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UK turns down US’ request to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange

By
The Commune
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The US government’s plea for Julian Assange, the Wikileaks CEO’s extradition was rejected by the UK government. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser rejected allegations that Assange is being prosecuted for political reasons or would not receive a fair trial in the United States. But she said his precarious mental health would likely deteriorate further under the conditions of “near total isolation” he would face in U.S. prison.

“I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America,” the judge said.

This ruling was issued at the Central Criminal Court in London, which is dubbed the ‘Old Bailey’. The authorities have two weeks to file an appeal, in the absence of which the rejection of the extradition petition will hold.

In light of this, Mexico’s government is ready to offer political asylum to Julian Assange and supports the decision of a British judge to deny extradition of the WikiLeaks founder to the United States, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday. The President praised the UK court for rejecting the United States’ request for Assange’s extradition and termed it a “triumph of justice”. The judge cited concerns for Assange’s mental health, which was likely to deteriorate had he been moved to a top security US prison.

A restaurant made out of abandoned containers in Puducherry

By
The Commune
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In Puducherry, a restaurant owner has created a multi-storeyed restaurant with abandoned containers. Like houses, offices and restaurants repurposed from containers that have been welcomed abroad, the three-storied container restaurant on Ambur Road in Puducherry has attracted tourists.

At 10 feet long – 8 feet wide – 8 feet high, these iron containers have been decorated with discarded iron, glass, boards, number plates, coloured paper, bamboo, birdcage, and flower baskets. This restaurant is located in the White Town area of ​​Puducherry.

In a similar fashion, the Puducherry Municipality has designed bathrooms and toilets with containers in areas including the beach, hospital exterior and Ginger Road. While an actual building with bricks and cement costs around 25 lakh rupees, the same can be completed with containers within 10 lakh rupees. It costs at least 3 lakh rupees to turn a container into a house or a restaurant. Pondicherry is witnessing the emergence of container houses as an alternative to the conventional housing structures that have been present for several decades.

A similar restaurant called The Box Project is present in Chennai. It is spread over 2,800 square feet and houses five kitchens, each taking up one container, with an airy rooftop dining space that can seat 70 people. There is Chinese food by Tago, Hyderabad-based Little Idli (with its selection of dosas, vadas and idlis), Hatimy’s (Bohri food), That Waffle Place and Brunch (juices, chaats and sandwiches).

Delhi: Gutkha manufacturer arrested in connection to tax evasion of ₹831.72 crore

By
The Commune
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arrest kidnapping crime sale babies

The Central GST Delhi West Commissionerate has unearthed an evasion of GST by way of manufacture and clandestine supply of tobacco products like ‘gutkha’ and ‘pan masala’ without any registration and payment of duty. On a search at the premises of the manufacturer, it was found that illegal manufacturing of ‘gutkha’ and ‘pan masala’ was going on, as evidenced by a godown, machines, raw materials and the manufactured products at the premises. Around 65 labourers were also found working at the illegal factory. The finished product was being supplied to various states in India. The searches resulted in the seizure of finished gutkha and raw materials such as chuna, sada kattha, tobacco leaves etc. valued at ₹4.14 crore approximately.

On the basis of evidence gathered, stocks seized and confessional statements recorded the total duty evasion is estimated to be approximately ₹831.72 crore. Further investigation is ongoing

One person has been arrested in the matter on the basis of his involvement in the manufacture and supply of goods without issue of any invoice with the intention to evade tax, as well as in transporting, removing, depositing, keeping, concealing, supplying, or purchasing any goods in violation of the provisions of Section 132(1)(a) and (h) of CGST Act, 2017, which are cognizable and non-bailable under Section 132(5) being punishable under Section 132(1)(i) of the said Act. The accused has been arrested and was produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House Court on January 2, 2021. He has been sent to 14 days judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to identify the key conspirators of the case and to recover the tax dues involved.

