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# !+ #,3!% R P ( +6 67 esides the failure of demon- Betisation to check the ram- pant use of black money in the ! just-concluded Assembly elec- tions in the five States, the alarming haul of drugs and +6 67 work involved in the illicit narcotics has been the most business. The gold was smug- worrying factor. From heroin anja and gold kept India’s gled from the Indo-Bhutan to brown sugar to anti-depres- Ganti-smuggling units on border. sants, the 17-crore haul indi- toes last fiscal. If the Directorate In 2017-18 fiscal, the Q cated how deep the rot is. As of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) agency even busted four major for the cash recoveries by the seized 10,000 kg ganja more in factories involved in manu- ! L Election Commission (EC), 2017-18 than the fiscal pre- facturing of synthetic drugs L barring Chhattisgarh, the ceding it, the seizure of gold from Tamil Nadu, Telangana seizures — besides gold and sil- more than doubled during the and Maharashtra leading to # ver — almost doubled since the same period. major seizures of Ketamine, Q $%&' last Assembly elections in the The DRI seized a whop- Mephedrone, Ephedrine and ( other four States this time ping 26,785 kg ganja in 2017- Alprazolam and neutralised ) & round. 18 in comparison to 16,197 kg syndicates involved in manu- ) # Of the seizures of over in 2016-17. Incidentally, the facture, packaging, transport ( 300 crore, 170 crore was seizures of psychotropic sub- and possible export of psy- $%& * $ cash, with Telangana leading stances were mostly made chotropic substances and syn- * the way accounting for 115 from South India that account- thetic drugs. “Synthetic drugs + crore. during the election campaign haul included brown sugar, were seized since the ed for 50 per cent of the haul. pose an emerging threat to * ( ( The Assembly polls in jewellery, gold, silver and plat- smack, opium, ganja, cocaine, announcement of election As for gold, 3,223 kg of the South-Asia in general and ) Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, inum accounted for 25.39 denatonium benzoate, schedule in the first week of yellow metal worth 974 crore India in particular,” the agency $%& Telangana, Chhattisgarh and crore. methamphetamine, heroin, October. was seized in contrast to 1,422 warned in its latest report. Mizoram was thus one heady Booze also flowed freely in tablets of antidepressants Former Chief Election kg worth 472 crore in 2016- The report, published by + + mix of cash, jewellery, liquor the States as the recoveries Alprazolam and Tramadol. All Commissioner OP Rawat too 17. Majority of gold seizures DRI, revealed that in case of , -- and drugs/narcotics. were whopping 17.29 lakh litres this worth 16.85 crore. has pointed out that demon- was from the four metros illicit drugs, the number of . Interestingly, Chhattisgarh worth 53.51 crore. The value In Telangana, the etisation didn’t reduce the use which are high consumption seizures in the last fiscal ' ) is the only State where overall of other items including vehi- Commission’s seizure stood at of misuse of black money in centres in the country. increased to 78, up from 64 in seizure of cash, jewellery, drugs cles and illegal arms stood at 137 crore which included elections. In fact, in some States In fact, the agency carried 2016-17. and liquor is lower this year as 31.35 crore. 115.16 crore in cash and, 689 more seizures were reported out a major operation on Ganja is mostly transport- compared to the last Assembly But then, liquor apart, the gram diamond, 147 gram plat- compared to previous years. Thursday and Friday in ed through commercial vehi- polls in 2013. new and the most disturbing inum, 18 kg gold,106 kg silver Apart from cash, over 10 Lucknow and Siliguri (West cles by concealments in false $%&L As per the Commission’s trend that was observed this worth 6.70 crore. As much as lakh litres of liquor worth 15 Bengal) and seized 66 kg gold partitions, secret cavities and * data, apart from the unac- Assembly election was the use 3,754 kg drugs (ganja, denato- crore was seized across worth 21 crore and arrested under cover cargo to avoid counted money worth over of drugs and narcotics in the nium benzoate, cocaine, brown Telangana over the last one four persons who are being detection by law enforcement L 300 crore from the five States five States during polls. The sugar, opium, afeem doodh) month. questioned on the larger net- agencies. ( / * + + Q # R # +) 01-2 - $ % Kolkata: Stepping up efforts to +6 67 linked to Robert Vadra on !-#9-3##6# ( ( / Special Task Force for further make sure that the Bengal Friday. 3*1+8 9/553 investigation,” said police. Government does not pose he Congress on Saturday “The people in power espe- rmoured vehicles rolled 1 UP Principal Secretary any more hurdles for its “rath Tjumped into the defence of cially PM is thinking that the Athrough central Paris on 01-3 he Uttar Pradesh (Home) Arvind Kumar on yatras” on December 12, the its leader Sonia Gandhi’s son- exit polls are right and are Saturday as riot police clashed + 5 ! TGovernment on Saturday Saturday said that the West Bengal unit of the BJP in-law Robert Vadra whose scared. People in opposition are with “yellow vest” demonstra- transferred Bulandshahr Senior Bulandshahr SSP will be filed caveat in the Supreme associates were raided by the being targeted by sending IT, tors, who set fire to barricades ! # / Superintendent of Police (SSP) replaced by Sitapur SP Court and the Calcutta High Enforcement Directorate (ED) ED. I want to ask Modi rather and hurled rocks in the latest ( Krishna Bahadur Singh to the Prabhakar Chaudhary. Court on Saturday. saying that people in power, blame him why such things are demonstrations against ! DGP office in Lucknow, five Additional Director The Bengal Government especially Prime Minister happening in his rule,” Sibal President Emmanuel Macron. days after two people, includ- General (ADG) Intelligence will now have to give notice to Narendra Modi, is scared questioned at a Press conference Shouts of “Macron, resign” $ ( * 4 ing police inspector, were killed SB Shiradkar had on Friday the BJP if they move an appli- “thinking that the exit polls are in the evening after Singhvi had mingled with tear gas on the &) in violence in Syana police submitted a report on the cation to the apex court against right” and worried about defeat already lashed out at the Modi Champs-Elysees avenue, which ( station area in Bulandshahr Bulandshahr violence. The the HC bench order of Friday. in Assembly elections. Government earlier in the day was the scene of the worst riot- ( over the alleged cow slaughter. transfers are understood to be Coming down heavily on A battery of top Congress claiming that the raids were a ing in Paris in decades last On Friday night, the UP in line with the findings of the the State Government for fail- leaders, including Kapil Sibal, reflection of “the highest degree week. Thick plumes of black * Government had transferred report on police handling of the ing to respond to letters of the Ahmed Patel and Abhishek of panic” of the ruling dispen- smoke from fires could be * the Circle Officer of Syana, situation. BJP seeking permission for its Manu Singhvi, attacked the sation, “awaiting” poll defeats in seen rising high into the sky 2 5 Satya Prakash Sharma, and On December 3, Inspector “rath yatras”, a Division Bench Government for the searches the Assembly polls. over the city. ' ) & Chingravati police outpost in- Subodh Kumar Singh and a of the Calcutta HC had on by the ED against three persons Detailed report on P5 Meanwhile, around 70 6 & charge Suresh Kumar. local youth, Sumit, were killed Friday directed Bengal Chief people were arrested on Meanwhile, Armyman in violence over the alleged cow Secretary, Home Secretary and Saturday in the Belgian capital ( ( Jitendra Malik, known as Jitu slaughter incident in Director General of Police to Brussels during copycat “yellow Fauzi, who is alleged to be Bulandshahr. The inspector sort out the yatra imbroglio by vest” demonstrations rocking ( behind the killing of inspector and his team had gone to the December 12 and inform the neighbouring France, Belgian Subodh Kumar Singh, was village to tackle the violence appellant (the BJP) about their police said. 6 * 4 arrested by the Army’s 22 when they came under attack. decisions. The decision should The area housing Rashtriya Rifles (RR) from The UP Police has arrested be reasonable and not arbitrary, European institutions including ( north Kashmir's Sopore, where nine accused in the the Judges said. the offices of the European Q he is posted, on Saturday. Malik Bulandshahr case but the main The court’s direction was Commission and the European has been shifted to Srinagar. conspirator, Yogesh Raj, the dis- described as a “big win for Parliament was sealed off as a / / “The accused soldier will trict convener of the Bajrang democracy” by BJP president precautionary measure. be handed over to UP Police’s Dal, is on the run. Amit Shah. Agencies " #! % "& Related reports on P7 ( 7 / 7 $%&Q !" R +6 67 Wildlife SOS CEO Kartick % ! * 6 ( Satyanarayan said, “The civet is 6 # :! ; n injured Asian Palm Civet under immense stress and will +)4 # O Awas rescued from near take time to recover from the / / !" Sanjay Van adjoining a resi- ordeal. Our dedicated team of % ( dential area in Mehrauli on veterinarians is carrying out the ( < 8 Friday evening. According to necessary treatment for the # # #$ Wildlife SOS and rescue team injuries. Upon complete recov- * . $%&9 officials, the civet was attacked ery, it will be released back into ) O by a pack of feral dogs and sus- its natural habitat. It is heart- P tained bite wounds on its torso ening to see people taking ( 4 01-3 !"# % &' and neck. timely action to help this civet ( ( ( ! &) " ( “An injured Asian Palm and for reaching out to Wildlife (( ) 8 Civet was rescued by Wildlife SOS.” + ! . !" SOS on a temple premises near Explaining about the Qutub Minar. The animal was nature of Asian Palm Civet, $%& ( * O + in need of immediate medical Wasim Akram, Manager on # ' * * ( , - attention and is currently being Special Projects, said the civet #6 Q Q # #$ treated by the Wildlife SOS vet- can be seen in urban environ- # erinarians,” said Wildlife SOS’ ments rarely as they tend to be * $ %&' rescue team. shy and wary of humans. () %'*+ “The civet was spotted on “Rapid encroachment on 8 , ,#. # ( the fringes of Sanjay Van civet’s habitat and deforestation &.' adjoining a residential area in is beginning to redefine the / 0 1 Mehrauli. Owing to the repet- boundaries between forest and . Q ( itive sightings, the residents urban areas. Consequently, 2 consider such occurrences nat- incidents of wild animals stray- + $ (( ural and common,” a Wildlife ing into urban area are increas- Q : #$ SOS official said, adding, the ing,” said the Manager on civet sustained wounds. Special Projects. ( ) *+ ,-./ #' %2 + # + 0 1 $ % + #+2# #. 00 7$0+ #$%0( +72+ 4/ 7 3+)0$0% 4/ ' )1 3; 4/ $5 0 dimpled cheeks but also the effort he puts into living the part of a hesitant 1 $; 3 3 5 06 01 boy who knows his limits when it $ $ ( $ / -89: 5 7 comes to the girl he is romancing. 7 6 ) Rajput gives you many moments in ( s possession films go, $ / *89: the film as does debutante Sara Ali $ / &89: this one, for once, is in Khan. Aa totally new setting She is feisty, full of verve and ll the human emotions — the morgue where dead ove in the time of catastrophe, displays a body language which goes of betrayal obsession bodies come in with especially a disaster as recent in with her bindaas take-it-all attitude Aanger jealousy and clockwork regularity. It is Lpublic memory as the with which she graces the screen with revenge are the nuts and dark, dingy and spooky Kedarnath tsunami, is pregnant with all the pedigree that comes from the bolts of this machine centric despite the gizmotic interiors possibilities and this Ronnie Khan khandan of patiala. freaky post apocalyptic where you can fingerprint Screwvala production for most part Together they stitch up the film action adventure. the bodies and pack them off of the film lives up to the till the deluge builds up to breach all The good news is that hygienically. But when expectations. The brewing inter- barriers of life and take 4300 people even if you are spareparts Hannah Grace is wheeled in religion romance between Sara Ali to their watery grave. The credits tell allergic, you will get caught all hell and fear break loose Khan and Sushant Singh Rajput is you 70000 are still missing since the in marvelling at the super London looks amazingly and the audience never have peppery enough to hold much of 2013 catastrophe. human imagination that has similar to a pirate ship on enough of it. A moderately your attention even though the Going by that figure alone, one been put into the movie to Tanker crawlies and the fearful horror movie which imminent deluge that would would have wanted to know more show you how London is a entire story of revenge, comes with an adult tag. eventually sweep away everything is about the tragedy than one gets to tanker city on wheels headed ambition and survival mix constantly knocking the doors of know through this big canvas, well to collide and destroy well into the well-knit your mind. shot, slim on music film which anything that comes in its scenario which keeps you on You get to wait endlessly for the engages the audience nevertheless. way. the hook for the entire show. disaster while unravelling the The debate will be on whether the Hollywood’s cinematic Brilliant localing and special common nuts and bolts of a love love angle could have been the side imagination has long been effects get you going in a story between a pandit ki beti and a story and the disaster notes kept on a running wild and Mortal manner that may even musalmaan pitthuwala in a Bholey tidal high. For me, Kedarnath work Engines is a quantum but surprise your responses. Baba ka pilgrim town. Sushant makes as a good combination story told and intoxicating leap in that A must film to watch and his presence felt not just with his depicted excellently. direction. The wheel city of enjoy. 0
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!$ % during their 10-year misrule. crimes of omission and com- visit Sri Darbar Sahib and In a statement, the Chief mission, he added. perform seva as their biggest Minister lambasted the Badal He cited the massive crit- ever political drama. 5-%#- 9 giveness was taken by the clan and other party leaders & icism faced by the Badals from In a statement, Mann said *7+ ,-7 party's core committee meet- MLAs for misusing religion to their own senior party leaders, that the almighy bestow bless- ing held on Thursday in the garner public support, which who had been expelled from ings on those who commit he top leadership of backdrop of the party facing they had completely lost over the Akali primary leadership mistakes unknowingly but TShiromani Akali Dal, led severe criticism over several the past two years. recently. With their party split Badals have destroyed the by former chief minister incidents pertaining to sacri- He expressed shock over wide open, and faced with state knowingly by looting Parkash Singh Badal, his son lege of Guru Granth Sahib and the failure of former chief total alienation from the dis- the wealth of Punjab. He said and party president Sukhbir police firing incidents in 2015 minister Parkash Singh Badal illusioned people of Punjab, anticipating the end of their Singh Badal and former min- that had taken place during and SAD president Sukhbir the Badals were now resorting, political career, they are trying ister Bikram Singh Majithia on SAD-BJP regime. Singh Badal to admit their once again, to political gim- to again befool the people of Saturday performed “Joda The Badal family is in the mistakes even now, when they mickry in a desperate bid to state by using religious tools. Sewa” service (cleaning of eye of strorm following their had approached the Akal regain some of the lost polit- Asking Badals to explain shoes of devotees) as part of a indictment by the Justice Takht for forgiveness. The ical ground in the run-up to to people of state about their Sikh ritual after the Ardas at (Retd) Ranjit Singh Badals know very well what the parliamentary elections, mistakes for that they are Akal Takht for seeking for- Commission which was were the mistakes they had that are less than six months seeking apology, Mann said giveness for the past mistakes. formed to investigate over 100 committed during their tenure away, the Chief Minister Badals have now accepted that The leaders, who reached cases of sacrilege of holy Guru and yet had chosen to call their added. they are responsible for dese- Amritsar on Saturday to seek Granth Sahib and police firing misdeeds `any inadvertent Capt Amarinder chal- cration of Sri Guru Granth apology from the highest Sikh on the Sikhs who were protest- errors’, pointed out Capt lenged the Badals to come out Sahib, suicide of farmers and temporal seat for mistakes ing against inaction in sacri- Amarinder Singh, flaying the openly to acknowledge their grabbing the control over committed knowingly and lege cases. Two Sikh youth Akali leadership for once again mistakes to prove their sin- resources of state. He said unknowingly during their 10 were killed in police firing at taking refuge in religion to fur- cerity to the people, if they Badal duo are shrewd politi- years tenure in Punjab, also Bargari and several got injured ther their political interests. really wanted to be forgiven for cians and have always used performed the service of in police action at Kotkapura It was obvious that the their misdeeds. religion to divert the attention cleaning utensils at Golden in 2015. The commission had Badals had their eyes on the of people from core issues. Temple. held Parkash Singh Badal forthcoming Lok Sabha elec- : Mann said that Badals An Akhand Path (three- responsible for the sacrilege tions and the apology drama have now been exposed in the day long uninterrupted recit- and firing incidents. %)! " % * + , ,&' )' "& had been enacted for that 6 court of people and can not ing of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Akali Dal was also in the purpose, said the Chief Aam Aadmi Party MP befool the people with their ji) also commenced at Golden eye of storm over the issue of (old guard) leaders including for causing “irreparable dam- Punjab Chief Minister Capt Minister. Had they been sin- from Sangrur, Bhagwant cheap tactics. He said that Temple on behalf of the party granting pardon to Dera Sacha Ranjit Singh Brhampura, age” to the party. Amarinder Singh ridiculed cere in their apology, they Mann on Saturday lashed out drama of Badals can not bring and many SAD leaders , Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sewa the SAD leadership for would not have chosen to give at Badals for again trying to back the Sikh yougsters killed including members of the core Rahim Singh in a 2007 blas- Singh Sekhwan, who had been indulging in political theatrics their misdeeds the garb of befool people of state by cre- by police at Bargari, farmers committee of the party, were phemy case and which (par- expelled from the primary P in the name of religion with `inadvertent errors’ but would ating drama of seeking apolo- committed suicide and those present on the occasion. don) was later withdrawn by membership of Akali Dal, had their farcical display of regret have had the decently and gy for their past mistakes. He died with the drugs during The decision to seek for- the Akal Takht. Even Taksali blamed the party's leadership Soon after the apology, over the misdeeds committed courage to admit to their called the move of Badals to Akali rule. # P' '' P55&
concerning the implementation efforts of Computer of eCourts Project and the Committee of High Court of Q allied matters. Punjab and Haryana in bring- Addressing the conference, ing the High Court amongst Justice Hemant Gupta dwelled the front runners in the matter *7+ ,-7 upon the journey of judicial of Computerization. system from ‘Courts to e- Justice Surya Kant, while aryana Chief Minister Courts’. He highlighted the emphasizing the necessity of HManohar Lal on Saturday initial resistance to the infusion the use of information and said the establishment of ‘Kisan of information and communi- communication technology for Kalyan Pradhikaran’ will play a cation technology into the judi- making the judicial system very important role in doubling cial system. He also spoke more effective and efficient, farmers income by integrating about the success of the e- also cautioned against over- different schemes and poli- Courts project and the benefits dependence over technology in cies. being reaped by the public the arena requiring application Presiding over a meeting of from e-Services. Justice Gupta of mind. ‘Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran’ also impressed upon getting All the Speakers acknowl- constituted under Agriculture feedback from Advocates and edged the contribution made and Farmers’ Welfare litigants regarding the system by Justice Madan B. Lokur, Department here, he said that so as to further improve the Judge, Surpeme Court in mak- the Pradhikaran has been set same. ing the e-Courts Project a up with the purpose of under- said farmer’s welfare is one of Sandhu made a presentation Chief Justice Krishna great success. taking a humanistic and holis- the most important agenda of about the basic functions, Murari elaborated that the judi- On this occasion, the High tic welfare based approach to the Government. Emphasising objective and latest station of cial system has become more Court of Punjab and Haryana address the difficulties faced by that Pradhikaran will make Pradhikaran. transparent as detailed infor- launched Case Information the farmers of the state and to farmer centric policies, he said Others present in the meet- *7+ ,-7 Justice Krishna Murari, Chief amongst all the stake holders of mation regarding case status Software 1.0 for better con- provide relief to distressed efforts are being made to pro- ing included Minister of State Justice, High Court of Punjab e-Courts Project i.e. and history is now available on nectivity with the National farmers in varying and chal- tect farmer market risks. for Food, Civil Supplies and he Second National and Haryana and Justice Surya Department of Justice, e- the electronic platform which is Judicial Data Grid. A Souvenir lenging situations. He said that the Consumer Affairs Karan Dev TConference of the Kant, Chief Justice, High Court Committee of the Supreme easily and promptly accessible. containing articles from all the Manohar Lal said facilities Pradhikaran will provide a Kamboj, MLA, Jasbir Deswal, Computer Committees of the of Himachal Pradesh. Court of India, Computer Terming the e-Courts pro- High Courts and a book com- for branding and food pro- platform for exchange of ideas Principal Secretary to Chief High Courts was inaugurated The two days conference Committees of High Courts, ject as a big leap towards the piled by Justice Rajesh Bindal, cessing should be made avail- across departments, farmers Minister, Rajesh Khullar, on Saturday at Chandigarh with the theme “e-Courts Central Project Coordinators fulfillment of Constitutional highlighting the I.T. initiatives able to the farmers for adding and experts. Additional Principal Secretary Judicial Academy in the pres- Project – Exploring New (CPCs) of the High Courts and obligation of providing justice taken by High Court of Punjab values to their produce. Additional Chief Secretary, to Chief Minister, V. ence of Justice Hemant Gupta, Horizons”, would provide a the Government Agencies like to the citizens at their and Haryana were also Agriculture and Farmers’ Agriculture and Farmers’ Umashankar, amongst others. Judge, Supreme Court of India, platform for deliberations N.I.C. on the various issues doorsteps, he appreciated the released. Welfare Minister, O.P. Dhankar Welfare Department, Navraj & ' $( "
*7+ ,-7 been approved by the Chief posed road is 1.01 km. administrative approval to Rs 15.16 *7+ ,-7 < "<6 >26 .1"6 "< degrees Celsius, respectively. Minister Manohar Lal, an official The government has also lakh for widening with hard shoul- <3 "<! ",?"3,3 #,." UT Chandigarh, joint capital of aryana Government on spokesman said, adding that the accorded administrative approval to dering of Thanesar Jhansa road to old weather conditions pre- >.<.>!> ,> ,"!",1 +046 Punjab and Haryana, recorded a HSaturday said it has accorded government has also accorded Rs 116.38 lakh for widening with Ajrana Khurd in district Cvailed in most parts of Punjab 40@6 4 <3 A0% 3,B",,1 ,1.!16 minimum temperature at 7.1 degrees administrative approval to three administrative approval to Rs hard shouldering and strengthen- Kurukshetra. The total length of this and Haryana on Saturday with ",1 ,?.,6 ! #",, 3,B",,1 Celsius. projects of widening with hard 112.04 lakh for widening with hard ing of link road from State road is 0.750 km. Bathinda being the coldest place at 2, <"> In Haryana, Ambala, Hisar, shouldering, construction and shouldering and construction of Highway-01 to Meerpur via Barauli Similarly, the Government has 4 degrees Celsius. Karnal and Narnaul recorded their strengthening of roads in three dis- road from Dalamwala Hotel to in district Ambala. The total length accorded administrative approval of In Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana cials said on Saturday. minimum temperatures at 8.6, 6.5, tricts-- Jind, Ambala and HUDA Sector 7 and 8 up to of this road is 3.31 km. Rs 104.76 lakh for providing paver and Patiala braved cold weather at Adampur, Halwara and 6 and 7.2 degrees Celsius, respec- Kurukshetra. Western Yamuna Canal at Jind in The spokesman said that the block of link road from NH-73 to 5.6, 7.6 and 7.9 degrees Celsius, Pathankot recorded their minimum tively, up to three degrees below nor- Proposals to this effect have district Jind. The total length of pro- government has also accorded PHC Pathereri in district Ambala. respectively, MeT Department offi- temperatures of 4.3, 5.4 and 7.2 mal. $%%&%&&'%( ! "!
