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San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Indian authorities in Kashmir ban books by eminent writers and scholars
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian authorities have banned 25 books in Kashmir that they say propagate 'false narratives' and 'secessionism' in the disputed region, where strict controls on the press have escalated in recent years. The ban threatens people with prison time for selling or owning works by authors such as Booker Prize-winning novelist and activist Arundhati Roy, constitutional expert A.G. Noorani, and noted academicians and historians like Sumantra Bose, Christopher Snedden and Victoria Schofield. The order was issued on Tuesday by the region's Home Department, which is under the direct control of Lt. Gov. Manoj Sinha, New Delhi's top administrator in Kashmir. Sinha wields substantial power in the region as the national government's representative, while elected officials run a largely powerless government that came to power last year after the first local election since India stripped the disputed region of its special status in 2019. The order declared the 25 books 'forfeit' under India's new criminal code of 2023, effectively banning the works from circulation, possession and access within the Himalayan region. Various elements of the code threaten prison terms of three years, seven years or even life for offenses related to forfeit media, although no one has yet been jailed under them. 'The identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India,' the Home Department said in its notice. It said such books played 'a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against Indian State.' The action was taken following 'investigations and credible intelligence' about 'systemic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature' that was 'often disguised as historical or political commentary,' it said. Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi's rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels' goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict. Since 2019, authorities have increasingly criminalized dissent and shown no tolerance for any narrative that questions India's sovereignty over Kashmir. In February, police raided bookstores and seized hundreds of books linked to a major Islamic organization in the region. In 2011, police filed charges against Kashmir education officials over a textbook for first graders that illustrated the word 'tyrant' with a sketch resembling a police official. A year earlier to that, police arrested a college lecturer on charges he gave his students an English exam filled with questions attacking a crackdown on demonstrations challenging Indian rule in the region. In some cases, the accused were freed after police questioning but most of these cases have lingered on in India's notoriously slow judicial system. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance leader in Kashmir, condemned the book ban. 'Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir,' Mirwaiz said in a statement. He questioned authorities for organizing an ongoing book festival to showcase its literary commitment but on ground banning some books. 'It only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions, and the contradiction in proudly hosting the ongoing Book Festival.' Banning books is not common in India, but authorities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have increasingly raided independent media houses, jailed journalists and sought to re-write history in school and university textbooks to promote the Hindu nationalist vision of his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Indian authorities in Kashmir ban books by eminent writers and scholars
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian authorities have banned 25 books in Kashmir that they say propagate 'false narratives' and 'secessionism' in the disputed region, where strict controls on the press have escalated in recent years. The ban threatens people with prison time for selling or owning works by authors such as Booker Prize-winning novelist and activist Arundhati Roy, constitutional expert A.G. Noorani, and noted academicians and historians like Sumantra Bose, Christopher Snedden and Victoria Schofield.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indian authorities in Kashmir ban books by eminent writers and scholars
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian authorities have banned 25 books in Kashmir that they say propagate 'false narratives' and 'secessionism' in the disputed region, where strict controls on the press have escalated in recent years. The ban threatens people with prison time for selling or owning works by authors such as Booker Prize-winning novelist and activist Arundhati Roy, constitutional expert A.G. Noorani, and noted academicians and historians like Sumantra Bose, Christopher Snedden and Victoria Schofield. Booksellers and owners could face prison The order was issued on Tuesday by the region's Home Department, which is under the direct control of Lt. Gov. Manoj Sinha, New Delhi's top administrator in Kashmir. Sinha wields substantial power in the region as the national government's representative, while elected officials run a largely powerless government that came to power last year after the first local election since India stripped the disputed region of its special status in 2019. The order declared the 25 books 'forfeit' under India's new criminal code of 2023, effectively banning the works from circulation, possession and access within the Himalayan region. Various elements of the code threaten prison terms of three years, seven years or even life for offenses related to forfeit media, although no one has yet been jailed under them. 'The identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India,' the Home Department said in its notice. It said such books played 'a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against Indian State.' The action was taken following 'investigations and credible intelligence' about 'systemic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature' that was 'often disguised as historical or political commentary,' it said. India is cracking down on dissent in Kashmir Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi's rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels' goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict. Since 2019, authorities have increasingly criminalized dissent and shown no tolerance for any narrative that questions India's sovereignty over Kashmir. In February, police raided bookstores and seized hundreds of books linked to a major Islamic organization in the region. In 2011, police filed charges against Kashmir education officials over a textbook for first graders that illustrated the word 'tyrant' with a sketch resembling a police official. A year earlier to that, police arrested a college lecturer on charges he gave his students an English exam filled with questions attacking a crackdown on demonstrations challenging Indian rule in the region. In some cases, the accused were freed after police questioning but most of these cases have lingered on in India's notoriously slow judicial system. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance leader in Kashmir, condemned the book ban. 'Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir,' Mirwaiz said in a statement. He questioned authorities for organizing an ongoing book festival to showcase its literary commitment but on ground banning some books. 'It only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions, and the contradiction in proudly hosting the ongoing Book Festival.' India rarely bans books, but has tightened grip on media Banning books is not common in India, but authorities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have increasingly raided independent media houses, jailed journalists and sought to re-write history in school and university textbooks to promote the Hindu nationalist vision of his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Meanwhile, curriculums related to Muslim Mughal rulers who ruled much of India between sixteenth and nineteenth centuries have been altered or removed. Last year, An Indian court ended decades-old ban on Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses' owing to absence of any official order that had banned the book in 1988.
