Tensions between Iran and the United States have taken a lighter turn online, with both sides using humour and memes to make their point. One such post has now caught people’s attention for the way it mocks a major political claim. The post takes aim at US President Donald Trump
Agriculture has long been one of the strongest foundations of economic and social progress. It supports food security, generates livelihoods, supplies raw materials to industries, and sustains rural economies. Even today, for millions of families
43-year-old laid off from Amazon shares how he got a new job in 90 daysA man's post about landing a job after getting laid off from Amazon has resonated with many. Published on: Apr 28, 2026 11:05 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A 43-year-old professional has gone viral after
Farhan Akhtar breaks silence on Don 3 row after Ranveer Singh’s exit: ‘Nothing can be taken for granted’Farhan Akhtar recently opened up about the Don 3 fallout with Ranveer Singh, recalling the pleasant experiences he has had while making films in his career. Apr 28, 2026
OpenAI has fallen short of its goals for new users and revenue in recent months, sparking concern among some company leaders over whether it can support its extensive data-center spending, the reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter
Rimjhim Sinha has been an activist since 2016, first as a student at Kolkata’s Presidency University and then as part of the vibrant women’s movement in the city. But, by her own estimate, her activism never reached more than “100 or 150 people”
A first information report has been registered against 13 persons, including students from Delhi University’s Hansraj College, for alleged violence and misconduct during an annual festival earlier this month, The Indian Express reported on Tuesday
The second phase of elections for 142 Assembly seats in West Bengal on April 29 will decide the electoral fate of more than half a dozen Ministers of West Bengal government along with Chief Minister and party chairperson Mamata Banerjee. While the Trinamool Congress chairperson is locked in a
'Never imagined this': Indian village grapples with interfaith couple's killing
The murder of an interfaith couple and the arrest of the woman's brothers by the police for the alleged crime has shocked a small village in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state where residents have lived in harmony for years.
The bodies of 19-year-old Kajal, a Hindu, and 27-year-old Mohammad Arman, a Muslim, were found buried near a riverbank on the outskirts of Umri village on 21 January.
Police said they were beaten to death with a spade two days earlier, allegedly by Kajal's three brothers, who have been arrested. They are in custody and have not commented on the killings.
The murders have left an uneasy quiet hanging over Umri, 182km (113 miles) from India's capital Delhi. The village is home to about 400 families - from both Hindu and Muslim communities - and several resident told the BBC that they have shared a warm relationship without any history of religious disputes.
Deputy inspector general of state police Muniraj G told the BBC that police believe it to be a case of "honour killing" - murder by relatives or community members to punish women for falling in love or marrying outside of their caste or religion.
India's National Crime Records Bureau began recording honour killings in 2014, when it listed 18 cases nationwide. Its latest annual report recorded 38 such cases in 2023.
Activists, however, say the numbers are significantly higher - in hundreds every year - as many cases are recorded simply as homicide.
Umri is in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, which is known for its metal craft industries. The region is largely rural, where strong social hierarchies continue to influence everyday life. Kajal's brothers worked as masons in Moradabad town.
Kajal and Arman's relationship "was the first case [of an interfaith relationship]" in their village, says resident Mahipal Saini.
Residents of Umri who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity said Kajal and Arman were neighbours who lived hardly 200m from each other. They described them as introverts who did not have many friends.
Kajal taught at a private school in Umri, while Arman had returned to the village about five months ago after spending four years in Saudi Arabia where he worked at a food outlet. His relatives said he came back as he didn't earn much there and had been working with a local stone-crushing contractor since his return.
It's not clear how they met and how long they had been a couple, but police say that "the two were close".
They say the murders allegedly took place in Kajal's house on the intervening night of 18 and 19 January, when her brothers caught Arman visiting her. The brothers - Rajaram, Satish and Rinku Saini - are in jail and have not said anything in their defence so far.
Their father, Ganpat Saini, told the BBC that he and his wife were not at home at the time of the murders. He said they were sleeping in a shed on the outskirts of the village where they usually spend nights to guard their livestock. He added that he was grieving his daughter.
Arman's elder brother Farman Ali said that his brother left home after dinner on 18 January, saying he would be back with some medicines for their parents. When he hadn't returned by the next morning and his phone was switched off, his family started panicking and went to the police. This led to a search operation in the village.
Police allege that Kajal's brothers attempted to mislead them by lodging a missing complaint about her on 20 January, accusing Arman of abducting her.
They say they questioned both the families and found discrepancies in the statements of Kajal's brothers.
Further investigation led them to the spot where the bodies were buried, police said.
Ganpat Saini says that when he and his wife returned home on the morning of 19 January, they could not find Kajal at home. He says he learnt about the murder only after the bodies were found.