(Published from PIB)

40th Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica launched

By
The Commune
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India on January 4 launched the country’s 40th scientific expedition to Antarctica. This Indian expedition marks four decades of the country’s scientific endeavour to the southern icy continent. This 40th expedition journey will be flagged off from Goa on January 5, 2021, with 43 members onboard. The chartered ice-class vessel MV Vasiliy Golovnin will make this journey and will reach Antarctica in 30 days. After leaving behind a team of 40 members, it would return to India in April 2021. On its return, it will also bring back the winter team of the preceding trip.

The Indian Antarctic expeditions began in 1981. The first trip comprised of a team of 21 scientists and support staff led by Dr SZ Qasim. After a humble beginning, the Indian Antarctic program has three permanent research base stations in Antarctica—named Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri and Bharati. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, manages the entire Indian Antarctic program.

The preceding 39th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica was launched in November 2019. It mounted 27 scientific projects, focusing on climate process and its linkages with climate change, crustal evolution, environmental processes and conservation, the ecosystem of terrestrial and near shore regions, observational research, and polar technology. Two additional collaborative projects with the National Institute of Polar Research, Japan were also undertaken. After completing its mission mandate, it returned to India in May of 2020. It also replenished the annual supplies of food, fuel, provisions, snowmobiles, and spares for operations and maintenance of life support systems at Maitri and Bharati bases. It cruised a team of 48 members to Antarctica for winter operations.

The scientific and logistic activities of the 40thIndian Antarctic expedition are limited due to the existing challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus is to support the ongoing scientific projects on climate change, geology, ocean observations, electric and magnetic flux measurements, environmental monitoring, in addition to restocking food, fuel, provisions and spares, and accomplishing the return of the winter crew.

The expedition will duly follow all protocols for the deployment of men and material as per Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs(COMNAP). Extra precautions of sanitizing the cargo, mandatory fourteen days of quarantine (pre-, and post-expedition), and RT-PCR testing before boarding the ice-class vessel is also being conducted.

(Published from PIB)

DMK chief MK Stalin lies through his teeth about farmer empowerment laws

By
The Commune
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In a shocking display of ignorance and (or) deliberate twisting of facts, DMK chief M.K. Stalin during his ‘We Reject ADMK’ Gram Sabha meet organized as part of his campaign trail in Cuddalore, peddled misinformation and outright lies about the recently enacted farmer empowerment laws.

The DMK chief while addressing the public said “The Central Government.. the BJP government has brought in  three agriculture laws. It states that farmers can no longer cultivate crops in their lands. No farmer can sell his produce at a price determined by him. All mandis will be closed. It is all going to go to private corporate companies. It is going to go to Adani group. We can’t get profits from the crop we sow, it will all go to corporate companies.”

All the things said by M.K. Stalin are baseless and blatant lies. It seems like a deliberate attempt to peddle misinformation about the laws among the public to mislead them and gain votes in the upcoming Assembly elections. In fact, the three laws seek to do the exact opposite of what Stalin is peddling.

Here is an explainer busting the lies that are frequently peddled by DMK and its henchmen in the media:

Lie 1:  MSP will be scrapped

Truth: Time and again, the Government of India has clarified that procurement through Minimum Support Price (MSP) will continue and  farmers can sell their produce at MSP rate.

In fact, in the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS), Government of India continues to procure Kharif crops at MSP rates from farmers as per existing MSP Schemes.

Procurement has been going on smoothly across different states in India that includes Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to name a few. 462.88 LMT of paddy has been procured up to December 28 registering a 24.90% increase against the corresponding purchase of 370.57 LMT last year.

About 57.47 lakh farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing procurement operations with MSP value of ₹87391.98 crore.

The Central Government, based on the proposal from the States, approved for the procurement of 51.66 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds for the 2020 Kharif Marketing Season for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme(PSS).

