Category Archives: Viva!

‘Go back where Indians belong’: St. Albert mother frightened by racist letter from neighbour

Racism is a global virus among humans Katrina Anderson letter

After receiving a threatening, racist letter from neighbours earlier this week, a St. Albert mother says she fears for her children’s safety and will move out of her rented condo.

Mohammed bin Salman never was a reformer. This has proved it | Dilip Hiro

Organized branding not reform.

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The Saudi crown prince allowed women to drive, but the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi reveals his true nature

In June, when the ban on Saudi women driving ended, it was portrayed around the world as part of a modernising, liberalising agenda by the new crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Yet the authorities ordered female activists not to speak out in its favour. Their blunt message was that what was being offered was the gift of King Salman and his crown prince son, and not a result of the campaign by female activists. In fact, the government had arrested 11 of these activists a month beforehand. Though four were released, the remaining seven had led a petition demanding that the female guardianship system – which treats adult women as legal minors – be abolished. They remain in detention without charge, but could face up to 25 years in jail.

Related: Khashoggi’s fate isn’t a surprise: Trump has emboldened Saudi Arabia | Mohamad Bazzi

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Revealed: Russian billionaire set up US company before Trump Tower meeting

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Aras Agalarov, who attended the meeting with Donald Trump Jr in June 2016, formed a shell company with an accountant who has had clients accused of money laundering and embezzlement

A Russian billionaire who orchestrated the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting formed a new American shell company a month beforehand with an accountant who has had clients accused of money laundering and embezzlement.

The billionaire, Aras Agalarov, created the US company anonymously while preparing to move almost $20m into the country during the time of the presidential election campaign, according to interviews and corporate filings.

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Young people won’t forgive those who deny us a vote on this botched Brexit | Lara Spirit

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We refuse to let politicians create a more isolated, insular nation and destroy our futures. We demand a final say

This Saturday, I will be among tens of thousands of young people marching on Westminster to call for a people’s vote on Brexit. For years, it was assumed we youngsters would not vote, would not take part in politics, and did not care. During this time, we were priced out of housing, had our tuition fees trebled, and were told to be grateful for the gig economy – because our failure to take part in democracy meant we did not deserve any better.

We are desperate for a politics in which we can engage meaningfully

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Five Star Movement faces ‘populist’ revolt over Rome’s decay

ROTFLMAO

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Protest planned owing to lack of progress in tackling refuse problem and other ills

Tired of overflowing bins, potholes and exploding buses, Rome’s long-suffering residents are planning a protest in an effort to save their city from further decay.

The aim is to send a message to the city’s administration, which since June 2016 has been led by the Five Star Movement, that enough is enough.

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Ex-Chinese internment camp detainee denied US visa despite Congress invitation

Duh – US Presidential racism rates more than US Congress

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Kazakh national was asked to speak at Congress about his ordeal, but his application was rejected by the US consulate in Istanbul

An outspoken former detainee in China’s internment camps for Muslims has said that his application for a visa to visit the United States was rejected even though he had been invited to speak at Congress about his ordeal.

Kazakh national Omir Bekali was asked to travel to Washington in September by the chairs of the Congressional-Executive Committee on China. He said his application was rejected by the US consulate in Istanbul on 2 October after he was questioned about his employment status.

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Israeli supreme court overturns ruling barring US student from country

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  • Lara Alqasem refused entry on study visa on 2 October
  • Authorities cited her role in Students for Justice in Palestine

An American student who was barred entry into Israel under a law against foreign activists who support boycotts of the state because of its policies towards the Palestinians has been given permission to stay in the country by the supreme court.

In its ruling on Thursday, the court criticised Israeli authorities for denying entry to Lara Alqasem, 22, and said their decision gave “the unavoidable impression” that she was barred for her political opinions.

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Bolsonaro business backers accused of illegal Whatsapp fake news campaign

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Workers’ party urges police to investigate ‘industry of lies’, saying 156 entrepreneurs fund misinformation for far-right frontrunner

The far-right frontrunner in Brazil’s bitterly contested election has been accused of benefiting from an undemocratic and criminal industry of fake news and lies in his attempt to become the country’s next president.

Polls suggest Jair Bolsonaro, a pro-torture, dictatorship-praising populist, is heading for a landslide victory over his leftist Workers’ party (PT) rival, Fernando Haddad, on 28 October with about 59% of intended votes compared with his rival’s 41%.

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