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The less you know, the better you sleep:

Updated: 2 days ago

Commentary: Deadly plane crash tests not just Air India (AI) , but its Singapore (SQ) partner too Tata Group’s effort to revive Air India, with backing from Singapore Airlines, faces renewed scrutiny following the deadly crash, says financial journalist Ven Sreenivasan. Friday, 13th June 2025 1354 Hours South Asia East England United Kingdom The crash of London-bound Air India flight 171 shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday (Jun 12) was a tragedy of staggering proportions. The plane crashed into a medical college hostel during lunch time, just minutes after taking off from the airport. More than 240 lives were lost, including passengers, crew and people on the ground. It is among India’s worst aviation disasters. Numerous videos have been circulating and many speculative theories are being aired on Indian media, but as of the time of writing, the cause of the crash remains unknown. It’s important not to cast blame before the facts are known. The Air India crash though is a major test of Indian conglomerate Tata Group’s efforts to transform the beleaguered carrier into a “world-class airline” since it took back the reins three years ago. It also puts India’s broader aviation ambitions under scrutiny at a time when the country is investing heavily in expanding domestic and international air travel. Singapore Airlines (SIA) - which holds a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India group after its joint venture carrier Vistara was merged into the reformed Indian carrier in 2022 - may also face questions about reputational risk in a high-stakes market. SIA’s shares fell as much as 2.1 per cent on Friday. 2.1% 25.1% “ABSOLUTE SHAMBLES” Founded in 1932 by entrepreneur JRD Tata and nationalised by the Indian government in 1953, Air India was again taken private in 2022 by the Tata Group. At the time, SIA’s Vistara stake converted to 20 per cent in the new Air India group. SIA bought another 5.1 per cent for S$360 million. The Singapore carrier group also committed to investing another S$880 million to build up the Indian carrier, which has been led by former SIA staffer and Scoot founding CEO, Campbell Wilson, since 2022. The new Air India - now well-capitalised, operating a fleet of 198 planes with an order of 570 more and controlling roughly 30 per cent of India’s domestic market - was meant to be a rising star in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation sectors. Mr Wilson had often spoken of turning Air India into “one of the best airlines in the world”. It was no doubt challenging, seeing as how Mr Wilson described the airline as being "just in absolute shambles" when Tata resumed ownership. Now, the crash of the Boeing 787-8 plane has raised hard questions, chief among them the airline’s historically poor safety record. Prior to its privatisation in 2022, decades of neglect and under-investment caused Air India to have one of the worst safety records among Indian - if not Asian - carriers, with six accidents and 49 serious incidents between 2013 and 2022. That said, the airline has made huge strides in safety over the past three years following its takeover by Tata and SIA. In fact, it received its International Air Transport Association's IOSA safety certification last year and has introduced a slew of new crew safety protocols. AirRatings.com gives the airline a top seven out of seven ranking for safety. Even if investigations eventually absolve the airline of fault, the crash will nonetheless have punctured the fragile confidence that had begun to build. SIA’S AMBITIONS IN INDIA There is no doubt some will question whether SIA did the right thing to invest in the Indian carrier with such a checkered history, at least at such an early stage. But here are some basic facts. SIA’s investment was a purely commercial decision to have a foothold in what aviation experts agree is among the world’s largest and fastest growing aviation markets. India, with a population of over 1.4 billion, is the world’s third-largest air travel market, after China and the United States. With a fast-rising middle class enjoying rising incomes and economic growth that is surpassing most other large economies of the world, this is a country with huge aviation growth potential - especially since it currently accounts for just over 4 per cent of global air traffic. SIA did not get to be among the world’s most successful airline by taking unnecessary risks. It went into this venture after considering all the possibilities. And did so with one of India’s most reputable business houses, the Tata Group. That Tata came out to take ownership of this tragedy right at the beginning, showing empathy