Triple Talaq: Patriarchy not just a 'women's issue', marriage no holy cow

From academic jargon, the word 'patriarchy' has come a long way in the Indian public sphere. But it has a long way to go yet

Contrary to the impression one gets from the popular social media usage these days patriarchy is not simply a system of male-dominance over women. According to bell hooks, “Patriarchy has no gender”. Elsewhere she says, “Patriarchy is political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak.”

Patriarchy is not just ‘women’s issues’

It is an entangled problem of power. It is a problem for all those that are deemed weak.

It is regrettable that many women’s right activists who critique patriarchy and root for gender justice among Muslims ignore the social and cultural impact of economic exclusion and exploitation of Muslims. While intersectionality of identities is important it is also equally, if not more, important to see the interlinkages of political and economic conditions. Advocates of women’s rights who also have a commitment to secularism face a dilemma – as do Muslim women who do not wish to align with Hindutva elements – lest they forfeit the security and right to dignity of the entire community.

Read More On → Triple Talaq

 

Ishrat Jahan case: CBI unable to prosecute ex-cops for lack of permissions

Upon being asked by the judge how long the government would take to respond, special public prosecutor R.C. Kodekar said the agency wouldn't know as it would be decided by "higher-level officers"

During a hearing at a special court on Saturday in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, the CBI told special judge J.K. Pandya that the time limit to sanction the prosecution of accused retired police officers in the case is not its hands.

The police officers accused in the case include D.G. Vanzara and N.K. Amin.

As the Indian Express reported, the CBI also repeated its stand on how it has sought permission from the government to move against the retire officers only after the special court ordered it.

“Our stand has been very clear since the beginning (of the trial) that there is no need to seek permission (from the Gujarat government) for the prosecution (of former police officers). We moved (a plea) before the state (government) only after this court ordered us to do so,” special public prosecutor R.C. Kodekar, appearing for the CBI, told judge Pandya.

According to the Indian Express, Kodekar, upon being asked by the judge how long the government would take to respond, he said the agency wouldn’t know as it would be decided by “higher-level officers”. Read More

 

Why Rajinikanth's plan to form a political party is still far from reality

Supporters claim the actor has been saving his energies for the 2021 state assembly elections, but many others see Rajinikanth as being a non-starter as a politician

Released last week, the trailer of Petta – Rajinikanth ’s next film in the offing – offers the quintessential Rajini fan a sense of deja vu. This was the Rajinikanth that many grew up slavering over. Forty-three years ago, in 1975, Rajinikanth threw open iron gates in a small scene in Apoorva Raagangal – which had Kamal Haasan as the hero – to walk into the Tamil socio-cultural space. Petta, in the trailer of which he opens a similar iron gate with the same swagger, is a reminder of how the phenomenon called Rajinikanth has grown over four decades to cast a lasting influence on Tamil cinema.

It was also a reminder of how Rajinikanth was a natural actor, though still a reluctant politician.

On December 31, 2017, Rajinikanth announced his intention to form a political party. That put to an end over two-decade-long ‘will-he, won’t-he’ suspense.

In 1996, Rajinikanth made his political aspirations apparent when he threw his weight behind the DMK-TMC (Tamil Maanila Congress – a breakaway group of Congress led by G.K. Moopanar) alliance and gave what later came to be famously known as the ‘Rajini voice’ against J. Jayalalithaa. Riding fresh on the phenomenal success of his 1995 film Baasha – where he reluctantly turns a don to avenge the murder of his friend and to save innocent people from ‘villainous’ dons – Rajinikanth raised hopes among his fans of doing a real-life Baasha.

Since then, for over two decades, Rajinikanth has evaded that existential question, often telling his fans and media how he hadn’t yet got the ‘signal from God’ to take the plunge. Read More

 

IRCTC scam: RJD chief Lalu Prasad gets interim bail till Jan 19 from court

Special Judge Arun Bharadwaj granted relief to Prasad after he was produced before the court through video conference from a Ranchi jail

A Delhi court Thursday granted interim bail till January 19 to RJD chief Lalu Prasad in two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation IRCTC scamcases filed by the CBI and the ED.

Special Judge Arun Bharadwaj granted relief to Prasad after he was produced before the court through video conference from a Ranchi jail, where he is lodged in another case, as he was unable to come due to health reasons.

The court directed both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file their replies to Prasad's application seeking regular bail in both the cases.

The cases relate to alleged irregularities in granting operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.

The court had earlier granted regular bail to Prasad's wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav in the CBI case, while they are on interim bail in the ED matter, which was extended till January 19, the next date of hearing.

