Year: 2015

Geneva on alert as cops step up Paris attack probe

GENEVA (TIP): Geneva police were “actively searching” on Dec 10 for suspects in connection with a probe into the Paris attacks, and authorities raised the security alert level in the city and surrounding region, Swiss security officials said.

With much of Europe on heightened alert in recent weeks, Swiss national authorities had flagged “suspicious individuals who could be in Geneva or the Geneva region” to the city’s authorities on Wednesday, a statement from the Geneva security department said. It didn’t specify how many people were being sought or provide their identities.

The November 13 attacks on Paris, claimed by the Islamic State group, left 130 people dead and hundreds of others wounded.

Salah Abdeslam, a fugitive suspected in the deadly attacks in Paris, is still at large. Several arrests were made in Belgium following the attacks. One Swiss police official, speaking on condition of anonymity said that Abdeslam wasn’t among those being sought. Police were working with international and national authorities to locate the suspects they believe to be in the Geneva region, officials said. “We have gone from a vague threat to a specific one,” Emmanuelle Lo Verso, a spokeswoman for the security department, said. (AFP)

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:29 am EST
North, South Korea hold high-level talks meant to ease animosity

SEOUL (TIP): North and South Korea on Friday held high-level talks at a North Korean border town, a small step meant to improve ties battered by a military standoff in August and decades of acrimony and bloodshed.

No major breakthrough was expected at the meeting of vice-ministerial officials in Kaesong, but analysts see even these relatively low-level talks as meaningful because they seek to carry out previously agreed reconciliation efforts —something the rivals have often failed to do in the past.

South Korean officials want to discuss more reunions between aging family members separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Analysts have said cash-strapped North Korea might seek the South’s commitment to restart joint tours to its scenic Diamond Mountain resort, which were suspended by Seoul in 2008 following the shooting death of a South Korean tourist there by a North Korean soldier. (AP)

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:29 am EST
SHEENA BORA CASE – Indrani Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea did massive money laundering: CBDT report

NEW DELHI (TIP): Another turn in the Sheena Bora murder as misappropriation of funds & money laundering comes up in a report published by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

The report alleges Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukerjea of money laundering under their now defunct company INX Media.

According to The Hindu, a report sent by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (a copy of which is with The Hindu), says the Mukerjeas laundered foreign funds into INX Media via dubious investment firms based in Port Louis, Mauritius. The infusion of huge share capital at a substantial premium was funneled into eight subsidiary companies between 2007 and 2008, according to income tax documents and files in possession of The Hindu. Of the eight firms, six received unsecured loans and two received share capital at a substantial premium. One of them received suspect foreign funding, while the remaining seven received suspect domestic funding, documents show.

The new report is not part of various investigations into the Sheena Bora murder case, but constitutes a tax history of the group as documented by the CBDT, New Delhi, since the company was set up in 2007.

Mukerjeas funneled crores from dubious companies

Taxmen found that conduit companies “did not even have any income of their own and lent money borrowed from others, which raised doubts.” A background check on New Vernon showed it to be a principal investment firm ‘specializing’ in investments in India. The firm was formerly known as New Vernon Capital LLC, founded in 2004. Various financial portals have no record of its key executives or data on its board. Dunearn claims to be a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings but has no publicly available records.

According to a statement by NSR, “New Silk Route’s fund invested in INX Media in 2007 and 2008, as a minority investor, along with a consortium of other well-known institutional investors. NSR’s limited partners (investors) are primarily global institutions, and all are overseas.”

Assessment order

An assessment order, accessed by The Hindu, was passed against INX Media under Section 68 of the IT Act, 1961, asking it to “identify the source, prove credit worthiness and genuineness of the transactions.” The matter then went into arbitration as the group contested the order passed by the Assessment Officer (AO). “The AO clearly treated the source of the transactions as ‘dubious’ and ‘unexplained’ since the company failed to provide any documents whatsoever on the credible sourcing of these funds,” said a reliable source. “It clearly established several dubious entities, both domestic and foreign, infused substantial funds in the form of multi-layered investment.”

Domestically, the documents show INX News Limited, another subsidiary of the group, received premium of Rs. 81.84 crore and Rs. 29.15 crore (Rs. 111 crore) from IM Media and INX Media.

Three other transactions from IM Media, Indrani Incon and India Growth Fund pumped capital of Rs. 112.3 crore, Rs. 44.92 crore and Rs. 11.23 crore respectively at high premium. The same year, the report says, INX received an unsecured loan from former INX Media board member Manjula Rao to the tune of Rs. 41.4 crore and Rs. 156.01 crore, which were suspicious. “Manjula Rao invested over Rs. 250 crore in INX. The sources of these funds have not been investigated,” the report reads.

“I have nothing to do with INX, now or in the past. I am a professional, and in no way concerned with this company. These are manipulated records and files. The reports are doctored,” Ms. Rao told The Hindu.

Three months after the CBI took over the murder probe, it has made references to the Mukerjeas siphoning off nearly Rs. 900 crore out of INX Media.

The agency suspected that the couple illegally parked the money in an account in Singapore. Additional Solicitor-General Anil Singh has already claimed in court that the CBI is seeking details of financial transactions of the Mukerjeas from Interpol.

Meanwhile Peter Mukerjea’s counsel Mihir Gheewala and Kushal Mor countered the financial motive and said the CBI was turning the case around in this direction (financial dealings) to twist the case. “These facts are not part of the original remand. We are yet to look into it,” Mr. Gheewala told The Hindu.

A Timeline of events:

November 19, 2015: CBI arrests Peter Mukherjea along with filing charge sheets against Indrani, ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and Shyamvar Rai, the driver.

October 7, 2015: Indrani discharged from hospital, doctors confirmed drug overdose.

October 2, 2015: Indrani Mukherjea admitted in JJ Hospital after she allegedly overdosed on anti-epileptic pills.

September 19, 2015: Maharashtra announces the handover of the case to CBI.

