The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has recently introduced the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, to bolster citizens’ control over their personal data in the digital space.   The rules are designed to “empower citizens” in a rapidly growing digital economy. The draft rules are based on wide-ranging inputs gathered from various stakeholders and a study of global best practices.   Subhashis Biswas, product manager at Societe Generale, detailed how businesses will foster a privacy-first culture in software products in his article “Introducing the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules: A Step Toward Privacy and Data Protection in India.”   Commenting on the global attention to data privacy, Biswas stated, “The DPDP draft rules not only align with India’s data protection goals but also bring the country in line with international privacy standards like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European U

Club FM Kerala hosted a "Resolution of Change" event where they presented 25 New Year resolutions for 2025. The special show featured guests from various sectors, including MLAs, district collectors, mayors, and senior police officials who shared their New Year resolutions.  The special guests for the show included Harishankar (Senior Cyber Operations), Prof. Dr. Jose (Kannur University), Dilu AK (RTO, Alappuzha), M. Anilkumar (Mayor, Kochi Municipal Corporation), Mohamed Shafi K (Commandant, Kerala Armed Women Police Battalion), T. Vinod (Ernakulam MLA), and R. Illango (IPS, City Police Commissioner, Thrissur).  Through this show, Club FM provided a broad perspective and ideas for its viewers on how the new year can be handled efficiently. Since the guests came from different sectors, their ideas and ways of thinking varied, offering valuable insights and ideas for the current generation.  

Several journalist bodies, including the Press Council of India, Editors Guild of India and Delhi Union of Journalists, have demanded a “serious investigation” into the shocking murder of Bastar-based independent journalist Mukesh Chandrakar. Mukesh Chandrakar was found dead on January 3, 2025, following his report disclosing scams in public construction projects.   Chandrakar has been missing since January 1, 2025. On January 3, 2025, the police discovered his body in a septic tank on the property of a road contractor whom he reported in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. According to media reports, two of the three accused arrested were his relatives.   Born in Basaguda, Chandrakar lost his father at a very young age. He witnessed violence and terrorism since childhood when Salwa Judum terrorized Bastar. He was sent to a Salwa Judum relief camp and reunited with his family after two years. In 2011, he lost his mother to cancer.  Chandrakar started a YouTube channel

In one of the deadliest Maoist attacks in recent times, at least eight constables belonging to the Chhattisgarh police counter-insurgency force District Reserve Guard (DRG) were killed along with a civilian driver after IED weighing almost 70kg exploded in Bastar region’s Bijapur district on Monday. Hot off the Press Rashmi Drolia for The Times of India pointed out that this was the deadliest Maoist attack since April 2023 when a similar IED explosion claimed the lives of 10 security personnel and their driver. The DRG team was ambushed while returning home after a two-day operation in the dense forests of south Abujhmarh in Narayanpur district in which five Maoist insurgents were gunned down and DRG head constable Sannu Karam lost his life. Among the Maoists killed, two were women. In a related story, Rashmi raised several questions concerning the attack. "How did the road-opening party, which had sanitised the route of the security personnel in Kutru, fail to spot a 70kg

  On January 5, 2025, the Government of India introduced the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, aimed at safeguarding citizens’ personal data and empowering them in the digital economy. Released by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, the draft focuses on balancing innovation with regulation, according to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Vaishnaw emphasised the pivotal role of digital platforms in driving India’s growth over the past decade. He highlighted the government’s extensive efforts to create a fully digitized Data Protection Board, ensuring seamless implementation of the law. “The rules are written in simple language, with clear examples to ensure easy understanding and implementation,” he said. Key provisions of the draft include requiring data fiduciaries to obtain informed consent from individuals before processing personal data and mandating verifiable parental consent for processing children’s data. Citize

Adelaide Crows legend and former captain Rory Sloane is set to bring his on-field expertise to Nine's AFL commentary team for the 2025 season, according to Mediaweek.  After retiring with 255 games under his belt at the end of the 2024 season, Sloane will feature on The AFL Sunday Footy Show, Footy Classified and 9News Adelaide, while also contributing to 3AW football radio commentary. A two-time Best and Fairest winner and 2016 All-Australian, Sloane expressed enthusiasm about the new chapter.  "Growing up, my Sundays were centred around the Wide World of Sports, so being part of that legacy is a dream come true," he said. He plans to bring fresh insights into AFL analysis, focusing on tactics and trends drawn from his experience as a midfielder. Nine's Director of Sport, Brent Williams, highlighted Sloane’s leadership and deep understanding of the game, confident that his expertise will elevate Nine’s AFL coverage.  9News Adelaide's director, Jeremy Pudney, also commend

The recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in India has sounded alarms nationwide. Three tigers and a leopard succumbed to the virus at Maharashtra’s Gorewada Rescue Centre, as reported by Purnima Sah for The Hindu. This strain of avian flu is known for its deadly effects on animals and its potential to spill over into humans, raising serious concerns. The Times of India's Sarfaraz Ahmed highlighted that zoos and wildlife facilities nationwide are on high alert, with the government issuing quarantine advisories to prevent further spread. In the past month alone, multiple animal deaths have been attributed to the H5N1 virus in India. Siddhant Konduskar for Indian Express reported that beyond Maharashtra, cases are surfacing in various states, prompting a nationwide red alert. Originating in avian species, H5N1 has mutated over time, gaining the ability to infect mammals, raising fears of its potential to jump to humans. This strain first identified decad