The Hack That Warmed the World

Europe’s carbon-trading market was supposed to be capitalism’s solution to global warming. Instead, it became a playground for gangsters, international crime syndicates, and even two-bit crooks -- who stole hundreds of millions of dollars in pollution credits. 

BY MCKENZIE FUNK-JANUARY 30, 2015

The client wanted carbon credits: tradable serial numbers that confer the right to pollute the Earth with invisible, odorless gas. Jugga, as the client called himself, planned to steal the credits, quickly resell them, and become rich overnight—but he needed the Black Dragon to hack into a computer system to help him do it. The Dragon, who in online forums advertised his services as a corporate spy, was sure he could hack anything. But when Jugga contacted him in June 2011, the hacker had no idea what carbon credits even were. “I didn’t think anyone would be stupid enough to come up with that,” the Dragon says of the concept.

The Hack That Warmed the World by Thavam Ratna

The Scourge of Caste

King's Review

Arundhati Roy, Jan 17th

“The Doctor and the Saint” is the name of the introduction that I wrote to one of modern India’s most classic texts, Annihilation of Caste, written by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Ambedkar was one of the most fascinating modern thinkers in India’s national movement, yet he is a person who has somehow either been written out of the popular account, or has been written in but not for the passions that guided him. He has been written in as the leader of the untouchables, or the person who drove the writing of the Indian constitution.Annihilation of Caste has this dubious distinction of being an underground classic, in that you can’t walk into a bookshop in India and ask for the writings of Ambedkar in the way you can ask for the writings of Gandhi or Nehru. Ambedkar’s people, the people who were once known as untouchables and who today call themselves Dalits, Gandhi rechristened very patronizingly as harijan, which means “the children of god”. While Annihilation of Castewas loved and passed around in the Dalit community, the privileged castes for whom it was written remain quite blissfully ignorant.
The Scourge of Caste by Thavam Ratna

Opinion: The search for truth in ideology

• Date 30.01.2015

China wants to ban textbooks containing Western values from its universities, except for ideas of Western-imported Marxism. China's ideological control continues to gain ground, writes DW's Matthias von Hein.

"Seek truth from facts" - that was one of the main Marxist ideas from Deng Xiaoping, the architect of the Chinese reform and opening-up policy. Under this motto China has come very far in improving its image. But Deng's successors seem to want to deviate from this path. For them, the truth lies in ideology rather than facts.

The campaign for ideological control, which was initiated by state and party leader, Xi Jinping, is intensifying. Having already established stricter control over the media and Internet, academic freedom, which was already limited, is now next on the chopping block. Textbooks with "Western values" will henceforth be banned in China's universities as decreed by education minister, Yang Guiren, at a conference on Thursday, January 29.

DW's Matthias von Hein

The fight against 'Western values'

Last weekend, a party newspaper attacked two alleged representatives of "Western values:" a professor and a painter. Shortly thereafter, universities were urged to increase the circulation of party propaganda and strengthen the teachings of Marxism as well as the ideals of Chinese socialism in the classroom.

This all fits into the puzzle: already at the beginning of the Xi era, an internal party document warned against "Western values." Specifically the document raised awareness of the "Western ideals" of government checks and balances, judicial review, media and press freedom, as well as the idea of civil society.

As a result, the government has been exerting increasing pressure on dissidents ever since. Those opposing the ruling party were thrown into prison along with their lawyers. Ilham Tohti, an economics professor in Beijing and a moderate critic of the government's "nationality policies" was sentenced to life imprisonment last September on separatism charges after he championed the rights of the country's Muslim Uighur minority. Moreover, a host of restrictions have been set in place to keep journalists in line.

Since late January, China's censors have been disrupting so-called Virtual Private Network connections (VPN), used by many in the country to bypass the so-called "Great Firewall" and access blocked websites. "The country needs new methods to tackle new problems," said Wen Ku, director of telecoms development at the Ministry of Industry and Information (MIIT). It seems a minor matter now that Internet users in China have to register online using their own names since the beginning of the year.

All this points to both a massive degree of distrust towards the ruled and also an unconditional will to wield and retain power. In a US diplomatic cable disclosed by Wikileaks we can get an idea of how Xi Jinping was viewed by a former close friend. In 2009 the friend is cited as saying that Xi wasn't corrupt or driven by money, but "could be corrupted by power."

