NDA not one party, says Shiv Sena as it backs call for JPC on Rafale

Our demand should be taken positively. We want both the deals probed so that the truth comes out," Raut said. The Sena had echoed Rahul Gandhi's demand for a JPC probe into the Rafale deal in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday and asked questions about the deal like the Opposition, leaving the BJP embarrassed. "A JPC will give an opportunity to the government to prove the deal is clean. Why should we in the NDA be scared of a JPC probe when the Rafale deal is clean?" Raut asked on Thursday.BJP leaders, however, linked the Sena's stand with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The BJP feels the Sena is using the Rafale and the Ram temple issue to drive a hard bargain on seat-sharing. 1680714 1680150 Dailyhunthttps://www.openlearning.com/u/deekoojeekoo

Difficult Conversations: 10 books of 2018 by Indian authors that strike a chord

Not aware of other cultures, people and foods. Thukpa for all beautifully rounds everything up. This book, told from a blind child's perspective, opens up an important conversation about the differently-abled and how they are usually treated. The story revolves around Tsering inviting his friends and neighbours over for a delicious meal of Thukpa cooked by his grandmother. But then the power cut strikes. While everyone wonders what to do, for Tsering, it is business as usual. He is just a normal child who does things a bit differently. On our trip to Ladakh, we tasted thukpa, and learnt that power cuts were a way of life. It is a world far removed from the isolated existence of a city. The community thrives on cooperation, mutual trust and care. And life waits for a warm bowl of thukpa despite what we might see as hurdles. The story normalises differences beautifully. Susie Will Not Speak Author: Shruthi Rao Age group: 7+ The younger one used to speak with a slight lisp when he started talking. By the age of four he had figured out how to say 's.' At that time it used to sound cute. But today when I think back, I shudder at the horrors he would have had to face had it not gotten resolved on its own. Children can be fairly mean to people who are different. And articulation and phonological disorders are just not considered serious enough by our society to evoke any kind of empathy training in kids. In fact, just like an adult in the book Susie will Not Speak (written by Shruthi Rao; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu) most of us end up making fun of it all. Movies freely use such characters as a comic relief. It is simply acceptable to laugh. Very few stop to think. Books like these are the precise reason why I love hOle Books. They bring issues relevant to the targeted age group without the story sinking into seriousness of the problem. They make it relatable. Susie has a lisp and she could be any of our children's classmates. The kids in the park who tease her exist. So does the boy who decides to be her friend. The speech therapy is bugging her as much as the people who find her strange. The last straw is a school assignment that would require her to make a presentation on a topic with an overdose of the alphabet 's.' The story follows her troubles, her friend standing by her side and Susie eventually finding her way. Latest Videos Shruthi Rao deftly opens up a conversation about an issue mostly ignored. Books like these are important if we are to raise mindful kids. Give it a go. The Manic Panic Author: Richa Jha Illustrator: Mithila Ananth Age: 5+ As an exercise, try noting down the time you are on devices. You'd be surprised! As a second exercise, look around you - on the metro, in the mall, markets - everywhere we find people on devices. Even more worrisome are the little babies happily swiping on the screen. Manic Panic is a take on that. Daddy and Mommy are mostly found glued to their devices. One fine day, the wi-fi betrays them and all hell breaks loose. They whine and howl much to the child's dismay who finally declares, ' Mommy! Daddy! BEHAVE! It is NOT the end of the world' The child then goes on to drag them to the big world out there. The story is hilarious and worrisome at the same time. It talks about our times, it talks of us. And it gives us a glimpse of possibilities without screens! And the twist at the end will get you rolling on the floor. Manic Panic achieves a rare balance. There is a message in there for all of us - grown-ups as well as kids who are screen dependent. Yet the story is hilarious with the illustrations making it all funnier and even more ridiculous. Soda and Bonda Author: Niveditha Subramaniam Age: 3+ I have five dogs and a cat. And believe me they are walking lessons in accepting differences. The Rottweiler is scared of the slightest sounds, the cat thinks he is one of the dogs, the oldest dog thinks he is the family elder, the smallest thinks she is a ninja. Soda and Bonda is easily as much their story as it is ours. Bonda the cat feels and behaves like a dog. The story is about Bonda coming out and Soda accepting her as a dog. Sound familiar? We are all stuck in roles defined by different conditions - age, gender, religion, culture, caste - the list never ends. Soda and Bonda gently shake that all up and form a welcome platform to discuss differences and acceptance. I do not think it is limited to a toddler picture book. It transcends ages and should be read by all. The illustrations mae me fall in love with my mad band of dogs and a cat all over again! When Morning Comes Author: Arushi Raina Age :14+ My love and appreciation for history is fairly recent. So to go to another continent for something which never found a mention in our history books was out of question. My introduction to South Africa was limited to Gandhi and what he did there. It is no different for our children. I know apartheid existed but it was this clinical, objective condition, limited to a few paragraphs in a long forgotten history textbook. I'd frown, thinking about it but that's about it. There was a comfortable emotional detachment. It was the same for the boys. Then we read When Morning Comes by Arushi Raina. It is the kind of book that needs you to rest between pages, to find your breath, to hope that things go well, that the characters live. That Zanele lives. The Soweto Uprising changed the course of history for the region and to think it was a group of school kids who started it all! Fiction gives voices to the people who might have existed around the time. There might have been a Zanele fighting for her basic rights as a human being, there might have been a Jack, who despite being white and completely ignorant of what was going on around him, cared very little about the skin colour. There might have been an impossible love story that could have existed and quietly faded away. There might have been a Meena, who despite being brown, found herself at the centre of it all. On 16th June 1976, I was not even a year old, happily bundled up in my mum's arms, protected in my privileged life. And on that very day about 700 people, mostly school students were killed. Because they decided that it was them who had to stand up, and do something about their rights. Little children, the age of my own and perhaps younger. Zanele, Thabo, Jack and Meena - they together reveal a forgotten part of world history that today, more than ever, is significant. The story moves forth in their voices, their lives and their changing perspectives. The story needs to be read, for on the foundation of history, future stands. Pink and Blue Author: Ritu Vaishnav Age Group: 5+ Pink and Blue, written by Ritu Vaishnav and illustrated by Vishnu M Nair is a perfect starting point for conversations on gender stereotypes. Girls like pink, boys don't cry, and many more such stereotypes are called out one by one without the book receding into a serious monologue. The illustrations ensure that the balance is maintained and the detailing would get the reader to linger on the pages a tad bit longer. Since the concepts are simply stated, they leave a lot of scope for discussion. Colours, hair length, sports, tears - none of them have a gender and our kids not only need to know it, they need to see it in terms that are familiar to them. Pink and Blue does just that - uses everyday situations in a child's life to gently put across the ridiculousness of gender stereotyping. Ahimsa Author: Supriya Kelkar Age: 12+ Supriya Kelkar's Ahimsa is the kind of book I wish we had when we were kids. Anjali is a 10-year-old girl living in a fictitious small town called Navarangpur somewhere in India around the time just before we gained independence. The story revolves around the struggle as seen through the child's eyes. Gandhi's philosophy in current times incites extreme reactions like everything else. So to see the narrative treat Gandhi as a human who was also capable of making mistakes was extremely refreshing. The story leaves windows for thought and discussion. It makes the reader question at places and nod at others. I have no memory of an inclusive book from recent years, at least none that stuck past the last page was turned. Ahimsa is different. It talks about the riots, it discusses Gandhian philosophy, it questions ideas, introduces Ambedekar's journey, it makes Dalits visible, and introduces the reader to their struggles without mollycoddling. And while it does all this, the plot is not lost. It is all conversational and provides perfect grounds for opening discussions with children around freedom struggle, different philosophies and the caste system. The Seed Savers Author: Bijal Vachharajani Illustrator: Jayesh Sivan Age: 8+ The beauty of Pratham books is that they travel to unexpected places and hence the stories that these books tell become even more impactful. The Seed Savers is a story inspired by real life events. This is a story of possibly the most important people in our society who are also one of the most neglected. This story is also about the power of choice and community. The people of the village choose to stick to organic seeds, and they come together to form a seed bank when they face a crunch. The Seed Savers is important not only as a conversation starter on the issues that our city-kids stay blissfully ignorant of, but also as a seedling of an idea in a community facing similar problems. This book can be most suitably used to discuss the problems that our farmers face and also possible solutions to the problem. We need to talk to our children if we hope for a better tomorrow. Year of the Weeds Author: Siddhartha Sarma Age 13+ The path-breaking decision by the Supreme Court on the Niyamgiri Hills is lost in the pages of history. Most of us have either forgotten or have no clue about it. Siddhartha Sarma's Year of the Weeds is set in a small Gond village on Odisha based around the same judgment. Korak is a teenaged boy quite content in being a gardener at the Forest Officer's home. He speaks very little, unlike Anchita, the Forest officer's daughter who likes to sketch and considers Korak her friend. Korak's very common, unnoticeable life changes when the Government tells the Gonds to vacate their land since a company wants to mine the sacred hill for bauxite. What follows is the circus we see everyday from the other side, sitting pretty in our living rooms and lapping it all up. The difference here is that the circus is seen through the eyes of the Gonds. Korak's innocent observations are cleverly layered by the writer shoving the truth gently in your face leaving no room for the reader to hide. Without naming any names, he has managed to take a potshot at every politician and system running the show today. Little things that went into the making of this story get you to think. Anchita's insistence on feeding Korak 'kek ' (cake), for instance, is something we, standing from where we do would see as a perfectly normal thing to do. What if stuff we think of as delicacy and hence a privilege, is unpalatable to the one who seems (to us) to be in need of everything ? It gets you to stop and rethink. And hence opens up yet another world to discover with your teenager. Flying with Grandpa Author: Madhuri Kamat Illustrator: Niloufer Wadia Age: 8+ I read it this book and emerged with mixed feelings. What age group do I pin it to? Just the middle graders? Or all the way up to the forever-worrying parents? Xerxes's mother wants him to be like JRD Tata but Xerxes just wants to be like his grandpa, Mamavaji as he fondly calls him. Both of them indulge in imaginary games, share laughs and take life as it should be taken - with a bucketful of fun and a just a pinch of worry. But his mum disagrees like all mums of her generation. And she frowns. A lot. This is a must read for both parents and children as it has the potential to open conversations up and help parents address their anxieties while understanding the child's perspective. I felt truly sorry for Xerxes. He represents the children of today, fighting to retain their dreams while trying to fullfil those that are not theirs. Do read. And reflect. And talk. Dailyhunthttps://able2know.org/user/supperrkeep/

