تازہ ترین

India’s federal investigation agency has filed charges against 13 people accused of involvement in the leak of question papers for the country’s national medical entrance examination, following weeks of protests over the scandal. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said the accused include subject experts linked to the National Testing Agency, intermediaries who allegedly distributed leaked papers, and individuals associated with coaching institutes. The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence. All 13 accused are currently in custody, according to the investigation agency. The case relates to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which was taken by nearly two million students in May. The examination was cancelled after allegations emerged that questions had been leaked in several areas. A fresh test was later conducted on June 21. The controversy triggered nationwide protests led by students and young activists, with thousands gathering in New Delhi and other cities demanding accountability. The demonstrations intensified after protesters marched towards parliament and faced clashes with police. The unrest eventually led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down after mounting pressure over the handling of the examination crisis. India’s Supreme Court has also intervened in the matter, ordering authorities not to take strict action against protesters and directing the release of detained minors. The court further instructed officials to preserve surveillance footage related to alleged police action during demonstrations. In response to the controversy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has introduced proposed amendments to public examination laws. The changes seek tougher punishments, including longer prison sentences and heavier fines for those involved in exam fraud. Under the proposed rules, those found guilty could face imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines reaching 50 million Indian rupees.

Communities across southern Japan are facing growing hardship after a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake left at least 17 people dead, damaged essential infrastructure, and cut off water and electricity for thousands of residents. As emergency teams continue rescue and relief operations, authorities are racing to address the worsening impact of intense summer temperatures on affected communities. The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction in Yatsushiro, a port city where cracked roads, collapsed buildings, and broken water pipelines have made daily life increasingly difficult. While damaged homes and public buildings are visible reminders of the disaster, local officials say the lack of clean water and electricity has become one of the biggest challenges facing residents. Akio Matsushita, a city official involved in coordinating relief efforts, said restoring the damaged water system could take a long time because of the scale of the destruction. He explained that repair crews are still assessing the underground damage and cannot estimate when normal services will resume. With temperatures reaching around 35 degrees Celsius and humidity remaining high, the shortage of water has become especially dangerous. Even city hall has been affected, forcing officials to install temporary toilets above sewer manholes after indoor facilities stopped working. Authorities have confirmed that at least 17 people lost their lives in the earthquake. Most of the deaths occurred at a paper manufacturing plant operated by Nippon Paper Industries, where severe structural damage trapped workers. Others were reported at an Aeon shopping mall after what officials believe may have been a gas explosion. Six more people remain in cardiopulmonary arrest, while authorities continue investigating additional deaths that may also be linked to the earthquake. Including those cases, the overall death toll could rise to 28. Emergency responders are also preparing for another serious threat as weather forecasts predict temperatures could approach 40 degrees Celsius over the coming days. Officials have warned that people staying in evacuation centres face an increased risk of heat related illnesses. To reduce that danger, Japan’s Self Defense Forces have begun installing around 300 air conditioning units at evacuation shelters and other important relief locations throughout Kumamoto Prefecture. In the hours after the earthquake, military vehicles transported large water tanks to schools and community centres across Yatsushiro. Emergency water stored beneath city hall has been used to refill the tanks, allowing residents to collect drinking water. However, supplies remain limited, with each person allowed only three litres. Among those waiting for water was Masahiro Miyamoto, who spent hours clearing debris after a temple gate collapsed during the quake. Although his own home remained standing, the neighbouring house was destroyed. Without running water, he has depended entirely on military water deliveries. He said the few stores that reopened after the disaster were crowded with shoppers trying to buy food and other essentials, while long lines formed outside petrol stations as people rushed to fill their vehicles. Japan’s location along the Pacific Ring of Fire makes earthquakes a frequent occurrence. The country has invested heavily in earthquake resistant construction and emergency preparedness, helping reduce casualties during many disasters. Even so, powerful earthquakes continue to cause severe disruption, especially in regions with major industrial facilities. The latest earthquake has also affected manufacturing across Kyushu, an important centre for Japan’s automobile and semiconductor industries. Several leading companies, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Aisin, and Sony, temporarily suspended parts of their production while inspections were carried out. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also evacuated workers and briefly stopped operations to ensure facilities remained safe. Many residents of Kumamoto still remember the devastating earthquakes that struck the region in 2016, killing more than 260 people and destroying thousands of homes. Even those who survived that disaster said this week’s shaking felt stronger in parts of Yatsushiro. Miyamoto recalled shelves crashing to the floor and computers being thrown across rooms. He said the violent movement was unlike anything he had experienced before, describing the sensation as if he had been lifted off the ground and tossed through the air.

Bollywood actor and BJP Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut has come under heavy criticism after making a series of controversial remarks about young people who participated in recent anti government protests in India. Her comments, shared on social media, quickly went viral and triggered strong reactions from politicians, activists, and social media users. The controversy began after a 36 day protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party along with students and civil society groups ended on July 25. The demonstrations concluded after the government accepted several key demands, including the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. A few days later, Ranaut posted on Instagram, where she strongly criticised videos from the protests held at Jantar Mantar. She described the footage as disturbing and accused participants of displaying behaviour that she considered offensive and lacking basic values. She questioned the conduct and language of the young protesters and claimed their actions reflected poorly on the country’s cultural traditions. In another post, Ranaut focused on young women who took part in the demonstrations. She argued that true independence comes through personal responsibility, career choices, and accountability rather than simply demanding freedom. Referring to the younger generation as “Generation Gutter,” she claimed many participants were promoting irresponsible lifestyles while depending on their families for financial support. The actor also suggested that independence must be earned through hard work and self reliance. She criticised what she described as a culture of entitlement among some young people and argued that freedom without responsibility leads to negative consequences. Ranaut continued defending her position in another social media post, saying that those who publicly express strong opinions should also be prepared to face criticism. She claimed that if protesters insult public leaders or damage public property, they should expect a response from people who support the government. Referring to Newton’s third law of motion, she argued that every action naturally brings an equal reaction. Her remarks immediately attracted widespread criticism online. Many users accused her of making disrespectful and insulting comments about an entire generation. Others argued that her statements distracted attention from the issues that motivated the protests in the first place. Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury criticised Ranaut’s language, saying it was disappointing for a sitting Member of Parliament to make such remarks about young citizens. She added that public representatives should communicate more responsibly and suggested that Ranaut could eventually face political consequences for her comments. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi also condemned the actor’s statements. He expressed confidence that India’s younger generation would respond through democratic means and reject the views she had expressed. Several social media users also pointed to Ranaut’s previous controversial remarks, including comments about actor Urmila Matondkar and participants in earlier protests such as the Shaheen Bagh and farmers’ demonstrations. Critics argued that her latest statements followed a pattern of using harsh language against those with opposing views. Others accused the actor of hypocrisy, saying she frequently criticises the tone of her opponents while overlooking aggressive language used by members of her own political camp. One user described her comments as deeply offensive and questioned why someone in a position of influence would use social media to attack young women instead of encouraging meaningful discussion. The debate has once again placed Ranaut at the centre of political and social controversy. While her supporters defended her right to express her opinions, critics argued that public figures should promote respectful dialogue, especially when discussing young people participating in democratic protests. The exchange has continued to fuel intense debate across social media platforms, reflecting the growing political divide over youth activism and freedom of expression in India.