He, however, did not answer when asked whether he or anyone in his family knew that Kajal and Arman were in a relationship.
Arman's family say they were unaware of his relationship with Kajal.
He never told us anything," brother Farman Ali says. "After we couldn't find him for a whole day, some of his friends told us that he had been seeing Kajal for about two months.
Villagers say they usually resolve disputes with help from elected village council leaders. "If the family [of Kajal] had acted more reasonably, the elders in the village could have helped resolve it," says villager Mahipal Saini.
Police say they have deployed personnel to ensure there is no religious violence. And villagers say their lives are slowly returning to routine.
The killings, some say, have forced an uneasy reflection.
We never imagined something like this could happen here," says Arif Ali, another Umri resident. "It's not that men and women in the village have suddenly started feeling unsafe. But there is a silence that hangs over us.
The Umri murders join the long list of suspected "honour killing" cases reported from across India over decades.
More than 93% marriages in India are "arranged" by families within their own caste and faith and couples who deviate from the tradition are routinely forced to seek protection from police or courts.
Indian law regards "honour killings" as murder and courts have repeatedly affirmed that an adult's choice of partner by consent is constitutionally protected. In 2018, the country's top court mandated state governments to set up safe houses in every district to protect inter-faith and inter-caste couples from harassment.
Yet cases of violence continue to be reported from across states.
Research shows most Indians oppose inter-faith marriages, and controversial laws against religious conversion implemented in several states often keep such couples on edge.
Filmmaker Nakul Singh Sawhney, who made a documentary on the subject in 2012, says the official data on honour killing is far from adequate.
"Most cases don't make it to the official data unless the motive is clearly mentioned at the first stage of the police reports. And in many cases the honour killing angle emerges much later during investigation," says Sawhney.
Human rights activist Kavita Srivastava says the failure to recognise the scale of the so-called honour crimes contributes to official indifference. "When the problem is not seen, it is not acted upon," she says.
As women increasingly assert their right to choose their partners, Srivastava adds, they often encounter resistance from what she describes as "a deeply regressive social system".
Court orders, she says, alone cannot prevent "honour crimes" unless broader social attitudes are confronted.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Tamil-Style Chicken Pepper Bone Broth Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma Ate Snake Meat And Beef Broth On Anniversary Second arrest in Noida dowry murder case Under Arrest In Murder Case Woman jailed for 20 years over murder of Australian surfer brothers Woman, Daughter Get Life Term For Murder Of Elderly Family Member Woman acquitted of her newborn’s murder on grounds of legal insanity South Korea woman and doctors guilty of murder of newborn baby Five reasons why activists say Kerala woman’s arrest in bus incident needs a rethink Police Arrest Woman For Creating
Union Minister on Tuesday arrived in to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the AI Data Centre at Tarluvada in Anandapuram mandal.Minister and other Telugu Desam Party public representatives welcomed Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Visakhapatnam Airport
7 hours ago
As many as 20 crore Indians could face life-threatening heat conditions, warns a report from the Harvard University’s Salata Institute. New Delhi: India’s rising heat is no longer only a seasonal discomfort. A new study warns that it is becoming a major challenge for jobs
7 hours ago
‘Return of pirates’: Tehran slams US' seizure of vessels carrying Iranian oil in Indian OceanIran has reportedly extended an offer proposing easing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz if the US ends its blockade on the key trade waterway. Published on: Apr 28
7 hours ago
The man who authorities say tried to storm the White House Correspondents' Association dinner with guns and knives was on Monday (April 27, 2026) charged with the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. He appeared in court to face charges in a chaotic encounter that resulted in shots
7 hours ago
Manabadi AP SSC 10th Results 2026 Date Time Live: The Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh (BSEAP) is likely to release the AP SSC Results 2026 shortly. As per media reports, the results are expected to be announced in the final week of April. In the previous year
7 hours ago
Gold rate today: After delivering strong returns over the past two years, gold may be entering a more uncertain phase, prompting ASK Private Wealth to dial down its bullish stance. ASK Private Wealth CIO Somnath Mukherjee has shifted his tactical view on gold from “overweight” to “neutral”
7 hours ago
Winning the elusive Golden Ticket hidden in a Wonka Bar is every chocolate aficionado’s dream. The iconic, fictional pass created by Roald Dahl in his book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gave five children the opportunity to tour one of the world’s biggest candy-making factories
7 hours ago
The BJP has launched an aggressive and multi-pronged campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, combining large welfare promises, a strong law-and-order agenda, development pledges, and cultural identity politics to challenge the ruling TMC. Unveiling its “Sankalp Patra
