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Vol. 19 Issue 30 Friday 26 September to 3 October 2020 $1 www.thesouthasianinsider.com OOPS! BANKS DID IT AGAIN

Global banks defy U.S. as trillions in tainted dollars flow freely through major banks,swamping a broken enforcement system.

Story on Pages 30 to 35

r The UN must reform to stay relevant Page No. 10 Also r US uses defense diplomacy to woo Bangladesh away from China Page No. 22 Read r Weed Or Weedout Page No. 36 r Trump falls into the trap he set for Biden Page No 44 Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 COMMUNITY 2 Indian Expat In UAE To Fly Home After 20 Years, $204,195 Fine Waived Thanavel Mathiazhaagan, 56, arrived in the UAE in 2000 through a recruitment agent on the promise of a job.

(Insider Buearu)- An Indian expat Gulf News reported. said he had failed to get identity in the UAE will finally be able to Mr Mathiazhaagan, who hails clearance from India during the return home after two decades from Tamil Nadu, sought help pandemic as there was a after he was granted a waiver of from two social workers in the mismatch in his father's name in nearly Dh 750,000 (USD UAE to return home during the documents back home and that 204,195) in overstay fines, COVID-19 pandemic. The shown in his passport. according to a media report. only documents he Emergency certificate is a one- Thanavel Mathiazhaagan, 56, possessed was his way travel document issued to arrived in the UAE in 2000 employment visa entry permit Indians without a valid passport, through a recruitment agent on and a copy of the last page to facilitate their return home, it the promise of a job. of his passport, the report said. The agent, who also took Mr said. The duo said they approached Mathiazhaagan's passport, AK Mahadevan and Chandra the Indian embassy and the local later went missing and he had Prakash, who helped Mr departments in Mr to illegally stay in the UAE to Mathiazhaagan get an Mathiazhaagan's village to rectify Ambassador to the UAE Pavan was taken up with him," Mr provide for his family in India emergency certificate through the mistake and process his Kapoor took special interest in Prakash was quoted as saying by doing part-time jobs, the the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi, documents, it said."Indian solving this case after the issue by the Gulf News. Man Jailed For Killing Indian-Origin Son-In-Law In Singapore

depressive disorder, there were However, when Tuppani handled expensive cars, luxury watches "crucial" aggravating factors the sale of the business, Tan and and the upkeep of (his) including the fact that it was "a his eldest daughter each received mistresses," said Wee. revenge tragedy". only 450,000 Singapore dollars Tan later discovered his Tan exacted revenge on his son- (USD 3,30,990) instead of 1 daughter's marital woes with in-law in a "brutal, public and million dollars. Tuppani, who had been unprovoked killing" in broad "He used company funds to fund "involved in a string of daylight, said Deputy Public his own lavish lifestyle... for extramarital affairs". Prosecutor Lim Jian Yi. Defence lawyer Wee Pan Lee (Insider Buearu)- A 72-year-old woman and the couple was asked for seven- Chinese-origin businessman in quarrelling frequently, it said. and-a-half Singapore was on Monday jailed On the day of the incident, July years'' jail. He for eight-and-a-half years for 10, 2017, Tan saw his son-in-law said Tan is a stabbing his Indian-origin son-in- eating at a coffee shop. Tan divorcee who law to death at a coffee shop in retrieved a knife from the received only broad daylight following disputes company's office at Cecil Court primary school over his handling of the family before approaching the younger education, business and extra-marital man who was there with three beginning work affairs. friends, the report said. as a coolie for a Tan Nam Seng pleaded guilty The accused told Tuppani "you transport last month to a charge of are too much" in Hokkien (a contractor in his culpable homicide not amounting Chinese dialect), before stabbing early teens. to murder by stabbing 38-year- him three times in quick He worked his old Spencer Tuppani three years succession and following the way up to ago during a busy lunch hour in victim as he stumbled away and become a ferry the central business district, collapsed in front of an outlet, it clerk and later according to a Channel News said. started his own Asia report. Tan stood over his son-in-law and shipping and Justice Dedar Singh Gill said this stopped others from helping him, transport cargo was a "vicious and brazen killing" telling them to "let him die" and company at the but noted the accused''s major that "I wish to kill him", the report age of 27. depressive disorder at the time, said, adding that before the At its peak, the as well as his "fast-deteriorating" police arrived, Tan kicked the group of health, which the judge said younger man''s face twice, before companies weighed heavily on his mind, the calling his daughter. employed more report said. He said to her: "I can't sleep at than a thousand Tuppani had made several night. I have done it. I have killed people, and Tan business moves that Tan him. Don't cry. I am old already. I intended to perceived as a ploy to cheat him am not scared (of) going to jail." groom Tuppani of his company. They also lived The prosecution asked for 12 to run the in the same household, even years' jail, saying that while Tan business with after Tan's daughter discovered was suffering from a major his daughters Tuppani's affair with another after retirement. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 COMMUNITY 3 "Are You Taliban?": Sikh Taxi Driver Assaulted By Passengers In UK

Vaneet Singh, 41, said that a group of four men slapped and shoved him, and asked "are you Taliban" after he received them from the Grosvenor Casino in Reading, Berkshire, in the early hours of Sunday. (Insider Buearu)- An India-born frightening, I will never work the "It's very bad experience. It's my Sikh taxi driver was subjected nightshift again. I''m still very religion so I respect my turban," to verbal and physical abuse by scared," he told the BBC. he said. passengers he drove from a Thames Valley Police are One of the four passengers, all casino in the city of Reading in appealing for witnesses as they described as white, pulled at his south-east England, prompting investigate the report of an turban as he was driving and a UK police force to launch an assault. slapped him on the head, while investigation. Vaneet Singh, who worked as a others kicked and punched the Vaneet Singh, 41, said that a music teacher at a school in back of the driver's seat. group of four men slapped and Slough, Berkshire, turned to taxi He says he tried to explain the shoved him, and asked "are you driving after his teaching job was religious significance of the Taliban" after he received them stalled during the coronavirus turban to them and asked them from the Grosvenor Casino in pandemic. not to touch it. Reading, Berkshire, in the early The musician, who lives in He recalled the passengers hours of Sunday. Tilehurst with his wife and three being well behaved at the start from aches and pains since the crime. One of the four also tried to children, said he has been left of the journey but "totally incident, is convinced the attack Thames Valley Police are yet to remove his turban. shaken up by the assault and will changed" as it went on. was of a racist nature and confirm their line of inquiry in the "It was horrible, really be avoiding night shifts. Vaneet Singh, who is suffering believes he was a victim of hate assault case. Pakistan Targeting Indian Professionals Working In Afghanistan: Centre

V Muraleedharan said Pakistan attempted to designate four Indian nationals, who had previously worked in Afghanistan, as terrorists under UN Security Council resolution 1267.

request," he said. globally over terrorism who find shelter in Pakistan and V Muraleedharan said Pakistan emanating from Pakistan, are engaged in terror activities has been targeting Indian including the activities by against India, have been professionals working in terrorist entities such as proscribed by the United Afghanistan in a variety of ways. Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD), Nations (UN), the "Several Indians working in Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e- European Union and other Afghanistan on various Mohammad and Hizbul countries. development projects have been Mujahideen. "On May 1, 2019, the UN (Insider Buearu)- India on Affairs V Muraleedharan, replying attacked and kidnapped over "The international community 1267 Sanctions Committee Monday said Pakistan was to a question in Lok Sabha, said the past 12 years. With the strongly condemned the cross- designated Masood Azhar, the targeting Indian professionals Pakistan attempted to designate assistance of the government border terrorist attack in leader of JeM, as a UN working in Afghanistan through four Indian nationals, who had of Afghanistan, India has been Pulwama in February 2019. proscribed terrorist. The a variety of ways and several of previously worked in Afghanistan, able to secure the release of Several countries have called Financial Action Task Force them engaged in various as terrorists under UN Security many Indians from captivity," upon Pakistan to not allow its (FATF) at its plenary in June development projects have been Council resolution 1267. he said. territory to be used for terrorism 2018, notified Pakistan in the attacked and kidnapped over the "However, the 1267 Sanctions Following India's persistent in any manner," he said. 'Grey List'' due to continuing past 12 years. Committee, based on its internal efforts, the minister added that V Muraleedharan said many terror financing related Minister of State for External procedures, has not approved the there is enhanced concern terrorist entities and individuals, concerns," he said. Indian Jailed For 10 Years For Killing Wife Over Affair Suspicion In Singapore: Report

extramarital affair, a media report reference to a mental disorder-- the killing, in which he inflicted said. and had developed trust issues. 13 stab wounds on his wife, five Krishnan Raju, a self-employed He started suspecting her of of which were on the chest.During bus driver ferrying factory having an extramarital affair and the trial, the prosecution had workers and tourists, married often confronted her over the asked for 12 years' jail while the Raithena Vaithena Samy when issue.In November 2016 defence asked for a maximum of she was 17 and was "very Krishnan stabbed his wife at their eight.The Judge, Justice Hoo possessive of her" throughout the Loyang Gardens condominium Sheau Peng, agreed with the relationship of 28 years, Channel residence and fled to his brother's prosecution psychiatrist's News Asia reported. place in Johor Bahru in Peninsula diagnosis that Krishnan was Mr Raju suffered from delusional Malaysia, the report said.Mr suffering from acute alcohol disorder-- a belief or altered Krishnan pleaded guilty in July intoxication at the time, which A 53-year-old Indian-origin man, sentenced to 10 years of jail for reality that is persistently held to a charge of culpable homicide contributed to the offending and who is suffering from delusional stabbing his wife to death as he despite evidence or agreement for killing his wife.He was impaired his attention or disorder, was on Friday suspected her of having an to the contrary, generally in originally charged with murder for memory. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 COMMUNITY 4 Over 15,000 Families In US Helped By Group Of Indian-Americans Amid Covid For more than six months now, almost 250 cars lined up the parking lots of designated churches and schools for a drive-thru food giveaway as part of an initiative to help those who are still struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic. family of four ...This was an "Everyone is eager to help. In you're helping the community," effort on the part of the Indian- fact, many times we have to a couple thanked the volunteers. American community to tell hold back the volunteers who "This food drive is very important people that our community is a want to come here and to us, it means a lot to my giving community. We are here participate," said Rajiv Jain, an family, stay blessed," to help them in these tough Indian American who has been another overwhelmed lady times," Dr Suresh Gupta, a volunteering. thanks the volunteers while leading member of the Indian About 250 plus families in their picking her supplies.The American community told ANI. cars, line up-almost bumper to Indian American community (Insider Buearu)- Amid the parking lots of designated Being able to do their part to bumper on a Sunday morning to shares information about the coronavirus pandemic, an churches and schools for a drive- help those in need "fills the receive donated food items like distribution through local initiative by the Indian American thru food giveaway as part of an volunteers with a great sense of fresh produce and packaged NGO''s, food banks and even community in the Washington initiative to help those who are accomplishment", Dr Gupta food -- a necessity for some in reaches out to places of worship DC metro area, United States, to still struggling because of the said.The food drive was in poverty or anyone else in in the community to get the word provide groceries and food has coronavirus pandemic. partnership with several search of a meal amid COVID - out.The community plans to have helped over 15,000 families "We have supplied groceries to members of the Indian American 19. People from different faiths their next drive on October 2 to since May. at least 15,000 families in the community, the local church show up early and lined up for commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's For more than six months now, area. And that last for about and the county administration in the drive to begin. birth anniversary followed by a food almost 250 cars lined up the three to four days for people, a the Washington DC metro area. "We are just so grateful that drive during Diwali. Deeply Concerned About India-China Border Issue, Says US Congressman Over the past few months, top American lawmakers have expressed their concerns over blatant Chinese incursions. (Insider Buearu)- An Indian- issue. deputy assistant to the US American Congressman has "I am deeply concerned about president, told a top American urged China to end its military this issue, which is why I think-tank the US is encouraged provocations of India and pursue authored a bipartisan resolution by India's strong yet responsible a diplomatic resolution to the overwhelmingly approved by the approach to the Chinese tense border standoff in Ladakh. House urging China to end its aggression. "While always Raja Krishnamoorthi said this military provocations of India and seeking to de-escalate through following a classified briefing on to pursue a diplomatic diplomatic means, India also US-India strategic partnership, strong and unambiguous support the issue by the House resolution," Mr Krishnamoorthi demonstrated military and and our resolve to strengthen the for India, and our cooperation has Permanent Select Committee on said. economic resolve," she said. US-India ties as a bulwark against grown closer," Curtis said. Intelligence, of which he is the "I will continue to closely monitor "From a bilateral perspective, Chinese aggression in the Indo- Over the past few months, top first and only Indian-American this dispute until it is fully China's recent actions on Line of Pacific," she said. American lawmakers have member. The committee's resolved," he said. Actual Control has further "Throughout this crisis, the expressed their concerns over meeting was the first ever on the Earlier Thursday, Lisa Curtis, reinforced the importance of the United States has provided blatant Chinese incursions. $9,000 Fine For Singapore Manager For Confining 3 Indians For 40 Days The workers were first confined from May 12 to 15, and then over a five-week stretch, from May 19 to June 26, The Straits Times reported.

counts of wrongful confinement. men as "troublemakers". beds, a bathroom, as well as Wi- The Indian workers are Ganesan The lawyer said that during the Fi connection. They were also Pandi, Pandiyan Jakakanthan outbreak, Ganesan Pandi and given meals and ample water. and Muthuraj Thangaraj. Three Pandiyan Jakakanthan had left But Deputy Public Prosecutor other similar charges involving the their place of residence in Tuas Eric Hu said it was no excuse same men were considered to buy alcohol despite being for the manager to take matters during the sentencing, the report housed near a COVID-19 cluster. into his own hands. (Insider Buearu)- A company The workers were first confined said. Pandiyan Jakakanthan also Before handing out the sentence, manager in Singapore was fined from May 12 to 15, and then over Lawyer Md Noor E Adenaan, who drove a company lorry without a the judge said the manager Singapore dollars 9,000 on a five-week stretch, from May 19 represented the 41-year-old licence. As for Thangaraj, the should have notified the police Thursday for wrongfully confining to June 26, The Straits Times Singaporean, told District Judge lawyer said, he was previously about the workers.For each three Indian nationals working for reported. Prem Raj that his client is caught for drink driving. count of wrongful confinement, an him in a room for around 40 days Shaun Pang Tong Heng had remorseful. The court heard that the room the offender can be jailed for up to amid the COVID-19 outbreak. earlier pleaded guilty to three Shaun Pang Tong Heng saw the trio were confined in had clean three years and fined. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 COMMUNITY 5 Government of India, Ministry of Health & Welfare new guidelines for new arrivals in India

(Press Release) New Delhi: (in supersession of Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices. at the airport/ seaport/ Iandport. The self-declaration guidelines issued on the subject dated 24th May iii. At the time of boarding the flight/ ship, only form filled online shall be shown (or a copy of physical 2020) (to be operational from 00.01 Hrs, 8th August asymptomatic travelers will be allowed to board after self-declaration form to be submitted) to the airport 2020) thermal screening. health staff. Before Planning for Travel: iv. Passengers arriving through the land borders iii. The passengers found to be symptomatic during i. All travelers should submit self-declaration will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, screening shall be immediately isolated and taken form on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to medical facility as per health protocol. least 72 hours before the scheduled travel. to cross the border into India. iv. Post thermal screening, the passengers who have ii. They should also give an undertaking on the v. Suitable precautionary measures such as been exempted from institutional quarantine (decision portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine environmental sanitation and disinfection shall be as indicated on the online portal in advance) will show for 14 days i.e. 7 days paid institutional quarantine ensured at the airports. the same to the respective State Counters on their at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at vi. During boarding and at the airports, all cell phones/other mode before being allowed home home with self-monitoring of health. possible measures to ensure social distancing to be quarantine for 14 days. iii. Only for compelling reasons/ cases of human ensured v. The remaining passengers shall be taken to distress such as pregnancy, death in family, serious During Travel suitable institutional quarantine facilities, to be illness and parent(s) with children of the age of 10 i. Travelers who had not filled in self-declaration arranged by the respective State/ UT Governments. years or below, home quarantine may be permitted form on the portal shall fill the same in duplicate in vi. These passengers shall be kept under institutional for 14 days. the flight/ship and a copy of the same will be given to quarantine for a minimum period of 7 days. They iv. If they wish to seek such exemption under Health and Immigration officials present at the airport/ shall be tested as per ICMR protocol available at para (iii) above, they shall apply to the online portal seaport/ Iandport. Alternatively, such travelers may https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/ (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before submit self-declaration form on the online portal at Revisedtestingguidelines.pdf boarding. The decision taken by the government as arriving airport/ seaport/ Iandport as per the directions If they test positive, they shall be assessed communicated on the online portal will be final. of the concerned authorities, if such facility is clinically. v. Travelers may also seek exemption from available. a. If they are assessed as asymptomatic / pre- institutional quarantine by submitting a negative RT- ii. Suitable announcement about COVID-19 symptomatic/ very mild cases, they will be allowed PCR test report on arrival. This test should have been including precautionary measures to be followed shall home isolation or isolated in the Covid Care Centre conducted within 96 hrs prior to undertaking the be made at airports/port and in flights/ships and during (both public & private facilities) as appropriate. journey. The test report should be uploaded on the transit. b. Those having mild/ moderate/ severe symptoms portal for consideration. Each passenger shall also iii. While on board the flight/ ship, required will be admitted to dedicated Covid Health facilities submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of precautions such as wearing of masks, environmental and managed accordingly. the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. are If found negative, they shall be advised to further if found otherwise. The test report could also be to be observed by airline/ ship staff, crew and all isolate themselves at home and self-monitor their produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in passengers. health for 7 days. India. On arrival vii. In case, any symptoms develop they shall inform Before Boarding i. Deboarding should be done ensuring social the district surveillance officer or the state/national i. Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with distancing. call center (1075). ticket to the travelers by the agencies concerned. ii. Thermal screening would be carried out in respect NOTE: States can develop their own protocol with regards ii. All passengers shall be advised to download of all the passengers by the Health officials present to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment post arrival of passengers in the state concerned. Queens Contractor and his Business plead guilty to violating prevailing wage labor laws (Press Release) New York :Glen employees are not union cheating hard working employees Deol, of 262nd Street in the Glen and under the overall supervision Oaks Resident and Laser members. District Attorney Katz out of more than a million dollars Oaks neighborhood of Queens, of Assistant Chief Christopher Electrical Cheated Employees said, "Earlier this year I created in salaries and benefits will result pleaded guilty today to a McCormack, Commanding Despite Securing City Contracts the Housing and Worker in vigorous investigation and misdemeanor violation of the Officer-Criminal Enterprise That Required Prevailing Wage for Protection Bureau to combat this prosecution, and ultimately, the full prevailing wage New York State Division. The investigation was Workers; Defendant and Business kind of malfeasance. When an repayment of funds to those who labor law before Queens Supreme also conducted by the New York Will Repay Cheated Personnel as employee puts in a day's work, were victimized. DOI thanks the Court Justice Steven Paynter. City Department of Investigation's Part of Plea Deal they deserve to be paid the Queens District Attorney's Office On behalf of his company, the Office of the Inspector General for Queens District Attorney Melinda prevailing wage. In this instance, for its partnership in this case and defendant pleaded guilty to a the New York City School Katz, joined by the New York City the defendant paid his employees its commitment to making these felony failure to pay a prevailing Construction Authority's Deputy Department of Investigation less than what was required and workers whole." wage. As part of the negotiated Counsel Celeste Sharpe, Commissioner Margaret Garnett, siphoned the difference into his According to the charges, the plea, Deol will be required to make Investigative Accountant Raymond announced today that Jagdeep own pocket. This is unacceptable defendant played out a scheme full restitution and will also Dowd, Investigator Leonard Rein, Deol, 36, and his business Laser and will not be tolerated in Queens commonly referred to as a reimburse the City approximately Investigative Manager Charles Electrical Contracting Inc. have County. I would like to thank the prevailing wage scam. Deol's $160,000 to cover the cost of the Shevlin, Assistant Inspector pleaded guilty to a labor law DOI Commissioner and her team company won contracts with the investigation. Moments after General Nicholas Scicutella, under violation on paying a prevailing for their hard work investigating this New York City School Construction pleading guilty, Justice Paynter the supervision of Inspector General wage to workers. The business case." Authority and the New York City granted the defendant a conditional Felice Sontupe.DOI would like to owner pocketed more than $1.5 DOI Commissioner Garnett said, Department of Education. With discharge. However, if Deol does thank the New York City School million that should have gone to "Earning a prevailing wage is vital any City agency, company's doing not pay the promised restitution, Construction Authority for their employees between 2014 and for so many construction City projects must pay a prevailing he could face jail time. cooperation and assistance, 2018. The defendant secured City employees working on public wage to its employees. For The investigation was conducted especially the Labor Law Compliance contracts for his company worth works projects and the fair approximately four years, however, by Detective Robert Magrino of the Unit, and its Senior Director, Deborah millions of dollars. Any company payment of that wage is protected this defendant swindled 11 New York City Police Department's Seidenberg, Investigative doing business with the City is by law. Today's guilty pleas employees. He paid them Asset Forfeiture Unit, under the Accountant Emilio Serrano and required to pay its workers union underscore the seriousness of substantially less and took the supervision of Sergeant Adam Investigators Agnes Collazo and wages or the equivalent, if the these crimes -- that willingly remainder of the funds for himself. Bruno, Lieutenant Alfred Batelli, Adam Gilyard. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 INDIA -CURRENT AFFAIRS 6 Bengal CM Mamata inaugurates green projects to be built in collaboration with EU countries The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for these projects was signed at the global business summit held at the beach town of Digha in East Midnapore in December 2019.

(News Agencies)- West Bengal Rs 26 crore), said the chief "Sustainability is the way to go chief minister Mamata Banerjee minister and will be built in forward in future. We look forward on Wednesday virtually collaboration with Dutch partners. to friends and partners. India is inaugurated two major green The second is a solar power the largest exporter of leather projects worth around Rs 1226 project worth Rs 1200 crore to goods in the world and Europe crore to be built by European be set up in East Midnapore by is the largest market," said Ugo Union countries in Kolkata and a German company. The West Astuto, the EU ambassador to East Midnapore district. Bengal government will invest Rs India. occasions by the opposition volumes. Baffling- Why not The memorandum of 200 crore in the project. Once Addressing Banerjee, Italian parties of failing to bring in give details of claimed understanding (MoU) for these complete, it will generate 350 ambassador to India Vincenzo de foreign investment despite her 'resounding success' projects were signed at the million units of power annually. Luca said, "Without your trips to many countries since 2011, investment of over Rs 12.30 global business summit held at "I am happy to announce that the leadership we could not have Wednesday's development could lakh crores investment! Is the beach town of Digha in East projects are being inaugurated promoted our objective in West help the Trinamool Congress there nothing to showcase!" Midnapore in December 2019. within six months of signing the Bengal and could not have been politically in the run-up to the Dhankhar tweeted on August The ambassadors of Italy, MoU. Where there is a will there able to share our expertise and assembly polls to be held in 2021. 31. Netherlands and the European is a way. The leather complex technology. The challenge is to Recently, even governor Jagdeep "Surely there should be Union and the deputy project will create five lakh jobs promote green energy in India Dhankhar had taken up the issue accountability of spending ambassador of Germany took and help medium, small and and Europe." and sought details of the outcome crores on 'futile' extravaganza part in the virtual inauguration. micro enterprises grow. Several Marten van den Berg, the of the Global Business Summit @MamataOfficial. Corruption One project involves waste leather companies from other ambassador of Netherlands, that the state government holds by way of favoritism and management and sustainable states have also set up units at said, "We look forward to work every year. patronage calls for probe. My development at the Kolkata Bantala," said Banerjee. internationally with West "WORRISOME (ELOQUENT) worst fear- was it 'dream Leather Complex at Bantala in State finance minister Amit Mitra Bengal, Italy, Germany and SILENCE of otherwise vocal merchant' affair! Just a PR the eastern outskirts of the city. said the solar power project will European Union." FM @MamataOfficial on exercise! Awaiting CM It involves foreign investment save the climate from 50,000 tons For Banerjee, who has been details of Bengal Global response!" he said in another worth three million Euros (around of carbon emission every year. accused on numerous Business Summit speaks tweet, tagging the chief minister. Programme code violation by Sudarshan TV, issued show cause notice, Centre tells SC A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and K M Joseph was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that Sudarshan TV has to give reply to the show cause notice by September 28, failing which an ex parte decision will be taken.

