Hello and welcome to the 10th edition of The Weekly Vine. We have surpassed 100,000 subscribers, which is no small achievement for a newsletter that doesn’t tell you how to invest money and get rich quickly. So, thank you for being such discerning readers.

Now, back to regular programming. It has been another tumultuous week as the third rock from the sun spun around seven times. Supporters of the “Orange Man” in America are convinced that he has a divine right to win, especially after surviving another assassination attempt—this time on his home turf: the golf course. In Lebanon and Syria, over 3,000 pagers carried by Hezbollah exploded after receiving a seemingly innocuous message from the leadership. Meanwhile, India has welcomed another female Chief Minister, Manu Bhaker has her sights set on LA, and the world’s cutest new celebrity is winning hearts and minds.

P.S. If you ever find yourself in Canada, here’s a list of places you must visit.

Divine Intervention

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Dr Gregory House spent eight seasons questioning the existence of God and mocking anyone who showed even the slightest sign of faith. The character, based on Sherlock Holmes—fitting, since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle modelled his pipe-smoking detective on a doctor—famously argued: “If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people.”

Sadly, House M.D. ended in 2012, and we never got to hear his take on Trumpian America, where deeply religious evangelicals believe that a twice-divorced New York socialite—who couldn’t identify a single Bible verse in 2016—is somehow God’s chosen warrior.

After surviving two assassination attempts, Trump’s claim of being divinely appointed has gained even more traction, especially among what was once the Republican Party. Jack Posobiec, a prominent MAGA conspiracy theorist, went further, noting that the bullets were fired at 6:11 PM (God doesn’t use military time, apparently) and pointed to Ephesians 6:11: “Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Here’s why the MAGA crowd is convinced—or trying to convince people—that Trump was chosen to do God’s work.

The Weekly Vine Quip: Marx’s quip about religion being the opiate of the masses still holds true, even though the opiate these days prefers a Big Mac instead.

Boom Goes the Pager

Imagine being a Hezbollah member. You’ve switched to pagers from mobile phones, thinking they’re harder to track. Then one day, you receive a routine message from leadership, but as your pager beeps, it explodes. On paper, it sounds so ridiculous that it would be a plot point rejected by Frederick Forsyth for being too outlandish.

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Here’s what we know so far: In one of the more remarkable counterterrorism operations in recent years, around 3,000 pagers, imported by Lebanon from Taiwan, detonated, injuring thousands and killing at least nine people. The blasts occurred across Lebanon, Iran, and Syria. One of the injured was Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, raising the diplomatic question of why the Iranian Ambassador had a pager used by Hezbollah members in his vicinity. The pagers had been secretly modified, with one to two ounces of explosive material hidden near the battery, along with a remote-controlled detonation switch embedded in each device.

Independent cybersecurity experts who analysed footage of the blasts confirmed that the devices had been altered to produce powerful explosions. A cybercrime advisor to Europol stated that the strength of the blasts indicated the presence of additional explosives beyond simple battery malfunctions. While Israel has not commented, U.S. officials, under the cover of anonymity, have admitted that Israel was most likely behind the attack.

The Weekly Vine Quip: The latest attack will make peace talks in the Middle East more complicated, but at least mobile phone companies can now point out that their devices aren’t the only ones to suddenly explode.

A New CM in Delhi

After a decade, the city that loves sisterly greetings will have a female Chief Minister again, as Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation, making way for Atishi Marlena. She will become Delhi’s third female CM after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. A St Stephen’s graduate, a Chevening and Rhodes scholar, she has stellar academic credentials. Her surname, Marlena—which she dropped ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election—is a portmanteau of two Leftist icons: Marx and Lenin. Her sister, Rosa Basanti, is ostensibly named after the American civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Atishi has been an instrumental part of AAP since its inception and even helped draft its manifesto. Atishi joins Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal as one of two current female Chief Ministers in India.

Source: TOI

Since Independence, India has had only 17 female CMs. Sucheta Kripalani became the first in 1963, leading Uttar Pradesh under the Indian National Congress. Sheila Dikshit, also from Congress, holds the record for the longest tenure, governing Delhi for over 15 years. Tamil Nadu’s J. Jayalalithaa, of the AIADMK, left a lasting legacy during her 14-year tenure, marked by both admiration and controversy. She was also the first female CM to pass away while in office, highlighting the challenges faced by women in leadership roles.

Several states have seen repeated female leadership, such as Uttar Pradesh with Mayawati, and West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee continues to serve as the incumbent CM. Atishi’s elevation, irrespective of the circumstances, is a much-needed boost in female representation in the higher echelons of politics.

The Weekly Vine Quip: Representation matters.

Manu Bhaker Eyes History Again

Source: TOI

Winning two bronze medals would satisfy most athletes, but not Manu Bhaker. The Paris double medallist is already focused on Los Angeles, where she aims to change the colour of her medal. In an exclusive interview with The Times of India, she shared how she overcame the disappointment of the Tokyo Olympics, reunited with her coach Jaspal Rana, and set her sights on the Los Angeles Olympics. Read more.

The Weekly Vine Quip: It’s rare to see an Indian sportsperson not resting on one’s laurels.

The World’s Biggest Star

The Hawk Tuah girl has competition, and the contender is a lot younger. Moo Deng, a tiny baby pygmy hippopotamus, has stolen hearts worldwide from her home at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. At just two months old, her adorable antics and wide-eyed expressions have made her a viral sensation. Fans across the globe follow her every move, with makeup tutorials inspired by her rosy cheeks and cakes designed in her image.

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Born on 10th July, Moo Deng became an internet darling just two weeks later when the zoo introduced her to the world. Her name, which translates to “bouncy pig” or “pork patty,” was chosen by popular vote, and her personality soon matched the playful moniker. The zoo fully embraced her celebrity status, regularly posting updates, photos, and videos of the baby hippo on social media. With millions of followers, Moo Deng has become a global sensation.

The Weekly Vine Quip: Moo Deng is the hero the world needs and deserves in these tumultuous times.

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