Tag: Queen

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2022-37

About –the stories of the world this week, 11 September to 17 September 2022: mourning a Queen’s passing; maybe the end of a special operation, of a pandemic; end of a deluge, of a tennis career; getting ready for the Moon; Tube Awards; and the return of a whip wielding adventurer.

Everywhere

The United Kingdom spent the week mourning the passing of it longest serving monarch The Queen and watched brothers William and Harry – armed with their respective wives – get back together, with others of the Royal Family. They shared the sorrow with the subjects of the Kingdom in a poignant re-union walk. The Queen’s coffin lies in state in Westminster Hall, having been flown over from Scotland, Edinburgh, following the drive from Balmoral Castle, and after spending a night at Buckingham Palace. The Funeral is on Monday of the upcoming week. And I’m sure the late Prince Philip cannot wait any longer for HM The Queen, in Heaven. He’s been up there since April 2021, and on Earth he was the longest serving royal consort in history. I’m sure he is looking forward to continue the relationship.

In war-torn Ukraine, the rot in the Russian Army is being exposed by a patient, methodical Ukraine Army and victories are accelerating by the week. Remember that 64 km convoy that stalled on the way to the capital of Kyiv at the beginning of the war, and was surgically shredded by Ukrainian defenders? That was the spark and the sign of things to come. Sad, Russia was partially blind and did not read that well enough – beyond the ‘Z’.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stuck its head out and finally said that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is ‘in sight’. This comes as deaths fell to lowest level since March 2020, but – as if the Virus would hear and consider coming back – adds, it’s ‘not the time to relax’. Surely not, when was the last time we fully relaxed? In the South Indian cities of Chennai and Coimbatore it is compulsory to wear masks, again.

I reckon, we are better placed than before 2020 with an arsenal of weapons – distances, shields, masks, gloves, soaps, sanitisers, vaccines, and the kind – to kick the sneaky guy out of our lives. Meanwhile, monkey-pox and other unheard of small-time fellas with weird names are prowling around waiting for that big break?

It’s been more than two months since the Deluge in Pakistan where floods submerged thousands of villages, leaving countless families displaced, many of who ended up living near stagnant water.

Following the rapid rise of water and its slow fall, there is another rise -Dengue Fever – with cases increasing by the day and claiming lives. About 3,830 cases of dengue fever have been reported in southern Sindh province, with at least nine deaths, but this may be a conservative estimate. In the laboratories, the suspected cases are around 80% of tests done.

Meanwhile, this week, a 41 year old, Rolex-watch wearing, Tennis Legend, who played 1500 matches over 24 years in 40 countries, growing up from being a Ball-Kid, from Basel, Switzerland – Roger Federer – announced his retirement from competitive tennis. He had won 20 Grand Slam Titles during his memorable career.

Roger’s body had fought injury and surgery over the past years and the message it served to him was crystal clear. And Roger listened. The ATP’s Laver Cup in London, next week, will be his last.

He thanked his amazing wife Mirka for standing by him all these years and cheering him from the stands. Also his sister and loving parents. Remember, on the sidelines Mirka aced the production department with a pair of twins – two girls and two boys. Roger went on to thank everybody else including the fans, his coaches, and Tennis itself. And attributed all to his tennis talent, which he understood and used to evolve and grow into Roger Federer-The Legend.

Roger has had an outstandingly successful tennis career and perhaps one of the few who built a sound financial empire as well – from his Tennis career. By this he has inspired generations of players and has made an immeasurable impact on the wider world of sport.

I would always remember him for superb style and technique, his breathtaking science defying shots, and his humanness, and of course that calm smile. He was once a hot-headed racquet-throwing kid, but made the transition to a cooler, in-control, graceful Champion.

While Roger Federer vacates tennis space, NASA’s Moon Launch Artemis project, which aims to get Man and Woman back to the Moon was stalled by a technical issue, while on the launch pads, is looking good, to play. The leaky issue has since been resolved (Greek God Artemis stepped-in to apply a healing balm?) and NASA is gearing up for a return ticket launch, by the end of September 2022.

