A government ban on social media ignited massive, youth-led protests in Nepal, quickly escalating into violent unrest that left at least 22 people dead. Demonstrators attacked government buildings and homes of political leaders, ultimately leading to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The country now faces a political crisis fueled by public anger over corruption.
***
In September 2025, Nepal witnessed massive protests led by Generation Z youth against a sudden government ban on 26 popular social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Twitter (X), triggered by the government's attempt to regulate these platforms. The protests quickly escalated due to broader frustrations over political corruption, nepotism, economic challenges, and perceived governmental authoritarianism. At least 19 protesters died and many were injured in clashes with police. The unrest significantly undermined the leadership of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who resigned amid the crisis, marking a major digital flashpoint highlighting the struggle for democracy and digital rights in Nepal.
***
Tripuraneni Gopichand (1910–1962) was a pioneering Telugu novelist, short story writer, editor, essayist, playwright, and a notable film writer and director. He is celebrated for his profound psychological and philosophical approach in literature and is the author of acclaimed novels such as "Asamardhuni Jeeva Yatra," which is recognized as the first psychological novel in Telugu literature.
***
Donald Trump's foreign policy is characterized by short-termism and transactionalism, a sharp departure from traditional American foreign policy. This approach prioritizes narrow national interests over long-term global leadership or principles, and often rejects multilateralism and international cooperation. It has been described as an "America First" policy that breaks with the post-1945 rules-based international order and focuses on immediate gains rather than sustained alliances.
***
India has achieved nine major world records in space missions, including the Chandrayaan series (1, 2, and 3), the Mars Orbiter Mission, and advancements in cryogenic engine technology, as announced by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan in 2025. Among these, Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 was the first mission to discover water molecules on the lunar surface, the Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014 was the first successful Mars mission on the maiden attempt, and the PSLV-C37 in 2017 set a record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission. Chandrayaan-3 in 2023 made India the first country to land a spacecraft near the lunar South Pole. ISRO plans to add about 8 to 10 more world records soon, with ambitions to land a human on the Moon by 2040.
***
The Supreme Court of India, in the case of Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank v. V. Yugandar & Anr. (2025), underscored the importance of procedural discipline in the writ jurisdiction of High Courts. The Court held that a Division Bench of the Telangana High Court acted with "grave irregularity" and violated judicial norms by summoning and deciding the main writ petition on merits while hearing a writ appeal that was limited to an interim order. This decision set aside the High Court's judgment and restored the writ petition to its original file, emphasizing that writ appeals against interim orders should not extend to the merits of the main writ petition. The ruling calls for judicial restraint, adherence to procedural safeguards, respect for the judicial hierarchy, and administrative discipline to maintain fairness, accountability, and public confidence in the judiciary.
***
A key general knowledge point is that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dominated Indian politics for over a decade, governing 15 States and Union Territories and wielding significant influence at the Union level. Its rise was fueled by a potent mix of cultural assertiveness, institutional dominance, and muscular nationalism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, by 2025, signs of its political hegemony showing cracks have emerged, linked to growing economic challenges like youth unemployment, stalled wage growth, and disrupted trade relations—especially tensions with the United States. While BJP continues to have strong grassroots support, particularly in rural areas aided by welfare schemes, its narrative dominance and ability to suppress dissent are increasingly challenged by a more coordinated and assertive Opposition, led by the Congress party under Rahul Gandhi. This evolving political landscape indicates a potential shift away from BJP's unchallenged supremacy toward a more contested democratic space in India.
***
Carlos Alcaraz won his sixth Grand Slam title by defeating Jannik Sinner in the 2025 US Open final, reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking. This victory marked his second US Open title, and he dominated the tournament by not losing a set until the final, facing only 10 breakpoints and losing his serve just three times. Alcaraz's evolving game showed more clinical efficiency compared to before, solidifying his rivalry with Jannik Sinner, as they have met in three consecutive Grand Slam finals in the same year—an Open Era record.
***
Inspector Madhukar Zende is a celebrated Mumbai police officer known for capturing the notorious serial killer Charles Sobhraj twice. His first arrest of Sobhraj took place in 1971 at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, after receiving a tip about a robbery plan led by Sobhraj. The police operation led by Zende resulted in the arrest of Sobhraj and his accomplices and seizing weapons intended for the heist. Sobhraj escaped later but was recaptured by Zende in 1986 in Goa, where Zende led a covert operation disguised as a tourist, eventually apprehending Sobhraj at a restaurant.
Zende's courageous acts earned him national fame. He was recognized by prominent figures such as Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, legendary actor Dilip Kumar, and singer Lata Mangeshkar, who even invited him to her home. His capture of Sobhraj made him a household name, and his story has been dramatized in the 2025 Netflix film "Inspector Zende," starring Manoj Bajpayee. Beyond the Sobhraj case, Zende had a notable career with many heroic acts and bringing criminals to justice.
***
Larry Ellison, co-founder and CTO of Oracle, has overtaken Elon Musk to become the world's richest person according to the latest Bloomberg ranking. Ellison's net worth surged by $101 billion to reach $393 billion, surpassing Musk's $385 billion. The wealth increase was driven by Oracle's stock which rose as much as 43% in a single day, marking the company's biggest single-day jump since 1992. This was fueled by a strong demand surge for Oracle’s cloud services, especially from AI clients, and multiple multibillion-dollar contracts signed recently. Ellison, 81, holds about 40% of Oracle and has positioned the company as a major player in cloud computing and AI infrastructures, battling giants like Amazon and Microsoft. Meanwhile, Tesla has faced a challenging 2025, with Musk losing the crown after more than 300 days as the richest person.
***
The Telangana High Court has issued strict guidelines for registering FIRs related to social media posts, especially those involving political speech. The court emphasized that such FIRs must not be registered mechanically or without proper scrutiny. Police should verify the complainant's locus standi, conduct a preliminary inquiry, and apply a high threshold before registering cognizable offenses. Legal opinion should be sought in sensitive cases, and no action should be taken unless there is clear incitement to violence or a real threat to public order.
The court also clarified that defamation related to social media posts is a non-cognizable offense that requires a complaint from the aggrieved party and prior magistrate approval. Frivolous or politically motivated complaints should be closed promptly, and arrests must follow safeguards outlined by the Supreme Court in the Arnesh Kumar vs. State of Bihar judgment to prevent arbitrary detention.
These guidelines aim to balance free speech protections under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution with the need to maintain public order and prevent misuse of the criminal justice system in cases tied to social media.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment