Judge celebrates daughter’s divorce publicly A retired judge here welcomed his daughter home with drums, garlands and sweets after her divorce, in a public show of support aimed at challenging the stigma surrounding marital separation. Gyanendra Kumar Sharma celebrated the return of his only daughter, Pranita Vashistha, after a family court granted divorce on Saturday. Relatives welcomed her with garlands and distributed sweets. Many wore black T-shirts, saying, ‘I love my daughter’. Pranita married an Army Major on Dec 19, 2018, her counsellors Rajeev Giri and Naseeb Saifi said. The marriage soon turned sour, with allegations of mental and physical harassment. They had a son, and Pranita later sought legal separation. “If my daughter is unhappy, it is my responsibility to bring her out of that environment. Her dignity matters more than social expectations,” Sharma said, adding that the family chose not to seek alimony, write Rahul Singh for The Times

Image edited by Dinesh Raj M   A journalist goes to work. Chairs fly. He ends up in a hospital bed. And somewhere between the condemnation tweet and the morning scroll, we've already moved on. That's the story. Not the attack on News Tamil 24x7 reporter Rajesh in Karaikudi on March 23rd -- though that is disturbing enough on its own. The real story is the silence that swallowed it whole. The kind of silence that only happens when we've grown so accustomed to outrage that we've forgotten what accountability is supposed to look like. Here's what the Chennai Union of Journalists (CUJ) reported, in plain terms: a political event tied to the upcoming Assembly elections was underway in Karaikudi, Sivaganga district. A party functionary was speaking -- making allegations, it seems -- when the crowd turned. Not with words. With chairs. Hurled toward the stage. Journalist Rajesh, who was coordinating the event for News Tamil 24x7, was attacked in the chaos. He wa

The Press Club of India has raised serious concerns over what it termed “arbitrary” social media takedowns, alleging that recent government actions are undermining free speech and targeting critical voices. In a press release issued on April 1, the club said multiple content creators and news platforms have faced blocking or removal of material across social media platforms. It argued that such executive actions violate the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Citing recent instances, the statement noted takedown orders issued to Facebook and X, affecting fact-checker Mohammed Zubair and outlets like Molitics and National Dastak. It also referred to the earlier blocking of 4PM News on YouTube and restrictions on satirist Rajeev Nigam’s content. The club claimed many of these actions were carried out under Section 69A of the IT Act without adequate transparency, as specific reasons for removal were not disclosed. C

Zee News has named Pratyush Khare, senior anchor and executive producer, as the new host of its flagship prime-time shows, Taal Thok Ke and Deshhit, effective this evening. Khare has been associated with Zee Media Corporation Limited since May 2024, where he has anchored news bulletins and contributed to editorial coverage. In his new role, he will lead two of the channel’s key debate and analysis programmes, strengthening its prime-time lineup. With more than 20 years of experience, he brings editorial depth, field experience, and a strong connection with viewers. His appointment highlights the network’s focus on experienced and credible leadership. According to Medianews4U, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor, said the move is part of a strategy to sharpen content and maintain high editorial standards. Both shows are recognised for driving discussions on political, social, and policy issues.

NDTV has achieved a rare milestone, with three of its channels leading at the same time and securing the top spot on YouTube. The combined performance of NDTV India, NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit has driven this success.  In a highly competitive media environment, the network’s performance stands out for its consistency and credibility. NDTV India has crossed 3 billion views, maintaining its position as a leading Hindi news platform. NDTV 24×7 has reached 197.3 million views and held its leadership for 10 consecutive months in English news. NDTV Profit, with 51.7 million views, continues to strengthen its role in business and market coverage.  According to Medianews4U, the achievement highlights the network’s ability to build strong editorial identities across platforms while maintaining a shared commitment to trusted journalism.  CEO and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal said the milestone reflects a clear strategy and sustained effort across teams a

With the war in Iran entering the second month, media fraternity across the world woke up to the news of the kidnapping of US freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson in Iraqi capital Baghdad. Shelly was abducted on Tuesday evening, said Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles. Al-Monitor, which is based in the US, said local news reports indicate Kittleson was taken near a hotel in the heart of the capital when she was abducted. Later, a US state department official said an individual with ties to an Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah, was detained by Iraqi authorities and that serious efforts were on to get the journalist released. The incident brings back memories of the abduction and beheading of another American journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in the year 2002 and highlights, yet again, the inherent dangers of reporting from conflict zones. The rise of AI and other powerful tools that can spread misinformation campaigns have only complica

Image of the Day   Hyderabad police embrace AI to strengthen digital vigilance Hyderabad police have begun the deployment of an artificial intelligence-driven platform to monitor, analyse and interpret social media activity in real time, marking a shift from largely manual tracking to automated digital surveillance. The system, being jointly developed with Blue Cloud Softech Solutions Limited, is designed to track trends across platforms, identify misinformation, detect potential threats and assess public sentiment using advanced AI-driven analytics. Officials say the move comes amid a surge in ‘cyber mob harassment’ cases targeting actors, bureaucrats and other public figures, writes Lavpreet Kaur for The Hindu. Identity politics takes centre stage in BTR ahead of Assam polls Abhinay Lakshman for The Hindu reported that as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fuels the rhetoric of protecting indigenous identities in the run-up to the Assembly election in As