Please Yourself

Emmys 2022

The Primetime Emmy Awards – or simply called, Emmys – is one of the four major American awards for performing arts and entertainment in Television, along with the Grammy for music, the Oscar for film, and the Tony for stage theatre. The Emmy statuette, depicting a winged woman holding an atom, is named after ‘immy’, an informal term for the image orthicon tube that was common in early television cameras.

The 74th Emmys Award Ceremony was held this Monday at the Microsoft Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California. It honoured the best in American prime time television programming from 1 June 2021, until 31 May 2022, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. This year’s ceremony was hosted by American actor and comedian Kenan Thompson.

I’m running through the key winners.

The White Lotus – that’s also the symbol of India’s ruling Party– the limited drama comedy picked up 5 major awards and overall 10; The Drama series Succession succeeded in getting the most nominations – 12 major and in all 25 with 3 overall wins.

The best Comedy Series was won by Ted Lasso; the Best Drama Series by Succession and the Best Limited or Anthology Series by The White Lotus.

The Best Actress in a Drama Series went to Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman for Euphoria which is the second time she is winning the Award for playing a teenage drug addict, following her win in 2020. Zendaya is an American actress and singer. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in its annual list in 2022.

The Best Actor, Drama Series went to Lee Jung-jae for the Squid Game becoming the first Asian star to win the Emmy award for best male actor in a drama. He won for playing the main role of the increasingly desperate game player aiming to take home the prize money.

HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ is a sharp social satire following the exploits of various employees and guests at an exclusive Hawaiian resort over the span of one highly transformative week. As darker dynamics emerge with each passing day the six-episode series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travellers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself.​ It is created, written, and directed by Mike White.

HBO’s ‘Succession’ is an satirical black comedy-drama television series created by Jesse Armstrong. The series centres on the Roy family, the dysfunctional owners of Waystar RoyCo, a global media and entertainment conglomerate, who are fighting for control of the company amid uncertainty about the health of the family’s patriarch, Logan Roy.

Apple TV’s ‘Ted Lasso’ is a sports comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly. The series follows Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team in an attempt by its owner to spite her ex-husband. Lasso tries to win over the skeptical English market with his folksy, optimistic demeanour while dealing with his inexperience in the sport.

HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ is an American teen drama television series created and principally written by Sam Levinson based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin. The series’ main character is Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a recovering teenage drug addict who struggles to find her place in the world.

Netflix’s Squid Game is a South Korean survival drama television series created by Hwang Dong-hyuk .The series revolves around a contest where 456 players, all of whom are in deep financial hardship, risk their lives to play a series of deadly children’s games for the chance to win a US$35 million prize. The title of the series draws from a similarly named Korean children’s game.

I’ve set up the main course for your TV watching, but there are many other side dishes, which you need to find, and taste.

Indy is Curling Back

Indiana Jones, the world’s most famous archeologist- of the movies- is back for his next adventure. Harrison Ford makes a return to the Indiana Jones franchise. The film, which has Ford act the role of Dr. Henry Walton Indiana Jones, Jr., a fictional professor of archaeology, more than 40 years after he first donned the hat and the whip in 1981’s ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ rolls into theatres on 30 June 2023. Mark that date.

Indian Jones began his adventures in 1981 with the film Raiders of the Lost Ark. In 1984, a prequel, The Temple of Doom, was released, and in 1989, a sequel, The Last Crusade. A fourth film followed in 2008, titled The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The series was created by George Lucas and stared Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in all the films. The first four films were directed by Steven Spielberg, who worked closely with Lucas during their production.

There’s been a lot of news regarding the next Indiana Jones films since it’s been in ‘the works’ for years. But late last week was the first time fans got an idea of what the next film could be about and what the intrepid archeologist may be after. However, any details about what adventure Indy will be on this time is being kept so hidden even he might not be able to find it.

