WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-27

About: the world this week, 30 June 2024 to 6 July 2024: Israel grinds; US gasps; France swings; Britain labours; India stampedes; and Team India wins a nail-biting T20 Cricket World Cup Final.

Everywhere

Israel Grinds On

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of starting a ceasefire in Gaza while Hamas remains in power. This comes in the background of talks about a truce that would give Israeli troops time to prepare for a potential land war with Iran-backed militant Hezbollah, operating in Lebanon.

Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Wednesday, the second top field leader killed in less than a month, and Hezbollah retaliated by firing scores of rockets at Israeli military positions near the border. This is anyway a regular sideline feature in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The over 120 Israeli hostages in the captivity of Hamas, for over 270 days, are yet to see freedom. Negotiations for a possible deal to secure their release appears to be alive, walking in the shadows.

The United States Gasps

The first Presidential debate-ahead of the upcoming US Election in November 2024-left viewers gasping for breath; actually it was the Democrats’ candidate, incumbent President Joe Biden, who struggled to find air. He delivered a shaky, halting performance, while his Republican rival Donald Trump battered him with a series of attacks at a debate last Thursday. The two oldest presidential candidates ever, exchanged personal insults; traded barbs on abortion, immigration, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza; growled on each other’s handling of the economy; and even put stick to their golf games. Later, standing on firmer ground, Joe Biden said, he can do the job even though, “I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to.” Time to send him home? Reusing has its limits!

Meanwhile, in a landmark ruling, the US Supreme Court ruled that Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as President, but can be, for private acts. This ruling recognises for the first time, any form of presidential immunity from prosecution.

Then, Biden, this time quick on the draw, and reading from a teleprompter, thundered, “This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law. Not even the President of the United States”. He called the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, a ‘dangerous precedent’ that could turn Presidents into kings and called on the American people to ‘dissent’ by rejecting Donald Trump in November’s election. Maybe, the Democrats need to dissent on going along with him.

France Swings

France has a semi-Presidential type of Government with a President and Prime Minister. The President is the pre-eminent figure-the Big Boss-and is directly elected through Presidential Elections in a term, separate from Parliament. The President’s role is unique. He can deal directly with the people when required, bypassing and even dissolving Parliament. The President appoints the Prime Minister and chairs cabinet meetings. The Prime Minister is responsible to Parliament, which consists of a Lower House- the National Assembly and an Upper House-the Senate.

The parliamentary election to the National Assembly is a complex, two-round process in which the two candidates who get the most votes in the first round go through to a second round. There are 577 seats in the National Assembly. And for an absolute majority a party needs 289. The Parliament may or may not be controlled by the party the President belongs to.

When opposing parties control parliament and the presidency, the power-sharing arrangement is known as cohabitation. Before the year 2002, cohabitation occurred as a regular feature, because the term of the President was seven years and the term of the National Assembly was five years. And the overlapping brought together strange bed-fellows. With the term of the President shortened to five years, it is expected that cohabitation is less likely to happen.

Emmanuel Macron is the current President of France, in office since May 2017, being elected for a second term in May 2022.

This week, the results of the first round of France’s Parliamentary Elections were out. And the challenger, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) & Allies made historic gains winning 33% of the vote, followed by a left-wing bloc with 28%, and well ahead of President Macron’s broad alliance of centrists, who scored just 22%.

The first round eliminates all candidates who fail to win the support of 12.5% of locally registered voters. Anyone who scores more than 50% of the vote with a turnout of at least a quarter of the local electorate wins automatically. That normally happens only in a handful of constituencies.

RN is led by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella – designated Prime Minister – and in Parliament by Marine Le Pen, who has fought for the presidency three times and lost each time. Now, the polls say her party could become the biggest in France, falling short of an absolute majority. Naturally, Le Pen has set her eye on the next presidential election, in three years’ time.

Pollsters calculated the first round had put the RN on track for anything between 250-300 seats, but that is before tactical withdrawals reshape voter intentions this weekend. And there seems to be ganging-up of parties against Marine Le Pen, given her strident anti-Muslim stand. Le Pen has called for the hijab to be banned in public spaces, while Jordan Bardella, has called the veil a ‘tool of discrimination’.

The second round – the run-off will be held on Sunday, 7th July. And consists of a series of run-offs fought either by two, three or sometimes four candidates. Some candidates may drop out before 7th July to give an Ally a better chance of stopping a rival from winning.

Never before has the far-right won the first round of a French parliamentary election.

The Macron alliance had only 250 seats in the outgoing Assembly.

Whoever wins, President Macron has said he will not resign. If his party loses, and National Rally wins, then the question is whether RN can win an absolute majority or a relative majority similar to that held since 2022 by the Macron camp.

An RN victory could open the door to almost three years of ‘cohabitation’: when the president of one party heads the state and another party runs the government.

Marine Le Pen is the daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen who founded the National Front Party. For years, she has been working to ‘de-diabolise’ or detoxify her party from the antisemitic and extremist roots of her father and his fellow founders. Once in control, she renamed the party as, National Rally to shrug-off the past. Much of its focus now is on the cost-of-living crisis, but many of its strict anti-immigration policies remain, and a ruling this year by the Council of State, France’s highest court for administration, confirmed it could be considered ‘extreme right’. Jordan Bardella wants to ban French dual nationals from sensitive strategic posts, calling them ‘half-nationals’. He also wants to limit social welfare for immigrants and get rid of the automatic right to French citizenship for children with foreign-born parents.

Britain’s Labour Labours Liberally

British voters headed to the polls this Thursday for a crucial General Election. The snap vote, called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was held months earlier than necessary, and caught much of his party by surprise.

The opposition Labour party had suffered its worst defeat since 1935 in the last general election, but has since rebuilt itself under the leadership of Keir Starmer. And when the results were out on Friday it was a Landslide win for Labour with 410 sets, well above the majority mark of 362. Well, that was what India’s Prime Minster was aiming for, 400 paar – 400 and above. Never mind, it happened in faraway Britain.

The Labour Party swept hundreds of seats across the country and in the process brought an end to 14 years of Conservative rule. And a tumultuous era, which saw five different Conservative leaders running the country.

Sir Keir Starmer, 61, was quickly appointed Prime Minister(PM) by King Charles, later in the day. Rishi Sunak, the outgoing PM, conceded early in the morning, acknowledging Labour had won and calling Starmer to congratulate him. Sunak took responsibility for the loss. His Conservative party won a conservative 121 seats.

Britain’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, studied at Reigate Grammar School, University of Leeds, and University of Oxford. He is married to NHS occupational therapist Victoria Alexander and has one son and one daughter.

Keir started his professional life as a Barrister in the 1990s, and was appointed the director of public prosecutions, the most senior criminal prosecutor in England and Wales, in 2008, which service eventually got him knighted as ‘Sir Keir Starmer.’

He was first elected in the Holborn and St. Pancras constituency in north London in 2015, and took over the leadership of Labour after the party’s poor 2019 general election, pledging to start a new era after the abrasive left-wing leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.

This election’s insurgent party was Reform UK, the right-wing successor to the Brexit Party and the UK Independence Party. Nigel Farage, its leader, finally won a seat on his eighth attempt – but his party’s initial projection of 13 seats fizzled to four.

India’s Death Stampede

It is one of the deadliest stampedes and worst crowd crushes in India, 123 people, including women and children, died in Phulrai Mugalgarhi village in Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Hathras District. About 250 were injured. The tragedy occurred at the conclusion of a Hindu religious satsang (a prayer meeting) organised in the area, by a self-styled God-man guru, called Bhole Baba; when the meeting concluded and the Baba was leaving the venue.

The organisers tried to create a passage from the venue to the main highway for the convoy of Baba’s cars to leave, amidst a rush of people who began gathering on both sides of the corridor. All of this, combined with the mismanagement of the huge crowd by the organisers has prima-facie led to the stampede. A Mad rush, extreme humidity, slippery ground, desperation to seek Baba’s blessings – collect dust under his feet- confusion, screams, and fear were tell-tale signs of the gruesome scene. Most of the deaths resulted from suffocation.

More than three times the permitted number of people attended the event-about 250,000-despite permission being granted only for 80,000.

The satsang was held by Suraj Pal, 58, who also goes by the names, Narayan Hari, Sakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba or simply ‘Bhole Baba’. Hari hails from Bahadur Nagari village in Kasganj district, about 65 km from Hathras where the stampede occurred. Suraj Pal worked as a constable with the UP Police, and was last posted in Agra, before he quit in the 1990’s to become a religious preacher. He claims to have a spiritual bend even while working with the Police, which made him ‘switch careers’.

He then adopted the name Bhole Baba, began preaching, and conducted satsangs known as ‘Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam’ along with his wife, who is known as Matashree. Hari does not have children.

Bhole Baba does not wear the traditional saffron clothes, often appearing in a white suit and tie or a kurta-pyjama. He claims to spend all the money donated to him on devotees. He calls himself a disciple of Hari (Lord Vishnu). He is said to have a notable following in western Uttar Pradesh.

Wonder why the ‘God-Man’ did not stay back and offer succour to those affected, or use his ‘Godly power’ to bring back people to life? Instead, he promptly fled the scene.

T20 World Cup Cricket Thrills

I have not watched live cricket on TV in a long time and there was no better day to get back than last Saturday. And it was worth its weight in gold watching the India – South Africa Finals.

India’s 13 year wait for a World Cup win finally ended on a glorious day at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies, on 29th June. For South Africa, the endless agony for a Cup Win goes on. The spectacle these two teams produced was more than worthy of a World Cup final. It was a contest that sashayed back and forth, each blow followed by an equally brutal counterpunch that left the result hanging in balance until the final moments, in an edge-of-the-seat position.

In the end India won against South Africa by seven runs, becoming just the third side to win the Men’s T20 World Cup twice, after England (2010, 2022), and West Indies (2012, 2016). Barring a no result against Canada, India won all their remaining contests in the tournament, thus becoming the only undefeated side to win the T20 World Cup.

In the Finals, India batted first, making 176/7 runs in 20 overs with a vintage performance by Virat Kohli who made 76 of 59 balls, and pinch-hitter Axar Patel delivering his role to perfection, knocking 47 runs off 31 balls. In return, South Africa made 169/8 in 20 overs. Indian bowlers Hardik Pandya 3/20, Jasprit Bumrah 2/18, Arshdeep Singh 2/20 delivered the final blows – finishing the job.

Classy Klaasen lifted South Africa to the precipice but then it took the genius of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya to dismantle the Proteas. Bumrah, the human slingshot with logic-defying accuracy, had bowled flawlessly throughout the tournament and in the final innings. And when India was desperate for a wicket -that would open the gates to the South African batting’s tail-end, he flung down a delivery only the cricketing gods could conceive, clicking-off the stumps. And then Suryakumar Yadav performed a nimble feet-of-flames tiptoe around the boundary rope to complete a one-man relay catch struck by David Miller off a Hardik Pandya ball, which was a turning point in the game. Virat Kohli was declared the man of the match and Bumrah, man of the tournament. India exploded in celebrations and waited for the Team to return Home-caught in a West Indian Hurricane.

This was ‘the Wall’ Rahul Dravid’s final innings as Team Coach (he lamented that he is now jobless!), while Captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kholi said they were quitting T20 International Tournaments. It was an all-round fiery display of coaching and captaincy, which brought Team India to deliver its best when it really mattered. Over to the next team.

The ICC Men’s Twenty20 (T20) tournament organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) commenced on 1st June with co-hosts USA taking on neighbours Canada, while fellow hosts the West Indies playing Papua New Guinea in Guyana on the second day of group play.

More nail-biting stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay the course with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-26

About: the world this week, 23 June 2024 to 29 June 2024: Israel readies another battle front; WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange gets freedom; Kenya in turmoil; China returns with goods from the Moon’s far side; and Diamond hunting in India.

Everywhere

Israel

Israel is sounding the world that its intense phase of fighting against Hamas is nearing an end. And in a sense is making strategic future plans. But the war will keep firing-on until Hamas stops controlling the Gaza. One plan is to move Israel’s troops to the northern part where a fight with the Iran-backed militant Hezbollah is brewing. Looks like Israel is gearing up to fight its war on several battle fronts.

Israel said it is interested in a ‘partial deal’ with Hamas that could free some of the 120 hostages still held in ‘horrific captivity’ for over 265 days. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has said it would continue raining rockets on Israel until there’s a cease-fire agreement in Gaza.

WikiLeaks

Julian Assange, 52, is an award-winning Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He rose to the limelight in 2010, when WikiLeaks published a series of sensitive leaks from United States (US) Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. Of footage of a US airstrike in Baghdad, classified US military logs from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and US diplomatic cables.

