Morning Brief: Soros Reveals Its Hand In Bangladesh; Canadian Report Finds ‘No Link’ To India In Nijjar Killing; India On Alert As China's DeepSeek AI Sparks Privacy Fears

Catch up on the day’s must-read stories with Swarajya's roundup of the morning's headlines.

Soros Reveals Its Hand In Bangladesh

Alex Soros, son of billionaire George Soros and head of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), has met Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, pledging support for the country’s "economic reforms". This meeting has raised questions about the influence of OSF over the regime in Dhaka, given its history of involvement in promoting regime changes in various regions, including Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The meeting’s timing is suspicious, especially after allegations that Soros-backed groups contributed to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government last year. It also comes at a time when Yunus has consolidated power with support from Islamists and given them a free run to persecute the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

With OSF’s ties to the US government, this meeting further fuels speculation about the US deep state’s role in Bangladesh’s political affairs. Considering the increasing influence of Soros in Dhaka, the idea of foreign interference in Bangladesh's recent political crisis and instability doesn’t seem as far-fetched anymore.

Canadian Report Finds ‘No Link’ To India In Nijjar Killing 

After months of Trudeau’s chest-thumping about India’s role in Nijjar’s killing, Canada’s own commission now admits there is “no definitive link to a foreign state.” So all the diplomatic theatrics—expelling Indian diplomats, playing the victim, and preaching about rule of law—were based on absolutely nothing. The report even tries to shift blame by claiming India may have spread disinformation after Trudeau’s baseless accusations, as if that changes the fact that he had no case to begin with.

Meanwhile, his government continues coddling Khalistani elements for votes while acting outraged when India calls them out. In the end, all Trudeau managed was to embarrass Canada, damage relations with India, and expose himself as a leader who shoots first and checks facts later. It's no surprise that his party has forced him into retirement.

India On Alert As China's DeepSeek AI Sparks Privacy Fears

The government is closely monitoring the rise of DeepSeek's AI model, which has surged in popularity on app store charts, due to concerns over data security and sovereignty. The model, developed by a Chinese company, has sparked worries about the storage of Indian citizens' data on Chinese servers, despite its open-source nature. Alibaba recently released its own AI model, Qwen, claiming it surpasses DeepSeek in capabilities. Indian officials have stated that there is no immediate cause for alarm but have emphasised that action will be taken if any data transfer violations are found, as they have done with banned Chinese apps in the past. A clearer picture regarding the movement of Indian citizens' data to China is expected within the next week.

Other Developments

CCS Clears Rs 10,000 Crore Rocket Deal for Army

India has cleared a major domestic contract worth over Rs 10,000 crore to manufacture rockets for the Army over the next decade. The Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the procurement of enhanced range Pinaka rockets and area denial munitions (ADM) developed by DRDO. The Pinaka Mk-I (Enhanced) Rocket System has a range of over 45 km, with tests for variants reaching up to 75 km and even plans for 150 km variants. The Army has ordered 10 Pinaka regiments, with more likely in the future due to the system's success.

SC Seeks Data On FIRs Against Muslim Men Over Triple Talaq

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine the validity of the law that criminalises the practice of triple talaq, which was declared unconstitutional in 2017. The law provides for up to three years in jail for Muslim men who try to divorce their wives through triple talaq. The bench asked the Centre to provide data on FIRs filed against Muslim men attempting to divorce their wives through the practice after it was banned. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that such data would give a clearer picture of the situation, particularly in rural areas. The Court will evaluate the real impact of the legislation that criminalizes the practice, which has faced opposition from Congress and other political parties.

India’s Digital Transactions Grow 94x In Volume

Digital transactions in India have grown significantly, increasing 94 times in volume and 3.5 times in value between 2013 and 2024, thanks to the rise of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and various digital payment options. In 2013, there were 222 crore digital transactions worth Rs 772 lakh crore, while by 2024, this number rose to over 20,787 crore transactions worth Rs 2758 lakh crore. The Reserve Bank of India's latest report highlighted UPI as the main driver of this growth. UPI's share of digital payments volume has jumped from 34 per cent in 2019 to 83 per cent in 2024, with a consistent annual growth rate of 74 per cent over the past five years. This surge in digital payments reflects the increasing adoption of digital financial tools across the country.

Pannun Made Threatening Call To Defence Minister’s Residence

The Indian government has accused Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of the SFJ, of making a threatening call to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence and spreading anti-India propaganda. The call, received on July 22 last year, allegedly warned MPs to stay home or face the consequences of the Khalistan referendum.

Despite these clear threats, the US continues to protect Pannun, who holds dual US-Canadian citizenship, even going as far as to entertain his baseless lawsuits against Indian officials. Last year, the US issued summons on Pannun's behalf, seeking damages for an alleged assassination plot, a claim that seems increasingly fictional. Meanwhile, reports suggest that US intelligence even tipped off Pannun about the supposed threats to his life, further exposing the strange sheltering of a terrorist.

Meta To Pay Trump $25 Million To Settle Account Ban Lawsuit

Meta has agreed to pay former President Donald Trump $25 million to settle a lawsuit he filed over the 2021 suspension of his Facebook and Instagram accounts. The settlement, reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks a legal win for Trump, who claimed he was wrongfully censored following the Capitol riot. Of the $25 million, $22 million will be allocated to fund Trump’s future presidential library, with the rest covering legal fees and payments to other plaintiffs. Despite the settlement, Meta will not admit to any wrongdoing regarding the account suspensions. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the settlement but clarified that the company is not acknowledging fault.

From The States

Kejriwal Defends Yamuna Water Poisoning Claim

Arvind Kejriwal has responded to the Election Commission's inquiry into his claim that Haryana is poisoning the Yamuna's waters, submitting a 14-page letter with data on the river's pollution. He cited the Delhi Jal Board, which stated that ammonia levels in the river are so high that water purification plants are struggling to operate at full capacity. Kejriwal, in his letter, reiterated that Delhi, as a downstream state, relies on Haryana’s water supply, which he described as "highly contaminated and extremely poisonous." His pre-election comments about the BJP "mixing poison" in Delhi’s water supply had sparked controversy, prompting criticism from both the BJP and the Election Commission.

Uttarakhand UCC Sets Strict Live-In Registration Rules

Uttarakhand’s new Uniform Civil Code (UCC) requires couples in live-in relationships to register with the government, both when beginning and ending such arrangements. The state has set out a detailed process that includes filling out a 16-page form, providing an Aadhaar-linked OTP, paying a registration fee, and submitting a certificate from a religious leader confirming the couple's eligibility for marriage. The registration process also demands details about previous relationships, and failure to comply may result in a jail term of up to six months. These rules, which went into effect on January 2, 2024, apply to both residents of Uttarakhand and its citizens living elsewhere in India.

Follow along for more updates throughout the day.