Trumpism will swiftly crush the idyllic idea of a common humanity by Dr Ranjan Solomon Much of ‘Trumpism’ veers towards neo-fascism in its utmost triviality. The USA will soon find itself living within its own mighty walls suffocated and xenophobic; unable to look at the greener pastures beyond their walls and fences, narrowed by ignorance. Travel bans, border walls, and stricter immigration policies will be direct consequences. Under the guise of trade protectionism, the US will confront the consequences of irrational tariffs, trade wars, and renegotiation of trade agreements. There will soon follow deregulation including rolling back environmental, financial, and labor regulations. Alongside, the rich will get richer through reduction of taxes for corporations and the super rich.

Proposed dilution of suppliers’ liability under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 is detrimental to the safety of operation of imported nuclear reactors- Against the national interest by E A S Sarma The Finance Minister (FM), in her recent Budget Speech, stated that “Development of at least 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047 is essential for our energy transition efforts. For an active partnership with the private sector towards this goal, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be taken up“More recently, it is reported that the subject is likely to be broached by both the USA and France during PM’s visit to those countries shortly. With the changed stance of the present US administration in the matter of furthering that country’s commercial interests, one can expect a great deal of pressure mounted on India to amend the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) to accommodate US reactor suppliers’ interests to the detriment of the overall safety of operation of imported nuclear reactors.

Fantasies of Progressive Capitalism by Bhabani Shankar Nayak Capitalism in any form can never be a viable alternative, and there is no solution within capitalist praxis. Capitalism cannot be reformed and will never serve the interests of the working masses. In this context, the choice is clear: socialism or capitalist barbarism. Socialism is the only alternative that can work for the people and the planet, advancing a society based on peace, prosperity, and solidarity. Socialism, as a system, ensures equality, liberty, justice, and democracy. Thus, the struggle for socialism is not only a struggle for emancipation from capitalism but also for human freedom, with the goal of creating a humane society for all.

Why an OBC 2.0 politics is the only way out of the ongoing BJP onslaught? by G Naveen Historically, the Congress party headed by Rahul’s ancestors and other nationalist leaders never took the stance that he has now taken. In fact, there were several instances where the erstwhile Congress party and its leaders preferred to maintain the societal status quo and opposed the Mandal commission recommendation during its heyday. Congress was the principal opposition to independent OBC political forces when they first took root in many states. Rahul Gandhi’s steadfast stance is thus diametrically opposite to what his party once stood for.

Transcending Differences: The Potential of Meta-Religion for Interfaith Harmony by V A Mohamad Ashrof The concept of meta-religion refers to a higher level of understanding and interpretation of religious traditions, which transcends their individual differences and limitations. Meta-religion seeks to identify the commonalities and shared values among various religions, promoting a deeper understanding and respect for the diversity of human spiritual experiences. In today’s world, where religious conflicts and intolerance often dominate the headlines, the need for a meta-religious approach has never been more pressing. By recognizing the shared human values and spiritual aspirations that underlie all religions, meta-religion offers a powerful tool for promoting interfaith understanding, dialogue, and cooperation.

Trump Signs Order Against South Africa Over Gaza Genocide Case Against Israel at ICJ by Quds News Network US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending aid to South Africa, citing the country’s growing ties with Iran and its stance at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where it accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The United States allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023, the most recent US government data shows. Among the reasons cited for the decision were South Africa’s “aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies, including accusing Israel, not Hamas, of genocide in the International Court of Justice, and reinvigorating its relations with Iran to develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements.”

Hope in the shape of a tomato by Maha Mahdi She divided the tomato slices among us. Riad took a small piece and looked at it cautiously before asking, “Mama, if I eat it slowly, will it grow bigger?” Hanin laughed softly and replied,“Yes, Riad, if you eat it with love, it will feel like it’s growing.” Imad ate his slice of the tomato carefully, as if he were afraid it would vanish too quickly. I noticed the exhaustion in my sister’ eyes and the worry for her children’s future. I realized hunger wasn’t the only weight on her shoulders.

Two Different American Approaches to the World by Lawrence S Wittner The recent whirlwind of Trump administration foreign policy measures―many reversing those of the Biden administration―illustrates the fact that Americans have sharply different opinions about their relationship to other nations.

Anti-Deportation Activists Call for Ending Trump’s ICE Roundup by Phil Pasquini As part of the Global Day of Action to Stop Mass Deportations, on February 8 activists demonstrated outside of the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) offices in downtown San Francisco to show solidarity with working class immigrants. Holding signs calling for an end to the mass round up and deportation of non-criminal undocumented immigrants along with the firing of Elon Musk, those present heard from speakers condemning the administration’s various tactics.