In November 2010, Sweden issued a European arrest warrant for Assange on allegations of sexual assault. He lost an appeal, breached bail, and took refuge in the Ecuador’s Embassy in London, in June 2012. Ecuador granted him asylum in August 2012 on the grounds of political persecution and on fears that he might be extradited to the US.

Julian Assange launched the WikiLeaks Party in Australia-while in confinement in the Ecuadoran Embassy-and stood for the Australian Senate in 2013, but failed to win a single seat. Later, Swedish prosecutors dropped the sexual assault investigation in 2019. And in the same year, Assange’s asylum was withdrawn following a series of disputes with Ecuadorian authorities. Then the London police promptly arrested him. He was found guilty of breaching the United Kingdom’s Bail Act and sentenced to 50 weeks in prison.

The US tried to have Assange extradited, indicting him on charges of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and conspiring with hackers. And charging him with computer intrusion conspiracy related to the leaks provided by Chelsea Manning – piling up a total of 18 criminal charges. Assange remained in prison in London from 2019 to June 2024, as the US Government’s extradition request was contested in the British Courts.

Now, this June 2024, Julian Assange agreed to a ‘Plea Deal’ with US prosecutors. During a three-hour hearing, Assange pleaded guilty to one criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents under the Espionage Act, in order to avoid potential imprisonment. But said he believed the US Constitution’s First Amendment, which protects free speech, shielded his activities.

He pleaded guilty in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands -on the US Pacific island territory of Saipan. And thereafter walked out from court, as a free man.

Under the terms of the deal, US Justice Department prosecutors sought a sentence that allows for his immediate release. He was ordered to instruct WikiLeaks to destroy the information given by Chelsea Manning, providing an affidavit. The US territory in the western Pacific was chosen due to Assange’s opposition to travelling to the mainland US and for its proximity to Australia.

Assange then returned to Canberra, Australia, this Wednesday, in a private jet. His UK and Australian lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, thanked the Australian government for its years of diplomacy in securing Assange’s release after a 14 year saga, in what she called ‘criminalisation of journalism’. It is remarkable that Australia’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ secured freedom for Assange.

Kenya

Kenya is on the boil. Kenyans have been struggling to cope with several economic shocks caused by the lingering impact of the Covid19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, two consecutive years of drought, and depreciation of the national currency.

With this in the background, Kenyan President William Ruto’s Government introduced a Finance Bill in Parliament, which aimed to raise an additional USD 2.7 billion in taxes as part of an effort to lighten Kenya’s heavy debt load. Interest payments alone consume 37% of annual revenue. Parliament approved the finance bill, moving it through to a third reading by lawmakers. The next step was for the legislation to be sent to the President himself, for signing into law.

However, opposition to raising of taxes quietly built-up, descended into unprecedented, never-before seen protests and violence in Kenya. Police had to fire on demonstrators who tried storming Parliament and threw stones at Police lines. The protests began in a festival-like atmosphere, but as crowds swelled, police fired tear gas in Nairobi’s Central Business District and the poor neighbourhood of Kibera. Police also fired tear gas in Eldoret, President Ruto’s hometown in western Kenya, where crowds of protesters filled the streets and many businesses shut-shop, fearing violence.

In chaotic scenes in the capital Nairobi, protesters overwhelmed the police, entered the Parliament compound and set parts of it on fire. Protests and clashes also took place in several other cities and towns across Kenya, with many calling for Ruto to quit and voicing their opposition to the tax rises. Clearly, it became the biggest assault on Kenyan democracy, in decades.

In a televised address to the nation, Ruto said the tax debate had been ‘hijacked by dangerous people’, but persisted with the Finance Bill.

Ruto won an election almost two years ago on a platform of championing Kenya’s working poor. But, has been caught between the competing demands of lenders such as the International Monetary Fund, which is urging the government to cut deficits to obtain more funding, and a hard-pressed population. Opposition politicians called on Ruto to step down.

Feeling the heat, the government then made some concessions, promising to scrap proposed new taxes on bread, cooking oil, car ownership, and financial transactions. But that was not enough for the protesters. The finance ministry says the concessions would blow a 200 billion Kenyan shilling (USD 1.56 billion) hole in the 2024-25 budget, and compel the government to make spending cuts or raise taxes elsewhere.

Then, after all the tough talk, in the middle of the week, President Ruto did a U-turn and withdrew the contentious Finance Bill, saying he will not sign the Bill into law. He said he heard the voice of the people, and has conceded.

But then, Kenyan police had to put up roadblocks on streets leading to the presidential palace on Thursday as some protesters vowed to ‘occupy’ the State House; despite the president’s climbdown on proposed tax hikes that sparked a week of demonstrations.

Raiders of the Moon

China’s Chang’e-6 lunar module returned to Earth this Tuesday, successfully completing its historic mission to collect the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon. The re-entry module landed, via parachute, in the designated zone in China’s Northern Inner Mongolia region just after 2 pm local time. A search team located the module minutes after its landing. And first visuals showed a worker carrying out checks on the module, which lay on grassland, beside a Chinese flag.

The module is expected to contain up to 2 kilograms of moon dust and rocks from the lunar far side, which will be analysed by researchers in China before being opened for access by international scientists.

Diamonds of India

For about 3,000 years, India was the only source of diamonds in the world, until deposits were discovered in South Africa and Brazil. In India, diamond resources are concentrated in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Madhya Pradesh has 90.17% at 28,709,136 carats, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 5.73% with 1,822,955 carats and Chhattisgarh at 4.10% with 1,304,000 carats, of resources, according to Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). The total resources of diamonds in the country, as in the year 2015, was estimated at 31,836,091 carats with 756,765 carats gem grade, 840,823 carats industrial grade, and 30,238,503 carats unclassified grade.

The Central Government controlled National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) is the only authorised miner of diamonds in India, which organises and controls the mining.

Panna, a region in Madhya Pradesh, about 400 kilometres away from the state capital, Bhopal, is known for its diamond mines, which have been supplying precious diamonds for thousands of years.

Behind that glitter lurks the dark reality of the local people facing poverty, malnutrition, unemployment, and migration in Panna’s backward Bundelkhand region, which also faces severe distress due to water woes. Rich in minor forest produce such as tendu leaves (used for wrapping the tobacco of cigarettes and beedis) and mahua (a kind of tropical tree), the region is also a natural habitat for wildlife including tigers, leopards, Indian fox, sloth bear, and other animals.

NMDC Panna, is the only diamond mine in the country with more than 74 hectares of mechanised mining. The diamonds come mainly from the Diamond Mining Project at the Majhgawan mine – the only mechanised diamond mine in India, which started operations in 1971. The Majhgawan Diamond Pipe, as it is called, is located at about 15 km from the Panna town. It is equipped with facilities of, Ore Processing Plant, heavy media separation unit, X-ray sorter for diamond operations, and a disposal system.

However, the smaller mines of Panna are open cast mines that use traditional techniques and hand tools. The process involves four steps – digging, collecting soil mixed with small stones, washing the soil away with water, and finding diamonds among the stones. Big rocks are broken with hand tools to get smaller stones.

Hundreds of mine owners and thousands of workers are involved in diamond mining in the region.

In Panna, ‘finding diamonds; involves a specific procedure. First, individuals must obtain a License from the diamond office by submitting photos, proof of Identity, address, and finally paying a fee. The License is valid for one year at the designated mine site. License holders are allotted a 8×8 metre plot for digging. Any diamond found must be submitted to the Govt Designated Office for quality and price assessment before it goes to auction, where the government takes a 12.5% royalty. And there are around a dozen mine sites designated by the district mineral department.

Finding a diamond is not easy, and it may take a lifetime for a person to find a single piece of precious stone, unless Lady Luck smiles on you.

Late last week, on 22nd June, a stroke of extraordinary luck struck a poor farmer who unearthed a dazzling 6.65-carat diamond in the Pati diamond mining area of Panna. The farmer Deshraj and his wife, residents of Gaureya Kakrahati, immediately deposited it at the local diamond office. Inside, a gem expert, meticulously examined the diamond under a magnifying lens, ensuring its authenticity and quality and testing it for its clarity and brilliance, using specialised tools. Then the diamond was carefully placed on a precision scale, the digital display confirming its impressive 6.65-carat size. Deshraj was overjoyed at the newfound fortune. The diamond will be auctioned in the upcoming diamond auction.

Deshraj, who had obtained a mining lease from the diamond office, had previously discovered a 1.35-carat diamond just days before this remarkable find. His perseverance is noteworthy, and it is expected that both his diamonds have been secured and will be featured in the next auction.

The Panna diamonds have not made much of a buzz in India or abroad because the precious stones are ‘average’ quality, But that does not stop the rush to find diamonds. The best stones found in the district usually fall in the ‘G’ Grade on a D-Z scale of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) colour-scale. According to the GIA scale, ‘D’ – colourless-grade diamonds are the highest valued while ‘Z’-light coloured- are of the lowest value. The ‘G’ Grade diamonds of Panna are considered just average. But a stone worth lakhs of rupees or even above a crore of rupees is found once in a while. It is such finds, which receive big publicity, that attracts miners.

One of the most famous diamonds in the world, from India, is the Koh-i-noor Diamond – boasting a weight of 105.6 carats- believed to be have been mined in Kollur Mines, Golconda, Andhra Pradesh State, during the Kakatiya Dynasty’s rule in the 17th century. The diamond, now sitting on the British Crown, has a spectacular history and a thrilling story on how it got to its ‘present position’. The diamond originally weighed 191 carats, but it was re-cut to enhance its fire and brilliance in 1852 by Britain’s then Royal Jeweller.

More precious stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Find your own diamond with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-25

About: the world this week, 16 June 2024 to 22 June 2024: War; Peace; G7 Statement; Same-Sex marriage in Thailand; a new pandemic in the US; a Hooch Tragedy in India; and the Tony Awards.

Everywhere

War

This week, Israel announced a daytime tactical pause in its war with Hamas, to allow food and aid to enter Gaza. Israel’s humanitarian aid coordinator for Gaza set out the details of the scheduled daily pause in fighting: between 8 am and 7 pm local time, along a key 12 kilometre stretch of road, running north from the Kerem Shalom crossing point, where aid is waiting to be delivered to Gaza. And this pause is ‘until further notice’.

In the background, Israel’s Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved his six-member war cabinet, an inevitable decision that follows the departure of centrist opposition leader Benny Gantz and his ally Gadi Eisenkot. Hereinafter the pre-existing security cabinet and the larger full cabinet would make decisions about the ongoing war.

Gantz, a former defence minister and leader of the centre-right National Unity party, joined the three-man war cabinet as a minister without portfolio in the aftermath of Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack. Eisenkot is an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) general and war cabinet observer. Disagreements over strategy and how best to bring the Israeli hostages home had spilled into the open, culminating in Gantz accusing the PM of pushing aside strategic considerations, such as a hostage deal, for his own political survival. He has also given an ultimatum to the PM, to present concrete ‘day after’ plans for the Gaza Strip.

On another front, a full-blown war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon looms ahead, with hostilities between the countries rising sharply in recent times – all unprovoked attacks by Hezbollah.

Peace

Western powers and their Allies-over 90 countries-converged on a Swiss Alpine resort, last Saturday, to discuss how to bring peace to war-ravaged Ukraine. However, any hopes of a real breakthrough were muted by the absence of Russia, which was not invited. The ‘Peace Summit’ was held on the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

At the Summit, Russia was denounced for its invasion of Ukraine but failed to persuade major non-aligned states to join the final statement. And no country came forward to host a sequel.

Russia ridiculed the event from afar. A decision by China to stay away all but assured that the summit would fail to achieve Ukraine’s goal of persuading major countries from the global South to join in isolating Russia.

Brazil attended only as an ‘observer’. And in the end, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, all withheld their signatures from the summit communique, even though some contentious issues were omitted in the hope of drawing wider consensus.

Meanwhile, Ukraine took about a second to dismiss the latest ceasefire conditions announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday. Putin had said that Russia would end the war in Ukraine only if Ukraine agreed to drop its joining NATO ambitions and hand over the entirety of four provinces claimed by Russia: the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine.

G7 Finals

The concluding statement of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit released last Friday evening was aimed at China. The G7 was not trying to harm China or thwart its economic development, but would ‘continue to take actions to protect our businesses from unfair practices, to level the playing field and remedy ongoing harm’. Pope Francis made a historic appearance at the G7 and spoke about the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence (AI). And warned people not to lose control of AI.

Same-Same is OK

This week, Thailand’s Senate passed the final reading of a Marriage Equality Law, paving the way for it to become the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex couples and their union in marriage. The bill, the culmination of more than two decades of effort by activists, was supported by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers in the upper house. It now needs Royal Approval and will come into force 120 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette, meaning the first same-sex weddings could take place later this year.

