International

    Opinion: Falsehood trumps limping truth

    Monopolisation of social media and other digital platforms is empowering right-wing forces to control the world Propaganda, misinformation and fake news are nothing new in our society. It can be traced back to the time of Mahabharata when Yudhisthir, known for his unwavering truthfulness, misled Drona by declaring that Ashwathama was killed but murmured the latter part, “I do not know if it is a man or an elephant,” so softly that Drona could not hear it clearly. Believing Yudhisthir that his warrior son Ashwathama was killed, Drona bowed his head and was beheaded. Drona was one of the epical victims of fake news or disinformation. Propaganda and misinformation have taken a new turn now with the widespread availability of sophisticated methods of information and communication technology. The sharing of text, images, videos or links online often allows information to go viral within no time. Merriam-Webster defines misinformation as false…
    International

    Indian woman found murdered in car boot in UK, Police hunting for Indian-origin husband

    Harshita Brella, an Indian was found murdered and her body left in a car boot in Ilford area of London. Police are u=hunting for her Indian-origin husband London: The UK police investigating the murder of 24-year-old Harshita Brella, whose body was recovered from a car boot in east London, have launched a manhunt for her Indian-origin husband who they suspect fled the country after killing his wife earlier this month. In an updated statement from the Northamptonshire Police on Sunday, Chief Inspector Paul Cash said more than 60 detectives were working on the case as the force released an image of Pankaj Lamba, the accused husband, in an appeal for information. “Our inquiries lead us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband Pankaj Lamba,” Cash said. “We suspect Lamba transported Harshita’s body from Northamptonshire to Ilford by car. We believe he has now fled…
    International

    Number of Indian students applying to UK universities drops 20%, reveals report

    Student groups attribute trend to limited job prospects, safety concerns following recent anti-immigration riots in some cities London: Indian students are being put off applying to UK universities, adding to their financial woes at a time when education institutions are already coping with constrained budgets, a new report into the stability of the higher education sector in England has revealed. Based on UK Home Office data on confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) by UK providers from 2022-23 to 2023-24, an Office for Students (OfS) analysis shows a 20.4 per cent drop in Indian student numbers — down from 139,914 to 111,329. Indian student groups in the UK said the fall was to be expected amid limited job prospects and safety concerns following recent anti-immigration riots in some cities. “There has been a considerable decline in student visa applications from prospective non-UK students in some major source countries,” notes the report by OfS, a non-departmental…
    International

    Trump picks ‘Great’ Elon Musk, ‘Patriot’ Vivek Ramaswamy to lead Dept of Govt Efficiency

    Says they will help his administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, restructure federal agencies Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Tesla owner Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” Trump announced. Ramaswamy is the first Indian American to have been tapped by Trump into his administration beginning January 20 next year. “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies — essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement,” Trump said. “This will send shockwaves through the system and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!” said Musk, as per the statement issued by Trump. The US President-elect…
    International

    21 killed, 46 injured in Pakistan railway station blast

    Preliminary reports indicate that explosion took place at Quetta railway station’s booking office just before Jaffer Express arrived at the platform Peshawar: At least 21 people were killed and 46 others injured in a bomb explosion at Quetta‘s railway station in Pakistan on Saturday, according to a media report. Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion took place at the railway station’s booking office just before the train arrived at the platform, Geo News reported. The Jaffer Express was scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9 am, the report said, quoting railway officials. The officials said the train had not yet arrived at the platform when the explosion took place. Given the station’s usual crowd, there is a high risk of significant casualties, the report said.
    International

    Vivek Ramaswamy says Trump’s victory is hopefully US’ comeback

    A Trump win will result in the renewal of national self-confidence, says the Indian-American politician and close confidant of President-elect Washington: Donald Trump‘s victory in the US presidential election will renew national self-confidence, an Indian-American politician and a close confidant of the President-elect has said, expressing hope that his comeback will signify America’s comeback. In a historic election on Tuesday, Trump defeated his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris and was elected the 47th President of the United States, becoming only the second commander-in-chief in over a century to win two nonconsecutive presidential terms. “America has this great tradition. We believe in our own manifest destiny…We are born to be the greatest nation that sets an example for everybody else of what’s possible for human capacity,” Vivek Ramaswamy told the Tucker Carlson Show in an interview. “I think that that’s the kind of leader we need right now to bring that back. And that’s Donald Trump as a…
    International

