Tag: G7

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, 2023-20

About-the world this week, 14 May 2023 to 20 May 2023: Turkey Presidential Elections; G7 Hiroshima; Karnataka Elections, India; Tennis in Italy; and the Cannes Red Carpet.

Everywhere

Elections, Turkey

In recent times, Turkey has been grappling with many serious issues: especially economic, in the aftermath of the recent earthquake that tore through the country, and neighbouring Syria. Now it’s Election time and the current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Justice and Development Party-who has been President for over two decades-has failed to secure the absolute majority needed to keep his job. He secured 49.5% of the vote, facing fierce competition from Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People’s Party, who secured 44.89%.

With voters making their voices heard at the polls, both candidates fell short of the 50% vote they needed to become President. The race is headed toward a runoff, meaning another election by the end of May 2023.

The Turks are at a kind of turning point, having to choose between two leaders offering dramatically different visions for their country’s future. Erdogan promises a strong, multilateral Turkey, creation of six million jobs, and harps on his long rule. Kilicdaroglu, backed by a broad opposition, wants to steer Turkey back towards a pro-Western, more democratic state. And wants to roll back Erdogan’s policies.

The presidential elections are being held alongside parliamentary elections, to elect a President for a term of five years.

G7 Hiroshima, Japan

The Group of 7 nations summit- the 49th- is being hosted by core member Japan in Hiroshima, Japan, between 19 May and 21 May 2023. Other participating members are United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. And The European Union. This is the first summit for both British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, since being elected to Office.

India is an invitee along with Australia, Brazil, Ukraine, and a few other countries. And the United Nations.

This year, the agenda in addition to the usual climate change, sustainable development, food, and health goals…the focus would be on upholding the international order based on the rule of law, in the light of Russia’s uncalled for aggression in Ukraine.

India’s Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is on a flying visit abroad: first to the G7 summit; then to Papua New Guinea, followed by a series of engagements in Australia’s Sydney, including a bilateral meeting with PM Anthony Albanese.

While India’s PM was flying, back home it was turbulence in the air, with the Reserve Bank of India announcing withdrawl of those lovely pink colour Rs 2000 notes from circulation. And the Finance Ministry blundering on levying 20% ‘Tax Collection at Source’ (TCS) on international Credit Card Transactions – which it quickly rolled-back. Staggering incompetence?

Elections, Karnataka, India

Karnataka was the only state in South India that was ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also rules at the Centre. In Elections held last week and votes counted at the end of the week, the BJP was routed by the Grand Old Party of India- the Congress Party. They won an absolute majority and proved the Exit Polls right.

The BJP was found licking its wounds, and it’s a tails-up for the next round of Elections – every failure is a lesson. Whatever the angles the analysts may spin, people throw out the Government that fails to deliver and meet their expectations. And bring back the previous one, which was also kicked out in similar fashion.

Meanwhile, the Congress went back to doing what it does best – High Command ruling. There is a tussle between two senior leaders on who should become Chief Minister and the Bengaluru-New Delhi flights are operating to capacity. If it was not a decisive mandate for one Party, the Resorts and Spas in the region would have been fully booked for parking and feeding the horses – else they might run and be traded in Government formation.

Simple, pure democracy demands that the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) meet and elect a leader among themselves for the top job. But then what is the High Command for?

Towards the end of the week, the logjam was resolved, and the Challenger was felled by the come-hither looks, and dimples of the ‘High Command’, meekly agreeing to be a deputy. Somebody said double-engine sarkar: a ’stable’ government to keep the horses in the stable.

Tennis, Italy

In one of the biggest upsets of this year’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) season, a qualifier, 23 year old Hungarian, Fabian Marozsan shocked World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz with a stunning 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory in the third round of the Italian Open, this week. Marozsan ranked No. 135, is the lowest‑ranked player to defeat Alcaraz since July 2021. Until he came through the qualifying draw in Rome and defeated the No. 67 Corentin Moutet, Marozsan had never won an ATP match. This is his first ever ATP main draw and also the first ever Masters 1000 Tournament.