Thailand’s PM Srettha Thavisin was elated saying, “Today we celebrate another significant milestone in the journey of our Equal Marriage Bill. We will continue our fight for social rights for all people, regardless of their status”.

The move is a monumental step forward, as Thailand would be the first nation in Southeast Asia to enact marriage equality legislation and the third in Asia, after Nepal and Taiwan.

Pandemic Lonely

A new epidemic is on the rise in the United States (US) of America, and there’s no vaccine for this one. Loneliness is spreading across the country, even after the stifling isolation of the Covid19 pandemic ended. The percentage of adults feeling lonely is down from the pandemic high, but one poll earlier this year found that 30% of adults reported feeling lonely at least once a week.

Over many decades, loneliness was starting to creep-up, as people were buying houses further away from the city for various reasons, including economic. Maybe people wanted a bigger house and a bigger yard, which put people further away from one another. Technology is also partly to blame. People are getting so much out of their screens that they don’t feel a need to make plans to close physical distances.

What do we do? People just need more practice, to get their social groove back, but it’s hard to get that practice. They have to work on building the social muscle… and start flexing it.

Hooch Tragedy: Kallakurichi

Over 50 people died in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi, Karunapuram, after consuming spurious liquor mixed with methanol. The death toll from the hooch tragedy could rise as several others are critical in hospital. And about a 100 have been hospitalised.

In Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) holds the exclusive rights of wholesale supply of, what is called, Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). And also owns the exclusive rights of retail vending through 43 licensed outlets, spread across the State. The IMFL business was taken over by the State Government, from the Private Sector, in May 1983, and has stayed that way ever since.

TASMAC procures IMFL and Beer stocks locally from 11 IMFL manufacturers and 7 Beer manufacturers in the State. It also procures wine locally from one manufacturer, and scotch, whisky, and few wine brands from other states. TASMAC also engages in the retail sale of Foreign Liquor.

It’s a common daily sight in Tamil Nadu’s Cities, Towns, and Villages to see spirited queues at the TASMAC outlets to buy liquor. Many of the daily-wage earners often turn-up for work only after a drink or run to it after a hard day’s work. Those who cannot afford the prices of legal TASMAC liquor, depend on the spurious illicit market to get their highs and drown their body pains.

The job of the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW)/Enforcement Bureau of the State, operating under the Prohibition Act of Tamil Nadu is to prevent manufacture, trafficking, and consumption of illicit liquor and intoxicating drugs. A PEW Team managed to destroy 80,000 litres of arrack a few weeks ago.

The Karunapuram area of Kallakurichi, where the tragedy happened, is located 500 metres from the nearest Police Station and close to the District Court Complex, and a few Government Offices.

Police arrested Govindaraj aka Kannukutti – known as Hooch King – his brother Dhamodharan, and wife Vijaya for selling spurious liquor. The main suspect, Kannukutti has a track record of selling illicit liquor and a few days before the tragedy was actually arrested for illegal sales of liquor, but let-off. He has been in and out of jail, during which period his wife handles the business and is known as a notorious distributor in town.

Daily-wage workers consume illicit arrack sold in the locality as early as 4 am every day, before going to work. This has been going on ‘unchecked’ for years. Locally known as ‘packet saraayam’ (packet liquor) it is a cheap at Rs 5 to Rs 50 a pack. According to residents of Karunapuram, the police are hand-in-glove with the bootleggers. “If the brewers and peddlers were not bribing the police, they couldn’t have possibly been selling the liquor”, says one. “Peddlers come on two-wheelers and sell liquor packets on the road even to 13-year-old and 15-year-old boys. They don’t sell it to new faces fearing that someone would make a complaint. The sales are restricted to only residents of the area. Buying and consuming of this liquor happens in broad daylight”, says another.

With ‘sales of illicit liquor being a normal in the area’, following the tragedy, police have been tasked to find out how methanol got mixed with the liquor, and the source of such supply. This was later identified as supplied from the neighbouring State of Puducherry.

The tragedy was waiting to happen with illicit liquor sale and bootlegging being rampant in Kallakurichi. And the Police failing to act against the perpetrators.

On the fateful day, the victims of the tragedy, consumed illicit liquor sold in two huts is Karunapuram. The first victim complained of a burning sensation in the eyes, stomach ache, vomiting, and dizziness, about 1 hour after drinking, and a Hospital refused to treat him due to his drunken condition. Others had consumed the hooch three days ago. While some died in their homes, others were rushed to Government Hospitals in the vicinity. The deaths quickly rose to four on 19th June, and then it became a flood.

Initially, the District Collector refused to admit that the deaths were due to consumption of spurious liquor; instead attributing it to other ailments. He was promptly transferred and the Superintendent of Police was suspended. And the entire PEW Team transferred.

This is the second such tragedy in two years following the twin tragedies in Villupuram and Chengalpattu, last year, which claimed 22 lives. This is the worst ever Liquor Tragedy in the history of Tamil Nadu.

The Hajj

This year’s annual Islamic pilgrimage to the Hajj in Mecca- the holiest city of Muslims- in Saudi Arabia, proved to be deadly with over 1000 people dying due to the intense heat-exceeding 50 Degrees Centigrade.

India’s External Affairs ministry said that 1,75,000 Indian pilgrims undertook the journey and 98 Indians were among the dead.

Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be undertaken at least once in their lifetime.

Tony Awards

The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognises excellence in live Broadway theatre in the United States. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, usually held in the month of June. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances. One is also given for regional theatre. Several discretionary non-competitive awards are given as well. The awards were founded by theatre producer and director Brock Pemberton and are named after Antoinette ‘Tony’ Perry, an actress, producer, and theatre director who was co-founder and secretary of the American Theatre Wing. The trophy consists of a spinnable medallion, with faces portraying an adaptation of the comedy and tragedy masks, mounted on a black base with a pewter swivel.

The 77th Annual Tony Awards Function was held at the David H Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, this Sunday.

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe picked up his first-ever Tony Award for best actor in a musical for his role in the revival of Stephan Sondheim’s ‘Merrily We Roll Along’.

The play picked up a further three awards at the event, which celebrates the best of theatre on Broadway.

Meanwhile, Hollywood Star, Angelina Jolie won her first Tony Award for producing, ‘The Outsiders’, which was named best musical, and picked up three other awards after receiving a total of 12 nominations. Director Danya Taymor named Angelina Jolie among the “great women who have lifted me up” in her acceptance speech. The production later won the coveted best musical gong, which saw Jolie appear on stage. The play is based on SE Hinton’s book and follows the conflict between two rival gangs of white Americans divided by their socioeconomic status.

‘The Outsiders’ beat musical rival ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, a semi-autobiographical account of Alicia Keys which received 13 nominations and won two. One of those wins was for theatre veteran Kecia Lewis for featured actress. In an emotional on-stage speech, Lewis said: “40 years ago yesterday, I walked into the Imperial Theatre to begin my Broadway career at 18 years old”.

’All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances’ – William Shakespeare.

More stories will be on stage in the coming-up in the weeks ahead. Play your role with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-24

About: the world this week, 9 June 2024 to 15 June 2024: Israel Rescues; EU Elections; G7 Meets; Terror in India’s J&K; India swears-in new governments; Kuwait fire tragedy; and the French Open Tennis concludes.

Everywhere

Israel’s Operation Arnon

In a heroic rescue mission in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Central Gaza, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) rescued 4 hostages who were kidnapped on 7 October 2023, by Hamas terrorists from southern Israel: Noa Argamani, age 26, Shlomi Ziv, 39, Almog Meir, 22, and Andrey Kozlov, 27. All four are now back and safe in Israel. The stupendous Rescue Operation was renamed ‘Operation Arnon’ after the IDF Officer who was killed during the rescue.

The hostages were held in two residential homes by local civilian families, in Nuseirat, where the IDF does not operate. It is called a camp, but in reality it’s a bustling town. The IDF special forces, YAMAM, entered the neighbourhood, which includes a large market, in civilian vehicles with Gazan registration numbers and raided both houses simultaneously. Meanwhile, the military created confusion by attacking other Hamas locations in the area. Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora was critically injured during the initial raid and later succumbed to his wounds. On the way out, the forces came under heavy rocket and machine gun fire from hundreds of terrorists who swarmed the roofs and streets of Nuseirat. A truck carrying three of the hostages was damaged and became stuck. To rescue the stranded forces, the IDF moved major forces into the market, including helicopters that came under enemy missile fire. The helicopter which rescued the stranded troops and hostages landed near the American pier in Gaza while the trucks, now with armoured escort, reached the sea and were taken back to Israel on more helicopters.

Over 270 Palestinians were killed during the rescue operation, which caused an instant outrage from the world. There are still over 120 hostages, in captivity for over 240 days, waiting to be rescued.

This operation was the third successful hostage rescue operation completed by the IDF since the start of the war, and without doubt the most spectacular one. One of the hostages, Chinese-Israeli Noa Argamani returned just in time for her father’s birthday.

European Union Elections

In the European Union (EU) elections, people in EU countries vote for Members to represent them in the European Parliament (MEPs). Elections take place in all 27 EU countries, every five years. The last elections were held in May 2019. This year, the Elections were held between 6th June and the 9th June. As the only EU institution directly elected by voters across 27 countries, it connects European citizens to the two other big institutions: the EU’s executive branch – the European Commission – and the European Council, which is made up of ministers from governments of EU member countries.

The European Parliament shapes the direction of EU laws and policies by making laws and deciding on international agreements, and the kind. It must endorse the EU’s annual budget, and it can ask the Commission to propose legislation.

MEPs do not sit in Parliament according to nationality. Most of them join ‘Political Groups’ that share similar political values and objectives. A Political Group must have at least 23 MEPs from seven EU countries. Members cannot belong to more than one Group; alternatively they may choose not to join any Group and remain ‘not-attached’.

With this year’s Election results out, the ground beneath the feet of EU leaders has shifted after voting across the EU delivered a clear turn to the right, shaking up governments in member states and leaving mainstream groups at a crossroads.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen claimed victory after her centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) won the most seats of any single group-190 seats out of 720 – tightening its influence in the European Parliament.

Traditionally, the two biggest Groups are the centre-right EPP and the centre-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)- who won 136 seats. But other groups have become increasingly significant, such as the Renew Europe Group with 80 seats, the European Conservatives, and Reformists Group with 76 seats. Until now, the centre-right has tended to work together with the centre-left but the EPP will come under pressure to seek new allies.

Far-right parties having rattled the traditional powers in the European Union, dealing an especially humiliating defeat to French President Emmanuel Macron. Undoubtedly, the star on a stunning electoral night was the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen, which dominated the French polls to such an extent that Macron immediately dissolved the France’s national parliament and called for snap elections. It was a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027. Le Pen was delighted to accept the challenge. “We’re ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration,” she said, echoing the rallying cry of so many far-right leaders in other countries who were celebrating substantial wins.

With the EU palpably shifting to the right, Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni more than doubled her seats in the EU Parliament.

The move to the right could put the brakes on plans for new climate and sustainability laws and influence social or economic legislation. The EU’s strong backing for financial and military aid for Ukraine could also be affected.

The Group of Seven

Italy is hosting the annual summit of leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies from 13 June to 15 June. The summit is being held in Borgo Egnazia in the southern region of Puglia – a luxury hotel with a Michelin starred restaurant tucked inside.

The G7 comprises the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The European Union participates in all discussions-represented by the Presidents of both the European Council and the European Commission.

The host country traditionally invites ‘outside guests’ to join some of the sessions. This year, Italy welcomes Pope Francis, the King of Jordan, leaders of Ukraine, India, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania – which holds the presidency of the African Union.

This Thursday, the G7 agreed on an outline deal to provide USD 50 billion of loans for Ukraine using interest from Russian sovereign assets frozen after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in 2022. This was the centrepiece of the opening day and was attended, for a second successive year, by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He signed a new, long-term security accord with US President Joe Biden after signing a 10-year security accord with Japan, which promised to provide Ukraine with USD 4.5 billion this year -underlining continued strong backing from the West.

Calling the frozen asset agreement a ‘significant outcome’, Joe Biden said it was “another reminder to Russian President Vladimir Putin that we’re not backing down”. The G7 plan for Ukraine is based on a multi-year loan using profits from some USD 300 billion of impounded Russian funds, the bulk of which are blocked in the EU.

The G7 may have a very different complexion next year. Biden faces an uphill battle to win re-election in November, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks certain to lose power in a national election next month, while French President Macron dissolved his country’s parliament on Sunday after his party was trounced in the European vote.

However, the display of unity was undermined late in the day, when Macron clashed with the anti-abortion Meloni over a push by Italy to remove any direct reference to abortion rights in the final communique.

