What killed Tiwari?

On the morning of 7 July 2016, the founder of Indian Paranormal Society, Gaurav Tiwari, was found dead in his bathroom. The Delhi Police reported a case of asphyxiation or suffocation, but the paranormal researchers did not buy this. Tiwari’s body was found lying on the bathroom floor with a thin black line - which became the focus of all arguments - that ran across his neck.

Tiwari’s wife and father heard a ‘loud thud from the bathroom’ and discovered his body lying lifeless on the floor. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Gaurav was reported feeling uneasy for a month. He felt that a “negative force was pulling” him towards it.  The Police refused to believe this and claims that it was a case of suicide, as the recently married couple did not share cordial relations due to Tiwari’s nature of work.

Gaurav was a pilot and actor by profession before he experienced a series of paranormal phenomena at his Florida apartment, which turned him into one of the best researchers on these activities. Apart from working with his own team, he appeared in numerous national and international TV shows and movies. The Indian Paranormal Society has investigated over 6,000 cases and was known to have busted the age-old Bhangarh Fort myth. His demise leaves many questions unanswered as to what really haunted the ‘ghost hunter’ of the country.

What did Donald Trump do in his first 100 days as the POTUS?

Neither the people nor Trump himself expected that he would be the 45th President of America. But, in a result that shocked more people than relieved, he became the first citizen 100 days ago. Let’s take a look at ‘important milestones’ of the Trump government.

The day Trump took the oath, Washington DC witnessed a protest that turned violent when the protesters were attacked with tear gas and stun grenades.  

He falsely claimed about the number of people who had turned up for the inauguration day as compared to the previous President Barack Obama’s.

On day 4, Trump reinstated the “Global Gag Rule”. Under this rule, US federal funding was not allowed for NGOs that provide abortion counselling or referrals or expand abortion services. He also withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, backing from the trade agreement with several countries. His staff was banned from talking to the Press. He claims that the NATO is no longer obsolete.  

He passed an executive order to move ahead with the construction of Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline. Although the project is supposed to increase job opportunities, it would directly affect the environment, But Trump, being the only global leader who doesn’t accept climate change to be real, couldn’t care less.

Trump government also resumed building a wall on the Mexico border. They passed a rule that suspended refugee arrivals into America. In the 100 days, he imposed a ban on travel visa that stopped several Middle Eastern and African countries from travelling to America. This ‘Muslim Ban’ was overturned by the court.

Transgenders are facing a tough time with the Trump presidency, which revoked the guidelines allowing transgender students to use bathrooms of their choice. Trump also claimed that Obama government was tapping the phones in Trump Tower, which was proved wrong. After the numerous ‘inappropriate statements’ he’s made about his daughter, Trump named Ivanka his secretary.  

Recently, Trump authorised a missile strike against the Syrian regime and the MOAB that was targeted at IS militants in Afghanistan. In an interview, the President who promised to keep “America First” shared how he misses his ‘old life’ as he thought being a President would be ‘easier’.  

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)

The Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed last weekend in Israel and few other countries in the world. It is a day to pay tribute to the six million Jews who were a victim of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. In 1953, then President and Prime Minister of Israel passed the law to observe Yom HaShoah, on the 27th da of April/May.

American President Donald Trump also paid tribute to the victims of Holocaust. In a message recorded for the World Jewish Congress Plenary Assembly, he says that on this Holocaust Remembrance Day, they tell the stories of the fathers, mothers and children, whose lives were extinguished and whose love was torn from this earth. They also tell the stories of courage in the face of death, humanity in the face of barbarity, and the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people. His daughter Ivanka Trump also issued a statement in which she calls on to the leaders of the world to ensure that such a tragedy would never happen again.

Thousands of people participated in the March of the Living in Poland, which was a memorial march of three kilometres from the Auschwitz camp to Birkenau camp. Both the camps were used to murder Jews in gas chambers. At 10 in the morning on Yom HaShoah, Stephanie Portnoy, who is a Holocaust survivor pressed the button for a siren to play in Israel; the siren that would signal all the citizens to stop and stand to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust.   

   

Up and Up

Toronto woman, Marisa Lazo, was spotted on a construction crane hook block by passers-by in the wee hours of the day. When the incident was reported, a team of firefighters got to the place and started the 2 and ½ half hour rescue operation. At around 8:30 am, she safely landed back on the ground.

The incident took place at a construction site on Wellesley Street East near Yonge Street. The crane is estimated to be at least 20 storeys above ground and how Lazo got up there and then down the hook is something even the firefighters are confused about. Currently, an investigation is going on to learn how the woman climbed the crane while security staff video-monitored the site.

Acting Cpt. Rob Wonfor was the brave officer who saved Lazo. He commented that she was sitting calm which helped him to be calm as well. Wonfor rappelled his way down with Lazo after she had been stuck on the crane for at least four hours. Lazo’s only words to Wonfor were “glad to see you up here to help me”.

Wonfor called her climbing skills “impressive” as Lazo was handcuffed and taken to a hospital. Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said, “She did not appear to be in any distress” and was charged with six counts of mischief charge.    

 

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Kashmir Formula

Mehbooba Mufti in her meeting with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi stressed about the “Vajpayee Doctrine”. So, what is this Vajpayee doctrine?

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who belonged to the BJP and was the Minister of External Affairs in 1977, adopted a doctrine to promote Peace, progress and prosperity in the spirit of humanity, democracy and Kashmiriyat in J&K. This policy was welcomed by all the politicals spectrums in India including extremists and Kashmiris in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Vajpayee’s famous ‘mantra’ as a Prime Minister in 1996 and then in 1998 was that “you can change friends but not your neighbours”.

He believed in solving issues with Pakistan in a peaceful manner without involving any third party. Vajpayee promoted friendly relations with Pakistan despite constant provocations from them in form of the Kargil War, hijacking and crossing the LoC. He did not give up and continued to indulge in bilateral talks with his counterpart. In February 1999, he signed the Lahore Declaration with PM Nawaz Sharif. According to the agreement, Pakistan had accepted to resolve issues in a peaceful manner through bilateral talks.

Vajpayee also took a bus journey from Delhi to Lahore and later started the Sada-e-Sarhad (Call of the Frontier) bus service on the same route as a symbol of efforts to promote peaceful and friendly relations. He expected mutual trust and support in a collective fight against poverty and terrorism and drug trafficking.