Month: July 2025

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday responded to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rabri Devi’s claims of an attack on Tejashwi Yadav, dismissing fears and asserting that full security is provided, despite Yadav’s access to extensive security as a former CM’s kin.

Sinha accused RJD members of instilling fear and hooliganism, reminiscent of their “jungle raaj.”

Responding to RJD leader Rabri Devi’s statement on the alleged attack on Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Deputy CM said, “Those who think they are not safe, they should give it in writing, though they have complete security. They have the facilities of two former CMs and are still afraid. The entire Bihar is scared of their (RJD) own people… There is no need to be scared, full security will be provided by the government… Their (RJD) people speak the language of hooliganism that is taught in the school of their jungle raaj…”

On Rabri Devi’s statement regarding Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary on harassing girls, Sinha further stated, “It is not right to speak without facts. This is an attempt to destroy the constitutional system. They should stop defaming Bihar and its people…”

Earlier today, Rabri Devi, while addressing the media during the demonstration outside the Assembly on SIR, raised serious allegations against the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance, claiming a conspiracy to assassinate RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

“We will definitely protest as it is about the people of Bihar… What about the 4 crore people who have gone out of the state?… We have been surrounding the Assembly for 5 days… The state government must respond… 4 attempts were made to kill Tejashwi Yadav, and his life is in danger… The BJP and JD(U) are the ones conspiring…” she said.

Additionally, she made serious allegations against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

“I’ve known him since he was kid… he used to cause trouble at Boring Road, harassing girls there. And now he’s talking about ‘gunda raj’?,” she said.

The Bihar Assembly elections are expected later this year, tentatively in October or November, though the ECI has yet to announce official dates.

While the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will once again seek to continue its stint in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, comprising the RJD, Congress, and left parties, will aim to unseat Nitish Kumar. (ANI)

The United Arab Emirates has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Russian Federation over the victims of a civilian plane crash in the Amur region, in Russia’s Far East, which resulted in the deaths of all passengers on board.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of the Russian Federation over this tragedy.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of condolences to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation over the victims of the plane crash.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent similar messages to the Russian President. (ANI/WAM)

In a warning to Beijing’s political warfare, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Fan Yun has testified before a US congressional hearing, detailing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) expanding efforts to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and destabilise its democracy, the Taipei Times reported.

According to the Taipei Times, the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) convened a hearing on Wednesday titled “Stand with Taiwan: Countering the PRC’s Political Warfare and Transnational Repression.” Fan testified via video, stating that Beijing’s aggression has evolved far beyond military threats. it now includes psychological operations, economic coercion, espionage, disinformation, and cross-border intimidation.

“China has weaponised UN Resolution 2758 to legitimise its aggression, using it as political propaganda to justify a future invasion of Taiwan,” Fan told the hearing, as quoted by the Taipei Times. She also referenced a chilling incident: a suspected CCP-orchestrated attempt to collide with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s convoy in the Czech Republic last year.

The Taipei Times cited Fan’s alarming data from Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, which recorded a fourfold spike in spying indictments, from 16 in 2021 to 64 in 2024, while Chinese-linked disinformation ballooned from 1.3 million messages in 2023 to 2.2 million last year. Fan also exposed how Chinese state organs directly instruct certain Taiwanese media firms to amplify pro-Beijing narratives.

The PRC’s infiltration has also gone local. Fan revealed that CCP-run “united front” networks in Taiwan target students, religious leaders, and village wardens, luring them with subsidised trips and economic promises, the Taipei Times noted. TikTok, in particular, has been a platform of influence, making young users more receptive to Beijing’s views.

Retired US Navy intelligence chief Mike Studeman echoed Fan’s concerns, stating the CCP’s internal subversion tactics are “relentless and pervasive.” He urged Washington to help Taipei modernise its classified clearance systems, boost cyber resilience, and expand defence cooperation, the Taipei Times reported.

“Taiwan alone cannot deter China’s aggression,” Fan concluded, urging a united global front to defend democratic values. “Standing with Taiwan is standing for freedom,” she said, according to the Taipei Times. (ANI)

In a significant crackdown on objectionable digital content, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has ordered the blocking of 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms for allegedly publishing obscene, vulgar and, in some cases, pornographic material.

The directive was issued on July 23, 2025, in consultation with multiple government departments and civil society stakeholders, according to sources.