September 9, 2015: Peter Mukherjea reveals to Khar police that Indrani often abused him.

September 7, 2015: Body of Sheena Bora found in Raigad forest.

September 5, 2015: The police custody extended again till September 7.

September 3, 2015: Indrani Mukherjea confessed her role in the murder.

September 1, 2015: Siddharth Das confessed that he is the biological father of Sheena and Mikhail Bora.

August 31, 2015: Fresh charges filed against Indrani attempting to kill her son. Police custody of the three accused extended till September 5, 2015.

August 30, 2015: The three arrested were taken to the crime scene in Raigad. The call records were also checked by the police.

August 29, 2015: Maharashtra Police has ordered a probe into why the Raigad Police did not register an Accidental Death Report (ADR) after they found a burnt corpse, suspected to be of Sheena Bora, in 2012.

August 28, 2015: Sanjeev Khanna confessed to his “complicity in the crime.” He had earlier said that, Sheena’s body was lying next to him in a car in which they were traveling together in Mumbai on April 24, 2012.

August 27, 2015: Sheena Shyam Rai, Indrani’s driver, confessed that he murdered Sheena and disposed of her body, on the direction of his employer Indrani Mukherjea.

August 27, 2015: Sanjeev Khanna, a Kolkata based businessman and ex-husband of Indrani Mukherjea was arrested from Kolkata.

August 26, 2015: Indrani opened up that Sheena was her daughter from a previous marriage and not sister as maintained.

August 21, 2015: Shyamvar Pinturam Rai is arrested following the seizure of a 7.63-bore pistol from him.

May 23, 2012: Police find a decomposed body after villagers at Gagode in Pen tehsil, Maharashtra, complain of foul odor.

April 24, 2012: Sheena Bora takes a leave of absence from work at Mumbai Metro. On the same day she sends a resignation letter to her employer. She is not heard from again. No missing complaint is ever lodged by any family member.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:22 am EST
Dawood Ibrahim’s Mumbai restaurant sold

MUMBAI (TIP): A former journalist & social worker S Balakrishnan bought underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s Mumbai restaurant for Rupees 4.28 crores in an auction of the property on December 9.

The government auctioned the restaurant “Delhi Zaika” which was owned by India’s “most wanted man” Dawood Ibrahim in Mumbai on Wednesday, December 9. The restaurant was one of the seven properties of Ibrahim that was put for auction.

S Balakrishnan, who bought the restaurant, wants to make it an education centre for the poor.

Ibrahim is a fugitive in India and has been charged with masterminding the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings.

Some 257 people died and more than 700 others were wounded in the attacks.

India alleges that Ibrahim lives in the Pakistani city of Karachi, but Islamabad has always denied the charge.

Mr Balakrishnan needs to pay the sum he bid on the restaurant within 30 days to acquire it, and is seeking donations to do so.

“I want to open a computer centre for children and also a legal aid centre for women of the area,” he said.

The former journalist said that the government’s earlier attempts to sell the property had failed because people were afraid to buy the underworld don’s property.

“But this time we decided to show courage,” he said.

“I got a message from Chhota Shakeel asking what you are up to. The intention behind the message was quite clear, but we decided to join the auction because if we don’t, then it is a shame for the country,” Balakrishnan told NDTV.

Earlier he had told to India Today, “I am bidding on behalf of my NGO Desh Seva Samiti which works for child welfare and women’s empowerment. We will run English speaking and computer training institute at the place. It will be named after great patriot Ashfaqullah Khan. He should be the role model for kids, not Dawood.”

Ibrahim was named a “global terrorist” in October 2003, and in June 2006, then US President George W Bush labeled him a “foreign narcotics trafficker”.

He is accused of smuggling narcotics from Afghanistan and Thailand to the US, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:22 am EST
PepsiCo Chairperson Indra Nooyi meets PM Modi in New Delhi

NEW DELHI (TIP): Global food and beverages major PepsiCo Chairperson and CEO Indra Nooyi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, December 10.

The meeting was a courtesy call, sources said although PepsiCo India officials declined to comment.

Nooyi was in the Capital to meet government officials. She also caught up with Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

India has been one of the top five markets of PepsiCo and it has eight brands which clock turnover of over Rs 1,000 crore in the market.

In 2013 the company had announced an investment of Rs 33,000 crore in India by 2020 to scale up operations here.

The company has multiple plants across India and apart from cold drinks like Pepsi, 7UP, Mirinda and Mountain Dew, it sells snacks under Lehar, Uncle Chipps and Kurkure brands, among others.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:21 am EST
Bollywood star Rani Mukerji gives birth to baby girl ‘Adira’

MUMBAI (TIP): Rani Mukerji, daughter of filmmaker Ram Mukerji and singer Krishna Mukerji, and Aditya Chopra, son of filmmaker Yash Chopra and singer-producer Pamela Chopra, have been blessed with a baby girl on December 9.

The baby has been named Adira – a combination of the parents’ names.

The award-winning actress, 37, has starred in many hit films and worked with Bollywood’s biggest names.

Chopra, 43 has produced and directed several hit films, including one of Bollywood’s biggest romances -Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge – with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. He also directed Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Mohabbatein.

Yash Raj Films studio, of which Mr. Chopra is the chairman, announced the news of the birth on Twitter.

The couple, who were dating for several years, married in Italy in April 2014.

Yash Raj Films was established by Chopra’s father -Yash Raj Chopra – and the studio has helped establish some of Indian cinema’s biggest names, including Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:21 am EST
Supreme Court might ban diesel cars in Delhi

NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on December 10 threw its weight behind efforts to clean up Delhi’s air, agreeing to explore various options including banning diesel cars from the Capital’s roads and stopping trucks from passing through the city to tackle the growing menace of pollution.

A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi expressed shock over the high pollution level in the city and directed the Centre and state government to bury their differences and prepare a mutually agreeable common minimum programme to tackle the crisis. The bench said pollution inside the court room had also gone up to 10 times the normal level.

