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Monday, February 23, 2026
TopicFree speech

Topic: free speech

Pakistan’s deleted article and the birth of a new youth icon

A scathing op-ed on youth dissent vanished online, reportedly after instructions from the Pakistan Army’s media wing ISPR, fuelling debate, dissent, and backlash.

Pakistan court hands double life terms to exiled senior journalists, commentators in May 9 riots case

The seven were tried and convicted in absentia on charges of ‘digital terrorism’ over alleged role in 9 May 2023 violence that followed former PM Imran Khan’s arrest.

Kolkata’s silencing of Javed Akhtar exposes India’s secular vacuum

Even those parties that wear the label of secular and progressive often bow to the pressures of fundamentalist groups within the Muslim community.

Who gets Henry? Dramatic tug-of-paw between Mahua Moitra and Jai Dehadrai, now in Delhi HC

Dehadrai has moved the Delhi High Court claiming that a trial court’s 'gag order' in the matter has impacted his right to free speech.

Judging a joke: How courts are navigating free speech space in age of social media

With increasing cases of online satire, impersonation, and hate speech, courts face a dilemma: Where does right to free speech end and criminality begin?

Karnataka’s fake news bill won’t survive a court challenge

The Karnataka government’s concerns about regulating misleading speech may be genuine, but the heavy-handed approach adopted in the fake news bill does not seem to pass constitutional muster.

‘This kind of freedom, we will curtail’—SC summons Samay Raina, 4 others over disability jokes

Concerned over jokes on social media ridiculing people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, SC says it may direct the government to frame guidelines for all media platforms. 

How to delist a comedian and become the real joke

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

Hearing Allahbadia’s plea, SC hands Centre delicate task: frame laws to curb ‘immoral’ content

The court also allowed Ranveer Allahbadia—popularly known as ‘BeerBiceps’—to resume his podcast ‘The Ranveer Show’ provided the content did not breach standards of morality, decency.

Ranveer Allahbadia fought Left cancel culture. And yet, the Right came after him

These hypocrites give comedy a bad name, but no Indian citizen should have the full weight of the state used against them over a joke, no matter how crass.

On Camera

Calm down, people. Alia Bhatt didn’t make history by saying Namaskar at BAFTA

What really troubles me is the idea of an actor with British citizenship representing India at the UK’s national film awards ceremony, all while wearing an Italian designer.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

India eyes 6th generation FCAS, looks at tying up with France for possible collaboration

Initial talks held on the possibility of India entering the programme that was started in 2017 between France, Germany and Spain to ensure European sovereignty in defence and security.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.