Feature
Drop the notion that terror is someone else’s problem:Modi
Washington:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Brussels attacks have illustrated how real and immediate is the threat to nuclear security from terrorism and the world needs to drop the notion that terrorism is someone else’s problem and that “his” terrorist is not “my” terrorist.
In a strong statement during his intervention on nuclear terrorism threat at the Fourth Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) here, Modi said that while terrorism is globally networked, “but we still act only nationally to counter this threat”.
“Drop the notion that terrorism is someone else’s problem and that ‘his’ terrorist is not ‘my’ terrorist. Nuclear security must remain an abiding national priority. All States must completely abide by their international obligations.”
Seated next to US President Barack Obama during the NSS dinner, Modi said Obama has done a great service to global security by putting the spotlight on nuclear security.
“Brussels shows us how real and immediate is the threat to nuclear security from terrorism,” he said, referring to the March 22 terror attacks in the Belgian capital that killed 35 people and left over 200 injured.
He said the world needs to focus on three contemporary features of terrorism.
“First, today’s terrorism uses extreme violence as theatre. Second, we are no longer looking for a man in a cave, but we are hunting for a terrorist in a city with a computer or a smart phone. Third, state actors working with nuclear traffickers and terrorists present the greatest risk.”
“Terror has evolved. Terrorists are using 21st century technology. But our responses are rooted in the past. Terrorism is globally networked. But, we still act only nationally to counter this threat. The reach and supply chains of terrorism are global; but genuine cooperation between nation states is not,” Modi said.
“Without prevention and prosecution of acts of terrorism there is no deterrence against nuclear terrorism.”
Modi urged the nations to keep alive the push for nuclear security that was begun by Obama during his presidency.
“This legacy of President Obama must endure,” said Modi.
This was the fourth and final NSS of Obama’s presidency. With Obama, who conceived and championed the meetings, leaving office next year, this is likely to be the last such summit.
Leaders of 53 nations and four international organisations are attending the Washington summit on nuclear security.
The NSS process has focused on the global threat posed by nuclear terrorism and urgent measures required to prevent terrorists and other non-state actors from gaining access to sensitive nuclear materials and technologies.
The 2016 Summit is expected to take stock of the progress of the previous NSS Communiques and work plan and outline the future agenda.
The State Scores Extra High on Gaming-Friendly Industry Index
Meghalaya scored 92.85 out of 100 possible points in a Gaming Industry Index and proved to be India’s most gaming-friendly state following its recent profound legislation changes over the field allowing land-based and online gaming, including games of chance, under a licensing regime.
The index by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) uses a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the level of legalisation on gambling and betting achieved by a state based on the scores over a set of seven different games – lottery, horse racing, betting on sports, poker, rummy, casino and fantasy sports
Starting from February last year, Meghalaya became the third state in India’s northeast to legalise gambling and betting after Sikkim and Nagaland. After consultations with the UKIBC, the state proceeded with the adoption of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and the nullification of the Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970. Subsequently in December, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 were notified and came into force.
All for the Tourists
The move to legalise and license various forms of offline and online betting and gambling in Meghalaya is aimed at boosting tourism and creating jobs, and altogether raising taxation revenues for the northeastern state. At the same time, the opportunities to bet and gamble legally will be reserved only for tourists and visitors.
“We came out with a Gaming Act and subsequently framed the Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021. The government will accordingly issue licenses to operate games of skill and chance, both online and offline,” said James P. K. Sangma, Meghalaya State Law and Taxation Minister speaking in the capital city of Shillong. “But the legalized gambling and gaming will only be for tourists and not residents of Meghalaya,” he continued.
To be allowed to play, tourists and people visiting the state for work or business purposes will have to prove their non-resident status by presenting appropriate documents, in a process similar to a bank KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
Meghalaya Reaches Out to a Vast Market
With 140 millions of people in India estimated to bet regularly on sports, and a total of 370 million desi bettors around prominent sporting events, as per data from one of the latest reports by Esse N Videri, Meghalaya is set to reach out and take a piece of a vast market.
Estimates on the financial value of India’s sports betting market, combined across all types of offline channels and online sports and cricket predictions and betting platforms, speak about amounts between $130 and $150 billion (roughly between ₹9.7 and ₹11.5 lakh crore).
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi are shown to deliver the highest number of bettors and Meghalaya can count on substantial tourists flow from their betting circles. The sports betting communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also not to be underestimated.
Among the sports, cricket is most popular, registering 68 percent of the total bet count analyzed by Esse N Videri. Football takes second position with 11 percent of the bets, followed by betting on FIFA at 7 percent and on eCricket at 5 percent. The last position in the Top 5 of popular sports for betting in India is taken by tennis with 3 percent of the bet count.
Local Citizens will Still have Their Teer Betting
Meghalaya residents will still be permitted to participate in teer betting over arrow-shooting results. Teer is a traditional method of gambling, somewhat similar to a lottery draw, and held under the rules of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
Teer includes bettors wagering on the number of arrows that reach the target which is placed about 50 meters away from a team of 20 archers positioned in a semicircle.
The archers shoot volleys of arrows at the target for ten minutes, and players place their bets choosing a number between 0 and 99 trying to guess the last two digits of the number of arrows that successfully pierce the target.
If, for example, the number of hits is 256, anyone who has bet on 56 wins an amount eight times bigger than their wager.
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