Author: Kumar Govindan

I am the first Graduate - an Engineer - in the family; the first to be employed in the Government Sector, India; the first to go overseas for work - USA; the first to throw it all and become an Entrepreneur (and fail); the first to get back to work - this time with the Tata Group, India - after 4 years of chasing 'business dreams'; and, the first to pick-up the Entrepreneur thread again. I now run a Women's Apparel design and styling Boutique - Mavira Designs - along with my wife. The objective of my Blog is to tell my story, intermingled with news stories from all corners of the World, with wit and pun - to squeeze a few laughs, perhaps a smile. I'm sure you will enjoy the reading.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-7

About: the world this week, 11 February 2024 to 17 February 2024; Israel rescues; Elections results in Pakistan, and Indonesia; India negotiates prisoners with Qatar; 1% of India’s farmers agitate; and India’s Electoral Bonds Scheme is struck down.

Everywhere

This week, Israel rescued two hostages in a deadly stealth operation in Rafah, Southern Gaza. This is the first successful rescue mission since the 7th October massacre of Israelis by Hamas Terrorists and should be a huge boost to Israel’s ‘lonely’, relentless efforts to bring home all the hostages kidnapped on that fateful day. There are about 130 of them still out there.

After Israeli intelligence identified a building in Rafah in which two hostages were held, Elite Commandos stormed a house and extracted the hostages after killing three terrorists guarding them. Within minutes, the Israeli Air Force carried out a massive air-strike providing cover for the hostages to be safely taken to an armoured vehicle and then onto a waiting military helicopter. The two Israeli hostages rescued were Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were ‘taken’ from Kibbutz, Nir Yitzhak.

Israel also discovered a baffling network of the ‘signature tune’ Hamas underground tunnels beneath the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which served as a command centre for the terrorists and also held the hostages. This is another damning find on the Hamas-complicit actions of UNRWA operating for decades in the Gaza Strip. Later, Israel promptly blew-up the Headquarters!

The final results of last week’s General Elections in Pakistan were out, amid reports of massive rigging and delays in counting of votes due to multiple reasons that’s possible only in Pakistan. The Election was dubbed as the most rigged (in favour of PML-N) election in the history of Pakistan. And the first reaction, to the outcome, is that this is something the Pakistan Army would not like at all.

Neither former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, nor the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto, with 54 seats won enough seats to form a government on their own. Independent candidates backed by former PM Imran Khan represent the largest group, with 93 of the 264 parliamentary seats declared.

The results shocked many, who had expected the showing of Imran Khan’s supporters to be severely dampened by an intense crackdown on Imran Khan and his party. But Khan cannot become PM as he is in jail and his grouping cannot form a government as they nominally ran as independents as his party the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was barred from contesting the Elections. Analysts think the election results indicate voters’ protest against perceptions of the country’s powerful military’s involvement in politics, which, of course, the military denies. That adds to the political instability, given the military’s strong historic role in the security and foreign affairs of Pakistan.

“Pakistan has been on a slippery slope for some time but a mild one. The slope is now much stiffer,” said a South Asia expert. “The military will most likely be able to manage the situation for some time, but the political situation is likely to be less and less stable”.

Former PM Shehbaz Sharif-Nawaz Sharif’s brother-is likely to lead a coalition that is being stitched together, as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Now, on to another Election, this time in Indonesia.

Unofficial tallies in Indonesia’s Presidential Election show Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto taking a commanding lead. An official result is not expected until several weeks after the vote.

Prabowo Subianto, 72, is in pole position to be Indonesia’s next leader. He is a former special forces commander, and in recent times has cultivated the persona of a more charismatic statesman than the fiery, pious nationalist he earlier portrayed. He is from an elite Indonesian family and once the son-in-law of late Indonesian strongman dictator, President Suharto.

Subianto was dismissed from the military amid speculation of rights abuses, exiled in Jordan, and once banned from the United States over his alleged dark past. He is also accused of involvement in the kidnapping of student activists in 1998 and human rights abuses in Papua and East Timor.

Subianto lost in the previous two Presidential Elections to incumbent Joko Widodo who is hugely popular, but unable to run for a third term, in keeping with the ‘maximum two terms’ rule of the Constitution. In a patch-up, Subianto joined the government and has Joko Widodo’s tacit backing, with the President’s 36 years old son as his running mate and a possible Vice-President.

This week, Indian diplomacy was at its negotiating best when India convinced Qatar to release eight former Indian Navy personnel who were sentenced to death: seven returned to India this week and the remaining one is expected soon, after clearing certain legal formalities. The former navy personnel, working for a company in Qatar, were arrested on spying charges, and after a secret trial, handed the death sentence by a Court in Qatar. India then got the death sentence commuted to life imprisonment before pulling-of this stunning victory. And the process was lubricated by a special pardon by Qatar’s Ruler, Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

This week, India saw a bumper agitation by a section of its farmers, taking off from where they left the proceedings over two years ago.

There are about 9 crore farmers in India, of which about 10 lakh are in the State of Punjab. This, barely 1%, is a ‘disgruntled’ lot owning the best branded cars in the world and reaping every benefit offered by India’s Government (GOI), such a free-electricity, highly subsidised fertilisers, open-ended procurement of wheat and paddy, among other things: a pampered lot! Well that doesn’t seem to be enough. They want more, and this week they began protests.

Over 250 farmer associations from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh began a ‘Chalo Delhi’ march on their high-end cars, ‘fortified tractors’ and the kind, armed with a list of demands, raising tensions at Delhi borders. The GOI in turn set up riot control teams standing guard behind barricades on highways leading into the national capital, where police have prohibited large gatherings.

Farmer unions are seeking guarantees, backed by law, which they want the GOI to fulfill. What are they?

Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 23 crops should receive a statutory legal backing; MSP should be fixed at above 50% above the comprehensives cost of production- actual cost incurred to grow crops and assumed values of other items such as family labour; Farm Loan waivers; Pension – about INR 10,000 per month for farmers over 60 years old; and pulling out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The MSP, which is the cost at which the GOI purchases crops from farmers, provides farmers with an assured income for their produce. This price acts as a safety-net ensuring farmers receive a fair price, particularly during times of market uncertainties and fluctuations or when market prices fall below the MSP. Of the 23 crops that the government currently announces MSPs for every year, there are seven cereals-paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, jowar, ragi, and barley; five pulses-chana, arhar, moong, urad and masoor; seven oilseeds-groundnut, soybean, rapeseed-mustard, sesame, sunflower, niger seed, and safflower; and four commercial crops-sugarcane, cotton, copra, and jute.

However, while MSP is announced for all crops it works mainly for rice and wheat, because the GOI has a vast storage system for only these grains that feed the GOI’s Public Distribution System (PDS). The GOI often ends up buying twice the amount needed for a buffer stock.

The issue is best understood through the political economy of Punjab, the most prosperous and fully irrigated agriculture system in the country. There are years when the procurement in Punjab, especially paddy has exceeded the production in the state. As paddy comes from other States- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar-to be sold in Punjab as the market price is often 15-25% below the MSP in these states and there is hardly any procurement in the home states. And everyone in the grain procurement network benefits and profits from the system: Commission Agents charge 2.5% commission; Punjab Govt charges 6% Mandi fees and other cess. The bill is footed by the GOI for the Food Security Programme which is executed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Punjab farmers have high productivity of paddy and wheat and use high doses of subsidised fertilisers. But their prices are constrained, especially when exports are banned and stocking limitations are imposed. The FCI also unloads wheat and rice at prices below their economic cost to bring down market prices on par with MSP or even below so that they can procure enough grains at ‘easy costs’. The GOI policy is biased towards urban consumers at the cost of farmers.

If the GOI policy does not allow the markets to operate especially when market prices are higher than MSP farmers stand to lose. So they clamour for higher and higher MSP based on unrealistic comprehensive costs. The difference between what farmers want and the GOI’s current cost calculation for MSP is about 25-30% in most crops. In the long run farmers stand to lose if they do not adapt to the ‘free’ market pricing of the simple ‘demand and supply’ mechanism.

Agricultural scientist and this year’s Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award) winner, late Dr M S Swaminathan, called the Father of India’s Green Revolution, recommended that the GOI fix MSPs for farm produce based on a comprehensive measure of cultivation costs – weighted average cost of production – that includes the input cost of capital and the rent on the land (called ‘C2’ ) + 50% of C2, to give farmers 50% returns, rather than a narrower measure that takes into account the direct costs- out-of -pocket expenses incurred by the farmer and the value of family labour ( called ‘A2+FL’ ), which the GOI uses.

The M S Swaminathan Committee, established to recommend farm policy through the National Commission on Farmers, submitted its final Report in the year 2006. And the MSP calculation methodology was not readily accepted by the then GOI headed by Economist Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, as it was considered irrational, untenable, and unviable and would probably distort the market. And there were aspects of the comprehensive costs that were not ‘comprehensively’ defined.

Ashok Gulati, India’s most respected Agri-economist argues that agreeing to the framers demands means fiscal stability will go for a toss, food inflation will rise, and no Government can afford to accept these demands. He suggests farm income augmentation should be through diversification to high-value crops and livestock. And the Punjab farmers should come out of cultivation of only staple crops, and tap exports.

In 2021, when the year-long protest by farmers pushed the present GOI to repeal some farm laws, designed to deregulate vast agricultural markets, the GOI said it would set up a panel to find ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce. Farmers accuse the GOI of going slow on that promise and also not achieving a GOI stated goal of ‘doubling farm incomes by 2022-23 (over a base of 2015-16).

The GOI is in talks with the agitating Farmers and some ‘minimum’ results are expected in the upcoming week.

Meanwhile-to get a hang of the situation-a farmer in down South Karnataka State had this to say: “MSP of paddy is INR 2,204 per quintal; the market price near Mysuru is INR 3,000 per quintal; Last week I sold 10 quintals of paddy at INR 3,100 per quintal to a buyer in Nanjangud (a Town in Mysuru district). Why are farmers protesting in Punjab?”

In a historic judgement this week, India’s Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the Electoral Bond Scheme introduced by the Government in 2018. This allowed anonymous corporate contributions to Political Parties through the State Bank of India (SBI) – the only bank authorised to issue these bonds. There is not limit on the amount and an existing corporate limit was removed to facilitate the flow of ‘unlimited’ funds. Further, the contributions did not attract income tax. The GOI’s stated intent was to curb black money in Elections and bring ‘transparency’ in Electoral Funding. And by not revealing names, any political harassment was sought to be avoided. However, the Court said this could be quid pro quo for future benefits and that the citizen has a right to know the donations coming-in to a Political Party. On the other side, ‘right to privacy’ of Corporate Houses is in jeopardy.

The SBI has been ordered to stop issuing these bonds forthwith, and furnish details of contributions received for publication on the Election Commission of India’s website by 13 March 2024. Parties which received the funds have been ordered to return un-encashed Electoral Bonds to the donors.

More bonding stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Vote for World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-6

About: the world this week, 4 February 2024 to 10 February 2024; Israel hunting in Gaza; Russia & Ukraine; Myanmar; El Salvador’s Coolest Dictator; Pakistan’s Elections; India’s Bharat Ratna Awards; and the Grammys.

Everywhere

Israel is still hunting vigorously in the Gaza and there is no safe update on the ‘taken’ hostages. This week Israel seized control of much of the Hamas tunnel system in the city of Khan Younis and is said to be closer than ever to capturing the elusive Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar. War cries could be heard of the end -of the war-being near. Is Israel on the brink of victory?

Russia is, as usual, busy firing between 1,500 and 2,500 shells and rockets at Ukraine’s war-ravaged Donetsk region every day, and is targeting critical infrastructure making life miserable for Ukrainians. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked the Commander-in-Chief (CIC) of the country’s armed forces, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. There appears to be a rift between the President and his CIC, who has led Ukraine’s war effort since the war with Russia began. Battle-hardened General Oleksandr Syrskyi was announced as his replacement. Perhaps it’s just a change of strategy. One started it; the other could finish it?

In Myanmar, Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing has pledged to crush all opposition to military rule, as the state of emergency was further extended. He said that he would ‘do whatever it takes’ to return Myanmar to stability, amid unprecedented advances by an alliance of anti-coup forces and ethnic armed groups.

Over the past three months, the Army has been losing troops, territory and towns to determined opponents across multiple parts of the country. But it is determined to fight on, and retains an enormous capacity for violence, attacking civilian populations and infrastructure in areas it has lost, using air power and long-range artillery. Three years on, from the coup of February 2021, Myanmar military’s hold on power is more uncertain than at any time in the last 60 years. More than two million people have been displaced by Myanmar’s internal conflict, according to the United Nations.

Meanwhile, citing internal security reasons, neighbouring India has decided to suspend the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime. This allows citizens from either nation to cross the border and travel up to 16 kilometres (km) into the other without documents such as passports or visas. India also plans to fence the entire 1,643 km Myanmar border – as part of its plan for creating ‘impenetrable borders’ – and build a patrolling track alongside the fence. A 10-km stretch in Manipur’s Moreh has already been fenced, and two pilot projects that involve a ‘hybrid surveillance system’ – each covering one kilometre – are in operation.

This week, El Salvador, the smallest and most densely populated of the seven Central American countries made headlines. Lying in the Isthmus of Central America, El Salvador is bordered by Honduras, Guatemala, and the Pacific Ocean. Its capital and largest city is San Salvador.

El Salvador is known as the Land of Volcanoes with ‘with a population of 100 volcanos’, and around 20 of them being potentially active. And of course, the Volcanoes have ‘erupted into’ the National Flag, which features five volcanoes, representing the five states. El Salvador grows great coffee beans and coffee export is a major business. The country is also know as the ‘Mecca for Surfers’ as it gets some of the biggest ‘swells’ offered by the Pacific Ocean and due to the many right-hand ‘point breaks’ that grace most of its over 300 kilometres long coastline.

In Surfing, a ‘swell’ is a series of mechanical or surface gravity waves generated by weather phenomenon that propagate thousands of miles across the ocean. Swell is used to designate a set of waves that separate and move away from a storm or weather condition that develops in the ocean. ‘Point Breaks’ occur when a wave swell strikes a point of land, whether it’s a section of jutting rock or a headland.

Let’s break here, and surf in to El Salvador’s politics.

From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, El Salvador was mired in civil war and internal strife. Since the early 21st century, the country has experienced high crime rates, including gang-related crimes and juvenile delinquency. El Salvador had the highest murder rate in the world in 2012, but experienced a sharp decline in 2019 when a new centrist government took charge. It was also considered an epicentre of a gang crisis, along with Guatemala and Honduras.

Enter Nayib Bukele, called the ‘Coolest Dictator’ in the World.

In June 2019, Nayib Bukele became the new President of El Salvador, winning the February 2019 presidential election. A firebrand politician who often spars with foreign leaders and critics on social media, Bukele came to power trouncing traditional parties with a vow to eliminate gang violence and rejuvenate a stagnant economy. His New Ideas Party with its allies won around 63% of the vote in the February 2021 legislative elections, giving them 61 seats, well over the coveted supermajority of 56 seats in the 84-seat Parliament. This opened the gates for uncontested decisions at the legislative level. The absolute majority permits President Bukele’s party to appoint judiciary members and pass laws with little to no opposition, for instance, to remove presidential term limits.

In June 2021, at the initiative of President Bukele, pro-government deputies in the Legislative Assembly voted legislation to make Bitcoin legal tender in the country. In September 2021, El Salvador’s Supreme Court ruled to allow Bukele to run for a second term in 2024, despite the fact that the constitution prohibits the President to serve two consecutive terms in office.

Under a ‘state of emergency’, approved in March 2022, under which authorities suspended civil liberties, the Bukele’s government arrested more than 76,000 people – about 1% of El Salvador’s population – without charges. The assault on the gangs – not entirely democratic – has spurred accusations of widespread human rights abuses and a lack of due process. But violence plummeted along with a sharp decline in nationwide murder rates and fundamentally altered a country known just a few years ago as one of the most dangerous places in the world.

This Sunday, President Nayib Bukele secured a thumping victory in El Salvador’s 2024 elections after voters cast aside concerns about erosion of democracy, to reward him for a fierce gang crackdown that transformed safety and security in El Salvador. Provisional results on Monday show Bukele winning 83% support with just over 70% of the ballots counted. Bukele declared himself the winner before official results were announced, claiming to have attained more than 85% of the vote. “All together the opposition was pulverised,” said Bukele. And added “El Salvador went from being the most unsafe (country) to the safest. Now, in these next five years, wait to see what we are going to do”.

New Ideas’ electoral success means Bukele will wield unprecedented power and be able to overhaul El Salvador’s constitution. Wildly popular, Bukele had campaigned on the success of his security strategy.

El Salvador’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal last year permitted him to run for a second term even though the country’s constitution prohibits it. Opponents fear Bukele will seek to rule for life, following the example of President Daniel Ortega of ‘across-the-sea’ Nicaragua.

Nayib Bukele is the son of Palestinians from Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He discontinued studying law at the Central American University to join his father in the family Business. Entering politics he went on to be elected as Mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlan – a small Municipality – and later San Salvador- the capital. He then established a political party called Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas) to make a presidential bid, which did not help his cause. Hence he joined the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) to mount his bid and won the Presidential Elections, with ease in 2019, becoming President.

Bukele went on to become a highly popular leader and only more so since the government began its crackdown on the country’s feared gangs. “We are not substituting democracy, because El Salvador never had democracy,” he said. “This is the first time in history that El Salvador has democracy. And I’m not saying it, the people say it.”

Nayib Bukele is married to Gabriela Roberta Rodriguez, a Salvadoran educator, and prenatal psychologist, holding a doctorate in prenatal psychology. She is also a professional ballet dancer and is part of a dance company. Nayib and Gabriela began dating in 2004 and married in December 2014. They have two children.

Pakistan went to the polls this Thursday. This against the backdrop of jailing of popular former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, dominating headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes threatening the country.

Pakistan, a nation of 241 million people is reeling from decades-high inflation and an economy that has come to a grinding halt as it navigates a tough International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme. Islamist militancy is on the rise and relations with neighbouring countries of India, Afghanistan and Iran are frayed. But these matters have been mostly absent as ‘election issues’, in which the parties of Imran Khan and former PM Nawaz Sharif are the main rivals. Instead the campaign is dominated by personalities. Pakistan’s National Assembly consists of 336 seats, of which, 265 are decided through direct voting on polling day.

Thousands of troops were deployed on the streets and at polling stations across the country on voting day. Borders with Iran and Afghanistan were temporarily closed as security was stepped up. Despite the heightened security, 12 people were killed in 51 bomb blasts, grenade attacks and shootings by militants, mostly in the western provinces.

Counting of votes began this Friday after unusual delays, which was ascribed to a suspension of mobile phone services. Candidates linked to jailed Imran Khan’s political party are in the lead, ahead of the two dynastic parties of Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, believed to be favoured by the military. Counting has entered its final leg, and interesting times are ahead!

Britain’s 75 years old King Charles was diagnosed with cancer and the Royal Medical team has been clever in catching it early. He had checked into hospital for a benign prostate enlargement problem when a separate ‘issue of concern’ was detected leading to diagnostic tests, which identified a form of cancer. Now the United Kingdom is hoping His Highness can make a full recovery given the swift detection.

In India, it’s suddenly raining ‘Bharat Ratna Awards’ – the highest civilian award for outstanding service to the people of India. First it was the late Karpoori Thakur, a politician who served two terms as the Chief Minister of Bihar, then it was the living 96 year old L K Advani, former Home Minister and one of the architect’s of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s success. And this week, the Government announced more. Former PMs, P V Narasimha Rao – who rolled out the landmark 1991 economic reforms, which transformed India forever – and Chaudhary Charan Singh; and agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan as recipients of the country’s highest award – all of them get it posthumously.

The 66th Grammys Awards 2024 were handed out this Sunday night in the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles.

Singer, songwriter Taylor Swift made history on winning Album of the Year, for Midnights. She became the first person to win ‘Album of the Year’ four times, more than any other artist in history. The closest is three wins – a tie of Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Frank Sinatra. Taylor Swift also won an award for best pop vocal album, and it was during the acceptance speech that she swiftly announced her upcoming album – The Tortured Poets Department.

The Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo went to Miley Cyrus, Flowers – the first of her career; Song of the year went to Billie Ellish and Finneas O’Connell for What Was I made for – from Barbie, the movie; and Best New Artist went to Victoria Monet. A previous Best New Artist, Olivia Rodrigo had 6 nominations but could not carry home any award.

Indian music struck many right notes this year: Fusion Group, Shakti consisting of singer Shankar Mahadevan, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, percussionist Vinayakram Selvaganesh, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and British guitarist and founding member John McLoughlin winning the Best Global Music Album for This Moment. This is the Group’s first studio album in more than 45 years.

Sakthi’s band members John McLoughlin and Zakir Hussain have been pioneers in bridging two oceans of music – the harmonic complexity of Jazz and the melodic and rhythmic intensity of Indian Music. The talk goes that, had there been no Sakthi there would have been no Global Music Album Category at the Grammys.

Pandit Ravi Shankar introduced Indian music to the world. But it was Sakthi, which took shape in the 1970s that permanently built a bridge between the two streams – any many more – of music. And after many ups and downs over decades, This Moment arrived. The Album’s cover was designed by a group in Kolkata and Bengaluru, inspired by a label founded by an Indo-American.

Ustad Zakir Hussain picked up two other Grammys along with flautist Rakesh Chaurasia for Best Global Music Performance, Pashto, and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for, As We Speak as part of the ensemble of American banjo player Bela Fleck and American bassist Edgar Meyer. Rakesh Chaurasia is the nephew of legendary Indian flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia. India’s Ricky Kej, a two-time Grammy winner, called 2024 the Year of India at the Grammys.

Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z won the Dr Dre Global Impact Award, but called out the Grammys for snubbing Beyonce by not giving her an Album of the Year Award, despite her winning more Grammys than any other artist. Remember, Beyonce who won 32 Grammys across her remarkable career, has never won the most prestigious prize of all: Album of the Year!

More music albums coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned to World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-5

About: the world this week, 28 January 2024 to 3 February 2024; Misdeeds of UNRWA; Link Telepathy; EU and Farmer Protests; Pakistan’s Imran Khan; Australian Open Tennis – Rohan Bhopanna, Aryna Sabalenka, and Jannik Sinner.

