Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
As the borders begin to close
India’s policymakers must be alive to uncertainty in migrant remittances from the West and West Asia
last year — $65.4 billion. However, migration. hind deal with issues such as lone
in a world that is now witnessing a The Kerala Migration Surveys, liness, anxiety, depression and in
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
S. Irudaya Rajan remittances from migrants in West the Malayali migrant community chunk of remittances is from
Asia, with the remainder from got smaller by 10% to 2.2 million. North America and Europe. Eu
T
he Delhi government under Chief Minister Arvind
Kejriwal has had a history of conict and confron mainly North America and Eu This was on account of nationalisa rope is also the largest remittance
A
fter the global nancial cri rope. Rapid changes in the econo tion policies and because decades sending region in the world, sur
tation with the police and the bureaucracy. But
sis in 2008, the world has my and the sociopolitical climate of migration had made Malayalis passing even West Asia. The recent
even Mr. Kejriwal’s worst detractors would have found begun looking to developing in West Asia have had an impact educated and skilled enough to refugee crisis, the largest since
it hard to imagine that his Aam Aadmi Party MLAs nations to show the way to high on remittances. Additionally, de aim for more specialised profes World War II, has unsettled Euro
would be accused of assaulting the Chief Secretary in economic growth and develop velopments such as Brexit and the sions. Unskilled and semiskilled pean economies, fuelling xeno
his presence. The shocking incident, which is said to ment. Emerging economies, India Trump presidency in the U.S. have among Saudi nationals, with in migrants from Kerala were not on phobic and antiimmigration senti
have occurred when Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and China for example, have be further complicated matters. centives being announced for ly replaced by migrants from other ments. Brexit and the presidency
was summoned to Mr. Kejriwal’s residence at midnight, come increasingly involved in in Simply put, the more a rich nation companies and enterprises per Asian countries such as the Philip of Donald Trump in the U.S. are al
uencing global economic policies starts to rely on its own workforce forming in accordance with this pines and Nepal, but also by other so expected to have a drastic im
has led to the arrest of one AAP MLA and a display of so
and voicing their development and tightly controlled borders, the system. Indian migrants from Bihar, Rajas pact on migration and the ow of
lidarity within the bureaucracy, which has refused to at concerns and priorities in various less a poorer nation can rely on re Governments in West Asia have than and Uttar Pradesh. This 10% remittances. Data from the U.K.
tend any meeting called by the CM until he apologises multilateral fora. These econo mittances for its development been trying to reduce unemploy decrease in migration is expected show a large exodus of other Euro
and takes action against the MLAs. Versions of what mies have beneted from increas needs and to achieve the sustaina ment and “demographically engi to result in a similar decrease in re peans. The popular eect of Mr.
transpired radically dier, including the reason why Mr. ing globalisation and the growing ble development goals. neer” the workforce whereby le mittances to the State. Trump’s stronger immigration pol
Prakash was called late in the night. While the AAP has movement of goods and people gal, social and political Remittances to Kerala exceeded icies and the temporary ban on
described Mr. Prakash’s charge as ludicrous, the impli between countries. Consequently, The case of West Asia separations between nationals 71,000 crore in 2014. A migrant immigrants from certain Muslim
they are among the largest reci While it was expected that remit and nonnationals would shift. supports three to four family majority nations are conspicuous
cation that it was a product of his fevered imagination
pients of global remittances. tances would recede after the re There were gains in many ways. members back home and a a third in the results of domestic elections
and part of a larger political conspiracy has convinced Twentythree countries, led by cession in 2008, they barely did. Kuwait, for example, between of the population directly benets and a surge in markets.