The bench said it was time to dust off the old reports of the Bhure Lal committee, which suggested measures to curb pollution, and implement its recommendations. Referring to Delhi government’s odd-even formula, the bench said this alone could not solve the problem and multi-pronged action was needed.

“There can’t be a single solution of the problem. There has to be multi-pronged approach. All authorities including the Centre and state government should sit together along with environmental experts. There should be brainstorming session and they should come out with a solution,” the bench said.

The order comes amid spiralling pollution and could nudge the authorities in the city and at the Centre to work out an anti-pollution scheme which has wider acceptability and which they would be constrained to enforce.

“We want you to suggest short-, medium- and long-term measures to handle the situation. You must tell us the permanent solution. This is a very serious issue. Delhi is earning a bad name for being termed the most polluted city in the world. It is embarrassing for us also when foreign dignitaries point out the deteriorating air quality of the capital,” the bench said.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:21 am EST
Modi shared dais with Sonia, shook hands with Rahul

NEW DELHI (TIP): Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on December 10 became instrumental in bringing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the same dais for the first time in their long political careers.

It was a function to felicitate Pawar on his 75th birthday at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan, barely two kilometres from Parliament where the government and the principal Opposition party have been trading barbs over the National Herald case for the past three days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with Pratibha Pawar during her husband and NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s 75th birthday celebration at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also seen.

In what came as a testimony of Pawar’s political standing and clout, a galaxy of leaders from across the political spectrum gathered to felicitate the former Union minister and four-term Maharashtra chief minister. President Pranab Mukherjee praised Pawar for his role in turning India into a net exporter of food grains from being an importer.

Lauding Pawar for his commitment to the uplift of farmers and his focus on “innovation in agriculture”, the Prime Minister said, “He has the quality of a farmer who can gauge the weather. Sharad Rao has used it fully in politics. Ask Sharad Rao which way the political wind will blow.”

Sonia Gandhi also expressed her respect for Pawar. “We may have differences on some occasions, as any two individuals will have, but what has always been there is our respect for each other… He is a politician through and through in the best sense of the term,” she said and also acknowledged Pawar’s “formidable networking skills” as was evident from his friendship with politicians across the board.

Although the PM and the Congress President did not exchange any words, they were seen clapping in appreciation at the end of each other’s speeches. While leaving, the PM shook hands with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi who had come on the dais for a group photo session.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:21 am EST
KATIE PRICE PLANS AN INFIDELITY GIFT FOR HER HUSBAND

Former model Katie Price insists she and ex-husband Kieran Hayler have moved on from his infidelity, but she will ‘never’ forgive him.

The 37-year-old was left devastated when she discovered Hayler had cheated on her with friend Jane Pountney in May 2014. “I’ll neither forgive, nor forget. You just learn to deal with it. It’s Christmas and it’s been 19 months,” she said.

Price plans to buy her husband a gift to mark the two-year anniversary of his infidelity.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:21 am EST
GWYNETH PALTROW’S SHOP ROBBED

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop pop-up store in New York has been targeted by thieves, who escaped with more than USD 173,000 worth of merchandise.

The 43-year-old actress opened the temporary shop, titled goop mrkt, in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle last month and has blogged about it on her lifestyle site.

It appears thieves were attracted to the designer goods and other luxury items.

The store suffered a security breach over the weekend, when staff members had to call in police officials to investigate a serious theft.

“There was an isolated incident Saturday afternoon involving a very limited number of items, which was reported to the NYPD (New York Police Department),” a goop spokesperson said. “While the store was crowded during one of our busiest days, thankfully the NYPD responded quickly, our customers and staff are safe, and we remain open for business with proper security precautions in place.” Authorities have yet to name any suspects or make any arrests. Paltrow, who has also debuted pop-up stores in Los Angeles, Dallas, Texas and Chicago, Illinois, has yet to personally comment on the incident.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:20 am EST
In The Heart Of The Sea | MOVIE REVIEW

STORY: Set in 1820, this is the story of a whaling ship that meets with disaster in the then-uncharted Open Ocean. Eager to fill the Essex’s hold with whale oil after an initially disappointing catch, Captain George Pollard, Jr. (Walker) and first officer Owen Chase (Hemsworth) are driven by greed to venture out into treacherous waters. It is poetic justice then, that one of the very creatures they are hunting wrecks their ship as well as the crew.

REVIEW: This film is set in a time when things like ethical concerns regarding the brutality of whaling, were non-existent. Back then concepts like species being endangered probably didn’t exist. In today’s world, whaling is banned almost globally. But back then, as depicted in the film, whaling by itself was probably more dangerous for the crews than the whales. A large sperm whale could reduce the wooden ships then in use, to matchwood. And that’s exactly what happens here, when Pollard, Chase and their fellow sailors are dumb enough to try and bite off way more blubber than they can chew. When they set out from Nantucket and head on down the Americas to a spot of ocean 200 miles off their planned course, they find themselves in a veritable whalers’ paradise. But an alpha-male bull sperm whale proceeds to teach the sailors the lesson of a lifetime.

The story does play out a little in flashback, as one of the survivors of the ordeal, Thomas (Gleeson) recounts their reckless tale. The period detailing (even things like the era’s spoken word accents) is superb and the performances pass muster, but are nothing special. The 3D certainly helps a lot, especially in the whale-hunting as well as the underwater sequences. But ironically enough, you might end up rooting for the whales instead of the humans! After all, the crew only got what they deserved. And when the sailors are left for the dead, driven almost insane and at nature’s mercy, you don’t feel any empathy for them. That said though, this is definitely a gripping tale that’s worth watching.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:20 am EST
Police arrest seven men in Kosovo for printing fake EU passports

PRISTINA: Police in Kosovo said on Thursday they had arrested seven men after an investigation during which they found hundreds of fake passports and other ID documents from EU countries, probably intended to be sold to Kosovan migrants hoping to work abroad.