The ‘outside guests’ will join the discussions on Friday. Pope Francis is due to speak about the risks and potential of Artificial Intelligence.

India: All Eyes on Reasi

India’s Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) State is returning to peace, for sure, but the sporadic acts of Islamic terror is worrisome and seems to be on an upward trend, especially during Hindu pilgrimages. It’s a tails-up situation for India and perhaps some kind of deadly action is required to prevent further acts of terror.

On 9th June several unidentified terrorists opened fire on a 53-seater Yatri passenger bus carrying Hindu pilgrims from the Shiv Khori cave to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, Reasi, in J&K, causing it to lose control and plummet into a deep gorge. Nine people were killed and 41 were injured. The ambush, by armed terrorists firing between 25 and 30 gunshots indiscriminately, happened at about 6pm in Teryath village. The driver was struck by gunfire leading to the loss of control. Even after the bus fell into the gorge, the firing continued. Ten people, including a two-year-old and a 14-year-old, were killed and 33 were injured. The victims were from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. At least ten victims had gunshot wounds and empty cartridges were recovered at the scene. The ambush happened about an hour before Narendra Modi took the oath as Prime Minister for a third term.

Two days later, the J&K Police released a sketch of a terrorist involved in the ambush and announced a INR 20 lakh reward for information leading to his capture.

India’s New Governments: Centre & State

India’s new ‘coalition’ Government was inaugurated on the 11th June with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking oath of office along with his cabinet colleagues. Also during the week, new Governments in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha began work.

N Chandrababu Naidu took oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth time. Despite having a majority on his own, he gave away the Deputy Chief Minister Post to Pawan Kalyan, the founder of the Jana Sena Party. His is an interesting story.

Pawan Kalyan is an Actor, primarily working in Telugu cinema, known for his unique acting style and mannerisms. He has a large fan base, a cult following, and is one of the highest-paid actors of Indian cinema. Kalyan has been featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list multiple times since 2013. He is a black belt in Karate and trains in various martial arts, which he depicts in his films regularly. Kalyan is referred to as Power Star by his fans and in the media. He is the founder of the charity, Common Man Protection Force.

Pawan Kalyan entered politics as the youth wing president of his brother, Actor Chiranjeevi’s political venture, Praja Rajyam Party, but he left after it merged into the Congress party. He founded the Jana Sena Party in March 2014.

The Jana Sena Party has contested 140 constituencies in the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. Kalyan has contested two constituencies and lost in both to candidates from YSR Congress Party. His party was able to win from only one seat – the first ever in an election.

The Jana Sena Party contested 21 constituencies in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, with Kalyan himself contesting in Pithapuram constituency. He won by a margin of more than 70,000 votes; Jana Sena Party won in all the contested 21 constituencies and 2 Lok Sabha seats.

In the state of Odisha, four-time MLA and tribal leader Mohan Charan Majhi, 52, was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of the State in Bhubaneswar. Outgoing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, 77, who ruled from March 2000 to June 2024, showed up for the ceremony, in a fabulous gesture of smooth transition of power. He was one of the longest serving Chief Ministers in India’s history.

Kuwait Fire Tragedy

This week 49 people, 45 of who were Indians, were killed in a fire tragedy in Kuwait’s Mangaf area. About 50 sustained injuries. The Indians who died were mostly from the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The others were Pakistanis, Filipinos, Egyptian, and Nepali workers.

The fire originated in a kitchen of a building, housing 195 migrant workers employed by NBTC Group-an engineering and construction firm. The majority of fatalities were caused by smoke inhalation. Some died after jumping from the building, which was on fire. 93 people managed to escape unharmed. Kuwait’s Fire Force has determined that an electrical short circuit was the cause of the fire.

The NBTC Group is partly owned by an Indian, KG Abraham, 69, who is the Managing Director. Established in 1977, the company operates in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Incidentally KG Abraham co-produced a film called ‘Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life ’ that depicted the challenges faced by a worker from Kerala in Saudi Arabia. KGA is also the founder and Chairman of the KGA Group a company that deals in engineering goods manufacturing and exporting. He also owns the Crowne Plaza, a five-star Hotel in Kochi.

The fire is the worst ever Building fire in Kuwait’s history and threw the spotlight on poor safety standards. Calls was made for action on landlords and company owners who violate the law to house large numbers of foreign labourers in extremely unsafe conditions, to cut costs.

The fire is the second largest fire disaster in Kuwait in terms of the death toll. In August 2009 a woman, angry over her husband getting married a second time, had set fire to a wedding tent killing 56 women and children.

Later in the week, the bodies of the 45 Indians were brought back to Kochi, India, by a special Indian Air Force plane and handed over to the families for final rites.

French Open Tennis

The 2024 French Open is a Grand Slam tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was held at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France, from 26 May to 9 June 2024,

The men’s singles title was won by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final to lift his third Grand Slam title. He also became the youngest player to win a Grand Slam across three different surfaces.

World No 1, Poland’s Iga Natalia Swiatek successfully defended her women’s singles title by defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the final. It was her fifth Grand Slam title and her third consecutive French Open trophy.

Iga Swiatek only recently turned 23 years of age. She hails from Poland that had never produced a singles Grand Slam Champion – until she came along. Young by many standards, and improbable by some others, every vintage of the Polish juggernaut’s tennis is somehow better than the previous. In the finals last Saturday, Swiatek’s dominance bubbled over as she powered past Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-1 to become the first woman to win three consecutive women’s singles titles since Justine Henin in 2007.

With the victory, Swiatek becomes the youngest player in history to claim four Roland-Garros women’s singles titles (the only player to do it before turning 25), and the sixth youngest woman in history to claim five Grand Slam singles titles. In 2020, Swiatek won her maiden title in Paris, becoming the lowest-ranked champion in Open era history (at No.54 in the rankings) and the youngest champion since Monica Seles since 1992. Four years later, she continues her reign as the world’s top player – and most formidable on the Parisian clay – by notching her 21st consecutive victory at Roland-Garros. That’s formidable!

More interesting stories playing in the weeks ahead. Watch the world with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-23

About: the world this week, 2 June 2024 to 8 June 2024: Israel and Lebanon; China on the Moon; General Elections – Mexico, South Africa, India.

Everywhere

Israel and Lebanon

While Israel continues its deadly foray into Rafah in the Gaza Strip and the hostage situation remains unmoving, tension is ramping up at the Israel-Lebanon border. This week, the Iran-backed militant organisation Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack in northern Israel that left multiple people injured. In another incident, in Lebanon, a gunman wearing what looked like ISIS insignia was arrested after firing shots at the United States (US) Embassy.

With no sign of progress in mediators’ efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza war, Israeli tanks and warplanes blasted central and southern areas overnight, killing over 20 Palestinians. Qatari and Egyptian mediators, backed by the US, have tried to halt hostilities, secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel, and get aid flowing into Gaza to ease a humanitarian crisis. But there are still no signs of a breakthrough.

Late in the week an Israeli air strike on a United Nations school, packed with displaced Palestinians, in central Gaza, has reportedly killed at least 35 people. Israel’s military said it had conducted a precise strike on a Hamas compound in the school and killed many of the 20 to 30 fighters it believed were inside. Of course, Hamas denied the claim and accused Israel of carrying out a horrific massacre.

China on the Moon

This Sunday China successfully landed on the ‘far side of the Moon’, the dark lunar hemisphere – an unexplored region where almost no one tries to go. The far side permanently faces away from Earth, is technically challenging to reach due to the distance, has a difficult terrain of giant, deep craters, and few flat surfaces to land on.

The uncrewed spacecraft Chang’e-6 touched down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin after completing a multi-stage landing process, announced the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Launched on 3rd May, the mission’s goal was to collect the world’s first rock and soil samples from the area and bring them back to Earth.

The landing was fraught with risks, owing to the difficulty in communicating with the spacecraft once it reaches the far side, requiring the use of a Satellite for the purpose.

China is the only country to have achieved the feat before, landing its Chang’e-4 in 2019. This is the second such mission to collect samples from the Moon. In 2020, Chang’e-5 brought back 1.7 kg of material from an area called Oceanus Procellarum, on the Moon’s near side.

After being launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center, the Chang’e-6 spacecraft orbited the Moon waiting for the right time to land. The Lander then separated from the Orbiter to touch down on the Moon. During the descent, an autonomous visual obstacle avoidance system was used to automatically detect obstacles, with a visible light camera selecting a comparatively safe landing area based on the brightness and darkness of the lunar surface. The lander hovered about 100 metres above the safe landing area, and used a laser 3D scanner before it began a slow vertical descent. The operation was supported by the Queqiao-2 relay satellite.

After spending two days gathering materials from the Moon’s surface, the lunar probe successfully took off, this Tuesday, to begin its journey back to Earth, carrying the first samples ever collected from the region -in a metal vacuum container. Rocks and soil were gathered using a mechanical arm and a drill to collect about 2 kg of material from a gigantic crater in the South Pole.

Once the samples safely reach Earth, China would become the first country to bring back rock and soil samples from the far side of the Moon, which scientists say could be very different from rock formations on the near side. The CNSA announced the conclusion of taking samples, saying the craft had ‘withstood the test of high temperature on the far side of the Moon’ and was now beginning its return. After taking off, the module then entered a ‘pre-set orbit around the Moon’. The container is then transferred to a re-entry capsule set to return to Earth, landing in the deserts of Inner Mongolia around 25th June.

Elections in Mexico

Mexico has a new kind of President: a woman, a scientist, a noble-prize winner, a mayor, all rolled into one.

This Sunday, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo won a landslide victory to become Mexico’s first female president. She is a climate scientist and a former mayor of Mexico City. She won the presidency with between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote which is the highest vote percentage in Mexico’s democratic history. Sheinbaum was mentored by outgoing leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose popularity among the poor helped drive her triumph.

“For the first time in the 200 years of the republic, I will become the first woman president of Mexico,” Sheinbaum told supporters to loud cheers of “President, President”. She is also the first woman to win a general election in the region of United States, Mexico, or Canada.

Victory for Sheinbaum is a major step for Mexico, a country known for its macho culture and home to the world’s second-biggest Roman Catholic population, which for years pushed more traditional values and roles for women.

The Election was the most violent in Mexico’s modern history with 38 candidates murdered during the process. Sheinbaum has vowed to improve security and address massive security problems. Many analysts say organized crime groups expanded and deepened their influence during Lopez Obrador’s term. Sunday’s vote was also marred by the killing of two people at polling stations in Puebla state. More people have been killed – over 185,000 – during the mandate of Lopez Obrador than during any other administration in Mexico’s modern history, although the homicide rate has been inching down.

The ruling coalition was also on track for a possible two-thirds super majority in both houses of Congress, which would allow the coalition to pass constitutional reforms without opposition support.

Opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez conceded defeat after preliminary results showed her taking between 26.6% and 28.6% of the vote.

Claudia Sheinbaum was born in a secular Jewish family in Mexico City. Her paternal Ashkenazi grandparents emigrated from Lithuania to Mexico City in the 1920s. Her maternal Sephardic grandparents emigrated there from Sofia, Bulgaria, in the early 1940s to escape the Holocaust. She celebrates the major Jewish holidays at her grandparents’ homes. Both of her parents are scientists: her mother, Annie Pardo Cemo, is a biologist and professor emeritus at the Faculty of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and her father, Carlos Sheinbaum Yoselevitz, was a chemical engineer. Her brother, Julio, is a physicist.

A scientist by profession, Sheinbaum received her Doctor of Philosophy in energy engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has authored over 100 articles and two books on energy, the environment, and sustainable development. Sheinbaum has a background in environmental policy, having served as Minister of the Environment for Mexico City and worked on the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which would go on to win a Nobel Prize.

Sheinbaum married Carlos Imaz in 1987 and have a daughter, born in 1988. They separated in 2016. In November 2023, Sheinbaum married Jesus Maria Tarriba Unger, a financial risk analyst for the Bank of Mexico.

Elections in South Africa

Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) party has ruled South Africa, in an unbridled run, for three decades. However, this time the ANC faces a mammoth challenge as it needs to form a government with its political rivals: after suffering a seismic blow in last week’s elections, final results of which we declared this Sunday, by the Independent Electoral Commission. For the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, the once-dominant party will need to make a deal with other parties to form a coalition government.

The Elections were held for the National Assembly, which has 400 seats. 200 seats is required for an outright majority. The ANC won 159 seats with 40.18 % votes; the Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition party, received the second-highest number of seats with 87 and 21.81% votes; the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party won 58 seats with 14.58% votes, and the other parties won a total of 77 seats.

In the previous election in 2019, the ANC had won 230 seats with 57.5% of the votes.

