A draconian new law in Kerala
The CPM government has introduced a new law that reads:
“Whoever makes, expresses or publishes or disseminates through any kind of mode of communication, any matter or subject for threatening, abusing, humiliating or defaming a person or class of persons, knowing it to be false and that causes injury to the mind, reputation or property of such person or class of persons or any other person in who they have interest shall on conviction be punished for a maximum term of three years or fined Rs 10,000, or both.”
The language is deliberately vague and open to wide interpretation—and therefore abuse. The reason offered by the Kerala government: The rampant misuse of social media to launch "inhuman and vile cyber attacks" against people in the guise of journalism. Also this: an explosion of online abuse of women by trolls. And yet the law makes no specific mention of social media…
Point to note: The new law resurrects a provision in the Information Technology Act that was already struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015. The Telegraph has more.
In other alarming news: The Madhya Pradesh government has asked the police to launch an investigation into ‘A Suitable Boy’—the BBC adaptation of Vikram Seth’s novel that is presently on Netflix. The offending scene: When the heroine Lata kisses Kabir in front of a temple. The state’s Interior Minister said:
“‘It has extremely objectionable scenes that have hurt the feelings of a particular religion … I’ve directed police officers to get this controversial content tested’ to determine ‘what legal action can be taken against the producer-director of the film for hurting religious sentiments’”.
A cross-border QR code?
At the G20 summit, China has proposed a global QR code system—which will contain health certificates and Covid test results—to free up travel during the pandemic. China already uses such a system, where a green QR code means the holder is healthy and can travel, while a yellow or red code means the individual has to be quarantined. And it is more effective and efficient than setting up travel bubbles or corridors. But given Beijing’s reputation for misusing personal data, other countries may not be keen to sign up. (South China Morning Post)
In related news: India will now host the Group of 20 Summit in 2023.
Ayurvedic docs can perform surgeries
The dearly beloved AYUSH ministry has issued a notification that Ayurvedic doctors with postgraduate degrees can be trained to “independently perform” 39 general surgery procedures and 19 procedures involving the ear, nose, throat and eye. Now, this isn’t entirely new. Some of these procedures are already being performed by these scholars. But this is the first time that 58 such procedures have been listed and received official authorisation.
But Indian Medical Association is up in arms and has called the move “retrograde”, “uncivil”: “Corrupting Modern Medicine by mixing with other systems and poaching the disciplines of Modern Medicine through back door means is certainly foul play of first order.”
Also this: Other doctors say that general surgery is part-and-parcel of training in modern medicine—and cannot be arbitrarily fused with other disciplines. Also: “[S]ome of the listed procedures such as laparotomy (surgical incision in the abdomen) are extremely complex and require high levels of training.”
The great pandemic: A quick update
- Total infections in the US have crossed 12 million. The number of daily new cases has crossed 200,000. Adding to worries: One million people who jumped on planes for Thanksgiving.
- Offering hope: The Pfizer vaccine is already being considered for emergency approval, and could be rolled out as early as December.
- Closer home: The Oxford vaccine may be available for frontline workers by late January/early February. Related read: Bloomberg News explains why most of the world has pinned its hopes on the Oxford vaccine—not Pfizer or Moderna.
- While the daily case tally is holding fairly steady in the worst-affected states, the numbers are spiking in states with smaller caseloads. Example: Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
- M Night Shyamalan has wrapped two separate shoots—for his upcoming movie ‘Old’ and season 2 of ‘Servant’—without a single case of Covid. Compare this with Mission Impossible 7 and ‘The Batman’ which have repeatedly shut down due to outbreaks on the set.
- A handy new study reveals the exact order in which most infections develop: First, a fever, followed by cough, muscle pain, nausea or vomiting, then diarrhea. "This order is especially important to know when we have overlapping cycles of illnesses like the flu that coincide with infections of COVID-19."
- On a lighter note: You can send folks ‘Sorry you got the Rona’ cakes now… which is odd given that the first thing to go is your sense of taste.
Germany introduces ‘historic’ quota
A company board with more than three members will now have to include a minimum of one female director. The move came after research revealed that Germany was way behind its peers—with women accounting for only 12.8% of company boards. The minister for women said: “We are putting an end to women-free boardrooms in large companies… Because nothing is done voluntarily and we need guidelines to move forward.”
Point to note: In India, women comprise only 17% of all board directors in Nifty 500 companies. Since 2014, the Companies Act has made it mandatory to include one woman director—but compliance has been poor.
A related must-watch: Lathika Pai—who is the Country Head, Microsoft for Startups, (full disclosure: also Splainer Media’s mentor)—offers excellent advice for women entrepreneurs. Watch the interview here.
In equally happy news for women: A trial in Africa of a single injection of a drug called cabotegravir—given every two months—was so successful in preventing HIV that the study was wrapped up ahead of schedule. US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci describes it as “a major, major advance." NPR has more.
In other gender-related news: Half a century later, IBM has formally and fully apologized to a pioneering engineer—who was fired for revealing her transgender identity in 1968. New York Times via The Telegraph has the story.
In far less happy news: This is a clip of a group of priests and witch doctors literally walking on the backs of married women—so they will be “blessed” with children. Times of India has the story.
A brouhaha at the Tata Litfest
ICYMI, controversy broke out at litfest over the weekend when organisers cancelled a conversation between Noam Chomsky and leftie academic Vijay Prashad. The reason: under pressure from activists who challenged their decision to participate in a corporate-sponsored event, Chomsky and Prashad clarified they will open their session with a statement that “makes it very clear how we feel about corporations such as the Tatas, and the Tatas in particular.”
The outcome: Organisers abruptly cancelled the event, and festival director Anil Dharker said the festival was committed to “a free expression of ideas, not a free expression of someone’s specific agenda.” Read the response from Chomsky and Prashad here. Is this censorship? Yes, if you believe lit fests are a forum for free speech. No, if you view them as a business. First rule of a successful revenue model: never bite the hand that feeds you. The Telegraph has more.
Akshaya Patra scandal deepens
The well-known charity—which provides free meals to schoolchildren—has been rocked by the departure of four high-profile trustees, including Mohandas Pai. Now, unnamed sources are sharing allegations of widespread fraud. Specifically: the diversion of funds and foodgrains:
“The discrepancies have been happening for eight to 10 years and only an independent probe will reveal the quantum of diversion… It could be Rs 10 crore, Rs 50 crore or Rs 70 crore. We won’t know until an independent probe is done." (Mint)
A perfect pair, perfectly preserved
Archeologists have uncovered the amazingly well-preserved remains of a rich man and his slave—who died fleeing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii nearly 2000 years ago. The ash helped preserve intricate details including:
“Based on the impression of fabric folds left in the ash layer, it appeared the younger man was wearing a short, pleated tunic, possibly of wool. The older victim, in addition to wearing a tunic, appeared to have had a mantle over his left shoulder.”
This find is an amazing sight as you can see below: