January 20, 2020
This would have important regional repercussions
The Taliban had cut Kabul out from any talks. Mr Trump offered this as his
reason for backing out.. The US was cool to the election idea because it was in
dalliance with the extremists. However, if they can overcome their differences
and forge political unity, they can be a potential counterweight to the Taliban.
From the Taliban end, the nine rounds of secret peace talks held in Qatar for
nearly a year didn’t at all look China
Hanging vacuum bags like readying the country for peace. This is because it
avoided playing a political hand in deference to the US wish to do nothing that
might displease Islamabad. This would have been to formally conclude an
agreement, and get Mr Ghani to endorse it — against his own wishes and the
wishes of most Afghans. This is the crucial difference between the Taliban or
Pakistan era, and present-day Afghanistan. Bomb blasts and complex assaults by
the Taliban inside Afghanistan were the order of the day for the past two
years.Just days before the projected signing, the Taliban took credit for two
massive car bomb attacks in Kabul.
This placed it on the same side as the
Taliban and Pakistan.The US-Taliban deal is off for now, but the Americans can
backtrack. The Taliban saw no need to win hearts and minds. He also revealed
that secret preparations were on to separately host Taliban leaders and Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani at Camp David near Washington this week. If Washington
now gives whole-hearted backing to holding the Afghan presidential election due
later this month, a new domestic Afghan dynamic in favour of republicanism can
be rekindled.It was evident for some time that the US wanted to exit Afghanistan
for domestic reasons, leaving behind a skeletal counter-terrorism force.It was
evident for some time that the US wanted to exit Afghanistan for domestic
reasons, leaving behind a skeletal counter-terrorism force.Yet, the Trump
administration had gone along, doing peace talks in secret, for which the
foundation was laid during the Obama administration. It regards as an American
"puppet†any government in Afghanistan brought into being through an election
process under the country’s post-Taliban constitution and given sanction by the
Constitution Jirga. Many across the world, other than Pakistan, the Taliban’s
Arab backers and Pakistan’s "iron friend†China, will breathe a sigh of relief.
It was clear the Taliban will fill the vacuum as the Americans retreat.
This
would have important regional repercussions. An American soldier was
killed.India enjoys tremendous goodwill in Afghanistan, but has little
leverage.On the other side were different factions of Afghanistan’s political
elite, most of whom — in desperation — were trying to reach an accommodation
with the Taliban or the Americans. It’s time this changed and New Delhi made its
stand clear — like Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, Ankara and Islamabad do. They want a
return to their lost Islamic emirate, not an Islamic republic. US President
Donald Trump (Photo: AP) At the last minute, US President Donald Trump has
pulled out of a deal with the Taliban
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January 14, 2020
The combination of the two would alter kal yuga to satya yuga
Author Para H’s Adrift makes for an interesting read due to its gripping storylines and its narrative. Author Para H — or Paramasiviah Harshavardhana — is actually a shortened form of spiritual leader Swami Paramahansa Yogananda’s names, whom he follows. Inspired by the materialism of the West and spiritualism of the East, Para H confronts the contrasting worlds with an intriguing concept.In Adrift, the author writes about a catastrophic seismological event that causes a massive chunk of Southern California to break away and float into the Pacific Ocean.More than 10 million Americans struggle for survival and can sink any minute.Travel Vacuum Space Bag
The protagonist Kate, a spirited young woman, takes charge with father Duncan, to quell the growing panic on board.The island speeds away from the USA at breakneck speed and just when they are close to crashing into the Chinese mainland, the island again changes course.Will Kate and Duncan succeed in saving the masses and where do they all end up?Adrift is a thriller that travels into the realm of science fiction and also reflects the growing acceptance of interracial romance.Author Para H — or Paramasiviah Harshavardhana — is actually a shortened form of spiritual leader Swami Paramahansa Yogananda’s names, whom he follows. The book is the author’s "humble way of paying respect to himâ€.Coming back to the book, it makes for an interesting read largely because of its unique storyline, constantly developing narrative and in-depth technical and seismological knowledge to make the physical reshaping of the world, believable.The writing is also crisp and visual and seems like the perfect storyline for a 20th Century Fox film with booming Dolby soundtrack — the description