few in the bureaucracy. The timing of the meeting and India and followed by China, the However, the Arab Spring in 2010 2016 and 2017, reduced unemploy through migration. Another third It seems obvious that migration
the presence of a large number of MLAs at the resi Philippines, Mexico, Pakistan and and subsequent counterrevolu ment from 16.5% to 1%. Saudi Ara benets indirectly through multi and remittances will take on a
dence give rise to the suspicion that it may have been Nigeria, receive over 80% of global tionary moves by states had an im bia regularised ve million irregu plier eects. Remittance ows to more prominent role in internal
called to intimidate the Chief Secretary. It is well known remittances. However, as a share pact. The theme of nationalisation lar workers and cracked down on Kerala saw a sharp rise of over and international politics. While
that Mr. Kejriwal’s discomture with the bureaucracy is of gross domestic product (GDP), took over the Arab world. Along illegal migrants. There were also 40% between 20112014. Of late, the latter part of the last century
the top ve recipients are smaller with declining oil prices and slug attempts to increase control over this trend has reversed. If the State was commanded by liberal ideas
a result of having to deal with ocers who report di
nations: Haiti, the Kyrgyz Repu gish regional economies, especial foreign workers, as opposed to does not identify alternative on migration and open borders,
rectly to the Lt. Governor, who is not bound to act on blic, Liberia, Nepal and Tajikistan. ly in the Gulf Cooperation Council sponsors, and curtail abuse by em means of employment and reve the near future seems to be in
the aid and advice of his council of ministers. To feel In these low and middleincome (GCC) countries, the regional go ployers, though these eorts were nue generation for its labour force uenced by populist, rightwing
that this is a restrictive administrative environment and countries, remittances have vernments decided to prioritise timid. It is evident that the youn as well as returned emigrants, it ideas. This negative reaction to mi
seek greater powers for Delhi under the Constitution is helped lift millions out of poverty lling their workforce with their ger natives of West Asia, who are will turn out to be problematic. Re gration among developed coun
one thing. But until Delhi is a full State, Mr. Kejriwal and and unemployment and enhanced nationals. increasingly becoming educated, turn emigrants account for 1.2 mil tries is likely to spread. Therefore,
his party would do well to understand that they have to their standard of living and human Among the six GCC countries, will replace migrants in the com lion of Kerala’s population. The it is imperative that developing na
work within the existing institutional arrangement. development. In this context, In only the United Arab Emirates and ing years, in turn leading to a re State thus faces the huge challenge tions that have relied on remit
dia’s case is no dierent. The posi Oman continue to maintain their duction in remittances, especially of reintegrating and rehabilitating tances formulate strategies to
Mr. Kejriwal may have good reason to believe that the
tive impact of migration on eco erstwhile immigration policy. Ho to the South Asian and Southeast them into the society and the eco compensate for the restricted ow
BJP, the AAP’s main rival, is attempting to stymie its at nomic growth and development wever, Oman began “Omanisa Asian regions. nomy. This demands innovative of remittances that is expected in
tempts to govern Delhi eectively. The AAP has for long through increased remittances is tion”, a policy aimed at replacing policies targeted at skilling, reskill the near future. India must re
complained that the Centre is paralysing its executive well established. The experience expatriate workers with trained Kerala’s remittance economy ing and educating both prospec member that with the rapid and
functions through the Lt. Governor and that the bu of Kerala, which receives remit Omani personnel, back in 1988. It is not unfair to say that without tive and returned emigrants. largescale economic and cultural
reaucracy is refusing to obey government orders. But tances equalling 36.3% of its gross The other four, Bahrain, Kuwait, remittances, Kerala would have This is not to say that lower mi changes in West Asia, Europe or
the proper response to this is to keep pushing for the State domestic product, is testimo Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have tight had to adopt an entirely dierent gration and remittances will be a the U.S., the future of emigration
ny to this. ened their immigration policies to economic growth path. Since the disaster for the State. If the govern and remittances remains uncer
constitutional changes that will give Delhi full statehood
India has witnessed sharp re appease increasingly restive 1970s, the Gulf region has attract ment adopts measures to utilise lo tain. The Kerala Migration Survey
rather than targeting police ocers and civil servants. mittance growth since 1991. Remit youth, many of whom were unem ed millions of Malayalis, with re cal resources and create jobs, it 2018 and the proposed India Mi
In the three years it has been in power in Delhi, the AAP tances, which were valued at $2.1 ployed and participated in prot mittances amounting to over 36% might end up in a better position gration Survey 2020 will explore
government has positives to show in terms of gover billion in 1991, touched $70.4 bil ests during the Arab uprisings. In of the State’s GDP. Kerala is unique overall. This is because migration these issues and evolve adequate
nance, including ushering in greater accountability and lion in 2014. Since then, the value 2011, the Saudi government enact in this sense that no other large comes with a lot of social costs. A policy responses.
transparency in its welfare programmes. In the long of remittances to India has seen a ed “Saudisation”, ocially known State in India depends so much on migrant worker might make more
run, the party’s political future will depend more on modest decline: $68.9 billion in as Saudi Nationalisation Scheme remittances. This also makes the money, but (s)he also leaves a fa S. Irudaya Rajan is Professor, Centre for
2015 and $62.7 billion in 2016. or Nitaqat system in Arabic, with a southern State the perfect setting mily behind. Women, children Development Studies,
how it governs Delhi and less on how aggressively it
There was a slight improvement view to reducing unemployment to study the phenomenon of and the elderly who are left be Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
protests about its lack of administrative power. Both the
Centre and the Delhi government must work together
Learning from Cauvery
#5 2 2 5 6 9
to see that the administration is not brought to a halt in
the Union Territory. While the Centre should refrain
from politically exploiting the issue, the AAP govern
ment must take a step back and assure the bureaucracy It’s time political parties realise that their strident stands on watersharing issues have no bearing on election outcomes
it will let ocials work without fear of intimidation.
been worked out, keeping the termine their respective electoral only to Karnataka or Tamil Nadu
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s fortunes. But, the reality is some politicians. The situation is the
nal order of 2007 as the refe what dierent. Otherwise, how same in other parts of the country.
