
Syria's Assad to steal spotlight at Arab summit after years in the cold
By Aziz El Yaakoubi RIYADHSyrian President Bashar al-Assad, a pariah for more than a decade, is expected to
1970-01-01 08:00

Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan says police surrounded his house, arrest imminent
ISLAMABAD Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said police had surrounded has his house and that
1970-01-01 08:00

Abortion debate in South Carolina legislature stretches into second day
Lawmakers in South Carolina will reconvene Wednesday morning after debating for more than 12 hours on a bill that would ban most abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
1970-01-01 08:00

NWSL power rankings week 7: They’ve got Spirit, yes they do
After seven weeks of nonstop action, the NWSL is finally down to just one undefeated team, along with more chaotic shifts in the NWSL Power Rankings.About a third of the way through the season, some teams are finally finding their groove while others are sealing their doom. The Washington Spirit...
1970-01-01 08:00

Manchester City vs Chelsea: Complete head-to-head record
The complete head-to-head record between Manchester City and Chelsea.
1970-01-01 08:00

Why Does Plastic Never Fully Dry in the Dishwasher?
Plastic containers are usually still covered in water after they’ve been through the dishwasher. Blame science—not your dishwasher.
1970-01-01 08:00

A new CEO won't fix Twitter's biggest problem
During his six months as Twitter's CEO and owner, Elon Musk decimated its ad business, alienated some news publications and VIP users, and plunged the platform into a constant state of chaos. Now, a new chief executive will be tasked with trying to turn things around.
1970-01-01 08:00

'Low fertility trap': Why Italy's falling birth rate is causing alarm
Italy, a country once known for its big families gathered around the dinner table, is facing a crisis of unparalleled proportions.
1970-01-01 08:00

Elliot Page unveils memoir about reality of transitioning gender in rare video
Elliot Page has shared an update with fans as he prepares to release his memoir, Pageboy. The actor, who is transgender, had a noticeably deeper voice as he opened a box of copies in the rare video. "Wow, it's real", he said emotionally, showing off the book to the camera. The book will focus largely on the Umbrella Academy star's turbulent relationship with his body while transitioning. Click here to sign up for our newsletters
1970-01-01 08:00

Elon Musk comparison of George Soros and Magneto post has a few fatal flaws
Another day, another Elon Musk controversy A recent tweet by the tech entrepreneur has sparked widespread criticism and condemnation due to the sinister implications and dogwhistles buried within. Musk was the latest in a long-long-long line of people to criticise Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, and his comparison between Soros and a megalomaniac Marvel supervillain has been viewed as not only very lazy but deeply problematic and antisemitic. In a bizarre series of tweets, Musk compared the holocaust-survivor background of both Soros and X-Men nemesis Magneto, and argued a skin-deep strawman line that 'both hate humanity'. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Journalist Brian Krassenstein called out Musk on this writing: "Fun fact: Magneto's experiences during the Holocaust as a survivor shaped his perspective as well as his depth and empathy. Soro, also a Holocaust survivor, gets attacked nonstop for his good intentions which some Americans think are bad merely because they disagree with this political affiliations." Musk clapped back: "You assume they are good intentions. They are not. He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity." Hate humanity? Magneto has a disdain towards humanity (as a mutant in the comic books, he feels he is superior and that homo sapiens' time is up) - but in an attempt to use a fictional Jewish figure to attack a real one, Musk has been caught lacking. Magneto isn't real (neither are the X-Men and superpowered mutants), and Musk's tweets read as an attempt to grasp the first Jewish villain he could find from a shelf to beat another Jewish person over the head with, by reflecting surface-level pop culture knowledge into a bowl of antisemitic hate. Magneto, like Soros, survived the Holocaust (as a character). In the comics, he was not initially depicted as Jewish - but a backstory was added to fill out the character as comics stories became far more complex than their origins. Magneto's goal as a villain is to end human oppression over mutants. However, Magneto is described as a fairly grey villain. He has led heroic teams, he blurs his own lines and contradicts himself. There's depth and room for additional context to be bolted onto the character as time goes on. Musk's tweet towards Soros did not represent a fair or valid criticism of the billionaire - it is not only deeply hurtful, it appeared quickly and it is quite telling that it came only days after Soros's investment fund reported that it had sold all its stock in Tesla. Tesla, of course, is run by Musk alongside Twitter. There are plenty of fairways to criticise the actions of billionaires and their obvious financial influence on the world. Musk, Gates, Soros and Bezos alike. However, reaching straight for racial and antisemetic tropes feeds a beast that is not so easily caged. Antisemitism, a form of prejudice against Jewish people, poses significant harm to individuals and communities. It can manifest as verbal abuse, physical violence, and systemic discrimination. By employing antisemitic tropes or making comparisons that evoke harmful stereotypes, individuals contribute to a climate of hostility and bigotry. Musk has indirectly overseen a rise in antisemitic language on Twitter. A study found that antisemitic language on Twitter doubled - and then some - after Musk's takeover of Twitter. Not only that, but Musk's comments arrived around the same time as Douglas Murray's speech in the UK's National Conservative which observed that the rise of the Nazi party shouldn't hamper the growth of nationalism elsewhere just 'because Germany mucked up': The last week has seen a dismissal of Jewish suffering, and the use of Jewish identity in paper-thin arguments to back right-wing statements - Musk and Murray include. Such instances highlight the need for increased awareness regarding the consequences of antisemitic language. It is crucial for individuals to recognize the harm caused by perpetuating stereotypes and to actively combat all forms of prejudice. Musk eventually apologized (sort of), but in considering both Musk and Murray's comments, it's perhaps worth some people spending some time reflecting on atrocities that have occurred in the past - and less time making lazy comments involving Marvel characters. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00

Ecuador president dissolves legislature, bringing elections forward
By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly in a decree on Wednesday, bringing forward
1970-01-01 08:00

Italy: Mass evacuation as deadly floods hit northern Emilia-Romagna region
About 5,000 people flee their homes in Emilia-Romagna, with five confirmed deaths across the region.
1970-01-01 08:00