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Articles by Toibah Kirmani
Are We There Yet? Reflections On International Day Of Democracy
September 15, 2025, marks eighteenth anniversary of International Day of Democracy. Democracy is cherished the world over, yet feared to be on shaky foundations. More than celebratory, the day has become a mirror to examine the state of democracy. Today, September 15, is the eighteenth International Day of Democracy—a date the United Nations General Assembly established in 2008 to reaffirm the universal principles of democratic governance.
Trump Put Elon Musk On Phone With Ukraine's Zelenskyy During Congratulatory Call
Trump Puts Elon Musk On Phone With Ukraine's Zelenskyy | Photo: AP Trump Puts Elon Musk On Phone With Ukraine's Zelenskyy | Photo: AP President-elect Donald Trump put billionaire Elon Musk on the line with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when the Ukrainian leader called to congratulate the incoming U.S president, according to a Ukrainian official with direct knowledge of the phone call.
A Review of Beneath the Veneer by Shreya Sarkar
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Book Cover for Beneath the Veneer by Shreya Sarkar Photo: Web: Alcove Publishers Book Cover for Beneath the Veneer by Shreya Sarkar Photo: Web: Alcove Publishers Beneath the Veneer by Shreya Sarkar Published by Alcove Publishers, 2024 In suburban India, life unfolds with a quiet promise, where dreams find space to breathe amidst the steady rhythm of growth and comfort.
The Deathly Waltz
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Demanding Change: Students who walked out from their graduation ceremony gather outside George Washington University on May 19, 2024. Photo: Getty Images Demanding Change: Students who walked out from their graduation ceremony gather outside George Washington University on May 19, 2024. Photo: Getty Images The iconic political philosopher Plato was always wary of democracy, especially its mad ending.
Middle East Latest: UN Warns Israel Over UNRWA Ban, Hezbollah Has Conditions For Ceasefire
International The strikes are part of Israel's war on Gaza and Lebanon, which has killed at least 43,163 Palestinians since October 7, 2023. In Lebanon, at least 2,822 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Israel-Gaza war Photo: AP Israel-Gaza war Photo: AP Israeli forces on Thursday launched strikes on two towns in Lebanon's Baalbek region, killing at least 19 people, including eight women.
India's Best Magazine| Find Latest News, Top Headlines, Live Updates
Home Authors Toibah kirmani Editor About The Author Toibah is a sub-editor at Outlook. She is passionate about storytelling on social justice, human rights, and politics. Previously, she worked as a fact-checker at Logically Facts. When she's not writing, Toibah can be found trying to win an argument. Contact: toibah.kirmani@outlookindia.com About The Author Toibah is a sub-editor at Outlook. She is passionate about storytelling on social justice, human rights, and politics.
US Elections 2024: Will Foreign Conflicts Define America's Future?
United States What will decide the US mandate? Its approach to the wars outside, Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Middle East, or the battles within—economic, race, gun violence and immigration? Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Illustration on US power Photo: Vikas Thakur Illustration on US power Photo: Vikas Thakur Outside, Israel is pounding Iran with bombs. Iran is sending back showers of missiles. Palestinians are living a hellish nightmare.
A Tryst With History On The Karakoram
National Gilgit, a sleepy outpost at the heart of High Asia, plays a key role in shaping the region’s geopolitics over millennia— including the rivalry eulogised as The Great Game between the British and Russian Empires. Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Kashmir Academic Calendar: November Session Restoration Under Review
Students walk towards their classrooms following a two-month-long winter break in Srinagar (March 04, 2024) | Photo: Getty Images Students walk towards their classrooms following a two-month-long winter break in Srinagar (March 04, 2024) | Photo: Getty Images The academic calendar in Kashmir has been at the centre of a lively discussion in recent years. Traditionally, the academic year in Kashmir followed a November session. However, this schedule was later shifted to March.
Yahya Sinwar Death: Who Will Head Hamas Next? | The Possible Successors
International Amongst a long list of questions and speculations following Yahya Sinwar's death, what stands out as the most crucial one is who will be appointed as the next Hamas chief. The decision is pivotal as the leadership in several ways is expected to set the tone for future moves.