of a massive land mass breaking and drifting away rapidly with all the advanced technologies in the world failing, grips the imagination.Adrift by Para H, Published by Zorba Books, Pp.232, Rs 224.But unlike a science fiction film, this adventure thriller probes the deeper questions of life – such as what does Indian philosophy have to do with the Americans’ struggle for survival?The title is also layered and is a reflection of the author’s observation of the world.Speaking about the symbolism in his book, the former graduate of IIT Madras and the President and CEO of TransCloud Networks in the US, said: "My personal view is that most people in world, in every culture, have lost their mooring. We are floating aimlessly in the ocean- adrift in some way."No wonder how accomplished or grounded you are, people are missing the deep feeling of well being from the inside. The title is a metaphor of the mind of everyone today.â€For Mr Harshavardhana, 62, who has a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, having grown up in India and lived in the US for a few decades, made him wonder what would happen if the two contrasting worlds collided.He said: "I just wanted to highlight the possibility that if such a thing happened, it could mean a significant change for the world."For example Southern California is the most advanced place on earth technologically. If you break it off, it will probably still rank in the top 10 in its industrial, economic and defence strengths."Imagine combine that with the best of spirituality.
The combination of the two would alter kal yuga to satya yuga – the more advanced stage of life that our scriptures have foretold.â€But what does Indian philosophy have to do with American survival?"The main reason for writing the book was that I find a big vacuum in the West. The emphasis is far more on excelling and advancing materially."On the other hand, the East has degenerated over the last couple of thousand of years and they need a Western ‘can do’ attitude to change society and improve things for the better."I view religion as a tool for human to seek God. It can give people faith and hope that what is protecting them and driving them is a force, that is much larger than the material.
As the Gita says: ‘Just do your duty and don’t worry about consequences’.â€As with his personal take on spirituality, the inspiration for his characters were also drawn close to home.Certain characteristics in Kate, for instance, is loosely based on his wife, Shaku, who works as assistant vice president of cyber security portfolio at a research establishment in Maryland.He said: "I did not start out that way but at every significant step I kept thinking what Shaku would do. She tends to take bull by its horns and only after completing the book that I realised she had been my inspiration all along.â€Similarly, other characters are drawn around his classmates from IIT Madras. Hari Sharma, involved in an interracial relationship, has a sharp intellect and is capable of extracting the best of the east and the west and he is a reflection of several of his classmates, all of whom are acknowledged in the book.
The book, which was published last month, ends interestingly with scope for it to be taken forward. So is there another book in the pipeline?Mr Harshavardhana added: "If the response is encouraging then yes. I have already thought of how I could move the story forward.â€So if you are up for a thrilling adventure with a dose of spirituality, the book is recommended.
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January 06, 2020
He also made a tasteless jibe at her expense
I called him and yelled at him. She would send me gifts on Valentine’s Day,
sketch portraits of me. When asked what product her former beau should endorse,
she promptly said, "condoms†(seen as a sly reference to his Casanova image) and
when she was quizzed about one question she’d like to pose to Katrina Kaif (who
was by then seeing Ranbir), Deepika had responded with, "Can I see your passport
†While many at the time took that to be a dig at Katrina’s age or at possible
visa troubles, it was later made clear that Deepika had actually asked the
question in the context of reports that Katrina visited Ranbir in the US while
he was shooting there for Anjaana-Anjaani. I would stay up the whole night,
counting numbers backwards, just to get through the hours. It’s important that
we don’t immediately block all the channels of communication unless of course
the person gets nasty and abusive,†she explained. He doesn’t want to hurt
anybody, so why hurt his wife †But several years down the line, she changed her
comments somewhat. Seeking the spotlight Few celebrity "exes†have received the
kind of attention that Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan have.
In an episode of
Rendevouz with Simi Garewal, Rekha once again spoke about her feelings for
Amitabh — although this time she claimed it had been an entirely one-sided
devotion, and no more or less than the devotion of millions of the Big B’s fans.
