CATEGORIES

Chasing The Virus

While COVID-19’s onslaught has laid low the mighty United States and much of the developed world, in India there are differing perceptions on the 21-day lockdown strategy, which includes a low rate of testing, and its effectiveness in containing the infection.

Virus Of Racism

Racist prejudices against people from the north-eastern region in India come to the surface in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

‘Regional lockdowns would have been better'

Interview with Dr Naman Shah, infectious disease epidemiologist.

‘Pandemics are inevitable and costly'

An interview with David Quammen, author of “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic”.

Symbolism vs substance

The Prime Minister’s histrionics do not make up for his government’s failure to respond effectively and in time to the COVID-19 crisis.

Stung by scarcity

As the Indian health-care system is up against many odds in its struggle against COVID-19 with shortage of health care professionals, protective gear and ventilators, the relatively low rate of mortality may not be a cause for cheer.

Economy in deep freeze

The Indian government has failed not only to address the health emergency posed by the virus but address the cataclysmic impact it would have on lives, livelihoods and productive capacity.

Cuba to the rescue

Cuba, which dispatched expert medical teams to over 59 COVID-19 affected countries, has come in for praise from the world over for its timely act of international solidarity.

Conservatism rules

The inadequate “relief” package and the emphasis on monetary policy to mitigate the effects of the virus-induced shock indicate that making the necessary fiscal effort in terms of hugely enhancing spending to provide relief is not the Centre’s priority.

Test not, find not

The government’s failure to detect, trace and isolate infected persons in the nearly two-month-long window of opportunity it had to protect people from the coronavirus shows its irresponsible handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

Surge In Iran

Iran, its health care system crippled by U.S. sanctions, appeals for a global effort to curtail the spike in coronavirus infection as the death toll and confirmed cases in the country keep mounting.

The Bat connection

Basic research into the epidemiology of coronavirus needs to be taken up on a war footing.

Corona In Trumpland

Donald Trump’s buffoonery in the face of the pandemic is not an individual failing but a symptom of a country where the state has been emptied out and lacks the capacity to act decisively in a time of crisis.

Coronavirus Challenge

The deceptively small number of COVID-19 cases (and deaths) in India should not drive the nation into complacency: it needs to be prepared for a massive spread of the pandemic disease.

Covid-19: Lessons From Italy

For a variety of reasons, Italy failed to contain the initial surge of the pandemic. Its advanced health care network is its only solace; the focus is now on management rather than prevention.

Kerala model

Kerala’s social investments in rural health care, universal education, decentralization of powers and resources and women empowerment are standing it in good stead as it leads the fight against the coronavirus.

Economic burden

As the global economy heads towards an unprecedented collapse in demand, India under Narendra Modi sticks to fiscal fundamentalism when even diehard right-wing governments are trying to boost fiscal spending.

The Chinese way

China has pooled all its resources to fight the coronavirus and is not only helping other countries with medical supplies and expert teams but also sharing its frontline medical experiences with the world in a transparent way.

Deficient system

India’s ill-prepared public health system faces its toughest test yet as the number of coronavirus cases continue to increase, putting pressure on the government’s limited resources.

Proactive Odisha

The Odisha government declares coranavirus infection a disaster and prepares its administration to manage and limit the transmission of the disease effectively.

Delhi Riots - Shape Of Things To Come

'The collusion between the government, communal aggressors, the police and activists of the ruling dispensation, which was all too evident in all the days of the Delhi riots, could well indicate what is in store for the country as a whole.

The Trump show

United States President Donald Trump turns a blind eye to the Narendra Modi regime’s handling of the Delhi violence as the two sides seal their military partnership and go ahead with bilateral military purchases.

SCARRED & SCARED

Frontline walks through the violence-hit areas in North East Delhi, where all that remains after the acts of hate are wounded bodies and psyches.

‘Othering' the Muslim on screen

Bollywood must work on its own conscious and unconscious biases while representing Indian Muslims and move beyond the image of the “Muslim other” as terrorist, invading barbarian and villain.

RELIEF FOR NOW

The agreement signed between the U.S. and the Taliban on February 29, which will see the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, may finally bring some relief to the long-suffering Afghan people.

Woes of the wounded

When the public health services and the law and order machinery failed to rise to the occasion, community hospitals with limited resources stood as beacons of hope against the unjust system.

Mosques as target

Over half a dozen mosques were set ablaze in North East Delhi on February 24 and 25, as Delhi Police personnel either remained inactive or, worse, colluded with the attackers.

Global concern

The United Nations human rights body intervenes forcefully against the violence in Delhi, and Western and Muslim countries raise serious concern about the Indian government’s recent actions.

Running with the wolves

The police collaborated with the rioters in Delhi in most cases and apparently tortured anti-CAA protesters in custody.

Crisis in legal studies

The problems plaguing the National Law Universities can be traced to a lack of financial support from the state, which also has the effect of passing the burden of higher fees on to students and effectively keeping out students from less privileged backgrounds.