The Central Government has intensified scrutiny of Meta after Facebook briefly removed a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the explanation inadequate. During meetings with Meta's global team, officials also raised concerns over the platform's handling of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfakes, bots, and algorithmic accountability. The government warned that failure to comply with Indian laws could jeopardise Meta's safe harbour protection, which shields intermediaries from liability for user-generated content. Meta acknowledged operational shortcomings, apologised for the video removal, and pledged to strengthen content moderation and legal compliance in India. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged young Indians to celebrate National Handloom Day on August 7 by creating “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) videos featuring handloom outfits. In an Instagram Reel, he linked the day to the Swadeshi Movement launched on August 7, 1905, and called on people to recognise and support India’s weaving community. Modi said showcasing handloom products through a popular social media trend could help promote artisans’ craftsmanship globally while strengthening their livelihoods. He encouraged citizens to buy at least one handloom product, share videos online and inspire others to do the same, saying the initiative would contribute to building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat by economically empowering weaving families across India.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has reduced the deadline for social media intermediaries to remove "unlawful information" from 36 hours to three hours after receiving a valid notice from the government or a court. The revised IT Rules, amended in February, also require platforms to clearly label AI-generated content and attach traceable metadata, enabling users to identify synthetic material and reduce deception or misuse. The rules strengthen platform due diligence and user accountability by mandating awareness of legal consequences for unlawful AI-generated content. Intermediaries must also take prompt action against child sexual exploitation material, non-consensual intimate imagery, impersonation and other harmful AI-generated content. (PC: Pexel)

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said India's Generation Z should not be labelled anti-national, asserting that many young people are raising legitimate concerns about the country's future. Speaking at an event, Bhagwat urged society to engage with students rather than dismiss their views, noting that questioning and debate are natural among youth. He stressed that patriotism should not be judged solely by disagreement with authority and encouraged constructive dialogue between generations. Bhagwat also highlighted the importance of understanding young people's aspirations and addressing their concerns to strengthen national development and social harmony. (PC: Reuters)

Students of the Government Seth Anandilal Poddar Higher Secondary School for the Deaf and Mute in Jaipur staged a silent protest over poor sanitation, unsafe classrooms, water shortage and other basic issues. Using only sign language, the students demanded better facilities without raising slogans. After an official inspection confirmed their complaints, the Rajasthan Education Department removed the school principal and placed a teacher and a Class IV employee under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO). A special committee has also been formed to recommend long-term improvements, including repairs to the school building, toilets, drinking water facilities and overall campus infrastructure.  

The Centre has spent ₹74.59 crore on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits between January and July 2026, according to data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs in the Rajya Sabha. Modi visited 13 countries during the period, including Israel, France, Australia and New Zealand. The highest expenditure, ₹17.46 crore, was incurred during his visit to Norway, followed by ₹11.92 crore for Israel. The MEA also said total spending on the Prime Minister's overseas bilateral visits since 2021 has reached ₹557.51 crore, with the figures excluding inflation and currency fluctuations. (PC: HT)

The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has convicted former *Tehelka* editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case involving a former junior colleague, overturning his 2021 acquittal by a trial court. Tejpal was sentenced to 10 years in prison and given two weeks to surrender. The High Court ruled that the trial court had relied on stereotypes about how a sexual assault survivor should behave. Tejpal, who has maintained his innocence, told the court he was a "victim" and said he would challenge the conviction before the Supreme Court. (PC: NDTV)

Air India has named former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO, replacing Campbell Wilson, who stepped down in April. The Tata Group-owned airline said Gebremariam was unanimously selected to lead its next phase of growth after overseeing Ethiopian Airlines' expansion into Africa's largest and most profitable carrier. He takes charge as Air India faces major challenges, including a record $2.3 billion loss, reduced international operations, and the aftermath of the 2025 Ahmedabad-London crash that killed 260 people. Industry experts believe his crisis management experience could help accelerate Air India's turnaround and restore passenger confidence. (PC: BBC)

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday launched the nationwide 'Kya Bolti Public' campaign to gather people's concerns, with education as its first focus. Speaking after the party's core committee meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, Dipke said rising school, college and coaching fees have made quality education unaffordable for many families. He claimed increasing education costs are forcing parents into debt and called for reforms to reduce the financial burden. Dipke also criticised the political and judicial systems, alleging that public trust in democratic institutions has weakened in recent years. (PC: X)

The death toll from Assam's latest wave of floods has increased to 95, with around 1.6 lakh people affected across 14 districts since July 19. Sivasagar is the worst-hit district, reporting 50 deaths and over 57,000 affected residents, while neighbouring Charaideo has recorded 21 fatalities. Golaghat and Jorhat have also suffered heavy losses. Union Health Minister J P Nadda said restoring normalcy will take time due to the scale of the disaster. Rescue and relief operations remain underway as authorities continue providing food, shelter and medical assistance to affected families across the flood-hit regions. (PC: X)