(News Agencies)-The Centre News'," the bench said in its remain in operation pending informed the Supreme Court on order.It said that since the notice further orders.During the brief Wednesday that it has prima is stated to be 'returnable' on hearing, Mehta said that the four facie found violation of the September 28, Mehta has page notice to the channel has programme code by Sudarshan requested the Court to defer the sought an explanation on various TV's 'Bindas Bol' show and has hearing in the present case so points regarding violation of the issued a notice to the as to enable the central programme code and why action channel.The top court said that government to take a considered should not be taken against it. The "reservation". The apex court, and wearing greens". The bench the steps taken by the view of the matter. detailed notice under Cable which has already imposed the then said: "Does this mean that government in pursuance to the Since the notice has been Television Network (Regulation) pre-telecast ban on episodes of every time, the judges asked show cause notice against the issued today, the hearing is Act, 1995 has been issued today 'UPSC Jehad' on a plea raising questions you will shoot your channel will be subject to the deferred to October 5, the court itself, showing facts that are, grievances against it on grounds mouth with your views? If that is orders of the court.A bench of said.It added: "The notice shall according to the government, including hate speech, was irked the case then judges will stop Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu be dealt with in accordance with prima facie not in accordance with over the fact that the channel, in asking questions. You are not Malhotra and K M Joseph was law and the Central Government the programme code, he said. The his affidavit, has named one supposed to file affidavits on all informed by Solicitor General shall submit a report to this bench observed that if the case English news Channel for the questions which judges ask. Tushar Mehta that Sudarshan Court indicating the outcome of wasn't heard by the court then all running two shows on Hindu Judges ask questions to elicit a TV has to give reply to the show the notice."Since the notice has episodes would have been aired terror earlier. "Why have you better response." On being told cause notice by September 28, been issued during the by now. At the outset, it asked said about the programmes (of by the petitioners that the failing which an ex parte decision pendency of these proceedings, intervenors in the matter to file the English news channel)? Who episodes have violated the will be taken."During the course further steps in pursuance of the written submissions, if any. On asked about your opinion about programme code under cable TV of the hearing today, Tushar notice to show cause shall be September 21, the top court had the programmes," it had said. rules, the top court pondered over Mehta, Solicitor General of India subject to the result of the pondered over the nature and Lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, the extent of control and curb which stated that the Central present proceedings and to extent of its order regulating appearing for Editor-in-Chief can be imposed by it through its Government has, in exercise of such orders as may be passed 'Bindas Bol' programme on Suresh Chavhanke, had said that orders."This programme ('Bindas the power conferred upon it by by this Court." The top court alleged infiltration of Muslims in his affidavit contained reference Bol') has public interest involved sub-section (3) of Section 20 of also said that its interim order bureaucracy saying it did not want of the English Channel and their on (issues of) foreign funding or the Cable Television Networks of September 15, 2020 to "curtail" freedom of speech as programmes on Hindu terror as on reservation. If we are to issue (Regulation) Act 1995, issued a (injuncting the telecast of the programme has "public he was asked earlier as to why injunction (stay) then what kind notice to show cause dated remaining episodes of the interest" involved on issues of the 'UPSC Jehad' episodes have of injunction will be like, whether September 23, to 'Sudarshan programme) shall continue to "foreign funding" and "shown Muslim men in skull caps it should be a blanket injunction. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 INDIA -CURRENT AFFAIRS 7 Scribe Prakash Swamy honored on PM Modi’s birthday (News Agencies)- Distribution 2021 Assembly elections. He of provision bags to 250 people, regretted that some film giving away Prime Minister’s personalities stir up Ayushman Bharat Yojana unnecessary issues to be in the medical insurance policies to limelight knowing very well that 50 needy persons and honoring there is no support from the three eminent personalities with masses for their cause. Narendra Modi Lifetime Dolphin Sridharan and MN Raja Achievement awards marked congratulated the Muslim the 70th birthday celebrations Rashtriya Manch, a wing of of the Prime Minister organized Rashtriya Swayamsevak by Muslim Rashtriya Manch at Sangh, for organizing events TN Rajarathinam Auditorium, to promote the welfare Adyar in Chennai on schemes of Modi among the Wednesday. masses in Tamil Nadu. MN Raja, vice president of Tamil Ms. Fathima Ali, State Nadu BJP, Dolphin Sridharan, President of Muslim Rashtriya State Secretary of BJP and Manch in her welcome Paul Kanakaraj, president of address said several Muslim Advocates wing of the party youth have been attracted by presented the Modi Lifetime Modi and are joining the Achievement Awards to veteran journalist, served as UN reception committee to Addressing the gathering, organization in large numbers. Tamil actor Radha Ravi, senior Correspondent for 20 years welcome Modi to New York in Radha Ravi said most of the She said the awardees were journalist Prakash M Swamy before moving back to India. 2014. He was also assigned to Muslims in India support Modi chosen for their contribution to and broadcast journalist Jaya He served as a core committee help conduct AR Rahman’s for his far reaching progressive nationalism and promoting Krishnan of Win TV. member of Madison Square concert at the UN on behalf of measures. Tamil Nadu will unity in diversity in their Prakash Swamy, a veteran Garden Prime Minister Modi India in the year 2016. witness a Modi wave in the chosen field. 'Modi govt committed to farmers' welfare': Smriti Irani slams Opposition for protesting against farm bills The Upper House of Parliament "Congress in its 10 years in traders have to mandatorily pay (Rajya Sabha) on Sunday cleared power didn't implement the farmers within maximum three two key agriculture reform bills Swaminathan Report. Modi days. Then why is the amid protests and uproar by government implemented the Opposition opposing these Opposition parties. The report and gave 1.5 times bills?" she added. Opposition, led by Congress, higher MSP. Under Kisan The Opposition has, meanwhile, boycotted Parliament on Samman Nidhi Scheme, more decided to press for the Tuesday after Centre refused to than Rs 90,000 crore was withdrawal of the bills. accept its demand for withdrawal transferred into the accounts Congress leader Ghulam Nabi of the bills. of more than 10 crore Azad met President Ram Recalling the Swaminathan farmers," Irani said, as quoted Nath Kovind on Wednesday, Report, Irani took a dig at the by ANI. urging him to not sign the Congress and applauded Modi Irani also slammed the bills.The Congress party has (News Agencies)-"It is clear that something in the Parliament, it government for implementing Opposition for standing against also decided to launch a the Modi government is is a sovereign promise to the recommendations made in the farm bills. "The bills allow nationwide protest from committed to farmers' welfare. people of the nation," Irani was the report and giving 1.5 timers the farmers to trade their Thursday demanding that the We have to understand that quoted as saying by news higher minimum support price produce freely, secures the bills should be taken back by the when the government says agency ANI. (MSP) to farmers. farmers' land and ensures that government. Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia hospitalised due to Covid-19 The 48-year-old Aam Aadmi Party leader has been admitted to the state-run LNJP Hospital. (News Agencies)- Delhi deputy chief on Twitter and said, "Had got my COVID- minister Manish Sisodia, who had tested 19 test done after I had a mild fever. The positive for novel coronavirus on September report has come positive. I have gone into 14, has been hospitalised on Wednesday, self-isolation. As of now, I have no fever or news agency PTI?reported. any other issue. I am fine. By your The 48-year-old Aam Aadmi Party leader has blessings, I will recover fully and return to been admitted to the state-run LNJP work soon." Hospital. Sisodia is the second minister in the Delhi Sisodia had tested positive for Covid-19 and government to have tested positive for the was being treated for the viral contagion in viral infection. Earlier, Delhi's health home isolation. minister Satyendra Jain had tested positive After testing positive, Sisodia had confirmed for Covid-19. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 INDIA -CURRENT AFFAIRS 8 CBI books BSF official, 3 traders for cattle smuggling at Indo- Bangladesh border The agency on Wednesday conducted raids at 15 places in several cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Siliguri, Murshidabad, Ghaziabad, Amritsar and Raipur after filing a case against a BSF Commandant - Satish Kumar and three traders - Mohammad Enamul Haque, Anarul SK and Mohammad Golam Mostafa. (News Agencies) - An CBI in January 2018. It was responsible to prevent cross investigation conducted by alleged that Enamul had paid Rs border movement of men and Central Bureau of Investigation 50 lakh to Mathew for letting the property, safeguarding interests (CBI) into the alleged cattle illegal cattle smuggling trade run of India". smuggling at Indo-Bangladesh smoothly at the border. The Citing alleged bribe paid to Satish border has revealed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Kumar, CBI FIR says when the Border Security Force (BSF) and had also raided Enamul's Commandant was posted in 36th Customs Department takes play premises' in January this year. battalion of BSF at Malda, West an active role in the illegal trade Based on the 2018 probe, CBI Bengal between December 2015 and size of animals with an which were then procured at a for which huge bribes are paid. had launched a preliminary and April 2017, more than 20,000 intention to reduce the upset considerable lower price by the The agency on Wednesday enquiry to investigate a larger cows were seized by the BSF price of the cattle during above named traders due to their conducted raids at 15 places in conspiracy as well as role played before they could be transported auctions," said CBI FIR. unholy nexus with the officials of several cities including Delhi, by Kumar. The agency decided across the border to Describing the role played by Customs department". Kolkata, Siliguri, Murshidabad, to register an FIR on Monday, Bangladesh. However, BSF BSF and Customs after the The agency further alleged that Ghaziabad, Amritsar and Raipur which not only indicts Kumar but didn't seize any vehicle carrying seizure, CBI FIR says that these Enamul Haque used to pay Rs after filing a case against a BSF the border guarding force at large. these animals or arrest the cattle were auctioned 2,000 per cattle to BSF officials Commandant - Satish Kumar The FIR states - "The enquiry smugglers. immediately (within 24 hours of and Rs 500 to concerned and three traders - Mohammad revealed that cattle from India to "Further, due to close nexus seizure) with the help of nearest Customs officials. "Besides, Enamul Haque, Anarul SK and Bangladesh across the between the BSF and Custom Customs station i.e. Jangipur, Customs' officials used to take Mohammad Golam Mostafa. International Border of these two officials with traders like Enamul Murshidabad. "Since the cattle 10% of the auction price as Interestingly, Enamul Haque was countries are sent in large Haque, Anarul and Golam were shown mostly small in size/ bribe from successful also involved in bribing another numbers not through ports of Mostafa, the seizure list of such common breed in the seizure bidders like Enamul Haque, BSF Commandant Jibu D trade but illegally by paying seized cattle was prepared memo of BSF, the auction value Golam Mostafa and Anarul Mathew, who was arrested by bribes to the BSF personnel arbitrarily categorizing the breed of such cattle were reduced SK etc," CBI FIR adds. Concerned over tar balls sullying beaches, Goa writes to Centre sent a copy of a study on the a study on the source of the Bombay High, but the ones seen sources of tar balls in Goa to the tar balls that wash ashore on in August-September after the Union minister and that beaches of Goa, sullying the monsoon were from the tankers "discussions are in progress". water and the sand and coating on the high seas. The soft and "We have tracked down the it with a slimy coating that sticky tar balls are a huge source of these tar balls after makes it unsafe to bathe in the deterrent to tourists visiting the studying the phenomenon. We sea. The studies had said that beach and threaten the footfalls have written to the MoEF about the source of the tar balls was at beachside businesses. Tar the matter. The Central ministry from passing tankers that ball deposition along the West will now study our findings wash their tanks en route Coast of India (WCI) is a common before taking measures to between the Middle East and phenomenon during the (News Agencies) -The of tar balls that wash ashore address the issue which we Southeast Asia or from southwest monsoon season, Goa government has written to before as well as after the have raised," Cabral said. accidental oil spills. A particularly along the coast of Union environment minister monsoon. In 2013, a study by the subsequent study in 2016 found Goa and Gujarat, and it is a major Prakash Javadekar seeking a State environment minister National Institute of that the tar balls that washed concern to the stakeholders solution to the recurring problem Nilesh Cabral said that he has Oceanography had conducted ashore in late May were from especially tourism stakeholders. Elephant electrocuted in Chhattisgarh, 9th death in last four months A wild elephant got electrocuted In June, six elephants died in Raigarh district, where in Chhattisgarh after coming in four districts of the state. While maximum elephants have been contact with a live electrical wire the carcasses of two tuskers electrocuted in the last ten in Dharamjaigarh forest division were recovered from the years, to take necessary steps of Raigarh district on Pratappur forest range in to contain such incidents. Wednesday. Surajpur district, another The order said the forest The elephant's carcass was elephant was found dead in department should ensure that recovered from a farm at neighbouring Balrampur district. the 11 KV electric lines, which Medharmar village, a senior forest Two elephants were electrocuted have been instrumental in official said. in Dharamjaigarh under Raigarh causing the deaths, should be The owner of the farm had laid district and a calf died after 7.5 meters above the ground-level live wires for running an electric getting stuck in a marshland in and insulated electric wires were borewell which the elephant ran Dhamtari district. used in these areas. into and was killed. The One elephant died in July in The department has also directed the elephants. In the last decade, North Chhattisgarh is home to pachyderm's body has been sent Jashpur district of the state. the forest officers to coordinate the state has recorded an around 240 wild elephants, which for post-mortem. Following the fatalities, the state with Chhattisgarh state power increase in its wildlife population roam in plains of the state. This is the ninth elephant death forest department in July issued corporation to find out each and including elephants, whose Several reports of human- in the state in the last four orders to divisional forest officer every illegal connection or live number rose from 225 to 290, as elephant conflicts surfaced in the months. (DFO) of Dharamjaigarh in wire in these areas frequented by per the state forest department. last few years in the region. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 EDITORIAL 9 Presidential debates will showcase Farm bills are seen by farmers to deliver Trump strengths and Biden weaknesses freedom-not to them, but to private capital Trump has done more for the American people in On Friday, September 25, farmers’ because APMC mandis are an essential organisations across the country gave a part of the agricultural trading ecosystem. 48 months than Biden has done in 48 years call for a bandh to protest the three bills While they may have a confrontationist passed by Parliament. These bills, namely attitude to the functioning and The stakes couldn’t be higher at the first partisan threats since Ginsburg’s passing the Farmers’ Produce Trade and administration of mandis, they also share presidential candidate debate in Cleveland won’t shake him, because he’s a leader with Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) a symbiotic relationship with the middlemen Tuesday, moderated by Chris Wallace of a titanium spine. Bill, 2020 (FPTC), the Farmers and the mandis extending beyond matters Fox News. Due to limits on traditional By contrast, Biden spends his days (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of transaction in agricultural produce. The campaigning because of the Chinese opposing every decision the president of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, middlemen are a source of information, coronavirus, the presidential and vice- makes — even if it’s stopping travel from 2020 (FAPAFS), and the Essential inputs, and sometimes credit without presidential debates this fall will be the most China to save American lives or defending Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 collateral.The anger against the bills is not pivotal in American history. our heroic police from left-wing lawlessness. were passed amid protests by the just about restoring the primacy of the With the recent death of Supreme Court Ginsburg’s untimely death makes it Opposition parties, without discussion in APMC mandis but also over the manner in Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the already imperative that Biden explain his previous Parliament. Even the government’s allies, which the bills were thrust upon the farming tumultuous election campaign now heads statements on filling Supreme Court such as the Shiromani Akali Dal, have community. Not only the farmers’ into uncharted territory as we approach vacancies in an election year, even though raised apprehensions, lending their voice organisations, but even state governments Election Day on Nov. 3. President Trump those statements differ with his party’s to the farmers’ demands. and allies have not been consulted. has announced he will nominate a Ginsburg present position. In 2016, Biden said that Projected as historic reforms, the Secondly, all the earlier attempts at successor on Saturday. Senate Majority “the American people deserve a fully-staffed government promises freedom to the reforming agricultural marketing respected Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said court of nine” — and he was exactly right. farmers from the “villainous and the constitutional separation of powers. the Senate will hold a confirmation vote on For months, COVID-19 restrictions gave exploitative” Agricultural Produce While the Centre proposed the model acts, the nominee before Election Day. Biden a convenient excuse to hide in his Marketing Committee (APMC) mandis and these were implemented by state Obstructionist Democrats have rallied in basement and avoid the grueling hand-to- from the middlemen who charge governments. And most of these proposals opposition to the president’s constitutional hand combat of the campaign trail. Biden’s commission from trade in these mandis. were actually acted upon by state duty to fill the seat on the high court that allies in the anti-Trump media allowed him Most farmers would agree that the governments with waves of reforms in the was held by Ginsburg. They are threatening to continue this minimalist strategy — functioning of the mandis is inefficient, functioning of the APMC in most states.Out unhinged and irresponsible measures in something that would never happen for a opaque, politicised and often controlled by of 36 states and union territories, 18 states response, such as packing the Supreme Republican candidate for president. cartels. The attempt to reform the have already enacted reforms allowing for Court with liberals next year or even Liberal journalists let Biden stay well- functioning of the mandis is not new and establishment of private market yards/ impeaching President Trump to derail the rested, while they dished out the harshest has been in process for the last two private markets, 19 states have enacted confirmation process for a new justice. treatment imaginable to President Trump. decades, starting from 2001 when the reforms allowing for direct purchase of The Supreme Court showdown will be The American people recognize this inherent expert committee on agricultural agricultural produce from agriculturists by the central issue in the lead-up to the election bias. Case in point is the left-wing media’s marketing submitted its report. Since then, processor/bulk buyer/bulk retailer/exporter, and will certainly play a prominent role when recent failure to demand from Biden his own three different model APMC acts have 20 states have enacted contract farming Trump and Democratic presidential nominee list of potential Supreme Court choices. been proposed by previous governments acts. Kerala and Bihar do not have APMC and former vice president Joe Biden take With early voting already underway in (in 2003, 2007, and 2013) and in 2017 by mandis and Tamil Nadu has a different the stage in Tuesday’s debate. this year’s election in several states, the the current government, none of which led system. Most states have exempted levy It’s indisputable that it is President voting public remains in the dark about to the kind of protests that have been of taxes and fees on sale of fruits and Trump’s obligation as chief executive to fill Biden’s vision for America — or lack thereof. witnessed over the last two weeks. vegetables. Most of these reforms were Supreme Court vacancies and it’s the In fact, Biden has been coddled to the point Rather than welcoming the freedom from enacted by the state governments and Senate’s job to advise and consent on that he’s shown little urgency explaining to mandis, this time farmers are on the rules were framed with farmers welcoming judicial nominations. the American people why they should elect streets fighting for restoring the primacy of these changes, even though the changes President Trump has pledged to him president. Biden wants voters to just the mandis in agricultural trade primarily were suggested by the Centre. nominate a highly qualified woman as send him to the White House without Justice Ginsburg’s replacement, and earning an election victory. because of his decisive leadership it appears By contrast, folks already know what that Senate Republicans have the votes to President Trump will do if he’s given four approve the president’s nominee. more years in office. This president is battle- Reacting to Ginsburg’s passing, Sen. tested and likes communicating with voters Ted Cruz, R-Texas, articulated why a full high directly about his policies, accomplishments court is so important in the coming weeks and vision. ISSN No. 1554 06X and months. If the results of the presidential This is an election about the future of Editor in Chief & Publisher : election are in dispute and there are issues America and everything is on the line. Sharanjit Singh Thind that must be litigated, the Supreme Court President Trump will win because he speaks Editor (Political Affairs-India) : must have a full complement of nine justices, in bold colors about today’s important issues Aruna Singh Cruz has pointed out. and why his vision for America is much Unsuccessful 2016 Democratic brighter than Joe Biden’s. Chief Photographer : Vijay Shah presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has This president knows how to create a Editorial Intern: Roubin Singh Thind stated that Biden should not concede the booming economy that lifts all Americans Special Correspondent : presidential race to Trump on election night and will continue the greatest economic Gagandeep Singh (India) because mail-in ballots will slow the comeback ever when he is reelected. Biden Web Coordinator : Harpreet Singh tabulation of election returns. would raise taxes and pile on job-killing “Joe Biden should not concede under regulations. President Trump will take on A Publication of Media Partners Capital, Inc. any circumstances because I think this is the Communist Chinese and will always put going to drag out,” Clinton said in an interview America first by continuing to renegotiate REGD & MAILING OFFICE : in August unfair trade deals. Biden’s career is littered P.O Box 7005 Hicksville New York 11801 Clinton’s declaration of war is perhaps with support for bad trade deals that sent the paramount reason why the Republican jobs overseas. President Trump will Phone: 917 612 3158 majority in the Senate must confirm the complete the border wall because he knows [email protected], [email protected] president’s Supreme Court nominee without that walls work and the statistics prove it. www.thesouthasianinsider.com Disclaimer The South Asian Insider is a weekly newspaper published every week by The South Asian Insider. 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We strongly urge consulting your lawyer before buying/contracting /hiring through the ads published in the newspaper. We are in the business of selling space and claims made by the advertisers are not authenticated or confirmed by an independent source Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 OP-ED 10 The unrelenting horizonlessness of the Covid world Six months into the because one had become Our present relations to pandemic with no end in sight, apathetic, but because somehow people and things are, in many of us have been feeling a the whole structure of care had this deep way, future- sense of unease that goes become jammed up. oriented. Symphonies beyond anxiety or distress. It's a What could this particular form are written, buildings nameless feeling that somehow of melancholy mean in an urgent built, children makes it hard to go on with even global crisis? On the face of it, conceived in the the nice things we regularly do. all of us care very much about present, but always What's blocking our everyday the health risks to those we know with a future in mind. routines is not the anxiety of and don't know. Yet lurking What happens to our lockdown adjustments, or the alongside such immediate cares ethical bearings worries about ourselves and our is a sense of dislocation that when we start to lose loved ones -- real though those somehow interferes with how we our grip on that worries are. It isn't even the care. future? sense that, if we're really honest The answer can be found in an It's here, moving back to with ourselves, much of what we extreme thought experiment the particular features of do is pretty self-indulgent when about death. In 2013, the global pandemic, that held up against the urgency of a philosopher Samuel Scheffler we see more clearly what drives universities or the arts or local acedia was that monks struggled global pandemic. explored a core assumption the restlessness and dislocation commerce will survive. with its dislocation in isolation. It is something more troubling about death. We all assume that so many have been feeling. The What unsettles us is not only But today's disruption of our and harder to name: an there will be a future world that source of our current acedia is fear of change. It's that, if we can sense of a future must be a uncertainty about why we would survives our particular life, a world not the literal loss of a future; even no longer trust in the future, shared challenge. Because go on doing much of what for populated by people roughly like the most pessimistic scenarios many things become what's disrupted is the structure years we'd taken for granted as us, including some who are surrounding Covid-19 have our irrelevant, retrospectively of care that sustains why we go inherently valuable. related to us or known to us. species surviving. The pointless. And by that we mean on doing things together, and this What we are confronting is Though we rarely or acknowledge dislocation is more subtle: a from the perspective of a future can only be repaired through something many writers in the it, this presumed future world is disruption in pretty much every whose basic shape we can no renewed solidarity. pandemic have approached from the horizon towards which future frame of reference on longer take for granted. This Such solidarity, however, has one varying angles: a restless everything we do in the present which just going on in the fundamentally disrupts how we precondition: that we openly distraction that stems not just is oriented. But what, Scheffler present relies. weigh the value of what we are discuss the problem of acedia, from not knowing when it will all asked, if we lose that assumed Moving around is what we do as doing right now. It becomes and how it prevents us from end, but also from not knowing future world -- because, say, we creatures, and for that we especially hard under these facing our deepest future what that end will look like. are told that human life will end need horizons. Covid has conditions to hold on to the value uncertainties. Once we have Perhaps the sharpest insight into on a fixed date not far after our erased many of the spatial and in activities that, by their very done that, we can recognize it this feeling has come from own death? Then the things we temporal horizons we rely on, nature, are future-directed, such as as a problem we choose to face Jonathan Zecher, a historian of value would start to lose their even if we don't notice education or institution-building. together -- across political and religion, who linked it to the value. Our sense of why things them very often. We don't That's what many of us are cultural lines -- as families, forgotten Christian term: acedia. matter today is built on the know how the economy feeling. That's today's acedia. communities, nations and a Acedia was a malady that presumption that they will will look, how social life Naming this malaise may seem global humanity. Which means apparently plagued many continue to matter in the future, will go on, how our home more trouble than its worth, but doing so in acceptance of our Medieval monks. It's a sense of even when we ourselves are no routines will be changed, how the opposite is true. Perhaps the shared vulnerability, rather than no longer caring about caring, not longer around to value them. work will be organized, how worst thing about medieval suffering each on our own. The UN must reform to stay relevant It must become much more active in issues such as health, the climate crisis, terrorism The United Nations (UN)?has continued relevance. India has UN needs to become much more always struggled when its most long called for the Security active. The most obvious is the powerful members are disunited. Council to be expanded to provide pandemics. No government can On the 75th anniversary of the permanent seats for emerging claim there is not a case for much UN's foundation, not only is great powers like itself. That a draft text more transparent and intrusive power rivalry rising to Cold War for such reforms has made it to global preventive health system. levels, but the world is under the UN General Assembly is an Then there is climate. The UN enormous forces of change, accomplishment. While New hosts the world's primary climate whether technological or Delhi must continue to iterate this change conference, but this role environmental. The organisation requirement, it should be needs to be institutionalised. In one believes this is not a now been made, but India and recognises it needs to make recognised this is an aspiration addition, climate policy now temporary situation. Cynics will other governments now need to major adjustments, but it can only and comes with a long and affects other areas such as trade say the UN will be hampered by find ways to convert these into reform if there is a sufficient unpredictable timeline. It is not and immigration and urgent multi- a de-globalising world, action on the ground. The UN is consensus among its members merely China which will be a disciplinary discussions are superpowers at daggers drawn imperfect because the cohesion to that effect. Prime Minister barrier, neither the United States needed at the highest level. and rising protectionism. The of its member-states is imperfect. Narendra Modi, speaking at the or Russia is eager to see their Finally, terrorism remains a global debate over a reformed But no one can deny, as Mr Modi supplementary high-level meeting, positions diluted. threat. The collapse of the multilateralism and more relevant said, "Our world today is a better stressed the need for reformed There are three obvious Islamic State has taken the wind UN needs to begin sooner rather place because of the United multilateralism to ensure UN's multilateral issues in which the out of the terrorists' sail, but no than later. The speeches have Nations." Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 OPINION 11 BJP's one market for farmers is a myth Only multiple markets and competitive ecosystems apprehension. Bihar farmers get highest price. Renowned a whopping 30% less as the agriculture expert Dr MS will fetch them best prices for their produce price for their produce than the Swaminathan and scholars notified MSPs.If the government such as Sudha Narayanan and P Chidambaram and Nation, One Market" dream will eventually lead to the shutdown was indeed keen on retaining the Mekhala Krishnamurthy have Praveen Chakravarty serve the small farmer. of APMCs which means that the MSP system, as it claims, then argued that the number of Should India's farmers Eighty-five per cent of farmers are bidding process to establish the why is it not so stated explicitly APMC market yards per square have the economic freedom to small farmers, holding one highest price for the produce will in the new laws? Nothing would km is inadequate and severely market their produce to whoever hectare or less and with little also vanish. Independent have been easier than to add a inhibits market access for and wherever they want at an surplus to sell in the market. He/ traders will collude to set up clause that a private transaction India's farmers. Recognising the agreed price? Unequivocally she can be lured to a market only many fragmented thin markets would be valid only if the price severe limitations of the APMC yes. Will the government's if there are, multiple, easily for procurement which will lead paid "is not less than the MSP". system, the Congress party's recently-legislated farm bills accessible and competitive to price gouging of farmers, MSPs play a vital role manifesto for the 2019 elections grant this freedom to farmers? as an emitter of a price clearly laid out the need to The answer is an unequivocal no. signal. The farmers establish thousands of markets Let us understand this through face a real risk of "in large villages and small towns the example of Prashant exploitative prices with adequate infrastructure and Gawande, a small farmer in without a proper price support" as a pre-condition to Akola, Maharashtra, with a signal and an assured free trade in agriculture three-acre farm. He has just market place to sell procurement. The key word is harvested soyabean and needs their produce. Today, markets, not One Market. to sell his produce quickly so farmers neither have Six years of the Narendra Modi as to repay the debt taken to access to multiple government has revealed one produce the crop. The nearest markets nor the clear pattern of governance - to Agriculture Produce Market bargaining power to confuse and conflate lofty goals Committee (APMC) market yard negotiate fair-price and objectives with ill-thought- for Gawande is 25 km away contracts. Farmers out policy execution. where licenced traders will bid have seen through the Eliminating black money was a for his produce, starting with the falsity of the lofty objective; but Minimum Support Price (MSP) government's demonetisation as a policy to declared by the government.?He propaganda and that is why achieve that was disastrous. can sell his produce to the markets in the area where the most of whom are small and do farmers across the country are Ease of inter-state trade was a highest bidder - whether a farmer produces his/her crop. not have collective bargaining on the streets protesting against laudable goal; a plethora of government procurement Under the new laws, anyone can powers. This is how the APMC these laws.The objective to Goods and Services Tax (GST) agency or a private trader - and now operate outside the auspices and MSP systems will be slowly provide economic freedom to rates was not the way to achieve collect his money. of APMC and procure from dismantled. When the MSP farmers through more choices of it. Flattening the Covid-19 curve Ninety-four per cent of India's farmers without the need for a system is dismantled, farmers buyers is a laudable pursuit that was a worthy pursuit, but a farmers sell their produce for licence or payment of a fee. Most lose a very important price the Congress supports fully. draconian lockdown was non-MSP prices. Official data traders will then abandon APMC signal that can help them get Farmers such as Gawande can imprudent. Similarly, giving disclosed in Parliament showed and set up their own informal better prices. The experience of be liberated only when they economic freedom to our that, in the last season, only markets outside to avoid APMC Bihar after the Nitish Kumar have access to multiple markets farmers is a desirable goal, but 1.24 crore paddy farmers and 44 transaction costs and government repealed the state's where different buyers compete the hastily-passed farm laws will lakh wheat farmers got the MSP. regulations. Lack of activity will APMC Act bears out this for their produce and offer the not help achieve this. The reason is that farmers do not have an ecosystem with multiple, easily accessible and competitive markets. The painful Dealing with Covid-19 in rural areas conclusion is that, notwithstanding the operation of To win the war against the pandemic, battles have to be fought and won on every front. APMC Acts for a few decades, On Tuesday, the tally of billion, against the World only a fraction of the farmers get Covid-19 cases in India crossed Health Organization- MSP. 5.6 million. Maharashtra's tally recommended 1:1,000. With The Bharatiya Janata Party rose to 1.24 million with a third of most tertiary care hospitals government has passed new the infections reported among situated in cities, at least farm sector laws which it claims rural populations. Uttar Pradesh 90% doctors live and work will establish a "One Nation, and Bihar have also reported an urban areas, home to 40% of One Market" for agriculture uptick in cases in rural areas. The the population. produce and liberate farmers. states represent a nationwide Prime Minister Narendra "One Market" is a myth. trend of the pandemic shifting to Modi's review of the Covid-19 Can you imagine Gawande in the rural areas where health situation with the chief Maharashtra loading his systems are weak and human ministers of seven states that soyabean crop onto a tractor and resources are stretched or account for 63% of the driving to Madhya Pradesh missing altogether. This leaves average of 46,440 tests per areas is a monumental task. Of country's cases focused on because he has learned that he the sick with no option but to seek million, which may lead to the little over 1.2 million scaling up testing and can get a better price there! Or treatment in cities, where the undetected and asymptomatic allopathic doctors registered containment in rural India imagine Gawande pulling out strain on the health care system spread in the young, mobile with the Medical Council of India ahead of the last phase of his computer, log into the e- is beginning to show. Testing is rural demographic, and, in turn, (June 30), around a million are unlocking on September 30. commerce market place, and still concentrated in urban and bring the infection back to available for active service. This To win the war against the complete a digital sale and peri-urban areas. Testing in rural cities.Meeting the challenge of puts the doctor-population ratio pandemic, battles have to be purchase!! Neither the current areas remains below the national containing the spread in rural at 1:1,343 for a population of 1.35 fought and won on every front. APMC system nor the "One ADVERTISEMENT Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 12 Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 13