7 hours ago
For many in the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night, the scene was painfully familiar. Shots fired, confusion and panic, and a sense that the normal order of things had been violently interrupted. Erika Kirk, whose husband
7 hours ago
After keeping a relatively quiet public profile in recent days, Deepika Padukone stepped out in Mumbai on Tuesday, drawing attention for more than one reason. The actor was spotted at the airport alongside husband Ranveer Singh, marking her first appearance since the couple shared news of their
7 hours ago
Mukesh Chhabra slams troll culture, reacts to ‘too much’ negativity around Ramayana, Dhurandhar: 'I feel bad and scared'Casting director Mukesh Chhabra praised for his work on Dhurandhar and Ramayana discusses the negativity surrounding both films. Apr 28, 2026
7 hours ago
China has blocked Meta’s acquisition of AI startup Manus, the top economic planning body said Monday, after a regulatory review that reportedly also saw Beijing restrict two co-founders from leaving the country. Facebook owner Meta had agreed to acquire Manus
7 hours ago
“Still or sparkling?" For the longest, even the most discerning diners didn’t really know the difference. I actually believed sparkling water meant soda. To feel fancy, you order the latter and the waiter brings a glass that hits the back of your throat with a punchy, aggressive fizz
7 hours ago
As app-based domestic services expand and discussions around wages in the informal sector grow louder, the sharp divide between traditional domestic workers and those employed through online platforms is becoming increasingly visible. For many women working in neighbourhood homes
7 hours ago
Executions rose sharply in North Korea during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a Seoul-based NGO. From January 2020 to the end of 2024, at least 153 people were executed or sentenced to death - a sharp increase from 44 people in the five years before the pandemic
7 hours ago
It was close — really close — but Cooper Flagg had the edge where it counted. The Dallas Mavericks forward is now the 2025/26 NBA Rookie of the Year, narrowly beating former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. The 2025-26 @Kia NBA Rookie of the Year is… Cooper Flagg! pic
7 hours ago
Vedanta Demerger: Mining major Vedanta is set to undergo its much-anticipated demerger, under which four of the Anil Agarwal-led group’s businesses will operate as separate listed entities. The company has fixed May 1 as the record date to determine shareholder eligibility
7 hours ago
Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar have been hitting headlines following a controversy that erupted after the Dhurandhar star walked away from Farhan’s upcoming film ‘Don 3’. Amid this, Farhan has finally reacted to it, and revealed what he learned from the setback. In a recent interview
7 hours ago
Anxiety around fuel prices, including LPG, has been high since the West Asia conflict has continued to disrupt the energy markets. While both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders have witnessed at least one hike each since March, media reports are suggesting a fresh revision in LPG prices from May
7 hours ago
CBSE Class 12th Result 2026 Release Date, Time Live Updates: The Central Board of Secondary Education is expected to declare the CBSE Class 12 results 2026 soon. Considering the rapid announcement of the Class 10 results this year and the use of the on-screen marking system
7 hours ago
Motorola Edge 70 Pro is a practical and polished pitch for phones under ₹40,000This clearly isn’t an annual spec-sheet exercise, as Motorola has gotten the fundamentals thoughtfully right Published on: Apr 28, 2026 10:35 AM IST By Vishal Mathur Share via Copy link It goes without saying that
7 hours ago
From early morning jogs in parks to all-day wear in offices and cafés, athleisure in form of stretch leggings, moisture-wicking T-shirts and stain-resistant jackets is no longer limited to the gym. But a recent report by The Washington Post has drawn attention to the presence of PFAS
7 hours ago
West Bengal votes today in the final phase of assembly elections. The outcome will decide if the TMC keeps its southern dominance or the BJP secures a path to the state secretariat. This phase focuses on Kolkata, Howrah, and surrounding districts, crucial for both parties
7 hours ago
Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s 3 Idiots, released in 2009, remains one of the most loved and impactful films to date. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the coming-of-age drama struck a chord with audiences across generations for its refreshing take on the education
7 hours ago
Neurologist shares dos and don’ts after waking to optimise health, mood, energy: First 60 mins sets the tone for the dayHow we start our morning influences the rest of the day. Dr Kumar lists waking up habits to inculcate and avoid to improve our health and mood every day. Updated on: Apr 28
7 hours ago
‘Shashi Tharoor accepted that Congress was anti-women’: Kiren Rijiju reveals post-Parliament session conversationKiren Rijiju's remarks come days after Shashi Tharoor shared a picture, clarifying how he pointed out to the minister that no one can call him “mahila virodhi”
7 hours ago
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) proudly announces the launch of an extraordinary international rail-cum-road journey — the “Bharat-Bhutan Mystic Mountain Tour” aboard the state-of-the-art Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train
7 hours ago