A pivotal factor in this Election is former-President Jacob Zuma’s newly formed 5-month -old party, MK-named after ANC’s former armed wing, meaning spear of the nation. He capitalised on widespread discontent within ANC’s traditional voter base, finishing third. Zuma is a fierce critic of current ANC Leader and President Cyril Ramaphosa, ever since he was forced to resign in 2018. This election saw a dramatic comeback by Zuma.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) led by John Steenhuisen is seen as a Party of White South Africans.

The Newly Elected National Assembly will have 14 days to hold its first sitting, when members will elect the President for the next 5 years by a simple majority.

Elections in India: The Dance of Democracy

The counting of votes in India’s General Elections to the Lok Sabha happened on 4 June 2024, and it was a stunning verdict, comprehensively defeating all predictions, be it the Exit Polls or the Opinion Polls. The predicted Landslide, for the ruling party, did not materialise.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which targeted a ‘wild majority’ on its own-about 370 seats-and dared an overwhelming majority of over 400 seats with its Alliance Partners in the 543 seated Parliament, was humbled. The slogan ‘Ab ki baar, 400 paar’ (this time 400 seats) saw it struggle to cross 300.

The BJP won 240 seats-32 short of a majority on its own and the pre-poll National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – led by the BJP -won a total of 293 seats well above the majority mark of 272, required to form the Government. The BJP depends heavily on two of its allies in the NDA, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a regional party in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, and the Janata Dal (United) – JDU- which rules the northern state of Bihar. Both of them have pledged support to the BJP along with others in the Alliance.

The opposition I.N.D.I.A Alliance (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance) led by the Grand Old Party of India – the Congress- won 230 seats, more than forecasted. In fact, they consistently said their Alliance would get 295 seats and form the Government. The Congress alone won 99, almost double the 52 it won in 2019 – a surprise jump probably increasing the fortunes of the dynasty, which has had a steel-hand grip on the party, for decades.

The I.N.D.I.A Alliance met in New Delhi and after making some noises and desperate attempts to form a Government, gave-up, and decided to sit in the Opposition.

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi tendered his resignation on Wednesday to President Droupadi Murmu after a cabinet met and recommended the dissolution of the current Parliament. Later, he submitted letters of support from the NDA partners for the formation of a new Government. Modi and his new cabinet are scheduled to be sworn-in on 9th June, for a historic third term.

The BJP lost most of the ground in rural areas where land and labour reforms are still to be unlocked. In Uttar Pradesh (UP), the party lost nearly half its seats, down to 33 from its 2019 tally of 62, while in Maharashtra, India’s richest state that includes financial powerhouse Mumbai, it slumped to a dismal nine seats from its previous tally of 23. Modi’s own victory in his seat of Varanasi, located in UP and considered one of the holiest cities for Hindus, was subdued: his margin of victory down from nearly 5,00,000 votes at the last general election in 2019 to a little more than 1,50,000 this time.

The saving grace for the BJP was a superlative performance in, the State of Odisha where it swept the Lok Sabha Elections with 20 seats and also won a comfortable majority in the State Assembly Elections – held simultaneously. In a first time ever, it comes to power in Odisha ousting the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Party headed by veteran Naveen Patnaik who has ruled for 5 consecutive terms, for over 24 years. The BJP won 78 seats in the 147 seated Assembly, while the BJD won only 52 seats.

In the State of Andhra Pradesh it aligned with Telugu Desam Party (a master stroke – in hindsight) and the Jana Sena, to win 3 seats, the TDP winning 16 seats, and the Jana Sena winning 2 seats. The BJP also won 8 seats in the Assembly, the Jana Sena Party won 21 seats, and the TDP 135 seats – out of 175 seats. The win also marks the remarkable return of three-time Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who has styled himself as a development icon when he first became Chief Minister in the year 1995.

The reduced victory and reduced majority in parliament may not necessarily mean reform paralysis: necessary reforms are entirely feasible. Delivering sustained growth at an accelerated pace can only strengthen the government’s hand in the coming years.

Many world leaders have crawled across the finishing line in their third-term elections, and Modi is no exception. The BJP remains India’s single largest party by seats, and Modi has successfully secured a third term with his Allies matching the record of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.

But the significant loss of seats for the BJP-more than 50-dims the allure of a third term, especially given the campaign targeting 400 coalition seats, making anything less seem like an under-achievement. The drop in seats could be due to joblessness, rural distress, growing inequality between the rich and the poor, among many other things. This 400 seats campaign has backfired, with such a massive majority probably raising fears of constitutional changes and that reservations to the poorest sections might be spiked. This time the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ campaign brought back memories of the 2004 ‘overconfident’, India Shining campaign, which saw the BJP lose power to the Congress, despite doing great developmental work. And this time the work done was outstanding, many times over. But it ‘cut no ice’ with the voter. Lots to think about!

By gathering 25 opposition parties to fight one party – the BJP – the Congress increased its vote share by 1.55% (19.67% to 21.22%) and cut BJP’s vote share by 1.22% (37.7% to 36.58%). That brought BJP’s seats down from 303 to 240. Almost all 63 seats lost were from Maharashtra (23) & UP (30).

The BJP could not breach the southern States of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were it did not win a single seat, but saw a significant increase in its vote share in Tamil Nadu. Kerala was a hint of times to come, with the BJP winning its first-ever seat from Thrissur. West Bengal continued to awfully tough: the expectations were sky-high and the BJP won only 12 of 42 seats.

Maybe it’s back to coalition politics in India. And the Indian voter is a tough customer. Ultimately, Indian democracy came out shining brightly in the dark background of all kinds of accusations, by the Opposition, on the Electronic Voting Machines and other processes.

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

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-22

About: the world this week, 26 May 2024 to 1 June 2024: Israel gets going in Rafah; landslide in Papua New Guinea; a US President is convicted; India’s Elections, the Heat, Rockets, and Sport; and Cannes 2024.

Everywhere

Israel Tunnels into Rafah

Israel pushes ahead, surgically and clinically, deep into Rafah.

An Israeli airstrike, early this week, triggered a fire that killed about 45 people in a tent camp in Rafah, prompting a wild outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel’s assault. The strike set tents and rickety metal shelters ablaze.

Israel’s military said it was investigating a precision strike it carried out against Hamas commanders in Rafah, which could have caused the fire, and was never intended to cause civilian casualties. In Rafah, about 1 million non-combatant residents have already been evacuated and despite best efforts, something could have tragically gone wrong. More than half of the dead were women, children, and elderly people.

Later in the week, the facts about the airstrike and the fire that followed, emerged, making things clear.

The airstrike that targeted senior Hamas commanders was more than a mile away from the safe zone for Palestinian civilians and more than 550 feet away from the shelters Hamas had falsely claimed were targeted in the incident. The munitions used were the smallest possible, far smaller than what other Western Militaries use in comparable situations. The munitions could not themselves have ignited a fire of the size that resulted in the deaths of Palestinian civilians, indicating that Hamas weapons stored in or near the targeted structure—of which Israel was unaware—may have exploded and caused the fire. Footage of the scene taken by Palestinians and uploaded to social media appears to show secondary explosions, further indicating the presence of weapons in the area. A phone call within Gaza, intercepted by Israeli intelligence, contained the admission that the structure targeted by the airstrike served as an ammunition warehouse, that secondary explosions took place. And that the Israeli airstrike wasn’t powerful enough to have ignited the fire. Hamas has been operating from the area since 7 October 2023; a rocket launcher used to fire rockets into Israel was located 150 feet from the targeted structure, suggesting that additional weapons were likely stored nearby and may have caused the fire.

Israel now controls the entire Philadelphi Corridor – a 14 km narrow strip of land between Gaza and Egypt – uncovering a far great number of tunnels crossing into Egypt than previously discovered.

While ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ was trending on social media, in support of Palestine, wonder why the eyes shifted from the 120 hostages, still under captivity for over 230 days. And the barbarism of 7 October 2023, by Hamas, is still livid.

A Landslide

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country in the Pacific Ocean that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia -a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, north of Australia. It shares its only land border with Indonesia to the west, and it is directly adjacent to Australia to the south, and the Solomon Islands to the east. Its capital, Port Moresby, is located along its southeastern coast. The country is the world’s third-largest island country.

PNG is a country of immense cultural and biological diversity known for its beaches and coral reefs. Tucked inside are active volcanoes, a dense rainforest, hiking routes like the Kokoda Trail, and many traditional tribal villages, with their own languages.

PNG regularly experiences landslides and natural disasters but the latest landslide is one of the most devastating it has seen in recent years. Parts of a mountain in the Maip-Mulitaka area in Enga province, in PNG’s north, collapsed in the early hours of last Friday killing more than 2,000 people and affecting up to 70,000 people living in the area. An entire village with shops, a fuel station, a lodge, a church, and a school all went under the rubble.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape blamed extraordinary rainfall and changes to weather patterns for multiple disasters this year, including the landslide.

“Our people in that village went to sleep for the last time, not knowing they would breathe their last breath as they were sleeping peacefully. Nature threw a disastrous landslip, submerged or covered the village. This year, we had extraordinary rainfall that has caused flooding in river areas, sea level rise in coastal areas and landslips in a few areas,” Marape said.

“It’s basically a mountain that has fallen on their heads,” said an officer with the UN development programme. Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate amid further earth slips in the region.

Residents have been using shovels and bare hands to dig through mud and debris almost two storeys high, even as officials said chances of finding survivors were slim. Rescue teams have been slow to reach the site because of the treacherous terrain and tribal unrest in the remote area, forcing the military to escort convoys of relief teams.

Donald Trump of the United States of America

This week, former President Donald Trump earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first US President to be convicted of a crime. A 12-member jury found Trump guilty of falsifying documents to coverup a payment to silence a porn star’s account of a sexual encounter, ahead of the 2016 election. He was found guilty on all counts – 34 of them. Sentencing is set for 11 July, days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for President, ahead of the 5 November 2024 Presidential elections. Some said it’s too trivial a matter to warrant such action. And Trump could still go ahead and stand for President.Whatever, ‘Stormy’ times lie ahead, for sure!

India Elections-The End

India’s great Lok Sabha, General Elections finally reached the last phase – the seventh- on 1 June 2024. And it all began on 19 April 2024. The noise, heat and dust of campaigning settles down and candidates go over for a thorough wash, maybe some rest, some may sit on a rock and meditate-making loud plans to develop India- and then appear in their best clothes on 4th June 2024, for the counting and declaration of results. Exit polls will sound the bugle after 6pm on, 1st June.

Great Expectations in the upcoming week. I’m sure it will be a tale to tell. Will it be the best of times, the age of wisdom, the spring of hope? Over to the Voter.

Meanwhile, India’s Prime Minister went into a two-day hibernation at the southern most tip of India at the Vivekananda Rock, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, to meditate over the future of the country.

The Heat in Delhi

This week, India’s Capital New Delhi recorded its highest ever summer temperature of 52.3 degrees celsius. In addition to climate change, could the heat of elections be a reason? Earth’s average temperature has increased by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times.

In India, a heatwave is declared over a region ‘when the actual maximum temperature remains 45 degrees Celsius or more’.

Earlier, Rajasthan’s Churu region was reported to be the warmest district of the season at 50.5 degrees Celsius. Now, Delhi has broken that record.

India’s Rockets Rock

This Thursday, Chennai-based private space startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched its 3D-printed, semi-cryogenic Agnibaan rocket after previous four attempts had been called off. Agnibaan is a customisable, two-stage launch vehicle that can carry a payload of up to 300 kg into orbit of about 700 km. The rocket uses a semi-cryogenic engine with a mix of liquid and gas propellants, a technology that is yet to be demonstrated by the Government’s own highly successful, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in any of its rockets. The Agnilet engine is the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine.

The mission featured a 6.2 meter tall single-stage launch vehicle with an elliptical nose cone and was equipped with advanced avionics, architecture, and autopilot, developed indigenously.

India’s private sector ‘launch into space’ is coming of age, supported by ISRO.

Indian Sport

Over the past few years Indian sport has been doing spectacularly well in all fields.

This time it’s gymnastics. Dipa Karmakar created history becoming the 1st ever Indian Gymnast to win Gold at the Asian Championships. She topped the Vault with an average score of 13.566.

Then, in a great move, India’s Chess wizard, Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen for the first time in Classical Chess. Pragg took down the World no.1 with the white pieces in the 3rd round of Norway Chess 2024. It was a fantastic game by Pragg – he got an advantage out of the opening, and converted in superb fashion. With this win, Pragg now takes sole lead with 5.5/9 points in the event.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL) Cricket Tournament 2024, Twenty-Twenty, finals held in Chennai, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won their third title defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets. It was a dominating performance by the winner throughout the Tournament. Previously, KKR has won the Title in IPL- 2012 and IPL-2014. The most successful IPL teams have been the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians with 5 Titles each.

