Spotlight
Soccer Fever in India’s Kerala
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, humongous cutouts of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar propped up mid-river in Kerala, a state in India’s southwest corner. In a country crazy for cricket, its fan wars and soccer frenzy have been making headlines and social media chatter over the past few weeks.
How Cholera Spread in Syria
The plains of Southern Aleppo have been irrigated by untreated sewage water for years, which would provide a logical explanation for the rapid outbreak of cholera in the area. The same scenario is being played out in several other regions, the only difference being the particulars, as most of the key rivers in Syria are threatened by drought and lower water levels.
As the World Cup Begins in Doha, I Remember the Rivalries of Egyptian Teams
This chronic failure over such impossibly low stakes necessitates that Arabs following international competitions hedge their bets, since the obsession with football won’t go away simply because their national teams are relegated to watching. This leads to fervent support for international clubs and European and Latin American national teams, with a fanaticism and enthusiasm that make one believe they hail originally from Munich, Sao Paolo or Manchester.
Documentary Film Alleges That Foreigners Took Part in ‘Civilian Hunting’ in Bosnian Capital
A recent documentary, “Sarajevo Safari,” alleges that wealthy foreigners paid to “hunt” defenseless unarmed civilians with the help of snipers in wartime Bosnia. This was welcomed by their enablers among the Serb nationalist forces, both for the money and the objective itself.
Terrorists Continue Deadly Attacks in Somalia
At least 100 people were killed in a twin bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, in the most deadly attack in the city in years, despite the government launching a full-scale military offensive against the terrorist group responsible.
Indians Celebrate UK’s First PM of Indian Origin
Indians the world over have been celebrating the first person of color and British Indian to take office as the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Rishi Sunak is also the first Hindu to hold the top job. Many have highlighted how he has raised the bar of achievement in the Indian diaspora.
Support for Iran Protests Highlights Indian Celebrities’ Predicament
Recently, Indian actor Priyanka Chopra was criticized for supporting protests in Iran, while maintaining silence on attacks against Muslim women in India. However, there are costs for speaking up in the current political climate. Aamir Khan, a Bollywood star, is still haunted by the ghosts of a 2015 controversy.