Since becoming president in 2013, Xi has amassed more power than any of his predecessors since Deng Xiaoping. For this to continue, actions have been taken against anyone or anything that may cast a slur at the party or its members, including "Western values." In this sense it seems ironic that Marxism is also an import from the West and that incumbent Premier Li Keqiang excelled in translating Western legal texts when he was younger.

10 Reasons Why AFSPA Must Go 

By Waliullah Ahmed Lashkar,

1. A draconian law: The AFSPA is a piece of colonial legislation that gives the armed forces of India unfettered power: (i) to use lethal force on civilians even to the extent of causing death on mere suspicion that they may cause breach of any law or order, (ii) to search any dwelling places by breaking them on mere suspicion without warrant and (ii) to arrest people without warrant and to keep them in custody for unspecified time and more importantly the Act also bars the judiciary to question any acts of the armed forces operating under the Act in areas declared disturbed under the Act.

2. Its continuance is based on lies: The Government of India took the plea that it is a temporary measure for meeting an extra-ordinary situation and it would be withdrawn as soon as possible. This plea was taken in parliament when the Act was being passed, in the Supreme Court in the Naga People s Human Rights Movement case in 1997 and in international forums including the United Nations Human Rights Committee. It is now 53 years in North East and 21 years in J & K. If a measure for this length of time is temporary than what is permanent?

3. The provisions of the Act militate against the purpose of the enactment: The non-state armed groups (insurgents, extremists or terrorists, whatever you may call them) need to be dealt with and contained because they violate rights of the people to live peacefully, they try to impose their will on the people and the state unlawfully and violently trampling the constitutionalism and the rule of law that are sine qua non for civilised human existence. It is the mandate of the state to maintain the reign of law and constitution and the writ of the government established by law along with ensuring security and safety of the person and property of the citizens. But when the state through its security forces and law enforcement agencies commits more atrocious acts than the acts which it professes it is fighting the difference between the non-state terrorists and the state gets blurred.The armed forces of India when operate under the AFSPA do not act for enforcement of the constitution and the law of the land or for protection of the life and property of the citizens. Because, they operate outside the constitutional and legal system of the land. The AFSPA places them above the constitution, law and human rights obligations. The AFSPA gives them the power to commit atrocities and wreak terror on the citizens which they are supposed to combat and prevent and protect the citizens from, with additional guarantee of immunity from any accountability. The mischief that is addressed in the statute is doubled by its provisions. To purportedly prevent the people from the terror of certain armed groups the sate itself has unleashed its unmatched terror upon the very people under the AFSPA. And it is not only in law but very much in practice.

4. Problematic political premises: The political premise of the Act appears to be very problematic in the sense that it seeks in essence to impose “Indian-ness” through violence on some of the people of the country who are deemed not to be adequately “Indian”. This is apparent from the facts that despite naxalism being claimed as the biggest threat to the national security the Act is not extended to the naxal affected central India. Rather, it is stated that the responsibility to deal with such problems rests with the state governments, which is very true. This discriminatory attitude can not be explained in any way other than the racial reading of the situations and believe in fascist violence. The “Indian-ness” as it was understood by our freedom fighters and for which they embraced martyrdom is not one which would needed to be or which could be imposed through violence. However, it should be more than clear that we are not seeking extension of the AFSPA to any other part of the country since we want total repeal of the Act. There are many draconian pieces of legislation in force in naxal affected areas, though not of the nature of AFSPA, such the Chhattishgarh Public Security Act etc. which are also needed to be repealed. The phenomenon called naxalism has arisen largely due to the deprivation, discrimination and exploitation of the tribal people of the area. These problems need to be addressed politically and through peaceful means.

5. A fraud on the constitution: The Act provides more than emergency powers to the armed forces fraudulently bypassing the provisions of the constitution of parliamentary oversight over the exercise of such powers. The constitution also imposes duties upon the Union Government to perform its obligations under the international treatises. India is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 (ICCPR) which provides for derogations of some the rights in times of emergency declared legally, which are nonetheless derogated by the Act without such declaration. It is to be noted that the Supreme Court did not examine the compatibility of the Act with the international human rights laws in the Naga People s Movement for Human Rights.

