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From Afghanistan to Iraq, and from Kosovo to Libya - the B-2 bomber has been part of many conflicts. But at a time when the Ukraine war has put the entire world on edge, the B-2 has been grounded.

USA's most feared nuclear warplane out of action: why grounding of all B-2 Spirit Bombers is significant

From Afghanistan to Iraq, and from Kosovo to Libya - the B-2 bomber has been part of many conflicts. But at a time when the Ukraine war has put the entire world on edge, the B-2 has been grounded.

One of America's most feared aerial weapons - the B-2 Spirit bomber. It's very hard to detect, even by radar. It can fly 9,600 km without stopping or refuelling. And it can drop up to 20 tonnes of bombs on the enemy - both conventional and nuclear. But one accident has put this dangerous weapon out of action.
The B-2 bomber - a major part of America's nuclear triad - has been removed from USA's arsenal at a time when Russia is threatening the West with nuclear war, China is cornering Taiwan, and North Korea is growing more belligerent.
 THE GROUNDING
From Afghanistan to Iraq, and from Kosovo to Libya - the B-2 bomber has been part of many conflicts. But at a time when the Ukraine war has put the entire world on edge, the B-2 has been grounded.
The US Air Force's entire fleet of B-2s has been grounded after a malfunction in one of the warplanes. The 'safety pause' was ordered by the Air Force Global Strike Command. Each bomber plane will be inspected, as per reports. There is no "speculated end date" for the B-2 grounding yet. However, the bombers can still be flown for missions if ordered by the US President. This also means that for the first time in 26 years, no B-2 flyover will take place at the 2023 Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.
ALSO WATCH |<a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/doom-tech-ninja-missile-with-blades-no-blast-usa-s-secret-weapon-killed-al-qaeda-chief-al-zawahiri-1659468359099"> Doom Tech | 'Ninja' missile with blades, no blast: USA's secret weapon killed al-Qaeda chief al-Zawahiri?</a>
MULTIPLE MISHAPS
USA's bomber fleet has seen multiple mishaps in recent years.
The latest incident took place on 10 December when a B-2 suffered an in-flight malfunction. The plane made an emergency landing and caught fire on the runway. The incident occurred at Whiteman airbase, and its runway was closed for over 10 days. No injuries were reported, and the plane was not carrying bombs.
The previous incident on 14 September, when a B-2's hydraulics system failed. Its landing gear collapsed while the plane was landing. The bomber skidded off the runway, and the repairs cost $10 million. This incident also took place at the Whiteman Air Force Base.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/types-special-features-of-indian-army-s-weapons-deployed-against-china-at-lac-tawang-clash-1671182451294">Types, special features of Indian Army's weapons deployed against China at LAC</a>
Before this, it was the B-1B Lancer bombers which were grounded in June 2018. A B-1B had made an emergency landing in Midland, Texas. The planes were grounded after an issue was found in ejection seat parts. The B-1Bs are important as they carry the US Air Force's largest conventional payloads, but not nuclear bombs.
 WHY B-2 IS SPECIAL
The B-2 is considered a special aircraft because it combines very long range, a heavy explosive payload, and stealth capabilities.
It's a multi-role, heavy bomber warplane which is meant to penetrate enemy air defences, and attack with both nuclear and conventional bombs. A fleet of around 20 planes is housed at the US Air Force's Whiteman base. The bomber was first unveiled in 1989, and the first jet was delivered at Whiteman in 1993. The warplane proved its combat worthiness in Operation Allied Force against Serbia. The B-2 was also part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.
 WHY GROUNDING IS SIGNIFICANT
The grounding of the B-2 is being considered very significant.
This is because the bombers are an important part of USA's nuclear arsenal. B-2s and B-52s form the aerial wing of USA's nuclear triad. A nuclear triad refers to a country's capability to attack from land, sea, and air. USA recently sent B-2s to Europe and the Indo-Pacific amid rising geopolitical tension.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/doom-tech-usa-misplaced-3-nuclear-bombs-in-3-different-incidents-weapons-still-missing-1661274825302">Doom Tech: USA misplaced 3 nuclear bombs in 3 different incidents; weapons still missing</a>
The timing of this development is very unfortunate for America.
This is because of Russia's frequent nuclear threats amid its Ukraine invasion. Also, China's increasing show of military force against Taiwan, and North Korea's missile tests to achieve its "most powerful nuclear force" ambition are headaches for Washington. Amid all this, Iran is also continuing its tests amid failure to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
 PENTAGON'S REASSURANCE
America has denied that its military force is weakened by the absence of the bombers.
The Pentagon's spokesperson has said that the B-2 grounding doesn't make USA vulnerable in any way. Brig Gen Pat Ryder said that USA is maintaining bomber capability to deter adversaries, and also engage in combat, if needed. He said that the US military has a variety of capabilities in its strategic bomber fleet, and the B-52 fleet provides redundant capability to the B-2. The Pentagon said that at any time, aircraft, ships, and forces on ground are available to confront any threat.
Meanwhile, the ground is already being laid for the replacement of the Spirit bomber.
 THE NEXT GENERATION
The B-21 Raider is expected to gradually replace the US Air Force's B-1 and B-2 bombers. The B-21 Raider is a 6th-generation, stealth bomber which was unveiled recently. It has been called the most advanced military aircraft ever built, by Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer. The B-21 has a variety of capabilities, from intel gathering, to battle management, and ally integration. It has been built with an open-system architecture, making it highly adaptable.
USA sees itself as a keeper of global peace. At a time when its adversaries are challenging the world order, America is under greater pressure to maintain its military deterrence. Quick resolution of safety issues in the B-2 bombers, or swift induction of the new B-21 Raiders appears to be an important part of this.

The British government plans to deploy the military to cover the jobs of absentee workers.

UK: 7 types of workers going on strike in Christmas run-up; Rishi Sunak's 'Grinch' attack on trade unions

The British government plans to deploy the military to cover the jobs of absentee workers.