 

AgustaWestland scam: Christian Michel's bail plea order reserved for Dec 22

Christian Michel was in CBI custody for 15 days

A Delhi court Wednesday reserved for December 22 its order on bail plea of Christian Michel , alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.

The 57-year-old British national told the court that he was not required for custodial interrogation and no purpose will be served by keeping him further custody.

Michel was in CBI custody for 15 days.

He was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced in the court, which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days.

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

Read More On → AgustaWestland scam

 

Telangana poll result: KCR takes oath as chief minister for 2nd term

Rao was unanimously elected leader of the TRS Legislature Party by the newly-elected MLAs

TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao , who led his party to a resounding victory in the assembly elections, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Telangana for a second straight term Thursday.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Raj Bhavan.

On Tuesday, Rao was unanimously elected leader of the TRS Legislature Party by the newly-elected MLAs.

In the December 7 elections, the TRS won 88 seats in the 119-member assembly, trouncing the Congress-led People's Front, which ended up with a tally of 21.

The police department Wednesday issued a traffic advisory asking the public to avoid the Raj Bhavan road between 12 pm and 3 pm in view of the swearing-in of Rao, and take alternative routes to their destinations.

The gazette notification by the Election Commission constituting the new assembly was issued during on Wednesday.

Today KCR along with TRS MPs, will plan party's strategy for the ongoing Parliament session. According to sources, a meeting of the party's state executive would be held in the party headquarters, Telangana Bhavan, on Friday.

 

India vs Australia 2nd Test: Ashwin, Rohit ruled out, Kohli mulls options

Ashwin's unavailability is a big loss as he had taken a six-wicket haul at Adelaide to help India record their first win in a series opener in Australia

India's premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and batsman Rohit Sharma have been ruled out of the second Test starting on Friday, dealing a double blow to the visitors at a time when opener Prithvi Shaw is yet to recover from an ankle injury.

With the trio unavailable for selection, India included Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a 13-man squad announced on eve of the second Test.

While Shaw injured his ankle while fielding in the sole warmup game before the series opener, Ashwin suffered an abdominal strain and Rohit hurt his back during the first Test which India won by 31 runs.

"Prithvi Shaw is recovering well from his left ankle injury but still undergoing treatment. R Ashwin has a left-sided abdominal strain. He is receiving treatment at the moment. Rohit Sharma jarred his lower back while fielding in the 1st Test at Adelaide. He is undergoing treatment. He too is ruled out of the second Test," read a statement from the BCCI.

"The team management is closely monitoring these players and a call on their availability for the third Test will be taken at an appropriate time," it added.

Read More On → INDIA VS AUSTRALIA

 

500,000 patients received treatment under Ayushman Bharat: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also stated that India is much ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030

At the Partner's Forum on maternal and child health held in the capital on Wednesday, prime minister Narendra Modi said 500,000 patients had received treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the first ten weeks after the launch. The government has approved claims worth Rs 7 billion, the prime minister said. The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched in September to provide cashless treatment for 500 million citizens.

Modi added, "Officers have been asked to identify 117 'aspirational districts'. Each such district has been entrusted to a team that works across sectors like education, water and sanitation, rural development with top-most priority to health and nutrition." The government's vaccination programme has reached 32.8 million children and 8.4 million pregnant women in the last three years. Vaccines for 12 life-threatening diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea are provided under the Mission Indradhanush vaccination programme.

It was also stated that India is much ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. 12.6 million accounts under the 'Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana' have been opened.

 

Google has 'no plans' to launch Chinese search engine: CEO Sundar Pichai

Pichai told the committee he would be 'fully transparent' with policymakers if the company brings search products to China

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai told a US congressional panel on Tuesday that the Alphabet Inc unit currently has "no plans" to launch a search engine in China but did not rule out a future launch.

Pichai, who testified before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, had told U.S. lawmakers in a letter in August that providing such a search engine would give "broad benefits" to China but that it was unclear whether Google could launch the service there.

Pichai told the committee he would be "fully transparent" with policymakers if the company brings search products to China.

"Right now, there are no plans to launch search in China," Pichai testified. "Getting access to information is an important human right, so we always are compelled across the world to try hard to provide that information."

Lawmakers and hundreds of Google employees have raised concerns that Google would comply with China's internet censorship and surveillance policies if it re-enters the Chinese search engine market.

