Some of the Intretsing facts about Switzerland

Image Source: MySwitzerland.com

Switzerland is a fascinating country with many unique and interesting facts. Here are some highlights:

1. Four Official Languages: Switzerland has four national languages, German, French, Italian, and Romansh. This linguistic diversity reflects the country's cultural diversity and makes it one of the most multilingual nations in the world.
2. Neutrality: Switzerland is famous for its policy of neutrality, which has been maintained since the early 19th century. The country has not participated in any military conflict since 1815 and hosts numerous international organizations, including the United Nations in Geneva.
3. High Quality of Life: Switzerland consistently ranks among the countries with the highest quality of life. It boasts excellent healthcare, a strong economy, low crime rates, and stunning natural landscapes.
4. Alpine Paradise: The Swiss Alps are renowned for their breathtaking beauty and are a popular destination for skiing, hiking, and mountaineering. The Matterhorn, one of the most iconic mountains in the Alps, is located here.
5. Innovative Country: Switzerland is known for its innovation and has been ranked as one of the world's most innovative countries. It has a high concentration of Nobel Prize winners and is home to the world-renowned research center CERN, where the Large Hadron Collider is located.
6. High Cost of Living: While Switzerland offers a high quality of life, it is also one of the most expensive countries in the world. Cities like Zurich and Geneva regularly feature on lists of the world's most expensive cities.
7. Swiss Watches: Switzerland is synonymous with high-quality watchmaking. Brands like Rolex, Omega, and Patek Philippe are known worldwide for their precision, craftsmanship, and luxury.
8. Swiss Chocolate: Switzerland is famous for its delicious chocolate. The country has one of the highest rates of chocolate consumption per capita, and Swiss chocolate brands like Lindt and Toblerone are popular around the globe.
9. Direct Democracy: Switzerland practices direct democracy, which allows citizens to participate in decision-making through referendums and initiatives. This system gives Swiss citizens a direct say in their country's laws and policies.
10. Banking Secrecy: Switzerland is known for its banking industry and the secrecy laws that have traditionally protected the identities of account holders. Although some secrecy laws have been relaxed in recent years due to international pressure, Swiss banks remain an integral part of the global financial system.
11. Fountain of Europe: Switzerland is sometimes called the "Fountain of Europe" because it is the source of several major European rivers, including the Rhine, the Rhône, and the Inn (a tributary of the Danube).
12. Environmental Consciousness: The Swiss are highly environmentally conscious, with extensive recycling programs, widespread use of public transport, and a strong commitment to renewable energy and sustainable living.

These facts highlight Switzerland's unique blend of cultural diversity, political stability, natural beauty, and innovation, making it a truly distinctive country in Europe and the world.

Here are some of the phots and videos from Switzerland.

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What are the key features of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024?

The key features of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 are: 

1. Renaming the Waqf Act, 1995: The Act has been renamed to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995, to reflect its broader objective of improving the management and efficiency of Waqf boards and properties, emphasising empowerment and development along with effective administration. 

2. Formation of Waqf: The Act allows waqf to be formed by: (i) declaration, (ii) recognition based on long-term use (waqf by user), or (iii) endowment when the line of succession ends (waqf-alal-aulad). 

 • The Bill states that only a person practicing Islam for at least five years may declare a waqf. It clarifies that the person must own the property being declared. 

 • It removes waqf by user, where properties could be deemed as waqf based solely on prolonged use for religious purposes. 

 • It also adds that waqf-alal-aulad must not result in denial of inheritance rights to the donor’s heir including women heirs. 

3. Government property as Waqf: The Bill states that any government property identified as waqf will cease to be so. The Collector of the area will determine ownership in case of uncertainty, and submit a report to the state government. If deemed a government property, he will update the revenue records. 

4. Power to determine if a property is waqf: The Act empowers the Waqf Board to inquire and determine if a property is waqf. The Bill removes this provision. 

5. Survey of waqf: The Act provides for appointment of a Survey Commissioner and additional commissioners to survey waqf. The Bill instead empowers Collectors to do the survey. Pending surveys will be conducted as per the state revenue laws. 