Inflation in the United Kingdom is at a 40-year high. People are struggling to make ends meet. And the winter storm is set to worsen at the peak of Christmas season. With UK losing Prime Ministers to one controversy after another, can current PM Rishi Sunak overcome this mammoth challenge, or fall as another domino?
 FRESH STRIKES
A fresh wave of worker strikes have been planned in the UK in the run-up to Christmas. From nurses to rail workers - strikes have been planned by many trade unions. The British government plans to deploy the military to cover the jobs of absentee workers. 1,200 troops will be deployed to cover for ambulance crews and Border Force staff at airports. However, protesting trade unions have said that soldiers are not 'sufficiently trained' for these jobs.
 WHO, WHEN, WHERE?
Workers in at least 7 types of jobs plan to stage walkouts on various days before and after Christmas. Here's what's planned.
ALSO WATCH |<a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/germany-coup-plot-iridium-sat-phones-fortune-tellers-russian-aid-reichsbrger-conspiracy-decoded-1670945541307"> Germany coup plot: Iridium sat phones, fortune-tellers, Russian aid? Reichsb&uuml;rger conspiracy decoded</a>
Nurses are going on strike on 20 December in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The strike has been called by the Royal College of Nursing union. Emergency and intensive care services are likely to remain unaffected, with most of the impact being felt on services like planned operations and district nursing.
A day later, on 21 December, ambulance workers plan to go on strike in most parts of England and Wales. The strike has been called by the Unison, GMB, and Unite union groups. Only non-life-threatening calls will be affected, but reports suggest that fall victims may find it hard to get help.
Traffic personnel plan to stage a strike between 22 and 25 December in London, southeast England. The strike has been called by the National Highways traffic officers of the PCS union. Control centre and post-accident traffic staff will not report for duty. However, National Highways officials have said that roads will not be closed.
Postal services will be affected on 23 and 24 December with Royal Mail workers planning a strike just before Christmas. First and second-class letters will not be delivered, and delivery offices will remain shut. However, parcels and Special Delivery letters will be circulated, although the service may face some hurdles.
ALSO WATCH |<a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/uk-religious-change-revealed-by-census-sparking-partition-concern-over-northern-ireland-1665422217747"> UK: religious change revealed by census sparking Partition concern over Northern Ireland?</a>
A major walkout has been planned by the Border Force at airports between 23 and 26 December, and 28 and 31 December. Services will be affected at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Manchester airports, and the Newhaven port. Due to the 8-day strike, passport checking services will be affected. Some airlines are not selling tickets to Heathrow on the strike days.
Another transport nightmare will be caused by the rail workers' strike from 24 to 27 December. It is being staged by the RMT workers' union. It had conducted a strike earlier as well. Authorities have advised only essential travel on these days.
Bus drivers will also stage a strike on 24 December in south and west London. Bus drivers of the Unite trade union employed by Abellio will be staging a walkout.
But why are so many worker groups intent on bringing the country to a halt, especially in the festive season?
 WHY THE STRIKES?
They are staging strikes due to high inflation in the UK. The Covid pandemic and the Ukraine war have caused a major cost-of-living crisis. Workers want a salary hike in line with the inflation level. At 10.7%, inflation in the UK softened in November, but was still highest in the last 40 years.
The UK government has said that massive pay hikes will fuel further inflation. The country saw a loss of 4.17 lakh working days due to strikes in October.
 SUNAK'S SALVO
Despite growing pressure on the government, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stuck to his guns. Here's what he wrote in an article on the strikes.
Sunak accused trade unions of causing misery for millions. He said that the transport strikes are cruelly timed for Christmas. The PM said that workers have been offered fair deals which are affordable for the taxpayers. Sunak accused RMT Union chief Mick Lynch of waging a "class war", and added that Union members are tired of being foot soldiers in this war. Taking on his political opponents, Sunak said that the Labour party is backing the "Grinches" who want to steal Christmas.
 WHAT NEXT?
The biggest victims of the strikes will be common people. And the government appears to be hoping that the troubles faced by the people will make the trade union protests unpopular.
However, this will not solve the livelihood problem being faced by many in the UK. In becoming the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak scripted many firsts. But his response and resolution of this major crisis may come to define his entire tenure.

The Indian Army's assets at the LAC include both airborne and land-based platforms.

Types, special features of Indian Army's weapons deployed against China at LAC | Tawang clash

The Indian Army's assets at the LAC include both airborne and land-based platforms.

China's latest misadventure at the border has confirmed that it wants to keep the disputed boundary with India boiling. However, China's stunts in Ladakh in 2020 have meant that the Indian military has been continuously stepping up its preparedness along the Line of Actual Control.
Let's take a look at some of the most destructive weapons that the Indian Army has placed at hotspots along the China boundary.
The Indian Army's assets at the LAC include both airborne and land-based platforms.
One of the newest acquisitions by the Army's Aviation Wing is the LCH Prachand. It is a light combat helicopter whose specialties include high-altitude operations, and attacking enemies on both land and air. It will be placed along the LAC in eastern Ladakh when the first unit is deployed in 2023.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/why-india-s-new-lch-prachand-is-extreme-weapon-special-nuclear-protection-stealth-tech-more-1664820570499">Why India's new LCH Prachand is 'extreme' weapon: special nuclear protection, stealth tech, &amp; more</a>
The next explosive weapon is the K-9 Vajra. It is a tracked, self-propelled Howitzer gun. Its special features include its high speed allowing quick deployment. Also, it can destroy targets at up to 50 km in the rarefied air of high-altitude areas. The K-9 Vajra is meant to counter China in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and the Northeast. It has already been deployed in Ladakh, and the Army reportedly plans to acquire 200 units for the other locations.
Another important weapon in the Army's artillery is the M777, an ultra-light Howitzer gun. Since it is lightweight, it can be easily deployed in hard terrain, and can also be carried by Chinook helicopters. It is strengthening the Army in the eastern sector, with 3 regiments deployed in the Northeast.
To boost its airpower, the Indian Army is also looking at loitering munitions, which are suicide-attack drones. They will give a boost to the Army's capability to track targets and conduct precision strikes. They will be placed along the LAC with China, and the process of procurement is already underway.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/russia-s-suicide-strategy-ukraine-needs-this-us-weapon-to-counter-cheap-iranian-kamikaze-drones-1665768739320">Russia's 'suicide' strategy: Ukraine needs this US weapon to counter cheap Iranian kamikaze drones</a>
For explosive firepower at long distances, the Army has the Pinaka, a multiple rocket launcher system. It can fire a variety of ammunition. Its new version has a longer range and better accuracy. It has been placed along LAC in Northeast, with one regiment deployed in Arunachal Pradesh. The Army reportedly plans to get 6 more.
A major addition to the Army's arsenal in the near future will be the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, or ATAGS. Its special features include rapid and sustained rates of fire with longer range. It will be deployed along the LAC. The ATAGS is in its final stages of testing and induction is expected soon.
While the Army waits for its newer guns, some legacy weapons are still in use, like the Bofors Howitzer. Its newer version is more precise and faster in firing rounds. In forward areas along the LAC, the upgraded Bofors guns are a big boost for the Army.
The other legacy weapon is the L70, an air defence gun. It has been upgraded for automatic tracking of aerial threats. It has been added to the arsenal along the LAC in the eastern sector. The upgraded guns were deployed around 15 km from the disputed border in 2021.
Apart from firepower, intelligence-gathering is an important task near the hot border. For this, the Army is looking at surveillance drones with a range of 80 km, and endurance of 4 hours. These will improve surveillance in difficult and mountainous terrain along the LAC. The Army is currently assessing different options before acquisition.
The military's arsenal is expected to get deadlier as more and more made-in-India weapons are developed and finalised, like the Dhanush gun system.
Beijing appears to be playing a double-game, trying to continue military aggression, even as both sides sit at the negotiation table. In such a situation, the deployment of potent and effective weapons at the border are a necessary deterrent.

In almost ten months, Russia has failed to defeat a much smaller Ukraine. Is Vladimir Putin now trying to take down his Western enemies by engineering domestic coups?

Germany coup plot: Iridium sat phones, fortune-tellers, Russian aid? Reichsbürger conspiracy decoded

In almost ten months, Russia has failed to defeat a much smaller Ukraine. Is Vladimir Putin now trying to take down his Western enemies by engineering domestic coups?

