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Dear Friend,Today’s issue brings together voices and perspectives from different parts of the world, covering war, political repression, democracy, imperialism, social rights, ecology, development, history, philosophy and the struggles of ordinary people. Though diverse in subject and geography, these contributions share a concern with the structures of power that shape our lives—and with the possibilities of resistance, solidarity and alternative ways of organising society.From Gaza and Pakistan to Balochistan, Germany, Africa and India, the issue examines different forms of violence, exclusion and political control. Other contributions look beyond immediate political events to questions of food sovereignty, public education, economic development, religious pluralism and the intellectual traditions that have shaped struggles for emancipation. Together, they remind us that the conflicts of our time cannot always be understood in isolation from the histories and structures that produced them.We are also beginning, from today, the weekly serialisation of Palestinian writer Dr Salim Nazzal’s novel "The Latest News of Abu Yusuf al-Tahhan". Set in the imaginary Galilean village of Ayn al-Diya, the novel moves through history, folklore, memory and imagination. Its stories of war, displacement, love, loss and survival bring another dimension to our engagement with Palestine—the preservation of memory and the power of storytelling.Alongside the analysis and political writing, the novel and the poetry in this issue remind us that resistance is also expressed through memory, culture, imagination and the search for a common human future.This is the space Countercurrents seeks to create: a place where contemporary struggles can be understood through history and ideas, where critical voices can meet, and where the search for a more just world remains open.FUNDRAISING APPEALThe work we publish each day—connecting wars, ecological crises, democratic struggles and social movements to their deeper causes, amplifying critical voices, and sustaining spaces for independent thought—depends entirely on reader support. If you find value in this kind of journalism, we invite you to help sustain it. Your contribution enables us to continue documenting, analysing, and resisting the forces that shape our world.Support us:https://countercurrents.org/subscription/.International readers: https://buy.stripe.com/7sI6pW3nTgDofEQ5kkBecome a patron: https://www.patreon.com/countercurrentsorgIf you find value in the work we publish, please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues and help strengthen independent, reader-supported journalism. Your support and sharing help us continue providing a space for critical voices and thoughtful analysis. You can subscribe to our newsletter here http://www.countercurrents.org/news-letter/.In SolidarityBinu MathewEditorCountercurrents.orgPALESTINEIsraeli Forces’ Random Gunfire Kills Child, Woman, Young Man in Gazaby Quds News NetworkThree Palestinians—a child, a woman and a young man—were killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza on Monday, according to local and medical sources. Fidaa Khader Totah, 31, was shot in the head on Salah Al-Din Road in central Gaza. Child Ismail Al-Bardawil was shot in the chest in southern Gaza, while Mohsen Bahja died from injuries sustained in an Israeli drone attack in northern Gaza. Several others were reportedly injured by Israeli naval gunfire targeting tents sheltering displaced people in Shati. The killings occurred amid continued Israeli attacks despite the ceasefire, with more than 1,360 Palestinians reportedly killed since it began.CLIMATE CHANGEOngoing Wars, Nuclear Threats and the Deepening Climate Crisisby Dr Arun MitraThe climate crisis, ongoing wars and the threat of nuclear conflict are deeply interconnected, argues Dr Arun Mitra. Military activities, arms production, warfare and post-war reconstruction generate significant greenhouse-gas emissions, yet comprehensive accounting remains inadequate. The environmental footprint of nuclear weapons programmes adds another dimension, while escalation between nuclear-armed states carries potentially catastrophic consequences for food systems, health, ecosystems and the global climate. The article examines the need for transparent measurement of military emissions, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, diplomatic efforts to end wars, prevention of nuclear weapons use, and the redirection of resources towards human development and planetary protection.WARPolitics of Wickedness is Destroying Humanityby Dr Mahboob A KhawajaMahboob A. Khawaja examines what he calls the politics of wickedness and its consequences for humanity, governance and peace. Drawing on the conflicts in Ukraine, Russia, Gaza and Palestine, he argues that political power exercised without accountability contributes to war, displacement, violence and the erosion of moral and humanitarian norms. The article reflects on international law, the responsibilities of governments, and the relationship between power and accountability. It also draws on Biblical and Quranic passages concerning human conduct, morality and divine responsibility, and concludes with Howard Zinn’s reflection on compassion, courage, kindness and hope in difficult times.COUNTER SOLUTIONSGlobal Solidarityby Peter BohmerIn “Global Solidarity,” Peter Bohmer reflects on decades of solidarity activism, from the Vietnam War and anti-apartheid struggles to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Palestine and Iran. He argues that solidarity should be active, rooted in self-determination, and directed toward movements seeking justice and liberation. The article distinguishes solidarity from anti-interventionism and develops the idea of “critical solidarity”: supporting oppressed people and liberation struggles while remaining attentive to patriarchal, sectarian or undemocratic