Guantanamo Bay: Will America’s forever prison finally close on President Joe Biden’s watch?
As of December 8, 2022, Guantánamo Bay detention facility – a prison offshore of American justice and built for those detained in this country’s never-ending Global War on Terror – has been open for nearly 21 years (or, to be precise, 7,627 days). Thirteen years ago, I published a book,...
India’s caste barrier: Some premier institutions are admitting more students from marginalised groups
Some premier institutes in India are doing a little better when it comes to access to education for all castes. At the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, a group of 38 labs, 18 per cent of researchers (combining senior staff grades) were Dalits and 4 per cent Adivasis, according...
Ethiopia’s Oromo insurgency fuelled by under-representation at highest levels of government
Complicating matters in Ethiopia’s multiple conflicts is the involvement of the Fano, an Amhara militia, in the south, where Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) is on the offensive. Fano claims to be defending Amhara civilians and interests and has launched several attacks into Oromia. “In my village alone, 37 civilians were...
How Erik Ten Hag’s strict code of conduct railroaded Man United back to a football phenomenon
When Erik ten Hag arrived at Manchester United in May, the new manager was asked by one of the coaching staff how he would like to be addressed. Ten Hag thought about the question for a moment. “Well,” he said. “You know I’m the boss, and I know I’m the...
Will Brazil President Lula da Silva deliver on promise of net-zero deforestation in Amazon Forest?
Expectations were high this week as Brazil’s new President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, took office. Lula campaigned on promises to help the world fight climate change by protecting the Amazon rainforest, which sequesters a large portion of global carbon emissions. Under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation in the Brazilian...
Superstar Christiano Ronaldo’s move to Arabia’s Al Nassr makes him new face of Middle East football
The arrival of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as the newest member of the state-owned club Al Nassr marks an enormous step forward in the desert country’s foray into top-level sport. The five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or and five-time winner of the European Champions League...
Man United boss Erik Ten Hag has exorcised evil spirits at Old Trafford, now Red Devils are firing on all cylinders
Manchester United are very much starting to look like their old selves. After a decade of drift and decline, Erik ten Hag increasingly looks the perfect man to restore former strength. While Premier League title talk is premature, United are certainly going about their business in a manner that speaks...
Iranian rights matter: Or since the World Cup is over, the world has moved on and Tehran tyranny must reign?
It’s two weeks since Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup and a month since Iran – aka Team Melli – left Qatar after losing to the USA in their final group match. In the context of the continuing disaster in Iranian society and politics, the World Cup is an irrelevance....
Man United emphatic win over Bournemouth has Red Devils dreaming again after ‘Ronaldo situation’ chaos
Gary Neville has backed Manchester United to qualify for next season’s Champions League, insisting he would be surprised if they didn’t finish in the top-four. Erik ten Hag’s in-form side moved just a point behind second-placed Manchester City following their 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday night. Goals from Casemiro,...
Beautiful game’s deity? A reporter once asked Pele if his fame was comparable to that of Jesus Christ
Commissioned to produce a portrait of Pele in 1977, artist Andy Warhol quipped: “Pele was one of the few who contradicted my theory: Instead of 15 minutes of fame, he will have 15 centuries.” It nicely sums up the adulation for the footballer widely considered the greatest to ever take...