The latest film will be the fifth for the series, and likely Ford’s last in the role. After the audience reacted to the mention of this being his last film in the role, he joked, “This is it. I will not fall down for you again.”

It also stars Phoebe Waller-Bridges and Mads Mikkelsen and is directed by James Mangold. John Williams, who composed the iconic ‘Raiders March’ is also returning to score the film.

“Indiana Jones movies are about mystery and adventure but they’re also about heart,” said Ford. “I had the time of my life making this movie…keeping up with this guy is exhausting,” said Waller-Bridges.

Avoiding poison darts, outrunning rolling boulders and all the time trying to keep that hat on and slashing that bull whip, is tough for an 80 years old actor, after all.

More whipping, real adventure stories will be uncovered in the weeks ahead. Face the world and play with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2022-36

About –the stories of the world this week, 4 September to 10 September 2022: a Prime Minster, a Queen, a Turning Point, a City, new Vistas, and ta-ta to a Business Magnate.

Everywhere

Liz Truss

This week saw Britain inaugurate a new Prime Minister (PM), its 56th, Mary Elizabeth Truss (Liz Truss), 47, who became its third-ever female PM. She officially replaces Boris Johnson.

How did we get here?

In July 2022 Boris Johnson resigned as PM on losing the confidence of his Conservative Party. This generated a summer-long internal contest for the leadership of the Conservative Party with the two finalists being Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, 42. In the final voting, the results of which were announced this Monday, Truss won 81,326 votes to Rishi’s 60,399.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson carefully packed his bags, and with wife Carrie and sister Rachel looking on, among others, delivered his farewell speech outside Downing Street. This brought to end a tumultuous premiership of less than three years. Soon afterwards both Johnson and Truss travelled separately to meet the Queen who was resting at Balmoral Castle, a 50,000 acre Royal country estate, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Johnson arrived first and tendered his resignation to the Queen. Then Truss arrived to meet the Queen, and after exchange of greetings was officially appointed PM. Truss then returned to London to make her first speech as PM saying said she was honoured to take on the role “at a vital time for our country”.

What is the stuff Liz Truss is made of?

Liz Truss is a Member of Parliament from South West Norfolk constituency. She was educated at Roundhay School in Leeds and Oxford University. She is married to accountant Hugh O’Leary. The couple have two teenage daughters.

In her student days, Truss was involved in many campaigns and causes at Oxford but devoted much of her time to politics, becoming president of the university’s Liberal Democrats. At the party’s 1994 Conference in Brighton, she spoke in favour of abolishing the monarchy, telling delegates, “We Liberal Democrats believe in opportunity for all. We do not believe people are born to rule.” She also campaigned for the decriminalisation of cannabis.

Her conversion to Conservatism, towards the end of her time at Oxford shocked her left-leaning parents, but it appears to be a natural progression of sorts. But her promise to return to fundamental Conservative values -cutting taxes and shrinking the state-proved to be exactly what party members, who got the final say over who takes over from Johnson, wanted to hear. And, crucially, as Foreign Secretary she remained loyal to Johnson until the bitter end as other ministers deserted him, winning her favour with Johnson loyalists.

Grassroots Tory supporters of Truss see in her the steadfast, tenacious and determined qualities they admired in former PM Margaret Thatcher-an image Truss herself has tried to cultivate.

She was promoted by David Cameron to Environment Secretary and worked as Justice Secretary under Theresa May. She was eventually made Foreign Secretary by Boris Johnson in 2021. That’s the climb up the ladder.

With Liz Truss firmly, liberally and democratically installed, it’s a rare coincidence that Queen’s Rule came to an end later in the week.

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II, the oldest monarch in British history died at the age of 96. She passed away peacefully, this week, at Balmoral Castle where she had been spending the summer. With her death the longest monarchial reign in British history, stretching for over 70 years, comes to an end.

