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The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Operation Sindoor LIVE: Security ramped up as India-Pakistan tensions spark high alert in Delhi
Indian air defence systems thwarted Pakistan's attempts to strike civilian and military locations in northern and western India with a 'substantial' number of missiles and loitering munitions in the early hours of Thursday. 'Military stations of Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones,' the headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff of the military said in a post on X. 'No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian armed forces as per Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) with kinetic and non-kinetic means.' Read more: Displaced by Pakistani shelling, residents of border villages long for home and peace In the evening, the Indian air defence systems also intercepted and destroyed eight missiles fired by Pakistan towards Satwari, Samba, R.S. Pura, and Arnia in Jammu. Drones were also being engaged over Jammu and Pathankot, sources said. Read more: I&B Ministry asks OTTs, media-streaming platforms, intermediaries to take down all Pakistan-origin content The States of Punjab and Haryana and Union Territory, Chandigarh, continued to be on alert mode in the wake of India's action against terror emanating from Pakistan. On Thursday (May 8, 2025), leaves of government personnel in government departments including police and health were cancelled and personnel were asked to be geared up round-the-clock. In the backdrop of growing escalation between India and Pakistan, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday (May 8, 2025) decided to close all the educational institutes for the next two days in the Union Territory (UT) and put senior officers in charge of border districts to improve communication interface in case of any eventuality.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pakistan has unleashed propaganda machine in response to successful ‘Operation Sindoor': I&B Ministry
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) in a statement said that following India's 'precision strikes' against terrorist camps under 'Operation Sindoor', Pakistan had 'unleashed a full-blown disinformation offensive' on social media in a 'desperate attempt to shift the focus from ground reality'. 'Pro-Pakistan social media handles and even influential political figures are deliberately spreading fake news, fabricating stories of miraculous military victories and heroic retaliation that simply do not exist,' the Ministry said. Follow 'Operation Sindoor' updates on May 7 The I&B Ministry said Pakistan's state-affiliated accounts had been recycling outdated images, misrepresenting old videos, and inventing completely fabricated claims. 'Their goal is clear — to flood the information space with falsehoods so quickly and overwhelmingly that it becomes difficult to separate fact from fiction. This is not just misinformation; it is a calculated, coordinated campaign designed to distort reality, mislead the public, and manipulate perceptions across the region,' the Ministry said. The Ministry pointed out that old images were being used to make misleading claims, which were being flagged by its fact-checking unit regularly. 'One of the most prominent examples is a viral image falsely claiming that the Pakistan Army had shot down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur. The image, however, was debunked by PIB [Press Information Bureau] Fact Check, which confirmed that it was actually from a MiG-21 crash in Moga, Punjab in 2021, entirely unrelated to current events,' the Ministry said. A video was in circulation 'falsely claiming that the Indian Army raised a white flag and surrendered at Chora Post. This fabricated narrative was amplified by Pakistan's Minister Attaullah Tarar, who publicly endorsed the claim without a shred of evidence,' the I&B Ministry said, adding, 'By lending official weight to an unverified and clearly false story, Tarar not only misled his own citizens but also actively contributed to the propaganda campaign.' In another misleading post, a video was being circulated with the claim that the Pakistan Air Force had targeted the Srinagar Airbase. 'In reality, this footage was traced back to sectarian clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan that occurred in early 2024. The video had no connection to Kashmir or any recent airstrike,' the Ministry said. While a false claim was circulated that Pakistan had destroyed an Indian Brigade Headquarters, another old image — of a MiG-29 crash in Barmer, Rajasthan from September 2024 — was used by 'pro-Pakistan social media', the Ministry said. The Ministry said Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also made a baseless claim that Indian soldiers had been captured during the recent military strikes, a statement that had been later debunked and retracted. 'Asif alleged that Indian soldiers had been taken prisoner following Pakistan's response to India's Operation Sindoor. However, these claims were promptly dismissed as false, with no evidence to support the assertion of captured soldiers. The [Pakistan] Defence Minister later retracted his statement, acknowledging that no Indian soldiers had been taken into custody,' the Ministry said. Describing it all as a coordinated attempt by Pakistan to mislead the media, distort the global narrative, and manipulate public perception in the wake of India's successful operation, the I&B Ministry said Pakistan was trying to create the 'illusion of a strong counter-response'.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
To check fake news, government rethinks safe harbour for online platforms
