Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the two most powerful leaders in the world today, have agreed in principle to work together to tackle international terrorism and extremism. The two of them had spoken for the first time on the telephone since Donald Trump won the election.
He will be inaugurated as president on 20 January next year.
Kremlin has added that they will work towards "constructive co-operation" to improve "the extremely unsatisfactory state of Russian-US relations at present".
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 15 November 2016.

Moscow has indicated that the pair will continue contact by phone and that they are working towards meeting in person. Relations between President Barack Obama and President Vladimir Putin had become strained over a number of issues including the Syrian war, where the countries back different sides.
In addition, there had also been tension over the Ukraine conflict, apart from allegations of Russian cyber-attacks in the just concluded election campaign.
It seems the two leaders had discussed a range of issues including the threats and challenges facing the United States and Russia, strategic economic issues and the historical US-Russia relationship. The basic intention is to bring back Russian and American relations to a stable path of development.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Theme for this year's Dasara is terrorism - effigy of Ravana will depict that

Burning effigies of Ravana during Dasara is a ritual that signifies victory of Good over Evil and, this year, the theme appears to be terrorism. Every year, Ravana effigy makers introduce new features and create something new to make their Ravanas look more interesting to suit the demands of customers.
Given the prevailing situation between India and Pakistan, these Ravana makers have been asked by their customers to make effigies with messages like "aatankvad mitao" (remove terrorism) painted across.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 11 October 2016.

Another innovation on the anvil is to have Ravana wearing a dhoti.
And - many customers demand Ravana with moustaches as long as 18ft. As an artisan has said - people harte to keep mustache but want their Ravana to have a huge one.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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China wants to fight terrorism in Xinjiang with entertainment, singing and dancing

Xinjiang in the western region of China is violence prone and, in order to fight terrorism, China has plans to make use of various forms of entertainment to educate the people and try to rein in the elements who carry out such activities. The broad plan is to hold ultural activities involving singing and dancing with the purpose of spreading its law-enforcement messages.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 25 February 2016.

Xinjiang is a resource rich area and, hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in the strategically located areas on the borders of central Asia - the reason is violence between the Muslim Uighur people who call the region their home and the ethnic majority Han Chinese. The government denies any repression in the region.
AS per the plans, the government would start a new round of public education activities in order to spread knowledge about China`s new counter-terrorism law that has been passed last year. This would help to improve peace in the the region and bring stability. Law enforcers and lawyers would hold public talks and there will also be cultural propaganda activities to delight the masses, and let them be educated through entertainment.
While details are not disclosed, such events usually involve song and dance routines and comedic skits.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Terrorism has scared tourists away from traditional destinations like Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey and are, instead being offered alternate spots in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka by tour operators. Some holiday giants are offering savings of more than £800 on sunshine breaks in a fierce new price war.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 25 December 2015.

The post-Christmas period is crucial for sales and big name firms including Thomson and Thomas Cook are vying for early bookings because tourism has suffered due to attacks and British families are not keen to go to Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey following the terror attacks. Tour operators are, therefore, pushing alternative long-haul destinations like Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka.
Apart from money-off deals, Thomson and sister brand First Choice are offering thousands of free child places and low-deposit bookings. An example is their ‘Sunshine Super Saver’ - this includes savings of £860 per couple for a Thomson Sensatori holiday to Mexico. A 14 nights at a five-star resort next May in Mexico would come to £2,934.
The lowest-priced destination outside of Europe is the Florida theme-park capital of Orlando - there, a week’s holiday including meals is just £692 per person.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Defense Minister Parrikar on narrow eyed Ganesha idols Made in China

Manohar Parrikar, a graduate from IIT and ex-Chief Minister of Goa has suddenly realized that idols of Lord Ganesha that are made in China and flow into India during the festive season have eyes that are narrower than what we Indians believe.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 4 June 2015.