Everywhere

This week the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) came under relentless fire by Israel. They furnished proof of least a dozen of the about 13,000 UNRWA Staff in Gaza being complicit with the terrorist Hamas in the 7 October 2023 barbaric attack on Israel. The revelation was extremely damning, and on the last count about 15 nations pulled the plug on their funding for the Agency. The US is the largest donor and cut the ‘supply line’ last weekend. And was quickly followed by the likes of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, among others.

UNRWA workers are accused of helping Hamas stage the attacks on 7th October or of aiding it in the days after. One kidnapped a woman. Another handed out ammunition. A third took part in the massacre at a kibbutz where 97 people were killed. The most detailed accusations concerned a school counsellor from Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, who worked with his son to abduct a woman from Israel. A social worker from Nuseirat, in central Gaza, helped to bring the body of a dead Israeli soldier to Gaza, as well as distributing ammunition and coordinating vehicles on the day of the attack. Of the 12 individuals identified, seven were teachers in UNRWA schools and two worked in the schools in other capacities. The others were an UNRWA social worker, a clerk, and a storeroom manager. Ten of them were members of Hamas. One was a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They were largely implicated by their cell phone use. Half of the individuals’ phones were traced to southern Israel on 7th October. Others received text messages ordering them to rallying points ahead of the attack and one was told to bring rocket-propelled grenades stored at his home.

The UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly to provide relief to all refugees resulting from the 1948 Israel-Arab War, including, Jewish and Arab Palestine refugees inside Israel. In the year 1952 Israel took over the responsibility of those inside its country, pushing out the Agency to work primarily in the Gaza Strip. The UNRWA’s mandate is subject to periodic renewal every three years and has been consistently extended since its founding. Perhaps it’s time to wind it up!

Meanwhile, Israel began a deadly, different kind of stealth warfare. Undercover troops of the Israel Defence Forces, dressed as civilian women and medics stormed a hospital in the West Bank – shooting dead three Hamas terrorists, after entering the Ibn Sina hospital, in the northern city of Jenin, early this Tuesday.

Later, Israeli forces shelled the outskirts of the last refuge on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip where the displaced are penned against the border fence in hundreds of thousands. More have arrived during the week, carrying their belongings and pulling children on carts, since Israeli forces launched one of the biggest assaults of the war to capture Khan Younis north of Rafah. More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are now homeless and crammed into Rafah.

In attempts to bring about a cease-fire, Hamas said that releasing hostages – 136 of them- it is still holding, would require a guaranteed end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and withdrawal of all Israeli forces, reiterating its position after Israel held a meeting with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. There was also some talk about Hamas demanding an exchange of 150 Palestinian prisoners for release of every Israeli female hostage. And there hardly seems to be any visible pressure on Hamas, by the Middle-East countries, to release all the hostages and end the War – that’s all it takes.

This week, the European Union (EU) leaders met in Brussels to decide on aid for Ukraine, after Hungary had previously blocked the deal in December, by using its veto power. This time, all 27 EU leaders agreed on a Euro 50 billion aid package for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s economic ministry said it expects the first tranche of funds in March.

The package will help to pay pensions, salaries, and other costs over the next four years. It comes as US military aid for Ukraine – the largest provider of military support for Ukraine – is being held up by US’ Congress. Many European countries also provide military aid to Ukraine.

The EU meeting in Brussels was held in the backdrop of a simmering Farmers Protest that swelled across Europe where, tens of thousands of farmers downed tools, mounted their tractors and took to the streets. Many European leaders have been spooked by the size and duration of the protests, with dozens of tractors ‘ploughing into’ central Brussels for more demonstrations, before the summit.

Farmers said they are not paid enough, are choked by taxes and green rules, and face unfair competition from abroad. They were already struggling with a cost of living crisis made tougher by the EU’s sustainability policies.

Protests across the EU echoed common grievances over debts, price pressures, extreme weather and cheap imports. Burdened by debt, squeezed by powerful retailers and agrochemical companies, battered by extreme weather, and undercut by cheap imports, for years – all while relying on a subsidy system that favours the big players. The war in Ukraine has only made matters worse. A spike in prices for crops, like wheat, proved to be short-lived. And Russia’s aggression has upended trade flows, causing a supply glut.

From a two-hour protest action across Poland to a multi-day ‘siege’ of Paris, angry farmers have launched protests across the EU since the start of the year.

Later in the week, two of France’s main farming unions urged protesters to go back home, after measures were announced to try to quell the anger.

In Pakistan, a court handed former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, 71, a 10-year jail term, for leaking state secrets- classified documents- in what is called the cipher case, the harshest sentence so far, and over a week before a general election is scheduled to take place. Ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also convicted.

Quick on the heels, after two days, as second judgement sentenced Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years in jail. And both are barred from Office for 10 years. This was in the Toshakhana (State Treasury) Case linked to illegal sale of State Gifts, that he and his wife received while in office. The couple were convicted of illegally profiting from such sale. Khan, who was ousted as PM in 2022, is already serving a three-year jail term for corruption. The two sentences are expected to run concurrently, although it is yet to be confirmed.

Our brains are all set to become brainier. This week, on Sunday, the first human patient received an implant from brain-chip startup Neuralink – a Company founded by Elon Musk – and is recovering well. The US Food and Drug Administration had given Neuralink clearance, last year, to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans.

The device aims to help people with disabilities to control computers and communicate by only using their thoughts. During testing on animals, the device allowed a monkey to play a computer game, with its brain making all the moves. Elon Musk says that results “show promising neuron spike detection,” suggesting the device is already gathering information from the patient’s brain. Still, it could be months before we learn whether the device is working as intended. For now, Neuralink is focused on analysing the device’s safety with its human trial.

The device, a tiny chip known as ‘Link’ – about the size of a small coin – sealed in a biocompatible enclosure is surgically implanted into the brain’s motor cortex (controls body movements), drilling through the skull. The chip has a battery that can be charged wirelessly. It has 1024 tiny threads, flexible ultra-thin wires – thinner than human hair- which are carefully inserted in specific areas of the brain. The electrodes at the tips of these wires detect electrical signals in the brain – neural spikes representing neurons firing an electrical impulse. The brain implant decodes these signals meaningfully, such as which movement they correspond to and what sensory input they represent. And transmits the data wirelessly to a connected external device – a computer. The external device uses these decoded signals for various applications, like controlling a computer cursor or even to input commands into other digital devices.

Over a period of time, the system algorithms would learn and adapt to the individual’s brain patterns and become more accurate in interpreting signals. Finally, the system could provide sensory feedback to the brain, closing the loop. This means the brain could not only control a device, but also receive inputs from that device, such as touch sensation from a robotic hand. Imagine controlling a device – such as a phone or computer – just by thinking. Telepathy at its best!

Some of the diseases the Link could help cure are, Motor Neurone Diseases such as ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis- and spinal chord injuries, Parkinsons’ Disease, Brain injuries, Epilepsy, Depression, Blindness and Deafness, and Chronic pain.

The Australian Open (AO) Tennis Tournament ended in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on the 28th January.

Ageing but ‘growing young’ Indian tennis star and World No 1 Doubles Champion Rohan Bhopanna at 43, won the doubles title along with his Australian partner Matthew Ebden beating the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, 7-6, 7-5 in Final. They played a flawless tie-breaker to score in the first set and then carried forward the momentum to win the second set and the title. This is the first Men’s Grand Slam doubles win for Bhopanna. What an achievement for a man at his age – attributed to doing Yoga, which worked wonders for him. And three years ago he almost gave-up. Australia is the land of magic. In a touching speech, Bhopanna thanked his team, his family and his beautiful wife who instantly became an internet sensation with all those looks.

In the Women’s Single Finals, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, routed China’s Zheng Qinwen with a fluent 6-3, 6-2 score becoming the first woman to win back-to-back AO titles since Victoria Azarenka, also from Belarus, did it in 2013. There is something about Belarus?

Sabalenka also became the second player in 20 years to win the AO women’s singles without losing a single game on serve after Serena Williams. There is another ace coming: Sabalenka is only the 5th player in this century to win the AO without losing a single set after Lindsay Davenport in 2000, Maria Sharapova in 2008, Serena Williams in 2017, and Ashleigh Barty in 2022.

Italian Jannik Sinner, all of 22, won his first Grand Slam AO title, against Russian Daniil Medvedev becoming the first from Italy to do so. The number 4 seed is the eight man to come back from two sets down to achieve a Grand Slam Final victory with a hard scoreline of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. His signature down-the-line forehand sealed the fate of Medvedev in the last shot of the match. And he finished off with a wonderful speech – this years’ AO is as much about inspiring speeches as it is about brilliant tennis.

“I wish that everyone could have my parents, because they always let me choose whatever I wanted to. Even when I was younger, I made also some other sports and then they never put pressure on me and I wish that this freedom is possible for as many young kids as possible. So thank you so much for my parents”.

Sinner’s father, Johann Sinner works as a Chef in a Restaurant at a Ski Lodge in Val Pusteria, Italy, and his mother Siglinde Sinner works as a waitress in the same restaurant. Jannik became one of Italy’s top junior skiers in the eight to twelve-years-old age bracket and also won a National Championship award in Giant Slalom at the age of eight. It was his father, Johann, who pushed him to get back to tennis and develop his skills to compete at a higher level.

Sinner’s coach Simone Vagnozzi has this to say about the ‘Perfect Parents’, “They enjoy the life of the tournament but never come to us and say, serve, volley, breakpoint. Sometimes, they come to the tournament and do not say a word about tennis”. Sinner takes home a prize money of Australian Dollars 3,150,000 (INR 17 crores).

More ‘perfect’ stories playing on this court in the weeks ahead. Watch the game with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-4

About: the world this week, 21 January 2024 to 27 January 2024; the wars of the land; US Elections; India’s Ram Temple; and the Australian Open Tennis.

Everywhere

The patience is wearing out awfully thin for the families of the 136 hostages still held by the terrorist Hamas and the famed Israeli Army is facing its toughest challenge in finding them. Remember, not a single hostage has been rescued since the barbaric attack by Hamas on Israel, on 7 October 2023.

This Monday, about 20 relatives of the hostages stormed a parliamentary committee session in Jerusalem, demanding Israel do more to try to free the hostages. Israelis overwhelmingly support the war, but a growing outspoken number say the Government should do more to reach a deal to free them, even if that means reining in its offensive.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected outright Hamas’ most recent offer and conditions for release of all remaining hostages. The demands were, an end to the war, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel in turn, offered a two month cease-fire, during which period, it wanted a phased release of all hostages and the return of the bodies of dead hostages. The first phase would see the release of women, men over the age of 60 years old, and hostages who are in critical medical condition. The next phases would include the release of female soldiers, men under the age of 60 years old who are not soldiers, Israeli male soldiers, and the bodies of dead hostages. Of course, Hamas struck it down.

Israeli tanks stormed southern Gaza’s main city of Khan Yunis, reaching the gates of two hospitals, as the bloodiest fighting of the new year tore through areas sheltering those displaced by the fighting. Then, this Monday, twenty-four Israeli soldiers were killed during fighting in the biggest single loss of life for Israeli troops inside the battered enclave of Southern Gaza, since the war began – a severe set-back for Israel.

Later in the week, Israel and Hamas appear to have made some progress towards agreement on a 30-day ceasefire in Gaza.

Towards the end of the week, on Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gave its interim ruling on a case of ‘genocide’ by Israel in the Gaza brought by South Africa. The World Court said that Israel must refrain from acts that could possible lead to genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians. And it did not order a cease-fire, as requested by South Africa. Instead the ICJ called for the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages. The Court’s orders are binding on nations, but unenforceable.