Wales Online
23-04-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
One of Cardiff's oldest shops shuts after trading for more than a century
One of Cardiff's oldest shops shuts after trading for more than a century The owners say that the last budget was an 'absolute stinker' and they are reducing the number of stores as a result Danielle Hurley, right, has worked at the store for 28 years while Michelle Rogers has been there for 11 An independent shoe retailer has closed the doors of its original branch after an unbelievable 112 years of trading. A.G. Meek had been a fixture on Albany Road in Cardiff's Roath for more than a century. Originally located on the corner of Angus Street, the shop sustained damage during World War II and later relocated just a few doors down. However, an 'increased cost for running a business that does not have a high turnover has unfortunately forced our closure,' said David Meeks, CEO and grandson of founder Albert George Meeks. 'The last budget was an absolute stinker for a business of our size. Smaller businesses have been protected by the various tax increases, but we have 24 staff, and increases in national insurance have caused a lot of problems.' In the 2024 Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the amount of National Insurance paid by employers would rise from 13.8% to 15% on April 6, aiming to generate an additional £25 billion in annual revenue. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here Article continues below Meanwhile, the threshold at which they are paid will be lowered from £9,100 to £5,000. The store was badly damaged in World War II A.G. Meek now has three branches left in Cardiff city centre, Cwmbran and Newport, after the Gloucester branch was closed last week. However, the closure of its original branch marks a significant loss for the local community that grew up alongside it. 'Albany Road used to be thriving with independent businesses, but they've since closed, and virtually every shop is becoming either a café or a restaurant,' explained David. 'Nationally, shoe retailers are an endangered species. We've tried to buck that trend over the years, but we feel the same pressures that everybody else does.' The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh passing the store during an official visit to Cardiff Following the announcement, memories came flooding in on Facebook as customers shared their fond recollections of the store. One wrote: 'I bought my first pair of navy slingback soft leather shoes there when I was 15. I used to walk past that shop window at least twice a day, drooling over them. I had a Saturday job and saved every penny until I could afford them.' The store has been a fixture on Albany Road for decades Article continues below Another commented: 'This is really sad news. I remember a friend of mine who grew up around there showing me the bomb damage on the window frames of the old shop, apparently from shrapnel. It was fascinating to see. More history being lost and the face of the high street changing again.' No staff have been laid off as a result of the closure and they will transfer to the branch in St David's Centre.
CBS News
19-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Los Angeles Chargers to host 2025 regular-season NFL game in Brazil
The National Football League announced Wednesday that the Los Angeles Chargers will play a regular-season game in the 2025 International Games in Brazil. Following the success of the 2024 inaugural game between the Eagles and the Packers, the league said the Chargers will play at the Corinthians Arena in São Paulo the first week of the 2025 regular season, on Sept.5. The opponent has yet to be announced. "It's also a tremendous opportunity to help grow the game and bring the Chargers brand to millions of sports fans across Brazil and Latin America," said Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos. So far, the NFL has confirmed a handful of 2025 regular-season international games to be played in London, Germany, Spain and Ireland. The opponent for the Sept. 5, 2025 game, along with kickoff time, will be announced in the spring when the full NFL schedule is available. Priority Access, refundable deposits for the São Paulo game are available on the Chargers website. For $250, access to exclusive pre-sale tickets is available, along with travel package options. General admission tickets for the game will go on sale in the spring. The Chargers will still host eight regular-season home games and one preseason home game at Sofi Stadium in 2025, the same amount as in 2024. In 2026, the Los Angeles Rams will play an international game in Australia.