Extreme reactionsWhile some exes choose to go the self-destructive route when a
relationship ends (think Sanjay Dutt whose addiction issues escalated after then
girlfriend Tina Munim left him for Rajesh Khanna), others vilify their former
partners. Deepika Padukone too had a couple of catty missteps, both on a talk
show, and both times with respect to her former flame Ranbir Kapoor. Om Puri may
be among Indian cinema’s most gifted actors, but his highly acrimonious
break-ups with both his first and second wives — Seema Kapoor and Nandita Puri,
respectively — did not show him in the best possible light.
A lot of people
can’t deal with the trauma of breaking up and one needs wisdom and maturity to
deal with such issues. He created a ruckus on the sets of Ash’s films Kuch Hanging
vacuum storage bag Na Kaho and Chalte Chalte; by September 2002, the actress
said in an interview with a leading daily, "Salman and I broke up last March,
but he isn’t able to come to terms with it. His much publicised relationship and
subsequent split with Aishwarya Rai was attended by allegations of abuse,
harassment, and even a police complaint.What happens when a relationship ends,
but one half of the couple isn’t able to move on Celebrity relationships are
rife with examples of exes who’ve behaved in the worst possible ways Rumours of
an affair between Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan have persisted for years.â€.
Later
on, when you have gained some wisdom, you realise it was all for a good reason.
Sanjay Khan-Zeenat Aman put bad behaviour by exes in another league altogether.
Karthik Aryan (of Pyaar Ka Punchnama fame) recounted how a family friend wanted
to be in a relationship with him. While rumours of an affair between the duo
were fanned by their hit pairing in films like Do Anjaane, Ganga Ki Saugandh and
reached a crescendo by the time they acted together in Silsila (the love
triangle also featured Jaya Bachchan, in a case of reel life imitating real
life), the after-effects have persisted for years. What was undeniable, however,
was how uncomfortable he made Katrina when she appeared on an episode of his
reality show Bigg Boss. While Amitabh Bachchan has not publicly addressed the
reports of the "affairâ€, Rekha has alluded to it on a couple of occasions. But
it all unravelled in an ugly fashion — with Sanjay physically attacking Zeenat
in the lobby of a hotel. Indeed, literature and the arts, high culture and pop
culture have made the idea of the forlorn, lovelorn ex — hanging onto fragments
of their past relationship, trying desperately to woo back their former partner
— seem like the romantic ideal. She was the one who liked me.
Relationship
expert Dr Seema Hingorrany has seen many cases where an ex is unable to move on,
and makes things uncomfortable for their former partner. Seeking closure in a
relationship is therefore very important before moving on. How do you keep from
descending into becoming an object of pity or ridicule Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal
offers his own story: "I was deeply in love with a girl, my former girlfriend.
Their love story is said to have blossomed between 1997-99, with the
relationship firmly established by their Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam days. Adele made
millions with her songs of broken love, of not getting over an ex who left her
heartbroken — think of Someone Like You. Sanjay was married to Zarine Khan when
he and Zeenat began a much-talked-about relationship; in fact, reports at the
time even stated that the duo had tied the knot.
I told him to do no such thing
and maintain a dignified silence if that is possible,†Katrina had said in an
interview, about the incident. But are they really What happens when an ex
simply refuses to let go What happens to the other partner, who wants very much
to move on Unfortunately, many celebrities do not quite set the right example
when it comes to dealing with a broken relationship with dignity. After some
time, I met the love of my life, who I am with now. Which is why we are still
able to be friends. "(My) relationship with Salman was true.. The incident was
reported to the police, reportedly by her father Krishnaraj Rai. After the
Asin-Neil Nitin Mukesh relationship ended, Neil referred to his ex by saying,
"Taking her name is ‘a sin’â€.
We were friends and I made it clear that I didn’t
want it to progress beyond that. Our ideas of life were very different. "There
is going to be a vacuum after the break-up, the choice is yours how deal with
it. Life is great and one should always wish (one’s exes) well and move forward.