 

Babri demolition anniversary: Hindu outfits to hold programmes in Ayodhya

VHP will observe 'Shaurya Diwas' on December 6 to be followed by Gita Jayanti celebrations on December 18

As the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections near, the temple town of Ayodhya has become the cynosure of all eyes with the December 6 Babri Masjid demolition anniversary likely to act as a political potboiler.

Days after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised 'Dharam Sabha' in Ayodhya to seek support for construction of a grand Ram temple, the ring-wing outfit will observe 'Shaurya Diwas' on December 6 to be followed by Gita Jayanti celebrations on December 18.

Gita Jayanti marks the advent of Bhagavad Gita, the sacred text of Hindus.

"Shaurya Diwas (which marks the demolition of Babri Masjid) will be traditionally celebrated. In Ayodhya, VHP along with various Hindu organisations are likely to hold a number of religious programme, including 'hawan', so that a grand temple of Lord Ram is built in Ayodhya," VHP spokesperson in Ayodhya, Sharad Sharma told PTI.

2018 marks the completion of 26 years of demolition of Babri Masjid.

"Special prayers will be offered to Goddess Saraswati so that she can help the people, especially politicians, in removing any obstruction in the path of construction of Ram temple," Sharma said.

"Sarva baadha mukti hawans (hawans seeking to get rid of all obstructions) will be held. Tributes will also be paid to the 'karsewaks' who faced the bullets," he said.

Elaborating further, the VHP leader said similar Dharam Sabha was scheduled to be held in Delhi on December 9 in which over 5 lakh people are likely to participate. Read More

 

Google AI plays safe, blocks gender-based pronouns like 'him' and 'her'

Google's technology will not suggest gender-based pronouns because the risk is too high that its 'Smart Compose' technology might predict someone's sex or gender identity incorrectly

Alphabet Inc's Google in May introduced a slick feature for Gmail that automatically completes sentences for users as they type. Tap out "I love" and Gmail might propose "you" or "it." But users are out of luck if the object of their affection is "him" or "her."

Google's technology will not suggest gender-based pronouns because the risk is too high that its "Smart Compose" technology might predict someone's sex or gender identity incorrectly and offend users, product leaders revealed to Reuters in interviews.

Gmail product manager Paul Lambert said a company research scientist discovered the problem in January when he typed "I am meeting an investor next week," and Smart Compose suggested a possible follow-up question: "Do you want to meet him?" instead of "her."

Consumers have become accustomed to embarrassing gaffes from autocorrect on smartphones. But Google refused to take chances at a time when gender issues are reshaping politics and society, and critics are scrutinizing potential biases in artificial intelligence like never before.

"Not all 'screw ups' are equal," Lambert said. Gender is "a big, big thing" to get wrong.

Getting Smart Compose right could be good for business.

Read More On → GOOGLE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

 

Here are the first pictures of Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh wedding

Here are the first visuals of Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh's marriage from Villa Del Balbianello at Lake Como in Italy

DEEPIKA DAZZLES IN SABYASACHI'S RED AND GOLD LEHENGA

Bollywood's power couple, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tied the knot in a traditional Konkani wedding on Wednesday. Today, they got married again to a Sindhi-style wedding. While Deepika is a Konkani. Ranveer belongs to a Mumbai-based Sindhi family.

THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

Deepika wore a red and gold lehenga, and Ranveer was dressed in white, with most guests dressed in pastels, keeping with the subtle and classy vibe of the upscale wedding venue. Their marriage took place in Italy's scenic Lake Como.

Read More On → Ranveer Singh Deepika Padukone Wedding Pics

Modi govt asked Tata to explore buying stake in Jet, rescue airline: Report

Tata Sons in talks with government about potential haircut to state-run banks on Jet's loans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has sought Tata Sons Ltd's help to rescue struggling Jet Airways India Ltd, people familiar with the matter said.

Tata Sons is in talks with the government about a potential haircut to state-run banks on Jet's loans while Airports Authority of India may forego some of its dues, one of the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. The Tata Sons' board is due to deliberate on the matter on Friday, the people said.

Tata spokesman declined to comment while aviation ministry spokesman did not answer multiple calls and a text message sent to his mobile phone.

Read our full coverage on Jet Airways

 

Arundhati Roy writes on politics of 'perfect majority', 'satanic minority'

'As elections approach... 'expect more arrests, lynching, killing', Roy says in a letter to arrested Bangladeshi writer Shahidul Alam, on PEN International's Day of the Imprisoned Writers

Each year, PEN International highlights the cases of five persecuted writers – be they imprisoned, facing prosecution or otherwise at risk – that are emblematic of the type of threats and attacks faced by writers and journalists around the world.

