Issue #1: Aug 23, 2020
World and Indian Politics, BigTech and Startups and Culture Summarized
Hi! This is my first newsletter. Most of us have lost the habit of newspapers and live TV and instead, mostly rely on social networks for knowing and reading about what’s happening in the world, which is not complete and limited by people we know. This newsletter is a weekly 10 mins quick read for Indians to understand the key events happening in the world. Let’s dive in:
World:
Kamala Harris as Democratic VP Nominee: A Jamaican-Indian-American born in California, was a Public Prosecutor, Attorney General, and a Senator before her failed bid in Democrat Presidential Race and eventual nomination as VP. If elected would be first African/Asian American VP in its 245 years history. Indian Americans typically vote Democratic and can have high impact swinging battleground states. Let’s see how 2020 goes. Link
Another Russian Regime Critic Poisoned: Poisoning is the weapon of choice for the intrigue and uncertainty it creates in Russia. Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny joins the long list of politicians, journalists, and ex-spies afflicted by strange ailments of a poison. List
New Sri Lankan President to Amend Constitution. A president in Sri Lanka is directly elected using a modified contingent voting system (you rank the top 3 choices) and leads the executive branch with Prime Minister as their deputy. An amendment in 2015 placed a 2 term limit and reduced President powers, which recently elected President (whose brother was a 2 term President) wants to be overturned. Power Stays in the family! Link
India:
Foreign Returnees Struggle in Kerala: It is known for its citizens finding work in the Gulf and other nations. Now in the pandemic with uncertain economies, a lot of emigrants are returning to low paying jobs and competing with out-of-state migrants who have taken their place in their absence. It happened before during wars and revolutions in the Gulf, but nothing of this scale. Link
JEE postponed to Sep, now a political issue: Round 2 of Jee Mains and Advanced have been postponed from usual April to September and so did many other entrance examinations. Just like the economy, this too cannot be delayed forever. Organizers have to step up to ensure safety and smooth organization so that this doesn’t become even more political. Link
Post Corona TRP-Clicks peak, its SSR’s Death: Everyone from a light boy in his 2018 movie to the neighbor’s dog is interviewed on national TV and media. We need to accept that a full picture will never be there and let Law take its course.
Big Tech:
Apple: $2 Trillion and App Store Trouble: Apple deserves its valuation, but can no longer justify their app store policies of forcing big and small developers to pay 30% commission on all digital sales (or block all updates) and not allowing any cloud gaming apps. Hey.com had a successful PR blitz and now EPIC took it further with a lawsuit and PR campaign (include spoof of 1984 commercial) and Facebook launched gaming service without games. Companies are smelling blood.
Airbnb is planning IPO: Unintuitive time for an IPO when the whole travel industry is in dire straits. Airbnb needs money and its early employees need liquidity as options expire this year (exercising options means tax bills and to pay tax you need to sell shares). Link ($)
Blackberry is back in 2021?: In another bit of fun news, rumors of QWERTY keyboard-based, 5G enabled Android phone is in plans for 2021. Some folks never stop trying. Link
Startup:
Consolidation in Pharma: A low margin and highly competitive space finally see’s M&A activity. Pharmeasy plans to merge with Medlife and Reliance Retail (Jio) acquires NetMeds entering digital health sector and competing with Amazon on another front who started delivering medicines in Bangalore last week. Link
Dream11 wins IPL sponsorship: It replaces Vivo which declined because of the anti-China sentiment across the country. Tencent (WeChat and biggest games publisher in the world) from China is a majority investor currently, so Dream11 is looking to raise money and reduce Chinese ownership. Link
A Tale of Plagiarism: Khatabook which builds digital tools for SME’s and shopkeepers is alleged to have copied another app with similar Name from GrowthPond which was launched 2 months back. GrowthPond claims Khatabook copied them and Khatabook claims that they outsourced development of the app which GP published illegally. Link
Culture:
Recommendations from across the internet.
Youtube: You are a child at heart, but you were also an engineer at NASA and wants to do Youtube. You get Mark Rober and his very interesting experiments. Link
Podcast: If you are new to PodCasting world and looking for a start. Try Season-1 of Serial which made podcasting what it is today. An old high-school murder mystery dug out and explored. Whodunit? Link
Instagram: A must-follow photographer who captures the beauty of India in all its people, colors, and glory.
Since its first newsletter, I have created a dedicated feedback form here. You can also leave comments for suggestions on Culture items and on topics covered.