On the other war: a leading western think-tank says, the war in Ukraine has dented Russia’s confidence in its conventional forces and increased the importance of non-strategic nuclear weapons as a means of deterring and defeating NATO in a potential future conflict. And Russia unleashed a mass air strike on Ukraine killing at least four people and wounding more than 60 others. Meanwhile, the lack of quality drones is affecting Ukraine’s ability to survey and attack Russian positions.

In the boiling-hot Red Sea, US and UK forces carried out a fresh round of strikes in Yemen, targeting a Houthi underground storage site, and missile and surveillance capabilities used by the Iran-aligned group against Red Sea shipping.

In the United States, former President Donald Trump cruised to victory in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential contest, marching closer to a November 2024 rematch with President Joe Biden. Trump beat former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley earning 11 delegates, with 55% of the state’s Republican vote. It’s a blow to Haley’s campaign, which had narrowed in on Trump’s lead ahead of the primaries but ended up 11% behind. Still, Haley said, “this race is far from over”, and is looking forward to South Carolina. Meanwhile, Trump said he “couldn’t care less” if Haley stays in the game.

This week on Monday, India awakened to the dawn of a new era of civilisation, a turning-point, with the consecration of the Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya, built on the site of Lord Ram’s birthplace. It was a celebratory event all over India with people participating in their own religious manner in their homes or Temples across the country. It was also the successful achievement of an Election Poll promise made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

One striking celebration was that of the the Suryavanshi (House of the Sun – descendants of Rama) Thakurs, a community of Saraisi Village, in Ayodhya. They had taken an oath that they will not wear their symbolic, traditional Turbans until the temple was rebuilt at the birthplace of Rama. On Monday the community got back to wearing their Turbans, after 500 years. This is one of the many stories of a relentless, bloody, determined struggle to see Lord Rama back at his home in Ayodhya. And a culmination of the dreams of over a billion people.

Which country in the history of the world has seen its majority people patiently struggle for over 500 years, and in the end legally securing the birthplace of its God? A Janmabhoomi – a sacred birthplace- which was intentionally ravaged by an invader to humiliate the native religion.

The centuries of untold pain, torment, and suffering of the Hindus was completely missed or deliberately omitted, by foreign media such as, the BBC, CNN, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal…. They all went to town calling it ‘controversial’, when the controversy itself was patiently resolved by due process of the laws of the land. And a fresh page in history was turned. The headlines were absolutely negative and inappropriate. Would a fascist Government- if there was one-wait so long? Does not the media operate under rules and regulations? And when the rules are broken or transgressed are they not punished, or a wrong rectified? Wonder, why this bigotry, and hatred for one of the world’s oldest civilisations. Instead, they should have joined India in celebrating the moment – a homecoming!

Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi led the consecration following a 11-day fast to make him eligible, worthy to enter the sanctum sanatorium, and engage in the holy rituals. At the event, the PM chanted Hindu religious verses before placing flower petals at the feet of Lord Ram, and joined his palms in prayer, then bowed before it and circled the sacred flame.

The superb communicator and one of the best speech makers in the business, that he is, the PM used the occasion to give a thought-provoking, far-looking speech – befitting the moment. It was measured, weaving threads on the tapestry of the divinity of Lord Ram and giving a clarion call to making the celebrations a launch pad for a national endeavour in building a strong India – modern and yet proud of its rich heritage. There was not chest-thumping or trampling on past events, but with all humility, acknowledging the divine moment and thinking ahead, taking the people along. ‘Shun the ego, stayed united’, was another message of the day.

“Lord Ram has arrived. Our Ram Lalla (child) will no longer live in a tent, our Ram Lalla will reside in this divine temple,” the PM said, referring to earlier temporary structures which housed an old Ram idol. “A nation rising by breaking the mentality of slavery…creates new history in this manner. Ram is not conflict, but resolution. And Ram belongs to all”.

Thousands danced in the streets outside, waving saffron flags as they chanted religious slogans. Ayodhya turned in to a sea of sadhus clad in saffron. Cries of “Jai Shri Ram”, echoed across the city of about three million and firecrackers were burst in celebration. The event ignited religious fervour across India, with many states declaring a holiday on Monday, stock markets shut, and homes and businesses illuminated after the PM called for it to be marked as another Deepavali – the festival of lights. “Just in sheer magnitude … this event has almost no precedent in history. It is a watershed moment,” a commentator wrote in an Indian newspaper.

The Rama Lalla idol was crafted by Mysore-based Sculptor, Arun Yogiraj, riding on the shoulders of a family, with generations of sculpture behind him. He said he was the luckiest person on earth, when his sculpture was selected among others, in a competition. People marvelled at the idol’s remarkable features particularly the eyes and the smile. The 51-inch statute is hewn from a three billion year old black stone rock, extracted from a place called Gujjegowdanapaura in Jayapura Hobil, HD Kote Taluk of Mysuru, Karnataka State.

There are many heroes behind the successful Pran Prathistha of the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and one of them is 91 years old veteran Supreme Court lawyer Keshav Parasaran whose devotion to the cause echoed in the build-up to the ceremony. He was a former Attorney General of India and presented his case without shoes and stood for extended period of time during the proceedings – as a mark of respect to Lord Rama. On winning the case, he said that the arguments he delivered were due to his love and devotion to his God, Ram, and that he did his best. And the Supreme Court did the rest.

India’s is a wounded civilisation – looted (including the word ‘looted’ – from Hindi) by countless invaders in of the bloodiest in History- and for the first time, in a very long time, the wounds are beginning to heal.

The Australian Open (AO) Tennis Tournament is underway at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 14th January to 28th January.

In a shocking upset, Women’s World No 1, Iga Swiatek of Poland was defeated by 19 year old Czech, Linda Noskova, 6-3; 3-6, 4-6, in the third round in the Rod Laver Arena. This brought to an end a 18 match winning streak of Iga Swiatek. Linda Noskova, ranked 50th in the world, looked composed throughout the match as she hammered 35 winners past the top seed. In another upset, Ukrainian qualifier 23 years old Dayana Yastremska surged into her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday defeating two-time champion Belarusian Victoria Azarenka . Using a booming serve and aggressive groundstrokes she won 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, again at the Rod Laver Arena. Incidentally, she played Linda Noskova in her next match, who had progressed to the last eight when her opponent, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina retired hurt. Then Yastremska beat Noskova to reach the semi-finals, where her dream run ended when she lost to China’s Qinweng Zheng. The Women’s Singles Finals is between Zheng and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, to be played this Saturday.

On another court, Indian tennis star Rohan Bhopanna scripted history at the age of 43. He became the oldest World Number One Double Tennis Player as he progressed to the semi-finals of the Men’s Doubles event and later made it to the Finals. This feat, for India, comes after almost a decade.

The AO men’s title, defending champion, Novak Djokovic who ‘did not sin once’ in his 33-match winning run in Melbourne was stunned in the semi-final when he ran into Italian Jannik Sinner. Sinner advanced to his first grand slam final with a fantastic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, victory against the 10-time champion. In the other semi-final, Russian Daniil Medvedev came from two sets down to defeat Germany’s, Alexander Zverev and reach his third AO final. Medvedev looked beaten at two sets down but won two tiebreaks in a row to claim a 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory in over four hours. The former US Open champion will bid for a second grand slam title against Sinner on Sunday.

More heroic stories coming up in the weeks ahead. Play with World Inthavaaram .

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-3

About: the world this week, 14 January 2024 to 20 January 2024; Middle East tensions; Taiwan’s Elections; The World Economic Forum; Monkey cloning; Red Ants of Australia; Emmy Awards, and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India.

Everywhere

The Israel-Hamas war moved further south in the Gaza Strip with Israel striking this region. In northern Gaza, Hamas launched a barrage of rockets into Israel, signalling that it is just another day. The Palestinian death toll rose to over 24,285 people and on the Israel side the count is around 1,200. This week, Qatar brokered a deal between the warring parties for delivery of critical medicines to the Hostages – that count still stays at 136. There is near-total communications blackout in Gaza with no signs of abating. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed calls for a post-war Palestinian state, adding to tensions with the United States.

Last week, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom launched air and submarine strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis of Yemen for their attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. This week, the Houthis fired missiles at another US-owned commercial ship, just hours after a new round of US military strikes against them.

Then Iran launched its own kind of air strikes, hitting a militant group in western Pakistan. This is Iran’s third air strike on another country, after previous attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria. The operation hit two sites in Balochistan linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice)- an ethnic Baloch Sunni group that has carried out attacks inside Iran as well as on Pakistan’s forces. Pakistan called Iran’s air strike illegal and warned of ‘serious consequences’. And later in the week, followed through with a tit-for-tat retaliation, launching attacks on, what it claimed, was terrorists and separatists based in Iran: the Baloch Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front.

Simmering beneath the surface, there could be other reasons. Iran is a hardcore Shia Islamic country, at the centre of the strategic ‘Shia Crescent’. On the other hand Pakistan, which started out as Sufi-leaning, evolved and adopted a hardcore Sunni ideology. And has been home to a range of Sunni terrorist groups. Pakistan’s aspiration of becoming the flag bearer of Islam has rattled Iran in many ways. And a major irritant is the Shia-Sunni divide, and the separatists in both countries. This despite cordial relations between the countries.

Well, with these two Islamic nations striking each others terrorist bases, maybe they are doing the civilised world a huge favour?

Tension across the Middle East is shooting-up, with more than 100 days of the unprecedented war between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, the Russia – Ukraine war ambles on. The World is becoming a battle-ground, with agendas being driven brutally by perceived wrong-doings.

In Presidential Elections held in the ‘Republic of China’ –Taiwan -The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won an unprecedented third term and Lai Ching-te has been elected President, with 40% of the vote. The other parties in the fray were Kuomingtang (KMT), and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The DPP seeks Taiwan’s independence from ‘The People’s Republic of China’ – China. And the KMT, China’s oldest political party, is the party favouring unification with China. Since no party in Taiwan commands a parliamentary majority, the system of checks and balances will likely continue for the next four years. The KMT’s message of accommodation with China resonates less and less with the people of Taiwan, who have an increasing sense of local identity-distinct from that of mainland China. Remember, China has not set foot on Taiwan even for one minute since 1940. Whatever, this is certainly a spot to watch in the years ahead.

The annual conference of The World Economic Forum 2024, from 15 to 19 January, is on its last legs at the Ski Resort of Davos, near Zurich, Switzerland. About 3000 carefully selected delegates and speakers from global business, government, civil society, and academia gathered to brain-storm, and think-aloud on the most pressing issues of the day, and the shape of things to come.

This year’s themes are: Achieving Security and Cooperation in a Fractured World; Creating Growth and Jobs for a New Era; Artificial Intelligence as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society; and A Long-Term Strategy for Climate, Nature and Energy.

Another hot-topic discussed was, ‘Disease X’ – what if a new disease, called X (no relation of Elon Musk) arises and spreads across the world, much like Covid-19 did, and threatens the world economy? Let us wait for the outcomes, in the week ahead.

