Instant messaging platform Telegram has been restored in India after a week-long government ban, imposed due to its alleged role in circulating leaked NEET examination papers, expired. The Delhi High Court had upheld the ban as lawful and necessary.
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been banned for four years after missing a doping test, leading the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) to demand a greater say for athletes in anti-doping regulations. Vondrousova cited safety concerns for not opening her door to a doping control officer late at night, while the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) maintains that unpredictable testing is crucial for clean sport.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a ban on social media access for all children under the age of 16, citing their 'happiness and safety'. The ban, which will not include messaging apps like WhatsApp, aims to protect children from harmful content, bullying, and the addictive nature of platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Legislative powers are in place for the law to come into force by Spring next year.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has accused Reliance Group, which has a partial Meta stake, of lobbying for a ban on Telegram in India and sabotaging its access for users outside India through BGP hijacking. A senior telecom industry source dismissed these claims as 'fake news,' stating Durov confused Reliance Communications with Reliance Industries Ltd. The allegations come as the Indian government has ordered Google and Apple to delist Telegram temporarily and disable its message-editing feature in India due to concerns over paper leaks in the NEET-UG examination.
A woman Food Safety Officer was targeted by suspected gutkha mafia operatives during a raid in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The incident, where a vehicle attempted to run her over, has led the state government to order strict action against those responsible. FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal condemned the attack and assured full support to the officer, vowing no leniency for assailants of government officials.
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.
FIFA has announced a last-minute change to its Stadium Code of Conduct, prohibiting reusable water bottles and other containers at World Cup venues due to safety concerns. This decision, aimed at preventing injury, has raised questions among fans about coping with heat, though FIFA states measures like cooling stations will be in place.
The Indian government's decision to ban sugar exports until September 30 has drawn sharp criticism from the sugar industry and farmer leaders, who fear long-term negative impacts despite the stated aim of controlling domestic prices and ensuring availability.
A Sri Lankan court has imposed an overseas travel ban on former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and two former military officers in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The ban was issued after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raised concerns that their flight could hamper the probe into the coordinated suicide bombings that killed 270 people. The current government reopened the investigation in late 2024, alleging political influence led to an earlier cover-up.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has firmly rejected demands for the organisation to register itself, asserting that the Sangh operates openly and has nothing to hide. Responding to Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge's call for registration, Bhagwat stated that such demands are politically motivated and that the government is well aware of the RSS's existence and activities.
The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to respond to Telegram's petition challenging a temporary government order that restricts access to its platform and disables message-editing features in India, citing concerns over potential cheating during the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.
India is set to amend its National Anti-Doping Act to criminalise the trafficking and distribution of prohibited substances to athletes, with potential jail terms for suppliers, including medical practitioners who knowingly prescribe banned drugs. The amendments are open for public feedback until June 18 and are expected to be tabled in the monsoon session of Parliament.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticised the Indian government's temporary restriction on Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination, calling it a 'new trick' that punishes students instead of tackling the root cause of paper leaks. He highlighted the suicides of two students, Umesh and Riya, linking their deaths to the 'broken, corrupt system' and the government's alleged failure to protect students from exam mismanagement.
Hockey India has called an urgent executive board meeting to address a series of sexual harassment, misconduct, and indiscipline cases, considering stringent actions including life bans.
The Supreme Court has modified its previous order regarding three academics involved in a controversial NCERT textbook chapter on corruption in the judiciary, allowing government bodies to make independent decisions about their association with the academics.
The Ghazipur administration has imposed prohibitory orders, banning demonstrations and visits to a village, following concerns over law and order after the death of a teenager. The Uttar Pradesh government claims that 'unverified rumours' are being spread and opposition parties are attempting to sensationalise the matter.
The opposition parties, including Congress, Raijor Dal and Trinamool Congress, opposed the move and demanded wider consultation with all the stakeholders before its introduction.
'Today, if 50 songs are composed, one or two work. In the 1970s, all 50 would work.'
A committee constituted by the West Bengal government to carry out a special audit of sanctioned plans for high-rise residential and commercial buildings in and around the city will meet on Friday to begin the exercise, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said.
Following the death of a teenager in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, the local administration has imposed prohibitory orders, banning demonstrations and restricting visits to the victim's village. The government cites concerns over law and order and alleges that opposition parties are attempting to sensationalise the matter.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement a legislative ban on the sale of cigarettes to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, aiming to create a smoke-free generation in India.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) will soon submit recommendations to the Centre seeking a complete ban on parole for convicts in rape, aggravated sexual assault, and other serious offences against women and children.
A light sport aircraft crashed into Beijing's Citic Tower, the city's tallest skyscraper, prompting immediate evacuations. The incident occurred despite stringent airspace regulations in the Chinese capital, with details on casualties and the aircraft's origin still unclear.
The Delhi High Court has questioned the Centre's decision to temporarily restrict access to Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, asking how the rights of 150 million users can be curtailed due to concerns over a few miscreants. The court reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.
The Karnataka School Education Department has banned children from dancing to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes, citing negative impacts on mental health and moral values.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has directed officials to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against gangs involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and other banned tobacco products. This move aims to treat such activities as serious organised crimes affecting public health, rather than mere regulatory violations, due to the sophisticated nature of the illegal trade.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has directed officials to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against gangs involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and other banned tobacco products. This move aims to treat such activities as serious organised crimes affecting public health, rather than mere regulatory violations, due to the sophisticated nature of the illegal trade.
The developments came after an FIR was registered in the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Mizoram has long maintained one of the country's strictest prohibition regimes.
Seven policemen were injured in a drone strike by unidentified militants on their convoy in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack occurred during an anti-militant operation, and security forces have launched a search. The government often blames the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan for such incidents.
Seven policemen were injured in a drone strike by unidentified militants on their convoy in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack occurred during an anti-militant operation, and security forces have launched a search. The government often blames the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan for such incidents.
India has extended the ban on Pakistan planes from using its airspace until May 24, continuing a measure in place since April 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack.
A school in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly run by individuals affiliated with a banned organisation, has been declared an "unlawful entity" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The Delhi government has approved the Delhi EV Policy 2.0, which will phase out fresh registrations of internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheelers and three-wheelers over the next two years, starting with a ban on ICE 3Ws and N1 category LCVs from January 1, 2027, and ICE 2Ws from April 1, 2028.
'Even lower middle class parents in cities opt for just one child. A son is a must.'
Instead of pride, many Iranian-Americans feel shame about the Iran team's participation in the World Cup and are demanding that FIFA boots the country out of the competition, protesters said in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
A light sport aircraft crashed into Beijing's Citic Tower, the city's tallest skyscraper, causing an immediate evacuation and scattering debris. The incident, which occurred in the prominent business district, has raised concerns, with authorities yet to comment and the origin and circumstances of the crash remaining unknown. The aircraft was identified as a Sunward SA60L Aurora, and the crash highlights recent stringent regulations on recreational flying in Beijing's airspace.
Iran's players say adversity has united Team Melli after a resilient 0-0 draw against Belgium kept their World Cup knockout hopes alive. A win over Egypt could secure a historic first-ever place in the last 32.
Police in Latur, Maharashtra, seized scented tobacco and other banned products worth 3.75 lakh and arrested one person after raiding a godown in Chakur town.
Pakistani security forces conducted an operation in the Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing two terrorists. The region has a history of militant violence, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) frequently accused of attacks following the end of their ceasefire.