Arundhati Roy : This year, PEN International is campaigning for Dawit Isaak imprisoned in Eritrea, Miroslava Breach Velducea killed in Mexico, Oleg Sentsov imprisoned in Russia, Shahidul Alam detained in Bangladesh and Wael Abbas imprisoned in Egypt. Writers David Lagercrantz, Jennifer Clement, Tom Stoppard, Salil Tripathi and Khaled Hosseini are taking part in this year’s campaign. To join PEN’s action, click here.

Here is the full text of Roy’s letter to Shahidul Alam

 

Xiaomi Mi Band 3: Budget smartwatch doubling up as health, fitness tracker

Priced at Rs 1,999, the Mi Band 3 has a lot to offer to fitness enthusiasts - regular heart rate and sleep pattern monitoring, fitness and heath tracking, route tracking, and much more

Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi, known more for its affordable smartphones, is also a key player in the smart wearables segment. Riding on the success of the Mi Band 2, launched in 2016, the company has now launched an upgraded Mi Band 3 , with a bigger touch-enabled screen, more health and fitness features, and an improved heart rate sensor for accurate monitoring.

In terms of design, the Mi Band 3 continues with the dual-element design that has been part of the Mi Band-series all along. The smart wearable has a tiny capsule unit that fits in the wrist strap made from thermoplastic elastomer. However, unlike the predecessor, this smart band gets a bigger OLED touch screen covered with curved glass, along with a capacitive key for easy operations.

The Mi Band 3 is primarily a smartwatch that also doubles up as a health and fitness tracker, and a heart rate monitor. Therefore, it is not a complete replacement for full-fledged health and fitness tracking modules or a heart rate monitor. Unlike the previous version, the Mi Band 3 has a touch screen that makes it easy to switch between different modes. To select and enter a mode, a long press is required on the capacitive home button below the screen.

The Mi Band 3 supports several modes, making it one of the most feature-rich products in the budget smart wearable segment. Although an entry-level smartwatch, the Mi Band 3 supports sleep tracking using the built-in heart rate monitor – something seen mostly in expensive fitness trackers. The feature might not return accurate results all the time, but it works flawlessly and shows details that make understanding sleep patterns easy. Another interesting feature of the device is heart rate monitoring, which can be set to regular or an interval-based one. Unlike sleep monitoring, the heart rate monitor is close to accurate and works well. However, it requires the band to be placed on the wrist properly.

Read our full coverage on Xiaomi

 

CBI vs CBI: After CVC submits report, SC to now hear Verma plea on Nov 16

The Supreme Court will also peruse the decisions taken by Rao from October 23, including transfer of investigations and change of investigating officers and may pass some appropriate orders on them

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Monday filed its preliminary probe report relating to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul took the report on record and fixed the next hearing on November 16.

During the hearing, interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao also filed his report on decisions taken by him from October 23 till date as head of the agency. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that former apex court judge A K Patnaik supervised the CVC inquiry which was completed on November 10. The CJI observed that the Registry was open on Sunday also but no intimation was given to the Registrar regarding filing of the report. Later the SG tendered an apology and said though he was not explaining the circumstances there was delay on their part in submitting the report.

Highlights of today's hearing:

— CVC filed its preliminary probe report relating to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma in sealed cover in SC.

— SC took CVC report on record and fixed plea of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, NGO Common Cause for hearing on November 16.

— Interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao also filed report on decisions taken by him since October 23 as head of agency.

— Former SC judge A K Patnaik supervised CVC inquiry, which was completed on November 10.

Read our full coverage on CBI vs CBI

 

'Thugs of Hindostan' is like Koffee with Karan, albeit without the gossip

It's time we retire the films that put the stardom of actors above content and form

Movies appeal to us for a variety of reasons. Some stand out for their ‘what’ (content), some for their ‘how’ (form), some for their both ‘what’ and ‘how’. Then there’s the fourth kind: the one about ‘who’. This is the cinema of the privileged – the moneyed producers who make the ‘who’ possible, the factor transcending ‘what’ and ‘how’. The main curiosity here revolves around the stars. That gets multiplied if the makers manage a casting coup: convincing two big names, not known for their collaboration, to share screen time. That in itself is enough – to the extent that the craft of filmmaking becomes irrelevant. The audience gets its doze of voyeurism: watching stars react to each other. It’s a bit like Koffee with Karan, albeit without gossip and with some pretense of storytelling.