politics. Drawing on historical experiences, Bohmer examines direct action, economic intervention, political repression and the responsibilities of people in the Global North toward struggles against domination.Why Plan Prepared by Top Rice Scientist Dr. Richharia Has Increased Relevance Nowby Bharat DograA rice development plan prepared by scientist Dr. R.H. Richharia at the request of the Prime Minister’s Office in 1983–84 was later neglected. The plan placed indigenous rice diversity, farmer participation and decentralized research and extension at its centre. It proposed maintaining local rice varieties in their natural habitats, improving indigenous varieties through genetic upgrading and using clonal propagation to spread improved material. Bharat Dogra examines why Richharia’s approach has gained renewed relevance amid climate change, the need to reduce chemical inputs, threats to indigenous seed diversity and growing corporate control over food and farming systems. The article also discusses its relevance to drought and flood resilience.CHINAWalking on Two Legs: The Socialism of Chinese Modernisation: Part 2by Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research“Walking on Two Legs” examines China’s reform era from 1978 to 2013 and the subsequent focus on common prosperity, ecological civilisation, and high-quality development. The article traces how market mechanisms were incorporated within a state-led socialist framework while public ownership remained central in strategic sectors. It discusses poverty reduction, industrialisation, technological development, growing inequalities, environmental pressures, and efforts to address these contradictions. The article also examines rural revitalisation, technological self-reliance, South-South cooperation, and China’s 2035 and 2049 development goals. It presents Chinese modernisation as a continuing historical process linking productive development with social objectives and collective welfare.GERMANYDestroying Democracy – 3 AfD Strategiesby Thomas KlikauerIn “Destroying Democracy – 3 AfD Strategies,” Thomas Klikauer examines three forms of parliamentary obstruction attributed to the AfD: symbolic blocking, systematic blocking, and legalized blocking. The article describes tactics including delaying votes, demanding repeated roll-call votes, disrupting parliamentary proceedings, exploiting blocking minorities, and using parliamentary inquiries to place heavy demands on ministries and administrations. It also examines how such actions can create delays, administrative burdens and public perceptions of institutional dysfunction. Drawing on examples from Germany’s federal and state parliaments, the article argues that these three strategies work together to obstruct parliamentary processes and weaken the functioning of democratic institutions.AFRICAKnow the Enemy: Nkrumah, Imperialism and the Unfinished Question of African Liberationby Wachira NyagaWachira Nyaga examines Kwame Nkrumah’s analysis of imperialism and African liberation through his 1968 work 'Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare'. The article explores Nkrumah’s concept of neo-colonialism, arguing that formal political independence does not necessarily end economic and political dependence. It discusses “collective imperialism,” political fragmentation, propaganda, class interests and the relationship between external power and internal social forces. The article also considers Nkrumah’s emphasis on Pan-Africanism, economic sovereignty and popular participation. While acknowledging the historical context of his analysis, it asks how his concepts can help examine contemporary structures of power and Africa’s unfinished liberation project.PAKISTANImran Khan, The Family, and The Paranoia of a Gangster Stateby Junaid S AhmadJunaid S Ahmad examines the widening repression surrounding Imran Khan in Pakistan, where his imprisonment has been followed by the detention of supporters, organizers, lawmakers and members of his family. The article argues that preventive detention, mass arrests, administrative restrictions and the targeting of political associates reflect an increasingly coercive form of governance. It examines how political opposition is framed as a security problem and how state institutions are used to contain dissent. Against a backdrop of militant violence, economic weakness, unemployment and institutional decay, the article contends that the state’s capacity for suppression contrasts sharply with its difficulties in governing.BALOCHISTANWhen the State Turns Women into Weapons: Balochistan’s disappeared women, televised confessions, and the dangerous machinery of a state narrativeby Baloch Siddik AzadAn article examines the cases of Khadija Pir Jan and Safia Abdul Khaliq, two young Baloch women who reportedly disappeared before appearing at a press conference in Quetta and speaking about alleged links to banned Baloch organisations. It focuses on the unexplained period between their disappearance and televised statements, raising concerns about detention, due process, access to lawyers and family members, and whether their statements were made freely. The article argues that allegations of militancy should be tested through independent courts rather than media appearances. It calls for disclosure of detention records, independent investigation, legal scrutiny and accountability for unlawful detention or coercion.BANGLADESHA Nation’s Amnesia: Jinnah and Bangladeshby Habib SiddiquiHabib Siddiqui examines Bangladesh’s changing relationship with Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the history surrounding the country’s emergence in 1971. The article traces the political role of Bengali Muslims in the Pakistan movement, discusses Jinnah’s 1948 speeches in Dhaka, and considers his position on Bengali and Urdu. It also examines the contrasting treatment of Jinnah and figures such as Surya Sen in contemporary Bangladesh. Siddiqui argues that the