Abe-Modi Summit Off As Protests Rock Northeast

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WINDOWS ■ Violence continues in Upper Assam, but Guwahati calmer Abe-Modi summit off as Boris sweeps polls, vows Jan. 31 Brexit protests rock Northeast Labour’s worst show since 1935, loses strongholds SRIDHAR ADITI KHANNA KUMARASWAMI LONDON, DEC. 13 NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 DHARNA IN GUWAHATI Anti-CAB stir Election-weary British In a major casualty of the voters gave Prime violent protests rocking up in Bengal, Minister Boris Johnson Assam and some other a “powerful new man- parts of the Northeast due arson in train date” in the historic to the Citizenship December 12 general (Amendment) Bill contro- RAJIB CHOWDHURI election as his versy, India on Friday and PRANOMY Conservative Party on announced the cancella- BRAHMACHARI Friday won a command- tion of its annual summit KOLKATA/BERHAMPORE, ing majority in the Sienna Miller attends a spe- with Japan that was to DEC. 13 House of Commons to British PM Boris Johnson is greeted by the staff as cial screening of American have been held in allow him to finalise he returns to 10 Downing Street after meeting Queen Woman at Metrograph in New Guwahati from December The raging flames of vio- UK’s divorce deal with Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Friday. — AP York on Thursday. — AP 15 to 17. With this, Assamese film actors take part in a hungerstrike organ- lent protests against the the European Union next Japanese Prime Minister ised by the All-Assam Students Union in protest against National Register of month. We did it, we Shinzo Abe’s visit to India the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Guwhati on Friday. Citizens and Citizenship Mr Johnson, 55, who Exports continue to for the summit was also The situation in Assam has started limping back to nor- (Amendment) Bill spread vigorously campaigned pulled it off, didn’t cancelled. “With refer- mal with AASU deciding to confine its agitation only to from Assam to West on a simple slogan “Get we? We broke the fall; FM vows more ence to the proposed visit daytime, besides dissociating from those indulging in Bengal on Friday as angry Brexit Done”, vowed that deadlock, we stimulus measures of Japanese PM Shinzo violence. ■ Report on Page 2 — PTI demonstrators attacked he will work “flat out” to ended the gridlock, Abe to India, both sides the crowded Coromandal repay the trust of voters we smashed the New Delhi: India’s exports have decided to defer the Express and began arson after the Conservatives’ plunged for the fourth visit to a mutually conve- Dhaka summons India HC as and looting at railway most emphatic majority roadblock month in a row in Nove- nient date in the near property in two districts. since the 1980s under — Boris future,” the external The day also saw an Margaret Thatcher. mber, dipping 0.34 per cent Bangla diplomat is attacked Johnson, to $25.98 billion, mainly due affairs ministry elderly man’s death in a A 365-seat haul gave the to poor shipments of petro- announced in a terse VINEETA PANDEY asking India to increase district at the India- Conservative Party a UK PM statement. The proposed NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 the security of its diplo- Bangladesh border and an solid 80-seat majority in leum, gems and jewellery Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, and leather products. venue was never officially mats and missions in the attack on a senior the 650-strong House of him by voters, who announced but all prepa- Bangladesh foreign office Northeast. Bharatiya Janata Party Commons. The who led his party to its turned out for the first Imports too fell by 12.71 per worst defeat in decades, cent to $38.11 billion in rations had been made to had on Thursday sum- Anti-CAB protestors on leader. Conservatives won St winter election in hold the summit in moned Indian high com- December 11 night West Bengal Chief min- Ives — the final seat to leaves his home in north decades to register a 67 November, narrowing the London on Friday. He trade deficit to $12.12 bil- Guwahati. The MEA had, missioner in Dhaka, Riva attacked Bangladesh ister Mamata Banerjee, declare — by 80 votes. per cent turnout. however, officially Ganguly Das, to protest assistant high commis- who announced a Mr Johnson met Queen has said he will not lead Mr Johnson, who won lion, government data it in the next election. showed Friday. — PTI announced the dates against the attack on the sioner Tanvir Mansur’s Trinamul rally against Elizabeth II at the his own seat in London’s recently for the summit. convoy of its diplomat by convoy while he was on the NRC and CAB on Buckingham Palace to — AP Uxbridge and South The new dates and protesters in Guwahati way to his residence from Sunday, has appealed to formally seek her per- a “new dawn” which Ruislip, hailed the New expenditure, venue are expected to be and vandalisation of Guwahati airport. people to maintain peace. mission to form his new “unarguably” broke the Conservative Party’s tri- ■ Turn to Page 4 Chancery signposts while ■ More on Page 2 ■ More on Page 2 government. Earlier, Brexit deadlock and umph as a “powerful I&B secys named addressing a victory vowed not to let down the new mandate” to move New Delhi: Senior IAS offi- rally, Mr Johnson hailed “sacred trust” placed in ■ Turn to Page 4 cer T.V. Somanathan was on Friday appointed expenditure secretary, the post States can’t block CAB: Centre lying vacant since late India happy, PM greets Boris October, as part of a top- level bureaucratic reshuffle Bengal, MP, Punjab, Kerala, C’garh CMs vowed not to implement it AGE CORRESPONDENT “Many congratula- Conservatives. Seizing effected by the Centre. AGE CORRESPONDENT sation, in addition to oth- are rule either run by the given Indian citizenship NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 tions to PM the opportunity, Boris Me Somanathan is at pre- NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 ers. A senior ministry Congress or other after residing in India for @BorisJohnson for his Johnson also went all sent serving in his official said states do not Opposition parties. five years, instead of 11 The victory of Britain’s return with a thumping out to secure the UK cadre state Tamil Nadu. The Union home ministry have the power to decline Under the revised years earlier. The Conservative Party led majority. I wish him the Indian vote by visiting says that state govern- to implement a Central Citizenship Act, members Citizenship (Amendment) by Boris Johnson in best and look forward to Hindu temples in ments do not have any law which is in the Union of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Bill was passed by the Thursday’s election working together for Britain and endearing Army mulls post to powers to stall implemen- List. Jain, Parsi and Christian Rajya Sabha on came as a major relief closer India-UK ties,” himself to the communi- tation of the Citizenship The ministry’s view was communities who have Wednesday, and by the for India, after sections Prime Minister ty. deal with strategies (Amendment) Act in their made public after the come from Pakistan, Lok Sabha on Monday. of Labour Party includ- Narendra Modi tweeted. In contrast, almost the New Delhi: The Doklam states since it was enacted refusal by the chief minis- Bangladesh and Earlier, both Kerala CM ing its chief Jeremy The Labour Party’s entire UK Pakistani standoff with China has led under the Union List of ters of West Bengal, Afghanistan till Pinarayi Vijayan and Corbyn were seen to position on Kashmir community as well as the Indian Army to propose the Seventh Schedule Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, December 31, 2014 in the West Bengal CM Mamata have taken a pro- infuriated large sections those hailing from the setting up of a new all of the Constitution. Kerala and Chhattisgarh, wake of religious persecu- Banerjee had launched a Pakistan line on the of the British-Indian Pakistan-occupied powerful deputy chief of There are 97 items which among others, who have tion will be granted scathing attack on the Kashmir issue. diaspora, who had Kashmir were reported- strategy. The Indian Army is are under the Union List, categorically declared Indian citizenship. new law. Punjab chief New Delhi was swift to threatened to vote ly voting in favour of awaiting clearance from the which include defence, that they will not imple- According to the provi- minister Amarinder congratulate British against Labour and in Labour. Cabinet to start implemen- external affairs, railways, ment the law in their sions of the law, these Singh had also said his PM. favour of the ■ More on Page 3 tation of the new setup. citizenship and naturali- states. Most of these states refugees will now be ■ Turn to Page 4 Full report on Page 3 COUNTERPOINT Buzz in Jharkhand on IMPEACHMENT Rahul, BJP spar over ‘rape in India’ US House hung House scenarios BJP demands his apology for campaign remark, Rahul hits out at Modi SREEPARNA on December 23, specu- approves CHAKRABARTY lation is rife on possible AGE CORRESPONDENT ◗ Leaders like him PM’s response on why he Kanimozhi defended Mr RANCHI, DEC. 13 scenarios in the event of NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 have no ‘moral had destroyed the econo- Gandhi as Congress mem- a hung Assembly. my and had “snatched bers also came out of their 2 charges Even before the final The one party both the Congress leader Rahul right’ to be in jobs” from young people. seats in protest, and asked two rounds of polling Bharatiya Janata Party Gandhi’s “rape in India” Parliament: Rajnath The BJP protest, led by the Speaker to take up for the Jharkhand and Congress, which is barb at the BJP-led gov- the party’s women MPs Question Hour. She said on Trump Assembly elections, the in alliance with JMM, ernment at the Centre A combative Mr Gandhi who assembled near the Mr Gandhi did not make cobweb of coalition poli- are hopeful of bailing during an election rally in hit out at the government Well to attack Mr Gandhi, the remarks in the House Washington, Dec. 13: US tics has started moving them out is the Sudesh Jharkhand led to vocifer- and the BJP, saying he derailed the Lok Sabha’s and that he was referring lawmakers took the with permutations and Mahato-led All ous protests in the Lok will never apologise, and regular business and to cases of sexual assaults grave step on Friday of combinations being Jharkhand Students Sabha on Friday by BJP instead demanded an forced Speaker Om Birla and violence against approving two charges worked out by both the Union, which is a for- members who demanded apology from Prime to adjourn the proceed- women in India. against Donald Trump, BJP and the Opposition mer BJP ally but fought an apology from him, with Minister Narendra Modi, ings twice. Friday was the Ms Kanimozhi’s reac- setting up a full House of JMM-Congress. independently this defence minister Rajnath claiming that Mr Modi last day of the Winter tion came as parliamen- Representatives vote to While the final arith- time. Singh saying leaders like had called Delhi the “rape Session. tary affairs minister impeach the President metic will be clear only ■ More on Page 3 him have no “moral capital” during the UPA Amid the din in the Prahlad Joshi asked her for abusing his powers right” to be in Parliament. period. He also sought the House, DMK MP K. ■ Turn to Page 4 and obstructing WEATHER Congress. Democrats and O Max: 18 C Republicans in the Min: 12OC House Judiciary RH: 91% US, China close to a deal to Committee voted along Rain: 33mm strict party lines, 23 to 17, appearing somber as Forecast: Light rainfall they put Mr Trump on de-escalate their trade war track to become only the third US President ever ASTROGUIDE Washington, Dec 13: The ◗ Mr Trump’s flag- “trade consultation”. to be impeached. United States and China ging of a trade There were no other “Today is solemn and Vikari: Dakshinayana appeared close Friday to a details. Earlier, foreign sad day,” committee Tithi: Margasira Bahula Vidiya “phase one” deal to de- breakthrough ministry spokeswoman chairman Jerry Nadler till 8.45 am escalate a trade war that comes ahead of Hua Chunying declined to said after the votes Star: Punarvasu till 5.02 am has caused tensions new tariffs planned confirm whether a deal which occurred with between the superpowers to take effect had been struck. “We surprising speed. (Saturday) and threatened to wobble always adhere to the prin- The historic votes Varjyam: 5.26 pm to 6.58 pm the global economy. from Sunday ciple that consultation approved two articles Durmuhurtam: 6.41 am to Reports Washington and must be based on equality that charge the Beijing had struck a bar- Trump tweeted on and mutual respect, and President with abuse of 8.09 am gain at last — subject to Thursday. A Chinese gov- the agreement must be power and obstruction Rahukalam: 9 pm to approval by US President ernment notice said vice mutually beneficial and a of Congress, related to 10.30 pm Donald Trump — sent US ministers of commerce, win-win solution,” Hua his pressuring of stocks sailing to their agriculture and finance, said at a regular briefing. Ukraine to launch inves- first record closes of and senior economic offi- Mr Trump’s flagging of a A man walks on a snow-covered path hill during snowfall on the outskirts of Srinagar tigations into SUNSET TODAY 5.26 PM December. “Getting cials would give a press trade breakthrough on Friday. Snowfall ranging from five inches to over three feet has accumulated at Democrats, and his blan- SUNRISE TOMORROW 7.05 AM VERY close to a BIG briefing late Friday in comes ahead of new tar- various places in the state, especially in Kashmir, which remained cut off from the ket refusal to cooperate MOONRISE TOMORROW 6.34 PM DEAL with China. They Beijing on “relevant iffs planned to take effect rest of the country following the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. with any aspect of the MOONSET TODAY 8.54 AM want it, and so do we!” progress” in the US-China Sunday. — AFP — PTI inquiry. — AFP c m y k c m y k TABLOID

RJD chief Lalu Prasad says he is still PAGE ‘capable of taking on enemies, despite having suffered a thousand wounds’ Nation 2 THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI Parts of Assam still reel under protests over CAB Violence continues to rock Upper Assam, protestors pelts stone on Army ■ BJP leader resigns to join protest MANOJ ANAND The government is GUWAHATI, DEC. 13 trying to intimidate the Ulfa chief Baruah The situation in trouble- media by issuing torn Assam has started limping back to normalcy advisories. Is this with protesting groups led Emergency 2? by the All Assam Students appeals for calm Union (AASU) Friday — Derek O’Brien , deciding to confine their MANOJ ANAND channels one after anoth- TMC leader agitation to the daytime in GUWAHATI, DEC. 13 er over the phone also addition to dissociating warned, “We are strictly themselves from those In what has surprised monitoring the agitation IN BRIEF indulging in violence in many a security analyst, and we found that there the name of protests. outlawed Ulfa-I chief was no student involve- With the new additional Paresh Baruah on Friday ment in vandalism. This Sharma demands director general of police called up several local tel- is the act of some forces G.P. Singh taking over the evision channels to make with vested interests, who all-party meeting law and order situation an appeal to the people of instigated others to resort New Delhi: Senior Congress and new officers taking Assam to end violence to violence.” leader Anand Sharma on over the trouble-torn dis- and solve the issue in a In his long uninterrupt- Friday demanded in Rajya tricts after a major reshuf- “democratic manner”. ed voice telecast, Mr Sabha that the Prime fle in the state police force, The Ulfa-I chief, who has Baruah defended the Minister should immediately the Assam Police has also been waging an armed youths and students for convene an all party meeting intensified its patrolling struggle against the state their peaceful protest and on the worsening law and and is making their pres- for last two decades, said, said, “The Bharatiya order situation in the ence felt on the ground in “All protesters should Janata Party government Northeast, including Assam, capital city areas. follow democratic process should withdraw army following passage of the The defence spokesper- against the Citizenship presence from the streets Citizenship Amendment Bill son said that a total of (Amendment) Bill of Assam. The students in Parliament. Raising the eight columns of the (CAB). There are and civil society has the issue during the Zero Hour, Assam Rifles have been some criminal-minded right to protest against Mr Sharma said an all party requisitioned by the people who turned to vio- the Anti-Assamese bill. meeting was a must in view administration, and all lence in Guwahati and The government should Protesters from the Muslim community burn tyres during a demonstration against National Register of Citizens and of the fallout in India’s exter- Army and Assam Rifles’ burnt vehicles, tyres and identify the miscreants Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Howrah district of West Bengal on Friday. — PTI nal relations particularly with columns have managed to shops.” who took to violence, but Bangladesh. “I will urge the restore normalcy in their Mr Baruah, who allow peaceful protests to government ato immediately respective areas of appeared on local satellite take place.” convene an all party meeting deployment. Assam CM (with) chief ministers of all However, there have of Citizens in Assam — tials. There was also a Mob unleashes violence the states,” he said. been reports of violent have decided to file sepa- rush to withdraw money protests in Upper Assam’s rate PILs in the top court. from ATMs, buy medi- blames Dibrugarh and Tinsukia The AASU also cines and procure fuel. Students skip exam, districts. Security sources announced that they are However, mobile in 2 districts in Bengal Cong for said that in Dibrugarh, suspending all kinds of Internet and broadband hit streets in A’chal protesters set a Scorpio on protests after sunset for a services continue to RAJIB CHOWDHURI AND ◗ The day also saw tickets were taken away fire while in the Khwang week. “We are going to remain affected. The sus- PRANMOY an aged man in a from the booking office at violence Itanagar: Protests against the area near Moran in hold a Satyagraha move- pension of mobile BRAHMACHARI the station, which is now amended Citizenship Act Tinsukia district, protest- ment at the sub-division Internet services was KOLKATA/BERHAMPORE, district along the in total darkness.” Guwahati, Dec. 13: continued to rage across ers pelted stones on army level all over the state extended for another 48 DEC. 13 border die in fear Following the violence Assam chief minister northeast, with students’ vehicles. from December 16 to 18. hours Thursday. The 10 of the NRC and at Uluberia, six trains Sarbananda unions in Arunachal Pradesh Meanwhile, hundreds of Our slogan will be — districts where mobile The raging protests agai- CAB and a senior including the Howrah- Sonowal on on Friday boycotting their people cutting across age either scrap CAB or arrest internet has been sus- nst the National Register Digha Kandari Express, Friday examination to hit the groups Friday once again us,” said the AASU leader- pended include: of Citizens (NRC) and Cit- BJP leader being Shalimar-LTT Kurla blamed streets across cities, seeking peacefully defied curfew ship, which reiterated Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, izenship (Amendment) attacked. Express, Hyderabad-Ho- opposition immediate revocation of the and joined the hunger their commitment to Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Bill (CAB) spread from wrah East Coast Express, Congress law. Thousands of agitators, strike called by AASU at peaceful democratic agita- Charaideo, Sivasagar, Assam to West Bengal and Down lines and start- Yesvantpur-Howrah and “com- led by Rajiv Gandhi Univer- Chandmari field to oppose tion. Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup Friday afternoon, as ang- ed pelting stones on the Duronto Express, Shalim- munal sity Students’ Union and the new citizenship act. A In a related develop- (metro) and Kamrup. ry demonstrators attacke- Chennai-bound Coroma- ar-Adra Rajya Rani forces” for Sarbananda Students' Union of NERIST, large number of people, ment, former AGP minis- Mobile internet and d the crowded Coroman- ndel Express, bringing it Express and Jabalpur- the wide- Sonowal marched from the varsity including artists, singers ter turned BJP leader and messaging services were del Express train and sys- to a grinding halt at Santragachi Humsafar spread vio- to Raj Bhavan, covering a and film stars, observed chairman of Assam also suspended in neigh- tematically unleashed Uluberia in the Howrah- Express were halted mid- lence in the state over distance of around 30 kilo- the 10-hour fast. Petrochemical Ltd. bouring Meghalaya for 48 arson and looting at rail- Kharagpur section of the way, and 11 EMU local and the last two days, saying metres on the hilly terrain. The AASU announced Jagdish Bhuyan, who was hours beginning 5pm way properties in two sep- south-eastern railway passenger trains were strong action will be Local people, along with that it will file a PIL in the accorded cabinet rank by Thursday after incidents arate districts. (SER) soon after the tra- detained and controlled at taken against those those belonging to the Supreme Court challeng- the government, resigned were reported of vehicles So much so, that gover- in’s departure from How- various stations. involved in arson and Assamese community, also ing the law. “There is no from the party and all being vandalised. Areas nor Jagdeep Dhankhar rah station at 2.50 pm. The In Murshidabad, angry vandalism during the joined the rally. way Assam or the Assa- posts in protest of the citi- under two police stations and chief minister Mam- train driver and a railway protestors set parts of the anti-citizenship bill mese people will accept it. zenship act. in the state capital ata Banerjee were forced staff were injured. The railway tracks on fire, protests. Besides peaceful protests, Meanwhile, the indefi- Shillong were placed to appeal for peace. The panicked passengers damaged signals at the Mr Sonowal also said Implement CAB in we will continue the legal nite curfew which had under curfew. The cur- day also witnessed an closed the doors and win- Beldanga railway station, the violence was part of battle against the law,” been imposed since fews were relaxed during aged man in a district dows of their coaches and vandalised the a political conspiracy said AASU chief adviser Wednesday evening, was the day but will continue along the Indo-Bangla- even as the mob went on Beldanga police station against the BJP-led gov- Maharashtra: BJP Sammujjal Bhattacharya. relaxed for six hours start- during the night. desh border die in fear of rampage at the Uluberia and Block Development ernment in Assam and Mumbai: BJP leader Ashish Besides AASU, several ing 7am Friday in The death toll in the the NRC and CAB and a station. Office around 3.25 pm. asserted that he was Shelar on Friday wrote to other organisations in Guwahati and Dibrugarh. Thursday night police fir- senior BJP leader being The SER spokesperson Rejinagar, Murshidabad committed to protecting chief minister Uddhav Assam including Assam As soon as the curfew was ing rose to three Friday, attacked. Sanjoy Ghosh said, and Jangipur stations in the rights of the indige- Thackeray, demanding imme- Public Works - which orig- relaxed, people gathered with one more among At around 3.22pm "Massive damage was the district; Krishnanagar nous people of the state. diate implementation of the inally petitioned in the outside grocery shops and those critically wounded Friday, a furious mob of caused in the attack. `4 in Nadia; and Baruipur in “The Congress and amended Citizen-ship Act in Supreme Court for updat- at vegetable markets in succumbing to bullet 250-odd people took to the lakhs in cash, eight com- South 24 Parganas; also some communal forces Maharashtra. He also said ing the National Register Guwahati to buy essen- injuries. railway tracks of both Up puters and unreserved witnessed agitations. are behind the violence. that the CM should clarify his Even some ultra Left government’s position, after have joined the mob. It is Congress leader and minister a political conspiracy,” Nitin Raut opposed imple- Shah’s visit to he said. mentation of the law. He crit- B’desh protests diplomat The chief minister icised the Congress for said the government will opposing the law in the N-E states not tolerate any violence state. State BJP chief and strong action will be spokesperson Madhav convoy attack in Guwahati cancelled taken against anyone Bhandari said the Congress’s who is involved in van- stand reflects contempt for VINEETA PANDEY ◗ Anti-CAB protest- Commissioner and van- AGE CORRESPONDENT dalism. the Constitution and chal- NEW DELHI. DEC. 13 ers on Wednesday dalisation of the signposts NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 “No one, who is lenges Parliament's powers. is a one-off incident” and involved in violence, The Bangladesh Foreign attacked Bangla- “will not affect the excel- Home minister Amit will be spared,” he said. Office on Thursday sum- desh assistant lent bilateral relations Shah’s visit to the two The chief minister’s moned Indian High high commissioner that Bangladesh and India Northeastern states — comments came after EXEMPT N-E Commissioner in Dhaka Tanvir Mansur’s enjoy.” Meghalaya and two days of continuous Riva Ganguly Das to convoy. In a statement issued to Arunachal Pradesh — violence by a section of protest against the attack Bangladeshi media, scheduled for Sunday protesters in the state FROM PURVIEW Protestors take part in a hunger strike organised by All on the convoy of its diplo- the escort vehicles in his Bangladesh foreign min- and Monday has been against the Citizenship Assam Students Union in protest against the Citizen- mat by anti-Citizenship convoy was blocked by the istry said Mr Ahsan cancelled in wake of (Amendment) Bill, 2019. ship Amendment Bill in Guwhati on Friday. — PTI (Amendment) Bill protest- protesters while the envoy “protested about the largescale protests in Frenzied mobs blocked OF CAB: AGATHA ers in Guwahati and van- vehicle was not touched. attack on the convoy of Assam and Meghalaya roads in different parts dalisation of Chancery Besides, on Thursday a the (Bangladesh) Assist- against the Citizenship of Assam with burning Shillong: National Peoples signposts while asking crowd pulled down two ant High Commissioner (Amendment) Act, 2019. discarded tyres and Party (NPP) leader Agatha India to increase the secu- signposts of the Bangla- and vandalisation of the Ministry officials menaced commuters by Dozen anti-CAB desh mission in Guwahati signposts (of the Bangla- bludgeoning their vehi- K. Sangma has asked Prime rity of its diplomats and claimed that Mr Shah’s Minister Narendra Modi to missions in the Northeast. just few metres away from desh Chancery in visit has been cancelled cles with sticks and exempt the entire Northeast Anti-CAB protesters on the Chancery building. Guwahati) and requested even though they did not stones. from the purview of the pleas filed in SC Wednesday night attacked The Indian government for protection of person- give any specific reason. Two railway stations Amended Citizenship Act to Bangladesh assistant high has increased the security nel and property of the The home minister had were torched while ensure that peace returns to commissioner Tanvir of Bangladeshi diplomats mission by the host gov- to participate in the houses of several legis- the region. The Tura MP had Claim legislation is unconstitutional Mansur’s convoy while he and the Consulate in ernment.” passing out parade of lators, including the pri- written a letter to the Prime was on way to his resi- Guwahati. The statement further the Northeastern Police vate residence of Minister on Thursday night. PARMOD KUMAR Hashmi, Pradyot Deb Bar- dence from Guwahati air- However, while register- added that Ms Ganguly Academy near Shillong Sonowal, were attacked According to the Act, mem- NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 man, Jan Adhikaar Party, port. Sources said that ing protest against such assured Mr Ahsan that on Sunday and a cultur- by mobs. bers of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, advocate M.L. Sharma both Assam chief minis- act of vandalism, acting Indian authorities are al festival in Tawang the “I am committed to Jain, Parsi and Christian The day Central govern- and students from Symb- ter Sarbanand Sonowal foreign secretary of being immediately alerted next day. protecting the rights of communities who have come ment notified the contro- iosis Law School. and Mr Mansur were Bangladesh, Kamrul to enhance security of The widespread vio- the indigenous people from Pakistan, Bangladesh versial Citizenship Ame- The court was also stranded at the airport for Ahsan, told Ms Ganguly Bangladesh Chancery and lence in the Northeast and want to assure that and Afghanistan till Decem- dment Act, 12 petitions moved the by All Assam several hours before the that he hoped that “the its assistant high commis- has already led to the interests of the indige- ber 31, 2014 and facing reli- were filed in the Sup- Students Union which police escorts took them attack on the convoy of sioner’s residence in death of two people in nous people will not be gious persecution there will reme Court on Friday has contended that the out. It is learnt that one of the Assistant High Guwahati.” police firing in Assam. harmed,” he said. —PTI not be treated as illegal challenging the constitu- Section 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the immigrants but given Indian tional validity of the law Citizenship Amendment citizenship. “The Northeast is that grant citizenship Act are unconstitutional. a complex region that needs based on religion. A petition by the leader a holistic protection, the TMC Lok Sabha mem- of Opposition in Assam Nath slams CAB as distraction from real issues government must revisit the ber Mahua Moitra appr- Assembly Debabrata Sai- CAB and exempt the entire oached Chief Justice S.A. kia stated that the amend- VINEETA PANDEY Mr Nath joins the list of ple’s imagination. Every region from its purview. This Bobde’s court seeking an ed citizenship law vio- NEW DELHI. DEC. 13 CMs who are opposing time there is an economic is the only way peace and urgent hearing of her lates the Assam accord. CAB. Already West Bengal MP may shun law, CM hints slowdown, a bill is intro- confidence can be built petition, after which the In essence, the basic Terming the Citizenship CM Mamata Banerjee, RABINDRA NATH “I feel duced, a decision is taken among our people,” Agatha day saw more than 11 contention of all the peti- (Amendment) Bill (CAB) a Kerala CM Pinarayi CHOUDHURY sorry that to distract people… But all said in a letter to the Mr petitioners approaching tions is that the contro- new way to distract people Vijayan and Punjab CM BHOPAL, DEC. 13 Prime things have a shelf life. Modi. She said the CAB has the top court to challenge versial Act negated not from the real issues plagu- Capt Amarinder Singh Minister Just like the Emergency been vehemently opposed the law, which is at the only secularism, which is ing the country and econo- have declared that CAB Chief minister Kamal Narendra had its shelf life, Rajiv by the people of the root of turmoil in Assam a part of the Preamble of my, Madhya Pradesh chief and NRC will not be imple- Nath on Friday dropped Modi did Gandhi getting majority Northeast because they fear and other Northeastern the Constitution, but minister Kamal Nath on mented their states. enough hints that Mad- not bother to discuss a with 404 seats in Lok demographic changes will states. also the liberal ethos, Friday accused the BJP “The stand of the hya Pradesh would shun sensitive issue like CAB Sabha had a shelf life, affect the security and iden- Following Mr Moitra, equality and justice. government of practising Congress in any law that the Citizen (Amendment) with the chief ministers even BJP has a shelf life tity of the local tribals of the there were petitions by The PIL by the Rihai “politics of distractions.” divides society will be the Bill (CAB) passed in the before taking a decision and even this (CAB and region. Ms Sangma in her Congress lawmaker in Manch, Citizens Against The CM added that any stand of the MP govern- Rajya Sabha a couple of (to place the bill in NRC) too has a shelf life. letter said, “Efforts made Rajya Sabha Jairam Ram- Hate says that religion- law that divides people ment,” said Kamal Nath days ago. Parliament),” he said. Nothing remains perma- through long hours of con- esh, former high commis- based classification and the country will be during an interaction with nent,” Mr Nath said. sultations are going futile sioner Deb Mukherjee, under the amended opposed vehemently by journalists at the Indian He added that country and the narrative that is the Uttar Pradesh-based Citizenship Act is consti- the Congress party and he Women’s Press Corps. federalism. “Where is fed- said. that fails to meet the aspi- being given out is that the Peace Party, NGOs Rihai tutionally immoral and will not allow CAB or NRC The CM also accused the eralism? Did they call a “The worst part is the rations and demands of its BJP-led government is anti- Manch and Citizens antithetical to the idea of to be implemented in Modi-government of not chief ministers’ meeting politics of distraction, people is doomed to Northeast.” Against Hate, Ehtesham Republic of India. Madhya Pradesh. following the norms of before this (CAB)?” he changing the orbit of peo- collapse. N-E focus