With an accompanying statement, police showed photographs of computers, printers and fake passports supposedly from Slovenia, Finland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Spain and Greece found in two raids. Six other sites were also searched.

“Those arrested are believed to be involved in organised crime, migrants smuggling, faking documents and trafficking narcotics,” the statement said.

Police said the perpetrators used very high technology appliances to make the passports, driving licences and other documents mainly from EU countries.

Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008, has a population of 1.8 million and about 800,000 Kosovars live abroad, mainly in western Europe, some of them illegally.

“During the investigation we have identified a lot of Kosovars that have these documents,” police said.

“All those who have these documents now will face criminal charges.” (Reuters)

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:20 am EST
Beijing lifts smog red alert

BEIJING: Beijing’s first ever red alert for smog expired Thursday, as blue skies and sunshine replaced the thick haze that covered the city for days.

The Chinese capital put its air pollution emergency plan into action earlier this week, pulling half of all private vehicles off the streets from Tuesday, ordering many factories to close and recommending that some schools allow students to remain home.

The measures were being lifted from midday Thursday, according to a social media post by Beijing’s environmental protection bureau.

The red alert, the highest tier of a four-colour warning system, came as heavy smog flooded the city for the second time in as many weeks.

The unprecedented move followed scathing public criticism aimed at the city’s weak response to last week’s thick haze, which saw pollution sky-rocket to levels not seen in years.

Counts of PM2.5 — harmful microscopic particles that penetrate deep into the lungs — reached well over 600 micrograms per cubic metre last week, according to the US embassy, which issues independent readings, and were regularly above 300 in recent days.

By lunchtime on Thursday they were down to 22 as moderate winds blew from the north, below even the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum exposure of 25.

In a note posted online, the city wrote that the emergency measures had “been effective in slowing down the process of smog accumulation”, and expressed its “heartfelt thanks” and “sincere tribute” for residents’ contributions to the effort.

The city will “fight well a hard battle to prevent and contain air pollution”, it said.

But the struggle is largely out of municipal officials’ hands since much of its air pollution comes from neighbouring areas, where pollution levels remained hazardous Thursday, particularly to the south in Hebei province.

The recurrent bad air has driven residents of the capital to hospitals in growing numbers, according to a report on Internet giant Tencent’s news portal.

During the last month’s periods of severe pollution, it said, trips to medical facilities using hailing app Didi Kuaidi — backed by Tencent — went from 3.4 percent of all journeys to 4.1 percent, an increase of more than a fifth.

The report also cited online retailer JD.com as saying pollution mask sales soared by as much as 400 percent in response to the bad air.

The miasma came as President Xi Jinping attended a critical meeting on climate change in Paris, a potentially embarrassing coincidence that underscored China’s struggle to control the pollution that contributes to both its chronic smog and global warming.

Most of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the burning of coal for electricity and heating, particularly when demand peaks in winter, which is also the key cause of smog.

Earlier this month, China’s meteorological bureau said it expected at least one and possibly two more bouts of heavy pollution in December, with the first expected as soon as Saturday.

It remains unclear how Beijing will respond to future airborne smog peaks, but other cities in the region followed its lead this week by issuing their own red alerts as pollution levels climbed even higher than those seen in the capital. (AFP)

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:20 am EST
India Gate goes ‘orange’ to mark call to action on gender based violence

NEW YORK (TIP): New Delhi’s iconic landmark, India Gate, turned orange on 25 November to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, led by UN Women.

The illumination of the monument also marked the launch of UN Women’s annual 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence. The campaign concluded on 10 December, Human Rights Day. UN Women called on governments, civil society, media and all stakeholders to say ‘NO’ to violence against women every day and always.

The color orange has been a unifying theme for all advocacy activities relating to ending violence against women across the world. It has attracted global attention, lending momentum to the UN’s efforts to rally government and citizens to the cause. This year’s ‘Orange the World’ campaign focused on the theme of preventing violence against women and girls, in the specific context of the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which includes targets on ending violence against women and girls.

“We look forward to a world and a future where all women and their rights will be respected,” said Speaker of the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) Sumitra Mahajan, who was Chief Guest at the commemoration at India Gate.

“Today the lighting up of India Gate in the color orange signifies freedom from violence for all women and girls in India and across the world,” UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri said during the commemoration.

“A staggering one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime-a pandemic of global proportions. Stopping the violence from happening in the first place is the key and this has to be in all spaces: private, public and all work spaces, both organized and unorganized,” Ms. Puri added.

“Violence is not inevitable. It can be prevented.”

The event was also attended by Lalita Kumaramangalam of the National Commission for Women, Preeti Sudan from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, film producer and director Aishwaryaa R. Dhanush, all of whom emphasized the need to raise awareness among all sections of society and especially men and boys.

“The time for action is now,” said UNFPA Representative Frederika Meijer. “We must achieve Planet 50-50 by 2030.”

In addition to the illumination of India Gate, during the 16 Days of Activism, UN Women displayed Ending Violence Against Women messages in the Delhi Metro, on two high traffic lines (Yellow and Blue lines). Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is amongst the top three metro systems in Asia. Classified by gender, approximately 76% of Delhi Metro commuters are male and 24 % are female. The messages will be seen by more than 2,52,000 commuters during the entire month.

UN Women also displayed stickers with themes related to Gender Based Violence on 5000 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses plying in the city. These stickers will remain on the buses even after the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism. The messages are expected to reach out more than .5 million commuters each day.

A social media campaign with the hashtag #OrangetheWorld called on individuals, neighborhoods, NGOs, the private sector, educational institutions and others to “orange the world” and become part of the global campaign to end violence against women and girls.

Dec 12, 2015 – 12:20 am EST
Suicide car bombs kill 10 in northeast Syria

BEIRUT (TIP): At least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded on Dec 11 in a triple suicide car bomb attack in a town in northeastern Syria’s Hasakeh province, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three separate suicide car bombings struck different locations in Tal Tamr, which is controlled by Kurdish forces and has been the target of attacks by the Islamic State jihadist group in the past.

