There have been increasing calls for the return of some of the Queen’s crown jewels to India and Africa.
The Passing of Queen Elizabeth II
At Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday, September 8. Age-wise, she was 96. The monarch ruled over all of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
While many people have paid their respects on the streets of London near Buckingham Palace, in the vicinity of Windsor Castle, and on social media, others have spoken out about the colonial past of the nation that the Queen ruled for 70 years.
People have specifically demanded the return of the Great Star of Africa set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre, which is a part of the Crown Jewels, and the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is currently placed in the Queen Mother’s crown and is a part of the Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London.
One of the biggest cut diamonds in the world, the Koh-i-Noor weighs slightly over 105 carats. It is praised as priceless but is estimated to be worth between $140 and $400 million. It is often referred to as one of the most contentious diamonds in the world.
While the diamond was known as the Syamantaka and is thought to have been first described in a Sanskrit writing more than 5,000 years ago, it was only a matter of conjecture as to who truly owned it.
According to reports, Alauddin Khilji, the Emperor of Delhi, first owned it before the Rajas of Malwa till 1304.
‘The Koh-i-noor diamond from India sits atop the crown made for the Queen Mother in 1937 and the Great Star of Africa sits in the Queen's scepter’ pic.twitter.com/l1gZfmmrh5
Up until 1849, when British forces took control of Punjab and annexed it, the Koh-i-Noor was still in India. After that, it belonged to the British East India Company.
After that, it was transported back to Britain, where her Majesty, Queen Victoria received it in July 1850.
In the end, the diamond was cut and worn by the Queen, who specified in her will that it should only ever be worn by a female monarch or carried by the head of the state’s wife.
When Queen Victoria died, the diamond was added to the crown jewels.
Despite the monarchy claiming it was a “gift,” India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran have all challenged the British Royalty’s ownership of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, claiming it was stolen from them.
“The Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection, are the most potent emblems of the British Monarchy and possess significant religious and cultural significance in our nation’s history,” according to the website of the Tower of London.
Shashi Tharoor, a politician from India and a former international civil servant, has criticized Britain for “owing” its former colonies.
“The British are clinging to stolen artefacts like the Kohinoor diamond, which they embedded in the Queen Mother’s tiara and shamelessly flaunt at the Tower of London, rather than restoring loot to its rightful owners,” Tharoor claimed.
Queen Elizabeth II is the owner of the Great Star of Africa, the largest clear-cut diamond in the world. It is 530 carats in weight and was stolen from South Africa in 1905. It is estimated to be worth $400 million.
Queen Elizabeth II owns the largest clear cut diamond in the world Known as 'The Great Star of Africa' the 530 carats gem was mined in South Africa back in 1905. It was stolen from South Africa. It has an estimated worth of $400 million. pic.twitter.com/HesTmGTv4d
The British claim that it was given to them as a symbol of friendship and peace yet it was during colonialism. The British then replaced the name "The Great Star of Africa" with name of Chairman of Mine "Thomas Cullinan". pic.twitter.com/meudRY6D8O
The British changed the name of “The Great Star of Africa” to “Chairman of Mine Thomas Cullinan” while still claiming that it was given to them as a sign of goodwill and peace during colonialism.
One of the five indicators that you are a “super attractive person,” according to a dating and relationship expert, may come as a bit of a shock to you.
Maybe You’re Really Super Attractive?
Ready to find out whether you fall into that category? Jacob Lucas posted a video on TikTok describing some of the signs that you might notice if you’re sexier than the typical guy on the street.
Let’s start.
First of all, Jacob thinks that while you’re around, folks could become a little bit overly possessive of their other half.
“First of all, even when you’re not doing anything wrong, people get very competitive about boyfriends or girlfriends around you,” he continues.
This can be both flattering and challenging, as it implies the person exudes a certain level of magnetism that others find captivating.
His second indication, though, may come as a surprise to some because, according to our man Jacob, people who are extremely attractive don’t typically receive many compliments.
He continued next: “Number two, you rarely get compliments because people assume that you already know that you are attractive.” Alright, but what if it’s actually just because I’m really ugly, mate?
While it can be frustrating to not receive regular validation, it also suggests that their attractiveness is widely acknowledged and has become an established norm.
The third sign somewhat contradicts your presumptions, not too dissimilar from the second.
“Number three, you very rarely get approached by people,” he goes on. “This is because people think that you’re out of their league so you don’t even bother trying.”
This is also saddening because this can create a barrier for potential connections, as others might hesitate to make a move due to feelings of inadequacy or fear of rejection.
His fourth argument, however, is a little more obvious: while you’re out and about, you might notice people glancing at you.
Jacob said: “Number four, you always catch strangers staring at you in public.”
Finally, people tend to be a little nervous when they do approach you.
“Number five,” Jacob says. “People always get very awkward and nervous around you.”
So there you have it; it seems that this is how to determine if you are deserving of a spot on Love Island.
When Jacob asked his followers how many out of five they had, the comments section quickly became inundated with people claiming that all five had come true for them as well as people who were skeptical of Jacob’s video.
In response to the video, one person stated: “Apparently I’m attractive. Who knew”.