In almost ten months, Russia has failed to defeat a much smaller Ukraine. Is Vladimir Putin now trying to take down his Western enemies by engineering domestic coups?
German security agencies recently claimed to have busted a conspiracy by some of its citizens to wage war on the democratic government and install a king to rule the country. The group behind all this is called the 'Reichsb&uuml;rger', or the 'Reich Citizens'.
 THE PLOT
Investigators say that the group wanted to storm the German Parliament building using its military unit. Members of Parliament would have been "handcuffed and arrested". The terrorist group allegedly wanted to damage and deactivate the country's electricity network. Its members had allegedly acquired &euro;20,000 Iridium satellite phones to communicate even when there was no electricity.
They had also planned a 'homeland security' unit to maintain control over the country, according to the authorities. Investigators also claimed to have found a 'hit list' with names of politicians and journalists. These included the name of the current foreign minister. Interestingly, the group also allegedly used fortune-tellers to verify its plans and the loyalty of its members.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/what-if-nato-had-blamed-russia-for-poland-missile-blast-6-steps-to-world-war-3-1668709567792">What if NATO had blamed Russia for Poland missile blast?</a>
So, what is the Reichsb&uuml;rger, and why did it want to overthrow the government?
 THE PLOTTERS
Reichsb&uuml;rger has been accused of being an extremist group wanting to establish a monarchy in Germany. It allegedly has around 21,000 members, with 5% labelled as 'rightwing extremists'. Authorities blamed them for more than 1,000 extremist crimes in 2021. Reichsb&uuml;rger calls the German Constitution and the government illegitimate, claiming that the 'Reich' or empire of 1871 still exists.
The group's name refers to the pan-German nation established by King Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck in 1871. The group calls Germany's partition after World War II illegal. However, Reichsb&uuml;rger distances itself from Hitler's 'Third Reich'. But 'Reich Citizens' have been known to work with neo-Nazis.
The anti-government sentiment propagated by Reichsb&uuml;rger has been fuelled in recent years by Covid restrictions. Alleged members of the terrorist group include soldiers and police officers, making it more dangerous.
In the recent raids, authorities arrested many of the alleged ringleaders of the group.
 THE LEADERS
The biggest face of the Reichsb&uuml;rger is claimed to be Heinrich XIII. He is a 71-year-old businessman who was projected to rule the nation if the group came to power. He calls himself a prince despite the abolition of royalty in Germany. He claims to have descended from the formerly-noble House of Reuss.
Another high-profile arrest was that of Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, a judge in Berlin who would have been the Justice Minister in the 'Reich' government. She is a former lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. She has been accused of giving details of the Parliament building to the conspirators.
Then there is Frank Heppner, a celebrity chef whose daughter is dating Real Madrid footballer David Alaba. He was allegedly a commander of the Reichsb&uuml;rger military unit, and responsible for recruitment and weapons. He was arrested from work at a 5-star hotel in the Austrian ski resort of Kitzb&uuml;hel.
Authorities also arrested Michael Fritsch, a former police officer, from Hanover in north Germany. As a cop, he had been tasked with protecting Jewish communities from terrorists. He had been sacked from the police force for protesting with Covid deniers.
The activities of Heinrich XIII, the wannabe king, have raised suspicion of Russia's hand in the entire affair.
 THE RUSSIA LINK
Investigators say that Heinrich XIII had reached out to Russian officials as he allegedly wanted to discuss his coup plans with Moscow. Also, the sole non-German person arrested in the raids is a Russian citizen named Vitalia B.
Experts say that 'Reichsb&uuml;rger' members have a soft spot for Russia, and they are also vulnerable to Russian propaganda and disinformation.
Here's how Berlin launched a mammoth operation to stop the Reichsb&uuml;rger conspiracy.
 THE BUST
A taskforce named Kangal was set up to counter the threat. Operation Schatten, which means shadows, began in September. It is being called the largest terror surveillance operation in Germany's history. It involved the monitoring of more than 50 suspects after a tip-off.
Simultaneous raids at 150 spots were conducted on 7 December. 3,000 cops were part of international raids in Germany, Italy, and Austria. The target sites included an ex-MP's home, a car repair shop, and a carpenters' studio. 25 people were arrested, and weapons were found at 50 locations. These included guns, knives, swords, night vision tech, and combat helmets.
Authorities didn't say whether the group could've launched a coup attempt in reality.
So, what's next in Germany?
 THE NEXT STEP
The government is planning to tighten gun laws in the country. Weapons have been seized from 1,000 'Reich Citizens' so far, but around 500 other members are believed to have gun licenses. Also, the government wants stricter disciplinary rules for civil servants so that it can quickly sack then and withdraw their pensions if they are found to be engaging in such activities.
Two years ago, America saw how dangerous fringe groups can be, when rioters stormed the Capitol Hill, claiming that the Presidential elections were rigged. Germany was potentially staring at a similar, but much more organised incident.
As the danger of conspiracy theorists turning militant grows more serious, governments are yet to find ways to nip the threat in the bud.

$3 billion - that is the amount of money that India has spent to help Afghanistan over 2 decades.

Taliban desperate for India help? Pakistan economic crisis, China debt trap tactic haunting Afghanistan?

India is Taliban's only option? Pakistan economic crisis, China debt trap diplomacy haunting Afghanistan?


$3 billion - that is the amount of money that India has spent to help Afghanistan over 2 decades.

23 years ago, the Taliban helped terrorists hijack Indian flight IC-814 to force India to release three sinister terrorists. Now, the Taliban are trying to convince India to come to Afghanistan and complete the projects interrupted by the fall of the civilian government in 2021.
Why is Taliban warming up to India? And should Delhi respond positively? How has India helped Afghanistan in the last 2 decades, and what's been stuck since the Taliban came to power? Let's take a look.
$3 billion - that is the amount of money that India has spent to help Afghanistan so far. Here are a few examples of what Delhi calls its "gifts" to Kabul.
The Afghan Parliament complex was constructed by India for $90 million. It was inaugurated by PM Modi in 2015. India provided Mi-25 and Mi-35 choppers to the Afghan Air Force, as well as 285 military vehicles for the Army. India also helps the Afghan military under a strategic agreement signed in 2011.
In the energy sector, India's biggest assistance has been the 42 MW Salma Dam in Herat province. There is also the transmission line between Pul-e-Khumri and Kabul, and the Chimtala power substation.
To boost connectivity, India helped build the 218-km Zaranj-Delaram highway for $150 million. More than 300 Indians were part of the project and 11 of them died, including in terrorist attacks. Delhi also gave 3 Air India aircraft to Afghanistan's national carrier Ariana.
In healthcare, India recently sent 13 tonnes of medicines, 5 lakh Covid vaccines. In the past, Delhi rebuilt the Indira Gandhi Institute for Child Health, constructed clinics in at least 10 border provinces, and gifted 10 ambulances. India has also provided schoolchildren with high-protein biscuits.
In education, Delhi financed the establishment of an agriculture sciences university, and rebuilt the Habibia High School in capital city Kabul.
The Afghan national cricket team can use an Indian stadium as its home ground. India also helped build a cricket stadium in Kandahar.
For food security, India constructed a cold storage warehouse in Kandahar, and also sent 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat recently. Delhi has also gifted 400 buses and 200 mini-buses for urban areas, and 105 utility vehicles for municipalities. The country helped in rehabilitation of 3 water reservoirs, and digging of tube wells in many places.
India also contributed to the restoration of the Stor Palace in Kabul.
The Taliban has now claimed that an Indian diplomat has expressed interest in resuming the projects which are stuck since Taliban's takeover in August 2021.
Here are a few which might be on the table.
The biggest pending project might be the Shahtoot dam. The agreement for the $250 million project was finalised in November 2020. The dam in Kabul district will help provide safe drinking water to 20 lakh people.
Another project is the Hajigak mine. An Indian consortium won bids for 3 iron ore mines in 2011. AFISCO had said that it would invest $10.8 billion for a steel plant, but updates about the project are not available.
Also, a hundred community development projects worth $80 million were announced by the Indian foreign minister in November 2020. India has also pledged $1 million for an Aga Khan heritage project to restore the Bala Hissar Fort, lying south of Kabul.
So, is the Taliban trying to woo India?
It's possible because the Afghan economy is in tatters, and humanitarian crisis has been unfolding after decades of continuous war. Also, India has been major source of aid to Afghanistan over the last 20 years. Meanwhile, Taliban's main benefactor Pakistan is going through its own economic crisis, while Pakistan's 'iron brother' China exacts a heavy toll for providing any kind of help.
There are multiple reasons why India may respond positively to this development.
The first is security. Indian investment in Afghanistan can prevent the country from becoming a major breeding ground for anti-India terrorists. Showing Taliban the benefits of Indian partnership can make it resistant to plans that Pakistan may be hatching.
The second reason is geopolitics. Pakistan's direct and China's indirect influence on Taliban are not in India's interest. Delhi may like to establish its own relations with Taliban to maintain balance.
Finally, Delhi would want to safeguard the $3 billion worth of assistance that has been given over 2 decades. India would also like to have an opportunity at getting access to Afghanistan's barely-tapped resources.

