Anju Agnihotri Chaba: Debts due to poor income, suicides, high interest loans — Punjab farmers don’t paint a rosy picture

If Punjab’s farmers are so prosperous then why are they leaving farming? Twelve per cent farmers have left farming and the number of small and marginal farmers has come down from five lakh in 1991 to three lakh in 2001…they have either migrated to urban areas/overseas to become labourers or sold their lands…. 9,300 farmers… Read More Anju Agnihotri Chaba: Debts due to poor income, suicides, high interest loans — Punjab farmers don’t paint a rosy picture

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India's protesting farmers pay homage to the 143 farmers martyred in their movement and reject Centre's offer to stay farm laws / 42-year old Haryana farmer dies by suicide at Tikri border

 People have trust issues with the government. What if they implement these laws again after a stay for a short period? We, therefore, decided to reject the proposals of the government.” …   A statement on behalf of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of organisations spearheading the protest, released by Darshan Pal of Krantikari… Read More India's protesting farmers pay homage to the 143 farmers martyred in their movement and reject Centre's offer to stay farm laws / 42-year old Haryana farmer dies by suicide at Tikri border

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Nirupama Subramanian: Why a demolition in Jaffna recalls Sri Lanka’s unaddressed Tamil question

The sudden demolition of a memorial in the Jaffna University Campus in northern Sri Lanka to remember Tamil civilians killed during the LTTE’s last stand against the Sri Lankan Army in 2009 has brought attention to the simmering and yet unaddressed issues of post-war ethnic reconciliation, justice and accountability, as well as a political resolution of the… Read More Nirupama Subramanian: Why a demolition in Jaffna recalls Sri Lanka’s unaddressed Tamil question

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Bernie Sanders: Joe Biden must put an end to business as usual. Here's where to start // GOP nightmare about to come true: Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders

4,000 Americans are now dying each day from Covid-19, while the federal government fumbles vaccine production and distribution, testing and tracing. In the midst of the worst pandemic in 100 years, more than 90 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured and can’t afford to go to a doctor when they get sick. The isolation and… Read More Bernie Sanders: Joe Biden must put an end to business as usual. Here's where to start // GOP nightmare about to come true: Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders

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Militarized US Capitol is being called a ‘war zone’ / The Fall of the American Empire? / The Earth Does Not Belong to Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk

For some Americans, including the Muslim and Arab Americans who have faced decades of government surveillance and suspicion, the war on terror has always been operating at home. But the reaction to the 6 January attack may represent a new stage of the “imperial boomerang”, in which tactics developed by empires to maintain control abroad… Read More Militarized US Capitol is being called a ‘war zone’ / The Fall of the American Empire? / The Earth Does Not Belong to Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk

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Covaxin, Covishield not for everyone — manufacturers list who should avoid the Covid vaccines

The indigenous Covaxin cannot be administered on those who are immune-compromised or are on a medication, a factsheet released by manufacturer Bharat Biotech said. According to the factsheet, released Monday, those who should be exempted from the list of beneficiaries include individuals with a history of allergies, who have a fever, bleeding disorder or are… Read More Covaxin, Covishield not for everyone — manufacturers list who should avoid the Covid vaccines

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MONICA DHANRAJ: What do Arnab Goswami’s WhatsApp Leaks Tell us About the State of our Democracy?

On 15 January, over a thousand pages of the charge-sheet filed by the Mumbai Police in the TRP scam case were leaked to the press. They contain transcripts of alleged private WhatsApp chats between Partho Dasgupta, former CEO, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the body responsible for measuring and publishing the Television Rating Point (TRP)… Read More MONICA DHANRAJ: What do Arnab Goswami’s WhatsApp Leaks Tell us About the State of our Democracy?

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Paul Rogers – The far right’s rise within armed forces is a global threat to democracy

Earlier this month, the world was shocked by the Capitol rioters’ assault on US democracy. But more chilling still is that those who swore to protect the institutions of state may have been among the attackers. One US army captain is under investigation for taking part in the 6 January rally that eventually led to the breach… Read More Paul Rogers – The far right’s rise within armed forces is a global threat to democracy

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Tansy Hoskins – "They left us starving": How the fashion industry abandoned its workers

In 2019 the fashion industry generated $2.5trn in global revenues, making it one of the largest industries in the world. But when COVID-19 struck in 2020, it virtually collapsed. Exports of raw materials from China began to slow in January last year, and subsequent lockdowns around the world meant shoppers stayed at home, retailers shuttered stores, and… Read More Tansy Hoskins – "They left us starving": How the fashion industry abandoned its workers

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