6. The law lacks legality: Both the procedural and substantial requirements of legality are conspicuous by their absence in this Act of the parliament. On the procedural level it is to be noted that the Act came not only as a product of a “decision” by the political executive (i.e., as an ordinance on 22nd May, 1958) but also subsequently escaped more or less unscathed from the “legislative oversight function” of a democratically constituted Parliament on 18 August, 1958. And finally, rather than returning the legislation to the Parliament again for reconsideration, the President readily gave his assent on the legislation, thus making it into a law on 11 September, 1958. On the substantial level the Act does not pass the test of precise definition as its terms are too vague and it also provides powers/measures disproportionate to the mischief it is intended to address.

7. Arbitrary application: Not only the framing of the Act and its provisions are arbitrary but also the application of the Act by declaring certain areas as disturbed is also arbitrary inasmuch as the declaration of areas which are not disturbed in the sense in which the term is contemplated in the Act. For example, the southern part of Assam comprising of the districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi that is known as Barak valley is declared as disturbed area under the Act which can not be said disturbed in any meaning of the word. There has never been any insurgency in the area. And the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi proudly declared it as Valley of Peace admitting the fact.

8. Recommendations of the government committees: Every government committee which examined the Act opined against its continuity in the present form including the Administrative Reforms Committee headed by Mr. Birappa Moily. Most importantly, the Committee to Review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 chaired by Justice Jeevan Reddy unambiguously recommended total repeal of the Act.

9. Militarisation of democracy: The ethos and practices inaugurated, nurtured and sustained by the Act has led to critical erosion of normative (norms) and institutional mechanisms of a civilized democratic life which are critically manifest as (a) the near collapse of Criminal Justice System and (b) culture of impunity of unbridled violence in peoples life. The mockery of democracy is such that it can be termed as democracy at gun point.

10. Traumatised Society: Actions taken under the Act caused hundreds of extra-judicial killings, rapes, torture, enforced disappearances forcing the people to live an uncertain terror-striken life bereft of human dignity. It has made the whole society mentally sick and traumatized.And on many other reasons.

The author is an advocate at Gauhati High Court and human rights defender with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee.

How To Whiten Your Teeth in Just 3 Minutes (VIDEO)

Posted by HealthyFood on January 20, 2015
There are many people that are struggling with the problem of yellowish teeth, and feel uncomfortable every time they smile. Are you one of them?

Regular cleaning and brushing is not enough to avoid the problem of stains on the teeth, and even though the whitening strips can be effective, they also cause painful sensitivity of the gums and teeth.

Therefore here we are going to recommend you a simple and natural way to whiten your teeth in several shades, without damaging them with harsh chemicals such as those usually found in products for teeth whitening.

For this mixture you will need a little baking soda and lemon. In a small bowl put a little baking soda and mix it with fresh squeezed lemon juice, until the mixture becomes slightly foamy.

With a cotton wool, used for removing makeup, wipe and clean all your teeth before you thoroughly brush them with this amazing mixture. After applying it on your teeth leave it for a minute. Then wash your teeth normally with a toothbrush.

Note: You must not leave the mixture applied on your teeth for more than one minute, because the acid will damage the teeth enamel!

- See more at: http://www.healthyfoodteam.com/how-to-whiten-your-teeth-in-just-3-minutes-video/#sthash.CR3OdqEL.dpuf

Sri Lanka 'on right track' to achieving sustainable democracy

After coming to power, Sri Lanka's President Sirisena took steps that observers believe are a major shift from the previous government's policies. But analyst Siegfried O. Wolf says Sirisena still has a lot more to do.

• Author Interview: Shamil Shams-Date 30.01.2015

Sri Lanka's new leader Maithripala Sirisena, who defeated former president Mahinda Rajapksa in the January 8 poll, says he wants to reverse the "revenge politics" of the former regime as he recently reinstated the country's former chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake, who was impeached two years ago after she refused to support a law granting greater powers to Rajapaksa's brother.

Sri Lanka 'on Right Track' to Achieving Sustainable Democracy by Thavam Ratna

Being A New Sri Lanka – Part 2

By Sanjayan Rajasingham -January 31, 2015

Sanjayan Rajasingham

Stay aware

I’ve often heard the refrain “I’m not interested in politics”. If “politics” here means the latest political gossip – what X’s son did, who Y snubbed, etc – I’m not too interested either! However, if it means how our rulers use the power we have given them, we need to think again. Their power is public power, and they hold it for us. If we don’t keep an eye on them, they will probably abuse it.

