What We Are Reading Today: In Covid's Wake
The Covid pandemic quickly led to the greatest mobilization of emergency powers in human history. By early April 2020, half the world's population were living under quarantine.
People were told not to leave their homes; businesses were shuttered, employees laid off, and schools closed.
The most devastating pandemic in a century and the policies adopted in response to it upended life as we knew it.
In this book, Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee examine our pandemic response and pose some provocative questions.
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Saudi Gazette
04-08-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Chinese students in UK told to spy on classmates, report says
LONDON — Chinese students at UK universities are being pressured to spy on their classmates in an attempt to suppress the discussion of issues that are sensitive to the Chinese government, a new report suggests. The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank says its survey of academics in China studies also highlighted reports of Chinese government officials warning lecturers to avoid discussing certain topics in their classes. It comes days after a new law came into force placing more responsibility on universities to uphold academic freedom and free speech. The Chinese embassy in London called the report "groundless and absurd", adding that China respects freedom of speech in the UK and elsewhere. The regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), says freedom of speech and academic freedom are "fundamental" to higher education. The new legislation, which came into force last week, says universities should do more to actively promote academic freedom and freedom of speech, including in cases where institutions have agreements in place with other countries. Universities could be fined millions if they fail to do so, the OfS has said. However, the UKCT report says some universities are reluctant to address the issue of Chinese interference because of their financial reliance on Chinese student fees. The report alleges that some Chinese academics involved in sensitive research had been denied visas by the Chinese government, while others said family members back in China had been harassed or threatened because of their work in the UK. Those sensitive topics can range from science and tech to politics and humanities, the report says, such as alleged ethnic cleansing in China's Xinjiang region, the outbreak of Covid or the rise of Chinese technology companies. Some academics reported intimidation by visiting scholars or other Chinese officials, as well as by staff at Confucius Institutes. These are partnership organisations operating at several UK universities, which bring together institutions in the UK and China, as well as a Chinese government agency which provides funding. They promote Chinese culture and language on UK campuses, but have been criticised over alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. OfS chief executive Susan Lapworth previously said she expected Confucius Institutes to be looked into under the new free speech laws, over concerns that they could present a threat to free speech on campuses. The OfS already has powers to ensure free speech is upheld by universities, including against any threats from the influence of foreign states or institutions. Those powers are due to be strengthened with a new complaints system, in which university staff members and visiting speakers will be able to raise issues directly with the OfS. The regulator also said universities should amend or terminate any agreements which threatened free speech on campus, including scholarships or schemes funded by foreign countries. The BBC understands the OfS expects universities to have "an appropriate level of curiosity" about any such arrangements, regardless of any potential loss of income for the university. A Chinese embassy spokesperson said the country had always adhered to its policy of not interfering with other countries' internal affairs. However, the UKCT says its survey responses from academics suggested some students from China had told their lecturers they had been asked to spy on their peers by Chinese officials. Other students, of various nationalities, reported being uncomfortable discussing issues in class deemed sensitive to the Chinese government, and were reluctant to pursue further academic interest in these subjects, the report says. Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK "will not be tolerated". "We are also working directly with the Office for Students to support universities in safeguarding free speech and tackling any form of harassment on campus," she added. She said academic freedom was "non-negotiable in our world-leading institutions", adding that the implementation of the new legislation made that "explicitly clear". The record £585,000 fine handed down by the OfS earlier this year has "put universities on notice" that they must do their part to protect these freedoms, she added, or they will "face the consequences". — BBC
Saudi Gazette
24-07-2025
- Saudi Gazette
India court pauses acquittal of 12 men in Mumbai train bombings case
DELHI — India's Supreme Court has stayed a recent court verdict which acquitted 12 men who had been convicted for the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. The Bombay High Court had freed the men on Monday, overturning a 2015 special court verdict which gave death penalty to five of the accused and life imprisonment to the remaining seven. The high court said the prosecution had "utterly failed" to establish that the men had committed the crimes they had been convicted of. On Tuesday, the Maharashtra government appealed against their acquittal. The train bombings had killed 187 and injured more than 800 people. While pausing the high court order on Thursday, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court said the men were not required to go back to prison. The judges said that some of the observations made by the high court in its order could impact pending cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the Live Law website 12 men had been convicted in 2015 by a MCOCA court - a special court set up to try cases that fall under the particular 11 July 2006, seven blasts ripped through busy commuter trains during the evening rush hour in one of India's deadliest bombs, packed into seven pressure cookers and put in bags, detonated within six minutes of each blasts took place in the areas of Matunga, Khar, Mahim, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Mira Road, with most on moving trains and two at security agencies blamed the attack on militants backed by Pakistan, an allegation Islamabad accused, who were arrested shortly after the blasts, have been in jail since then. One of them, Kamal Ansari, who had been sentenced to death, died of Covid in MCOCA court convicted the men of murder, conspiracy and waging war against the country. The prosecution appealed to confirm the death sentences, while the defence sought July 2024, the Bombay High Court formed the two-judge bench to expedite the say that over the next six months, the court conducted more than 75 sittings and examined 92 prosecution witnesses and over 50 defence the 667-page order on Monday, the court noted that the defence had questioned the credibility of the witnesses produced by the prosecution, as well as the confessional statements made by the also acknowledged the defence's contention that the recovered evidence was not maintained in a "sealed condition throughout". — BBC
Saudi Gazette
21-07-2025
- Saudi Gazette
India court acquits 12 men in 2006 Mumbai train bombings
DELHI — A court in India has acquitted 12 men who had been convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings that killed 187 people and injured more than 800. Judges had in 2015 sentenced five of the accused to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment. On Monday, a two-judge bench of the Bombay High Court overturned the earlier order, ruling that the prosecution had "utterly failed" to establish that the accused had committed the offences for which they had been convicted. The prosecution can appeal against the order in a higher court. On 11 July 2006, seven blasts ripped through the busy commuter trains during the evening rush hour in one of India's deadliest militant attacks. The bombs, packed into seven pressure cookers and put in bags, detonated within six minutes of each other. The blasts took place in the areas of Matunga, Khar, Mahim, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Mira Road, with most on moving trains and two at stations. The bombs appeared to have targeted first-class compartments, as commuters were returning home from the city's financial district. Indian security agencies blamed the attack on Islamist militants backed by Pakistan, an allegation the country denied. The accused, who were arrested shortly after the blasts, have been in jail since then. One of them, Kamal Ansari, who had been sentenced to death, died of Covid in 2021. In 2015, a special court convicted the men of murder, conspiracy and waging war against the country. The prosecution appealed to confirm the death sentences, while the defence sought acquittal. In July 2024, the Bombay High Court formed the two-judge bench to expedite the hearings. Reports say that over the next six months, the court conducted more than 75 sittings and examined 92 prosecution witnesses and over 50 defence witnesses. In the 667-page order on Monday, the court noted that the defence had questioned the credibility of the witnesses produced by the prosecution, as well as the confessional statements made by the accused. It also acknowledged the defence's contention that the recovered evidence was not maintained in a "sealed condition throughout". — BBC