Fire and fury
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
S
yrian President Bashar alAssad has demonstrated the tribunal. Central government barely three Centre to ensure completion of
T
once again that his regime cares little about the he longawaited judgment of Except this modication, the months before the polls? The day the SutlejYamuna Link (SYL) Ca
lives of its own people. The barbaric campaign of the Supreme Court on the verdict has essentially stuck to the before the publication of the order nal, Amarinder Singh, then Pun
airstrikes and bombardments launched by government Cauvery dispute, delivered nal order. It neither disturbed the it that the scheme is put in place on February 19, 2013, the then jab Chief Minister, got a bill passed
last week, by and large caused allocations for Kerala and Pudu within the given period as Karna Chief Minister of Karnataka, Jagad by the State Assembly and cleared
forces in rebelheld Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of
hardly any disruption to life in the cherry, the other constituents of taka goes to Assembly elections in ish Shettar of the Bharatiya Janata by Governor O.P. Verma at lightn
Damascus, have killed at least 270 people in three days. river’s principal basinStates, Ta the Cauvery basin, nor the basis a few months. This has been com Party, led an allparty delegation ing speed, terminating all previous
Eastern Ghouta, with an estimated population of mil Nadu and Karnataka. This sit for apportioning river water or the plemented with Karnataka Chief and urged Manmohan Singh, who agreements and accords on the Ra
400,000, is one of the last signicant areas held by mil uation is refreshingly dierent extent of irrigated areas for the Minister Siddaramaiah’s reiterat then headed the Congressled Un vi and Beas river waters. But, his
itants ghting the regime. It fell into the hands of the re from what was witnessed during two principal States. In fact, to the ing his opposition to the idea of ited Progressive Alliance govern act of unilateralism did not ensure
bels in the early stages of the sevenyearlong civil war, many judicial pronouncements relief of Tamil Nadu, the court was the CMB. On this count, other pol ment at the Centre, not to do so. the victory of his party – the Con
and repeated government attempts to overrun it were since the 1990s, leading to strikes, unequivocal on the formulation of itical parties in Karnataka are also Earlier, in October 2002, S.M. gress – in the 2007 Assembly polls
farmers’ agitations, vandalism and a scheme to implement the modi echoing the stand of the Chief Mi Krishna, who was then Chief Mi in Punjab. Capt. Singh had to wait
foiled. It was here that chemical weapons were used in
the loss of human life. ed nal order, and it asked the nister. Meanwhile, even though nister of Karnataka and still in the for 10 years to return to power.
2013, killing hundreds of people. When most other re Centre to draft the scheme in six there exists only a limited scope Congress, adopted a confronta It should be obvious to the polit
belheld parts of Syria, including Aleppo, were recap Joy and discomfort weeks. The scheme entails the for serious objections to the tionist path by organising a nine ical class that electoral outcomes
tured by government troops, militants have moved to The judgment has, however, creation of an implementation me court’s judgment, the Tamil Nadu day march from Bengaluru to are shaped by a combination of
Eastern Ghouta and Idlib. Now both areas are under at brought joy in Karnataka, and dis chanism, called the Cauvery Man government, now devoid of a Mandya in the name of protecting complex factors. It is time that wa
tack. In the use of heavy repower, the assault resem comture in certain sections of Ta agement Board (CMB). Regardless strong leader like Jayalalithaa, is farmers’ interests. But, when the ter issues are depoliticised and
bles the government campaign in Aleppo and elsewh mil Nadu. The reason is not far to of the Centre using the same no being pulled up by its political ad Assembly elections took place in political parties learn to see rea
seek. The overall allocation of Kar menclature or not, what looks cer versaries for not having done May 2004, the Congress, which son and respect the rule of law
ere. In Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities, Syrian and
nataka was increased by 14.75 tain is the establishment of a enough to protect interests of the had won 132 seats in the 1999 elec without getting carried away by
Russian jets pounded rebel targets in late 2016; this was thousand million cubic feet (tmc mechanism. State. tions, could win in just 65 consti electoral considerations. The BJP
followed by a ground attack by government troops and ft) at the cost of Tamil Nadu. The Such reactions are not surpris tuencies. led Central government has got a
Irantrained militants. Similarly, Eastern Ghouta, which enhanced allocation includes 4.75 Doubts persist ing as political leaders of both golden opportunity on Cauvery to
was under a government blockade for years, appears to tmc ft exclusively for drinking wa Already, doubts have been ex States are, unfortunately, under Competitive politics set a new, healthy trend.
have been surrounded by ground forces, which could ter requirements of Bengaluru. pressed in Tamil Nadu on whether the impression that their position Competitive politics on matters
advance to rebel positions inside the city any time. The increase and decrease have the Central government will see to on the Cauvery dispute would de concerning water are not conned ramakrishnan.t@thehindu.co.in
There is a wide range of militant groups in Eastern
Ghouta, including the Saudibacked Jaysh alIslam, the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.