Omar Abdullah 2.0: Will The ‘Lion’ Roar In ‘Caged’ Valley
National NC has made promises of Article 370 and Article 35-A restoration. At the same time, it has also promised the return of full statehood and good governance. Will Omar 2.0 be able to deliver on his promises. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with CM-designate Omar Abdullah Photo: PTI Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with CM-designate Omar Abdullah Photo: PTI On October 12, for the first time after nearly a hectic month of election campaigning, Omar Abdullah seemed relaxed.
Did Kashmir's ‘Islamist’ Voters Turn Secular Nationalists In Three Months?
National If Engineer Rashid's win in June was indeed an Islamist triumph, then Omar Abdullah should be a great influential secular preacher who has been able convert people en masse towards his party's secular agenda in three months Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid gestures towards crowd during a public rally at Baramulla. Mukhtar Khan/AP Photo Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid gestures towards crowd during a public rally at Baramulla.
President's Rule Revoked In Jammu And Kashmir, Preparations For New Govt Underway
Elections The announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs comes days after National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and staked his claim at forming the government.
In Jammu & Kashmir, Winning Elections Is Only The First Hurdle
Free Hand?: Omar Abdullah with supporters after winning the elections Photo: AP Free Hand?: Omar Abdullah with supporters after winning the elections Photo: AP This story was published as part of Outlook's 21 October 2024 magazine issue titled 'Raavan Leela'. To read more stories from the issue, click here The headquarters of the National Conference (NC) in Srinagar bore a sombre look on October 8—there were no crackers, drumbeats or sweets. It didn’t seem like the winning party’s office.
Engineer Rashid Fails To Replicate Lok Sabha Success In J&K Assembly Elections
Elections Engineer Rashid, who was anticipated to change the poll dynamics in the Valley, failed to make an impact in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections 2024. Engineer Rashid at Baramulla rally | Photo: Yasir Iqbal Engineer Rashid at Baramulla rally | Photo: Yasir Iqbal Only four months ago, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, contested in the Lok Sabha elections from behind bars and made headlines by defying the odds.
The Shifting Nature of 'Delhi's Agents' In Kashmir
Photo: Illustration: Vikas Thakur Photo: Illustration: Vikas Thakur This story was published as part of Outlook Magazine's 'Future Tense' issue, dated October 11, 2024. To read more stories from the Issue, click here . This town is full of shadows—wrote Kashmir’s celebrated short-story writer Amin Kamil in ‘The Shadow and the Substance’. He talked about the mushrooming of government informers and spies in the Valley for surveillance.
Women On The Ballot In J&K
Women Power: NC’s Sakina Itoo at Omar Abdullah’s rally in Baramulla Photo: Getty Images Women Power: NC’s Sakina Itoo at Omar Abdullah’s rally in Baramulla Photo: Getty Images This story was published as part of Outlook Magazine's 'Future Tense' issue, dated October 11, 2024. To read more stories from the Issue, click here.
The AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) And The Waqf Worries
Aligarh Muslim University Photo: via Getty Images Aligarh Muslim University Photo: via Getty Images A university stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for progress, for the adventure of ideas and for the search for truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards even higher objectives. If the universities discharge their duty adequately, then it is well with the nation and the people.
Middle East LIVE: Israel Declares State Of Emergency; No Sign Of Progress In Gaza Ceasefire
Here is the latest on the Middle East tensions (August 25): Israel's military launched air raids across southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah responded with a large drone and rocket attack, saying the barrage was also in retaliation for the Israeli military's killing of its commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut in July. The escalation comes as the Reuters news agency reported no sign of progress in mediated talks for a ceasefire in Gaza.
A Generation At A Crossroads: How Jammu And Kashmir’s New Reservation Rules Threaten Open Category Aspirants
National As Jammu and Kashmir stands at this critical juncture, the need for a balanced approach has never been more urgent representative image Photo: Getty Images representative image Photo: Getty Images In the intricate tapestry of Jammu and Kashmir’s sociopolitical landscape, where history and aspiration intertwine, a profound shift is quietly taking place.
