England on alert - the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) warns flooding from heavy rainfall could double in the next three decades

This is a wakeup call for England. The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) cautioned that many properties could face risk of flooding from heavy rainfall. This could double in the course of the next three decades and the government has to tackle the issue on priority. The NIC says hundreds of thousands homes and businesses are already in high danger of flooding from so-called "surface water flooding" from heavy rain. The situation is serious. Rains are intensifying due to climate change and is growing. Therefore, unmanaged developments risk putting many more properties at high risk of this sort of flooding by 2055. Hence, the government has to increase investment in relevant areas. Two of these are river pollution and drought. These have dominated public discussion about water recently. The commissioners say, "But we risk ignoring a problem that can literally drop out of the sky at any moment." The head of the Environment Agency warned a failure to adapt to climate breakdown will threaten all aspects of life in Britain. English properties at risk of flooding to double in next 30 years without urgent investment, government warned. Delays in action on adaptation would mean our children would have to bear the burden.

The nature of adaptations could be to plant trees to keep cities cooler in the face of heatwaves, or develop more heat-resilient crops. Incidentally, nature of flooding from heavy rain varies from place to place. Widespread flooding in London in July 2021 damaged more than 1,500 properties, as well as health infrastructure and public transport. Another issue is concreting of roads. Concrete increases the risk of flooding because it prevents rainwater from reaching natural drains like streams. Instead, the rainwater flows down the street and into gutters. The NIC calls for adequate investment over the next 30 years to tackle risks associated with heavy rainfall.

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Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games and the Invictus Games Foundation in 2014

Idea of the Invictus Games came to Prince Harry after he witnessed the Warrior Games in 2013. That was during one of his visits to the U.S. and it acted as his inspiration to start the veterans' sports project. Subsequently, he arranged to hold the first edition of the Invictus Games in London the following year. That was 2014. The aim of the games is to make available a platform for disabled war veterans to compete in team and individual sports events. The games continue for several days and the participants get a chance to demonstrate their mental and physical fitness. They are the wounded, sick or injured armed forces servicemen and women. Harry maintained his working relationship with Invictus when he stepped down from his official role within the royal family. He had his wife Meghan Markle alongside him. In 2020, they relocated to the U.S. and his role as founder and patron remains unchanged. As the founder and patron, he extends support to the Invictus Games event and Invictus Games Foundation in several ways. These include promoting them on the world stage to fundraising and shaping their direction. Is Prince Harry Still Head of Invictus Games? . The official foundation website states that the prince - "Sees the Games as an important part of a broader legacy of support, through a combination of ongoing care, training and employment opportunities, to the well-being of those men and women who have served their country."

In 2021, its CEO Dominic Reid said that the royal's links with Invictus hadn't changed following the Sussexes decision to step away from their roles within the monarchy in Britain. His words at the time were - "We are proud to have The Duke of Sussex as our Patron. The Invictus Games was founded by him, it has been built on his ideas and he remains fully committed to both the Games and to the Invictus Games Foundation.” The official website of the foundation states that the prince: "Sees the Games as an important part of a broader legacy of support, through a combination of ongoing care, training and employment opportunities, to the well-being of those men and women who have served their country." Incidentally, the Invictus Games Foundation is the organization that oversees the Invictus Games brand. It also selects the host city each year, develops and maintains the lasting legacy of the games, including looking out for the wellbeing of past and present participants. The Netherlands would host the Invictus Games in 2022. The foundation announced that it would collaborate with BetterUp for these games. BetterUp is the digital mental health coaching business that appointed Harry as chief impact officer in 2021. It announced that the partnership would "support service members from around the world and empower them as they transition from military to civilian life." Benefits of the partnership would accrue to all participants in the Invictus Games because they would get tools for personal development.

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Greta Thunberg will not join the COP27 summit in Egypt

Climate activist Greta Thunberg will not be a part of COP27 summit at Sharm el Sheikh tourist spot in Egypt. She disapproves of the country’s human rights record. In fact, she accused the forthcoming UN conference of being "held in a tourist paradise in a country that violates many basic human rights." She attended the earlier 2019 COP25 summit in Madrid when she was just 16. Later, she was there in the 2021 COP26 event in Glasgow. There was no conference in 2020 because of the pandemic. However, she has indicated she will not be attending this year’s COP27. She denounced it as an opportunity for "greenwashing, lying and cheating." In her words - "I'm not going to COP27 for many reasons, but the space for civil society this year is extremely limited.” She revealed this while promoting her new book ‘The Climate Book’ at the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre. She minced no words when she said - "It's important to leave space for those who need to be there. It will be difficult for activists to make their voices heard.” COP27: Greta Thunberg to boycott UN summit due to 'human rights abuses' in Egypt.