Farm bills, sifting the grain from the chaff TRUTH VS HYPE Though the government maintains that the MSP regime would remain intact, it's clear that on account of the tax differential between the mandis and new agri-trade areas, mandis will wither away in a short period. Kiran Choudhry during the lockdown without farmers having to sell their crops have less autonomy as compared to nosedive below rates After two of the three contentious waiting for detailed deliberations in mandis designated under the to judicial officers. contracted between farmers and agriculture bills were passed in or approval for these ordinances Agriculture Produce Market SPOOKED BY BIHAR companies. Instead of honouring the Rajya Sabha on Sunday by from Parliament, the worst was Committee (APMC) Act, giving EXPERIMENT the contract and incurring loss, voice vote amid protests from the yet to come. them liberty to sell their crops in An arhtiya acts as a non-formal companies adopt the stratagem Opposition, Prime Minister Unsure of its numbers, the ruling agricultural trade areas. Corporate bank, financing the farmer for of nitpicking in quality such as Narendra Modi tweeted, calling it party was rescued by the fiat of players can now buy farmers' family emergencies besides moisture, lustre, and shrivelled a "watershed moment in the the deputy chairman getting the produce in these agri-trade areas, fending for sundry arrangements grain, harassing farmers. history of Indian agriculture". for crop such as weighing, IN INTEREST OF CORPORATE Similar media and government cleaning, transporting and SHARKS hype followed the three coordinating with procuring Section 4 of the Essential ordinances in June, branding them agencies. Instead of addressing Commodities Act has already transformational for the uplift of the infirmities of the arhtiya been amended, deregulating agriculture. system, dismantling the same stock limits on cereals, pulses, This rhetoric notwithstanding, without an alternative would be onions, potatoes, edible oil and most farmer organisations, painful to all stakeholders. oilseeds, except for dire situations barring a handful owing allegiance Though the government of war, natural calamity or to the RSS and BJP, hit the maintains that the MSP regime inordinate price rise.It is feared streets in protest against the would remain intact in mandis, that big corporate sharks will ordinances. Lathicharge and use it's clear that on account of the hoard these essential of force on a peaceful assembly huge tax differential between the commodities on the arrival of of farmers at Pipli near farm bills rushed through the Rajya obviating the intermediary layer of mandis and new agri-trade areas, crops, create artificial Kurukshetra recently was Sabha via a voice vote, short- arhtiyas/commission agents and mandis will wither away in a short scarcity and sell at saddening and depressing in circuiting the Opposition protests APMC mandis. While mandis period. The farmers are spooked exorbitant rates later, hitting equal parts, exposing the or pleas for a division of vote. On a would continue to levy market fee, by a similar Bihar experiment in the average consumer the repulsive face of the regime in black Sunday, it appeared free cess and other charges, all 2006, where farmers are exploited hardest. Through the new Haryana. Farmers' anger is on the discussion and dissent was under agricultural transactions in the and fleeced by private agriculture legislation, the boil, forcing the BJP's docile and lockdown in our polity. By getting agri-trade areas are exempt from businessmen with mandis out of government has furthered the loyal ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, these farm bills passed by such charges. Vesting of powers the procurement equation. interests of corporate sharks to exit the Union cabinet, Parliament, the Centre has to resolve payment and other The Farmers' Produce Trade at the cost of farmers, exposing the limits to which the transgressed into the states' disputes with the local SDMs and and Commerce (Promotion denying them statutorily attractive package of government domain of managing agriculture, revisionary/appellate jurisdiction and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, guaranteed procurement of propaganda and media hype can which is on the concurrent list with senior government officers is an enabling legislation for crops at the MSP. Congress conceal hideous reality. under the Constitution. under the new legislation, facilitating contract farming. leader Rahul Gandhi has given DISSENT UNDER LOCKDOWN GOVERNMENT INTENT bypassing the judicial hierarchy, Past experience shows that an apt description of these If eyebrows are being raised at the SUSPECT makes the government intent to in a surplus year when there black laws, calling them "death haste with which the Centre The two controversial farm bills ensure fairness of procedure is glut in supply of agricultural warrants against farmers". issued these ordinances in June deregulate the stipulation of suspect, as government officers produce in markets, rates tend [email protected] Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 14 Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 OPINION 15 India Should Choose: Toyota or Pakora? Andy Mukherjee Narendra Modi says, "Make in prices for cars still higher. The India." Toyota Motor Corp. says, market will then be even smaller. stop treating cars as though they So what can be done? were drugs or alcohol. Auto analyst Govind Chellappa The Japanese carmaker has a has practical suggestions. Even point about the tax structure if taxes remain high for now, end being unviable for the industry, the constant tinkering with the and Shekar Viswanathan, vice rates, regulation and the fuel chairman of the India unit, made policy - diesel, petrol or hybrid - it forcefully in an interview to and commit to stability for 15 Anurag Kotoky of Bloomberg years. "It takes 24 to 36 months News. However, instead of trying to develop a new product and to address the specific concern another 12 months to set up the about the high sin levies on cars, physical infrastructure. If taxes the government turned it into a and regulation change every 24 public relations issue. The months, how does one decide minister for heavy industries, who what to invest in?" Chellappa also looks after information and asks. Similarly, the badly broadcasting, took to Twitter to designed goods and services levy announce that "the news that needs a one-time overhaul, Toyota... will stop investing in bizarre overnight ban on most an honest dialogue with unhappy badly need the sin levies that are followed by long-term certainty. India is incorrect." banknotes in 2016 to defending stakeholders - labor, capital, and earmarked for their exclusive use. India must break out of this The additional luxury-tax burden suspiciously cheerful gross subnational governments. Businesses were hoping that vicious cycle in which taxes are - 1% to 22% depending on the domestic product data and Lockdowns are easing even these, which are in addition to high, consumer demand is low, size of the vehicle and engine suppressing a not-so-rosy though the coronavirus continues the regular goods and services investment and job creation are capacity - is what jacks up the household consumption survey, to spread. Workers desperately tax, would expire as planned in constrained, and wage incomes overall levy in the world's fourth- Team Modi has left no stone want jobs to return because 2022. However, because of the are insufficient to boost biggest car market to as much unturned when it comes to there isn't much of a safety net hit to collections this year, they purchasing power at the bottom as 50% on some sports utility spinning a narrative in which it's beyond the family or village. may continue well into the future. of the pyramid. Taxes are hence vehicles. doing everything right. The longer Businesses weren't investing That isn't the whole story. Import exorbitant and have to be Six years of headline this pretense continues, the even before Covid. It's impossible duties on steel and electronic collected from a small management should have been higher the risk of India getting to cut consumption taxes to components may go up, consuming class that can afford enough for Prime Minister Modi's stuck in a post-pandemic sub- stoke demand. India's fund- ostensibly to promote PM Modi's a $23,000 Toyota sedan - and fill government. From justifying its 5% growth rut. It's time to start starved 29 state governments Make in India campaign, pushing it up with highly taxed gasoline that costs three-quarters more than what Americans pay. Modi said in an early 2018 television interview that those The vaccine protocol earning $3 a day by selling "pakoras" - Indian fritters - should Insulate it from political ambition, nationalist bravado also be counted as employed. That would leave the government and geopolitics. Let scientists decide off the hook for the absence of The developers of the most president of the United States new jobs in the formal economy. promising coronavirus vaccines said that a vaccine could be This false pakora/Toyota are making a concerted effort to approved as early as October, equivalence must end. India convince people they will uphold less than a month before he faces should enable large companies scientific standards in their clinical an election. How any of this is to grow and create good jobs with trials. First, they signed what was possible till short- and medium- social security. When they're described as a historic safety term safety implications of these more productive and paid a little pledge. They declared they will experimental shots are better, low-wage workers will be seek emergency approval for their determined is a question beyond able to afford Made in India shirts candidates only after a phase 3 the scope of scientific reasoning. and trousers, which, as trial is complete, and the priority It is important to insulate the economist Rathin Roy has would be to ensure the safety and worst health crisis in generations noted, are more expensive than well-being of vaccinated from political ambition and imported clothing from individuals. Last week, some of were accidentally injected with a among several cautionary tales nationalistic bravado. The political Bangladesh and Vietnam. them went a step further, live polio virus. It was the that have fed into how vaccines, rhetoric in India, in this regard, has Ultimately, the Modi government disclosing granular protocols and culmination of ignored warnings, drugs and therapies are developed been measured. It is encouraging needs to focus on one simple yardsticks for these trials. The skipped safeguards and today. that the health ministry has statistic highlighted by Ambit information is typically considered impatience. A similar tale For the leaders of some of the indicated that it will wait for Capital Pvt. and Singapore- a trade secret. History is littered (although here, the errors lay world's leading powers, these adequate data before gambling on based investor Akash Prakash. with examples of what happens more in development than tales seem to have faded from any vaccine, even if it is one As much as 40% of the when scientific process is victim manufacturing) played out in 1976 memory. Russia last month touted by an all-weather ally. country's listed nonfinancial firms to public anticipation and political when a small but statistically approved for public use a vaccine The country's leaders must now have revenue of less than $15 pressure. The earliest of this was significant proportion of people that is yet to complete phase 2 make sure they don't give in to million. They're tiny even by the Cutter Incident of the mid- who got a swine flu vaccine trials. China has begun the wrong examples. The best emerging-market standards, and 1950s, when tens of thousands developed an autoimmune inoculating thousands of people way for it is to let the scientists the ratio hasn't increased at all of children in the United States condition. The incidents are now with its experimental jabs. The take the wheel. over the past decade. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 16 Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 POINT OF VIEW 17 Agri-reforms will empower farmers. The Opposition is wrong The legislations will give options of new markets, attract private investments to build infrastructure, help in better price discovery, enable information dissemination mechanism, and provide future price assurance to the farmers

Gopal Krishna Agarwal 1991 moment for the economy inter-state commodity trade is in The unprecedented 23.9% and were hailed by experts. The the Centre's domain. The existing decline in the gross domestic Committee of State Ministers, in- APMC infrastructure is not being product (GDP) in the first charge of Agriculture Marketing dismantled; MSP as an quarter of 2020-21 is serious. to Promote Reforms emphasised administration mechanism But gross value-added numbers the need to promote competition implemented through the local show that agriculture grew by in the interest of the farmers and mandis and procurements done a respectable 3.4%, so had the of the Standing by state governments will suggesting the rural economy Committee on Agriculture in its continue as usual. The Narendra will drive recovery. 62nd report. This had the support Modi government, on Monday The Centre promulgated three of almost all parties. itself, announced the increase in Agreement on Price Assurance Indian politics since 2014. agriculture-related ordinances With the government replacing MSP of many commodities. and Farm Services Ordinance, Anything that the Modi in June, which were a break the ordinances by Acts of Though the purpose of MSP was 2020 Act, talks about an Government does must be from the past when pernicious Parliament, the Congress, some to provide an assured floor price agreement on the farm produce opposed by the Congress. The interventions by governments other political parties, farmer to the farmers, over time, it only, and not about the land. The Congress, in its recent election were justified in the name of unions affiliated to them, and became the ceiling price. With Act has further safeguards for manifestoes, had asked for farmers' welfare. The supply representing the interests of the the new Act on facilitating trade farmers on land; in case of loss dismantling APMC, but we have chain in requires massive middlemen are raising a hue and and commerce of produce, the of produce, farmers alone will get abstained from doing so. investment from warehousing, cry. A misinformation campaign government is making it legally the benefit of insurance The legislations will give options cold storage, transportation to has been let loose. The most and institutionally possible for compensation and the of new markets, attract private infrastructure in retail sinister of them is that the farmers to explore the possibility infrastructure and equipment investments to build distribution. This mega push government will do away with the of selling at an even higher price, used at the farm land has been infrastructure, help in better can come from private sector minimum support price (MSP), while retaining the safety net of protected as belonging to the price discovery, enabling alone. Agriculture has also even though the Centre said that MSP. With competition from land owners. Even the dispute information dissemination been moving from shortages to there is no question of private markets, APMC markets resolution within the Act has mechanism, and provide price surplus and the policy on dismantling the MSP will no longer enjoy the monopoly been delegated at the district assurance to the farmers. With essential commodities from mechanism. The Agricultural and the farmer will benefit from level, with the formation of district the prime minister himself at the 1955 is bound to be reworked Produce Marketing Committee better services. boards, and farmers will not have forefront and the Bharatiya and limitations removed for (APMC) and Mandi Act are in the As far as the argument of farmers to run from one court to the other Janata Party amplifying his benefits of scale of operation domain of states, and, therefore, losing their land to corporates is to get justice. messages, there should be no and value addition. These there is no question of the Centre concerned, The Farmers The lack of a responsible doubt about the future of reforms were similar to the amending it unilaterally. Only (Empowerment and Protection) Opposition has been the bane of farmers welfare. The govt's rush to pass key farm bills and the Opposition's conduct were wrong On Sunday, the Rajya The Opposition was wrong too - in being disruptive, creating a din, tearing House was rushed - since the Sabha passed The Farmers' documents, and creating a difficult situation for the presiding officer, perhaps government wants to push Produce Trade and Commerce through other legislations (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, indicating that it too was not confident of the numbers. quickly, before the session is 2020, and The Farmers brought to an early end. And (Empowerment and Protection) there was no division, but a voice Agreement on Price Assurance vote - prompting genuine and Farm Services Bill, 2020. questions about whether the This newspaper has supported government had the numbers at the government's efforts to bring all. So it was with one eye on about a new legislative and policy the clock and another eye on the architecture for agriculture as a numbers that the government method to empower farmers. But rushed through the process on as far as legislation is Sunday - but this was wrong. concerned, there is both content The Opposition was wrong too - and process. And on Sunday, in being disruptive, creating a there is little doubt that the din, tearing documents, and process was undermined, creating a difficult situation for the reflecting poorly on India's presiding officer, perhaps parliamentary democracy. indicating that it too was not The reforms are significant, confident of the numbers. The affecting a range of stakeholders, sending the bills to a select government was not willing to along with this, there should have responsibility for what happened particularly farmers. They have committee. Ideally, this should embark on that process, there been a clear voting process - a on Sunday rests with both sides. also generated a political be done - for the committee should have been a discussion division as it is called in The government's victory in backlash, with even partners in process provides an opportunity in the House where members got parliamentary parlance - to get getting the bills passed will be the ruling coalition such as the to examine legislation, refine it, a chance to offer their an accurate sense of the mood tainted by the way it was done, Shiromani Akali Dal resigning and allows parliamentarians to perspectives and the government of the House. and the Opposition's response from the Cabinet on the issue. speak up without being confined listened to feedback and made Unfortunately, none of this was will dilute its legitimate right to The Opposition was keen on to party positions. But if the modifications accordingly. And done. The discussion in the protest. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 18 Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 PERSPECTIVE 19 Why Yogi is wrong about the Mughals, writes Karan Thapar The greatest of our rulers is the Mughal emperor Akbar. His ecumenism was unique for his time. As Ira Mukhoty has written, He believed 'all religions are either equally true or equally illusory'

Karan Thapar Mughal emperor Akbar or, to use His young son Murad was "How can our heroes be his full name, Abu'l Fath Jalal-ud- "entrusted to the Jesuits for an Mughals?", asked chief minister din Muhammad Akbar. I know education", taught the sign of Yogi Adityanath last week. To many consider the Mauryan the cross and to take the names make his meaning clear, he emperor Ashoka, who ruled 18 of Jesus and Mary at the added, "anything which smacks centuries earlier, Akbar's equal or, beginning of lessons. Akbar's of subservient mentality" is not possibly, heroically superior but I Hindu wives were not required acceptable to his government. disagree. Akbar was not to convert. They enjoyed Today, I'd like to answer him. responsible for 100,000 deaths at "complete freedom to exercise saints in the private chambers". we cavil? Or because his First, however, I want to ask him Kalinga. their own religion". He abolished In 1582, he had the grandfather conquered India? Is a few questions myself. What Now, let me tell Yogi a little about the jiziya, "prohibited the Mahabharata translated from this what you were implying gives a chief minister the right Akbar. As Ira Mukhoty, his latest slaughter of cows and the Sanskrit to Persian. In later when you said regarding to question who our heroes are? and, arguably, best biographer has eating of their flesh" and was a years, he commissioned Mughals as heroes reflects "the He may have the authority to written, in the 16th century, his vegetarian on weekends. translations of the Ramayana, mentality of slavery"? govern us but not to determine was "the greatest empire on Mukhoty's account reveals an Rajatarangini and the story of I wonder if he realises such logic our values and shape our ideals. earth". With an annual income incredible individual, far greater Nala and Damyanti. could encourage the people of It's arrogance on his part to estimated at 100 million pounds, than the pomp and This becomes even more Odisha to curse Ashoka. Or presume to tell us who to look he was "by far the richest ruler in circumstance that inevitably remarkable when you discover India's Buddhists to consider up to and which rulers of our the world". But it's not his wealth surrounded him. He "often wore Akbar was "effectively Pushyamitra Shunga villanous past to consider great. or the size of his kingdom which a dhoti" and appeared in the unschooled and practically for persecuting their Although I don't know Yogi, I'll makes him great. It's his amazing "diwan-e-aam with a tilak on the illiterate". In fact, Mukhoty ancestors? go one step further. I suspect his personality. forehead and a rakhi on the believes he may have "suffered I know Yogi spoke as a politician, question reveals either prejudice For a start, Akbar's ecumenism wrist, tied by a Brahmin, as a from attention-deficit disorder". not a man of the cloth. Yet, he's a or ignorance, possibly both. If I'm was unique for his time. He blessing". The décor of the Some historians have even revered priest of the faith we share. right, this not only is unfortunate believed "all religions are either palace he built in Fatehpur Sikri claimed he was dyslexic. Do these views represent Hindu and unbecoming in a chief equally true or equally illusory". reflects the same open-hearted Let me now ask Yogi another thinking? Do they add lustre to minister, but compounds his Mukhoty says he prayed to the liberalism. question: How can such a man our faith? Do they make arrogance.And so to my answer. sun, whispered mantras, There were "frescoes painted of not be one of our heroes? Is it Indians feel taller? Or more The greatest of our rulers is the worshipped fire and kept fasts. Christ, Mary and the Christian because he was a Muslim that patriotic? What Bihar will tell us about national politics Given the pandemic, the nature of the election, of political competition, and of issues has changed. The outcome will reveal the mood Bihar's assembly citizens to have a more effective too.The 2015 election gave a elections often give a glimpse state which could deliver law and different political architecture. At into larger national political order and development. Make a time of Narendra Modi's trends. In the 1990s, the no mistake, caste was still overwhelming popularity, the dominance of Lalu Prasad was crucial in determining political surprise alliance of Lalu Prasad representative of the larger choices. But broad identity- and Nitish Kumar showed that assertion of Other Backward based social umbrellas, which voters could exercise different Classes, the ascendance of the functioned almost as political choices in national and state politics of "social justice" which units, such as Other Backward elections (a trend that has election - where NDA (which has direct interface with citizens, essentially meant an electoral Classes or Dalits or even become much stronger in the a third partner in Ram Vilas while the pandemic demands the coalition of religious minorities Muslims, now fragmented. So past three years), an effective Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party) least contact with citizens. Will and marginalised castes, and the extreme backward classes, state leader could neutralise the got a staggering 39 of the 40 the new system work? Will it deeper democratisation of the Mahadalits or Pasmanda popularity of the prime minister, seats - has shaped the come at the cost of equity and polity. At the same time, his Muslims - who were more smart political alliances could immediate context. And yes, access? Will it cause a rupture consecutive electoral victories marginalised within their larger build wide electoral social there is the pandemic which will in the ties between party leaders also showed that in Indian groups - began splitting away coalitions and stop the transform politics in ways which and party workers, and between politics, the question of political and making their own choices. Bharatiya?Janata Party (BJP), are still not clear. parties and candidates and the representation and electoral The combination of a different and that the politics of caste The Bihar elections will give a voters? Will it accelerate the arithmetic was, in many ways, form of identity politics with a could still be a strong political glimpse into larger national transition to digital-based politics more crucial than the provision dash of governance - exemplified antidote to the politics of religion. trends in four significant ways. and what form will this take? of public goods and service by the emphasis on road It is 2020, and the political One, it is the first state-wide These questions are crucial delivery. In 2005, the defeat of the construction and law and order landscape is radically different election in the wake of the because other state elections, in Lalu Prasad-Rabri Devi combine, - and a formidable chief minister from what it was five years ago. pandemic, and there are new West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and the emergence of Nitish (CM)?face helped the National Nitish Kumar is back in NDA. Election Commission guidelines Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, Kumar, signalled the limits of a Democratic Alliance (NDA) win Lalu Prasad is serving a to govern the nature of are scheduled for next year - and certain kind of identity-based the 2010 elections and became sentence after being convicted of campaigning, polling, and they will probably have to adopt politics and the yearning for a template for other politicians corruption. The 2019 Lok Sabha counting. Elections demand the same model. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 ADERTISEMENT 20 Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 SOUTH ASIA 21 2 Sentenced to Hang for Deadly Garment Factory Fire in Pakistan

