Hello
2020 has been a year of crisis, kindness and growing solidarity among us as a global community. This week we bring you some interesting updates from the world, which definitely give us a hope for a prosperous 2021. Along with our discussion on Right To Privacy and Surveillance.
TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
AROUND THE WORLD
Brexit Trade Deal
Boris Johnson, UK’s Prime Minister finally closed the trade deal with Ursula von der Leyen of the European Union. Well, the terms of trade have come as a relief for businesses but it definitely won’t be able to be a substitute for the membership of the bloc. The deal permits tariff and quota-free trade in goods post 31st December.Â
The United States in its statement stated that it is looking forward to working with the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Coronavirus
A new mutant of the Covid-19 has come to attention in the UK and South Africa. The fast-spreading covid mutant found in the UK has not been reported in India yet, said the Government of India. Also, India has imposed a ban on flights from the UK till 31 December, but some people who came before the ban have tested positive and have been kept under isolation. While some of them have been following quarantine, meanwhile few of them took off to different corners of the country. Seems like a dejá Vu moment to us.
This tweet trended on twitter:
Nepal and Politics
275- member Nepal Parliament was dissolved by the President Bidya Devi Bhandari on the recommendation of the Prime minister KP Sharma Oli with him losing the support. The opposition protested this move, by claiming that the constitution does not have any such provision for the Prime Minister to take such decision.Â
Women and their role in advancing Public Health
Tyler Cowen, in her analysis for Bloomberg, brought to notice the role women played in catalysing the vaccine development. The technological base mRNA used in the vaccine developed is based on core work by Katalin Karikó. Also, the vaccine research team of Novax is being led by Nita Patel, her team is ‘all-female’.Â
While talking about it we cannot forget talking about the woman behind India’s first covid testing kit- virologist Minal Dikahve Bhosle.Â
Farmer Protest and Social Media
The protests organised by Farmers’ have received support and also some backlash. To counter misinformation and hate, farmers have set up their own IT cells. This is being done under the banner of ‘Kisan Mukti Morcha’.
Not to forget, social media giant Facebook deactivated the page on 20 December, but soon was reactivated after the backlash.Â
Hope you found this week’s newsletter meaningful.
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