*7+ ,-7 Air force, Space and Cyber 1965 War”, Lt Gen TS Shergill Singh, besides Actors Sonu Domain, it was also a part of (Retd) said a mix of cohesive Sood and Gurmeet Chaudhary. efence experts on Saturday the modern warfare. strategy and aggression paid The defence experts also Dcalled for development of Addressing the gathering, dividends for India during the underscored the need to have Dwelling on the role of cin- more indigenous equipment of Lieutenant General (Retd.) SP 1965 war with Pakistan. direct connect between com- ema in portraying valour of the Information Warfare in the Kochar said that Information mon masses and armed forces armed forces, the panalists and country to build an edge Warfare must be seen as an ; to realise the hardships faced by audience largely appreciated against adversaries in the bat- enabler to support the ) the army personal and their the contribution of Bollywood tlefield. Commander during the war 24X7 arduous nature of duty to in producing films like Haqiqat, Participating in a discus- operations. He also advocated ) safeguard our borders from Border, Lakshay and the sion on ‘Information Warfare- that every Jawan who enters the To ensure better interface internal as well as external recently launched ‘Paltan’ to the new face of war’, Lt General training centre be IT qualified. between public and the armed aggression. showcase the gallantry deeds of (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi said Meanwhile, the major fac- forces, defence experts on Lt Gen. (Retd) N S Brar our brave soldiers. despite major advancements in tors which triggered the 1962- Saturday emphasised the need underlined the need for general Participating in the dis- the field, India was still bank- Indo-China war were discussed to bring far more openness in debates in the public domain cussions, actor Sonu Sood and ing on Information Warfare at length during a panel dis- defence matters to mobilise on matters related to National co-star Gurmeet Chaudhary of Techniques imported from cussion - Over Hang Of The public opinion in the larger Security and defence forces. Hindi movie ‘Paltan’, directed other countries, which could be Sino-India War Of 1962 And interest of national security. Thus, intimate interface was by JP Dutta, gave a brief very fatal. He said that at a time Today--by former top army They were also of the opin- required more frequently account about an action-war when all forms of weapons, officials, film-makers and mil- ion that there should no politi- between the Government and drama based on incident of whether nuclear, conventional itary authors. cisation of the defence forces, defence forces on issues of 1967 Indo-China. Sonu said the or sub conventional, were being The panelists included which was gradually creeping higher defence management, film vividly presented the real- managed by computers it was Major General (retd) G.G. experts advocate a level playing globally, which was more than 30% and imports had into the system. he added. time war account, thus por- not good that we were still Dwivedi who retired as field for private entrepreneurs what China and Pakistan decreased to 70%. This came out during an The panelists felt that reg- traying the patriotic spirit of banking on equipment made Assistant Chief Integrated for boosting Defence produc- import collectively. He said In his address, Lt General interactive session on `Valour, ular media interaction should Indian soldiers with the objec- by others. Defense Staff (strategic), Major tion in the country in order to that in 1992, the Defence (Retd.) KJ Singh also laid stress History, Politics and Media’ be held to dispel misconcep- tive of imbibing the spirit of In his address, Lt General General P.J.S Sandhu (retd) make the country self reliant in Reseasrch and Development on status check and formulat- with columnist Vir Sanghvi tions while reporting military nationalism amongst the coun- (Retd.) RS Panwar said that veteran of 1971 Indo-Pak war, military hardware. Organisation had chalked out ing future strategies on pro- on the second day of Military affairs far more accurately to trymen, especially the young- while countries like US, China Lieutenant General J. S. Taking part in a discussion a 10-year plan under which the ducing weapons under Make in Literature Festival-2018 here at ensure its credibility on the one sters. and Russia had already taken Cheema (retd), film-maker on Military Industrial Base then trend of 80% import of India. the Lake Club. hand and achieve the ultimate Several serving and retired concrete steps to strengthen and military historian Shiv and Make in India, former weapons and 20% export was Vice Admiral (Retd.) HS The panalists included Lt. objective of national security military personnel, historians, their Information Warfare Kumar Verma and Claude Chief of Indian Army General to be reversed within ten years. Malhi called for a paradigm Gen (Retd) N S Brar, Lt. on the other. foreign military delegates, aca- techniques, India was still to Arpi, author of –The Fate of (Retd.) VP Malik said that However, General Malik said shift in Defence Production. General (Retd) T S Shergill, UK demicians and students active- take an appropriate call on it. Tibet. India was importing 14% of the that in 2005 it was found that During a discussion on based Brig. Justin Maciejewski, ly participated in the session. He said that like Army, Navy, Another session saw total arms and ammunition exports had increased to just “Armour Operations of the NDTV Channel Head Arati ( ) *+ ,-./ ) 1 ) *$$ + * " *7+ ,-7
uring the International Gita Mahotsav 2018, effort would + Dbe made to highlight the significance of Kurukshetra and Mahabharata through 3D mapping light and sound show. For this light and sound show, about 3,000 square feet and 125 feet *7+ ,-7 #, ,#.?, ,> ,3 E" ,,?.< long stage would be set in the Brahma Sarovar. ?> .B< 1 ," #, .<.>.< A spokesman of the Kurukshetra Development Board on head of the local body B.,< 2 #, ?<3.3, " #,." Saturday said that everyday four shows of half-an-hour duration Apolls in Haryana, State ,,?.< B,<1 #, 3.1".? each would be shown after 5:30 p.m. from December 13 to 18, Election Commission, on 3>.<.1".< 1#!3 < 2, 2018. Two characters performing the role of Lord Krishna and Saturday said there is no limit ",F!.1..<,3 2 #, Arjuna would be shown. The show is being organised especial- on vehicles which a candidate 3>.<.1".< ly for tourists coming from abroad, he added. can use for electioneering pur- Artists from across the world would draw significant pose. However, before the before the actual deployment of moments of Mahabharata on the walls of Kurukshetra. For this, campaigning commences, the the vehicle. about 200 best artists have been invited by the Kurukshetra candidates would have to fur- The spokesman said that Development Board. These artists have been given the theme of nish the details of such vehicles the details so obtained should Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita for drawing paintings. Apart and the areas or wards in be conveyed to the Deputy from this, the Board would honour these artists on December which they would be used for Commissioner and Election 9. BJP President, Amit Shah would be present in the International campaign purpose to the Expenditure Observer con- Gita Mahotsav on December 13 and former President, Pranab Returning Officer, who after cerned, so that they can check Mukherjee and Union External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj necessary scrutiny would issue the expenditure in this regard would be present on December 18. a permit. is correctly included in the A spokesman of the expenditure account of the Commission said that the orig- candidate. . ( inal copy of the permit issued He said that any vehicle by the Returning Officer used for the campaigning with- ( 1 #A should be displayed on the out due authorization or per- wind screen of the vehicles. The mit by the candidate would be 7 - '' ' . ' ' '' permit should be of such deemed to be unauthorised % " " dimension that it could be and might attract penal provi- *7+ ,-7 New Delhi: Police said on seen from a distance, he added. sions of chapter IX A of the Friday that they had arrested The permit should contain Indian Panel Code and would attle lines have been drawn three criminals from the Kapil the number of the vehicle, date therefore be immediately taken Bin Haryana for the local Sangwan gang when they were of issue of permit, name of the out of the campaigning exer- body elections after the com- planning to eliminate members candidate and the area where it cise. pletion of the process for filing of a rival gang led by Manjit would be used for campaign- The vehicle employed for nomination papers, scrutiny Mahaly. ing. Any further deployment of election campaign as per the and withdrawal. Tarun Kumar, Nakul any additional vehicles can intimation given by the candi- Elections would be held for Sangwan and Rohit Gahlawat take place only after notice to date or their election agents to posts of Mayor and Members of were arrested on a tip from the this effect is given by the can- the district administration all the wards of Municipal residence of Kapil Sangwan in didates or their agents and per- should not be requisitioned by Corporations of Hisar, Rohtak, Najafgarh on Friday, Deputy mit obtained for the same the administration. Yamuna Nagar, Panipat and Commissioner of Police Anto Karnal, and Municipal Alphonse said. Committees of Jakhal Mandi "Sensing police presence (Fatehabad) and Pundri outside the residence, the three (Kaithal). State Election panicked and opened fire on Commissioner, Dalip Singh on the police party in a bid to Saturday said that 59 candidates escape. But none of the police including 40 male candidates personnel were hurt as they and 19 females candidates are in had bullet proof jackets," fray for Mayor and total 592 can- Alphonse said. didates including 320 males The three, from Haryana, candidates and 272 females can- were later overpowered. didates are in fray for Members Nakul Sangwan, a cousin of all the wards of Municipal of Kapil Sangwan, disclosed Corporations. Similarly, total that he and the others were 89 candidates including 35 males planning to provide security to candidates and 55 females can- his brother (Kapil) in a didates are in fray for Municipal Gurugram court as they feared Committee. that the rival gang would carry out an ambush in the court, the officer said. So they decided to carry out an attack in advance to cre- ate terror. Kapil Sangwan is lodged in Bhondsi jail in Gurugram. A pistol made in Turkey and two pistols with 40 live car- tridges were recovered from the three arrested men. IANS - &1 G'' + &' ? ** Gurugram: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed authorities to reveal how many Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes were printed daily after demonetization till November 30, 2016, an RTI activist said on Saturday. Gurugram-based Right To Information (RTI) activist Harinder Dhingra had sought the information regarding the number of notes printed daily !"!B">D21,3 ?..1 ".<3," #.
from November 9, 2016 to November 30, 2016. Dhingra applied for the information through RTI Act on February 23, 2017. The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) earlier refused to share the information, Dhingra told IANS. The second appeal was filed on August 16, 2017. Dhingra said that after a hearing on November 30, 2018, Information Commissioner Sudhir Bhargava on December 5, 2018 issued an order to pro- vide the information. "Number of notes printed on daily basis from November 9, 2016 to November 30, 2016 was not so sensitive as to attract the exemption provi- sions under section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, therefore CPIO has been directed to provide the information sought," the order read. Orders on banning the then existing Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes were implemented from the midnight of November 8, 2016. IANS ( ) *+ ,-./ *
6 % &%(&P+% 1)'P ! / $ # '' Q --R +6 67 8+ %76 #56 ##36 G (H The of Military Operations +6 67 into the office," Sibal said. nothing but a ploy to divert the *8+,-6## 6 6- ! 2016 surgical strikes were a (DGMO), who had announced The senior Congress attention of the people from day after former Northern *7 5-5 # % # successful tactical operation the operation at a press con- he Congress on Saturday leader, who is also a top lawyer, the real issues and the BJP's ACommand chief Lt General 76-%6++, %7% !6-#8+# which conveyed a clear mes- ference, refused to comment Tjumped into the defence of wondered at what he called failures," he said. (retired) DS Hooda said con- 78 6-6 + 16S !8#%# + sage to Pakistan to stop any on the politicisation of surgi- its leader Sonia Gandhi's son- "hooliganism" by the law The results of the Madhya stant hype around the surgical %76 ,8<6-+56+% 6-6 misadventure along the Line cal strikes. in-law Robert Vadra whose enforcement agencies and Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, strikes in Pakistan Occupied of Control (LoC), Army's Singh said all actions carried associates were raided by the sought to know as to who Rajasthan, Telangana and Kashmir (POK) in 2016 was N#76 +, %76- 6- + Northern Command Chief Lt out by the Army along the LoC Enforcement Directorate (ED) would rein in them if they were Mizoram Assembly polls will unwarranted, Congress presi- -61+, #6+*6O 8+ Gen Ranbir Singh said on were carried out in an extreme- saying that people in power, to be backed by the be announced on December dent Rahul Gandhi on Saturday 5!8-%+% !8*6# Saturday. ly professional manner to meet especially Prime Minister Government itself. 11, on a day when the one- attacked Prime Minister + 6*#8+# His comments came a day the national aspirations and Narendra Modi, is scared "What kind of Government month-long winter session of Narendra Modi over the issue after Lt Gen (retd) D S Hooda, achieve the military objectives. "thinking that the exit polls are is it? If law enforcement agen- the Parliament would also and charged that the Prime shedding their fear and break- who was associated with the He said there are many right" and worried about defeat cies start hooliganism then commence. The poll-results Minister used the military Congress leader P ing their silence". operation, said it was natural to other options to check infil- in assembly elections. who will question them? If are expected to set the tone for action for “political capital”. Chidambaram said it was Congress' chief spokesper- have initial euphoria over the tration of terrorists from across A battery of top Congress they're supported by the PM, not only the Parliament session Responding to a question heartening that persons who son Randeep Surjewala success but the constant hype the border. leaders, including Kapil Sibal, then who'll question it? Where , the last of the 16th Lok Sabha, during the Military Literature were in key posts in the thanked Hooda for "exposing around the surgical strikes was Surgical strike is only one Ahmed Patel and Abhishek is the law and order in the but also that of the 2019- Festival in Chandigarh on Government were “shedding the petty politicisation by PM unwarranted. of the options through which Manu Singhvi, stepped out to country," he sought to argue General Elections, only few Friday, Hooda, who was the their fear and breaking Modi". "No one can use the val- In hindsight, it would have we stop infiltration. The attack the Government over while defending Vadra. months away. Barring commander when the surgical silence” on important policies our & sacrifice of our brave sol- been better had we had kept it armed forces have a range of the searches by the Earlier, Singhvi, who also Rajasthan where exit-polls have strikes were carried out, had and decisions. diers to score cheap political a secret, he had said on Friday options and they are being Enforcement Directorate addressed a press conference uniformly given Congress an said in hindsight, it would In a series of tweets, points Modiji is squarely guilty at an event in Chandigarh. analysed at all times and the against three persons linked to here at the party headquarters, edge over the BJP, opinions are have been better had “we done Chidambaram said it was for- of compromising National On September 29, 2016, best course of action is put Robert Vadra on Friday. alleged that there was never dived on Madhaya Pradesh, it (surgical strikes) secretly”. mer Chief Economic Advisor Security & Strategic Interests by Indian Army commandos had into effect, he said. "The people in power espe- such a "terror raj" in the "con- Chattisgarh, Telangana and He had also said it was natur- (CEA) Arvind Subramanian, unwarranted chest thumping!" carried out surgical strikes Responding to a question cially PM is thinking that the stitutional rule" of India. Mizoram. al to have initial euphoria who first broke his silence by he wrote on Twitter. against terror launch pads about possible attempts to exit polls are right and are "We fought the British Raj The ED had carried out about the success but the con- terming demonetisation a Last month, Subramanian across the LoC in Pakistan- revive militancy in Punjab, scared. People in opposition and the BJP would do well to searches against the three per- stant maintenance of hype "massive monetary shock". had raised concerns related to occupied Kashmir. Singh said Pakistan was trying are being targeted by sending know that the day of judgement sons in connection with its around the military operation The former Finance note ban. Six months after "From military point of to extend the "arc of terrorism" IT, ED. I want to ask Modi will come for it," he said adding probe into alleged "commis- was unwarranted. Minister said that after resigning as CEA, he described view, these were successful tac- beyond Kashmir and the Army rather blame him why such "They are afraid of the sions received by some suspects Taking to Twitter, Rahul Subramanian, the recently- demonetisation as a "massive, tical operations, which con- was taking all measures to things are happening in his Congress and its values, so they in defence deals" and illegal said: “Spoken like a true soldier retired Chief Election draconian, monetary shock". veyed a very strategic message arrest the spread. rule," Sibal questioned at a are threatening people and assets stashed abroad, officials General. India is so proud of Commissioner O P Rawat said Two days after his retire- and the Indian Army was able The armed forces in press conference in the evening using high-handed tactics had said Friday. you. Mr 36 has absolutely no demonetisation had no impact ment, Rawat had said the note to convey a very clear message Jammu and Kashmir are fully after Singhvi had already against those who are relatives Singhvi claimed that the shame in using our military as on the use of black money in ban didn't reduce the misuse of to Pakistan that should they not capable of carrying out any lashed out at the Modi of our leaders or are associat- searches were carried out in a personal asset. “He used the elections. black money in elections but in stop any kind of misadventure task, he said. This, he said, is Government earlier in the day ed with them". violation of laws, adding, "We surgical strikes for political Now, it is Hooda, who has fact in some states more along the LoC, they shall be the reason that the situation in claiming that the raids were a "This is called character have nothing against any par- capital and the Rafale deal to "decried the hype over the so- seizures were reported com- given befitting reply," Singh the state is completely stable. reflection of "the highest assassination by innuendos ticular person, but we are talk- increase Anil Ambani's real called 'surgical strike' and its pared to previous years. The told reporters here on the side- If any untoward incident degree of panic" of the ruling and insinuations. When they ing about principles.... No capital by 30,000 Cr. politicisation by Government", government had banned old lines of his visit to Sainik takes place, the armed forces dispensation, "awaiting" poll do not have facts, this is what Enforcement Case Information #SurgicalStrike (sic).” Chidambaram said, adding, 1,000 and 500 notes on School, his alma mater. act quickly to restore peace and defeats in the assembly polls. they will do," he said. Report (ECIR) of the FIR On the same issue, "Glad to see important persons November 8, 2016. The then Director General stability, he added. PTI Sibal further scaled up the The Congress spokesman has been shared, no search degree of attack saying the ED claimed that the BJP was in a warrant issued, no access to barged into the offices of Vadra "state of panic of the highest lawyers, and detained per- associates without any warrant. degree", sensing rejection sons were also physically ' "There was no FIR, ECIR from the people in the just- roughed up." against Vadra and people of ED concluded Assembly polls in "All of this is happening reached his offices without any five States. because the BJP feels the cer- warrant. They don't say their "The word 'panic' would tainty of the rejection by the names and when asked to wait be an understatement and all people and is desperate to # $ by the people in the office to get these raids and searches divert people's attention from keys to the office, they broke against various people are the real issues," he said. +6 67 2 xternal Affairs Minister New Delhi: Union Minister / ) ESushma Swaraj on Saturday Kiren Rijiju on Saturday asked 1 held wide-ranging talks with the youths of Indian diaspora her counterpart from Iceland to be part of the country’s Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson growth story and become 46 on ways to deepen bilateral ties ambassadors to spread the in areas of trade, investment message of development here. 5 =3 and energy. Interacting with a group of Thordarson arrived here 40 Indian-origin youths from Jammu: Several political Friday on board the inaugural eight countries, Rijiju said they activists from Kishtwar, includ- flight between New Delhi and should participate in India's +6 67 housing projects like Jawaharlal ing a Congress leader, on Reykjavik, the capital of growth and development story ! Nehru National Urban Saturday joined the BJP here Iceland. and share it with the diaspora './! / n a major relief to flat buy- Renewal Mission, Rajiv Awas and pledged to work for At the meeting, Swaraj in their respective countries. Iers, the Ministry of Finance Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas strengthening the party at said Iceland is a world leader "I urge you to give feed- 0! /$ / made it clear that Goods and Yojana or any other housing gross-roots level, a party in geothermal energy and back to the Government , / Service Tax ( GST) will not be scheme of State Governments spokesperson said. cooperation in this sector through voluntarily sparing ! / levied on buyers of real estate attracts 8 per cent GST, which Congress leader Pardeep could benefit India's transition time by sharing your thoughts, 1 properties for which comple- can be adjusted by the builders Singh Parihar, former trade to greener energy mix and help experience, knowledge, and tion certificate is issued at the against its accumulated input union leader Suresh Sharma it in achieving ambitious technology and to suggest 2 time of sale. tax credit (ITC). and eight NC and PDP activists, renewable energy targets, what steps the government of However, Goods and For such (affordable hous- including former sarpanches according to MEA spokesper- India should take to improve sense of connect with their Services Tax (GST) is applica- ing) projects, after offsetting Noor Hussain and Joginder son Raveesh Kumar. the environment and help motherland and to be motivat- ble on sale of under-construc- ITC, the builder or developer Dhar, were welcomed into the "EAM @SushmaSwaraj play a role in building a new ed and inspired by transforma- tion property or ready to move in most cases will not be party fold by senior leaders. and Iceland Foreign Minister India," he said. tion taking place in India. in flats where completion cer- required to pay GST in cash as "Today every nationalist person @GudlaugurThor discussed The youths are touring The youths are from Fiji, tificate is not issued at the time the builder would have enough is joining the BJP influenced by enhancing cooperation in trade India to feel a sense of connect Suriname, Guyana, Myanmar, of sale. ITC in his books of account to the strong policies of Prime & investment, renewable ener- with their motherland and get the Netherlands, South Africa, The ministry also asked the pay the output GST," the Minister Narendra Modi-led gy, specially geothermal ener- exposure to its art, heritage and Sri Lanka and Trinidad and builders to reduce the prices of Ministry said. It said cost of Central Government," said gy, blue economy with a focus culture, an official at the Home Tobago. properties by passing on the housing projects or complex- Union Minister Jitendra Singh. on fisheries, tourism and cul- Ministry said. The participants will visit benefit of lower GST rate. es or flats, other than those in 6*85+, %76 +6 ture at the delegation-level The tour has been organ- places like Parliament "It is brought to the notice affordable segment, would not 6+%-+%# +%8 %76 !