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India-China row: Rajnath Singh warns China against further misadventure

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the country is prepared for all contingencies in protecting its sovereignty in the border row with China.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the country is prepared for all contingencies in protecting its sovereignty in the border row with China. In a statement in the Lok Sabha, Singh very clearly said the India and China border issue is yet to be resolved and that there had been no mutually acceptable solution with Beijing not recognizing the current boundary. He said the two views of the two countries on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was the reason for the flare-up in Ladakh.

He said China disagrees on the border and doesn’t pay heed to the traditional and customary alignment of the boundary. Singh added that this alignment is based on well-established geographical markers and China attempted to unilaterally alter the status quo in violation of bilateral agreements.

Singh said India wanted peace and tranquillity with its neighbour, something which China agreed to despite the borders between India and China remaining unmarked in many areas. Both India and China agree that to maintain peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, it is essential for the further development of bilateral relations, he said.

On June 15, when 20 Indian soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley, Indian troops caused heavy loss of life on the Chinese side, he said. The Chinese had mobilised a large mass of troops and armoury along the LAC and inner areas. He said the Chinese troops had violated all past pacts with India by making unilateral moves to alter the border.

https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1305830605918072833

Singh cited the north and south banks of the Pangong Lake among many friction points and added that the Indian Army had deployed forces to counter the Chinese.

The Congress members wanted a discussion after Singh’s statement and wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to answer their questions. But the government refused to reply citing the sensitive nature of the topic. Speaker Om Birla then refused to allow Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to speak following which the party walked out.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the Defence Minister had misled the country and called upon Prime Minister Modi to not be afraid of naming China. Gandhi said the country will always side with the Indian Army.

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Gold sales shine bright on Akshaya Tritiya despite soaring prices

Akshaya Tritiya 2025 saw a significant jump in gold and silver sales, with festive sentiment overpowering price concerns as India’s jewellery market adapts to changing consumer behaviour.

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Gold price

Gold and silver purchases witnessed a vibrant start across India on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, with festive enthusiasm overcoming the deterrent of high prices. The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) has projected a 35% rise in value terms for gold sales compared to last year, even though prices are significantly higher.

Regional footfall and demand trends

Retail activity gained early momentum in southern states, as consumers flocked to jewellery stores in the first half of the day. In contrast, northern regions and Maharashtra are expected to see increased activity later, as extreme heat delayed consumer turnout during morning hours.

Gold prices hovered between ₹99,500 and ₹99,900 per 10 grams in various regions — a sharp 37.6% jump from the previous year’s Akshaya Tritiya rate of ₹72,300. Despite the surge, shoppers re-entered the market, reassured by recent price stabilization.

Changing buyer profiles and strategies

GJC Chairman Rajesh Rokde noted that the tradition of buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya, once dominant in the south, is now gaining traction nationwide. “Even younger consumers aged 25 to 40 are actively buying gold and silver,” he said, emphasizing a growing trend among millennial buyers.

Consumers are purchasing a mix of jewellery, coins, and bullion based on their budget and need. A significant portion of buyers are managing high prices through old gold exchanges — accounting for nearly 50% of all transactions, according to PNG Jewellers Chairman Saurabh Gadgil.

“Volume growth may be marginally down by 8–9%, but in value terms, we’re seeing an increase of 20–25%,” Gadgil explained, underlining the resilience of the jewellery market.

Market adapts with innovation

Studded jewellery is reportedly gaining popularity, especially in urban centers, while lab-grown diamonds are carving a niche among new-age buyers, according to industry executives from GSI India and Aukera.

The All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation estimated around 12 tonnes of gold sales, worth approximately ₹12,000 crore, and 400 tonnes of silver, valued at ₹4,000 crore — totalling a massive ₹16,000 crore in expected festive turnover.

Long-term demand remains robust

Despite frequent price hikes over the past three years, India’s gold appetite has remained steady. The country continues to import between 700 and 800 tonnes annually, underscoring its status as the world’s largest gold consumer.

