Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
US First Lady Melania Trump has welcomed a new law criminalising the non-consensual sharing of explicit images, including AI-generated deepfake content, calling it a major step towards protecting children and families from online exploitation.
The Take It Down Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump, makes it a federal offence to post "intimate images", whether real or digitally fabricated, without the subject’s consent. Under the legislation, individuals found guilty of intentionally distributing such content could face up to three years in prison. The law also compels technology companies to remove the offending material within 48 hours of notification.
The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 409 votes to 2 in the House of Representatives and unanimously in the Senate in February, has been one of the most widely backed pieces of legislation during Trump’s second term in office. It marks the sixth bill signed into law since his re-election, with the administration often favouring executive orders to implement its agenda.
Melania Trump, who has largely kept a low public profile, played a key role in advancing the legislation. The first lady described the law as a "national victory" and stressed its importance in shielding children from harmful online behaviour.
“This legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected from their image or identity being abused,” she said. “It will help parents and families safeguard children from online exploitation.”
Melania Trump first appeared publicly in support of the legislation in March during a solo roundtable event on Capitol Hill, where she urged lawmakers to pass the bill. “It’s heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes,” she said at the time.
The law addresses two main forms of abuse: revenge porn the non-consensual sharing of intimate real images and deepfake pornography, where AI is used to create fake explicit material by inserting someone’s face into pornographic content. These practices have become increasingly common, particularly targeting women and public figures.
Paris Hilton, businesswoman and DJ, publicly supported the legislation, calling it “a crucial step toward ending non-consensual image sharing online”. Major tech firms, including Meta, TikTok and Google, have also backed the new law.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the first lady was “instrumental” in rallying support for the bill and ensuring its passage through Congress.
Despite the strong support, the legislation has attracted criticism from some digital rights organisations. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) warned that the law’s broad scope could have unintended consequences for free speech and privacy.
“While protecting victims of these heinous privacy invasions is a legitimate goal, good intentions alone are not enough to make good policy,” the group said. “As currently drafted, the Act mandates a notice-and-takedown system that threatens free expression, user privacy, and due process, without addressing the problem it claims to solve.”
The Internet Society, another advocacy group for digital privacy, raised concerns that the law could undermine encryption and pose “unacceptable risks to users’ fundamental privacy rights and cybersecurity”.
Critics argue that the bill, while well-intentioned, lacks adequate safeguards to prevent misuse and could result in overreach, affecting legal online content, including LGBTQ+ material, adult entertainment, and political commentary.
Nonetheless, supporters maintain that the new law fills a critical gap in US legislation by targeting a growing form of online abuse and sending a strong message against digital exploitation.
INDIA and the US have a “consequential and far-reaching” relationship and both countries will rise to contemporary challenges, American secretary of state Marco Rubio said.
His comments came as India marked its independence day on Friday (15).
“The historic relationship between the world’s largest democracy and the world’s oldest democracy is consequential and far-reaching. Working together, the United States and India will rise to the modern challenges of today and ensure a brighter future for both our countries,” Rubio said.
Both countries are united by “our shared vision for a more peaceful, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region”, he added.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump on Thursday (14) repeated his claim that he solved the conflict between India and Pakistan and claimed the war could have turned nuclear.
“If you look at Pakistan and India… planes were being knocked out of the air. Six or seven planes came down. They were ready to go, maybe nuclear. We solved that,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval Office.
Trump is scheduled to meet Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday as he tries to bring an end to the Ukraine war.
India has asserted that the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.
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People click photographs beside an unmanned combat aerial vehicle on display at a military exhibition during Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations in Islamabad on August 14, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the United States wanted to explore areas of economic cooperation with Pakistan, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, as the country marked its independence day on Thursday (14).
Rubio’s greetings came after Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s second visit to the US last week, where he met political and military leaders.
“We look forward to exploring new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, and fostering dynamic business partnerships, which will promote a prosperous future for Americans and Pakistanis,” Rubio said in a statement.
“The United States deeply appreciates Pakistan’s engagement on counter-terrorism and trade,” he added.
Pakistan and the US have renewed their ties after several years of strained relations. Both countries resolved their differences over levies, and the US announced 19 per cent tariffs on Pakistani goods.
This week, the two sides held a counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad and agreed to deepen cooperation against groups including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban.
In Islamabad, president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif called for unity as Pakistan celebrated its 79th Independence Day. Sharif raised the national flag at the Pakistan Monument, and special prayers were offered in mosques for peace, solidarity, and prosperity.
Buildings in Islamabad and other cities were decorated with national flags and lights.
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'This was the fourth time in less than a year that a BAPS temple has been targeted' (Photo: Facebook)
THE signboard of a Hindu temple was defaced in Indiana, US, an incident described by the Indian consulate as "reprehensible".
The "hateful act" took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood city, the temple's official public affairs account said in an X post on Tuesday (12).