In the last Gujarat elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its manifesto just a day before the first phase of voting. This time, the BJP appears to be more cautious - publishing its manifesto a full four days before the first phase of voting.

BJP's 10 Gujarat promises: 2017 versus 2022 | Assembly Elections 2022

In the last Gujarat elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its manifesto just a day before the first phase of voting. This time, the BJP appears to be more cautious - publishing its manifesto a full four days before the first phase of voting.

In the last <a href="https://www.editorji.com/elections/gujarat-elections">Gujarat elections</a>, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its manifesto just a day before the first phase of voting. And, the Congress delivered its best performance in the state in almost 30 years. This time, the BJP appears to be more cautious - publishing its manifesto a full four days before the first phase of voting.
Here's what has changed in the BJP's promises in 5 years.
Religion is now occupying a more significant place in the BJP's manifesto. In 2017, the party had promised to strictly enforce the law against cow slaughter. It also promised more representation to saints on temple boards, and aid to 'akhadas' during festivals. This time, the BJP is more ambitious, promising a Uniform Civil Code, and strict punishment for forced conversions. The party has also said that it will scrutinise assets of the Waqf Board, and conduct surveys on madrasa curriculum.
Regarding law and order, the BJP in 2017 said that it will strictly enforce the liquor ban in the state. This time, the party has said that it will set up an anti-radicalisation cell to identify and eliminate terrorists. It will also promulgate a new law to make rioters and violent protestors pay for damaging public and private property.
Inflation and unemployment are big issues in this election. Last time, the BJP had said that if it wins, it will make Gujarat's economy grow at 10% every year. Regarding employment, the party had promised a new policy for the semi-conductor, and telecom industries. It also promised cheap loans to small and medium enterprises.
This time, the BJP has said that it will make Gujarat's economy touch the $1 trillion mark. It is also promising 20 lakh new jobs over 5 years, and getting ₹5 lakh crore foreign investment. BJP says it will make Gujarat a defence and aviation hub.
Before employment, comes education. In 2017, the BJP said that it would set up new international-standard universities, and provide free higher education to girls. It also promised scholarships to students from poor families. This year, the party is saying it will make education of girls free from KG to PG, i.e. kindergarten to post-graduation. BJP has said it will give electric scooters to meritorious women in colleges, help poor students, and set up Gujarat Institutes of Technology, along the lines of IITs.
On healthcare, the BJP in 2017 said that it would eliminate vector-borne diseases like dengue in 5 years. It also promised more shops selling generic medicines, and more mobile clinics. This time, the BJP has said that it will double medical cover under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to ₹10 lakhs. It will also provide free diagnostic services to the poor, and set up two AIIMS-standard medical facilities.
For women, the BJP last time promised a special empowerment fund, and periodic hikes in pension for widows. This year, the party says that it will give 1 lakh government jobs to women. They will also get two free LPG cylinders every year. Elderly women will get free bus travel, if the BJP wins.
In sports, the BJP last time promised to set up an Olympics Mission, promote traditional sports, and give financial aid to athletes. This time again, the party has said that it will launch an Olympics Mission to host the Games in the state in 2036.
For urban areas, the BJP in 2017 said that it will implement Smart City projects, build multi-level parking lots, and start Metro trains in Surat and Vadodara. This time, the BJP is promising a ₹25,000 crore scheme to revamp and decongest urban areas. It is also promising expansion of highways and the Metro network.
In 2017, the BJP said it will turn rural areas into Smart Villages. The party promised pucca houses to the poor. For tribals, the BJP said it will set up welfare boards and an Adivasi University. This year, the pucca house promise remains, along with a guarantee to include subsidised edible oil and chana in the Public Distribution System. For tribals, the BJP has said it will set up a ₹1 lakh crore fund, and also residential schools.
Five years ago, the party had promised to double income of farmers through zero-interest loans, mechanisation of agriculture, and other measures. This time, the BJP has promised a ₹10,000 crore agricultural infrastructure cell. Fisherman will get new boats if their vessels are seized by Pakistani authorities. Also, irrigation networks will be expanded, and cattle feed will be subsidised if the BJP wins.
Narendra Modi left Gujarat to become the Prime Minister 8 years ago. But the BJP is still depending on him to take it past the finish line, even as the sword of anti-incumbency looms over the party. Has PM Modi been able to evoke nostalgia among Gujaratis? And has the BJP's manifesto made them dream of a better future? December 8 will reveal the answer.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/liveblog/gujarat-elections/gujarat-election-2022-voting-for-first-phase-underway-89-seats-788-candidates-475">Gujarat Election 2022 Voting Live Updates</a>

Ahead of the Gujarat elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has said that if it wins, it will launch a 'Gujarat Olympics Mission' to host the Games in the state in 2036.

Should Gujarat host Olympics? Good, bad, ugly of BJP's election promise explained

Ahead of the Gujarat elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has said that if it wins, it will launch a 'Gujarat Olympics Mission' to host the Games in the state in 2036.

