India Detains Hundreds of Workers from South Korean Company Amidst Wage Dispute
In a significant development, Indian authorities have detained 104 striking workers from a Samsung Electronics factory in southern India. This action comes as the workers were planning an unauthorized protest this week. The factory, located near Chennai in the Tamil Nadu state, has been embroiled in a labor dispute over low wages. The detentions mark a sharp escalation in the strike at the Samsung appliance plant, which is critical to the company’s operations in India. The strike, which lasted for a week, has disrupted production at a facility responsible for about one-third of Samsung’s annual revenue in India, equating to [...]
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Shayara Bano and the Impact of the New Anti-Polygamy Law in India
Shayara Bano is breathing a sigh of relief following the recent enactment of a law banning polygamy in her small state in India. This milestone represents the culmination of years of effort, including her own landmark lawsuit against the practice, which she brought before the Supreme Court of India. Bano, a Muslim woman whose husband took a second wife and divorced her by uttering “talaq” three times, stated, “Now I can say that the battle against the longstanding Islamic rules regarding marriage and divorce has been won.” She told, “The practice of allowing men to have multiple wives under Islamic [...]
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The Civil War in Myanmar: A Deepening Crisis
The civil war in Myanmar, which has intensified over recent years, represents one of the most complex and tragic conflicts in contemporary Southeast Asia. The struggle, rooted in historical, ethnic, and political tensions, has resulted in significant loss of life, massive displacement, and widespread suffering. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the ongoing conflict, examining its origins, key players, and the humanitarian crisis that has ensued. Historical Background Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has long been plagued by ethnic and political strife. The country gained independence from British rule in 1948, but from the outset, it faced [...]
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Mysterious Fever Outbreak in India: 14 Dead, Including 6 Children
Mysterious Fever Outbreak in India: 14 Dead, Including 6 Children A recent outbreak of a mysterious fever in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India, has led to the deaths of 14 people, including six children. The situation has prompted an urgent response from local and state authorities to contain and address the crisis. On September 12, officials from Gujarat launched a comprehensive intervention, deploying specialist doctors and 50 medical teams to the affected areas. The outbreak has struck seven villages in the region, raising concerns about its origins and potential impact. The symptoms associated with this illness closely mimic those [...]
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Indian Women Transitioning to New Careers: From Nurse to Electrician, from Housekeeper to Driver
Indian Women Transitioning to New Careers: From Nurse to Electrician, from Housekeeper to Driver Manjulata Patel, 40, has experienced a significant change in her life by transitioning from a nurse to an electrician in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Previously, Patel worked at a small hospital earning $47 a month, barely enough to rent a dilapidated apartment with ongoing electrical issues. When repairs were needed, Patel had to call an electrician she wasn’t satisfied with, as he was often drunk and troublesome. She frequently had to enlist local children to help protect her during his visits. “It would have been great to [...]
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Ross Dunkley, Former Head of The Myanmar Times, Arrested in Burma
MUMBAI, India — There was a time when Ross Dunkley, my former boss at the Myanmar Times, was a powerful man. Today, he sits in a prison cell. I remember Ross storming into the newsroom in Rangoon after having stayed up all night drinking. Ross, a tall Australian with broad shoulders, wore a power suit. His head was bald and shiny. “Come on, Hanna,” he commanded, waving his arm in the air. “We’re going to lunch.” We arrived at Trader’s Hotel. “Sake, sake!” Ross shouted at a young Burmese woman standing near the entrance. She looked confused and walked off. [...]
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Special Report: Child brides
I traveled to Nepal in August through a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to cover child marriage in the country. Here is the two-part series I wrote for GlobalPost. Child marriages burden young Nepalis DOLAKHA, Nepal — Suntali Thami grew up in a tiny village here in this remote district set in the foothills of the Himalayas. Her family, destitute farmers, did not have the money to send her to school. So when she was a young girl, about the age of 13, they sent her down to the capital, Kathmandu, to earn money washing dishes at [...]
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Listen to my radio story, India’s Bias for Boys, on PRI’s The World. Click on the mp3 below or on the “play” button here. Read the accompanying text on PRI’ The World site.
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