6. Central Waqf Council: The Act constitutes the Central Waqf Council to advise the central and state governments and Waqf Boards. The Union Minister in-charge of Waqf is the ex-officio chairperson of the Council. The Act requires that all Council members be Muslims, and at least two must be women. The Bill instead provides that two members must be non-Muslims. MPs, former judges, and eminent persons appointed to the Council as per the Act need not be Muslims. The following members must be Muslims: 

 (i) representatives of Muslim organisations, 

 (ii) scholars in Islamic law, and 

 (iii) chairpersons of Waqf Boards. 

Of the Muslim members, two must be women. 

7. Waqf Boards: The Act provides for election of up to two members each from electoral colleges of Muslim: (i) MPs, (ii) MLAs and MLCs, and (iii) Bar Council members, from the state to the Board. The Bill instead empowers the state government to nominate one person from each of the above background to the Board. They need not be Muslims. It adds that the Board must have: 

 (i) two non-Muslim members. and 

 (ii) at least one member each from Shias, Sunnis, and Backward classes of Muslims. It must also have one member each from Bohra and Agakhani communities if they have waqf in the state. The Act provides that at least two members must be women. The Bill states that two Muslim members must be women. 

8. Composition of Tribunals: The Act requires states to constitute Tribunals to address disputes over waqf. The Chairman of these Tribunals must be a Judge of the rank equivalent to a Class-1, District, Sessions, or Civil Judge. Other members include:

 (i) a state officer equal to an Additional District Magistrate, and

 (ii) a person knowledgeable in Muslim law and jurisprudence. 

The Bill removes the latter from the Tribunal. It instead provides the following as members:

 (i) a current or former District Court judge as its chairman, and

 (ii) a current or former officer of the rank joint secretary to the state government. 

9. Appeal on orders of Tribunals: Under the Act, decisions of the Tribunal are final and appeals against its decisions in Courts are prohibited. The High Court can consider matters on its own accord, on an application by the Board, or an aggrieved party. The Bill omits provisions deeming finality to Tribunal’s decisions. Tribunal’s orders may be appealed in the High Court within 90 days. 

10. Powers of the Central Government: The Bill empowers the central government to make rules regarding: 

 (i) registration,

 (ii) publication of accounts of waqf, and

 (iii) publication of proceedings of waqf Boards. Under the Act, state government may get the accounts of waqfs audited at any point. 

The Bill empowers the central government to get these audited by the CAG or a designated officer. 

11. Waqf Boards for Bohra and Agakhani: The Act allows establishing separate Waqf Boards for Sunni and Shia sects if Shia waqf constitute more than 15% of all waqf properties or waqf income in the state. The Bill also allows separate waqf boards for Aghakhani and Bohra sects.

Issues in Waqf Amendment Bill 2024

1. As mentioned in #2, recognition by long term use and waqf alal aulad both the conditioned are misleading and invalid.

2. As mentioned in #3, govt property as waqf, its is waqf and only waqf, once waqf it can't revocked. Here govt want to take ownership of the properties on which some the govt institution are running on waqf property.

3. As mentioned in #4 or #5, current biased administration of India, cant inquire fair and do justice with Muslims. Taking power from Waqf is like making waqf disabled, so govt can easily rule and take control on the properties.

4.  As mentioned in #6 why a non-muslim will be the member of the waqf, what is his role here? Does Hindus or Christains or Sikh allow Muslims to be part of their religious committee?

References

1. Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 | Press Note Details: Press Information Bureau (pib.gov.in)

Mysore Palace | History of Mysore palace and current status

Image source, Muhammad Mehdi Karim/Wikimedia Commons

The History of Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in India, located in the city of Mysore, Karnataka. It is an iconic example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles. The palace serves as the residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka.

Who Built It

The current Mysore Palace was commissioned by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and his mother, Maharani Kempananjammanni Devi, the then Queen Regent. The construction was overseen by British architect Henry Irwin and completed in 1912.

Construction Cost

The construction of the Mysore Palace was a significant investment for the Wadiyar dynasty, with the total cost amounting to approximately INR 41,47,913 at the time. Adjusted for inflation, this would be a substantially larger amount in today’s terms.

Significance

Mysore Palace is not only a royal residence but also a cultural hub that highlights the grandeur and heritage of the Mysore kingdom. It is a key location for the celebration of Dasara, a major Hindu festival celebrated with much pomp and grandeur in Mysore.