Qatarfunded Faylaq alRahman, and Hayat Tahrir al
Sham (HTS), the Syrian branch of alQaeda. The govern Cold shoulder? under Mr. Trudeau’s deepens and poses a grave Checks and balances By failing to verify the end lower ocials. The members
ment says the city is occupied by terrorists from these It is very unusual that the leadership. threat to the Indian An important function of any use, the bankers have on the boards of the two
groups and that the few civilians remaining there are Central government hasn’t Salint David George, community and other bank is to reconcile accounts directly or indirectly helped banks have also failed in
taken any initiative to Vazhakulam, Kerala foreign nationals living there, particularly its ‘Nostro’ the borrowers to divert funds their duties to exercise due
used as human shields. The militants in Eastern Ghouta
and the jihadist elements amongst them have repeated extend a warm welcome to the strategy of diplomacy accounts to check the inow to various shell companies diligence despite defaults in
Canadian Prime Minister ■ For a leader extremely exercised in evacuating them and outow of foreign funds. and siphon o funds. There repayments, weak balance
ly shelled governmentcontrolled neighbourhoods in
Justin Trudeau and his partial to having photo on a humanitarian basis from If only those in charge of can be no second opinion sheets. It is unfortunate that
Damascus. Generally the rebels appear to have lost the family. Given that India is opportunities with visiting strifetorn Yemen in 2015 ‘Nostro’ reconciliation at that these two frauds bank employees prefer to be
momentum against Mr. Assad in the civil war. Nonethe seeking stable ties with dignitaries, it is striking that should be thought of. Our Punjab National Bank had happened on account of a more loyal to borrowers than
less, the government narrative is problematic as it holds most countries and our the Indian Prime Minister naval forces in the Indian done their duty diligently, failure of controls in the to their banks.
all residents of Eastern Ghouta responsible for the oc Prime Minister’s frequent has been oddly reticent Ocean have to monitor the they could have easily traced banks, especially the casual Tharcius S. Fernando,
visits abroad are to during Mr. Trudeau’s visit. situation very discreetly. Any such huge money trails as a manner in which the most Chennai
cupation of the area by militants. The yearslong block
ade of the area that has deprived Eastern Ghouta of maximise benets from Mr. Trudeau needs to diplomatic reach the Indian result of buyers’ credit secretive SWIFT keys were more letters online:
these ties, a cold welcome acknowledge India’s government strategises inows and settlements of allowed to be handled by www.hindu.com/opinion/letters/
food and medicines, and the indiscriminate bombing,
such as the one extended to concerns about pro should be for peace alone. claims to overseas suppliers
killing of unarmed civilians including children, expose Mr. Trudeau is in bad taste. Khalistani elements in The Indian Ocean is a done under dubious LoUs corrections & clarifications:
the monstrosity of the Assad regime. From the very be It is said that the Canada in order to take geopolitical hub of world issued to Nirav Modi’s Erroneous reporting: The report, “HC directive in Kanchi
Acharya case” published on Feb. 21, 2018 (some editions), was
ginning of the civil war, the regime and its Russian and “Khalistan” issue in Canada bilateral relations forward powers and any intervention companies. wrong. There was a mixup with another case. The Madras High
Iranian backers have paid little attention to human suf is a major irritant but this and build on the tremendous should be to ensure overall In the case of the Rotomac Court had only directed the police to register an FIR against Sad
fering, be it in Hama, Homs, Aleppo or Eastern Ghouta. should not come in the way potential that exists in so peace in this zone. China is Global scam, it is reported agopa Ramanuja Jeeyar of Srivilliputhur if a cognisable oence was
of receiving its leader. The many varied elds. India not to be trusted in a that the loan proceeds were made out for his recent remarks that he knew how to hurl soda
Given the brutality it has unleashed now, the govern bottles. The case against the Kanchi seer came up for hearing only
issue can be sorted out Canada ties should not be situation such as that in the not used for the purpose for
ment could capture Eastern Ghouta as well. But at what on Feb. 21, 2018, and it was adjourned by a week.
diplomatically. India should allowed to ounder. Maldives and is bound to use which they were granted.
