Raksha Kumar

#37 What's in a date? Gulfisha Fatima was arrested in April 2020 under India's anti-terror law, for protesting a biased citizenship law. She writes powerful poetry and teaches basic writing skills to Tihar Jail's inmates.

5 years since the incarceration of Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima and others in the Delhi riots case under the UAPA. No bail granted. My latest newsletter.
rakshakumar.substack.com/p/37-whats-i...

It is time for everyone who was critical of globalisation to feel nostalgic about it now. Who'd have thought, that those who spent the last 70 years criticising the world economic order would spend the next 70 yarning for it.
:/

gijn.org What’s Lost if Voice of America Disappears: Watchdog Spirit, Intrepid Reporters, and Focus on the Global South

To dismantle VOA and other US-funded affiliates would be to silence decades of coverage in overlooked parts of the world on topics like human rights, corruption, and war crimes, @raksha-kumar.bsky.social writes.

Read more: https://twp.ai/9PRXY2

Trampling upon minority rights, when in power is not strength. #WaqfBill is not a "victory", let there be no doubt. History will not judge anyone in power kindly if these tariffs are not negotiated with courage. For all the hugging and Howdys, this is the time to show who is stronger.

What they want is Capitalism on cocaine. They want "less regulation", so they will come at our agricultural sector (MSP?), at data protection laws, at land laws....
Now's the time for chappan inch ki chaati, folks. Standing up to the bully is strength.

A quick Sunday reminder that #TrumpTariffs are not just about tariffs. They are about what are called "non-tariff barriers" to trade. Those are a lot more serious and dangerous. So, when India sits down to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement, these "non-tariff barriers" are what one should watch for.

Why protest?

A Pakistani Serial That Should Inspire Hindi Filmmakers Many stories about communalism and other issues get written but never see the light of day.

Did you know Pakistani TV shows are not always fluff? Here's a show that gave me goosebumps, made me wonder why Hindi film makers would not tough political issues with a bargepole.
thewire.in/film/a-pakis...

1. Why is anyone asking her to react?
2. Even if she did, why is that news?
3. Even if you thought it was news, why did you assume we should care?

#35 Fashioning morality A fashion show was organised in a ski resort in Kashmir - India's only Muslim majority state. Politicians criticised it for being "obscene", unbefitting the month of Ramzan. Designers apologised.

Here's fiction that tries to explain reality. Each story is based on real people I have seen, heard of and met during my decades of reporting. My latest issue of my newsletter on the #fashionshow in #Gulmarg, #Kashmir

rakshakumar.substack.com/p/fashioning...

Do read my report on how security forces made headway against Maoists who held sway over #Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, after decades of slacking.

Pakistan train hijack: Militants open fire at a passenger train in southwestern Balochistan, wounding the driver Pakistan train hijack: Insurgents attack passenger train in Balochistan, wounding driver, prompting security response; separatist group claims responsibility.

Pakistani Militants opened fire at a passenger train in the country’s restive southwestern Balochistan province, wounding the driver and prompting security guards aboard the train to fire back, officials said.

www.thehindu.com/news/interna...

Kashmiris Boycott Israeli Dates in Ramadan Solidarity In a powerful act of solidarity, Kashmiri shopkeepers have boycotted Israeli dates this Ramadan, opting for alternatives from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco, and Algeria. This symbolic protest against Is...

There is a long standing connection between the struggles of Kashmir and Palestine. For the people of Kashmir, this cause hits close to home. We have always felt a deep sense of solidarity with Palestine, seeing in their struggles a reflection of our own.

kashmirtimes.com/news/kashmir...

This is usually Saturday Night Live material, now playing out in real life.

#Musk #Trump #US #DOGE

At least #India and #China had economic considerations to abstain, the #US seems to have brought personal friendship in the midst of #foreignpolicy
#Ukraine

Germany’s election winner pledges ‘independence from US’ [FREE TO READ] Friedrich Merz says the Trump administration is ‘largely indifferent’ to Europe’s fate

#Germany ’s Friedrich Merz promised to “achieve independence” from the #US after his centre-right bloc won federal elections
The era of globalisation is dead?
www.ft.com/content/a87d...

Perks of being the richest person on earth.

How is 61% few! That is a crazy lot of Americans.

Trump on reciprocal tariff with India: Nobody can argue with me US President Donald Trump emphasizes reciprocal tariffs with India, stating "whatever you charge, I'm charging," during Fox News interview.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he made it clear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India will not be spared from Washington’s reciprocal tariffs, emphasising that “nobody can argue with me” on tariff structure.

www.thehindu.com/news/interna...

"The US perfected the strategy of pulling down adversarial regimes around the world. Now, it is a victim of its own playbook."
#Trump #Musk
scroll.in/article/1079...

Musk pushes private financial interests in meeting with Indian Prime Minister When Elon Musk met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, the pair was seated in front of the American and Indian flags, an arrangement that typically accompanies a meeting between wor...

5. Tesla, which is supposed to roll out a more affordable model this year in the hopes of expanding its consumer base, has sought to expand its operations and sales in India.

#33 Caging the birds On 4 Febuary, a plane carrying 100 Indians accused of entering the US illegally landed in Amritsar, Punjab. Two more will land on 15 and 16 Feb, after President Trump began his onslaught on immigrants

Have you followed the news of undocumented Indians who were put on a flight and deported from the US?
If yes, then you might enjoy my latest newsletter on the issue.

#Trump #Modi #immigration #fiction #news

rakshakumar.substack.com/p/33-caging-...