The Cannes Film Festival

The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival was staged from 14 to 25 May 2024 at Cannes, France. American filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig served as jury president for the main competition. French actress Camille Cottin hosted the opening and closing ceremonies.

American filmmaker Sean Baker won the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize, for the comedy-drama film ‘Anora’, which he had written and directed. It stars Mikey Madison in the title role of an exotic dancer and follows her beleaguered romance with the son of a Russian oligarch.

In a significant milestone for India, Actress Anasuya Sengupta became the first Indian to win the Best Actress award at the ‘Un Certain Regard’ segment of the Film Festival. This segment presents 20 films with unusual styles and non-traditional stories seeking international recognition. She received the award for her role in the film ‘The Shameless,’ directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Constantin Bojanov, which premiered at Cannes on 17th May.

‘The Shameless’, forays into a dark, disturbing world of exploitation and misery. Two sex workers, one who bears the scars of her line of work, and the other a young girl, days away from ritual initiation, forge a bond and seek to break the shackles of their condition. Sengupta plays the central character of Renuka, who escapes from a Delhi brothel after stabbing a policeman to death and takes refuge in a community of sex workers in northern India. There she meets Devika, a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution.

Sengupta was born in a Bengali family in Kolkata, West Bengal. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Jadavpur University, but wanted to establish herself as a journalist. She played a supporting role in the 2009 movie ‘Madly Bangalee’. She dabbled in theatre for some time before shifting to Mumbai in 2013 where she started working as a production designer. And eventually she landed ‘The Shameless’ role.

Then, in another lights-on moment at Cannes, Indian Filmmaker Payal Kapadia scripted history as her spellbinding drama ‘All We Imagine as Light’ won the Grand Prix award at Cannes 2024. The film bagged the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palme d’Or, during the closing ceremony. Kapadia’s feature directorial debut received glowing reviews in the international press. It registered its name in the history books after it became the first Indian film in 30 years and the first ever by an Indian female director to be showcased in the main competition. The screening of the film received an eight-minute standing ovation from the audience members.

“All We Imagine as Light”, a Malayalam-Hindi feature, is about Prabha, a nurse, who receives an unexpected gift from her long-estranged husband, who lives abroad, that throws her life into disarray. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a private spot in the big city to be alone with her boyfriend. One day, the two nurses go on a road trip to a beach town where the mystical forest becomes a space for their dreams to manifest. International critics have given the film a thumbs up and praised Kapadia’s storytelling prowess.

Going back into history, the first and only Indian Film to win the top prize of Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, in 1946, was Chetan Anand’s ‘Neecha Nagar’ (a lowly City area) with music composed – in a first – by Pandit Ravi Shankar. It starred actress Kamini Kaushal, Zora Sehgal, and Chetan Anand’s wife, Uma Anand, among others. The movie is about the gulf between the rich and the poor in society. Ironically, the film was never released in India but was telecast on India’s national Broadcaster, Doordarshan in the 1980s.

In 1982, Mrinal Sen was the very first Indian to join the Cannes Film Festival Jury. And his movie ‘Kharij’ won the jury prize. Many of his movies were showcased at the festival. Sharmila Tagore has also attended as a jury member, in 1962 with Satyajit Ray. Between Sen in 1982 and Deepika Padukone in 2023, the Cannes jury had invited filmmaker Mira Nair (1990), novelist Arundhati Roy (2000), actresses Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (2003), Nandita Das (2005), Sharmila Tagore (2009), filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (2010), and actress Vidya Balan (2013).

More screen stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Watch the world with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-21

About: the world this week, 19 May 2024 to 25 May 2024: arresting Israel; Death of a President; Elections – UK and India; and irresponsible driving in India.

Everywhere

Arresting Israel

This week, in a public statement, the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), announced that he is asking the ICC to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Court has asked ICC member states (called State Parties) to arrest the two Israeli leaders for war crimes committed against the civilians in Gaza, which he says is in the ‘State of Palestine’.

The Prosecutor has also requested, in a separate proceeding, that arrest warrants be issued against Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar (Head of Hamas) Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri – known as DEIF -(Commander-in-Chief of the military win of Hamas) and Ismail Haniyeh (Head of Hamas Political Bureau) – war crimes and crimes against humanity, for the ‘7 October 2023 incident’.

The Prosecutor said he was grateful for advice received from, Elizabeth Wilmhurst, Baroness Helena Kennedy, Danny Friedman, Special Advisor Amal Clooney, and Theodor Meron, among a list of other ‘renowned people’ associated with international law.

Amal Clooney, a lawyer and activist, is the wife of Hollywood star George Clooney. People were outraged by her advice and she was slammed on social media for being insensitive to the plight of Israel victims of the brutal massacre of 7 October, and lacking impartiality – the hallmark of a great lawyer.

The Prosecutor of the ICC, in the news, is Karim A A Khan KC, who was sworn in to the job in June 2021. And his job is, ‘trying individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression’.

The Court’s founding treaty, called the Rome Statute, grants the ICC jurisdiction over four main crimes: first, genocide-specific intent in whole or in part of eliminating a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, by killing its members; second, crimes against humanity-serious violations committed as part of large-scale attacks against any civilian population; third, war crimes which are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions; and fourth, crimes of aggression – use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, integrity or independence of another State (Russia, rings a bell?)

As a judicial institution, the ICC does not have its own police force or enforcement body: it relies on cooperation with countries worldwide for support, particularly for making arrests, transferring arrested persons to the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, freezing suspects’ assets, and enforcing sentences. It is not a United Nations(UN) Organization, but has a cooperation agreement with the UN. State Parties support the Courts, accept ICC’s jurisdiction, and also work to incorporate the rules stipulated in the Rome Statute in their own judicial systems. A country – on its choice – can become a State Party, joining with other State Parties, which gathers once a year to provide oversight management for the Court – establishing a budget, providing funding and electing the Court’s Judges and Prosecutor.

Israel reacted quickly, calling the public statement by the Prosecutor, an absolute outrage. The clear message of the joint announcement being that Israel and Hamas are deemed to be equally culpable for the events of 7th October and the aftermath. Israel added that this is unprecedented in the history of international law.

In another development, the countries of Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced they would recognise the State of Palestine on 28 May 2024. The governing body at the basis of the recognition will be the Palestinian Authority. The three European countries said they wanted to help secure a halt to Israel’s devastating Gaza offensive and revive peace talks that stalled a decade ago.

Israel reprimanded the Ambassadors of Ireland, Norway, and Spain over their intent to recognise a Palestinian State, scorning the initiative as a bid to, ‘resurrect old, failed policies’. It called the Ambassadors for a special screening of the Hamas barbarism of 7th October – not previously shown in the public domain.

Close to the end of the week, Israel found three more dead bodies of hostages, in Jabalya, northern Gaza. All of them were killed on 7th October and their bodes were taken into the enclave by Hamas. The identified were Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez.

At the end of the week the International Court of Justice issued an Order – on a vote of 13 to 2 – calling on Israel to ‘immediately halt’ its military operation in Rafah. Israel called the ruling ‘lack of impartiality’ and carried on its operations. Hamas welcomed the ruling.

A Hardline President Dies Hard

Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, 63, died in a helicopter crash this Sunday. The Helicopter, a Bell 212, was carrying the President, the Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Commander of the President’s protection unit, other bodyguards, a Provincial Governor, and the crew – a total of nine. All of them died in the crash.

The charred wreckage of the helicopter was found early on Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions. Raisi is the second Iranian President to die in office. In 1981 a bomb blast killed President Mohammad Al Rajai in the chaotic days after the Iranian Revolution.

Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz in the northwest of Iran after returning from an Iran-Azerbaijan border area, where he had gone to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project with Azerbaijan. The helicopter went down in Varzeqan region north of Tabriz when it flew into difficulties in heavy fog, in poor weather conditions. It slammed into a mountain peak, and crashed in the mountainous, forested area. Two other helicopters, in the convoy of three, made it safely to Tabriz.

Ebrahim Raisi is a hardliner and formerly led the country’s judiciary. He is seen as a protege of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a possible replacement for the 85 year old Khamenei when he resigns or dies. Raisi won Iran’s 2021 Presidential Election in one of the lowest voter turnouts in Iran’s history. His victory in the closely-managed election brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years, when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with powers including the United States.

Since taking office, Raisi had ordered a tightening of morality laws, oversaw a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.

Raisi is sanctioned by the United States over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 at the end of the Iran-Iraq war. This earned him the infamous title of the ‘Butcher of Tehran’.

Raisi was born in Mashdad, northeastern Iran, a religious hub for Shia Muslims. He underwent religious education and was trained in a seminary in Qom, studying under prominent islamic scholars including Khamenei. He wears a black turban, which signifies that he is a Sayyid – a descendant of Prophet Muhammad.

In recent times, Iran has been having all kinds of problems beginning with the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini over Islamic dressing issues. In the aftermath the security crackdown the followed and the demonstrations killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained.

The cause of the helicopter crash is not known, but Iran has a poor air transport safety record: made worse by decades of US sanctions, which have made it hard for Iran to obtain spare parts or upgrade its aircraft.

Supreme Leader Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme, said First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, would take over as interim president. Presidential Elections to choose Ebrahim Raisi’s successor is to be held on 28th June. Khamenei’s own son, Mojtaba Khameini, 55 could be in the race.

United Kingdom Elections- at the Beginning

This week British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the UK would hold a General Election on 4 July 2024. Sunak’s Conservative Party is up against Keith Starmer’s Labour Party.

Sunak inherited a mess, but it seems unlikely that he has cleaned up that mess enough to earn the Conservatives another term in Office.

Opinion Polls have placed the Conservative Party way behind the opposition Labour Party. And as things stand, Keith Starmer is set to not only win power but secure a massive parliamentary majority.

India Elections – nearing the End.

This week, the juggernaut of India’s Lok Sabha General Elections rolled-on with the 5th phase on 19th May and the 6th phase on 25th May. That leaves the last and final phase – the 7th – going to the polls on 1st June. The week was reasonably quiet in comparison to the sound and dust of the previous weeks.

Driving in the Fast lane

Late last week in an outrageous incident in the city of Pune a, 17 year old juvenile Vedant Agarwal, son of a Builder, Brahma Realty, caused a fatal accident in Kalyani Nagar in the early hours on Saturday. Illegally (18 years is the age eligible for a motorcar driving Licence) driving a Porsche car at high speed, Vedant lost control, colliding with multiple vehicles. The car dragged one of two persons on a motorcycle and finally came to standstill after hitting another two wheeler and a car. The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of two IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both 24 years old, who were on the motorcycle. Earlier the boy had left a pub in Kalyani Nagar shortly before the incident.

The next day a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Pune in a bizarre judgement granted bail to the 17-year-old boy. And besides imposing the usual condition of parental monitoring, imposed a unique condition directing the boy to submit a 300-word essay on road accidents after studying all the rules and regulations on traffic at the Regional Transport Office (RTO). The boy was released on bail on executing a personal and surety bond of INR 75, 000. The parents were directed to take care of the boy and ensure that he is not involved in such offences in the future and ‘kept away from bad company’. Going deeper, the boy will assist a RTO officer and study traffic rules for 15 days and submit a report to the JJB. He will visit a de-addiction counselling centre and the counselling report will be submitted to the JJB. He has to consult a psychologist and psychiatric doctor at the Sassoon hospital in Pune and that report is to be submitted within 15 days.

There was immediate and spontaneous outrage on social media, and outcry by the people of Pune on grant of bail – and the conditions – in such a horrific case where two people have been mowed down and killed. This resulted in the boy’s father being arrested and the bail of the boy being cancelled and remanded to a teenage observation home. Meanwhile, the family of the victims suffered in silence.

Then in another twist, a Driver ‘was produced’; as being in the car – and said to be actually driving the car. And conforming the same was the boy and two of his friends! But there are tens of witnesses who dragged the boy out of the driver’s seat, after the crash, and bashed him up on the street!

In yet another finding, the boy’s grandfather who stood surety for bail, and who started the family construction business has underworld connections. The name of convicted (and now jailed) gangster Chhota Rajan who one worked with major crime syndicate boss Dawood Ibramin was doing the rounds. This surely is the proverbial can of worms.

Everyday, somewhere in India such unfortunate incidents keep happening, but the ones which gets gets mass attention are almost always Mercedes, the BMWs, or the Porsches. What about the many lives lost, being responsible, and following and enforcing rules?