Northeast development ministry should PAGE play role of facilitator for other ministries, says Union minister Jitendra Singh Nation 3 THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI Cong, BJP fear hung PM congratulates Boris on win SRIDHAR KUMARASWAMI New Delhi was swift to con- noted certain developments The Labour Party’s posi- NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 gratulate the British Prime at the Labour Party tion on Kashmir had infuri- Minister. “Many congratu- Conference (in UK) on ated large sections of the House, eye AJSU aid The victory of the lations to PM @Boris September 25 pertaining to British-Indian diaspora The BJP can’t Conservative Party led by Johnson for his return with the Indian state of Jammu who then threatened to vote Prime Minister Boris a thumping majority. I wish & Kashmir. We regret the against the Labour Party just bulldoze the Final math in J’khand to take shape only on Dec. 23 Johnson in the UK has him the best and look for- uninformed and unfounded and in favour of the states to implement come as a major relief for ward to working together positions taken at this Conservatives. Seizing the SREEPARNA India after sections of the for closer India-UK ties,” event. Clearly, this is an opportunity, British PM citizenship bill CHAKRABARTY Opposition Labour Party, Prime Minister Narendra attempt at pandering to Boris Johnson also went all RANCHI, DEC. 13 including its leader Jeremy Modi tweeted. vote-bank interests. There out to secure the British- Corbyn, were seen to have It may be recalled that in is no question of engaging Indian vote by visiting — Mamata Banerjee, Even before the final two taken a pro-Pakistan posi- September this year, the with the Labour Party or Hindu temples in Britain West Bengal CM rounds of polling for the tion on the Kashmir issue MEA had said, “The its representatives on this and endearing himself to Jharkhand Assembly before the British elections. (Indian) government has issue.” the community. elections are over, the IN BRIEF cobweb of coalition politics have started moving here with permutations Youth proposes girl and combinations being worked out by both the at ‘gunpoint’, held ruling BJP and Oppos- Bhubaneswar: High drama ition JMM-Congress. unfolded near Gangadhar While the final arith- Meher College in Odisha’s metic would take shape UP CM Yogi Adityanath waves at supporters during Sambalpur district on Friday only on the result day on an election rally in Giridih district on Friday. — PTI as a youth allegedly pro- December 23, specula- posed a girl of the education is rife on possible up an NDA government, himself with any tional institution while scenarios in case of a the Congress-JMM party’s support, if he threatening her with a toy hung Assembly. coalition has also kept got the correct numbers. gun. The youth, a resident of Jharkhand has a 81- open its options to rope The AJSU has fielded Kendrapara, reportedly had a member Assembly and in the regional party in candidates in 53 of the one-sided love affair with the 42 is the halfway mark case it is a wee bit short 81 Assembly seats in the girl. Locals nabbed the youth needed to form govern- of the magic number. state. and handed him over to the ment. However, the AJSU is In the Congress camp Sambalpur Town police. The The one party which playing its cards close to too, leaders feel that the cops seized the toy gun and both the BJP and its chest. Officially, Mr AJSU option can be detained him at the police Congress, which is in Mahato told this news- explored if the alliance station for questioning. “The alliance with the JMM, paper that any option came close and fell short girl told us that the youth are hopeful of bailing can be explored only of a few seats. proposed her by brandishing them out is the Sudesh after the actual results “The problem in this the gun. We have detained Mahato-led All Jhark- are out. case would only be the the youth and a probe is hand Students Union, Sources in his party fact that JMM chief and underway,” the police said. which is a former ally of though feel that Mr former chief minister the BJP, but fought inde- Mahato was unlikely to Hemant Soren and pendently in these polls. support a BJP govern- Sudesh Mahato are both Neighbour rapes While local BJP lead- ment led by current tribal leaders and might ers hope that in case the chief minister Raghu- not want to share space party falls short of the bar Das and would, this and the vote bank,” a minor in Odisha majority mark, the time, go for the kill seek- senior leader of the Jha- Bhubaneswar: The Odisha AJSU would help prop ing to become the CM rkhand Congress stated. police on Friday arrested a youth for allegedly raping a minor girl at Keshpur village under Rambila panchayat of Army mulls post to Modi to review Bhadrak. The accused was arrested hours before he was Namami Gange planning to leave the state to deal with strategies avoid legal action against project today him. According to reports, PAWAN BALI tributed during the cri- the survivor, who belongs to NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 sis,” sources said. Kanpur, Dec. 13: Prime the tribal community, was “The Deputy Chief of Minister Narendra Modi raped on December 10 but The Doklam standoff Strategy will have peo- will be in the city on out of fear she chose to of 2017 with China has ple from such fields Saturday to have a first- remain silent. However, after led the Indian Army to under him so that ad- hand experience of the her health condition deterio- propose the setting up hoc arrangements do impact of the ambitious rate, she narrated the ordeal of a new, all powerful not happen in the Namami Gange project. to her mother. Later, the sur- Deputy Chief of Strat- future. Over a period of The Prime Minister, vivor was admitted to dis- egy. The Indian Army time, we want to make who is likely to reach the trict headquarters hospital in is institutionalising the Army more agile to city around 10.25 am, a critical condition. the committee formed quickly assess and res- will take a special steam- to deal with the Dokl- pond to emerging situ- er for a 50-minute jour- am standoff through ations,” sources added. ney through the Ganga Woman leaves dead Deputy Chief of Stra- This will be the third to review the project. tegy, to be headed by a deputy chief post SP (East) Raj Kumar at home, casts vote Lt. Gen. rank officer. which is being created Agarwal said after his According to sources, in the Indian Army arrival at the Chakeris Bokaro, Jharkhand: Taking during the Doklam headquarters. The airport, the PM will go her husband’s death in her standoff a “war group” Army is awaiting clear- to CSA University by a stride, a woman preferred to called “Operation and ance from the Cabinet helicopter. honour democracy first by Planning Steering to start implementa- “PM Modi will hold a casting her vote before per- Committee” was set up tion of the new setup. Ganga Council meeting forming the last rites of her under the Vice-Chief to The new Deputy there with Union minis- husband on Thursday. Renu deal with the situation. Chief of Army Staff ters, chief ministers of Devi left her husband’s body Personnel from dif- (Strategy) will deal UP, Uttarakhand and at home and went to booth ferent verticals were with all operational Bihar and secretaries of number 87 at Karo Basti in brought in the group to and force planning. As various central depart- Bermo block and cast her advise and deal with per the plans, he will ments,” a senior district vote during the third of the the emerging situa- have DG military oper- official said. five-phase polls on Thursday. tion. It had personnel ations, DG military Apart from holding the Later she sent her husband’s from branches of oper- intelligence, strategic meeting, the PM will body to the crematorium. “I ations, intelligence, planning, operational visit Atal Ghat, where he learnt to cast my vote before logistics, coordination logistics branches, as will take the steamer for everything from my hus- and perception man- well as the newly-creat- the journey through the band,” she said. — PTI agement. “Each per- ed information war- river, the official added. sonnel crucially con- fare branch under him. — PTI WON’T ALLOW TO IMPLEMENT CAB IN BENGAL: DIDI Digha, West Bengal: Lashing out at the BJP-led Centre over the amended Citizenship Act, West Ben- gal CM Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she would not allow its implementation in the state “under any cir- cumstances”. Addressing a press meet, Ms Banerjee, who is also the Trinamul Congress supremo, said the saffron party would not be able to bulldoze the states to enact the law. Rebuffing her assertion, the BJP leadership, however, alleged that the CM was supporting the infiltrators to “secure her vote bank”. Announcing a series of protests next week, the chief minister said she would hit the streets seeking revocation of the “draconian” Act. Expressing solidarity with the people of Assam and the Northeast, where violent protests have been raging over the issue for the past few days, she blamed the BJP government at the Centre for the growing tension and the deteriorating law and order situation in the region. “We will not implement the amended Act, even though it has been passed in Parliament. The BJP can’t just bulldoze the states to implement it,” Ms Banerjee said. Iterating that her fight against the amended Act was the “second war of independence”, the CM also stressed that her government would not cooperate with the Centre for enacting the “divisive” law. — PTI On silver screen

Biopic to be made PAGE on former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar soon Nation 4 THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI College girl gangraped in Patna Larger bench order Accused threatens to release video of act ■ 2 accused surrender, 3rd on run: Cops in Sabarimala case NAYEAR AZAD four youth. The victim in ◗ More than 1,165 Patna on Friday. officials have been asked PATNA, DEC.13 her statement to the cases of rape have Chief minister Nitish to conduct raids and nab not last word: SC The Congress has police, said that the Kumar and the state gov- all the accused, who have always fulfilled its Amid public outrage over accused also threatened to been reported from ernment has been facing been evading arrest”, offi- rising crime against release the video of the act across the state till criticism for deteriorating cer-in-charge of the Top court declines to pass any order promises and women in Bihar, a college on the internet if she October, this year. In law and order scenario women police station, ◗ announcements student was allegedly refused their demands. Patna alone, 85 and rising crime against Aarti Jaiswal said. PARMOD KUMAR CJI said that earli- gang-raped in Patna by However, the police said women in Bihar. As per an Sources said that the NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 est could only be four youth. that two accused in the cases of rapes were assessment, more than Opposition parties, espe- — Sachin Pilot, The incident had case have surrendered in registered this year, 1,165 cases of rape have cially the RJD youth wing The Supreme Court on after a 7-judge Rajasthan deputy CM occurred earlier this week the court and hunt is on to which is highest in been reported from across is likely to extend its sup- Friday said that 2018 top Constitution bench but came to light on arrest others, who went the state. the state till October, this port to the protest against court judgment permit- answers the refer- Friday, when students cre- into hiding after the inci- year. In Patna alone, 85 rising crime against ting the entry of the ence (made on IN BRIEF ated ruckus on the streets dent was reported by the ers, who have been cases of rapes were regis- women in the state. A sec- women of all ages in Lord of Patna demanding jus- victim. absconding after the inci- tered this year, which is tion in the party said that Ayyappa’s Sabarimala November 14, 2019) tice for the victim. “Two accused, including dent was reported. We are highest in the state. the RJD youth wing is also temple in Kerala was not you”, the court said. Auto driver rapes Sources said that the girl the victim’s friend has also waiting for the med- “The police will not planning to join the stu- the last word as the mat- The court said this on was called by her friend to surrendered in the court. ical report of the victim”, spare anyone no matter dent’s agitation on the ter has been referred to a two petition filed by teen in Hyderabad a house, where she was We have obtained a war- ASP law and order Swarn how important the person issue of Patna gang-rape still larger bench of Rehana Fathima, Bindu Hyderabad: An 18-year-old threatened and raped by rant of arrest for two oth- Prabhat told reporters in is. In this case, also police incident. seven-judges, the Ammini and others, seek- girl was allegedly raped by Supreme Court on Friday ing police protection for an autorickshaw driver under declined to pass any order entering the temple, the pretext of taking her to on a petitions seeking which is open to the pil- her grandmother’s house, RS adjourned protection for the women grims only for a shorter police said here on Friday going to the temple. duration during a year. They said the girl and her 10- sine die, Observing that the 2018 As senior counsel Indira year-old sister lost their way judgment by a five-judge Jaisinh told the court that while going to their grand- records 100% Constitution bench was there was a dissenting mother’s house from their not the last word as the judgment by two judges home on the night of matter has been referred in the reference order of December 8. The man’s elder productivity to a larger 7-judge bench, November 14, 2019, CJI brother, also an autorickshaw AGE CORRESPONDENT Chief Justice S.A. Bobde Bobde said that “one driver, spotted them and with agency inputs heading the bench also judge’s judgment is not took them to his house. NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 comprising Justice B.R. weightier than that of the However he was ticked of by Gavai and Justice Surya other”. his mother, who asked her The historic 250th ses- Kant declined to pass any At this Jaisinh urged younger son to take the girls PARLIAMENT DIARY sion of the Rajya Sabha order on the plea seeking the court that in that case back home. The man instead BY GAUTAM LAHIRI was adjourned sine die police protection for the petitions pending took them to a lodge at on Friday after entering the temple. before the court seeking Nampally area and raped the OPPOSITION PLANS A GRAND MEETING Chairman M. Venkaiah Declining to pass any the reconsideration of teenager. — PTI AGAINST CITIZENSHIP BILL Naidu summed it up as order, the court said, 2018 judgment should be one marked by ‘serious- “Some issues in this heard at the earliest. n the last day of the Winter Session of the ness and brevity’. country become explosive CJI Bobde said that ear- Parrikar gave his Parliament, some Opposition leaders were on “I am overall happy for and this is one of those liest could only be after a OFriday sounded out for a possible grand meet- this session, but for the issues.” 7-judge Constitution ‘josh’ to me: CM ing to frame a strategy against the BJP government. small disappointment “We know there is no bench answers the refer- Panaji: Goa chief minister Most of the party presidents or chairmen of the par- which also could have stay, the (2018) order ence (made on November Pramod Sawant on Friday liamentary parties will attend that meeting. One of been avoided,” he told should be complied with,” 14, 2019). The Supreme said late Manohar Parrikar the main issues of the meeting will be to campaign the House. Mr Naidu said CJI Bobde. Court by its December 14 had transferred his “josh’ against BJP on Citizenship Amendment Bill. West complimented the mem- “This is an age old prac- verdict had referred to a (spirit) to him, and this Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is very keen to rally bers for making this ses- tice going on for thou- 7-judge Constitution allowed him to work for “15- most of the Opposition parties on the issue. sion productive and for sands of years. Balance of bench a batch of petitions 16 hours a day” after taking improving the quality of conveniences requires seeking the reconsidera- over the coastal state’s top debates. Prime Minister that order should not be tion of its 2018 judgment AS SESSION ENDS TALKS BEGIN OVER Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress post. Parrikar died in March FUTURE OF 6 RETIRING RS MPs FROM MAHA Narendra Modi was passed in your favour permitting the entry of this year after battling a pan- present in the House chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now. The matter is under menstruating women in creatic ailment. Speaking on aharashtra will again see the during the valedictory others at Parliament in New Delhi on Friday after pay- reference and if it is ulti- the age group 10 to 50 the birth anniversary of the Mright alliance for the upcoming remarks at the comple- ing tribute to the martyrs of 2001 Parliament attack on mately decided in your years in Lord Ayyappa’s former CM, Sawant said, Rajya Sabha polls in April next year tion of the 250th session its 18th anniversary. — PRITAM BANDYOPADHYAY favour, we will protect Sabarimalsa temple. “Bhai (Parrikar) had asked to ensure maximum number of by Mr Naidu. the youth there (at the inau- seats. As NCP chief Sharad Pawar “I am glad that collec- ■ guration of a bridge on and industrialist Raj Kumar Dhoot tively, all of you have PM reiterates India’s commitment to strong, peaceful Male Mandovi river) how is the of Shiv Sena will also retire, there risen to the occasion and josh (a punchline of a popu- will be six vacancies from the state. Sharad Pawar kept up the happy tide. I lar film on the surgical strike Election might be announced in would like to sum up the after the Uri attack). He had January next year. According to the arithmetic of course of this historic India, Maldives review bilateral ties further said I transfer my Maharashtra Assembly, if Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress session as one marked josh to you.” — PTI come together they can easily pull off three seats by ‘seriousness and SRIDHAR already in male for its con- ◗ The ‘restoration Units of India, and a and can put up a fight for the fourth seat. Mr Pawar brevity’,” Mr Naidu KUMARASWAMI servation”. The Maldivian of Hukuru Miskiiy Exchange of Instrument will be renominated for sure. But there is doubt over said. He said the serious- NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 foreign minister also of Ratification for the Maoists confirm renomination of Mr Dhoot if the buzz in the ness is borne out of a called on Prime Minister Mosque was identi- treaty on Mutual Legal Ramanna’s death Parliament House is true. definite sense of pur- External affairs minister Narendra Modi, who “reit- fied as a priority Assistance in criminal pose of enhancing the Dr. S. Jaishankar and erated India’s commit- ◗ 3 pacts in various matters. Bhopal: Maoists on Friday TRINAMUL RS MP JOGEN CHOWDHURY dignity of this august Maldivian foreign minis- ment to partner the gov- “Ongoing cooperation in confirmed the death of WANTS TO GO BACK TO PAINTING institution. ter Abdulla Shahid co- ernment of the Maldives fields were also our security and defence Ravula Srinivas alias He said while the last chaired the sixth Joint for a strong, democratic, inked partnership was reviewed. Ramanna, their top leader in ajya Sabha term of Jogen session recorded produc- Commission Meeting prosperous and peaceful India-Maldives defence Bastar, on December 7. A RChowdhury, an internationally tivity of 104 per cent by (JCM) between India and Maldives” and “noted mented in Maldives” and cooperation includes key press release issued in the acclaimed painter, will come to end availing more than avail- Maldives on Friday in with satisfaction the also “conveyed the com- infrastructure projects name of Vikalpa, spokesman on next April. He has already able time for transacting New Delhi, where the enhanced level of engage- mitment of the leadership such as construction of of Dandakaranya Special requested Trinamul Congress business, this session too “ongoing cooperation in ment between India and of Maldives to its ‘India the Composite Training Zonal Committee (DKSZC), supremo Mamata Banerjee not to has clocked 100 per cent our security and defence Maldives and the positive First’ policy and to further Centre for the Maldivian said Ramann (56) was ill for renominate him. He wants to productivity. “This is partnership was outcomes of bilateral strengthening the rela- National Defence Forces, some time and died at involve himself in painting again. perhaps for the first time reviewed”. Three pacts in cooperation during the tionship with India”. and ministry of defence around 10 pm on December Five Rajya Sabha seats will be that this House has various fields were also last one year”. The The two countries signed building, and the setting 7. The press release said vacant from West Bengal. According to party recorded 100% produc- inked between the two Maldivian foreign minis- three pacts — an MoU on up of the Coastal Ramanna was initiated into strength, TMC can win four seats straightway. Rest tivity for two successive sides. The “restoration of ter also expressed his deep cooperation between the Surveillance Radar Left-wing extremism in 1983 one seat can go to Left and Congress combined. Last sessions. For me, this is a Hukuru Miskiiy/Friday appreciation to PM Modi Election Commissions of System, as well as training and given the responsibility year, Ms Banerjee supported Congress candidate certain proof of this Mosque was identified as “for India’s support in var- India and Maldives, an programmes for MNDF of expanding the base of CPI Abhishek Manu Singhvi. This time, speculation is ship being steadied and a priority and the JCM ious development coopera- Exchange of MoU on coop- officials in India, joint (Maoist) in Bastar in about who will be Abhishek-2 so that contest can be all of you deserve credit welcomed the fact that an tion initiatives that are eration between the exercises, medical camps, Chhattisgarh then. He had avoided. for it,” Mr Naidu said. Indian technical team is currently being imple- Financial Intelligence etc,” the MEA said. played a key role in building a strong base of CPI (Maoist) in Bastar over a period of time and became secretary of DKSZC. Rahul, BJP spar Boris sweeps UK polls, Abe-Modi summit ■ Continued from Page 1 respondent adds: On the SUSPECTED PAK decided by the two sides ground in Assam, while over ‘rape in India’ promises Jan. 31 Brexit in the coming weeks. the overall situation has Whether the summit ulti- started limping back to INTRUDER SHOT mately takes place in normal with the protest- ■ Continued from Page 1 ceedings till noon. Question ■ Continued from Page 1 emergency motion calling for inter- Guwahati is held else- ing groups, led by the All and NCP leader Supriya Hour could not be taken up. forward with his deal to leave the 28- national intervention in Kashmir is where will depend on the Assam Students Union, DEAD IN SAMBA Sule to express their opin- More than 30 members member economic bloc on January 31. also likely to have swayed some of its situation in Assam. The deciding to confine their Jammu: A suspected ion on Mr Gandhi’s from the BJP, including Fed up with the prolonged political traditional connect with Indian dias- cancellation is, however, a agitation to daytime and Pakistani intruder was shot remarks. Mr Joshi termed Bhopal MP Pragya Thakur, turmoil over Brexit, voters gave Mr pora voters. blow to the Indian gov- dissociating from those dead by BSF personnel while her response “unfortunate”. had stood in the aisle and Johnson a huge mandate so that he The Conservatives have taken a ernment’s efforts to show- indulging in violence, he was trying to cross the Speaking at a public meet- shouted slogans. Congress can get the UK out of the European string of former Labour strongholds, case the Northeast as a there were reports of vio- International Border (IB) in ing in Jharkhand, where members too were in the Union by January — no ifs, no buts. with Labour having lost seats in the region that can hold such lent protests in Upper Samba district of Jammu and Assembly elections are aisle. “It does look as though this One north of England, Midlands and high-profile meetings. Assam’s Dibrugarh and Kashmir on Friday, officials under way, Mr Gandhi said Later, Mr Gandhi told Nation Conservative government has Wales in areas that voted to leave the Japan has been interested Tinsukia districts. In said. The troops guarding on Thursday that Mr reporters outside been given a powerful new mandate EU in the 2016 referendum. in investing in the region Dibrugarh protestors set a the IB at Manguchak area of Narendra Modi had prom- Parliament that “as far as to get Brexit done – and not just to get “This has been a hard-fought elec- and the earlier proposed Scorpio on fire while in Samba sector noticed the ised “Make in India” but their (BJP’s) demand for Brexit done but to unite this country tion in a very cold time of the year holding of the summit in Khwang, near Moran in man moving towards this “wherever you see now you apologising (is concerned), I and to take it forward,” he said. because we needed a functioning Guwahati was to have Tinsukia district, protest- side under the cover of dark- find ‘rape in India’” in dif- am never going to apologise “We did it, we pulled it off, didn’t Conservative majority,” said Priti been a powerful signal to ers pelted stones on Army ness amid heavy rains in the ferent parts of the country. to them”. He also clarified we? We broke the deadlock, we ended Patel, the seniormost Indian-origin this end. vehicles.With new addi- early hours of the day, they The BJP seized on his “rape his rape statement that trig- the gridlock, we smashed the road- minister in Mr Johnson’s last The cancellation comes tional DGP G.P. Singh tak- said. According to the offi- in India” barb to corner the gered the protests by the block,” Cabinet, in response to the exit poll even as the Centre had dis- ing over, and new officers cials, Border Security Force Congress. BJP in both Houses of Mr Johnson, who was accompanied which predicted an impressive victo- cussed two other options taking over trouble-torn (BSF) troops fired a few The protests began as soon Parliament, saying he had by his girlfriend Carrie Symonds and ry for the Conservatives. of either going ahead with districts after a major shots after the intruder paid as the House assembled. simply made a point that Mr their pet dog Dilyn at the rally. Labour, which headed for its worst the summit in Guwahati state police shakeup, the no heed to their repeated Tearing into the Congress Modi has been talking about “With this election I think we’ve put performances since 1935 as the so- or holding it somewhere Assam police also intensi- warnings, resulting in his leader, Union minister “Made in India” but it has an end to all those miserable threats called “red wall” of the party’s heart- else, such as New Delhi. fied patrolling in death. “The body of the Smriti Irani said he had now become “rape in India” of a second referendum,” he said, as lands towards the north of England But finally, the third Guwahati and elsewhere. deceased was retrieved from “insulted” the women and as incidents of rapes are he got the crowd to repeat “Get Brexit suffered significant knockdowns, option of deferring the A defence spokesman near the Zero Line this men of India and claimed being reported in newspa- Done” numerous times during an conceded that voters seemed to have event was decided upon. said a total of eight evening and later, handed his remarks amounted to pers across the country. energetic victory speech. voted strongly on the basis of Brexit. The two countries recent- columns of the Assam over to police for legal for- inviting people to rape He said the main issue The Opposition Labour Party was “Brexit has dominated this election. ly held their 2+2 Dialogue Rifles have been requisi- malities,” a BSF official said. women. Seeking his apolo- today was that “the BJP, down to just 203 seats, a disastrous If the results are anywhere near the at the foreign and defence tioned and all Army and The area had become very gy, Ms Irani said that he Narendra Modi and Amit performance for the party in decades exit polls, this is an extremely disap- ministers’ level in New Assam Rifles columns slushy due to incessant rains should be punished. Shah have burnt the entire which resulted in leader Jeremy pointing result,” Labour’s shadow Delhi, which had prepared have managed to restore and it was difficult to carry Joining in, defence minis- Northeast and this is a tac- Corbyn announcing that he would chancellor John McDonnell said. the ground for PM Abe’s normality in their areas of out a thorough search during ter Rajnath Singh attacked tic used to divert attention” not lead the party in the next elec- The snap election had been called by visit. Our Guwahati cor- deployment. the day. A comprehensive Mr Gandhi and said such by raising his rape remarks. tion. Mr Johnson in a bid to win a majority search was conducted in the MPs don’t have the moral The Congress MP from “It has been a very disappointing for his Conservative Party and break area after dusk and the right to be members of the Wayanad said he has a video night for Labour... I will not lead the the Commons deadlock over Brexit. intruder's body was recov- House. Ms Irani also said clip of Narendra Modi in party in any future general election It resulted in the UK’s first ‘States can’t block CAB’ ered, he said. Nothing Mr Gandhi referred to rape his phone in which he terms campaign,” said Mr Corbyn, 70, as he December polls in nearly a century incriminating was seized cases to make a mockery of Delhi the “rape capital” and won his own seat in London’s and saw voters brave a cold winter’s ■ Continued from Page 1 from the deceased, he his political rivals, which he will put the clip on Islington North constituency. day to queue outside polling stations government will not implement the legislation. added. A police official said she said was condemnable. Twitter for the whole coun- It marked a crushing defeat, which to cast their vote in what had been Another Congress chief minister, Bhupesh Baghel the body was taken to the She said Ms Kanimozhi’s try to see. “Modi should is almost entirely being blamed on pegged as the most important elec- from Chhattisgarh, said the act was clearly unconsti- district hospital, Samba for a defence of Gandhi was “dis- apologise. For burning the Mr Corbyn’s leadership and his fail- tion “in a generation”. tutional and the same view was expressed by his coun- post-mortem. “The identity gusting, to say the least”. Northeast. For destroying ure to take a clear stance on Brexit as This also marked the UK’s third gen- terpart in Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, who claimed: of the deceased could not be Earlier in the morning, as India’s economy. For this well as counter the growing allega- eral election in less than five years “Whatever stand the Congress Party has taken on the ascertained as he was the ruckus continued for speech, a clip of which I’m tions of anti-Semitism within party and the second since the UK voted to Citizenship (Amendment) Act, we will follow that. Do not carrying any docu- over half an hour, the attaching,” Mr Gandhi later ranks.A perceived anti-India stance leave the EU in the 2016 referendum. we want to be a part of a process that sows the seeds of ments,” he said. — PTI Speaker adjourned the pro- tweeted. since the Labour Party passed an — PTI divisiveness?” Twitter record PAGE President Trump set a personal record for use of Twitter in a single day since taking office, blasting out World 5 more than 120 tweets or retweets in 24 hours THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI Brexit path clear after BoJo’s landslide Tories’ thumping win gives Johnson mandate to push EU withdrawal deal through Parliament

