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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
India vs Pakistan conflict: Indian media under-fire globally for reporting misinformation during Pakistan-India conflict
As tensions between Pakistan and India escalated in May 2025, misinformation spread rapidly through Indian newsrooms, exacerbating an already volatile situation. The misinformation wasn't limited to social media or unverified posts; mainstream news networks were among the chief culprits, disseminating false reports that heightened public confusion. Manisha Pande, media critic and managing editor at Newslaundry, described the situation as a "Frankenstein's monster" of unchecked misinformation. Speaking to the Washington Post, Pande stated that these TV channels have gone out of control in their pursuit of ratings, largely influenced by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the increasing pressure to align with the government. A particularly striking example occurred on May 9 when Prasar Bharati, India's state-owned broadcaster, claimed on live television that Pakistan's army chief had been arrested and a coup was underway. '1st India News' even arrested Asim Munir and themselves appointed a new army chief for Pakistan! 😭 — Jawaharlal Nehru (Satire) (@The_Nehru) May 9, 2025 The news was rapidly spread across social media and major Indian news outlets, including Times Now and Zee News, only to later be debunked. Gen. Asim Munir, a subject of many false reports, was not imprisoned, but instead promoted to the rank of field marshal. This was not an isolated topic. The Indian media has earned the nickname "Godi Media" for its consistent tendency to align with and amplify government narratives. Throughout the conflict, Indian channels were frequently criticised for broadcasting unverifiable reports, some of which were based on social media posts or sources with little credibility. In one such case, a major Hindi-language network falsely claimed that the Indian navy had attacked Pakistan's Karachi port. The story spread quickly, despite there being no evidence to support the claim, and was published on the front pages of some Hindi newspapers. INDIAN NAVY - 'Why should AIR FORCE & ARMY have all the fun' INS VIKRANT strikes KARACHI PORT . PAK NAVY burnt down to ashes .. 🇮🇳 HAR HAR MAHADEV 🙏🏻🚩 — KAFIR ON STEROIDS (@TammaraoPatil) May 8, 2025 In the absence of verified information, national TV channels ran rampant with sensationalist, hypernationalistic narratives. Reports surfaced that Indian forces had entered Pakistan, Pakistan's Prime Minister had surrendered, and major Pakistani cities had been destroyed. However, these claims were often accompanied by unrelated images of conflict elsewhere, such as Gaza or Sudan, or even scenes from video games, misleading viewers further. Images from Gaza shared as strike on Sialkot in Pakistan. Images are 4 years old. — Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) May 7, 2025 The role of social media in amplifying misinformation was also key. Uzair Rizvi, a Delhi-based fact-checker, noted that misinformation spread rapidly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) in the initial hours of the conflict, with over 70 unique posts of false information examined by 7 May. Users often turned to AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Grok for verification. Unfortunately, these chatbots are themselves known to be unreliable, offering answers that further muddied the facts. In response to growing concerns over misinformation, Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, refrained from making public statements during the crisis, leaving the media to fill the void. In addition to the media's role in spreading misinformation, the Indian government also took steps to restrict the flow of information. Authorities blocked access to Pakistani news outlets on YouTube and ordered the suspension of X accounts linked to individuals reporting on the conflict. Journalists, including freelance reporter Hilal Mir, faced arrests for their online activities, further limiting independent reporting.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC issues summons to Abhijit Iyer Mitra in defamation case by women journalists
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to political commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra in connection with a Rs 2 crore defamation suit filed by Newslaundry Executive Editor Manisha Pande and eight other women journalists. The suit pertains to a series of tweets where Iyer-Mitra allegedly labelled the journalists as 'prostitutes'. Mitra's Advocate Percival Billimoria told that all the contentious tweets had been removed. But counsel for the journalists, Bani Dikshit, countered that deleting the posts did not reflect genuine regret. 'There's no sign of remorse. In fact, he continues to post poetic remarks on the issue,' she said. Despite these, Billimoria sought dismissal of the case. However, the bench declined to be drawn into unrelated allegations. 'This case is strictly about the posts. If there are other concerns, they must be pursued separately,' the judge said. Dikshit informed that her clients intended to pursue damages, along with an injunction to prevent any future defamatory content. Justice ordered issuance of summons and maintained the interim relief in favour of the journalists.