The Britain-based monitor’s chief Rami Abdel Rahman said it was not immediately clear if all the casualties were civilians, noting that one of the blasts took place in front of a local security post.

Syrian state television also reported the blasts, saying at least nine people had been killed and dozens more injured.

The Islamic State group overran much of the Khabur region in which Tal Tamr lies in February, and kidnapped at least 220 Assyrian Christians from the area during its offensive.

But Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) subsequently recaptured the region and dozens of the IS-held hostages have been released in recent months.

Yesterday, some 25 Assyrian hostages, including two children, were freed by IS, according to the Assyrian Human Rights Network. (AFP)

Dec 11, 2015 – 6:01 pm EST
Petition seeking to get Donald Trump banned from entering UK already passes 370,000 signatures
LONDON (TIP): A petition calling for Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump to be barred from entering the UK has gathered more than 370,000 names, so MPs will have to consider debating it.

The petition went on Parliament’s e-petition website on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. It was posted in response to Trump’s call for a temporary halt on Muslims entering the United States.

Chancellor George Osborne criticized Trump’s comments but rejected calls for him to be banned from the UK.

A counter-petition, set up on Wednesday, saying Trump should not be banned as it would be “totally illogical” has attracted more than 9,000 signatures.

Any petition with more than 100,000 signatures is automatically considered for debate in Parliament.

Trump is seeking the Republican nomination for next year’s US presidential election.

He said on Wednesday, December 9, he would never leave the 2016 race, despite the volume of calls for him to step aside. In some related developments on the issue, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has stripped Trump of his status as a business ambassador for Scotland.

Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University has revoked Trump’s honorary degree, which he received in 2010 in recognition of his achievements as an entrepreneur and businessman.

One of the Middle East’s largest retail chains, Lifestyle, has withdrawn Donald Trump products from its shelves following his comments.

The full text of the petition – entitled “Block Donald J Trump from UK entry” – reads: “The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech. The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK.

“If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the ‘unacceptable behaviour’ criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful.”

Could Donald Trump be banned from the UK?
- Labour home affairs spokesman Jack Dromey and Green Party leader Natalie Bennett have backed the petition to ban Trump from entering the country, with Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston saying the proposal merited “serious discussion”
- The Home Office has powers to ban speakers from overseas coming to the UK under the “unacceptable behaviours or extremism exclusion policy”
- Last year, Home Secretary Theresa May said she had excluded “hundreds” of people
- People banned from entering the UK under the exclusion policy in recent years include leaders of the Westboro Baptist Church, Islamist preachers and Ku Klux Klan officials, and two anti-Muslim bloggers
How Petitions work in UK

In 2011, the coalition government launched a new e-petition site, with the prospect of a debate if 100,000 signatures are reached.

Petitions which reach the required number of signatures are almost always debated in Parliament, but the government might decide not to put a petition forward for debate if the issue has already been debated recently or there is one scheduled for the near future. Petitions that pass 10,000 signatures receive a response from the government.

The petition is initially handled by the Petitions Committee, set up by the House of Commons and comprising up to 11 backbench MPs from government and opposition parties. Petitions can be rejected for a number of reasons, including for being about something that the UK government or Parliament is not responsible for, or is nonsensical.

Topics put up for petition have included the introduction of mandatory drugs tests for MPs, the full disclosure of all government documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster, and minimum prices for milk.

But while a Parliament debate is a good way to raise the profile of an issue with lawmakers, it does not automatically follow that there will be a change in the law. In 2015 there were 14 petitions debated in Parliament, but none directly brought about any change in UK laws.

Source: Petitions website

Labour’s Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, also called for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK after he claimed that parts of London were “so radicalised” that police were “afraid for their own lives”.

Mr Trump’s comments about the UK capital previously led to London Mayor Boris Johnson saying “the only reason I wouldn’t go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump”.

He added: “Donald Trump’s ill-informed comments are complete and utter nonsense.

“As a city where more than 300 languages are spoken, London has a proud history of tolerance and diversity and to suggest there are areas where police officers cannot go because of radicalisation is simply ridiculous.”
Dec 11, 2015 – 5:59 pm EST
NY Public Libraries call on Gov Cuomo to invest to improve aging libraries

ALBANY, NY (TIP): The Directors of New York’s twenty-three public library systems, on behalf of all seven hundred fifty-six local public libraries, have released a letter calling on Governor Cuomo to increase funding for the state’s Public Library Construction Aid Program for the first time in a decade, to match New York City’s recent 10-year, $300M commitment to libraries’ capital needs. A long-overdue investment in our state’s critical public education infrastructure will directly benefit every community and neighborhood that is home to a public library.

Communities throughout New York State have suffered from decades-old stagnant funding for the state Public Library Construction Aid Program. Despite a recent report from the State Education Department that $2.2B is desperately needed for aging public library infrastructure projects statewide, funding has remained pegged at$14M annually. Nearly half of the local public libraries in New York State are more than 60 years old, with an additional one-third more than 30 years old.

The persistent lack of capital funding to address aging, energy-inefficient buildings means operating revenues are increasingly consumed for energy costs at the expense of patron services at a time when library usage is at historic levels. A 2015 Siena Institute Research Poll found that library use is up 10% across all demographics statewide. Usage is up 15% among women respondents aged 18-34; up 15% in communities of color; and up 20% for households making less than$50,000 annually. This same poll found that nearly 70% of New Yorkers have used their local public library in the past six months.

Though New York City has made a 10-year,$300M capital commitment to improve library infrastructure, funding levels for the state Public Library Construction Aid Program provides less than $10M annually to upstate and suburban communities. Neglect of this crucial public education infrastructure has been highlighted by the state’s recent 5-year, $900M commitment to the state park system, and a nearly $10B pledge to address transportation infrastructure in the upcoming state budget.