The country’s worst industrial fire killed more than 260 people in 2012. Victims’ relatives said the real culprits had escaped justice. (News Agencies)- Eight years granted punishment." country's powerful military after Pakistan's worst industrial The fire raised questions about launched operations against fire killed 264 people and injured poor regulations in the country's armed members of the party. 60 others at a garment factory in industrial and manufacturing The court found that Mr. Rehman the country's largest city, a court sectors. Activists and victims' and Mr. Zubair had set the factory has sentenced two men to hang families say factory owners have ablaze in retribution because the for arson. been mostly lax or negligent in owners had refused to pay But for distraught families of the setting up proper security extortion money. victims, justice was long delayed, protocols, leaving workers In his 146-page verdict, Judge and the verdict on Tuesday fell vulnerable to accidents. Abdul Qadoos Memon of the short. Corruption has also contributed antiterrorism court in Karachi It came after years of hearings to the poor enforcement of safety stressed that the fire had and testimony from at least 400 regulations. occurred because of "arson and themselves by jumping from the Siddiqui, as the mastermind top floors. Firefighters behind the extortion plot. Mr. witnesses. The slow pace of the The 2012 fire also shed light on sabotage," not because of "gas extinguished the blaze a day Siddiqui demanded $1.2 million trial frustrated victims' families, the underbelly of Karachi's leakage or electric short circuit." who accused the police of failing politics, in which political parties When the fire erupted on the later.The factory's owners, as protection money from the Arshad Bhaila and Shahid factory's owners and plotted the to properly investigate and have been accused of running evening of Sept. 11, 2012, in a Bhaila, were initially arrested but fire after failing to get it, they said. charge the real culprits. armed rackets and extortion commercial hub in Karachi, it Saeeda Khatoon, 50, whose 18- rings. quickly engulfed the building. The were released on bail. They later But he has absconded. moved abroad and were The judge handed life sentences year-old son was killed in the The two men sentenced this multistory complex - which questioned by investigators via to four guards at the factory for 2012 fire at the complex owned week, Abdul Rehman and manufactured ready-made by Ali Enterprises, said that the Muhammad Zubair, formerly garments, mainly for the German video link from Dubai. Raja contributing to the disaster by Pervez Ashraf, then Pakistan's locking the exit doors. Four other factory's owners were equally worked for the Muttahida Qaumi textile discount chain KiK - had prime minister, had urged that people were acquitted for lack of responsible for the blaze Movement, or MQM, a political no fire escape. because of lax safety standards. party that has a history of The windows of the building had murder charges be dropped evidence, including Rauf against the factory owners, local Siddiqui, a senior leader of MQM, "They have been provided a political violence and once iron grills. Workers desperately news outlets reported, setting off and former provincial minister. No systematic escape," she said of controlled the port city with an tried to escape, but most were the owners, adding, "Only the iron fist. It lost much of its clout trapped inside and consumed by a public furor.Investigators named execution date has been set for an MQM official, Hammad Mr. Rehman and Mr. Zubair. lower tier of perpetrators were in recent years after the fire. Many tried to save Pakistan's 39-yr-old NSA a key player in army's Gilgit move that suits China The change of Gilgit-Baltistan's status fits in well with Pakistan NSA Moeed Yusuf's long-standing project to turn the Line of Control with India into an International Border over the years to secure the the US Institute of Peace and Imran Khan's team, his CPEC that has faced some worked closely with the Pakistan understanding and familiarity with opposition from locals over Army and the Inter-Services the American system helped to concerns that it destroys the Intelligence.," he said.Yusuf had position him as the main environment, culture and social cultivated an image of being an strategic thinker for the Pakistani fabric without much benefit to the advocate of Indo-Pak peace and leadership, particularly on people.The effort to change resolution of the Kashmir issue dealing with the US Gilgit-Baltistan's disputed status at USIP. He did run into a bit of a Administration, Congress, (News Agencies)-Army chief autonomy granted to Gilgit- also fits in well with Moeed controversy at USIP months bureaucracy and the think-tanks. General Qamar Javed Bajwa has Baltistan (GB) and incorporate Yusuf's long-standing project to before Imran Khan picked him as Not much is known about his fronted Pakistan's exercise to the disputed region as one of turn the Line of Control with India his special adviser in December views on Pakistan's support of create a province in disputed Pakistan's five provinces, into an International Border. 2019 when objections were terrorism to achieve political and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in the Pakistan watchers in New Delhi Back in 2009 when he was still raised about the public-funded diplomatic ends, particularly in occupied Northern Areas, holding said, describing Pakistan's an academic and building his ties institution becoming a venue of Kashmir. Indian counter-terror a quiet meeting with the young National Security Adviser to the establishment in Pakistan choice for hosting Pakistani officials said they had not heard country's politicians on the topic as one of the project's key driving and the United States, Moeed officials at events reserved for of any instance where Moeed before a minister went public with forces.Gilgit-Baltistan's Yusuf had advocated converting select invitees. One South Asia Yusuf had spoken of ending the Islamabad's plans last week. But assimilation into the Islamic the LoC into the IB, with both expert Dr Christine Fair also establishment's support to the army, people familiar with the Republic works well with China sides maintaining sovereign alleged that Yusuf had been terrorists operating in India."What matter said, isn't driving the that has poured billions of dollars control over the respective parts sharing sensitive information with we do know is that he did come creation of the fifth province - even if much of it is a loan - into of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani agencies using his up with the idea that Pakistan alone.A 39-year-old has also the China Pakistan Economic A Pakistan watcher said Moeed position and access within the should not seek mediation on been hard at work. Moeed W Corridor to build an alternative Yusuf explored the possibility of USIP. Moeed Yusuf is said to Kashmir over concerns that Yusuf.Yusuf, Special Assistant to supply route to the choked, and formalising the LoC as the border have continued to speak about Islamabad could be placed in an Prime Minister Imran Khan on vulnerable Malacca Strait, the between the two countries nearly his ideas on Indo-Pak relations awkward position if the US came National Security Division and main shipping channel between a decade later when he visited after he joined Imran Khan's team up with a unilateral proposal, Strategic Planning, has been a the Indian Ocean and the Pacific New Delhi in 2018. "By then, he as well and plugged the agenda akin to Donald Trump's Middle principal player in Islamabad's Ocean. The army has scaled up had entrenched himself in the with General Bajwa and other top East Plan," a senior Indian official decision to revoke the notional its presence in the GB region establishment in Washington via military officers.In his new role in said. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 SOUTH ASIA 22 Pakistani Christian, jailed for seven years, sentenced to death for refusing to convert to Islam (News Agencies)-In the Asif's boss, wanted him to leave and the court has vowed that depths of a squalid Pakistani Christianity, and Asif knew he Pervaiz will be "hanged by his jail cell - kept far from the rest would suffer a lot by saying no. neck until death." of the inmate population at But he kept his faith." However, the defendant has Lahore's District Prison - a poor Pervaiz's nightmare began in 2013 firmly dismissed the claims, and Christian factory worker is after his supervisor, Muhammad his attorney further contended awaiting execution. Saeed Khokher, at the garment that at the time, some seven A judge convicted Asif Pervaiz, factory where he worked allegedly years ago, anybody could 37, of blasphemy and he was pressured him to become a purchase a phone SIM card sentenced to death earlier this Muslim on multiple occasions, without showing identification. month. Those advocating for according to Malook. When he While legislation has since Pervaiz's innocence claim it refused, Khoker went to police become tougher and chips now special young man - very strong, more years of fighting."Malook was not blasphemy and that he with allegations that the devoted require registration in Pakistan, and he never wept until this also boldly took on the Asia merely refused to buckle to Christian had sent him anybody could simply claim a month when they sentenced him Bibi case in Pakistan, the pressure and convert to Islam. "blasphemous" text messages text message came from a to death. Mentally, he is feeling impoverished Christian woman "This is a tragic situation; the defaming the Muslim Prophet person without verifiable proof. broken," his lawyer continued. who was also convicted of first case in Pakistan's recent Muhammed. Khokher has since Malook is preparing to appeal the "I've told him that he must find blasphemy. Her case history where a Christian has denied that he had attempted to death sentence, yet he has his strength - it is a long journey languished on death row for been accused of blasphemy for compel his work subordinate to cautioned his client that the ahead, that he will not survive almost 10 years through a long refusing to embrace Islam," convert. In Pakistan, insulting the process will mean many more unless he can stay strong. I series of appeals and threats Pervaiz's attorney, Saif Malook, Prophet carries a mandatory years ailing behind bars. "As a wanted to lie and tell him it would before finally being freed in told Fox News. "This man, sentence of capital punishment, person, Asif has always been a be over soon, but it will be many October 2018. India, Sri Lanka to hold virtual bilateral summit on September 26 President Rajapaksa also made it clear recently that Sri Lanka's strategic security policy will have an "India first" approach though Colombo remains open to dealing with other key players for economic development. India, cooperation on counter- the context of the time-tested New Delhi is yet to take a call terrorism and defence matters, friendly ties between the two on Colombo's request for a trade, and the devolution of countries," the external affairs bilateral swap facility for $1.1 powers to Sri Lanka's Tamil ministry said in a statement. billion. Sri Lankan President minority are expected to figure Rajapaksa began a fresh term Gotabaya Rajapaksa had sought in the talks, people familiar as prime minister after his Sri the special swap facility of $1.1 with developments said on Lanka People's Front party billion during a phone condition of anonymity on secured a two-thirds majority conversation with Modi in Wednesday. in parliamentary polls in May. President Rajapaksa "The virtual bilateral summit August. also made it clear recently (News Agencies)-Prime September 26, their first official will give an opportunity to the In July, India announced a that Sri Lanka's strategic Minister Narendra Modi and his engagement after parliamentary two leaders to comprehensively $400-million currency swap security policy will have an Sri Lankan counterpart elections in the island nation review the broad framework of facility for Sri Lanka under the "India first" approach though Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold a last month. The implementation the bilateral relationship soon framework of the South Asian Colombo remains open to virtual bilateral summit on of developmental projects by after the parliamentary Association for Regional dealing with other key players elections in Sri Lanka and in Cooperation (SAARC), though for economic development. US uses defense diplomacy to woo Bangladesh away from China