-%S talks," he tweeted. ised under the 'Know India Museum Library, President's of buyers of constructed prop- have gone up due to imple- 8 /553 0 1#75- India's ties with Iceland / ) %' % Programmes (KIP)' which is a House, Red Fort, Raj Ghat and erty that there is no GST on mentation of GST. have witnessed steady progress , && ' #! key initiative of the central gov- will meet senior functionaries sale of complex/ building and Presently, residential con- /! !-6# 6+% -<+ 6- in the last few years. % "& ernment. in the central and State ready to move in flats where struction services, will invite -+ # %76 !-%SA# Iceland was the first The initiative has been Governments in order to have sale takes place after issue of GST at the rate of 12 per cent, !8*S 8 R#1 #%7 Nordic country to publicly taken with an aim to engage and the first hand experience of completion certificate by the which will apply to developers #1 <1#R # extend support to India's can- Security Council. tion at the UN to declare make students and young pro- the contemporary develop- competent authority," the selling residential units before didature for permanent mem- It was one of the countries June 21 as the "International fessionals of Indian diaspora in ment in India. They will also ministry said in a statement. completion of construction to %%-*%+, !-85+6+% bership of the United Nations co-sponsoring India's resolu- Day of Yoga". the age group of 18 to 30 feel a be going to Agra. PTI It further said affordable the home buyers. !6-#8+# -85 <-83# !8%* !-%6# +',,($ He said the Centre is work- < ) ; = ) 1 7$+70 ing on every loophole that has been "left in the system ( +6 67 "In many societies, PwDs since Independence" and all often end up disconnected, /' " efforts are being made to uplift ndia's Mahatma Gandhi living in isolation and facing the status of neglected and INational Rural Employment discrimination," he said, high- rejected sections of society. Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) - lighting that more than one bil- ( +6 67 "During transportation it the men were not employees of "Under the strong leader- the world's largest wage-based lion people in the world live was fell down on the way, was Reliance Jio, but technicians of a ship of Modi, India has wit- social protection programme- with some form of disability. aking note of a viral video reported to Returning Officer local vendor who had gone to the nessed phenomenal increase in has been cited, in a first-ever The report demonstrates Tpurportedly showing an Kishanganj. He examined the site to carry out regular mainte- its graph on global platform," UN report on Disability and how disability-based discrim- electronic voting machine lay- matter and found guiltythe nance work after an outage was he said. Development, as one of the ination has severe effects on ing unattended at the house of officials accompanying during reported with one of their mobile Welcoming the new growing number of good prac- transport, cultural life, and a BJP candidate, the Election transportation. Abdul tower located at the Mahila entrants into the party fold, tices being implemented by access to public places and Commission (EC) has ordered Rasheeq and Patwari Naval Polytechnic College Jagdalpur. Jammu & Kashmir BJP presi- the countries that can create a services, and thus, the report the removal of returning offi- Singh were suspended with In Madhya Pradesh, a set of dent Ravinder Raina said the more inclusive society in which leads with a push to change cer of Pali Assembly seat in immediate effect on Friday voting machines reached the party's policy of "Sabka Saath, people with disabilities (PwDs) workplace, so that workers with have, it adds. urban environments to make Rajasthan after the unit was near a high- strong room in Sagar, 48 hours Sabka Vikaas" was attracting can live independently. disabilities are not looked down Overall, the UN's flagship them more accessible. The EC ordered removal of way found in constituency's after voting ended. According prominent persons from vari- "One example of a public upon or face any form of dis- report in disability and devel- The above challenges often Pali returning officer Mahaveer, Shahabad area in Baran dis- to reports the EVMs were kept ous political parties. employment program with crimination. In 2015-16, about opment, paints a gloomy picture go unseen as a result of insuf- who has been transferred, and trict", an EC order said. at a police station in Khurai city "The people from every measures to effectively include half of the 130,420 persons with on the state of the affairs of the ficient questions relevant to dis- Rakesh from Jodhpur has been It is not just in Rajasthan, in the district, where state section have a strong belief persons with disabilities is pro- disabilities registered under this PwDs, noting that the sector is ability, and consequently, an asked to take the charge, the but in other state like Madhya home minister Bhupendra that as a worker of the BJP, vided by India," says the report programme engaged in work at a disadvantage as far as the underestimation of the number commission said. The EC said Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Singh, the sitting MLA was they will be in better position which was launched on the under the scheme," says the realization of the Sustainable of persons living with disabil- that a section officer carrying which also went to the polls the seeking re-election. The EC in to serve society and the International Day of Persons report. Countries that have start- Development Goals (SDGs) is ities and affected by discrimi- a reserve machine had gone to conduct of some election offi- its report said that the EVMs in nation with a clean and clear with Disabilities last week. ed to explicitly take disability into considered across the countries. nation, and other barriers. the BJP candidate's house fol- cials have caused the opposi- question were not used for vot- mind," he said. It further noted that account in their public employ- The SDGs are a collection Javier Vasquez, who helps lowing which the officer was tion crying foul play. A num- ing, were kept on standby. In a Meanwhile, Raina chaired "through this programme, ment services include India, of 17 global goals set by the UN head up the health division at removed and the EVM taken ber of incidents, mostly relat- similar incident, an EVM a meeting of the party leaders which guarantees 100 days of Ivory Coast, Mexico, Peru, in 2015, which include ending Special Olympics International out of election system. ed to Electronic Voting strong room in Bhopal suffered in connection with the wage employment in a finan- Philippines and Vietnam, said global poverty and hunger, in his role as Vice President, Adding to the headache of Machines took place this year a blackout for nearly one and upcoming Lok Sabha and cial year to every household, the report. implementing sustainable envi- echoed the issue of gaps in the EC a ballot unit ( BBAUD in five assembly polls. a half hours on Friday. It is also assembly polls and asked the state governments in India However, the report at the ronmental practices and more. inclusion and representation. 41390) was found lying on the Earlier, in Chhattisgarh reported that the CCTV cam- party leaders to frame con- have to make efforts to ensure same time also points out that, UN Secretary-General António On average, PwDs die 16 years road in Rajasthan's Kishanganj three men with laptops were eras at the strong room were stituency-wise teams to reach that PwDs are provided work in India as also in Cameroon, Guterres emphasized that the sooner than those living without constituency, hours after vot- detained by police from near a switched off. Even in this case, out to the people. opportunities close to their awareness of health services 2030 Agenda represents a disabilities, however: "A lot of ing ended for the high-stake strong room in Bastar under the EC admitted that that "Involve senior leaders in place of residence, as well as among PwDs is extremely low. commitment to reduce people think people with intel- elections in the State. The suspicious circumstances. CCTV cameras in the strong the teams which will work in paid wages equal to PwDs. In India, only 49 per cent have inequality and promote the lectual disabilities die earlier incident prompted Election The men had claimed that room did not work for over an unison with ground level "This public employment even heard of any general social, economic and political because of their disabilities, and Commission to suspend two they were employees of Reliance hour but there was no dis- workers to secure a win for the programme also seeks to ensure health services, whereas in inclusion of all, including those this is not true," he said accord- poll officials on grounds of Jio. The company, however, crepancy in EVMs found as it party in the upcoming elec- a stigma-free environment at the Cameroon only 73 per cent with disabilities. ing to reports. negligence . refuted the claims and said that was reserved voting machines. tions," he said. PTI 4 ( ) *+ ,-./
0,,&&, , .% ' 1233 $ + ! . ' % $
New Delhi: Taking positive Tuesday and Friday, gold prices ?9 leads from the global market moved northwards through New Delhi: The National Bank efforts of developing countries amid firm demand from local the week to end at 32,350 and for Agriculture and Rural to respond to the challenge of jewellers, gold prices surged 32,200 per 10 grams respec- Development (Nabard) climate change, the bank said New Delhi: The Finance been struggling to collate the 890 to 32,350 per 10 grams tively, climbing 890 each. Saturday signed an agreement in a statement. Ministry has extended the last information required to be at the bullion market during Sovereign ended at 25,000 with Green Climate Fund The agreement with GCF date for filing annual GST disclosed in GSTR-9 and the week. per piece of 8 grams, showing (GCF) to infuse $100 million was signed at an event held on return forms by three months GSTR-9C. Similarly, silver climbed a rise of 100. into the project designed to the sidelines of ongoing until March 31, 2019. PwC Partner and Leader 1,940 to 38,500 per kg on In line with the overall unlock private sector initiatives COP24 in Katowice, Poland, it The annual returns form in (Indirect Tax) Pratik Jain said, higher demand from industri- trend, silver ready traded in the for creation of rooftop solar said. which businesses registered "Industry, as well as consul- al units and coin makers. green zone and ended at power capacity across India. Notably, India, which hosts under the GST have to provide tants, were struggling with Traders said a positive demand from jewellers and 38,500 per kg with an increase The $250 million project, International Solar Alliance, consolidated details of sales, December 31 deadline, given trend in the overseas market retailers at the domestic spot of 1,940. Weekly-based deliv- to be executed by Tata has an ambitious vision of cre- purchases and input tax cred- the volume of work involved lifted gold prices here. market added to the momen- ery gained 3,153 to close at Cleantech Capital Ltd, will ating 100 gw solar power it (ITC) benefits accrued to including preparing a virtual Globally, gold ended the tum, they said. 38,500 per kg during the week. receive the GCF support capacity it said, adding Nabard them during 2017-18 fiscal P&L at a State level". PTI week at $1,247.46 per ounce In the national Capital, Silver coins also gained through Nabard, which is the has been financing solar power was notified in September. The and silver at $14.62 an ounce in gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 1,000 to end at 74,000 for National Implementing Entity projects and installations in last date for filing was set at New York. per cent purity started the buying and 75,000 for selling (NIE) for the UNFCC-pro- various other programmes as December 31, 2018. . +/ $$ A considerable increase in week on a positive note. Except of 100 pieces for the week. moted Fund that supports the well. In a statement, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and $ Customs (CBIC) said, "the competent authority has decid- New Delhi: The Finance of buyers of constructed prop- O ' 456P ed to extend the due date for fil- Ministry on Saturday said GST erty that there is no GST on ing Form GSTR-9, GSTR-9A will not be levied on buyers of sale of complex/ building and and GSTR-9C till March 31, real estate properties for which ready to move in flats where Washington: India will retain and Development Brief. $132 billion in 2018, a stronger per cent in 2018, respectively, 2019. completion certificate is issued sale takes place after issue of its position as the world's top The Bank estimates that pace than the 5.7 per cent the Bank said. The requisite Forms shall at the time of sale. completion certificate by the recipient of remittances this officially-recorded remittances growth seen in 2017. For 2019, it is projected be made available on the GST However, Goods and competent authority," the year with its diaspora sending to developing countries will The upsurge is driven by that remittances growth for common portal shortly”. Services Tax (GST) is applica- Ministry said in a statement. a whopping 80 billion back increase by 10.8 per cent to stronger economic conditions the region will slow to 4.3 per GSTR-9 is the annual ble on sale of under-construc- It further said affordable home, the World Bank said in reach $528 billion in 2018. in advanced economies, par- cent due to a moderation of return form for normal tax- tion property or ready to move housing projects like Jawaharlal a report on Saturday. This new record level follows a ticularly the US, and the growth in advanced economies, payers, GSTR-9A is composi- in flats where completion cer- Nehru National Urban India is followed by China robust growth of 7.8 per cent in increase in oil prices having a lower migration to the GCC tion taxpayers, while GSTR-9C tificate is not issued at the time Renewal Mission, Rajiv Awas ($67 billion), Mexico and the 2017. cant flow of remittances from positive impact on outflows and the benefits from the oil is a reconciliation statement of sale, it said. Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Philippines ($34 billion each) Global remittances, which $62.7 billion in 2016 to $65.3 from some GCC countries price spurt dissipating. Trade and industry players The Ministry also asked Yojana or any other housing and Egypt ($26 billion), accord- include flows to high-income billion 2017. In 2017, remit- such as the UAE which report- The Gulf Cooperation have been seeking an extension the builders to reduce the scheme of State Governments ing to the global lender. countries, are projected to grow tances constituted 2.7 per cent ed a 13 per cent growth in out- Council (GCC) is a regional of the deadline for filing the prices of properties by passing attracts 8 per cent GST, which With this, India has retained by 10.3 per cent to $689 billion, of India's GDP, it said. flows for the first half of 2018. inter-governmental political annual returns. on the benefit of lower GST can be adjusted by the builders its top spot on remittances, it said. The Bank said remittances Bangladesh and Pakistan and economic bloc of Bahrain, EY Tax Partner Abhishek rate. against its accumulated input according to the latest edition of Over the last three years, to South Asia are projected to both experienced strong Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Jain said industry players have "It is brought to the notice tax credit (ITC). PTI the World Bank's Migration India has registered a signifi- increase by 13.5 per cent to upticks of 17.9 per cent and 6.2 Arabia and the UAE. PTI 0 ' ( < =6 4 5 2 % ! ' 6733 $ $$ @ +( % Beijing: China's trade surplus the data from China's customs in November, up from $35 with the United States bal- administration showed. billion the previous month, A: ::: looned to a record $35.6 billion American farmers have the data showed. Vadodara (Guj): Public sector tier II and III cities as well as New Delhi: Axis Bank on in November, official data been hit particularly hard by But growth of exports oil companies Indian Oil, Bharat rural areas, interior areas and Mumbai: Lending major State Saturday inducted Amitabh showed on Saturday, as exports the trade tensions. Trump and imports slowed from Petroleum and Hindustan remote areas as they lack pres- Bank of India (SBI) on Friday Chaudhry as additional direc- across the Pacific remained tweeted this week that China October, with exports rising Petroleum have an ambitious ence in these geographies. said it has received sharehold- tor on its board, three weeks strong despite a raft of US tar- would begin buying products 5.4 per cent for November on- plan to open nearly 4,500 fuel The Indian Oil will set up ers' approval to raise up to ahead of his taking over as the iffs while imports shrank. from US farmers "immediate- year, short of the 9.4 per cent outlets across Gujarat, an offi- 128 retail outlets, with Bharat 20,000 crore. new managing director and Relations between the ly". forecast by Bloomberg News, cial said on Saturday. Petroleum 50 and Hindustan According to the SBI, the CEO of the private sector world's top two economies Usually Chinese buyers and imports rising 3.0 per Talking to reporters here, Petroleum 49 in Vadodara dis- approval for its proposal to lender. continue to be tense despite a have snapped up American cent on-year, also below the Indian Oil chief regional man- trict of Gujarat. "create, offer, issue and allot He will replace incumbent trade war truce struck between soybeans in the final months of forecast. ager Sunil Vikramsingh said, "All these OMCs are set to such number of equity shares Shikha Sharma whose fourth US President Donald Trump the year as the harvest hits the The sagging export and "To meet the increasing require- expand their fuel retail network of 1 for an amount not term has been curtailed by the and his counterpart President market and beans from com- import growth is another bad ments of customers on high- after a gap of nearly four years, exceeding 20,000 crore ..." was RBI by nearly two-and-half Xi Jinping last week. petitor Brazil dry up. sign for China's economy, ways, agricultural sector prod- which is due to eight per cent given at a general meeting of years. and CEO of HDFC Standard Trump and figures in his But this year, Chinese buy- which grew at its slowest pace ucts and industries, it was annual growth in sale of petrol shareholders held here. In a board meeting held Life Insurance Company, was administration have said China ers have passed on US soybeans for nine years in the third observed necessary to open and four per cent in diesel," The proposal is subject to Saturday, Axis Bank approved in September named the MD would immediately start buy- which face a 25 per cent bor- quarter, expanding 6.5 per such fuel outlets in the state." Vikramsingh said. the condition that the the appointment of Chaudhry and CEO of Axis Bank for a ing US goods in bulk, but der tax upon import, part of the cent on-year for July- "IOCL, BPCL and HPCL The OMCs have formally Government of lndia share- as additional director. The period of three years, with Beijing has refrained from con- $50 billion in US goods Beijing September. have an ambitious plan to open announced their plans and bid- holding in equity share capital board also gave its nod for the effect from January 1, 2019. firming those claims. hit with higher duties this While exports to the US nearly 4,500 fuel outlets in the ding process for inviting tenders of the bank does not fall below reappointment of Samir Barua, Chaudhry, 54 years, will The increasingly lopsided summer in retaliation for US have held up so far this state," he said. has also started, he said, adding 52 per cent at any point of Som Mittal and Rohit Bhagat as take over from Shikha Sharma trade in goods between the two tariffs. autumn, the row has sapped About 3 to 4 fuel outlets will that each fuel outlet will cost time. independent directors. after she demits office on nations threatens to further China's soybean imports confidence. be opened near the Statue of between 60 lakh to 3 crore As per a BSE regulatory "The Board ...Has appoint- December 31, 2018. derail prospects for a trade deal fell 38 per cent on-year, to 5.4 The Shanghai composite Unity, dedicated to Sardar depending on their location. filing by the bank, the amount ed Amitabh Chaudhry as an He started his career in during a 90-day negotiation million tonnes for the month, stock index has fallen by about Vallabhbhai Patel and the "The OMCs for the first can be raised by the way of Additional Director of the corporate banking with the period. the data showed. one-quarter from its January world's tallest statue, at Kevadiya time have come together to public issue or private Bank and to hold office as such Bank of America in 1987, The ballooning trade The trade surplus with the high, while the yuan has in neighbouring Narmada dis- work on such a scale to avoid placement, including till the conclusion of the ensu- where he worked in diverse deficit with China is a partic- US expanded to $293.5 billion slipped about nine per cent trict, he added. duplication and eating into each Qualified Institutions ing Annual General Meeting...," roles. ularly sore point for Trump, for January-November, up against the dollar. More than three lakh visi- other's business," he added. Placement (OIP), Global Axis Bank said in a regulatory In July 2017, the board of who campaigned on turning from $ 251.3 billion during the The trade tensions with tors have already visited the site. Retail outlets opened after Depository Receipt (GDRs), filing. Axis Bank had approved the around the situation. same period last year. Washington come at a tough Therefore, opening of three to 2014 were largely through the American Depository Receipt The appointment is subject reappointment of Sharma, China's exports to the US China's overall trade — time for Beijing, which is battling four fuel outlets will help the revival of old stations or restora- (ADRs) "and or any other to approval of the shareholders, who was to start her fourth rose 9.8 per cent for November what it buys and sells with all to tackle a mountain of debt as tourists, the official said. tion of dealerships that had been mode(s) or a combination(s) it added. term as MD and CEO from on-year, while imports for the countries, including the US — credit tightens and infrastructure The OMCs (oil marketing terminated because of non- thereof, as may be decided by Chaudhry, the former MD June 2018. PTI month fell 25 per cent on-year, logged a $44.7 billion surplus investment falls. AFP companies) plan to expand in performance since 2005. PTI the Board". IANS % " 9%:!)'' + - 2