Steve Bolton, Director of the North Country Library System(Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence Counties):

“The libraries in our system serve some of the most economically disadvantaged communities in our state. Fairly funding the Construction Aid Program would generate more than a million dollars of annual economic activity in our region, and directly impact all sixty-five communities we serve with a public library. I urge Governor Cuomo to make this commonsense public infrastructure investment into the North Country.”

Lauren Moore, Director of the Pioneer Library System (Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Wyoming Counties): “For the communities in our region, the local public library is a critical education resource, and is often the last line of defense for troubled local economies. Our region is home to many of the state’s most beautiful parks, but the recent investment in their infrastructure does not address declining town and village centers. A real commitment to the Construction Aid Program will directly inject money and jobs into every community with a public library.”

Tim Burke, Director of the Upper Hudson Library System (Albany and Rensselaer Counties): “Albany and Rensselaer Counties are home to some of our state’s oldest libraries and most treasured collections. Current funding for the state Library Construction Aid Program is constraining our member libraries’ ability to make needed renovations to serve our patrons’ information needs, and the age and condition of our buildings is leading to skyrocketing energy costs. The Governor has smartly made renewable energy in New York State a priority, but our libraries need an investment to help acquire this technology.”

Jeremy Johannesen, Executive Director of the New York Library Association: “The chronic underfunding of the state Public Library Construction Aid Program is creating an economic crisis for local communities – either raise local taxes, or further reduce the desperately needed library services on which New Yorkers rely. The state recognized its responsibility to local public libraries by creating the Construction Aid Program, and now is the time to fulfill that responsibility by providing adequate funding.”

About NYLA: The New York Library Association (NYLA) educates and advocates on behalf of New York’s library community. NYLA is the oldest state library association in the country and represents school, college, special and public libraries, library staff, trustees, and students from around the state.

NYLA is the only statewide organization dedicated to advocating on behalf of all of New York’s libraries and serves as the spokesperson on library matters to the media and public policymakers.

Dec 11, 2015 – 5:53 pm EST
Indian American couple creates $4.6 Million Endowed for New Hindu Studies Program at UC Berkeley

SACRAMENTO (TIP): An Indian-American couple has donated USD 4.6 million for Hindu Studies program in Berkeley, California.

The Center for Dharma Studies -will be established in the Graduate Theological Union University in the UC Berkeley campus – is the first of its kind and will be home to the largest Ph.D program in religious studies in North America.

The California based couple Dr Ajay and Mira Shingal have pledged to create an endowment fund that will create the Mira and Ajay Shingal Center for Dharma Studies. Ajay, a resident of San Jose, has been a Silicon Valley entrepreneur with a career spanning several brand name Technology companies in the Bay Area and is currently in the hospitality industry.

Under the endowment, valued at USD 4.6 million, the Center for Dharma Studies will begin with a focus on Hindu studies and offer a Graduate Certificate MA and Ph. D in Hindu Studies.

It will welcome all traditions that self-identify themselves as a Dharma tradition, including the Jain, Buddhist and others systems of thought, derived from these ancient traditions.

“This Gift from Mira and Ajay Shingal enables the Graduate Theological Union to expand the representation of the world’s great religious traditions at this consortium and create a robust and singular place for scholars, students and the public to engage one another to build deep mutual understanding and promote the common good,” said GTU president Dr Riess Potterveld and reported by PTI.

Applauding this historic gift, Professor Shiva Bajpai, a renowned historian and President of the Dharma Civilization Foundation, observed that “Our philosophy is: The Concord, rather than the Clash, of Civilizations; The GTU is a perfect place for promoting this; We invite the Indo-American community to get engaged with this historic vision and contribute towards its fulfillment.”

Dec 11, 2015 – 5:42 pm EST
4 Indians vie for the Global Teacher Prize

WASHINGTON (TIP): Four Indian teachers have been shortlisted for a USD 1 million annual prize, dubbed the ‘Nobel Prize for teaching’, for their outstanding contribution to the profession.

Kerala-born entrepreneur Sunny Varkey, founder of the Dubai-based Varkey GEMS Foundation, launched the prize at the Global Education & Skills Forum 2014 to draw attention to the achievements of teachers.

The teachers, two from Mumbai, one each from Delhi and Bangaluru, were selected from nearly 8,000 nominations from 148 countries for the Varkey GEMS Foundation Global Teacher Prize.

The Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2016, dubbed the ‘Nobel Prize for teaching’ was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.

The Indian teachers among the global top 50 include Robin Chaurasiya, founder of Kranti – a non-profit which empowers marginalized girls from Mumbai’s red-light areas, Dhaval Bathia from Genesis Education in Mumbai, Santhi Karamcheti from EDventure Academy in Bangaluru and Rashmi Kathuria from Kulachi Hansraj Model School in Delhi.

“We were overwhelmed by the huge support the Global Teacher Prize received in its first year. We intend to keep this momentum going as our journey continues to return teachers to their rightful position as one of the most respected professions in society.”

“The thousands of nominations and applications we received from every corner of the planet is testimony to the achievements of teachers and the enormous impact they have on all of our lives,” said Sunny.

The top 50 shortlisted teachers have now been judged by a Prize Committee and 10 finalists will be announced in February 2016.

All the finalists will be invited to Dubai for the award ceremony at the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) in March next year where the winner will be announced.

“However much we achieve in life, we all began learning the basics from a teacher in a classroom. Those that teach, devoting their talents and time to nurturing the talents of others, deserve to be respected and celebrated,” said Oscar- winning actor Kevin Spacey, who sits on the Global Teacher Prize Academy that chooses the final winner.

The Global Teacher Prize winner is paid the prize money in equal installments over 10 years and the Varkey Foundation also provides the winner with financial counseling.

Dec 11, 2015 – 5:41 pm EST
TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON ACTRESSES TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY: KAJOL

Bollywood diva Kajol, returning to the big screen after a gap of five years with Dilwale, believes there is too much pressure on actresses to look good which often takes the attention away from their work.