The platforms in question, which include Ullu, ALTT, Big Shots App, NeonX VIP, and Desiflix among others, were found to be disseminating content that violated several provisions of Indian law, including Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

In total, 26 websites and 14 mobile applications–9 listed on Google Play Store and 5 on the Apple App Store–have been ordered to be disabled by intermediaries under provisions of the IT Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

According to the sources, the Ministry said that much of the content showcased by these platforms involved graphic sexual innuendos, long sequences of nudity, and pornographic visuals. “There was hardly any storyline, theme, or message in a social context,” it said. Some content was also found to depict inappropriate sexual situations involving family relationships, further aggravating concerns over legality and decency.

The government had several rounds of communication with the platforms. In September 2024, all 25 platforms had received official warnings. Prior to this, in February 2025, the Ministry had issued an advisory urging OTT platforms to comply with India’s obscenity laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021. Yet, the platforms allegedly continued to host and stream objectionable content.

In one notable example, the series ‘House Arrest’ hosted on the Ullu platform was taken down in May following the Ministry’s intervention. However, the government alleges that certain platforms have continued their operations by creating new domains even after previous blocking orders–five such platforms reportedly resumed publishing similar content after being blocked in March 2024.

The latest action was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), industry associations FICCI and CII, and subject experts in the fields of women and child rights.

Mentioning that previously the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body headed by a former Supreme Court judge, found that content in edited on ALTT was “totally distasteful and bizarre,” with sex and nudity being showed without any contextual justification.

Similarly, over 100 webseries were also removed from the Ullu platform, with the council finding that the platform removed or edited the wesbseries temporarily and then uploads the unedited versions after a while to circumvent the warnings.

Several of the platforms had previously drawn the attention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which flagged Ullu and ALTT for alleged violations in July and August 2024. The Ministry also received multiple public grievances about the content hosted on these platforms. (ANI)

In a historic achievement for India, two Indian women chess players will play the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025. This will be India’s first world title in women’s chess.

India’s Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh entered the final, defeating their Chinese opponents to set up the title clash.

Divya Deshmukh defeated her Chinese opponent Tan Zhongyi 1.5-0.5 in the semis, whereas Koneru Humpy won against Lei Tingjie by 5-3 margin.

Humpy’s first game with Lei Tingjie ended in a draw at 0.5-0.5 each, and so did the other semifinal first game between Tan Zhongyi and Divya .

“Divya Deshmukh and Humpy Koneru will face off in an all-Indian Final at the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025! Who are you backing in the Final? Results – Semifinal: Divya Deshmukh 1.5-0.5 Tan Zhongyi, Humpy Koneru 5-3 Lei Tingjie,” International Chess Federation said in a post on X.

Earlier, Humpy created history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of the tournament. A solid draw in the second game of her quarterfinal clash against China’s IM Song Yuxin was enough to seal the deal, according to ESPN.

There were a couple of minor inaccuracies along the way, but Humpy kept things under control, playing safe and smart. Eventually, her opponent settled for a draw, which confirmed Humpy’s passage into the final four.

Deshmukh produced a remarkable performance to defeat compatriot GM Harika Dronavalli in the quarterfinals, winning both the tie-break games to advance to the semifinals.

The match was tightly contested in the classical segment, but Divya grabbed her opportunity in the first tie-break, when Harika made a crucial error in the endgame. In the second tie-break game, Harika had chances to bounce back, but she missed a couple of winning opportunities, and Divya made her pay for it. As a result, Harika’s campaign came to an end, while Divya marched on with great composure and maturity.

Four Indian women had entered the quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup for the very first time, creating a unique achievement for India. (ANI)

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy unveiled the ‘Telangana Socio-Economic Survey – Model and Methodology’ at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi, and urged Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to raise the issue of OBC reservations in Parliament.

Presenting the state’s comprehensive caste-based socio-economic survey, Reddy stated that the exercise was “not just a caste survey, but a social, economic, educational, employment, and political survey.”

As per the data, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), including practising Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists, constitute 56.4 per cent of Telangana’s population. Scheduled Castes (SCs) account for 17.4 per cent, Scheduled Tribes (STs) 10.8 per cent, and forward castes 10.9 per cent. Notably, 3.9 per cent of the population has been categorised under “no caste.”

The survey identified previously unlisted castes and analysed their socio-economic conditions by name and location.

“Education levels showed who was privileged despite landlessness. Even those with assets, if uneducated, remained backwards, while landless but educated families became upwardly mobile,” Reddy noted.

The survey, which compiled 88 crore pages of self-declared, “foolproof” data, was conducted with meticulous oversight.