While Disease X, was being thrown around, Scientists in China announced that they have cloned the first healthy rhesus monkey –macaca mulatta. The rhesus monkey, named Retro, was cloned by tweaking the somatic cell nuclear transfer method that was previously used to create ‘Dolly the sheep’ – the first ever clone of an adult mammal. Experts say such clones can become test subjects for treatments to cure Alzheimer’s and cancer. Retro, who is over three years old, was brought into the world on 16 July 2020.

Australia is known for all kinds of weird animals – native or imported- which are constantly floated on the headlines. Now, in the news is clever fire ants, which have resorted to a ‘new stunt of forming ‘rafts’ to travel on flood waters, across storm-ravaged Australia, aiding the spread of one of the world’s most invasive species. Considered a ‘super pest’, fire ants can cause major ecosystem changes and agricultural loss by feeding on native plants and animals. Their stings can also kill people. The unusual rafting behaviour is evidence that fire ant densities are increasing in Australia. They have already infested about 700,000 hectares of land in the cane farms south of Brisbane.

Solenopsis invicta, the red ant – called Rifa or the fire ant – is an extremely invasive species, so called because of its powerful sting. They are particularly good at ‘staying alive’ and spreading. They can survive underground for years; forming rafts in floods, travelling to colonise new ground. They have moved around the world in infested soil attached to containers and shipments. Ranging from 2 mm to 6 mm in size, individuals are copper-brown in colour with darker abdomens. Their nests look like small mounds of loose, crumbly dirt, and are most often in direct sunlight on lawns, near concrete paths, taps, and bodies of water, or along fence lines.

When 10 or more ants get close together in water, a property of surface tension called the ‘Cheerios effect’ pushes them together —despite their best efforts to avoid contact. Then their legs entangle, making a stable hold – and a fire ant raft is born. The Cheerios effect is just a form of capillary action, which forces a liquid in a narrow channel to flow, even against gravity. Surface tension and the attraction between the liquid and solid materials combine to push the liquid forward through the channel.

Native to South America, red imported fire ants were first detected in Queensland in 2001 and have largely been contained within the state’s borders. How they entered Australia remains a mystery, but it is most likely they came via shipping containers, from the United States.

In November, local authorities reported that several new fire ant nests had spread into New South Wales from the Queensland border for the very first time – prompting a nationwide funding boost for eradication efforts. Fire ants are most commonly spread through contaminated soil and materials brought into new areas by people. Winged fire ant queens are capable of flying several kilometres at a time but can travel much further when blowed by wind currents.

Australia’s unique climate and lack of natural predators make it the perfect home for fire ants, which could inhabit the entire continent, except for the most extreme coldest locations, if not contained, according to biosecurity authorities. One of the biggest fears shared by experts is that they could one day get into the nation’s Murray-Darling River system and then move rapidly into new states and territories. A three-year-old colony can hold as many as 100,000 fire ants, and a mature queen can lay up to 5,000 eggs per day.

In recent decades, fire ants have spread across the US, China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. Ants could become Australia’s worst pest.

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards saw the biggest names in the world of movies and television show-up. After the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, the Emmy Awards got underway at the Peacock Theatre, downtown Los Angeles on Monday. The awards Function, which was postponed by four months because of the Hollywood strikes, finally came on stage.

Following the pitch of the Golden Globes, the last season of the TV drama, Succession scooped major awards’ such as Outstanding Drama Series; Lead Actor Drama, for Kieran Culkin; and Lead Actress, Drama, for Sarah Snook.

The Bear won six, and The Beef bagged five-including outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. I’ve briefly talked about ‘Succession’ and ‘The Beef’ in World Inthavaaram-2. Now, it’s time for ‘The Bear’.

The Bear is an American comedy-drama television series created by Christopher Storer starring Jeremy Allen White as an award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother’s sandwich shop: it won Outstanding Comedy Series, best Lead Actor, Comedy, for Jeremy Allen, among other wins.

Trevor Noah’s, The Daily Show, bagged an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show. This year’s Emmys also honoured classic TV shows with cast reunions and tributes. Tributes poured for I Love Lucy and Carol Burnett. The cast of Grey’s Anatomy was up there on the stage drooling out the nostalgia. So were, The Sopranos, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, SNL Weekend Update, All in the Family, and Ally McBeal.

The Red carpet spinned the trending bow, and one of the best was Suki Waterhouse who flaunted her baby bump stunning onlookers with a custom red Valentino gown. The singer, actor, and songwriter is engaged to ‘Harry Potter’ Robert Pattinson and the couple is expecting their first child.

In India, this week, there is a spiritual buzz in the air, and a frenzy of activity dominating the lives of Hindus. In an awesome build-up, all roads seem to be leading to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the Pran Prathistha(consecration ceremony) to be held on 22 January 2024 at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. ‘Pran Pratishtha’ means imbibing the idol with divine consciousness and is a must for every idol that is worshipped in a Hindu temple. The Ram Temple will be inaugurated that day and is considered as one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus.

This would mark a new beginning for Hindutva in India, following the peaceful end of the 500 year old conflict over the birthplace of Lord Rama, in which enough bloodshed has been shed across the country. Including the 6 December 1992 demolition of the Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure-standing over the original Ram Temple-by a gathering of near 200,000 karsevaks (someone who offers his services for a religious cause), which subsequently led to deadly communal riots across the Indian subcontinent.

The Supreme Court (SC) verdict of 9 November 2019 brought to an end, decades of uncertainity, and means of realising a long-awaited dream of Hindus in India. In a landmark judgement, the SC unanimously ruled that the entire disputed Ram Janmabhoomi land belonged to the deity Ram Lalla (infant Rama)- the Hindus. And ordered it to be handed over to a Trust to build a Ram temple. It also ordered the Government to give an alternate five-acre tract of land for building a mosque. The judgement – based on available records and substantial Archaeological evidence – established the fact of the original Ram Temple in Ayodhya. That was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1528 and a Mosque called the Babri Masjid, built over the ruins of the temple is the birth spot of Rama.

Ram Janmabhoomi is the site of the birthplace of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu – one of the Hindu Trinity of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. The epic Ramayana states that the location of Rama’s birthplace is on the banks of the Sarayu River in a city called Ayodhya. Modern-day Ayodhya lies in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, formed on the Orders of the Court, began the first phase of construction of the Ram Mandir in March, 2020. The Bhoomi Puja was performed and the foundation stone of the Ram Temple was laid in Ayodhya on 5 August 2020, leading to the present stage of ceremonies and celebrations.

More spiritual stories coming up in the weeks ahead. Build with World Inthavaaram .

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-2

About: the world this week, 7 January 2024 to 13 January 2024; Israel changes tactics; the Houthi Movement; France’s new Prime Minister; Bangladesh’s old PM; India’s oil find; the Golden Globe Awards; and passing of Football superstars.

Everywhere

Israel is shifting its war against the terrorist Hamas to a different level: to a new kind of tactical urban guerrilla warfare. And once their goals are accomplished, I am sure there will be no army like Israel’s Defense Forces. There are still 136 hostages out there, since 7 October 2023, under unimaginable duress, and Israel is fighting hard to bring them home.

On another front, the United States and the United Kingdom launched a massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The strikes were from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen, in response to the Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea. And this is a dramatic regional widening of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The Houthis have, more than two dozen times, attacked commercial vessels since mid-November 2023, triggering an international challenge. The US and UK said their action demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks.

The Houthi Movement, officially known as ‘Ansar Allah’ is a Shia Islamist political and military organisation that emerged in Yemen in the 1990s. The leadership is drawn largely from the Houthi Tribe, hence the name. In the formative stages, it was mainly an opposition to Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Salem, who they accused of corruption and being backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States. What began as a moderate theological movement that preached tolerance and held broad-minded views evolved into a violent organisation, over the years, largely influenced by the Hezbollah of Iran. In the year 2003, the Houthis adopted their official slogan as, ‘God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, A curse upon the Jews, Victory to Islam’. This slogan is often portrayed on a white flag, with the written text in red and green: the pro-islamic statements in green and the anti-America & anti-Israel ones in red. The Houthis aim to govern all of Yemen and support external movements again the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. They have a complex relationship with their own people-the Sunnis- in Yemen.

This Tuesday, France named a new Prime Minister: the youngest and the first openly gay person. Gabriel Attal, 34, takes over from his predecessor Elisabeth Borne following her resignation early in the week over turmoil on an Immigration law that strengthens the Government’s power to deport foreigners. Gabriel joined French President Macron’s political movement in 2016 and was Government Spokesman from 2020 to 2022, which made him well-known. He also served as Budget Minister and Education Minister in Macron’s Government. And is popular among the people besides being media savvy. France seems to be growing young, riding on the shoulders of the old. Macron himself became France’s youngest President at age 39 in the year 2017.

This week, South Korea’s Parliament passed a landmark ban on production and sale of dog meat, bringing to an end a centuries old practice. Until now, eating dog meat was neither explicitly banned nor legally permitted and has long been viewed as a source of stamina on hot summer days.

In India’s immediate neighbourhood, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,76, secured a record fourth straight term-her fifth at the top job-with her Awami League Party winning two-thirds majority in Parliament. The voter turnout was miserly at 40% and could be due to the main Opposition Party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Allies, boycotting the General Elections. They were angry over the harsh crackdown on the opposition and human-rights violations. Hasina herself won her seat for the eight time, since 1986, and her nearest rival secured just 469 votes.

Hasina has been in power since 2009 and has remarkably transformed the economy of Bangladesh. Its garment sector is one of the world’s most competitive. She has staved off military coups, controlled Islamic militancy, and raised the profile of her country. And she is best friends with India.

Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was the architect of separation from parent Pakistan, and founding Bangladesh as an independent nation in 1971 – with India’s help. The Father was assassinated in August 1975. Hasina herself has survived a total of 19 assassination attempts on her life. She has a son and a daughter. Hasina’s niece – the daughter of her only living sibling, Sheikh Rehan is Tulip Siddiq, the UK politician serving as Member of Parliament for the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency.

India is beginning to get rich in many ways. It’s already the owner of the largest ornament gold in the World and as if the shine of this yellow isn’t enough, India discovered one of its best Black Gold – Crude Oil – finds ever. India’s Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) announced the discovery. A total of 26 wells were found, and 4 wells have just begun production, capable of pumping out 45,000 barrels per day by May or June this year. This would meet about 7% of India’s total oil requirements. The discovery is 30 kilometres from Kakinada’s coast, nestled within the Krishna Godavari basin, off the coast of Andhra Pradesh State.

The 81st Golden Globes Awards Ceremony 2024, hosted by comedian Jo Koy, was held at the Beverley Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, US, on 7th January and the award winners were announced. The Golden Globes is one of the few Award ceremonies which include achievements in both motion picture and television. Oppenheimer and Barbie, between them, won most of the nominations and the awards, reminding us that ‘Barbenheimer’ are quite a pair, still running together on the big screen. Oppenheimer had 8 nominations and 5 wins: best Film-drama, best Actor-drama for Cillian Murphy, Best male actor in a supporting role for ‘Iron Man’ Robert Downey Jr, Best original score, and Best Director for Christoper Nolan.

Barbie was the most nominated film in 9 categories and won 2 Globes. It won the first-ever award for Cinematic & Box Office Achievement, introduced this year. Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig set records and hit over USD 1 billion in global box offices. The second award was for Best Original Song. Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell won for their emotional track, ‘What Was I Made For?