“There is too much pressure to look a certain way and it is wrong. Somewhere down the line you don’t have a life beyond that. Every morning you are getting up and getting dressed. It takes the attention away from your work,” Kajol said in an interview to a news agency.

The actress, 41, faced criticism for her public appearances in the beginning of her career and though her style sense has evolved over the years, Kajol is still not bothered by what people think about her looks.

“There is too much importance attached to it but at the same time it is there. You can’t get away from it. You can adapt to it or not. You have to take a stand… I have figured a way around it so I am comfortable with it myself. I don’t exactly make a fool of me in public anymore.

“But after a point you will see me in my pajamas. It is something innate in me. I can’t be bothered about everybody’s opinion.”

Kajol’s look in her upcoming film Dilwale is getting her a lot of appreciation from fans and the actress is happy that things have worked out well.

“I know for a fact that I am looking good in the film. The reaction has been overwhelming… Everything has turned out well and it has been great. The reaction has been fantastic. Manish (Malhotra) has done the clothes in the movie,” she says.

There were reports that she had a fall out with the designer but Kajol dismisses it with a hearty laugh. “We are too good friends to have differences.”

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol make one of the most successful on-screen pairings in Bollywood. Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale, slated to release on December 18, will reunite them for the seventh time and the actress says it was one of the reasons for her to do the movie.

“I liked my character in the movie and thought I could do something with it and Rohit was directing the film. I have known Rohit for years and the fact that SRK was producing and starring in it. It has to be a combination of everything to say yes. Also, her daughter Nysa had a big role in her decision to star in Shetty’s action-comedy.

The director has worked with husband Ajay Devgn on Golmaal, All The Best and Singham.

“My daughter wanted me to do this film. She does not like to see me cry on screen, she is very clear about it. She keeps telling me ‘Why can’t you do films like papa does.’ And the next thing is Rohit offering me this script. I thought God is giving me a sign,” she says.

Kajol, however, says the film, despite being a typical Rohit Shetty entertainer, has something more to offer with its two love stories.

“It is definitely in the action comedy zone. It is a typical Rohit Shetty film but he has concentrated a lot more on relationships and love aspect with SRK and me and Varun Dhawan-Kriti Sanon’s tracks. It is a nice mix of everything despite the many cars that he has destroyed in the film.

Dec 11, 2015 – 4:28 pm EST
Hate Story 3 | MOVIE REVIEW

STORY: Siya (Zareen) appears to be the bone of contention between warring businessmen Aditya (Sharman) and Saurav (Karan). But this one runs deeper than your average love triangle.

REVIEW: Aditya and Siya are a happy couple. They are shown making passionate love in repetitive montages, kissing, feeling, titillating; while a reprised version of the ’90s track Tumhe Apna Banane Ki Kasam plays soulfully. This compatible couple readily agrees on everything in the bedroom or the boardroom. But their bliss is interrupted when a gift-wrapped orange Audi arrives in their lives. Instead of zooming into the sunset, they go seeking the mystery man (Saurav) who gifted it to them.

Without as much blinking or arching his bleached, tweezed eyebrows, Saurav propositions Aditya. He says he can bankroll him, provided he allows him to sleep with his wife for one night. This bit is tacky because Saurav is neither as suave as Robert Redford from The Indecent Proposal nor is Siya as irresistible as Demi Moore. The similarity to the Hollywood film ends with Aditya reacting as violently as Woody Harrelson.

While the inevitable must happen, Siya plays coy; Aditya plays spoilsport and Saurav has to stay content with having sex with Aditya’s disgruntled secretary, Kaya (Daisy Shah) who gives him a skin show, writhes like a pole dancer and kisses willingly. The plot remains unhurried as another round of those erotic montages shot against chart-busting tracks try to keep the audience hooked.

In an attempt not to make these films seem like pure steam fests, the makers usually thrown in a revenge drama angle. So true to the fabric of this franchise, here too there’s a suspense drama around some ugly sibling rivalry woven in. However, while the film is good-looking, the plot is convoluted. There’s bizarre justification for the poison-ivy women and avaricious despots. But then again, these sequels are about erotica being served piping hot Bollywood style.

So indulge in some guilt-free ‘entertainment’ and don’t go looking for soul. In the performance section, Sharman seems odd when he is shirtless but sincere when he’s buttoned-up. Karan caresses Zareen, his object of desire with his eyes even better than he does with his hands.

Dec 11, 2015 – 4:20 pm EST
Bollywood Actress Priyanka Chopra in New York to promote her upcoming film ‘Bajirao Mastani’

NEW YORK (TIP): Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra arrived in New York, December 10, to promote her upcoming film “Bajirao Mastani” which is to be released on 18th December.

(In Pictures Below – By Photos / Mohammed Jaffer – Snapsindia)

Priyanka Chopra is being received by EROS International President Ken Naz at Loews Regency Hotel, New York City where she talked about the film at a press conference, December 10.

Priyanka Chopra poses for a photograph at the press conference. Seen in the picture, from L to R: Ken Naz President Eros International (right) Priyanka Chopra , and Prem Parameswaran CFO

Priyanka : Different Strokes

Dec 11, 2015 – 4:17 pm EST
Colorado shooting suspect pleads guilty and says he is a ‘warrior for the babies’
COLORADO SPRINGS (TIP): The man accused, Robert Lewis Dear, of killing three at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado has said in court that he is guilty and a “warrior for the babies”.

“I am guilty. There will be no trial. I am a warrior for the babies,” he said during a court hearing where prosecutors announced his charges. During the hearing, he was formally charged with first-degree murder.

Robert Dear, 57, faces 179 charges for the attack that killed two civilians and a police officer, and wounded nine.

Dear said something about “no more baby parts” during his arrest and had asked for directions to the clinic prior to the attack.