The U.S. has stepped up efforts helicopters and missiles last year. choice for Bangladesh regarding defense secretary and the northeastern city of Sylhet, to entice Bangladesh into A deal is believed to be in the the sale of defense articles," said Bangladesh's prime minister was which borders India. buying more of its military cards, although no details have Stone, who oversees India, "very important" because of Bangladesh is now trying to hardware in recent weeks, as been revealed, with Laura Stone, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Dhaka's warming relations with corral a $1 billion Chinese credit it hopes to win over an a deputy assistant secretary with Bhutan and the Maldives at the Beijing. line to manage the Teesta River "emerging" ally in South Asia, the U.S. Department of State, State Department's South and China's influence in Bangladesh after a deal to share its water where China has been saying that Congress had not yet Central Asian affairs desk. goes beyond trade and with India languished for years, expanding its economic been "formally notified." Any deal Bangladesh has been buying infrastructure investment. After mainly due to opposition from influence. will frustrate China, which is now more arms from the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic took the state of West Bengal on the In a rare outreach, U.S. the biggest supplier of cheaper the 1990s, with purchases hold, China sent supplies, such Indian side. Secretary of Defense Mark defense equipment. reaching $110 million in the 10 as masks and gowns, and a Bangladesh has been treading Esper earlier this month "We're looking to deepen our years through 2019. But that is medical team to Bangladesh to a fine line between India and phoned Bangladesh Prime security cooperation with dwarfed by the $2.59 billion it advise on the pandemic response. China, but now Washington has Minister Sheikh Hasina, who Bangladesh, which is very much spent on military equipment from In addition, a Phase 3 trial of a taken a proactive approach. also oversees the Ministry of of mutual interest, with full respect China since 2010, according to vaccine developed by the privately "The Bangladesh government Defense, proposing to help the for Bangladesh's sovereignty and the Stockholm International owned Chinese company Sinovac will have to balance conflicting South Asian country independence of action," Stone Peace Research Institute. Biotech is in progress. expectations. Bangladesh can modernize its military by 2030. wrote in an email response to Ali Riaz, distinguished professor Beijing recently lifted tariffs on do it if the national interests The two countries opened talks questions posed by the Nikkei of political science at Illinois State 97% of Bangladesh imports after remain the primary on the sale of advanced military Asian Review recently."We stand University, said that the timing of it secured a $250 million airport consideration," Riaz wrote in an gear such as Apache ready to serve as the partner of the phone call between the U.S. terminal construction contract in email to Nikkei. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 US & THE WORLD 23 What pandemic Trump tries rapid shift to Supreme Court "He didn't wish her dead and he campaign are now concentrating campaign communications didn't kill her. But her death and their messaging infrastructure on director Tim Murtaugh said. the opening it created is clearly the Supreme Court confirmation "Biden knows that he is an going to benefit the president," battle, blanketing surrogates with empty vessel for the radical left said a Republican who is friends talking points, dedicating social and that's why he's refusing to with the president. "Any media feeds to the issue, be honest with the American conversation about coronavirus scheduling interviews about the people about who he would want leads to discussion of his president's "moral" and on the court."Biden, who has handling of it. The most generous "constitutional" duty to fill the been trying to turn the election person in the world would say it vacancy and swiftly into a referendum of Trump's has been mixed." manufacturing "Fill That Seat" t- handling of the coronavirus, has The Supreme Court fight is the shirts that are now for sale on kept attention on the pandemic latest look-over-here subject for the Trump campaign website. in speeches and events since Trump during the pandemic. He On Facebook, the message was Ginsburg's death. On Sunday, previously has, at various points, blasted out in ads. "FILL THAT the Democratic National (News Agencies)- For seven pandemic on Tuesday claimed trained his non-coronavirus SEAT!" blared one that began Committee erected light displays months, President Donald its 200,000th death. messaging firepower on running Monday. "The President across the country that said, Trump's team has been While Trump's allies and aides everything from the economy, to is right, we have an obligation to "Trump Lied, 200,000 Died." But searching for something - were careful in more than half a China, to "law and order," to fill the vacancy on the Supreme by then much of the nation's anything - to take the nation's dozen interviews to avoid Confederate states and mail-in Court, without delay!" attention had shifted to the attention away from the appearing as if they were voter fraud. Yet each time, the Trump's campaign even turned nation's highest court. coronavirus outbreak. celebrating the death of the coronavirus has ultimately the issue on Biden, Trump's "It helps Republicans for one His aides are hoping they finally Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, resurged as the predominant Democratic rival, criticizing him reason - they were losing," said have it. they all acknowledged the 2020 story - a fact Joe Joe for not releasing a list of his own John Pudner, a Trump supporter With a Supreme Court political windfall of the Biden's campaign has been potential Supreme Court who worked for Republican nomination fight that will generate unanticipated event for a trying to present as America's nominees. They cited a pledge presidential nominees Mitt attention for much of the next six president who has seen his leading problem. "I don't think Biden made in June to release a Romney in 2012 and George W. weeks, Trump - at least for now - approval rating dip during the Covid can truly be displaced," a list, though he didn't say when. Bush in 2000 and now leads has latched onto a topic his pandemic. One called it "super." former White House staffer Joe Biden is hiding his list of Take Back Our Republic, a group boosters believe will shift focus Another said the coronavirus has agreed. people he would consider if he that aims to use conservative from the coronavirus, even as the now been relegated to "noise." Still, the White House and Trump were president," Trump solutions for political reform. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 US & THE WORLD 24 Companies shed workers, paid dividends Why this year will be the first time after getting Fed aid, panel finds Mike Tyson will vote (News Agencies)- Mike Tyson, of his right to vote. public support must always be 54, has never voted before. He's Many state laws throughout the undertaken to achieve maximum changing that this election year. US rule felons ineligible to vote. public benefit," subcommittee "This will be my 1st time voting," More than 6 million Americans Chairman Jim Clyburn said in his Tyson said in a tweet Tuesday. -- about 2.5% of the nation's opening statement. "I believe the "I never thought I could because voting-age population -- could terms of the Fed's purchases of of my felony record. I'm proud not vote in the 2016 election due corporate bonds could have been improved so that benefits were more equitably shared by workers as well as investors." Powell in response said the central bank intended to make sure companies were able to (News Agencies)- The Federal purchased by the Fed, borrow money, adding that the Reserve has bought corporate suggesting that the primary Fed helped encourage roughly $1 bonds issued by companies that beneficiaries of the program have trillion in lending in corporate and have laid off more than a million been corporate executives and municipal bond markets just by workers and doled out dividends investors, not workers." establishing emergency to shareholders, the Select The report found that 383 programs to help both those to finally vote." to felony records, according to Subcommittee on the companies whose bonds were segments of the economy. He shared the news with his an estimate by The Sentencing Coronavirus Crisis found in an bought by the Fed paid dividends The Fed is buying the bonds of followers along with a link to Project, a research group that analysis released Wednesday. to their shareholders, including 95 roughly 800 companies, and register to vote and the hashtag advocates for improvements "Fed Chair Jerome Powell that also conducted layoffs, and there's no estimate of how many #NationalVoterRegistrationDay. to the criminal justice testified in June that 'the intended 227 companies had been jobs have been saved by the The legendary boxer was system. There has been a beneficiaries of all of our programs accused of illegal conduct central bank's efforts.The Fed convicted and sentenced to six growing movement toward are workers,'" the committee staff sometime in the past three years. announced in March that it would years in prison on one count of restoring convicted felons the said in the analysis. "However, "While I recognize that during buy corporate debt in a bid to calm rape and two counts of deviant right to vote on a state-by-state the Select Subcommittee's severe economic crises, federal the bond markets, which had sexual conduct in 1992. He was basis in the last few decades, analysis indicates that many large government assistance for large begun freezing up at the released from prison after according to the National layoffs have occurred among the corporations can be necessary to beginning of the coronavirus serving three years. Conference of State companies whose bonds were support the wider economy, pandemic. The conviction stripped Tyson Legislatures. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 US & THE WORLD 25 Inside Oxford's Vaccine Saga: From Wild Hype to Sobering Reality determine safety and efficacy this one are not unexpected in Twitter, from the vaccine ongoing, the world had ordered vaccine development, experts scientists themselves-is going more of the Oxford candidate say. The fact that AstraZeneca to save the world from the than any other, at least 2.94 is pausing trials to investigate, deadliest pathogen in a billion doses. they point out, is a good thing-a century. This week's news is Now, Gilbert's, and the world's, signal that that system is a cautionary note for those hopes are coming back down to working as it should, that drug who think a magic bullet earth, with the news that companies are taking safety might be around the corner- AstraZeneca paused Phase III seriously, that there are some or who think that it might be trials after one participant in scientific norms that politics worth slashing safety Britain showed symptoms hasn't trampled. protocols to get one.In fact, consistent with transverse But the interruption is also a the Oxford/AstraZeneca myelitis, a rare neurological reminder that no amount of group's self-assurance raised disease caused by inflammation hype-from the endless media some eyebrows right from the of the spinal cord. Obstacles like headlines, from politicians on start. (News Agencies)-In April, Sarah upward, Gilbert's forecast Gilbert, the British scientist soothed panicky citizens who New York woman charged with hate crime for leading Oxford University's Covid- had been told that it typically 19 vaccine effort, said she was takes years to develop a allegedly throwing bottle at jogger, using racial slur 80 percent confident her team successful vaccine. The New (News Agencies)-A 53-year-old she could be sentenced to cursed at the woman, "telling would be able to produce a York Times wrote that Oxford Queens woman has been seven years in prison. An her to get out of here and go successful vaccine by had leapt ahead of the charged with a hate crime for African American woman was back to Africa and calling her September. competition and was "sprinting allegedly throwing a glass bottle out for an afternoon jog August the N-word," the statement It was a remarkable statement- fastest" to the finish line. Within at a passing jogger and using 17 in Woodside, a Queens said. Delaguna is accused of conspicuously confident- weeks, Oxford had partnered a racial slur last month, the neighborhood, when Delaguna following the woman for at especially given the timing: with British pharmaceutical giant Queens County district allegedly threw a glass bottle least a block while yelling Oxford's vaccine had yet to be AstraZeneca and the two were attorney announced Tuesday. at her, Queens District and threatening her, Katz's tested in a single human, and the inking deals around the world to Lorena Delaguna appeared in Attorney Melinda Katz said in office said. The woman was results from a preliminary trial manufacture and distribute court Tuesday on charges of a statement Tuesday. The not hurt and continued to involving monkeys hadn't yet hundreds of millions of doses. attempted assault in the bottle shattered near the jogger jog, the New York Police been published. The vaccine became one of the second degree as a hate crime and splashed liquid on her, Department said in a report With pandemic death rates in the world's best hopes: By late and aggravated harassment in Katz's office said. Delaguna last week about the U.S. and Britain ratcheting August, with Phase III trials to the second degree. If convicted, also allegedly yelled and incident. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 26 Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 US & THE WORLD 27 Harry and Meghan urge action against hate speech ahead of US election (News Agencies)- The Duke and "When one person buys into negativity and our voices are heard." her US citizenship after her marriage to Duchess of Sussex have weighed in on online, the effects are felt exponentially. "Seeing our world through the lens of Harry in 2018 -- has become more the upcoming US presidential vote, It's time to not only reflect, but act," said community is so important. Because we outspoken on issues touching on urging people to reject online negativity Harry in his video remarks. need to redraw the lines of how we politics. and hate speech as what Meghan "As we approach this November, it's vital engage with each other -- both online She has already been involved in efforts described as "the most important that we reject hate speech, and off," she added. Tonight reminds us this year to encourage people to turn election of our lifetime" approaches. misinformation, and online negativity. of how important it is to watch out for out and vote, teaming up with figures The couple, who now live in California, each other, to including political activist Gloria shared the remarks in a brief video care for each Steinem and former First Lady message congratulating those who were other, and to Michelle Obama. The TIME 100 list named in this year's TIME 100 list of inspire each of the most influential people, most influential people, aired in a virtual other," said released each year, includes artists, broadcast on ABC on Tuesday evening. Harry. scientists, activists, leaders and They also honored the medical The prince individuals who have had significant community and countless voices who are noted that he impact in the global community. This working to end injustice, according to would not year's list includes: US infectious representatives for the couple. The Duke himself be disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, US and Duchess of Sussex are alumni of able to vote in President Donald Trump, former Vice TIME magazine's Time 100 list, having November, President and Democratic been named in 2018. since he is presidential nominee Joe Biden, Harry and Meghan called on viewers What we consume, what we are exposed not a US citizen, adding that he had also Democratic vice-presidential nominee around the world to act with compassion to, and what we engage with online, has never voted in a UK election. Britain's Kamala Harris, US Supreme Court in both the physical and digital worlds, a real effect on all of us," he said. royals customarily do not discuss Chief Justice John Roberts, Chinese use their voices, be engaged within their "Every four years, we're told, 'This is the political issues. President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President communities and the civic process, and most important election of our lifetime.' Since the couple decided to step back Jair Bolsonaro and World Health care for one another, according to their But this one is," said Meghan. "When from their senior roles in the royal family, Organization Director General Tedros representatives. we vote our values are put into action, the Duchess of Sussex -- who retained Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 CONTD 28 Trump falls into the trap he set for Biden It's this type of expectation- he and Trump emerge from economy, global pandemic, if his opponent delivers a Others have chalked up setting that some of the their first debate. social upheaval and a Supreme passable performance. Beyond Biden's recent performances - president's allies believe he "Biden has clearly shown he Court battle that is likely to attacking the substance of including his closing speech at and his campaign should have can function, the bar is low and sow further division on Capitol Biden's anticipated answers to the Democratic National engaged in all along, an the expectations are so low, all Hill - to build a case during questions about China, climate Convention and his approach they're now frustrated he has to do is exceed those each of the debates that Trump change, taxes and law participation in a CNN town hall to see deployed so close to expectations," Rollins said. has created problems he is enforcement - issues that last week - as non-challenging. the Sept. 29 debate in Several Trump allies pointed to incapable of solving. While campaign officials said they will They point to his use of a Cleveland. The Trump Biden's sharp debate earlier they don't expect Biden, who pay close attention to in the teleprompter during the campaign spent the bulk of this this year against Vermont Sen. is prone to verbal blunders and first debate - they are already convention (something Trump summer questioning whether Bernie Sanders, his last often stumbles over his words, laying the groundwork to also used in his own "Sleepy Joe" is fit for office and remaining opponent in the to maintain a strong posture for attack the pundit class if Biden acceptance speech for the accusing the Biden campaign Democratic primary and a the entire 90-minute televised emerges from the first debate Republican nomination) or, in of trying to circumvent the skilled sparring partner, as the debate, they acknowledge that as the declared winner. the case of the televised town traditional debates to avoid a clearest indication that he is it will take only a couple of While most of the Trump aides hall in Scranton, Pa., argue potentially embarrassing capable of going toe-to-toe stinging soundbites and who spoke with POLITICO for that he was handed softball situation for their candidate. against the president. Biden memorable zingers to surpass this story conceded that the questions. "This idea of Biden not knowing scored slightly higher than the bar Trump has set for him. president's insistence that "Virtually every question for how to debate is ridiculous. The Sanders in a poll following "The danger with [Trump's] Biden is mentally unfit has Joe Biden was an invitation for more that expectations are their March debate, where the sustained attack against made it easier for his opponent him to attack President Trump, lowered for him the worse," former vice president delivered Biden's cognitive abilities is to do well in the first debate, while moderator Anderson said former White House press a strong case against Trump's that he's now created a they have simultaneously Cooper offered almost no secretary Sean Spicer. handling of the coronavirus situation for himself where he accused the media of pushback, giving Biden a total "A lot of folks are looking for a pandemic and a practical has no excuse to fall back on predetermining the winner in pass on his lies and reason to declare him the rebuke of Sanders' so-called if Biden lands a few punches next Tuesday's debate. misrepresentations," said the victor and now they'll be able political revolution. and he struggles to return "People understand that the Trump campaign in a to use Trump's words as a way "We have problems we have to blows," said a Republican media is dying to just declare statement after Biden's to justify their verdict that solve now. What's a revolution close to the Trump campaign. Joe Biden the winner when appearance on the network. Biden won," added Spicer, who going to do? Disrupt everything "I get why the president has instead he should be judged Another Trump supporter believes Biden "will land a in the meantime?" asked gone after Biden for his age and the same way that any accused Biden of receiving punch or two" against Trump Biden in one memorable line. gaffes - no reasonable person presidential candidate should advance notice of the questions but doubts either candidate's Trump has been studying his can ignore those things - but be judged on the debate in a bid to rationalize his performance will affect the race opponent's past debate at some point he should have stage," said one adviser to the performance last week. "Looks all that much. performances and working with flipped the script to increase Trump campaign. to me that Biden had an idea of Ed Rollins, a veteran GOP a small team of advisers for expectations heading into the "It's going to be a very low bar what the questions would be, strategist who currently runs a several weeks to prepare for debates," this person added. for the Washington elite to say at least areas of questioning," pro-Trump super PAC, said the the trio of fall debates. To some degree, Trump allies Biden did well and because he tweeted former Fox News host Trump campaign has "so The president's advisers and campaign officials have didn't fall down, he won. That Bill O'Reilly during the town hall. diminished" Biden that he is expect Biden will use the already previewed ways in is partly because of Trump and In a subsequent tweet, virtually guaranteed to be current political landscape - as which they plan to undercut partly because they want to O'Reilly said he had "simply perceived as the winner once voters face a battered Biden and defend the president prop Biden up," added Spicer. tweeted an observation." A wake-up call: There is a crisis in India's schools Covid has hit incomes. Parents are unable to pay fees. Schools, in turn, are blocking children from classes and exams. The government must step in There is a crisis anonymity ("we fear our child fees must be paid. Some unfolding in India's education will be embarrassed or managed, some dipped into sector that has barely got the punished by the school") has their savings and others who attention of either the media or been struggling with the still could not pay up had to the government. Children, coronavirus pandemic; the face the trauma of their children some younger than 10 years, father tested positive. The last not just being locked out online are being thrown out of online few months have been a period classes, but key internal classes at some of our of enormous hardship. Both exams as well. I have poshest, most prestigious their daughters are students at personally corroborated this by He has been requesting his his children's online classes. schools, as many parents DPS in Delhi. According to the speaking to at least half a children's private school to "If I needed to purchase a struggle to pay the fees. parents, both children have dozen parents. charge only the tuition fees and laptop, I don't have the money For the last two weeks, I have been blocked from online DPS is not the only school not the full package, but to no today." been tracking and chronicling classes and were thrown out where a serious battle is avail. He told me that they are His story is a grim reminder the stories of these parents. In summarily in front of the other simmering between the able to manage at the moment that only 11% of homes in India the Capital's Delhi Public students. They also say that parents and the school because of the moratorium on have any computing devices. School (DPS)?at Mathura at least 250 students were management. Vaibhav Garg in EMI payments. Once that lifts, The digital divide is only being Road, a group of parents have locked out of online classes Uttar Pradesh lost his job in there is no way he can pay full compounded by the spent the last several days and school WhatsApp forums May and received his last school fees and repay his contracting economy. camping and protesting at the over the issue of non-payment salary up until the end of loans. With no jobs in the For many parents, coming out gates; they have been of fees. March. His wife is self- market, he considers himself and speaking about the prevented from even entering. Finally, the school proposed employed in a small business blessed that the household struggle to pay their children's A couple who requested that a minimum of two months that barely has any earnings. already owned two laptops for fees is difficult. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 CONTD 29 Punjab sows but will not reap The soul of India lives in her villages, markets at entry 28. Even the And, they did so. The FINANCIALLY CRIPPLING EFFECT necessity of being licensed to as was declared by the Mahatma. non-existent taxes on farm legislation first sets up a By creating the definition of trade (just as in any other So, when laws are passed affecting income's at entry 46. Hence, superfluous objective to justify "scheduled farmed produce" which regulated activity) creates an the underlying substratum of Parliament possesses no legal itself, and then pretends to covers produce which is otherwise umbrella of oversight and agrarian life, there is bound to be competence to enact such law achieve it. regulated by the state Acts, it accountability. This is gravely turmoil. While legally permissible, and this is strictly within the Even the body of the legislation directly impinges on the state's missing in the new law. the fact that the government first legislative dominion of the state betrays signs of having been power to regulate such produce. The Dispute resolution being tried to sneak in these laws through governments. stretched to, on the one hand, convoluted definition of "trade area" conducted by/through the market ordinances as opposed to a Ironically, the legislation states retrofit itself into legal when distilled means that but for committees has the local properly debated legislation that it is to provide the freedom parameters of Parliament's mandis and other private markets persuasive value that may not be weakened confidence in them. of choice relating to sale and legislative competence and on under the existing state Act, virtually completely substitutable by There was after all no emergency purchase of farm produce and the other hand achieve the any and every part of the state of another system. For a farmer need for such legislation through inter-state and intra-state trade. intended aim of substituting the Punjab is a trade area and governed who may not have the confidence an ordinance. The ordinance had by this Central legislation. of a city education or a stated that "the President is The financially crippling effect of this distribution network, a familiar satisfied that circumstances exist is achieved through Section 6 which face is often the impetus for ease which render it necessary for him prohibits the states from imposing of trade. There are numerous to take immediate action". One any market fee on such a "trade safety checks in the state Act wonders what these urgent area", effectively saying that the missing in the Central law. circumstances might have been. state can no longer impose a market The true mission of this The fact that these ordinances have fee on trade conducted in the legislation is to what any state then been subsequently physical space of its own state. This would loath, the decimation of legitimised through legislation has is nothing short of a territorial the local market system and the not cured the trust deficit into which invasion through legislative action. abolition of the state/district they were born. AGRICULTURE A A veritable Trojan Act. mandi boards. The true purpose STATE SUBJECT APMC HAS STOOD THE TEST OF of legislation should be either to Apart from being labelled anti- This no doubt drags it under state's power of regulation of TIME protect its citizen's rights or to farmer, pro-big conglomerate, entry 42 of the Union List of agro markets and produce. Nor was any of this necessary. govern more effectively. It should questionable price protection matters in the Constitution for Since Parliament's limited Punjab already has the Agricultural never be used as a medium of mechanisms, these laws throw up which Parliament can legislate. concurrent power to legislate Produce Markets Act, 1961, subterfuge much less as a a gamut of issues from the legal But this choice was always under entry 33 of List III is (APMC), which has stood the test political weapon. It is unfortunate perspective. Agriculture is purely a there. We did not need a new confined to inter-state trade of of time. Despite its rustic origins, that this weapon is being fired off state subject; so says entry 14 of law to affirm this. "foodstuffs", the law through the the mandis governed by the Mandi the shoulders of those who are List II of the seventh schedule to A farmer in Punjab was free to definition of "farmers produce" Board have grown organically to perhaps the most fragile class of the Constitution. As is fisheries at sell his produce in Haryana; as includes "foodstuffs such as take care of the needs of all all: Farmers. They deserve a better entry 21, trade and commerce was a farmer from Himachal wheat, rice, or other coarse concerned; a perfect marriage of harvest than this. within the state at entry 26 and Pradesh free to trade in Punjab. grains, pulses". free trade and regulation. The [email protected] The Nehruvian imprint on Indus Waters Treaty The three eastern rivers (Beas, feeling in this country. It is not not loans of about ?400 crore that we have to consider, not a to separate himself as the Ravi and Sutlej) with a mean that our over-generousness of the Rs 450 crore required particular bit." In the political proponent of a broad perspective annual flow of 33 million-acre feet should be at the cost of the to build its link canals; India environment of the 1950s, Nehru from the nitty-gritty of (maf) went to India while the development of this country." would get Rs 27 crore of the was not averse to reaching out for negotiations, there was an control of over 80 maf of waters of As the debate grew, Nehru was overall requirement of Rs 100 peace and tranquillity. These were undeniable Nehruvian the western rivers (Indus, Chenab presented with some crore to build infrastructure. requisites, he strongly felt, for the internationalist mindset to the and Jhelum) was granted to uncomfortable facts. First, the The money was to be given as stability and development that India whole water issue with Pakistan. Pakistan. In terms of volume, unfairness of the terms; loans and not grants - Rs 15 desired. It was not that he was His ideals of oneness though however, 80.52% of water went to second, the cost of the crore from the United States blinded by reconciliation with clashed with the realities of Pakistan and only 19.48% came replacement of canal works; (US) and Rs 12 crore from WB. Pakistan. After all, in 1959, when power politics and interest- to India. The ratio of 4:1 favoured and, third, the overall context of But this was not all. India's Ayub Khan advocated a "common oriented relations which he Pakistan and India's initial demand India-Pakistan relations. Of the commitment to pay Rs 83 defence" in which both India and understood, but adamantly for 25% was raised in the Lok cultivable land in India, only 19% crore to Pakistan in pound Pakistan would come together to refused to accept. The goodwill Sabha as a failure of its had irrigation facilities while in sterling, without settling earlier guard the subcontinent, Indian and friendship that India hoped negotiations. Pakistan it was 54%. financial dues with that leaders such as Jayaprakash to gain from the generosity and Many newspapers in India Fundamentally, therefore, India country was incomprehensible Narayan and C Rajagopalachari sacrifice it had shown to castigated the government for was left with less-irrigated land to the Lok Sabha. Considering welcomed the idea. Even General Pakistan were belied by Khan's giving in to Pakistan and making and even fewer irrigation the desperate foreign KM Cariappa was not entirely statements. Soon after signing "concessions after concessions". facilities. This could hardly be exchange position in India, it opposed to this. It was Nehru who the Treaty, he talked about the Some parliamentarians felt that justified as fair to India. "It is a was foolhardy to agree to this. cold-shouldered it by famously physical possession of the had India conceded to Pakistan's kind of second partition which In terms of adjustment of retorting "defence against whom?". upper reaches of the Indus water requirements in 1948, as a we are experiencing...this is debts that Pakistan owed In the case of the Treaty, however, basin rivers. The Indus Waters "human consideration", the Treaty being done again with the India, only?Rs 6 crore as dues he felt it was a price worth paying Treaty may have prevented would possibly not have been signature of our honourable for the waters that India spared and expressed his disappointment "another Korea", as WB had required. As things developed, prime minister," argued Ashok over the years was adjusted. that the House treated it with such anxiously observed, but it did Pakistan's demand became Mehta of the Praja Socialist Despite all this, Nehru had a "a narrow-minded spirit" and not fundamentally change bigger and bolder. "I wish," said Party. different take. He felt he was tactfully praised the engineers "who Pakistan's lower riparian Harish Mathur, a Congressman The money allocated was looking at the larger foreign fought for India's interest angst nor in its perception of from Rajasthan, in the Lok Sabha, equally disadvantageous. policy picture. He strenuously" to take the heat off the the upper riparian dominance "our government takes note of the Pakistan was to get grants and emphasised, "It is the context debate. However much Nehru tried of India. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 FRONT PAGE FEATURE 30 Global banks defy U.S. crackdowns by serving oligarchs, criminals and terrorists (SAI Bureau) Secret U.S. laundering controls as part of between 2011 and 2017. that these headline-making than it was in 2012." government documents reveal settlements it reached with U.S. FinCEN and its parent, the tactics haven't worked. Big HSBC noted that in deciding to that JPMorgan Chase, HSBC authorities in 2011, 2013 and Treasury Department, did not banks continue to play a central release the bank from the threat and other big banks have defied 2014. answer a series of questions sent role in moving money tied to of criminal charges, the money laundering crackdowns In response to questions for this last month by ICIJ and its corruption, fraud, organized crime government had access to by moving staggering sums of story, JPMorgan said it was partners. FinCEN told BuzzFeed and terrorism. reports from a monitor who illicit cash for shadowy legally prohibited from discussing News that it does not comment "By utterly failing to prevent large- reviewed the bank's reforms and characters and criminal networks clients or transactions. It said it on the "existence or non- scale corrupt transactions, practices. that have spread chaos and has taken a "leadership role" in existence" of specific suspicious financial institutions have The Department of Justice undermined democracy around pursuing "proactive intelligence- activity reports, sometimes abandoned their roles as front- declined to answer specific the world. led investigations" and developing known as SARs. Days before the line defenses against money questions. In a statement, a The records show that five global "innovative techniques to help release of the investigation by laundering," Paul Pelletier, a spokesperson for the banks - JPMorgan, HSBC, combat financial crime." ICIJ and its partners, FinCEN former senior U.S. Justice department's criminal division Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered announced that it was seeking Department official and financial said: Deutsche Bank and Bank of New Bank, Deutsche Bank and Bank public comments on ways to crimes prosecutor, told ICIJ. "The Department of Justice York Mellon - kept profiting from of New York Mellon also improve the U.S.'s anti-money He said banks know that "they stands by its work, and remains powerful and dangerous players continued to wave through laundering system. operate in a system that is committed to aggressively even after U.S. authorities fined suspect payments despite The cache of suspicious activity largely toothless." investigating and prosecuting these financial institutions for similar promises to government reports - along with hundreds of Five of the banks that appear financial crime - including money earlier failures to stem flows of authorities, the secret spreadsheets filled with names, most often in the FinCEN Files - laundering - wherever we find it." dirty money. documents show. dates and figures - flag bank Deutsche Bank, Bank of New 'Everyone is doing badly': U.S. agencies responsible for The leaked documents, known clients in more than 170 York Mellon, Standard Dirty money swamps enforcing money laundering laws as the FinCEN Files, include countries who were identified as Chartered, JPMorgan and HSBC bureaucrats rarely prosecute megabanks that more than 2,100 suspicious being involved in potentially illicit - repeatedly violated their official Money laundering isn't a break the law, and the actions activity reports filed by banks and transactions. promises of good behavior, the victimless crime. authorities do take barely ripple other financial firms with the U.S. Along with sifting through the secret records show. The free flow of dirty cash helps the flood of plundered money that Department of Treasury's FinCEN Files, ICIJ and its media In 2012, London-based HSBC, sustain criminal gangs and washes through the international Financial Crimes Enforcement partners obtained more than the largest bank in Europe, destabilize nations. And it is a financial system. Network. The agency, known in 17,600 other records from signed a deferred prosecution driver of global economic In some cases the banks kept shorthand as FinCEN, is an insiders and whistleblowers, deal and admitted it had inequality. Laundered funds are moving illicit funds even after U.S. intelligence unit at the heart of court files, freedom-of- laundered at least $881 million often shunted between accounts officials warned them they'd face the global system to fight money information requests and other for Latin American drug cartels. owned by obscure shell criminal prosecutions if they laundering. sources. The team interviewed Narcotraffickers used specially companies registered in secretive didn't stop doing business with BuzzFeed News obtained the hundreds of people, including shaped boxes that fit HSBC's offshore tax havens, allowing mobsters, fraudsters or corrupt records and shared them with the financial crime experts, law teller windows to drop off the elites to hide massive sums from regimes. International Consortium of enforcement officials and crime huge amounts of drug money law enforcement and tax JPMorgan, the largest bank Investigative Journalists. ICIJ victims. they were pushing through the authorities. based in the United States, organized a team of more than According to BuzzFeed News, financial system. An ICIJ analysis found that moved money for people and 400 journalists from 110 news some of the secret records were Under the deal with prosecutors, banks in the FinCEN files companies tied to the massive organizations in 88 countries to requested as part of U.S. HSBC paid $1.9 billion and the regularly processed transactions looting of public funds in investigate the world of banks congressional investigations into government agreed to put to companies registered in so- Malaysia, Venezuela and and money laundering. Russian interference in the 2016 criminal charges against the bank called secrecy jurisdictions and Ukraine, the leaked documents In all, an ICIJ analysis found, the U.S. presidential election. on hold and dismiss them after did so without knowing the reveal. documents identify more than $2 Others were gathered by FinCEN five years if HSBC kept its pledge ultimate owner of the account. At The bank moved more than $1 trillion in transactions between following requests from law to aggressively fight the flow of least 20% of the reports billion for the fugitive financier 1999 and 2017 that were flagged enforcement agencies, dirty money. contained a client with an behind Malaysia's 1MDB by financial institutions' internal BuzzFeed said. During that five-year probationary address in one of the world's top scandal, the records show, and compliance officers as possible The FinCEN Files offer period, the FinCEN Files show, offshore financial havens, the more than $2 million for a young money laundering or other unprecedented insight into a HSBC continued to move money British Virgin Islands, while many energy mogul's company that criminal activity - including $514 secret world of international for questionable characters, others provided addresses in the has been accused of cheating billion at JPMorgan and $1.3 banking, anonymous clients and, including suspected Russian U.K., the U.S., Cyprus, Hong Venezuela's government and trillion at Deutsche Bank. in many cases, financial crime. money launderers and a Ponzi Kong, the United Arab Emirates, helping cause electrical Suspicious activity reports reflect They show banks blindly moving scheme under investigation in Russia and Switzerland. blackouts that crippled large the concerns of watchdogs within cash through their accounts for multiple countries. ICIJ's analysis found that in half parts of the country. banks and are not necessarily people they can't identify, failing Yet the government allowed of the reports banks didn't have JPMorgan also processed more evidence of criminal conduct or to report transactions with all the HSBC to announce in December information about one or more than $50 million in payments over other wrongdoing. hallmarks of money laundering 2017 that it had "lived up to all of entities behind the transactions. a decade, the records show, for Financial institutions have until years after the fact, even its commitments" under its In 160 reports, banks sought Paul Manafort, the former abandoned their roles as doing business with clients deferred prosecution pact - and more information about corporate campaign manager for President front-line defenses against enmeshed in financial frauds and that prosecutors were dismissing vehicles, only to be met with no Donald Trump. The bank shuttled money laundering. - public corruption scandals. the criminal charges for good. response. at least $6.9 million in Manafort Paul Pelletier Authorities in the U.S., who play In a statement to ICIJ, HSBC Estimates by the United Nations transactions in the 14 months Though a vast amount, the $2 a leading role in the global battle declined to answer questions Office on Drugs and Crime after he resigned from the trillion in suspicious transactions against money laundering, have about specific customers or indicate that $2.4 trillion in illicit campaign amid a swirl of money identified within this set of ordered big banks to reform their transactions. HSBC said ICIJ's funds are laundered each year - laundering and corruption documents is just a drop in a far practices, fined them hundreds information is "historic and the equivalent of nearly 2.7% of allegations spawning from his larger flood of dirty money of millions and even billions of predates" the end of its five-year all goods and services produced work with a pro-Russian political gushing through banks around dollars, and held threats of deferred prosecution deal. annually in the world. But the party in Ukraine. the world. The FinCEN Files criminal charges over them as During that time, the bank said, agency estimates that Tainted transactions continued to represent less than 0.02% of the part of so-called deferred it "embarked on a multi-year authorities detect less than 1% surge through accounts at more than 12 million suspicious prosecution agreements. journey to overhaul its ability to of the world's dirty money. JPMorgan despite the bank's activity reports that financial A 16-month investigation by ICIJ combat financial crime. . . . "Everyone is doing badly," David promises to improve its money institutions filed with FinCEN and its reporting partners shows HSBC is a much safer institution Lewis, executive secretary of the Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 FRONT PAGE FEATURE 31 Paris-based Financial Action controls in 2005 and forced it to acknowledging the bank's bank continues to fulfil its enforcement actions, to move Task Force, a partnership of curtail its money-transfer dealings with Arab Bank up to a regulatory obligations" while money for people involved in governments around the world activities in the U.S. few days after the verdict in exiting accounts. alleged financial crimes, the that sets anti-money laundering Standard Chartered continued its Brooklyn and expressing Arab Bank noted it "enjoys a FinCEN Files show. standards, acknowledged in an relationship with Arab Bank as concerns about "potential longstanding relationship with Among them: Jho Low, a interview with ICIJ. the lawsuit against the Jordanian terrorist financing." Standard Chartered" that financier accused by authorities His organization's country- bank worked its way through But that wasn't the end of it. "continues today." in multiple countries of being the evaluation reports - which dig into U.S. courts - and even after Standard Chartered shifted nearly Standard Chartered no longer mastermind behind the how well banks and government American authorities put $12 million more in transactions processes U.S. dollar embezzlement of more than $4.5 agencies meet anti-money- Standard Chartered on notice that for Arab Bank customers from just transactions for Arab Bank, but billion from a Malaysian laundering laws and regulations it must stop processing after the verdict until February it still provides other banking economic development fund, - show lots of box-checking but transactions for suspect clients. 2016, according to a follow-up services for the Jordanian called 1Malaysia Development little practical progress. Many Berhad, or 1MDB. He moved just countries seem more concerned over $1.2 billion through with looking good on paper than JPMorgan from 2013 to 2016, the actually cracking down on records show. money laundering, he said. Low first gained notoriety for Even an association of the partying with Paris Hilton, world's biggest banks Leonardo DiCaprio and other complained last year that celebrities. One night at a club regulators focus on "technical on the French Riviera, he got into compliance" rather than whether a bidding war over a cache of systems "are really making a Cristal champagne - winning the difference in the fight against contest with a final bid of 2 financial crime." million euros, according to A Bombing in Jerusalem "Billion Dollar Whale," a For some financial institutions, bestselling book about the the problem client is another 1MDB swindle. bank. He was first outed by media One early morning in 2003 reports in early 2015 as a key Steven Averbach was on the No. figure in the 1MDB scandal, the 6 bus in Jerusalem, when a man so-called "heist of the century." rushed to board as the bus pulled Singapore issued a warrant for away. his arrest in April 2016. "There were too many things out Authorities in the U.S., Malaysia of place" with the man, recalled and Singapore are seeking his Averbach, who grew up in New New York regulators concluded suspicious activity report financial institution, Arab Bank capture. Jersey but immigrated to Israel in 2012 that Standard Chartered included in the FinCEN Files. told ICIJ. JPMorgan also moved money for as a teenager. The man wore had "schemed with the Many wires referred to Rewards and risks companies and people tied to long black pants, a white shirt Government of Iran" for nearly a "charities," "donations," Why do banks move suspect corruption scandals in and a black jacket, the typical decade to push through $250 "support" or "gifts," the bank money? Because it's profitable. Venezuela that have helped garb of an Orthodox Jew. But he billion in secret transactions, said. Banks can pad their bottom lines create one of the world's worst wore "tipped shoes" that didn't reaping "hundreds of millions of The follow-up report noted that the with the fees they collect as humanitarian crises. One in fit with the Orthodox sect dress, dollars in fees" and leaving "the payment records raised money spins through the webs three Venezuelans is not getting and his jacket was bulging. U.S. financial system vulnerable concerns - as in the Brooklyn of accounts often maintained by enough to eat, the UN reported In his right hand was a device to terrorists, weapons dealers, trial - that "illicit activities" were corrupt users of the financial this year, and millions have fled that looked like a doorbell. drug kingpins and corrupt being potentially funded "under system. JPMorgan, for example, the country. Averbach, who had previously regimes." This pattern of conduct the guise of charity." scored an estimated half a billion One of the Venezuelans who got served as chief weapons cost Standard Chartered nearly The civil verdict against Arab dollars in revenues by serving as help from JPMorgan was instructor for the Jerusalem police $670 million in penalties in the Bank was overturned when an the chief banker to Bernie Madoff, Alejandro "Piojo" Isturiz, a former force, drew his sidearm. But as second half of 2012 as part of two appeals court found flaws in the according to filings in the government official who has been the ex-cop turned to face the deferred prosecution agreements trial judge's jury instructions. bankruptcy case spawned by the charged by U.S. authorities as a man, "he detonated himself," and other deals with New York Arab Bank then settled with collapse of his multi-billion-dollar player in an international money Averbach later testified in a video and U.S. authorities. nearly 600 victims and victims' Ponzi scheme. laundering scheme. Prosecutors deposition. Despite its official pledges to relatives for an undisclosed Dealing with shady customers allege that between 2011 and The blast killed seven and stay away from suspect amount. does carry risks. 2013 Isturiz and others solicited wounded 20 others, leaving customers, Standard Chartered In a statement, Arab Bank told JPMorgan paid $88.3 million in bribes to rig government energy Averbach paralyzed from the processed 2,055 transactions ICIJ it "abhors terrorism and does 2011 to settle regulators' claims contracts. The bank moved more neck down. He died in 2010 of totaling more than $24 million for not support or encourage terrorist that it had violated economic than $63 million for companies complications from the long-term Arab Bank customers between activities." The bank said that sanctions against Iran and other linked to Isturiz and the money effects of his injuries. September 2013 and September allegations against it date back countries under U.S. embargoes. laundering scheme between By then, he and his family had 2014, the FinCEN Files show. nearly 20 years to a time when Treasury officials hit the bank 2012 and 2016, the FinCEN Files become plaintiffs in a lawsuit in Then, in late September 2014, anti-money-laundering laws, with a "cease and desist" order show. the U.S. accusing a Jordanian Standard Chartered got another tools and technologies were in 2013 that described Isturiz could not be reached for financial institution, Arab Bank, reason to back away from Arab different than they are now. "systemic deficiencies" in its comment. of moving funds that helped Bank. In the lawsuit stemming "In every country where it anti-money-laundering efforts, The secret records show that bankroll terrorists involved in the from the 2003 Jerusalem bus operates, Arab Bank is in good noting the bank had "failed to JPMorgan also provided banking bus bombing and other attacks. bombing and other attacks, a standing with government identify significant volumes of services to Derwick Associates, The FinCEN Files show that as jury in Brooklyn found Arab Bank regulators and complies with anti- suspicious activity." an energy firm that won billions the litigation was casting a liable for knowingly supporting terrorism and money laundering Then, in January 2014, the bank of dollars in no-bid contracts to shadow over Arab Bank, it was terrorism by transmitting money laws," the bank said. The 2005 paid $2.6 billion to U.S. agencies repair Venezuela's failing benefiting from a working disguised as charitable U.S. regulatory limits against the to settle investigations over its electricity grid. A 2018 analysis relationship with a much bigger, donations for the benefit of bank were formally lifted in 2018. role in Madoff's scheme. by the Venezuelan chapter of the more influential bank: Standard Hamas, the Palestinian militant Standard Chartered told the BBC, JPMorgan posted profits of more nonprofit group Transparency Chartered. group that the U.S. classifies as a partner of ICIJ, that it "initiated than double that amount in just International concluded that The U.K.-headquartered bank a terrorist organization. account closure" in connection that quarter on its way to nearly Derwick Associates failed to helped Arab Bank clients access More than a year later, to Arab Bank shortly after the $22 billion in profits for the year. deliver the power capacity the U.S. financial system after compliance staffers at Standard jury verdict. "This process can Madoff pleaded guilty and is expected - and overbilled the regulators found deficiencies in Chartered sent FinCEN a take time in some cases," the serving a 150-year sentence in Venezuelan government by at Arab Bank's money laundering suspicious activity report bank said, "but in all cases the federal prison. least $2.9 billion. JPMorgan continued, after those Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 FRONT PAGE FEATURE 32