Such films will always be in demand because we don’t just love our stars, we revere them. Which is why it’s not surprising that the cinema of ‘who’ hits the theatres during festivals. This Diwali, we have Vijay Krishna Acharya’s Thugs of Hindostan, produced by Yash Raj Films, featuring stars that have never acted in a film together: Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan. A period drama, Thugs of Hindostan is set in 1795 when the East India Company has begun its rapid colonisation of the country. Resistance comes through a band of thugs, led by Khudabaksh Azaad (Bachchan), who aspires to free the Indian subcontinent – Hindostan – from the foreign rule. Then there’s another thug, the small-time conman Firangi Mallah (Khan), thoroughly devoid of conscience and purpose, hired by the British to capture Azaad and dismantle his group.

Read More On → Thugs of Hindostan Movie Review

 

In pics: Samsung unveils Infinity Flex, the much-awaited 'foldable' phone

Samsung's foldable phones promise the screen of a small tablet in a pocket-sized device

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled its much-anticipated foldable phone in San Francisco on Wednesday, urging Android developers to start writing apps for it.

Samsung needs to get the foldable phone right to reverse steep declines in profit for its mobile division and restore some of the cachet its brand has lost to Apple Inc .

Samsung Foldable Smartphones promise the screen of a small tablet in a pocket-sized device.

Justin Denison, senior vice president of Samsung Electronics America's Mobile Product Strategy and Marketing, showed a prototype with a screen he said measured 7.3 inches diagonally.

Read our full coverage on Samsung

 

This girl became the Instagram queen of Iraq. And then was shot to death

Ms. Fares's likeness remains repeated in this internet hall of mirrors: swathed in a hotel robe, getting her hair done on Eid al-Fitr, playing video games, flaunting her intricate tattoos

On Oct. 9, the Iraqi author Sinan Antoon tweeted, “Killing those who are other/different has become a ritual/hobby, practiced by individuals for fun, after having been institutionalized by the state, political parties and militias for years.” His tweet referred to reports that an Iraqi teenager had been butchered on a Baghdad street by an assailant who thought he looked gay. But Mr. Antoon could have been referring to any of the young Iraqis who have tried to break free of the rigid social codes governing both genders only to suffer vicious reprisals.

The most famous of these victims has been Tara Fares . When she was killed in September, Ms. Fares, who had 2.8 million followers on Instagram, was the sixth most popular person on Iraqi social media. At 22, she was a self-created celebrity who mixed sexy fashion shoots with video diaries in which she fired back at her conservative critics. Ms. Fares was shot dead in Baghdad’s Camp Sarah neighborhood while riding in her Porsche.

When I read about Ms. Fares’s murder, recognition hit me like a punch. Though I am 13 years her senior, when I was her age, I also worked as a scantily clad internet model. I also reinvented myself on social media, posting endless photos of myself, trying to build a following that would somehow translate into something more. Back then, qualified only for menial jobs, I also saw my looks as a fast-closing door to freedom and used them as best I could. But I am in the United States, and she was in Iraq. The stakes for Ms. Fares were far higher. Her courage was of a different magnitude from mine. Read More

 

What ails Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved?

According to a recent IIFL report, sales of Patanjali products have halved from two year earlier levels.

After clocking in sales of Rs 120 billion in financial year 2017 – 18 (FY18), Baba Ramdev – led Patanjali Group could now enter the slow lane. According to a recent IIFL report co-authored by Percy Panthaki, Avi Mehta and Sameer Gupta, sales of Patanjali products have halved from two year earlier levels.

The report, based on on-ground channel checks in Mumbai, suggests the development, could prove to be a boon for listed players like Dabur and Colgate Palmolive (India).

“Dabur is expected to benefit in categories such as oral care and hair care. We have already witnessed market share in honey rebound to earlier levels for the company. In other personal care categories, Patanjali sales were never material, but in these categories, Patanjali may have witnessed a decline and hence positive for the FMCG space in general,” the report says.

From humble beginning as a pharmacy in 1997, Patanjali has forayed into core FMCG products like toothpaste, shampoos, cornflakes and instant noodles over the past 20 years. Recently, it announced a foray into the dairy segment by launching milk and milk-based products, including curd and cheese, targeting sales worth Rs 10 billion from the segment.

Here are five key issues that Patanjali is grappling with, according to IIFL:

Distribution system

Splitting distribution by product vertical has created an unwieldy system with poor servicing levels, says the IIFL report. That apart, the ordering process has become more complicated now. Gaps in timely servicing have resulted in an increase in the frequency of stock outs in certain categories, which has eventually led to the retailer not keeping that product at all.

Read More On → Patanjali Ayurved