Those who were killed in the attack include police officer Garrett Swasey, 44, Iraq War veteran Ke’Arre Stewart, 29, and Jennifer Markovsky, 35, who was taking a friend to the clinic.

Police have not discussed a motive in the shooting despite signs that Dear was concerned about abortion, a service provided by Planned Parenthood, a national family planning clinic.

The Planned Parenthood group has drawn anti-abortion protests in the past.

Here is what is known about Robert Lewis Dear
- ? Aged 57, owns a trailer on land in Hartsel, Colorado, about 60 miles (100km) west of Colorado Springs
- Also owns a mountain cabin with no electricity or running water 15 miles west of Asheville, North Carolina, and had previously lived at Walterboro, South Carolina
- Had arrest records in South and North Carolina including two counts of cruelty to animals in 2002, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported
- A neighbor in North Carolina said he would often avoid eye contact and said religion or abortion never came up in conversation
- Was an independent art dealer with a degree in public administration, according to the New York Times
- Ex-wife Pamela Ross said told the paper she once called the police to accuse him of domestic violence
Dec 11, 2015 – 3:21 pm EST
Defense Minister of India Manohar Parrikar meets with the US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter

WASHINGTON (TIP): Minister of Defense of India Manohar Parrikar made an official visit to the United States at the invitation of US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter from December 7-10, 2015 that included visits to multiple U.S. facilities including U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), the Pentagon, and a visit with Secretary Carter to observe flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69).

First, Defense Minister Parrikar participated as a guest of honor in a Pearl Harbor commemorative ceremony at PACOM. He also met with Admiral Harry Harris, the PACOM Commander and visited various facilities in Honolulu, Hawaii.

At the Pentagon, Minister Parrikar and Secretary Carter held their third meeting. They discussed the India-US defense relationship and broader India-US strategic partnership, and focused on ways to maintain the strong momentum of security and defense engagement, including means to further move the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) forward. Secretary Carter and Minister Parrikar expressed satisfaction with DTTI progress to date. They committed to identifying additional projects for possible co-development and co-production of high technology items that meet the transformational intent of DTTI.

Minister Parrikar and Secretary Carter commended positive discussions at the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC), especially in the area of Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE), and look forward to continued progress to be achieved at the second meeting of the JWGACTC in February 2016 in India. They further expressed satisfaction that the Jet Engine Technology Joint Working Group (JETJWG), which met this week in Bengaluru, had concluded its Terms of Reference and had productive discussion on cooperation in this area.

Secretary Carter informed Minister Parrikar that in light of the strengthening relationship between the United States and India, the DoD has updated its policy on gas turbine engine technology transfer to India. As a result of this policy update, the Secretary is confident that the United States will be able to expand cooperation in production and design of jet engine components. Secretary Carter and Minister Parrikar look forward to U.S. companies working with their Indian counterparts to submit transfer requests that will benefit from this updated policy.

Minister Parrikar informed Secretary Carter about the Make-in-India initiative, under which several reforms have been taken in the Indian defense sector. Secretary Carter welcomed Indian initiatives in this regard and hoped that this would pave the way for even greater participation of US companies in the defense sector.

Secretary Carter welcomed India’s participation in the Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) multilateral naval exercise in 2016 as well as participation by the Indian Air Force in the multilateral Red Flag exercise in April-May 2016, and expressed support for greater Air-to-Air interaction in the future. Minister Parrikar welcomed announcement of US participation in the International Fleet Review of the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam in February 2016.

Secretary Carter and Minister Parrikar expressed satisfaction at the level of maritime cooperation between the two navies and resolved to further expand the same in coming years. They announced their intention to soon complete a memorandum of understanding between their navies on “white shipping” information sharing. They also welcomed the renewal of the Fuel Exchange Agreement.

Minister Parrikar and Secretary Carter commended the progress achieved last month at the Defense Policy Group (DPG), including the re-establishment of a working group on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) cooperation under the Military Cooperation Group and focused discussions on defense capability development.

They also discussed a wide range of regional security issues, including the threat posed by ISIL and entities such as Al-Qa’ida and its affiliates, Lashkar-e-Tayibba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, D Company, the Haqqani Network, and other regional terror groups. They discussed ways to implement the defense-related aspects of Prime Minister Modi and President Obama’s Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.

The official visit underlined the strategic importance of the defense relationship and the personal priority that the Minister and Secretary place on the bilateral partnership. During his visit, Minister Parrikar also met with senior National Security Council officials and members of Congress.

Dec 11, 2015 – 3:18 pm EST
Vin Gopal named one of NJ’s top political influences

NEW JERSEY (TIP): Democratic Committee chairman Vin Gopal, an Indian American entrepreneur, has been named one of 100 politically influential people in the
“Power List” for 2015 in Politicker NJ.

The list ranks the strongest people in the labor movement in New Jersey, and does not include any elected officials, judges or former governors. The list recognized the cream of the crop among chief-of-staff, operative, lobbyist, labor leader, activist, organizer, lawyer, party chairperson, reporter, fundraiser, pastor, professor, teacher and mentors in the state. It is scientifically generated, corresponding to the structure of power as it exists in the state, according to PolitickerNJ.

“Indian Americans in the state are feeling very proud of Vin’s involvement and achievement in the state. Congratulations to Vin Gopal for the job well done,” Patel said.

Born and raised in Monmouth County to an Indian American family, Gopal is a successful entrepreneur and business development professional who graduated from Penn State University with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, according to a statement prepared by Tushar Patel of the Indo-American Cultural Foundation of Central New Jersey.Gopal was rated on PolitickerNJ.com’s Top 100 Most Politically Influential people in NJ’s Politics in the “Power List” in 2012 prior to this year. He was honored by the Monmouth Chamber of Commerce in 2014 with the Beacon of Hope award. He was named deputy vice chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee in 2014. He was also honored by the Community Affairs and Resource Center in 2015.

Dec 11, 2015 – 3:15 pm EST

Year: 2015

Could Donald Trump be banned from the UK?

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