Alejandro Betancourt was in his was the parent of ABSI - was BuzzFeed News has not Google searches to try to learn undetected. 20s when he co-founded Derwick linked to an underworld figure commented on its source. who's behind transfers involving Chandra, who worked in the with a younger cousin. named Semion Mogilevich. FinCEN and other U.S. agencies hundreds of millions of dollars. bank's Dubai branch from 2011 News articles and Internet Mogilevich has been described play an outsized role in anti- As a result, the secret to 2016, concluded that the postings from 2011 raised as the "Boss of Bosses" of money-laundering efforts around documents show, banks sanctions busting helped allegations about Derwick. The Russia mafia groups. When the the world, largely because money frequently file suspicious activity bankroll terror attacks "that killed company later filed a lawsuit that FBI put him on its Top Ten Most launderers and other criminals reports only after a transaction and wounded soldiers serving in claimed it was the victim of a Wanted list in 2009, it said his share the same goal as many or customer becomes the the U.S.-led coalition, as well as smear campaign that falsely criminal network was involved in bank customers who operate subject of a negative news article many innocent civilians." accused it of being part of a weapons and drug trafficking, across borders: moving U.S. or a government inquiry - usually The suit says the scheme "criminal group." The suit was allowed the bank to profit from settled on undisclosed terms. the "high premium" that Iran and The FinCEN Files show that its operatives were willing to pay Derwick used accounts at to convert Iranian rials - the JPMorgan to move at least $2.1 country's sanctions-depressed million in 2011 and 2012 and that currency - into dollars. the bank processed other "You can run a show like this transactions of undisclosed probably for a few months without amounts for Derwick and its being caught if it's a small group managers at least into 2013. running it within the bank," In 2018, the U.S. Justice Chandra said in an interview with Department charged a senior ICIJ partner BuzzFeed News. Derwick executive, Francisco "But something like this Convit Guruceaga, in an alleged happening over a period of years $1.2 billion bribery and money- and coming into billions of dollars laundering scheme. Betancourt - someone at the top should have was cited in the criminal asked the question: How are we complaint as an unnamed co- making this money?" conspirator, the Miami Herald, an Chandra and Knight claim that ICIJ partner, later reported. the bank acknowledged only a A lawyer for Betancourt said: "My fraction of its violations and lied client denies any wrongdoing." about when illegal transactions Convit's attorney declined to extortion and contract murders. dollars, the de facto global after the money is long gone. had stopped when it came comment. The chain-smoking, beefy currency, between account In interviews with ICIJ and forward and admitted sanctions In a general statement, Ukrainian's signature method of holders in different countries. BuzzFeed, more than a dozen violations as part of its 2012 JPMorgan noted that it had neutralizing an enemy, The An elite group of mostly U.S. and former compliance officers at deferred prosecution deal with acknowledged in 2014 that it Guardian once reported, is the European banks with large HSBC called into question the U.S. authorities. needed to improve its anti- car bomb. operations in New York pocket effectiveness of the bank's anti- The agency extended the bank's money-laundering controls and The records show the fees for performing this trick, money-laundering programs. probationary period again and that since then it has invested compliance officers searched in drawing on their privileged Some said the bank didn't give again over several years. Then, heavily toward this effort. vain through their files on the access to the U.S. Federal them enough time to do much in 2019, the bank paid $1.1 "Today, thousands of employees shell company, unable to Reserve. These banks' U.S. beyond cursory looks at large billion more for continuing and hundreds of millions of determine who was behind the operations can also help turn flows of cash - and that when they violations of sanctions against dollars are devoted to helping firm or what its true purpose was. local money into U.S. dollars, requested information about who Iran and other countries and support law enforcement and While those details still remain another key money laundering was behind big transactions, agreed to extend its deferred national security efforts," the unclear, JPMorgan had plenty of goal. HSBC branches outside the U.S. prosecution pact for two more bank said. reasons to examine ABSI years American law entrusts banks often ignored them. years. 'Boss of bosses' earlier: it operated as a shell with frontline responsibility to "They would say: 'Sure, we'll get In court papers, Standard Often, the secret files show, company in Cyprus, considered prevent money laundering, even back to you.' But they'd never get Chartered says the ex- banks handling cross-border a major money laundering center though their financial incentives back," recalls Alexis Grullon, employees' allegations are transactions have little idea who at the time, and it was directing run entirely in the direction of who monitored international implausible and meritless. In a they're dealing with - even when hundreds of millions of dollars keeping money - dirty or clean - suspicious activity for HSBC in statement to ICIJ, the bank said: they're shifting hundreds of through JPMorgan. moving. While banks are New York from 2012 to 2014. "These false allegations have millions of dollars. Mogilevich is featured in "World's empowered to stop a transaction At Standard Chartered Bank, a been thoroughly discredited by Take the case of a mysterious Most Wanted," a Netflix if it appears to be shady, they're lawsuit filed in December 2019 the U.S. authorities who shell company called ABSI documentary series released in not necessarily required to do so. in federal court in New York undertook a comprehensive Enterprises. ABSI sent and August. They simply have to file a claims, employees who objected investigation into the claims." received more than $1 billion in Through a spokesperson, suspicious activity report with to illegal transactions weren't The bank noted that a U.S. judge transactions through JPMorgan Mogilevich said he had no FinCEN. ignored - they were threatened, had dismissed a related lawsuit between January 2010 and July knowledge of ABSI. FinCEN, which has roughly 270 harassed and fired. in July. In that case, U.S. 2015, the FinCEN Files show. He has previously said: "I am not employees, collects and sifts Julian Knight and Anshuman prosecutors said in a legal filing This amount included a leader or an active participant through more than two million Chandra claim in the suit that that federal agencies couldn't find transactions through a direct of any criminal group." new suspicious activity reports they were forced out of evidence to support Knight's bank account with JPMorgan, The mighty dollar each year from banks and other management jobs at the bank claim that Standard Chartered which ABSI closed in 2013, and BuzzFeed News used the cache financial firms. It shares after it learned they had had continued violating sanctions through so-called correspondent of suspicious activity reports in information with U.S. law cooperated with an FBI probe into on behalf Iranian clients after banking arrangements, in which 2018 to publish stories revealing enforcement agencies and with transfers of money that Standard 2007. a bank with significant U.S. secret payments to shell financial intelligence units in Chartered had pushed through for 'I am dying': Ukraine, operations, such as JPMorgan, companies controlled by other countries. U.S.-sanctioned entities from JPMorgan and the kleptocrats allows foreign banks to process Manafort, who is now serving a Long gone Iran, Libya, Sudan and Myanmar. Twenty-one-year-old Olesia U.S. dollar transactions through federal prison sentence in home Inside big banks, systems for Standard Chartered, the suit Zhukovska took a bullet in the its own accounts. confinement in a case based sniffing out illicit cash flows rely claims, engaged in a "highly fight against corruption in Compliance watchdogs based at largely on these transactions. on overworked, under-resourced sophisticated money laundering Ukraine. the bank's Columbus, Ohio, A former U.S. Treasury staffers, who typically work in scheme," altering the names of She'd been working as a nurse operations hub decided to try to Department official, Natalie back offices far from parties subject to U.S. sanctions in western Ukraine in late 2013 figure out ABSI's actual owner in Mayflower Sours Edwards, headquarters and have little clout on transaction documents and when protests broke out in the 2015 after a Russian news site pleaded guilty in January to within their organizations. creating a technological heart of Kyiv, the capital. During reported that a similarly-named conspiring to unlawfully disclose Documents in the FinCEN Files workaround that allowed illegal the regime of President Viktor shell company - which FinCEN documents to BuzzFeed show compliance workers at transactions to slip through the Yanukovych, billions of dollars JPMorgan's records indicated News. major banks often resort to basic U.S. Federal Reserve Bank were being smuggled out of the Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 FRONT PAGE FEATURE 33 country - channeled through far- Ukraine's presidential palace, the $200,000 for "lingerie" from a reporting that $4 billion in quality" to support these off accounts at some of the Mezhyhirya estate, where British Virgin Islands company suspicious transactions had schemes - all the while bribing world's biggest banks. Yanukovych lived, for a rock- … $34,000 for "keyboard been reported since 1996. Latvian officials to protect the Demonstrators protested their bottom price. The palace - with stickers" from a Hong Kong firm In 2005, the year Jamie Dimon bank from any threats to its leaders' tilt toward Russia and the a zoo complete with ostriches … almost $400,000 on "knee- was named JPMorgan's chief business model. high-level corruption that was and a replica of a Spanish galleon boots" from another Hong Kong executive, FinCEN warned that Two financial crime experts who wrecking the country's economy, for cruises on the Dnieper River - company. Latvian banks and their "sizable" reviewed NoviRex's transactions its schools, its health system. became a symbol of the regime's Yet as NoviRex moved millions non-Latvian customer base at ICIJ's request said the signs Ukrainians were dying, patient decadence. of dollars through the global "continue to pose significant of money laundering were clear. advocates said, because money As always, corrupt proceeds banking system, its financial money laundering risks." NoviRex had behaved like no intended for life-saving medicines need a place to hide. On the way, statements - available online FinCEN said: "Many of Latvia's legitimate business ever would. and equipment was being stolen most pass through Lower from Companies House - institutions do not appear to "If I was at JPMorgan and I saw by insiders. Manhattan. indicated it was basically serve the Latvian community, but this, I'd be thinking: 'This is Zhukovska says she couldn't Lingerie and knee Boots moribund, spending less than instead serve suspect foreign horrendous,' " one of the experts, afford the $3,000 bribe it would In January 2010, the same time $2,500 a year. private shell companies." former U.K. police detective take to get a job in an urban Yanukovych was winning the first NoviRex sent all its payments FinCEN said Latvia's 23 banks Martin Woods, said. "What hospital. She worked instead at round of Ukraine's presidential from banks in notorious money- then held about $5 billion in normal company buys a rural health center with no heat, election, someone incorporated laundering centers, including "nonresident" deposits, mainly computers, lingerie and no medicines. "Nothing," she a new company at the U.K.'s Latvia's ABLV Bank. from Russia and other parts of buckets?" says. The structure "looked like By early 2014, as citizens were an old ruin." filling the streets to protest In December 2013, she joined Yanukovych, Klyuyev and other growing anti-government rallies in government leaders, NoviRex Kyiv, volunteering to treat had moved more than $188 demonstrators beaten by baton- million in transactions via swinging government forces. JPMorgan. She was sorting bandages on Pulling out Feb. 20, 2014, when a sniper's JPMorgan, meanwhile, was bullet tore into her neck. It hit less moving on. than an inch, she says, from her By the end of 2014 it had carotid artery. terminated correspondent As an ambulance rushed her to accounts of about 500 foreign the hospital, she tweeted: "I am banks, including, according to a dying." Latvian banking trade group It was the day of what became official, banks in Latvia. known as the "Snipers' In a December 2014 report to Massacre." When the day shareholders, the bank ended, Zhukovska had survived, acknowledged "mistakes made but dozens of others had been and lessons learned from our killed by rooftop police snipers experiences in foreign who rained fire on protesters. corporate registry, Companies But to move dollars the former Soviet Union. correspondent banking." Zhukovska's tale of struggle and House, a government office long internationally, NoviRex needed This was JPMorgan's market. "Every company makes pain is similar to the stories of criticized for granting legitimacy more than dodgy Latvian banks. In allowing a transfer, a mistakes (and we've made a average people around the world to companies with secret It needed a global institution with correspondent bank (in a simple number of them), but the who suffer as corrupt politicians owners. access to accounts with the New case) deducts the amount from hallmark of a great company is and their cronies - in Ukraine and The new company, NoviRex York branch of the U.S. Federal the account of the sending bank what it does in response," beyond - enrich themselves with Sales LLP, claimed to be in the Reserve System. and credits the account of the Dimon, the CEO, wrote in a cover the help of name-brand banks "domestic appliances" business, NoviRex needed JPMorgan receiving bank, taking a fee. letter. He didn't mention Ukraine with global footprints. but its paperwork suggested Chase. By granting foreign banks or Latvia, or ABLV or NoviRex. As the young nurse was still something else was going on. The Middleman access to U.S. dollars, Nor did he mention that, shortly healing in a hospital in early It listed its official address as a With roots dating to American JPMorgan was opening the before the pullout, U.S. 2014, Yanukovych fled the small shop in Cardiff, Wales. Revolutionary era figures Aaron system's doors to their regulators had issued a scathing country. So did his closest Recently occupied by a nail Burr and Alexander Hamilton, the customers, including appraisal of JPMorgan's money adviser, Chief of Staff Andriy salon, the same address was global banking behemoth anonymous shell companies like laundering safeguards and Klyuyev, who had emerged as a used by hundreds of other provided ABLV with a U.S. dollar NoviRex. ordered the bank to review its despised face of the crackdown. companies registered at account in New York, allowing In return for this gatekeeping correspondent banking Both ended up in exile in Russia. Companies House. the Latvian bank to, in turn, offer power, and the fees it brings, practices. Both are wanted by Ukrainian NoviRex's listed owners were two dollar accounts to its own U.S. law requires JPMorgan and By then, Ukraine's treasury had authorities and under U.S. other companies, both customers, including NoviRex. other banks like it to monitor been looted, JPMorgan's fees sanctions that accuse them of incorporated in the British Virgin In the early 2000s, even as each transaction cleared on pocketed. JPMorgan's treasury- embezzling public funds and Islands and also without visible banks faced new obligations foreign banks' instructions - and services group, the parent of its subverting Ukrainian democracy. owners. The same two BVI under the 2001 USA Patriot Act to vet the foreign banks it does correspondent-banking An investigation later found that companies were listed as to carefully check out their business with. business, reported $4.13 billion a solar energy group run by "owners" of thousands more foreign banking partners, A later probe would find that 90% in revenue in 2013. Dimon's total Klyuyev's family, Activ Solar, companies at Companies House JPMorgan ramped up business of ABLV customers were compensation in 2014 was $20 made off with hundreds of millions - many registered to the same supplying U.S. dollar accounts deemed "high risk" by ABLV million. of dollars in what were purportedly shop in Cardiff. to foreign banks. By 2003, it had itself, primarily because they The NoviRex story might have loans from government-owned Records show that the two become the global leader in were shell companies registered ended there. banks. Its assets were funneled companies that owned NoviRex "correspondent banking," in secrecy jurisdictions. But then, in November 2016, into a network of offshore also owned companies linked in processing payments for the Some of these shells were Donald Trump was elected companies controlled by Klyuyev news reports to suspected bid- clients of 3,500 other banks moving billions of dollars later America's 45th president. Soon family members, according to a rigging and other corrupt acts, around the world, helping bring traced to corruption in Ukraine. after, the U.S. Justice report by Ukraine's Financial much of it centering on Ukraine. JPMorgan's overall daily dollar U.S. regulators concluded ABLV Department appointed Robert Intelligence Unit as part of a The FinCEN Files show NoviRex transaction volume to more than had institutionalized money Mueller as special counsel to multinational investigation into soon began firing off payments $2 trillion for clients in 46 laundering as "a pillar of the investigate Russia's election the Yanukovych regime. of astonishing size and countries. bank's business practices," interference and other issues The Activ Solar affair was part of frequency. For a domestic In 2004, FinCEN issued a aggressively peddled money relating to Trump and his an orgy of corruption under appliances business, some of warning to global banks about laundering schemes to clients, associates. Yanukovych that included a the reasons NoviRex gave for the Eastern European banks and and produced fraudulent One of those associates was network of companies linked to payments were strange: their shell company customers, documentation of "the highest Paul Manafort, onetime Klyuyev's brother, Serhiy, buying Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 FRONT PAGE FEATURE 34 chairman of Trump's presidential and their transactions. officials have praised deferred of Russian President Vladimir reelection opponent, Joe campaign. She added: "We cannot publicly prosecution deals and other Putin. Biden. Death Penalty comment regarding any specific types of money laundering Since 2008, Deripaska has Firtash, who says he began Manafort had also served as a legal or natural persons." settlements as effective tools for been the subject of allegations his climb in business trading consultant and lobbyist for 'Tricks and cunning': Big penalties making sure big banks follow the in media reports tying him to Ukrainian powdered milk for Ukraine's former president, don't stop banks from moving dirty law and stop serving criminals. organized crime. When U.S. Uzbek cotton after the fall of Yanukovych. The FinCEN Files cash When authorities announced authorities announced the Soviet Union, lives in exile show staff at JPMorgan's Money streamed in from Standard Chartered's deferred- sanctions against him in in a mansion in Vienna, Columbus, Ohio, compliance California, Peru, Bolivia, China prosecution deal in 2012, an FBI 2018, they said he had been protected so far from efforts to office became concerned about and other places where low- official declared: "New York is a previously been accused of extradite him. His Art Nouveau press reports from Ukraine of income families were willing to world financial capital and an threatening the lives of villa has a home cinema and secret payments to Manafort- sink their modest savings - international banking hub, and corporate rivals, bribing a an infinity pool - a 2017 profile controlled shell companies $2,000, $5,000, $10,000 - into an you have to play by the rules to Russian government official by Bloomberg Businessweek disguised as payments for investment they hoped would conduct business here." and ordering the murder of a dubbed him "the Oligarch in computer equipment. change their lives. ICIJ's investigation shows that businessman. the Gilded Cage." The bank noted that NoviRex With the click of a keyboard, five of the banks that appear Deripaska denies laundering When it comes to banking, he had made such payments. investors' money funneled through most often in the FinCEN Files - funds or committing financial and companies tied to him As scrutiny of Manafort's foreign the New York operations of global HSBC, JPMorgan, Deutsche crimes. In 2019 the Trump found open doors among dealings intensified, the FinCEN banking giant HSBC. Then it Bank, Standard Chartered and administration lifted sanctions many of the industry's big Files show, JPMorgan filed more zipped across the world into Bank of New York Mellon - on three companies linked to institutions. suspicious activity reports accounts at HSBC's sprawling continued moving cash for him. U.S. sanctions on All five big banks in ICIJ's detailing - years after the fact - Hong Kong offices. suspect people and companies Deripaska himself remain and analysis - JPMorgan, millions of dollars in payments Like others taken in by what in the wake of deferred he's suing in an effort to upend Deutsche Bank, Standard to the consultant, his became known as the World prosecution agreements and them. Chartered, HSBC and Bank of associates and their Capital Market Ponzi scheme, other big money laundering "BNY Mellon takes its role in New York Mellon - handled businesses. Reynaldo Pacheco, a 44-year-old enforcement actions. protecting the integrity of the transactions for companies At Manafort's 2018 trial, father in Santa Rosa, California, Four of those banks signed global financial system controlled by Firtash, the NoviRex's name surfaced as one promoted the deal to family and non-prosecution or deferred seriously, including filing FinCEN Files show. And the of a handful of shell companies acquaintances. When the WCM prosecution deals in the past Suspicious Activity Reports," records indicate that all five used by Ukrainian oligarchs to scheme began to unravel, one of 15 years relating to money the bank said in a statement. approved transactions tied to channel payments for political the unlucky investors he'd laundering. The only bank of "As a trusted member of the Firtash in the time periods lobbying work to Manafort's own encouraged to put money into the the five that hasn't been the international banking after U.S. authorities had shell companies. deal decided to have him killed. subject of a non- or deferred community, we fully comply forced the banks to pay fines In all, NoviRex secretly paid Three men kidnapped him and prosecution agreement is with all applicable laws and and pledge to work harder to $4,190,111 to Manafort's beat his head with rocks, leaving Deutsche Bank. Instead, it regulations, and assist vet suspect clients. consulting operation on behalf of him dead in a creekbed, his hands reached a $258 million civil authorities in the important The files show that among Yanukovych's Party of the tied behind his back with tape and settlement in 2015 in response work they do." these banks, JPMorgan Regions, according to one of his shoelaces. to a probe by U.S. and New Red flags moved the most money for government exhibits in his trial. Thousands of victims lost an York banking regulators that One striking pattern revealed companies controlled by Manafort was ultimately estimated $80 million in the found that the bank had moved by ICIJ's analysis of the Firtash by far - shuffling convicted of bank fraud, failure scheme. billions of dollars on behalf of leaked records is the hundreds of transactions totaling to report a foreign bank account The FinCEN Files show that Iranian, Libyan, Syrian, willingness of multiple banks nearly $2 billion between 2003 and other crimes. HSBC continued shifting money Burmese and Sudanese to process transactions for and 2014. At one of Manafort's trials, his for the WCM investment fund at financial institutions and other the same risky clients. JPMorgan and the other banks former business partner, Rick a time when authorities in three entities sanctioned by the Deripaska, the Russian should have been aware of Gates, finally revealed the countries were investigating the U.S. oligarch, didn't just have Bank Firtash's questionable history as person behind NoviRex: company and the bank's internal Bank of New York Mellon was of New York Mellon helping far back as 2010, when a leaked Klyuyev, Yanukovych's right- watchdogs knew it was an among the first big banks to him out. The secret records U.S. diplomatic cable linked hand man. alleged Ponzi scheme. More than pay a large penalty to U.S. reveal Deutsche Bank shuffled Firtash to Mogilevich. The help that JPMorgan provided $30 million tied to WCM flowed authorities for anti-money- more than $11 billion in Then in 2011, a lawsuit filed in Klyuyev's company never came through the bank in 2013 and laundering failures. In 2005, transactions between 2003 Manhattan by former Ukrainian up during the trial. 2014 - at a time when HSBC was two years before its merger and 2017 for companies he Prime Minister Yulia In all, the FinCEN Files show, under probation as part of its with Mellon Financial, Bank of controlled. Tymoshenko provided the banks JPMorgan transmitted 706 deferred prosecution deal with New York paid $38 million The records also indicate that even more of a heads up, even transactions totaling at least American authorities. dollars and signed a non- Deutsche Bank and Standard naming specific accounts at four $230 million for NoviRex from Even after U.S. securities prosecution agreement after a Chartered helped Odebrecht of the banks that the suit alleged 2010 to 2015. Much of that regulators won a restraining order federal probe concluded that SA - a Latin American were being used by Firtash for amount went to companies freezing the company's assets, it had allowed $7 billion in construction firm behind what money laundering. incorporated in secretive tax WCM's account at HSBC Hong illicit Russian money to flow U.S. prosecutors called the The suit accused Firtash, havens. Kong stayed active. According to through its accounts. largest foreign bribery case in Mogilevich and future Trump In 2018, FinCEN declared court documents later filed by Media reports said history - move $677 million campaign manager Manafort of JPMorgan's former customer, attorneys seeking money for the investigators believed that from 2010 from 2016. laundering illicit funds from ABLV, a "primary money scheme's victims, WCM drained Mogilevich, the alleged Deutsche Bank played a role Ukraine through banks and laundering concern" that had more than $7 million from the Russian mafia "Boss of in transactions involving more investment deals in the U.S. moved "billions of dollars" for account during the following week, Bosses," was behind some of than $560 million of that The suit claimed accounts at the Ukrainian tycoons accused of drawing its balance to zero. the transactions. amount, the records show. New York offices of JPMorgan, looting state assets. FinCEN WCM wasn't the only company Even as it's avoided big Then there's Dmytro Firtash, Deutsche Bank, Standard barred U.S. banks from tied to criminal activities that money laundering a Ukrainian oligarch who is Chartered and Bank of New York providing ABLV access to U.S. moved money through HSBC enforcement actions in recent wanted on criminal charges in Mellon were being used in correspondent accounts - a step during the five-year probation that years, Bank of New York the U.S. money laundering operations known in financial circles as the came with the bank's $1.9 billion Mellon has continued doing In 2014, American prosecutors shifting money stolen in Ukraine "death penalty." It is now in deferred prosecution deal. The business with suspect figures, unsealed an indictment to the U.S. and then - after it had liquidation, and some of its bank's Hong Kong office, for the FinCEN Files show. accusing him of bribing been cleaned - round-tripping it bankers have been arrested by example, processed more than The leaked records show, for officials in India in an effort to back to Ukraine. Latvian authorities. $900 million in transactions example, that Bank of New secure a mining deal. Since Despite the allegations, these In response to questions from involving shell companies linked York Mellon moved more than late 2019, U.S. news outlets five banks continued to handle ICIJ, an ABLV spokesperson in court records and media reports $1.3 billion in transactions have reported on claims that transactions involving said that during the liquidation, to alleged criminal networks, an between 1997 and 2016 tied Firtash played a role in companies controlled by Firtash, an auditor is carrying out a ICIJ analysis found. to Oleg Deripaska, a Russia President Trump's effort to dig the FinCEN Files show. review of the bank's ex-clients American prosecutors and other billionaire and a longtime ally up dirt in Ukraine on his 2020 The lawsuit was dismissed in Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 FRONT PAGE FEATURE 35 2013, in part because billions of dollars through the It sounded like something out of known for "ruthlessness and U.S. banks involved in money Tymoshenko and her lawyers U.S. financial system on behalf a spy novel. even violence" in business laundering scandals. weren't able to provide enough of Sudanese, Iranian and Cuban Deutsche Bank employees dealings, once hiring "armed A month later, U.S. prosecutors specifics of the transactions entities subject to American instructed clients from Iran and goons" to take over the offices of filed civil forfeiture complaints in involved in the alleged scheme. sanctions. other hot spots to lace their a government-owned oil federal court in Florida that Firtash has denied wrongdoing, Unlike settlements with HSBC payment messages with code company. In an article in the Wall included allegations of thievery telling Bloomberg Businessweek and others, this wasn't a deferred words that would trigger special Street Journal, one associate and money laundering against that he's the victim of "a special prosecution. The bank agreed to handling. One executive urged recalled meeting with Kolomoisky similar to the claims machine of propaganda accept a criminal conviction, and workers to employ "tricks and Kolomoisky and watching as the in the Delaware lawsuit. organized against me." He told to force out 13 staffers. cunning" to avoid detection by oligarch pressed a remote-control Prosecutors say much of the the magazine that Tymoshenko But for the French bank, the American authorities. switch that dropped crayfish money allegedly stolen from was "wrong in everything. She priority in settlement negotiations These tricks of the trade were meat to the hungry sharks PrivatBank between 2008 to 2016 lies all the time. In order to was ensuring that its license to exposed in a November 2015 occupying his office aquarium. ended up in investments in the money launder, you need to have process dollar transactions in announcement by New York The leaked records show U.S. - including commercial real dirty money to start with. I always the U.S. wasn't permanently banking regulators. Deutsche Deutsche Bank moved $240 estate in Texas and Ohio, steel had clean money." taken away. Instead, U.S. Bank, state officials said, had million from December 2015 to plants in Kentucky, West In a statement, an attorney for regulators barred BNP Paribas been caught shifting nearly May 2016 for a shell company Virginia and Michigan and a Firtash told ICIJ that Firtash "has from such activities for one year. $11 billion between 1999 and registered in the British Virgin cellphone factory in Illinois. never had any partnership or other After the deal was announced, 2006 on behalf of Iran, Syria Islands that, U.S. court filings Kolomoisky did not respond to commercial association with the bank's share price rose and other countries under U.S. claim, was controlled by questions from ICIJ. A lawyer for Semion Mogilevich." The 4%. sanctions. Kolomoisky and a business him said in August: "Mr. attorney said Firtash would not James S. Henry, a New York- Under the $258 million partner. Kolomoisky emphatically denies answer questions from ICIJ based economist, attorney settlement with the state and A lawsuit filed last year in state the allegations in the complaints because its queries are "reliant and author who has been the Federal Reserve, Deutsche court in Delaware alleges filed by the Department of on the unlawful and criminal investigating the world of dirty Bank agreed to reform its Kolomoisky used the shell Justice." disclosure" of suspicious activity money since the 1970s, says practices and fire employees company, Claresholm Marketing In the state court case in reports. American enforcement actions involved in the sanctions- Ltd., to help pull off a "series of Delaware, lawyers for Holding bankers accountable over the past two decades evasion operation. brazen fraudulent schemes" via Kolomoisky's businesses said Why haven't seemingly big have had some impact on large In a statement, Deutsche PrivatBank, a Ukrainian the suit fails to show violations financial penalties done more to banks' behavior - at least Bank framed the deal as old institution that Kolomoisky and of racketeering statutes or change banks' behavior? compared to an earlier era news: "The conduct ceased a partner controlled until the end other laws. Kolomoisky has John Cassara, a financial crime when they operated with several years ago, and since of 2016. The new owners of the also filed a defamation action expert who worked as a special almost no restraints. then we have terminated all bank claim in the suit that against PrivatBank in Ukraine, agent assigned to FinCEN from But he said it's going to take business with parties from the Kolomoisky and his associates claiming the bank has falsely 1996 to 2002, said that the size "more prosecutorial will and countries involved." siphoned away billions of dollars accused him of fraud and of the penalties paid by HSBC international collaboration" to A month after the settlement from the bank through sham other wrongdoing. and other big banks may sound truly change the relationship was announced, the FinCEN loans and then laundered the Deutsche Bank declined to large but that they're a tiny between banks and illicit cash Files show, Deutsche Bank was money through investments in answer questions about its fraction of the banks' profits. And flows. That includes holding working behind the scenes to the U.S. dealings with Kolomoisky, the money isn't paid by the banks as institutions - as well as move money for a company This past July, New York saying it was legally restricted bankers who should be held top bankers themselves - linked to Ihor Kolomoisky - a regulators reached another from commenting on clients or accountable, he said - it's paid accountable. Ukrainian billionaire who, U.S. money laundering transactions. The bank told by shareholders. "We have to put some senior prosecutors later alleged, was settlement with Deutsche ICIJ that it has acknowledged BNP Paribas, France's largest executives who are in charge of engaged in a massive laundering Bank. This time, the bank "past weaknesses" and "learnt bank, received the biggest fine this stuff at risk," Henry said. scheme that funnelled cash into agreed to pay $150 million from our mistakes." of all in 2014, when it was forced "And that means fines and/or the American heartland. in penalties related to its It said it has "systematically to pay $8.9 billion in the face of jail." Kolomoisky has his own spy dealings with convicted tackled" these issues. evidence that it helped shift Shark tank thriller mystique. U.S. sexual predator Jeffrey "We are a different bank now," it prosecutors say he's long been Epstein as well as with two non- said. Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan lead drop in financial shares amid report the banks moved suspicious funds than $2 trillion in transactions fell 5.5%, touching a 25-year low. obligations under the DPA. between 1999 and 2017 as The broad market sell-off on HSBC is a much safer institution possible money laundering or Monday may also be contributing than it was in 2012." other criminal activity. The report to the losses in JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank told CNBC that cited confidential documents other banks. The Dow Jones "this is not new information to us submitted by banks to the U.S. Industrial Average dropped 800 or our regulators." government. points in morning trading. JPMorgan said it reports These leaked suspicious activity In a statement to CNBC, HSBC suspicious activity to the reports do not necessarily said "all of the information government "so that law indicate wrongdoing, and they provided by the ICIJ is historical enforcement can combat were just a tiny fraction of the and predates the conclusion of financial crime, and have reports filed with U.S. Department our Deferred Prosecution thousands of people and of Treasury's Financial Crimes Agreement (DPA) in 2017." hundreds of millions of dollars Enforcement Network, the report "Starting in 2012, HSBC dedicated to this important Financial stocks came under Sachs fell 0.4%, Citigroup lost said. Deutsche Bank appears to embarked on a multi-year journey work." pressure on Monday amid a 2% and Bank of New York Mellon have facilitated $1.3 trillion of to overhaul its ability to combat "We have played a leadership report that global banks moved traded 4.1% lower. The sell-off suspicious money in the files, financial crime across more than role in anti-money laundering allegedly illicit funds over the past was triggered by a new while JPMorgan disclosed $514 60 jurisdictions," an HSBC reform that will modernize how two decades despite warnings investigation by BuzzFeed and billion, the report found. Other spokesperson said. "At the end the government and law from U.S. officials. the International Consortium of banks mentioned in the of 2017, the Justice Department, enforcement combat money Shares of Deutsche Bank Investigative Journalists that said investigation include HSBC having received all of the laundering, terrorism financing dropped more than 8%, while the banks' internal compliance Holdings, Standard Chartered and Monitor's reports, determined and other financial crimes," the JPMorgan fell 3.1%. Goldman officers flagged a total of more Bank of New York Mellon. HSBC that HSBC met all of its bank told CNBC. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 SPECIAL REPORT 36 WeedWeed OrOr WeedoutWeedout India has a Rs 10 lakh crore drug problem. So why aren’t - agencies going after the cartels feeding a growing demand for banned substances? Purple strobe lights, temporary high brought on by -quantities of heroin into India. psychedelic floral patterns someone rich and famous being The biggest heroin seizures in the unfolding behind a reeling hero, nailed to the cross. last four years—amounts ranging curry western rock ’n roll…and The contrast in the degree of from 1,500 kg to 100 kg—are yes, the vamp, always the vamp. urgency shown is quite stark— known to be from Saleem’s There’s something about the 70s and is actually quite shipments. Sources say he Bollywood potboiler that has symptomatic of how the whole smuggles heroin into India via the are seeped into culture—so is arrested,” says an official from defined the frame through which system works. There were no Arabian Sea route. “There seems opium to a lesser extent—and the narcotics cell of Mumbai a lot of Indians interpret the prime-time tipoffs, no heroic to have been no attempt to follow authorities have generally police. “And if the NCB goes after complex, peril-filled world of camera posses outside a Jaipur up in a serious manner. There preferred to overlook cases of Bollywood for use of drugs, one drugs. That Indian cinema is hotel: real crime-busting can’t isn’t even a red corner notice,” individual consumption. A 2019 of the biggest economic activities never the best factual guide to happen like that. But let alone sources tell Outlook. This overall survey carried out by the National in Mumbai will be finished,” he reality is secondary. any behind-the-scenes laxity is a serious structural Drug Dependence Treatment adds, only half-jokingly. What it really does is to sleuthwork, “there was no effort deficit; all data about the Centre (NDDTC) of AIIMS The legendary former top cop channel all energies into fearful to find out if there was a hidden trafficking of hard drugs shows estimates there are as many as Julio Ribeiro believes it’s simply stereotypes about -‘modernity’, purpose to the Sinaloa family the market has an innate 31 million marijuana users in the not the NCB’s job to go after especially resentful attitudes visit, or who they met,” claims a resilience that all -observers say country. “If we start booking users. “According to me, users tinged with envy about ‘the elite’ senior official in the country’s points to connivance at several people for consumption, the should be counselled and and their ‘sinful’ living. And what security establishment.Similarly, levels. While that stays sadhus smoking marijuana in encouraged to give up drugs that in turn breeds is the the National Security Council unaddressed, we see the focus their chillums in Haridwar and rather than be arrested. Rhea is ideology of the witch-hunt. The Secretariat (NSCS) gave the of the NCB squarely on high- Puri; tourists consuming charas merely a pawn in a larger game real problems—international NCB information about an Afghan profile users.It’s not common for at Pushkar mela; revellers using that appears more political than trafficking, hard drugs and the drug lord called Haji Saleem. the agency to get involved in bhang during Holi or the anything. There are several big market for -ever-new synthetic Operating in the Af-Pak region, individual drug possession Rajasthanis partaking -opium- fish as far as the drug scenario forms, under-age addiction—all Saleem is believed to be the man cases. In India, cannabis in the made ‘amal’ during weddings and is concerned. The NCB should these get sublimated in the -responsible for smuggling huge form of bhang, ganja and charas funerals…they will all be go after them,” says Ribeiro. NitishNitish BanksBanks Lalu’sLalu’s VotesVotes Bihar CM woos Yadavs as he sets out to dismantle friend-turned-foe’s long dominance over community In 2018, Tej Pratap, Lalu’s before he switched over to JD(U) strategy, Nitish stresses the need eldest son, married MBA recently. Jai Vardhan is the for making the new generation of graduate Aishwarya Rai—the grandson of late Ram Lakhan voters aware of what pati-patni granddaughter of former chief Prasad Singh Yadav, a former (Lalu Yadav-Rabri Devi) did for minister, the late Daroga Prasad Union minister known popularly Bihar during their reign. “The new Rai—with much fanfare, but it as Sher-e-Bihar. A formidable generation of voters should be turned into a bitter court battle leader from the Yadav apprised about the differences for divorce within months. Nitish community, he had set up many between our respective 15-year- The Yadav vote bank has currently serving a prison term now thinks that Lalu’s family educational institutions in his long tenures. They may have been an impregnable fortress in Jharkhand. treated an educated girl like lifetime. Jai Vardhan’s father, been three or four-year-old kids held valiantly by Lalu Prasad It is something Nitish is not Aishwarya rather shabbily. “It is Prakash Chandra Yadav, too, when we formed the government Yadav over the past three known to have ever attempted, a family matter and I do not want was a Congress MP. (in 2005) but they have since decades in Bihar. But it overtly or covertly, ever since he to say anything,” the CM said Nitish says that both these grown up to be the new voters.” appears to be under siege now, came to power 15 years ago. at a virtual rally to formally kick- Yadav icons had helped Lalu Nitish’s remarks evoked a with chief minister Nitish Kumar And he appears to have hit start the JD(U)’s poll campaign but their family members have sharp response from Tejashwi out to breach what is considered upon a two-pronged strategy to recently in Patna. “Aishwarya been given a raw deal by him. Prasad Yadav, who is leading to be the last frontier of the accomplish his goal. First, he is the granddaughter of Daroga “Look at the way the RJD’s poll battle from the front in embattled RJD president ahead is telling the Yadav voters how Babu. What kind of treatment grandchildren of Daroga Prasad the absence of his jailed father. of the assembly elections. Lalu has served only his family was meted out to her?” Rai and Ramlakhan Singh “Let him (Nitish) abuse us, but will A dominant OBC group at the cost of the entire Rai, who headed a Congress Yadav have been treated. They it be of any good for the people of comprising about 11-12 per community, and second, how government in 1970, was a are just running a family Bihar?” he asks. “He should cent of the total population, the he has mistreated the widely-respected Yadav leader. dynasty. This family has highlight his achievements but Yadavs have played an formidable caste icons for his His son Chandrika Rai forgotten how they had helped then, what are his achievements assertive role in state politics, vested interests. Also, in a clear (Aishwarya’s father) is an ex- it in the past,” Nitish said, in a in the first place?”The leader of invariably reposing unflinching departure from his avowed minister who won the 2015 not-so-veiled attack on Lalu. opposition says that the chief faith in the leadership of RJD stand of not making personal assembly polls on an RJD “When the families of such minister is “smelling the 30-year- president, regardless of attacks on his political rivals, ticket but recently moved to renowned persons have been old stale papers”. “In rakshaksh whether he is in or out of power. Nitish even cites the troubled JD(U). subjected to such treatment, one raj (demon’s reign) of today, he is Now, Nitish has set out on a marriage of Tej Pratap to Apart from Rai’s family, can think of others,” he said, talking about jungle raj (lawless mission to wean the all- underscore an indifferent Nitish also mentions the sounding a word of caution to the regime),” Tejashwi quips. “Half important Yadav voters away attitude of Lalu’s family towards treatment meted out by RJD to Yadav voters. of his party leaders are from the from their maverick caste icon, fellow leaders. its legislator Jai Vardhan Yadav Under his well thought-out same jungle raj. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 SPECIAL REPORT 37 How Portland Became a Nightmare for Democrats For Donald Trump, cities are which the White House is now hundred-day mark, and the city crime-ridden, infested with threatening to withhold federal just saw its deadliest month rioters and looters, and overseen funding if the city doesn’t since the 1980s—is not by liberal mayors who are either change course. surprising to those who know its absent or complicit—or often Trump has misleadingly history. Just three years ago, both. But among the cities about blamed the city’s agitation during Trump’s first summer in which the president has railed solely on the far left, office, POLITICO dubbed though this summer of conveniently ignoring the role Portland “America’s most unprecedented protests, armed, far-right groups play in politically violent city” after left- Portland has stood out as his fomenting the violence. But wing anarchists rioted in the personal punching bag. He has when Trump says that Portland months after Trump’s election called it a “mess” (and “has been has “been burning for many and a right-wing white for many years,” apparently) and years,” as he recently told Fox supremacist verbally abused dispatched unmarked federal News’s Laura Ingraham, he’s two minority women on a train agents to the city. Just this not necessarily wrong. and stabbed to death two men things are getting worse. That leadership that is struggling to week, Trump’s Justice The fact that Portland has who intervened. roiling unrest is presenting an figure out an effective response Department singled out Portland presented the kinds of domestic But with only six weeks unprecedented challenge for to an intensely local crisis that as an “anarchist jurisdiction,” unrest America hasn’t seen in remaining until the election, the local officials who are has broader political one in which city leaders have decades—downtown protests current conflict has reached new struggling to contain the implications, all while the “permitted violence and surrounding the federal levels of violence, and anyone violence—as well as for president hectors them as destruction of property” and from courthouse recently passed the paying attention can see that national Democratic weak and incapable. ‘The Most Important Woman Lawyer in the History of the Republic’ It’s hard to think of three constitutional scholars — to tell O’Connor and Ruth Bader the years as head of the ACLU letters that have more us how RBG’s life and work Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Women’s Rights Project, when, resonance in modern-day reshaped America. Many pointed Court and Changed the World. starting in 1971, she pivoted the American political life than RBG. to her work as a champion of Ruth Bader Ginsburg served entire structure of the 14th Supreme Court Justice Ruth women and voting rights. “Her on the Supreme Court for almost Amendment to cover equal rights Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday deep and abiding commitment to 30 years. She was, in the words for women. Her first case, Reed at age 87, was a pop culture icon justice and equality drove her of one of her adoring young v. Reed, came a mere 10 years — the subject of movies and analytic rigor, not the other way followers, so old and still so after the Supreme Court had children’s books, the face of round,” Columbia University’s radical. She was famous for her ruled explicitly that equality posters and T-shirts, the rare Gillian Metzger wrote. Others fiery dissents. But that’s not what was, essentially, “No Girls political figure with a universally argued that she embodied a she’ll be remembered for; Allowed.” Working in the recognized epithet, “notorious.” “sense of moderation and dissents mean you were footsteps of Thurgood She was also, of course, a strategy,” as the Cato Institute’s outvoted. And, sure, she Marshall, she slowly and towering legal mind who shaped Ilya Shapiro put it, that perhaps delivered the landmark opinion in methodically pulled the American jurisprudence over went overlooked. Scalia, with a sense of hope that the 1996 Virginia Military Institute Constitution toward a larger decades on the court, and before Still others pointed to the hole their friendship, unlikely as it sex discrimination case, United circle of equality. She was not that as a professor and a lawyer, that her death leaves on the court seems in this fractious moment States v. Virginia, but the the most important justice, most notably in the realm of — how it could shape abortion for the country, was not the last conservative justices, slowly at even if she was the most gender equality. What legacy rights or even the tenure of of its kind. ‘She pivoted the entire first and then faster after Sandra famous one. She was, as one does she leave for the country? Supreme Court justices. And structure of the 14th Day O’Connor left, cut back on of my sources told me, quite Politico Magazine asked more more than a few pointed to her Amendment’ Linda Hirshman is the impact of her formal sex simply the most important than 20 legal thinkers — law friendship with the late a lawyer, writer and author of discrimination doctrine. Her woman lawyer in the history of professors, litigators and conservative Justice Antonin Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day legacy is older. It goes back to the Republic. The dangers of genetic engineering United States (US) President would expect of an engineered What is worse, it isn’t just Donald Trump has said that virus. “If someone were seeking China. The technologies have Covid-19 either was intentionally to engineer a new coronavirus as democratised to such a degree engineered or resulted from a a pathogen, they would have that any country can engineer lab accident at the Wuhan constructed it from the backbone viruses. To start with, a lab would Institute of Virology in China. He of a virus known to cause need to obtain the genetic may be right about it having been illness,” the researchers said. information of viruses. The first a lab accident, and China bears But genetic engineering could genetic sequencing of the responsibility for the carnage well be the cause of the next bacterium Escherichia coli was occurring worldwide. But the pandemic — and India needs to in the 1990s, when sequencing a virus is to modify the genome natural mechanism that virus likely wasn’t deliberately be as prepared for this. Covid-19 the bacterium’s four-and-a-half of the existing pathogen to bacteria use to trim pieces of engineered — despite recent has brought India’s economy to million base pairs took weeks of change its effects. One genetic information from one reports. its knees even as it left China effort and tens of millions of technology in particular makes genome and insert it into A research report in Nature practically unscathed. This has dollars. Today, to spell out the it almost as easy to engineer life another. This mechanism, Medicine contradicts the undoubtedly brought home to the three billion base pairs that forms as it is to edit Microsoft which bacteria developed over likelihood of intentional Communist Party of China (CPC) dictate the construction and Word documents. Clustered millennia to defend engineering of a pathogen for that biological pathogens can be maintenance of a human being Regularly Interspaced Short themselves from viruses, has military use, on the basis that as destructive as nuclear costs about $1,000 in the US and Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) been turned into a cheap, Sars-CoV-2 isn’t a mishmash of missiles — and have almost no can be done in hours. gene editing, developed only a few simple, quick way to edit the known viruses as the authors geopolitical repercussions. The next step in engineering years ago, deploys the same DNA of any organism in the lab. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 FASHION 38 GuestGuest column:column: Couture’sCouture’s digitaldigital trajectorytrajectory