Cheering crowds, famous faces, and a competition with high stakes - there are many similarities between Olympics, considered the pinnacle of sports, and Indian elections. Now, the two arenas appear to be converging even more deeply.
Ahead of the Gujarat elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has said that if it wins, it will launch a 'Gujarat Olympics Mission' to host the Games in the state in 2036.
While the romance of the Olympics persists, more and more cities are realising that hosting the Games is more of a nightmare, than a dream come true. Let's take a look at this phenomenon, what's driving it, and whether it makes sense for Indian cities to continue to bid for the Olympics.
 THE COST
The biggest argument against hosting the Olympics, especially in a developing country, is the humongous cost, which almost always exceeds the budget.
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For the recent 2020 Tokyo Games, which were held in 2021 because of Covid, the initial estimate was $7.3 billion. The actual cost hit $28 billion, with some estimates going even higher. Rio de Janeiro hosted the 2016 Summer Games with an estimate of $14 billion, which ultimately went up to $20 billion.
For the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia's estimate was $10.3 billion. The final cost - a mind-boggling $51 billion. London had set an estimate of $5 billion for the 2012 Summer Games, but ended up spending $18 billion.
With the sporting extravaganza becoming a money guzzler, many prospective hosts have started getting cold feet.
 WITHDRAWAL OF BIDS
Many cities have been withdrawing their bids to host the Games over cost concerns. Beijing won the 2022 bid after both Oslo and Stockholm withdrew from the race. Boston withdrew its 2024 bid saying that the city's future cannot be 'mortgaged'. For the 2024 Games, Budapest, Hamburg, and Rome also revoked their bids.
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Even wanting to make a bid to host the Olympics can be quite an expensive exercise.
It costs millions of dollars to prepare for submitting a hosting bid. From planning, to hiring consultants, and organising events and travel, cities have to spend between $50-100 million. Toronto cancelled its plan to bid for the 2024 Games after it decided it cannot afford $60 million for the analysis. Tokyo spent $150 million to bid for the 2016 Games, but still lost.
 THE DEBATE
Those in favour of hosting the Olympics claim that the benefits outweigh the costs. But the debate is yet to be settled.
The proponents claim that the Games provide a consumption boost which helps the economy. The critics argue that every Olympics since 1960 has overshot its budget by 172% on average.
Proponents say that the sporting extravaganza creates employment opportunities for the locals. But experts have said that most of the new jobs are temporary, and not long-term.
Another argument in favour of hosting the Games is that the city becomes a big tourist attraction. But this can be blunted by high prices, crowding, and security measures making travel and stay difficult.
Another plus-point is that the host city's residents end up getting new infrastructure and better amenities. But critics say that many facilities are built on debt, and it is the taxpayers who end up repaying the loans for decades.
The final benefit is that athletes get specialised venues for training. But in many places, the facilities lie unused after the Games. Critics say that these did not exist before the tournament because they were not viable.
There are many instances of Olympics facilities becoming white elephants after the Games conclude.
 AFTERMATH OF THE GAMES
Beijing's famous 'Bird's Nest' stadium requires $10 million a year to maintain, and is largely lying unused. In Athens, most facilities for the 2004 Games are now derelict, after having contributed significantly to Greece's debt crisis. Authorities in South Korea are expected to bear an annual deficit of $8.5 million to maintain unused facilities built for the 2018 Winter Games. Meanwhile, it took Montreal 30 years to repay its debt for the 1976 Summer Games.
It is difficult to imagine the scale of the Olympics - more than ten thousand athletes from over 200 countries, participating in around 300 sporting events, and lakhs of spectators to watch them.
All of this requires massive supporting infrastructure, apart from the obvious facilities like stadia. Cities hosting the Summer Games must have at least 40,000 available hotel rooms. Also, to handle all this traffic, countries have to upgrade or build new roads, local transport, rail lines, and airports.
Over the last few decades, the Olympics became a way for developing countries to showcase their advancement. But recent events, like the Covid pandemic, have highlighted the gaps that still remain in the modern development discourse.
In such a situation, a wider debate about the cost of hosting the Olympics, and whether the money should be spent elsewhere, may be important before such decisions are taken.

In the 6 years that Bajwa was head of the Pakistan Army, the wealth of his family reportedly zoomed from paltry amounts to 12.7 billion Pakistani rupees, or around 460 crore in Indian rupees.

Who Wants To Be A Billionaire: Pakistan Army edition | How Bajwa's family prospered as nation struggled

In the 6 years that Bajwa was head of the Pakistan Army, the wealth of his family reportedly zoomed from paltry amounts to 12.7 billion Pakistani rupees, or around 460 crore in Indian rupees.

As the common people of Pakistan were struggling after devastating floods with followed the Covid pandemic, Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa was apparently busy making his family filthy rich.
In the 6 years that Bajwa was head of the Pakistan Army, the wealth of his family reportedly zoomed from paltry amounts to 12.7 billion Pakistani rupees, or around 460 crore in Indian rupees.
Here's a breakdown of the family's riches, and also the surprising reaction of the Pakistani government.
The wealth of the Bajwa family is in the headlines after a news report in an outlet called FactsFocus. Tax details of Pakistan Army's outgoing chief apparently show that Gen Bajwa's extended family became billionaires after 2016 when he took the top job. The wealth of many of his relatives went from zero to billions within a few short years. Bajwa's family acquired Rs 12.7 billion in various types of assets and businesses. These properties and businesses are based both inside and outside Pakistan.
Here's how the financial status of Bajwa's wife, daughter-in-law, and others changed.
Ayesha Amjad, the wife of General Bajwa, was not filing tax returns when her husband became a Lieutenant General. Her wealth was zero in 2016, but increased to Rs 2.2 billion in 2022 according to her tax information. This amount excludes houses, residential plots, and commercial plots given to Bajwa by the Pakistan Army.
Next is Mahnoor Sabir, who is Bajwa's daughter-in-law. Her wealth was zero in October 2018, but rose Rs 1.2 billion just a month later, when she was getting married. Her tax filings in 2018 said the properties had been acquired between 2014 and 2016, but not declared. Mahnoor also became the manager of an oil company named Taxx Petroleum Pakistan in November 2019.
The tax returns of Sabir 'Mithu' Hameed - Bajwa's friend and the father-in-law of his eldest son - were less than Rs 1 million in 2013. However, in subsequent years, his wealth reportedly rose to billions. Sabir and his brother Nasir are also directors in Taxx Petroleum Pakistan.
Then there is Hamna Naseer, the sister of Bajwa's daughter-in-law. She had zero assets in 2016, but it rose to billions by the next year.
These are just the known and declared amounts. FactsFocus said that it was not able to get details of Bajwa's two sons.
The family's declared assets reportedly include an international business, farmhouses in Islamabad and Karachi, a massive real estate portfolio in Lahore, multiple foreign properties, commercial plazas, and commercial plots.
The Shehbaz Sharif government in Pakistan had an interesting reaction to the revelations. Instead of questioning how Bajwa's family acquired so much wealth, the government targeted the news portal.
The Pakistani government ordered a probe into the leaking of Bajwa family's financial details. The Finance Minister called leakage of the tax information "illegal" and "unwarranted". The Minister said that the incident violated tax information's confidentiality, and ordered an investigation by Special Assistant to Pakistan PM on Revenue.
Meanwhile, the news publication - FactsFocus - has claimed that after releasing the story, traffic on its website was disrupted, and the site was also banned in Pakistan.
The common people of Pakistan have been suffering under austerity measures imposed by the IMF for helping the economy. This has exacerbated the hardships caused by the Covid pandemic, and the recent floods.
In such a situation, if the chief of Pakistan's Army was misusing his position to make his own family richer, and the government fails to investigate this, then it will only reinforce the perception that Pakistan's elected government is just a puppet of the military.

Rishi Sunak inherits a staggering economy and a shell-shocked and divided party. Will the UK's first British Asian Prime Minister be able to stabilise the country and chart the path forward?

Decoded: Can Rishi Sunak unite a divided United Kingdom?

Rishi Sunak inherits a staggering economy and a shell-shocked and divided party. Will the UK's first British Asian Prime Minister be able to stabilise the country and chart the path forward?