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Mosquitoes unleash hell on board IndiGo flight as infestation breaks out
A domestic flight in India was disrupted and left passengers itching and scratching after a mosquitoes entered the craft. Those onboard were not impressed by the response of the airline Passengers on an IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Delhi were left itching and scratching after mosquitoes entered the plane, leaving them desperate for the journey to end. The cabin crew, seemingly unprepared for such an infestation, could only offer lemongrass remedies, which did little to alleviate the discomfort of those on board. The mosquito mayhem occurred on an IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Delhi in India on Monday, April 21, and despite complaints, passengers were informed that the insects had entered through an open door and there was no immediate solution, much to the fliers' frustration, as reported by Luxury Travel Daily. Manisha Pande, a passenger on the flight, expressed her irritation: "The whole flight was spent scratching, swatting and just praying for the flight to get over. The solution they offered was some silly lemongrass patch that did nothing. We paid over £35 (INR 4,000) per ticket for this. Not cheap. Not low-cost. Just low-effort." She continued her criticism by saying: "Airlines don't care, airports can't manage basic pest control, and passengers are just expected to take it quietly. It's not just bad service, it's a systemic rot. Shame on IndiGo, Lucknow Airport, and whoever is responsible for airport sanitation." An IndiGo spokesperson responded to the situation, stating: "We take your onboard experience seriously and strive to make every journey comfortable and pleasant. To prevent the entry of mosquitoes, our aircraft undergo regular fumigation, and patches are placed on seats. "We're also coordinating with the airport to address this effectively. While we take every precaution, we hope you understand that mosquitoes can still enter through open doors." One local resident commented: "They should keep those electric racquets under the seats along with the life jackets." Another passenger shared their experience: "Strange. Just four days ago, I flew from Lucknow to Mumbai with IndiGo, but it was mosquito-free. Lucknow itself, though, was infested." A third person humorously added: "Those mosquitoes will now need to start a new family and life at the new location after the flight. Sad." And this isn't the only flight-from-hell incident in recent times. A TikTok-famous influencer recently posted a video where he dished out "instant karma on the airplane" to a fellow passenger. The woman, who digital creator Cam Casey described as "nasty", had her legs stretched out while wearing flip flops, leaving her toes peeking out from under Cam's seat. He retaliated against the act by tipping over his water bottle, soaking her exposed toes. The video clip ends with the sound of her surprised gasp as she quickly pulls back her feet. In another shocking incident, a woman named Catherine Bellis, 44, assaulted two people on a Ryanair flight while intoxicated. Catherine was on a flight from Tenerife to Liverpool in November last year when she attacked Christopher Kenny and Beata Haynes. She was also charged with being drunk on an aircraft. In yet another startling mid-air drama, Ryanair crew were forced to use extra seat belts to restrain an "unruly" passenger who refused to sit down as the plane landed, according to shocked onlookers. The troublemaker, flying from Manchester to Rhodes, is said to have kicked up a fuss after his booze stash was confiscated by the flight attendants. The stubborn passenger apparently freed himself from the makeshift restraints at one point, causing the pilot to abort the landing in Rhodes, circle back, and then attempt another descent.
