Author: Angel Lopez

Tajikistan officially banned the hijab, imposing hefty fines in its latest move to curb Islamic influence. The Central Asian nation of Tajikistan officially prohibited the wearing of hijabs and other “alien garments” this week, as the country’s parliament passed a new bill regulating Islamic clothing and Eid celebrations. The bill, approved by the upper house of parliament, Majlisi Milli, on June 19, comes after years of an unofficial clampdown on the hijab in the Muslim-majority country. Under the new law, individuals wearing hijabs or other banned religious clothing could face hefty fines of up to 7,920 somonis (approximately $700). Companies…

Brussels/London (16/6 – 33.33) The defeat of the Russian Federation is a foregone conclusion. It is a reality. It is a must. Victory for Ukraine is non-negotiable. It is an absolute necessity. As ironclad as Brussels, London, Berlin or Washington. As ironclad as the Normandy battlefield, Waterloo, Verdun, or many other spots on the planet. We, the ones living in this generation that saw the war erupted right in front of our eyes, owe it to the young men and women in the Ukraine who gave their lives for this conviction. An excessive number of sceptics advocate for surrender. We…

Brussels (27/10 – 50) Just in September this year, ten “distinguished” people in Tajikistan have been awarded general ranks. The decree on conferring general ranks was signed by the country’s president, Emomali Rahmon, on September 7th. According to this decree, there are now three more generals in the Agency for State Financial Control and Anti-Corruption. The rank of Major General of Justice was awarded to the head of the Finance and Economic Department, Fazliddin Khodjazoda, the head of the Special Operations Department, Abdurakhmon Davlatzoda, and the head of the Agency for GBAO, Zoir Gafurzoda. The rank of Major General of…

Copenhagen (14/11 – 40) The massive mobilization and sustained pressure jolted the Sri Lankan presidency of the previously all-powerful Gotabaya Rajapaksa, prompted mass resignations from the government at the time, and solidified existing spaces and created new spaces for dissent and discussions on much-needed reforms. Sri Lanka is facing an exceptional political and economic crisis that has sparked months-long protests across the country. The new leadership under President Ranil Wickremesinghe struggles with the economic situation and seemingly failed to uphold basic human rights and pursue accountability for grave crimes towards the people of Sri Lanka. Despite troubling trends of authoritarianism,…

Violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories has prompted New York officials to bolster security measures and deploy additional police resources across the state. In addition to locating and “working actively” to get New Yorkers in Israel safely back to the U.S., Gov. Hochul promised her office is also “focusing on what’s going on here at home,” she said at Temple Israel of Albany over the weekend. “Immediately we deployed our state police to be activated, to protect not just the usual places — synagogues and yeshivas,” Hochul said Saturday. “Not just in New York City either, in places like…

More than 6,000 people representing scores of religions and belief systems are expected to convene in Chicago starting Monday for what organizers bill as the world’s largest gathering of interfaith leaders. For the Parliament of the World’s Religions, the week-long event marks a return to its roots – the organization was founded in Chicago in 1893. In the past 30 years, it has convened six times, most recently in Toronto in 2018. Past gatherings have drawn participants from more than 80 nations. This week’s speakers and presenters will represent Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Baha’i, Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Indigenous religions, paganism and…

The Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act, which gives consumers the right to know who is collecting their data and to opt out of targeted ads, was passed in the last days of the legislative session. House Bill 154, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith (D-Fairfax), was amended to exclude registered securities brokers and dealers, as well as financial institutions that fall under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The bill as amended passed the State Senate 15-5 on June 29, and the amended bill passed the House of Representatives the following day. Griffith told Delaware Business Times that the amendment, which was proposed by…

One of the rules involves required online training for school librarians and other employees involved in selecting books for students; the other rule requires elementary schools to post online lists of reading materials. An administrative law judge Thursday rejected a challenge to Florida Department of Education rules that are part of a move to increase scrutiny of books in schools. Judge Darren Schwartz issued a 23-page order that dismissed the challenge by the Florida Education Association teachers union. The case involved two rules designed to carry out a 2022 state law. One of the rules involves required online training for…

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) busted and arrested two people for trafficking and manufacturing Methamphetamine near a Florida Welcome Center. On Thursday, the FHP conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle suspected of having an illegal window tint. The vehicle was stopped on I-95 southbound near the Florida Welcome Center. At the time of the stop, FHP says the driver, a 42-year-old female, and a 41-year-old male passenger were on the way to Apopka, Florida, from Charleston, South Carolina. FHP says during the investigation, the trooper noticed both individuals displayed numerous visual and behavioral indicators of the illegal use of…

Greece’s coast guard says 68 people have been rescued in the eastern Aegean Sea after the sailboat they were on sent a distress signal while off the coast of island of Leros.The sailboat, which is believed to have set sail from Turkey carrying migrants hoping to reach Greece, issued a distress call early Monday, and the passengers were initially picked up by a passing merchant ship before being transferred to a coast guard vessel, the coast guard said.All were safely transported to Leros, and there were no reports of any injuries or people missing. The nationalities of those on board…