' , New Delhi: The US health regulator has "the agency has informed to classify the recommended a regulatory or adminis- inspection as OAI and that approvals of 1+78& ! Panaji: Union Minister Suresh Prabhu has trative action after the inspection of pending applications or supplements from sought to link the availability of cheap Roorkee manufacturing facility of drug this site maybe withheld," Jubilant Life said. beverages in Goa with "creativity and firm Jubilant Life Sciences, according to a However, this will not have any impact Jammu: The Jammu & Kashmir cases, where inspections have business opportunities", a remark the regulatory filing. on the existing revenues from operations Tax Department Friday night been carried out by the depart- Congress said was projection of the The FDA has classified the inspection from this facility, it added. made it clear that the drive ment, gross violation and tax coastal State as a "liquor destination". of the Roorkee plant as 'Official Action "We believe that this letter has been launched by it for inspecting evasion have been detected. Prabhu, while participating in the Indicated', which means approvals of issued as part of USFDA initiative to businesses and checking e-way “Sustained efforts of the Global Venture Summit in Goa on Friday, pending applications or supplements from respond to the company within 90 days of bills in the state is to prevent department against defaulters said the state government had reduced this site maybe withheld, the company said the inspection, regarding the status," it said. large-scale tax evasion noticed has resulted in a substantial taxes on some beverages that help calm in a BSE filing on Saturday. As per the guidelines, the company can under GST and it will continue. increase in the monthly IGST the mind and lead to creativity, which can According to the FDA, Official Action engage within 40 days to get the agency's The department also settlement of the state. be converted into business opportunities. Indicated means regulatory and/or admin- decision downgraded from classifying as appealed to general public to The state received an IGST "Ideas are there, but to make ideas into istrative actions will be recommended OAI, it added. insist for proper bill against any settlement of 225 crore on an a form that actually be converted into a against a facility after an inspection. The company "is in the process of purchases made by them and be average during the previous business opportunity is some sort of cre- In response to the USFDA inspection sending further update of its corrective aware that while they are pay- months.However, with the ativity. conducted at the Roorkee facility of solid actions and remains hopeful of a positive ing legitimate GST, the same action against the defaulters, the "And creativity comes when your dosage formulations during August 2018, outcome, " it said. PTI should reach the government IGST settlement for the month mind is calm. And when it comes to Goa, accounts. of October has gone up to 265 mind becomes calm. And to make body “While the share of J&K crore,” he said. calm, Goa government has reduced tax- GST to total GST of all the states The spokesperson further ation on some of the beverages, which can 8" 9333 733 is 1.2 per cent, the compliance reiterated that investigation of make your mind soft," the commerce level in the state is only 0.27 per records and checking of e-way minister had said. cent," a spokesperson of the bills would continue till such Prabhu's statement did not go down State Tax Department in a time the trade and businesses well with some of the political parties. $ ." 932:; !#! statement issued here. start complying the GST law, file Congress' spokesperson Siddhanath "The departmental assess- returns in time, generate prop- Buyao condemned the statement, saying Gurugram: The Central Information second appeal was filed on August 16, ment has revealed around 30 er invoices and deposit the tax it was wrong to link the state's culture and Commission (CIC) has directed authori- 2017. per cent leakage in the process," to the department timely. creativity to the availability of liquor at ties to reveal how many 2,000 and 500 Dhingra said that after a hearing on he said. He said that the Chambers lower rates. notes were printed daily after demoneti- November 30, 2018, Information The spokesman said that of Commerce have wrongly "Goa is known for its scenic beauty zation till November 30, 2016, an RTI Commissioner Sudhir Bhargava on out of the total registered 92,000 misinterpreted toll tax as if it is and warm people. Creativity is in the activist said on Saturday. December 5, 2018 issued an order to pro- dealers in the GSTN, till last levied in contradiction of GST DNA of Goans right from the beginning. Gurugram-based Right To vide the information. month only 52,000 trade and regime. “Toll tax is levied con- May it be in the field of science, art, cul- Information (RTI) activist Harinder "Number of notes printed on daily businesses were filing GST sciously to promote industrial ture, music and even entrepreneurship, Dhingra had sought the information basis from November 9, 2016 to November returns regularly. development in the state as a Goans have contributed immensely to the regarding the number of notes printed 30, 2016 was not so sensitive as to attract "With the increased policy tool,” he said. country," Buyao said. daily from November 9, 2016 to November the exemption provisions under section enforcement activities by the He also said the Chamber He said it is the same calm nature and 30, 2016. 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, therefore CPIO has department, now 72,000 trade has wrongly accused the State creativity that draws Prabhu to Goa Dhingra applied for the information been directed to provide the information and businesses have filed Tax Department of interfering often. through RTI Act on February 23, 2017. sought," the order read. Orders on banning returns for the month of in cross-LoC trade while it has "Does Prabhu come to Goa to enjoy The Central Public Information the then existing 1,000 and 500 notes October 2018,” he said and not interfered in any manner cheap beverages and then get the creative Officer (CPIO) earlier refused to share the were implemented from the midnight of added that in 70 per cent of the till date. PTI ideas?" Buyao taunted the Minister. PTI information, Dhingra told IANS. The November 8, 2016. PTI ( ) *+ ,-./ 5 Q
on people arriving at train sta- erance” towards those aiming weekend in the run-up to increasingly radicalised, are tions and at protest hotspots to wreak further destruction. Christmas. holding out for more. Many are <3 such as the Champs-Elysees Prime Minister Edouard Foreign governments are calling on Macron to resign. and Bastille monument. Philippe on Friday evening watching developments close- The protesters began A source close to the oper- met a delegation of self- ly in one of the world's most blocking roads, fuel depots ation told AFP that at least 34 described “moderate” yellow visited cities. and shopping centres around $ people were arrested for car- vests who have urged people The US embassy issued a France on November 17 over rying masks, hammers, sling- not to join the protests. warning to Americans in Paris soaring petrol prices that have -3##6# Keere told AFP. shots and rocks that could be After the meeting a to “keep a low profile and hit people in the provinces who According to Belga news used to attack police. spokesman from the move- avoid crowds”, while Belgium, get around by car. round 70 people were agency, young protesters Shops, museums, the Eiffel ment, Christophe Chalencon, Portugal and the Czech Since then the movement Aarrested on Saturday in blocked a highway linking Tower and many metro stations said Philippe had “listened to Republic advised citizens plan- has snowballed into a wider the Belgian capital Brussels Brussels to the town of were closed as much of the city- us and promised to take our ning to visit Paris over the revolt against former invest- during copycat “yellow vest” Rekkem in Flanders, located centre went on effective lock- demands to the president”. weekend to postpone their ment banker Macron. demonstrations rocking near the French border. down. “Now we await Mr visit. Protests at dozens of neighbouring France, police They also put up a barri- Top-flight football match- Macron. I hope he will speak to In a warning of impending schools over university reforms, said. cade near the Franco-Belgian es and concerts were cancelled. the people of France as a father, violence, an MP for Macron's and a call by farmers for The area housing border close to Adinkerque, " M N Last weekend's violence, with love and respect and that party, Benoit Potterie, received demonstrations next week, European institutions includ- Belga said. " 2 ' './) : % )" which saw some 200 cars he will take strong decisions,” a bullet in the post on Friday have added to a sense of gen- ing the offices of the European The “yellow vest” move- torched and the Arc de he said. Philippe said some with the words: “Next time it eral revolt. Commission and the ment in France originally !-# on Saturday of the worst riot- Triomphe vandalised, shook 89,000 police were being will be between your eyes.” The hardline CGT union, European Parliament was started as a protest about ing in Paris for decades. France and plunged Macron's mobilised nationwide, with a Calls on social media for hoping to capitalise on the sealed off as a precautionary planned fuel hikes but has aris police detained nearly “We had to come to Paris government into its deepest cri- dozen armoured vehicles protesters to attack the police movement, has called for rail measure. Police put up barri- morphed into a mass protest P300 people on Saturday to be heard,” said protester sis so far. deployed in Paris for the first or march on the presidential and metro strikes next Friday cades there and both vehicles against President Emmanuel ahead of fresh anti- Herve Benoit, arriving with Interior Minister time in decades. palace have especially rattled to demand immediate wage and pedestrians were denied Macron's policies and top- Government “yellow vest” three friends from the Christophe Castaner said he Shops around the Champs- the authorities. and pension increases. access. down style of governing. protests which authorities fear Dordogne in western France. expected “only a few thousand Elysees boulevard boarded up Macron this week gave in Macron's decision early in The protesters gathered It has spilled over to some could turn violent for a third He called on the govern- people” to descend on Paris their windows and emptied to some of the protesters' his presidency to slash taxes on in two districts of the city - other countries, including weekend in a row. ment to boost people's spend- after the 8,000 protesters count- them of merchandise on Friday, demands for measures to help France's wealthiest is particu- Arts Lois and Porte de Namur Belgium and especially in the Clad in their luminous ing power and increase taxes on ed last weekend, “but among while the Louvre, Musee the poor and struggling middle larly unpopular with the pro- - but there were no incidents country's French-speaking road safety jackets, dozens of the wealthiest. them are ultraviolent individ- d'Orsay and other museums classes, including scrapping a testers. of violence. region. demonstrators — who accuse By 8.40 am (0740 GMT) uals”. were shut. planned increase in fuel taxes Arguing that such a move “There have been around On November 30, a “yel- President Emmanuel Macron police had already detained 278 “These past three weeks Department stores were and freezing electricity and was necessary in order to boost 70 arrests following checks low vest” protest by some 300 of only looking out for the rich people. have produced a monster that also staying closed due to the gas prices in 2019. investment and create jobs, he carried out as a preventive people in Brussels degenerat- — gathered at dawn on the Some 8,000 police were its creators no longer control,” risk of looting on what would But the “yellow vests”, some has so far ruled out re-impos- measure,” Brussels police ed into violence in which two Champs-Elysees, the scene last deployed, carrying out checks Castaner said, vowing “zero tol- normally be a busy shopping of whom who have become ing the “fortune tax”. spokeswoman Ilse Van De police vehicles were torched. 0+6 &+%,0 8; 5 !! " ! ." 6 ( Q = ! ( %67-+ ty and sustainable develop- San Francisco: A divided US ( , 1 ( ment. And in fact, they impose appeals court late on Friday ! ( , ran's President Hassan sanctions on everyone. %67-+ #7+,%8+ refused to immediately allow " IRouhani said US sanctions “We are here to say that we the Trump administration to #$ % D were “economic terrorism”, as don't intend to tolerate such resident Hassan Rouhani pecial Counsel Robert enforce a ban on asylum for any he sought to foster a united insolence.” Rouhani also Pon Saturday warned SMueller has filed a new set immigrants who illegally cross front from visiting regional warned Europe - which has Western countries that they will of papers in court that may the US-Mexico border. 6 officials on Saturday. strongly objected to the US face a massive influx of drugs increase the legal woes of US The ban is inconsistent ( Washington has reimposed withdrawal from the nuclear if Iran becomes weakened by President Donald Trump in with an existing US law and an an oil embargo and other dam- deal - that much is at stake in US sanctions. connection with the alleged attempted end-run around , ! aging sanctions on Iran since its efforts to bypass US sanc- Rouhani spoke in Tehran at Russian interference in the Congress, a panel of the 9th US ( , " ( * pulling out in May from a land- tions and maintain trade with a six-nation conference on 2016 election and possible con- Circuit Court of Appeals said " $ mark 2015 nuclear deal Iran. fighting terrorism attended by tacts between the Trump's pres- in a 2-1 decision. between Tehran and major “They should know that by parliament speakers of idential campaign and Moscow. “Just as we may not, as we P P ( I: powers. sanctioning Iran, they would Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, While the court papers are often reminded, 'legislate “America's unjust and ille- harm our ability to fight drugs Turkey, China and Russia. does not answer the central from the bench,' neither may the # A gal sanctions against the hon- and terrorism,” Rouhani said, In remarks broadcast on question of whether Trump or president — disclosures that Executive legislate from the # 2 ourable nation of Iran have tar- referring to Iran's efforts to state TV, Rouhani said a weak- his associates conspired with show the deepening political Oval Office,” 9th Circuit Judge 2 ( ! 5 geted our nation in a clear Rouhani drew parallels combat smuggling, particular- ened Iran would be less able to the Russians, the documents and legal morass enveloping Jay Bybee, a nominee of 1 Q A instance of terrorism,” Rouhani with the sanctions and other ly from Afghanistan. fight drug trafficking. suggest that the president's the administration, said the Republican President George W ( said in a televised speech. pressure faced by the countries The European Union is “Weakening Iran by sanc- legal woes are far from over and report. Bush, wrote for the majority. ( He was speaking at a con- attending the conference. working on a payment system, tions, many will not be safe,” he reveal a previously unreported In his filings before a US A spokesman for the US ference on terrorism and “When they put pressure known as the “special purpose said. “Those who do not contact from a Russian to federal court in Washington Department of Justice, Steven $ L% regional cooperation attended on China's trade, we are all vehicle”, to keep money flowing believe us, it is good to look at Trump's inner circle during the DC, Muller said that Paul Stafford, did not have comment. 2 TD by parliament speakers from harmed... By punishing Turkey, into Iran, but has struggled to the map.” campaign, according to a Manafort, the former Trump But he referred to an earlier $$$% *6* Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, we are all punished. Any time find a host since many coun- Iran lies on a major drug report in the Washington Post. campaign manager lied to pros- statement that called the asylum Russia and Turkey. they threaten Russia, we too tries fear repercussions from route between Afghanistan and The Court papers directly ecutors about his contacts with system broken and said the ( “We are facing an all-out consider our security to be the Trump administration. Europe and the Persian Gulf implicated Trump in plans to the White House and an asso- department looked forward to ( ( M assault which is not only threat- endangered,” he said. The conference in Tehran states. Afghanistan is the buy women's silence as far ciate with suspected ties to “continuing to defend the 6* " $ ening our independence and “When they impose sanc- was the second regional meet- world's largest producer of back as 2014 and offering new Russian intelligence. Executive Branch's legitimate identity but also is bent on tions on Iran, they deprive all ing on terrorism — the first was opium with its Helmand evidence of Russian efforts to The president and the and well-reasoned exercise of its breaking our longstanding ties,” of us of the benefits of inter- held last December in Province being the biggest forge a political alliance with White House denied of any authority to address the crisis at he added. national trade, energy securi- Islamabad. opium-producing region. Trump before he became the wrongdoings. our southern border.”AP 6D " ! ! P * 3# Q! R !" * Washington: US President Donald Trump “I think he grew tired of me being the New York: US prosecutors asked on Friday lambasted his former secretary of guy everyday that told him, 'You can't do a New York court Friday to hand Washington: Former FBI state Rex Tillerson, describing him as that, and let's talk about what we can do,'” down a “substantial” prison sen- director James Comey, sacked “dumb as a rock” and “lazy as hell”, after the Tillerson said in his interview. tence to President Donald by President Donald Trump in ex-diplomat alleged the president regular- “He acts on his instincts, in some Trump's former personal lawyer 2017, testified Friday before US ly pushed him to take decisions that were respects it looks like impulsiveness… But… Michael Cohen, rejecting lawmakers for the first time in “illegal”. On the same day, Trump praised it's not his intent to act on impulse. I think Cohen's request for leniency over a year, but this time out of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for doing he really is trying to act on his instincts,” he based on his cooperation with the camera glare. a great job. “Mike Pompeo is doing a great said. law enforcement officials. The hours-long Capitol job, I am very proud of him. His predeces- “It's challenging for me coming from the “Cohen, an attorney and Hill grilling comes amid tur- sor, Rex Tillerson, didn't have the mental disciplined, highly process-oriented businessman, committed four bulence at the White House, capacity needed,” Trump said in a tweet. ExxonMobil Corporation… to go to work distinct federal crimes over a and mounting intrigue over “He (Tillerson) was dumb as a rock and for a man who is pretty undisciplined, does- period of several years. He Special Counsel Robert I couldn't get rid of him fast enough. He was n't like to read, doesn't read briefing was motivated to do so by per- Mueller's investigation into lazy as hell. Now it is a whole new ballgame, reports, doesn't like to get into the details sonal greed, and repeatedly Russian interference in the great spirit at state!” he said. of a lot of things. used his power and influence 2016 election and possible con- Trump's angry tweet on Tillerson came “But rather just kind of says, 'Look, this for deceptive ends,” New York's tacts between Trump's presi- after the former secretary of state, in an is what I believe and you can try to convince US Attorney Robert Khuzami dential campaign and Moscow. interview to CBS News, was critical of the me otherwise,' but most of the time you're said in a court submission.AFP AFP president. not going to do that,” Tillerson said. PTI " ! ! ! $ ! ' 1#.
Kuala Lumpur: Thousands of ix people, including five teenagers, died and 120 were banner-waving Muslims Sinjured in a stampede when panic broke out during dressed in white rallied in the a rap concert at a packed Italian nightclub early on Malaysian capital on Saturday Saturday. The suspected use of a pepper spray-like sub- demanding protection of their stance is thought to have sparked the chaos at the venue rights, at a time of growing in the town of Corinaldo, near Ancona in central Italy, racial tensions in the multi-eth- the fire service said in a statement on Twitter. nic country. But carabinieri police spokesman Cristian Carrozza Big crowds gathered in later said they were still “trying to ascertain what had downtown Kuala Lumpur, caused the youths to rush out”, adding: “There are three chanting “God is great” and exits and one of these was used.” The victims include three waving banners that read girls and two boys aged between 14 and 16 and a 39-year- “Long live the Malays”, an AFP old woman who accompanied her daughter to the con- reporter said. Large numbers of cert. Some 10 people are in a critical condition, doctors police were on the streets and said, with at least 120 injured in total. major roads were closed. “Around 1,400 tickets were sold for the concert and Race and religion are sen- the place could only accomodate 870 people,” said Monica sitive in Malaysia, which is Garulli from the prosecutor's office in Ancona. home to sizeable ethnic Chinese The exit used led to a small bridge and the car park. and Indian communities, and The force of the fleeing crowd made a railing collapse the Muslim Malay majority and dozens of people fell, crushing those at the bottom appears to be feeling increas- of the pile, according to a preliminary investigation. ingly insecure under a new gov- Grainy mobile phone footage appeared to show part ernment that is more repre- of a walkway collapsing, sending dozens of people tum- sentative of minorities. AFP bling down. ( ) *+ ,-./ 7 #.)# 4. )8#>?8R ? / =>> ) ?@A .