    Indian Americans hail Donald Trump’s victory, say he is a ‘strong leader’

    Say the country needs a leader like him who will deliver on his promises to tame inflation and curtail illegal immigration New York: Members of the Indian-American community welcomed Donald Trump‘s victory in the US presidential election, saying the country needs a “strong leader” like him who will deliver on his promises to tame inflation and curtail illegal immigration. In a historic election, Trump defeated his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris and was elected the 47th President of the United States, becoming only the second commander-in-chief in over a century to win two nonconsecutive presidential terms. Before Trump, it was Grover Cleveland who had served two nonconsecutive terms as President from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897. With his electoral victory, Trump also became the first convicted felon and twice-impeached to be elected President. However, Trump’s criminal cases, his rhetoric or baggage from his previous tenure as President, including the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol, had little…
    International

    Australia proposes social media ban for children under 16

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced plans on Thursday to legislate a minimum social media age limit of 16. While Albanese had earlier committed to proposing age restriction legislation by the end of 2024, this is the first time a specific age limit has been confirmed. Canberra: Australian children younger than 16 will be banned from using social media under a proposal put forward by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland on Thursday pledged to legislate a minimum age limit of 16 years for social media access. The Prime Minister had previously announced an intention to introduce legislation to parliament for the age limit before the end of 2024 but had not committed to a specific cut-off age. He said on Thursday that the legislation would take responsibility for enforcing the minimum age limit on social media platforms, Xinhua news agency reported. “Social…
    International

    Cause for concern: 2024 likely to be the hottest year on record again!

    News of a likely second year of record heat comes a day after Republican Donald Trump, who called climate change a “hoax” and promised to boost oil drilling and production Chicago: For the second year in a row, Earth will almost certainly be the hottest it’s ever been. And for the first time, the globe this year reached more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming compared to the pre-industrial average, the European climate agency Copernicus said. “It’s this relentless nature of the warming that I think is is worrying,” said Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus. Buontempo said the data clearly shows the planet would not see such a long sequence of record-breaking temperatures without the constant increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere driving global warming. He cited other factors that contribute to exceptionally warm years like last year and this one. They include El Nino — the temporary warming of parts of…
    International

    Will concede defeat, but not the fight, says Harris in her concession speech

    Says she spoke to President-elect Donald Trump and congratulated him on his victory, noting that her administration would facilitate a peaceful transfer of power Washington: US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has delivered a concession speech at Howard University in Washington, DC, saying that she is proud of the campaign and stressing that “when we lose an election, we accept the results”. “I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it. Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by the love of the country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America’s future. And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us,” Harris said in the speech at her alma mater. “While I concede this election,…

    International

    • Jun- 2023 -
      9 June
      559

      Saudi Arabia’s golf coup highlights Biden’s human rights bind

      When Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) signed a deal this week to merge with North America’s top body in charge of professional golf, it signaled for some the completion of a U.S.-aided rehabilitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, five years after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi that U.S. spy agencies believe he authorized. The deal – a three-way merger of U.S.-based PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the rival PIF-backed LIV circuit – was announced just as Washington’s top diplomat Antony Blinken landed in the kingdom. President Joe Biden had vowed to make the de facto Saudi ruler, known as MbS, “a pariah” after Khashoggi’s killing, which the crown prince has denied ordering, but nearly a year…

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    • 9 June
      506

      Five killed in crime-related shooting in Arab-Israeli suburb

      Five men were killed in one of the deadliest crime-related shootings in Israel’s recent history on Thursday, in a suburb of the northern city of Nazareth, Israeli police said. “We arrived at the scene with large forces and saw that it was a very difficult scene,” senior medic Ataf Salem from Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said, adding that “five wounded lay unconscious and suffered serious injuries to their bodies.” The five men were treated and sent in critical condition to hospital, where they later died, medics said. Israeli police said they had dispatched large forces to the area and were searching for suspects, confirming that the incident was criminal. The five men were treated and sent in critical…

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    • 9 June
      496

      Supreme Court rules in favor of Black Alabama voters in unexpected defense of Voting Rights Act

      The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a surprising 5-4 ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case from Alabama, with two conservative justices joining liberals in rejecting a Republican-led effort to weaken a landmark voting rights law. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh aligned with the court’s liberals in affirming a lower-court ruling that found a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act in an Alabama congressional map with one majority Black seat out of seven districts in a state where more than one in four residents is Black. The state now will have to draw a new map for next year’s elections. The decision was keenly anticipated for its potential effect on control of the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives.…