On October 26, Rishi Sunak took over as Prime Minister of the UK, and leader of the Conservative Party. As the first person of colour to hold the post of PM, and the youngest &nbsp;in over 200 years, his rise to the top is noteworthy. It comes on the back of a rocky period of unprecedented tumult in UK politics, as the island nation is reeling from the death of its longest-serving monarch, and the 45-day long Prime Ministership of Liz Truss.
Rishi Sunak inherits a staggering economy and a shell-shocked and divided party, and he now faces the huge task of stabilising both party and country in a time of economic and political turbulence.
Born in 1980 in Southampton to parents of Punjabi descent, Rishi Sunak&rsquo;s rise to the top of British politics has been lightning quick. He became MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire in 2015 and joined Boris Johnson&rsquo;s Cabinet in 2019, as chief treasury to the secretary, working with chancellor Sajid Javid. In 2020, he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Britain&rsquo;s equivalent of a Finance Minister, and was plunged into pandemic crisis planning and budgeting.
For many, Sunak&rsquo;s performance as chancellor during the pandemic was steady and reassuring, and his personal poll ratings shot up as he unveiled support worth &pound;350 billion.
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In July this year, Sunak resigned from his post, citing incompatibility with the economic policies of Boris Johnson. His resignation, among others, was crucial in ousting Johnson as PM. A few months later, Sunak has ascended to the post himself.
To many, Sunak&rsquo;s rise to the top as a British Indian person, and a practising Hindu, celebrates the diversity of modern-day Britain. However, others are not as exuberant, pointing to his massive personal wealth, and upper-class upbringing, as major benefactors in his journey.
Rishi Sunak was educated at Winchester College, an exclusive private school, after which he went on to attend Oxford and Stanford Universities. Before entering politics, Sunak worked for the investment bank Goldman Sachs, and then worked for two multibillion dollar hedge funds.
Sunak is married to Akshata Murthy, daughter of billionaire Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy. Together, he and his wife have an estimated worth of more than &pound;700m, a sum which eclipses the personal wealth of the monarch of the UK, King Charles III.
In April, their finances came under intense scrutiny as reports emerged that Akshata Murty potentially avoided paying up to &pound;20m in UK taxes, by declaring non-domicile status. She owns 0.9% of Infosys, which declared a &pound;11.6bn profit in 2021. After the scandal broke out, she announced that she would start paying UK tax on this income.
The reaction to Sunak&rsquo;s appointment in India has been varied. While many are ecstatic at the prospect of an Indian-origin leader of the UK, others have pointed out that Sunak is a British citizen whose parents, although of Indian descent, hail from Africa.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-s-response-on-email-scandal-haunting-minister-suella-braverman-1666805015550">UK PM Rishi Sunak's response on email scandal haunting minister Suella Braverman</a>
One of the Sunak government&rsquo;s first priorities in the diplomatic arena will be ongoing talks over a free-trade agreement with India, initiated by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The two countries began negotiations in January, with eyes at a Diwali deadline, which has been missed. The deal is reportedly in advanced stages, with the majority of sections completed, but has been held back in part by the ever-changing political landscape of the UK.
It was also not helped by remarks made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who said that Indians are the largest visa overstayers in the UK. Along with reducing or eliminating tariffs, India is also reportedly looking for easier movement of skilled workers in the deal.
A few days after she made the comments, Braverman was forced to resign over a security breach, as she sent an official document from a personal email ID, a move that furthered the instability of the doomed Liz Truss government.
In his new cabinet, Sunak has re-appointed Braverman as Home Secretary, a move which has been widely criticised in the UK as well as India. Many party colleagues have expressed concerns about the appointment, believing it undermines Sunak&rsquo;s promise to restore integrity and professionalism to the government.
The task before Rishi Sunak is enormous. In his first speech as Prime Minister, he called for unity with his words. His actions will chart the path of the United Kingdom in days to come.
&nbsp;

In Depth

Will 'Chief Twit' Elon Musk be able to make Twitter possible while retaining its influential nature - or is his acquisition doomed to kill the social network?

Decoded: Elon Musk takes over Twitter, and chaos reigns

Will 'Chief Twit' Elon Musk be able to make Twitter possible while retaining its influential nature - or is his acquisition doomed to kill the social network?

On October 27, Elon Musk completed his buyout of Twitter for $44 billion. The self-proclaimed &lsquo;Chief Twit&rsquo; waltzed into Twitter&rsquo;s headquarters and immediately fired CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal and Vijaya Gadde, Twitter's head of legal policy, trust and safety. Musk had already been meeting with Twitter employees earlier in the week, ahead of the impending move, and had walked into the office carrying a sink, in order to make a &lsquo;let that sink in&rsquo; pun.
Musk&rsquo;s first few days in charge of Twitter have been wrought with chaos. A spate of senior employees have left, and wide-spread changes to content moderation policies and the verification process are being considered. Musk seems to be working out these details in real time, apparently suggesting a $20 fee for verification, before bringing it back to $8, and tying with Twitter Blue, the company&rsquo;s subscriptions service which was still in trial. Musk has vehemently defended this decision, through signature irreverent memes and snarky replies to public figures, and a public negotiation with horror author Stephen King, in which he stressed that Twitter &lsquo;has to pay the bills somehow&rsquo;.
In an earlier tweet, Elon Musk had said that he bought Twitter in order to &lsquo;help humanity&rsquo;, whom he loves, and not to make money. Yet, as he prepares to take Twitter private, the money has to come in.
Twitter is in a peculiar place as a social media website. In terms of numbers, it is relatively small - it has around 396 million monthly active users according to estimates, compared to 2 billion for Instagram and 2.91 billion on Facebook. And yet, Twitter commands outsize influence because of the clientele that uses it frequently - from journalists and public activists to CEOs and heads of state. Tweets can change the course of public life, put governments in crisis, and act as a platform for civil resistance.
Twitter influences public discourse. What Twitter does not do is make money. Twitter has failed to return profits in eight out of the last 10 years - and right now, Elon Musk needs profits. In order to acquire Twitter, Musk has loaded the company with $13 billion in debt. With this, the firm will have to pay around $1 billion a year in interest payments to banks. Last year, Twitter&rsquo;s cash flow was about $630 million, meaning that they really need to make more money.
Around 90% of Twitter&rsquo;s current revenue comes from digital advertising. And while the ad revenues have been falling across all social media companies, Elon Musk&rsquo;s freewheeling, and irreverent nature, and his ideas for what he wants Twitter to be, do not exactly inspire faith in advertisers.
Musk describes himself as a &lsquo;free speech absolutist&rsquo;, amd has repeatedly called for less content moderation. On October 28, when he took over the site, racist and other hateful tweets began to appear across the site at much higher levels than usual, as reported by NPR. &nbsp;
Advertisers have not taken the risk of being seen next to hateful content lightly. Car maker General Motors has already suspended ads on the website, in order to evaluate &lsquo;the direction of the platform&rsquo; under new leadership. Advertising giant IPG, which handles companies like Nintendo and Unilever, has advised its clients to pause ads on Twitter, and await clarity on the social network&rsquo;s plans for trust and safety.
Last week, Musk wrote that Twitter would be &ldquo;forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints&rdquo; and said that &ldquo;no major content decisions or account reinstatements&rdquo; would occur before the council convenes.
A general sense of chaos pervades Twitter since the transfer of ownership. Elon Musk proposes and negotiates policy decisions live on the website, interacting with users as he goes. Around half the workforce is in line to be laid off, while the other half faces long crunch hours and fast deadlines.
As of now, nobody knows what exactly will become of the world&rsquo;s most influential social network - including, seemingly, its owner Elon Musk.
&nbsp;

As the world's leaders converge on Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to iron out the path forward for humanity, the stakes have never been higher. Is there still time to save the world? 