Inherent demand to help steel overcome hurdles: Tata Steel

But China PMI at 49.4 indicates the country is technically in an economic contraction zone and expectation is high that there will be policy easing to ensure growth. Moreover, we are neither seeing a structural demand collapse like 2009 post the financial crisis nor a huge supply glut in the seaborne market like 2015-16. Hence, what we are seeing is normalisation from the peak stimulus fuelled growth. Also higher production during pre-winter closing is playing out from an inventory liquidation point of view. Q: Raw material prices are yet to come down as much, putting pressure on margins. What is your outlook on prices for the industry and margins for Tata Steel's India operation, Tata Steel BSL and European operations?A: That the raw material prices are stable gives a clear indication that the steel cycle will be range-bound over the medium term though there may be mini cycles with shorter peak-trough duration. In Tata Steel, the margin play is not solely dependent on the steel prices but also on the value-added product profile strategy, customer centricity, operational excellence covering cost and efficiency programmes. For years, the Indian operations have focused on creating an all-weather business. In Tata Steel BSL (erstwhile Bhushan Steel), we have a structured programme to improve its operations, maximise its potential on volumes and realise synergies. The European operations are normally more vulnerable to externalities but the market spread has not decreased significantly. We have had operational issues in the last quarter but that should stabilise in this quarter. Q: Tata Steel is looking at long product assets for acquisition. Following the correction in steel prices, will the company go slow? Or will it continue to look at assets such as Jai Balaji, Visa or Adhunik?A: When we are building a facility or acquiring a business, the long-term strategic factors have an important weight in decision making and not the monthly steel prices. We will look at organic and inorganic options to increase our long product portfolio over time. I don't think we need to rush into anything. I can't comment on any specific names that you have given.Q: Do you think valuations of steel assets will moderate following the correction in metal prices? How will it impact the IBC process in finding a buyer?A: In the next round of IBC, there are medium to smaller-sized assets that will be available if the creditors press the button. The financial creditors and distressed funds typically find these assets as their sweet spots because of the lower capital outlay and smaller risk exposure. So there may be some investors who may play the consolidator in this segment as happened in the US in early 2000. But strategic or financial investors looking at IBC assets must be comfortable with the cyclical nature of the industry and have the ability to access large capital given the complexity of the business.Q: Tata Steel was looking to bring in a strategic partner for Southeast Asia operations or hive off completely. Any progress? Will moderation in prices slow down finding a partner?A: We have been in discussions and the talks are progressing well. We do not talk about such corporate actions till it reaches a certain stage of maturity. Again, I don't think these issues depend on near-term steel prices, it is more strategic in nature. Q: Give us a road map on the sale of the Usha Martin steel business. How soon do you expect coal and iron ore mines can be transferred?A: It is a slump sale process and, hence, there are several hoops to cross before we close the transaction, hopefully before the end of the year. The coal and iron ore mine has several regulatory approval requirements that will take its usual time. The steel business transfer, will, however, close faster and we are prepared for the opening day and follow up with an integration plan, much like what we did in Bhushan Steel. Dailyhunthttps://www.polygon.com/users/zikkergikkers

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From Disneyland to Magic Macau, here are the top picks for a wonderful Christmas vacation