post-1971 national narrative has placed greater emphasis on 1971 while overlooking aspects of the political and social history preceding it. The article calls for a fuller account of Bangladesh’s complex historical origins.INDIAN DEMOCRACYALIFA rejects Uniform Control Code in the garb of ‘Uniform Civil Code’ in 21 states across Indiaby All India Feminist AllianceThe All-India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) rejects the Uniform Civil Codes enacted or proposed by BJP governments, arguing that they conflate equality with uniformity while expanding state surveillance and regulation of intimate relationships. ALIFA highlights concerns over mandatory registration of live-in relationships, criminal penalties, privacy, succession, marital property, and the exclusion of Adivasi, queer and transgender communities. It also argues that the Codes fail to address structural inequalities including unpaid care work, marital property, marital rape, guardianship and economic security after separation. ALIFA calls for repeal or withdrawal of existing Bills and demands broad, meaningful consultations with affected communities before family-law reforms are pursued.Government school closures hit poor students hardestby G RamakrishnanAcross India, government school closures and mergers are reshaping access to education, with the greatest burden falling on poor and rural families. Madhya Pradesh alone has 7.37 lakh children with no school records, while thousands of government schools have recorded few or no new admissions. Nationally, government schools declined by roughly 89,000 between 2014-15 and 2023-24, while private schools increased. The article examines how this process affects Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and poorer backward-class communities, as well as girls who may face longer journeys to school. It also examines the limits of the Right to Education Act and the role of public action.Denial of permission for ‘Nayi Peedhi Samvad’ was discriminatory and biasedPress ReleaseThe Employment–Social Rights Campaign held a meeting at Samta Bhawan in Varanasi following the Purvanchal Yatra across ten districts. Participants objected to the police administration’s denial of permission for the ‘Nayi Peedhi Samvad’ programme at Shastri Ghat, and called for an impartial inquiry into the decision. The meeting announced a campaign across Varanasi and the ten districts on employment, education, healthcare, social rights, transparency and accountable governance. A Chairpersons’ Council representing youth from the districts and an Advisory Council were constituted. The campaign will also seek to build grassroots organisational units across 61 Assembly constituencies in the region.COMMUNAL HARMONYTwo Rivers, One Ocean: Maulana Azad’s Theology of Religious Unity and the Unfinished Work of an Inclusive Indiaby V A Mohamad AshrofMaulana Abul Kalam Azad developed a theology of religious unity grounded in a distinction between deen, the shared religious and ethical foundation of prophetic traditions, and shariah, the particular laws and practices shaped for different communities and historical circumstances. Through his reading of the Quran, especially Surah al-Fatiha, Azad argued for a universal God and a shared religious origin while retaining the distinctiveness of Islamic revelation. He carried this theology into his advocacy of composite nationalism and opposition to Partition. The article examines Azad’s intellectual journey, his engagement with Hindu and other traditions, his political thought, and the continuing relevance and tensions of his approach to religious pluralism.PHILOSOPHYLouis Althusser’s Assessment of Early Marx and the Epistemological Breakby Pon ChandranPon Chandran examines Louis Althusser’s interpretation of Karl Marx’s intellectual development through 'For Marx' and 'Reading Capital'. The article focuses on Althusser’s concept of an epistemological break around 1845, distinguishing Marx’s early philosophical writings from the theoretical framework of his mature work. It discusses the movement from Hegelian and Feuerbachian influences towards historical materialism, and explains Althusser’s theoretical anti-humanism and the idea of history as a process without a subject. The article also examines overdetermination, the relationship between economic, political and ideological structures, and Althusser’s method of symptomatic reading in analysing Marx’s theoretical development and political economy.NOVELThe latest news of Abu Yusuf al-Tahhan – Chapter 1by Dr Salim NazzalCountercurrents begins the weekly serialisation of "The Latest News of Abu Yusuf al-Tahhan", a novel by Palestinian writer Salim Nazzal. Set in the imaginary Galilean village of Ayn al-Diya, the story moves between history, folklore, memory and imagination. Its central figure, Abu Yusuf al-Tahhan, is a mysterious miller whose stories span generations and seemingly different eras. The opening chapter introduces tales of ancient wars, epidemics, floods, love, loss and the secrets of creation, preserved through oral storytelling. Dedicated to the people of Palestine and their enduring hope of return, the novel explores how memory and legend survive across centuries of displacement and change.POETRYA Way Out of the Nightmareby Dr César ChelalaCésar Chelala’s poem 'A Way Out of the Nightmare' is a concise meditation on the interconnected forms of violence shaping our world. Beginning with William S. Burroughs’s stark vision of a “war universe,” the poem moves from familiar conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine and Yemen to the quieter wars experienced by migrants, displaced people and impoverished citizens. Its strength lies in widening the meaning of war beyond armed conflict, connecting historical domination with contemporary inequality and exclusion. The poem’s closing turn toward “common good” offers a simple but profound counterpoint to a world organised around power and division.
