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Bob Dylan, the winner of Nobel Prize for Literature, has written a speech for Saturday’s banquet which will be read in his absence.

On the 5th December 2016, there was a launch of Veena Rao's newest novel, Charlotte's End. The book is based on Susan Hill's sequel Mrs de Winter but unlike the latter it has a happy ending.

An associate of convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary has been jailed for 28 months for knocking a boy unconscious because he was cuddling a girl.

The £5 note controversy continues to rage and the media is having a field day. Some papers are telling the story of Hindus temples refusing to take the notes with alleged Hindu atrocities on people caught selling beef in India. In the comments section of the papers disparaging remarks of Hindus are being made. The fact that the £5 notes had animal fat in it was found out by a vegetarian/vegan activist. A petition to stop using animal fat also was started by activists none of whom are Hindu. However the impression being created now is that it is the Hindus who are driving this campaign. The website of National Council of Hindu Temples says: "From the Hindu and Dharmic perspective, producing currency and casually incorporating substances which are derived from acts of violence upon vulnerable non-aggressive creatures is not the behaviour of civilised beings.''

Modi's daring decision to Demonetize Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 Notes from the 9th N0v. has stunned All Indians and the World, which will drastically reduce Black Money, Crimes, Corruption, Terrorism but increase Tax Revenue, Bank Deposits, Progress and Prestige! Soon there were panic, confusion resulting in from 11th Nov. long queues at banks and ATMs to change old notes for the new RS. 2000 Notes. For the last 3 weks banks are open up to late night, still there were chaos and despair as there were not enough new notes, so many ATMs not working, also there were limit of say RS.4000 and later Rs.2000. Besides, Men and Women stoond in rows from early morning, to withdraw notes to pay for school fees, Wedding Expenses, day-to-day expenses but Notes exhausted in ATMs! Also small shops have suffered as no sales! Govt. should have printed enough even Rs. 500 New Notes and should have Organized better! This Chaos will last for some more months.

Using hand-held mobile phones while driving has now become number one killer in road accidents. Latest case to come before court was that of lorry driver who smashed into Ford Mondeo in front of him, while texting to his girlfriend. The tiny car which was sandwiched between two HGV turned into pulp, killing two people instantly.

By-elections are notoriously unpredictable, won on protest votes. The result is normally reversed at general election. Richmond Park seat won by LibDem Sarah Onley was no exception, except no one predicted that 23k Conservative majority could be overturned, especially as Zac Goldsmith was fighting on principle, keeping his promise to resign if the government goes ahead with Heathrow expansion. (HE) Zac was given clear run by Conservative, UKIP and Green party. It is indeed an early Christmas present for LibDem.

We are saddened to get the news of the sudden demise of three and half year old boy Aari from his grandparent Mr Dineshbhai and Krutiben Patel of England whom we met 4 years ago during our Char Dham - pilgrimage trip to India and since than we are in touch with them periodically.