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he sun took a break but India shone to stay ahead of Australia in the opening Test after Tsporadic rain intrusions, K L Rahul's enter- prise and Cheteshwar Pujara's obduracy culmi- nated in a 166-run lead here on Saturday. Virat Kohli was dismissed late in the final ses- sion as India reached 151 for three at stumps on day three at the Adelaide Oval. The Indian skipper lunged forward to defend 6 6 "We were trying to figure off Nathan Lyon (1-48) but was caught at short out the lengths that are useful leg for an uncharacteristic knock of 34 (104 balls). athan Lyon has been over here. In South Africa and At close of play, Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeat- Nusing the rough patches England, there was a lot of lat- en on 40 runs, while Ajinkya Rahane was batting effectively during the ongoing eral movement. Here the on 1 not out. India led by 166 runs. Indian second innings which wickets are slightly flatter Post tea, Kohli and Pujara took their third- is an indicator that because you get bounce, but wicket partnership to 71 runs, albeit it was low Ravichandran Ashwin will you have to be consistent. on strike-rate, coming off 197 balls. have a bigger role to play dur- "That's the thing we have Pujara survived early in the last session, cour- ing Australian second innings, read over the years. We were tesy DRS again, as the ball seemed to miss the reckons pacer Jasprit Bumrah. trying to focus on that, that if stumps on account of bounce in the 40th over by "Ashwin will obviously we don't give runs, we are cre- Lyon. play a more crucial now role ating pressure from both ends At the other end, Kohli became the fourth because with the rough, we and then we could get wick- Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar, VVS saw Nathan Lyon using the ets," said Bumrah. Laxman and Rahul Dravid to score 1000-plus runs 8- ) = & BC ) # - ' 8 rough to his advantage. He is Bumrah is confident that in Test cricket against Australia. an experienced bowler and India will take a substantial The hosts though cut off most of his scoring Mitchell Starc (15) was caught behind off Jasprit $ knows what he has to do. So lead on day four. opportunities, and Kohli was happy to play for Bumrah (3-47) as covers came on. Virat Kohli was booed by a small section of he will probably work on it "I think it is slightly in our time as he didn't dominate the bowling for once. Play was held up for 55 minutes thereafter, and the Adelaide Oval crowd when he stepped out to and he will play a crucial role favour because the late wick- Their third-wicket partnership crossed 50 off 149 the number of overs for the day were reduced to bat in the second innings against Australia, an act for sure," Bumrah said at the et (Kohli) was a good thing for balls. 79. On resumption, the remaining one-hour ses- that has been criticised by rival batsman Travis end of the second day's play. them. But we have a good India's lead swelled past 150 shortly thereafter, sion was cut short again after 40 minutes but this Head and former skipper Ricky Ponting. India dismissed Australia lead. First session on Sunday and just when it appeared to be smooth sailing time India made good used of the overs. Travis Head wasn't impressed by the behav- for 235 in their first innings will be a very important. If we for the visitors, Lyon struck to remove Kohli before Both Bumrah and Ishant Sharma (2-47) were iour of the crowd. and it was a collective effort capitalize on that, that will stumps and put the match in balance again. guilty of bowling shorter to the tail-enders, and "He's a pretty good player and probably does- from the bowlers, who shared leave us in a very good place Earlier, K L Rahul scored a quick-fire 44 off it didn't change this morning either. Nathan Lyon n't deserve to be booed but that's how it is. It's the spoils. in this match," the pacer said. 67 balls as India reached 86 for two at tea. Rain (24 not out) made good use of this, hitting two probably not needed but that's the crowd," he said. had further caused delays post lunch and anoth- fours and a six, as he put on 31 runs for the ninth er 23 minutes were lost before play could finally wicket with Travis Head (72). get underway, with 61 overs remaining for the day. Head's immaculate knock came to an end "! 8 As opposed to the first innings, Rahul and Kohli walked out to boos from the Australian when he edged Mohammed Shami (2-58) behind, Murali Vijay (18) were more careful and negoti- fans but made sure there was no further loss until and the very next ball, the pacer finished things 6 6 Handscomb and Tim during the Wellington ated the Australian pace battery without much dis- tea as India's lead crossed 100. off with Josh Hazlewood out caught similarly for Paine on the second day Test against New comfort. They left well and looked to cut out any Earlier, rain hampered play on day three as a first-ball duck. oung Rishabh Pant before pouching on to Zealand. Pant, who is high-risk shots as India were placed at 19 for no India took a 15-run lead in the first innings after Wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant finished with six Yon Saturday took six edges off Mitchell Starc, playing his sixth Test, loss in 10 overs. Australia were bowled out for 235 in reply to the catches, while Head faced 167 deliveries in all, catches during Australia's Travis Head and Josh was selected in the Indian Vijay was the first to go, out driving again, and visitors' 250. inclusive of six fours. first innings to equal pre- Hazlewood's willow on team following the injury caught at second slip off Mitchell Starc (1-18). It Inclement weather first delayed play by 45 Australia were then happier of the two sides decessor Mahendra Saturday. of Wriddhiman Saha and fizzled out the Indian momentum, even as Rahul minutes in the morning session, and then there having added 44 runs in just 10.4 overs of play. Singh Dhoni's record of He equalled the retirement of Dhoni in continued playing his shots. were two more delays in the first session before In their bid to get the lower order out quickly, India most catches by an record after taking 2014. Pujara survived a scare in the 24th over, using lunch was taken. were guilty of leaking easy runs. Indian wicketkeeper in a Hazlewood's catch off He has so far scored DRS to overturn a caught-behind decision off During the first 20 minutes of play, starting On day one, Pujara's 16th Test century saved Test innings. Mohammed Shami's ball 346 runs with an average Lyon. But two balls later, Australia's desperation from overnight 191 for seven, Australia crossed India the blushes. The Indian bowling attack then The 21-year-old Pant in the first innings here. of 43.25 with the highest for a wicket paid off as Rahul edged behind off 200 in the 91st over but India managed to sneak worked hard to restrict the Australian batsmen had a hand in dismissing In 2009, Dhoni had score of 114 against Josh Hazlewood (1-25). in a breakthrough before rain came again. with Head the only one to cross the 50-mark. Usman Khawaja, Peter achieved his record feat England. 27(+ ; 71;R ) 6 9 Colombo: # # " # ( ( " # - ( +6 67 opener was muted in his celebrations as But debutant Jonty Sidhu (30), Lalit ( $ he didn't even bother to open his helmet. Yadav (29) and Anuj Rawat (28) took their % TDD autam Gambhir scored the 43rd and He added 113 runs for the second team past Andhra's first innings score to 2 + Q Gfinal first-class century of his career wicket with skipper Dhruv Shorey (98) ensure three points. G # " as Delhi ensured at least three points by before India A keeper Kona Bharat final- % D virtue of first innings lead against Andhra ly held onto an edge with off-spinner %&'$ % % on the third day of a group B encounter. Shoaib Mohammed Khan being the Hosts Maharashtra bundled out ( / &T$ R # At stumps, Delhi ended the day at 409 bowler. Mumbai for 273 to take the crucial first R # " * " *68 # for 7 in reply to Andhra's 380 but every It wasn't a smooth innings but no one innings lead in their Elite Group A game. $ R other details was of little consequence cared for the details like 10 boundaries and Mumbai, who resumed on the penul- ( ( because of one man playing his last game. 185 balls as he got a generous applause. timate day at 196/6, had their hopes on ( ( $R The entire focus was on Gambhir, who The Delhi players gave him a 'Guard stand-in skipper Siddhesh Lad, who was # - " is set to hang his boots on Sunday, made of Honour', the spectators gave a standing unbeaten on 70. ( &' = *$ it memorable for the 500-odd spectators, ovation and the entire Andhra team came But the right-handed batsman could who were present at the Feroz Shah Kotla up to congratulate him. add only 23 runs to his overnight tally. $ ( J/ to cheer every run that he scored. He strode back to pavilion in a mat- Young Shubham Ranjane remained New Delhi: A 5 % "" S D A streaky boundary through the slips ter of fact manner as the interest in the unbeaten on 54, but lacked support from 7 ( * % DL HD DT =D TD & took him to 98 and then he square drove day's proceedings suddenly waned. the other end as wickets kept tumbling and D / F( pacer Bandaru Ayappa to scamper home However, it was Shorey, Delhi's most Mumbai fell well short of the hosts' tally &' H / * for a double to complete one of his more consistent batsmen over past two seasons, of 352. #$ 7 5 # emotionally exhausting hundreds. who played with a lot of confidence, wear- hitting six fours, adding 86 with Vaibhav stuck and left-arm spinner Manish However, Mumbai fought back to / * ( While the 100-odd youngsters sport- ing the Andhra attack on a low and slow Rawal (33) after century stand with Golamaru trapped him with a short mid- reduce Maharashtra to 112 for 5 in second ( ($ / ing "Miss you Gauti' T-shirts were over- track. Gambhir. off fielder. Sai Krishna stationed at the par- innings at close of play at the MCA - * ! HD GD HD HD whelmed with emotion, the former India He batted patiently playing 259 balls, After Rawal was dismissed, Dhruv was ticular position took a smart low catch. Stadium. 5 # A ! S 6 1 D( ( .& D =D DT GD TD LD $ 5 " * A B ! F( $ 6 8/&58 ! @ /4 ( 5 % "" 5 # 8 A 5 # /45+&?. 5 48 /?/ 71 "Both teams have good spinners, F( &D T DH D fast bowlers and batters. It will be a D . DL$ % " % A S D7 3 7 he West Indies are looking to end very competitive series." 7 DS F( $ Ttheir four-year wait for a one-day Bangladesh have been boosted by ( isgruntled coach Mickey Arthur demand- international series win when they the return of batsman Tamim Iqbal Ded his players toughen up and seize key take on hosts Bangladesh starting on and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, Jaipur: -2 " * moments in Test matches after sloppy batting Sunday. who both missed the ODI series ( D " handed New Zealand an away series win over Stand-in skipper Rovman Powell against Zimbabwe in October T.D Pakistan for the first time in 49 years. said winning the three-match series because of injury. 6 , * $ &HDD (D New Zealand pulled off a come-from- in Bangladesh would give his side the Shakib played in the Tests against * " ( D " behind 123-run victory in the third and final Test perfect boost ahead of the World Cup the West Indies and was named man- ( in Abu Dhabi on Friday to end their long wait next year, for which they had to qual- of-the-series, while Tamim show- ( ( GDT' -2 for a 2-1 series win. ify after failing to secure one of the cased his abilities with a blistering 107 ( LT$ * "We missed opportunities and despite win- eight automatic berths. off 73 balls in Thursday's 51-run ( ( 'DLH :GD.H GD ning most of the sessions in the two losses we "We haven't won an ODI series warm-up match win over the visitors. T';$ % -2 A ( ( $ '= ( . could not grab the moments to force a win," in a long time," Powell told reporters "Obviously having Shakib, LT $ Pakistan coach Arthur said. % )' on Saturday ahead of the first game Tamim in the team is a big advantage "It was our series to win but we ended up in Dhaka. for us," said Bangladesh captain as the losing side and that's highly disappoint- Shafiq. "The quality is there as they are the best "The guys are upbeat and raring Mashrafe Mortaza. Chennai: 1 &L ( ing." players in Pakistan who are working very very to go. No better opportunity to E ' % 'B C "In the practice game, Tamim . = ( % Arthur said Pakistan not gaining big leads hard and I back them to the hilt," said Arthur. change it in Bangladesh." played brilliantly which is a great + 6 , AA $ 1 1 " in the first and third Tests was crucial. Arthur now hopes Pakistan can do well in "It will be good to get the series relief for Tamim as well as for us," : &; # 2 / : ; "We have to have a look at our batting on South Africa, a country where they have won win under our belt" before the World and a 3-1 loss to India in October. added Mashrafe, who is set to become ( $ % + the last day and that is tough in the UAE," said only two Tests and were thrashed 3-0 on their Cup, Powell added. Powell, who will be leading the the first Bangladeshi to play 200 ODIs &G& ( L (D ( Arthur. last tour in 2013. The Caribbean side last won an side in the absence of the injured on Sunday. 2 :=&; 5 1 " , Pakistan lost all ten wickets on the final day "I reckon we can go to South Africa and do ODI series in 2014 when they beat Jason Holder, said the Test defeats to The second and third matches of :G=; $ % in both the defeats. They have now lost all ten well," said Arthur. "We need to nail down our Bangladesh 3-0 at home. Bangladesh are in the past. the series will be played on December ( 1 ( wickets on the final day six times since Arthur good positions which we are not doing and that's They have since lost 11 series and "We are focused on white-ball 11 and 14 in Dhaka and Sylhet. G& ( %+A & H joined in May 2016. the problem area." drew against minnows Afghanistan cricket. (The) guys are motivated and The West Indies will wrap up the $ B,
"%1 1 2 "1 & "31! %P1 &" "1 3" ! %2 " $ $ 5% "1 " " "% "&1 + P 1 3 &" 21 % L ) 1 '&+$ 9 %,% ) ! *Q )!R + !1#. 1! #1 < ,<,".<. E E<1 <3 <, E #, , ?< < ".B.<, .< #," "..< < 1#P1 >, #," 2.BB,1 2 !"1 .< #.1"6 .?#,, # .1 !", <3 ?<<,?,3 .# "B!, # 1 >!1 >, 1,<1, E" .1 < O#, #," 2>P <>",8 <,P1 1!0 , >!1 E."1 ,"< #, , ( ( ( K ( &' G K ( f someone had forecasted four years ago I still hoped that it all might just work out. like so many people around me, ‘Casio’ always wide array of ideas and practices under the that I would celebrate my PhD submis- There were five other Indians as well whose (and only) denoted a keyboard and nothing selected theme of ‘art, democracy, and toler- sion in English Literature at Cambridge names appeared in the preliminary confer- else, although it essentially referred to a full- ance’, in what has to be the most intimate of all with an extraordinary trip to Pakistan, I ence list, but unlike me, they would all be fledged electronics company. Years later, the conferences I have ever attended. It took some would have laughed at the strangeness of travelling from India to Lahore. Since I association of my neighbouring country with a time to adjust to the fact that the event was Ithe idea. But the idea is now a reality, and the would be flying from and returning to the refined sense of music would only intensify, being held in the beautiful drawing room of trip is done and dusted and firmly imprinted UK, some sympathetic souls imagined that I and there is hardly a day now when I don’t lis- my hosts, Professor Pervaiz Vandal and his on my mind as one of the most beautiful expe- could be especially lucky. And so, luck did ten to one or two numbers from the extraordi- wife Professor Sajida Haider Vandal, for I was riences of my life. In the middle of this year, I dawn, albeit with some additional drama. nary productions of Coke Studio Pakistan (as I used to the rather impersonal settings that typ- was selected to present a paper at a conference On the day I received the visa from one of write this piece, the transcendental composi- ically define academic assemblages. Not so on the theme of ‘Art, Democracy and the private outlets of the Pakistani High tions of Ustad Farid Ayaz and Ustad Abu here. The papers ranged from topics concen- Tolerance’ organised by the Trust for Heritage, Commission in London, I discovered that my Muhammad play in the background for the trating on the beginnings of liberal and secular Art and passport booklet had got loosened from the umpteenth time, whom I first got to know thought in both the West and East, to com- Architecture of spine of the cover, possibly in response to through Coke Studio). mentaries on Sufi saints, Mughal emperors’ Pakistan some unsophisticated handling during its In the early days of television, my parents secular practices, contemporary conservation (THAAP) in the checks and scans. At the moment of receiving would enthusiastically record musical shows strategies in architecture and heritage manage- city of Lahore. I the document, however, I was too elated by aired from Pakistan via PTV, and I still remem- ment, and creative methods of engaging com- was to speak on the fact that I had finally, really ‘won’ a visa ber the countless times they viewed those pro- mon audiences in developing artistic and the politics of aes- after so much paperwork and coordination, grammes in the grainy, pixelated format that democratic consciousness in a variety of con- thetics in Sanjay which seemed nothing short of a challenging was then the order of the day. But if those texts. Throughout the event, I couldn’t help but Leela Bhansali’s victory, given the countless tales that sur- shows, along with Coke Studio productions, think of the irony springing from the imbal- most controversial rounded its procurement and the mounting demonstrated a palpably sophisticated and lib- ance between what we were all collectively film Padmaavat, pressure of the PhD. The receptionists at the erating sensibility of music entrenched in engaged in versus what was happening outside. on which I had collection centre for their part didn’t consider Pakistan’s cultural ethos, then Shoaib Mansoor’s After every two presentations, a sprawling lay- ,,-." -*,/0 already articulated the physical deformation of my passport a big exquisitely crafted 2007 Pakistani drama film, out of food and beverages greeted us in the some ideas in this an issue either, when I made them aware of its Khuda Ke Liye (In the Name of God), also leafy backyard of the Vandal home, where I very newspaper way back in April. At the time condition. It was only later that I confirmed showed another facet of the country, where was greeted with a warmth that is hard to of my selection, I found myself in a frenzy of from relevant authorities that the passport had some circles were extremely conservative about define. I learned that I was the only Indian to writing, since my PhD on British fantasy fic- indeed been damaged. Annoyance and irrita- the place of music and musical joy in society. It have got the visa after 2015, even though tion was just a few months away from the tion entered me while another part of myself was this duality of dispositions that eventually THAAP (the organisation) had been selecting October deadline. Nonetheless, the opportu- tried to keep the wildness of my imagination %76-6 6-6 greeted me as I landed in Lahore within the numerous Indians every year. It was then that I nity from the city of Lahore came with a sense at bay as to ‘why’ and ‘how’ had the visa book- *83+%6## 5856+%# wee hours of the beginning of November. truly realised how lucky I was to be present of excitement and wonder, paving way for a let got loosened. After all, I had a doctoral dis- there. But this sense of good fortune increased dramatic turn of events that would keep me sertation to submit within a month’s time, and 76+ *83 +O% n hour before taking off from many times over once I mingled with the on my toes and eventually usher in a new that required its own mental energy. Applying P3%6 !+!8+% Heathrow in London, I learned from sundry Pakistanis present at the event (which sense of vitality and being. For as the old for a new ‘tatkaal’ passport further took its 76%76- # + Athe conference organisers about the was open to the public), from students to lec- Punjabi saying goes: “Jinhan Lahore nahi time and expenses, but despite the persistent historic judgment on the Asia Bibi blasphemy turers and other professionals. Before leaving waikhaya o jammia hi nahi” (“One who advice of well-wishers to altogether drop the !1#%+ 8- + K case, that had thrown the country in turmoil for the conference, I had heard several tales hasn’t seen Lahore has not been born yet”). idea of going, I couldn’t quite settle with their % # #8 16 and forced the cancellation of the conference almost bordering on the legendary about the The notion and process of acquiring a visa proposition, for this still seemed too precious inauguration on the first day, since the venue love and respect that Lahoris had for Indians, for Pakistan as an Indian citizen has developed an opportunity to lose. The greatest assurance 7856$ 5S <#% 86# lay in a “high risk area”. Meanwhile, my but it was only when I found myself in their an incredulous appeal about itself in popular and decisive factor, however, came from my 66 16 -6-%7 accommodation had also been changed, and presence did I realise the truth of that claim. consciousness. More than one person believed conference organisers themselves, who not mobile networks had been completely shut As Pervaiz sa’ab introduced me to the that, “Indians were not allowed to travel to only apologised for all the unnecessary and 8 #8-%#$ %O# %-36? down for two days. I could sense that the gathering as the sole Indian present (who Pakistan”, a near de-facto utterance that unforeseen trouble I had to undergo, but also drama that had begun with my passport had had managed to get a ‘visa’, for the word popped up when I told them that I ‘might’ promised to refund me for the new passport in no plans of abating, and so I entered the ‘visa’ was still circulating), a number of peo- soon be travelling to our neighbouring coun- addition to paying for the entirety of the con- country to find it in a storm of anger and ple from all ages stood up to welcome me try. Other more knowledgeable folks averred: ference travel and accommodation. It is easy :8+6 78 7#+O% violence. Islamist hardliners raged across dif- individually, shaking hands and hugging me “How would I get the visa”? ‘Visa’ was mostly to let annoyance and irritation transform into ferent parts of Lahore, protesting against the like a long lost friend now returning home. I what I heard when I mentioned ‘Pakistan’ to anger, and to let that anger mutate into para- #66+ 78-6 7# acquittal of the Christian woman over a nine- heard several other visa-related stories too any South Asian around me. Of course, the noia (to be honest, such metamorphosis is +8% 66+ 8-+ S6%; year-old alleged profanity, and with this, I from this side of the border, even as the reason for such reactions was well-known, often subconscious). But here I was, having received a slice of fundamentalism that typi- Pakistanis expressed heartfelt concern and given the history of relations between the two the choice to forgive the drama of damage and cally characterises much popular opinion genuine sympathy for what had transpired countries. But it was still somewhat off-putting control, and accept the incredible generosity of about Pakistan the world over. But after the with regard to my passport. During lunches to experience the negativity inherent in that my hosts, that sowed the seeds of reorienting cancellation of the inauguration, the confer- and teas, some students conveyed their questioning, even though, on the other hand, I my perspective. And in retrospect, I am only ence nonetheless began on the second day, desire to share food from the same plate as knew equally well that this querying was prin- too glad that better sense prevailed and and along with it evolved a completely differ- mine as a mark of respect and love, while cipally an expression of concern and genuine warmth won over worry. ent image of the nation and its citizens, one another, after my presentation, became visi- interest. Just a month before receiving my own I like to believe that the beginnings of my that was rooted in congeniality, kindness, and bly emotional and offered his watch as a gift invitation in July, media across the world was musical sensibilities as an amateur pianist lie a hospitality that simply has no parallel. of brotherhood in addition to apologising for splashed with reports on India banning several in Pakistan. More than 25 years ago, my father As extremists took over the streets outside, not having anything “proper” to give me. Pakistani origin academics from attending a had bought me a small toy keyboard from his not very far from our venue, a motley group of seminar in the country. I, therefore, had rea- first and only trip to Lahore, that I taught speakers predominantly from Pakistan and sons enough to think the same way as my myself to play over the years following the age handful from other countries (Austria, interrogators (“how would I get the visa”), but of five. That was a small ‘Casio’ model, and Australia, Indonesia, and India) discussed a 112 # $ 7+ 3 6,6+ %%-3%6# %76 83+ +, 8 78-6 %8 < 8- 87 #8+ 8 -5 hexiage 8- 785 % # # %8 7<6 66+ +56 87 - & '()*+, ,;+&&P &% " +//0 (1# - ( 2" "## .