Reflections
138. Human rights are no longer a priority
Citizens of Chile have elected a candidate similar to those in countries like India, Italy, Brazil, and the USA, where ultra-conservative right-wing leaders have been effectively addressing major issu...
137. Harassment China Style
China has developed a new method using Artificial Intelligence and digital tools to target women activists and opponents specifically. Recently, prominent pro-democracy Hong Kong exiles in the UK...
136. Donald Trump has another outrageous plan
U.S. President Donald Trump, who once envisioned a Riviera in Gaza, has now redirected his efforts toward creating one in Ukraine. He has dubbed it the Free Economic Zone in the regions presently cont...
135. Iranian authorities are at it again
Amidst sanctions, economic decline, and fears of a new conflict with Israel, Iran has increased its crackdown on intellectuals and others. In a significant escalation of the government's crackdow...
134. Finally, Bulgaria’s Rosen government resigns
For many months, Bulgaria—Europe's poorest country—faced significant issues due to pervasive corruption that became unbearable.The political instability and uncertainty had caused doubts in people's m...
133. A Ukrainian journalist killed in Russian prison
Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, known as Vika has been missing since July 2023. She was performing her professional duties and reporting from behind enemy lines in occupied Ukraine.She...
132. Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
A dear friend called yesterday from London. He was returning home after watching a play, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo” at the Young Vic.He told me that it’s an unusual outlandish story that dramat...
131. Trump mostly trumps
In my view US President Donald Trump is often correct in his opinions especially when he makes all those outrageous comments.Recently in an interview he criticised some of the policies of European Uni...
130. The English novelist who knew no English at age 20
Polish novelist Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), could speak no English at age 20, but he went on to become an outstanding novelist, best known for his tales of seafaring life including Heart of Darkness an...
129. Women had nothing to fear in Syria but men needed to worry
I don’t have much knowledge about the Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. While watching him on television I am unable to connect that Sharaa has spent time in US jails inside Iraq s...
128. Iran not a place for filmmakers
After the Bangladesh it is the second absentia sentence.Iran has sentenced the Palme d’Or-winning film-maker Jafar Panahi in absentia to one year in prison. It has also announced a travel ban.Accordin...
127. Release jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti
Can the cultural voices shift the course of politics? I believe the history has many such incidents.Known as Palestine’s Nelson Mandela, Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, 66, has been in priso...