Recall, her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill during his second stint in the 1950’s, and just the other day she appointed the newest PM, Liz Truss in 2022. And she has seen 15 PM’s march in and out, under her watch, all these years.

The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change during her years on the Throne. As a 21 years old princess, Elizabeth had vowed to devote her life to service, and she did exactly that. She did the job for so long with enormous dedication that unquestionably deserved national respect in the United Kingdom. Reflecting on those words decades later, during her Silver Jubilee in 1977, she declared: “Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgment, I do not regret nor retract one word of it”.

The Queen engaged herself with the public through walkabouts, royal visits and attendance at public events. Her commitment to the Commonwealth was constant, visiting every Commonwealth country at least once. She was indeed a remarkable person. Elizabeth II The Great?

The Crown now passes to Prince Charles, who remained King-in-waiting for over 70 years. He finally becomes King at the age of 73. He automatically accedes to the throne as King Charles III of Britain and 14 other Commonwealth realms.

Prince Charles is also the oldest person ever to assume the British throne. The record was previously held by William-IV at age 64. As Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay from 1952 to his accession, Charles was the oldest and the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, and the longest-serving Prince of Wales, having held the title from 26 July 1958 until his accession.

The next in line to the throne is Prince William. And the waiting list is packed with possible future Kings.

Perhaps this is the end of a Queen’s Rule: will it always be a King, from hereon? The King’s Stand in the making? There is the Coronation to look forward to. And the King’s better-half will be called Queen Consort.

The United Kingdom has a New Prime Minister and a New King – both beginning their reign at about the same time.

Turning Point

In the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, this week, Ukraine’s Army launched a surprise offensive in the country’s north-eastern Kharkiv province. And has met with spectacular success. President Volodymyr Zelensky said his armies liberated 1,000 square kilometres of territory from Russia. Could this be a turning point?

Bengaluru

While nearby Pakistan was diving underwater, India seemed well above until incessant rains in the Southern City of Bengaluru called the Silicon Valley of India, became a mountain of water. This is was mainly in the new ‘under-development areas’ where construction was happening at a rapid pace. And the older parts of the City such as the Electronics City stood their ground and stayed dry.

While the bulldozer became hugely popular in the North of India its first-cousin, the Tractor-Tailer, became a local hero and helped drive people to work and even evacuate stranded passengers at the Bengaluru International Airport. Who said we need boats? Tractors can swim.

Central Vista

In India’s Capital New Delhi, the Government set itself the objective of improving the productivity and efficiency of administration by creating highly functional and purpose-designed office infrastructure, which it called the Central Vista Redevelopment Master Plan. In the process it also sought to erase signposts of the British colonial past and showcase a vibrant, emerging India.

The Central Vista Redevelopment Project started construction works on 4 February 2021 and is planned to be completed in 2026, in phases.

This week India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly christened ‘Kartavya Path’ (Path of duty) earlier known as Rajpath and formerly called Kingsway, which is the ceremonial boulevard that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill, through Vijay Chowk and India Gate, National War Memorial to National Stadium, New Delhi. It is one of the most important roads in India, and where the annual Republic Day parade takes. He also unveiled a 28feet statue of legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate.

The beauty of the Central Vista is a sight to behold and once completed it would radiate the hallowed spirit of India.

Ta-ta

In a shocking accident, early this week, the ex-Chairman of India’s prestigious home-grown Tata Group, a major share-holder of the Group and a Business Tycoon in his own right, Cyrus Mistry, 53, died in a road accident. His Mercedes Benz car hit a road divider and crashed following which he along with another passenger, Jehangir Pandole, sitting in the rear seats were killed. Both were not wearing seat belts, as is ‘common in India’ for rear-seat passengers, despite Seat-Belt Rules being absolutely clear that it applies to the front and rear seats.

