There has been a lot of activity around India's #MeToo movement of late and depending on where you stand, it's either too much or too little. But one thing is clear: Indian women, like those elsewhere, cannot always rely on the sisterhood and presume its members will stand solidly alongside them in the trenches for a war that some claim is unfocused, unfair and even unjustified. In India, as everywhere else, there is no unified, gender-coded front in the #MeToo battle.
Consider the news developments in the three weeks since India’s junior foreign minister MJ Akbar resigned to launch a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, one of a number of women accusing him of historical sexual harassment.
Last week, Mr Akbar testified in his first court hearing about the “immediate damage” caused to his reputation by the “scurrilous” claims. Just days later, Indian journalist Pallavi Gogoi, who is now based in the US, accused Mr Akbar of raping her 25 years earlier. Mr Akbar responded by saying his relationship with Ms Gogoi had been “consensual”, a claim that was immediately rejected by his accuser.
Mr Akbar's wife Mallika has rushed to his defence, charging Ms Gogoi with "flaunting the relationship [with her husband and causing] anguish and hurt" to the family. Meanwhile, a number of male Indian commentators have called into question Ms Gogoi's motivations, honesty and even her character, challenged the direction and thrust of the entire #MeToo movement and even accused the Washington Post, where Ms Gogoi published her revelations, of being anti-Indian.
The latest to wade into the debate is Bikram Vohra, a prominent Indian editor and former colleague of Mr Akbar, who wrote that it was "laughable" the MJ Akbar he knew in the 1980s could "make the leap from a relatively ho-hum boring guy...to being this grotesque figure who suddenly had this Rasputin-like ability to stun so many intelligent women into silent submission". Indeed, he claimed, had someone “just smacked him one hard across his face instead of being in awe, maybe the monster would have deflated, more's the pity”. In other words, it was the women’s fault for letting Mr Akbar become an alleged sexual predator.
The twists and turns of the Akbar case have been dramatic and compelling to watch, with palpable human emotion on all sides. But it goes beyond prurient detail. What the case really tells us about #MeToo, #MeTooIndia and other newly women-focused movements is key. First, having more women speak about previously below-the-radar matters might change little, not if all that emerges is the usual defence: that the victim is lying or was a willing participant in the alleged incident. That was the line taken by Mrs Akbar in arguing her husband’s case. Last month, US first lady Melania Trump urged women “to have really hard evidence” before alleging sexual misconduct, even though such cases don't always have the luxury of solid proof. Second, a cause – any cause – has to be seen as just, and be supported by both men and women if there is to be real, lasting and broad social change.
How does one do that with #MeToo? Can it even be done? Men – not just in India – are increasingly feeling threatened by the name-and-shame movement and the backlash from both sexes has already begun, with its critics claiming the accusations are either trivial, historical vendettas or merely attention-seeking.
Right now, women are turning on other women over their claims of sexual harassment. In the wake of her allegations that she was sexually harassed by her co-star Nana Patekar, Tanushree Dutta, the former Bollywood actress, has faced plenty of criticism herself. Among her critics is dancer Rakhi Sawant, whom she threatened to sue after being subjected to an alleged smear campaign.
Additionally, the silence of Indian women in power – Mr Akbar’s female former ministerial colleagues, for instance – is striking. It took a male BJP leader, PVS Sarma, to publicly state this week that "MJ Akbar must go now. He should be removed from the party." He added on Twitter: "He should be advised to quit [until] he is cleared of the charges. He can always come back if he is not found guilty." That it was a male politician who spoke out is significant – and heartening.
The sisterhood alone cannot provide support for a movement led by women. Those women have fathers, brothers, husbands and sons, who should – and often do – care just as much. The voices of both genders are equally important in this battle. And while the evidence in all cases must be thoroughly investigated, women need men to embrace the #MeToo movement for it to have any real impact.
That said, women, just as much as men, have a fundamental right to be treated with respect. That’s the irreducible core of the #MeToo movement and it will not be diminished by smears and name-calling.
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Mobile phone packages comparison
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The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPECS
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Read more from Johann Chacko
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
THREE
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