Start small on this one. If you aren’t a newspaper person, read an article on the front page of a newspaper each day, or if that’s too much, one on the front page of a Sunday paper. Another option is to follow a certain column (though here you are at the mercy of what the columnist thinks is important). Either way, try and do one thing a week to keep in touch with what’s going on. Along with this, talk to others about what you read. Even if the papers are anathema to them, they will listen (at least briefly) because it’s coming from you.

There are several important things going on these days. Check out 100days.lk and see if promises are being kept. Find out about the budget, and ask if it’s just another election gimmick. Check out the reinstatement ofShirani Bandaranayake and ask if you think it was right. These are the “political” events that we need to know something about.

Riots May 1958 – A Tamil passenger was taken out of the vehicle and beaten up

Protest!

Go for public protests and rallies. This will require time, some inconvenience, and a willingness to accept a minimal level of risk. It is because of this that they are important. Quite apart from whether the protest succeeds or not, there is something about engaging in public protest, about publicly demanding change, that can be transformative. It builds confidence. It makes us more likely to resist when we are wronged. It deals a blow to the play-it-safe mentality which is lethal to a democratic ethos. In short, it builds civic character.Read More

Interim Budget: A Necessary Corrective to Rajapaksa-Economics

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Ultimately it is what happens in peoples lives that matters.”
Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012 – UNDP

( January 31, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) November 2006: The Fourth Eelam War was raging. The regime exhorts the populace to make sacrifices – and awards the executive, the legislature and the judiciary massive salary hikes. The steepest increase goes to President Rajapaksa .

Interim Budget a Necessary Corrective to Rajapaksa-Economics by Thavam Ratna

Border Aggression And Civilian Massacres; The Role Of The Mossad

By Rajan Hoole -January 31, 2015

Dr. Rajan Hoole

Border Aggression and Civilian Massacres – Part 14

In the drive to establish paramilitary Sinhalese settlements in the North-East, the circumstances we have given leave little room to doubt that Israeli agencies were involved, although the basic idea was much older and moves were already afoot in July 1983. In establishing the Weli-Oya settlement, the strategy was originally not to drive away the Tamils in one go. For a few weeks there was methodical harassment by the convicts planted there. It then stopped, and soldiers approached Tamils in the area and talked to them pleasantly. Such sophistication was new to the Sri Lankan Army.

Ravi Jayewardene \ File photo

In stirring up troubles in the Eastern Province from April 1985, the role of the Mossad has been widely alleged. However, there are no obvious links on the surface, except again the sophistication involved in bringing different elements together the state media, Muslim ministers and Muslim thugs from Colombo and the Security Forces. There are also other considerations, which lead us to answer the question of Mossad involvement in the East in the affirmative. The involvement of the STF in the troubles is beyond doubt.

While the Special Task Force, the STF, was being formed, Ravi Jayewardene took along with him on his visit to Israel DIG Police, Mr. Shirly Wijesuriya. They visited the Mossad chief and the Mossad training field. One of the purposes as Ravi Jayewardene told the Mossad Commission was to “gather special techniques” for the STF. Selected personnel from the STF were sent to Israel for training. Ravi Jayewardene was intimately involved in the formation and the functioning of the STF. According to Herman Gunaratne, the men for the STF, their commander Zernie Wijesuriya and the ex- SAS mercenaries from KMS to train the STF were all hand picked by Ravi Jayewardene..Read More

Suddenly Rajapaksa Appointed HRC Wants Human Rights!

31/01/2015

Commissioner of the Human Rights Council of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), Dr Prathibha Mahanamahewam has now started to campaign for Human Rights in Sri Lanka. He was appointed by the former President Rajapaksa under the 18th amendment. Under Rajapaksa rule he was white washing all HR violations of the regime. He was aslo appointed as a director of the  Kothalawala Defence Academy, which was controlled by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Speaking to Sunday Leader he has said that ‘even the previous government carried out thorough investigations into complaints they received related to human rights violations.’