The mutual trust London, Dec. 13: Boris between China and Johnson’s gamble on early elections paid off the United States is as voters gave the UK prime minister a com- damaged manding majority to — Wang yi take the country out of the European Union by LEADERS REACT Senior Chinese diplomat the end of January, a decisive result after Britain and the United States will more than three years of now be free to strike a massive stalemate over Brexit. IN BRIEF Johnson’s promise to new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This “get Brexit done” and deal has the potential to be far widespread unease with bigger and more lucrative than NZ recovers six opposition leader Jere- any deal that could be made with my Corbyn’s leadership the EU Celebrate Boris! bodies from island style and socialist poli- — DONALD TRUMP Whakatane: As grieving fam- cies combined to give US President ilies sang traditional Maori the ruling Conservative songs, New Zealand military Party 365 seats in the Many congratulations to PM specialists wearing protec- House of Commons, its @BorisJohnson for his return with tive gear landed on a small best performance since volcanic island on Friday and party icon Margaret a thumping majority. I wish him recovered six bodies of the Thatcher’s last victory the best and look forward to 16 people who died in an in 1987. Corbyn’s Labour working together for closer India- eruption four days earlier. Party slumped to 203 UK ties. Wearing hooded protective seats, 59 fewer than it — NARENDRA MODI suits and using breathing won two years ago, vote Indian PM gear, the specialists landed totals showed on Friday. by helicopter on White The results offer Congratulations Island and found eight bod- Johnson a new mandate to Prime Minister ies. “We know that reunifica- to push his EU with- tion won’t ease that sense of drawal agreement thro- Boris Johnson for loss or grief because I don’t ugh Parliament. Since his success in the think anything can. But we taking office in July, he UK General felt an enormous duty of had led a minority gov- Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson is greeted by staff as he arrives back at 10 Downing Street in Elections. I look care as New Zealanders to ernment and, after the central London on Friday. — AP forward to make sure that we brought House of Commons working with him their family members back,” stalled his Brexit deal at Majority and continuing PM Jacinda Ardern said. the end of October, he UK POLL OUTCOME 2019 marks: the cooperation between our two called the election two years ahead of schedule Total seats in the House of Commons: 650 countries. Tebboune elected in hopes of winning a 326 — IMRAN KHAN clear majority. Results: 649 seats Scottish National Party: 48 Pakistan PM Algeria President “I will put an end to all Algiers: Abdelmadjid that nonsense, and we I don’t know to what extent such will get Brexit done on Tebboune, a former prime Conservative: Liberal Democrat: expectations are appropriate in minister and loyalist of time by the January 31 365 11 Algeria’s influential army — no ifs, no buts, no the case of the Conservatives chief, has been elected the maybes,” he said as sup- — DMITRY PESKOV country’s new president in a porters cheered. Labour: 203 Others: 23 Kremlin spokesman vote boycotted by members Leaving the European of a vibrant nationwide Union as one United protest movement, electoral Kingdom, taking back authorities announced on control of our laws, bor- Friday. Tebboune, 74, ders, money, our trade, received 58.15% of the vote immigration system, in this oil-rich North African delivering on the demo- Wizard of words to political star country, according to the cratic mandate of the head of the National people.” London, Dec. 13: Boris mate” and compared Independent Electoral The scale of Johnson’s Johnson’s many critics Muslim women who wear Authority, Mohamed Charfi. success also marked a have often dismissed him NRN son-in-law among face-covering veils to “let- Turnout was just 41%. stinging defeat for as a political clown. He’s ter boxes.” Confronted Tebboune served briefly as Corbyn, who had prom- having the last laugh now. with past language, prime minister in 2017 under ised to lead Labour to Results on Friday con- Indian-origin winners Johnson has clai-med he ex-President Abdelaziz victory with the “big- firmed that Johnson’s London, Dec. 13: Indian- Coutinho for the Conse- was joking, or accused Bouteflika, who was ousted gest people-powered ca- Conservative Party has origin candidates across rvative Party and Nave- journalists of distorting from power in April by a mpaign our country has won a thumping majority both the Conservative ndru Mishra for Labour his words and raking up massive pro-democracy ever seen.” in Britain’s general elec- and Lab-our parties on among the first-timers. long-ago articles. Critics protest movement. Instead, voters rejected tion. It’s a triumph for a Friday registered strong “Time to Get Brexit allege that his quips are his attempt to bridge 55-year-old politician who results in the UK’s gener- Done and get on with not gaffes, but deliberate divisions over Brexit by has been written off more al election, with around a investing in our schools, dog-whistles to bigots. US discusses promising a second ref- than once. Johnson has dozen MPs retaining hospitals and police to After the referendum, erendum on any deal built a career playing the their seats alongside keep our streets safe,” Johnson was made for- Taliban with Pak with the EU. rumpled, Latin-spouting some new faces. said Goan-origin Cout- eign secretary by PM Islamabad: United States top The vote also turned clown who doesn’t take All the Indian-origin inho, in reference to the Theresa May, one of the negotiator for Afghanistan away the rest of the himself too seriously. He MPs from the previous central Conservative top jobs in government. Zalmay Khalilzad on party’s agenda. once said he had as much Parliament were success- Party message which Two years later he quit in Thursday met Pakistan for- Alexander Boris de chance of becoming ful in clinching their clearly resonated with opposition to her Brexit eign minister Shah Mehmood Pfeffel Johnson was prime minister as of seats, with Gagan the voters in the polls. blueprint, then won a Qureshi in Islamabad to dis- born in New York in being “reincarnated as an Mohindra and Claire — PTI Conservative leadership cuss the peace talks with 1964 into a high-achiev- olive.” contest in July 2019 when Afghan Taliban. During the ing family of future “He doesn’t seem like an May resigned in defeat meeting, both the leaders politicians and media ordinary politician,” said a personality, an eccen- ambition. His words often after Parliament stymied discussed Afghan peace personalities. Jonathan Hopkin, a polit- tric, somebody who is landed him in trouble. her plan. To get the top process and regional securi- According to his sister, ical scientist at the funny and can kind of Johnson has called Papua job, Johnson promised ty. They also deliberated on Rachel, as a child he London School of appeal to people beyond New Guineans cannibals, Conservatives that he’d overall law and order situa- once aspired to become Economics. “He has man- the usual party divides.” call-ed the children of rather be “dead in a tion, said an official state- “world king”. aged to create this aura That bumbling exterior single mothers “ignorant, ditch” than delay Brexit ment. The US envoy was in — AP around himself of being masks a steel core of agg-ressive and illegiti- beyond Oct. 31. — AP Pakistan on one-day visit. Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal said in a statement EU LEADERS MEET ON BREXIT AFTER POLLS that Pakistan truly supports political and peaceful solu- Brussels, Dec. 13: EU evident among Europ- “I deeply regret that tion to the Afghanistan issue. leaders on Friday debat- ean business groups too, the UK, our friends, are He said Pakistan had wel- ed Britain’s departure though it was tinged leaving the European comed the resumption of from the bloc. with some regret. The Union,” Irish PM Leo direct talks between the It’s the first time that a uncertainty over UKs Varadkar said. United States and the country will leave the future was a concern However, he conceded Afghan Taliban. world’s biggest trading among businesses and that “it’s always easier “We hope the peace process bloc. Though many EU some have shifted opera- for us to be able to nego- is concluded soon and leads leaders are relieved that tions out of the UK. tiate with a partner who to an intra-Afghan dialogue the Brexit saga is finally There are still questions has a strong personal and reduction of violence in coming to an end, more over the future relation- mandate and can control Afghanistan,” he added. than three years after ship after Brexit and a majority in their par- Britons voted to leave, whether tariff-free trade liament.” just as many are sad- between the UK and the Luxembourg PM dened at the departure of EU will continue after a Xavier Bettel said: “I IMPEACHMENT: such a heavyweight standstill transition still regret the outcome member state. period expires at the end of the referendum but I HOUSE PANEL The sense of relief was of 2020. respect it.” — AP TO TAKE VOTE Washington, Dec. 13: The House Judiciary Committee is Greta’s gives a fitting expected to approve articles of impeachment against Presi- dent Donald Trump on Friday reply to Prez Trump after abruptly shutting down a 14-hour session late Thursday Washington, Dec. 13: US movie with a friend.” following a marathon slog President Donald The exchange came through Republican amend- Trump slammed Time after Time named the ments aimed at killing the magazine’s naming of 16-year-old, who last charges. Greta Thun-berg as 2019 year launched the Approval of the two charges Person of the Year, say- ‘Fridays For Future’, against the president would ing the Swedish teen cli- protest against global send the matter to the full mate activist should warming that has since House for a vote expected next ‘chill’ and go see a grown into a worldwide week. But the sudden turn late movie. movement. Thursday punctuated the deep “So ridiculous. Greta The backlash on social split in the Congress, and the must work on her Anger media was swift, with nation, over impeaching the Management problem, numerous critics assail- Republican president. The then go to a good old ing Trump for what committee, made up of some fashioned movie with a they saw as bullying, of the most strident lawmak- friend! Chill Greta, although some high pro- ers, clashed all day and into Chill!” he tweeted. file tweeters came to the the night as Republicans Thunberg’s reply came president's defense. insisted on lengthy debate minutes later, when she “There’s a reason we over amendments designed to changed the bio of her don’t let people run for kill the two formal charges Twitter account to: “A President until age 35. against the president but with teenager working on her Greta is a good exam- no hope of winning votes from anger management ple," said Scott Adams, the majority Democrats. The problem. Currently the creator of the House committee would resu- chilling and watching a Dilbert comic strip. me at 10 a.m. on Friday. good old fashioned — AP c m y k c m y k MIND POWER MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH AMITABH BACHCHAN PAGE Think 100 times before you take a decision. Don’t let anyone make you believe the length 6 But once it is taken, stand by it as one man. of your skirt is a measure of your character. Edit THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI

14 DECEMBER 2019

After Jan. 31, Boris’ Subhani challenges will grow ritain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservatives have recorded the largest victory since the days of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, while the Labour Party, under Jeremy Corbyn, suffered Bits worst drubbing in more than 80 years since the 1930s. The redrawing of lines in British politics had to come in such a verdict, but the first thing the result guarantees is that Brexit will happen as the PM declared: “We broke the gridlock, we ended the deadlock, we smashed the roadblock.” Love him or hate him, Boris Johnson can hardly be ignored any more. He has gained immense authority with such a parliamentary majority, more so as his party won seats in traditional Labour strongholds in the industrial north and in the Midlands. A period of serial defeats in Parliament and in the courts for the “Temporary PM” is over, as clarity emerges from the great uncertainties since the Brexit referendum of three years ago. Mr Johnson’s poll message was simple: “Get Brexit done” — and it should happen by January 31, 2020. Such a campaign seemed to resonate with the LETTERS public bewildered by delays. His critics even slammed him as an “incompetent charlatan” and two former Tory PMs asked voters to stop him as CAB TO BACKFIRE well as Mr Corbyn in an election thought to CAB: BJP sows seeds of offer little choice between Tweedledum and The Tories’ return Tweedledee. The BJP thinks it will gain should change little The Tories’ victory under Mr Johnson electorally from the for India ties. must be seen against the backdrop of a global trend seen to favour right-wing leaders, National Register for Prominent legislators invariably led by “strongmen” in the strife across South Asia Citizens and the of Indian origin, Donald Trump mould, who have used bom- Citizenship (Amendment) including Mr bast and bluster while lending little cre- ly be blamed for persecut- unlikely that the Tamil Johnson’s top aide dence to facts and detail in portraying them- ing Hindus or Chakma minority will get justice Bill. It will be able to selves as compelling leaders who have the Buddhists. If anything, or power devolution. The polarise West Bengal and Priti Patel, have all people’s ear. Boris Johnson may soon have K.C. Singh she has purged the politi- Madhesis are already been returned to to deal with separatist tendencies in cal system of radical marginalised politically sweep up the Hindu Parliament Scotland and Northern Ireland, who will be Islamists, who were allies in Nepal. There may in votes. But the situation dragged out of the EU against their will. of Pakistan’s military future be pogroms Brexit may have been the tipping point which governed East against the Indian diaspo- here is a little different, but there is also an underlying xenophobia to be seen in the vote for a party Pakistan and subsequent- ra in Caribbean, Indian just a little so. Even if we ready to pull out of decades of mutually beneficial association with the ly the military, or mili- Ocean islands like take it for granted that European Union on the fear of invasion of migrants. Brexit may happen tary-supported, regimes Mauritius and Seychelles soon enough under Mr Johnson, but a trade deal with the EU may prove far oth Houses of as it is grounded in in Bangladesh. There- or Africa’s east coast. marginalising the Muslim more elusive and Britain may need to call for Mr Trump to deliver on his Parliament ear- Article 14 of the fore, unsurprisingly, its Will the government will quench their ostensi- trade promises, while also dealing with China. lier this week Universal Declaration, foreign minister A.K. devise ad hoc measures The Tories’ return should change little for India ties. Prominent legisla- approved the which proclaims every- Abdul Momen cancelled each time or turn away, ble thirst for historical tors of Indian origin, including Mr Johnson’s top aide Priti Patel, have all Citizenship one’s right to seek asy- his India trip on weak as India did when Idi justice, Will the been returned to Parliament after Mr Johnson had actively wooed people (Amendment)B Bill after lum from persecution. grounds. Its home minis- Amin hounded Indians Bangladeshi-origin Hindu of Indian origin in an increasingly multi-cultural and diverse society. some Opposition resis- Moreover, when 145 ter also cancelled a pri- out of Uganda. Thus, an There was good news on the distaff side too as 221 will be women MPs in tance in the Upper House. nations subscribe to a vate visit to Shillong, opportunity has been like to go through the rig- the new House of Commons. Mr Johnson’s gambit of calling for this early The Janata Dal (United), convention, its provi- which was probably missed to have a proper, marole of exclusion from election has paid rich dividends but torrid times may lie ahead for the UK. which rules Bihar in sions tend to have univer- unlikely in any case due non-discriminatory alliance with the BJP, sal application. to the disturbances there. refugee and asylum law the NRC and then finding and the Biju Janata Dal, The Indian amendment Dissonance in relations in line with India’s validation via the route of ruling Odisha, betrayed raises a number of trou- was perhaps inevitable Constitution and interna- CAB? Beware. This move Gone with the Windies their origins and the core bling questions. First, it as, despite Indian assur- tional law. philosophies of their protects those suffering ances to Bangladesh, the Thus, with a narrow might well go the way of he West Indies were blown away by a hurricane force constituting founders by backing the religious persecution in BJP’s policy of hounding domestic agenda, fuelled demonetisation as far as the combined force of three batsmen. Team India may be something government. Home min- only three nations and illegal Muslim immi- by ideological and divi- Tlike the girl with the curl, great when she is good but horrid when ister Amit Shah, replying belonging to faiths other grants, which plays sive politics, tapping fulfilling its goals is she is bad. Their victory in the T-20 series decider did, however, contain a to the Opposition criti- than Islam, whereas the directly into its politics in Islamophobia across sen- concerned. message. Fearless batting in a continued assault on 120 deliveries avail- cism, justified the bill as Refugee Convention Assam, the Northeast and sitive states on able in T-20 cricket is the only way to win what’s really a lottery. necessary to alleviate the defines it more expan- now West Bengal, was Bangladesh’s borders, the Abhijit Chakraborty Whenever Rohit Sharma kickstarts the innings with his stroke-making religious persecution of sively — political or other leading towards discord BJP has sown the seeds of Howrah brilliance, Team India becomes a major force. With Lokesh Rahul striking minorities in Pakistan, forms of persecution over the detention and regional strife. To rescue form and Virat Kohli still shining as a “finisher”, Team India looked for- Afghanistan and based on race, religion, future of persons of Hindu Bengalis from the LOST CAUSE midable even though they lost one game in which the T-20 world champi- Bangladesh. Diplomatic nationality, membership Bangladeshi origin in NRC’s net in Assam and ons bettered them in clearing the ropes. implications evaded him of a particular social India. appeal to Bengalis in THE SUPREME COURT has rejected Statistics mean little in T-20s. It’s only a question of how much batsmen in tarring three nations group or political opin- A similar lack of histor- West Bengal, the govern- all the petitions filed for review of its can milk in the overs available. But piling runs on a home pitch with lit- with the same brush, ion. It rests on three prin- ical accuracy and sensi- ment has fired the chau- November 9 verdict. The historic tle assistance to fast bowlers should be simpler. Where Team India will quoting incidents ad nau- ciples: non-discrimina- tivity in naming and vinism of tribal and eth- verdict settled a longstanding and face a real challenge is in producing winning cricket under the pressure seum from Afghanistan tion, non-penalisation shaming Afghanistan led nic communities across most bitter dispute between the two of a must-win situation in major ICC events. Remember, the team hasn’t under the Taliban, and non-refoulement, the to its ambassador in New the Northeast. The dis- leading communities of the country. won any white ball titles since the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, deposed in 2001, last mandating that no Delhi taking exception to tant rumble can be heard The verdict was hailed and accepted and hasn’t won the T-20 worlds again since the inaugural in 2007. Bangladesh under non- one shall be returned to Mr Shah’s arguments. in the United States and by the country except a few who had To reproduce such aggressive batsmanship in the T-20 worlds next year Awami League govern- where that person may The cut-off point for Europe against India a vested interest in keeping the on pitches Down Under, which will offer far more bounce for quick ments or even acknowl- face threats. Thus, the refugees allowed a fast- going down a route that is dispute alive. All India Muslim bowlers, will define how far Team India can go in the white ball game in edging that Pakistan’s limited aim of the Indian track to citizenship is more befitting the trou- Personal Law Board secretary contrast to its settled position as the world's best performing Test team. Sunni radical evangelism amendment is political 2014. The Taliban was bled regions of Africa Zafaryab Jilani has said he will There are clear weaknesses in bowling and fielding that come undone persecutes Islamic and electoral, legitimis- deposed in 2001 but may than the land of Gandhi. consult the counsel, Rajiv Dhawan, under pressure. The challenge for Virat Kohli lies in getting his team to groups like the Shias and ing the stay and eventual well rule Afghanistan There are yet solitary regarding filing a curative petition. perform as well in do-or-die moments in big events. even more so the 10-20 citizenship of only those again. What happens to voices seeking sanctions Instead, he should rethink on his million Ahmadiyyas. groups of refugees that non-Muslim persons of against Amit Shah. senseless idea of filing such a The amendment are non-Islamic. When Indian origin still in that Assam joins Kashmir in petition which is only to be rejected breaches not only Article combined, as Mr Shah country and willing to being put under the secu- by the court. After all, the Babri THE ASIAN AGE 14 of the Constitution, on keeps reminding us peri- believe in the survival of rity clampdown. The Masjid is heritage lost. It cannot be which the Supreme Court odically, with a National an independent and pros- Japanese PM’s much- restored and Muslims as well as will rule, but even inter- Register of Citizens perous Afghanistan touted summit with his other Indians must now live with T. VENKATRAM REDDY national human rights (NRC), the objective under a non-sectarian Indian host in Guwahati this fait accompli. Editor in Chief becomes clearer still. regime? Does not India now lies disrupted. The Printer & Publisher: T. VENKATESWARLU law as it has evolved M.C. Joshi THE ASIAN AGE offices are located at: since the 1948 Universal Muslims in India will be have a stake in that idea Northeast was to be the Lucknow New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, Declaration of Human subjected to an audit after dispensing $2 billion stepping-stone between New Delhi-110002. Phone: (011) 23211124. Rights. Indian delegates where the burden of proof in aid and some precious India and Asean. Which BEAUTY WITH SOUL Mumbai: Sigma House, # 43, Ground Floor, R. A. Kidwai Marg, Near Wadala Rly Station, Wadala (West), Mumbai - helped frame that decla- shall lie on them to prove human lives? global investor will come 400 031 Phone (022) 24195301 Fax (022) 24195347 Kolkata: 4th Floor, Chowdhury Building, 8/1A Little Russel Street, Kolkata 700 071. ration, which remains their Indian citizenship. What is even more trou- to a destabilised region? SOUTH AFRICA’S Zozibini Tunzi is Phone: (033) 2289 0676/77 Fax (033) 2289 0686 the bedrock of interna- A prominent Muslim and blesome is that by Sadly, India’s PM and the new Miss Universe. The sixth Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office in the United Kingdom tional human rights law. former holder of a high extremely narrow excep- home minister could only black woman to win the pageant. Air surcharge for Kathmandu and J&K `1 Although driven by the constitutional office tions a number of other defend themselves by a One told to wear a wig to hide her disruption of European quipped that his family minorities in South Asia hackneyed but dangerous Afro crop but who defied naysayers. Published and Printed on behalf of and for populations during graves date to the 17th and beyond have been argument — that the Ms Tunzi, the first with her hair to ◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, World War II, India’s century. Poorer segments ignored. After the second Opposition and critics win the crown, had a powerful mes- 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301. Constitution, adopted in of the Muslim communi- coming of the Rajapaksa speak in the voice of ◗ sage about leadership for young Mumbai: Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, Plot No 22, Digha MIDC, TTC Industrial Estate Area, Vishnu Nagar, Digha, ty may find it impossible clan in Sri Lanka, it is Pakistan. The truth is Navi Mumbai-400708. 1950, reflects it in letter girls. “We should be teaching young ◗ Kolkata: Satyajug Employees Cooperative Industrial Society Ltd, 13/A, Prafulla Sarkar Street, Kolkata 700 072. and spirit. Hence, equali- to produce documents they are critical of the girls to take up space,” she said. Ms ◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. ty of treatment under that pass muster with a government’s half-baked, Tunzi herself had to fight for every Article 14 is not extended usually incompetent if An opportunity has moth-eaten amnesty for inch that came her way. As a child, merely to Indian citizens not prejudiced or even been missed to some refugees. Pakistan the 26-year-old had been withdrawn RNI Registration number: 57290/94 but any “person”. corrupt bureaucracy. have a proper, points it out with glee; from school education by her par- Postal registration numbers: DL(S)-05/4189/15-17 Therefore, even though The cut-off date is also but Indians with pain. ents who had hit a rough patch. India did not sign the 1951 peculiar. That is what non-discriminatory Surely the two are poles Sudeshna Dixit Refugee Convention or riled the current friendly refugee and apart. Gurugram the additional protocol of governments of Bangla- asylum law in line 1967, which universalised desh and Afghanistan. The writer is a former with India’s Every Monday the best letter of its application beyond Sheikh Hasina has been Constitution and secretary in the external Europe, India is bound by Bangladesh’s PM for the affairs ministry. He the week wins `500. Email: its spirit, if not its letter, past decade and can hard- international law tweets at @ambkcsingh. [email protected].