cost? After seven years of war and 400,000 deaths, Sy also not forget that Canada K.S. Jayatheertha, the prevailing situation of Here again, banks in the It is the policy of The Hindu to correct signicant errors as soon as possible. Please specify
ria is a broken, bleeding land, thanks to Mr. Assad and is now more liberal in Bengaluru political instability to its consortium appear to have
the edition (place of publication), date and page. The Readers’ Editor’s office can be
contacted by Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to
his friends and foes. The real tragedy is that none of the receiving immigrants, with advantage. failed to verify the end use of Friday); Fax: +91-44-28552963; Email:readerseditor@thehindu.co.in; Mail: Readers’
Editor, The Hindu, Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002, India.
parties involved is interested in ending this war. a majority hailing from Handling the Maldives N. Visveswaran, such loans granted — another All communication must carry the full postal address and telephone number. No personal
India. This has happened If the prevailing crisis in Male Chennai important aspect of banking. visits. The Terms of Reference for the Readers’ Editor are on www.thehindu.com
CM M ND-NDE
YK
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https://t.me/EStore33 https://www.estore33.com/ https://t.me/TheHindu_Zone
THE HINDU
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
NOIDA/DELHI
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OPED 9
The Israel factor in Syria Trump’s India connect
There are few countries where the U.S. President’s business
As Israel tries to counter Iranian inuence, its capacity to shape outcomes in Syria is limited interests are so strong, and relations with the U.S. so robust
Israel’s strategic plans. The Israelis Mr. Trump took oce, Washington’s rela
may have initially thought that the tionships with traditional foes such as North
Russian intervention could reduce Korea have worsened, while those that had
the Syrian regime’s dependence on enjoyed recent periods of relative détente
Iran, which is Tel Aviv’s primary con (Pakistan, Iran) have regressed. Most strik
cern. But the Russians played on ingly, relations with some top allies (the U.K.,
Stanly Johny both sides. Their only strategic target Michael Kugelman Germany, and Australia) have taken tumbles.
was to rescue the regime. They neith
The massive air raids that Israel car er stopped the Israelis from attacking Donald Trump Jr. is in India for an extraor Stengthening ties
ried out in Syria earlier this month Hezbollah targets inside Syria nor dinary visit, to play the role of both business By contrast, the U.S.India relationship has
against “Iranian targets” and the sub did they stop the Iranians from ex man and diplomat. While mainly helping sell continued to ourish under Mr. Trump. It’s
sequent downing of an Israeli jet by panding their footprint in the coun properties tied to the Trump Organization, easy to understand why. The two core stra
Syrian re showed how deeply and try. Later, when the regime stabilised where he serves as executive vice president, tegic concerns that have long brought the
dangerously Israel is involved in the its rule, thanks to the Russian inter Mr. Trump Jr. is also delivering a policy ad two together — China’s growing inuence
civil war in its neighbouring country. vention, Iran’s inuence also grew. dress on “Reshaping IndoPacic ties”. and international terrorism — resonate
On the face of it, the whole story ap Iran now has various military facili It’s hard to imagine this type of trip taking strongly with the Trump administration. Al
pears to be strange. In Syria, the civil ties across Syria’s regimeheld place in other countries. U.S. so, arms sales and technology
war is complex. On the one hand, territories. President Donald Trump and transfers — two main engines of
there is the regime of President Bash In southern Syria, Israel had built some of his progeny are perso the defence partnership that
ar alAssad, backed by Hezbollah, “Israel has failed to build any substantial leverage in Syria’s conict zones.” a network of rebels. But even in this nae non grata in many nations, powers U.S.India relations — are
Iran and Russia. On the other, a wide People in Majdal Shams, north of the Golan Heights, demand the return of the area, its position has weakened over including top allies such as the welcomed by a Trump adminis
range of militias, from alQaeda and Golan Heights, which were captured by Israel in 1967. AP *
the past year. Jordan, which had of U.K. Aside from the issue of un tration that is unabashedly tran
Islamic State jihadists to Free Syrian fered support to the rebels in the ear popularity is one of ethics. Many sactional in its foreign relations.
Army rebels, is ghting the regime. sides the government army, these now oers support to seven dierent ly years of the civil war, changed its countries would be reluctant to Furthermore, President Trump
PTI
What has Israel got to do with a civil militias fought the war on the ground rebel groups in the region, including policy in the wake of heavy refugee host the U.S. President’s son for a and Prime Minister Narendra Mo
war between a hostile regime and a on behalf of the regime. Israel was Liwaa Forsan Jolan, Firqat Ahrar Na ow. Last year, the Trump adminis visit that includes the opportuni di share much in common, from
group of unpredictable dangerous alarmed by the growing role of Hez wa, and a section of the Free Syrian tration shut down the CIA’s military ty for buyers of Trumpbranded apartments their conservative politics to their fractious
militia groups? bollah and other Iransponsored mil Army. Besides providing money, operation command in Amman that to pay to meet with Mr. Trump Jr. The fact relationships with the mass media and
In the initial years of the civil war, itias in Syria. Since the early 1980s, weapons and intelligence, Israel also was coordinating with Syrian rebels, that India rolled out the red carpet for Mr. strong embraces of social media.