His remarks on the slit-eyed Ganesha was made during his address in a seminar on "Design and Make in India (Electronics)", organized by Vivekananda International Foundation.
He stressed on the thrust of the Modi government's 'Make in India' policy and commented that India would have to kick off the Make in India program right from Diwali gifts to our own gods.
He must also realize that any foreign entity that joins the Make in India would be having an eye in making profit – the location of their operation is immaterial. Therefore, expecting China to change their moulds to produce large-eyed Ganeshas instead of the narrow-eyed ones, as at present, overnight would be stretching things a bit too far.
It may be recalled that Parrikar has already made several remarks on different subjects like terrorism and Pakistan, and Somali pirates that have ruffled feathers and have embarrassed the government. He holds an important portfolio and must weigh his words carefully. Moreover, it has been observed that he, at times, turns up at solemn military functions in half-tucked shirts and floaters.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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#ISIS #jihadist #tonyabbott #sydney #terrorism Australia is tackling the threat of ISIS in a different way. It is preventing would-be jihadists from leaving the country and feels it is a better method to fight terrorism. Its anti-terrorism cell has succeeded in preventing 230 suspected jihadis from departing Australian airports for the Middle East this month. Three of them were teenage boys.
These two boys were from Sydney and were intercepted at Sydney International Airport on March 8 as they attempted to board a flight for Turkey without their parents' knowledge. The boys have, since, been handed over to their parents. This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 25 March 2015.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed that his government was investing more on border security and on countering extremism. In his opinion - it is absolutely critical that the people appreciate that the death cult of ISIS is reaching out to vulnerable and impressionable young people. And in order to check this, prevention is better than cure.
Incidentally, there are media reports that the Islamic State group had posted on a social media website a step-by-step guide to help would-be jihadis leave Australia and fight with the terror group. The guide apparently offers advice on how to use an Islamic State support network and slip through security cracks.

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Terrorism not involved in the mystery tunnel near York University in Toronto

#YorkUniversity #Toronto #PanAmGames #MysteryTunnel #CanadianOpen It was a 10-meter long tunnel, built with sophistication, near a sports center of York University in Toronto and the police are baffled at its discovery by a conservation officer as reported in news.sky.com dated 2 March 2015.
The discovery of the tunnel approximately 10-feet under the ground was made on 14 January and the area is in a secluded forest.
The tunnel was more than six feet high and three feet wide, and in the opinion of the police, it was dug entirely by hand using a pulley system. The tunnel has plywood wall supports, a gas generator, moisture-resistant light bulbs, a sump pump to remove groundwater and containers of food and drink apart from rosary beads with a Remembrance Day poppy nailed to a wall.
Deputy Police Chief Mark Saunders feels the tunnel was meant for use only the winter.
Since the location of the tunnel was very near the fence of a complex which would be hosting the Canadian Open tennis tournament and various parts of the Pan-American Games in the summer, there were fears that the ones who had dug the tunnel could have had terrorism on their minds. But, that theory has been scrapped because the two men who had built the tunnel have been identified and the police are convinced that there is no threat to the public or any ulterior motive behind it.

Cuba could soon become a favored tourist destination for Americans

#Havana #Cuba #RaulCastro #BarackObama #tourists With the thaw in relationship between the old Cold War foes US and Cuba, progress is visible following a second round of discussions to end a half-century diplomatic freeze as reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 1 March 2015.
President Barack Obama and his counterpart Raul Castro have promised to restore embassies in each other’s capitals. Some hurdles still remain, including the one of Cuba’s place on the US blacklist of state sponsor of terrorism.
Anyway, the rural communities of Cuba could real benefits from an influx of American tourists because, the fresh relations between the two governments could provide a boost to allow the isolated communities to look for new economic opportunities once the US fully lifts its ban on trade and travel. Havana, the capital of Cuba, was seen as a party destination for Americans years ago due to its close proximity to Florida.
It is in the villages where visitors can experience a side of the Caribbean island that few holidaymakers bother to see. In the villages, the number of cars is less, the farm workers harvest tomatoes by hand, and the farmers sell their produce and meat at roadside stands. Goods are transported by horse and buggy or tractor.
Of course, life in 'the real Cuba' and talks between US and Cuban officials continue with an eye to restore full diplomatic relations and, ultimately, move towards opening trade.

Paris to send more guards to Jewish institutions to fight terrorism

#CharlieHebdo #Hollande #terrorism #gendarmes It appears to be a case of locking the stable after the horses have fled and, that is what France is planning to do after the terror attack in Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. France would deploy 10,000 troops around the country in order to augment security would be dispatching nearly 5,000 police to protect Jewish sites.
It is, simultaneously, stepping the search for an individual who is believed to be an accomplice to the attackers who killed 17 people last week.
The defense minister of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has indicated that the deployment was of troops who would guard potentially vulnerable locations. He made these comments after a national security crisis meeting.
The deployment would be of 700 police officers at the 717 Jewish schools across the country apart from nearly 4,100 gendarmes. It may be recalled that four captives had been killed in the hostage-taking at a Jewish supermarket in Paris.
The French president, François Hollande who chaired the national security crisis meeting, including prime minister, Manuel Valls apart from the heads of police and the security services. It transpires that all efforts would be made to protect Jewish institutions. Parents of a Jewish school to the south of Paris have been assured of soldiers that would be posted as reinforcements.