Best Film-musical or comedy went to Poor Things: about a young woman living in Victorian era London who, after being resurrected by a scientist following her suicide, runs off with a debauched lawyer to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation. The best animated film went to The Boy and the Heron: follows a boy during the Pacific War, who discovers an abandoned tower in his new town after his mother’s death and enters a fantastical world with a talking grey heron.

The best non-English Film award went to Anatomy of a Fall: a French courtroom drama thriller about as a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death.

Best Television Series-Drama went to Succession: the ups and downs of a dysfunctional American global-media family. Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television went to Beef: about two strangers whose involvement in a road rage incident escalates into a prolonged feud. Ali Wong and Steven Yeun became the first actors of Asian descent to win for their meaty roles in the series.

Major fashion and dressing trends were unleashed at the Golden Globe Awards. And individuality still ruled the Red Carpet. The 50s ankle-length cocktail dress—the sheath and lavender was there. Bangs (locks of hair that fall over the scalp’s front hairline to cover the forehead, usually just above the eyebrows) were a big-bang sensation, going by Taylor Swift’s ‘Kissing the Brow Bangs.’ Carey Mulligan’s blunt cut, which some call the bob, also did the rounds. Large glam curls were seen on Jennifer Lopez and Brie Larson, which provided a soft look. Selena Gomez and Helen Mirren went for the traditional bun, while Billie Eilish and Lily Gladstone did some exciting things with the layers. Ponytails were back. Florence Pugh’s fluffy reverse duck-tail was chic and could start a trend with women. Barbie’s Margot Robbie came in a pink Armani dress inspired by the classic ‘Superstar Barbie’ doll of 1977. She continued playing Barbie.

What about the men? They were simply suave.

In the world of Men’s Football, only three players have won the FIFA World Cup, both as player and as a Manager. Franz Beckenbauer of Germany, Mario Zagello of Brazil, and Didier Deschamps of France.

This week, on 9th January, Franz Beckenbauer died at the age of 78. Late last week, on 5th January, Mario Zagello, died at the age of 92. That’s two legends leaving the football field forever, within the span of a week.

Beckenbauer, known in Germany as ‘Der Kaiser (the Emperor) is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He helped Germany win their second world title as a player and Captain in 1974 and later as a Manager in 1990, in their third win.

Born in Munich in 1945, he captained Germany to the 1974 World Cup title on home soil when they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the Munich final; then managed the team that beat Argentina 1-0 in Rome to lift the trophy at Italia’90. He was named European footballer of the year in 1972 and 1976. He played a pivotal role in some of the country’s greatest sporting achievements. But, in later years, his legacy was tarnished by his involvement in scandals surrounding Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Mario Zagello was in Brazil’s winning team, playing alongside the legendary Pele, in the 1958 and 1962 World Cup, and ‘managed’ Pele and the Brazilian team in 1970 when Brazil won the World Cup for the third time. He wore the nickname of ‘The Professor’ throughout his coaching career due to his tactical awareness and commanding presence on the bench. Brazil went on to win the world in 1994 and 2002 – an unsurpassed record five times. Brazil is quickly followed by Germany with 4 FIFA World Cup wins in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014 and Italy also with four wins in 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006.

More real and reel stories coming up in the weeks ahead. Watch with World Inthavaaram .

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-1

About: the world this week; Rockets in the air and space; worshipping the Sun; Earth Shakes; Flying safely on fire; a Queen abdicates; woke and DEI; Pirates of the Arabian Sea; and sizzling Lakshadweep.

Everywhere

While most of us shot-out New Year messages and even bursted crackers to announce the arrival of the New Year, the terrorist Hamas lighted-up the sky with real rockets fired into Israel. Is this a signal of things that will go on despite a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip? Squirrelling away food and essentials in underground tunnels and waiting to be flushed out like rats, by the Israeli Defence Forces?

In perhaps a tactical move, Israel began withdrawing its armed forces from the war-front: about five brigades and thousands of troops – what I call a ‘Ulysses’ strategy. The focus will be on more targeted and precision attacks; also to rest the Reserves. And in signs of things to come, this week, the deputy chairman of Hamas’s political bureau and the commander of the group’s military wing in the West Bank, was assassinated in a precision Israeli drone attack, in Beirut. And Israel also began targeting the Lebanon based militant group, the Hezbollah, who also being extremely fond of rockets, have been doing the Hamas thing – firing rockets into Israel.

Meanwhile, India did not want to be left behind in rocket launching. On the first day of the new Year, the ‘fast and frugal’ Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), designed to study black holes and neutron stars. The satellite was launched by ISRO’s star performer, the PSLV, and exactly positioned in a low earth orbit of 650 kilometres. While India is hoping to bring out colourful information on Black Holes, its Sun-study Satellite, Aditya-L1, launched in early September last year, is all set to reach its intended destination L1 -Lagrange Point- on 6 January 2024. The Universe is becoming a smaller place. You don’t mess with India’s ISRO – they have the Moon, the Sun, and Back Holes under their grip.

Then in a follow through, on a different level, India high-lighted a spiritual seam in the New Year, for health and unity. In the State of Gujarat over 4000 people coordinated in such manner as to perform Surya Namaskar – a salutation to the sun- simultaneously at 108 venues including the iconic Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, Gujarat. Turned out to be a Guinness World Record, with the Record Keepers hanging around to do the counting, verification, and stamping.

Why 108? In Hindutva (previously called Hinduism) Vedic mathematicians consider 108 to be a number signifying the wholeness of existence. It connects the Sun, Moon, and the Earth. The average distance of the Sun, Moon, and Earth is 108 times their relative diameters. Typically, ‘Malas’ (a string of beads) used for recitation of mantras, have 108 beads – with an additional ‘Meru’ bead, which when reached prompts one to count in reverse order. The number 108 also means the 108 attendants of Lord Shiva, or the 108 followers-called Gopis-of Lord Krishna; the Sudharshana Chakra, the shining discus weapon of Lord Vishnu has 108 serrated edges; and to wind-up, in Hindutva there are 108 Upanishads- the sacred texts of wisdom of ancient sages.

The message is, stay enlightened, and count your blessings, in the new year – 108 is not just a number.

Breaking to the East, Japan was hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake which left the country shaking and stirred. And warnings were sounded that it could trigger a Tsunami – about 5 metre high waves – on the west cost of the country. However, the waves kept their height within the metre, and the ocean behaved. About 250 people are missing, and the final toll could be high.

Just when Japan was finding firm ground, a Japan Airlines A350 bursted into flames on landing at Haneda Airport on colliding with a Coast Guard plane, which was getting ready for take-off. All 379 passengers were safely evacuated, but all except one, on the Coast Guard plane were killed. The crew of Japan Airlines earned the cheers of the world with their remarkable handling of the evacuation of passengers, who stayed calm and composed. And left behind their baggage. It took the 12 member crew, 18 minutes to get 367 travellers and themselves off the plane and safely accounted for. The A350-900 is certified for a full load of up to 440 passengers who can be evacuated within 90 seconds with only half of the exits usable. What portion of the 18 minute operation was used to get passengers physically out will be known as more details emerge. The world was unanimous in their appreciation of the crew, for following the evacuation drill to text-book perfection. The next time you are on an aircraft, invest in listening to the safety instructions again and again- it could save your life, and that of others, one day. Make safety an involuntary habit.

Flying to the middle of the Earth, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe-II who is the longest serving monarch in Europe, announced that she will abdicate on 14 January 2024, after 52 years of sitting on the throne. The Queen will be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, 55. This was made during her New Year’s message to the Danes. Prince Frederik was known as a Party Prince in the early days of growing-up, but when he became the first Danish royal to complete a university education with a masters in Political Science, people took notice, seriously. Later, he served in the Danish Navy and earned a nickname of ‘Pingo’ -his wetsuit filled up with water during a scuba diving course, forcing him to waddle like a penguin. The Prince is also known to be a daredevil – with lots of battle scars to show off: he took part in a four-month ski expedition across Greenland, besides being hospitalised in sledging and scooter accidents. The Prince is married to Australian-born Princess Mary who grew up on the island of Tasmania and was working as a lawyer when the pair met in the year 2000, at a bar in Sydney, during the Olympic Games. They have four children – a daughter, son, and twins – and in them, Denmark has strong line-up for the future. Down under, Australia is celebrating: it has finally got into the Queen-making business.

In America, Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned, ending a six-month tenure marred by allegations of plagiarism and recent backlash over her congressional testimony about antisemitism on campus. Claudine Gay was one of – what I call -‘Three Musketeers’, along with UPenn President Liz Magill (resigned first) and MIT President, Sally Kornbluth (under pressure – still thinking). The trio infamously could not confirm ‘calling for the genocide of Jews’ violated University Rules and pouted, “should be seen in context”. This, in the background of growing Wokeism and a wrong turn of DEI.

We have just started the new year and already competing for the word of the year is probably Wokeism, and DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It is a term that describes policies that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals: people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations. It also covers people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and expertise. But then DEI appears to have been hijacked by the ‘Woke Gang’ and right now, it’s oozing with antisemitism.

This week, on the high seas, the ‘Pirates of Somalia’ were in for a rude shock when they tried to hijack a Liberia flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk, off the Somalia coast in the northern Arabian Sea. An Indian naval warship INS Chennai rushed to the spot, deployed predator drones and Naval helicopters. And the Indian Navy’s Elite Marine Commandos– MARCOS- stormed the Vessel neutralising the pirates in a daring operation. All 21 crew members, including 15 Indians were evacuated safely. Probably, for the first time in recent History, an Indian warship has overpowered the Somalian pirates in the Somalian waters. The hijacking of commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea regions resumed in December this year after a six-year lull, by which time India trained and prepared to protect the seas from these slippery pirates.

This week it took a fully-clothed Indian Prime Minister (PM) to show us the raw, naked blue-lagoon beauty of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea. It is India’s smallest Union Territory -an archipelago consisting of 36 islands, known for its exotic, sun-kissed beaches, and lush green landscape. Most of the islands are uninhabited and consist of coral atolls. The PM even went snorkelling, showing a beautiful underwater world. And found the tranquility mesmerising.

More new and inclusive stories in the New Year. Stay mesmerised with World Inthavaaram and head to Lakshadweep for your next vacation.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-52

About: the world this week, 24 December to 31 December 2023; War & No Peace; Argentina; Zombie Deer Disease; a Captain departs; and celebrating Kwanzaa.

Everywhere

War & No Peace

This week, Egypt floated an ambitious plan to end the Israel-Hamas war. The plan called for a phased release of the hostages held by Hamas and the formation of a Palestinian ‘Government of Experts’ to administer the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Egypt and Qatar would work with all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, to agree on the establishment of such a government. And this government would rule Gaza and the West Bank for a transitional period, while the Palestinian factions work towards holding presidential and parliamentary elections.

Israel and Hamas gave cool public receptions to the proposal. But stopped short of rejecting the plan altogether, raising the possibility of a new round of diplomacy.

The Egyptian proposal does not measure up to Israel’s declared goal of crushing Hamas to the bone. It also appears to be at odds with Israel’s insistence on maintaining military control over Gaza for an extended period, after the war. The rising death toll of Israeli soldiers during the ground operation also threatens to undermine public support for the war. More than 160 Israeli soldiers have been killed thus far.

Meanwhile, the terrorist Hamas continued with what it does best: launching a barrage of rockets, this time into the southern city of Ashkelon, Israel. Most of them were intercepted by Israel’s rocket defence system. Israel, on its part, expanded ground operations to the central part of Gaza. And almost every day kept discovering massive tunnel networks beneath Hospitals and Schools, used by Hamas to carry out terror activities against Israel. Most of them were promptly destroyed.