for the people on board and on the ground and offering 10 million rupees (US$116,200) to each family who lost a loved one in the crash, speaks volumes of the ethos and standing of this company. That does not diminish the scale of the tragedy. At this point, no one knows what caused the accident. The answers lie ahead and will come after months of painstaking investigation. Lessons will be - and must be - learnt. Despite the scale of this tragedy, India’s aviation sector continues to hold long-term potential. For SIA, expanding beyond a single Singapore-centric hub player will inevitably involve engaging with complex markets like India. That brings not only opportunity, but also risk, responsibility and, at times, immense difficulty. Ven Sreenivasan is a former editor and journalist who has covered financial markets, economic and corporate news and aviation for more than 30 years. Advertisement Ends Thursday, 12th June 2025 પોસ્ટમોર્ટમ રૂમ પોસ્ટમૉર્ટમ રૂમ પોસ્ટ મોર્ટમ રૂમ પોસ્ટ મર્મ રૂમ Hindsight Retrospect 20/20 Twenty Channel News-Asia CNA South East Today Lifestyle Watch Listen All Sections Genghis Khan Mongol Mughal Dynasty LGW AMD London Gatwick Ahmedabad Al171 Flight 171 Condolences
理性服從自己，無知服從任何命令。 托馬斯‧潘恩 1737 1809 तर्क स्वयं का पालन करता है जबकि अज्ञानता जो भी आदेश दिया जाता है उसे स्वीकार कर लेती है। थॉमस पेन 1737 1809 《加菲貓》，一九七九年十一月廿三日，週五 無知是幸福。 अज्ञानता परमानंद है। 次大陸 墜機 印度 航空 南亞 亞洲 smack Jonathan Quentin Arbuckle Lyman Odie Beagle Communication Animals Humans People Complex Mind Housefly Bluebottle Fly Raisin Toast 各位觀眾老爺們，今天帶你們解鎖人類飲食文明的第九大奇蹟：印度街頭小吃。 蜜蜂 蒼蠅 米奇 老鼠 映入眼簾 南亞 文化 次大陸 飲品 食品 文化 烹飪 美味佳餚
Monday, 16th June 2025 His Majesty The King Buckingham Palace London SW1A 1AA ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM Sir, I hope Your Majesty’s on-going medical treatment is progressing well. Thank you very much for taking the time off from the Trooping the Colour rehearsals to compose the extremely heartfelt condolences to the victims of last Thursday’s (12th June) aviation tragedy as well as thoughtful support for the emergency services in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In addition, thank you very much for commemorating the Ahmedabad air catastrophe during the Trooping the Colour last Saturday (14th June). As Your Majesty would be aware, your exceptional erudition on South Asia greatly inspired my younger brother Zheng-Ping (政平) & (eventually) yours truly to better understand as well as empathise with the Subcontinent. To conclude, thank you very much once again for Your Majesty’s extremely thoughtful message of support to all those affected by AI171; I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Majesty’s humble & obedient servant. 此致敬禮， 盧政宏﹝先生﹞ Comprehend Care I wish you & your family all the very best for all your future endeavours as well as (and) have the I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Majesty’s humble & obedient servant. Andrew Andy Windsor Duke of York
The Official Birthday of The King (His Majesty King Charles III) Letter Reply from Monday, 14th July 2025 Buckingham Palace United Kingdom UK England Scotland Wales Ireland Northern Commonwealth Yours Truly
Thursday, 15th May 2025 His Majesty The King Buckingham Palace London SW1A 1AA England the United Kingdom Scotland Northern Ireland Wales British Isles Legacy Colonial Raj I am extremely sorry Your Majesty’s younger brother could not participate in the Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations & commemorations with you as well as the rest of his siblings last week. Regardless of whatever happened, please inform the Duke of York I greatly admire his Royal Navy contributions in liberating the Falklands from April to June 1982 as well as the efforts & risks he took in trying his utmost best to personally rescue historical artefacts during the November 1992 inferno at Windsor Castle. In addition, please tell the Duke of York I greatly appreciate his contributions in highlighting awareness about socio-economic conditions in the Subcontinent, second only to Your Majesty’s exceptional endeavours in South Asia. Your Majesty & the Duke of York were excellently influential in getting my younger brother Zheng-Ping (政平) & I to understand as well as empathise with South Asia better, & we will always be grateful to Your Majesty as well as your younger brother for that. Moving forward, I hope Your Majesty’s on-going medical treatment is progressing well & once again, I would like to wish you a lovely & pleasant trip to Canada in less than a fortnight’s time. Just over a week. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Majesty’s humble & obedient servant. 此致敬禮 盧政宏 先生 His Her Royal Highness Prince Andrew

This letter correspondence for some reason or another never received a direct reply.

