Rio’s reporters risk death to reveal criminal ties between police, politicians and mafia

NB: The elephant in the drawing room: the criminalisation of the state, all over the world. DS Why do highly trained police officers embrace a life of crime?… The killing of councillor Marielle Franco has inspired a generation of journalists to probe the city’s dangerous underworld… “There is no separating crime, police and politics.” Tom… Read More Rio’s reporters risk death to reveal criminal ties between police, politicians and mafia

Cheques and Imbalances: The taming of the Election Commission of India

ERAM AGHA ON THE EVENING of 22 March, there was unusual activity at the Election Commission of India’s headquarters, on Delhi’s Ashoka Road. At about 5 pm, various representatives of opposition parties had started trickling onto the premises. A team of television reporters was already in place. Various leaders of the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance… Read More Cheques and Imbalances: The taming of the Election Commission of India

Pratap Bhanu Mehta: Student anger in the US, 3 crises — democracy, university, protest

Protests against the war in Gaza across US universities are a sign of a triple crisis: Of liberal democracy, of the university, and paradoxically, of anti-war protests as well The widespread protests against the war in Gaza across dozens of US university campuses, and the unprecedented crackdowns are a sign of a triple crisis: Of… Read More Pratap Bhanu Mehta: Student anger in the US, 3 crises — democracy, university, protest

The WhatsApp Mafia | Dhruv Rathee

In this video, we explore how “WhatsApp University” influences unwavering loyalty among some citizens towards political leaders, despite personal hardships or evident issues like inflation and misinformation. A poignant discussion on the pervasive impact of misinformation spread through WhatsApp. The video highlights the complex interplay of media, personal belief systems, and political loyalty, encouraging a… Read More The WhatsApp Mafia | Dhruv Rathee

Chris Hedges on Technocapitalism: Bitcoin, Mars, and Dystopia

We are living through an incipient technological revolution. AI, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, commercial space travel, and other innovations are rapidly transforming everything from the workplace to the financial architecture of the global economy. While many of these technologies hold vast potential to benefit the social good, the multinational corporations and financial oligarchy that drive innovation and… Read More Chris Hedges on Technocapitalism: Bitcoin, Mars, and Dystopia

An election snapshot: No wave, voter apathy and a dead candidate

Bharat Bhushan The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is known for micro-managing elections based on gathering political intelligence right up to the booth level. That is the image. The reality is that its Moradabad Lok Sabha candidate died a day after polling in his constituency. That Kunwar Sarvesh Singh had cancer was an open secret. But he managed… Read More An election snapshot: No wave, voter apathy and a dead candidate

29 Maoists killed in Bastar – What must India do to prevent their replacement?

NB: The author of this thoughtful article is to be congratulated for doing his research. He ends thus “To address the problem, India needs to do something infinitely more difficult than killing Maoists: Giving Adivasis some justice.” The sabotage of justice in India has been unfolding as a recurrent nightmare for decades, and it concerns… Read More 29 Maoists killed in Bastar – What must India do to prevent their replacement?