Lie 2: Government is conspiring to sell the lands to rich capitalists and industrialists

Truth: The act provides for contract farming between a buyer and farmers. A contract farming agreement between the farmer and the buyer must provide for a conciliation board as well as a conciliation process for settlement of disputes. The board should have a fair representation of the parties to the agreement.  The act proposes to create a three-level dispute settlement mechanism: the conciliation board, Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Appellate Authority. At first, all disputes must be referred to the board for resolution. If it remains unresolved for more than 30 days, parties may approach the Sub-divisional Magistrate for resolution. If the parties are not satisfied with the decision of the sub-divisional magistrate, they will have a right to appeal to an Appellate Authority which will be presided by collector or additional collector. Penalty can be levied by the Magistrate or the Appellate Authority on the party contravening the agreement.

However, sale, lease or mortgage of farmers’ land is totally prohibited and farmers’ land is also protected against any recovery.

Lie 3: Farmers will be disadvantaged in terms of fixing the price

Truth: The farmer will have full power in the contract to fix a sale price of his choice for the produce. They will receive payment within maximum 3 days.

Lie 4: Buyers will exploits farmers

Truth: The price of farming produce should be mentioned in the agreement.  For items where prices are subjected to fluctuations, a guaranteed price for the produce and a clear reference for any additional amount above the guaranteed price must be specified in the agreement. The process of price determination must also be mentioned in the agreement. Thus, this act will encourage farmers to engage with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, large retailers, exporters etc., on a level playing field.

Lie 5: Farmer will be severely hit if there are market fluctuations

Truth: Price will be assured to farmers even before sowing of crops. In case of higher market price, farmers will be entitled to this price over and above the minimum price. It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor. Due to prior price determination, farmers will be shielded from the rise and fall of market prices.

If the acts are said to be of benefit to the farmers, why is there opposition to it?

Agricultural produce selling has 3 major stakeholders at play apart from the farmers: commission agents, state mandis and bureaucracy. The local APMC mandis are heavily politicized with the commission agents and middlemen having political influence gulping a major portion of the profit. The existing system leaves the farmer parched with less money. Once these reforms are implemented, those who have been making money at the cost of farmers will stand to lose. The middlemen commission and patronage structure will disappear. It is these middlemen who stand to lose who are against these laws.

DMK in its 2016 election manifesto had promised the same things it is opposing now

It has been found that the DMK is protesting against the very same things that they promised in their manifesto in 2016.

In its 2016 manifesto for the Assembly Elections, the DMK had promised to formulate a new policy to help farmers market agricultural produce nationally and internationally.

It had stated that it would bring in a policy that will enable farmers to sell their produce directly without the interference of any middlemen at market determined prices.

It had also stated that it would review the Agriculture Produce Marketing Regulation Act with changing times.

This is exactly what the recently enacted farm laws seeks to do. Through the new farm laws, farmers have been empowered by giving them the choice to sell their produce where they get a better price. Those who want to sell in the APMC can continue to do so and those wanting to explore the market have been given the choice to. The middlemen commission and patronage structure will disappear as farmers have the choice to sell directly to anyone at the farm gate.

ADB, India sign $100 million loan agreement to modernise Bengaluru’s power distribution system

By
The Commune
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India on 31st December 2020 signed a $100 million loan to modernise and upgrade the power distribution system in Bengaluru city in the state of Karnataka. Besides the $100 million sovereign loan, ADB will provide a $90 million without-sovereign-guarantee loan for the project to the state-owned Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM).

The loan will strengthen the capacity of BESCOM in the operation and maintenance of underground cabling, environmental and social safeguards, financial management and commercial financing, stated a press release. In parallel to underground distribution cables, over 2,800 km of fibre optical cables will be installed. Moving about 7,200 km of distribution lines underground is expected to reduce technical and commercial losses by about 30%. The fibre optical cables will be used for smart metering systems, distribution automation system (DAS) in the distribution grid, and other communication networks. The project will install 1,700 automated ring main units adapted with a DAS to monitor and control the distribution line switchgears from the control centre. It is anticipated that the project will enhance the quality and reliability of electricity supply.