More road stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Follow the rules and drive safely with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-20

About: the world this week, 12 May 2024 to 18 May 2024: Israel tunnels on; Russia pushes in Ukraine; Darfur-a forgotten war; Netherlands swings right; Slovakia’s PM is shot; India’s Elections, and a Billboard crash; and the Eurovision 2024 results.

Everywhere

Israel in Rafah

Israel has amassed enough troops at the edge of Rafah in the Gaza Strip to move forward with a full scale invasion while conducting precision strikes in the region. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) attacked and destroyed a Hamas Command & Control Center, located within a United Nations (UN) Compound. Video footage showed Hamas Terrorists liberally using UN Vehicles, as if it belongs to them.

Meanwhile, Israel ordered evacuation of civilians in many areas of Rafah for the moves ahead. And the rockets kept coming into Israel from Lebanon, and from Hamas inside the Gaza.

In a turn-around, the United States (US) resumed supply of weapons to Israel, perhaps seeing the steely resolve of Israel to enter Rafah. Then, there is talk about the ‘Day After’, when all this is over, and what happens next in the Gaza Strip.

Across the world Jewish people – especially in America and Britain – continue to be targets of pro-Palestinians, preventing them from going about their work and even attacking them, only because they are Jews. Anti-semitism getting a stranglehold in these parts.

Towards the end of the week, on entering Rafah, the IDF recovered the decomposed bodies of three Israeli hostages who were kidnapped from the Nova Festival on 7th October 2023, and held by Hamas in Gaza, Amit Bouskila (28), Shani Louk (23), and Itzhak Gelerenter (53). Israel was shocked and devastated. The also found numerous tunnels, and 50 of them ‘effortlessly’ crossing the border into Egypt. More, next week.

Ukraine

In the other war, in Ukraine, Russia is pushing into north-eastern Ukraine after making major advances over the past week. This is Russia’s most significant gains since Ukraine re-captured the Kharkiv region in 2022. More than 7500 people have been evacuated from the region. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made a surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and reassure support. He announced that US military assistance has started arriving in Ukraine after months of delays.

The Forgotten Conflict

Over the past four years, the remote Sudanese region of Darfur has been the scene of a bloody conflict that has led to the death of thousands and the displacement of more than two million people.

The United Nations (UN) calls it ‘the world’s worst humanitarian crisis’ and the United States calls it ‘genocide’. Some 9 million people require humanitarian assistance and about 4,000 people have been targeted and killed because of their ethnicity. The UN says a staggering 24.8 million across Sudan-almost one in two people in the country-now require help from the UN and aid partners.

Darfur lies in the western part of the Sudan, Africa’s third largest country, bordering Libya, Chad, and the Central African Republic. The population of Darfur estimated in 2002 was about six million, 80% of whom live in the rural areas.

The name ‘Darfur’ is derived from the word, ‘dar fur ‘, meaning the ‘Land of the Fur’, in Arabic. The Fur tribe once ruled the Islamic Sultanate of Darfur until the killing of the last Sultan of Darfur in the year 1916, after which the Sultanate was incorporated into the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and came under British-Egyptian rule. Today, Darfur is home to approximately 80 tribes and ethnic groups consisting of nomadic and sedentary communities.

Labelling the ongoing conflict as one between ‘Arabs’ and ‘Black Africans’ could be misleading: there are no visible racial or religious differences between the warring factions in Darfur. All parties involved in the conflict are equally indigenous, equally black, and equally Muslim. Darfurians represent a multitude of ethnic and linguistic groups that include non-Arabic speaking groups such as, the Fur, Masalit, Zaghawa, Tunjur, and Daju, as well as Arabic-speaking such as Rizaiqat, Missairiyya, Taisha, Beni Helba, and Mahamid, among others.

A long history of internal migration, mixing, and intermarriage in Darfur has created remarkable ethnic fluidity: ethnic labels are often used only as a matter of convenience. For instance, in the Darfur context, for the most part, the term ‘Arab’ is used as an occupational rather than an ethnic label, for the majority of the Arabic speaking groups are pastoralists. On the other hand, most of the non-Arab groups are sedentary farmers. However, even these occupational boundaries are often crossed.

For several centuries, the Fur was the dominant political power in the region, particularly in the pre-colonial era. In the seventeenth century they established a kingdom that shared many of the characteristics of other Muslim states in the Sahelian belt (the region south of the Sahara Desert, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west, to the Nile basin in the east.) From its capital at Al-Fasher, the Darfur kingdom established extensive political and commercial links with these states as well as with Egypt and North Africa.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when rebels launched an insurrection to protest what they claimed was the Sudanese Government’s disregard for the western region and its non-Arab population. The situation escalated when rebels, particularly the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), took up arms against the Government, protesting the unequal distribution of economic resources.

In response, the government headed by then President, Omar al-Bashir, equipped and supported Arab militia-which came to be known as Janjaweed-to fight the rebels in Darfur. The militias, however, also terrorised the civilians in the region and prevented international aid organisations from delivering much-needed food and medical supplies.

This conflict clearly pitted Sudanese Government forces, supported by the Janjaweed, against rebel groups resisting the autocratic rule of President Omar al-Bashir. The result was a devastating toll on Darfur. About 300,000 people lost their lives, and millions were displaced, including 400,000 refugees who were forced to flee to camps in the neighbouring country of Chad. In response to these atrocities, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against several Sudanese senior officials, including Omar al-Bashir, on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

Despite a 2004 cease-fire and the presence of African Union (AU) troops that followed, by 2007 the conflict and resulting humanitarian crisis had left hundreds of thousands of people dead and more than two million displaced, internally as well as externally, as they were forced to flee from the fighting. In July 2007, the United Nations Security Council authorised a joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) to replace the AU mission, although UNAMID troop deployment did not begin until 2008.

In July 2008, an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor alleged that Bashir, as President of Sudan, bore criminal responsibility for the crisis in Darfur. The prosecutor accused Bashir of orchestrating genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in the region and sought a warrant for his arrest; the Sudanese government denied the charges and proclaimed Bashir’s innocence. In March 2009, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but not genocide. The warrant marked the first time that the ICC had sought the arrest of a sitting head of state. A year later, in July, another warrant was issued for Bashir on the charge of genocide.

Bashir was removed from power in 2018, which led to the formation of a Transitional Government under a Transitional Military Council (TMC) in September 2019. It carried out ambitious economic reforms and engaged in peace negotiations with armed groups leading to the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement in 2020, with almost all opposition groups. However, a year later in October 2021 the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) took over the country in a military coup. The then Prime Minister of the Transitional Government stepped down in January 2022 after efforts to reach a political settlement failed. A second attempt was made in January 2023. However, a consensus could not be reached and the political deadlock continues. The failed political process saw an eruption of a yet another conflict between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which continues to this day.

The RSF evolved from the Janjaweed militia in the year 2013, and was used as border guards. And in the year 2015 it was granted the status of a regular force. In the year 2017, a law was passed legitimising the RSF as an independent security force. The Army and pro-democracy voices have demanded the RSF’s integration in the regular Armed Forces, which the RSF has resisted as this would lead to loss of power. The RSF is commanded by General Mohamed Hamden Dagalo commonly know as ‘Hemedti’ or ‘Little Mohamad’. He is one for the most powerful persons in Sudan and was formerly Deputy-Head of the TMC.

The once emerging potential of Sudan now lies in tatters, with conflict after conflict consuming the country. For most of its independent history, Sudan has faced substantial internal conflict rending it unable to play a leadership role in the region. This includes some of the longest lasting civil wars in Africa running in the country. South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 and became an independent state of Africa.

This week, heavy fighting in and around the Town of El Fasher between the SAF and the RSF resulted in death of dozens of civilians.

Netherlands

This week, anti-Islam firebrand and populist leader Geert Wilders announced that he has managed to form a coalition government with three other right-wing parties veering Netherlands towards the hard right. This is the culmination of almost 6 months of tumultuous negotiations – after the General Elections. It is still unclear who would be the next Dutch Prime Minister, but it will not be Wilders, who gave up the chance in a bid to secure a deal. Wilder’s, Party of Freedom (PVV), will go into government with the conservative Liberal Party (VVD), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer Citizen Movement (BBB).

The PVV, led by Geert Wilders, won a shock victory in the Netherlands’ Parliamentary Elections, six months ago, winning 37 of the 150 seats, but it was not good enough to form a government on its own.

Slovakia

This week, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, 59 was shot and injured outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, where he had been meeting supporters. A suspect was quickly detained. Four shots were fired after a government meeting, with one hitting the PM in the abdomen. He was rushed to Hospital when Emergency services dispatched a helicopter to air-lift him to the nearest hospital where he was operated upon. He is out of danger and on the road to recovery.

Handlova is located some 150 kilometres north east of Solvakia’s capital Bratislava. Security personnel were quick to cart the PM to safety while others grappled with the attacker, later identified as 71 year old Slovak poet Juraj Cintula. The reason behind the attack appears to be a politically charged one, with Cintula blaming Fico’s media policies for his drastic action.

Robert Fico is known for his pro-Russia, pro-Putin stance and has been a controversial figure in European politics. He has opposed supporting Ukraine against Russia’s aggression. Starting his fourth term as PM, Fico stopped arms shipments to Ukraine. Critics were concerned that he might steer Slovakia – a NATO member – away from its pro-western trajectory towards a path similar to that of Hungary under populist PM Viktor Orban.

India Elections

India’s Lok Sabha General Elections meander to the upcoming last three Phases of 20th May, 25th May, and 1st June. Four Phases have been completed and the wait for counting day on 4th June is excruciating. The high-voltage campaigning dropped down a few volts but the charge was steady. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to brim with confidence in a winning a third consecutive term and gathering numbers of over 400 seats in the 543 seated Lok Sabha.

India’s Billboard Crash

In India, 16 people were killed and dozens injured when a giant 30-metre-tall Billboard, located next to a busy road in the Chheda Nagar area of Mumbai City’s Ghatkopar, fell over a petrol station and adjoining buildings crushing cars and trapping over 100 people underneath. This was caused by strong winds and rains during a thunderstorm on Monday, which also uprooted trees in the area. The storm brought traffic to a standstill in parts of the city and disrupted operations at the Mumbai Airport with at least 15 flights diverted.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a statement saying the Billboard was illegal – constructed without their permission and standing for over a year at the location. Previously, the Billboard had been red-marked by Civic Authorities due to various violations, but no action was taken. The first notice, issued in March 2023, addressed non-payment of license fees. A second notice, highlighted damage to trees caused by Installtion of the billboard. The third notice, issued on the same day the structure collapsed, cited ‘unauthorised advertisement panels’. While the agency was responsible for the hoarding’s structural stability, records showed BMC’s garden department had separately registered police complaints that the Agency ‘killed’ trees that were planted on the periphery. The complaint was filed after holes were found drilled in the trunks of the dead trees in an attempt to inject poison into them. This had led to around 40 trees losing their leaves and eventually dying…a slow death.

The director of Ego Media Agency, Bhavesh Bhinde, who owns the Billboard was later arrested after a man-hunt. The 120×120 feet holding defied the permissible size of 40×40 and was erected on a 10 year lease and its weight was an astonishing 250 tons. The company had applied to the Limca Book of Records to recognise it as the largest commercial Billboard in India.

Eurovision 2024

The Eurovision Song Contest – the 68th Edition – staged in Sweden’s Malmo city ended late last week with the finals held on Saturday.

The winner was Switzerland’s Nemo -Nemo Mettler-a Swiss singer, who plays the violin, piano, and drums. His song ‘The Code’ won the contest giving Switzerland their first win since 1988. The Runner-up was Marko Purisic, a Croatian singer-songwriter, and music producer, known professionally as Baby Lasagna for the song ‘Rim Tim Tagi Dim’. In the third place was Aliona Olehivna Savranenko, known by her stage name Alyona Alyona, a Ukrainian rapper and songwriter along with Yana Oleksandrivna Shemaieva, known professionally as Jerry Heil, a Ukrainian singer, songwriter and You Tuber for the song ‘Teresa & Maria’. The fourth place went to Slimane Nebchi, a French singer-songwriter known professionally by the mononym, Slimane for the song ‘ Mon Amour’. Coming in at fifth was Israel’s Eden Golan for her song, ‘Hurricane’.

More historical stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Sing with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-19

About: the world this week, 5 May 2024 to 11 May 2024: Crossing into Rafah; Russia’s forever President; All-in-one India; Heat of the World; Brazil’s Floods; Eurovision; and the Met Gala 2024.

Everywhere

Crossing into Rafah

Israel has, for weeks, said that it would enter the city of Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip to flush-out the last remains -hopefully-of the Terrorist Hamas and rescue the 130 hostages still being held. Over a million displaced Palestinians are holed-up in the city, which also ‘conveniently serves’ as a ‘natural’ human shield for Hamas.

