5 THINGS FIRST PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi to campaign in Rajasthan; SC to hear arguments in National Herald tax case; Seventh phase of J&K panchayat polls; RBI monetary policy committee meets; Hockey World Cup matches: England vs Australia, Ireland vs China

1. Why veggies sell for Re 1 but you buy for Rs 20 Brinjal @ 20 paisa: Driven to despair by being offered a meagre 20 paise per kilogram for his brinjal production, a farmer in Maharashtra destroyed the entire plantation on his land to save himself from incurring further losses. Onion @ Re 1: An onion-grower from Maharashtra who had to sell his produce for little over Rs 1 per kg has sent his earnings to the Prime Minister to mark his protest. "I produced 750kg of onion in this season but was offered a rate of Rs 1 per kg. Finally I could negotiate a deal for Rs 1.40 per kg and received Rs 1,064 for 750 kg," he says. Coriander @ Rs 2.5: In the wholesale markets of Karnal(Haryana) vegetables crops like spinach, radish and coriander are going for Rs 2 to 7 a kg. Since the state government's crop MSP scheme is focussed on potatoes and tomatoes, these farmers have no option but to sell at those prices. Tomato @ Rs 3: Tomato may be selling in Pune retail markets for Rs 20 a kg but prices in the wholesale market have fallen to Rs 3 to Rs 6. The reason: bumper crop and oversupply. Why? Nearly 40% of all fresh food produced in India perishes before it can get to customers. A bumper crop and a lack of cold storage chain in some cases and the nature of the crop in others means the window for selling the produce is limited. The reach of food processing, which can greatly increase the shelf life of veggies and fruits, is limited. India processes only about 2% of the fruit and vegetables it produces (35% of milk is processed) compared to the US (60%) or even smaller nations like Morocco (35%). For governments, instead of creating a viable value chain for wide range of fresh produce, the focus has been on staples like potato, tomato and onion. Who: Fruits and vegetables are mostly grown by marginal and small farmers (having less than 2 hectare of land) and a crash in prices affects them the most. Though fruits and vegetables are grown in less than 10% of the country's gross cropped area, horticulture production has overtaken that of food grains (grown on over 60% of the cropped area). Meanwhile, PM Modi remembered farmers on campaign trail (in Rajasthan) — and Jawaharlal Nehru too. "He (Nehru) used to wear rose and had the knowledge of gardens but did not know about farmers or farming, due to which the community faced hardship," PM Modi was quoted as saying without naming the first Prime Minister.

2. Green court's fines are fine coz it's your money Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Monday asked the Delhi government to deposit Rs 25 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for its failure to curb the problem of pollution in the city. The tribunal said the authorities "have hardly done anything concrete except furnishing excuses and helplessness". This is the second fine for Delhi in as many months — it was fined Rs 50 crore by NGT last month for failing to stop steel pickling industries from working in residential areas. West Bengal: Last week, the green court fined West Bengal's government Rs 5 crore for failing to comply with its two-year-old directive to combat air pollution in Kolkata and Howrah. The state was asked to pay the fine to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within two weeks, else the amount would go up to Rs 1 crore for each month of delay. Punjab: On November 14, the tribunal ordered Punjab government to deposit a fine of Rs 50 crore as environmental compensation for polluting the Sutlej and Beas due to uncontrolled industrial discharge. Not just states: Centre hasn't taken NGT seriously either. Despite being constituted by Parliament, NGT required the Supreme Court's intervention in the initial years to become fully functional. Earlier this year, the SC stayed a law that would have given the central government complete control over appointment of tribunal members, including the NGT. Not just NGT: Last month, the apex court directed CPCB to prosecute government officials who fail to take action against polluters under Section 15 of the Environment Pollution Act that provides for a jail term of up to five years. Fines are fine: Fines imposed by regulatory bodies have rarely acted as a deterrent for government authorities who prefer challenging the orders in court. Plus, it doesn't bother them because a fine will any day be cheaper than the projects to combat pollution. Most importantly, it is the taxpayer — you — who, really, pays the fine.

3. Did you hear about the 'Qexit' in OPEC? What: Qatar on Monday announced that it will withdraw from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from Jan. 1, 2019, after nearly 60 years of membership (since 1961). The cartel, which collectively supplies about 44% of the world's crude oil, aims to monitor the market and decide to raise or lower oil production in order to maintain stable prices and supply. Why: Since June 2017, OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, along with three other Arab states, has cut trade and transport ties with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terrorism and their regional rival, Iran. While Qatar denied the claims then, it assured that geopolitics wasn't a factor in its decision to quit OPEC. In fact, the "technical" step would help it focus its efforts on plans to develop and increase its natural gas production — Qatar is the world's biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter. When: The last time an OPEC exit occurred was in 2016, when Indonesia suspended its membership after the country turned a net importer of oil, a few years earlier. Ecuador left in 1992 after an economic and political crisis, suspending its membership until 2007. Gabon too had exited in 1995 but rejoined in 2016. Will: OPEC shouldn't be too worried. After all, Qatar is one of its smallest oil producers — 11th largest in the group of 15 — especially when compared with de facto leader Saudi Arabia. Ergo, OPEC isn't really losing a key source of production or capacity. Of the total OPEC output of 33,330,000 barrels per day for October 2018, Qatar accounted for just 610,000 (or 1.83%). How: The decision comes as OPEC prepares to meet in Vienna this week to review its output and just after Saudi Arabia and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to manage production to balance the oil market. Also, without OPEC's production controls now, Qatar may increase output after leaving the group, undermining efforts to support prices. At the time of going to press, international benchmark Brent crude was trading at $61.51 a barrel, up 3.45%, while West Texas Intermediate stood at $52.91, 3.89% higher. And India: Qatar is the biggest supplier of LNG to India. Qatar exports 15% of its output to India, which, in turn, amounts to 65% of India's global import of LNG. At the same time, India also has good relations with Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest exporter of crude oil. A balanced stance, for the time being, would be most opportune.