On his first appearance on any major stadium court, Marozsan approached the in‑form Player on the tour fearlessly and calmly. From the very beginning, Marozsan served precisely and controlled the baseline. He forced Alcaraz back with consistent aggression and his sweet two-handed backhand while offering the Spaniard a taste of his own medicine: an endless stream of unbelievable, winning, drop shots.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal announced that ‘his body has made a decision’ to withdraw from the upcoming French Open 2023. And he will not be playing for the following months. He is targeting Wimbledon 2024 for a ‘swan song’ end to his career and saving-up for one last season. The 2023 Roland Garros will be the first without Roger or Rafa since 1998 – that’s heart-wrenching for Tennis fans.

Please Yourself

The Cannes Film Festival offers unparalleled fashion moments year after year and this year 2023 it ‘catwalks the screens’ between 16 May and 27 May, on the French Riviera.

This year’s 76th event will feature screenings of the latest films from acclaimed directors such as Wes Anderson, Todd Haynes, and Martin Scorsese. And red carpet appearances from those films’ stylish stars, including Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, and Tilda Swinton.

Johnny Depp walked the famous red carpet, with the premiere of his Louis XV period drama, ‘Jeanne du Barry’, opening the event. Jeanne du Barry has been billed as Depp’s comeback film, following his explosive trial last year with ex-wife Amber Heard.

She’s got glamour in her genes. Carys, the daughter of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones –my favourite actress-proved she’s a natural in front of the camera during a rare red carpet appearance. Unlike her mother, who matched the carpet in a flowing, red gown with a long draped shoulder, Carys wore a delicate white lace dress featuring a deep V-neck and back cutouts.

Actress Uma Thurman presented Michael Douglas with the event’s highest honour, the Palme d’Or lifetime achievement award. Taking the stage, Douglas was given a prolonged round of applause. Meanwhile, ‘Indiana Jones’ Harrison Ford was also awarded Palme d’Or, which he emotionally accepted- being his last in the role.

India’s all-time beauty, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is still finding it hard to slay the red carpet. Aishwarya walked the red carpet at the screening of ‘Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny’, dressed in an outfit completely out of her comfort zone – a black gown with a giant silver hood that extended into a train. Aishwarya finished her look with her signature crimson lips. I just could not find Aishwarya – no matter how hard I searched in the great mass of aluminium foil. Why do they keep doing this to her; to her beauty?

More stories coming up in the weeks ahead. Dress cleverly, don’t foil your beauty with the wrong aluminium. Stay with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2021-24

About: the world this week, 6th June to 12th June 2021, how a Group of wealthy Nations met, a butcher of people punished, classic Tennis played, the pandemic cornered, and Animals on the Planet drawing our attention, in mysterious ways.

Everywhere

The Group of Seven (G7)

The G7 is an informal group of seven of the world’s wealthiest democracies, which meet annually to discuss the economy, peace, security, climate change, and of course, this year in particular, the coronavirus pandemic.

The Group consists of the United States of America (USA), Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, France, Italy, and Japan. The Annual Summit is normally held in the country which holds the rotating Presidency and this year it was the turn of the UK to play host. Leaders of four other prominent democracies have also been invited to attend: Australia, India, South Korea, and South Africa.

In a prelude to the main G7 Summit, a meeting of G7 Finance Ministers was held on 5th June, at Lancaster House, London to discuss economic policies, and perhaps reach an agreement on something. They did. The attending Finance Ministers decided on a Global Corporation Tax rate of 15%, which can ultimately be applied by all nations. This creates a new right for countries to tax the profits, of large multinational companies, based on where they make their sales.

The landmark deal, signed last Saturday, is intended to prevent digital companies such as the Google, Amazon, and the Facebook kind, from finding and exploiting tax-avoidance or minimisation loopholes in the national tax system of countries. And also to tackle the huge inequalities between such digital firms, and the rest of the business community, a divide which has grown wider during the ongoing pandemic.

International tax deals are rare, and usually thwarted by countries that either charge low levels of tax, such as Ireland, Hungary, and Cyprus, or that have close ties to tax-havens, such as the UK and the Netherlands.

There are significant details yet to be worked out, and the deal is not sufficient to see the new rules applied globally. For that to happen, it would require support from the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies, which includes China and India, as well as the backing of the 135 countries that have been negotiating the new rules as part of what is known as the Inclusive Framework.