The Imperial Hygiene Of Cecil Tyndale Biscoe: How A British Missionary's Cleanliness Campaign Recast Kashmiri Identity
Culture & Society Cecil Tyndale Biscoe’s mission in Kashmir illustrates the colonial intersection of hygiene, morality, and identity shaping Cecil Tyndale-Biscoe Photo: Wikimedia commons Cecil Tyndale-Biscoe Photo: Wikimedia commons Cecil Tyndale Biscoe, a celebrated British educationist missionary, sought not only to educate but also to shape the collective character of Kashmiris, as evident in his book — Character Building in Kashmir.
Dossier Diary: Crafting Stories Of Control In Kashmir
Vendors can use your data to provide services. Declining a vendor can stop them from using the data you shared. Exponential Interactive, Inc d/b/a VDX.tv Cookie duration: 90 (days). Data collected and processed: IP addresses, Device identifiers, Browsing and interaction data, Privacy choices, Non-precise location data, Users’ profiles, Probabilistic identifiers more Cookie duration resets each session.
Legacy Of The Peepal Tree: A Village’s Journey Through Partition And Beyond
Representative image Photo: Getty Images Representative image Photo: Getty Images The tall peepal tree, standing majestically in the centre of the village, was more than just a natural marvel; it was a living conduit of tradition. Its deep roots, embedded firmly in the soil, symbolised the sacred space where the fabric of the community was woven together.
Israel Attacks ‘Civilian Area’ In Southern Lebanon, Woman And Two Children Among 10 Killed
Smoke rises in northern Israel following a rocket strike from southern Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 | Photo: AP/File Smoke rises in northern Israel following a rocket strike from southern Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 | Photo: AP/File At least 10 Syrian nationals have been killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.
The Rumours, The Reality, And Unreachable Networks: My Story Of the 2019 Kashmir Curfew
Barbed wire set up as barricading near Ghanta Ghar on August 19, 2019 in Srinagar, India. Photo: Credits: Getty Images Barbed wire set up as barricading near Ghanta Ghar on August 19, 2019 in Srinagar, India. Photo: Credits: Getty Images It was a sunny day like any other. I was returning to my hostel after classes at my boarding school, which was far from Kashmir. My chemistry teacher had finally been replaced, and I was excited to tell my father the news.
Two Indian Astronauts Shortlisted To Begin Training With NASA In August
Two Indian Astronauts Shortlisted For NASA Training In August Two Indian Astronauts Shortlisted For NASA Training In August Two Indian astronauts will begin training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas in August, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced. The training is in preparation for the upcoming Indo-US space mission to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled to launch by the end of 2024.
Imran Khan Says 'Caged Like A Terrorist In 7x8 Ft Cell; Pak Govt Says He Enjoys ‘Presidential Suites’
International Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been imprisoned at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for almost a year upon his conviction in three cases. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that he is being caged like a "terrorist”, and has been denied fundamental prisoner and human rights in a "death cell" at a high-security prison.
Who Is Masoud Pezeshkian, The Heart Surgeon Who Won Iran's Presidency
International The 69-year-old heart surgeon has pledged to promote a pragmatic foreign policy, ease tensions over now-stalled negotiations with major powers to revive a 2015 nuclear pact and improve prospects for social liberalisation and political pluralism.
'Baby Of The House': Cambridge Student, 22, Elected To UK Parliament
Cambridge Student, 22, Elected To UK Parliament | Photo: X/Sam Carling Cambridge Student, 22, Elected To UK Parliament | Photo: X/Sam Carling A 22-year-old Cambridge postgraduate student, Sam Carling, has made history by becoming the UK's youngest Member of Parliament (MP). Carling, a Labour candidate, won the North West Cambridgeshire constituency by a narrow margin of 39 votes, defeating veteran Conservative MP Shailesh Vara.
Heart Surgeon Vs Former Nuclear Negotiator: Iran Holds Runoff Presidential Vote
Iran's Reformist Candidate Masoud Pezeshkian | Photo: AP Iran's Reformist Candidate Masoud Pezeshkian | Photo: AP Iranians began voting Friday in a runoff election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash last month, as public apathy has become pervasive in the Islamic Republic after years of economic woes, mass protests and tensions in the Middle East.
