EVEN as the world makes r e n e w e d attempts to bring a thaw in the raging RussiaUkraine conflict, there seems little concern for the situation in Myanmar where the military regime is playing a deadly and dangerous game. The Tatmadaw, as the military junta is called, has now started using air force to attack civilians who are backers of democracy in Myanmar. The latest report coming out from Sagaing region near Mandalay city revealed that more than 100 people, including children, were killed in airstrikes by the military while attending a ceremony organised by a prodemocracy group. Witnesses said that fighter jets dropped bombs directly into the crowd which had gathered to oppose the Army rule in the country. The escalation in military oppression of civilians is bad news for the country as its democratic government leaders languish in jail for more than two years now. What is very surprising is the meek voices of support to the Mynamarese people by the international community. There has been only lip-service on the restoration of democracy in Myanmar by top powers while none has made a concrete attempt to bring a change in the ground situation. It is nothing but a dirty show of double standards.

 

 

N OTED comm e n t a t o r H a r s h a B h o g l e ’ s criticism of Virat Kohli’s innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has irked the former Indian skipper’s huge fan base. As Bhogle, a respected name in international cricket circuit, deals with the trolls on the social media, the followers of Kohli must reflect on what the commentator has implied in his message. Kohli scored a fine half-century in the IPL game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) but it was not enough as they could now defend the big score and lost by one wicket. Bhogle said Kohli’s innings was perfect for the Twenty20 format but the number of balls he took to reach his half-century after racing to a quick score was akin to playing ‘Test’ cricket. The criticism was not for Kohli’s batting but it was for the misreading of the wicket where a double push was required from the batsman of his calibre given the fact that a score of over 200 too was not safe. Kohli had the chance to unleash his beastly strokes to take the game out of Lucknow’s reach but he chose to consolidate in the traditional manner. The criticism was in the context and situation of the game which a player of Kohli’s calibre cannot misjudge.