-" " """ $ " "# 3# " 1# $ #Q 5N "" 7"Q $# #" $F # # F3$ #-"$ $O:;" " !" (" -" #"# # # -( " -# ("(# $ "( ##" : . $ " $( " $ (. $ # $" " # " :< " $ "=# "" #" $ "-"<( # # # " "( . ( #> # ( # " $"3 =" 7 2" $ Q (-""# "%1%%!! ) & "")#!/G '&+$0: hen, owing to the theme of of THAAP, all mostly Muslim, life teaching in a local school my paper, yet another and that friendship again gave me here, for he had fallen in love group of students happily hope and happiness. with Lahore when he first visited Tapproached me to ‘guide’ them -"( " In the days that followed, it it. Like him, I too had assimilat- on a film assignment, and I had was this practice of friendship ed myself in the people around a rather joyful time holding an that continuously got intensified me, and by the middle of my impromptu session there and This is not to say that there precisely this microcosm of inter- instructive to learn the disturbing with all the people I met. After week-long stay, I was comfort- then. While making such con- weren’t people who disagreed religious aesthetic that I experi- 6B!6-6+*6 stories of discrimination he had the conference, I shifted to anoth- able doing a gesture that oddly nections, every second person with my analysis, but rather to enced when I visited Cooco’s Den, been facing in the new city. He er beautiful location where I was combined Namaste with As- intoned his or her sadness point out that the setting I found one of the most famous restau- 5*-8*8#5 8 told me about the times that he being hosted by my wonderful Salaam-Alaikum (‘Peace be unto regarding the political enmity myself in was as liberal and con- rants of Lahore that is located in +%6-D-6,83# had to hide behind his religion- friends, Sahar and Fazal Khan, you’). As I got ready for my between the two nations, a vis- ducive to my ideas as any other. the city’s famous Food Street, neutral surname to avert discrim- whom I had first met in farewell in the early hours of ceral emotion that also seemed Even though I had read articles which I randomly chanced upon 6#%76%* 76+ ination on the basis of his first, Cambridge three years ago. Like November 8, Sahar and Fazal to erupt as a desire to prove that earlier this year on how a num- with a newly made conference <#%6 *88*8O# Hindu-sounding name. But after the people at the conference, prepared a delicious Diwali din- their country had another side to ber of Pakistanis were deeply friend Adnan, who was extremely speaking poignantly about his Sahar and Fazal’s hospitality too ner, and I happily WhatsApped a it that had nothing to do with offended by the filmmaker’s por- excited to show me around the 6+ 583# plight, it was equally moving to moved me to tears as they left no photograph of the Badshahi the largely negative, ‘terrorist’ trayals of Islamic culture, my city and introduce me to other hear him narrate a number of stone unturned to make my stay a Masjid to my friends and family image that still floated so freely. own experiences at the confer- Lahoris. Reaching the restaurant’s -6#%3-+% + other stories as well which shed most comfortable one. It was with in the manner of a festival card. At such moments, I was remind- ence proved otherwise, for with terrace left me speechless for a 78-6 78#6 light on some extraordinary them that I ‘formally’ celebrated After my father had returned ed of many similar testimonies its diversity of people, the event while as I soaked in the grandness moments when his close Muslim my PhD submission dinner, from Lahore a quarter of a century from Pakistani youth whose demonstrated that there simply of the 17th Century Badshahi -*7%6*%3-6 friends and teachers had come to which they grandly organised at ago, he often used to say: “Unhone writings I was privileged to was no ‘one’ Pakistani identity Mosque sitting majestically at a + *8- !S his defence in order to combat the Lahore Gymkhana, as well as humein palkon par hi bitha kar examine as a final panel jury that informed an opinion, and distance, while the architecture bigotry from other Muslims. One the Diwali meal. When Fazal nahi rakha, unhone palkein jhap- member of the Queen’s that fresh analytical standpoints and décor of the eatery itself paid 785,6 %8 such friend was sitting in our drove me across the lanes of kaai tak nahi”, something which I Commonwealth Essay Writing always held the power to initiate homage to Buddhism, 3 7#5 midst itself (Adnan), patiently and Lahore in his car, just like Adnan find difficult to translate, but Competition in 2016 and 2017, newer ways of thinking Christianity, and Hinduism. As sympathetically listening to his had driven me on his bike, there which loosely means that “not the world’s largest literary con- (notwithstanding the disagree- we walked through the Food *7-#%+%S friend’s experiences, and his were countless moments when I only did the Lahoris treat us with test for school children (inciden- ments) if provided a safe and Street, the connections with + 7+ 3#5 demeanour was a living testimony couldn’t quite pinpoint whether I exquisite care, their treatment also tally, this year’s senior winner peaceful environment (like the Saawariya became even more to the idea of tolerance that we was in Pakistan or India: It was never wavered for a bit”. Years from a total of 12,000 young conference itself). apparent as I learned that the area had been debating in the confer- all so like home. Connections later, I can safely say that the say- people across 53 countries hails I had been drawn to historically served as Lahore’s red few hours earlier. In retrospect, it ence. In this short, one-week visit continued to mushroom as my ing holds incredibly true, and from Lahore). With this enor- Bhansali’s cinema for a long time light district where erstwhile feels nothing short of magical that then, I had got the rare opportu- walk outside the Lahore Museum that my visit does feel like a mously profound culture of before Padmaavat, not because of princes and aristocrats would I had come to Pakistan to deliver nity to interact with the minority brought back the introductory rebirth of sorts (Jinhan Lahore warmth and bonhomie that its grandiosity but because of its come to learn tehzeeb (manner- a paper on Padmaavat and would communities of Pakistan as well, pages from Rudyard Kipling’s nahi waikhaya o jammia hi nahi). never ceased to move me, all my eclecticism that I could trace in isms) from courtesans, a point leave it having taken a slice of the which included the conference Kim that I had first read in Class I am privileged to have travelled apprehensions regarding my own every film of his oeuvre. My well illustrated in several early inspirational context for my driver who was ferrying me back V, and the gorgeous murals and to the ‘Land of the Pure’, and in paper also got dispelled, for I favourite was and still remains the Hindi films and then memori- favourite director’s next venture. and forth from the event, who stonework at the Lahore Fort and the hope of peace and friendship, was to argue against the inter- box-office flop Saawariya, and I alised by Bhansali’s venture. It was in the setting of Cooco’s had similarly expressed fear as a Jahangir’s Tomb evoked the fine here’s to Lahore, with love. pretations that rendered continue to get enchanted by its Returning to the hotel, I was fur- Den that I had a long conversa- Christian, particularly in light of craftsmanship of the Mughals & ' "! / Bhansali’s Padmaavat and the marvellous juxtaposition of multi- ther thrilled to read the news that tion with Adnan and another the recent judgment’s aftermath. and Sikhs in India. I was also for- % ' director himself as Islamophobic faith imagery, with Buddhist stat- the director might be eyeing the friend of his on religious identity. But like the Hindu man’s bonding tunate to meet Ryan, a young - and misogynist — a position I ues sitting comfortably in the Heera Mandi area for his next This other friend was a Hindu, with Adnan, this driver too British whom I had known only - ' 9 had already chalked out in a presence of Islamic calligraphy film, for that was the other name who had recently shifted to shared a wonderfully convivial cursorily in Cambridge, who had ,' % concise form in this newspaper. and Christian architecture. It was of the place I had visited only a Lahore from Sindh, and it was relationship with other members decided to devote two years of his , ''?6=F # $ !-6<83#S 3+-6*8- 6 7+ -%%6+ 5+3#*-!% 8 /87+ 8++6O# !86%-S 7# 66+ 83+ + 8B buuqy % + 6+,#7 *83+%-S 783#6 + #381 & '()*+, -)E)#!/ # % 9%& //& 1 " + O , % " ( ( ,3%5 53176-/66 aushik Basu currently is, by giving advantages to a spe- teaches Economics cific group over another or sev- and International eral others. But predictably, Basu Studies at Cornell is not for allowing free play to it University in the US. with its overtones of apartheid. KHe has had an illustrious career, He writes: “The popular with distinguished stints as chief view is that if you leave it all to economist and senior vice presi- the market, with no dent at the World Bank, and later, Government regulations and in this neck of the woods, Basu intervention, discrimination was chief economic adviser to the will go away, is not valid. Government of India during UPA Discrimination arises from a rule. Basu mostly leans Left in his free market. If you want to stop economic ideas, and is a former discrimination, you may, in fact, student, amongst several others, need regulation and conscious of Nobel Laureate and “Welfare” affirmative action”. economist Amartya Sen — who is Kaushik Basu is certainly also from India and a fellow not for rank Capitalism. He Bengali too. "/./ 3+8 writes: “Once we move beyond This latest, extensively )53/+/5 payoff-focused critiques to gen- researched book, that quotes eralised ones, many challenges many thinkers to illustrate his 9 3 open up. Human beings are points, has Kaushik Basu explor- ' guided not just by their own ing the co-relationship between :66 payoffs but also by habit, fair- laws and economics. It tries, to an ness, altruism, empathy, envy extent to speak to the ordinary and many other emotional and reader, but is, in fact, quite an much ado, is less than convincing. psychological proclivities... academic tome. Still, some of its However, for a left-leaning Conservative economists , who basic premises are readily gras- thinker, inclusiveness must appear condone selfishness by believing pable. Why are some laws both far more attractive as a basis to Adam Smith’s concept of the obeyed and enforced, he asks, build upon, rather than a top- invisible hand will invariably lead while others stay quite ineffective down approach to economic such a society to optimal results, on the statute books? In India, he order and law-giving. Even if the end up creating failed societies”. points out, there are, in fact, many latter method goes back to the Is Basu right? That depends laws that are rarely used or Hammurabi Code and Moses’ Ten on your own politics and eco- enforced. Basu writes, that in Commandments. nomics. But he certainly puts out order for a law to be properly Basu is an admirer of the an entertaining variation on implemented and used, it must ancient Greek City States, and the Nash’s Game Theory to support intersect at a “focal point” with way they went about their busi- his plumping for the old econom- society and its economic ideas. the republic of beliefs,” writes to influence and alter the collec- fies further: “What the focal for different groups of people”. In ness. He wants to see the princi- ic concept of the Focal Point. In other words it must make Kaushik Basu. He goes on to tive behavior of its people towards approach to law and economics a highly diversified country like ples enunciated then, spread Is such a thing rather theoreti- sense both to the enforcers of the write: “The focal point is a some- preset objectives. In this, he goes does is to take on the full econo- India this becomes doubly rele- across a 21st century global can- cal when it comes to Law and law and the people it is intended what mysterious concept that beyond the more usual objective my game, including the police vant and even more difficult to vas to the extent possible. But this Economics? My view is that it cer- for. Otherwise, both are likely to emerged from modern game the- of an “orderly society” so that and the judge, and then tries to arrive at. Traditional laws, he says, tends to be an impossible seduc- tainly is. And also it is not the job collude in its subversion or leav- ory”. This concept of intersecting economics can do its stuff in explain how and why the law were less inclusive in their tion, as the many self-contradic- of Law so much as Justice to set ing it on the shelf. beliefs however, is the main point peace. He actually wants to influ- works”. In other words, you need approach, and usually were made tory effects in Democracy show. Society on the right track. “The most important ingredi- of this book, and Basu’s sugges- ence the populace via the laws all the ingredients to be in some up based on the consensus of a The idea is pleasant, but it is not Economics marches to its own ents of a republic, including its tions towards a more effective adopted. He writes, “The focal form of tacit agreement on the few, and then, sometimes easy to remain democratic in a drummer. Recent progressive power and might, reside in noth- socio-legal environment essential point approach relies on the premises assumed by both the imposed, when they were vigor- so-called Democracy! Supreme Court judgements on ing more than the beliefs and for orderly progress, are predicat- expressive function or suggestive given law, and the economic con- ously enforced, upon the many. Focal points can be arrived at Homosexuality, Triple Talaq, and expectations of ordinary people ed upon it. power of the law and not on any text it operates in, for it to be He states that is why they often via custom, and tradition, writes women between the ages of 12 and going about their daily lives and Basu believes one of the pur- human irrationality. It is purely a widely adopted and used. did not work, even though his Basu, as in the “tenacious” Indian 50 being allowed to go to a revered quotidian chores. It is in this poses of law, which is an instru- device that uses suggestion to But, quite often, “It is not evi- outright demoting of the tradi- caste system. They can also be temple that kept them out for mil- sense that we are all citizens of ment of the State as a collective, is facilitate coordination”. Basu clari- dent what constitutes a focal point tional approach without very arrived at by discrimination. That lennia, are all cases in point. order to save a childhood " memory — the book is filled ,< ( - " with priceless narratives. Even though its such a &&%( (( 2 ( short book, Bond has managed to fill selected sections with elements of the gothic. In a '+&,8+%& 1 3 chapter titled “The Trouble "& 11 + :** 35+, ,,- with Jinns,” he dabbles in the genre as he writes about a LTT + schoolmate who had the pow- ers of a jinn. He concludes that # ( one is better off appreciating ( ( - and utilising his/her powers as ( ( F a regular human being. Hill ( 7 legends about old lady ghosts " ( N O are also given a curious twist ( 6 *$ 8 " in the compilation. - * The best one out of these is K K probably the part where Bond " ( ( $ is visited by the spirit of 8 ( uskin Bond is one of Rudyard Kipling, an author he ( $ those children’s author himself admires. The spirit of Rthat most adults still Kipling then talks about the can’t resist reading. And if white man’s burden — how he 9+,0$&9 one looks at the author’s jour- was young and could not help "1" "5" ney, this reader tendency himself while calling imperial- $ "5%2 02 + ,,8 makes perfect sense. When ism glorious. Bond had first started writing Bond takes the readers 5 & DD professionally, he had not though a period of dilemma in 5 " / " planned it for children. It was his personal life when he felt +,8$ his publishers who thought like more of an Indian even < that Bond’s consciously sim- when in England, and finally ( ( ple style of writing will make decided to return to the home , (( his books perfect for the he felt a stronger sense of ( $ 5 young readers. It reflects belonging with .The author’s O ( rather well on the author, views on why he celebrates < "O (( then, that decades down the " $3+*4 Holi, and how he feels towards ( $ % line, children obviously adore ".) 4+5/ his Indian friends and neigh- " him, and even the grown-ups bours, how he ‘found’ a family ( ( can’t get enough of his short . 3 to call his own, and how every ( stories and novellas. The rea- .'267 day with them in Landour, ( ( son is probably that even which is not far away from his 2 ( $ though he consciously keeps granny’s old house in his sentences short and his make one laugh out loud, too. Mussoorie, adds up to just the '=96+/ ideas graspable, one still has a By the end of the book, one idyllic journey he had always '++, lot to cherish and ponder over feels all the more enamoured hoped to “stumble” through, +6% when reading Bond. with the author. fill the reader with the kind of "1 Most of the author’s stories Bond expresses his opinion happiness and peace one expe- "% "$"%" are written in first person, on a wide range of topics riences while looking at happy, "%"1"% whether he is sharing a slice through this book. Selfies, pri- childhood pictures. $ "5%2 02 + ,;* from his own life or taking on vacy in the modern society, the “And I enjoy writing. It’s the persona of an imagined hill culture, the changing size not a burdensome task. I may # 1 character. In Stumbling of books, and the hangover of not have anything of earth- # Through Life, one of his latest colonialism are some of them. involves good old handwritten conducted by Mark Twain human being clicking it has shattering significance to con- books, he takes the readers The book is divided into small manuscripts. “The power of where he would write a letter his/her head on the shoulders. vey to the world, but in con- F " through various stages of his chapters, each of them dedicat- the pen” seems to become all to a person and see if the mes- He also comments on the cul- veying my sentiments to you, ( $ own life while sharing humor- ed to one such topic. the more real when one puts sage reaches them even if he ture of getting other authors to dear reader, and in telling you ous, sometimes tragic, and The reader finds that the pen to paper and creates a doesn’t post it. Luckily for write an introduction for one’s something about my relation- ( V sometimes even spooky inci- author has a strong sense of draft, he says. Chapters dedi- Twain, it did! book as it has often put him in ship with people and the natur- 2 ( " dents with them. The events attachment to certain ‘old fash- cated to such personal opin- Making lighthearted obser- a spot. His commentary on al world, I hope to bring a little ( don’t necessarily follow ioned’ ways as makes an apolo- ions are intertwined with vations about the activities of Landour Bazaar, the impor- pleasure and sunshine into ( chronology, but they certainly gy for them. He argues that intriguing tales about celebrat- people around him in his tance of postmen in his life, your life,” the author writes $ ( give the readers a better sense even though modern day pub- ed authors that Bond himself trademark style, the author the difficult search for solitude towards the end of the book. ( ( K about Ruskin Bond, the per- lishing has moved miles ahead, grew up reading. For instance, says that the selfie culture is even on the hills, and the And that’s exactly what he K son. There are parts that make he just can’t seem to say good- the readers get a peep into a hardly the devil it is being childish ways even 70-year-old does. Needless to say, he does it $ one chuckle and parts that bye to the writing process that unique writing experiment made out to be as long as the people tend to adopt just in exceedingly well as always. # $ uvitiut ! & '()*+, , ; ! . ' ' # " )8 )#%%)8) n December 10, the Universal demands of the rights holders than WIPO. It is believed that a human ODeclaration of Human Rights serving common man on the road. rights perspective of the WIPO (UDHR) of the UN is completing its Far beyond this, much contro- would provide greater accessibility 70th anniversary. At this juncture, versial TPP (minus America) is and participation of society. It is our planet has seen numerous increasingly becoming a grave threat interesting to note that there is noth- instances of horrendous violation of to human rights protection in sev- ing in the WIPO mandate that pre- the basic human rights of the mil- eral fields. Even way back in 2016, vents the organisation from stress- lions. While looking at these an independent UN expert on ing human rights to a greater extent, tragedies, many of us have com- human rights, Dr Alfred de Zayas, the integration of human rights into pletely overlooked how human warned that the TPP is a serious existing IPR policies and pro- rights of the indigenous people, the threat to human rights and no grammes into the future develop- needy and the poor are violated by country should sign it. Further he ment of the WIPO Development giant multinational corporations commented that the Investor State Agenda. This would finally be (MNCs) in the guise of protecting Dispute Settlement (ISDS), a unique advancement in building up a their prized Intellectual Property built-in mechanism in the TPP, arbi- human rights framework for the Rights (IPRs). trations are fundamentally imbal- WIPO. It has happened mainly in the anced and unjust, adding that the With the Doha Declaration of field of traditional knowledge, historic agreement conflicted with 2001, the lingering doubts over the health, food and Geographical guarantees of human rights and jurisprudential grounding or the Indications (GI) in several parts of State sovereignty in the UN Charter. interface between human rights the developing world. This does not He said, “The last 25 years and the IPRs should have been over. bear the fact that human rights and have delivered numerous examples Because this declaration tried to the IPRs are two antagonistic poles of abuse of rights by investors and moderate the TRIPs Agreement to by nature. However, ironically, the unconscionable arbitral awards that be responsive to the development two of them have been put in par- have not only led to violations of imperative that it alleged to have allel lines by many to serve their human rights, but have engendered sidelined or rather ignored. But then vested interests. a ‘regulatory chill’ or even a ‘regu- since 2001, the emergence of The interface between human latory freeze’.” In a nutshell, what has numerous post-TRIPs bilateral and rights and IPRs draw the attention come around and making headlines multilateral treaties has further of the governments, policy makers, in popular perception today is that raised the concern of violation of civil society organisations (CSOs), business treaties, particularly mega human rights. and a number of individual activists. deals like the TRIPS or the TPP, At this point, when the entire The irony is that these actors pose harm to basic freedoms and world is fast moving towards an era advance human rights arguments as rights such as access to water, food, of “intellectual capitalism”, such an counterweights to the massive medicine, education and very seri- advanced system of social relations extension and the enforcement of ously to a clean environment. Above is defined not more by social divi- the global IPR regime from the all, these trade treats make poverty sions of labour but by social divi- World Intellectual Property even worse on this planet. sions of knowledge. Organization (WIPO) through the It is widely argued that the These divisions are widely WTO-TRIPS (Trade Related WIPO, the nodal and specialised reflected in continuous creation of Aspects of Intellectual Property agency of the UN, needs to walk an knowledge pools, clusters and net- Rights) to the Trans-Pacific ) E" 2?6=5E " / J 9 # , !'