Kisan movement: Thousands of volunteers sign up ahead of R-Day protest // Supreme Court may stay the controversial agricultural laws

As part of preparations for a large protest on Republic Day during which farmers would bring their tractors into the capital, farm unions are carrying out a mass recruitment drive in villages across Punjab. Over the last two days, thousands have signed up. Farmer unions had earlier announced they would march to the capital on… Read More Kisan movement: Thousands of volunteers sign up ahead of R-Day protest // Supreme Court may stay the controversial agricultural laws

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Paul Blumenthal: Trump’s MAGA Myth Reaches Its Catastrophic Conclusion / Schwarzenegger compares Capitol riot to Kristallnacht / Bharat Bhushan: Vigilantism threatens India too

The French syndicalist theorist Georges Sorel provided the most detailed explanation and theory for eschatological political myths in his 1908 book, “Reflections on Violence,” which focused on socialism and the myth of the general strike. Myths like Make America Great Again contain “all the strongest inclinations of a people, of a party or of a… Read More Paul Blumenthal: Trump’s MAGA Myth Reaches Its Catastrophic Conclusion / Schwarzenegger compares Capitol riot to Kristallnacht / Bharat Bhushan: Vigilantism threatens India too

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Munawar Faruqui: Real Villain is Divisive Heartland Politics, Not Stand-up Comics. By PARSA VENKATESHWAR RAO JR

The story behind the arrest of Gujarat stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui in Indore on New Year’s Day is a clear display of proto-fascist muscle-power by the local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and the city’s former mayor Malini Singh Gaur’s son, Eklavya Singh Gaur. They interrupted a show at Café Monroe and the police arrested Faruqui and… Read More Munawar Faruqui: Real Villain is Divisive Heartland Politics, Not Stand-up Comics. By PARSA VENKATESHWAR RAO JR

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Rebecca Solnit: The violence at the Capitol was an attempted coup / It took thugs roaming the halls of Congress for media to speak the truth / Reports & Photos of the Siege of the US Congress

I call it a coup attempt because, though I assume it will not prevent the Biden presidency, it certainly intended to, and is part of a campaign to delegitimize and thereby weaken the incoming administration. It was a long time coming, building up for years with white rage, especially white male rage fuelled by everyone… Read More Rebecca Solnit: The violence at the Capitol was an attempted coup / It took thugs roaming the halls of Congress for media to speak the truth / Reports & Photos of the Siege of the US Congress

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Donald Trump's gift to America: Realizing we've never been a liberal democracy. By PAUL ROSENBERG

NB: What America has been doing to the rest of the world for decades after the Second World War, it is now doing to itself. Four people are dead after a Trump-sponsored riot: see pictures. There’s so much to say its difficult to begin. Those who imagine the USA to be the leader of ‘the Free… Read More Donald Trump's gift to America: Realizing we've never been a liberal democracy. By PAUL ROSENBERG

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Amulya Ganguli – End of India’s “Howdy, Modi” Bonhomie with the USA

There are bound to be a few glum faces in India’s external affairs ministry over the news of seven American lawmakers approaching the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, for interceding with India on the farmers’ issue. The officials in the ministry will not mind Pompeo’s intervention in itself since he reports to a President… Read More Amulya Ganguli – End of India’s “Howdy, Modi” Bonhomie with the USA

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Isabelle Gerretsen: This company is making building tiles out of polluted air

India has the world’s worst air pollution. Home to 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, its toxic air kills more than one million people each year. That’s partly because the South Asian nation is the world’s second largest brick producer. Brick kilns — which account for 20% of black carbon emissions globally — make a significant contribution to its terrible air. Indian architect… Read More Isabelle Gerretsen: This company is making building tiles out of polluted air

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Ramachandra Guha: Under cover of Covid-19, Modi regime has stepped up its attack on Indian democracy

2020 has been a bad year for the health of Indians and for the health of Indian democracy too. The Modi-Shah regime, which is authoritarian by instinct and belief, has used the pandemic to further undermine the processes of constitutional democracy and strengthen its hold over State and society. In pursuit of its ambitions, the… Read More Ramachandra Guha: Under cover of Covid-19, Modi regime has stepped up its attack on Indian democracy

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Julia Conley – Amid surging worldwide poverty, planet's 500 wealthiest got $1.8 trillion richer in 2020

Bloomberg’s year-end report on the wealth of the world’s billionaires shows that the richest 500 people on the planet added $1.8 trillion to their combined wealth in 2020, accumulating a total net worth of $7.6 trillion.  The Bloomberg Billionaires Index recorded its largest annual gain in the list’s history last year, with a 31% increase in the… Read More Julia Conley – Amid surging worldwide poverty, planet's 500 wealthiest got $1.8 trillion richer in 2020

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