here was a central square in end luxury hotels in Jeddah and According to one businessman, the ving cars. Undoubtedly, a new gener- ing such segregation on Pakistanis, the Saudi capital city of Riyadh had already ended gender rapid pace of change can be likened ation of Saudis is welcoming the the prevalence of formal and infor- Riyadh that was used for exe- segregation at restaurants, most of to sitting blindfolded in the back seat change, eager to be the pioneers lead- mal gender segregation seems to Tcutions. Every Friday, after the latter continued to uphold the of a car while it is being driven. One ing their country into a new era. have risen in the past decade. Many prayers, prisoners were brought practice over the past several can sense that the car is moving but Pakistan and Pakistanis have had a weddings are now segregated with here and executed before the watch- decades. Suddenly, all of them will one cannot make out in which direc- long history of copying whatever male and female guests kept entirely ing crowd. The blood of the executed, have to arrange to accommodate tion or its ultimate destination. Saudi Arabia does. Over the past sev- separate, and several other gather- Rafia Zakaria it is said, used to flow down the men and women together. Others complain that the pace of eral decades, the constant sending of ings follow the same trend. square and into the gutters. In recent Part of the kingdom’s move to change, considering how slowly migrant labour to Saudi Arabia has This trend has been noticeable in days, the square has been remod- become more entertainment-friendly things have moved in the kingdom, meant that the norms and mores of educational institutions. In Sep- elled. There are no more executions (other reforms have permitted is too fast for a sustainable transfor- that land have come to Pakistan. The tember, it was reported Bahria here, and high-end shoppers breeze women to attend sporting events and mation. There is a danger, given this constant stream of pilgrims that go University had issued a notification Sex segregation through the shops lining the square. watch certain shows and perfor- speed of change, that people will back and forth between the two coun- to all teachers to ensure that male At a restaurant, diners sip mock- mances) is a continuing effort by the seethe in silence and oppose the new tries, not to mention the leadership and female students in their classes tails, sometimes racking up a bill of kingdom to escape its reputation as a ways being introduced in a society of the ummah, have all meant that were seated separately. It was not the more than $1,000. Now men and staid and backward place, discon- that is used to old ways. many Pakistanis look to Saudi only educational institution to do in Saudi ending, women can enjoy the expensive nected from the mores of the 21st cen- At the same time, whatever dis- Arabia and take their cue from it this; the University of Engineering mocktails without having to enter tury. A greater number of tourist senting Saudis may think of the regarding their support for or rejec- and Technology in Lahore reported- through different entrances. Nor will visas are also part of the mix as an changes, there is no doubt that a tion of the emerging norms in their ly announced boys and girls would never mind what they have to sit segregated behind effort to attract tourists and trav- transformation is taking place. The own country. not be permitted to sit together in the partitions. ellers from the Muslim world and strength of the state means that even One hopes that this will also be the canteen. It was only after protests At the beginning of the week, Saudi elsewhere to the kingdom. if people do not agree with the case regarding gender segregation. and an outcry that the administra- Arabia announced that it was As is the case with all changes, the change, they will have to follow the While it is true that Pakistan is not tion retracted the directive. the critics say putting an end to gender segregation new unsegregated restaurants edict prescriptions whether they involve nearly as gender-segregated as Saudi in restaurants. While certain high- has received mixed reviews. women in restaurants or women dri- Arabia, and there are no laws impos- By arrangement with Dawn Word SPY COLD DATA HUMAN CLOUD PAGE Data that is infrequently The independent workers that a company, using online Oped 7 accessed sites or apps, can hire temporarily to perform tasks THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI After sweep, can BoJo deliver on Brexit vow? which one should stay in bed and The voters in these vote for “Remain” is now 56 per cent communities through unemploy- voted with over 60 per cent to remain pray. It proved so for the Labour versus 44 per cent who still wish to ment. So also with heavy industry in the EU and the SNP are now Farrukh Party which disastrously lost 59 constituencies, denied any Leave. One of the first announce- such as steel and textiles, the import demanding their own referendum to seats — but for Boris Johnson’s socioeconomic relief or ments BoJo made was to rule out of which killed the local industries. declare independence from the UK. Dhondy Conservative Party it was the lucki- reconstruction through the any second referendum. Too much The voters in these constituencies, Boris, the democrat, says he will est day since Margaret Thatcher last 10 years of Tory rule, democracy! denied any socioeconomic relief or deny them such a referendum, Cabbages formed a Tory government in 1979. So why did the Red Wall collapse? reconstruction through the last 10 despite their democratic majority BoJo’s party won 364 seats, a major- now see the European Speculative opinion puts this star- years of Tory rule, now see the demanding it. He calls himself a & Kings ity over the Opposition of 68 or pos- Union and its workers who tling desertion of confidence in European Union and its workers “one nation” Tory and is faced with sibly 69 seats. migrate to Britain to work Labour down to the personality of who migrate to Britain to work as the threat of it breaking “democrati- Very many of the Tory victories as the source of their Jeremy Corbyn. Some attribute it to the source of their impoverishment. cally” into two nations. “I waited for twilight to come are the result of what commentators his dithering on Brexit, not commit- Despite the fact that the Tories have Despite the massive majority he through the window call “smashing the Red Wall”. impoverishment ting to one or other position and imposed “austerity” on the country enjoys and the spot-in-the-sun he But the evening sun was smothered Unlike Donald Trump’s unbuilt favouring a second referendum for nine years, Brexit is all. can bask in by passing the in mist material wall, this “Red Wall” is a about 0.06 per cent of UK’s popula- which the Red Wall constituencies Having persuaded the voters that “Withdrawal Agreement” from the So the dark fell through without metaphorical description of those tion. Democratic? don’t want. Others say the con- they want to “Get Brexit Done”, the EU in days, BoJo should scour the due warning Midland and Northern England con- The simplistic slogan of his party stituents, in their democratic wis- Tories will have to define precisely skies for dark clouds ahead. The longing of lovers who’ve never stituencies who have, for genera- in this election, apart from the wild dom, can’t see him as a prime minis- what this means. He has insisted The EU is not going to make the been kissed.” tions, voted Labour. promises they’ve made on taxation, terial figure. that if he gets a mandate, Britain trade talks easy or quick. Then — From Cogito Ergo Quarrelsome Not this time. Whole swathes of the National Health Service, schools The truth, perhaps, goes deeper. will leave the EU by the 31st of there’s Donald Trump who says he’s by Bachchoo these constituencies for the first and police, was “Get Brexit Done”. All the Red Wall constituencies have January 2020 and by the end of 2020 ready with a trade deal with Boris time in decades voted for BoJo and He now has a majority in historically been dependent on coal he will have negotiated every detail and Britain, but the US President's the Tories. Hence his resounding Parliament which will, he promises, mining or heavy industries. For gen- of the trade, customs, freedom of record on generosity in deals — ritain’s general victory. deliver on the democratic decision erations, and even centuries, these movement treaties and regulations trade, diplomatic or military — is election was held I think it was Winston Churchill of the 2016 referendum to leave the constituencies and communities between Britain and the EU. The not the most reliable. Boris, who over a single day who said democracy is the worst- European Union and pass a were dependent for employment and spokespersons for the latter say this wants to be known as the Winston earlier this week best system of government. Or per- “Withdrawal Bill” before even for their raison d’etre on these is virtually impossible to do in 12 Churchill of our times, can’t without and I sat through haps he said it’s the best-worst, but Christmas. industries. months. The elephant in that negoti- mass betrayal make the UK (with or the night of without looking up quotes on the Since that referendum, the eco- Under the Tory government of ating room will be the definition of without Scotland?) a satellite of December 12-13 Internet, you get his drift. nomic facts about what leaving the Margaret Thatcher, through democ- Brexit. Will BoJo’s 364 MPs all have Trump’s Make America Great Again watching TV as the BoJo has finally got a clear democ- EU would mean have emerged and ratic procedures in Parliament, the the same idea of the future relation- strategy. exit polls and then the actual elec- ratic mandate. Till Friday the 13th, very many people who voted to leave mines were shut and coal imported ship between the EU and the UK? Perhaps the biggest questions in tionB results were announced and he was occupying 10 Downing Street the EU have changed their minds. from places like Poland in the Which of course brings us to the elec- the coming years is where is he discussed. having been elected to the prime The Opposition parties have, as a European Union, reducing the cost tion results in Scotland, which sent 44 going to get the finance to make the Friday the 13th is, according to ministerial position by a percentage consequence demanded a second ref- of fuel for industrial capital and as a Scottish National Party MPs out of a Red Wall constituencies he has superstition, an unlucky day on of the members of his Tory Party, erendum as the polls show that the consequence devastating the mining possible 59 to Westminster. Scotland breached Great Again? Am I a citizen of India? Dunno! I am still scratching my head… few hours before the Amit Shah used the word insist he is speaking on behalf of dramatic and fiery CAB 130 crore Indian citizens. I am debate in the Lok Sabha, "infiltrators". also a citizen. A tiny speck , but a AI was chatting with an "Infiltrators" is a loaded citizen of India nevertheless. activist/professor (Indian), who term. I am beginning to Sure, I did not vote for the BJP. lives in New York. This was at an feel like an infiltrator in Does that make me a non-citizen? Shobhaa’s event in Kolkata and the overall Is that the new criterion? Why is atmosphere was overheated with my own country. Must Amit Shah including me so Take all sorts of opinions flying ask the NYC Gang what glibly in his sweeping statement? around. The prof seemed particu- they feel like — aliens There are many citizens like me larly agitated as she raised from another galaxy? – some who didn’t vote for the tricky issues not too many BJP and others who didn’t both- exhausted authors were in the er to vote at all. Does this mean mood to respond to — the lunch without one eye on the lunch buf- we are now automatically down- buffet was about to be removed fet and another on the timing of graded by the State and do not and food for the stomach over- my delayed sessions. Khair. En enjoy the same rights as full- ruled food for thought. passant, I said to her that what fledged, bonafide Indian citi- Regardless, she tapped avail- was happening in Assam and to zens? What happened to the able shoulders and initiated con- Assam was likely to change the Constitution of India? Also versations, which was pretty future of India far more than any downgraded? Is it still relevant brave of her. I found it fascinat- other development projected by after the passage of the prickly ing that she was quoting (almost the NYC gang (it reminded me of Citizenship Amendment Bill exclusively), a small coteries of the Khan Market Gang in terms (CAB)? How do I know in which New York-based desi “intellectu- of their naiveté and ignorance). light the State views people like als”, who meet regularly at one Assam has been transformed me from this moment on? Can I another’s homes to discuss the into the centre of India, still call myself a citizen of India “India problem”. It was a famil- metaphorically, in one stroke. and believe it? Gosh! It has come iar echo chamber — like-minded The Assam agitation will to this! And so quickly. After the folks talking to each other, their polarise India like no other polit- ease with which the 311 mem- brows furrowed, their voices ical development since bers allowed the Bill to sail subdued. Independence. Here we are, bang through, one wonders if this is I asked her what she was most in the middle of an uncomfort- merely a ‘let’s test the waters’ worried about right now, and able and potentially dangerous experiment, before the she disappointed me with her situation that is forcing most of Constitution of India gets junked predictable response. “We are us to ask tough questions to altogether. This is exactly what I deeply concerned about the which there are no plausible, had tried to convey to my NYC future of India.” Honey, tell me jhatphat answers. The Lok prof. The path to citizenship as something I don’t know! She Sabha passed the tricky citizen- outlined in the CAB, is open to talked about Trump and the rise ship bill 311-80 at midnight, with interpretation and comes with of “fascist forces”, comparing Amit Shah proclaiming, “NRC is horrifying implications. It the situation in America to what coming”. This sounds even more sounds like a bill designed to she and her friends believed was ominous than I had anticipated. exclude rather than include. No happening in India — the rise It is a dire warning to citizens, amount of justification can and rise and rise of right- forcing political party leaders of whitewash the obvious. What wingers determined to desta- other parties to ask valid ques- happens to me tomorrow, if, for bilise and destroy the country. tions. Saugata Roy (Trinamul example, I change my faith offi- She was well meaning and Congress) wondered whatever cially and move to another state earnest. But also, clueless. This happened to the “one law, one — Assam, for example? My limit- was a schoolgirlish, textbook nation” declaration in the wake ed knowledge tells me, I’ll be take on the current political of the abrogation of Article 370. considered dead meat . A traitor. establishment. An impassioned and on-fire From this moment on, we need She talked about “exposing” Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) tore to figure what we can and cannot the hugely successful West Coast up papers, declaring dramatical- take for granted as citizens of a techie desis who, she said, had ly, “It is a conspiracy to make democracy which promises each funded “Howdy Mody” and earli- Muslims stateless.” But that’s one of us the exact same rights. er, his Madison Square Garden Owaisi. Anything more moder- As of now, I am thoroughly con- show. “So many of them are ate coming from him would have fused. If I changed my name crooks out to make money by been a major surprise. from Shobhaa to Shabana, would pretending to be working for a Between these points of view, I be instantly relegated to being better India.” Perhaps. But what the scariest claim came from a second, maybe even third rung plans did her snooty pals in NYC Amit Shah himself when he demi-citizen with severely cur- I have no problem with have to counter these rogues? blandly stated what citizens had tailed rights? Amit Shah used patriot games being Start a new dialogue? Blank! I suspected and feared all along – the word “infiltrators”. played like parlour asked her whether she was ever we have gradually but surely “Infiltrators” is a loaded term. I coming back to India, and she surrendered all our rights. “ It ( am beginning to feel like an infil- games. Provided I am shook her head. Then? Were her the bill ) has the endorsement of trator in my own country. Must receptive and in a more buddies going to return in the 130 crore citizens as it was part of ask the NYC Gang what they feel conducive setting, with- foreseeable future? Nope. BJP’s manifesto in 2014 as well as like — aliens from another out one eye on the lunch I have no problem with patriot 2019 Lok Sabha elections.” galaxy? games being played like parlour Really? How easy it is for Amit buffet and another on my games. Provided I am receptive Shah to state something as exag- Readers can send feedback to delayed sessions. Khair. and in a more conducive setting, gerated and misleading and www.shobhaade.blogspot.com Death anniversary or Urs, it’s an occasion to rejoice for Sufis anniversaries of mystics are cel- the Chishti tradition in Delhi [Hindu] girdle). when sultans like Muhammad remain a [true] Sufi [who serves ebrated as wedding ceremonies. which spread widely in the For Mahbub-e-ilahi, true love bin Tughlaq were belligerent mankind], even while being in Ghulam For them, death is an occasion Indian subcontinent. Ziauddin for the Divine was translated towards Sufi saints. But several the service of a king. to rejoice, not to mourn. They Barani, an eminent historiogra- into a sincere love for humanity officials of the sultan still This divine realisation of the Rasool call it Urs (wedding) and some- pher of the 14th century who at large. The surest way to became disciples of the then ultimate union with both God times Visal (union) because chose to be a disciple of the attain personal relationship Chishti master, Khwaja and mankind is celebrated at Dehlvi death of a Sufi saint is realised saint, notes his overwhelming with Allah (wisal-e-ilahi), in his Naseeruddin Chiragh Dehlvi, the times of Urs at the Dargah as the most mystical merging influence on the psychological view, is to render selfless himself a disciple of Hazrat through Qawwalis, Zikr and with the Divine. Thus, the death and social life of his times. At a social service in a manner Nizamuddin Aulia. In his Wird (chanting) of verses like anniversary of Hazrat time when people were discrim- Kafir-e-ishqam musalmani that one realises that there is no exhortation to his disciples, this: “Mera ishq vi tu Mera yaar he death anniversary Nizamuddin Aulia will be cele- inated against irrationally, mura darkaar neest; ‘I’. There is only the divine. Khwaja would often relay this vi tu. (You are my love, my (Urs) of Delhi’s prominent brated as his “wedding” by Nizamuddin empowered them Har rag-e man taar gashta This realisation attains its per- Persian couplet: ardour. You are my lover.)” TSufi mystic, Hazrat thousands of pilgrims from to transcend all distinctions of hajat-e zunnaar neest. fection at the time of death Muraad-e-Ahl-e-Tariqat Nizamuddin Auliya will be cele- across the world. faith, caste, creed and race. This (I am a pagan, and a worship- which turns into visal (com- Libaas-e-Zaahir Neest, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an brated at his Dargah from 17th Popularly known as mahbub- strikingly reflected in the legacy per of love: I do not need the plete union). Kamar Ba Khidmat-e-Sultan alim (classical Islamic scholar) Rabi al-Akhir, which is falling e-ilahi (beloved of the divine), and poetry of his closest disci- creed [of Muslims]; Every The Chishti tradition of Be-band-o-Sufi Baash! and a Delhi-based writer. He on December 15. Urs means Hazrat Nizamuddin was born in ples, like Amir Khusrau, who vein of mine has become taunt Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia was Meaning: Divine lovers don’t can be contacted at: “wedding” and in Sufism, death 1325 and emerged a pioneer of said in Persian: like a wire, I do not need the strengthened in Delhi at a time aim to attract admiration. They [email protected]. Fresh plans Barbora Strycova said she pondering the doubles PAGE title defence at Wimbledon before retiring from Sport+ 8 the sport, a move she has lately been suggesting THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI 50 YEARS AGO IN Messi takes leadership in his AP, Orissa discuss Naxalite threat stride to clinch 6th Ballon d’Or