The front seat passengers – a woman doctor Anahita Pandole, 55, who was at the wheel, and her husband Darius Pandole, 60-survived with multiple injuries and have been hospitalised in Mumbai. They were wearing seat belts, and the safety air-bags did their job.

The four were travelling in a Mercedes GLC 220d 4MATIC car to Mumbai from Ahmadabad when the accident occurred at the Surya River bridge in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, where there were two bridges (at different levels) alongside each other, and both were for traffic going in the same direction. And further up three lanes merge into two lanes. It appears that Anahita Pundole suddenly swerved into the left side parapet of the bridge, and perhaps a truck must have been blocking the right side lane, and she tried to overtake from the left, as is the standard norm and practice on this highway. There were no signs of braking and tyre marks show that the Mercedes turned left to overtake, and unexpectedly encountered the bridge’s wall.

A study conducted on possible reasons concluded that there was an infrastructure issue that was the primary cause: the bridge parapet wall was found to be protruding into the shoulder lane.

There we are: Not wearing seat belts, no lane discipline-Road Rules crushed and buried-poor design of Infrastructure, and I would add lousy signage. Important lessons out there in driving and staying alive on Indian roads.

More thrilling stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Fasten your seat-belts and ride the world with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2022-24

About: the world this week, 12 June to 18 June 2022, the put-in war, a Queen holds on to the throne, Monkeys poke respect, Whisky Wars, Army recruitment, trains go private, drinking tea in the neighbourhood, a day off on an island, and murder in the kitchen.

Everywhere

The Fighting Rages

Russia is now in command of most of the city of Severodonetsk following a month of intense fighting. Taking Severodonetsk and the nearby city of Lysychansk would give Russia control of the entire Luhansk region of Ukraine, which seems to be the only achievable goal for Russia at the moment. Of course, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin still makes the usual noises of being forced to start the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine. And that it was aimed at protecting ‘his people’ – the people of Ukraine’s Donbas – and then repeating his unfounded accusation that ‘his people’ were being subject to genocide. Iron-cold rationalisation at its steely best?

Meanwhile, this week, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and Romania visited Ukraine’s capital Kyiv in a show of solidarity with President Zelensky. They also visited the devastated town of Irpin, near Kyiv, which for several weeks was occupied by Russia, to see first hand the brutal effects of the war. The visit culminated with the leaders supporting Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union (EU)- a big vote of confidence for Ukraine.

A few weeks ago, France’s President stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest, when he said it was vital that Russia is not humiliated over its invasion, suggesting that Russia should have a way out of what he called a ‘fundamental error’ (by Russia).

Later in the week, the European Commission backed Ukraine’s bid to be given candidacy status to join the EU. Candidacy is a significant step as the entire process may take years to fruity into membership.

Then at the end of the week, Britain’s Prime Minister must have felt left-out, as he made a surprise dash to Ukraine – his second visit – to show support and see the handsome, bulging muscles of Ukraine’s President.

The Queen’s Gambit

This week Britain’s 96 years old Queen Elizabeth II sprinted ahead of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej to become the world’s second-longest reigning monarch in history. Up ahead on the curve is France’s King Louis XIV who holds the record for the longest reigning monarch with a 72 year and 110 day reign from 1643 until 1715. He had a head start, becoming King at age 4. Thailand’s King reigned for 70 years and 126 days from 1927 to 2016.

Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne occurred on 6 February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. The coronation took place on 2 June 1953 – after the official mourning period – in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

The Queen became the longest serving British monarch in September 2015, surpassing her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria. Now, the Queen has been sitting tight on the throne for over 70 years and 127 days.

I wish England’s Queen makes it past France’s King. Wonder what gambit the Queen has in her royal mind?