Israel’s policy choices seemed to Hezbollah has remained a thorn in Is supported the advances by these leaving the rebels, particularly those Trump Jr. amplies the uniqueness of U.S. To be sure, there are bones of contention,
have been driven by the same calcu rael’s regional strategy. In 2000, Is groups on the ground with air cover. in the south, entirely dependent on India relations at this moment in time: There from the Trump administration’s immigra
lation. The Assad regime and Israel rael withdrew from southern Leba One such incident was the Israeli Israel. Besides, the regime forces are are few, if any, countries in the world where tion policies that could deleteriously aect
have never been friendly. In the 1967 non, ending 18 years of occupation, bombing of regime positions in making advances towards the south. President Trump’s business interests are so Indian workers in America to Washington’s
war, Israel captured the Golan mainly due to Hezbollah’s guerrilla southern Syria in April 2017 after lo They have already established some strong, and relations with the U.S. so robust. refusal to pull the plug on its problematic
Heights from Syria and continues to resistance. In 2006, Israel bombed cal rebel groups came under heavy posts near Quneitra in northern Go partnership with Pakistan. The two sides al
occupy the region. More than a de Lebanon again to destroy Hezbol attacks by regimebacked troops. lan. Late last year, the regime re Business opportunities so fail to agree on what should constitute
cade later, Syria intervened in Leba lah’s weapons infrastructure, but The second strategy was to retain gained a foothold on the de facto bor Take the commercial side rst. The Trump their strategic partnership. Washington
non. It then provided help to mili even after a monthlong campaign, it the freedom to strike Hezbollah posi der with Israel by capturing Beit Jinn Organization features business dealings in wants New Delhi to participate in joint oper
tants, mainly Hezbollah, who were failed to achieve its stated goals. Hez tions inside Syria. When Russia inter from the rebels. In eect, Israel not more than two dozen countries, from ations and other types of alliance behaviour
resisting an Israeli occupation of the bollah has heavy military presence vened in Syria, Israel negotiated for only failed to contain the spread of Trumpbranded condos in Seoul to a golf to which India remains allergic. Yet, deep re
country. Syria and Israel do not have along southern Lebanon (or across this freedom with Moscow. Since Iranian inuence in Syria, but is also course in Ireland. And yet a Washington Post positories of goodwill and sharp convergenc
formal diplomatic ties. Despite this, Israel’s northern border). Russia’s intervention in Syria in Sep under pressure to halt the advances investigation has concluded that “the Trump es of interests enable the U.S.India relation
there was no direct military confron The Syrian war allowed Hezbollah tember 2015, Israeli Prime Minister of regime forces towards the south. Organization has more business entities in ship to weather these policy disconnects.
tation between the two countries. In to coordinate with its Iranian patrons Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to It was against this background that India than in any other foreign country.” The Essentially, Mr. Trump’s expansive busi
fact, despite the hostility, Israel’s directly in the battleeld. Iran has al Russia to meet President Vladimir Israel strengthened its bombing cam study, released in November 2016, contend ness interests in India coupled with rockso
border with Syria has been its cal so reportedly transferred short Putin at least ve times. Both nations paign in Syria this month. Prime Mi ed that Mr. Trump is “involved in at least 16 lid bilateral relations help explain why New
mest frontier for years. When the cri range missiles and other sophisticat developed a deconiction mechan nister Netanyahu has also warned partnerships or corporations” in India. Mr. Delhi has pulled out all the stops for Mr.
sis broke in Syria in 2011, Israel was a ed weapons to Hezbollah via Syria. ism that allowed Israeli planes to at Iran “not to test our resolve.” But Trump Jr. has himself said that India consti Trump Jr.’s tendentious trip. Could the First
fence sitter. It didn’t want the stable Israel responded to this through a tack Hezbollah targets inside Syria beyond rhetoric, as the past inci tutes the largest market outside the U.S. for Son take his salesmaninchief/senior diplo
secular dictatorship in its neighbour twopronged strategy. First, it esta without clashing with Russia, which dents suggest, Israel’s capacity to the type of real estate deals pursued by the mat double act elsewhere overseas? Only
hood to be replaced by a bunch of blished contact with antiregime re is practically controlling most of the shape reality in Syria is limited. In se Trump Organization. two possible destinations come to mind: Is
militants. But as the Syrian civil war bels in southern Syria, closer to the Syrian skies. This agreement worked ven years, Iran has built a huge net It’s not just Mr. Trump and his family who rael and Saudi Arabia. If he does venture to
evolved into a regional conict over Golan. Initially Israel oered medical perfectly for Israel. Last year alone, work in Syria and emboldened Hez value business opportunities in India; mem those locales, however, his achievements
the years, Israel’s preferences and aid and other humanitarian assis Israel said it struck suspected wea bollah. This cannot be eliminated by bers of his cabinet do too. In 2006, Wilbur this week would be a hard act to follow. Mr.