@ )" extra mile for turning the existing works both at global and local lev- Partnership (TPP) of our time in the global IPR regime into a more els which have become irresistible fields of health, education, freedom human rights friendly one. Equally today. What holds the key of this of expression, privacy and the rights mostly restricted to the developed rights perspective is of recent origin rights and IPRs go together and Besides, Article 25.1 of the the WTO-TRIPS framework is to marauding expansionist regime is of indigenous people. countries. The harbinger of its than IPRs, though concern and where they come in conflict. UDHR states, “Everyone has the see that the developing and the least the centrality of the intangible form Simultaneously, innovators and modern form came along with two struggle for basic rights is as old as Notwithstanding their long period right to a standard of living adequate developed nations should not lose of property than the age-old tangi- owners of IP are offering human trendsetting multilateral treaties human civilisation. of separation or non-interaction, to the health of himself and his fam- their valued resources in the hands ble properties such as land and rights justification for seeking legal which took place by the end of the From these humble beginnings, there are ample juridical evidences ily, including clothing, housing and of the MNCs of the developed industrial assets. Simply put, it is a protection of their exclusive rights. 19th century: The Paris Convention both human rights and IPRs terrain that they converge both on con- medical care and necessary social world in the name of research, phenomenal change and a paradigm But then it is possible to envi- of Industrial Property (1883) and evolved much faster than one could ceptual and practical grounds. And, services.” While offering clear legal development and creation of more shift. At this hour, a sustained guar- sion the connection between human the Berne Convention of Literary imagine in their geographic scope, it is precisely mentioned in the backing to these provisions of the employment opportunities for antee of the protection of our basic rights and IPRs as kind of massive and Artistic Works (1886). substantive reach and in prescrip- International Bill of Rights. The UDHR, the International Covenant locals. human rights while promoting and expansion of the horizons of both This has literally laid the foun- tive detail. Thus, issues multiplied, Article 27 of the UDHR provides: on Economic, Social and Cultural The WIPO and the WTO pol- exploiting the IPRs is to be ensured domestic and international legal dation stone of the international IPR with the advancement of the infor- A) Everyone has the right freely Rights (ICESCR) of 1966 in its icy-making and implementation by the international watchdogs such instruments over the years. In fact, regime much before the onset of the mation revolution and population, to participate in the cultural life of Article 12.1 says State parties to the are to ensure that the needy and as the WIPO, the WTO and the growth of global institutions and two World Wars which largely accompanied by an array of actors the community, to enjoy the arts and Covenant recognises the “right of poor are away from the clutches of through an overall supervision of awareness about them has sup- affected the conception of the glob- mostly heralded by globalisation to share in scientific advancement everyone to the enjoyment of the the giant corporations while the UN by sticking to the cardinal ported the coming of human rights al human rights framework. Only and technology. It is realised that the and its benefits. highest attainable standard of phys- expanding and promoting the new principles of the UDHR with the and IPRs to a point of conversion. after 65 years of the starting of the form and pattern of the juridical B) Everyone has the right to the ical and mental health”. IPR network. Some researchers assistance of an array of civil rights Needless to say, initially, the Paris Convention, the first UN boundary, as well as a mature inter- protection of the moral and mate- Today, overall impression is have already had their opinions that groups and activists. whole journey of IPRs started with sponsored human rights declaration face between human rights and the rial interests resulting from any sci- that the global IP regime directly there has been a serious lack of discrete bilateral agreements saw its beginning. Thus the incep- IPRs are yet to crystallise. entific, literary or artistic production supervised by the WTO and post- emphasis of basic or human rights (The writer is an expert on between nations of Europe and tion of an international human Now let us see how human of which he is the author. TRIPS WIPO truly caters to the in the works and all treaties of the International affairs) &%( . ' ' %)&% 889 ) here are many reasons to Khalistan movement was seen lynchpin for all ties with that left 19 soldiers dead. Trefuse the resumption of with Imran Khan during the Pakistan. Beijing has prodded The Pakistan Army has dialogue with Pakistan. India inauguration. Pakistan to stabilise its border emerged as the self-designated has been reiterating talks and After coming to power, with India, hoping for greater custodian of Pakistan’s des- terror cannot coexist. This pol- Imran said, “My Government stability as it pursues its region- tiny, unity and ideology. It has icy has been conceived with is not to be blamed for the exis- al economic ambitions. sustained its grip on power and clarity based on realism and tence of terror structures in Harsh American cut-off influence because of the wide- subsequently pursued with Pakistan.” This looks a blatant in military aid and economic spread perceptions and propa- consistency. lie. His ministers share the bailout from the International ganda that India is an existen- Since 2015, India has seen public chair with the master- Monetary Fund (IMF) are the tial threat. an upsurge in cross-border fir- minds of the terror groups. unstated objectives guiding In 2015 when Modi flew to ing, ceasefire violations along Earlier, he wrote a letter to his Pakistan’s eagerness for peace. Lahore and embraced then the Line of Control and inter- counterpart in India, saying, But why should India take Prime Minister Nawaj Sharif, national border in Jammu & “Pakistan and India have the bait? Pakistan continues to there was a sense that relations Kashmir. There are clear signs understandably challenging hurt India. Recently Pakistan will improve. But India was dis- that the Pakistan Army and the relationships. We, however, released 20 special stamps in appointed. The good gestures ISI are doing everything to owe it to our people, especial- solidarity with Kashmiri ter- were rewarded with the Uri destabilise Kashmir. ly the future generation to rorism, which glorify Burhan attack and intensified insur- But in a friendly gesture peacefully resolve all out- Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen gencies. The current game plan towards India, the Imran Khan standing issues, including the terrorist killed by security of Pakistan is two-fold. First, Government in Pakistan Jammu & Kashmir dispute, to forces in 2016. Army doctrine is to open the opened Kartarpur Sahib bridge differences and achieve The true face of Imran has peace gate through civilian Corridor. However, it is not a mutually beneficial outcome.” been exposed in his first few Government and it will run its enough to resume the stalled Pakistan is not seen to be months in office, said External own game of infiltrations. bilateral talks. Former Prime acting against the perpetrators Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Second, if talks fail, India will Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of terror. It has yet not said Raveesh Kumar, adding that be blamed. Unless the Pakistan had first advocated for the goodbye to terror as foreign *% : ' ' " * . ' + ''!'HI* talks under the circumstances Army abandons the use of ter- corridor when he took the bus policy. 26/11 Mumbai terror ' - % + ''78 ' "& were meaningless. Hizbul ror as it security doctrine, trip to Lahore in 1999. Prime masterminds Hafiz Saeed and Mujahideen terrorists are resumption of dialogue is not Minister Narendra Modi Lakhvi roam free in Pakistan pressing local policemen of possible. India is now a decisive approved the corridor. and publicly spew venom Therefore, if Imran is harping kets. India sees Imran’s out- situation in the country. The deep-rooted democratic set-up. J&K to resign, failing which power, and diktats of external Pakistan’s decision to agree to against India. on the resumption of bilateral reach as the desire of the Bajwa Doctrine has linked Pakistan outreach is also they are brutally killed. All powers do not work any longer. the Kartarpur Corridor was It is an open secret that dialogue, in fact it is the Pakistan Army and believes he Pakistani economy to the due to the Chinese pressure. these are happening at behest driven by a desire to emerge Pakistan is run by its military. Pakistan Army’s proxy move. will present General Bajwa’s regional security. In despera- Those who know Chinese pol- of Pakistan. (The author teaches out of its current state of iso- Policies are structured by the A key objective for demands. tion, the Pakistan Army chief icy understand it better that Dialogue between India Political Science and IR at lation and to cash in on the Army. And most likely, Imran Pakistan in reaching out to The Pakistan Army has approached Indian Army Chief Beijing’s interests in Pakistan and Pakistan has been sus- MMH College Ghaziabad. opportunity to radicalise the was supported to become India is to unlock trade barri- realised country’s battered Bipin Rawat, but the overtures are of paramount interest. For pended since 2015 over a series Earlier, he was Head of the pilgrims from India. And Prime Minister so as to act as ers, which would give Pakistan economy as a security threat proved futile. Perhaps, General Beijing, China-Pakistan of attacks, especially the terror Department of Political Science, therefore, a leader of the dead a rubber stamp of the Army. more access to regional mar- that may aggravate insurgency Bajwa forgot that India has a Economic Corridor is the attack on Army camp in Uri Central University of Haryana) # $ **8- +, %8 5S 6-6- 6B!6-6+*6 1#%3- # <6-S 8#%+%6$ + #!%6 8 5S !-6##3-6 #76 bacqbute " 83 8 # #76 #76 K 57%5 ,+ 7 & '()*+, $R # R QR % ( ( 1 , ( ( 5 1 , 5 , ( $ (( ( ( ( $ ? racial discrimination will end and taken aback. She thought that per- “You will send your wife to jail?” the three pound tax will be haps she had not heard him prop- “Shouldn’t women be part- removed. Mohandas was not erly. “What are you saying?” ners to the men in whatever hap- reassured by the promises given “I was telling you that very pens? Sita took part in Ram’s by the Government to Gokhale. soon you will not be my duly struggles. Taramati took equal He said, “I know the Government married spouse. You will be con- part in Harishchandra’s troubles. here very well. I understand the sidered my mistress.” Kasturba They bore incredible pain for mindset of the Ministers. Have thought he was teasing her. their self respect and to protect they given anything in writing?” “What an inauspicious thing to what was good and true.” Gokhale said with complete say... sometimes the things you “They were divine beings, we assurance, “Whatever I have said say have no head or tail.” are ordinary mortals,” countered will definitely happen. General “I am not saying this,’ said Kasturba. “They are still wor- Botha has promised me.” He gave Mohandas very calmly, shipped today. Would that be so, Mohandas further personal “General Smuts says that our if they hadn’t sacrificed so much assurance, “Brother, you see after marriage is not legal.” “He is for the truth?” Mohandas was one year... you will have seen mad. He does not know what enjoying this discussion, “We are everything go right and you will nonsense he is spouting. the descendants of Ram and Sita. come to India, no excuses then...” Where does he get his weird If we do the same, we will be Mohandas said with polite firm- ideas from?” She was not will- known in the same way.” ness, “Forgive me, but I am not as ing to talk about the General’s “How will I live on jail food?” n 1912, senior Congress hopeful as you are. Before I foolish pronouncements. “Up “That is not a big problem,” said leader and a prominent return, many Indians would have to you,” said Mohandas, “But he in a neutral manner.” Ask for member of the Viceroy gone to jail.” It is hard to know he and the Government are fruits and manage.” “After all that Council, Gopal Krishna whether Gokhale took quite serious about this.” I have heard from you about the Gokhale, was coming to Mohandas’s words amiss or not, A Muslim woman had come officials in jail, how can I believe SouthI Africa for a month. but he held his peace. from India to join her husband. that they will make fruits avail- Mohandas considered him his One day, very politely She was stopped at the port. She able to me when I ask for them?” political guru. Actually, it was on Gokhale ji criticised Mohandas’s had challenged this in court. The “Perhaps not,” said Mohandas his insistence that Gokhale was hard stance and domineering Supreme Court judge, Mr Surley, looking hopeless, “There is only coming to South Africa to see the nature, “You always do things had given a judgment that a mar- one way — hunger strike.” condition of the Indians there. He your own way.” Based on his riage that had not been conduct- “First you will send me to jail should see how the Government experience at Tolstoy Farm, he ed in the Christian tradition and and then you want me to die in a was applying anti-Girmitiya laws warned his disciple and friend if there was no certificate of mar- hunger strike. What sort of hus- and making life very difficult for that his personality, with its inex- riage, it cannot be considered band are you?” “If you die, I will the Indians. Gandhi Bhai would orable discipline and ruthless self legal. In one fell swoop, ten thou- worship you like a Goddess.” update him regularly about what- sacrifice, becomes autocratic for sand Muslims, Hindus, and Parsi “If that is the case, I will go to ever was happening in South everybody else. He said this like a marriages had been declared ille- jail so that you get a chance to Africa, so he knew quite a lot. brother citing his own example. gal and the children illegitimate. worship me.” Both of them Being a distinguished member of But upon his return to India, The children could not be legal laughed like friends do. the Viceroy Council, he was given when he heard that the heirs to the property of their par- Mohandas had mentioned an official red carpet welcome in Government of South Africa had ents. Wives would be banished the possibility of her being called Cape Town. gone back on its word, he saw from the country. Any soldier his mistress in jest, as the final British and Indians, both light in Mohandas’s strong con- can come and sleep with any judgment had not come until were present in the welcome cer- victions and his moral leadership. woman in the household. then. But now it was permeating emony. The way the Government He accepted before the public of Mohandas had written to the environment. There was had publicised his arrival led to a Bombay, that Gandhi had an General Smuts that the marriages wrath among the public. surge of hope among the Indians amazing spiritual energy to make in India, as per their religion, Kasturba was agitated. Mohandas that their demands would be even his ordinary functionary a should be considered legal as had brought up childhood mem- approved. But Kasturba was not sacrificing leader. they have all been conducted ories with the mention of Sita among the optimists. She knew In 1913, Mohandas according to religious customs and Taramati. Even then, she that after Gokhale leaves, Indians announced that he was moving and tradition. South Africa is a used to wonder if girls could be would be victims of official the centre of the Satyagraha colony of the British empire and like these heroic women? An neglect once again. movement from Tolstoy Ashram the British officialdom recognises image of Rani Laxmibai would The Government had put a to Phoenix. This made Kasturba them. Therefore, the court’s judg- come up. She remembered how railway car at his disposal. happier than she had been in ment should be rejected. His her mother used to say that Rani Mohandas and Kallenbach were months. She was not in the least request was not accepted. Laxmibai was a modern heroine on call for him. Gokhale had bothered that it meant moving Kasturba was deeply troubled born a little before our times. She travelled extensively by railway her household again. This was a by this whole episode. “What will had proved that all those who car. Meeting almost all sections return home. we do now?” she asked. “Women loved her were under her protec- of society, he had taken detailed One day, Mohandas said to will have to raise their voices tion. She was as brave as any information and notes personally. Kasturba, “Do you know that very against this humiliation. They man can be. Kasturba had He had two meetings with the soon I will not be your husband or will have to oppose it.” He accepted that the battle that highest officials of the South you, my wife?” This conversation paused, “You should go to jail, Mohandas was fighting was nec- African Government. After the was taking place in the kitchen like the men.” Kasturba thought essary. Her responsibility was meeting, he told Mohandas that and Kasturba was making prepa- he was joking. The idea of equal to her husband’s. all matters had been settled. The rations for dinner and Mohandas women going to jail was laugh- / ' Black Law will be abolished, was cutting vegetables. She was able, so she recovered her poise, '# * " $ R exico’s new President has space,” he said. Next, the presi- unveiled a plan to 5 8 ( dential jet is going. And all the Maddress US-bound flotilla of helicopters.” migration, signing an agreement He then listed the multitude with Central American leaders 3#D ( ( " % 7--6% 6B+ 6- of ways in which, from now, within hours of donning the public servants will be held to presidential sash. Andres Manuel as a gesture of goodwill, and unlike his predecessors — and account. His entire, extensive, Lopez Obrador was always thanking Mike Pence, the Vice- the sound of traditional music social welfare plan is based on expected to hit the ground run- President, for being there. and orchestras flowed through the simple idea of ending cor- ning — but even so, the speed of He then moved on to thank the sprawling compound. ruption. “A lot of people are ask- the announcement surprised all. King Felipe of Spain and the Mexicans poured in to pose in ing where we are going to get the In a deal that will likely assembled Presidents for their front of the imposing gates, money from,” he said. “We are delight Donald Trump, Lopez presence — then giving a special besides flower signs welcoming going to free up so much funds, Obrador agreed with the mention to Jeremy Corbyn, his the public. Queues snaked because corruption is over. Presidents of Honduras and friend and ally of many years. through the lush gardens to get There will no longer be luxury Guatemala, and the Vice- “Present today is my friend into the house where, until the in Government.” President of El Salvador, to cre- Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the day before, Enrique Pena Nieto Trips abroad will be strictly ate a fund to stem the US-bound Labour Party of Great Britain,” and his family had lived and curtailed, and chauffeurs flow of migrants. Leaders of the Lopez Obrador told the packed worked. “I mean, I know they removed for all but the most four countries have agreed to Chamber of Deputies, as have to live well,” said one senior officials. Bodyguards ask their finance ministries, in Corbyn stood up from his seat woman, entering the atrium will only be provided to those the first quarter of 2019, to behind Ivanka to wave and beneath a huge chandelier. “But working in security; there will come up with a plan which accept the applause. this is ridiculous.” be no more private medical includes “programmes, projects, More controversial to the With more than a passing care, and computer systems and and specific actions, for the sake assembled deputies and digni- resemblance to the Iraqis, who furnishings of offices can not of jobs generation and fighting taries was Nicolas Maduro, the wandered freely through the be updated for at least the first poverty in the region”. Venezuelan President, who was deposed Saddam Hussein’s year. “No public servant can The programmes will be sup- forced to stay away from the cer- palace, Mexicans, jaws agape, have servants paid for by the ported by an “integral develop- emony owing to massive passed through what was Pena state,” he said. “No public ser- ment plan”, aimed at making the protests. When his name was Nieto’s office, poked their head vant can close streets, or park Central American nations a bet- mentioned, politicians yelled into his now unfurnished suite where they want,” he added — ter place to live, and thus reduce “Dictator!” and marched to the of bedrooms, and took selfies in to rapturous applause. the number of those leaving. It front of the podium, unfurling a his kitchen. “This place is so Before beginning his 90- will be backed by CEPAL — the banner which read: “Nicolas huge, if I were hungry I’d faint minute speech, he received a economic commission for Latin Maduro, you are not welcome”. before I reached the kitchen,” a blessing from representatives of America and the Caribbean. The Maduro did, however, attend the little girl told her mother. Mexico’s indigenous communi- deal was Lopez Obrador’s first lunch at the National Palace The new President proudly ties — an unprecedented and official act, and a highly signifi- after the ceremony — arriving mentioned the development in profoundly moving gesture. He cant one, likely to curry favour with a huge entourage, who were Miguel Diaz-Canel, and Evo Mexican spices and plantain, palace, Los Pinos, flung open its his speech, addressing tens of promised Mexicans he would from his northern counterpart. not permitted to enter, and then Morales of Bolivia — who earlier and a selection of Mexican wrought-iron green gates and, thousands in Mexico City’s main not let them down, but he urged And Lopez Obrador continued scuffled with security outside that day held a bilateral meeting desserts. for the first time in 80 years, was plaza, the Zocalo. “From this them to give him time. “Have his conciliatory tone throughout the building. with Corbyn. The VIPs then While the official celebra- opened to the public. morning, we’ve opened the patience, and trust me,” he said. the presidential ceremonies, Inside the National Palace, feasted on huitlacoche soup — a tions were continuing, another Lopez Obrador fulfilled his doors of Los Pinos, which has “Because they are handing me a thanking Trump for sending his Maduro took a happy photo classic Mexican fungus — fol- of Lopez Obrador’s policies was promise to turn it into a cultural ceased being a presidential broken country.” daughter Ivanka to represent him seated beside Cuba’s leader, lowed by ribs with corn, being enacted. The presidential centre — he will not live there, palace, and is now a cultural &! & # $ 8+ %-35! +%# +8-%7 18-6+ 6 6- 15 /8+,D3+ %8 1+8 76 16# 75 + 3 7# itextaiutar # #76# # #83%7 18-6+ !