New York Post
25-04-2025
- New York Post
Army of mosquitoes take over entire plane, causing passengers to become extremely itchy: ‘Just praying for the flight to get over'
That's one itchy ride. A recent IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Delhi in India had some unexpected guests that caused fliers to become extremely itchy — and irritated. An army of mosquitoes swarmed and annoyed passengers on the flight that took off the day after Easter. For the duration of the almost 90-minute flight, fliers were left with no choice but to swat away the pesky bugs. Advertisement One passenger named Manisha Pande said: 'The whole flight was spent scratching, swatting and just praying for the flight to get over,' according to Jam Press. 3 There was no sleeping for these annoyed passengers. Jam Press/TIM Unfortunately, the cabin crew didn't know what to do in this situation aside from offering lemongrass remedies to help prevent the mosquitoes from biting those on board. Passengers were beyond frustrated — and rightfully so. Advertisement 'Airlines don't care, airports can't manage basic pest control, and passengers are just expected to take it quietly,' said Pande. How did these bugs make their way onto the plane? Supposedly, the in-flight crew said they entered through an open door, according to Luxury Travel Daily. 3 Supposedly, the in-flight crew said they entered through an open door, according to Luxury Travel Daily. Jam Press/TIM An open door on a flight or an army of mosquitoes — what's more concerning? Advertisement 'It's not just bad service, it's a systemic rot,' the frustrated flier whined. 'We take your onboard experience seriously and strive to make every journey comfortable and pleasant,' a rep for IndiGo said, according to Jam Press. 'To prevent the entry of mosquitoes, our aircraft undergo regular fumigation, and patches are placed on seats.' The rep continued saying, 'We're also coordinating with the airport to address this effectively. 'While we take every precaution, we hope you understand that mosquitoes can still enter through open doors.' Advertisement 3 'It's not just bad service, it's a systemic rot,' the frustrated flier whined. Jam Press/TIM However, many disgruntled fliers weren't buying this. 'Strange. Just four days ago, I flew from Lucknow to Mumbai with IndiGo, but it was mosquito-free. Lucknow itself, though, was infested,' added someone else. Another passenger tried to make light of the situation: 'Those mosquitoes will now need to start a new family and life at the new location after the flight. Sad.' This sadly, is not the first time pesky mosquitoes have made their way onto a full flight. Last fall, mosquitoes infiltrated a flight headed from Morelia, Mexico, to Los Angeles, California. Surprisingly, the 'exorbitant amount of mosquitoes' did not stop the plane from taking off as planned. Footage from this incident showed the annoying bugs on the ceiling in the back of the plane as passengers boarded.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Daily Mail
This flight sucks! Skin-crawling video shows air passengers swatting mosquitoes after insects swarmed jet leaving itchy travellers 'praying for the flight to end'
This is the skin-crawling moment mosquitoes swarmed a plane, leaving itchy passengers praying for the flight to end. A shocking video filmed aboard an IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Delhi in India on Monday shows passengers swatting the insects and scratching their skin. Separate footage shows the pesky bugs whizzing around the plane and resting on the overhead lockers. Those onboard complained that cabin crew were ill-equipped to address the issue, with some frustrated passengers claiming that they were only offered lemongrass remedies to combat the mosquitoes. When passengers raised their concerns to the crew, they were reportedly told that the mosquitoes entered through an open door and there was nothing they could do. One passenger, Manisha Pande said: 'The whole flight was spent scratching, swatting and just praying for the flight to [be] over. 'The solution they offered was some silly lemongrass patch that did nothing. 'We paid over [£35] per ticket for this. The incident happened on an IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Delhi in India on Monday 'Not cheap. Not low-cost. Just low-effort.' She added: 'Airlines don't care, airports can't manage basic pest control, and passengers are just expected to take it quietly. 'It's not just bad service, it's a systemic rot. 'Shame on IndiGo, Lucknow Airport, and whoever is responsible for airport sanitation', she added. An IndiGo spokesperson said: 'We take your onboard experience seriously and strive to make every journey comfortable and pleasant. 'To prevent the entry of mosquitoes, our aircraft undergo regular fumigation, and patches are placed on seats. 'We're also coordinating with the airport to address this effectively. 'While we take every precaution, we hope you understand that mosquitoes can still enter through open doors.' One local said: 'They should keep those electric [rackets] under the seats along with the life jackets.' 'Strange. Just four days ago, I flew from Lucknow to Mumbai with IndiGo, but it was mosquito-free. Lucknow itself, though, was infested,' added someone else. A third joked: 'Those mosquitoes will now need to start a new family and life at the new location after the flight. Sad.' This is not the first time passengers have had to deal with swarms of bugs on planes. It comes after passengers were filmed screaming in horror as cockroach-like insects started to fall on their heads just moments before take-off. The hair-raising incident took place in June 2019 on an Air Transat flight from London Gatwick to Vancouver. Passengers had boarded flight TS177 when the bugs began tumbling from overhead luggage lockers. After cabin crew were alerted to the problem, pest control officers from the airline boarded the A300 jet and began spraying pesticide on the seats. The problem was considered so serious that the captain announced all passengers would have to disembark the plane. Bug expert Dr Alison Blackwell said the creatures were a type of scarab beetle, of which there are 30,000 different species. After an initial seven hour delay the airline announced that the flight had been cancelled. Passengers were put up in nearby hotels and given vouchers for food but many complained that their hotels were too far away and that they were not looked after properly. A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said the pest control officers were from the airline and they did not have any involvement in the incident.