This week Israel moved-in. This is a cliffhanger in the seven-month-old war as Israeli forces struck Rafah from the air and the ground and ordered residents to leave parts of the city. And Israel quickly secured control of the Rafah Crossing after its forces eliminated 20 terrorists in a raid, intercepted a car bomb headed towards troops, and conducted airstrikes on 100 targets.

Meanwhile, Hamas after rejecting many past proposals by Israel, seemed in a hurry to accept the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal from mediators. But Israel said the terms did not meet its demands and pressed ahead with its dash into Rafah, while planning to continue negotiations on a deal.

United States (US) President Joe Biden threatened to stop supply of arms to Israel if it goes ahead with its Rafah ground invasion plan, which is a back-stabbing, back-track by the strongest ally of Israel. The American University wokeism has reached the very top-the White House. God Bless America!

Who benefits? The terrorist Hamas, of course. Emboldens them.

“If we must, we shall fight with our fingernails,” said Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, “But we have much more than our fingernails.” Earlier the US had delayed a shipment of arms to Israel and there is a simmering and escalting friction between the closest of allies.

In Gaza, Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad kept at their act: firing anti-tank rockets and mortars at Israeli tanks amassed on the eastern outskirts of the city for the ground invasion.

Russia’s Forever President

This week, Vladimir Putin took oath for a record fifth presidential term as President of Russia. The unique Putin swag was unmissable, as two huge gold-plated doors opened and he almost ‘cat-walked’ alone towards the oath-taking podium, greeting people lined up on both sides of red-carpet barricade with a cheshire-cat smile. There is no stopping this man?

All-In-One India

India’s marathon General Elections has run three phases and there are four more to go, 13th May, 20th May, 25th May, and 1st June. The results will be declared on 4th June. Every week releases a ‘new gas’, in addition to the Green House Gases and other climate changers, that turn on the heat.

Last week a sex-scandal fired the headlines. This week, racist comments raced to the top. The Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda, sitting in faraway United States while describing India’s diversity said, “people in the East look like the Chinese, people in the West look like the Arabs, people in the North look like, maybe, White, and people in the South look like Africans”. He added, “ It does not matter. All of us are bothers and sisters”.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to seize the opportunity, calling the comments racist and divisive. In cricket parlance, it was full-toss bowled at the BJP and they smacked it out of the ground.

Sam Pitroda resigned amid the huge political row that erupted over his controversial remarks. A statement said he decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, of his own accord. And the Congress President has accepted his decision- as if he was waiting outside his door. Sam Pitroda has been a habitual, incorrigible offender having a history of making controversial comments. He was once advisor to the late Rajiv Gandhi and in recent times has been mentoring the dynasty’s scion, Rahul Gandhi, who himself has been equally liberal with the tongue.

Meanwhile, on a lighter vein, the BJP was disappointed…losing a ‘star overseas Arab campaigner’. Now it has to look at other White, Chinese, and African campaigners. Of course, they still have a ‘White’ Rahul Gandhi doing a great job for them!

Heat of the World

The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending a 11-month streak in which every month set a new temperature record. Including April, the world’s average temperature was also the highest on record for a 12-month period at 1.61 degrees Celsius, above the average in the years 1850-1900 pre-industrial period.

The rising temperatures are brought about by the infamous ‘climate change’ for which Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from burning fossil fuels are the main cause. GHGs trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet. They absorb the heat radiating from the Earth’s surface and re-release it all directions including back to the Earth’s surface. The chief culprits in the ‘Earth warming business’ are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride. Add water vapour too.

In recent months, the natural El-Nino phenomenon, which warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, has also raised temperatures.

Brazil’s Floods

Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul is being inundated like never before – its worst flooding in 80 years. Heavy rains and floods resulting in killing of over 100 people, injuring over 750 and displacing over 16 400 rendering them homeless. At least 134 people are still missing. Rains are expected to persist over the weekend.

Intense rain is expected to pummel Brazil, between the east and center-north of Rio Grande do Sul, with some areas expecting 100 mm.This, as the South American nation grapples with the deadly fallout of last week’s extreme weather, which submerged whole neighbourhoods.

The catastrophic floods have been accompanied by social upheaval, with least 45 people arrested for looting and other crimes amid the chaos. Six of those arrested are suspected of committing sexual abuse in shelters for people whose homes were impacted by the floods.

The latest storms have also flooded parts of neighbouring Uruguay, leaving some 1,340 people displaced and thousands more without electricity.

The Sun and Rain dancing in full glory!

Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest often known simply as Eurovision or as ESC, is an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union. Each participating country submits an original song to be performed live and transmitted to national broadcasters via the Eurovision and Euroradio networks, with competing countries then casting votes for the other countries’ songs to determine a winner.

This week, Israel’s Eurovision entry officially qualified to be in the Eurovision finals, to be held this Saturday in Malmo, Sweden, after singer Eden Golan’s impressive performance in the semi-finals. The 20 year old singer received huge cheers from the audience after her performance of ‘Hurricane.’ Originally titled ‘October Rain’, the song had alluded to the Hamas attacks on southern Israel last 7th October. Israel’s public broadcaster agreed to modify the lyrics, and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which is responsible for the contest, gave the song the green light.

There have been several campaigns to block Israel from taking part in this year’s contest following the outbreak of war in Gaza. Eden Golan’s victory came hours after thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors gathered in the streets of Malmo to show their support for Gaza. A night before, the 20-year-old singer had been booed during dress rehearsals. There was a mixture of cheering and booing again during the semi-final.

Security is being tightened for the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden’s Malmo city, with large demonstrations planned to coincide with the event and the country already on high alert. Police and organisers say they’re well-prepared and hoping for a ‘joyful’ event. The annual feel-good celebration of pop and showbiz is this year shrouded by complaints from some quarters over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza. Sweden was already facing heightened security challenges, and Malmo is expecting one of the country’s biggest ever policing efforts.

As many as 100,000 visitors are set to descend on this city on Sweden’s south-west coast for the world’s largest live music contest. Colourful Eurovision banners decorate many of the city’s streets, and it’s the third time that Malmo is playing host, after Swedish artist Loreen won last year’s competition in Liverpool, with her hit song Tattoo. Commentators say that it is one of the most politically-charged Eurovisions ever.

Met Gala 2024

The Fashion World’s biggest night, the 2024 Met Gala was held this week at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA. The Gala fundraises for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute and is held every year in the 1st week of May, almost always ‘at the steps’ of the same venue. And dresses to a theme and a dress code.

This year’s exhibit theme was ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’, to examine how technology can breathe new life into garments that are too old and fragile to be worn again. The dress code was the ‘The Garden of Time’ named after the 1962 short story by J G Ballard.

In the story, an aristocratic couple living in a walled estate with a magical garden try to stave off an unruly mob trying to break in. To keep the mob at bay, the husband picks flowers trying to turn back time until there are no blooms left. The mob eventually breaks in, ransacks their place and the couple turns to stone. Guests were told that outfits should represent ‘fleeting beauty’ and embody ‘the beauty of the natural world- its fragility and its inevitable decay’.

The Gala, is known to have a very secretive guest list with the names of attendees kept tightly ‘under wraps’ and then released with all the sheerness and nakedness one can see-through on the Gala Red Carpet.

This year Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, and Zendaya, served as co-chairs alongside Vogue’s Anna Wintour. The rest of the attendees—which includes the world’s top singers, actors, models, athletes, and artists—revealed themselves on the Red Carpet.

Indian Actress Alia Bhatt attended wearing a stunning floral saree by Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. She brought the ‘timeless’ saree to the Met carpet and in doing so, nailed the theme ‘The Garden of Time’. Her dress was ethereal, a scene-stealer that took a total of 163 dedicated individuals investing 1965 man-hours to make.

Singer and Actress Jennifer Lopez, known for her show-stopping red carpet appearances, took glamour to new heights. Stepping onto the red carpet the 54-year-old dazzled in a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture creation. The mermaid-style gown, crafted from sheer tulle, shimmered with a plethora of sparkling rhinestones and pearls, cascading into a flowing train.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid continued her streak of theme mastery, flawlessly embodying the essence of this year’s theme alongside Designer Thom Browne’s vision of the dress code. Stepping onto the Met Gala carpet, Hadid donned an unmistakable Browne ensemble—a white off-the-shoulder corset dress with exaggerated hips, layered beneath a white silk moire coat adorned with 3D yellow roses and intricate thorn appliques.

American Rapper, Cardi B’s Met Gala philosophy has consistently been ‘the bigger, the better,’ and her jewellery choice for the 2024 event perfectly embodied this sentiment. Arriving on the Met steps, she made a dramatic entrance ‘wrapped’ in a voluminous tulle gown designed by Windowsen. The Garden of Time dress code was styled with a diamond necklace featuring a 141-carat Colombian emerald by the Indian jewellery house Kamyen. Complementing this centrepiece were her striking earrings, boasting dual emeralds and diamonds that featured a cascade yellow and white mini-briolette cut diamonds. She accessorised her hands with large emerald rings and a bangle bracelet on her wrist, with more emeralds and diamonds.

Kamyen, the Indian jewellery brand, was founded in 2010 by Pooja Gandhi, who comes from a lineage of three generations of ‘Diamantaires’. Renowned for its one-of-a-kind designs incorporating large gemstones, particularly yellow and pink diamonds, the brand has garnered global acclaim through Cardi B’s appearance at the Met Gala this year.

Some of the best dressed were: American Actress, Elle Fanning in an iridescent Balmain column with sculpted birds at the shoulders and Cartier jewellery; ‘Dune’ Actress Zendaya – in four outfits – the first a custom Maison Margiela Gown by John Galliano; Actress Gabrielle Union in mermaid inspired Michael Kars Collection with Tiffany & Co jewellery; Actress Demi Moore in a show-stopping Harris Reed oversize floral-print gown with detachable back panel and padded hips plus a massive Cartier necklace; Actress Michelle Yeoh wearing sculpted aluminium Balenciaga Coutre, plus Cindy Chao jewellery. Other memorable appearances were by Singer Shakira, South African Singer and songwriter Tyla, and ‘Baywatch’ Pamela Anderson.

The other Indians at the Gala were: Heiress Natasha Poonawalla in a custom Marigela designed by John Gallino; Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Mona Patel in a off-shoulder, body-hugging Iris Van Herpen gown inspired by flying butterflies – 3D butterflies were flying on her sleeves, lending a magical touch; Actor & Producer Mindy Kaling in a sculptured nude couture gown by Gaurav Gupta – with cape and train; Actor Ambika Mod in a monochromatic black and white gown from Loewe; Vouge India Cover Star and Bridgerton Actor, Simone Ashley, in a cut-out navy blue dress designed by Prabal Gurung; Hyderabad based based Indian billionaire, Sudha Reddy, in a custom Tarun Tahiliani ivory silk dress. Reliance heiress Isha Ambani in a bespoke hand-embroidered sari-gown by Rahul Mishra.

It was a feast of flesh, colour, fabric, and pure magic, dancing in the Garden of Time. Would be hard to sleep with all those images flying like butterflies in your dreams!

More striking stories coming in the weeks ahead. Dress yourself with World Inthavaaram.

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!

Everywhere

Israel Grinds On

The United States Gasps

France Swings

Britain’s Labour Labours Liberally

India’s Death Stampede

T20 World Cup Cricket Thrills

Everywhere

Israel

WikiLeaks

Kenya

Raiders of the Moon

Diamonds of India

Everywhere

War

Peace

G7 Finals

Same-Same is OK

Pandemic Lonely

Hooch Tragedy: Kallakurichi

The Hajj

Tony Awards

Everywhere

Israel’s Operation Arnon

European Union Elections

The Group of Seven

India: All Eyes on Reasi

India’s New Governments: Centre & State

Kuwait Fire Tragedy

French Open Tennis

Everywhere

Israel and Lebanon

China on the Moon

Elections in Mexico

Elections in South Africa

Elections in India: The Dance of Democracy

Everywhere

Israel Tunnels into Rafah

A Landslide

Donald Trump of the United States of America

India Elections-The End

The Heat in Delhi

India’s Rockets Rock

Indian Sport

The Cannes Film Festival

Everywhere

Arresting Israel

A Hardline President Dies Hard

United Kingdom Elections- at the Beginning

India Elections – nearing the End.

Driving in the Fast lane

Everywhere

Israel in Rafah

Ukraine

The Forgotten Conflict

Netherlands

Slovakia

India Elections

India’s Billboard Crash

Eurovision 2024

Everywhere

Crossing into Rafah

Russia’s Forever President

All-In-One India

Heat of the World

Brazil’s Floods

Eurovision

Met Gala 2024

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