Be it winter wonderlands or intriguing magic shows, here are the top five ways to enjoy exceptional experiences this December. Snowy South Korean Christmas For a snow-filled Christmas, look no further than Onemount Snow Park in Gyeonggi-do, which is South Korea's largest indoor winter themed park. Some of its features include dog-sledding, ice-skating and ice-bowling. Seoul Land, Korea's first theme park has their annual Christmas Party starting off from November up till December. Fun activities like sledding, thrilling scavenger hunts, letter-writing to Santa Claus and a spectacular magic show. The Gheonggyesan Mountain is the park's extensive selection of over 40 roller coasters that is bound to delight adrenaline junkies. Those looking for a more relaxing activity can partake in the national tradition of ice fishing. Disneyland Hong Kong Another great place to celebrate the occasion is Disneyland Hong Kong that comprises of the spectacular Christmas-time Ball and the enchanting tree lighting ceremony with a magical twilight snowfall. Macau Magic The Infinity Magic Show by Louis Yan at Macau is highly-captivating and will enthrall the audiences with stunning performances, disappearing acts and some stunts. Latest Videos For nature lovers Nature lovers can escape into the wilderness of the Chiang Mai Mountain Sanctuary to learn about sustainable Elephant tourism, discover the underwater world on Lembongan Reef Cruise in Bali, soak in the beauty of Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring or head to Okinawa for a breathtaking view of the humpback whales. Where would you head to? Dailyhunthttp://doodleordie.com/profile/greekfranchise

Santiago Solari rules out Isco transfer, wants him to restore joy at Real Madrid

'Every player here has to be committed, dedicated and keep working with hope and excitement; they are all fundamental to us,' Solari told a news conference ahead of Real's rescheduled game away to Villarreal on Thursday. 'Isco has given us a lot of joy and he has to keep doing that. He's a magnificent footballer and, now that we have lost Marcos Llorente, Javi Sanchez and Mariano, we're going to need everyone.' Real's 2018 was a year of highs and lows. A third successive Champions League triumph was followed by the Club World Cup title, but the team's La Liga showing has been peppered with disappointments. Victory over Villarreal would put Real level with Sevilla in third place, though they have not won their first away game of a new year since 2014. 'I have been told about this statistic and we will try to change it,' Solari said. 'We'll try to play with commitment and energy. It's a difficult date, but the competition doesn't stop and we have to forget about the date.' Dailyhunthttps://www.ted.com/profiles/11465947

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Sensex rebounds nearly 200 points; Nifty reclaims 10,700 mark

Among the losers were ICICI Bank, HCL Tech, TCS, RIL and Sun Pharma, slipping up to 1 per cent. According to Sunil Sharma, Chief Investment Officer, Sanctum Wealth Management, the domestic market has remained resilient in the face of worrisome news over the past three months. "With low and falling inflation expectations, should growth disappoint, we would expect the RBI to deliver a rate cut in Q4 FY19. "An accommodative central bank, low inflation, strong credit growth and low crude remain four key macro pillars backstopping the Indian markets," he said On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 972.81 crore Thursday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 34.52 crore, provisional data available with BSE showed. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 1.22 per cent, Kospi gained 0.55 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index was trading 1.81 per cent higher in early trade. Japan's Nikkei, however, cracked 3.03 per cent after it resumed trading after New Year holiday. On Wall Street, Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 660.02 points, or 2.83 per cent, to 22,686.22 points. The rupee, meanwhile, strengthened against the US dollar and opened at 69.95. The benchmark Brent crude futures were trading marginally lower at USD 55.93 per barrel. Dailyhunthttps://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/user/profile/416086.page

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Eggnog is the addiction to new year

In fact, eggnog dates back decades, and it was often consumed as a riff on classical French vanilla ice cream or custard. "It's like ice cream. It's cold, and it's sweet, and it tastes good, especially when you haven't had it for 10 or 11 months," Steven Young, a consulting dairy and food technologist told CNN. Ice cream mix consists of cream, milk and sugar, and it is very thick before it's whipped and frozen because there's no air in it. But the thickness is perfectly suited for making eggnog, as it allows the mixture to be stable enough to tolerate being diluted later with alcohol, ultimately giving it a mouthfeel and flavour that is compatible with what you are looking for in the final product. Alternatively, rather than drawing off a classic ice cream mix, companies may create an eggnog beverage from whole milk that is heavy and thick enough to withstand the rigours of ice as well as alcohol. An ingredient known as pasteurised sugared egg yolk (which is also used in French vanilla ice cream mix) is added to the milk, acting as a source of eggy flavour and colour. The mixture is then heat-treated to ensure that it is safe to consume. Some companies sell eggnog bases, which are pre-formulated mixtures of ingredients with specifically designed flavour qualities. These mixtures can be incorporated into milk or an ice cream mix, and they offer manufacturers a convenient, efficient and microbiologically safe way to produce large-scale quantities of eggnog. These mixes can also be formulated to be compatible with specific varieties of eggnog, for example, reduced fat or fat-free milk-based nogs or plant-based nogs, such as soy, almond and cashew. ... Dailyhunthttps://justpaste.it/5kje0

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