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All Hail Ceasars: Republican democracies die easily

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  Michael Charney  on   March 19, 2025 For those who closely watch the increasingly irrelevant U.S. Congress, you will be aware that Republicans currently propose adding Trump’s face to Mount Rushmore and making his birthday a national holiday, in honor of what they call the Golden Age he is claimed to be introducing. Golden Ages are what all revolutionary leaders claim to be introducing. Virgil claimed this of the rise of Emperor Augustus. Others said this of Nero. Napoleon was believed to be doing this for France. For Mussolini, it was a revived Roman Empire for Italy. For Hitler, it was the Thousand-Year Reich. The problem with these great men who promise Golden Ages is that, in most cases, they do not deliver. To build a legacy of glory, they need to ruin what came before. Hitler burned the Reichstag and would later comment favorably on the Allied bombing of Berlin, saying they were doing his work for him in preparing for the construction of a glorious new capital, Ge...

India orders curfew after violence over tomb of 17th-century Muslim ruler

  Authorities clamped indefinite curfew on parts of the Indian city of Nagpur after more than a dozen police officers were hurt in clashes sparked by a Hindu group's demand for the removal of the tomb of a 17th-century Mughal ruler, police said on Tuesday. Monday's violence in the central Indian city damaged many vehicles and injured several people, among them at least 15 police personnel, one of whom was in serious condition, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of the western state of Maharashtra, where the city is located, criticised the violence in a video message, calling for every effort to maintain law and order. "I have told the police commissioner to take whatever strict steps are necessary," Fadnavis added. Police said in a statement that members of the group, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), burnt an effigy of the Emperor Aurangzeb and his tomb as they chanted slogans demanding its removal from the nea...

Indian city sets curfew after Hindu groups demand demolition of 17th century Muslim ruler’s tomb

  NEW DELHI (AP) — Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of a western Indian city on Tuesday, a day after sectarian clashes were sparked by Hindu nationalist groups who want to demolish the tomb of   a 17th-century Muslim Mughal ruler . Clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Maharashtra state’s Nagpur city broke out on Monday during a protest led by Hindu nationalist groups demanding the demolition of the tomb of Aurangzeb, a Muslim Mughal ruler who has been dead for more than 300 years. Lawmaker Chandrashekhar Bawankule said at least 34 police personnel and five other people were injured and several houses and vehicles were damaged during the violence. Senior police office Ravinder Singal said at least 50 people have been arrested so far. Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s top elected official, said the violence began after “rumors were spread that things containing religious content were burnt” by the protesters, referring to the Quran. Aurangzeb’s tomb is in Chhatr...

Aurangzeb's tomb isn't in Delhi or Nagpur, but in little-known Khuldabad. Why?

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  A curfew had to be imposed in some areas of Nagpur after protests over Aurangzeb's tomb turned violent. The 17th-century emperor's final resting place isn't in Delhi, the seat of Mughal power, or Ahmednagar, where he died, but in the lesser-known Khuldabad in Maharasthra. Here's why. The tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Khuldabad, Maharashtra. According to his wishes, he was buried within the Chishti Sufi shrine of Zaynuddin Shirazi. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Priyanjali Narayan New Delhi, UPDATED: Mar 18, 2025 18:34 IST A curfew was imposed in parts of Nagpur on Tuesday, a day after  communal flames singed the city over sacrilege rumours.  The spark were protests seeking the razing of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb. A political war of words has started, but the situation in Nagpur is under control. What is interesting is that Aurangzeb's tomb is neither in Delhi, the capital of the Mughal empire, nor Nagpur, the ground zero of the recent pitched battles, ...

French politician suggests US should give back Statue of Liberty for taking ‘the side of the tyrants’

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Many western politicians like see tyrant in  Trump because of his alleged siding with Russia. Sadly, they behave like ostriches when Trump sides with Netanyahu, the genocidal maniac who killed nearly 50,000 (and counting) Palestinians. This is utter hypocrisy. - HS =================== A French politician has called on the US to give the Statue of Liberty back after suggesting that some Americans “have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants.” Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament who represents the small left-wing party Place Publique, made the comments at a rally on Sunday. “Give us back the Statue of Liberty,” said Glucksmann. “It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her.” The statue was a gift of friendship to America from France. Inaugurated in 1886, it represents Libertas, the Roman liberty goddess, bearing a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand with the date of the US Declaration of Independence. Broken shackles lie underneath...

Netanyahu says fighting has resumed in Gaza with 'full force'

  Summary Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin  Netanyahu says combat in Gaza has resumed with "full force" , following the biggest wave of strikes on the Strip since the ceasefire began in January The strikes, which  the Hamas-run health ministry say killed more than 400 people , are "just the beginning", Netanyahu warns He also says he remains committed to securing the release of all hostages still in Gaza - Israel believe there are 59 people being held, with 24 thought to be alive A group representing hostages' families has accused the Israeli government of  choosing "to give up the hostages" by launching new strikes  - and has been protesting outside the Israeli parliament Earlier, the Israeli military said it was  hitting "terror targets" across Gaza  after talks to extend the ceasefire had failed Hamas accused Israel of attacking "defenceless civilians" and said mediators should hold Israel responsible for "violating and overt...

Putin agrees to halt strikes on Ukraine energy targets for 30 days, Kremlin says after call with Trump

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Summary Vladimir Putin agrees to halt strikes on  Ukraine energy targets for 30 days , after a lengthy phone call with Donald Trump But the Russian president is resistant to a fuller ceasefire - the Kremlin says a "number of significant points" were raised on the issue in the 90-minute call Fresh Ukraine peace talks will also begin in the Middle East immediately, the  White House says Kyiv is  yet to agree or respond  to the limited energy ceasefire offer There's gain and losses for both sides in this,  writes our security correspondent Frank Gardner You can read a  recap of the statements from the White House and the Kremlin here Trump hoped his involvement would bring a swift end to the war, but in practice, the will of a US president alone proves not to be enough,  BBC Russia's Liza Fokht writes Zelensky backs energy truce, but says Russia isn't 'ready' to end war published at 15:54 15:54 Breaking President Volodymyr Zelensky is now providing his fi...