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ON December 6, 2019, the President of India Ram Nath Kovind while addressing the National Convention on Empowerment of Women for Social Transformation, stated that “Rape convicts under (the) POCSO Act (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) should not have the right to file (a) mercy petition”. In all probability, this statement came in the backdrop of the public outrage against the recent cases of rape and murder that have again shaken the collective conscience of the country and re-awakened the wound of the Nirbhaya rape. India witnessed two grave atrocities against women within a period of one week – the Hyderabad and the Unnao rape cases, where both brutalities ended with the victims being charred to death by the alleged culprits.

As Soon as the scale of Labour’s shattering defeat began to emerge on December 12 night, pundits began to push the line that this was not just about Brexit but about Jeremy Corbyn, and more broadly the Labour Party’s significant shift towards socialism under his leadership.

It is rare for well-meaning outsiders to tell India what it stands for. But this is what has been happening for some time.

Any region that has been protesting from the very beginning against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, which is now an act, is the north-east region — mainly Assam, Tripura and Shillong in Meghalaya. Already, 4 have died in the Assam protests while in Tripura, there is an uneasy peace. In Assam, the situation is still tensed as the suspension of internet services in 10 districts of the Brahmaputra valley continues. Unlike the criticisms of the secular liberals and Leftists intellectuals and the late organised protests of West Bengal or Delhi against the new act by giving it a “communal” spin, the protests of the north-east are aimed to save their own indigenous culture, literature and language.

India’s fuel refining and marketing business, largely controlled by public sector enterprises, faces a big shake up following the government policy to induce foreign oil companies to invest big in refining and retail. Among those global giants keen to set up facilities in India are Saudi Aramco, the world’s second largest oil and gas company after China’s Sinopec, Total SA of France, BP Plc of UK, Exxon Mobil of the US and Singapore-based Trafigura’s downstream arm Puma Energy. Total SA in partnership with Adani Group has applied for a licence to retail petrol and diesel through 1,500 outlets. BP has formed a partnership with Reliance Industries to set up petrol pumps.

Bengaluru: Mumbai City showed great character and a steely resolve as they ended Bengaluru unbeaten start to the season with a spectacular 3-2 win in the Hero Indian Super League clash at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday.

New Delhi: ‘Cricket Country: The Untold History of the First All India Team Cricket’ by Prashant Kidambi. Published by Penguin Viking, was declared Sports Book of the Year at the end of the two day Ekamra Sports Literature Festival here on Sunday.

New Delhi: An exciting double-header is on the cards as teams will battle it out to decide the semi-final lineup of the Big Bout Indian Boxing League at the IG Indoor Stadium here on Monday.

Kolkata: Sri Lankan Mithun Perera put up a resilient display to come through in a thriller in the final round and lift the trophy at the inaugural ICC Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) Open Championship here on Sunday.

Kalyani: Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan will look to turn the tide against Gokulam Kerala FC (GKFC), a side they have not beaten in five previous encounters, as they are slated to host them in Monday’s second 13th Hero I-League game on December 16, 2019, at the Kalyani Municipality Stadium in West Bengal.