Hyderabad, Dec. 13: Top offi- Madrid: Lionel Messi won a cials of Andhra Pradesh record-breaking sixth Ballon d’Or and Orissa participated in on Monday after another sublime the coordination meeting year for the Argentinian, whose Trail-blazer Rapinoe completes held in Bhubaneswar, familiar brilliance remained Orissa on Tuesday, when the undimmed even through difficult Naxalite threat to both the times for club and country. States was discussed, it is Despite Barcelona’s collapse at learnt here officially. the end of last season and honours sweep at Ballon d’Or It may be mentioned that Argentina losing to Brazil in the the Naxalite activities have semi-finals of the Copa America, Paris: Megan Rapinoe completed become marked in the bor- Messi’s genius was ever-present in an unprecedented clean sweep of dering district of the two 2019, for which he now stands honours on Monday as the trail- States like Srikakulam, alone in the history of the game’s blazing World Cup star and femi- Visakhapatnam, Ganjam most prestigious individual prize. nist icon added the Women’s and Koraput. Four years after his last Ballon Ballon d’Or to her collection of In the affected districts in d’Or, Messi pulled clear of the five accolades. Andhra Pradesh, it is offi- next to the name of Cristiano The 34-year-old striker was the cially stated that more than Ronaldo, and now owns twice as star of this year’s Women’s World 1,000 Naxalites have been many as Johan Cruyff, Michel Cup, scoring six goals as the arrested as also 50 persons Platini and Marco van United States successfully from the plains. In the regu- Basten. defended their title. lar combing operations and In 54 appearances this Rapinoe’s tournament goals raids the police seized 282 year, Messi has managed tally earned her the Golden Boot weapons of different types an astonishing 46 goals for top-scorer while she was also some quantity of material and 17 assists while for awarded the Golden Ball for the to manufacture bombs and Barca alone he hit 41 best player. Marxist literature. goals and 15 assists in Rapinoe had already picked up The extremists technic of 44 matches, which the FIFA’s Best Women’s Player attack, according to officials included seven dou- award in September, and it was here, clearly indicate that bles and three inevitable she would claim what there may be some “Central hat-tricks. was only the second edition of training centre,” where the “It’s like he is the Ballon d’Or Feminin, won by young recruits are taught extra-terrestri- Norway’s Ada Hegerberg in 2018. the use of fire arms, tak- al,” said “It’s been an incredible year,” ing cover and initiating Barcelona Rapinoe said in a recorded video attacks on “vulnerable” coach message shown at the ceremony points. Fortunately for Ernesto at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris, the Government some Valverde in having been unable to travel to of the weapons avail- March. the event. able to the “Every “I want to say a huge thank you Naxalites are of time he to my team-mates, the coaches, poor quality. the US Soccer Federation, for all At the co-ordi- of the support to allow me to be nation meeting, who I am and do what I do on the it is learnt, sev- field but also be the person who I eral officials am off the field.” of both the The honour crowns a remark- States able year for Rapinoe which has stressed seen her enhance her reputation the need as a warrior both on and off the for having gets the ball pitch. something something Her performances at the World corresponding extraordinary Cup were a critical part of the to the Preventive seems to happen.” United States’ title defence, but Detention Act Messi’s first season as Rapinoe has garnered almost as when it lapses this club captain brought a much attention in 2019 for her month. The Andhra third consecutive La Liga unflinching advocacy of social CALLS FOR UNITY San Francisco 49ers quarterback Pradesh Government, title and he scored the win- justice off the field. Since then, Rapinoe has happily Colin Kaepernick, who ignited while taking stringent ner in the game that clinched That readiness to speak her kept on talking. controversy in 2016 after kneeling measures to check the vio- it, a 1-0 victory over Levante. mind famously brought her into At a victory parade in New York during the US national anthem in lent activities of the He also claimed his sixth conflict with US President in July, Rapinoe, who is gay, salut- a protest against racial injustice. Naxalites in the Tribal belt, Pichichi Trophy as the division’s Donald Trump during the World ed the diversity of the all-con- Rapinoe was one of the first ath- is also making special top scorer, with 36 goals in 34 Cup. quering US team while calling for letes to kneel in solidarity with arrangements for the eco- matches. Rapinoe had provoked Trump’s unity. “We have to be better,” Kaepernick, who has effectively nomic improvement of the But Barcelona unravelled as ire in comments made several Rapinoe told a cheering crowd of been frozen out of the league Tribals. their 3-0 advantage over Liverpool months before the tournament thousands. since his season of protest. The consensus at the offi- — to which Messi contributed a when she stated bluntly that she “We have to love more, hate less. Rapinoe said Kaepernick’s cial lever co-ordination brace — went up in smoke at would not attend a White House We got to listen more and talk plight made her determined to meeting seems to be that, Anfield and the club crashed out reception for the US team if they less. continue her fight for social jus- though the Naxalite threat in the semi-finals of the brought home the World Cup. “It’s our responsibility to make tice and equality. had somewhat abated in cer- Champions League. “I am a big fan of the American this world a better place,” she “It would be a slap in the face to tain areas, the extremists They were then beaten by Team, and Women’s Soccer,” added. Colin, and to so many other faces, might select new places for Valencia in the final of the Copa Trump wrote on Twitter. “But Rapinoe returned to that theme not to acknowledge, and for me their activities. Therefore, del Rey, when Messi’s tap-in Megan should WIN first before at a recent awards ceremony, personally, to work relentlessly to there was need to maintain proved a consolation, but it was she TALKS! Finish the job!” when she was honoured as one of dismantle that system that bene- vigil. — ANS his voice that spoke loudest in Rapinoe did finish the job sever- Glamour magazine’s “Women of fits some over the detriment of defence of coach Valverde, whose al days later, scoring the opening the Year”. others, and frankly is quite liter- survival owed much to the support goal in a 2-0 defeat of the She used the event to draw ally tearing us apart in this coun- of his captain. Netherlands in the final in Lyon. attention to the plight of former try,” she said. — AFP Messi had led the way on the pitch too, particularly during the football run-in when he scored 16 goals in His goal was nominated in the have offered some respite but close we have the advantage of 12 games as Barcelona put togeth- FIFA Puskas Award’s 10-long Messi suffered a calf injury on the having the best player in the world er a relentless winning streak. shortlist. first day of pre-season before a and the best free-kick taker in the ■ “This league has one person’s “I have not seen any player like thigh strain meant he would not world,” said Barca midfielder In 54 appearances this name on it,” wrote Diario Sport. Messi in the history of football,” begin playing regularly again Sergio Busquets. year, Lionel Messi has said Betis coach Quique Setien. until October. Another milestone came at the 50TH CAREER HAT-TRICK “His goal was something you do Yet he made up for lost time by end of November when his goal managed an astonishing He scored his 50th career hat- playing Playstation.” scoring six goals in five games and and two assists in a 3-1 win over trick in a 4-2 win at Sevilla After finishing the Champions then a hat-trick against Celta Vigo, Borussia Dortmund coincided 46 goals and 17 assists and in April, another hat- League as top scorer with 12 goals this time a treble made up of set- with his 700th appearance for trick began with a free- and collecting his sixth Golden pieces, two from free-kicks and Barcelona. On Sunday, he scored while for Barcelona kick into the top cor- Shoe for a record third consecutive one a penalty. the winner in a 1-0 victory at ner and ended with a year, Messi joined up with It was his 34th hat-trick in La Atletico Madrid. alone he hit 41 goals sweeping chip from Argentina for the Copa America, a Liga, equalling Ronaldo’s record Barcelona insist they have plans the edge of the area tournament that kickstarted a in the Spanish top flight. for coping with Messi’s dreaded and 15 assists in 44 that was so good even frustrating three months for the Free-kicks have become an retirement but the truth is their matches, which included the Real Betis fans 32-year-old. increasingly potent weapon for number 10 will be irreplaceable. felt compelled to Messi was sent off against Chile Messi and his improvement is He has unfulfilled ambitions too, seven doubles and three applaud. in the third-place play-off and his more evidence of a player still including another Champions When asked about comments about the refereeing adding to his skill-set in what can League crown, not to mention an hat-tricks their reaction, Messi said: drew him a three-month suspen- be assumed will be his twilight elusive major trophy with “To be honest I don’t remem- sion from international football. years. Argentina. Despite it all, Messi is ber anything like that.” A return to Barcelona should “It’s clear that when games are not finished yet. — AFP Coach proves deafness is no hindrance to career on touchline London: Ben Lampert is not a not matter. I don’t know native tongue. “They have the dream to coach professionally is Awareness is the key thing stereotypical football coach. whether up to 18 or older. It’s a skills or the requisite skills to realistic. here.” Instead of yelling from the matter of sort of achieving and be a top manager. It’s just the “There’s no reason why it can- A group of boys who were touchline, the deaf trainer becoming an example where language barrier,” said not work in mainstream football experiencing Lampert’s coach- issues his instructions in sign deaf people can look up and say Lampert, who is nominated for as well, because he’s still coming for the first time — a mix of language. ‘Ben’s done it, why can’t I?’” an award in the Changing Lives municating with players in the showing them what he wants The 34-year-old, who is a coach Lampert, a father of two boys, category. right way,” he said. done by playing with the ball or with Brentford FC Community said there is a perception that it “You know, that’s the only “He is still getting his message through his interpreter — large- Sports Trust, is proving to be an is difficult for deaf people to get thing getting in the way. There’s across to support them in their ly gave him a thumbs up. inspirational mentor to both their message across but he no difference, in my view, to a development and ultimately Kuba Zygmunt admitted: “I deaf and hearing children and believes this is misplaced. deaf person in that sense.” support the teams he’s working would never understand sign has been nominated in one of “They think that it’s impossi- Lampert, who is also a coach with as well.” language in 100 years” but he the categories at the UK ble for me to do it or any deaf with England’s deaf football Lampert believes Britain is added there was plenty of scope Coaching Awards on Thursday. person to do it,” he said, speak- team, said his deafness is not an lagging behind the United for the relationship to develop. Lampert, a member of the ing through an interpreter, who impediment to how he sees the States when it comes to the “As a community, it is really British football squad that won also helped him during the ses- game, describing it as a “very awareness of deaf issues. He impressive,” he said. “It’s really the 2005 Deaflympics title in sion in west London. visual thing”. cites the case of NFL fullback impressive that we can commu- Australia, ultimately wants to “You know, they think it’s not “As a deaf person it is Derrick Coleman, who over- nicate with this new coach and coach a professional team. something that can happen, but absolutely perfect for me and came deafness to win a Super maybe learn about something “The dream of mine is just to it is possible. When I have the thinking about people’s posi- Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. new.” be coaching at the highest level opportunity to speak with these tions on the pitch and tactics, “It’s hats off to America for Lampert believes succeeding of football, whether it be the people, they realise this. where to place players.” me as far as I’m concerned, is all about being positive. academies or the club side,” he “It’s all just about communica- because their awareness is out- “It’s important to be confident told AFP before taking a session tion. At the end of the day, ‘FIGHT FOR EQUALITY’ standing in that respect,” he and to be assertive and to fight with a group of 10-year-old boys. there’s other methods for com- Jamie Tompkins, football devel- said. for equality,” he said. “Just to be that sort of living munication, it’s not just a one- opment manager for the trust at “In England, I think we should “You know, I want to get the embodiment that these barriers way thing.” Brentford, who play in have it the same. If that can be message out there that deaf peo- can be broken down and can be Lampert, who took part in the communicating in sign lan- that faced by managers for England’s second-tier done in the Super Bowl, then ple can do anything and I am an overcome. The age group would 2012 Olympics torch relay, said guage was a similar challenge to whom English is not their Championship, says Lampert’s why can we not do it here? example myself.” — AFP Super rich Textile in India will sector’s buy costly credit e-cars, exposure says declines Porsche SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI Overleaf Moody’s cuts growth rate ■Global rough diamond sales to dip 25% FC BUREAU transmitted to lending Nirav scam hits quick NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 SLOW GROWTH: NEW NORMAL rates because of the credit squeeze caused by disrup- With the slow employ- Ratings agency Moody’s Investors tion in the non-bank ment growth that could Service has lowered its 2019 GDP growth financial sector,” it added. BITES weigh on consumption, However, commercial rough diamonds Moody’s Investors Service forecast for India to 5.6 per cent for the vehicle sales in India on Friday said it has low- financial year 2019-20. declined 22.95 per cent in SANGEETHA G. ered its 2019 Gross the six months ended CHENNAI, DEC. 13 MARKET GLITCH INDICATORS % Domestic Product or GDP Though consumption The pace September 30 2019 com- Sensex 41,009.71 +1.05% growth forecast for India demand has cooled due to of economic pared with the same peri- Global rough diamond The Indian diamond processing compa- Nifty 50 12,086.70 +0.96% to 5.6 per cent. However, slow job creation, Moody's growth, how- od a year earlier. sales is expected to decline nies have been finding it difficult to avail the global rating agency is “Commercial vehicle 25 per cent in 2019, thanks S&P 500 3,165.78 -0.08% expects economic growth ever, will finance from the formal banking sector hopeful that the economy sales have been hit by the to the challenging situa- since the Nirav Modi-PNB scam. Dollar (`) 70.70 -0.14 pick up in 2020 and 2021 to to pick up in 2020 and remain lower liquidity squeeze in the tion in India’s financial Pound Sterling (`) 94.33 -- 6.6 per cent and 6.7 per 2021 to 6.6 per cent and than in the financial sector and the sector among other fac- The import of roughs Higher cent respectively. 6.7 per cent, respectively. recent past. economic slowdown, tors, finds a global study. Euro (`) 78.64 -0.23% “We have lowered our despite support from gov- The study by Bain and by India — the world’s inventory Gold (10gm)* (`) 38,486 ▼ 232 +0.60% 2019 GDP growth forecast ernment stimulus meas- Company and Antwerp largest rough diamond caused by the for India to 5.6 per cent, ures to boost demand and World Diamond Centre Brent crude ($/bbl)* 64.35 -0.40% processing centre — was largest single- which is lower than 7.4 per vehicle purchases ahead found that the surplus down 21 per cent year volume cent growth in 2018,” of India’s migration to production in 2017, the IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.76 +0.84 between April increase since US 10-Yr T-bill yield 1.81 -0.30 Moody’s said in a report, new emission standards,” financial situation in staing that India’s eco- it said. Indian diamond industry, and October 1986 too * As of 10:45 pm IST nomic growth has deceler- Moody’s also expected — the largest processor of this year, has con- ated since mid-2018, with auto loan delinquencies to roughs — and the slacken- which led to tributed real GDP growth slipping increase in the next few ing demand for polished from nearly 8 per cent to 5 quarters as the economic stones in the US and excess supply to the over- per cent in the second qua- slowdown would con- China led to the slower in the market. supply. Powergear firms rter (April-June) of 2019. strain demand for freight demand in 2019. It further slipped to 4.5 transportation and put Polished diamond sales seek ban on per cent in July-Septe- GROWTH FORECAST pressure on freight rates. too are expected to drop 10 the spike in production of labour market, trade ten- mber quarter. “Consum- Moody’s ADB S&P RBI DBS SBI “However, the slowing per cent and 15 per cent by rough diamonds in 2017 — sion and a possible reces- Chinese imports ption demand has cooled economic growth has yet the end of 2019 because of the largest single-year vol- sion. notably, with slow employ- 5.6% 5.1% 5.1% 5% 5% 5% to significantly impact the the slowing demand for ume increase since 1986 — A continuous decline in Vadodara: The government ment growth weighing on performance of underly- the diamond jewellery too has contributed to the Chinese travelers to the should consider banning imports consumption. We expect ing loans as the decline in globally, lower diamond oversupply. This has “cre- US lowered luxury pur- of equipment related to power economic growth to pick Moody’s said fiscal directly address wide- commercial vehicle sales content in jewellery ated a surplus that affect- chases overall as well as generation and telecom from up in 2020 and 2021 to 6.6 measures undertaken by spread weakness in con- over the past quarters has designs, inventory optimi- ed the entire value chain”, an extra 15 per cent tariff China, Indian Electrical & per cent and 6.7 per cent, the government, such as sumption demand, which helped ease the surplus sation by major retailers as a result of which inven- on Chinese jewellery went Electronic Manufacturers' respectively, but the pace corporate tax rate cuts, has been the chief driver capacity situation in the and declining availability tory in the mining and into effect in September Association (IEEMA) director- of growth will remain bank recapitalisation, of the economy. medium and heavy com- of finance for midstream midstream markets incre- 2019 and is expected to general Sunil Misra said on lower than in the recent infrastructure spending “In addition, interest mercial vehicle segments players in India. ased through 2019. impact sales during the Friday. He said the dependence past,” the rating agency plans, support for the auto rate cuts by the RBI are and supported the per- AWDC CEO Ari Epstein Further, the demand for crucial holiday season. on China for equipment belong- said. sector and others, do not not being adequately formance,” it said. claims that the diamond polished and in turn The Chinese demand too ing to this critical sector may be market remains cautious rough is driven by chan- is expected to decrease by “dangerous” for India. — PTI due to the oversupply of ges in the two largest mar- five per cent due to yuan rough diamonds, challeng- kets, the United States and depreciation, declining ing situation in India. China, due to decreasing consumer confidence due India’s exports The Indian diamond pro- consumer confidence and to trade tensions between Yes Bank expects FM refuses to predict cessing companies have geopolitical uncertainty. the US and China and sig- been finding it difficult to In 2019, the US diamond nificantly lower sales in contract for 4th avail finance from the for- jewellery retail sales are Hong Kong amid protests better results in mal banking sector since expected to fall two per in the area. end of economic slump straight month the Nirav Modi-PNB scam. cent, in contrast to three “All signs now point March quarter The import of roughs by per cent growth in 2018 as toward the gradual FC CORRESPONDENT New Delhi, Dec. 13: India was down 21 per consumer confidence fell reestablishment of a bal- NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 India’s exports contracted cent between April and to its lowest point since ance in the market in the CENTRE IS TRYING TO BOOST for the fourth month in a October this year. 2016 because of uncertain- coming year,” said Mr Finance minister Nirmala row in November, dipping According to the report, ties surrounding the Epstein. Sitharaman said on Fri- 0.34 per cent to $25.98 bil- day the government would CONSUMPTION, SAYS ADVISER lion, mainly on account of take steps to “heal” the New Delhi, Dec. 13: the realty projects. poor shipments of petro- economy as and when Chief Economic As much as `4.47 lakh leum, gems & jewellery STATE-WISE required but refused to Adviser Krishnamurthy crore has been sanc- and leather products. India’s onion output RETAIL make any predict when Subramanian on Friday tioned to non-banking Imports too declined by the economy would come said the government is financial institutions 12.71 per cent to $38.11 bil- INFLATION New Delhi: Yes Bank on Friday out of the woods. focusing on increasing and housing finance lion in November, nar- said it expects the third quar- “The government has consumption to boost companies to support rowing the trade deficit to may remain 20% ter of the current financial year been working for the econ- economic growth. retail lending, the Chief $12.12 billion, according The retail inflation to remain subdued but sees omy where it is needed,” Presenting steps taken Economic Adviser said, to government data in India was 5.54 improvement in revenue in the Ms Sitharaman said, by the government in adding that 17 proposals released on Friday. March quarter on the back of per cent in Novem- while highlighting the the past few months to amounting to `7,657 Gold imports increased lower than last year ber, but the price government measures. “Topline impact of recent financial pull the economy out crore had been approved by 6.59 per cent to $2.94 growth in Q4 FY20 could see measures on the economy. from a six-year low under partial credit billion in the month. The SANGEETHA G. September-October had rise in states some relative improvement as The finance minister growth, Mr Subraman- guarantee scheme. trade deficit stood at CHENNAI, DEC. 13 also affected the trans- ranged from 7.23 the economy is likely to gradu- was speaking at an event ian said that the meas- Also, 66 per cent of $17.58 billion in portation of the crop from per cent to 1.44 per ally respond to the governm- organised to lay a ures include corporate budgeted capex of `3.38 November 2018. The onion production for these regions to consum- ent’s measures,” it said. — PTI cent. preparatory framework tax cuts to improve risk- lakh crore has already Out of the 30 key sec- the year 2019-20 is estimat- ing areas. This led to lim- (in %) for the next year’s Union return of companies. undertaken, he said. tors, as many as 17 seg- ed to be 22 per cent down ited availability of Kharif Budget. He said the govern- Railway and road min- ments showed contrac- over last year. onion in the market and Odisha 7.23 The Union Budget 2020- ment has also announ- istries will have under- tion in exports during the As per the estimates of put pressure on its prices, Uttar Pradesh 6.93 21 will be presented on ced the capitalisation of taken capex of `2.46 month under review. the department of agri- the ministry said. Paytm’s One97 February 1, which will be the public sector banks lakh crore by December The shipments of petro- culture, the combined Onion prices had Kerala 6.89 the second Budget of the and last-mile funding to 31, he said. — PTI leum products, gems and Kharif and late Kharif crossed `150-200 per kg in Madhya Pradesh 6.6 raises $660m current BJP-led NDA gov- jewellery, fruits and veg- production for 2019-20 is some cities and are now ernment after the general etables, leather and estimated at 54.73 lakh back to `100 per kg. While Tamil Nadu 6.26 from investors elections. stagflation — high infla- ment is doing its best to leather products and metric tonnnes as against the increased import and Rajasthan 6.02 Asked when she expects tion coupled with declin- import the commodity ready-made garments of 69.91 lakh metric tonnes newly harvested crop was New Delhi: One97 Communic- the economy to revive, the ing growth. “No comment and resolve the issue,” she all textiles contracted by in 2018-19. presumed to result in a Jharkhand 5.96 ations, the parent company of finance minister said, “I on that. I have heard it. said. 13.12 per cent, 8.14 per During 2019-20, there supply glut in the coming Telangana 5.94 Paytm, has raised over $660 am not engaging in any Stagflation is a narrative Ahead of the crucial cent, 15.10 per cent, 5.29 was upto four week delay weeks, the lower produc- million (`4,724 crore) from prediction-based thing. I which is going on. I am meeting of the GST per cent and 6.52 per cent in sowing and the sown tion estimates can make Uttarakhand 5.84 investors, including Alibaba’s am looking at the econo- hearing it,” she said. Council on December 18, respectively. area for onions in the the market cautious. Himachal Pradesh 5.76 Alipay and funds managed by my, where I need to inter- On Thursday, the gov- Sitharaman did not rule In November, oil Kharif season too had The government said T Rowe Price, as per regulatory vene, I am intervening ernment data revealed out a hike in Goods and imports declined by 18.17 declined due to the late that it is serious in deal- Assam 5.62 documents. In November, and I shall continue to that retail inflation has Services Tax (GST) rates, per cent to $11.06 billion, arrival of monsoon. ing with the issue and has Maharashtra 5.60 Paytm raised over `7,000 crore address the problem of surged to 5.51 per cent in saying that her ministry while non-oil imports Further, the untimely also written to chief min- in funding from T Rowe Price the industry as and when November while the is yet to apply its mind to contracted 10.26 per cent prolonged rains in the isters over it. Andhra Pradesh 5.58 and existing investors to fund it rises.” industry output shrunk it. to $27.04 billion. major onion growing The Central government Karnataka 5.51 expansion plans. — PTI The Centre has recently for the third straight When asked about the Cumulatively, during states of Karnataka, further said that it was announced several meas- month in October. buzz on the proposal of April-November 2019, Maharashtra and Madhya taking several steps such West Bengal 5.31 ures to bring the flagging On the onion price hike, increasing GST rates in exports were down 1.99 Pradesh during the har- as creation of onion Punjab 4.98 economy back on track. Ms Sitharaman is hopeful the Council meet, she per cent to $211.93 billion vesting period of Septem- buffer of about 57,373 met- The measures include that it would be resolved said, “The buzz is every- while imports contracted ber and October, caused ric tonnes during Rabi Haryana 4.74 some important ones such soon. “We have a group of where else but not in my by 8.91 per cent to $318.78 damage to the standing 2019, withdrawal of incen- Gujarat 4.15 RIL arm acquires as a cut in the corporate ministers meeting which office (the ministry of billion. crops in these regions. tive on export of onions tax rate, funding of stalled is reviewing the situation, finance). I am not attribut- The country’s trade All these factors have under Merchandise Expo- Chhattisgarh 4.05 51.7% stake in real estate projects, and and is deciding on how to ing this to my team. There deficit during the period adversely impacted the rts from India Scheme Delhi 3.18 faster GST-refund process take up the import related has been no discussion of narrowed to $54.06 billion production and quality of (MEIS), imposition of etc. issues. I think gradually, changing the GST rate in as against $82.47 billion in onions in the Kharif sea- Minimum Export Price Jammu & Kashmir 2.51 Asteria Aerospace She also declined to com- the crop has also started the finance ministry so April-November 2018-19, son. and subsequent ban on Bihar 1.44 New Delhi: Reliance Industries ment on the narrative of replenishing. The govern- far.” the data said. — PTI The rains during exports of onions. on Friday said its wholly-owned subsidiary Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Ltd (RSBVL) has acquired over 51 per cent stake in Asteria Aerospace for `23.12 crore. The investment will further enable the group's Higher gold prices increase smuggling in India initiatives in emerging technology. On Thursday, RSBVL had Mumbai, Dec. 13: Surging Chennai. “The propensity record high of `39,885 per ■ SMUGGLED INFLOWS record current-account 2018, limiting year-on-year said it has picked up 85 per gold prices in India are to smuggle now is very 10 grams in early of gold may jump 30 per deficit. Illegal inflows comparisons. cent stake in NowFloats keeping customs officials high because every time September on higher cent to 40 per cent this peaked at 225 tonne in 2014 There has been a jump in Technologies. — PTI on their toes. you increase the tax rate, import taxes and as the as smugglers attempted to the smuggling of gold into Illegal inflows have you give that much more US-China trade conflict year to 140 tonnes and bring in bullion, including India from China, Taiwan jumped after the Indian incentive to smugglers,” and looser monetary poli- rise more in 2020, via planes and trains. and Hong Kong, the DRI Printed & Published by government increased P.R. Somasundaram, man- cy boosted global bench- N. Anantha Padmanaban, In just the two months of said. Bullion is also T Venkateswarlu on behalf of Deccan import taxes in July and aging director for the mark spot prices. While chairman of the All India September and October increasingly being smug- Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed at prices surged to record region at the World Gold bullion has since retreated Gem and Jewellery this year, nearly 40 per gled in from countries bor- BFL Infotech Ltd, C-9 Sector 3, Noida- highs in September. Council, said in an inter- from the all-time high, it’s Domestic Council, said. cent more gold was seized dering India, including 201301. Published at 219, N D Tiwari Customs officials have view. “So it will continue still up 20 per cent this than the same period in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bhawan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, arrested people for like this unless measures year. Jewellery Domestic year earlier, according to 2018 from airports, rail- China and Bangladesh. New Delhi-110002. attempting to smuggle in are taken by not just the Smuggled inflows of Council, said. the WGC. way stations and border The trend suggests T.Venkatram Reddy Editor: , RNI smuggling syndicates are Registration number 30074/09, Air sur- gold by concealing it in government but also the gold may jump 30 per cent It could also constitute a A previous spate of states, data on the charge Re 1. © All rights reserved. bags, clothes and their rec- trade which shares an to 40 per cent this year to bigger percentage of smuggling occurred after Directorate of Revenue using e-commerce plat- Reproduction in whole or in part with- tums. On one flight alone, equal responsibility to 140 tonnes and rise more India’s demand as official India, which imports Intelligence’s website forms and couriers to out written permission of The Editor, officials caught 30 passen- obliterate the grey mar- in 2020, N. Anantha imports decline, rising to almost all of its gold, showed. Data on the web- smuggle gold into India by Financial Chronicle ® is prohibited. gers trying to smuggle in ket,” he said. Padmanaban, chairman of as much as 14 per cent this increased the tax three site is available only for hiding it in household and 7.5 kg of gold into Gold in India touched a the All India Gem and year from 12 per cent a times in 2013 to control a the last four months of white goods. — PAGE Financial 10 SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI Prince Pipes US, China reach phase-1 deal: Trump OPENING plans plant ■ BELL Deal would force Chinese to tighten their IP regime and purchase more American goods PROJECTION FOR TODAY in Telangana Washington/Beijing, Dec. agriculture, financial serv- ■ America will be Trump announced in a set for December 15th will er significant step forward 13: The US and China have ices, and currency and for- series of tweets on Friday. not be charged because of in advancing Trump’s eco- FC BUREAU reached a historic agree- eign exchange. It also maintaining 25 per Chinese vice-commerce the fact that we made the nomic agenda, Treasury MUMBAI, DEC. 13 ment on a phase one trade includes a commitment by cent tariffs on Minister Wang Shouwen deal,” he said. Secretary Steven Mnuchin deal, US President Donald China that it will make sub- approximately $250 confirmed that a break- “We will begin negotia- said the landmark agree- Sentiment Prince Pipes and Trump announced on stantial additional purcha- billion of Chinese through in trade negotia- tions on the Phase Two ment marked critical Fittings, a polymer Friday, in a big break- ses of US goods and servic- imports, along with tions had been reached for Deal immediately, rather progress toward a more pipes and fittings manu- through in the over 18- es in the coming years. a phase one deal. than waiting until after the balanced trade relationship likely to facturer plans to set up a month-long bruising trade Importantly, the agree- 7.5 per cent tariffs on Mr Wang said the agree- 2020 Election. This is an and a more level playing new manufacturing war between the world’s ment establishes a strong approximately $120 ment covered a wide range amazing deal for all. Thank field for American workers facility in Telangana two largest economies that dispute resolution system billion of Chinese of issues, including intel- you!” Mr Trump said. and companies. remain with `196.10 crore has threatened to roil the that ensures prompt and imports, USTR said. lectual property protection, According to US Trade The US first imposed tar- investment, partly using global economy. effective implementation technology transfer, pur- Representatives Robert iffs on imports from China proceeds of its initial The phase one of the and enforcement. chase of agricultural prod- Lighthizer the phase one based on the findings of the positive public offering that trade deal requires struc- As a result, the United China. They have agreed to ucts and expanding trade. agreement achieves mean- Section 301 investigation opens on December 18. tural reforms and other States has agreed to modify many structural changes President Trump said ingful, fully-enforceable on China’s acts, policies, he market edged Prince Pipes and changes to China’s econom- its Section 301 tariff and massive purchases of that the 25 per cent tariffs structural changes and and practices related to higher for the third Fittings announced IPO ic and trade regime in the actions in a significant way. agricultural product, ener- will remain as is with 7.5 begins re-balancing the US- technology transfer, intel- Tstraight session as in the price band of `177 areas of intellectual prop- “We have agreed to a very gy, and manufactured per cent put on much of the China trade relationship. lectual property, and inno- positive global cues and to `178 per equity share erty, technology transfer, large Phase One Deal with goods, plus much more,” remainder. “Penalty tariffs Describing this as anoth- vation. — PTI improved investor risk of Rs 10 face value and appetite. aims to raise total `500 Metal stocks charged crore including a fresh ahead during Friday’s issue of `250 crore and trading session after US an offer for sale of `250 President Donald Trump crore by the promoter Porsche bets big on rich Textile sector said Washington and group entities. The IPO Beijing are very close to closes on December 20. signing a “big” trade The IPO will have deal, auto stocks gained share allocations to gets low credit as Conservative leader qualified institutional Indians for electric cars Boris Johnson won elec- buyers (50 per cent), SANGEETHA G. ■ The industry has tion in the United retail investors (35 per CHENNAI, DEC. 13 Kingdom, paving way for cent) and non-institu- ■ been going through a Brexit-divorce deal by tional investors (15 per Believes the sport car will open up new customer segment Hit by the slowdown, the tough time since the Janurary 31, 2020. cent). Besides invest- MICHAEL GONSALVES credit exposure of the tex- introduction of GST. Public sector banks ment in setting up the PUNE, DEC. 13 tile sector is down 7.8 per Delay in GST refunds (PSBs) rallied today after new plant in Telengana, cent from March levels and reports suggested that it intends to utilise the Porsche, the German super 4.6 per cent from last year had led to a working the government is con- net proceeds in repay- sport car maker, plans to levels. capital crunch in the sidering increasing the ment of loans, upgrada- start selling its all-electric Credit exposure to the industry. The discon- government bond invest- tion of equipment at Taycan model in India next textiles sector declined to tinuation of rebate of ment limit of foreign por- plants and for general year, betting big on the `1,87,677 crore in October state levies also hit tfolio investors (FPIs) to purposes. ultra-rich Indians who are 2019 from `1,96,818 crore in at least 10 per cent of the willing to shell out as much October 2018. In March the industry. outstanding, from 6 per as $370,000 on an electric 2019, the exposure stood at cent now, with an aim to car to make their lifestyle `2,03,549 crore, global slowdown had hit incorporate local bonds statement. “Overall global growth the off-take by key buyers. into global bond indices. Local custom duties, reg- slowdown impacted the The entire value chain was The Sensex settled 428 Ascent to istration fees and GST in growth of most of the affected by the slowdown. points, or 1.05 per cent India attract more than 170 domestic sectors, including Increased import of cheap- higher, at 41,009.71 level. per cent on this car but this textiles, and the subse- er products in certain seg- Vedanta, Axis Bank, set up unit is not expected to deter the quent improved demand ments also had an impact State Bank of India, ans rich and the famous in the and profitability will be on the industry. Maurti Suzuki ended as country from owning a partly countered by sticky The minister claimed that the top gainers among in Gujarat super sports car with a working capital require- the government has made a the Sensex pack. On the FC BUREAU brand name like Porsche. ment,” Union textiles min- capital infusion of `1,500 contrary, Bharti Airtel, MUMBAI, DEC. 13 “After introducing three ister Smriti Zubin Irani crore in the sector in 2019- Bajaj Auto, and Asian new products this year, we said. 20. She said that the gov- Paints settled as top lag- Sedentary lifestyle is plan to launch our all-new According to the industry ernment also has imple- gards. “Bulls were active leading to huge demand electric car Taycan next data, overall textile exports mented Pradhan Mantri in the trade and pushed for health care products year,” Pavan Shetty, direc- have been shrinking month Credit Scheme for power- the index higher towards as people look for relief tor at Porsche India, told after month for quite some loom weavers, reduction in the resistance zone. If from niggling back pain, Financial Chronicle. time. Though every seg- custom duty for wool fibre, bulls manage to push knee pain, painful neck, He said the ultra-rich ment in the textile value wool tops, extension of Nifty beyond 12,050 and shore eyes a side effect Indians would not mind chain was affected, yarn benefit of reduced corpo- close above it, the cur- of 24x7 internet brows- spending more money on Porsche India director Pavan Shetty and Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE CEO Manfred exports had shrunk to rate tax rate, new SFURTI rent consolidation is like- ing on computer/phone. electric cars to make a Bräunl, CEO pose with the new Cayenne Coupé. almost half a few months clusters to help artisans, ly to end. Till the men- Ascent Meditech statement to protect the back. introduction of automated tioned zone is not breac- which has received pri- environment. sarily global citizens. If been falling for over a in China, Germany and The industry has been GST module, one nation hed on the upside, index vate equity investment Mr Shetty said the brand you own a Porsche, you decade, making over 2-3 Niagara Falls in going through a tough time one grid power sector tariff continues to remain in from private equity firm new Porsche Taycan would don’t need an introduction. lakh workers jobless in September, with a starting since the introduction of and structural reforms, consolidation phase LeapFrog, is now setting open up a completely new You’re already someone, it auto factories and dealer- price outside India of GST. Delay in GST refunds simplification of tax-pay- between 11,700-12,000- up a new plant in Guja- segment of customers, who becomes your identity,” ships. “Despite challenges $150,900 and a potential had led to a working capital ing procedures and zone. Market breadth was rat to produce orthope- are not only sport-car own- Shetty pointed out. in the auto sector in India, base version costing below crunch in the industry. The announced ROSCTL for strong as participation dic soft goods, mobility, ers, but also want to be seen India produced million- we expect to match our last $100,000. That underscores discontinuation of rebate apparel and made-ups was wider. Overall broad- wound care and other as environmentally friend- aires at the fastest pace in year sales in the country the model’s central role in of state levies also hit the exports. er uptrend remains health care products ly. “We all want to be Asia in 2017, according to a and be stable,” he said. parent Volkswagen AG’s industry. However, these measures intact,” analysts said. with an estimated inves- responsible, and the rich Capgemini SE report He said Porsche, which push to become a leader in On the other hand, things have not increased the “Fed’s dovish stance on tment of `100 crore. and the successful people released last year, but its sold 350 cars last year in battery-powered vehicles. were not quite rosy in the credit off-take of the indus- future rate trajectory and Indian healthcare mar- have an option and the economy has slowed since India, is looking to be clos- Iconic British brand MG international front. The try as well as the exports. strengthening rupee ket is estimated at $100 resources,” he said, adding then, hitting everything er to that number on the Motor, now owned by brings cheer to investors. billion. The company’s that in the long term the from buying cars to con- back of launches of its new Chinese giant SAIC Motor Global sentiment is likely new plant coming up at electric car market would suming biscuits. Cayenne Coupe on Friday, Corp., and South Korea’s to turn positive in expec- Valsad in Gujarat would grow in India, Asia’s third Automobile sales in India, and stabilise its market- Hyundai Motor Co. are the tation of delay in US tar- meet future growth in biggest economy. where cleaner and greener share with the launch of only international carmak- Infy denies knowledge iff deadline, while expe- demand as the current “We’re entering a phase vehicles have yet to make a Porsche Taycan in July. ers that currently sell elec- cting more positive devel- production facility at where the rich are neces- dent on the industry, have The Taycan was unveiled tric vehicles in India. opments from US-China Silvasa may not be suffi- of new class-action suit trade talks. Metals and cient, said Rajiv Mistry, banks outperformed founder and MD Ascent New Delhi, Dec. 13: Infosys communications asking while IT index slid due to Meditech. The