Indian elections, attacks on vaccines, and more in today’s edition of Bwoglines.

Happening in the World: State poll results show that Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to win important state elections in India before next year’s general elections. Modi plans to serve as India’s prime minister for the third term. (BBC)

Happening in the US: A federal judge in Mississippi sided with the “medical freedom” group in a vaccine case, allowing parents to exempt their children from vaccination requirements due to religious reasons. Before this case, Mississippi was one of only six states that still upheld school vaccination requirements without religious exemption. (New York Times)

Happening in NYC: Federal officials opened a new intake center for New York City migrant work permits. The center, which is at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, will help to reduce processing time for applications. Over 140,000 migrants have arrived in the city since the spring of 2022, and the facility’s plan is to focus on the recent influx of Venezuelan migrants. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: As part of the Ambedkar Initiative, the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society is hosting a viewing of the Ambedkar Digital Bookmobile and a film screening of “Chaityabhumi.” The Ambedkar Digital Bookmobile is a project that aims to collect Maharashtra’s long history of social reform, accessing traditions of songwriting, performances, and poetry against caste-based exploitation and untouchability. The project seeks to raise awareness around contemporary Dalit popular and political song-performances within the community. The bookmobile will be on display at the Milstein Center from 12 to 4 pm, followed by the film screening at 4 pm. Registration is required for non-Columbia or Barnard affiliates. 

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