Air Europa: Flight Turbulence Throws Man Into Overhead Bin, At Least 30 Injured; Emergency Landing In Brazil | WATCH
A man being taken down from the flight's overhead bin Photo: Jheelam A man being taken down from the flight's overhead bin Photo: Jheelam A horrible turbulence hitting an Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight and forcing it to resort to an emergency landing in Brazil, injured at least 30 people on Monday.
‘A Reality Show': US And Global Media Headlines On The Biden-Trump Debate
United States From New Delhi to Beijing and beyond, President Joe Biden's performance was widely panned. However, his Republican challenger, Donald Trump, did not escape criticism, either. Joe Biden and Donald Trump | Photo: AP Joe Biden and Donald Trump | Photo: AP Some 48 million viewers in the United States watched the highly anticipated debate between President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Donald Trump, on Thursday night.
‘A Reality Show': US And Global Media Headlines On The Biden-Trump Debate
Joe Biden and Donald Trump | Photo: AP Joe Biden and Donald Trump | Photo: AP Some 48 million viewers in the United States watched the highly anticipated debate between President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Donald Trump, on Thursday night. The debate, held at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta, saw the two candidates engage in a heated exchange on various issues, including abortion, the economy, and foreign policy.
Watch: Newlywed Couples Cast Their Vote In Iran’s Presidential Election
Newlyweds Cast Votes In Iran | Photo: Iran's Press TV Newlyweds Cast Votes In Iran | Photo: Iran's Press TV Iranians have gone to the polls to elect a new president, with voting underway across the country. According to Iran's Press TV, a newlywed couple cast their vote in their wedding attire at a polling station in Imam Reza holy shrine in Mashhad. Newly-wed Iranian couple participates in the 14th presidential election, casting their ballots in Imam Reza holy shrine in Mashhad.
Iran Is Choosing A New President: All You Need To Know
International The president runs the country day-to-day, but real power on issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme and its foreign policy rests with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who analysts say seeks a loyal president he can trust.
With Over 90% Muslims, Why Did Tajikistan Ban The Hijab? Explained
International The hijab ban is part of a series of measures taken by President Emomli Rahmon's government to promote a specific national identity and limit public displays of religious affiliation. Dushanbe, TAJIKISTAN | Photo: AFP via Getty Images Dushanbe, TAJIKISTAN | Photo: AFP via Getty Images Tajikistan is making headlines as the Muslim-majority country's parliament passes a law banning the hijab, deeming it "alien" to its culture.
Meeting Between Ladakhi Leader And Mirwaiz In Srinagar Causes Storm In Leh
National The BJP is questioning why Kargili would discuss Ladakh with the separatist leader and suggesting that it might be an attempt to derail ongoing talks between the government and Ladakhi leaders Sajad Kargili of the Kargil Democratic Alliance with Kashmiri Leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Photo: @jtnladakh/X Sajad Kargili of the Kargil Democratic Alliance with Kashmiri Leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Photo: @jtnladakh/X It was far from an ordinary meeting when Ladakhi leader Sajad Kargili sat...
As Israel And Hezbollah Edge Closer To War, Iran Has A Warning
International Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has threatened to attack Israel with rockets and drones if it launches a war in Lebanon, and has also threatened Cyprus, a European Union member, over its alleged support for Israel. Hezbollah Leader, Hassan Nasrallah | Photo: AP Hezbollah Leader, Hassan Nasrallah | Photo: AP Iran has warned Israel that any attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon would lead to devastating consequences for the region.
'Creating New Records', 'Leaders Discuss Yoga With Me': What All PM Modi Said On World Yoga Day
National The main yoga event led by PM Narendra Modi took place at Srinagar's Shera-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC). This morning, the 30-minute yoga session which was scheduled to begin at 6:30 am was disrupted by early morning rainfall. The event was being attended by, among others, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Ayush Minister Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav.
International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE Updates: Over 7,000 People To Join PM Modi In Srinagar
People across the world are observing the tenth International Yoga Day today, with events and activities to take place to promote the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of the practice. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of yoga in everyday life. The Sanskrit term "yoga" means "to unite" or "to join", symbolising the connection between body and mind.
