Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, met with Tomasi Tunabuna, Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, on Friday at Krishi Bhawan to discuss ongoing collaboration and explore future areas of cooperation, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
The ministers held productive talks on various issues of mutual interest. They agreed to extend the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for another five years and to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to further bilateral cooperation. Key areas discussed included student exchanges, training and capacity-building programs, technology sharing for small-scale machinery, and digital agriculture tools. The discussions also focused on enhancing research infrastructure, genetic exchange initiatives, and sharing knowledge to reduce food loss and waste.
Minister Chouhan shared details of the meeting on X, highlighting India’s historical ties with Fiji, strengthened by mutual respect, cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people connections. He emphasized that both nations recognize agriculture and food security as crucial areas of bilateral engagement.
The Fijian delegation included CharanJeath Singh, Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and the Sugar Industry; Jagannath Sami, High Commissioner of Fiji; Vinesh Kumar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sugar; Nitya Reddy, Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Corporation; and Paulo Daurewa, Counsellor at the High Commission of Fiji. Representing India were Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; M. L. Jat, Secretary of DARE; and other senior officials.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@ChouhanShivraj.
Elon Musk’s startup xAI has imposed restrictions on the image-generation feature of its Grok chatbot on X after the tool faced backlash for creating sexualized images. Previously, users could instruct Grok to edit photos of people, including removing clothing and placing them in sexualized poses—often without consent—and the chatbot would publish these images in replies on the platform.
As of Friday, Grok informed users that image generation and editing are now limited to paying subscribers. This appears to have stopped the bot from automatically creating and posting such images in response to user comments, though users can still generate sexualized images through the Grok tab on X or the standalone Grok app without a subscription and post them manually.
When asked for comment, xAI responded to Reuters with an automated message saying, "Legacy Media Lies," while X did not immediately reply. Musk previously stated that anyone using Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as uploading such material directly. A Reuters reporter tested Grok by asking it to transform a photo into a bikini-clad version; the bot declined, noting the feature is subscription-only.
The European Commission criticized the restrictions, saying limiting access to paying subscribers does not address the core issue of unlawful sexualized images. Other governments and regulators have also condemned the content and opened inquiries, pressuring the platform to prevent and remove illegal material. German media minister Wolfram Weimer described the flood of semi-nude images as the “industrialization of sexual harassment.”
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
The IFSO Unit of the Delhi Police has uncovered a major SIM box racket operating nationwide, arresting seven cybercriminals, including a Taiwanese national. According to an official statement, the group ran a large-scale SIM box operation, exploiting telecom loopholes to commit cyber fraud targeting citizens across India. Investigators seized thousands of illegally obtained SIM cards during the operation.
A SIM box is a device that can hold hundreds of SIM cards simultaneously and reroutes international calls as local calls, bypassing telecom charges and regulations. Police said the devices were also used to send bulk SMS messages containing phishing links, fake loan offers, and fraudulent investment schemes. By disguising the origin of calls and messages, the suspects made tracing the scams difficult for authorities. Investigations are ongoing.
The Delhi Police IFSO Unit had cracked a sophisticated fake government recruitment scam. The scheme targeted hundreds of job seekers by impersonating the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Ministry of Culture. The accused allegedly created a fake ASI recruitment portal, posting nonexistent government vacancies to exploit unemployed youth nationwide.
Police registered the case under FIR No. 268/25 at PS Special Cell, citing Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 340(2), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The suspects reportedly advertised seven Curator positions and 84 Junior Assistant posts, sharing links to the counterfeit website via college groups, online forums, and messaging platforms. The portal closely mimicked the official ASI site, using authentic logos, colors, and layouts, making it almost indistinguishable from the genuine government website.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@DelhiPolice.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Australia and several other countries would participate in a meeting of G7 finance ministers he is hosting in Washington on Monday to discuss critical minerals. Bessent noted that he had been advocating for a dedicated meeting on this topic since last summer’s G7 leaders’ summit, and finance ministers had already held a virtual discussion in December.
India has also been invited, Bessent told Reuters during a visit to a Winnebago Industries engineering lab near Minneapolis, though he was unsure whether India had accepted. The other invited countries have not been disclosed. The G7 comprises the US, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the European Union. Many members rely heavily on China for rare earth supplies. Last June, the group agreed on an action plan to secure supply chains and strengthen their economies.
Australia signed a US-backed agreement in October to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals. This includes an $8.5 billion project pipeline and leverages Australia’s proposed strategic reserve to supply metals like rare earths and lithium, which are vulnerable to disruption. Canberra has said Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have shown interest in participating.
China remains the dominant player in the critical minerals supply chain, refining 47% to 87% of copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths, according to the International Energy Agency. These minerals are essential for defense technologies, semiconductors, renewable energy components, batteries, and refining processes.
In recent years, Western countries have sought to reduce dependence on Chinese critical minerals, particularly after China imposed strict export controls on rare earths. Monday’s meeting follows reports that China recently restricted exports of rare earths and powerful magnets to Japanese firms and banned dual-use items to the Japanese military. Bessent added that China is still honoring its commitments to purchase US soybeans and supply critical minerals to US companies.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.
Delhi recorded its coldest morning of the winter season on Friday January nine twenty twenty six as the minimum temperature dropped to four point six degrees Celsius which is two point three degrees below normal. Light rainfall was reported in several parts of the city adding to the cold conditions. The IMD said chilly weather is likely to continue while Delhis air quality remained in the very poor category.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Whether it is issuing military threats toward Colombia and Cuba, suggesting the takeover of Greenland from Denmark, or capturing oil tankers in European and Caribbean seas, Donald Trump’s actions are forcing global leaders into constant crisis management. His renewed brand of American imperialism is reshaping international politics at a rapid pace. Jonathan Freedland discusses this shifting global landscape with Pulitzer Prize–winning author Anne Applebaum, examining what lies ahead in a world being rapidly transformed by the decisions of the US president.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Protests have erupted nationwide following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during the Trump administration’s most recent immigration enforcement campaign. Footage of the shooting of Minnesota resident Renee Nicole Good has circulated widely on social media, triggering demonstrations and candlelight vigils. Lucy Hough discusses the incident with Oliver Laughland, the Guardian US southern bureau chief.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian
Soaring rents are pushing businesses out of Kampong Glam, with many shopowners who recently renewed their leases reporting sharp increases — in some cases nearly double — which they attribute to a growing trend of subletting. Over the years, many vacated spaces have been replaced primarily by souvenir stores and photobooths. Andrea Heng and Elakeyaa Selvaraji analyse the data and discuss its implications with Zaki Maarof, Chairman of the Kampong Gelam Alliance.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Singapore’s “dead birds” hotline recorded its highest number of reports last year, reflecting a growing toll of birds killed after colliding with glass surfaces on buildings. The museum notes that the problem is expanding beyond sheer numbers, now affecting newer and sometimes rarer species as urban development intensifies. The report explores the causes behind these collisions, the reasons bird-friendly architecture has yet to become common practice, and the practical solutions—such as specially treated glass and façade modifications—that could significantly reduce bird deaths. Andrea Heng and Rani Samtani discuss these issues with Dr Tan Yen Yi, Research Fellow at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
