Free Speech Or Fear Tactics? The Unchecked Rise Of Right-Wing Online Abuse

Yusra Khan A microblogging site is no town square, but the influence of X (formerly Twitter) cannot be understated when it comes to deciphering the health of public discourse. Indian pro-government media personalities often hold more sway in this regard than algorithmic bot activity when it comes to harassment and targeted bullying in the online… Read More Free Speech Or Fear Tactics? The Unchecked Rise Of Right-Wing Online Abuse

Herders in Ladakh say they’re losing grazing land – and a way of life

By Simone McCarthy and Aishwarya S Iyer, CNN High in the Himalayas, the people of a remote northern Indian territory fear their way of life is under threat from the changing climate, looming development – and border tensions with China. At stake, they believe, is the future of Ladakh, one of the world’s highest elevation regions, where indigenous… Read More Herders in Ladakh say they’re losing grazing land – and a way of life

Rajput Anger in Western UP Puts BJP in Firefighting Mode Days Before Polling

A sudden wave of protest meetings held in Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar and Meerut by leaders of the dominant, landed community has forced the BJP to address their question and try to gloss over the divisions in its electoral caste rainbow by ramping up the Hindutva card and sentiments of nationalism. Omar Rashid With just a week… Read More Rajput Anger in Western UP Puts BJP in Firefighting Mode Days Before Polling

‘Crocodile tears in name of safeguarding judiciary’: AILU condemns letter by 600 lawyers to CJI

‘The present regime has been making a direct onslaught and subtle subterfuge against the basic structure of the Constitution, including independence of the judiciary, and ridiculing the judiciary for exercising power of judicial review on legislations’ R. Balaji The All-India Lawyers Union (AILU) has condemned the recent letter by 600 lawyers to the Chief Justice… Read More ‘Crocodile tears in name of safeguarding judiciary’: AILU condemns letter by 600 lawyers to CJI

Secular Opposition Crushes Islamist AKP in Turkey’s Local Elections

ARZU GEYBULLAYEVA ( Globalvoices.org ) – Turkey’s local elections which took place on March 31, will go down in history as one of its most surprising. Turkey’s demoralized opposition, namely the [secular] Republican People’s Party (CHP), dominated in what many pundits described as the ruling [center-right] Justice and Development Party’s worst defeat of its 22-year existence. For the first time since 1977, the CHP took… Read More Secular Opposition Crushes Islamist AKP in Turkey’s Local Elections

Femicides: 2000 Turkish women killed by men since Erdogan left Womens Rights Convention

At least 996 women in Turkey have been killed by men since the country’s 2021 withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at combating domestic violence, while 748 women have died under suspicious circumstances, Turkish Minute reported, citing a report by the We Will Stop Femicide Platform (KCDP). March 20 marks the third… Read More Femicides: 2000 Turkish women killed by men since Erdogan left Womens Rights Convention

Where Are the ‘Don Quixotes’ of Indian Academia?

NB: Anyone concerned about the intellectual health of their country should recall what Mao’s regime did to China’s academic life under the so-called Cultural Revolution in the late 1960’s. This was Mao Zedong’s motivated assault on academics, intellectuals and on his critics in the Communist Party leadership. Professor Frank Dikotter’s research study of this momentous… Read More Where Are the ‘Don Quixotes’ of Indian Academia?

Day 18 of Climate fast / Sonam Wangchuk on YouTube / Assam in solidarity with Ladakh

End of Day 18 of #climatefast | Kya hum baimani se vishwaguru ban sakte hain END OF DAY 18 OF #CLIMATEFAST I’m feeling bit better today. But deeply disturbed at the breach of trust that Ladakh witnessed from the Home Ministry. This disrespect for written manifestos will set the worst precedence in the nation. Already… Read More Day 18 of Climate fast / Sonam Wangchuk on YouTube / Assam in solidarity with Ladakh

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls Israeli Gaza campaign an ‘unfolding genocide’ (see AV)

NB: A welcome speech, AOC, but its too late to save America’s reputation as either liberal or a democracy. The USA is a racist and imperial plutocracy, whose main export is war and weaponry. Save your souls and save your consciences as well as you can. It’s my impression the rest of the world will… Read More Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls Israeli Gaza campaign an ‘unfolding genocide’ (see AV)