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    • 9 June
      562

      Rishi Sunak is a spineless and selfish prime minister

      Maya Angelou famously said ‘when people show you who they are, believe them.’ But even though I know what type of man Rishi Sunak is, I was still outraged at my latest discovery.   It seems the jet-setting Prime Minister is continuing his preference for helicopter travel, taking an RAF chopper from London to Dover on Monday, a journey of just over an hour by train’.  To me, this shows that he has no sense of value for taxpayer money, no principles, and no ideas for Britain The news of Sunak’s travel arrangements comes just months after it was reported that his private swimming pool placed so much strain on the local electricity network that he had to pay to expand the National Grid capacity.   It’s a sign…

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    • 8 June
      550

      Trial begins for deputy accused of inaction in US school shooting

      Scot Peterson, a former officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, faces criminal charges in a Florida court. Former high school resource officer Scot Peterson is accused of seeking shelter rather than confronting a gunman who killed 17 people [File: Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel ] Prosecutors in the United States have delivered opening arguments in a case against a former sheriff’s deputy who allegedly failed to intervene in 2018 when a gunman attacked a high school in Parkland, Florida. Scot Peterson, a former school resource officer for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, faces 11 criminal charges, including child neglect and culpable negligence, as a result of his behaviour. He has pleaded not guilty. His trial, which began on Wednesday,…

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    • 8 June
      522

      Forest recognition for Papua tribe raises hopes for climate

      Indigenous peoples are increasingly recognised as the most effective custodians of the world’s remaining forests. Yustina Ogoney has been head of her district since 2017 East Bintuni Regency, Indonesia – Striding barefoot through the emerald green jungle with a long wooden bow slung over his shoulder, Josep Ogoney points up at the tropical vegetation surrounding him and his remote riverside village. “This is my pasar,” said the 37-year-old, using the Indonesian word for a market. “I can take animals to eat, plants for medicine and wood to build my home.” But this stretch of pristine rainforest is rather different from conventional markets. “It’s all free,” grinned Josep, who is a member of the Ogoney, an Indigenous clan from Indonesia who inhabit the…

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    • 8 June
      552

      Trump target of classified docs probe, prosecutors tell lawyers

      US media reports suggest investigation is moving closer to charging former president over materials found at his Florida home. The investigation relates to documents that Trump kept after losing the 2020 election Prosecutors in the United States have told Donald Trump’s lawyers that he is the target of an investigation into his handling of classified documents after leaving the presidency, according to reports in multiple US media outlets. The notice came from the office of special counsel Jack Smith, ABC, The New York Times, CNN and other news outlets said on Wednesday. The justice department typically notifies people when they become targets of an investigation to give them an opportunity to present their own evidence before a grand jury. The…

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    • 8 June
      484

      Three shot as Israeli forces raid Ramallah in occupied West Bank

      Israeli forces fire bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian youths throwing stones and molotov cocktails. A Palestinian youth throws a stone as Israeli forces raid Ramallah city, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on June 8, 2023 At least six people have been hospitalised, three with gunshot wounds, after Israeli forces opened fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youth during a raid by Israel into the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. A witness told the Reuters news agency that a large Israeli military convoy arrived in downtown Ramallah early on Thursday, the seat of the Palestinian government, leading hundreds of Palestinians to gather in the area. Israeli forces, said to be on an operation to demolish a home in…

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    • 8 June
      461

      Mike Pence launches 2024 campaign, says Trump shouldn’t be Prez again

      The others in the running are former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.  Mike Pence Washington: After months of speculation, former US Vice President Mike Pence has finally launched his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and said that Donald Trump “should never” be the President again for his actions in the aftermath of the 2020 polls. At his formal campaign launch on Wednesday in Ankeny, Iowa, the 64-year-old recalled how his former boss, who he served under in the White House from 2017-21, had asked him to block the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election win as Pence presided over Congress on January 6, 2021 — the day of…

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    • 8 June
      424

      UK to host first global summit on AI safety, led by PM Rishi Sunak

      The UK will host the first major global summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI) safety, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced. London: As the world grapples with the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the UK will host the first major global summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI) safety, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced. The summit, which will be hosted in the UK this autumn, will consider the risks of AI, including frontier systems, and discuss how they can be mitigated through internationally coordinated action. It will also provide a platform for countries to work together on further developing a shared approach to mitigate these risks, said a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday. The…

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