About: A break free commentary on events on our Planet, anchored on the news of the world. Any comments beyond the story, are entirely mine, without prejudice -take it or leave it. This is a run from 3 April 2025 to 14 April 2025: Trump mania, Dire Wolves, India’s Waqf Bill, and the Mumbai Terror mastermind.

Tariff Mania: Trumponomics

United States (US) of America’s President Donald Trump has been on a flamboyant James-bondish shake & stir roll ever since he took Office this January, and the momentum only gathers multiple hues every day.

Over the past many weeks, ‘Tariff’ has been the most used word in the world of Trade and has perhaps acquired a cult status. I reckon a kid’s first word might just be ‘tariff’, instead of mommy!

Tariff is tax charged, at a country’s borders, on goods imported from other countries. Typically, tariffs are a percentage of a product’s value. E.g., a 25% tariff on a USD 10 product would mean an additional USD 2.50 charge. Reciprocal Tariff would mean they are based on what countries already charge a country, say the United States, in the form of existing tariffs, plus non-tariff barriers such as regulations. Companies that bring foreign goods into a country have to pay such tax to the Government at the border points.

Trump says ‘tariff’ is his favourite word and for decades he has argued that the US should it to boost its economy. Tariffs will encourage US consumers to buy more American-made goods, increase the amount of tax raised, and lead to a huge spurt of investment in the country. The aim is to reduce the gap between the value of goods the US buys from other countries and the value of those it sells to them.

Trump’s rant is that America has been taken advantage of by ‘cheaters’ and ‘pillaged’ by foreigners.

The US slammed Reciprocal Tariffs on a host of countries-imports from the rest of the World. A unilateral 10% on imports from all countries was the first to kick-in with US Customs Agents beginning to make collections on 5 April 2025 at Seaports, Airports, and Customs Ware-Houses. This ushers in America’s full rejection of the post-World War-II system of mutually agreed tariff rates. The claim is that 10% tariff on all nations and much higher rates of up to 50% on individual countries will boost the US economy and protect jobs. However, many nations will face much higher tariffs, starting on 9 April 2025.

A Trade Lawyer said, “This is the single biggest trade action of our lifetime. It is expected the tariffs will evolve over time as countries seek to negotiate lower rates. This is a pretty seismic and significant shift in the way that we trade with every country on Earth”.

These tariffs include 49% on Cambodian products, 46% on Vietnamese imports and an extra 34% on those from China (in addition to 20% tariffs previously announced). Goods from the European Union (EU) will be taxed at 20% and that from India at 27%. Trump’s higher Reciprocal Tariff rates of 11% to 50% are due to take effect on 9 April 2025.

On the sidelines, Trump’s buddy Elon Musk, told a political event in Italy that he hoped to see complete freedom of trade between the US and EU, which he described as ‘a zero tariff situation’. Canada and Mexico were exempt from Trump’s latest duties but still face a 25% tariff imposed recently on goods that do not comply with rules of origin under a North American trade accord.

While Trump’s Order exempted 1,000 product categories from the new tariffs such as pharmaceuticals, uranium and semiconductors, he is considering new duties on some of them. Later, it was announced that smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices were exempt from Reciprocal Tariffs.

The announcement sent the world into a tizzy hammering financial markets. And Stock Markets dived and plunged all over the World raising concerns of a recession. Many of them bounced back-some quickly others gradually, licking their wounds. Meanwhile, countries scrambled their best negotiators to fly to the US for talks. One of the first off the blocks, was Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu – hit by a 17% tariff – who ‘red-tied’ with Trump in the Oval Office. Netanyahu promised to eliminate Israel’s trade surplus with the US and also remove trade barriers. They showed-off their ‘best-friends equations’. The US is Israel’s closely ally and largest single trading partner.

China responded by imposing retaliatory Tariffs of 85% on America. And in turn America raised the bar even further going up to 120%. However, amidst the storm, Trump unilaterally called a 90 day ‘Tariff Cease-Fire’ with the rest of the world with the exception of China. India stayed calm and withered the Trump tempest for the present.

Wonder how all of this is going to end – call it crazy or is it disruptive deal-making?

Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi

I first came to know about Dire Wolves in the George R R Martin’s, fantasy novel A Game of Thrones (also a major TV series) where they are portrayed as a species of wolf, but much larger and significantly more intelligent than the normal wolves. Though considered as pets to the main characters they were much more. It was the animal featured on the House Stark sigil (an inscribed symbol considered to have magical powers) and thus incredibly important to the Northern Rulers of the mythical period. In ‘Game of Thrones’ premiere, a litter of Dire Wolves was discovered, with each Stark child allowed to care for one, and with the animals quickly bonding with their corresponding owners.

Touching ‘terra firma’, the Dire Wolf once roamed an American range that extended as far south as Venezuela and as far north as Canada, but then the species went extinct-not a single one has been seen in over 10,000 years.