Prince Andrew’s Statement Released by the (Buckingham Palace) Royal Communications dated Friday, 17th October 2025 In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me. His Royal Highness The Duke of York merely abeyance not strip Parliament House of Commons reading multiple Sussex meghan harry rachel henry prince princess fake children two archie lilibet
Well, I tried…
सिंगापुर के शासक क्या कहते हैं इसकी चिंता मत करो। मेरा सुझाव है कि भारत को इस बात की अधिक चिंता करनी चाहिए कि सिंगापुर में रहने वाले “देसी (दक्षिण एशियाई प्रवासी)” आम तौर पर क्यों मानते हैं कि भारत की वैश्विक प्रमुखता के बावजूद हिंदी में सक्षम और साक्षर होना बेकार और अप्रासंगिक है। Not all Indian born in India or care about India. Next time type in English nobody speaks Hindi here [Singapore]. Reply in Tamil no one cares about Hindi. Living Mirage
梵語 幾乎和 泰米爾語 文法 文明 文化 語文 照樣 一樣 古老 幾乎 சமஸ்கிருதம் ஏறக்குறைய தமிழ் போலவே பழமையானது! सिंगापुर के शासक क्या कहते हैं इसकी चिंता मत करो। मेरा सुझाव है कि भारत को इस बात की अधिक चिंता करनी चाहिए कि सिंगापुर में रहने वाले “देसी (दक्षिण एशियाई प्रवासी)” आम तौर पर क्यों मानते हैं कि भारत की वैश्विक प्रमुखता के बावजूद हिंदी में सक्षम और साक्षर होना बेकार और अप्रासंगिक है। 南亞 次大陸 印度 外僑 διασπορά देश इसके अलावा, अँग्रेज़ी एक एशियाई भाषा नहीं है। पीयूष गुप्ता को गर्व होगा।
《加菲貓》，一九九四年三月廿七日，週日 滿意了嗎？ 心滿意足 稱心如意 按門鈴 Jonathan Quentin Arbuckle Lyman Odie Beagle want in okay fine scratch better alternative

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His Majesty The King has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles & Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse. ENDS 《加菲貓》，一九九四年三月廿七日，週日 滿意了嗎？ 心滿意足 稱心如意 按門鈴 Jonathan Quentin Arbuckle Lyman Odie Beagle want in okay fine scratch better alternative Thursday 30th October 2025 Frogmore Cottage Estate House possible Why King Charles III had Nothing to Do with James “Jimmy” Wilson Vincent Savile’s Crimes When the truth about James “Jimmy” Wilson Vincent Savile’s crimes was revealed after his death in Saturday, 29th October 2011, it shocked the country. For decades, however, Savile had been one of the most recognisable figures in the United Kingdom (K) Britain — a BBC presenter, fundraiser as well as celebrity who moved easily in public life. Because of that, he crossed paths with countless famous people, including members of the Royal Family, senior politicians as well as entertainers. Importantly, what was later uncovered about Savile only came to light after he had died. During his lifetime, his criminal behaviour was hidden. This means that everyone who encountered him — from royalty to politicians, to musicians and broadcasters — had no idea of the horrific truth. People shook his hand, posed for photographs, or wrote him letters simply because he was famous, i.e. well-known & publicly celebrated, not because they were close friends or knew what he was doing behind the scenes. King Charles III in the capacity of the Prince of Wales, like many others, met Savile in public and charitable contexts. There is therefore no evidence whatsoever that the King had any knowledge of or involvement in Savile’s crimes. The same of course applies to many other public figures who were simply in the same circles simply because of Savile’s fame at the time. It is crucial to separate fact from speculation. Every famous person of that era sadly seemed to know him, but that does not mean they were complicit. The only royal figure whose situation is different is Prince Andrew, who has faced direct allegations and legal scrutiny of his own. That is a separate matter and should not be confused with King Charles or the wider Royal Family. What Savile did was extremely odious i.e. disgusting. He perfidiously ruined lives as well as betrayed the trust placed in him, operating in secret whilst presenting a respectable public façade i.e. image. However, it is unfair and wrong — to associate those who unknowingly crossed his path with his crimes. Sorry we are mentioning this but it has been the anti-Monarchists mission to destroy the Monarchy by justifying i.e. saying just they knew him and shook hands with him implies the Royal Family accept what he did. This is completely wrong; they shook hands with people simply because that’s their public relations (PR) role — Jimmy’s public persona at the time was ostensibly positive i.e. good and so the royals didn’t think he was a criminal and thus did not know what he was doing behind closed doors. Everyone who was famous in those times got on with him because none of them knew his crimes. Jimmy Saville’s true colours were only revealed when he died and by the time he was gone and people had already connected with him — the (current) King of course did not — but some people thought he was good until that point, when Jimmy’s crimes were released. @ 盧政平 : Dear Brother-cum-SUBCONTINENTAL-COGNOSCENTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR MAKING ME SO PROUD OF MY HEAD OF STATE I COMPLETELY FORGOT ALL ABOUT HIS MAJESTY’S DEAD MOTHER! Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Update: Well, I tried…