strategic calculations changed too. tance to the rebels, which later ac pons shipments to Hezbollah around occasional aerial raids. A fullscale Ross, who is now Commerce Secretary, esta Trump Jr.’s visit to India coincided with that
quired military and logistical dimen 100 times. intervention is risky as long as Russia blished a $300 million fund focussed on In of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Hezbollah factor sions. The plan was to carve out a directly backs the regime. And if the dia and bought the textile company OMC In The son of the most controversial U.S. Presi
When the Syrian regime’s position buer between the Golan Heights The Iran heat regime forces capture Idlib and the dia Ltd. In 2008, he bought $80 million in dent in modern history has not only stolen
got weakened in the conict, Hezbol that Israel controls and the Syrian But despite these onando inter Damascus suburbs, which is only a convertible bonds issued by the airline Spi the spotlight from one of the world’s most
lah, the Lebanese Shia militant group Golan. Israel didn’t want Hezbollah ventions, Israel has failed to build matter of time, they will shift their fo
#5 2 2 5 6 9
ceJet. (He subsequently sold it.) Goldman beloved and photogenic leaders, he has also
backed by Iran, sent thousands of its or other Iranian proxies to take con any substantial leverage in Syria’s cus to the Israelbacked rebels in the Sachs, the previous employer of Treasury Se enjoyed much warmer treatment.
soldiers to the battleeld to defend trol of the border region. According conict zones. True, it has built in south, dragging Tel Aviv deeper into cretary Steven Mnuchin, boasts a signicant
the Assad government. Iran also sent to analyst Elizabeth Tsurkov, who uence among rebel groups in south the conict. presence in India and has provided support Michael Kugelman is the deputy director of the Asia
Shia militants, who were recruited wrote a detailed report on Israel’s ac ern Syria. But developments in Syria to the Indian renewable energy rm ReNew. Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre
from dierent countries, to Syria. Be tivities in southern Syria, Tel Aviv over the past two years have scuttled stanly.johny@thehindu.co.in Now consider the diplomatic side. Since for Scholars in Washington, DC
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SINGLE FILE FROM ARCHIVES
Bengal Governor directs release of detenus
For Elon Musk, turning manned missions
The West Bengal Governor, Mr. Dharma Vira, has ordered the
protable might not be insurmountable release of all those detained under the Preventive Detention
R. Prasad
Act and for violating prohibitory orders, excepting those in
volved in violence or subversive activities. He has also ordered
On February 7, U.S. tech and automo the lifting of prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr. P.C. ex
biles billionaire Elon Musk made histo cept in some areas. The Governor said, he did not know the in
ry when the Falcon Heavy, the world’s tention of the Centre with regard to midterm elections in the
most powerful rocket, was successful State, but so far as he was concerned, “the sooner the burden
ly launched by SpaceX, a company he is taken away from me the better it will be for me.” The Gover
founded. The rocket’s payload was a nor was replying to questions at his rst Press conference at
cherryred 2008 Tesla Roadster elec Raj Bhavan today [February 21, Calcutta].
AP
tric car with a mannequin wearing one
of SpaceX’s spacesuits. The Roadster became the rst auto
mobile in deep space. A HUNDRED YEARS AGO FEBRUARY 22, 1918.
The launch of Falcon Heavy opens a new frontier in space
exploration, particularly interplanetary missions and Russian Situation.