Incidentally, the venue of the conference this year is Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt. This is a country where there are nearly 60,000 political prisoners. Greta condemned Egypt's treatment of the prisoners. She took to Twitter and said - “We stand in solidarity with prisoners of conscience in Egypt & joined @copcivicspace petition urging Egypt to open civic space and release everyone arbitrarily detained ahead of #COP27." She also came to a protest in London outside the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. She stood in solidarity with a British-Egyptian free speech activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah. He has been imprisoned in the country for the past 10 years. Greta held a placard that read "Free Alaa before #COP27." COP is the Conference of the Parties – an annual UN-organised conference usually attended by world leaders and climate experts. Its aim is to discuss and take much needed action against the looming threat of climate change. However, the targets set at these summits are far off track. This is frustrating to people like Greta.

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Prince William and Kate head to school with their kids George, Charlotte and Louis

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shifted out of London to Windsor. They have admitted their children to the prestigious Lambrook School in Berkshire. The children are George (9), Charlotte (7) and Louis (4).The headmaster of the school Jonathan Perry met the family at the entrance and stepped forward to greet them. When asked whether they are excited, the children replied in the affirmative. Their father William also said they were looking forward to it and added that the children had "lots of questions." This will be the first time all three siblings will attend the same school together. Louis would be in pre-prep and his older siblings in the prep as new starters. The Cambridge family have settled into their new home at Adelaide Cottage. This brings them nearer to the Queen who now lives permanently at Windsor Castle. Prince William's classic reaction to his kids starting school relatable to all parents.

The royal children joined all new pupils at the school for a settling-in session. It was a brief session and it went on for around 90 minutes. There were refreshments as the newcomers met their new friends. The Cambridges arrived together in one car. William drove it and Kate waved from the passenger side to the school's headmaster as they arrived on site. After parking, the family walked together towards the school. The parents tried to make things easy and normal for the children as they prepared the siblings for their new adventure. Incidentally, George and Louis wore the checked shirt of the school uniform, while Charlotte wore the blue summer dress.

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Prince William and Kate shifting from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage with their children

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plan to move their family from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage. William and Kate want their children to enjoy a "normal" family life. Kensington Palace has made this announcement. They will now relocate to Adelaide Cottage. This is a four-bedroom house in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire. It is located about 25 miles from London and this relocation will bring them closer to Queen Elizabeth II. She resides in Windsor Castle and will now live in the same county. However, the current residence of William and Kate in Kensington Palace will continue to be their family's principal residence. Right now, they do not have plans for any live-in help. William and Kate to move family out of London to give children 'normal' life. The couple's children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, will all move to Lambrook School.

This is a prestigious fee-paying school near Windsor. It is a coeducational Prep School located in the beautiful Berkshire countryside and caters to around 600 children in the age group 3 to 13. The headmaster of the school said they are looking forward to welcome them along with all other new pupils into the school community. Their former school in London, Thomas's Battersea, expressed their gratitude for the "happy start" it gave George and Charlotte. The new school will provide an opportunity to William and Kate to be "active parents in a busy school." They want to be “as normal a family as possible." Moreover, the relocation will give the family greater privacy at home due to the high security presence on the Queen's estate. Incidentally, the family used to stay in Norfolk and moved to London in 2017.

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He laughed his way through life

Here is the twenty second unforgettable character in my life …

They made a typical pair – he was fair skinned, like a European, she was on the slim side. Both were Bengalis settled far away from Bengal – they were from the land of the Taj Mahal. Her father owned a Hotel and his father was in the Air force. And – he always had a ready smile on his face.

