As India's decline continued on global indices, the government first blamed methodology and then motives. This is where we remain today as we wish each other and ourselves a happy Independence Day, points out Aakar Patel.
Government departments requested social media platforms to remove 2.44 lakh pieces of content between March and July, with states initiating 82% of these requests. The IT Intermediaries Rules 2021 were amended to reduce takedown time to three hours. The PIB Fact Check unit clarified its role in content moderation, refuting claims of automated blocking by Meta and emphasising the need to address lawlessness in cyberspace.
The Indian government is questioning whether Meta's recommendation systems and paid content promotion align with its status as an intermediary under the IT Act, raising concerns about the company's liability for content it actively decides to show users.
Abdul Ghafoori has been arrested in Toronto for the alleged first-degree murder of his partner, Indian national Himanshi Khurana. Ghafoori was apprehended at a Toronto airport after being on the run for over seven months. Khurana was found dead in December last year, and police had identified Ghafoori as a suspect in her homicide.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'dimagi Naxal' (intellectual Naxal) remark, made during his Independence Day address, has ignited a significant political debate, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju clarifying that the comment targets those who support Maoists and separatists, not opposition leaders, while opposition figures like P Chidambaram have embraced the label in defiance.
'If elections are held with honesty you will see their defeat.'
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned the anticipatory bail of former judge Giribala Singh, who is accused in the death of her daughter-in-law, Twisha Sharma, citing factual aspects of the case and allegations against her.
Bangladeshi cricket legend Shakib Al Hasan, an ally of ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, is willing to return from exile in the US to face charges, including murder, if the government guarantees his safety. He hopes to play a farewell series and represent Bangladesh in the 2027 World Cup, highlighting the challenges faced by Hasina's allies after her government's fall.
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed due to 'recent illegal movements' by the US military, demanding transit permits, while the US Central Command (CENTCOM) insists the strait is 'open to all vessels' and vows to ensure 'freedom of navigation'.
A coordinated international operation, 'Operation Hard Ball', led to the arrest of 24 alleged members and associates of three India-based criminal syndicates, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, across the US, Canada, and Europe.
Manipur's police chief, Mukesh Singh, has issued a stern warning against individuals taking the law into their own hands or firing at security forces, stating they will be dealt with strictly. He also highlighted efforts to recover looted weapons and combat social media misinformation.
These new provisions are expected to help heirs access securities faster.
Opposition parties disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, leading to multiple adjournments. Protests focused on the alleged NEET paper leak and Ram temple donation theft issues, with demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. The House was eventually adjourned for the day after repeated appeals for order failed.
An elderly couple, Purushottam Khunte (70) and Goharini Bai (55), were found brutally murdered at their home in Seduras village, Sakti district, Chhattisgarh. Police have launched an investigation, deploying forensic teams and a dog squad, and are exploring all possible angles to identify the assailants.
India and Australia have signed significant agreements covering civil nuclear energy, maritime security, and critical minerals, reinforcing their partnership's role in ensuring a peaceful Indo-Pacific. The pacts facilitate uranium supply from Australia to India and enhance cooperation in defence, cyber, and critical technologies.
A robbery accused, Jeeva, was shot in the leg by Bengaluru police after he allegedly attacked officers with a dagger while resisting arrest. Police had received a tip-off about his location following a robbery case. Jeeva, who has a criminal history of seven cases, was subdued and arrested after warning shots failed to deter him. Both the accused and an injured officer were hospitalised.
The 'Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines' for female cricketers, outline a six 'R's framework: Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine.
The family of Twisha Sharma, who died last week, is demanding an independent probe into phone calls made by one of the accused to influential figures and CCTV technicians after her death.
The main accused in the murder of a 17-year-old student in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, died after sustaining injuries in an encounter with police. Asad, wanted for stabbing Surya Chauhan, was injured during an exchange of fire and later died in hospital. The incident has drawn strong reactions, with authorities promising strict action against those responsible.