manned missions to the moon in the next few years and pos
sibly to Mars in the next couple of decades. The latest telegrams from Russia [received in London] point to
The 230fttall rocket with 2,500 tonnes of thrust, the the increasing chaos and widespread disturbances in the
equivalent of 18 Boeing 747 aircraft at full throttle, blasted in South. The only denite fact is that the Germans crossed the
to space with the capability of carrying as much as 64 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Dvina, because there was nothing to prevent them. Germany’s
tonnes of payload to low Earth orbit. This translates to dou move has roused even the idealists in Petrograd. Gen. Gorky’s
bling the maximum payload carrying capacity from 30 CONCEPTUAL FAQ paper ‘New Life’ which has hitherto been pacist, says that the
tonnes using the Delta IV Heavy. In comparison, the Indian German Government, having quelled disaection, will at
Space Research Organisation’s GSLV MarkIII, the rocket Eective The nuts and bolts of a fraud tempt to smash the Russian revolution. It points out the neces
with maximum payload carrying capacity, can hoist only altruism sity to withstand the AustroGerman attack by organising an
about 10 tonnes payload to low Earth orbit. Philosophy SWIFT, LoUs and the Punjab National Bank case army for which plenty of material exists. Petrograd telegrams
What makes Falcon Heavy even more attractive is, of report that General Kaledin has committed suicide.
course, the cost per launch. At $90 million, it is light on the This refers to an approach Prashanth Perumal J. tees the bank that receives wever, contend that the
pocket compared with Delta IV Heavy, which costs about to philanthropy that em the LoU request that it fraud is not simply a mat
$435 million per launch. It is sheer engineering brilliance phasises the use of reason How did the Punjab stands by the creditwor ter of the failure of PNB’s CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
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that makes the Falcon Heavy cheaper to launch even when and evidence to solve the National Bank (PNB) scam thiness of the borrower. internal control system.
the payload carrying capacity is increased by a factor of two. problems of underprivi work? That is, in case of a de Instead, they blame aws
DATA POINT
While traditional boosters, which propel the rocket before leged people. It involves fault, the bank that issued in the ownership of public
getting detached, are discarded on falling back to Earth, careful evaluation of the Diamond merchant Nirav the LoU stands liable to sector banks. In fact, the
SpaceX has found a way to bring the booster back to a eectiveness of dierent Modi has been accused of compensate the bank that PNB scam came to light
predetermined place in a controlled fashion for a soft land forms of charity in ad siphoning o funds worth made the loan to the bor only after a whistleblower
ing, so it can be reused. Since over 80% of rocket launch dressing social problems about 11,500 crore from rower. PNB alleges that exposed it.
costs goes into building the rocket, reusing the boosters and also the recognition the public sector bank, employees at one of its
helps reduce the cost substantially. that resources to solve the PNB. A key element of the branches in Mumbai is Is this the rst time?
Of the three boosters used to lift the Falcon Heavy, the world’s problems are limit scam is the Society for sued fraudulent LoUs that
two side boosters landed perfectly at almost the same time ed. Thus, the advocates of Worldwide Interbank Fi were not authorised by its No. SWIFT has been
on two landing pads at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The third eective altruism argue nancial Telecommunica management. This alleg gamed by miscreants on a
booster splashed into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. that resources must be al tion (SWIFT), a messaging edly allowed Mr. Modi's number of occasions. In
Despite a textbook takeo, the Falcon Heavy will miss its located carefully towards network that connects companies to obtain loans 2016, there was a cyber
date with Mars as it overshot its trajectory. Unlike India’s only the most pressing so banks and other nancial from the overseas branch heist of $81 million from
Mangalyaan, the Falcon Heavy joins the ranks of other Mars cial issues that can be institutions across the es of various Indian banks. Bangladesh’s central
missions of spacefaring countries to have missed reaching solved instead of trying to world. Among other bank. Russia’s central
the Mars orbit on the very rst attempt. address all kinds of pro things, a bank that is part Why did it happen? bank recently reported
For now, Falcon Heavy might not be a direct competitor blems facing the world. of SWIFT can use the sys that $6 million was stolen
to established space agencies for launching communication tem to convey credit in PNB’s internal informa from a Russian bank last
and other satellites as the focus is on the manned interpla CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC struments called letters of tion systems were not year by exploiting the
netary mission. Herein lies the uncertainty. There is a great undertaking (LoUs) to oth seamlessly linked to SWIFT system. Even the
MORE ON
business opportunity in launching datagathering satellites
at a lower cost while proting from manned missions is un
certain. Yet for Mr. Musk, who has been steadfast in his mis
THE WEB 3 er banks located overseas.
An LoU is simply a request
made to another bank in
SWIFT. It is claimed that
the huge fund transfers
made via SWIFT to Mr.
Reserve Bank of India stat
ed this week that it had
privately warned Indian
sion to build a rocket to reach Mars, and has achieved a Sophia, the humanoid the SWIFT network to Modi’s companies by a banks about the prospect
technological breakthrough that even established space robot citizen loan money to a client. few PNB employees went of misuse of SWIFT at least
agencies have failed to accomplish, turning manned mis The bank that issues the undetected for many three times since August
sions protable might not be insurmountable. http://bit.ly/sophiaAI LoU essentially guaran years. Many critics, ho 2016.
CM M ND-NDE
YK