In contemporary media, the dog loves eating the dog:Seema Mustafa by Amit Sengupta Seema Mustafa, former president of the Editor’s Guild of India, seasoned journalist and Editor of The Citizen, speaks of the yester-years of journalism in India when it was a passion, and a not a job, how difficult it is to run an independent media enterprise in contemporary times, a journalist is nothing but a messenger, and why a well-informed reporter is simply matchless. In conversation with Amit Sengupta, Editor,

Resolving the Most Serious Issues of a Deeply Troubled World with JEPPS Approach by Bharat Dogra In the middle of all the controversies and confusions of a world in turmoil, two big truths stand out which must never be neglected or ignored. Firstly a very real threat to the basic life-nurturing conditions of earth exists, created for the first time in earth’s history by human-made factors. Secondly, the path ahead for humanity must be based on peace and equality, peace and non-violence, protection of environment and bio-diversity, and the survival crisis must also be resolved by following this path in thoughtful ways.

White House claims 65,000 federal workers have accepted buyout offers, as judge imposes temporary hold by Shannon Jones The Trump administration has reported that, after a week of threats and intimidation from the White House, 65,000 federal workers have agreed to leave their jobs ahead of a February 6 midnight deadline. The “buyouts” are part of a massive downsizing operation imposed by the White House and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will decimate vital public services, from healthcare to environmental protections and safety.

America’s ‘Year Zero’ Moment by Satya Sagar They are not clad in black pyjama-like fatigues or have a ‘krama’ – the Cambodian traditional scarf- around their necks. Nor are they particularly young and idealistic. And yet, in their blind loyalty to their ‘Dear Leader’ and fanatical zeal for radical transformation, the US President Donald Trump’s shock troops of sycophants and charlatans are not very different from Khmer Rouge guerrillas when they marched into the Cambodian capital fifty years one of their first acts upon entering the city the guerrillas blew up the Cambodian Central Bank building and its contents. What they were implementing was the concept of ‘Year Zero’, conceived by the Khmer Rouge leadership under Pol Pot

Climate Politics: What Would Donald Trump Do? by Joel Stronberg Recent scientific data shows that global temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius (above pre-industrial levels) for the first time. Dr. James Hansen, the godfather of the modern-day climate movement, believes the global rise is already at 2.0 degrees Celsius. Beyond this degree range, scientists predict that multi-billion-dollar weather-related disasters become commonplace, and the extinction of plant and animal species will speed up. The data shows something else as well. Years of climate action messaging hasn’t jumped the aisle. Until it does, US policy will continue to be a whiplash affair.

My search for Refaat Alareer’s body by Asem Alnabih I am writing this on Monday, 3 February, just hours before transferring Dr. Refaat Alareer’s body from the makeshift grave where he was hastily buried. Tomorrow, we will carry him to his final resting place: a shared grave on the outskirts of Shujaiya, the vibrant, bustling neighborhood where he was born, lived and loved until the day he was taken from us. I can only hope that every family in Gaza will one day have the chance to retrieve the remains of their loved ones and grant them a dignified burial. And I pray that no one, anywhere in the world, will ever have to endure this kind of unbearable and unimaginable pain.

Despite ceasefire, Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor Despite the declaration of a ceasefire on 19 January 2025, Israel continues to commit genocide in the Gaza Strip by denying Palestinians the basic necessities for survival and imposing conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. Israel is not content with the mass killings and devastation it inflicted on Gaza over the past 15 months. Now, it is enforcing measures to effectively kill the population through an illegal, total siege that blocks the flow of basic supplies and humanitarian aid, prevents the repair of essential infrastructure, and denies services indispensable for survival.

The Real Estate of Empire: How Colonial Gentrification Fuels Trump’s Gaza Plan by Peter Bloom Trump’s Gaza plan is a warning: If we do not challenge the privatization of colonialism now, we will see this model replicated elsewhere. But it is also an opportunity—an opportunity to build new coalitions, new strategies, and new visions for a world in which people, not profits, come first. The struggle against displacement in Palestine must be linked to struggles everywhere, forging a movement that refuses to accept a world in which entire communities are deemed expendable for the sake of corporate and political gain.

Resisting Riviera of the Middle East by Kathy Kelly President Trump’s most recent statements, coupled with his withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council, underscore the urgent need for the United Nations General Assembly to hold an emergency meeting. The UNGA should judge whether the United States fails to be an impartial arbiter and is, instead, party to the genocide in Gaza. Further, the UNGA should decide whether to suspend the United States veto power at the Security Council visavis matters pertaining to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Life of Millions of People Endangered as Several Factors Combine to Worsen the Humanitarian Crisis Further by Bharat Dogra The United Nations warned on February 6 that two states in Sudan (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) were on the brink of catastrophe after a recent eruption of violence. UN resident and humanitarian coordinator C. Nkweta-Salami said, “I condemn the reported use of women and children as shields in Kadugil, the obstruction of humanitarian aid and the detention of civilians including children.” Around the same time, the situation in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo has deteriorated particularly in the areas where rebel groups assisted by a neighboring country Rwanda are active.

Union Budget: Attack on Dalit Economic Empowerment by Dinkar Kapoor This budget is an attack on the economic and social empowerment of Scheduled Castes by the Modi government. A new mobilization has started in the entire Uttar Pradesh through Dalit Ekta Manch to increase the budget in all plans for education, health, employment, skill development, economic and social empowerment of Dalits, which will create a new awakening of Dalits in the coming times.