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Sunday, 9 December 2018
The Kartarpur road to lasting peace
Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar-two icons of India's cricket pantheon-excused themselves. They might have thought of discretion being the better part of valour. However, Navjot Sidhu accepted the invite and graced the ceremony with his presence. The next act of bravado came from Pakistan's military chief, Gen. Qamar Bajwa. Greeting Sidhu, a fellow Punjabi, at the ceremony, Bajwa offered to open the Kartarpur border with India for Sikh pilgrims wishing to visit the shrine of their patron-saint, Baba Guru Nanak, in Pakistan's Narowal district. Sidhu couldn't have expected a more gracious and generous act of hospitality from his Pakistani hosts. Kartarpur, in Pakistan, has Gurdwara Darbar Sahib where Guru Nanak spent his last years. It's the holiest of holy places associated with the great saint. But the border-crossing project at Kartarpur, first mooted in 1988, had been lying dormant ever since because of bad blood between the governments of India and Pakistan. Politics, petty at times, frustrated and trumped the yearnings in the hearts of Sikh pilgrims to pay their respects to their saint at his last abode. It took Imran Khan three months to honour his military chief's offer to Sidhu: he was busy in visiting those friends of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia and China, in quick succession-who could, and did, help him dig Pakistan out of its economic morass. In the end, however, he didn't disappoint his buddy Sidhu. On November 24, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that Imran will be breaking the ground at Kartarpur on November 28, for a four-km- long corridor to connect with Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur on the Indian side. The icing on the cake for Sikh pilgrims is that they will be able to enter Pakistan visa-free. All this in preparation for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Imran's Kartarpur gambit is part of the initiative he had announced immediately after his electoral victory last July. Extending an olive branch to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, Imran had offered to take two steps forward if India took one. That spirit of reconciliation and peace continues to pervade his strive to mend long torn fences with India. Kartarpur corridor tucks neatly into Imran's well-meaning drive. However, the Indian government still seems reluctant to respond fully and willingly to Imran's front-foot forward thrust, something he has learnt from his cricket experience. India, instead, seems to prefer staying on the back foot on relations with Pakistan. A symptom of Indian government's half-hearted response is Sushma Swaraj declining her Pakistani counterpart Qureshi's invitation to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on November 28, citing "prior commitments".Sushma had also spurned a luncheon meeting with Qureshi in New York in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, despite the previous commitment for it. Her spokesman had justified the 'no-show' by her by accusing Pakistan of "unclean intentions". It is obvious that with their eyes on next year's general elections in India, the Indian ruling party stalwarts would like to present themselves to their electors as 'tough' guys, vis-a-vis Pakistan giving no quarters to their arch adversary. But Sushma was, nonetheless, magnanimous in informing Qureshi that India's Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, will be attending the November 28 ceremony. Intriguingly, the CM of Punjab, Capt. Amarinder Singh, has not only declined to attend but has also served a 'warning' to Pakistan to "not vitiate the atmosphere." He may have his own reasons for standing tough on Pakistan. Earlier, too, he had decried Sidhu's attendance at Imran's inaugural by calling it "hugplomacy". Interestingly, the Pakistani initiative to allow visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims into its territory seems to have galvanised the Indian government into its own act of one-upmanship. Perhaps not to be seen as lacking in warmth, the Indian government has pre-empted Pakistan by being the first to lay the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor, two days ahead of the Pakistani D-Day. The Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu graced the ceremony in Gurdaspur on November 26. It doesn't, and shouldn't, really matter who lays the first stone or takes the first step as long as it breaks the ice between two estranged neighbours. They should have been doing it long time ago. It's a long overdue mending of torn fences. Navjot Sidhu has captured and summed up the Kartarpur spirit succinctly by saying it "can make pilgrims of us all, venturing out on a journey that breaks the barriers of history." Pray it be so. Dailyhunthttps://www.veritasutama.com/author/jeevajhonee/
India show impressive resilience