Decoded: World leaders converge at COP27 as time runs out to save the world

As the world's leaders converge on Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to iron out the path forward for humanity, the stakes have never been higher. Is there still time to save the world?&nbsp;

Have we crossed the point of no return? Is it, indeed, too late to save the world? This seemed to be the question on everyone&rsquo;s mind at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, hosted this year at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. On a sombre and alarming note, Alok Sharma, the President of last year&rsquo;s conference, began with a wake up call for world leaders, reminding everyone of the havoc that climate change has wrought in the past year.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also did not mince his words.
This rhetoric is not new. In October, the UN had said that current plans submitted by governments would lead to a temperature rise of about 2.5 degrees celsius, condemning the world to a catastrophic climate breakdown.
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At COP26 in Glasgow, countries agreed to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, a threshold set out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which would avoid the worst ravages of climate change. Even a fraction of a degree more can lead to many more lives lost. China, the United States, Europe and India have all failed to reduce their emissions enough to meet their Paris Agreement goals.
The inequality that led to and is propagated by climate change was at the forefront of COP27. Poorer nations, which have historically contributed the least to climate change, but bear the brunt of its most devastating consequences today, are seeking more reparations from rich countries, many of which have grown their economies and amassed wealth by burning fossil fuels.
The Indian contingent at COP27 was led by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, who also campaigned for a new fund for addressing loss and damage. India has launched the LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment movement, which encourages people the world over to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/editorji-specials/decoded-can-rishi-sunak-unite-a-divided-united-kingdom-1666964907896">Decoded: Can Rishi Sunak unite a divided United Kingdom?</a>
Climate cooperation has also been harmed by the Ukraine-Russia war, which has thrown global markets in turmoil in addition to causing widespread damage and loss of life in Ukraine. It has led to a global energy crisis and driven up the price of food, fuel and fertilisers.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the gathering virtually, stressing that there can be no global climate policy without peace.
The message from Climate scientists and experts is clear - time is running out, and fast. The goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5C, in order to avoid large scale damage, may already be unreachable. At COP27, most agreed that if humanity is to save itself, drastic action is required, and required immediately.&nbsp;

The Qatar World Cup has been embroiled in controversy since it was announced. Is it an example of 'sportswashing'? 

Decoded: FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicks off amid 'sportswashing' allegations

The Qatar World Cup has been embroiled in controversy since it was announced. Is it an example of 'sportswashing'?&nbsp;

Held once every four years, the FIFA World Cup is supposed to be a celebration of the beautiful game. The world&rsquo;s best players, representing their nations, and competing for the top prize - there&rsquo;s a certain air of romance to the whole thing.
Countries from all over the world descend on one location to essentially play a lot of football - it&rsquo;s a real melting pot of cultures and camaraderie and sporting spirit. World Cups are supposed to be above concerns like geopolitics, and political rivalries, and even wars. But that&rsquo;s a bit of a lofty ideal.
In reality, football&rsquo;s biggest competition is as susceptible to corruption and political pressure as any large event. Never has this been more evident than the last decade.
The process for the bidding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups began around March 2009. On December 2, 2010, it was announced that Russia and Qatar respectively would host the tournaments. The decisions were immediately controversial.
The Qatar World Cup, in particular, has been embroiled in controversy since it was announced. Qatar is a small country on the northeastern coast of the middle east - it&rsquo;s pretty small in size, around one fifth of the state of Uttarakhand, is home to less than 3 million people. It&rsquo;s also a hereditary monarchy, with Islam as an official state religion.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/editorji-specials/decoded-india-s-big-diplomatic-moment-at-g20-amid-us-china-relations-ukraine-russia-war-1668781228289">Decoded: India's big diplomatic moment at G20 amid US - China relations &amp; Ukraine - Russia war</a>
Right away, critics saw a disconnect between the tournament and the assigned host. Qatar has no real history or legacy of footballing culture, it had never qualified for a World Cup before it hosted one, and it follows religious law guidelines, which often stand at odds with the fan culture of most major footballing nations.
This was quite evident over the issue of alcohol, for example. Drinking is a big part of European fan culture, alcohol is abundantly sold in stadiums, and flows quite freely. In Qatar, alcohol is legal in some specific areas for non-residents, but is not allowed for the Muslim population.
During the bidding process, Qatari officials had indicated that alcohol would be sold in special &lsquo;fan zones&rsquo; in and around stadiums. On November 18, two days before the games were to begin, Qatar announced that alcohol would not be permitted in stadiums.
There are also larger human rights concerns. For one, the Qatar World Cup required the building of many entirely new stadiums, which were built by migrant labour brought in from South Asia. A 2013 investigation by The Guardian found that many workers were denied food and water, had their identity papers taken away from them, were compelled to forced labor, and were either not paid on time or at all, making some of them effectively slaves. Another report by the newspaper said that between the years of 2010 and 2020, 6,500 migrant workers - all from South Asia - had died in Qatar.
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Then, of course, was the issue of LGBTQ+ rights. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, and is punishable by fines and up to seven years imprisonment. Despite this, the country had announced that rainbow flags will be allowed in stadiums. However, many reports have said that fans wearing the rainbow have been barred from entering World Cup stadiums, and confronted by security and members of the public to remove the emblem.
So, if there are so many issues with human rights and the cultural fit of this tournament, why was it awarded to Qatar in the first place?
Allegations of corruption and vote buying have been levelled at the Qatar World Cup since it was first announced. A FIFA internal investigation has cleared Qatar of any wrongdoing, but has since been decried by its own author, who said that the final report was incomplete and erroneous. In May 2015, Swiss federal prosecutors opened an investigation into the bid, and former FIFA President Sepp Blatter - who was himself forced to resign amid corruption allegations - has suggested that Qatar cheated to win the hosting rights.
It has never been definitely proven that Qatar cheated in the bid process. But over time, 11 of the 22 FIFA Executive Committee members that voted for Qatar to host the World Cup have been fined, suspended, banned for life, or even prosecuted for corruption.
But why did Qatar, a nation with no particular history of football, want to host the World Cup to begin with?
The term &lsquo;sportswashing&rsquo; has come to describe the practice of countries or organisations trying to improve their reputations that have been tarnished through some wrongdoing. Critics have applied it to the Qatar World Cup. The claim, then, goes that Qatar is using the goodwill generated by the usually joyous atmosphere of the FIFA World Cup to cover up its human rights abuses and shady arms deals.
If that was indeed Qatar&rsquo;s aim, it is unclear how much it has worked. Conversation around these issues is at its peak as the World Cup has begun. The BBC chose to ignore the opening ceremony, with global stars like Morgan Freeman and Jungkook from BTS, and covered the controversies around the tournament instead.
But, as the tournament goes on, upsets and 7-goal routs dominate headlines, and sporting talking points overwhelm political ones, the football must be played. The show must go on. The conversations that arise after the World Cup has ended, will decide how successful the sportswashing has been.

A Supreme Court bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India, has stayed all proceedings in sedition cases. What is sedition law, where did it come from in India, and is it time for it to go?

The India Story with Vikram Chandra: Time for sedition law to go after SC order?

Decoded | Sedition law: Time for 'colonial baggage' to go after SC order?

A Supreme Court bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India, has stayed all proceedings in sedition cases. What is sedition law, where did it come from in India, and is it time for it to go?