X-PLAINED 4. Permanent Residency Certificate of J&K What's new? A political controversy has erupted in J&K over reports that the government (the state is under governor's rule) is planning to make changes to the process of granting 'permanent residency certificates' (issued to domicile citizens of the state). While government sources claim that the move is to make the process simpler, J&K's opposition (non-BJP) parties allege that it's an attempt to change the demography of the state. What's it about? Constitution (Art 370) grants a special autonomous status to J&K. Article 35A, which reinforces that status, says only 'permanent residents' can settle permanently in the state, acquire property, avail government jobs, scholarships in government-aided institutions and aid. It also empowers J&K Assembly to define 'permanent residents' and the special rights and privileges that they are entitled to. Why the controversy? It has to do more with a series of developments instead of just this one. After keeping the J&K Assembly in suspended animation for months, the governor suddenly dissolved it on November 22. The very next day he gave nod to a proposal to change the status of J&K Bank to a public sector undertaking (PSU). The move was seen as a 'structural change' by a 'caretaker' government, the same way the alleged PRC move is being seen. Last week the governor also repealed an act that dealt with the transfer of land rights to encroachers on payment of the fee and another that deals with the investigation of human rights complaints. Meanwhile, Article 35A, which is at the core of J&K's special status has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

NEWS IN CLUES 5. Who was named the first-ever FIFA World Player of the Year? Clue 1: He's played in five FIFA World Cups: the 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 editions. Clue 2: Featuring in 25 matches, he also holds the record for the most World Cup matches played. Clue 3: Austrian club Rapid Wien, Serbian club FK Partizan, the Hungarian and Bulgarian national teams are some of the sides he's coached. Scroll below for answer

6. An effort to end the world's worst humanitarian crisis A hope: The UN-backed peace talks between the warring groups of Yemen are likely to begin this week in Sweden. Since 2014, Yemen has been the site of a war between Houthi rebels, allied to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the Saudi Arabia-backed forces seeking to restore the administration of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The "forgotten war" — so called due to the greater significance given to the conflict in Syria — is the world's worst humanitarian crisis, says the UN, with more than 22 million people, or three-fourth the population, in desperate need of aid and protection. Build-up: As a goodwill measure, the Saudi-UAE coalition has agreed to the evacuation of 50 injured Houthi fighters, by the UN, from areas under its control to Oman for medical treatment. A previously-scheduled peace talk in September had failed over the fate of injured fighters. But this time, "UN chartered plane will arrive at Sanaa international airport on Monday to evacuate" the fighters, said the coalition. Iran, which supports the Houthis, has backed the peace talk. Khashoggi factor: Among the reasons for the softening of stance by the Saudi-led coalition is the international condemnation it received after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Soon after, the US Senate voted in favour of a resolution that seeks to force the Trump administration to end its support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war. The Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen have resulted in many civilian casualties and starvation of many others. Continuing the war in Yemen would only attract more criticism of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Peacemaker: That Sweden will host the peace talk is no coincidence. The Nordic nation has a history of brokering peace between warring groups — from the 1993 Oslo Accord between Israel and Palestine Liberation Organisation, to its role in ending the conflict in Mali in Guatemala a few years later, and the recent peace treaty between Colombia and the FARC guerillas. Could Oslo now end a war that has killed more than 85,000 children alone? Meanwhile, A Saudi dissident has filed a lawsuit against an Israeli surveillance company, claiming its sophisticated spyware targeted him and helped lead to the killing of his friend, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The suit, filed in a Tel Aviv court on Sunday, follows others previously filed against the company

7. Centre to get a 'finger' on crime's pulse Clone-in-waiting: India's long-pending effort to create an online database to identify criminals, the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) — a facsimile of the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) of the FBI in the US — has finally been roused from its slumber, with the Centre inviting proposals from companies to implement the project and collect fingerprints of 8 million criminals in the country. Criminal census: The project, to be implemented on a turnkey basis, will create a repository of fingerprints of at least 15 million criminals in the next 5 years, besides enhancing the ability to discern crime patterns, modus operandi across states and communicate with state police departments to assist in crime prevention. Work module: NAFIS, which will be hosted at the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), will allocate separate space for each state at the centre, with each state having complete control over their data; other states will have read-only permission. States that already have automated fingerprint identification, such as Karnataka, which was the first to digitise its fingerprint database in 2001-02, will be given the provision to share their data with NAFIS using a bridge software without disturbing their operation.