The signatories to the Bengaluru Smart Energy Efficient Power Distribution Project were Dr. C. S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and Mr. Hoe Yun Jeong, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission.

After signing the loan agreement, Dr. Mohapatra stated that conversion of overhead distribution lines into underground cables will help build an energy-efficient distribution network, reduce technical and commercial losses and minimize electricity outage resulting from natural hazards such as cyclones and external disturbances to overhead lines.

Mr. Jeong said that the project demonstrates an innovative financing arrangement, the first of its kind for ADB, by combining sovereign and non-sovereign loans for a state government-owned enterprise. This is intended to significantly reduce the sovereign exposure and help BESCOM move towards a market-based approach for raising funds for capital expenditure.

(Published from PIB)

Days after Actor Vijay’s meeting with CM, TN to open theatres at full occupancy from tomorrow

By
The Commune
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According to a recent press release by the Tamil Nadu government, theatres are to be open in full capacity from the 5th of January. Tamil Nadu became the first state to remove the 50% occupancy rule. All the other states in the country still have the cap. Kerala reopened theatres only last month with a 50% cap and a mandatory COVID protocol to be followed.

“Now, therefore the government hereby permits to increase the seating capacity of cinemas/theatres/multiplexes from existing 50 per cent to 100 per cent by following the Standard Operating Procedure issued already,” said the Tamil Nadu government in its order.

This announcement comes after the recent meeting between actor Vijay and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. Notably, Vijay’s new movie Master is slated for release during Pongal. Similarly, Silambarasan’s Eswaran is to be releasing on the 14th of January. Actor Dhanush’s Jagame Thandhiram is also gearing up for release.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu on Sunday logged 867 fresh COVID-19 cases and 10 more fatalities, taking the tally to 8,20,712 and the toll to 12,156.

 

Sculpture dating back 700 years unearthed in Bengaluru

By
The Commune
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A sculpture depicting Shiva and Parvati seated on Nandi has been unearthed near the ancient Jalakanteshvara Temple in Bengaluru’s Kalasipalya locality. A cannonball has been discovered too, in the same dig site. This has led to hopes of a larger structure being discovered at the site.

Labourers working on the grounds of the Vani Vilas Girls High School and Pre-University College near the Jalakanteshvara Temple discovered the sculpture and the cannonball while carrying out digging work last week.

Gopal Rao, director of the state archeology department, visited the spot with a team to carry out an initial assessment. “We believe the sculpture can be traced back to about 700 years. It looks like a depiction of a tale from Shiva Purana. However, since the sculpture is incomplete, we will conduct further investigation on Monday”, he said. Adding that the cannonball and the sculpture were unrelated, Gopal Rao said that the cannonball fits the pattern of similar findings from the last 10 years, including those discovered at the time of the Bengaluru Metro construction work. “It most likely belongs to Tipu Sultan’s era”, he said.

The cannonball unearthed near Jalakanteshvara Temple in Kalasipalya, Bengaluru

The priest at the Jalakanteshvara Temple, Mohan Dixit, called the findings significant and said that a group of priests has petitioned the Karnataka Religious Endowments and Muzrai Department to conduct larger excavations in the area with the aim of unearthing archaeological and religious structures. According to reports, signs of a ‘kalyani’ or stepwell were also found at the site.

Owaisi forms alliance with radical Islamic preacher Abbas Siddiqui Furfura in West Bengal

By
The Commune
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As the election in West Bengal draws closer, The All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) has joined forces, prominent radical Islamic preacher, Abbas Siddiqui Furfura.

AIMIM Amir, Assaduddin Owaisi on Sunday (December 3) arrived at Futura Sharif in Bengal”s Hooghly district and held discussions on for the upcoming assembly polls with Abbas Siddiqui Furfura which is seen by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a ploy to cut the Muslim vote.