This was the fourth time in less than a year that a BAPS temple has been targeted, it said.
In the latest incident vandals defaced the main signboard of the religious site. The attack took place last Sunday (10), just days before the Hindu festival of Krishna Janmashtami, which falls on Saturday (16).
The Indian Consulate in Chicago has strongly condemned the incident, describing it as "reprehensible" in a statement posted on social media platform X. The consulate confirmed it has contacted local law enforcement authorities and demanded "prompt action" against those responsible.
"Desecration of the main signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana, is reprehensible," the consulate stated. Officials have raised the matter with police and called for swift justice.
The consul general personally addressed a gathering of worshippers and local leaders, including the mayor of Greenwood, "calling for unity & solidarity, and vigilance against miscreants there."
This latest attack continues a troubling pattern of hate crimes targeting Hindu religious sites across America. The BAPS Swaminarayan organisation, which runs temples worldwide, confirmed this was the fourth time one of their temples had been targeted in recent months.
"For the fourth time in less than a year, one of our Mandirs has been desecrated by a hateful act," the temple's public affairs division said in a statement. "The anti-Hindu hate crime against the BAPS Mandir in Greenwood, IN has only strengthened our community's resolve, and we remain united in our stand against anti-religious behaviour."
The organisation described the vandalism as both a "hateful act" and a "hate crime," emphasising the community's determination to stand firm against religious bigotry.
In March this year, another BAPS Hindu temple in California was similarly vandalised by unknown attackers. At the time, India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the act "despicable" and urged American law enforcement to take strong action against the perpetrators.
The repeated targeting of Hindu temples has drawn criticism from American politicians as well. US Congressman Nick LaLota condemned the latest incident, stating: "Religiously motivated crimes like these must be condemned and those who commit them must be held accountable. Live and let live!"
Despite the attacks, worshippers and religious leaders have emphasised their commitment to maintaining their faith and practices. The temple administration noted that the vandalism has actually "strengthened our community's resolve" rather than intimidating them.
According to reports, these incidents highlight growing concerns about religious tolerance and safety for minority communities in the US.
The BAPS operates numerous temples across America and has generally enjoyed peaceful relations with local communities.
Local authorities in Indiana are continuing their investigation into the latest incident, reports added.
(with inputs from PTI)
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Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
INDIA expects trade discussions with the United States to continue despite Washington raising tariffs on its exports to 50 per cent over New Delhi’s purchase of sanctioned Russian oil, two lawmakers said on Monday, citing a briefing to a parliamentary panel on foreign affairs.
Last week, US president Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods because of India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. This brought the total duty on Indian exports to 50 per cent, among the highest for any American trading partner.
“Our relations with the US are multi-dimensional, and should not be seen only through the prism of trade,” one lawmaker said, quoting the foreign secretary’s briefing to the panel.
Panel chair Shashi Tharoor, an opposition Congress party leader, said trade talks would proceed as planned.
“As of now, there is no change in the existing plans for the sixth round,” Tharoor said, referring to a scheduled visit of a US trade delegation to New Delhi from August 25.
Earlier, junior finance minister Pankaj Chaudhary told lawmakers that about 55 per cent of India’s merchandise exports to the United States would be covered by the new tariff. His estimate included the initial 25 per cent levy, he said in a written reply to a lawmaker.
“The Department of Commerce is engaged with all stakeholders” for their assessment of the situation, Chaudhary said.
Goods trade between the United States and India was worth about $87 billion in the last fiscal year, according to Indian government estimates.
The panel also discussed reported remarks by Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on nuclear threats in South Asia during a visit to the United States.
“Nuclear blackmail will not work with India, and no party, or representative disagrees with this view,” Tharoor said, adding that the external affairs ministry had condemned the comments.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Hindu temple in Canada vandalised with anti-India graffiti in July, 2024.
THE INDIAN government on Friday said incidents of attacks on Hindus and vandalisation of temples have been reported in the UK, Canada and the US.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that since last year, five cases of vandalisation of Hindu temples have been reported in the US and four in Canada.
The Ministry of External Affairs was responding to a question from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Yeshwant Desai on whether the government had noted instances of attacks on Hindus, vandalisation of temples, and discrimination in some countries.
"Cases of attack on Hindus and vandalisation of Hindu temples have been noted in UK, Canada and USA. However, no such case has come to notice specifically in Scotland (UK). Since last year, five cases of vandalisation of Hindu temples in USA and four cases in Canada, have taken place," Singh said.
On whether a motion against such "Hindu phobic attempts" was under consideration in the Scottish Parliament, Singh said, "No motion against Hinduphobia is currently under consideration in Scottish Parliament."
Regarding steps taken to address such incidents, Singh said, "Whenever such cases come to our notice, the matter is promptly taken up with the host government, with a view to ensure safety and security of concerned organisation and individual as well as to take necessary action for bringing perpetrators of such acts to justice."