-6# 6+% 588+ /6D+ & '()*+, 8 5 & " N 8O$ 5 R ! !! l’ Blue Eyes is going on the + auction block. Personal items Obelonging to singer Frank Sinatra and his wife Barbara went on ( ( ( display in New York, before an auc- tion of Barbara Sinatra’s estate set for " next month at Sotheby’s. The collec- tion — expected to fetch at least N O $ $3.5m — includes the engagement ring Sinatra gave his wife, trinkets from US Presidents he palled around # 8 with, and a Norman Rockwell paint- ing of Sinatra that he commissioned << ,-8#18! directly from the artist. Barbara Sinatra was his fourth wife, and they were married for 22 years until his death. She died last year, and the items up for sale art collector. You see that he’s a come from the couple’s three romantic husband who likes to gift homes in Palm Springs, Los beautiful things to his wife.” Angeles and Malibu. The priciest piece is the 20-carat “You see many facets of Sinatra diamond engagement ring Frank used you wouldn’t normally see as a fan,” to propose to Barbara, a former said Mari-Claudia Jimenez, a senior showgirl, slipping it into her cham- vice-president at Sotheby’s. “People pagne glass when they were out to ** think of him as a singer or an actor, dinner. Sinatra lavished his wife with but here you learn that he was a expensive jewellery, with many pieces painter. You learn that he was a friend included in the sale. “He would put to every US President from Truman $100,000 necklaces in her pockets to Q Q to Clinton. You see that he’s an avid find,” Jimenez said. 3 * $ eyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Pharrell Williams, )!R BUsher and other international stars gathered in Johannesburg for a charity concert honouring Nelson Mandela a century after he was born. er autobiography Becoming ed source Michelle was “instrumental in black women the world loved or cele- Thousands poured into the South was part of the biggest pub- introducing” the couple and so is keen to brated were usually of a lighter skin African city’s FNB stadium for Global lishing deal in history check up on their status as newlyweds tone. To see a darker skinned woman Citizen Festival: Mandela 100. Singer (worth over $60 million) and parents-to-be. At the moment, the be celebrated made me feel good about Bob Geldof, who organised the Live and sold an eye-watering Clooneys are reportedly on the list of myself. She made the world open their Aid concerts for Africa, was also H1.4 million copies in its first week on potential godparents. Perhaps this visit eyes to see different black women there. Global Citizen, an advocacy sale. Her 10-city book tour of the US has will bump the Obamas up that list, too. could be seen as intelligent, beautiful group, campaigns for an end to been billed as “a once-in-a-lifetime Where Michelle has the most and graceful. Furthermore, she has extreme poverty, and other causes. It opportunity to see and hear the first impact, though, is on those of us who been forthright in championing black says many people won tickets to African American First Lady of the will never meet her — let alone invite her women and women of colour and that Sunday’s concert through charity United States” and features A-list hosts round for ricotta with raspberries has given me confidence.” work and petition-signing. like Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, (favourite pudding of the Clooneys’ As a public speaker, Michelle has World leaders previously gathered Canada PM Justin Trudeau tweeted a and Sarah Jessica Parker and has sold out young twins). I recently witnessed first- also done something that goes way at the stadium in 2013 for a memorial $50m pledge for education for girls stadium-sized venues. Recently, she hit hand the effect that “MO”, as fans call beyond any definable constituency: She after the death of Mandela, the anti- and women around the world. London’s South Bank Centre with tickets her, has on her greatest devotees. As she has shown that anyone can talk with pas- apartheid leader who was also South “This is amazing!” the festival changing hands on the black market for launched the memoir in her hometown sion, insight and warmth without having Africa’s first black president. The fes- host, Trevor Noah, said as Trudeau’s £7,000. So what is it about Michelle of Chicago mid-November, in London an explicit political agenda. tival gave a platform to Government tweet was shown on a big stadium Obama? She’s an exciting, glamorous fig- we had to make do with a tribute event: If you look at public speakers of the leaders, CEOs and others who screen. Noah had earlier highlighted ure with the kind of First Lady mystique Letters to Michelle at Waterstone’s Gower past 50 years, it would be hard to find pledged more funding for healthcare a comment by Mandela that poverty and feelgood factor we haven’t seen since Street, where audience members could #76 7# 6*856 anyone who has her cut-through or uni- and other social programmes. In a could be overcome through deter- Jackie O. Yes, she has been a campaigner read out their accounts of how the for- versal appeal. As a performance coach, I recorded video message, Kenya’s pres- mined action. South Africa is strug- for causes no one could disagree with mer First Lady has changed their lives. %8%65* ,3-6 am repeatedly asked to help women — ident, Uhuru Kenyatta, promised gling with one of the world’s highest (the “Let’s Move” health campaign, girls’ Around 150 women gathered to cele- 8- 856+ #8-% and men — “be more Michelle”. Her more money in the national budget. rates of income inequality. education globally, all the Mom-in-Chief brate a woman they would never meet, speaking style is defined by natural poise, role model stuff). And, of course, she has and emotions ran high. They sobbed, 8 6S8+*6 8 authenticity and candour. been a champion for American designers wept and were often so moved just In my book How to Own the Room: and secured — eventually — the thinking about MO that they could bare- 3+66*%6 !8%*#V Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking, ! ! approval of the fashion world, with the ly speak. That night I realised the weight ,8 inspired by Michelle Obama’s “When latest cover of US Elle showing her in a of her appeal: She has shown women that they go low, we go high” moment, I black leather Dior corset. they are worth more. The winner of the 5## 8- explain how she embodies the quality of But there is something more here best letter was a 10-year-old girl, who “happy high status”. She occupies a than window dressing and the usual First said that two women had made her feel 78 *+ 8 +8 space with charisma and grace, without Lady responsibilities: She has become a that she was capable of anything in life: -8+,$ # 6## ever making anyone feel that you are totemic figure for women, a sort of “My mum and Michelle Obama.” above them or below them. Beyonce of unelected politics; a global Tobi Oredein is the founder of web- *8+%-8<6-# Oprah has described MO as a ambassador who can do no wrong. As a site Black Ballad and a recipient of a “mighty force” whose signature style is less controversial figure than her hus- coveted golden ticket to the Obama ,3-6 %7+ 76- “palpable ease” — and this ease is per- band, she also represents — in the same event. Michelle Obama’s inspiration lies haps the key to her enduring appeal. She way Oprah Winfrey does — the fulfil- in the fact that “she was so unapologetic 73#+ #76 #8 comes across as humble, without being ment of the promise of the American and original in how she approached her -6!-6#6+%# %76 fake, and has been open about the strug- dream. The idea that with hard work, role as First Lady,” she explains. “She gles of life in the spotlight, without this inspiration and dedication, you can do wasn’t afraid to be silly to get kids to eat, 356+% 8 %76 coming across as playing the tiniest vio- anything with your life. It’s an extraordi- or use social media to say that she had lin in the world. The designer Narciso narily powerful and hopeful message, no interest in politics. She endured con- !-85#6 8 %76 Rodriguez has worked closely with her hen a tornado carried res, using references noted in the especially in our divided times. stant ‘misogynoir’ and dealt with it 56-*+ -65 and says: “She is matter of fact about Dorothy off to a land of online movie database IMDb. The Her London visit is principally to gracefully and never let that stop her what she needs and lets you do your Wwitches and talking scare- authors note that the database is promote Becoming, in conversation from being outspoken.” thing.” It strikes me that this is a message crows it was not only Oz that she and biased towards films from the west, with novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Michelle ignited a debate around she has sent to the entire world and her companions ended up taking by with the majority produced in the US. Adichie in front of an audience of 2,900 the term ‘misogynoir’ — a uniquely women in particular have picked up on it storm: new research suggests the The team did not consider short films, (with 300 tickets held back for local unpleasant blend of misogyny and instinctively: “I’m doing what I need to world of movies was never the same adult films and those with no link or charities and schools.) But there’s racism that saw the former First Lady do. Now you go do your thing.” again either. Researchers in Italy have reference to other movies. They used a another item on this week’s UK to-do criticised for her hair, her choice of Perhaps the message is all the stronger declared the Wizard of Oz the most combination of four different mathe- list: Dinner at the Berkshire home of clothes, her “athletic” build and her sup- for the fact that she is clear — including in influential film ever made, outstrip- matical approaches to explore the con- George and Amal Clooney, with Prince posedly “angry” moments. As her stylist her memoir — that she is not standing for ping others in how much it has nections between movies, taking into Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. Michelle Koop has said: “You have to office either as Mayor of Chicago or as inspired and been referenced in the account factors including the number The Obamas were invited to Harry anticipate every avenue of attack and President: “I’ll say it here directly: I have film industry. The research team came of references a film received and and Meghan’s wedding but did not every possible outcome.” no intention of running for office ever.” to their conclusion after analysing whether the films that referred back to attend reportedly because of security Oredein adds: “She has changed Intentions can change, though. more than 47,000 films across 26 gen- it were themselves influential. concerns. According to a widely-report- my life, because before most of the &! & + annual dinner in the community news- went to the church and begging pets. “This dog- 17-year-old boy, ended up locked inside %& paper last month. waited their turn for the $20 friendly alternative to the the vault about 1.30 pm. n Ohio pumpkin artist turned some Klawiter wanted the obit to read as a meal were not members of Whopper sandwich is a “Unfortunately, there were two juve- group of Chicago-area moms Aautumn art festive when she trans- tribute to the seven decades the church Faith Lutheran or even res- bone-shaped treat with niles that were playing around inside an Apulled off a complicated Christmas formed a giant Kanye West pumpkin in east-central Minnesota has idents of Forest Lake. flame-grilled beef taste for abandoned bank and they didn’t know photo when they got 23 total sets of into a Christmas decoration. Jeanette served hundreds of pounds of Planners wondered if a turkey din- the dogs of these generous owners,” that the vault was still active,” twins to pose together with a mall Paras, the artist behind Paras Pumpkins, lutefisk at the annual dinner, ner would be a better option, but decid- Burger King said in a news release. Hollywood police Officer Santa. The moms, members of the shared a video showing her Kanye West dubbed “Holy Tuesday,” the ed a menu change would not make Guests who order a Whopper sandwich Christian Lata told WPLG- Chicago Twin Moms group, said Christmas pumpkin, which is decked Minneapolis Star Tribune things easier for the volunteers. While will receive one dog bone for free. But TV. “[While] playing inside they have long sought to pull out in a Santa hat reading: “Make reported . “There was a no immediate replacement was this isn’t available for pickup or dine-in, the vault, one of them got off the busy Santa photo, but Pumpkins Great Again.” “We wish lot of pride that this announced, the pastor says the focus and only through the DoorDash food trapped inside and, luckily, the closest they came was ‘Ye’ a Merry Christmas,” Paras says made it to 70 years,” said now will be on creating a new tradition. delivery service. DoorDashers deliver the other one was outside gathering 18 sets of twins in the video. The Kanye pumpkin, Klawiter, a self-described And the obit notes that lutefisk lovers food and other items from local mer- and was able to call 911.” to pose with the Easter which was originally decorated for “lutefisk convert”. The still have other options nearby, with chants to customers across the United Police responded with the Bunny earlier this year. fall, weighs in at 315 pounds. dinner would require Scandinavian dinners in other area States and Canada. New delivery cus- Hollywood Fire Department, a The 23 mothers, each about 190 volunteers. towns listed as “survivors.” tomers can get a no-fee delivery with a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue tech- with a set of twins and Planners had to find $10 order at DoorDash through Tuesday. nical rescue team and at least two some with spare children, A'D ways to fill gaps left by The news release notes the product is private vault technicians to converged on the Woodfield volunteers who had P “not for human consumption.” attempt to free the boy bank heist Mall in Schaumburg this week Minnesota church has ended its died or grown too frail. 6 style, but an attempt to drill into to get the near-perfect photo. A70-year tradition of serving a This fall, the group urger King hopes its new food inno- the wall of the bank to reach the “Pretty chaotic right now,” dinner of lutefisk, a Nordic dish of dried also wondered how the Bvation is a doggone good one. On boy failed. Lata said the boy was mother Courtney Polite told cod soaked in lye, and the pastor has event could draw more Wednesday, the fast-food chain unveiled $ released from the vault after WLS-TV. “You’re never [going penned a eulogy for the dinner’s end. young families from the a new meal deal that includes a treat for olice in Florida said a 17-year-old more than three hours when a to] get all these kids to not Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, congregation and from dogs called the Dogpper, which “is the Pplaying around in an abandoned Bank of America employee from be crying or all looking at Minnesota, would serve a Forest Lake, a town of first flame grilled bone offered at BK for bank ended up needing to be rescued the branch’s new location was the same time.” Mall offi- Scandinavian dinner featuring the about 20,000 about 40 your best friend,” according to a news from inside the former business’ vault. able to come to the scene and give cials said they were pleased pungent, jellylike fish the first Tuesday km northeast of release. Burger King said the offer is a Hollywood police said two teenagers authorities the combination to to be able to host such an in December. But the Rev John Minneapolis. Most of way for customers to enjoy their order at entered the former Bank of America open the door. unusual photo. Klawiter wrote an obituary for the the 500 people who home without interruption from their branch Wednesday and one of them, a # $ -6#6-*7 #3,,6#%# %7% 76+ 8<6-# 881 +%8 yvixiari $ 6*7 8%76-O# 6S6# %76- 76-% -%6# #S+*7-8+#6 & '()*+, 9%, !-58 !%71 2 <"1% 3 5% 2 " ( D " " $ % ( 3 ( " T'' " ( D " D ( $ L& D D (( ( ( GL D(( $ % +/-.**4")+) od is omnipresent, omnipotent and D D omniscient. These qualities distin- 6( " Gguish God from us souls. We can +4)R ?!# A5 #/#? $ never be present everywhere; we are limit- % ( D ed to our presence where our physical D bodies are located. Similarly, we are ( extremely limited in how much ‘shakti’ or , " 7 power we inherently have. Some people ( like big leaders or kings have lots of power " ( 7 " /% 135- #7+8 but that is not inherent in them. Such "$ power, like that of Hitler, is external. Once as well in the virtual sense with the help of God is willing to guide as Lord Krishna has D it was gone, Hitler was a defeated man and scientific gadgets like cell phones. These pointed out at several places in the Gita. ( ( committed suicide. Likewise, we can never days, people hold video conferences with The second way is to be willing to do our " be all-knowing. We can know a lot about the participants being present at different duties as guided by God. Here again, God ( some subject. For instance, Einstein pos- places. Additionally, we can travel to far off has offered to help if we are aligned with sessed knowledge about physics. But we, places with our minds; we can imagine Him, ie we have become God conscious. $ L% human beings, can never see the big pic- ourselves to be somewhere else or at any Rather, God promises to help out in all sit- ( D ture in its totality, ie the past, the present place we choose to be. uations which are challenging to our and the future. Therefore, we are severely As regards power, God has allowed us resources. Similarly, we can achieve almost ( ( D handicapped when it comes to making the choice of gaining more power than anything like harnessing natural energy for D ( D informed decisions. what is inherent in us with the help of common good by coming together. D Is the cosmic design, then, defective? other people by becoming their leaders. Yes, we are incomplete without God, ( Have we been unfairly dealt? No, this is This way, we can pool individual powers but God is ever willing to help. An objec- # 1 M 1D the only way the creation would have been under our control. There is another way. tion may be raised about the requirement " 5 D possible. God could not have created One can do severe austerities, please divine of us surrendering to God. God will never ( # + clones of Himself. This would have then authorities and gain material siddhis or force us to do that. We will only deprive 3 # 1$ created parallel power centers. Can we weapons. Persons like Arjuna had obtained ourselves of what is available, ie God’s help, - imagine what that would have done? As it divine weapons, which were very potent. if we choose not to surrender. Suppose a is, if someone amongst us gets a little Individual power is a sum total of physical, what we can imagine. It is said that the best be able to exist well. Yes, there are many person decides not to use his eyes to see; ( ( power, then, it is highly likely that he or mental and intellectual powers. of us use a maximum of 10% of our brains’ limitations which have been pointed out can we blame God for that? There is no ( L she will be drunk with it. Now coming to knowledge, one can capacities. This is also very rare. God has earlier but they can also be overcome if we doubt that we are incomplete in ourselves, M Therefore, the Lord had to limit us gather as much knowledge as time permits. been very generous in this regard. follow the guidelines of our scriptures. The but are we really in the larger sense? ( souls. Regarding presence, we are limited But time is the biggest constraint in this. Therefore, we can see that the cosmic first way in to seek guidance from God * " $ to one place, but we can be at other places Our brains are created for much more than design is well suited for us human beings to whenever we are confused about anything. 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" !? ?!" ! !? 3 # !? 3 % !? 3 8 : % ' & 7! I 1' K I' I I' 1F5H@?5@@@= B $ C &+ 7-% 73#7+ ! 5 68 there is choice, it carries equal probabili- continuum in time and space. In this volutionary urge is intrinsic to the Remember, our life is bound by ty of use and misuse. To overcome this scheme of things, doings in the past cul- human spirit. It is this very inher- cause-effect chain. A cause precedes an vulnerability, a human being is also minate in the present moment, which in Eent urge, which has been carrying effect, which in turn, sets the ground armed with the faculty of discriminate turn sets the premise on which the next forward progressive civilisational evolu- over which the next course of action intelligence, which enables them to moment takes off. It implies that the tion down the ages through conscious takes off. This way, we invariably judge the choices in hand, and pick up present moment carries imprints of human efforts. It is again, this very nat- remain trapped in the circuitous web of the right lead. So, all human actions are doings and un-doings in the past in ural impulse in a being, which induces a never ending self-created cause-effect wilful. Evidently, imperative to this seed-form, which serves as the blue being dream of making it big in life. chain. This chain gets carried over even empowerment tool is the call to own print of the future course of action to Dreams are necessary for people to to our successive lives — from one birth responsibility for the choices made. follow. So, the course of life needs to be reach heights they are capable of, as they to the other — as the theory of reincar- Ostensibly, therefore, one becomes due seen in continuity - not simply the offer us with a purpose to work upon nation would imply. for consequences of the choices made. It goings in the present life but also the with all sincerity and determination. The question now is: Why are only is on this ground on which the theory of imprints of those carried over from the Since time immemorial, the Moon has human beings bound by cause-effect Karma stands, and which holds the key past. In fact, human course of life, going fascinated and evoked man’s curiosity. It chain? In this context, it is pertinent to to being beholden to cause-effect chain. through all the twists and turns in the was seen every day, yet it was unknown. note that all living organisms, but for If the above script has a meaning, way, runs through successive cycles of A longing to know and understand it led human beings, have no choice than to would it not be fair to reason out that birth and death. It is something like a scientists to send man on the Moon. strictly follow the pre-laid, nature-driven the privilege of making a choice would water stream emanating from a snow- But not everybody’s dreams get fulfilled, design parameters underlying their exis- also carry the scope to make such bound mountain which carries on its non-realisation of which often bringing tence. They don’t enjoy any scope for choices as could interfere with and run till it meets the ocean. All through in frustrating experiences. Why? Are we making exception. All their actions are modify the imprints of doings and un- the way and also out of the ocean, sur- so helplessly fated? I am often confront- primarily guided by their food and secu- doings in the past? Particularly when a face water evaporates, turns into cloud, ed with this question. It therefore rity concerns, instinctively arising human being is armed with the faculty and then rains, again to recharge the deserves attention. moment by moment. They lack the fac- to dispassionately weigh his options water resources. For the answer, the question needs ulty of discriminate intelligence, and so beforehand. Now, suppose that a cause The issue continues. to be looked at on three grounds: First, are devoid of the capacity of judgment. is conscientiously created purported to & the premise on which the theory of Therefore, their acts are not wilful and modify the imprints of past doings. IEE ' Karma stands. Second, how does Karmic so, there remains no scope for accrual of Would it not change the course of des- ,.==6? ** ## ##:: carryover from the past, which defines any karmaphal. tiny implications to follow? #!! KK===666?A the course of destiny, come into effect? 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