While the bowlers were magnificent in South Africa and England too, India's batting had been pusillanimous, lacking in strength of character. The main run contributor — by a huge margin I might add — had been Virat Kohli, who lacked support from the top order had led to all kinds of problems for the team. This time, Kohli's contribution was relatively meagre, but Cheteshwar Pujara came up with a gem of a century to pull India's chestnuts out of the woods in the first innings and has held the innings together in the second too going into the fourth day. That this is a weak Australian team is undoubtedly true. Without Smith and Warner the batting is fragile. None in the current line-up has a record to match these two or are is in the same class. Yet it must be remembered that playing at home Australia have never been pushovers, whatever the quality of players/team available. The Indians, particularly, would know this from history. In 1977-78, for instance, Australian cricket was ravaged by the Kerry Packer circus and left with a clutch of young and untested players for the series against India led by Bishan Singh Bedi. The only known faces were skipper Bobby Simpson, who at 42 was called out of retirement to help Australia tide over the crisis, and Jeff Thomson who had opted out of the Packer Series. India on the other hand were at full strength with Bedi, Chandra, Prasanna, Gavaskar, Vishwanath, Amarnath, Vengsarkar, Kirmani and expectations were high for a series win. It wasn't to be. That five-Test rubber was one of the keenest and most entertaining among the two countries, Australia finally prevailing 3-2 in a ding-dong battle that had fans in thrall. Similarly, in 1985-86, Australian cricket again in a crisis with the simultaneous retirement of Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh, Dennis Lillee and Kim Hughes stepping down as captain. But Allan Border led a team of rookies to thwart the ambitions of Kapil Dev's powerful Indian side. Then in 2003-04, Australia were hamstrung by injuries to main wicket-takers Glen McGrath and Shane Warne (though the batting was at its strongest), and the series was squared 1-1. Point I'm trying to make in this lengthy digression is that it is never easy to beat Australia in Australia: indeed, for India this has been so difficult that they have never won a series Down Under since the start of the rivalry in 1947-48! India being bowled out for 250 in the first innings at Adelaide after winning an important toss, therefore, seemed ominous. Weak batting line-up notwithstanding, Australia's bowling in the current contest is top class and the portents weren't encouraging. What caused India's collapse in the first innings? I think it was a predetermined, bull-headed mindset to show 'positive intent', without the batsmen settling down to gauge the pitch, conditions, bowling. Six of the top seven batsmen were out trying to dominate the bowling from the word go. Only Pujara showed the application and good sense to 'settle in' before looking to score runs. From 41/4 to 250 was monumental recovery so to speak. Thanks to Pujara's virtuosity, India's bowlers had some total to defend, which they did superbly, sharing the spoils. More critically, India's top order showed a hitherto unseen degree of maturity and commitment to take charge of the match. False bravado was eschewed in favour of diligent hard work. Where the Test is headed should be clearer by the time you read this newspaper on Sunday. Of course, cricket is a funny game, one brief session of play can turn things topsy-turvy. But I reckon if India's batsmen can bat out two sessions and swell the lead to 300-325, they would put the team in a strong position to win this match. And from there aim to rewrite history. ... Dailyhunthttps://diigo.com/0dirta
Miracle doughnuts emerge as Israel celebrates Hanukkah
There is a story behind the doughnuts and the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, or Festival of Lights, which began on Sunday night. The holiday commemorates one of the great victories in Jewish history, when in the 2nd century BC, after defeating the Seleucids ruling the Holy Land, a small group of Jews led by Judah Maccabee reconsecrated the desecrated Temple of Jerusalem. Tradition says that when they sought to relight the temple's menorah, only one day's worth of undefiled oil remained. It miraculously burned for eight days, allowing time to prepare more oil. To mark the holiday, Jews light one candle on a hanukiah candelabra each night. The traditional hanukiah includes nine branches, with one serving to kindle the others. Here's where the doughnuts come in. It is also part of the holiday tradition to eat foods fried in oil, including sufganiyot. The basic jelly-filled sufganiyot and variations on it can be found all over this time of year, with colourful rows of them set out on tables at cafes, shopping malls and market stalls. But some have sought to turn the doughnuts into a product if not as miraculous as the miracle Hanukkah celebrates, then at least something that's really worth savouring. For Kadosh, a regular doughnut just won't do -- at least not when it's time to celebrate Hanukkah. The 46-year-old who has studied in Paris and Vienna won't give away his secret, but explained that it involves a way of keeping his doughnuts from becoming too greasy. A French touch Last year, Kadosh cafe celebrated its 50 years in business by offering 50 different versions of sufganiyot. Among its most original creations have been doughnuts made with creme de cassis liqueur, salted caramel, pistachio and pastry cream. Kadosh sells between 2,000 and 3,000 doughnuts per day during the Hanukkah season -- though with the higher quality comes a higher price. They run from seven shekels ($1.90, 1.65 euros) for the classic doughnut filled with strawberry jam to 16 shekels for the more sophisticated. Elsewhere, most sell for between five and 12 shekels. In total, around 20 million sufganiyot will be sold in Israel during Hanukkah, according to an industry association. The doughnut tradition has been written about since the Middle Ages, but dates much further back than that. They would be recognisable to much of the world -- cousins of the American donut and the German Berliner, for example. After stores begin stocking them in the run up to Hanukkah, Israeli newspapers start rolling out their annual lists of the best, the least fattening and the most original. At Jerusalem's Franck Delights, whose chef arrived from France 22 years ago, fewer than 10 different doughnuts are offered, but the bakery highlights its French roots. 'We offer light doughnuts that allow several to be eaten -- real pastries with a French touch that Israelis appreciate,' said Samantha Assuli, the store manager and wife of Chef Franck. The gourmet examples have become numerous: raspberry, mango, lemon, hazelnut, almond, vanilla cream -- even baba au rhum. Some even offer vegan donuts, while others have gone in a completely different direction with cheese or meat. Dailyhunthttps://jobboard.bethelcollege.edu/author/zeeonees/