As Novelist Arundhati Roy Faces Prosecution Under UAPA, What Lies Ahead?
National Fourteen years after Arundhati Roy made a controversial statement about Kashmir, it has landed her and former professor Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain in trouble as Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena sanctioned their prosecution under the anti-terror law UAPA. Author-activist Arundhati Roy at at a solidarity meet at Press Club of India in New Delhi, October 4, 2023. Photo: SURESH K PANDEY Author-activist Arundhati Roy at at a solidarity meet at Press Club of India in New Delhi, October 4, 2023.
‘Kashmir Not Integral Part Of India’: What Is Arundhati Roy's 2010 Speech That Invoked UAPA
National If convicted of sedition under the sedition law, author-activist Arundhati Roy could face punishment ranging from a fine to life imprisonment.
Pressure Mounts On Biden To Secure Ceasefire In Gaza As Anger Grows Over Civilian Casualties
Talk of a ceasefire in Gaza has been fluttering elusively for months, bringing hope to people desperate for a reprieve from the war. Hopes rose with the US, Israel’s most powerful ally backing a ceasefire for the holy month of Ramadan. There were tantalising suggestions that a ceasefire would be announced any day. Ramadan will be over early next week. Expectations vanished. Israel is reluctant to halt the fighting. A ceasefire is not a word that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likes.
Pakistan: Imran Khan-Backed Independents Lead In Final Tally; Uncertainty Over Govt Formation
Pakistan’s official election results were announced by the election commission on Sunday, with independent candidates affiliated with former prime minister Imran Khan winning the most seats in parliamentary elections, delivering a strong rebuke to the country’s powerful generals and throwing the political system into chaos.
What Is Toshakhana Case In Which Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi Got 14 Years Jail?
International The sentencing came amid a state crackdown against Imran Khan, the most popular politician in the country based on independent polls. Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Wife Bushra Bibi (AP Photo) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have each been sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Toshakhana case. This comes just one day after Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets.
Iran-Pakistan Relations: What Is Jaish Al-Adl, Whose Bases Iran Destroyed In Pakistan?
Iran launched attacks on Tuesday in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, state media reported, potentially further raising tensions in the already volatile Middle East, particularly amid Israel's ongoing war on Gaza. Pakistan issued a “strong condemnation of the unprovoked violation of its airspace”. According to the Pakistani foreign ministry, two innocent children lost their lives, and three girls sustained injuries.
Kashmir Warmer Than Delhi: Where Is The Snowfall?
Kashmir 14 hours ago Harissa: Why Kashmir eats this centuries-old winter delicacy and how it is made Moneycontrol - Irfan Amin Malik • 14h Every year with the onset of winter the demand for Harissa, Kashmir traditional winter delicacy, increases.
Kashmir Warmer Than Delhi: Where Is All The Snow?
Srinagar recorded an unusually high maximum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius on January 13, marking the highest temperature for the month in the last twenty years. The prolonged dry spell amid intense cold has depleted water bodies in the Kashmir Valley, with the weather office forecasting dry conditions to continue until January 25. The absence of snowfall in January has raised temperatures 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above normal across the valley.
Journalists Pay Deadly Price For Covering Gaza, 1 In 10 Killed
Wael al-Dahdouh, an Al Jazeera correspondent renowned for covering Gaza throughout his career, has become a symbol of the territory's devastation amid the ongoing war. After losing his wife, a son, a daughter, and an infant grandson in an Israeli airstrike in October, al-Dahdouh suffered another tragic loss on January 7 when his eldest son, Hamza, was killed in an Israeli attack that also took the lives of two journalists. "Nothing is harder than the pain of loss.
Hero Or Terrorist? The Life And Death Of Iranian General Qasim Soleimani | Explained
On January 3, hundreds of Iranians gathered outside the tomb of assassinated Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani in Iran's Kerman region to mark his fourth death anniversary were caught in a twin blast that killed more than a hundred people and injured around 200. The explosion was declared a terrorist strike by Iranian authorities, but no one has claimed responsibility.
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