A Delhi court has denied bail to Raj Kumar, an accused in an inter-state child trafficking racket, emphasising that child trafficking is a "heinous scourge" and an "onslaught on the moral conscience of civilised society." The court highlighted the vulnerability of children and the commercialisation of infants, noting that the complainant's newborn is still missing and the accused's wife has prior involvement in similar cases.
Experts urge internet platforms to adopt prevention-by-design and stronger AI systems to curb child sexual exploitation material and improve online child safety.
The birth of Alec Neel Vance marks a historic event, being the first time in modern history a US Vice-President has had a child while in office.
India's IT Secretary S Krishnan announced an upcoming meeting with Meta's global team to address critical issues including lapses in tackling Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), the temporary restriction of PM Modi's Facebook post, and concerns over synthetically generated information. The government expects Meta, as a leading tech company, to have robust systems to manage these challenges effectively.
An assistant teacher in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, has been suspended after a Class 2 student was inadvertently locked inside a primary school classroom. The incident, which occurred on Friday, came to light through a viral video showing the distressed child. Villagers intervened, contacting school staff who returned to release the student after about 90 minutes. An inquiry held the teacher responsible, leading to her immediate suspension and a further probe.
Police in Kerala will form a medical board to investigate the death of a one-and-a-half-year-old boy who died after being administered anaesthesia for a lip injury at a private hospital in Payyannur. The family alleges medical negligence, leading to a case against the anaesthetist and protests.
Meta on Tuesday published a detailed blog outlining its efforts to combat child sexual abuse material across its apps, citing AI-powered detection, ad review systems and large-scale enforcement actions, days after the government issued a notice to the social media giant over reports of Instagram advertisements promoting such content.
India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to summon Meta regarding Instagram ads promoting child sexual abuse material, following a BBC investigation. This action comes shortly after the government also questioned Meta about WhatsApp's planned username feature, citing concerns over increased online fraud and cybercrimes.
The government has issued a stern notice to Meta on Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) in paid advertisements on Instagram, sources said on Sunday.
A viral video showing a toddler being assaulted at a Navi Mumbai anganwadi initially sparked outrage against staff, but a police probe revealed the child's own mother was the perpetrator. The mother lost her temper due to the child's restlessness. Authorities counselled the parents and a minister addressed the spread of misinformation.
A 39-year-old advocate, Priyanka, has been arrested in connection with the murder of her five-year-old daughter in Bengaluru. Her live-in partner, Mohan G, who was arrested earlier, has confessed to killing the child. Police are investigating Priyanka's role and potential motives, including her alleged dissatisfaction with the child's complexion.
'A lot of women in their late 30s have healthy babies and there are prenatal screenings and tests that can help families make informed choices,' says rediffGURU Dr Shakeeb Ahmed Khan.
A devastating fire in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a government hospital in Amravati, Maharashtra, resulted in the deaths of three newborns. Eyewitnesses and grieving parents allege that fire alarms remained silent and water sprinklers failed to activate, pointing to severe safety lapses and hospital negligence. While 36 infants were rescued, families are demanding accountability for the tragic loss of life.
A six-year-old UKG student tragically died at a private school in Visakhapatnam after allegedly being slapped by a teacher inside the classroom, an incident captured on CCTV footage.
A one-year-old boy, abducted from a temple complex in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, was rescued by police after an encounter. The accused, who planned to sell the child, sustained bullet injuries during the operation.
A 15-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district allegedly died following an abortion attempt after being repeatedly raped by a school teacher, leading to the arrest of the teacher and his brother.
Police in Bareilly have uncovered a sophisticated child trafficking ring, allegedly kingpinned by a nurse, that targeted vulnerable women and arranged illegal sales of newborns. The racket was exposed after the abduction of a toddler, leading to multiple arrests and the identification of a wider network involving fake medical practitioners and links to private hospitals and IVF centres.
Do not push your children into situations that leave them feeling trapped or desperate, appeals rediffGURU Anu Krishna.
The Indian IT Ministry has engaged in 'hard talk' with Meta regarding child sexual abuse material (CSAM), leading to increased sensitivity and action from the tech giant. The government asserts that Indian laws must be followed and social media harms mitigated, with no safe harbour for violations. Discussions also covered AI labelling and the WhatsApp username issue, highlighting a global concern over social media harms.
