News Reel 07.09.03

• LAW takes its famed course and reins in the ghosts of the post-Godhra riots. In a special leave petition filed by the National Human ...

• LAW takes its famed course and reins in the ghosts of the post-Godhra riots. In a special leave petition filed by the National Human Rights Commission seeking retrial of all riot-related cases, specifically the Best Bakery, outside Godhra, the Supreme Court raps the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government. Not mincing words, Chief Justice V N Khare asks Modi either to fulfil its rajdharma — protecting the people and punishing the guilty — or quit the post.

• A DIPLOMATIC coup or a geostrategic blunder? Ariel Sharon’s high-profile visit to India — the first by an Israeli Prime Minister after formal diplomatic ties were established in 1992 — is hailed as many as another victory for the new Indian foreign policy of pragmatism. With protestors failing to garner much column inches in mainstream media, Sharon’s visit establishes Israel as India’s best friend in terms of Defence ties. But as the euphoria picks up, a blasts near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem kill dozens forcing the Star of David to cut short his much-awaited trip.

• SEPARATIST conglomerate Hurriyat Conference splits vertically, with the hawks under the leadership of Syed Ali Shah Geelani ‘‘expelling’’ the current leadership of moderate Maulvi Abbas Ansari. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan says the split is an internal matter of the conglomerate, but for those hoping for peace to dawn in the valley soon, the hawks send a red signal.

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• THE man who was initially given 24 hours to prove his majority in India’s most populous state, does so with elan. Days after sparking a split in the Bahujan Samaj Party, Mulayam Singh Yadav sails through his confidence motion with a comfortable margin of 90.

• WORLD of art suffers two losses. Leni Riefenstahl, the last of Germany’s big Nazi-era figures who made powerful films for Adolf Hitler, dies at the age of 101. The original Working Class Hero, Johnny Cash, dies at Nashville at the age of 71. Cash became an American legend with a prodigious output of songs like I walk the line and Ring of fire that bore his hallmark of rugged simplicity.

• At CANCUN from where humanity awaits news of a fairer world, chaos prevail. Developing nations, spearheaded by India, stick to their stand that fair trade should come before free trade. But the US and EU refuse to cut back on farm subsidies. The debate goes on…

• IRAN gets a deadline to declare details of its nuclear programme by Oct 31, or else…And Yasser Arafat suddenly finds himself in the limelight after the abortive second Intifada. Israel cabinet’s decision to expel him from West Bank suddenly sees the world rallying around the ageing leader.

Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, India's superfan, with Pakistan team's superfan Chacha Cricket, whose real name is Chaudhry Abdul Jalil. (Special arrangement)

Beyond bitterness on field, a tale of two superfans Sudhir and Chacha

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Chacha Cricket and Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, passionate cricket fans from Pakistan and India, have formed an unexpected bond despite their countries' rivalry. They consider cricket a game of love, not hate, and their friendship serves as a reminder to respect opponents.

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