In a bid to disincentivise 'fake news' content, the government plans to revise the guidelines for the intermediary platforms and revisit the 'safe harbour' provisions that protect these platforms, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has according to sources, said replying to questions from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the government has blocked dozens of YouTube channels citing their proliferation of fake news and national security. While most of the impacted accounts are Pakistani, at least two Indian channels, belonging to influencer Dr. Medusa and the YouTube news channel 4PM News, were also taken off. Also Read | Fake news has the power to disrupt social fabric of society with the help of new technology: Amit Shah The Parliamentary panel is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) morning. In the written submission made ahead of the meeting, the I&B Ministry, as per sources, said: 'In order to check the menace of fake news, the due diligence for the intermediary platforms could be revisited requiring them to take appropriate steps to remove fake news from their platforms on their own.' The intermediary platforms enjoy immunity from liability for content posted on their platforms by users under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The provision provides a safe harbour for the intermediaries not holding them liable for the user-generated content as long as they comply with guidelines issued by the Union government. The government has repeatedly maintained that it plans to make the intermediary platforms more accountable, but has not taken any concrete step. While speaking on the occasion of National Press Day in November 2024, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw had said that there is a need to revisit the 'safe harbour' provision. Also Read | Indians fear fake news but are less concerned about press freedom The I&B Ministry, meanwhile, also expressed that 'self regulation' is the best way to address fake news. For now, it has ruled out bringing a new law to address 'fake news' saying that it would require 'broader consultation and consensus building' especially in view of provisions relating to the freedom of speech and expression in the Constitution. The government feels that giving a statutory basis to the Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau (PIB), as proposed in the amendments to IT Rules 2021 as above is necessary for checking fake news relating to its plans, programmes and initiatives. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) is in the process of filing a special leave petition (SLP) against the judgement of Bombay High Court that struck down the Fact Check Unit's authority to eliminate safe harbour for content on social media platforms that the government has deemed to be misinformation.
News18
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kishore Kumar: A Life Of Missed Opportunities But No Regrets
As Kishore Kumar woke up on the morning of May 4, 1976, he had a quirky feeling that this must be the wrong side of the bed. He was oblivious to the fact that the secretary in the I&B Ministry, Syed Burney, had already initiated a note to ban all his songs. Till last night, his songs were at ear's length from every listener. Not anymore. By the time, he started brushing his teeth, he was banned. For Kishore, it was a well-earned sabbatical. From Khandwa to Kanyakumari, with Amit by his side, he decided to relive his childhood with a tête-à-tête with nature encompassed by his raw voice. Did he miss anything? Was he to rue anything? Going by the long history of his tryst with missed opportunities, the answer seemed to be an emphatic no, as we try to explore here. Had these windows opened in full, Kishore Kumar would have been seen in an even broader light. It was the success of Andolan (1951) that triggered close friend Vrajendra Gaur to come up with yet another film Sarhad the same year. All the three brothers Ashok, Anup and Kishore were cast together for the first time, playing rival brothers vying with each other to win the love of Nalini Jayant. Cousin Arun Kumar was to wield the musical baton. The film failed to progress beyond the initial shoots. Sarhad was his first big miss.
Hans India
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
WAVES 2025: First-ever White Paper on India's live events economy unveiled
Mumbai: Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, on Saturday unveiled a first-of-its-kind White Paper that presents a comprehensive analysis of India's rapidly expanding live entertainment industry -- highlighting emerging trends, growth trajectories and strategic recommendations for the sector's continued evolution. Commissioned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the White Paper, launched in the presence of Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, I&B Ministry, focuses on India's live events landscape which is undergoing a transformation. The period from 2024 to 2025 marks a defining inflection point, with international acts such as Coldplay performing in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, signalling India's readiness to host global-scale events. According to the ministry, key trends in the sector include the rise of event tourism, with nearly half a million attendees traveling specifically for live music events — indicating the emergence of a robust music-tourism economy. Premium ticketing segments -- such as VIP experiences, curated access, and luxury hospitality -- have witnessed over 100 per cent year-on-year growth, pointing to an increasingly experience-driven audience. Participation from tier 2 cities has surged, driven by multi-city tours and the growing popularity of regional festivals. 'Live entertainment is not a side note to India's creative economy anymore; it is a strategic lever that stimulates employment and drives skill development. Large-scale events in the current landscape typically generate approximately 2,000 to 5,000 temporary jobs each, underscoring the sector's growing role in supporting livelihoods and fostering a dynamic workforce,' said the I&B Ministry. The event also saw the launch of key reports, including the 'Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment Sector 2024-25' by I&B Ministry, among others. According to the ministry, India is on track to position itself as one of the top five live entertainment destinations globally by 2030, unlocking new avenues for economic growth, employment generation, tourism, and enhanced global cultural presence.
