New Delhi: The Indian government was severely critical of an official US government report that claimed religious freedom in India was on a “negative trajectory” in 2015 as religious tolerance had “deteriorated” and that violations of religious freedom had “increased”. The report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom also named some top BJP […]
May begins with workers’ day followed closely by Press Freedom Day, but working journalists are anything but secure in the hinterland in India. On May 10, journalists of Chhatisgarh will be protesting in Delhi against the State sponsored intimidation and violence against them. Chhattisgarh continues to be one of the most dangerous places for journalists […]
Can you imagine the Indian National Movement without a reference to Jawaharlal Nehru? The new Social Science textbook for Class VIII in schools of Rajasthan has erased Nehru from the pages of history. It does not mention who India’s first Prime Minister was. Uploaded on the website of publisher Rajasthan Rajya Pathyapustak Mandal — http://www.rstbraj.in […]
Transgender Mothers received recognition in US President Barak Obama’s ‘Mothers’ Day Proclamation’. In his 2016 Mother’s Day proclamation, President Obama included a new class of mothers in his announcement: transgenders. “On Mother’s Day, we celebrate those who are first to welcome us into the world,” Obama began. “Performing the most important work there is, mothers […]
Air India, which appeared to be shudderingly close to folding up,a year ago, now seems to be soaring along fine,. The NDA government has claimed that the national carrier Air India has improved its performance and it is making profit for the first time in 10 years. “Air India’s all-time performance has increased. This year it […]
Nepal: the latest country to join the ‘intolerant’ tags on social media? For one, they’re booting out a foreigner for criticizing their government in his tweets and social posts. Secondly, there’s no way you can appeal! A Canadian living and working in Nepal has been ordered to leave the country within two days after criticising […]
For the first time ever, a Pakistan court will hear a Sikh man’s case against Muslims for ‘blasphemy’. In this Islamic country, it’s usually the non-Muslims who are tried under this controversial law,. Five people have appeared in a Pakistani court accused of blasphemy after a Sikh man complained they had desecrated his turban during […]
Sri Lanka will prohibit HIV discrimination in educational settings, says its Supreme Court. This is the first court in South Asia to make a general pronouncement recognizing human rights of those living with HIV, and sets a precedent for future cases in Sri Lanka challenging HIV discrimination experienced in settings other than education. The court […]
Sir, On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which we never knew existed until the media broadcasted it; I have a few points to share. It isn’t clear what this ‘Freedom of the Press’ is supposed to mean. Every country in the world says that in theory their newspapers and press is free. But […]
Beer drinkers of the world, you are in for some really tough times, this extraordinarily hot summer! Craft beer companies may be facing tough times after a dry, sweltering summer scourged much of Europe, reducing the continent’s hop harvest and driving up prices for the ever-important crop, which is one of the four main ingredients […]
Bihar this week took the unprecedented step of forbidding any cooking over open fires between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., after fires swept through shantytowns and thatched-roof houses in villages and killed dozens. People were instead told to cook to night. While India remains in the midst of a heatwave that has killed more than […]
What will happen to the lakhs of students who dream of becoming doctors? Is the Medical Council of India (MCI), the body responsible for screening students for admission to MBBS degrees, capable enough for such a work? In spite of functioning for so many years has MCI been able to generate professional excellence? There are […]