Finance Heads of the G20 countries are due to meet in Venice, Italy, on 9th and 10th July 2021 to make hay on the new G7 tax sunshine.

Taxing large companies is awfully taxing, but that’s where the wealth of nations lie!

Meanwhile, the main G7 Summit is being held this week, between the 11th & 13th June at the Carbis Bay Hotel, Cornwall, United Kingdom, in which leaders of G7 nations are meeting each other, to hold face-to-face discussions. And see, meet, and get to know the better halves-if around, on the sidelines.

The ever-brightly dressed Queen, all of 95 years, sharing her childhood name, Lilibet, with her freshly minted great-grand daughter, posed for a photo with the G7 Kings, and cheekily posed the question, ‘Are you supposed to be looking as if you are enjoying yourself?’ Watch this space.

The Butcher of Bosnia

Bosnia and Herzegovina, often known simply as Bosnia, is a country located within the Balkans in South-East Europe with capital as Sarajevo, its largest city. It is bordered by the countries of Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, with a narrow coast to the Adriatic Sea.

Recall that the countries of Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Slovenia was once a federation of republics called Yugoslavia, which eventually disintegrated into separate countries, much like the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) did.

In the year 1992 Bosnian Muslims, called Bosniaks, and Croats voted for independence in a referendum boycotted by the Serbs. The region then descended into an ugly war with the Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats on one side and the Bosnian Serbs on the other, fighting for control over ethnic territory, in what was called the Bosnian War, which lasted four years. Several other former Yugoslav Republics also declared Independence about this time.

Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb Military leader-nicknamed ‘the Butcher of Bosnia’-who was fanatical about ethnically cleansing Bosnaiks from Bosnia, led the Bosnian Serb Army in the war, which left about 100,000 people dead and displaced another 2.2 million. He orchestrated a campaign to slaughter and annihilate more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the mountain Town of Srebrenica, in July 1995, in the worst massacre to have taken place in Europe since the Second World War.

When the Bosnian War came to an end in 1995, Mladic facing an indictment of war crimes, went on the run and for 16 long years evaded capture until his arrest, finally, in May 2011. He was then extradited for trial in the Netherlands.

For years he was offered protection by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, and the Serbian and Bosnian Serb military and police. Milosevic was himself a master-mind behind ethnic cleansing of non-serbs and when he lost power in October 2000 was sent packing to The Hague War Crimes Tribunal.

Mladic was captured in the village of Lazarevo, near the town of Zrenjanin in northern Serbia, after an anonymous tip-off to police was made by someone who had seen a man who looked like Mladic and was carrying documents bearing that name.

He was put on trial in 2012 at The Hague, Netherlands, for crimes committed during the Bosnian War, with a total of eleven charges including genocide.

In 2017 he was found guilty and convicted to life in prison on one count of genocide and nine crimes against humanity and war crimes by an international criminal tribunal. He was found ‘not guilty’ of one only charge of genocide.

Ratko Mladic had appealed against the ruling and this week he lost. The International United Nations Court dismissed the appeal and upheld his Life Sentence.

Mladic’s behaviour was absolutely reprehensible during the trial. In the 2017 conviction he shouted the choicest and ‘most colourful’ obscenities, gesticulating at the relatives of the victims. This time he scowled and showed little emotion. He was the only person in court not wearing a mask.

He joins his one-time master and boss, former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic who is also convicted and serving a life sentence for being a key architect in ethnic cleansing and civil war that followed the break-up of Yugoslavia.

Ratko Mladic’s name is consigned to ‘the dustbin list’ of history’s most depraved, ruthless and barbaric figures.

French Open 2021

Switzerland’s Tennis ace and Legend, Roger Federer, had a gruelling, clay-grinding time at the French Open given that he is coming-back to the game from two back-to-back knee surgeries in 2020. He played over three hours to defeat Germany’s Dominik Koepfer in a five-set match including three tie-breaks sets, to set up his next encounter with Italy’s Matteo Berrettini for a place in the quarterfinals. Back and Knee breaking for sure.