Owaisi recently enjoyed electoral success in Bihar and now West Bengal which has over 30 per cent Muslim population is a perfect breeding ground for AIMIM to consolidate in few pockets of the state. 

After meeting Abbas Siddique Furfura, Owaisi said, “Whatever decision Abbas Siddique takes the AIMIM will stand by him,”.

“Owaisi wanted to keep the meeting a secret as we were apprehensive that the TMC government would stop him from exiting the airport. From Kolkata airport, he went straight to Hooghly to meet Abbas Siddiqui. He will leave for Hyderabad in the afternoon,” PTI quoted AIMIM state secretary Zameerul Hassan as saying.

Abbas Siddiqui Furfura belongs to the powerful Siddiqui Furfura Sharif Darbar located in Jangipara in Hooghly district and is known for his fiery speeches and has considerable influence in districts such as Hooghly, Burdwan, Murshidabad and North and South 24 Parganas—which account for 120 of the 294 assembly seats.

Earlier this year, Abbas Siddiqui Furfura courted controversy when a video emerged in which the cleric could be heard saying, “Allah Amar Bharat borshe emon kathin ekta virus dig, ei bharat borshe jano, 10-20-50 koti log more jaye (I pray to Allah that he sends such a deadly virus in India which kills up to 50 crore people)“.

Taking a leaf out of the playbook of left-liberal parties and Islamic Sharia law Abbas Siddiqui Furfura in his campaign promise has announced that he ban liquor ban, a rapist will receive the death sentence and the handing over of Muslim and adivasi properties to the communities.

Mamata Banerjee who won the last two elections thanks to her appeasement politics now finds herself at the political crossroads as there is growing divide between Hindus and Muslims in the state due to her appeasement politics.

Furfura has been very vocal in his criticism of Mamata state government and has publicly said, “There are four crore Muslims in West Bengal. Mamata should not forget that we can always resurrect the Congress or the CPI(M) from their graves as the secular alternative in West Bengal,”.

However, there is a divide in the Muslim votes also, as the 30 per cent of the population, largely follow either of two religious institutions—the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind an offshoot of Deobandi ideology and Furfura Sharif.

With Owaisi jumping into the complicated politics of West Bengal, Muslims who helped Mamata Banerjee win two elections is now being seen as raison d’etre to her political downfall and the rise of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. 

However, Owaisi’s decision could backfire as there are many Muslim leaders in West Bengal could also see him as a threat. Recently the Muslim wing of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had invited Owaisi which led a serious problem from local Muslim parties who view him as an outsider. 

Local Muslim parties like the Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham and other Muslim groups came down heavy on the DMK as they sensed a threat to their local Muslim vote bank from an outsider Muslim which could be the case in West Bengal also. 

New Delhi: To Mark 50 year victory over Pakistan, Bangladesh Army to participate in Republic Day Parade

By
The Commune
-

To commemorate the 50th year anniversary of victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, Bangaladesh Army will take part in the Republic Day Parade on 26 January, reports Livemint.

Both nations are going to celebrate 50th year of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, which led to the creation of a new nation of Bangladesh.

Military historians are still studying how the Indian Army managed to such huge victory in the shortest and fastest in military history after the end of Second World War.

India, in 1971 helped librate East Pakistan from the clutches of the Punjabi Army of West Pakistan which murdered over 3 million Muslims and Hindus of East Pakistan and raped over two lakh women.

The war also saw the Indian army take 93,000 Pakistani troops as Prisoner of War (POW) as Pakistan Army General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi signed the instrument of surrender. Niazi is supposedly also related to Pakistan Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Niazi.

In 2021, Republic day celebration, the chief guest is Prime Minister Boris Johnson and it must also be noted that India just approved the Covid vaccine made by Oxford Astrazeneca which is manufactured in India by the Serum Institute. 

2021 is also a milestone for Bangladesh as it will mark 50 years of its existence which has seen this nation develop its economy and now has a better growth rate than Pakistan. 

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