Why King Charles III had Nothing to Do with James “Jimmy” Wilson Vincent Savile’s Crimes When the truth about James “Jimmy” Wilson Vincent Savile’s crimes was revealed after his death in Saturday, 29th October 2011, it shocked the country. For decades, however, Savile had been one of the most recognisable figures in the United Kingdom (K) Britain — a BBC presenter, fundraiser as well as celebrity who moved easily in public life. Because of that, he crossed paths with countless famous people, including members of the Royal Family, senior politicians as well as entertainers. Importantly, what was later uncovered about Savile only came to light after he had died. During his lifetime, his criminal behaviour was hidden. This means that everyone who encountered him — from royalty to politicians, to musicians and broadcasters — had no idea of the horrific truth. People shook his hand, posed for photographs, or wrote him letters simply because he was famous, i.e. well-known & publicly celebrated, not because they were close friends or knew what he was doing behind the scenes. King Charles III in the capacity of the Prince of Wales, like many others, met Savile in public and charitable contexts. There is therefore no evidence whatsoever that the King had any knowledge of or involvement in Savile’s crimes. The same of course applies to many other public figures who were simply in the same circles simply because of Savile’s fame at the time. It is crucial to separate fact from speculation. Every famous person of that era sadly seemed to know him, but that does not mean they were complicit. The only royal figure whose situation is different is Prince Andrew, who has faced direct allegations and legal scrutiny of his own. That is a separate matter and should not be confused with King Charles or the wider Royal Family. What Savile did was extremely odious i.e. disgusting. He perfidiously ruined lives as well as betrayed the trust placed in him, operating in secret whilst presenting a respectable public façade i.e. image. However, it is unfair and wrong — to associate those who unknowingly crossed his path with his crimes. Sorry we are mentioning this but it has been the anti-Monarchists mission to destroy the Monarchy by justifying i.e. saying just they knew him and shook hands with him implies the Royal Family accept what he did. This is completely wrong; they shook hands with people simply because that’s their public relations (PR) role — Jimmy’s public persona at the time was ostensibly positive i.e. good and so the royals didn’t think he was a criminal and thus did not know what he was doing behind closed doors. Everyone who was famous in those times got on with him because none of them knew his crimes. Jimmy Saville’s true colours were only revealed when he died and by the time he was gone and people had already connected with him — the (current) King of course did not — but some people thought he was good until that point, when Jimmy’s crimes were released. @ 盧政平 : Dear Brother-cum-SUBCONTINENTAL-COGNOSCENTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR MAKING ME SO PROUD OF MY HEAD OF STATE I COMPLETELY FORGOT ALL ABOUT HIS MAJESTY’S DEAD MOTHER! Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
 
 
 

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