Sensex dips on trade tension
'Opec members are inclined for a production cut however there is no consensus on actual quantum. Opec needs to bring Russia on board for a production cut policy and 2-day meeting starting from today will give fresh direction to crude oil,' said Abhishek Bansal, chairman, Abans Group. The weakness in the equities also impacted the sentiments in the forex market with rupee again breaching the 71 level mark in intra-day trade. The rupee finally ended at 70.90 a dollar. ... Dailyhunthttps://www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk/user/zeevakeeno
Two different voices in Supreme Court are dangerous: Attorney General Venugopal
"I am saying all this because of a fear that this new concept of constitutional morality may now be used for the purpose of testing laws," he said. "In the Sabarimala case, the dissenting judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, relied upon constitutional morality and said that constitutional morality will require that every single individual would have the right to his own faith and nobody can interfere with it, the courts cannot interfere with what is the matter of faith," Venugopal said. Referring to the majority judgement by four judges in the Sabarimala case, he said they had elaborately stressed on constitutional morality and said that constitutional morality was "equality and equality before the law means you cannot discriminate against a class of women". "If a bench of the Supreme Court speak in two different voices, one says permit and other says no, then this is dangerous," he said, adding, that "no one knows where this fight will go and therefore, I am hoping that constitutional morality will die". Venugopal said from the very beginning, there has been conflict a between Parliament and the executive on one hand, and judiciary on the other, and it was not proper for the court to believe that unless they interfere, the country is doomed. "The Supreme Court has not been given the powers of legislation. If the Supreme Court tries to assert legislative powers, it would not be supremacy of the constitution, but supremacy of the Supreme Court of India which is wholly impermissible," said Venugopal. He also referred to Article 142 of the Constitution, which deals with enforcement of decrees and orders of the top court. ... Dailyhunthttps://www.intensedebate.com/people/feroozshaan
'Most people want Ram temple, but we will wait for SC verdict': Manoj Sinha
'Our stand is clear in our manifesto,' he reiterated. Reacting over poor post poll predictions for the BJP in the recently concluded state assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, Sinha said, 'It is better to wait for two more days rather than discuss the exit poll outcome. I see BJP winning.' Addressing a gathering of Ghazipur residents living here at an event organised at City Montessori School, Kanpur road branch, the minister also spoke about enhanced rail connectivity for eastern UP. 'The eastern part of Uttar Pradesh will get high speed trains -- running at 180 km/ hr speed -- from this month only. The prime minister will also lay the foundation stone for a medical college in Ghazipur,' he said. Sinha said that the railways had identified 12 more routes for Bullet trains besides the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route on which work was already in progress. 'After the communication revolution, India is standing on the brink of a revolution in transportation. Soon, semi high speed trains and bullet trains will start plying. Reaching far away destinations will take much less time and travel will become easier and safer,' he said. 'People will soon be going to Kolkata from Varanasi through waterways, which will be the cheapest means of transportation. Water planes will become a regular feature in our country. The waterway opened from Varanasi to Kolkata will sharply reduce the expense of goods transportation, costing just 17 paise / km, as compared to road transportation cost of Rs 1-2 / km,' he added. Calling upon Ghazipur residents living in other places to contribute in the development of their country and their city, he said, 'Ghazipur has progressed a lot during the past four years. Everyone can see the improvement in power supply, roads and the overall infrastructure.' Dailyhunthttp://www.buysellstairlifts.com/author/greekfranchise/
Plastic Man movie in the works at DC
No director is currently attached to the film. Created by Jack Cole for Quality Comics, Plastic Man is able to transform himself into any shape. An orphan forced to live on the streets, he turned to a life of crime, was shot during a heist, and was exposed to an unknown chemical liquid that gave his body the properties of rubber, allowing him to stretch, bounce, and mold himself into any shape. A monk attended to him while he was shot, he turned to law and order, and began capturing criminals as Plastic Man wearing a red and yellow rubber costume. DC Comics acquired the character in 1956 and began incorporating Plastic Man into the DC Universe. DC's film production president Walter Hamada and Chantal Nong are overseeing the project for the studio. Meanwhile, the latest DC film, Jason Momoa starrer Aquaman arrives next week. The movie, directed by James Wan, hits theaters on December 14. Dailyhunthttp://www.feedbooks.com/user/4776067/profile
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