Let me start Monday reading on a light note. Something i can confirm because of empirical evidence (this is the third dog i am bringing up) — Do Animals Fart? .

If you want to lose weight, maybe you should give up sugar instead of fat, say scientists.

Bloomberg has a piece on the Moody upgrade impact on Modi.

There is a chilling story on child trafficking in India, in the NYT. There is another story, from Telengana,  on poor kids being lured with free education, and converted to Islam.

Pranab Mukherjee, the former President of India, pens a lovely tribute to Indira Gandhi, former (and late) Prime Minister of India. Kumar Ketkar has a more nuanced piece in the Print. What strikes you is her courage, that is sorely lacking in leadership today.

If the thought of the Indian State capitulating to groups who threaten to behead people whose views they disagree with, does not fill you with dread, i am not sure what will. And this is why film makers or business, has to cower and capitulate, because there is no one to secure their security.  The Padmavati case tells you, that once again, national interests will be sacrificed in the altar of iffy political gains.

(This is the Viacom official statement)

While Padmavati is in the national gaze because of Bollywood, threats continue in other parts of India – and this time it is the TMC,  threatening to ‘gouge out the eyes’ of opponents.

If you think that social media is helping violent fuel protests, then you maybe right.Following Government hearings in the USA, Twitter has agreed to ban people with links to violent groups ‘Both On and Off the Platform‘ . This is going down the slippery slope of curtailing free speech. But, the protection of free speech is the job of the Government. Private companies can have, and do have, restrictive terms of service.

And, finally, something to make you smile (mostly) – the best of wildlife photography this year.

source : Guardian