Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging

NB: The Iranian regime is a tyrannical theocracy, which permits no criticism, no deviation from so-called divinely sanctioned modes of behaviour. To punish people with flogging and imprisonment for speaking truth about corruption is itself a criminal act. It should never be forgotten that the regime’s leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa for the execution… Read More Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging

Dilip

‘We can’t defeat nature but we can be climate-resilient’: how plant roots can help stop landslides

Thanks to soil bioengineering in a village in north India, a submerged road was accessible in less than one week, according to officials by Charu Bahri On 14 August 2023, heavy rainfall in north India triggered flash floods and landslides, devastating the region. Kishori Lal, the sarpanch (head) of the Kothi Gehri village in the Himalayan… Read More ‘We can’t defeat nature but we can be climate-resilient’: how plant roots can help stop landslides

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There’s one thing standing in the way of a ceasefire: Netanyahu’s refusal to compromise

Simon Tisdall The latest twists and turns in negotiations to end the war in Gaza appear labyrinthine and confusing. But it’s really not that complicated. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, must compromise on the outstanding details of the proposed ceasefire deal and Hamas’s weekend counter-offer – and immediately halt Israel’s criminal bombing of Gaza and reckless military incursions… Read More There’s one thing standing in the way of a ceasefire: Netanyahu’s refusal to compromise

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Anne Lamott on love, sobriety and reaching 70: ‘All I’ve learned, I’ve learned because the abyss swallowed me’

I feel about Christians the way everybody feels about Christians. I love what Gandhi said, that he loved Christ, but it was Christians he had a problem with, and that’s totally how I feel about it. Katherine Rowland Your book launched last month and the next day you celebrated your 70th birthday. Does that number carry… Read More Anne Lamott on love, sobriety and reaching 70: ‘All I’ve learned, I’ve learned because the abyss swallowed me’

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This mysterious iron pillar in India has been exposed to the elements for over 1,600 years. So why hasn’t it ever rusted?

Can an iron structure stand tall for 1,600 years without rusting, despite being exposed to the elements? By Poonam Binayak, CNN It seems implausible, considering the supposed lack of technology at the time of its construction. Yet, inside New Delhi’s UNESCO-listed Qutb Minar complex – a collection of historic monuments and buildings built in the early 13th century… Read More This mysterious iron pillar in India has been exposed to the elements for over 1,600 years. So why hasn’t it ever rusted?

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Israel is banning Al Jazeera, America is banning TikTok. We know why

What the two laws have in common is desire to silence Israel-Gaza war critics Seth Stern The White House rightly said it was “concerning” when Israel’s parliament laid the groundwork to shut down Al Jazeera within its borders in April. On Sunday, Israel made its move. The Foreign Press Association called it a “dark day for democracy”. If the… Read More Israel is banning Al Jazeera, America is banning TikTok. We know why

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Hunt for grand victories and impact on democratic culture

Bharat Bhushan The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)‘s preoccupation with grander victories in every election seems to be feeding the worst standards of democratic conduct. Does pressure on Opposition candidates to stand down suggest narcissism, or does it reflect an element of nervousness? Take the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat. It has been a pocket borough… Read More Hunt for grand victories and impact on democratic culture

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Munitions India Ltd Exported Ordnance to Israel as Gaza Was Reduced to Rubble

The Modi government licensed a shipment in January 2024, the very month the ICJ ruled that “at least some of the acts and omissions alleged … to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the [Genocide] Convention.” R. Ramachandran New Delhi: The Adani group’s drone… Read More Munitions India Ltd Exported Ordnance to Israel as Gaza Was Reduced to Rubble

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