In a world where news is omnipresent, the integrity and purpose of media have never been more critical. However, the recent decision by Jacinta Kerketta, a poet and journalist, to decline an award from a major media house, speaks volumes about the current state of news media.

In the grand “theatre” of politics and media, there’s a secret everyone knows but seldom acknowledges: everybody loves a good piece of fake news, as long as it sings in their choir. The recent episode involving Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a creatively edited video of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is a perfect illustration of this unspoken truth.

According to the British newspaper Financial Times, U.S. authorities thwarted India’s alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil. While New Delhi has rejected the claim, it holds profound implications for India and its people.

The BBC’s 2023 list of 100 inspiring and influential women, released on Nov. 21, features three Indian women, acknowledging their dedication to societal impact in the realms of environment, advocacy and sports. They embody India’s diversity and stand as a counter to patriarchy.

In the dense forests of Maharashtra on November 20, police dismantled a protest site where Adivasi communities had been demonstrating against proposed iron-ore mines. In this act, the government also disrupted the delicate balance between state authority and citizen rights in a democracy.

Amid its efforts to find a place on the global stage, India grapples with a stark contradiction. On one side, there’s a relentless pursuit of progress and influence. On the other, a deeply ingrained, regressive mindset persists. This dichotomy was blatantly exposed during the cricket World Cup final, when Tamil Nadu’s news channels bizarrely spotlighted women in a pub, treating their presence as a sensational crime story ... in public interest.

Maharashtra is currently in news for both the advocacy for and opposition to the inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category for reservations. But news coverage on the issue focuses predominantly on electoral politics, overshadowing the fundamental objective of uplifting marginalised communities.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed a Haryana state law that required 75 percent of private sector jobs to be reserved for local candidates. It casts a spotlight on the state’s paradoxical situation. Renowned for its vigorous industrial expansion, Haryana has, however, neglected to develop a correspondingly strong educational system for its residents. As a result, while industries have flourished, local employment opportunities have remained scarce.

A new study highlights significant shortcomings in India’s ban on single-use plastics, particularly its neglect of the challenges faced by the country’s numerous street vendors. The report suggests a financially viable solution that could reduce plastic waste by 86% and create job opportunities.

India’s trade scenario in October presented a startling revelation. The country’s merchandise trade deficit, a measure of how much more we import than we export, hit a record high of $31.46 billion, after months of persistent high deficit. It depicts the bad health of our economy.

A disconcerting trend in bail proceedings is casting a shadow over the Indian judiciary, as per a former Supreme Court judge, Justice Madan B. Lokur. In a media interview, he sheds light on a worrying pattern – the erosion of the basic principles of bail, the intertwining of politics with legal proceedings and the judiciary’s apparent oblivion to these realities.

In the agriculture sector, Madhya Pradesh is reportedly outshining traditional agrarian champions like Punjab and Haryana. But beneath this lush green facade may lie a narrative tinged with the hues of struggle and unsustainable practices, reminiscent of Punjab’s post-Green Revolution predicament.

In a country where economic narratives often paint a picture of resilience and growth, recent findings from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) serve as a stark contrast, revealing a reality that the government seems reluctant to acknowledge: the economic challenges confronting Indian businesses.

In a striking revelation, the most recent data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unveils a stark reality: a staggering 96,917 Indians were detained between October 2022 and September 2023 for illegally entering the United States. This five-fold surge in numbers from previous years challenges the narrative of India’s progress and raises profound questions about the reasons driving such a mass exodus.

A humanitarian crisis of alarming proportions is unfolding in Manipur with the loss of at least 53 people, including many children, from the Kuki-Zo tribal community due to inadequate healthcare and poor living conditions in the makeshift shelters of one district alone, Newsreel Asia has learned.

India has the dubious distinction of ranking 12th among nations where the murders of journalists are likely to remain unresolved, as per the 2023 Global Impunity Index published by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

An investigation by The Indian Express has unveiled a narrative that seems more akin to corporate boardrooms than government departments. Using the Right to Information Act, the report reveals that over five years, 16 government ministries disbursed 5 billion rupees to five multinational consulting firms.

Turmeric is a golden treasure within our kitchen cabinets that echoes tales of ancient health practices and vibrant culinary traditions. As “haldi,” it also colours our festivities, flavours our meals and brightens our skin. But behind the warm hues lies a hidden danger: lead adulteration, a toxic intrusion into this benign spice, betraying the trust of millions.