QWrap: Messi’s Retirement, India’s Failed NSG Bid and RD Burman

The day’s top stories.

Lionel Messi while on duty for Argentina. (Photo: AP)

Messi Announces International Retirement, Teammates In Denial

Lionel Messi had missed his penalty; Argentina had lost their third straight major Final; and there was little the playmaker could do to control his tears. However, it was away from the floodlights of the MetLife arena that Lionel Messi chose to drop the ‘R bomb’.

A television interview in his native language can be roughly translated to: ‘The national team is over for me. It’s not for me after 4 finals. The decision is taken, I believe.’

Read the full story here.

Three Days After NSG Fail, India Joins MTCR as Full Member

India, on Monday, formally joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The move has come three days after India failed to get membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) due to stiff opposition from China and concerns from a handful of other countries.

Read the full story here.

China’s NSG Doublespeak: Translating the Diplomatese

China has been a large and annoying thorn in our side throughout our Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership bid fiasco. Six countries insisted on a “criteria-based process” for allowing India in, but China went even further to frustrate our bid. Citing the importance of international rules and principles, it has blocked us every step of the way.

Beijing has, however, put forward some seemingly reasonable suggestions for how we can gain membership – a platter of non-starters, served cold.

Read the full story here.

Rishi Kapoor Rewinds to RD Burman’s Best on His Birth Anniversary

Every evening, vintage film songs purr non-stop from hidden speakers at Rishi Kapoor’s new home in Bandra. Occasionally, he sings along, the lyrics firmly embedded in his memory. And when an RD Burman chart-smasher thumps in with a strong bass beat, the actor’s eyes light up.

So when asked to talk RD aka Pancham, on the occasion of his 77th birth anniversary, he responds, “Sure! But where do we begin?” Over to a few excerpts from the nostalgic conversation.

Read Khalid Mohamed’s piece here.