At a recent awards night, social media users pointed to Rekha’s strange way of
pulling in Jaya Bachchan for a hug when Amitabh’s name was announced as one of
the winners in the Best Actor category.Moving onto another partner isn’t exactly
the best course of action after splitting from an ex either.†Of course,
break-ups are tough, and even the most emotionally balanced among us can find
the terrain difficult to navigate. After some time it got so awkward that I had
to let go of the friendship too. There was a report that he hit Katrina on the
sets of Ek Tha Tiger, but it was an incident both sides vehemently denied. If
you immediately jump into other relationship, there are chances of being caught
in a bad loop,†cautioned life coach and psychotherapist Khyati Birla.â€Katrina,
on her part, has always put up a dignified front. From the otherwise
ever-so-dignified Rekha, to the uber macho Salman Khan, from a young star like
Deepika Padukone to veterans like Om Puri and Sanjay Khan-Zeenat Aman, many are
the instances where celebrity exes have provided a guidebook of "how not to
behave when a relationship has endedâ€.
I will apologise to the media’. In
November of that year, the incident where an enraged Salman banged on the doors
of Ash’s apartment in Mumbai, until his fists bled, occurred. Even our families
got involved in it. Others have approached her about an abusive ex who has
angered them so much that they were pushed to retaliate in kind.. I didn’t want
our family ties to suffer.†She added, "After we broke up, he would call me and
talk rubbish. On the receiving endWhile badly behaved exes certainly get a lot
of attention for their antics, less is usually known about the state of mind of
the individual who is on the receiving end. I felt so bad that I couldn’t
reciprocate.â€
And added, "She was of no use to me also. In a 1984 interview to a
top film magazine, referring perhaps to why the relationship had not worked out,
she had said, "Why should he have not done it He did it to protect his image,
his family, and his children. When she broke up with me, I went through the most
harrowing time I could not sleep, lost all focus, made calls to her at odd hours
You become vulnerable and needy and lose perspective.â€By the time his next
high-profile break-up came around — with Katrina Kaif — Salman seemed to have
sobered down somewhat.
Repeat offenderSalman Khan may be among the most powerful
stars in Bollywood, but when it comes to break-ups, he doesn’t have the best
track record.She recounted a case of a girl who came to her for help,
disturbed by her ex’s penchant for bumping into her at parties and later sending
her texts pulling her down. In the time since, Deepika has proven herself wiser
and avoided making similar faux pas. Even today, when Rekha and the Bachchans
are together at an awards ceremony, it makes big news. He said, ‘Okay, sorry.
He
also made a tasteless jibe at her expense when he appeared on Comedy Nights With
Kapil: On spotting a box of crackers with Katrina’s picture on the cover (it was
a Diwali special), Salman quipped to Kapil Sharma, "What purpose does it serve
to have her picture around She is of no use to you. Shrink speakWhile bad
behaviour by celebrity exes grabs the limelight, such actions and attitudes
aren’t restricted to them. But by 2001, trouble was brewing. In bad tasteIn some
cases, B-town stars have simply shown bad taste in talking about their exes. And
I would go to work as if nothing had happened. I can do that, it is the sort of
equation we have. He also suspected me of having affairs with my co-stars There
were times when Salman got physical with me, luckily without leaving any marks.
During times like these, it becomes very important to sit and converse like
mature individuals and come to a mutual consensus.
She still bears the scars of
the assault. What happens when a relationship ends, but one half of the couple
isn’t able to move on Celebrity relationships are rife with examples of exes
who’ve behaved in the worst possible waysMany are the artistes who’ve made a
livelihood out of selling their tales of romance gone awry, and of not being
able to move on after it. But he lives in a parallel universe, always making
these jokes about me publicly, which get the media really kicked. Salman’s
behaviour spiralled further out of control. Memories are immortal and that’s
what counts. Why should the public know of my love for him or his love for me I
love him and he loves me — that’s it! Mr Bachchan is still old-fashioned. Like
the comment he made on Kapil’s show when he saw my pictures on a set of crackers
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