Enter a company called Colossal Biosciences, which pulled off a staggering Jurassic Park Science feat and resurrected the extinct Dire Wolves, much like Dinosaurs came alive in the movie. Plenty of Dire Wolf remains have been discovered across the Americas, which presented the opportunity for Colossal Biosciences to bring them back to life.

Relying on deft genetic engineering and ancient, preserved DNA, Colossal Biosciences scientists deciphered the Dire Wolf genome, rewrote the genetic code of the common Gray Wolf to match it, and, using domestic dogs as surrogate mothers, brought Romulus, Remus, and their sister, 2-month-old Khaleesi, into the world during three separate births last year and early this year. In doing so, effectively, for the first time, de-extincting a line of beasts whose live gene pool vanished long ago.

The Dire Wolf genome that was analysed was extracted from two ancient samples: one a 13,000-year-old tooth found in Sheridan Pit, Ohio; the other a 72,000-year-old ear bone unearthed in American Falls, Idaho. The samples were lent by the museums that housed them.

Recall, the mythical story, Romulus and Remus were suckled by a she-wolf in Lupercal Cave before being rescued by a shepherd. Romulus went on to build the ancient city of Rome (they say after killing Remus). ‘Khaleesi’ means Queen and is derived from Dothraki (a fictional language in George R R Martin’s fantasy novels and Game of Thrones).

Romulus and Remus are enjoying their puppy life: chasing, tussling, nipping, nuzzling, and the kind. But what is very un-puppy like is their huge size and behaviour: the snowy white 6-month-olds already measure nearly 4 feet long and weigh about 36 kg. But the angelic exuberance puppies exhibit in the presence of humans-trotting up for hugs, belly rubs, kisses-is completely absent. They keep their distance, flinching and retreating if a person approaches. These pups were the first to produce a howl that hadn’t been heard on Earth in over 10,000 years!

The Dire Wolf isn’t the only animal that Colossal Biosciences, which was founded in 2021 and currently employs 130 scientists, wants to bring back. Also on their de-extinction wish list is the Woolly Mammoth, the Dodo, and the Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger. Already, in March, the company surprised the science community with the news that it had copied mammoth DNA to create a Woolly Mouse, a chimeric critter with the long golden coat, and the accelerated fat metabolism of the Mammoth.

Since their births, the Dire Wolves are living on a 2,000-acre ecological Preserve at a location in the US that Colossal Biosciences keeps secret for obvious reasons. The Preserve is surrounded by a 10 feet fence and includes a smaller six-acre site with a veterinary clinic, an extreme-weather shelter, and natural dens where the wolves can securely retreat. A staff of veterinarians looks out for the animals around the clock. The wolves are fed a diet of beef, horse, and deer meat as well as liver and other offal, along with puppy chow to provide vital nutrients. When they were just weaned, the meat was served pureed, which is similar to the partially digested meat a mother will regurgitate to feed her young. Now the food is presented whole so the wolves can tear it apart as they would if they had hunted it down. So far, they have not actually killed any small, live prey that may have ventured into their enclosure.

Should extinct animals be brought back to life? Imagine if we bring back Dinosaurs and allow them to roam the Earth. And going a step further, how about our ancient cousins Neanderthals? While the scientific feat is surely spectacular should not we be circumspect and draw a line somewhere? Unless we want to make some new kind of species and release them on the Moon or Mars and allow them to evolve – hoping one day they fly back to Earth or welcome us on their Planet-as a bloodline Alien?

India’s Waqf Bill

The Background, Basics

The word ‘Waqf’ is from the Arabic word ‘Waqufa’ meaning, to detain or to hold or tie up. Waqf is the permanent dedication by a person professing Islam, of movable or immovable property for any purpose recognised by Muslim/Islamic Law as pious, religious or charitable. And and any other use or sale of the property is prohibited. Once designated so, a Waqf property is considered inalienable, and cannot be inherited, gifted or sold and the ownership is transferred from the person making the Waqf to Allah- bestowing it to Him-making it irrevocable. ‘Waqif’ is a person who creates a Waqf. In the absence of a physically tangible entity, a ‘Mutawalli’ is appointed by the Waqif, to manage or administer a Waqf property.

In India, through The Waqf Act 1954, State Waqf Boards (SWBs) were created in every State, for the first time, to manage Waqf properties within the State. This Act led to the establishment of the Central Waqf Council (CWC)of India in 1964 to oversee and supervise State Waqf Boards and enable a centralised administration. Several amendments to the Waqf Act of 1954 were carried out in 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1984 to further improve the administration of Waqf properties.

Then came the Waqf Act, 1995, which repealed the 1954 Act and its amendments. It provided for the power and functions of the CWC, SWB, and a Chief Executive Officer, and also the duties of Mutawalli. It also created Waqf Tribunals -special courts with powers similar to civil courts – which decisions were final and could not be challenged in civil courts. The Tribunals were like kangaroo courts, and surprisingly were outside the purview of Indian Civil Law.