Further  he ha s said that 100 day programme promises to introduce the Right to Information and Witness and Victim Protection Bills which is conducive toward improving human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

He goes further and crtitisie the 100 days programme not having a HR approch.!

He says that ‘the HRCSL right now is that the100 day programme does not include a provision to establish a system to protect and promote human rights. He added that even in certain other countries like the USA, New Zealand, there have been promises during elections to implement programmes similar to the 100 day programme – but for that purpose there need to be a proper system and the HRCSL will intervene to establish that system. He also pointed out there are certain things that are not included in the 100 day programme that are important in terms of human rights such as the national inquiry into violations of human rights.’

“Any government is obliged to protect citizens and rights of the people. The major issue is protecting human rights which need to be strengthened in our country,” he has said.

HRCSL which  never  said a word on the estrictions brought upon some NGO and civil society activities through the NGO Secretariat circular, now wants it to be withdrawn.   “Last week we had a meeting with civil society activists. Their first request was to look into this circular which is hampering their freedom of speech. We have given lot of consideration to that request and we expect to inquire the relevant parties and give our recommendations to withdraw the circular,” Mahanamahewa  has  added.

Futher more he wanted to change the  Prevention of Terrorism Act as well: “We have to make sure that international human rights and humanitarian laws are protected in the PTA. I think it is the time for us to see the amendments to PTA Act where there is a need to look into security laws to fall in line with the standards of the Intentional Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”

Mr. Mahanama even wanted to l put pressure on the new government to protect and promote human rights.

The question is why he was not so vocal under Rajapaksa regime?

Read the Sunday Leader article here

The Juridification of Peace and the Integrity of the Judiciary

by Ruwantissa Abeyratne

…For justice are the grand natural lawyers, and perfect judges -it is in their Souls;
It is well assorted – they have not studied for nothing- the great includes the less;
They rule on the highest grounds – they oversee all eras, states, and administrations.

The perfect judge fears nothing – he [she] could go front to front before God;
Before the perfect judge all shall stand back – life and death shall stand back – heaven and hell shall stand back. – Walt Whitman

( January 31, 2015, Montreal, Sri Lanka Guardian) On 15 November 2011 I published an article in this journal entitled The Juridification of War and Compensation of Victims.  My article was based on “Inter arma enim silent leges” –  a maxim attributed to Cicero, which translates as “in times of war, the laws are silent”. In the 21st century, this maxim, which was purported to address the growing mob violence and thuggery of Cicero’s time, has taken on a different and a more complex dimension, extending from the idealistic synergy between the executive and the judiciary in instances of civil strife, to the overall power, called “prerogative” or “discretion” of the sovereign, to act for the public good and the role of the judiciary as the guardian of the rule of law.

Today, my question is “Inter Pace Silent Leges” – are the laws silent in  times of peace?  This  would all depend on the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

“Peace” referred to hear is not just the absence of war.  It is  freedom from disturbance;  a state of quiet and tranquility.  There could not be lasting peace without justice.

In February 2014 the United Nations released a press statement stating that  Secretary General Ban Ki -moon had announced: “the rule of law was at the heart of the work of the United Nations”, adding that when public institutions failed to deliver justice or protect rights, conflict prevailed.  “People must be able to trust that their institutions can resolve disputes promptly and fairly,” he emphasized.  At the international level, adherence to the rule of law was critical for preventing conflict and resolving disputes peacefully.  The United Nations provided wide-ranging rule-of-law support to Governments, he said, explaining that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had been designated the global focal point for police, justice and corrections.  That arrangement had already helped efforts in Mali, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti.

 On 23 August 2004, the then Secretary General of the United Nations released a report entitled  The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies  where he said: “Justice, peace and democracy are not mutually exclusive objectives, but rather mutually reinforcing imperatives. Advancing all three in fragile post-conflict settings requires strategic planning, careful integration and sensible sequencing of activities. Approaches focusing only on one or another institution, or ignoring civil society or victims, will not be effective…”

The bedrock of these three elements – justice; peace; and democracy is the integrity of the judiciary.  In 2001 the United Nations Office of Drug Control and Crime  Prevention issued a report which said that judicial corruption was a development issue: ” Judicial corruption appears to be a global problem. It is not restricted to a specific country or region. Yet manifestations of corruption seem to be at their worst in developing countries and countries in transition. According to the Geneva-based Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, of the 48 countries covered in its annual report for 1999, judicial corruption waspervasive in 30 countries”.