8. Why SC gave Rs 50 lakh to a family that asked for Rs 25 lakh What: After a Keralite working in gulf died in an accident in 2008, his family had moved Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) seeking Rs 25 lakh as compensation but after ten years the case reached its finality in the Supreme Court, which awarded them Rs 50 lakh, including interest. Who: The accident occurred on May 10, 2008 resulting in death of Ismail, who was working at Al-Rawabi Food Centre in Doha with a salary of 2500 Qatar Riyals (Rs 30,000) per month. His 22-year-old widow and two toddler children along with 90-year-old father moved the MACT, Vartakara, seeking a total compensation of Rs 25 lakh. Why: "There is no restriction that the court cannot award compensation exceeding the claimed amount, since the foundation of the tribunal or court under Section 168 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, is to award 'just compensation," ruled SC. How: The tribunal awarded Rs 11.83 lakh with an interest of Rs 7.5% per annum, which the Kerala HC enhanced to Rs 21.5 lakh and SC to Rs 28 lakh with interest at the rate of 8% from 2008 (that adds up to Rs 50 lakh). Read the full story here

9. Your in-flight meal just became a privilege Cheap tactic: Once India's largest airline by market share, Jet Airways' financial woes have now forced it to take away the food from its passengers' mouth — by offering free food to only those passengers who are a member of its frequent flyer programme, or to those, who may be non-members but opt for the highest fare category on its domestic flights in economy class. All others travelling cattle class better cough up some dough if they want some dough in flight, according to a latest measure introduced by the airline. Joining the ranks: Jet Airways' latest cost saving measure, puts it in a similar league as India's low cost carriers like IndiGo, SpiceJet and Go Air, which charge separately for in flight meals — the new order comes into force for bookings done from December 21 for travel starting from January 7, 2019 and is applicable to passengers opting for 'light/deal/saver/classic' fares on its domestic, economy class flights. Cup of woes: Jet, which is facing a severe cash crunch and looking for investors, with the airline promoter Naresh Goyal having held talks with Tata Group, Etihad and Air France-KLM-Delta combine for stake sale, had, on Sunday, cancelled some of its flights and is yet to pay 25% of September and the entire sum of October and November pay to pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and senior management. Last week it temporarily suspended complimentary lounge access for JetPrivilege Platinum and Gold members travelling in economy class — won't be surprising if it starts charging for lounge access too. Read more here

YOU SHARE YOUR B'DAY WITH... Source: Various

10. 32 years later, another 'Hand of God'... well, almost Diego Maradona raised a few eyebrows when in September he took up the managing job at Dorados, a second division club from Mexico's western state of Sinaloa, who were struggling in 13th place in the 15-team league. So what interested the 1986 World Cup champion, who had publicly battled drug addiction and alcoholism, in moving to a place better known for drug cartels than football? But the 58-year-old Argentine answered skeptics with a series of wins, improbably coaching the team to the championship. And on Sunday, his team came within spitting distance of winning the Mexican second division and gaining promotion to the first division. As Maradona watched the second-leg final match from the stands — he was sent off in Dorados's first-leg victory for launching a tirade against the officials after his team were denied a penalty — Dorados opened the scoring away to Atletico San Luis, and claimed the lead again in the 57th minute after the hosts equalised. But even as Maradona issued orders to the assistant coach via walkie-talkie throughout the match, San Luis tied it up again nine minutes later. They then scored two more to claim the match and the series — 4-2 on the night, 4-3 on aggregate. It would have been the first coaching championship for Maradona, whose managerial career hasn't quite matched up to the sparkle of his playing days. His previous coaching stints include the Argentine national side to clubs in his home country and the Middle East.

KEEPING TRACK Not so young: A Dutch court has rejected an appeal by a 69-year-old motivational speaker, Emile Ratelband, to declare his age as 49 as he feels 20 years younger. The court rejected his request to change the date of birth but said he "is at liberty to feel 20 years younger than his real age and to act accordingly". Not so fast: A Sri Lankan court barred Mahinda Rajapaksafrom acting as the country's PM, in a major setback to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who had installed him in place of Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Court of Appeal's stay was in response to a case filed by 122 legislators against the controversial appointment of Rajapaksa as PM.

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Answer To NEWS IN CLUES Lothar Matthaus. The global footballing icon will kick off his three-day India visit today, as part of the Bundesliga Legends Tour designed to inspire and connect Indian fans to the German league. While he's visited before, it’s his first-ever tour of the country, during which he will participate in a number of fan and media activities. The captain of the 1990 World Cup-winning West Germany team will also visit several football development projects and attend Indian Super League games in Kochi (Dec. 4) and Mumbai (Dec. 6).