Federer then proceeded to ‘talk to his knees’ and came out with an unanimous decision to quit the French Open and save his knees for Wimbledon, where he is targeting a 9th Title, later this month, on his favourite grass court surface.

Wimbledon’s Pride, French Open’s Envy? See you in Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, in yesterday’s Men’s semi-final, Tennis fans were enthralled seeing almost perfect clay-court, classic Tennis being played when Serbian Novok Djokovic beat – the until then, undefeatable, 13-time hero of the Roland Garros-Spaniard Rafal Nadal, to reach the Finals in an absolutely gripping four-set match. The third set will go down in History as one for the best ever and should be framed. Djokovic meets Greek Stefanous Tsitsipas in the final, to be played on Sunday, for a possible 19th Tennis Grand Slam Title.

In the Woman’s Final, an unlikely match as been set with unseeded Czech, Barbora Krejcikova reaching the final to challenge Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for the title. Well, that’s open!

India Looks Up

India is steadily looking up from the second wave of COVID19 with diving daily infections, but there is an alarming increase in deaths as previously unaccounted data is being added. However more lives are being saved and many States have started a process of awfully slow unlocking.

With the Vaccines of Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik V already rolled out, India placed an advance order worth Rs 1,500 crore for 300 million doses of Hyderabad, India, based Biological E’s CORBEVAX Vaccine.

Corbevax is a protein subunit vaccine, which comprises only spike proteins that are injected into the body to trigger an immune response. Such vaccines are considered to be one of the safest and time-tested, juxtaposed to mRNA based Vaccines, which is relatively new technology. Further, it does not involve injecting a whole de-activated virus. The Vaccine is currently undergoing Phase-3 trials and is expected to be ready for regulatory authorization and launch in August 2021.

India’s homemade Vaccine, Covaxin, is struggling to get approved abroad as its Phase-3 clinical trials are yet to be published-made public. Recall that India had approved Covaxin for Emergency Use, in January 2021 without waiting for the phase-3 clinical trials. Subsequently interim results were published in April, which showed satisfactory efficacy, justifying their use. More than 29 million doses of Covaxin have already been administered. The manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad, has said the results will be released in a couple of weeks. I’m sure it will pass with distinction.

In the background of a seemingly mangled Vaccination Policy, which the States compounded by acting like Rambo’s, trying to buy Vaccines on their own, India’s Prime Minister rightfully went on national Television to give a new direction to the Vaccination Drive. Enough is enough. He announced that the Centre will, in addition to the 50% it is already buying from the Vaccines manufacturers will also buy out the 25% State quota – a total of 75% production of Vaccines- and give it free of cost to the States, to distribute. The remaining 25% will go to Private Hospitals who can charge a fixed service fee of Rs 150 over the declared cost of the Vaccine. The new plan unfolds from the 21st June.

Lets have our eyes on the needle.

It’s Raining Babies in Africa

In World Inthavaram 2021-19, I talked about a Population Explosion, when a 25 years old woman, Halima Cisse, from Mali, gave birth to nine babies in a single delivery. This challenged the ruling eight-babies world record of Nadya Slueman, California, USA, in the Guinness World Records.

The record did not change heads or stomachs, not yet, as there is a weighty competition from a 37 years old woman in Pretoria, South Africa, Gosiame Thamara Sithole, who this week gave birth to 10 babies-five through natural birth and five through Caesarean section, seven boys and three girls, in a single delivery. In her previous adventure Gosiame Sithole had given birth to twins, who are now six years old.

Wonder where we are heading? Better start getting that flight to the Moon or Mars ready?

Meanwhile, in Nigeria the Town of Igbo-Ora has an unusually high birth rate of twins, where you might think you are seeing double. The Town has one of the highest birth rates of twins in the world.

China, which is struggling with birth rates and recently upgraded itself to a three-child policy, needs to send a team out to Africa in general, and Nigeria in particular, to penetrate the secret that makes the twins-show tick. Beg, borrow, or steal twins-making technology? China Can!

Animal Planet

24,000 Years Under the Ice

Heard of something called Bdelloid Rotifer? I haven’t until today.