Couture weeks around the world establish the supremacy of the The need of the hour is to digital format as applaud intrepid concepts which are paving the way for fresh extraordinary ideas. Gaurav Gupta’s “Name is presentations enliven Love” is one such film which the screen. voices the need for inclusivity in all areas—- sex, colour, weight and mitigates these binding boundaries. The Fashion Design Council decade. It was also in tandem a beautiful garment, the artisanal is the new language of fashion. The digital format allows of India has been a front runner with the wedding season, which prowess, succinct I don’t think such concepts designers to explore cultures in every sphere of fashion, and I believe is now extended till craftsmanship, robust hues, can could be brought alive in a live and reference these stunning one of the few organisations in January. Giving designers ample be closely observed, watching it runway format. facades. Forts and their the world, which has readily time to monetise their on your screen. Making this an The Fashion Design Council picturesque offering straight adopted the need-of-the-hour collections. experiential medium with all the of India, has been organising out of a story book. Rahul digital couture week template, The world by large, including technological trappings of haute couture shows since Mishra captures the in keeping with changing design the Paris Haute Couture Week, decadence. 2008. We have given designers pleasures of both slow life space and technological shifted to a digital medium, as If you observe the shows at a platform to showcase the and design processes in his advancements. it gives you the freedom to get India Couture Week 2020, the magic of artistry through the impressive film shot at Tijara What propelled us in this innovative. Frankly, the digital themes and their actualisation highest level of fashion. It fort. This is the new path we direction was the pressing need world has made us reach out to have been out of the ordinary. remains a treat for not just the have embarked upon and it will for our talented designers to millions of people and shown us Amit Aggarwal’s film shot media to view the spectacle, but lead us to a nuanced showcase their creativity, after the enlightened way. underwater to capture the also guests as well as, the exploration as fashion films have facing the worst crisis of the Interestingly, the detailing of essence of how “light” and “fluid” design fraternity. proved. ChangingChanging moodsmoods ofof couturecouture Processes and techniques mirrored human life, they became slower with focus on a language dripping with restrained luxury, albeit with a conscience. The greatest lesson adversity hoisting the flag up, offering reinterpreted classics, through teaches us, is to reflect and look employment to artisans and their metallic embroideries. back upon life with equanimity. craftsmen. The ICW 2020, Falguni and Shane Peacock And this is exactly what ensembles had flourish, richness, decided to do what they do best happened with couture. were ornate, with intimate —- add drama to bridal Processes and techniques weddings, making way for the conventions with a touch of mirrored human life, they became new aesthetics of “less is right”. asymmetrical layers and slower with focus on a language The overall tone of ICW has feathers. Forts and palaces dripping with restrained luxury, been one of optimism, the served as a metaphor for Reynu and its auspicious, as well as diversity. Is the modern bride albeit with a conscience. Brides themes endearing for an Taandon and Dolly J, while as ceremonial significance. Bringing going to change to a YSL in India, will not swerve tradition, audience which till now has been light as air was conveyed through a befitting end to six days of jacket, like Bianca Jagger? but find a commonality in their used to the catwalk and its Amit Aggarwal’s underwater virtual presentations will be “No”, but what she is ready to love for both modernity and theatrics. The house of Valaya, rendition which showcased how designer and stylist to the stars, do is opt for a bridge between tradition. swiftly took us back in time with couture can be weight-less. Manish Malhotra’s passionate baroque swirls, jewel tones, Undoubtedly, the India his superbly tailored line Menswear is a market, which appeal to think beyond the vast expanses of fabric and 3D Couture Week 2020, proved brimming with royal trimmings. has seen a Renaissance, with an ephemeral with a timeless line, embroidery, artful embroideries, digital has the prowess to And Gaurav Gupta pursued infusion of not just colour, but promises to be peppered with traditional motifs and symbolic communicate with a vast inclusivity through a poetic prism. also interesting textures and Persian and Mughal influences. surface ornamentation. Post- audience, minus hierarchy. The Rahul Mishra’s metaphor for life, patterns. That’s why Kunal The beauty of ICW is that we pandemic couture will be a fine overwhelming response the lotus pond, made us believe Rawal’s show displayed the are a part of the Indian bridal mix of dreams and reality, witnessed lakhs of views for most in self-sustaining eco-systems need for versatility for a prudent universe, but our where a bride’s fortitude is shows. It is established, stores and Suneet Varma channelled consumer. Moreover, later this interpretations are as diverse celebrated through the language and businesses, are gradually unapologetic glamour. evening, Anju Modi will pay as the hues of a rainbow, of clothing. You can all now take picking up and couture is really Shantanu and Nikhil homage to a bride’s love for red making it an effusive ode to off your glares! Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 BUSINESS 39 To sell Air India, reframe the terms Offer it as a zero-debt company, ensure an open process, and free the new management Air India’s (AI) third attempt astronomical debt of around Rs a timely manner. That is feasible to secure a buyer is likely to 23,000 crore that is part of the only if AI is sold as a going draw a blank. The bid, which bid. The ostensible logic here is concern. Though it has lost its closes on October 30, is that the assets are also of an sheen, it is still a much-loved expected to be postponed again. equal amount. And therein lies brand, and has huge potential The restrictive terms have scared the rub. While the debts are that can be unlocked by the right away buyers each time. determinate, the assets are not. strategic investor, provided the The government believed Most aircraft are on lease. Other government makes buyers would line up despite the high-value assets, including comprehensive changes in the huge liabilities. Every year of planes, which have been terms. delay will only make AI less purchased over the years, and AI has a vast domestic and attractive to any potential buyer. contracts will be of questionable global network to key and easier due diligence by auction where each bidder can Civil aviation minister Hardeep value. There are allegations of destinations, assured time slots bidders. In turn, they will gain increase the bid price after Singh Puri was candid enough corruption, and investigations by and space in prized airports with confidence in what they are viewing the offer price of other to admit in Parliament: “With Rs the Central Bureau of airside access, hangars, buying because it’s not easy to bidders. 60,000 crores debt, the choice Investigation (CBI) and other engineering backbone, assess the huge inventory of But to get the highest is not between privatisation and agencies are in full swing. infrastructure, trained engineers aviation assets and numerous valuation possible, the non- privatisation...but between It is impossible for bidders to and flight crew, bilateral rights, complex contracts. The failed government must hold pre- privatisation and closing down.” complete due diligence in such assurance of continued bid of Jet Airways should be an tender meetings and understand In the new terms proposed, a short time-frame to get a protection of those rights, huge eye-opener. bidder apprehensions before the government wants to offer realistic asset value to be able aircraft orders with delivery Here are a few more tender documents are finalised. 100% equity for sale of the to make a bid. The lease rentals timelines, and revenue of around suggestions that may attract This is key to attracting the airline and has wisely bundled earlier negotiated may also have Rs 25,000 crore, which can be more bidders. First, the bidding highest number of bidders. Air India Express (the low-cost to be renegotiated. The doubled with better process must be a global, open, The employees’ question carrier unit) along with government cannot deny these management in a short period. transparent electronic tender. may be the biggest deal-breaker. engineering and other apprehensions as it has itself All these can ratchet up its The shortlisted bidders must first AI is overstaffed — its staff subsidiaries — including its initiated enquiries and is keen valuation to about Rs 50,000 deposit the reserve price in an strength is over 30,000 if all stake in joint ventures in to press charges. crore, comparable to rival carrier escrow and the bidding must contracted employees are catering, cargo, ground handling Closing the airline cannot be Indigo, by listing it after three to commence and end within six included. The new owner must and other operations. It has an option. That will mean wilfully four years with the right to eight hours. It must not be a be allowed to retain only the excluded all real estate assets absorbing all the liabilities while restructuring, management and closed “sealed envelope” bid, as minimum number of employees across the country, including the losing the best value that could leadership. is often the practice which, apart per aircraft. The staff strength AI building in Mumbai. be realised via a thought-through Offering AI as a zero-debt from being vulnerable to per aircraft in Indigo is around But there’s still an transparent bidding process in company will enable quicker malpractice, won’t get the best 70 compared with about 470 in price. It should be an open AI, and to be fair, the government must settle laid-off employees through an attractive voluntary It’s Time To Separate From Tata Group, Says Mistry Family retirement scheme by selling some of the airline’s real estate Tata Sons Pvt. informed the Supreme Court it’s open to buying out the 18% stake assets. owned by the Mistry family’s cash-strapped Shapoorji Pallonji Group if the latter AI’s trained and skilled needed to raise money for paying debt. manpower of pilots, engineers and cabin crew will definitely be because the securities may needed by the new end up falling in the hands of management. But the latter unfriendly investors. must have total freedom on this “The action by Tata Sons decision. to block this crucial fund This will facilitate a raise, without any heed for the competitive playing field so that collateral consequences, is the company that wins can the latest demonstration of focus on the airline. their vindictive mind-set,” the The successful bidder should SP Group said in a statement mandatorily be made to list AI late Tuesday. on the stock exchange within 36 “The SP-Tata months of the takeover, relationship spanning over 70 prescribing minimum levels of years, was forged on mutual Indian public holding of the stock trust, good faith, and so that it continues being looked friendship. Today, it is with a up to as a national carrier. If the heavy heart that the Mistry auction is marketed and family believes that a managed well, AI will entice many The billionaire Mistry borrow money against Tata Shapoorji Pallonji Group if the separation of interests would buyers. Those managing the bid family, the largest minority shares. latter needed to raise money best serve all stakeholder must do things differently. It may shareholder of the Tata Group, Tata Sons Pvt. informed for paying maturing debt. The groups.” be pertinent to recall what Albert said it needs to separate its the Supreme Court Tuesday SP Group instead wanted to It didn’t specify what any Einstein said: “Insanity is doing interests after India’s biggest that it’s open to buying out borrow funds using the shares separation would entail. A the same thing over and over again conglomerate took steps to the 18% stake owned by the as collateral, a move Tata representative for Tata Sons and expecting different results”. block the family’s attempt to Mistry family’s cash-strapped considers as potentially risky declined to comment. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 LIFE STYLE 40

estimated at $50 billion even by features, 3 D models, conservative estimates. augmented reality, video GuestGuest column:column: WeddingWedding WowsWows What’s interesting is the conferencing and even social With 1.3 billion need to reach out to a wider media. But the moolah will flow Indians, almost audience, breaking barriers of in through fully loaded websites 50 per cent under geographical constraints and with an encouraging user the age of 25, opening the vistas to interface. makes bridal incorporate, not just small I have observed, in my couture the towns desires which often fade many years in the business of biggest money due to lesser accessibility, but fashion, this is the way forward spinner for also global clients, who want a and Indian designers are fashion. piece of succinct tradition for sharpening their tools to find their D Day. With a click of a an international foothold with button you can now see, almost their unmitigated prowess “visually feel” the ensemble with crafts. We at FDCI before buying creating strongly believe that e- discerning choices despite a commerce is that Brahma depressed economy. Astra that will help them glide Luxury which was a reserve through a time when human of “by appointment only” is now touch is a rarity and social conducted using various distancing a norm.

