Factory workers in Noida staged violent protests on Monday, with reports of stone pelting, arson and vandalism in industrial areas of Phase 2 and nearby sectors, police and officials said. According to the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissionerate, the demonstrations were influenced by workers from other states and took place at multiple locations. Authorities said police used minimal force at one site to control the situation and denied allegations of firing, adding that action will be taken against those spreading rumours or inciting unrest.
Officials said unrest had been building for about a week due to dissatisfaction over wages, pending demands, and comparisons with higher pay in Haryana. The protests began when large groups of workers, mainly from garment and hosiery factories, gathered to demand long-pending wage revisions. The situation worsened after police tried to disperse the crowds, though officials maintained that only limited force was used.
Some workers accused the police of excessive force, including baton charges and injuries, while reports of earlier injuries further escalated tensions. During the violence, protesters allegedly damaged property, set vehicles on fire and threw stones at security personnel, prompting police to use tear gas. The workers involved are mostly employed in export-oriented industrial units in Noida’s Phase 2 and Ecotech areas. Industry representatives said most issues are already being addressed and urged workers not to be misled by rumours.
Workers are demanding higher wages, payment of overtime and bonuses, weekly holidays, timely salary payments, proper salary slips, internal complaint committees, and improved workplace safety. Authorities have increased security in industrial zones and are holding discussions on labour issues, while police remain on alert to prevent further unrest.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
The death toll in the boat capsize incident in the Yamuna river near Mathura has risen to 15 after two additional bodies were recovered on Monday, officials said. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat reported that during the search operation, the body of a woman named Monika was found in the Bangali Ghat area of Mathura. Another victim was recovered near Devaraha Baba Ghat in Vrindavan and identified as 22-year-old Yash, also known as Yuvraj Bhalla.
Authorities shared that just minutes before the accident on Friday, Bhalla was seen in a video playing a dhol while devotees sang hymns. His father told police that Yash was a student who occasionally played dholak for a bhajan group linked to the Shri Banke Bihari Club in Jagraon, Ludhiana, and had joined the pilgrimage with them for the same purpose.
Rawat added that one person, Pankaj Malhotra (40), remains missing. He confirmed that all other missing individuals have been recovered so far, and search operations for Malhotra are still underway. Malhotra, a resident of Jagraon, worked as a manager at a steel company in Himachal Pradesh and was also on board the boat.
Rescue teams, including eight units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), two teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and six PAC diving teams, are continuing the search efforts. The accident occurred on Friday afternoon when a boat carrying more than 30 tourists, mostly from Punjab, struck a floating drum of a pontoon bridge and capsized near Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan. Many of the victims were from the Jagraon and Dugri areas of Ludhiana district.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@ani_digital.
India and Bangladesh on Monday agreed to strengthen exchange visits of media delegations. Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma paid a courtesy visit to Bangladesh’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Zahir Uddin Swapon, where both sides discussed broad cooperation in the field of information and broadcasting, including collaboration between media and broadcasting institutions of the two countries.
They mutually agreed to increase visits of media delegations to promote closer people-to-people ties and improve mutual understanding. The High Commissioner also suggested several capacity-building programmes for journalists and media professionals under the Government of India’s ITEC initiative. As part of this effort, a special training programme for women journalists from Bangladesh is expected to be held soon in India, according to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
Both sides also discussed cooperation in the film sector, including organizing film screenings and festivals in each other’s countries, along with collaboration in production and post-production technology support. The High Commissioner reaffirmed India’s commitment to working closely with the government and people of Bangladesh to enhance people-centric cooperation across all areas based on shared interests and mutual benefits.
Separately, India and Bangladesh continue to deepen their engagement in multiple sectors. Earlier on April 8, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in New Delhi to explore ways to strengthen energy cooperation, following the latter’s discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. During the meeting, Puri highlighted the presence of senior Bangladeshi officials and reiterated the importance of ongoing bilateral engagement.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Israel Defense Forces has escalated its actions against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, expanding ground operations in the Bint Jbeil area. In a Telegram statement, the military said troops from the 98th Division, including units from the Paratroopers, Commando, and Givati Brigades, have encircled Hezbollah military positions and begun focused ground missions aimed at strengthening Israel’s defensive posture along the border.
The IDF stated that over the past week its forces conducted multiple operations against Hezbollah targets, claiming more than 100 operatives were killed through close combat and airstrikes, and that dozens of infrastructure sites were destroyed. It also reported the recovery of hundreds of weapons allegedly stored near civilian areas.
According to the statement, troops also located and dismantled an underground tunnel used by Hezbollah for planning and attacks against Israeli forces, saying it was neutralized after inspections and searches. The IDF reaffirmed that it will continue operations to protect Israeli civilians and prevent further attacks amid rising cross-border tensions.
Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance said it carried out 43 attacks on Israeli positions, according to Iranian state media Press TV, claiming strikes on military sites along the border and deeper inside Israeli-controlled areas, including the Golan Heights and northern Israel. It reported drone attacks on a communications site at Al-Alika barracks, a Merkava tank near Mays al-Jabal, and coordinated strikes on Israeli troop gatherings in areas such as Al-Bayyada, Yaroun, and Kfar Yuval, along with rocket fire toward Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, and the 146th Division headquarters.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from IDF.
Three tankers are attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz close to Iran’s coast following the US announcement of a blockade. The New Future and US-sanctioned Auroura moved northeast from UAE waters, reportedly using a route near Larak Island as advised by Iran. The New Future has already exited the strait into the Gulf of Oman, while the Auroura remains nearby. A third vessel, the Vietnam-flagged NV Sunshine, is heading north toward the Strait, likely entering the Persian Gulf. The movements come amid rising US-Iran tensions and new restrictions on shipping in the region.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.
Donald Trump has reportedly ordered a large-scale naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz following unsuccessful peace talks held in Pakistan. The operation is said to target ships moving through Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. In a related discussion, analysts including Stephen Zunes provided insights on the latest developments, as presenters Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman examined the situation.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Coverage was dominated by claims that rogue LLMs were responsible, but they had no role in the targeting. The reality is far more unsettling: this atrocity did not emerge from artificial intelligence, but from a long chain of human decisions, policies, and actions taken over many years that ultimately led to this tragic outcome.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
A new AI system developed by NTU can forecast the rate at which food spoils, enabling supermarkets to reduce waste, enhance safety, and manage inventory more efficiently. The technology works by predicting bacterial growth in food. Could this signal the future of food retail? Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss with Natalie Ong, CNA journalist, and Professor William Chen, Executive Director of FRESH@NTU, to explore the possibilities.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
As thousands of U.S. troops and marines deploy to the Middle East, Iran accuses Washington of secretly planning a ground attack while publicly promoting ceasefire negotiations. Donald Trump has threatened to “destroy” Iran’s energy infrastructure, stated that he would “prefer to take the oil,” and suggested that U.S. forces could capture the country’s export hub on Kharg Island, all while claiming to be negotiating with a new “reasonable regime.” At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi forces have joined the conflict, raising the risk of further disruptions to the global economy.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