A Supreme Court bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India, has stayed all proceedings in sedition cases, and asked governments to not file any FIRs under the provision. This comes after the Central government had said that they will reconsider the law, as part of an effort to &lsquo;shed colonial baggage&rsquo;.
Which is great, but what is sedition?
The dictionary definition of the word is the use of words or action that are intended to encourage people to oppose the government.
Although the recent Supreme Court order has stayed this provision, sedition is defined under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code as both a non-bailable and cognisable offence.
Which means that the police can arrest any accused person without a warrant, and they would not be able to get bail until the case is closed. The recent SC order, however, allows any person currently booked under sedition to apply for bail.
Sedition is also a non-compoundable office, which meant that once charges are filed, they can not be withdrawn, and there can be no settlement. Any accused person had to go through the full trial.
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<h2>History of Sedition Law</h2>
The government has called sedition &lsquo;colonial baggage&rsquo;, because it was added to the Indian Penal Code by the British in 1870.
Freedom fighter Balgangadhar Tilak was be convicted for sedition and was sent to jail for 18 months in 1897.
Mahatma Gandhi was also arrested for sedition by the British govt in 1922.
Sedition was originally also a part of the draft Indian constitution, as a restriction on freedom of speech and expression. In 1949, it was dropped from the Constitution but retained in the IPC.
In 1951, Prime Minister Nehru amended Article 19(1)(a) that guarantees fundamental rights, to put in &lsquo;reasonable restrictions&rsquo; on the right to free speech.
Then in 1974, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made sedition cognisable offence and authorised police to make arrests without a warrant.
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<h2>Who can be charged with sedition?</h2>
So, could anyone be charged with sedition? In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that even strongly worded criticism of the government would be considered within the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression.
There was, however, a catch. The Court did say that when words or actions have a destructive tendency, or the intent of creating disorder or disturbance, it can be called sedition.
But how exactly does one gauge the tendency or intention behind a word or action?
The vague wording of this order left scope for the government to slap any criticism with sedition, arguing that the words or actions have the tendency or intention to create disorder, or provoke disaffection against the govt.
The accused could approach the court for relief, but remember that this was a non-bailable and non-compoundable offence, and the burden of proof lay with the accused. The process, therefore, became the punishment.
The Chief Justice of India, NV Ramana, in 2021, had said that the law needs to go. He said that the law&rsquo;s conviction rate is very low, and its enormous power can be compared to a carpenter using a saw to cut an entire forest, instead of a tree.
So, are the Chief Justice&rsquo;s concerns about the misuse of sedition law well-founded?
A total of 326 cases were registered in the country under the sedition law between 2014 and 2019.
However, just six persons were convicted under the law, according to Home Ministry's recent data. For the rest, the process became punishment.
While we await the Central government&rsquo;s reconsideration of the sedition law, the point to be noted is that the United Kingdom, which gave India this law, scrapped it back in 2009.

editorji's Vikram Chandra decodes the draft rules and how they could change the Indian education system.&nbsp;

Decoded: editorji explains UGC’s foreign education push | The India Story

After decades of going back and forth on the matter, the UGC has finally unveiled draft rules for allowing foreign universities to set up campuses in India.

editorji's Vikram Chandra decodes the draft rules and how they could change the Indian education system.&nbsp;

After decades of going back and forth on the matter, the UGC has finally unveiled draft rules for allowing foreign universities to set up campuses in India.
editorji's Vikram Chandra decodes the draft rules and how they could change the Indian education system.&nbsp;

Around 1,000 km away from Ukraine, yet another historical territorial dispute is threatening to overwhelm Europe, and further shake the world - the Serbia-Kosovo conflict.

Not Ukraine, this conflict in Europe has more potential to cause NATO-Russia war? | Serbia v Kosovo

Around 1,000 km away from Ukraine, yet another historical territorial dispute is threatening to overwhelm Europe, and further shake the world - the Serbia-Kosovo conflict.

Weapons ready to attack at the border. Soldiers at highest combat alertness. Across the border, roads blocked with trucks and tractors by angry civilians. This are scenes in Europe, but not Ukraine.
Around 1,000 km away from Ukraine, yet another historical territorial dispute is threatening to overwhelm Europe, and further shake the world - the Serbia-Kosovo conflict.
To understand what's happening in Kosovo now, let's first take a look at the events of the past few decades.
 THE HISTORY
Kosovo, an Albanian-majority region, was a province of Serbia. Kosovo fought a guerrilla war against Serbian "repression". This led to a war in 1998-99 in which NATO intervened to protect ethnic Albanians. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia doesn't recognise Kosovo as a separate nation.
ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/in-depth/the-hook/usa-s-most-feared-nuclear-warplane-out-of-action-why-grounding-of-all-b-2-spirit-bombers-is-significant-1672151278053">USA's most feared nuclear warplane out of action: why grounding of all B-2 Spirit Bombers is significant</a>
Ethnic Serbs, which form 5% of the Kosovar population, reject Pristina's authority. They defy the Kosovo government by not paying power bills, and even fighting the police. The Serbs in Kosovo want an association of autonomous municipalities where the community is in majority. Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to negotiations sponsored by the European Union but there has been no headway.
Now, after days of rising tension, the situation in Kosovo and Serbia appears to be relaxing.
 THE CURRENT TENSION
One of the major sparks behind the recent flare-up was the arrest of a former policeman from the Serb community in Kosovo. He was held for allegedly assaulting police personnel. To resolve the tension, the ex-cop was released from jail on 29 December, and put under house arrest.
To protest the ex-cop's arrest, Serbs erected multiple roadblocks in north Kosovo, including on a key road from Serbia. On 28 December, the President of Serbia brokered the removal of the roadblocks.
Another point of dispute simmering recently was a two-month deadline for Serbs to switch to vehicle license plates issued by the Kosovar government. After a protest in which many Serb mayors, judges, and policemen quit, Pristina extended the deadline.
 WHY WORLD IS WARY
The reason why this tension is so alarming for the entire world is that NATO, the military alliance led by USA, and Russia have gotten involved in the conflict.
While NATO supports and recognises Kosovo's independence, Russia helps Serbia block Kosovo getting membership in the United Nations, and other international bodies. NATO has deployed around 3,700 troops in Kosovo as peace-keepers. Russia sees NATO action in the region as transgression in its backyard. Also, the European Union has placed 200 EULEX special police officers in Kosovo. Meanwhile, other adversaries of the US, like China, also support Serbia and call Kosovo an autonomous province under Belgrade.
The US and the European Union have appealed to Kosovo and Serbia to maintain peace. But what if the situation deteriorates? Europe is already reeling badly from the Russia-Ukraine war. Can it handle another active military conflict?
 CAN EUROPE HANDLE ANOTHER WAR?
One possibility is that if war breaks out, NATO may get involved like it did in 1998-99. Then, Serbia's ally Russia may jump in to counter NATO. This direct confrontation between superpowers has the potential to turn into a wider, possibly nuclear, war. On the economic front, a fresh Serbia-Kosovo war may drive up inflation, making food and energy costlier. It may also cause a major economic recession.
On 28 December, when Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that Serbs in Kosovo will remove roadblocks, he added that the "distrust" is yet to be removed. The statement encapsulated the fact that even decades later, the core issues which started the conflict have not been addressed. Without this resolution, peace in the region will continue to be fragile.

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