The other war, the Russia-Ukraine War, is only getting older, with no end in sight. There were some mumblings by Russia about leaning towards holding talks for a cease-fire. But it did not gain traction.

This week, Ukraine struck a large Russian landing warship, Novocherkassk, in Crimea, with cruise missiles in an overnight attack that killed at least one person, and could hinder any Russian attempt to seize more Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea coast. Russia admitted that the large landing ship was extensively damaged. Satellite pictures showed the ship partially submerged alongside its pier. Then, in a revenge act, Russia launched its biggest air-attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, using about 158 drones and missiles to strike targets in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

If only these two wars would come to an end, the World would ‘appear’ more peaceful!

Argentina Rises

Argentina’s newly inaugurated President Javier Milei, is going great guns flashing his deadly uncombed hair-locks. He has brought-in sensible laws in what promises to be a shock & awe presidency. He had prohibited governmental institutions from using the word ‘free’ to promote any state service. Milei considers the use of the word ‘free’ a lie and feels citizens should not be lied to, since the service is always paid by someone, typically tax-payer money.

Then he has proposed a new law, that Argentina presently does not have, which affirms a right to self-defence. This would apply when someone tries to cause bodily harm to another person or where they try to invade his property. It also affirms that if the attacker dies in the process, their relatives cannot sue over the fact of defending oneself.

Oh Deer!

Since the Covid-19 saga, we are not done with the list of possible outbreaks of new diseases: the spillover from animals to humans. Joining this ever-growing list is ‘Chronic Wasting Disease’ (CWD), sometimes referred to as ‘Zombie Deer Disease’ which mainly affects free-ranging deer, elk, and moose. The affected deer is often called ‘Zombie Deer’ due to the neurological signs of the disease, which are, weight loss, lack of coordination, listlessness, and drooling. Although there have been no infections in humans, scientists are warning that the disease is a ‘slow-moving disaster’ for humans. And it is more transmissible to humans from animals – say Deer – than was previously thought.

CWD can have an incubation period of over a year, and signs of the disease may develop slowly. Scientists believe the disease spreads through contact with contaminated body fluids and tissue, or through the environment, including drinking water, and food.

Recall, ‘The Mad Cow Disease’ outbreak in Britain provided an example of how, overnight, things can get crazy when a spillover event happens from livestock to people.

Beware of Deer crossings!

A Captain Departs

This week, on 28th December, Tamil Actor and Politician, Vijayakanth passed away at age 71 due to pneumonia and Covid-19 complications. Over the past 4 years, he has been in and out of hospital on prolonged illness. In 2017, he had undergone an organ transplant. In June 2022, his toes were amputated following prolonged diabetes. In recent times, he had difficulty in walking and speaking, and if at all, his speech was often incoherent due to a liver ailment and a paralytic stroke. He is said to have a drinking problem. In early November of this year, he was admitted to a Hospital in Chennai and then again in December, finally succumbing to Covid-19.

Vijayakanth who started his film career as a ‘poor man’s Rajinikant’, was popularly known as ‘Captain’, ‘Karuppu MGR’ (dark MGR- because of his dark complexion) Puratchi Kalaignar (revolutionary artist).

Vijayakanth is one of very few Tamil actors to have stuck himself only to Tamil films – 154 of them – throughout a career spanning over three decades. Most of his films revolved around corruption, honesty, and honouring promises; playing the role of a patriotic, village do-gooder, and dual-role acting. He has played the highest number of roles by an actor-20 times-as a Police Officer.

He was best known for low-budget films that showcased gravity-defying stunts in which he would single-handedly beat his enemies to pulp. And he had a trademark ‘evil back-kick’, which he used to disastrous effects on villains. In the song & dance sequences, typical of Tamil films, his dance moves and gestures were a mimic’s delight.

Vijayakanth was the President of the South Indian Film Artistes’ Association between 2000 and 2006 during which time he achieved the remarkable feat of clearing all debts of the Association, by organising Celebrity Shows abroad. Until then, the Association was completely in the red.

Vijayakanth is known to have a heart of gold, always ready to answer a cry for help, with a natural philanthropic bend of mind. He was regarded as one of the most diligent actors of his era, even doing three shifts a day and working on multiple projects simultaneously to make sure none of his projects got canceled and his Producers did not lose sleep. He would claim his salary only after the success of his movies and often agreed to take a pay-cut if the movies didn’t perform well at the Box Office. Vijayakanth never charged for cameo appearances or supporting roles in some of his friends’ movies.

Some of his biggest movie hits were, Vaidehi Kaathirundal, in 1984; Amman Koil Kizhakkaale, in 1986; Pulan Visaaranai, and Chatriyan, in 1990; Chinna Gounder, in 1991; Sendhoorapandi, in 1993; Ramana, in 2002.

Then in the year 2005, he decided to kick himself out of cinema before the movie-goers did. And in September that year he founded a political party called the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in Madurai, as an alternative to the two Dravidian parties of, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), who between them, ruled the State for decades. He worked as the DMDK’s founder President until the time of his death. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) twice from Virudhachalam, and Rishivandiyam.

Vijayakanth aimed to become Chief Minister one day, but the closest he could get was, Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, within six years of launching his party: the only actor-turned-Politician in Tamil Nadu to have achieved such a feat!

The DMDK made its electoral debut in the 2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. The party contested independently and managed to win a significant number of seats, establishing itself as a force to reckon with. In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the DMDK scripted history, winning more seats than the DMK and emerged as the principal Opposition Party that year. He had formed an alliance with the AIADMK contesting in 41 constituencies. His party saw stunning success, winning 29 seats. Vijayakanth himself became a MLA for the second time.

Vijayakanth did not have the cinematic charisma of MGR, or even, for that matter, of his own contemporary Rajinikanth, who has flirted with politics over the years, without ever joining a particular party and gave-up on the brink of starting one. Nevertheless, the DMDK debuted in the 2006 assembly election with an impressive vote share of around 8% and followed it up with a 10% share in the 2009 Lok Sabha election. Both results made observers sit up and take notice. But it has been a downslide since then.

Vijayakanth was born, Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami, on 25 August 1952 Madurai, Tamilnadu. He and was one among four children of K N Alagarswami and Aandal. When he was an year old, his mother Andal passed away. With many children to take-care of, his Father was forced to re-marry, and thereafter had seven more children from his second wife. That’s a count of 10 siblings. And sibling rivalry was not heard of in the Captain’s family.

Vijayakanth studied up to Class 11 after which he quit School to look after his father’s rice-mill business. During this time he collaborated with a friend to take-up Film Distribution, which probably spawned a desire to become an Actor. He refused to heed to his father’s advice to continue running the family’s rice mill, and instead packed-up to sail to Chennai to try his hand in tinsel world.

After initial rejections and a struggle, mainly because of his poor dialogue delivery, in the year 1979, he was booked in his first film ‘Inikkum Ilamai’ (sweet youth), where he debuted as a villain. It failed at the box-office. After this, he acted in three other films, which did not bring noteworthy success. Then in 1981, he got a breakthrough hit in the film ‘Sattam Oru Iruttarai’ (the law is a dark room), which became a blockbuster success. It was later made in Hindi with his ‘richer version’, Rajinikant playing his role and Amitabh Bachchan doing a cameo, along with Hema Malini. This propelled him to fabulous movie hits, and the offers came in a flood.

Vijayakanth’s 100th film, in the year 1991, earned him the sobriquet ‘Captain’ after he portrayed an upright Indian Forest Officer sent on a mission to nab an elusive forest brigand complicit with a corrupt administration. After the yesteryear Tamil filmdom stalwarts of M G Ramachandran (MGR), Sivaji Ganesan, and Jayalalithaa, he was the only actor to have achieved a silver jubilee hit in his 100th film.

Meanwhile in the world of Politics, Vijayakanth’s public conduct has not left him with a very flattering image. Talks about a drinking problem have surfaced repeatedly and he was extensively criticised for getting drunk during public meetings. His wife has denied the drinking problem and even threw a challenge for tests to be done on him. His explosive and unclear speeches and ‘red eyes’ were hard to decipher causing confusion. He has also gotten into squabbles and brawls with his own party members and the media, many of which have been caught on video and circulated widely online. Apart from this, he was irregular in his attendance of legislative assembly proceedings in the decade or so that he was in politics. Increasingly, over the years, he was seen as a comic figure rather than a serious political player. Maybe he squandered an opportunity to captain Tamil Nadu?

He leaves behind his wife Premalatha, who he married in 1990, and two sons Shanmuga Pandian and Vijaya Prabhakar Alagarswami. A week ago Premalatha was made the General Secretary of the Party, maybe foretelling the Captain’s end was near. She, along with her brother, L K Sudheesh, have been steering the DMDK during the illness of the Captain. The ‘Captain Group’ runs TV Channels in the name, owns an Engineering College, among other businesses.

Whatever, Vijayakanth leaves behind a rich, colourful legacy, and perhaps there will be none like him.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is an African American-Pan-African holiday created in 1966 by Africana Studies Professor Maulana Ron Karenga. His goal was to give Black people an alternative to the existing holidays; give them the opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practices of the dominant society.

All the concepts of the holiday are traditionally expressed in Swahili, which is where the meaning of ‘Kwanzaa’ is derived from: ‘matunda ya kwanza’ which means first fruits. President Bill Clinton was the first US President to recognise it as a holiday.

Kwanzaa follows seven principles. When you see the table set in a Kwanzaa-celebrating home, you’ll notice a Kinara – a candle holder carrying three red candles on the left, one black candle in the middle, and three green candles on the right. Those candles are lit one by one, starting with the black one, as the seven days of Kwanzaa progress and each of them represent the seven principles of the holiday: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).

Families do a number of things to celebrate the holiday, from creating art, donning African garments, attending festivals, or giving gifts. However, the biggest component to Kwanzaa festivities is the food. You can always count on a special meal being made while incorporating the flavours of Southern Caribbean, South American, and African dishes.

No person of any specific religion chooses to celebrate Kwanzaa. It’s not about religion. It’s more about Black people embracing one another, the rich culture they’ve created and the roots from which it comes from, as well as uplifting one another to learn and grow into the best ‘black-beauty’ version of themselves.

One more reason to celebrate. Strive to create a new and better version of yourself. Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year 2024.

More new stories in the New Year. Celebrate with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-51

About: the world this week, 17 December to 23 December 2023; Israel and Hamas; Shooting in Prague, Czechia; Earthquake in China; the Pope and LGBTQIA; Parliament shakes in India; Floods in Southern India; and the Coronavirus and Kerala.

Everywhere

Israel-Hamas War

Late last week, in a tragic accident, Israel admitted mistakenly killing three hostages during a search and rescue operation.

An Israeli soldier stationed in a building in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighbourhood, identified three suspicious people exiting the building several dozen meters away. All three were shirtless, with one of them carrying a stick with a makeshift white flag. The soldier, who believed the men moving toward him was an attempt by Hamas to lure Israeli soldiers into a trap, immediately opened fire and shouted “terrorists!” to the other forces. The hostages either managed to escape Hamas captivity or were abandoned, before they were mistakenly shot dead.