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Bangladesh High Court orders release of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on bail

The prosecutor’s killing fueled demands to ban ISKCON, which clarified that Das had been expelled from the organization six months prior.

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In a significant development, a Bangladesh High Court bench, comprising Justices Atoar Rahman and Ali Reza, granted bail to Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, five months after his arrest on charges of disrespecting the national flag.

The court’s decision followed a final hearing on an earlier directive questioning why bail should not be granted, marking a turning point in a case that has stirred tensions and drawn international attention.

Das, a former ISKCON leader and spokesperson for the Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, a Hindu advocacy group, was detained on November 25, 2024, at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The charges stemmed from an October 31, 2024, case filed at Chattogram’s Kotwali police station, accusing Das and 18 others of defaming Bangladesh’s national flag. A Chattogram court rejected his initial bail plea, sending him to jail, a decision that sparked widespread protests among his supporters in Dhaka and beyond.

In Chattogram, demonstrations turned deadly when assistant government prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif was killed hours after Das’ bail denial, escalating the controversy.

The case, unfolding less than three months after a student-led uprising toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, strained Bangladesh-India relations. Hasina’s flight to India and the subsequent interim government led by Muhammad Yunus intensified scrutiny.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs voiced concern on November 26, 2024, highlighting “multiple attacks on Hindus and minorities” in Bangladesh, including arson, looting, and temple desecration. “It’s unfortunate that a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful means faces charges while perpetrators of violence remain free,” the MEA stated, urging Bangladesh to protect its minority communities.

Das’ legal team, led by former Deputy Attorney General Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya and 11 Supreme Court lawyers, argued the flag disrespect charge was baseless, asserting the item in question was not a national flag.

“This case lacks legal grounding,” Bhattacharya told reporters in January. Earlier bail attempts, including a plea for an advanced hearing on December 11, 2024, were rebuffed, with the court sticking to a January 2, 2025, date. Associates claimed Das faced obstacles securing legal representation due to intimidation from a “politically motivated lawyers’ group.”

The prosecutor’s killing fueled demands to ban ISKCON, which clarified that Das had been expelled from the organization six months prior.

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She felt worthless when Instagram followers fell, says influencer Misha Agrawal’s sister on her suicide

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The family of social media influencer Misha Agarwal announced her heartbreaking passing on April 24, 2025, just days before her 25th birthday, revealing that she died by suicide. In an emotional statement shared on her Instagram account on April 30, her family disclosed that Misha’s battle with depression, triggered by a decline in her social media following, led to her tragic decision.

Misha, who had built her career around Instagram, was fixated on reaching one million followers, a goal so central to her life that it adorned her phone’s lock screen.

Her family’s statement, accompanied by a video of the lock screen, read, “Our beloved sister poured her heart into Instagram, dreaming of a million followers. When her follower count began to drop, she felt worthless and fell into deep depression, often crying, ‘What will I do if my followers decrease? My career is over.’” Despite their efforts to comfort her, Misha’s despair overwhelmed her.

Her family emphasized Misha’s talents beyond social media, noting her LLB degree and preparation for the PCSJ exam, with aspirations of becoming a judge. “We reminded her that Instagram was just one part of her life, not its entirety,” they shared. “We told her a setback online wouldn’t end her world, but she couldn’t escape the pressure.” The statement highlighted the devastating impact of her fixation on digital validation, culminating in her untimely death.

On April 25, Misha’s family first confirmed her passing in a poignant Instagram post: “With profound sorrow, we share the loss of Misha Agarwal. Thank you for the love you showed her. We are grappling with this immense grief. Please keep her spirit alive in your hearts.”

The tragedy underscores the intense pressures faced by influencers in an era where social media metrics often define self-worth. India’s influencer industry, while thriving, increasingly spotlight mental health challenges, with growing calls for support systems. Misha’s story serves as a somber reminder to prioritize well-being over online validation, leaving her family and fans mourning a vibrant soul gone too soon.

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