first SERVICE EXPORTS on Friday said it is not potential plaintiffs to con- strong rupee and signs of phase of the new plant aware of any additional tact them in order to apply change in risk appetite. is expected to be opera- Small finance banks see complaints made against for lead plaintiff status in On the other hand, Nove- tional by May 2020, Mr RISE 5.25% IN the company other than the an existing lawsuit. mber CPI inflation is lik- Mistry said. In FY18-19 one it had disclosed to the “It appears that the press ely to rise to 5.3 per cent Ascent Meditech’s total OCTOBER: RBI bourses in October this communications by the while October IIP may revenue stood at `140 130% growth in deposits year. Schall Law Firm is solicit- slide to -5 per cent which crore in FY19-20. Mumbai, Dec. 13: India’s The clarification comes ing potential lead plaintiff may have some impact on services exports rose 5.25 SANGEETHA G ■ SFBs incrementally cent y-o-y to Rs 97.6 billion amid reports of the US- applicants,” it said. the direction,” Vinod per cent to $17.70 billion in CHENNAI, DEC. 13 in FY19, the ratio has seen based Schall Law Firm say- In October, Infosys had Nair, head of research at October, while imports mobi-lised deposits a decline to 19.2 per cent in ing it has filed a class- informed the stock exchan- Geojit Financial Serv- remained nearly flat at Small Finance banks of `28,850 crore in FY19 against 25 per cent in action lawsuit against ges of having received ices. On the NSE, the Netrika buys $10.86 billion, data from (SFBs) recorded a deposit FY19. The share of the previous fiscal. Infosys to recover losses anonymous whistleblower Nifty50 closed near the Reserve Bank of India growth of 130 per cent in deposits to non-equi- Traction in term deposits suffered by investors in the complaints alleging certain 12,100-mark, up 114 showed on Friday. FY19. They are expected to ty liabilities grew to increased and savings wake of allegations of unethical practices by the points, or 0.95 per cent, at Anti-Piracy The services exports or continue to see increased deposits were converted to “unethical practices” at the top management. US mar- 12,085.70 level. For the receipts were $16.82 billion traction in deposits on the 59.6 per cent in FY19 term deposits owing to the Indian IT major. ket regulator SEC has also week, Sensex added 1.5 in October 2018, while the back of higher interest against 37.6 per cent high rates offered by SFBs. Infosys, in a regulatory initiated a probe on the ma- per cent, Nifty50 advan- Solutions imports or payments were rates, focused marketing in FY18. The building of a CASA filing on Friday, said the tter, while Rosen Law Firm ced 1.4 per cent, and Nifty worth $10.10 billion. strategies and maturing franchise depends on fac- company is aware of sever- had said it was prepa-ring a Bank index gained 2.2 per FC BUREAU In September, the exports branches, finds India tors such as developing al reports referencing an class-action lawsuit to cent. Sectorally, all the NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 of services were worth Ratings and Research. banks and they have grown long-term customer rela- additional securities class- recover losses suffered by indices ended the day $17.54 billion and the SFBs incrementally mobi- the branches by 40 per cent tionships, ensuring ease of action lawsuit against Infosys investors in the US. with gains. Nifty PSU India’s top risk manage- imports were of the order lised deposits of `28,850 in FY19. Increasing num- transactions, fostering Infosys. “The company is The Schall Law Firm had Bank index gained the ment and corporate of $11.10 billion, showed crore in FY19. The share of ber of matured branches trust in the brand, having a not aware of any addition- announced the filing of a most, up nearly 4 per frauds investigations the RBI data on India’s deposits to non-equity lia- also has helped deposit large branch network etc. al complaints, other than class-action lawsuit agai- cent, followed by Nifty firm Netrika Consulting International Trade in bilities grew to 59.6 per growth. Large commercial banks the initial complaint, nst Infosys, and asked metal index (up 2 per on Friday announced its Services. The services sec- cent in FY19 against 37.6 However, lower CASA benefit from vintage, which was disclosed on investors who had pur- cent). The S&P BSE mid- acquisition of Anti- tor is one of the major con- per cent in FY18. (Current Account and resulting in deposits from October 24, 2019,” it added. chased the company’s secu- cap and small-cap indices Piracy Solutions (APS), tributors to the economy, According to Ind-Ra, the Savings Account) ratio is a large corporates, govern- Infosys pointed out that it rities between July 7, 2018 closed 0.89 per cent high- a home-grown global contributing about 55 per SFBs have been offering challenge for SFBs. ment departments, trusts is not uncommon for plain- and October 20, 2019 to con- e r. online anti-piracy serv- cent in India’s gross interest rates which are 1-2 Although these low-cost schools and hospitals, busi- tiffs’ lawyers to issue press tact the firm before ices and strategic con- domestic product. — PTI per cent higher than most deposits increased 76 per nessmen, etc. releases or other media December 23, 2019. — PTI — Ashwin J Punnen sulting company based in Hyderabad. The acquisition aims at boosting Netrika’s capability in the fight against the online sale of counterfeit goods British markets are back on the map of investors which is a serious issue facing the growing pop- London, Dec. 13: Investors buy,” according to its co- STERLING ROSE by the “The big trade for us is a There’s plenty of scepti- macroeconomic research at ularity of online shop- are ramping up pro-growth chief investment officer steepener and that’s work- cism among those who say Amundi, who prefers ping. Post-acquisition, trades across UK stocks Gregory Perdon. most since 2017 at one ing for us this morning,” the Brexit saga is only just small, domestically-focused founder and CEO, and bonds as a landslide “UK markets have been point while stocks and Stuttard said. entering another chapter. stocks and sees only “short- Chaitanya N. of Anti Tory party victory paves haunted by uncertainty for bond yields surged, on Improved investor confi- Despite his Parliamen- term relief” for U.K. mar- Piracy Solutions (APS) the way for a Brexit deal several years now but that expectations that dence and a still-cheap cur- tary majority, Mr Johnson kets. Going into the will continue and func- after years of political grid- all changed last night,” rency could fuel more over- still has to contend with Thursday vote, global funds tion as a director at lock. Perdon said. “Markets love political stability and seas direct investments hard-liners in his party remain decidedly under- Netrika Consulting. In Rotterdam, Robeco’s clear mandates and that’s fiscal stimulus will including buying of Lond- who are willing to give up weight on U.K. equities, Asked about the valua- co-head of global macro what we got.” spur growth and pent- on property, he suggests. EU trading ties to exert according to Bank of tion, officials refused to fixed income Jamie Prime Minister Boris up investment. While UK domestic greater control on labour America Corp.’s monthly give in details. With the Stuttard is talking up risk- Johnson’s Conservative shares have surged, large- and environmental stan- fund manager survey. Their technological synergy, on exposures such as bank Party got biggest majority since 2017 at one point Robeco. “You can therefore caps listed in the country — dards. This faction is likely allocation has slipped since Netrika will now be bet- debt and those that profit since 1987 under Margaret while stocks and bond have some flight-to-quality which mostly make money to push for a clean break at the Brexit vote, reaching ter positioned to effec- from a steeper government Thatcher. That bloc of vot- yields surged, on expecta- unwind in the gilt market.” overseas — have bucked a the end of next year. A big the lowest since at least tively lead the fight agai- yield curve. In Paris, CPR ing support in Parliament tions that political stability The pro-growth bet for long-standing negative cor- majority could allow him to 1999 at one point earlier last nst unauthorised leaks Asset Management strate- gives Mr Johnson a free and fiscal stimulus will Stuttard’s team is being relation with the pound to cut a deal that keeps the UK year. “As of this morning, and peddling of copy- gist Bastien Drut is consid- rein to take Britain out of spur growth and pent-up long two-year gilts against rally in tandem. They were more closely aligned with the British markets are righted intellectual pro- ering a return to sterling the European Union in investment. “All these 10- and 30-year maturities. also boosted by a brighter the single market. back on the map of interna- perties such as movies, assets. Arbuthnot Latham January, breaking the leg- years of coalition politics, He’s also considering trade outlook aiding cycli- “The road is full of pit- tional investors,” music albums, etc. in London sees FTSE 250 islative impasse. knife-edge politics — that returning to a long position cal sectors including banks falls,” said Didier Arbuthnot’s Perdon said. stocks as a “screaming Sterling rose by the most era is over,” said Stuttard at in sterling versus the euro. and commodities. Borowski, the head of — Bloomberg New managers at Nasa are shown the movie PAGE Armageddon to spot as many errors as possible. At least 168 have been found. Movies 11 THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI OUR CRITIC’S RATING Outstanding ★★★★★ | Great ★★★★ | Good ★★★ | Okay ★★ | Poor ★ | Truly Terrible TT Roger Ebert’s Powerful performances that dip into our rage Great Movies films know what we need more film dips. tries to bring back balance in his Mardaani 2 (106 min) that we do. Or, perhaps, they show Shivani has barely arrived and is world in the only way he can. t many levels, Mardaani’s CAST: Rani Mukherji, Vishal us what we rightfully deserve. already on top of things — so This casual, common, almost screenplay, its writing is Jethwa Mardaani 2’s last scene, powered much so that in a few seconds she regular misogyny which at one Avery clever. Especially in by Rani Mukherji’s superb acting decides that the rapist-killer was level tries to drag down women the way characters develop and DIRECTOR: Gopi Puthran ★★★★ as she channels her character’s left-handed, that he took out his who men feel challenged and the plot unfolds. RATING: raw rage, is iconic. It’s a scene anger on the victim, and that he dwarfed by, not by any action of The way in which Sunny’s char- that, even when watched in isola- used a belt to kill her. theirs, but just by being competent acter has been etched, through tion, will move you. As she does so, another cop, Brij and superior in education and scenes and dialogue — a rather Shekhawat, who is senior to her in class, but more than that because regular looking guy who is ardaani 2 is set in Kota, years but junior in designation, these women don’t pander to frag- deviant, just plain evil — is very SUPARNA SHARMA around the time of talks of “aisi choriyan” (girls like ile male egos, don’t have time to powerful. MDushera and Diwali. We her), irritating Shivani with his worship mardangi, ties in seam- But at another, especially the ommercial cinema, by are at a mela where a young man, overt misogyny. lessly with Sunny’s uncontrollable film's dialogues, and specifically its very definition, cash- Sunny (Vishal Jethwa), is limping This character and this acrimo- urge to “fix” such women. those assigned to Shivani, are ter- es in on emotions. And and talking directly to us, com- nious relationship between This mirroring is done very clev- rible. the more contemporary, pletely ignoring the fourth wall, as Shivani and Shekhawat is a paral- erly, and the film keeps this two- Her lines are often expository, more current these emo- if it never existed. lel thread that runs in the film, all pack misogyny intact throughout, and have her stating the obvious, Ctions, the more currency it rakes He’s looking at Latika, a young the time mirroring the rapist, his showing us how it seeks to damage or communicate what’s being in. girl we barely know. But the attitude towards his victims, and and undermine women — at times shown. DEPARTURES Mardaani 2, starring Rani moment we see her, we feel as if the way he violates them. through micro-aggressions, at Thankfully, Rani Mukherji lifts (JAPANESE) Mukherji as IPS officer Shivani we know her. Like Sunny talks of how he hates times through malevolent, violent these dull scenes with her acting Shivaji Rao, whom we first met in He leers at her and tells us, with women’s chul (swag), Shekhawat crimes. chops. Released in 2008 2014, dips into the impotent rage a terrifying smile, what he’s going repeatedly talks of the need for And then the film’s plot, which Though Vishal Jethwa, as the Director: we often wake up to in our Bharat to do, why and how. women to stay in their aukat, of seemed like it was going to be a audacious, light-eyed young crimi- Yojiro Takita desh where 93 women are raped He talks to us as if it’s nothing, not acting too smart, of behaving straight cat and mouse chase, coils nal is brilliant, Ms Mukherji in every day. as if what he’s planning is not a in a certain way. He resents and tightens its grip around us several scenes shows the powerful Read that line again, please. big deal. We get the sense that he Shivani simply because she is a and Shivani as Sunny, taking a performer she is. Death is for the living and not for the dead so much. Ninety-three women. Every day. has done this before. That she’s woman who is his superior, i.e. has sickening interest in her. Vishal Jethwa, as the stalking We repeatedly read of these just another girl for him. more power than him — in the He begins stalking her, finding psychopath who has no feelings or hat observation from the mourner of a crimes, and though we often Irrelevant. Whereas his guile, his police force and in this world. This ways to be around her, watch her emotions for anyone, who seeks dead dog in Errol Morris’ Gates of Heaven remain numb to the violence of it, skill, this chase, this kill is what’s upsets his even as he carries out a murder for gratification through violence, strikes me as simple but profound. It is the sometimes the savagery of these important. it’s what keeps him worldview, cash. This scene too is a surprise who can feel alive only when he is insight inspiring “Departures,” the lovely acts, especially ones that seem entertained. and he because of the cold-hearted man- subjugating a woman, gets under Japanese movie that won this year’s Oscar close to us, awaken the dead with- This does two things — at one ner but shocking finesse with our skin. Tfor best foreign film. in and we try to at least articulate level Sunny tries to recruit us as which Sunny conducts it. And Rani Mukherji’s Shivani is The story involves a young man who apprentices to our shock, register our anger. his accomplice, co-conspirator in a All the while Sunny follows her, the right counter to him — the trade of “encoffinment,” the preparation of Mardaani 2, written and directed crime that’s abhorrent to us, more watching each step, destroying unfazed by violence, and the corpses before their cremation. As nearly as I can by Gopi Puthran, hits the ground so because the victim is wholly clues that may lead to him. games men play, she is intelligent, recall, there is no discussion of an afterlife. It is all running and takes hold of us, innocent. And at the same time it Though he keeps playing her, as but also bold and brazen herself. about the living. There is an elaborate, tender cere- physically and emotionally, from dips into our very real helpless- another rape is committed, Rani Mukherji can do big emo- mony carried out before the family and friends of the get-go with a kind of creeping, ness that we often experience — Shivani seems to get him. There is tions, but she doesn’t do them in deceased, with an elegance and care that is rather stalking fear that we are unable to most recently on reading about a some psychobabble that is a bit an overtly dramatic way. She cre- fascinating. shake off till the end. girl who was set on fire on her way annoying and presumptuous, as ates interiority and works subtly, The hero is a man who feels he is owed a death. The This is a feat of the film’s writing to the court to testify against her if she is a psychic and not a with nuance. Above all, she knows father of Daigo (Masahiro Motoki) walked out on his and acting. rapists. And the woman studying cop. when to stop. mother when the boy was 6 years old, and ever since What lifts Mardaani 2 above the to be a veterinarian who was As the deadline for Daigo has hated him for that abandonment. Now usual rape-revenge films is its gangraped, and later doused Shivani’s departure from ardaani 2 is short, and its about 30, Daigo is a cellist in a small classical orches- sharp politics, and the way it with diesel and petrol and set Kota comes close, the game very clever editing adds tra that goes broke. He and Mika (Ryoko Hirosue), shows misogyny as the guiding on fire. begins, where he seems one Mtension, pace and height- his wife, decide to move back to a town in the north principle underpinning not just We sit frozen, but also riv- step ahead, continually ens suspense. of Japan and live in his childhood home, willed to violent crimes against women, but eted — fearing that yet challenging her. But then The only disservice it does is that him by his recently departed mother. He finds no also, often, rather regular male- another girl will be raped comes the climax, violent it creates a fake sort of belief, a work. He answers a want ad for “departures,” which female interactions. and we won’t be able to but cathartic, with a baseless hope that cops will do he thinks perhaps is from a travel agency. And then, in the film’s last scene, do anything. dash of MeToo as a belt their damnedest, irrespective of The company serves clients making their final trip. it again dips into that rage in a Enter our saviour — gets handed from one the threats to their jobs, to their Daigo is shocked to discover what the owner way that is so overwhelming in its the newly-appointed woman to the other. interests, to find rapists and (Tsutomu Yamazaki) does; he cleans and prepares catharsis, that though it seemed SP of Kota, Shivani It again dips into killers. bodies and painstakingly makes them up to look primitive, it felt so right that I Shivaji Rao (Rani our frustration, Barring a very few notable their best. The ritual involves undressing them in could not stop my tears. Mukherji). but now it lets us exceptions, all evidence in front of behind artfully manipulated shrouds in front of the Sometimes, good commercial But just then, the exhale, finally. us everyday is to the contrary. witnesses. The owner is a quiet, kind man, who talks little but exudes genuine respect for the dead. Daigo doesn’t tell his wife what he does. They need the money. His job is so low caste that an old friend learns of it and snubs him. The clients are generally grateful; one father confesses cheerfully that the process freed him to accept the true nature of his child. A lot is said about the casting process for a movie. Director Yojiro Takita and his casting director, Takefumi Yoshikawa, have surpassed themselves. In a film with four principal roles, they’ve found actors whose faces, so very human, embody what Not just a cancer story, but a love story “Departures” wants to say about them. The earnest, insecure young man. His wife who loves him but is repulsed by the notion of him working with the dead. Owen McCafferty whose you, and what you would The film is directed sensi- The boss, oracular, wise, kind. His office manager, Ordinary Love wife Peggy underwent say if it weren’t. Heck, I tively, so it never feels inspirational but with an inner sadness. All of these breast cancer treatment, have been there, one way or exploitative, and the light- faces are beautiful in a realistic human way. (UA) 92 min and the film is directed by another — hasn’t everyone? ing is beautiful, with the The enterprise of undertaking is deadly serious, CAST: Lesley Manville, Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn — and this is exactly where warm brown glow of their but has always inspired a certain humor, perhaps to Liam Neeson Leyburn. Set in Belfast, it your mind goes. home contrasting sharply mask our fears. The film is sometimes humorous, but DIRECTOR: Lisa Barros takes us from one Their love isn’t tested, as with the cold blues and not in a way to break the mood. The plot involves D’Sa Christmas to the next, with it’s plainly here to stay. whites of the hospital. And some developments we can see coming, but they & Glenn Leyburn Manville playing Joan and Instead, this is about the the performances are pow- seem natural, inevitable. The music is lush and sen- RATING: ★★★★ Neeson playing Tom and coping and the pain and the erhouse performances, timental in a subdued way, the cinematography is first things first: how often fear and the shoring up; and Manville’s especially. How perfectly framed and evocative, and the movie is do you see middle-aged love being side-by-side but also she can convey deep, com- uncommonly absorbing. There is a scene of discov- stories on screen? Almost alone. At one point they lose plex emotions with just a ery toward the end with tremendous emotional DEBORAH ROSS never, so in its way this is their tempers with each twitch of a lip, I don’t know. impact. You can’t say it wasn’t prepared for, but it quite radical. What’s more, other. “We are both going It’s miraculous. comes as a devastating surprise, a poetic resolution. rdinary Love stars Joan and Tom are still lov- through this,” he shouts. Neeson has the lesser role Some of the visual choices are striking. Observe Lesley Manville and ing and have sex and every- “We are not. I am going and towers above her physi- the way Takita handles it when the couple is given an OLiam Neeson as a thing (imagine!) and tomatoes?” Their lives are as does so much else. When though this,” she rages. cally but his Tom can be octopus for their dinner and are surprised to find it long-married couple whose although they’ve experi- not exciting. The addition of Joan’s diagnosis has yet to They are both right, of small and vulnerable and still alive. See how vividly Daigo recalls a time on the lives are disrupted when she enced a great sadness (as we Worcester sauce to their be properly made and the course. Other moments are frightened. I’d forgotten, beach with his dad when he was 5 or 6, but how in his is diagnosed with breast later discover) their world is lunchtime soup is an event. doctor says that on a scale of purely tender. “I never liked actually, how excellent memory his father’s face is a blur. And how certain cancer. Not very now each other and they are But all this lived-in comfort one to five, the chances of it your hair anyway,” he jokes, Neeson can be when he isn’t compositions suggest that we are all in waiting to be Christmassy, but it’s not a content with that. and ease is shattered when being cancer is three, they when she loses it all. otherwise occupied with encoffined. “cancer story”, as has been They have their routines, she is in the shower and dis- bicker about what this There’s also a sex scene killing bad guys or fighting In this film, Kore-eda’s After Life and of course said in some quarters, it’s a like their brisk evening covers a lump in her breast. means. Tom says three is where they say goodbye to wolves. (The action here Kurosawa’s great Ikiru, the Japanese reveal a deep love story, told profoundly walk, and they still make Joan undergoes a year of closer to one, which means her breasts, in effect. This doesn’t amount to more and unsensational acceptance of death. It is not a and beautifully and honest- each other laugh as when treatment. Surgery, chemo, she’s in the clear. She says is raw, and devastating, but than Tom driving his old time for weeping and the gnashing of teeth. It is an ly rather than cloyingly or they’re in the supermarket the works. The cancer nurs- no, it’s closer to five, which also deeply moving and sur- VW very slowly while fret- observation that a life has been left for the contem- sentimentally. and she teases him about es and technicians are all means she has it for sure. prisingly erotic. I have seen ting about hospital parking plation of the survivors. The screenplay is by the his tomato-juice habit. real cancer nurses and tech- And you just know it’s what nothing like it at the cinema fees.) The pair have terrific Northern Irish playwright “Can’t you just eat more nicians so that all feels true, you would think, if it were eve r. chemistry. By arrangement with Asia Features Brilliant, funny, wildly entertaining picture, but slyly? Also, it is opening, set during the con- maybe a cop-out, but this would The Two Popes brilliantly comic. Pope clave of 2005, and featuring all be an entirely different proposi- Benedict, for instance, doesn’t the red-clad cardinals, is as tion if it got too deeply into (UA) 125 min get jokes but does try to tell one, wonderfully choreographed that, and went beyond the sly CAST: Anthony Hopkins, which no one else gets. ‘It’s a and stunning as anything nudges. Jonathan Pryce German joke, so it doesn’t have from The Handmaid’s Tale — The film opts, ultimately, for a DIRECTOR: to be funny,’ he then explains. I that’s what it put me in mind of fond, odd-couple vibe, although Fernando Meirelles laughed my head off. — but set cheekily to Abba’s it is strangely imbalanced. Why RATING: ★★★★ Unquestionably, it is the most ‘Dancing Queen’. Also, the Bergoglio’s back story and not papal fun I’ve had in years. Vatican has been magnificently Benedict’s? Why do crowds The Two Popes is directed by and opulently recreated, espe- shout ‘Nazi!’ at Benedict? You’ll Fernando Meirelles (The cially the Sistine Chapel. But have to look that up for your- Constant Gardener, City of essentially this is a showcase self. And it is static and talky DEBORAH ROSS God) and written by Anthony for Hopkins and Pryce and their with iffy accents. Hopkins, God McCarten (Darkest Pope-off, if you like. The two bless him, mostly resorts to he Two Popes stars Hour, Bohemian Rhapsody, The characters are opposites on sounding Welsh. But he and Anthony Hopkins and Theory of Everything), based paper. Benedict, previously an Pryce are a wonderful double TJonathan Pryce — that’s on his own stage play of 2017. It academic theologian, has never act, capable of being serious two reasons to buy a ticket, is ‘inspired by true events’ and ‘lived life’, as he admits, while but playful simultaneously, right there — as Pope Benedict explores the resignation of Bergoglio, a Jesuit, has always which is a phenomenal skill, XVI and his successor Pope Pope Benedict, formerly worked among the poor. But and there are the brilliantly Francis I, and it is wildly enter- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and both, it turns out, are haunted comic moments. Especially taining, so now you have a third his replacement by Argentinian by sin. For Bergoglio, it’s his enjoyable is one of the Popes reason too. True, it does, as oth- Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the role in Argentina’s Dirty War, trying to book his own plane ers have noted, shy away from current Pope Francis. My word, in fact, no thought of being ele- says. Bergoglio is much more but, just as Benedict doesn’t get as shown in flashback, while for flight, and also one watching directly tackling the most diffi- that sounds dreary, but I prom- vated to the papacy as he wish- progressive and is unhappy jokes, he doesn’t get popular Benedict it is the church’s han- his favourite Austrian TV show cult questions currently facing ise you it isn’t. es to resign. with the way the church has culture either, yet he has been dling of child abuse claims and which involves a German shep- the church. But is that really The conceit, which may or Benedict is fiercely conserva- dealt with the child abuse scan- equipped with a Fitbit. ‘Don’t his failure to deal with problem herd that is a detective. (It the film you want to see? Rather may not be preposterous, imag- tive and does not hold with dals. ‘I am a salesman for a stop now, keep moving,’ it is priests. Or is it? Bergoglio exists. I checked.) Is it worth the than this affectionate and liter- ines meetings between the two moving with the times. ‘Marry product I cannot endorse,’ is always clamouring, so we know hears his confession but the price of a ticket or your Netflix ate bromance that does, in fact, when Bergoglio has arrived at the spirit of the age and you how he puts it. Bergoglio loves what side the film is on. sound drops away, so we’re sub? Is the Pope… you know the nudge us towards the bigger the Pope’s summer palace with, become a widow in the next,’ he Abba and football and tango It is visually sumptuous. The never entirely sure. Weird, and rest. Emotional intelligence Students who can understand and manage PAGE their emotions effectively perform better at 12 school than their less skilled peers, says a study Newsmakers THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI ■ Reporter Kathy is depicted trading sex with FBI agent for info Traditional Thai massage Eastwood slammed over gets Unesco heritage tag Depression is the Massage originated in India and is practiced in Thailand leading cause of Bangkok: At Bangkok’s ill health and ‘sex for stories’ portrayal Reclining Buddha temple, Krairath Chantrasri says Morocco’s Gnawa musical disability in the world Los Angeles: Oscar-win- he is a proud custodian of ning director Clint an ancient skill — the — Deepika Padukone, Eastwood was at the cen- body-folding, sharp- culture listed by Unesco Actress ter of a firestorm Olivia Wilde ‘had no say’ in elbowed techniques of Rabat: Gnawa culture, a nied by steel castanets Thursday over his latest Thai massage, which was centuries-old Moroccan called krakebs. movie depicting a added Thursday to practice rooted in music, They practice “a thera- reporter trading sex for Clint’s film, Richard Jewell Unesco’s prestigious her- African rituals and Sufi peutic ritual of posses- IN BRIEF stories — prompting legal Los Angeles: Olivia But she “did not have a itage list. traditions, was on sion... Which takes the threats over the “shock- Wilde has broken ranks say in how the film was Originating in India and Thursday added to form of all-night cere- ing” and “untrue” por- with the makers of a new ultimately crafted”, she practiced in Thailand for Unesco’s list of Intangible monies of rhythms and Love Island host trayal from her real-life film that has sparked said. centuries, the massage Cultural Heritage of trance combining ances- newspaper. Clint Eastwood anger by suggesting the According to reviews was popularised when a Humanity. tral African practices, charged with assault Richard Jewell drama- late reporter she plays the film strongly implies specialty school opened in Gnawa refers to a “set of Arab-Muslim influences London: Love Island host tises the story of the inno- “The film commits the traded sex for informa- that Scruggs had sex the 1960s to train massage musical productions, fra- and native Berber cultur- Caroline Flack has been cent man who found him- very sin that it purports to tion, BBC reported. with an FBI agent played therapists from around ternal practices and ther- al performances,” the charged with assault by beat- self targeted in a devastat- accuse the media of. It lit- The ex-House star plays by John Hamm in return the world. apeutic rituals where the nomination document ing following an incident at ing media frenzy following erally makes things up in Kathy Scruggs in for information about a Nuad Thai’s addition to secular mixes with the reads. The tradition, her north London home, BBC a deadly blast at the 1996 telling the story.” Richard Jewell, Clint suspect. Unesco’s list of sacred”, according to the which includes the vener- reported. The police were Atlanta Olympics. Never arrested or Eastwood’s drama about Scruggs died in 2001 “Intangible Cultural nomination submitted by ation of Islamic holy men, called to the 40-year-old’s Jewell was initially charged, Jewell was a media frenzy following and her old paper, the Heritage” practices “is Morocco. Often dressed in dates back to at least the home in Islington, where she hailed as a hero after he cleared by the FBI after 88 the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Atlanta Journal- historic,” said the Thai colourful outfits, Gnawa 16th century. lives with her partner, tennis spotted the pipe bomb but days. But TV networks bombing. Constitution, has delegate at the United musicians play the guen- Gnawa was popularised player Lewis Burton, at 05:25 was soon identified by camped outside his home The actress said she did threatened to sue Nations Economic, bri, a type of lute with by a festival that started GMT on Thursday. Officers journalists including the for the duration, hounding not believe Scruggs Eastwood and Scientific and Cultural three strings, accompa- in 1997. — AFP attended after reports of a Atlanta Journal- Jewell, who became the “traded sex for tips”, and and Warner Organisation meeting in man being assaulted. The Constitution’s Kathy subject of wild specula- did not mean to suggest Bros. Bogota, Colombia. man was not seriously Scruggs as an FBI suspect. tion and ridicule. that was the case. — Agencies “It helps promote the as little as $5. whose certification is a injured, police said. Ms Flack Scruggs, portrayed by Cox Enterprises, the practice of Nuad Thai Krairath, who teaches at proud banner for any mas- will appear at Highbury Olivia Wilde, is depicted newspaper’s owner, on defamatory manner.” dramatisation,” at the locally and international- the Reclining Buddha sage shop. Corner Magistrates’ Court on in the movie trading sex Monday sent a letter to It also demands a promi- very end of the credits. ly,” he said. School inside the famed At Wat Pho’s complex, 23 December. She was bailed with an FBI agent in Eastwood and Warner nent disclaimer be added “It doesn’t look like the From upscale Bangkok Wat Pho temple, helps trainees run through a until that date. — Agencies exchange for learning the Bros demanding it release to the film to that effect. kind of disclaimer that spas and Phuket beach thousands of Thai and catalogue of moves target- suspect’s identity. a public statement stating The film currently has a would be placed by a film- fronts to modest street- foreign students who flock ing the body’s acupres- “The portrayal of our “some events were imag- disclaimer, stating it is maker who was seriously side shophouses, “nuad to the centre each year. sure points with thumbs, 10-foot python found reporter is shocking, ined for dramatic purpos- “based on actual histori- concerned about making Thai” is ubiquitous across The son of a masseuse, elbows, knees and feet untrue and an obvious es.” The letter says the cal events” but created the audience aware of the the kingdom, where an he takes great pride in his while also incorporating Hollywood trope,” editor paper and its staff are some dialogue and events truth of the situation,” hour of the back-straight- role sharing the ancient deep stretches and contor- in a Christmas tree Kevin G. Riley told AFP. “portrayed in a false and “for the purposes of said Riley. — AFP ening discipline can cost discipline at a temple tions. — AFP Brisbane: There are many ways to decorate a Christmas tree but for one woman in Australia, the sea- Ukraine leader sonal theme was very big Man held for dressing snakes, when she got home to find a 10- mocks Russian foot python adorning her as mom in driving test tree, CNN reported. Leanne Rio De Janeiro: A 43-year- ◗ ‘He confessed that TV for pulling Chapman and her partner old man has been arrest- returned to their home in ed in northern Brazil for he wasn’t the his sitcom Brisbane and noticed a com- dressing up as his mother woman in question motion on their balcony and to take her driving test, but the son, her son K i e v : discovered a snake in the BBC reported. who was trying to Ukraine’s tree. Couple left the snake When Heitor Schiave’s leader alone, and later that night, it 60-year-old mother, pass as his mum so Volodymyr slithered away. — Agencies Maria, failed her test that she would be Zelensky three times, the mechanic able to pass this has decided to step in. driving test,’ the ridiculed a On the fourth attempt at Russian TV the driving test, Heitor instructor said channel for Volodymyr impersonated his mother President Donald Trump with First Lady Melania Trump abruptly Zelensky Maria Schiave — an eld- was not the woman on walk from the residence to speak in the Grand Foyer of cancelling erly woman in the small “her” ID. the White House during the Congressional Ball in his popular comedy town of Novo Mutum “He tried to be as natu- Washington on Thursday. — AP series after one evening, Paraná in the Brazilian ral as possible. He wore saying the show had its Amazon. lots of make-up with his impact on “someone He had arrived two nails nicely done and with a nuclear weapon.” Luxury yacht turns hours late. [wore] women’s jew- Zelensky’s Servant of Wearing a floral blouse ellery,” instructor Aline the People premiered in into a submarine and sporting painted Mendonça told G1. Russia on Wednesday Rome: It looks like something nails, make-up and a wig, The police were called evening after a high-pro- straight out of a James Bond he drove around Nova and he was arrested at the file summit with movie, but this concept might Mutum Paraná and his driving school for fraud Zelensky and Russian just signal that the future of plan appeared to be pay- and misuse of someone’s President Vladimir superyachts is sub-aquatic. ing off. The other candi- identity. “He’s already Putin. Dreamed up by Italian-based dates had already com- confessed. He confessed But entertainment naval architect Elena Nappi, pleted their attempts at that he wasn’t the woman channel TNT, owned by the hybrid vessel parallel parking. in question but the son, Russian gas giant can travel on both the surface “I sensed a certain nerv- her son who was trying to Gazprom, on Thursday of the sea and underwater, ousness from the school’s pass as his mum so that said it would no longer CNN reported. Known as the owner,” driving test she would be able to pass Lauren Jauregui (left) and air the series. “Carapace,” it submerges to a examiner Aline this practical driving “I am very sorry,” the Evie Irie at Billboard’s 2019 depth of 985 feet for up to 10 Mendonça, 38, told the test,” the instructor show was scrapped, days at a time, offering amaz- Guardian. added. Mr Schiave Woman of the Year at the Zelensky said during a ing views of marine life. Nappi But suspicions were reportedly said that his Holllywood Palladium in Members of the Irish band U2, Bono, The Edge and Adam late-night talk show envisions it being hired for soon raised that the mother did not know of Los Angeles on Thursday. Clayton during their visit to Mani Bhavan (Mahatma appearance on Thursday private trips and business woman in the driving seat the plan. — Agencies — AFP, AP Gandhi's residence) in Mumbai on Friday. — PTI evening. meets that require “complete “You know, someone secrecy.” — Agencies has a nuclear weapon, and someone has ‘High sugar, DROP THAT DONUT! MEXICO PAYS PORTLY COPS TO SLIM DOWN Servant of the People,” the former comedian Mexico City: It’s a sunny with the program, which said, hinting at the pro- TAYLOR SWIFT holiday food morning in Mexico City, was launched three tracted conflict between and police officers drip months ago, say it can be Ukraine and its former may trigger with sweat as they do life-changing. “This was Soviet master Russia. BLASTS ‘TOXIC push-ups and squats, part all completely new to “They showed two of a program for over- me... The first month was episodes, and now all the MALE PRIVILEGE’ depression’ weight cops in one of the tough, both mentally and people who had the Los Angeles: Taylor Swift was Washington: High sugar world’s most obese coun- physically,” said one, opportunity to watch named Billboard’s woman of consumption, which is tries. Mauricio Barrera. these two episodes will the decade on Thursday common during the holi- The two dozen officers “But the program has definitely watch (the night — but her speech con- day season, may trigger grimacing through their helped me understand rest) on YouTube,” he tained none of the usual depression, according to workout on the pavement that obesity is an illness,” said. award show platitudes. a study which suggests of the station house yard the 26-year-old told AFP. Servant of the People Instead, the star criticised that people prone to the — most with round bel- Barrera, who now looks premiered in Ukraine in “toxic male privilege” in the mental illness should lies bulging beneath their fit, cracked a grin when 2015 starring Zelensky music industry, control their year round drenched T-shirts — are he revealedhow much as Vasyl Goloborodko, a championed fel- sugar intake. just a handful of the more weight he has lost since history teacher who sud- low female artists Along with dwindling than 1,000 across the capi- he started: 16 kilos. denly becomes presi- and escalated her light in wintertime, and tal who have enrolled in “This program is a way dent, roots out corrup- feud with Scooter corresponding changes the program, “Healthy to fight the obesity prob- tion, and takes on power- Braun. “Women in in sleep patterns, high Police.” They get a bonus lem we have in Mexico,” ful oligarchs. music are not sugar consumption may of about $50 a month to said Javier Ramirez, the Zelensky, 41, was inau- allowed to coast,” lead to a “perfect storm” participate. buff fitness instructor gurated in May after she observed. that adversely affects But those who stick guiding the cops. — AFP winning election. — AFP “We are held at a Taylor Swift mental health, the higher, sometimes researchers, including impossible-feeling, standard.” those from the “I’ve seen a lot,” she added, University of Kansas BBC reported. Swift, who (KU) in the US, said. turned 30 on Thursday, “For many people, Nasa maps wind flow pattern on Mars opened her 15-minute speech reduced sunlight expo- by reflecting on the last sure during the winter Washington: In a first-of- and the instrument,” decade of her career, and the will throw off circadian its-kind study carried out The researchers said said Mehdi Benna, study struggles she had faced. rhythms, disrupting on any planet, Nasa sci- the wind flow patterns co-author from Nasa She said that in her early healthy sleep and push- entists have mapped the observed in the Goddard Space Flight days, critics had speculated ing five to 10 per cent of global wind circulation Martian upper atmos- Centre (GSFC) in the US. that “a male producer or co- the population into a patterns in the upper phere matched what “And by doing both — writer” was the real reason full-blown episode of atmosphere of Mars — was predicted from the spacecraft doing for her success; or that a clinical depression,” 120 to 300 kilometres theoretical models something it was not “savvy record label” was said study co-author above the Red Planet’s designed to, and the responsible for making her a Stephen Ilardi, who is surface. instrument doing some- star. “It wasn’t,” she said also KU associate profes- The researchers repro- Spectrometer (NGIMS) winds flowing across the thing it was not designed pointedly. “People want to sor of clinical psycholo- grammed probes aboard aboard MAVEN — that Martian surface. to do — we made wind explain away a woman’s suc- g y. Nasa’s Mars Atmosphere was normally stationary The study, published in measurements possible,” cess in this industry”. “In the The study which is and Volatile EvolutioN — to “swing back and the journal Science on Benna said. last 10 years, I have watched published in the journal (MAVEN) spacecraft to forth like a windshield Thursday, was based on The researchers had as women in this industry are Medical Hypothesis, collect wind measure- wiper fast enough,” the data collected by MAVEN said that the wind flow criticised and measured up to noted that these symp- ments on the Red Planet. scientists said in a state- two days per month from patterns observed in the each other and picked at for toms of “winter-onset The reprogramming ment. 2016 to 2018. Martian upper atmos- their bodies, their romantic depression” can prompt allowed an instrument They added that this “It’s a clever re-engi- phere matched what was lives, their fashion,” she con- people to consume more called the Natural Gas tweaking enabled them neering in flight of how predicted from theoreti- tinued. — Agencies sweets. — PTI and Ion Mass to gather data on the to operate the spacecraft cal models. — PTI