Timeline

1. 14th Century: The original palace was constructed during the Wadiyar rule, but it was a simple wooden structure.

   

2. 1638: The palace was expanded and fortified over the years as the Wadiyar dynasty grew in power.

3. 1793-1799: During the reign of Tipu Sultan, parts of the palace were affected due to ongoing conflicts in the region. However, specific claims about Tipu Sultan demolishing the palace are not well-documented and remain subject to historical scrutiny.

4. 1897: The old wooden palace was destroyed by a fire during the wedding of Princess Jayalakshmanni, leading to the commissioning of the new palace.

5. 1897-1912: The current structure was constructed under the guidance of British architect Henry Irwin. The palace was completed in 1912 and stands as a testament to the Wadiyar's wealth and taste.

6. Today: Mysore Palace is a museum that houses numerous artifacts belonging to the royal family, including paintings, jewelry, and royal attire. It remains one of the most visited tourist attractions in India, drawing millions of visitors annually.

Architecture and Features

The Mysore Palace is built in the Indo-Saracenic style, which is a combination of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic architectural styles. Key features include:

- Domes and Arches: The palace is adorned with beautiful domes and arches that are characteristic of Islamic architecture.

- Durbar Hall: This grand hall was used for ceremonial meetings and is known for its ornate ceiling and sculpted pillars.

- Ambavilasa: This hall was used for private audience and features stained glass ceilings, intricately carved doors, and mosaic floors.

- Illumination: The palace is lit with approximately 100,000 light bulbs during special occasions like the Dasara festival, creating a breathtaking sight.

Current Status

Mysore Palace is currently managed by the Government of Karnataka and remains a public museum that offers a glimpse into the royal lifestyle of the Wadiyars. It also serves as the center of Mysore's famous Dasara celebrations, drawing visitors from all over the world. The palace remains well-preserved and is a crucial part of India's cultural and architectural heritage.

The Mysore Palace continues to be a symbol of Karnataka’s rich cultural history and stands as a testament to the architectural brilliance of the Wadiyar dynasty, making it a cherished monument of India’s regal past.

Where to find the log for asset compute workers | AEM Processing Profile | Asset Compute

In Adobe Experience Manager as a cloud service (AEM aa cloud service) when someone use asset compute worker (custom or ootb) via AEM Assets processing profile, a developer has to debug and find the issue when processing is getting fail. In this situation, where a developer will find or access the log for Adobe IO runtime or Asset compute worker, whether in AEM logs or IO runtime logs.

Image 1: Asset processing failed

Finding error

1. First, we need to look the AEM error log file and see if processing is trigger and any error printed in the log file.
   
2. Second, specially for asset compute worker, go to your local machine, open the terminal and get the logs using aio command "aio app logs". After that you will get the log from Adobe IO runtime and one can easily access the log and find the cause of failure.

Image 2: aio logs showing failure message

Note: To access the Adobe IO runtime logs, your machine should have the adobe aio installed. 

References

1. Debug an Asset Compute worker | Adobe Experience Manager

How to preview HTML in VS Code

1. Open VS Code, and go to extension section.

2. Search for "HTML Preview" and select one HTML Preview extension to install.

3. After successful install, open a HTML file in VS code editor. 

4. Right click on the file name from header. Click on option "Open Preview".

This will split your screen and show the preview right side of the screen and code editor left side of the screen.

Enjoy coding!

What is the purpose of go-live checklist?

A project go-live checklist is essential for ensuring a smooth and successful launch of a project, product, or service. Here are the key purposes it serves:

1. Readiness Assessment: It helps evaluate the readiness of the project, ensuring all necessary steps have been completed and everything is in place.
2. Risk Mitigation: By identifying potential issues in advance, it allows teams to address them proactively, reducing the risk of problems during the launch.
3. Quality Assurance: It ensures the completeness and quality of the solution, making sure it meets the required standards before going live.
4. Coordination and Communication: It aligns all team members and stakeholders, ensuring everyone knows their roles and responsibilities during the go-live phase.
5. Smooth Transition: It facilitates a seamless transition from development to operational use, minimizing disruptions and ensuring a successful implementation.