Someone had to say it

This week served up frothy freedom, secondhand embarrassment, and one very soggy reminder that safety still isn’t a national priority. A man in Assam celebrates his divorce by bathing in milk. Trump butchers two diplomatic letters in one go, managing to both misgender and misspell world leaders (including ours). And back home, a boat packed with tourists sinks off the Delft coast, reminding us that while we’re busy wooing travellers, we might want to keep them alive too. Let’s get into it.

Divorce, But Make It Dairy

Forget cake-cutting or unfollowing your ex, this Assamese man just celebrated his divorce by bathing in 40 litres of milk. Yes, really.

In a viral video that’s somehow both tragic and iconic, Manik Ali from Nalbari, Assam, declared “I am free” while dousing himself in milk like he just won a dairy-sponsored championship. The reason? His now-ex-wife had allegedly eloped twice, leaving him heartbroken and, apparently, lactose inclined.

To be fair, people have their own rituals for moving on. Some throw a divorce party. Others chop their hair, get a tattoo, or eat an entire tub of ice cream. Ali? He chose a milk shower, and the internet can’t look away.

Of course, the video’s sparked a mix of applause, concern, and criticism. Some hailed it as “peak freedom energy,” while others questioned the milk wastage and his emotional stability.
But in a world that’s seen enough heartbreak, maybe this was just his way of cleansing not just his skin, but his spirit.

Last Word: Heartbreak hurts, but healing? Sometimes it comes with calcium.

From Aruna to Anura: Trump’s Diplomatic Blunders Keep Coming

Two countries. Two leaders. Two very public protocol fails. As part of his latest tariff tirade, U.S. President Donald Trump sent out official letters to world leaders, and somehow managed to offend both Bosnia and Sri Lanka in the same week.

To Bosnia’s Željka Cvijanović, he correctly used “Her Excellency” in the header… only to open the letter with “Dear Mr. President.” That post was swiftly deleted and reuploaded with the proper salutation.

Closer to home, Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake received a letter with his first name spelled as “Aruna.” The White House later reposted a “corrected” version, but not before screenshots spread like wildfire. The message itself? Still not great: a 30% tariff on Sri Lankan exports starting August 1, citing “persistent” trade barriers.

Between the name fumbles and the economic threats, it’s giving sloppy, not statesmanlike.

Last Word: If you’re going to throw diplomatic shade, at least get the name right.

Sri Lanka: We Need Tourists. Also Sri Lanka: Runs Boats Like a Group Project.

This week’s PR disaster practically wrote itself. A boat carrying 12 tourists and 2 crew members from Delft Island to Kurikattuwan sank in deep sea after suddenly springing a leak. Yes, sank. As in, Titanic vibes, minus the iceberg and plus a white flag flapping in panic.

Thankfully, all 14 on board were rescued; 12 directly, and the other 2 after swimming for their lives. The Sri Lankan Navy swooped in like heroes from a movie scene, but let’s be honest: no tourist signs up for the "nearly drowned in Jaffna" experience.

It’s baffling that in a country begging for tourism dollars, we’re still putting people on questionable vessels with zero real regulation. No proper safety checks, no guarantee of life jackets, no accountability when things go wrong.

We say we want tourists. Let’s start acting like it.

Last Word: Hospitality isn't just five-star hotels and Instagrammable beaches. It’s making sure people don’t sink while island-hopping.

Until next week, stay sharp, stay grounded, and don’t forget your life jacket.
– Rihaab