When we first met, their son was a toddler. Although my friend had a permanent job, his wife wanted to keep herself occupied and joined the local school as a teacher in the KG section. Within a short span of time, she made a name for herself and had a large following. She loved the attention and enjoyed it. In the meantime, their son joined the same school and, as he progressed from one class to the next, he kept on showing his brilliance. The parents basked in the glory of their son.
Normally, the son is identified as the prodigy of his parents, here it was just the opposite – the parents were known as the parents of so-and-so, the top scorer of the school. He was able to get admission to the medical branch with ease. There also, he continued to top score and, soon after completion of the course, he moved over to England for acquiring more qualifications and for gaining more knowledge and experience. His parents got him married off to a girl from Kolkata. Simultaneously, they purchased a plot of land in a good locality where their son could set up his hospital or nursing home.
That was a long time ago. The boy has now returned to India and stays in Kolkata – he is attached to one of the leading hospitals in the city. My friend and his wife have also shifted over to Kolkata and are enjoying a happy retired life.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Didi visualizes industrial revival via nalen gur (satire)

The day had arrived and Didi was on tenterhooks.
She was in her cabin and, on the easel in front of her was a painting – it was a design for the cover of her latest book of poems which she would release in the Kolkata Book Fair.
But, her mind was elsewhere.
Will her vision of an industrial revival really become a reality? She was not one to venture out in search of willing investors – still, she had been to Singapore, to London to Italy and even to Berlin. She had invited everyone to come and, they have obliged.
It was now her turn to ensure that they invested in industries and help her erase the memories of driving out what would have been a major industry today.
Suddenly Moo Cool entered – he was excited.
‘Any good news?’ Didi asked.
‘One party from Germany is interested in importing nalen gur,’ Moo Cool said. ‘They want to use it for fishing.’

‘Fishing?’
‘Yes. They want to use it in their baits,’ he explained. ‘They feel the beautiful fragrance would attract more fish.’
‘But how much would they import?’ Didi asked.
‘Initially they’ll take back some samples with them. Once they return to Berlin, they’ll get them tested in their labs. If they are satisfied, they’ll negotiate terms.’
‘When can I get a feedback?’
‘If you want, I can make a trip to Berlin to hasten up the issue.’
‘That is an idea,’ Didi agreed but did not give Moo Cool any indication that she would release him. ‘I hope nalen gurer sandesh is there in the dessert?’
‘Of course,’ Moo Cool relied. ‘It is a product that is unique to us and we must explore all possible avenues to promote it and export it to foreign countries. By the way, one of my close relatives is experimenting to make cakes with nalen gur.’
‘That will be wonderful. Ask him to patent it. I have a feeling that nalen gur will be the answer to the revival of industries here.’ (to be contd …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)

Didi was in top gear. She had won a battle and had returned land to the farmers. She had ousted an automobile manufacturing company from her land, had uprooted the buildings and had returned the land back to the farmers. It was a promise she had made and, she had fulfilled it.
‘I think this calls for a celebration,’ Patro Chatto said in a low voice. He had, of late, come closer to Didi and he loved to bask in her glory.
‘Let us arrange a festival,’ Didi said. ‘We have ilish festival and sandesh festival, let us organize another interesting festival that has universal appeal.’
‘We can go in for jhal muri festival,’ Dee Wreck suggested. ‘It is a unique product of Bengal and has taken London by storm. I have seen rave reviews in the social media. We can use the opportunity to woo the British to come to our city.’
‘That is a good idea,’ Fear Had said. ‘I know you also love jhal muri. The other day you were having jhal muri in front of Victoria Memorial with one of your guests and it became hot news. Just like the hot jhal muri.’ Didi gave Fear Had a hard look.
‘I have a better idea,’ Omit Misra cleared his throat. ‘It has a mass appeal because it is loved equally all over the country.’
‘What is it?’ Didi asked.

‘Fuchka,’ Omit Misra replied and wiped his glasses. ‘It is also known as the golguppa or pani puri. Whenever I get a chance, I have several mouthfuls.’
‘Not a bad idea,’ Didi was serious. ‘I’ll invite my friends from Delhi and Mumbai to set up stalls for variety.’ ‘What about the venue?’ Show Van asked.
‘The Milon Mela,’ Didi said. ‘That is where we hold all festivals.’
‘But – it is a huge area. Can it be filled?’
Didi grinned.
‘Don’t be silly,’ she chided him. ‘There will be stalls for selling fuchka and golguppas and pani puris. Then there will be a section on cookery where experts will come and talk about how to make fuchkas. And – there will be books on fuchkas. I will write one book of poems about fuchka. The possibilities are unlimited.’
‘When do we have this festival?’ Dee Wreck asked.
‘Get hold of the oldest fuchka man and his date of birth. That will be the date,’ Didi said. ‘He will probably be from Bihar. I will honor him on the occasion and my fans will increase. I will also declare a holiday on that date so that everyone can make a beeline for Milon Mela to enjoy fuchkas.’
‘There is one problem,’ Patro Chatto mumbled.
‘What?’ Didi asked.
‘Can you take selfie while gulping fuchkas?’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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