There has been a rampant been accustomed to. Thus, the Couture which was once the churning in the fashion rise of e-commerce websites, Holy Grail has now emerged as business due to the pandemic, which are becoming, the new the survival mantra for an and what has emerged out of business model for designers. industry, which has faced back this “Samudra manthan” is a Global data has predicted that breaking turmoil, rather chrysalis of sorts. by 2022, the e-commerce assiduously. Bridal trousseau is A realisation that we could business will grow leap and the biggest money spinner and do things differently and most bounds to almost $713 billion honestly, I believe it is definitely it could be as and everyone wants a piece of recession-proof, despite effective as the brick and this succulent pie. naysayers announcing its mortar retail template, we had FDCI chairman Sunil Sethi. premature death. After all, it’s A Calmer You, by Sonal Kalra: Throw away these 5 things. Right now! Hoarding every darn thing in the name of nostalgia is not silly. It’s downright foolish

lying somewhere on the shelf? that came with your TV video sizes and material. Plastic Because, you see, my game on your 5th birthday, and flowers in plastic vases. Now, I bestestest friend and I played tic- are still around in the hope of have nothing against these, tac-toe on the back cover and got seeing your 50th. C’mon yaar. seriously. Because the whole our first punishment together. THROW. And puhleez, read up point of being the Lord of your Ugh. That best friend, who’s now on e-waste and dispose them off house is to be able to do it up friend number 3,654 on properly. the way you like. But the problem Facebook doesn’t even know if I 2. Clothes that don’t fit: Our is that we keep adding ‘show- still exist in this physical world. favourite hoarding candidate, this pieces’ without knowing what to But the physics text book stays. one. The wardrobe is screaming do with the old. Even when the Haylo, good people. If you thousands to tell you how to THAT, is our problem. Mind hi that it can’t take it anymore, but showcases have all but gone in detected a hint of threat in the inhale-exhale air, will you take me blocked hai ji, kya we’ll keep stuffing it with more last decade’s renovation. The headline, let me explain that it is seriously. karein.Anyway, I tried to apply clothes everytime the wretched same goes for old toys, not. Just a hint, I mean. It is a Yeh three rupees waali advice mine and here are five categories ‘50% off’ beckons. But we still especially stuffed teddy bears full blown warning because I’ve ki koi value nahi hai, by God. of things I think should be won’t give away the dress we that may be full of mere desh ki had enough of you not realising Anyway, our homes, discarded right now, in the larger bought at 50% discount 10 years mitti from 1979, but we won’t let that it is high time you chucked workspaces, sometimes even interest of humanity, to reduce ago and which didn’t fit us even them go because well, there are some stuff out of your life. Hey, vehicles, are full of clutter that’s poverty, to cut corruption in the at that time. ‘Someday I’ll lose emotions involved. Do the same those of you who immediately not only taking away a lot of country, and make India a safe weight and fit into this,’ Yeah? emotions not tell you then to thought of spouses and/or in- space but also keeping us from, place for women to live in. Aao thappad khao. Saale Sale donate clothes, toys or books in laws, give me a high-five. Now, well, inhaling-exhaling fresh air. 1. Black Spaghetti: No matter junkies, all of us. (That’s a typo good condition to some kid who give your right cheek one, Just take a good look around you. how much you deny, each one in the first word... I didn’t mean may value them more? Think. because we are not talking Is there anything you spot that’s of us has a janjaal of unused the extra ‘a’ but the back button 4. Casettes/CDs that don’t humans, yet. been there forever without being cables and chords lying around on the keyboard isn’t working!). run: Another big nostalgia More than four years ago, I of any use, but only because you in the house. An old charger of Golden rule: Deny yourself a new candidate. Okay fine, kuchh wrote in this column about people were too lazy or stingy to throw the 20 kg heavy Motorola phone dress till you take out an old one. toh rakh lo... because even I who just wouldn’t discard things it out. I’ll smack you if you’ll let that was the pride of your life in 3. Show-pieces: In the last have a big emotional and how a lot of homes look like your clever brain cook up a 1992, maybe the phone/pager century when I was a kid, every attachment with my old music museums — of trash — but then ‘nostalgia’ and ‘emotional itself that never got an antim house used to have a ‘showcase’, cassettes, CDs and MP3 nothing seems to have changed. attachment’ argument to cover up sanskar, 265 pairs of earphones in which people placed all kinds players/iPods. But when that Meri sunte kahan ho aap log? your inherent inertia. Because that you flicked each time you of weird, I mean cute, things. attachment translates to Maybe if I change my name to my mind tries to do the same, boarded a Kingfisher flight — Terracotta swans with necks shelves full of old CDs which something like Sushri Sushri all the time. Why is my physics when they were still Kings of entwined, photo frames of all have died of scratches, or Sonal and start charging you by text book of ninth standard still good times, that is. Some cables sizes, shapes, material with cassettes which didn’t run pictures of relatives in all shapes, even when we had the player Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 SHOW BIZ 41 Fashion films- the formidable accessory With the world facing an impasse, couture offers a relief through fashion films. The catwalk is now passé, gained steam with engaging what's cool is the emergence of concepts. Ralph and Russo an intensely expressive, almost created their own version of a immersive experience-- the muse with strength, hoping to fashion film. The perfect way to provide refuge in fantasy, while have a virtual tête-à-tête to Dior offered the most beautiful establish a disrupted version of "escapism" complete reconnection with the audience. with mermaids and nymphs. It is the most fashionable As the world becomes accessory, many designers have increasingly silent, designers adopted internationally as well as like Elie Saab have shown the domestically, to serenade an desire to go back to nature, with audience that seems jaded with reverence paving the way for a girl walking straight to the quieter couture. Paris Couture bursting of a thousand light bulbs. Week which went digital, in This year at ICW 2020, we keeping with a largely have a melange of films they have monochromatic existence, is pushed the proverbial envelope. reflective of the flavours of a post- From majestic forts juxtaposing pandemic existence. the vivaciousness of couture to lens of a camera. themes that earlier had the tide. The biggest advantage is We hope to set a new world underwater renditions creating a With our life now in the palm limitations of a ramp. You can employment generation from order with engrossing light as air mood, as well as of our hands almost literally and actually shoot at a palace, or a choreographers, stylists, models technologies, that have removed historical locations soaked in metaphorically, this medium of hotel which reeks of decadence to makeup artists, videographers the velvet ropes democratising cultural magnificence, of the communication, is going to as well as mirror the myriad and lensmen, everyone has couture, creating a larger past, each designer has shape the tone-on-tone future of emotions of a bride through a found work which had depleted audience than just a 100 succeeded in capturing the true fashion. The beauty of films is, it spectacular minarets which have in the last few months. privileged participants dressed to essence of couture, through the allows an unfettered approach to withstood the test of time and Internationally, this format has the nines!

Designers have opened the green door, launched smaller, meaningful collections, which reverberate with responsibility as AR, virtuality and AI is set to rule the aesthetic laboratory of the future. Shape of fashion versatility. One outfit, can be to a gloomy last 6 months. From worn in three different ways or sindoori red to vivacious revisiting vintage techniques, fuchsias, there has been a new which are labour intensive but palate for palettes. possess powerful imagery are Live action shopping is now gaining steam. outdated, one-on-one styling Slow fashion: appointments, real time and the The philosophy of ownership digital closet is the next wave. is also transforming, as you are The good part this year, is the repurposing with purpose, and see now, buy now model, will getting innovative with existing allow consumers to get their materials. Valaya has brides hands on what they have just who come to him with their finished viewing. mother's trousseau asking for a There is a rise of e fitting, modern twist, in keeping, with phygital experiences, Artificial his "royal" ideology. While intelligence and virtual models. Shantanu and Nikhil have I foresee a time when started a buy back scheme for technology will enable you to their old garments where you select your own fabric and print can win credit notes under --Re- making it custom-built adapting love, Re-own & Re-use. to altering social behaviour. Amit Aggarwal has been a I think couture will also leave champion of sorts working its formality and modern extensively with metallic separates will be a norm. accents that sometimes come Intimate weddings have I think fashion will undergo a back has now found a renewed embodiment of timelessness from used pipes, polymers brought out the best in designers sea change in the coming interest. within the framework of couture. intermingling it with textiles and with experimentation months which will define its "Revolutionary" is the Unlike the need to create sparking a conversation on how becoming the flag bearer as future trajectory. It's a departure buzzword and with this comes endlessly, now you make on- important it is to pursue less is tradition meets technology from bare shoulders, ruffles, the wings of freedom, where you demand smaller capsule more. with a "feel great" factor. belted waists, tiers, embroidered can wear your mother's collections, which are pointed. Code Red: As long as brides sweet whispers in organza, trousseau by refashioning it. With seasons and trends fading If you study the India need one-of-a-kind clothing, what's new is an eco-vision as What I have observed is the away, the pressure has eased Couture Week 2020 that is individual and suited to the pandemic has removed the growth in the handloom sector on the style hemisphere, where collections, they have been their fantasies, couture will reach rose tinted glasses. The whole and a willingness to adopt you are launching more injected with vibrant hues to the pinnacle of prosperity. It is idea of reuse, recycle and buy textiles which are an solution-based ensembles with probably add a bit of sunshine here to stay and rule the world. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 ENTERTAINMENT 42 Enola Holmes movie review: Forget Superman, Henry Cavill is Sher-locked into a new Netflix franchise now

Enola Holmes movie review: Millie Bobby Brown’s first film as pro- ducer, also starring Henry Cavill, is an energetic and empowering update of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. Enola Holmes Victorian London, the film has secured a franchise for herself, Director: Harry Bradbeer the spirit of Jane Austen’s Pride which will serve her well when Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry and Prejudice, as if it were written Stranger Things ends. And much Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Enola like Enola, it’s an opportunity that Bonham Carter, Adeel Akhtar Holmes begins with the titular she created for herself. Brown is Providing children with a heroine heroine, played by the very making her debut as a producer that they can look up to, and their endearing Millie Bobby Brown, on the project, which is just parents with enough thematic breaking the fourth wall, à la wonderful. meat to chew on, Netflix’s Enola Fleabag. She does this on As the sister of Sherlock and Holmes is an energetic and numerous occasions in the film, Mycroft Holmes, described in empowering update of Arthur most memorably when she one scene as ‘an uneducated, scoffs at the feminist values that together, the two bond over their Conan Doyle’s iconic stories, for disguises herself as a widow underdressed, poorly mannered she has instilled in Enola. abandonment issues and Gen Z. (because people are wildling’, Enola was raised by her “Where is your hat?” he asks her, uncover a political conspiracy While millennials made do with uncomfortable around death, and mother, Eudoria, while her more “And your gloves?” He decides that could change the course of Benedict Cumberbatch’s therefore less likely to be illustrious brothers abandoned to immediately send her off to a England’s history. considerably more conspiratorial suspicious of her) and declares, the family and went to make their finishing school, while him and On occasions, Enola Holmes Sherlock — a brilliant series that proud of her own ingenuity, “’Tis marks in London. But when Sherlock take over the adult certainly has a tendency to come captured an entire generation’s I!” Eudoria mysteriously goes responsibilities. Enola isn’t across as a piece of fan fiction, fears and anxieties and projected Enola is intelligent, but never missing one morning, Enola having any of it. which is technically what the them onto one of the most insufferable; she’s confident, but must rely on her own abilities, So she gives them the slip one source novels by Nancy Springer celebrated fictional characters of not completely immune to self- and not her pompous brothers day, and hops aboard the first were. And if you consider the fact all time — Enola Holmes, like the doubt. She’s a fully realised (neither of whom have seen Enola train to London, leaving Sherlock that the film has been written by teenagers towards whom it is person. And that’s all down to the in years), to locate her. to wryly admire her spunk, and Jack Thorne, the man behind targeted, is more hopeful for the writing, and Millie Bobby Brown’s Mycroft, who assumes the Mycroft to menacingly twirl his glorified Harry Potter fan-fic the future. performance. responsibility of her guardianship moustache. On her journey, she Cursed Child, you begin to notice Set in a smoggy, muddy The young actor seems to have after Eudoria’s disappearance, runs into another runaway, and parallels. CU Soon movie review: Fahadh Faasil's experimental thriller is taut, genre-breaking CU Soon movie review: The Fahadh Faasil and Roshan Matthew starrer stands out because of its experimental tone and how it uses a set of digital screens to deliver a taut and genre-breaking viewing experience.

Mathew) phone as he casually disappears mysteriously after the end. There's a sense of swipes through profiles of women spending a week with Jimmy, urgency to find out what on Tinder. He quickly matches and the alarming video note she happened to Anu and it feels like with Anu (Darshana Rajendran), leaves behind makes things a race against time. The tension and before we know it, they're worse. Kevin has to find out what gets stronger with every running doing video calls on Google Duo. happened to Anu, and in the minute and with every window or Everything happens so quickly process, he unravels several dark screen Kevin opens as he and it makes one wonder how secrets. investigates the disappearance can these things happen so fast. Even though CU Soon is a thriller of Anu. Fahadh makes the But it later makes sense why at heart, it's also a film that character of Kevin even more they matched and fell in love so throws the spotlight on the idea interesting than it already is with quickly. Jimmy proposes to Anu of relationships in the age of his terrific performance. CU Soon deliver a taut and genre-breaking on a video call in the presence of social media and dating apps. Known to deliver so much of Director: Mahesh Narayanan viewing experience. Even though his mother, who ropes in Jimmy's The film successfully manages a character through just his Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Roshan cut from the same cloth as cousin Kevin Thomas (Fahadh to help us differentiate between eyes, Fahadh makes Kevin Mathew and Darshana Rajendran Aneesh Chaganty's Searching Faasil), a cyber security expert, what we see and hear in a world so interesting to watch. In The film CU Soon, from writer- (which released in 2018), to dig deep and find out more where the role of technology is one scene, he's called a director Mahesh Narayanan, is Mahesh's film is far more effective about Anu. Although yet to be completely justified. CU misogynist by his female one of the best Indian films to because of the emotional depth uncomfortable with the idea of Soon shows that technology can colleague but it doesn't take have released in this lockdown. it adds to the characters, invading someone's data privacy, be both a boon and bane. It much time to realize that Apart from the fact that it's a film allowing the viewer to virtually Kevin eventually gives in for the beautifully establishes the fact circumstances can change a completely shot during the feel what it's like to see a sake of his aunt. In no time, he how technology has consumed person. Roshan Mathew is lockdown and on an iPhone, what mystery thriller completely manages to find all the our lives and some of us are equally good and he's fast really sets apart is its unfold on a few screens. necessary information and already paying the price. becoming one of the most experimental tone and how it The film opens on the screen of declare Anu as "very authentic". As the search for Anu begins, as exciting actors to watch out for uses a set of digital screens to Jimmy Kurian's (Roshan However, trouble brews after Anu a viewer, you're hooked right till in Malayalam cinema. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 ENTERTAINMENT 43 Sushant case: NCB visits Shraddha Kapoor’s home to serve summons, Deepika to appear on Friday The Narcotics Control Bureau Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash arrested, according to NCB. (NCB) on Wednesday issued summons to and KWAN talent management agency’s Earlier this month, the NCB had arrested actors Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar, but the former six people from Mumbai and Goa in Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh could not appear before the agency due to connection with the case. The NCB first in a drug case related to the death of arrested 23-year-old Bandra Sushant Singh Rajput. resident identified as Karam While Padukone has been summoned Jeet Singh Anand alias KJ on September 25, Shraddha Kapoor and recovered marijuana and and Sara Ali Khan have been asked to hashish from him. appear before the NCB on September According to NCB officials, 26, news agency ANI reported. NCB Karam Jeet was part of the officials visited Shraddha Kapoor’s drug syndicate which it had house on Wednesday evening to serve busted as part of the the summons. ongoing investigations. Earlier on Wednesday, the agency The NCB has so far recorded the statement of film producer arrested a total 16 Madhu Mantena in connection with the accused in the case case. including Bollywood actor Mantena was the co-producer of 2016 Rhea Chakraborty and her Bollywood film ‘Udta Punjab’ which brother Showik Chakraborty, dealt with the issue of drug menace. Sushant Singh Rajput’s His name allegedly cropped up during the ill-health. house manager Samuel Miranda, questioning of late actor Sushant Singh The NCB is probing the drug link in Rajput’s domestic help Dipesh Sawant, drug Rajput’s talent manager Jaya Saha, who death. Padukone and the three other peddlers Zaid Vilatra and Abdel was quizzed by the probe agency for last actors were named by Rhea Chakraborty Basit Parihar; Kaizan Ebrahim, two days, NCB officials said. while she was being interrogated between Karna Arora, Abbas Lakhani and The NCB had on Tuesday summoned September 6 and September 8 before being Anuj Keshwani. Ginny Weds Sunny Am I some minister or a great opposition leader? Kangana’s latest salvo trailer: Vikrant Massey and Yami Gautam Firing a fresh salvo at Congress on Wednesday, rumours about CAA that caused riots are the engage in some Indian Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut questioned the same people who are now spreading ongoing protests against her in the country and misinformations about Farmers bill and Matchmaking said it must have been a case of “mistaken causing terror in the nation, they are terrorists. identity”. “Am I some minister or a great opposition You very well know what I said but simply like leader? Who they think I am? this is rather to spread misinformation,” the actor had flattering,” the embattled actor wrote on Twitter tweeted earlier. after Punjab Congress burnt the effigies of Alongside, Kangana is engaged in a tussle Kangana for “disrespecting farmers by labelling with the Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra them terrorists”.“First congress in Maharashtra after an allegedly “illegal” portion of her Mumbai threatened me and beat my posters with chappals office was razed on September 9. now congress in Punjab burning my effigies, seems The Bombay high court on Tuesday asked like a clear case of mistaken identity,” the actor actor Kangana Ranaut to implead Shiv Sena Netflix India has released the first wrote. chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut in her petition trailer for Ginny Weds Sunny, a The protests came after the actor allegedly equated the protesting for threatening her with ‘Ukhad diya’ – the title of an article in new wedding-themed comedy farmers with “terrorists”. “People who spread misinformation and Sena mouthpiece Saamana. acquired by the streaming service for release on October 9. The film stars Yami Gautam and Vikrant Massey as a couple looking for How politics eclipsed the Emmy Awards suitable life partners. The two- the night on Sunday, in almost changing the world as we know and-a-half minute trailer every acceptance speech, A-list it, the winners did their best to introduces Ginny and Sunny, TV stars sat in their homes and make the most of the night, not who meet for a potential arranged spoke of hope, for a better just to triumph in their own glory, marriage, but when Ginny turns America, and, in turn, a better but to speak of and condemn him down, Sunny embarks on a world. the injustices exacerbated journey to win her affections by In many ways, the 72nd Annual under the leadership of Unites teaming up with her mother. The Primetime Emmy Awards was States (US) President Donald trailer features several song-and- nothing like ever before. Held in Trump. dance numbers, slice-of-life the middle of a global pandemic, From slamming Trump’s move comedy, and the easy chemistry host Jimmy Kimmel spoke to an to downplay Covid-19, to of its leads. There are also empty auditorium. This while highlighting police brutality cameos by Mika Singh and stars of the night sat in their and racial inequality (which Badshah, perhaps, playing Actress Uzo Aduba wore a tee- Mrs America, and said, “Let’s homes with their families, friends reignited the Black Lives themselves in a music sequence. shirt with the name “Breonna change the world!”. Breonna and co-stars, and while fans Matter movement), the winners “It was a blast playing Ginny as Taylor” imprinted on it, when she Taylor was a Black woman who across the world watched what emphasised the need for TV fans she is a headstrong girl, not accepted an Emmy for was fatally shot in her own home became a night of passion, everywhere to register to vote in letting anyone or anything ever Outstanding Supporting Actress in Kentucky by the police during power and politics. the upcoming presidential let her down,” Yami said in a in a Limited Series or a Movie for a drugs’ investigation. Through Recognising that Covid-19 is elections, trust the US statement. Friday 26 September to 03 October 2020 44

See Full page Voice of South Asian Community Since March 2002 advt on P : 10 Vol. 19 Issue 30 Friday 26 September to 3 October 2020 $1 www.thesouthasianinsider.com Trump falls into the trap he set for Biden Punjab sows but Some on Trump's team are bracing for a humiliating loss at next week's debate - after will not reap Trump lowered expectations for Biden by mocking his acumen for months. (SAI Bureau) - Donald even as his campaign Trump will face Joe Biden publicly insists the former within days for the first of vice president is fully capable three presidential debates, of a satisfactory and some of the performance. Unlike the president's supporters are president, who has already bracing for a spuriously claimed Biden is humiliating loss. "probably" on performance- White House allies, enhancing drugs, Trump Republican donors and campaign communications some of Trump's closest director Tim Murtaugh (SAI Bureau) The last few weeks have seen the advisers worry that a attributed Biden's "quite farmers of Punjab take up arms against three laws recent, frenzied push by good" performance in past being passed by Parliament. his top lieutenants to debates to the Democrat's Originally styled as ordinances, these were the portray Biden as a ability "to turn it on when the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce seasoned debater - with the goal of raising cameras come" after years of experience in (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020; the expectations for the Democratic presidential nominee politics."Eight years as vice president, three decades Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) - is too late and too disingenuous to have an impact in the Senate, two debates as vice president and he Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services when the two meet on the debate stage next just came through about a dozen debates in the Ordinance, 2020; and the Essential Commodities Tuesday.They worry Trump has set a trap for himself Democratic primaries where he vanquished two dozen (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. The distress is by incessantly attacking Biden's age and mental opponents - that's the Joe Biden we're expecting," largely about the first piece of legislation. acumen. It's a tactic the president has maintained Murtaugh said. (Contd on page 28) (Contd on page 29) The Nehruvian imprint Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran Start One Of on Indus Waters Treaty World's Most Fiercest Military Drills (SAI Bureau) - Russia launched a however, local media reports stated major military drill on Monday, involving that China and Pakistan's almost 80,000 servicemen. Kavkaz- participation in the exercise was a 2020 (Caucasus-2020) is the final major factor behind the withdrawal. stage of annual combat training this According to defense experts talking year, the Defense Ministry said in a to the EurAsian Times who did not statement. wish to be named, said that Russia The main operations during the drill is India's strongest and most will take place in the North Caucasus, dependable ally for decades and three as well as in the Black and Caspian participate as observers. of India's foes - China, Pakistan, and seas, all of which are part of the The exercise will engage up to 250 Turkey are expected to participate in country's Southern Military District. tanks, 450 infantry fighting vehicles the military drills. By pulling out, India Up to 1,000 servicemen from Armenia, and armored personnel carriers, 200 has conveyed to Russia its disinterest (SAI Bureau) - Exactly 60 years ago, on September Belarus, China, Myanmar and artillery systems and multiple launch to associate with regional foes while 19, 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty between Pakistan Pakistan were invited to practice joint rocket systems. at the same time, New Delhi has and India was signed. Despite the energy and actions, while the Iranian military Earlier, a EurAsian Times reported, given strategic space to them, voluminous paperwork that marked eight long years vessels are expected to join naval India had decided to pull-out from especially to Pakistan who is of negotiations, under the aegis of the World Bank exercises. Representatives from multilateral war drills in Russia. In an desperate to befriend Moscow which (WB), the Treaty was largely viewed by both parties Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, official statement, New Delhi cited the opinion-makers in New Delhi should as one which gave away their respective water Indonesia, Iran and Sri Lanka plan to COVID-19 pandemic as the reason have blocked. interests. The two leaders - Jawaharlal Nehru and Ayub Khan - for different reasons felt otherwise and soaked in the historic moment of the signing ceremony in Karachi on September 19, 1960. As a military dictator, Khan's diktat overrode public opinion, while the democratic Nehru had to contend with domestic opposition. The Treaty partitioned the Indus system of rivers. (Contd on page 29)