They are unique microscopic, multicellular freshwater invertebrates with complex anatomies that are one of Earth’s most radiant-resistant animals. They can withstand extreme acidity, starvation, low oxygen, years of dehydration, and just about any form of torture.

They are solely female, reproduce entirely asexually and have avoided sex for nearly 80 million years. That’s loneliness to the limits. They have a complete digestive tract that includes a mouth and an anus and have the ability to halt all activities and almost entirely arresting their metabolism. At any point in their life cycle they can be completely dried-out and ‘vanish’ in to a sublime dormant state. And can spring back to life – alive and kicking- after tens of thousands of years in deep freeze.

The closest relatives of the Bdelloid Rotifer are the Tardigrades or ‘water bears’, which are impossibly cute animals and perhaps the hardest animals alive and known to survive incredibly inhospitable conditions. That’s toughness written all over them.

This week, Scientists in Siberia discovered Bdelloid Rotifer that have survived 24,000 years frozen in Siberian Permafrost at a time when Woolly Mammoths still roamed the planet. Scientists collected samples by drilling about 11 feet below the surface of permafrost in northeastern Siberia. They found living Bdelloid Rotifers locked in the ancient permafrost, whose average temperature hovers around 14 degrees Fahrenheit. They then successfully ‘revived’ the animal, after all these years of ‘sleep-walking’.

Sleeping Beauty and Snow White could have been ‘distant relatives’? But the Bdelloid Rotifer dwarfs them by thousands of years.

Dinosaurs Down Under

Scientists have confirmed a new dinosaur species in Australia as one of the largest in the Continent, fourteen years after it was first discovered in 2007 when cattle farmers uncovered bones of the animal on a farm in South-West Queensland. Farming can be productive to the bone.

The Australotitan Cooperensis or the ‘Southern Titan’, nicknamed ‘Cooper’ is one among the 15 largest dinosaurs found worldwide, joining an elite group of Titanosaurs previously only discovered in South America. It reaches a height of nearly 6.5 metres at the hip and 25-30 metres in tip-of-nose to tip-of-tail length, making it as long as a basketball court and as tall as a two-storey building.

Cooper, the plant-eating long-necked sauropod lived in the Cretaceous Period between 92 million and 96 million years ago when Australia was attached to, and a part of Antarctica.

The time taken to confirm the find, since the first find, is itself ‘dinosaurian’! Meanwhile Australia continues to amaze us with mind-boggling animals grabbing our attention week after week.

Elephants Get Lost in China

While China is within striking distance of ‘herd immunity’ against the coronavirus, a different kind of herd-15 wild Asian Elephants, including three calves, decided to do the Elephant Dance and steadily marched from China’s South-West province of Yunnan, escaping from the Nature Reserve of Xishuangbanna-near the border with Laos and Myanmar-to the North, Jinning District, on the outskirts of Kunming.

That’s a distance of over 500km: the journey of which began about 15 months ago, early last year. Drone photos showed ‘the gang’ taking a well-deserved, cute rest, sleeping on their sides with calves snuggling to find the cosiest position to curl their young trunks.

The Elephant trek has captivated millions of people who are herding themselves remotely with the Elephants, enjoying the journey, watching their every move – thanks to a ‘herd of drones’ buzzing above them.

Along the way the Elephants have had a whale of a time on land, breaking into Villagers’ homes, eating their food, drinking their water and destroying their crops. They have showed a growing interest in alcohol laden wooden barrels, and last month one of the baby elephants passed-out on trunking one such barrel, and was able to join the herd only the next day. Another broke into a car dealership and obviously couldn’t find itself a seat to drive. On the last count 400 separate incidents of break-in’s and damages were reported on the route costing over a million bucks.

Local Authorities have tried to steer the Elephants in directions away from Villages, Small Towns, and Cities by laying cobs of corn, bananas, and pineapples. They pounced on the corn, but largely ignored the pineapples, and kept the direction.

No-one seems to have any idea why the Elephants left their home. Did they sense an Earthquake or smell a Volcano, or another kind of disease Outbreak? Or did they simply run out of their favourite foods? Maybe the Leader of the Elephant Herd is lacking in experience and led the whole group astray. A loss of head?

Herd yourself for updates and stories in the coming weeks.