WHAT the world was speculating over the proposed transition of power in North Korea got a big impetus when the country’s powerful leader Mr. Kim Jong Un brought before public his daughter Ms. Kim Ju Ae. The girl is primed as a future leader of North Korea, a theory which has got a strong stamp of approval after her appearance in the military parade in Pyongyang. The largely isolated country has thus made another statement that the power centre is set to remain with the fascist-thinking Mr. Kim and his family. North Korea is one example where communism has taken a hardcore shape when the world is readily accepting democratic values as the way forward to prosperity. The likes of China, Russia and Turkey, too, have been quite open about their fascist policies which the world sees as an anathema to good governance. The North Korean situation provides total insight into the protectionist policies such fascist regimes adopt at their own peril. Most of the communist leaders are indulging in the old, archaic thinking of keeping self isolated from the positive changes that are happening around the world. Such stance would always have limited shelf-life. Too much suppression only leads to implosion.

 

 

SOME things would remain permanent in Indian cricket -- it would never fall out of its fans’ favour and there would be no stopping Ravindra Jadeja when in his elements. It is a given for Jadeja to take control of things even if coming after a long hiatus. It was evident, once again, in the manner in which the left-armer announced his comeback to international cricket. He was on the coin right from the word go against Australia in the first Test, picking up five wickets to celebrate his comeback. It was as if the knee injury did not happen to Jadeja. He was out of action for a long time but never did it show during the tremendous spell Jadeja bowled to skittle out the Australians in the first innings. These traits make Jadeja a special player who cannot be measured in typical cricketing parameters. The comeback tells the strong character of the cricketers who had to face cringe trolling by faceless social media users for helping his wife in her political campaign. The attacks were dirty to say the least but Jadeja being the strong-willed performer, he easily swept the muck aside and emerged as the fighter who never gives up. His comeback is the best news for Indian cricket this year.