The Government estimates that Waqf Boards currently control 8.7 lakh properties spanning 9.4 lakh acres across India with an estimated value of 1.2 lakh crores. India has the largest Waqf holding in the World. Further, Waqf Board is the largest landowner in India after the Armed Forces, and the Indian Railways. There are 356,051 Waqf Estates registered under Waqf Board; 872,328 immovable properties and 16,713 movable properties registered under the Waqf Board.

This mammoth establishment created a plethora of issues such as, limited diversity in constitution of SWBs and CWC, misuse of power and non-maintenance of proper accounts by Mutawallis, lack of effective coordination with local revenue authorities, issues of removal of encroachments, registration and declaration of title of Waqf properties, sweeping power to Waqf Boards for claiming properties resulting in disputes and litigation, non-applicability of Limitation Act resulting in creating disharmony among communities, low and negligible income from Waqf properties, etc.

Over to the Present: Key Changes

India’s Parliament after intense debate passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 2 April 2025, with the lower House, the Lok Sabha passing it with 288 voting in favour and 232 against. The next day, the upper House, the Rajya Sabha approved the Bill with 128 in favour, to 95 against the legislation. The Rajya Sabha held a discussion on the Bill for around 12 hours before clearing it. Then the President of India signed it into law on 8 April 2025 and notified it for implementation in The Gazette of India.

The Waqf Amendment Act of 2025, allows Waqf to be formed by: declaration; or endowment when the line of succession ends (called Waqf-alal-aulad). Only a person practicing Islam for at least five years may declare a Waqf and the person must own the property being declared. It removes ‘Waqf by user’, where properties could be deemed as Waqf based solely on prolonged use for religious purposes. It also adds that Waqf-alal-aulad must not result in denial of inheritance rights to the donor’s heirs including women. Any government property identified as Waqf will cease to be so. The District Collector of the area will determine ownership in case of uncertainty and put it up for approval by the Government.

The New Bill brings in representation for the Bohra and Agakhani Muslim communities in addition to the exiting Shia and Sunni, if they have functional Waqf. The SWB/CWC will have at least two women Muslims and two non-muslims excluding ex-officio members. This brings in wider representation – being property and does not interfere with religious practices.

The ‘kangaroo court power’ of the Tribunals was brought under check: a Tribunal’s orders may now be appealed in a civil High Court within 90 days.

The central government can make rules regarding: registration; publication of accounts of Waqf; and publication of proceedings of WBs. Under the Act, State government may get the accounts of Waqfs audited at any point.

The Waqf Amendment is a watershed moment in India clearing the grey areas in the law, which meandered outside it, bringing better accountability, representation, and control.

While most States in India remained calm, the State of West Bengal began boiling: violent anti-Waqf Amendment clashes erupted in Murshidabad. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) an off-shoot of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) appears to have played a significant role in instigating violence holding door-to-door campaigns ‘falsely claiming that the Centre was using the Waqf law to snatch everything owned by Muslims’. Central Forces were called-in to contain the violence especially against Hindus, who abandoned their homes in fear.

The Govt of West Bengal is failing to contain the loot, arson, and vandalism and its Chief Minister declared the State will not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 -that’s a direct challenge against the law made by Parliament. This could have incited and instigated the violence and such speech should be abhorred.

The Return: India’s 26/11

In a superb diplomatic and security victory milestone for India, it got a stranglehold on on one of the master-minds and conspirators of the Mumbai Terror Attacks of 26 November 2008 (26/11). A total of 175 people died-including 9 of the attackers in that horrific, bloody attack, which shook India. A lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was physically caught by the unforgettable heroic Tukaram Omble – who gave up his life in the process, being shot by Kasab in close range, multiple times. Kasab was tried by India’s courts and hanged to death in the Yerawada Central Jail in 2012. Also in my memory stays Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the National Security Guards (NSG) who died in a heroic rescue mission by India’s Commandos in the Taj Hotel. The attackers belonged to the Pakistan based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), supported by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a 64-year old Canadian citizen, of Pakistan origin was extradited to India on 10 April 2025, after 16years. A former Pakistan Army Medical Corps turned Immigration Consultant. Rana’s childhood friend and co-conspirator David Coleman Headley is in a US jail, sentenced to 35years for his role. Rana now faces justice under full-force of Indian law.

The man primarily responsible for getting Rana extradited to India is Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, who led India’s arguments in a US court. The proceedings, saw a spirited legal fight between Krishnan and another extradition veteran Paul Garlick QC, who represented Rana.

Tahawwur Rana provided the blueprint that helped LeT carry out the terror attacks in Mumbai. He helped David Headley obtain a multi-entry business visa to India. Both of them worked in close co-ordination with Pakistan’s ISI and had made a detailed attack plan to target Chatrapati Shivaji terminus, Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman House and the Cama & Albless Hospital. David Headley in India took the help of Hollywood Director & Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt’s son Rahul Bhatt to reconnoiter places in Mumbai. Rana also provided Headley with the required finances for the operation.

The expectation is that Tahawwur Rana will be sentenced, after India coaxes out of him, more information, details, and names of any other conspirators.

More stirring stories ahead. Have a blast with ‘Freewheeling’.