A sovereign cloud, our own DNS root and Root CA, a defence-led research base that builds for keeps, and a real national cybersecurity strategy that outlives electoral cycles are not vanity projects. They are the difference between a nation that can be switched off and one that cannot, points out Venkata Satish Guttula.
The parents of model and actress Twisha Sharma, who allegedly died due to dowry harassment, have refuted claims made by her mother-in-law that she was a drug addict and suffered from mental illness. The family is demanding answers regarding Twisha's death at her marital home.
India has strongly refuted claims by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding excess capacity in its steel and textile sectors, arguing that the nation's significantly low per capita consumption of these products contradicts such assertions, according to Amitabh Kumar, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce.
Google has removed the messaging app Telegram from its Play Store in India, with Apple expected to follow, in compliance with a government order aimed at preventing paper leaks during the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination on June 21. The government has also directed Telegram to temporarily disable its message-editing feature until June 30.
A significant parliamentary revolt within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has emerged, with purported signatures of 19 MPs on a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking recognition as a separate bloc under Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and extending support to the BJP-led NDA.
Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, following clashes and stone pelting over a dispute regarding the naming of a centre. Two groups clashed over whether to name the junction after Tipu Sultan or Lord Hanuman, leading to unrest and the imposition of Section 144.
Punjab Police conducted raids on the residence of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia and others in connection with an incident where they allegedly stormed a police station and attempted to forcibly release a detainee. Police have also issued a lookout circular against Majithia to prevent him from leaving the country.
For the foreseeable future, the most likely outcome remains continuation of the status quo. Taiwan will remain self-governing without formally declaring independence, while China continues to apply sustained pressure short of war, predict Krishnan Srinivasan and Manoj Mohanka.
A local court in Bhopal has summoned the police diary related to the case of Twisha Sharma, who allegedly died due to dowry harassment. The court's decision follows a plea from her family seeking a second post-mortem examination.
The Congress party has accused the BJP and the Election Commission of being "partners in crime" in what it terms "seat chori" (seat theft), following the rejection of its Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination. The party claims the rejection was based on "flawed and unreasonable" logic, alleging non-disclosure of a criminal case against Natarajan, despite her stating only a legal notice exists.
US President Donald Trump announced a finalised peace deal between the US and Iran, set for signing on June 19 in Switzerland, with key figures like J D Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner from the US side, and Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf representing Iran, alongside Pakistani mediators Field Marshal Asim Munir, Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, and Mohsin Naqvi, playing crucial roles in the diplomatic breakthrough.
Odisha's opposition BJD has requested Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to clarify his family's connection with the Vikas Foundation Trust, which is alleged to have purchased properties in the US. BJP leaders have dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will handle key portfolios including police, general administration and welfare of women, youth and children. Veteran leader K A Sengottaiyan has been designated as the Finance Minister.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Pyongyang for his first official visit in seven years, meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to reaffirm their long-standing friendship and pledge further development of bilateral relations amidst Pyongyang's deepening military ties with Moscow and China's assertions against Japan's 'new militarism'.
Police in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, have arrested six men allegedly involved in firing at a garment showroom over a ransom demand. The accused, identified as members of a gang, were apprehended with arms and ammunition.
A Bhopal court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Samarth Singh, the husband of deceased model and actress Twisha Sharma, who was found dead in her home. Police have announced a reward for information leading to his arrest as the investigation continues.
A Bhopal court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Samarth Singh, the husband of deceased model and actress Twisha Sharma, in a case alleging dowry death and harassment. The police have announced a reward for information leading to his arrest, while the family of the deceased alleges foul play and demands a thorough investigation.
Police in Hathras have registered an FIR against former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam for allegedly spreading misleading information and attempting to disturb communal harmony.
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation demolished alleged illegal constructions at the residence and other properties of AIMIM corporator Matin Patel, who is accused of harbouring Nida Khan, wanted in connection with a TCS case.
Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations, accusing the US of engaging in 'piracy' following the seizure of Iranian vessels. The complaint was detailed in a letter sent by Iran's UN envoy to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has denied allegations made by the Congress party that his wife possesses multiple passports and concealed property information, vowing to take legal action against the Congress leader who made the claims.