Respecting Monkeys

Monkeys can finally breathe easy: they could have been planning to go on a stone-throwing protest strike across continents against defaming their name. Never mind the Indian bulldozer, they legally live in the forests paying their oxygen and carbon-dioxide taxes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) heard, says it is working with experts to come up with a new name for monkeypox. This comes after many scientists wrote last week about the ‘urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising’ name for the virus and the money pox disease it causes. Continued reference to the virus as African is both inaccurate and discriminatory, they said. Some 1,600 cases of the disease have been recorded globally in recent weeks.

One new name that’s been suggested by scientists is hMPXV, but we’ll need to wait to hear what the WHO thinks of that.

What next? The chickens may protest against chickenpox…and the mighty spade itself, against being called a dead-pan spade?

Whisky Wars

Hans Island is a desolate, kidney shaped piece of rock in the Arctic, measuring 1290 metres(m) by 1199 m. It is located in the about 35 km wide Nares Strait between the northernmost point of Canada and Greenland, part of Denmark’s kingdom. The uninhabited Island has no mineral resources nor much else of interest unless you are visiting a lucky seabird siting on the rock.

Both Canada and Greenland sit 18 km away from Hans Island, allowing them to claim the rock under international law.

But in the year 1984 Canada made a bold stake for ownership when it landed troops on the rock. It swiftly planted its maple leaf flag and buried a bottle of Canadian whisky, before returning home to a country now larger to the tune of over one square kilometre.

In the same year, Denmark’s minister of Greenland affairs couldn’t let such a provocation stand. Weeks later he set off for Hans Island, where he replaced the offending Canadian flag with a Danish flag and a bottle of Copenhagen’s finest schnapps. But he went one step further than the Canadians had, proudly leaving a note that read: ‘Welcome to Danish Island’.

And so the ‘Whisky Wars’ commenced.

Over the following 49 years, dozens of Canadians and Danes took part in the ritual and successive expeditions from Ottawa and Copenhagen have braved icy conditions to plant bottles of alcohol on the tiny 1.2 square kilometre (sq.km) rock.

Finally, in 2018, the countries decided to establish a joint working group to resolve the dispute, ending their decades-long ‘agree to disagree’ policy. And decided to settle the dispute at a later date.

This week, Denmark and Canada finally struck a deal to settle almost 50 years of good-natured squabbling over the ownership of the island: officials have agreed to divide the outpost roughly in half.

The deal will be signed once both countries grant parliamentary approval and will see the island split along a naturally occurring cleft on the rocky outcrop, according to a deal published by the Danish foreign ministry.

Once signed off, Canada and Denmark would have established the world’s longest maritime border at 3,882 km.

I hope it becomes a rock solid agreement: cheers to that!

Agnipath: The Tour of Duty

This week India announced a revolutionary, transformational, and far-reaching ‘Agnipath Scheme’ of recruiting ‘boys and girls’ between the ages of 17.5 and 23 years for a four-year stint in the Armed Forces. They will be given military training, based on the Force’s requirements.

About 46,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen will be enrolled between September and October this year on an all-India, all-class basis. After four years, 25% of the ‘Agniveers’- as they will be called – will be absorbed in the regular cadre and the rest released to pursue a non-military civilian life. During the four years in the Armed Forces, Agniveers will be paid a respectable stipend and associated perks. And those leaving will be provided with skill certificates and an accrued Corpus Fund to pursue other careers. India’s youth are given a chance for both long and short duration military service and to serve the nation at the highest level. The regular military recruitment scheme will drill on undisturbed.

The objective is to lower the age of the Armed Forces- with induction of youth, lower the pension budget, and provide a means of selecting and retaining the very best in the Defence Forces.

My thoughts: The Armed Forces training will bring in much-needed discipline, which is seriously lacking in India- and make men and women out of our boys and girls. It is the nearest to compulsory military service and being a four-year stint it would provide youngsters an opportunity to decide what they want to do with their lives besides an honour to serve the nation. And, once released into society they will be a silent force of protection for themselves and the communities they live in. The best part would be, say in an Ukraine-Russia situation we would have enough Agniveers around who could take up the charge if needed. The scheme has been introduced by the three Service Chiefs – Army, Navy, and Airforce after solid deliberation: I’m sure they always have the nation’s best interests in the cross-hairs. I trust them. Lets embrace the path of Agnipath.