This is in the tense background of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) having encountered several, seemingly unarmed civilians in the area, who turned out to be Hamas suicide bombers. There have also been countess attempts by Hamas to trick soldiers into an ambush. This is an awfully difficult and unforgiving war.

Over the week, Israel offered the Terrorist Hamas a deal, “Release 40 hostages – the old, woman, and children – and we stop bombing for a week”. Hamas did not take it.

Shooting in the Czech Republic

This week on the 21st December, in the deadliest attack in modern Czech history a gunman shot dead 14 people and injured another 25 at Prague’s Charles University.

The shooting started at the Faculty of Arts building, on Jan Palach Square. The gunman, who was studying Polish history at Charles University, murdered his father before shooting his classmates in a killing spree, and in the end possibly killed himself, after being shot-at by the Police. The motives were not immediately known.

The Police, who discovered a large arsenal of weapons at the building where the shooting took place, were tipped off earlier in the day that the suspect was likely heading to Prague from his town in the Kladno region, outside the capital, with intentions of taking his own life.

The gunman later identified as David Kozak had a gun permit and owned several weapons. He is also suspected of killing a man and his four-month-old daughter in Prague, a week ago. Police are also probing any connection between Kozak and a series of Russian-language messages posted on Telegram. One of the messages indicated that the attack may have been influenced by two previous mass shootings in Russia: one this month at a school in Bryansk near the Ukraine border, and the other in 2021 in Kazan. David Kozak was an excellent student and had not criminal history.

The Czech Republic has relatively liberal gun laws compared to the rest of Europe. To obtain a gun legally, a person needs an official licence, which requires a medical examination, a weapon proficiency exam, and no previous criminal record.

Charles University in Prague, founded in 1347 is the oldest and largest University in the Czech Republic -Czechia – and one of the oldest institutions in Europe.

Bless LGBTQIA

This week, Pope Francis relaxed controls, making the Church a little more LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) friendly. He is allowing Priests to bless same-sex couples. This is a forward-looking step, and a walk back on a 2021 Vatican Ruling that banned blessing Gay couples, because ‘God cannot bless sin’. However, reading the fine print, the new rule clarifies that a blessing, which is typically, a prayer, should not be given at a Gay Wedding or Civil Ceremony. It also reaffirmed that marriage is between man and woman.

China’s Earthquake

A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous region in northwestern China, resulting in at least 127 deaths and over 700 injuries, making it the deadliest earthquake in the area in nine years. Gansu province is severely affected, along with the neighbouring Qinghai province.

The affected area in Qinghai province is adjacent to the Tibet Himalayan region, prone to frequent earthquakes because of continental plate shifts.

Preliminary analysis shows that the quake was a thrust-type rupture, one of three above magnitude 6 to have struck within 200 km of the epicentre since 1900. At least 32 aftershocks were reported in the hour after the quake hit.

Infrastructure was severely impacted, leading to power and water supply disruptions, damage to rural roads, railway lines, and the cracking of a bridge across the Yellow River.

India’s Parliament: A Tumultuous Week

This week India’s Opposition Parties created a ruckus in Parliament, displaying placards, shouting, disruption the proceedings, and not allowing Parliament to function – all against the rules. They were demanding a statement from the Home Minister on last week’s ‘Smoke in The Eyes’ security breach, which was not forthcoming. This forced the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, respectively, to take punitive action on the errant Members of Parliament (MP) by suspending them.

The string of suspension of Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha grew to a mammoth total of 146 – a first-time record. That’s almost two-third of the Opposition kicked-out of Parliament, for bad behaviour.

To make matters worse, the suspended MPs sitting on the steps of the Parliament premises got into a ‘College-Times Strike’ mode. They were entertained by one of the MPs mimicking and mocking the Vice-President (VP) of India, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The VP called it an insult on his background as a farmer and Chairman. Another MP was seen nonchalantly filming the episode on his mobile. This created a huge social-media storm that drowned other news, for days.

Meanwhile, the Government cooly went about its law-making business, slipping in path-breaking new Laws to replace the British-era colonial laws. And got them passed, ‘without breaking into a sweat’, in both Houses.

New criminal law reforms, replacing the old are: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill (BNSS) replaces the Indian Penal Code,1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill (BSS) replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill (BNSSS) replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

With these changes, the criminal justice system of India is significantly reframed, finally growing out of a colonial mindset. The old laws were centred around punishment and deterrence: the new bills shift the emphasis to justice and reformation, in keeping with the changes of modern-day India.

Some highlights of the new Laws:

Twenty new offences have been included in the BNSS. These include organised crime, terrorist acts, hit-and-run, mob lynching, sexual exploitation of a woman by deceitful means, snatching, abetment outside India, acts endangering the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of India, and publication of false or fake news.

In a first, the government has included ‘community service’ as a punishment for theft of less than INR 5,000 and five other petty offences. Adultery and homosexual sex are not listed as crimes. Attempting to commit suicide will no longer be considered a criminal offence.

The sedition law has been repealed, and the sedition provision has been redefined to contain actions against India-deshdroh– instead of actions against the Government-rajdroh. One is free to criticise the Government, but not say anything to demean the nation.

Police will have to register a First Information Report (FIR) within 3 days of the complaint and in cases involving a punishment of 3 to 7 years, the FIR is to be registered after preliminary investigation. Chargesheets will have to be filed in 180 days and the Magistrate will have to take cognisance within 14 days. Forensic science has been given a lot of importance in evidenced gathering, as is electronic evidence.

The Government said that it had received a total of 3200 suggestions from 18 States, 6 Union Territories, the Supreme Court of India, 16 High Courts, 27 Judicial academics, several MPs, and bureaucrats, in the mammoth exercise to make the new laws. And 158 meetings were held to consider the suggestions.

Also passed was the Telecommunication Bill 2023, replacing the 138-year-old colonial-era Telegraph Act, 1885, and other allied laws.

The Govt will allocate spectrum for telecommunications through the Auction Method and for Satellite communications through an Administrative Method. Companies will require an authorisation to start services instead of Licences that are issued at present. It is mandatory to issue SIMs after capturing verifiable biometric data of the applicant to prevent misuse. Obtaining a SIM or any other telecom resource through fraud, cheating, personation will entail a jail term up to three years or a fine upto INR 50 Lakhs per person.

India’s Down South Floods

The South Indian State of Tamil Nadu is having a tough time. Cyclone Michaung had unleashed mayhem in Chennai more than a week ago and just when the State was limping back to normalcy it was hit by the rains again – this time in the southern districts.

Unprecedented rains caused by a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal battered the districts of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari, inundating roads, flooding houses, affecting train services, and leaving authorities scrambling to rescue those stranded. Helicopters in the air, and boats on the water were pressed into service.

Tamil Nadu received almost 50 mm of rainfall between this Sunday and Monday, compared with the 2.50 mm that would be normal at this time of year. Kayalpattinam in Tuticorin received more than 95 cm in 24 hours, which sank the Town. Tuticorin City grappled with about 5 feet of water. More than 10,000 people had to be rescued. About 150 people have died, succumbing to the fury of the floods.

Entire neighbourhoods remained submerged, with houses appearing like lonely islands surrounded by murky, brown water. Lakes were overflowing and rivers were in spate. Towards the end of the week, the waters began receding, slowly.

There is this heart-warming story of a Train, which left Tiruchendur Station on Sunday at about 8.30 pm bound for Chennai. About 34 km into the journey it was stopped at Srivaikuntam Station by alert Railway Staff, when it began raining heavily, following a cloud burst. The Railways decided not to allow the train to go any further, which proved to be a wise decision. The rains then intensified and subsequently it was found that about 12 km of track was washed-away due to land eroded by the rains, in the route ahead of the Station. The Station itself was completely isolated as a water island after about 300 passengers had been evacuated. The remaining had to stay put in the Train as the escape route was cut-off. And the Railway Station staff did their darnest until help came, only after the waters receded. Food was dropped-in by Helicopters. Imagine, about 1000 lives would have been lost that day, if it weren’t for the Railway Men. Cheers to them.

Questions on better preparedness and early warning are being asked and hope to see a flood of improvements next time around.

COVID-19 Again, and Kerala

The SARS.CoV-2 coronavirus is on the prowl again, growing its family and trying to spike our lives. Reminds us that the virus continues to evolve in different ways.

This week, what is called the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus was detected in India for the first time.

The JN.1 is a descendant sub-lineage of BA.2.86 or Pirola sub-variant of Omicron, and carries an additional mutation on its spike protein. After Kerala, the JN.1 was found in Goa, then Maharashtra, Karnataka, and in some other States. A total of over 595 Covid-19 cases have been reported.

The JN.1 was first detected in Luxembourg in August this year and later reported in The United Kingdom, Iceland, France, and the United States.

JN.1 was previously classified a Variant of Interest as part of its parent lineage BA.2.86, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has now classified it as a separate Variant of Interest. Talk about a grown-up leaving the parents’ home, fully armed to take-on the World?

WHO said current vaccines will continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of the COVID-19 virus. And it is best to continue to hold on to the masking and hand-washing techniques, learnt and executed so well.

Often, the State of Kerala is the first to detect a disease outbreak, wondered why?

Kerala recorded India’s first JN.1 Covid sub-variant in a 79 years old woman at the beginning of this month. Earlier, the State also recorded the first cases of Nipah virus, Monkeypox, and other diseases. There are many other reasons as to why Kerala is the first to record diseases and subsequently becoming a hotbed of them.

Kerala’s geography contributes to the frequency with its sizeable forest cover and intense monsoon pattern making it prone to outbreaks. The State has witnessed several zoonotic outbreaks owing to the shrinkage of natural habitats and proximity to human settlements, in a densely populated region. Take for example, the Nipah virus: a special investigation found that humanity’s drive for resources is destroying the wildlife habitat of bats – which carry tens of thousands of viruses – and creating conditions ripe for a bat-borne disease to spill over to humanity. Civet cats have almost become urban animals as their natural habitats have been wiped out. These animals are believed to be the mediators for the pathogen that caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Bats, which lost their natural habitats, moved into human habitations. These animals are now considered as the reservoirs of Nipah and Ebola virus.

Another reason for Kerala being the home of such diseases is the State’s population. People of Kerala are spread across the globe, with a large number of students studying medicine and many expatriates working as doctors or nurses around the world. They face the occupational hazard of viral attacks and may unwittingly spread undiagnosed diseases to others when they return to India.

There’s also the State’s management and health system. The State has rigourous testing and its population is also highly aware. For e.g., when the first case of monkeypox was reported from Kollam in Kerala, the concerned person who returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) underwent a test. This, after he learnt that his contact abroad had tested positive, even though he was asymptomatic.

Many a time, Kerala has been criticised for reporting an outbreak. Experts say that should not be done. Its active surveillance mechanism, capacity-building exercises for healthcare workers, frontline staff, community engagement and strategic interventions have not just been helpful in detecting viruses, but also in keeping the disease outbreaks in control.

It is left to be seen if COVID-19 does make a strong comeback in the State, but Kerala is known for handling outbreaks and, in fact, virologists and epidemiologists have hailed its robust surveillance.

More stories will rain in the weeks ahead. Hold on to World Inthavaaram.

Kumar Govindan's Words

This is my Blog where I essay stories on life about and around me, on subjects that stir and shake me up, as I turn, and make life's pages count: hoping to inspire you to live your own story!

Author: Kumar Govindan

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COVID-19 Again, and Kerala

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