Reddy outlined the process, “We began with household enumeration, placed stickers on houses, and created 94,113 blocks, each with an enumerator and supervisor. Mandal-level committees, collectors, the planning department, the Chief Secretary, a Cabinet Sub-Committee, the Deputy CM, and I monitored it. For those who didn’t participate, we provided an additional 15 days, opened toll-free helplines, and established help counters in every office. Those who still refused were excluded. If you don’t want to be part of the system, you won’t be counted.”

Following the survey, the Telangana government passed two reservation bills, one for education and employment and another for political representation, allocating 42 per cent reservation for OBCs.

These bills, pending before the President of India for three months, prompted Reddy to appeal to Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, and Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, to advocate for their passage.

“We ask Rahul Gandhi ji and Kharge ji to raise this in Parliament, put forward motions, and take the lead. We will protest in the streets if needed,” he declared.

Additionally, Telangana increased SC reservations from 15% to 17.5% and ST reservations from 6% to 10%, aligning with their population shares.

He said, “According to the report, OBCs (including practising Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists) make up 56.4% of the population. SCs are 17.4%, STs 10.8%, and forward castes 10.9%–but in that, only 3.9% are no castes. We identified previously unknown castes outside the list. Our expert committee studied them, by name, by location. Education levels showed who was privileged despite landlessness. Even those with assets, if uneducated, remained backward. Meanwhile, even those who are landless and asset-less have developed because of their education and educated families, becoming upwardly mobile. This is not just a caste survey, but also social, economic, education, employment, and political.”

Reddy took a sharp jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, accusing them of resisting a national caste census.

“For many years, Congress has raised the issue of a caste census, ever since the RSS was formed in 1925. It is now 2025, yet their ideology avoids counting OBCs,” he said, referencing a 2020 Supreme Court affidavit where the BJP-led government declined to undertake a caste census.

He also questioned Modi’s OBC credentials, alleging, “He is a legally converted OBC, adopting the status only after becoming Chief Minister for political advantage.”

Highlighting Congress’s advocacy, Reddy recalled a protest at Jantar Mantar, supported by 16 political parties and 55 MPs, which pressured the Centre to include a caste census in the 2026 national census.

“This is a success of Rahul Gandhi ji’s movement,” he said, drawing parallels to the repeal of the controversial farm laws after Gandhi’s sustained campaign.

He added, “When Rahul bhaiya told Modi ji to repeal them, they were repealed. Modi ji even apologised. Why? Because Rahul Gandhi speaks for the people.” (ANI)

India’s legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar hailed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s will power as he came out to bat on the second day of the fourth Test of the ongoing five-match Test series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Pant walked out to bat after the dismissal of Shardul Thakur for 41; the Manchester crowd rose to their feet and erupted in a massive cheer.

Pant smashed 54 runs off 75 balls, laced with three boundaries and two maximums.

Taking to X, Tendulkar wrote, “Resilience is about playing through pain and rising above it. @RishabhPant17 showed tremendous character by walking back into the game with an injury and delivering a performance like that. His fifty is a powerful reminder of the grit and determination it takes to represent your country. A brave effort, and one that will be remembered for a long time. Well played, Rishabh!”

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also took to Instagram and praised India’s vice-captain.

“True spirit shows up when the spirit is indomitable! Injury can shake the body but not the mind, goodstuff @rishabhpant,” Yuvraj wrote on Instagram.

Rishabh Pant continued to break records and win hearts, this time, with the bat in hand, even while limping.

The wicket-keeper-batter matched the legendary Virender Sehwag’s record for the most sixes by an Indian in Test cricket. Both now have 90 sixes to their name in the longest format.

Pant, known for his fearless strokeplay, is now tied at the top with Sehwag, while India captain Rohit Sharma follows closely behind with 88 sixes. MS Dhoni has 78, and Ravindra Jadeja sits fifth on the list with 74 sixes.

If that wasn’t enough, Pant also leapfrogged Rohit Sharma to become India’s leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC) era. The southpaw now has 2731 runs from just 38 Test matches, which includes six centuries and sixteen fifties. Rohit, on the other hand, has 2719 WTC runs.

What makes Pant’s achievement even more special is the context; he returned to bat on Thursday despite suffering a painful toe injury on Day 1 and still made a solid impact.

