Some of us have not received payment for two months,” one of the factory workers alleged. He alleged that the employees had submitted several representations to the management requesting payment of wages on time. Another employee said that Wistron had sub-contracted hiring factory workers to six different firms and that they were promised Rs 16,000 per month in wages. Watch: Disgruntled employees of Wistron vandalise iPhone manufacturing plant “When we showed up for work, we were informed that we would be getting Rs 12,000 per month. According to the Factories Act, working hours are capped at 8 hours per day. The company is making us work for 12 hours straight,” the employee alleged. Sathyanarayana, Secretary of the All India Council of Trade Unions said that employees at the Wistron Corp plant in Kolar do not have a union, due to which they were finding it hard to fight for labour rights. “The information we have after speaking to the employees is that many of them who complained about the discrepancies to the management or stood up to them, were fired. Many workers were scared to speak up. The issue has been going on for over six months. With delayed payments, many of them are struggling. When talks with the management failed, they were angry,” he added. At the time of writing, TNM was unable to get Wistron Corp's reaction to the incident.
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