The US regime has granted India a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil, purportedly intended to ease short-term pressures on India's oil supplies. Indian media, citing unnamed government sources, report that India has sufficient crude stockpiled for the short term. This move comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions that threaten global energy markets.
The southern Indian state of Karnataka has announced plans to ban social media for children and teenagers under 16, becoming the first state in the country to propose such a measure. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated while presenting the state's budget that the ban aims "to prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage." However, it remains unclear how the state intends to implement this prohibition, raising concerns about feasibility and privacy.
The India-based Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) criticized the proposal, saying it "raised more questions than it answered." In a statement, the advocacy group questioned: "Will this require state legislation? Will it mandate age-verification systems that create fresh privacy risks for all users, including adults? Will it apply to educational and informational uses of the internet? None of this is clear at present." The group warned that blanket bans could do more harm than good, despite recognizing safety concerns for children.
India's Foreign Ministry congratulated neighboring Nepal on successfully holding its parliamentary elections this week. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement: "We congratulate Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the Government and the people of Nepal as well as various stakeholders for successfully holding these polls which took place against the backdrop of exceptional circumstances last year." Early trends indicate that rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah's centrist party is poised to win, reflecting youth-driven political change in Nepal.
The Indian Air Force confirmed the deaths of two pilots, Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, after a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet crashed during a training exercise in the eastern state of Assam. Both pilots succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash. The IAF stated on social media: "All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences," following an earlier report that the jet was "overdue" and prompted a search and rescue operation.
Source: www.dw.com