India’s First Private Train

In November 2021, India came up with an idea called ‘Bharat Gaurav’ (India’s Pride) of allowing private players to operate trains belonging to the Government’s Indian Railways in a theme-based tourism circuit: with places, routes, stops, and tariffs, among other things, being entirely at the discretion of the Private Operator. The intent is to provide people in India and visiting foreign tourists a means of exploring the country’s rich cultural heritage and historical places in a comfortable well-managed set-up.

The trains can be leased for a period of two years with interiors refurbishment, housekeeping, catering, security, ticket booking services, etc., being the responsibility of the Private Operator. And policing work will be done by private security personnel in coordination with the existing Railway Protection Force. A Train Captain and a Train Doctor will also be on board along with a radio jockey manning a sound system, to keep the tourists in ‘loud spirits’.

This week the first ever private train under the Bharat Gaurav Scheme, operating between Coimbatore North Station in Tamilnadu and the Holy Town of Shirdi in Maharashtra was flagged off with stops at Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, Mantralayam Road, and Wadi. During the onward journey from Coimbatore, the Train stops at Mantralayam Road station for 5 hours to facilitate worship at the Mantralayam Temple.

South Star Rail is the Private Operator, which got its hands on the wheels to run the train. It paid INR 10 million as security deposit to Southern Railways for a 20 coach rake, consisting of First, Second, and Third Class air-conditioned coaches, normal Sleeper coaches, two luggage-cum-brake cars and one pantry car.

Over to a scheme-filled India. Take the ride and pray!

Skipping Sipping Tea in Pakistan

Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves are falling rapidly – currently enough for fewer than two months of all imports – and one of its senior Ministers Ahsan Iqbal came up with a drinking idea.

People in Pakistan have been asked to reduce the amount of tea they drink to keep the country’s economy afloat. Sipping fewer cups a day would cut Pakistan’s high import bills feels the Minister. He said, “I appeal to the nation to cut down the consumption of tea by one to two cups because we import tea on loan”. He also suggested that Business traders should close their market stalls at 10.30 pm to save electricity.

Pakistan is the world’s largest importer of tea, buying more than USD 600 million worth last year. Now its lips are trying to skip many a sip!

An Extra Day Off in Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is giving government officials an extra day off a week, to encourage them to grow food, amid fears of a food shortage, as it navigates its worst economic crisis in more than 70 years. The Island Nation has about one million public sector employees.

The decision is to help workers, who are facing difficulties getting to work due to fuel shortages. Also to encourage them to grow fruit and vegetables, to help feed themselves and their families by engaging in agricultural activities in the backyards of their houses, or elsewhere. This is seen as a possible solution to the food shortage that is expected to occur in the future. Ultimately, I reckon, it’s best we fend for ourselves: generate our own solar power, grown our own food, or make our own things, and return to the days of bartering – in kind.

How to Murder Your Husband

Many years ago, Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, a self-publishing author whose works of steamy romance and suspense novels such as ‘The Wrong Husband’ and ‘The Wrong Lover’ wrote an essay titled ‘How to murder your husband’. Well, she took herself seriously, did just that and was convicted of murdering her husband last month.

This week a jury found her guilty of second degree murder when that she shot her husband of 26 years, in 2018 for a USD 1.5 million Life insurance pay-out. She was sentenced to life in prison.

Her late husband, Daniel Brophy, was a chef and respected teacher at the Oregon Culinary Institute, Oregon State, United States. He was found dead – shot twice- in the kitchen of the Institute, in 2018.

The Wrong Wife; How to Break Out of Prison?

More tizzy stories about world schemes coming up in the weeks ahead. Don’t shoot, live in peace with World Inthavaaram.