By A Representative   Jan Swasthya Abhiyan Madhya Pradesh has expressed concern that the state’s latest budget estimates do not include specific provisions for occupational health workers (KHS) and silicosis victims, many of whom are reportedly struggling without adequate financial or medical support. The group has urged the Madhya Pradesh government to address these omissions and make targeted allocations in the interest of public health.

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  I wrote down these thoughts on 26 January 2026 as Republic Day Reflections… *** As I sit here on Republic Day, the echoes of our national anthem still ringing in my ears from this morning's flag-hoisting ceremony, I can't help but feel a mix of pride and profound concern. It's the 76th year of our beloved Constitution – our Constitution, as it proudly declares in its opening words: "We, the people of India." Yet, in these times, that "we" feels increasingly under siege. Fascism's shadow looms large, fundamentalism rears its ugly head, and minorities like us Christians – along with Dalits, Adivasis, women, and so many others – find ourselves on the frontlines of a battle for dignity, rights, and simple survival.

By A Representative   Diaspora group Hindus For Human Rights (HfHR) has joined a multifaith coalition in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s so-called “Religious Liberty Commission,” alleging that the commission was created and administered unlawfully and in violation of federal requirements intended to prevent secretive, unbalanced advisory bodies from shaping public policy.

By Biljana Vankovska  These days, I find myself thinking of a character from the old Yugoslav partisan film Battle of Sutjeska . The film is dedicated to the heroic battle and Tito’s brilliant tactical maneuver to extricate the surrounded partisan units. However, that is not my subject here, even if we are now speaking of a far greater encirclement tightening around humanity. In one scene, the young nurse Dana tries to help her fallen comrades. They are dropping one by one. Cries come from all sides: “Dana, here!” “Dana, help!”. She is frantic. She does not know where to turn first, unable to save the mortally wounded.

By Vijay Prashad   In January 2026, US President Donald Trump declared Cuba to be an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US security—a designation that allows the United States government to use sweeping economic restrictions traditionally reserved for national security adversaries. The US blockade against Cuba began in the 1960s, right after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 but has tightened over the years. Without any mandate from the United Nations Security Council—which permits sanctions under strict conditions—the United States has operated an illegal, unilateral blockade that tries to force countries from around the world to stop doing basic commerce with Cuba. The new restrictions focus on oil. The United States government has threatened tariffs and sanctions on any country that sells or transports oil to Cuba.

By Harsh Thakor*  A leading expert on Latin American politics, James Petras, who passed away at the age of 89, on January 17, 2026, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was Greek American scholar, who earned his B.A. from Boston University and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.  He joined Binghamton University in 1972, where he became Bartle Professor of Sociology, later Professor Emeritus, and also served as an adjunct professor at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. His upbringing in a Greek immigrant working-class family shaped his lifelong dedication to issues of class struggle, inequality, and marginalized communities.

By Rajiv Shah  A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  Come 20 February and the world will once again observe the World Day of Social Justice. It is an annual event during which many across the globe—particularly politicians—wax eloquent about the need for and importance of social justice. It is stating the obvious that those who have the power to ensure this justice will often not lift a finger to do so.

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan*  The India AI Impact Summit, currently underway in New Delhi (February 19, 2026), was envisioned as a defining moment for India's artificial intelligence ambitions. Marketed as a landmark platform to showcase indigenous innovation, attract global stakeholders, and position India as a serious AI contender, the summit instead finds itself grappling with controversy, embarrassment, and criticism.