After Pant’s fifty in Manchester in the fourth Test, now he has 14 fifty-plus scores, while Dhoni has thirteen fifties. The left-hander has six hundreds and eight fifties. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer shared a light moment during their joint press statement on Thursday, as the two leaders addressed the media following their talks in London.

As translations were being provided for questions and answers during the interaction, Prime Minister Modi, in a candid remark, said, “Don’t bother, we can use English words in between. Don’t worry about it.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded with a smile, saying, “I think we understand each other well.”

The friendly exchange set the tone for the rest of the interaction, where Prime Minister Modi used a cricket analogy to describe the India-UK partnership. He said, “There may be a swing and a miss at times but we always play with a straight bat,” adding that both countries are committed to building a high-scoring, solid partnership.

PM Modi’s remarks, made during joint press statements with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, came as India and the UK signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the two leaders endorsed India-UK Vision 2035.

The Indian Test cricket team is on a visit to England, and the series is seeing an intense struggle between bat and ball.

“I would be remiss not to mention cricket when India and the UK are coming together, especially during a Test series. For both of us cricket is not just a game but a passion. And also, a great metaphor for our partnership,” PM Modi said.

“There may be a swing and a miss at times. But we always play with a straight bat. We are committed to building a high scoring solid partnership. The agreements concluded today, along with our Vision 2035, are milestones that carry forward this very spirit,” he added.

PM Modi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, said that day marks a historic milestone in India-UK bilateral relations.

“I am pleased that, after years of dedicated efforts, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between our two countries has been concluded today. This agreement is more than just an economic partnership; it is also a blueprint for shared prosperity. On the one hand, it paves the way for enhanced market access in the UK for Indian textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery, seafood, and engineering goods,” he said.

“It will also unlock new opportunities for India’s agricultural produce and processed food industry. Above all, this agreement will be especially beneficial for India’s youth, farmers, fishermen, and the MSME sector. On the other hand, UK-made products such as medical devices and aerospace components will become more accessible and affordable for Indian consumers and industries,” he added.

PM Modi said that alongside the trade agreement, a consensus has also been reached on the Double Contribution Convention.

“This will inject new momentum into the service sectors of both countries, particularly in technology and finance. It will enhance the ease of doing business, reduce operational costs, and boost confidence of doing business. Additionally, the UK economy will benefit from access to skilled Indian talent,” he said.

“These agreements will boost bilateral investment and generate new employment opportunities in both countries. Moreover, these agreements between two vibrant democracies and major global economies, will also contribute to strengthening global stability and shared prosperity,” he added. (ANI)

Addressing concerns over UK companies entering India’s Government Procurement (GP) space under the new India-UK FTA, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, said the move will ultimately benefit Indian MSMEs, as UK firms will need to establish manufacturing units in India to remain competitive, benefiting India’s MSMEs.

Speaking exclusively to the ANI, Mittal acknowledged that while UK companies can now participate in government procurement, there is a threshold above which they can bid.

The concerns on Government Procurement were raised by the experts, who stated that the access to the British firms in the GP process will hinder the compatibility of Indian small firms.

As agreed by two countries, UK-based suppliers will be eligible to bid for government tenders only for orders of more than Rs 200 crore.

Market access to the UK under the FTA will be limited to the Non-sensitive central-level entities only, and access for sub-central (state/local government) level entities is excluded.

Mittal said that for larger tenders, UK-based companies can compete, but they are required to set up manufacturing units in India to remain competitive.

“There’s a threshold about which the government procurement, the UK companies can participate. So that means a protection for the smaller companies. And for the larger tenders, UK companies can participate and I would say this is again good because while opening it up to the UK, which is a very special gesture, what would it mean? These companies will have to come to India to set up manufacturing units; otherwise, they will not be competitive,” Mittal said.

This move, he believes, could be beneficial for both Indian MSMEs and UK companies, ensuring that the latter contribute to India’s manufacturing ecosystem while competing in larger government tenders.

According to the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, UK has agreed to take a binding commitment to provide non-discriminatory treatment to our suppliers under UK’s Social Value regime in their public procurement system.

Reacting to the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Mittal said, “This is a historic day for India and the UK. For the first time, you’re seeing 2 large markets of this size entering into a trade deal, which is a win-win for both sides. This will certainly set the roadmap for our agreements with the EU and some other trading blocs. I would say the US remains a very separate track, which is a very large market. It’s a set apart from everybody else.”

In the presence of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the eagerly anticipated historic India-UK Free Trade Agreement was signed, expanding access to goods and services between the two nations. (ANI)