Published by T. Venkateswarlu for and on behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited at Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi 110 002. and Printed by him at BFL Infotech Limited, C – 9, Sector – III, Noida – 201301. Editor – T. Venkatram Reddy, RNI Registration number 57290/94, Price in Nepal - Nep. Rs. 20.00 per copy. DELHI AGE Matinee How Rani 25 found her ELHI PECIAL nemesis D NEW DELHI SATURDAYS 14 DECEMBER 2019

SPORT | Cricket SPORT | Basketball Dwayne Bravo 76ers clip Boston’s backtracks perfect home record on retirement 14 with 6-point win 15

GUIDE TO FORTUNE ■ 50 students, 12 cops in hospital after protest against CAB turns violent Tick the answer and check HC pulls up JNU them below. How many countries bor- Jamia campus turns into warzone 1der France? as it fails to give SUNIL THAPLIYAL ■ 6 NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 ■ 4 ■ 8 protesters’ info The Delhi Police on Friday fired teargas and baton- AGE CORRESPONDENT Which city was founded charged after a march NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 Delhi high court’s 2in 1718 by the French in organised by Jamia Millia Justice A.K. Chawla North America? Islamia University stu- Describing as “shocking” directed the universi- dents to protest against that the Jawaharlal ty to file an affidavit ■ New York the passage of Citizenship Nehru University (JNU) Amendment Bill turned had no idea about the aca- giving details of the ■ New Orleans students named in ■ Newark violent. demic details of the stu- The university campus dents against whom it has the petition, includ- In 2015 Manny Pacquiao turned into a warzone filed a contempt petition ing their courses, its 3fought Floyd after a clash broke out for protesting within 100 status, and duration Mayweather in a fight between the students and metres of its administra- of stay in the cam- the police when students tive block, Delhi high billed as what? pus. The court listed took to the streets for a court’s Justice A.K. the matter for hear- march to the Parliament Chawla directed the uni- ing on next Friday ■ Fight of the Century House. versity to file an affidavit ■ Rumble in the Jungle Following the clash at giving details of the stu- ■ Kings of the Ring the varsity gate, around 50 dents named in the peti- students were detained tion, including their directed the police to and taken to Jaitpur and courses, its status, and intervene and provide SHORT TAKES Badarpur police stations. duration of stay in the assistance if and when Around 50 students were campus. The court listed protesting students block injured in the incident and the matter for hearing on access to the block, she 5 held for stealing 12 police personnel also next Friday. said, and added that since suffered injuries. “It is shocking you file a October 28 this year, Even some locals joined contempt (case) and don’t despite repeated requests cables from Metro the protest, sources said, know anything about the by Jawaharlal Nehru Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad adding that the crowd students, one of whom University, the police did police has arrested five per- threw stones at policemen was convicted for con- not come to its aid. Hence, sons for allegedly cutting who responded by firing tempt last year also. You both the agitating stu- and stealing Delhi Metro teargas shells. The only know the room num- dents and police has vio- power cables from near the injured have been admit- bers (of the students),” lated the high court’s Electronic City metro station. ted to the Holy Family Students of Jamia Millia Islamia clash with police during a protest against the passage of Citizenship Amendment the court said, after the August 9, 2017 order, she Assistant superintendent of Hospital. Section 144 has Bill in New Delhi on Friday. Police fired teargas and baton-charged after the protest in the campus allegedly turned registrar of Jawaharlal said. police Keshav Kumar on reportedly been clamped violent. — PTI Nehru University and “So one statutory Friday said that the five around the university other officials, present in authority not recognising arrested persons are Dharma campus. and it was a peaceful majority of them from the the hearing, were unable request of another statu- Veer, Shivam, Faizal, Rashid According to police, two march but the police The university campus Around 50 students minority community, to give details about one tory authority and court’s and Riyazuddin alias Piyaru policemen with relatively asked us to move back- turned into a warzone were detained and protested against the bill of the nine students, intervention is required,” of Ghaziabad’s Khoda village serious injuries are under wards. Then they pelted after a clash broke out taken to Jaitpur and with the party asserting Geeta Kumari, who it observed. neighbouring Niuda. He said observation in ICU. The stones in response to between the students Badarpur police sta- that it will wage an “all according to the varsity Jawaharlal Nehru the police also recovered University administration which students picked up and the police when stu- tions. Around 50 stu- out fight” to protect the was held guilty of con- University’s contentions four bundles of power cable, said around 100 students stones too,” said Junaid, a dents took to the streets dents were injured in Constitution. tempt last year by the were opposed by Delhi measuring over 200 meter, sustained injuries in the student at Jamia. for a march to the the incident and 12 cops Congress Delhi unit high court for protesting government standing Parliament House also suffered injuries besides the wire cutters from clash and around a dozen Another student alleged president Subhash Chopra near the administrative counsel Ramesh Singh, the five accused. The ASP students were seriously that police resorted to pelt- Crowd threw stones at The police had cor- said the bill was a “calcu- block. who appeared for the said the five used to cut off injured. ing stones and then used policemen who respond- doned off the road and lated attempt” by the BJP It asked about the stu- police, saying the petition the Delhi Metro overhead The students alleged teargas that resulted in ed by firing teargas protesters were seen to create “unease and com- dent’s details after was an attempt to “brow- cable on metro tracks that the police used tear- many students being shells. The injured have climbing onto barri- munal divide”. “There Central government beat” the agency. stretches between two sta- gas to quell their march. injured. Police, however, been admitted to the cades. The university’s have been attacks on secu- standing counsel Monika “This is browbeating. tions by climbing up on the The students also resort- denied the allegations. Holy Family Hospital. gate was later closed. larism not once, but many Arora, appearing for Complete browbeating. track. The five confessed that ed to stone pelting. Around 200 alumni of times. But the people of Jawaharlal Nehru How can contempt be before cutting the power However, the protestors Jamia Millia Islamia, A protest was also organ- ian” legislation and urged India have always rejected University, said that Ms filed against commission- cable, they sued to interrupt alleged that police resort- strongly condemned the ised by the Delhi Congress the President to stop it the agenda of divisive Kumari was held guilty of er of Delhi police when power supply by throwing a ed to stone-pelting first violence and brutality in Seelampur area of East from coming into effect. forces like the BJP,” he contempt last year by the Jawaharlal Nehru naked iron wire across the and students threw stones meted out by the Delhi Delhi. Madani said the law “is stated. high court for being part University has made the transmission lines of the in response to the attack. Police against the students The protesters at Jantar against the Constitution of Mr Chopra “condemned” of a agitating group that requests to the SHO? The metro rail network, he said. Videos circulated by stu- of the university. Mantar, led by JUH gener- India which denies dis- the police lathicharge on blocked access to the SHO could have been dents on social media A large number of pro- al secretary Maulana crimination on the basis of students of Jamia, and admin block. made a party. In such sen- showed police caning the testers, including Jamiat Mahmood Madani, car- religion.” He urged demanded a probe into it. Ms Arora told the court sitive matters, some sen- 33-year-old jumps protestors. Ulama-i-Hind leaders, ried placards with slogans Muslim youths to main- As a precautionary that in August 2017, the sitivity should be shown,” The police had cordoned protested at Jantar Mantar like “Save-Constitution, tain peace and tranquilli- measure, the Delhi Metro high court had directed he said. off the road and protest- on Friday against the Withdraw CAB”, ty. The organisation held Rail Corporation (DMRC) that students will not The court, however, dis- before Metro, dies ers were seen climbing amended citizenship law, “Division on basis of reli- protests across the coun- closed the entry and exit hold protests within 100 agreed with Mr Singh’s New Delhi: A 33-year-old onto barricades. The uni- which they described as gion unacceptable” and try against the law, accord- points at Patel Chowk and meters of the administra- contentions, saying in man ended his life on Friday versity’s gate was later “anti-constitutional” and “CAB nahin Rozgar ing to a Jamiat statement. Janpath Metro stations tive block and will not service matters often by jumping in front of a train closed. “We were heading “divisive”, and demanded Chahiye”. JUH leaders In Seelampur, thousands following Delhi Police’s block access to it. chief or principal secre- at the Jawaharlal Nehru towards Parliament and its immediate withdrawal. termed the law a “dracon- of Congress workers, a advisory. The high court had also taries are made a party. Stadium metro station, police said. The deceased was identified as Bharat J., a native of Chennai, they said. The Nirbhay’s mom police were informed about Hoax bomb call City records highest Dec. rainfall in 22 yrs the incident at platform 2 of the Jawaharlal Nehru New Delhi, Dec. 13: The an all-time December high Thursday. wants rapists Stadium metro station at national capital, on City recorded its of 40.2 mm in the last 24 The weatherman said about 11.27 am. He was from UAE puts Friday, recorded its high- highest 24-hour hours. It had gauged 33.7 Punjab, Haryana, and to be hanged immediately rushed to the est 24-hour December December rainfall in mm rainfall on December parts of Uttar Pradesh nearest hospital where he rainfall in the last 22 the last 22 years, 3, 1967, the officials said. and Rajasthan also on Dec. 16 was declared dead, a senior years, which led to a dip in which led to a dip in Delhi recorded a low of received rains on police officer said. His family cops in a tizzy temperatures and pollu- temperatures and 12.8° Celsius and a high of Thursday and Friday. AGE CORRESPONDENT is being informed and tion levels, the meteoro- pollution levels. The 21.5° Celsius, which was The precipitation and NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 inquest proceedings are in AGE CORRESPONDENT logical department offi- two notches below normal. cold, dry winds from the progress. Further legal action NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 Etihad Airlines cials said. all-time high of 75.5 The heavy rainfall and hilly region will cause the A Delhi court will hear will be taken accordingly, received a call on a The Safdarjung mm was recorded on high-velocity winds led to mercury to drop. The min- on Wednesday police said. The Delhi police has writ- landline number Observatory, figures of December 3, 1923. a significant improvement imum temperature is (December 18) a plea ten to telecom service wherein the caller which are considered offi- in the city’s air quality. expected to dip to 8° seeking issuance of providers to trace the stated that there cial for the city, recorded The overall air quality Celsius on Sunday. death warrants against Man arrested for United Arab Emirates 33.5 mm rainfall—the sec- 75.5 mm was recorded on index in the city read 240 Moderate to dense fog is the four people convict- caller who made a “hoax was a bomb under a ond highest after 70 mm in December 3, 1923. at 4.00 pm on Friday. expected on Saturday and ed in the Nirbhaya gan- bomb call” to the office of seat of one of the December 1997—till 5.30 Meanwhile, the Palam It was recorded in the Sunday, the officials said. grape and murder case. snatching purse an airline at the Delhi planes of the airline, pm. The all-time high of weather station registered “severe” category (430) on — PTI Nirbhaya’s mother, New Delhi: A 26-year-old Airport, the police said which was scheduled however, said she wants man was arrested here hours on Friday. to land at the Delhi those convicted in the after he allegedly snatched a The police was Airport from Abu case to be hanged on woman’s bag containing jew- informed about a “bomb Dhabi Man held at December 16, the day ellery worth `10 lakh in a in flight which is coming At least 12 such `5,000cr futuristic hub to come her daughter ‘Nirbhaya’ train, police said on Friday. to Delhi” call at around ` was brutally assaulted The accused, identified as 6.00 pm on Monday, it phone calls were IGI with 41L and left to die on the Pawan Sharma, was arrested said. received from the road seven years ago. from Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan According to the police, same number within mobile phones up in East Delhi, says Gambhir The mother, who has area on Thursday. His associ- one Pankaj of the Etihad a span of half an moved the Supreme ate, Nand Kishore (22), is Airlines received a call on hour, it said, adding New Delhi, Dec. 13: New Delhi, Dec. 13: East Court against the review absconding, they said. A a landline number where- that the call was Customs officials at the Delhi Bharatiya Janata According to plea by one of the men case was registered after the in the caller stated that traced to the United Indira Gandhi Party MP Gautam Gautam Gambhir, sentenced to death in the woman lodged a complaint there was a bomb under a Arab Emirates International Airport Gambhir on Friday said Centre has given case, said she will keep stating that two men seat of one of the planes have seized 44 brand that the Centre has given approval to the fighting for their execu- snatched her purse around 4 of the airline, which was new iPhones and 2 approval to the `5,000 crore and it tion till she is alive. pm on Thursday when she scheduled to land at the written to all the telecom Samsung mobile phones ‘Integrated Development “I will keep fighting for was travelling from Gwalior Delhi Airport from Abu service providers to iden- worth `41.73 lakh from a of East Delhi Hub’ project will be inaugurated justice for my daughter to NDLS, the police said. Dhabi. tify the network and seek man’s possession. and it will be inaugurated by Union Home and for the death penalty After snatching the woman’s “At least 12 such phone details of the owner of The items were seized by Union home minister Minister Amit Shah of those who snatched bag, the accused jumped off calls were received from the number from which on Thursday when the Amit Shah on Dec 26. on Dec. 26 her from me. I want the moving train, they said. the same number within the calls were made,” said passenger arrived from East Delhi will soon get Gautam Gambhir them to be hanged DCP (Railways) Harednra K. a span of half an hour, it deputy commissioner of Addis Ababa. this modern and futuris- before December 16,” Singh said the accused were said, adding that the call police (airport) Sanjay “Delhi airport customs tic hub to cater to the resi- located at a prime location areas, environmental/ she told reporters. identified with the help of a was traced to the United Bhatia. seized 44 brand new dential, commercial and near Anand Vihar ISBT,” green building features Additional sessions photo taken by the woman, Arab Emirates,” police He said Etihad Airlines’ iPhones and 2 Samsung cultural needs of East Mr Gambhir said. like skywalk connectivity judge Satish Kumar which also showed the point officials said. flight number 244 landed mobile phones valued Delhi people, Mr Gambhir The estimated cost of among others, he said. Arora deferred the mat- where the accused had After two hours of thor- safely at 6.38 pm at the `41.73 lakh on Thursday said in a statement, thank- the project is `5,000 crore, It will also have schools, ter till December 18 not- jumped off the train. ough checking by the Delhi Airport from Abu from an Indian arriving ing the Prime Minister for he said. dispensaries, libraries, ing that the review peti- security agencies and Dhabi, adding that a case from Addis Ababa. He the project. The project includes a community halls, and tion of one of the con- THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S GUIDE TO FORTUNE investigations, the call was registered in the mat- has been arrested after “The Delhi Development massive central green multipurpose halls with victs was pending before

was declared as “non- ter. admitting to smuggle Authority has entrusted lung, concourse-level con- provisions for indoor the Supreme Court for

Fight of the Century Century the of Fight

■ specific,” the police In total, 161 passengers brand new iPhones val- the work of this project to nectivity of metro with games, creches and other Tuesday. “At least I have

New Orleans Orleans New

■ added. on board the flight ued `124.4 lakh in the NBCC for which an MoU commercial buildings and civic amenities, he to wait till the time the

8 8 ■ ■ “The call was made arrived safely at the air- past,” said customs was signed on Feb. 27 this towers, universal barrier- added. review petition is pend- from Dubai and we have port, he said. department. — ANI year. The hub will be free access in public — PTI ing,” the judge said. Spin consultant PAGE Pakistan has appointed former Test leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed Cricket 14 as spin bowling consultant THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI Bravo eager to contribute again We want to ■ West Indian all-rounder expand the pool of players who can backtracks on retirement perform NEHA SURANA successfully for us. CHENNAI, DEC. 13 — Ed Smith, England selector on West Indies all-rounder the squad announcement for ODI Dwayne Bravo on Wednesday made a sharp and T20 series in South Africa U-turn by reversing his decision on retirement. The former captain, how- SHORT TAKES ever, made it clear that he would only play the T20 format and pledged his full Rain affects commitment to the team. “It’s been on my mind ever Pakistan Test since the Cricket West Indies witnessed a change Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s first in administration and I think it’s the home Test in a decade was (from left) Bowling coach Bharat Arun, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Shastri and Kuldeep Yadav during a training session in Chennai. — E.K. Sanjay team management (coach affected by bad weather on and captain level). I think right time for Friday, with rain and an already it’s the right time for me to me to come sodden pitch forcing officials to come back and contribute back and contribute suspend play on the third day to the team,” said Bravo of the contest against Sri with just a bunch of to the team. Lanka. reporters attending the —DWAYNE BRAVO After day three’s first session hurriedly arranged inter- was washed out by wet weath- action. 1 not long ago, now the er, only 27 minutes of play was In October, Bravo had team is ranked 10th. Our possible before the players announced his retirement focus now is to improve walked off with just 5.2 overs KulCha sim sim from international cricket our T20 rankings. I think I bowled. The umpires called off and a few days ago he hint- can only enhance what is play at 15:35pm local time, after Will Team India open door for Kuldeep-Chahal to spin magic together? ed a return to it and made already there that is young only 91 overs of play in three himself available for the talent,” he added. days. Sri Lanka progressed to C. SANTHOSH ted well, bowled well and World T20 in Australia. Under new ODI captain 282-6 from an overnight total KUMAR the best fielder in inter- Shardul to The 36-year-old feels he is Kieron Pollard, West of 263-6, with Dhananjaya de CHENNAI, DEC. 13 national cricket now. He fit enough to play the Indies drubbed Silva on 87 — 13 short of his adds a lot of dimension to shortest format. “I feel Afghanistan 3-0 before los- fourth Test hundred. Dilruwan Not long ago, the wrist us,” he said. replace injured very motivated in this part ing 1-2 to India. Bravo Perera was unbeaten on six as spin was the buzzword in The bowling said of my life and career. All believes Pollard is the right stop-start play left the players the limited-overs cricket. Washington Sundar Bhuvneshwar the administrators, coach- leader to take the team for- and some 2,000 fans, mostly Jumping on the bandwag- would stake a claim in the es and players can now ward. He also appreciated schoolkids, frustrated. On on, the Indian team man- ODI squad given the way GE CORRESPONDENT together work towards the captain-coach bond Thursday, rain and poor light agement was so fascinat- he has performed in T20s. CHENNAI, DEC. 13 uplifting the team. We can that Pollard and Phil kept the teams off the field for ed by the trend that “In due course, Washi sing on the same song and Simmons are sharing. all but 83 minutes. For Pakistan, world-class spinners R. will be in contention. Injured pacer improve the state of the “I think he (Pollard) is a 16-year-old paceman Naseem Ashwin and Ravindra Whenever he got opportu- Bhuvneshwar Kumar was team,” he said. very passionate guy. His Shah (2-83) and Shaheen Shah Jadeja were completely nities, he has done well. on Friday ruled out the Ireland will be touring leadership skills are very Afridi (2-58) were the most sidelined after the 2017 He is more than a capable three-match ODI series West Indies early in good. He has a very good successful bowlers. The condi- Champions Trophy to Groundstaff cover the pitch at the M.A. Chidambaram bat. He has played a against West Indies. January for three ODIs and relationship with the tions have put a dampener on accommodate Kuldeep Stadium on Friday. — DC cameo whenever he had a Shardul Thakur has been three T20Is. Bravo said he coach as well. The coach- the long-awaited return to Test Yadav and Yuzvendra chance. In the future, he drafted into the side as was available for captain relationship is in Pakistan, following the 2009 Chahal. would come full circle if team. Also, there was an would be somebody we his replacement. As India selection. “I waited for the very important for any militant attack on Sri Lanka’s With the full backing both make it to the XI in option where we could will consider for the ODI sweated it out in the nets T20 series to finish. I could team. They will mostly team bus that left eight people from team management, the opening ODI against use Jadeja as an all- scenario,” he added. here on Friday, have gone back home and have the same plans and dead and several players and the famed ‘KulCha’ West Indies on Sunday. It rounder. So that really “If you can bat in ODI Bhuvneshwar’s absence announced, but the next will be on the same page. officials wounded. — AFP became a hot combo as was here at the M.A. helped us. There may be and T20 cricket, it will had raised an eyebrow. T20 series starts in the first Polly in his short stint as they spun a web around Chidambaram Stadium occasions when there are give us a different dimen- Bowling coach Bharath week of January. So I just captain against CAC unlikely to be various oppositions. where they had conducive conditions sion. You should be Arun said he was happy wanted to make it clear Afghanistan and India has In 34 one-dayers that announced their arrival both can be playing exceptional in at least two with the fact that India before next selection,” already shown what he can Kuldeep and Chahal by sharing five wickets together. But we will have skills. If they can bat, it have a fast bowling pool Bravo said. do. He’s the one to take us formed before Jan played together, the duo between them in India’s to look at the overall bal- lends a lot more balance where bowlers are ready When asked if he were forward,” Bravo said. New Delhi: The BCCI will decide shared 118 wickets win over Australia in ance before we decide the to the team. But as it is, when given an opportuni- confident about getting Bravo is excited at the on the composition of its between them. 2017. team,” said Arun. Kuldeep and Chahal can ty. “It augurs well for us picked for the T20 World prospects of playing with Cricket Advisory Committee But again, the trend Bharat Arun, India’s Arun, however, hinted be matchwinners on their and it gives us a varied Cup, Bravo said: “It’s step youngsters. “I learned a lot (CAC) and subsequent changes changed. The spin duo bowling coach, said it that it’s highly unlikely day. When it comes to pool of bowlers to choose. by step. The World Cup is when I had seniors around in the national selection com- haven’t played together in comes down to finding an that Jadeja would sit out. matchwinners, you Which bowler to play in October. There’s going to me. So once these young mittee only after the Supreme the XI since the World ideal combination. “We “If you look at Jadeja, we forego the other aspects. depends on the condi- be at least 19-20 games players have seniors Court hears its plea on amend- Cup league match defeat were looking at an ideal have a ready-made all- They can win you match- tions. We will go for hors- before that, so the WT20 is around them they’ll ing some of the key Lodha against England at combination that gives rounder. Jadeja has been es just by one skill alone,” es-for-courses policy,” he not my main reason for improve naturally. This reforms in January. This could Edgbaston. Their journey absolute balance to the exceptional for us. He bat- Arun added. said. coming back. There’s so new management wants a effectively mean that MSK much talent in West Indies, mix of experience and Prasad-led committee will also if managed properly, we youth. The mix of youth select the squad for the three- can be the most dominant and experience will defi- match T20 series against Sri Former India coach Kumble wants team as we once were. nitely help us improve,” he Lanka, starting January 5. After Bhuvi, Bumrah to “Windies were World No. said. According to sources in the BCCI, the top brass wants to Shreyas to come at No.4 position wait till the January hearing as Work as hard as Kohli: Windies coach there will be clarity on a lot of bowl at India nets in Vizag New Delhi, Dec. 13: ting line-up. Virat Kohli is the issues including the CAC and Former India captain and “With Shikhar It’s exciting times for us whether its needed in the first New Delhi, Dec. 13: Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s spin legend Anil Kumble (Dhawan) not being there ‘benchmark’ and when you look at guys place to conduct interviews for Adhering to an estab- fitness in Indore before wants Shreyas Iyer to bat it again gives KL Rahul that is why all like Hetmyer, Pooran prospective selectors. “It is lished norm, pace spear- the Test against at the crucial no.4 posi- chance to open the bat- West Indies play- and Hope. We have got young unlikely that the CAC will be head Jasprit Bumrah Bangladesh although he tion in the upcom- ting. We have seen ers should work batsmen who are developing. formed before the Supreme will bowl during net ses- wasn’t a part of the ing ODI series Shreyas Iyer’s as hard as the Court hearing in January. So sions with the Indian squad. This is also some- against the West quality and he But the key thing is how you naturally, the selection commit- team before their second thing on similar lines, a Indies, which has grown in Indian captain to prepare to work hard. tee might also take some time ODI against the West common practice,” a according to him, stature, so I achieve their You have got a to form. It is still not clear Indies in BCCI source said on is going be a would like him to goals, feels benchmark in Virat whether the new selection com- Visakhapatnam as part conditions of anonymity. tough “chal- be at number their assistant Kohli. He is somebody mittee or the existing one will of his rehabilitation pro- “There is a system that lenge” for the four,” he said. coach Roddy pick the squad for the marquee gramme after recovering Jasprit Bumrah has been put in place. Indian bowlers. West Indies lost Estwick. who will be in the gym New Zealand tour,” a BCCI from a back injury. When a player has recov- Giving his T20 leg of the tour, and work very source said on conditions of Bumrah has been out Zealand early next year. ered substantially, he is views on the upcoming going 1-2 to the hard anonymity. The BCCI in its plea since the start of the The game against west to be checked by the three ODIs, starting hosts. has asked for relaxation in the home series against Indies is scheduled for team management as Sunday, Kumble said The three- — ESTWICK ‘cooling off’ period which will South Africa due to a December 18. “Bumrah well as the national team India’s bowling attack match ODI allow president Sourav Ganguly stress fracture but has will be having a net ses- physio (Nitin Patel) and will have to be at its rubber will and secretary Jay Shah to com- made a steady recovery. sion with the Indian trainer (Nick Webb). best to get the bet- start in plete their full terms instead of The team management team. This is a norm Bowling at India nets ter of a powerful Chennai. 10 months. — PTI is expecting him to be fit now. The team manage- will give him that feel,” West Indies bat- Shreyas Iyer — PTI before the tour of New ment also checked said the source. — PTI

IPL 2020 AUCTION Smith pulls off a blinder, Maxwell, Steyn and I was mentally, physically Starc tears through Kiwis Marsh in top bracket ruined: Maxwell on break New Delhi, Dec. 13: As Kolkata Knight Riders Perth, Dec. 13: A stunning many as 332 cricketers last month, is the sole New Delhi, Dec. 13: going through my mood catch by Steve Smith will go under the ham- Indian player in the Australian all-rounder swings for the first few snared the prized wicket of mer at the IPL auction auction list with a base Glenn Maxwell said being weeks, but Michael Lloyd Kane Williamson as in Kolkata on December price of `1.5 crore. constantly on the road for was the guy I had the initial Mitchell Starc tore through 19 with Australia’s Premier Australian the past “four to five years” conversation with, he’s the New Zealand top order Glenn Maxwell and pacer Josh Hazlewood, had mentally and physical- been someone who I’ve con- on the second day of the South African Dale who has never played in ly ruined him, forcing him fided in since back in the first Test in Perth on Steyn among those opt- the IPL, has put himself to take a mental health academy days, so I’ve Friday. ing for the highest base in the highest base break in October. known him for well over a Smith dived horizontally price of `2 crore. price bracket alongside Maxwell had opted out of decade now.” to his right at second slip to “While 997 players had bowling partner Pat Australia’s T20I series On a comeback trail now, take the catch to remove initially registered for Cummins, who has rep- against Sri Lanka after the 31-year-old will make Williamson for 34 from the the auction, the final resented KKR, Delhi playing the first two match- Glenn Maxwell his domestic cricket bowling of Starc, just when list has been pruned Capitals and Mumbai es to address his mental giving me that space and return, captaining it appeared New Zealand after the eight franchis- Indians. Maxwell, who health. “I was pretty allowing me to have that Melbourne Stars in their were fighting back well es submitted their recently took a break to cooked when I decided to time away from the game opening Big Bash match Aussies celebrate a New Zealand wicket on day two of the after losing their two open- shortlist of players,” deal with mental take the time off. Big rea- and get myself right.” later this month. “It proba- ers with only one run on first Test. — AFP read an official IPL health, is back in the son why I did take that time Maxwell said it was his bly took a bit longer than I the board. Watling was yet to score. Josh Hazlewood (1-0) with a statement. auction pool after opt- away is I was pretty mental- girlfriend, who first noticed thought it was going to After Australia posted 416 Smith’s freak catch was a left hamstring injury. Australian all-rounder ing out of the last edi- ly and physically ruined,” the change in him. “It was take, it was an interesting in extreme heat on the back key moment, as the Kiwis Hazlewood bowled opener Mitchell Marsh and Sri tion alongside Aaron Maxwell said. actually my partner who six weeks, away from the of a third successive Test slumped to 97 for five by Jeet Raval for a duck in his Lanka veteran Angelo Finch. Finch is back in “I think it was eight suggested I speak to some- game and there was proba- century for Marnus losing three wickets for just first over, but managed just Mathews too have opted the pool at a base price months on the road, living one, she was the first one bly times I thought I was Labuschagne the Kiwis 20 runs. two balls in his second for the `2 crore base of `1 crore. out of a suitcase and that who noticed it, so I should going to come back earlier,” were struggling at 109 for Starc (4-31) did the dam- before pulling up short dur- price. Fellow Australian probably had been going on probably thank her as well. Maxwell said. five in reply at stumps, still age with four wickets, ing his run up. — AFP Only 73 slots are there Chris Lynn, who was for four or five years, just Once I had that initial con- “I’ve been getting back in 307 runs in arrears. including those of Henry Brief scores: Australia 416 to be filled in the eight released by KKR, will be constantly on the road and versation it was a big the swing of things for a Ross Taylor, who put on 76 Nicholls (7) and night (Labuschagne 143, Head franchises and only 29 expecting to go at a good it all just caught up with weight off my shoulders,” while, I’ve been around the for the third wicket with watchman Neil Wagner (0) 56, Wagner 4/92, Southee of them can be foreign price at the auction me at that time. he said. Vics change rooms for the Williamson and made 290 in successive balls. 4/93) vs New Zealand buys. Robin Uthappa, next week. “I really want to thank “My girlfriend was proba- last two or three weeks in his previous Test in However, Australia had 109/5 (Taylor 66 (batting), who was released by — PTI Cricket Australia, Cricket bly No. 1, it wasn’t an easy now, so I’ve sort of been Perth, was on 66 and BJ also lost opening bowler Starc 4/31). Victoria and the Stars for job for her to deal with me floating around.” — PTI Injured Ribery PAGE French footballer Franck Ribery to undergo surgery after suffering serious Games 15 ligament damage to his right ankle THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI

PRESIDENTS | CUP Philly end Celtics run Americans rally Lionel Messi doesn’t 76ers clip Boston’s perfect home record with 6-point win for a late surge need that (to win a Los Angeles, Dec. 13: Joel Melbourne, Dec. 13: Tiger ● Tiger Woods won World Cup to be Embiid scored a season- Woods’ US team staged a high 38 points and stirring late comeback to again, but his United great player). grabbed 13 rebounds as stay in the hunt at the States team had to — Hernan Crespo, former Argentina the Philadelphia 76ers Presidents Cup on Friday battle back from a footballer on Lionel Messi ended the Boston Celtics after the tournament bleak position to perfect home record with appeared to be slipping stay within three a 115-109 win on Thursday. away. Embiid had a clutch The US went into the points of the block and drained five of alternate shot or four- International side at SHORT six free throws all within somes format on day two the end of Day Two TAKES the final 26 seconds as the trailing 4-1, after Ernie Els’ Australia. Sixers withstood a late Internationals enjoyed Saudi to host Boston charge. He also their best start to the bien- scored 16 points in the nial matchplay event since that pitted former world 1st women’s golf final quarter. 2005. number one Dustin Tobias Harris added 23 They ended it 6.5-3.5 Johnson and Matt Kuchar Paris: Saudi Arabia will host its points, eight rebounds and behind after clawing their against the experienced first professional women’s golf seven assists as Mike way back against from Els’ Louis Oosthuizen and tournament in 2020 with a Scott scored 15 on five young unit, who had Adam Scott. prize fund of USD 1 million, the three-pointers as the 76ers looked to be closing on the They started well, clinch- Ladies European Tour (LET) won their eighth game in Internationals’ first victo- ing the opening hole with announced. the last nine contests. ry since 1998. Johnson driving off the tee The Jeddah Royal Greens Golf The Celtics had won 10 At one point the then draining a birdie putt. and Country Club will stage the straight to start the sea- Internationals were ahead Oosthuizen then missed a March 19-22 tournament, featur- son and coming into the in all five matches, but simple putt to hand the US ing three-time Tour winner game were one of just Justin Thomas and Patrick a two-up lead by the fifth, Carly Booth. three undefeated teams at Cantlay both drilled huge before the International Booth and four of her fellow home. Philadelphia and putts on the 18th to clinch pair began clicking to win professionals have agreed to Miami are the undefeated narrow victories for a US the sixth and eighth. act as ambassadors for the teams left. team that desperately They turned the screws tournament despite the divisive Kemba Walker had 29 needed points, with play- as the crowd roared them issue of women’s rights in the points, and Enes Kanter ing-captain Woods leading on to win at the 11th, 13th conservative kingdom. with 20 and Daniel Theis wild celebrations. and 14th and whip the “I’m looking forward to being with 16 powered the Els, who has been meticu- dejected Americans 3 and part of history with the other offence of the Celtics, who lous in his planning, 2. ladies on the tour,” said 27- have lost two games in as played in the Behind them Canada’s year-old Booth. many nights. Internationals’ lone tri- Adam Hadwin gave his “I have visited Saudi Arabia on The Celtics trailed by umph 21 years ago and team a lead on the first a number of occasions and nine points with 2:25 left showed his team video hole after a beautiful been lucky enough to spend in the fourth before highlights to instill how approach shot from young some time teaching local mounting a charge. much it means to win. Chilean Joaquin Niemann women and girls how to play.” They cut the Sixers lead They again responded against Xander Schauffele The men’s European Tour made to 108-106 on a Kanter Enes Kanter (right) of the Boston Celtics tries to stop Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in Boston, admirably, winning two, and Patrick Cantlay. its first foray into Saudi Arabia dunk with 41 seconds to go Massachusetts on Thursday. The 76ers won 115-109. — AFP losing two and halving one In a see-sawing tie, the this year. in the quarter. on a pulsating day. advantage kept changing However, superstars Tiger Ben Simmons hit a pair With 30 points at stake hands before Cantlay Woods and Rory McIlroy have of free throws, but a over the week, they need stepped up to sink a mas- both refused to play in the Jayson Tatum drained a another nine from sive pressure putt on the 2020 edition. — AFP three pointer cut the Stern undergoes brain surgery Saturday’s eight matches last to get the US team on Celtics deficit to one, 110- and the 12 singles on the scoreboard. 109, with 27 seconds left. Los Angeles, Dec. 13: ● The 77-year-old Dallas Mavericks coach Sunday for a famous victo- Inspired, Woods and Organe 4x4 Fury Embiid was fouled and Former NBA commission- Rick Carlisle said the ry. Justin Thomas, the only made one of two free er David Stern underwent David Stern, former whole organization is hop- The omens looked good US pair to win on set for flag off throws then added two emergency surgery on NBA commissioner ing for a speedy recovery. for the Internationals in a Thursday, matched the more free throws to clinch Thursday after suffering a collapsed at a New “The thoughts and heavyweight opening clash exploits. — AFP Dambuk, Arunachal Pradesh: the victory. brain hemorrhage, the York restaurant and prayers of the Dallas Marabhum Offroaders Club of Boston led late in the NBA announced. was rushed to a organization are with Arunachal and BODA will be the first half 55-47 but “NBA Commissioner commissioner David cynosure of all eyes as the 6th Philadelphia went on a 9-4 Emeritus David Stern suf- hospital where Stern,” Carlisle said. edition of the JK Tyre Orange run to cut the deficit to fered a sudden brain hem- doctors performed “I was with him a month 4X4 Fury gets underway here in three points 59-56 at half- orrhage earlier today for an emergency ago yesterday in New the serene and quaint Dambuk time. which he underwent surgery for brain York, we had a couple of Former Celtic Al Valley. MOCA, were the surprise emergency surgery. Our hemorrhage. days between games, I package last year and stunned Horford sat out the game thoughts and prayers are David Stern actually sat with him in everyone in the fray with their with a left knee and ham- with David and his fami- his office in New York, I fearless and tactical driving to string injury. He received ly,” the league said in a before he was replaced by in 1984 to $5 million. consider him a great win the title. They will fancy a standing ovation when news release. Adam Silver. Before that Well wishes came from friend and obviously a their chances again this year he was shown on the ESPN reported that the he was deputy commis- fans and people around great friend of the and will definitely try and use scoreboard, and he 77-year-old Stern col- sioner under Russ Granik the league such as former game.”Stern was inducted their local knowledge to the acknowledged the crowd lapsed at a New York from 1990 to 2006. Los Angeles Laker Magic into the Naismith optimum in pursuit of glory. with a wave. restaurant and was During Stern’s 30 years Johnson. Memorial Basketball Hall However, it won’t be an easy Elsewhere, Luka Doncic rushed to a hospital where as commissioner, the “Join Cookie and I in of Fame in 2014 and the affair for them as they would delivered his second doctors performed the league added seven new praying for my good International Basketball face a strong challenge from career 40 point triple dou- operation. franchises, relocated a friend who helped save my Hall of Fame in 2016. He BODA, one of the most experi- ble as the Dallas The NBA did not release half-dozen others and dra- life, former NBA was given the title of enced off-roading teams of Mavericks rolled over the any details on his condi- matically increased rev- Commissioner David “Commissioner Eme- India. BODA, winner here in Detroit Pistons 122-111 in tion. enues. Stern,” Johnson wrote on ritus” after he stepped 2017 will have a strong edge Mexico City. Stern served as commis- The average player Twitter, referring to his down. going into the event and will for — AFP sioner from 2006 to 2014 salary went from $250,000 wife. — AFP sure eager to underline their supremacy this year. Other teams that will fancy their chances in this event will be NIOC from Delhi, R&T CRESPO HOPES Catalyst from Kottayam, Team Neymar-Mbappe duo a hit Fairmont from Mumbai and DOT of Goa. This is a calendar event Paris, Dec. 13: As the MESSI WINS A of Arunachal Pradesh Tourism world’s two most expen- that is focused on promoting sive footballers, Neymar WORLD CUP adventure sports in the state. and Kylian Mbapp — Agencies already stand apart. Kolkata, Dec. 13: Lionel On the field, they have a Messi is in the same United States team captain Tiger Woods hits to green harmony which could league as Pele or Diego during Day Two of the Presidents Cup golf tournament in take Paris Saint-Germain Maradona and he doesn’t Melbourne on Friday. — AFP far in the Champions need to win a World Cup ROHIT TO BE League after three to prove his greatness, straight seasons of fail- feels iconic former ing to even reach the Argentine striker Hernan SPANISH quarterfinals. Crespo. Evidence of their grow- Here in the city as the Ferrari admit to LEAGUE FACE ing understanding was ambassador of TSK 25K fully displayed in the 5-0 run, the prolific Mumbai: One of international home win against an Argentine said: “Messi cricket's premier batsmen, albeit weak Galatasaray doesn’t need that (to win a talks with Hami Rohit Sharma was on Thursday side in the Champions World Cup to be great named the first-ever India League midweek. player). In the whole his- Milan, Dec. 13: Ferrari ● Lewis Hamilton, brand ambassador of top Mbapp set up Neymar tory, I can think of five chief executive officer who comes to the Spanish football club Real with an exquisite back- players — Pele, (Alfredo) Louis Camilleri said on Madrid. He is the first non-foot- heeled pass, and Neymar di Stefano, (Johan) Thursday that it was pre- end of his Mercedes baller in the history of the returned the compliment Cruyff, (Diego) Maradona mature to talk about a pos- contract next league to have become a brand with a defense-splitting and then there is Messi.” sible move of six-time season, will be ambassador. ball to send the electrify- He however hoped that world champion Lewis bidding for a record- Rohit comes on board following Mbapp through on Messi gets to finally lift Hamilton to the Italian ing a series of major initiatives goal. They also combined the World Cup in Qatar team. Camilleri confirmed equalling seventh by La Liga in India since 2017. in setting up PSG’s open- 2022 even though it will be that Mercedes driver world title in 2020. The current ICC World No.2, is ing goal for Mauro Icardi. Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar (left) and his teammate Kylian Mbappe in this file incredibly tough. Hamilton has had “conver- “The real Neymar is “I hope (Messi wins the sations” with Ferrari the only batsman in the history photo. — AFP of the game to have scored back,” Le Parisien news- World Cup in 2022). It will chairman John Elkann, is under contract until the three double hundreds in the paper said on Thursday. be very hard. This is real- but not with him nor Team 2022 season. 50-overs format including a But for how long? The ly our dream, I hope he Principal Mattia Binotto. Leclerc is the junior driv- world record 264. worry for PSG is if the INTER SET EYES ON ITALIAN LEAGUE tries again. The first one “It is common knowledge er to four-time world cham- “I am truly delighted to be relationship between is Copa America which that Lewis has had conver- pion Sebastian Vettel, associated with La Liga. It's Neymar and Mbapp we are hosting and sations with (Elkann),” whose contract at Ferrari encouraging to see the Spanish becomes rather too exclu- AS THEY GEAR UP FOR FIORENTINA Colombia and we have a Camilleri told reporters at ends after the 2020 season. giant have made inroads into sive, to the detriment of good chance to lift the Ferrari headquarters at “We need to see both the the Indian football ecosystem teamwork and the exclu- Milan, Dec. 13: Inter leaders, who have a two- their unbeaten run Copa America,” the leg- Maranello. performances, the way he through their grassroots pro- sion of teammates. The Milan turn their focus point advantage over ended last weekend end added. “(But) that was a little adapts to the car (for the gramme,” Rohit said. concern is that against back to the Serie ‘A’ title champions Juventus, against Lazio in Rome. For 44-year-old Crespo, exaggerated. While it was 2020 season) and his moti- “Personally, I see this as an far better sides later in chase after their travel to 13th-placed Portuguese star Messi alongside at a social event, they have vation for the future,” said interesting journey for me into the competition, this will Champions League flop Fiorentina, with their Ronaldo has scored in Maradona belong to a mutual friends. It would be Binotto of Vettel. the beautiful game with La be too predictable and while Gennaro Gattuso focus on claiming a first his last three games “different planet” but premature to decide any- But 2021 will in any case Liga. I look forward eagerly to work against PSG. begins life as Napoli Serie A title since 2010. including the midweek when it comes to goal thing today,” added be “too early” for one of connecting with the football Of Neymar’s 57 complet- coach trying to end their Inter stars Romelu Champions League win poaching abilities, the Camilleri. the young drivers to move fans in India.” ed passes against the seven-game winless run Lukaku (ten) and over Bayer Leverkusen. best Argentina had is Hamilton, who comes to up from the Ferrari Driver Jose Antonio Cachaza, man- Turkish side, 17 of them in Italian league action Lautaro Martinez (eight) In a battle between undoubtedly Gabriel the end of his Mercedes Academy, the Italian said. aging director, La Liga India went to Mbapp. Hardly this weekend. have between them third and fourth, in-form Batistuta. “Mario Kempes contract next season, will “It will be important to said, “India is a very important any went to Icardi, the Inter Milan were the scored as many goals as Lazio and Cagliari go (1978 Golden Boot win- be bidding for a record- have drivers with some market for La Liga from a glob- other striker although only one of Italy’s four the entire Fiorentina head-to-head. Simone ner) was also special for equalling seventh world (Formula One) experience al perspective, we came here in much of his game is Champions League squad this season, with Inzaghi’s Lazio can us. Lot of great strikers. title in 2020. because the cars will be 2017 to get a better under- about movement off the teams to fail to make the the Tuscan side on a run extend their winning Diego is from another Meanwhile, Camilleri completely new,” added standing of the pulse of the ball to open up space for knockout rounds after a of four consecutive streak to eight consecu- planet. There will be pointed out that Ferrari Binotto. nation. Over the past two years, others. 1-2 defeat against defeats. tive games but Cagliari Messi with Diego. have a “long-term agree- Among these is 20-year- and after several ground-break- There is no denying that Barcelona in the San Cristiano Ronaldo’s are unbeaten in the Batistuta is the best strik- ment” with Charles old Mick Schumacher, son ing initiatives, it is obvious that with its two biggest stars Siro. Juventus host Udinese, league since September er ever in Argentina. Leclerc, the 22-year-old of Ferrari legend Michael, India has a huge appetite for fully fit, PSG looks an Antonio Conte’s league in 16th, on Sunday after 1. — AFP Messi somewhere near- driver from Monaco who who finished 12th in his football.” — PTI ominous side. — AFP er,” he said. — AFP joined the team in 2015 and first Formula 2 run.— AFP Klopp retained PAGE Jurgen Klopp has agreed a contract extension with Games 16 Liverpool until 2024 THE ASIAN AGE SATURDAY | 14 DECEMBER 2019 | NEW DELHI

PREMIER | LEAGUE Liverpool take on I’m obviously over the moon. But the Watford points are for London, Dec. 13: Liverpool will seek sign Leicester. off their pre-Christmas — Jamie Vardy, Leicester City Premier League duties in striker, on scoring 16 goals in 16 style against their whip- games for the Foxes ping boys Watford this weekend while Leicester attempt to stay in touch before a summit meeting later this month. SHORT TAKES Jurgen Klopp’s men are eight points clear of their nearest pursuers as they Hockey introduces prepare to jet out to Qatar for the Club World Cup. ranking system Watford, with new man- Lausanne: The International ager Nigel Pearson at the Hockey Federation (FIH) on helm, will not be relish- Friday unveiled a new world ing the trip to Anfield, ranking system for 2020, which where they have lost 1-6, will be a match-based instead 0-5 and 0-5 on their past three visits. of tournament-based calcula- Diogo Jota (right) of Wolverhampton Wanderers scores his side’s second goal during their UEFA Europa League Group ‘K’ football match against Besiktas at the Molineux stadi- tion for a “better reflection of Pep Guardiola takes his um in Wolverhampton, central England, on Thursday. Wolverhampton won 4-0. — AFP current performances”. stumbling Manchester The new system will come into City team to face Arsenal effect from January 1 next year. while Manchester United The FIH said the new world look to keep up their push ranking system has been for a top-four spot at home launched after 12 months of to Everton. painstaking research, analysis and testing. NORWICH BRACE FOR The outgoing FIH world rank- Wolves come to the fore VARDY ATTACK ing system was in existence Jamie Vardy, who turns 33 since 2003, being originally next month, is out on his devised to allocate teams into own at the top of the pools at tournaments. Substitute Jota’s 11-min ’trick inspires Wolverhampton win Premier League goalscor- The FIH cited “numerous ing charts, with 16 goals restrictions” of the tournament- Paris, Dec. 13: Teenager in 16 games. based system for the change. Mason Greenwood again THE RESULTS Those goals have helped The new match-based world grabbed his chances for Leicester win a club- ranking system involves an Manchester United, scor- Manchester United 4 Lugano 1 record eight consecutive exchange of points between ing twice in a 4-0 thrashing (Ashley Young 53, Mason (Aratore 45) top-flight matches by an two teams competing in each of AZ Alkmaar in the Greenwood 58, 64, Juan Mata aggregate score of 25-3. FIH-sanctioned match played. Europa League. 62-pen) F.C. Basel 2 The former England man The number of points Earlier Arsenal came AZ Alkmaar 0 (Widmer 22, Stocker 72) has struck in all of those Trabzonspor 0 exchanged depends on a trio of back from 0-2 down to Standard Liege 2 victories. factors — the result of the draw 2-2 at Standard Liege (Bastien 47, Amallah 69) Getafe 3 If Vardy nets against match, the relative ranking of on Thursday and also Arsenal 2 (Cabrera 76, Molina 78, Kenedy 86) Norwich and Manchester the teams and the importance make sure of a place in the (Alexandre Lacazette 78, Bukayo Krasnodar 0 City in Leicester’s next of the match. last 32 as Group ‘F’ win- Saka 81) two games, he would give ners. LASK Linz 3 himself the chance to — PTI Wolves 4 (Trauner 23, Klauss 38-pen, With Wolves, who (Diogo Jota 58, 63, 69 Raguz 90+3) equal his own Premier crushed Besiktas 4-0, also Dendoncker 67) Sporting Lisbon 0 League record of goals in Boxer Prasad advancing, English clubs Besiktas 0 11 straight games against ended with a full house in CFR Cluj 2 Liverpool on December Europe with the three Roma 2 (Burca 49, Djokovic 70) 26. pulls Punjab level (Diego Perotti 7-pen, Edin Celtic 0 Europa League entries fol- Dzeko 19) New Delhi: Punjab Panthers’ lowing the Premier LAMPARD’S CHELSEA Wolfsberg 2 Eintracht Frankfurt 2 HOST BOURNEMOUTH P.L. Prasad secured a unani- League’s four Champions (Florenzi 10-og, Weissman 64) (Da Costa 31, Kamada 38) mous points verdict over Ashish League teams into the Vitoria Guimaraes 3 Frank Lampard is desper- Insah of Bengaluru Brawlers to knockout rounds. Partizan Belgrade 4 (Rochinha 8, Al Musrati 85, ate not to squander the Spanish clubs also com- (Soumah 4, Sadiq 22, 76, Asano Edwards 87) good work he has done help his team draw level 1-1 26) after the first two bouts in the pleted a full set when Astana 1 tRangers 1 with his young side in the Big Bout Indian Boxing League Getafe joined already- (Rotariu 79) (Morelos 30) early months of the sea- here on Friday. qualified Sevilla and Young Boys 1 son but is weighing up After 18-year-old Anamika Espanyol by scoring three Slovan Bratislava 2 (Barisic 89-og) where he can strengthen opened with a fine win over times in the last 14 min- (Sporar 42, Rharsalla 70) now he is able to sign Braga 4 Porto 3 Panthers’ debutant Darshana utes to beat Krasnodar 3-0 (Rui Fonte 44 Francisco 72 (Luis Daz 14, Malacia 16-og, players in January. Doot in the women's 51kg bout, in a showdown for second Bozhikov 75-og, Paulinho 90+3) Soares 34) Chelsea host plummet- Prasad asserted his superiority place in Group ‘C’. Feyenoord 2 ing Bournemouth on over Ashish Insah in no uncer- However, Bundesliga APOEL 1 (Botteghin 19, Larsson 22) Saturday and Lampard tain terms in the 52kg class leaders Borussia (Savic 61) knows he must get the Moenchengladbach and Sevilla 0 Wolfsburg 1 balance right to strength- fight. A lot was riding on (Paulo Otvio 52) Prasad since he knew that the Italian power Lazio made Qarabag 1 Saint-Etienne 0 en Chelsea’s hopes of team expected him to win the surprising exits. (Gueye 90) securing a Champions bout on a night when it made a At Old Trafford, in a bat- Dudelange 1 Gent 2 League. — AFP slew of changes in the line-up. tle for top spot in Group (Bougrine 63) (Depoitre 7, 16) Having picked up 12 points in ‘L’, Alkmaar matched a Olexandriya 1 youthful United side until F.C. Copenhagen 0 (Miroshnichenko 54) their earlier matches, Punjab Malmo 1 Live on TV Panthers fielded four Big Bout the 53rd minute when vet- (Papagiannopoulos 77-og) Borussia Moenchengladbach 1 eran Ashley Young Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood (left) celebrates with teammate Juan Mata debutants in their fourth match. (Thuram 33) ENGLISH PREMIER They rested the likes of skipper smashed the home team after scoring his side’s fourth goal during their UEFA Europa League Group ‘L’ match Dynamo Kiev 1 Istanbul Basaksehir 2 M.C. Mary Kom, Uzbek star ahead. against AZ Almaar at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on Thursday. (Tsygankov 90+4) (Kahveci 44, Crivelli 90+1) LEAGUE Abdulmalik Khalakov and Manoj Greenwood pounced on a United won the game 4-0. — AFP Liverpool vs Watford Kumar against Bengaluru loose ball to snap the sec- from 6 pm on Star Brawlers who had won only six ond into the corner of the Sports Select 1, 1 HD points from three earlier match- net. After Greenwood was es in the tournament being held fouled, Juan Mata convert- Sheffield United vs in New Delhi. ed a penalty. Bragging rights battle heats up in Spain Aston Villa — PTI Then the Spaniard set up from 8.30 pm on Star Greenwood for another Madrid, Dec. 13: Barcelona Already qualified in ● Both Barcelona 12, If their own surge has demonstrations expected Sports Select 1, 1 HD crisp low left-footer inside and Real Madrid could be Europe, Barcelona and and Real Madrid are been slightly less consis- at Camp Nou both before the post. playing to be first in La Real Madrid had the luxu- tent than Barca’s in terms and during the game next Chelsea vs Bournemouth Alexandre Lacazette and Liga over the Christmas ry of rotating key players on 34 points each of results, their perform- week. from 8.30 pm on Star Bukayo Saka were on tar- break on Wednesday but in midweek but as the from the 15 games. ances have been more con- Barcelona president Sports Select 1, 1 HD SWEDEN BEAT get in the space of three both are at risk of pre- emphasis shifts towards Barca top the table vincing. In their last 10 Josep Maria Bartomeu second-half minutes as Clasico defeats if their their crunch meeting at owing to their games, they have scored 28 called for calm on Leicester City vs Arsenal survived a scare focus wavers this week- Camp Nou, the danger is goals and conceded only Thursday and insisted the Norwich City INDIAN U-17 to win their group. end. that they underestimate superior goal five. match would not be post- from 8.30 pm on Star They lived on their There are few tougher the tasks in front of them. difference. In normal circum- poned again but, with fam- Sports Select 1, 1 HD GIRLS 3-0 nerves as Eintracht fixtures in the league than Both have hit their stride stances, both might there- ilies and friends in the city Frankfurt were poised to Barca’s away at Real in recent weeks, pulling fore have been expected to and likely to attend the Burnley vs Newcastle Mumbai: The opening match of knock them off top spot Sociedad on Saturday or away from the chasing seven, a run that has coin- come away from Anoeta game, it would be under- from 8.30 pm on Star the U17 Women’s Football when the Germans led Madrid’s trip on Sunday to pack while leaving behind cided with the return to and Mestalla with victo- standable if his players’ Sports Select 2, 2 HD Tournament 2019 saw India go Guimaraes 2-1. a revived Valencia, who early-season bumps that form and fitness of Lionel ries but each have reason minds were not fully on down 0-3 to Sweden, who However, the Portuguese have won three games on had placed the futures of Messi, who has 14 goals to be wary. football this weekend. Southampton vs scored twice in the first half side, already eliminated, the bounce and beat Ajax their coaches in doubt. and two hat-tricks in his Off the pitch, the threat Valencia and Real West Ham and once in the second half at scored twice in the last in Amsterdam to win their Barcelona have won 13 of last 11 matches. of political unrest around Sociedad are hardly oppo- from 11 pm on Star the Mumbai Football Arena on five minutes to claim a 3-2 group in the Champions their last 15 games and Madrid, meanwhile, have the Clasico lingers, with nents to be taken lightly Sports Select 2, 2 HD Friday (December 13, 2019). win. — AFP League. seven out of their last won nine out of their last Catalan independence either. — AFP As the match began, the away side took an early lead four minutes into the game, with Matilda Vinberg converting a spot-kick. Goa lock India came close to equalising Sindhu ends with a victory Blasters rally for only a few minutes later, creat- ing two chances in consecutive Guangzhou, Dec. 13: straight points to draw horns with minutes. Lynda Kom charged Already out of reckoning, parity at 18-18. down the left and took a shot India’s P.V. Sindhu Bingjiao managed to ATK in ISL a draw in ISL from the edge of the box that recorded a consolation break the run of points was saved by the Swedish cus- win over China’s He before a deceptive return Goa, Dec. 13: What do you Kochi, Dec. 13: There was lengthy layoff, nearly got todian in the 11th minute. Bingjiao in the third to serve took Sindhu to 19- expect when two of the no shortage of entertain- his team off to a splendid Moments later, Sunita Munda Group A match to end her 19. The Indian then gath- most attacking sides in ment as Kerala Blasters FC start. Seityasen Singh beat her marker down the right campaign on a positive ered the remaining two the Hero Indian Super and Jamshedpur played nicked the ball on the right flank and put in a cross towards note at the year-ending points to edge past League lock horns with out a 2-2 draw in a Hero flank and cut inside to Sumati Kumari. However, the BWF World Tour Final Bingjiao in the opening each other? Plenty of Indian Super League clash deliver a threatening cross Swedish defender came in with here on Friday. game. action, drama and defi- at the Jawaharlal Nehru that was headed straight at a last-minute challenge and the Sindhu, whose title Sindhu carried her nitely goals. That’s all Stadium here on Friday. the goalkeeper by the defence cleared the ball away. defence lay in tatters after momentum in the second probably a certainty as Kerala had the better Spanish midfielder at the The game became a midfield her second successive game, opening up a 7-3 FC Goa hosts ATK at the chances to score but it was far post. battle as both sides looked to loss on Thursday, scripted lead initially and then Jawaharlal Nehru stadi- a Piti (38’) penalty that The visitors were care- pass their way past the opposi- an incredible turnaround moving to 11-6 advantage um here on Saturday. broke the deadlock. CK less in possession early in tion. India goalkeeper Manju after being 9-18 down in at the interval. The hosts, known for Vineeth (71’) added the vis- the game, with Jeakson Ganjhu showed great alertness the opening game to even- P. V. Sindhu in action during her women’s singles Bingjiao punished the their fluid attacking style, itor's second before stealing the ball off Aitor on two occasions. tually outwit Bingjiao 21- match against He Bing Jiao of China at the World Tour two weak returns from have not exactly been at Raphael Messi Bouli Monroy to set Raphael In the 21st minute, Lynda 19, 21-19 in minutes and Finals in Guangzhou on Thursday. Sindhu won 21-19, Sindhu but then started their best this season due scored a brace (75’, 87’) to Messi Bouli free, but the broke through once again and finish third in the group. 21-19. — AP committing unforced to a variety of factors pull his team level. Cameroonian striker registered a powerful effort This win also snapped errors as the Indian lead including injuries and With the spoils being couldn’t keep his shot on that drew a good save from the Sindhu’s run of four lead 7-3 at one stage in the her errors even after the 15-10. suspensions. ATK’s atta- shared, Jamshedpur are target. Sweden keeper. straight losses to the opening game. The left- break, hitting the shuttle The Chinese soon nar- ck, carries an equal if not third with 13 points from With three minutes left Manju made another save in Chinese, making their handed Chinese cruised wide and long as Bingjiao rowed the gap to 16-18 a greater threat. Led by eight matches while Kerala for the end of regulation the 24th minute but a minute head-to-head record 6-9. to a 11-6 advantage at the jumped to a 18-9 lead. before Sindhu won a Roy Krishna and David sit seventh with seven time, Kerala found an later, Sweden doubled their The Indian struggled break with the Indian However, the Indian point after a gruelling Williams, ATK have the points. equaliser. Seityasen Singh advantage through Ida with her precision initial- misjudging a shuttle. affected a massive recov- rally. ability to score at will. Mario Arques, who was dribbled into the box. Weidenberg. — Agencies ly, allowing Bingjiao to Sindhu failed to reign in ery, rattling off nine — PTI — Agencies deemed fit to start after a — Agencies