There are countries that have issued advisory guidelines on proper judicial conduct.  For example Jamaica, in its principles of judicial conduct (particularly applicable to the appeal courts and Supreme Court) states: “An independent judiciary is indispensable to impartial justice under law. Judges should therefore strive to uphold and exemplify judicial independence in both its individual and institutional aspects”.  The Canadian Judicial Council, in its exhaustive document “Ethical Principles for Judges”  provides that judges should devote their professional activity to judicial duties broadly defined, which include not only presiding in court and making decisions, but other judicial tasks essential to the court’s operation: “Judges should not engage in conduct incompatible with the diligent discharge of judicial duties or condone such conduct in colleagues”.

Jeffrey M. Shaman, Director of the Center for Judicial Conduct of Canada , in his article “Judicial Ethics” indicates the power of judges in society: “Judges are important public officials whose authority reaches every corner of society. Judges resolve disputes between people, and interpret and apply the law by which we live. Through that process, they define our rights and responsibilities, determine the distribution of vast amounts of public and private resources, and direct the actions of officials in other branches of government”.

Independence and objectivity are the hallmark of an honourable judge.  Judge Learned Hand eloquently identified the centrality of judges to the administration of justice in his decision in Brown v. Walter: : “Justice does not depend upon legal dialectics so much as upon the atmosphere of the courtroom, and that in the end depends primarily upon the judge”.   The future of individuals and society as well as the life of persons are within the power of a judge. Such a power brings to bear the need for  ethical standards of conduct that the ordinary citizen is not required to meet.

The Judicial Code of Kenya prescribes numerous penal sanctions for unethical judicial behaviour.  Starting from the most severe of punishment the order is: dismissal; reduction in rank or seniority(demotion); stoppage of increment in rank; withholding of increment; deferment of increment; reprimand (including severe reprimand) ; no recovery of the cost of any or part of the cost of any loss or damage caused by default or negligence.

Integrity of the judiciary hinges upon probity, fairness, honesty, uprightness, and soundness of character.  Joseph Addison said: ” The best law in our days is that which continues our judges during their good behaviour without leaving them to the mercy of such who might by an undue influence trouble and pervert the course of justice. William Rufus said “whosoever spares perjured men, robbers, plunderers, and traitors, deprives all good men of their peace and quietness”.   Francis Bacon went along similar lines: ” A king that setteth to sale seats of justice oppresseth the people; for he teacheth his judges to sell justice; and “pretio parata pretio venditur justitia” (the sale price of the bribes is justice).  Judges ought to remember that their office is “jus dicere,” and not “jus dare”; to interpret law, and not to make law, or give law.

 The author is  former senior counsel and Chairman, Joint Appeals Board at the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Indian, US Main Course, With A Side Order Of Sri Lanka

By Mano Ratwatte -January 31, 2015 

Mano Ratwatte

I am not an expert nor professionally trained to a foreign policy analyst. What I love to do is follow international affairs. I started to do this as a child growing up in Sri Lanka where we had access to printed media from all corners of the world. There was no TV back then. Hence what I share here are not views of a self proclaimed expert of any sort, but my interpretations of what I have seen and also experienced. Because of the long winded nature of this opinion column I would split it into two parts.

Part I

US – India

Everyone is talking about the hug Obama gave Modi. Body language is important in global relations. Remember how Angela Merkel cringed in disgust when George W Bush gave her a shoulder rub at the G8? International political watchers give a lot of credence (more than to Astrology) to body language when powerful leaders meet. It is an open secret that the Obama regime and Netanyahu’s rightwing Israeli regime do not have any body language and warmth when they meet. Theirs is one of irritability and “we are saddled with each other”. Modi’s hug was followed shortly with a joint communiqué on a “strategic vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region”.

This importance was symbolized when for the first time in modern Indian history, a US President attended their Republic day parade where India (ironically there are 600 million people without toilet facilities, a massively sub-literate, caste ridden unemancipated population and abysmal poverty in this nation with nuclear weapons) displayed its first-world military prowess even prompting a silly “thumbs up” by President Obama.

Read More