Another person said: “I must be pretty attractive because I have 0 friends, 0 potential dates and absolutely no one ever approached me.”
A third joked.: “Ahhh so people don’t compliment me because I am too attractive. I like this way of thinking.”
Now, it’s important to note that attractiveness is subjective and can vary greatly from person to person. While these signs may be indicative of being perceived as attractive, individual experiences and interpretations may differ.
Before getting his dream job as a dead body on CSI: Vegas, the man in question, Josh Nalley from Kentucky, recorded a video to TikTok nearly every day for over a year while claiming to be dead.
What a Brain!
Talk about a different way to enter the bizarre and amazing world of Hollywood.
Josh clearly had his own plans whereas many aspiring actors and actresses try to break into the industry through arduous casting auditions, years of acting school, and some good old-fashioned nepotism.
It turns out that all it takes to be on a big TV show and have your chance at fame is a little amount of hard work, devotion, and numerous TikTok videos showing you lying on the ground acting dead.
Josh posted countless videos of himself acting dead in the hope that a television program would use him as a corpse in one of its episodes.
CSI: Vegas contacted the Kentucky guy after learning about the viral star and gave him the chance to portray a dead body in one of their episodes, and in a strange twist of destiny 321 days later, the Kentucky man’s request was eventually fulfilled.
This is what we Call Perseverance
He admitted to the Courier Journal that he had no prior acting training but that years of practice had helped him develop his ability to depict a corpse more convincingly.
According to Josh, “I don’t like speaking on camera, but I can lie there and act like I am dead pretty easily.
“Having done more than 300 of these posts, I have progressed and gotten better. At first, you could see me breathing, or the fake blood looked really bad.
“I have gotten rid of using the blood and gotten better at holding my breath.”
Josh realized that the secret to a believable corpse shot was to have movement in the video so that it didn’t just seem like the photo, so while he was still, his surrounds were lively and mobile.
See You on Screens!
According to him, the inspiration for the concept came from seeing a woman post about spicy sauce on TikTok and receive a ton of offers from merchants. This made him wonder whether he could accomplish the same thing by portraying a dead body on television.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for him while he was on set; he disclosed that he unintentionally blew one take by leaving his phone on, and of course a telemarketer decided to ring him at just the worst time.
Josh has gotten a lot of other invitations to portray a dead body for other movies, so maybe his chance at fame is only getting started. Despite this, he has no plans to leave his day job as a restaurant manager. I guess perseverance pays off after all.
CSI: Vegas, the highly anticipated revival of the beloved crime drama series, brings back familiar faces and introduces new characters for thrilling investigations, captivating viewers with its signature blend of forensic science and gripping storytelling.
Spencer, played by Jerry Trainor as Carly’s elder brother, is a character you may be familiar with if you watched iCarly.
iCarly comeback
“iCarly” is a beloved Nickelodeon show that originally aired from 2007 to 2012. It follows the lives of Carly Shay and her friends Sam and Freddie, who create their own web show. The series is known for its humor, relatable characters, and its impact on teenage internet culture.
Along with Miranda Cosgrove as Carly and Jennette McCurdy as Sam, who played Carly’s best friend, Jerry Trainor was one of the primary characters.
Awful Trauma
Miranda and Jerry made a comeback for the iCarly revival, however Jennette did not. In her heartfelt and unvarnished memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette detailed the alleged “emotional abuse” she allegedly suffered at the hands of Nickelodeon.
“My whole childhood and adolescence were very exploited,” Jennette told the New York Times.
“It still gives my nervous system a reaction to say it. There were cases where people had the best intentions and maybe didn’t know what they were doing. And also cases where they did — they knew exactly what they were doing.” Jennette mentioned “the Creator,” someone massaged her shoulders without her permission and prodded her to drink.
In a New York Times interview conducted at the time of the memoir’s publication, Miranda discussed the book.
“When you’re young, you’re so in your own head. You can’t imagine that people around you are having much harder struggles. You don’t expect things like that from the person in the room who’s making everyone laugh.”
More Like a Brother
Jerry recently shared his opinions on the memoir for the first time in an interview with E! News.
“I read it immediately,” he said.
“It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also brilliant and funny. I felt a lot of pride for her being able to speak her truth,” Jerry added.
“I talked with her about it — and I said exactly that,” he said. “She’s very strong and very perceptive, and you can see it in the writing how smart she is.”
He continued, “It’s stuff she’s going to deal with for her whole life, but she’s amazing. She’s using it, and she’s growing stronger because of it.”
Jerry Trainor is an American actor and comedian, known for his versatile performances and charismatic presence. Born on January 21, 1977, in San Diego, California, Trainor began his acting career in the late 1990s, appearing in various television shows and films.
However, he gained widespread recognition and became a household name for his role as Spencer Shay in the hit Nickelodeon series “iCarly” (2007-2012).
Trainor’s portrayal of the eccentric and lovable older brother of Carly Shay, played by Miranda Cosgrove, endeared him to audiences of all ages.
With his impeccable comedic timing and genuine charm, Trainor has established himself as a talented and beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
His ability to effortlessly switch between hilarious slapstick humor and heartfelt emotional moments has made him a fan favorite, and his contributions to the world of television have left an indelible mark.