Rajasthan Police will launch a month-long special campaign against child labour, bonded child labour, and human trafficking from June 1. The campaign, titled "Umang-7", will continue till June 30 across the state.
A man has been arrested in Uttarakhand for allegedly assaulting his eight-month pregnant wife, which resulted in the death of their unborn child. The wife is in critical condition, and police are investigating whether the dispute stemmed from a land deal or an alleged illegal sex determination test.
A father's joy at the birth of his son turned to crushing sorrow after a fire swept through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a government hospital in Amravati, Maharashtra, killing his newborn and two other infants. Swapnil Barge had been searching for his wife and day-old son, only to receive the devastating news hours later.
The Delhi government's Women and Child Development Department (WCD) has introduced a new internship and research framework, offering students in social work, psychology, and related fields structured field exposure at child care institutions and welfare centres.
A devastating fire at a Kolkata hotel claimed nine lives, including a child and two women, in the early hours of Wednesday. Survivors recounted a terrifying experience, highlighting the absence of fire alarms and safety equipment, and the difficulty of escape due to dense smoke and a single exit. This incident follows another fatal hotel fire in Birbhum.
Veteran Indian wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat and her husband Vivek Suhag have welcomed their second child, a baby girl, on the auspicious occasion of Shivratri.
The incident, which occurred early Monday morning, was reportedly caused by a sparking ventilator.
A Delhi court has acquitted Anil Kumar in a dowry death case, stating that the prosecution failed to prove dowry-related cruelty or harassment "soon before her death." The court found allegations to be general and noted that the deceased's family did not support the prosecution's case, with her mother attributing her mental state to the death of her child. The court emphasised that suspicion alone is not proof and that an alternative explanation for the death existed.
Maharashtra Cyber has arrested a Telegram-based seller, Adiraj Rajendra Bait, for allegedly dealing in Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM). The arrest followed an extensive investigation involving digital ecosystem monitoring, technical verification, and forensic analysis of the accused's mobile phone.
Mom-to-be Samantha Ruth Prabhu shares glimpses of her Vietnam holiday with husband Raj Nidimoru, where her baby bump is clearly visible.
The administration in Maharashtra's Nanded district has prevented 36 child marriages in the past month through counselling, awareness efforts, and on-ground verification.
Police in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a man and his father in connection with the alleged murder of the man's four-year-old stepdaughter. The child was reportedly beaten to death and her body secretly buried. The arrests followed a complaint by the child's mother, and the body is set to be exhumed for examination.
Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has challenged ministers and politicians to send their children to village schools for at least a day to truly grasp the difficulties faced by rural students, who often walk several kilometres for education.
Police in Indore have registered a case against 13 people, including the groom, after a 13-year-old girl was allegedly married off despite warnings from the local administration. The marriage occurred after an exchange agreement between families.
A 62-year-old cricket coach, Sumith Fernando, who mentored Kusal Mendis, died in Colombo following an altercation with two school players over drinking water during a match. A 17-year-old player has been arrested and placed under child probation custody.
A devastating fire in a five-storey building housing multiple hotels in central Kolkata resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, including a child, and injured six others. Firefighters rescued 80 individuals, but dense smoke hampered operations. Authorities suspect a short circuit and allege significant safety and construction norm violations by the building management. The owner is currently absconding, and police have initiated legal proceedings and raids.
A 62-year-old cricket coach, Sumith Fernando, who mentored Kusal Mendis, died in Colombo following an altercation with two school players over drinking water during a match. A 17-year-old player has been arrested and placed under child probation custody.
From a child star to a superhero icon and horror favourite, Hayden Panettiere left behind a memorable body of work far beyond her years.
US President Donald Trump honoured 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams at the White House for his heroic act of saving 10-year-old Indian-origin boy Nathaniel Rai from drowning at a California beach. The daring rescue, captured on video, earned Williams praise from the President, who also met Nathaniel and his family.
Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday, giving Mikel Arteta an early-season triumph while condemning new City boss Enzo Maresca to defeat in his first game in charge in the traditional curtain-raiser to the campaign.
A devastating fire in a 12-storey residential building in Mumbai's Vile Parle area resulted in the deaths of a toddler and a woman, and injuries to six others, including a fireman. The blaze, which erupted on the 11th floor, spread rapidly before firefighters extinguished it. An investigation into the cause is underway.
