Amruta Byatnal
@amrutabyatnal
Asia Editor @ContextNewsroom @TRF. formerly @devex ✍️ in @ForeignPolicy @NatGeo @washingtonpost. Also here: https://bsky.app/profile/amrutabyatnal.bsky.social
India - the biggest market of students in the US - also has the highest number of citizens affected by Trump government’s actions in American universities. Now, families navigate panic and plan Bs as visa interviews are paused. @kunalpurohit reports: context.news/money-power-pe…
That horrific video of the Indian student pinned to the ground, being deported violently, isn't an exception. Indian students are, officially, the top target of US immigration action, new data shows: 🧵
You can read any Indian newspaper today and it would be like reading all of them. Same sarkari talking points, same points of coverage, same analysis and even the same opinion writers. Those looking for truly independent analysis and more objective reportage have nowhere to go.
The Modi Government's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission's cost has gone from 3.60 Lakh crore to 8.20 Lakh crore - but is it benefitting anyone? Does success on paper translate into water in taps? Important reporting by @kunalpurohit for @ContextNewsroom context.news/socioeconomic-…
6 yrs ago, PM Modi promised tap water to all rural homes in India by 2024. The govt claims 81% of homes now have tap water. In reality: Taps broken, water tanks that have no water inlets, fake beneficiaries but MONEY SPENT. Investigating #JalJeevanMission in Jharkhand 🧵
Another IDF soldier comes forward about shooting unarmed civilians in the "kill zone" that now covers most of Gaza. "I think the core of it [is] that in their mind, these people aren't innocent."
'Some Israeli commanders can decide to do war crimes.' An IDF soldier, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said his conscience won't let him stay silent about arbitrary killing of civilians in Gaza. trib.al/kdqzIO4
Excited to be in New Orleans for the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference. On Sunday, I'll be moderating a panel on the nitty gritties of international collaborations with some really smart minds: @MaryamSaleh, @reedfrich and Melissa Del Bosque. Join us if you're here!
Funniest moment of today. The magistrate (judge) said the court had so far been unable to find an Irish translator. "If anyone knows of one….” he said The entire public gallery laugh and all point at DJ Próvaí (JJ) at the same time 😂😂😂
Important story by @katiemcque on seafarers, who despite being the backbone of the global maritime industry, are often illegally recruited, scammed into dangerous work and then abandoned at sea. This is the first in a series hosted by @ContextNewsroom context.news/money-power-pe…
Phenomenal news! Incredibly proud of being a Kannada speaker today. Congrats to Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi for the well deserved recognition and for bringing our language to the world.
We're delighted to announce that the winner of the #InternationalBooker2025 is Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. Here's everything you need to know about the book: thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-lib…
We could not be happier! Hugely proud of both Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi. Thank you to the judges and to all of you who have supported HEART LAMP. What a night!
We're delighted to announce that the winner of the #InternationalBooker2025 is Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. Here's everything you need to know about the book: thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-lib…
“An island of strangers”
🚨 NEW: Summary of Keir Starmer’s press conference before the Immigration White Paper is published: - Unfettered immigration risks the UK becoming “an island of strangers” - “Make no mistake, this plan means migration will fall, that's a promise” - he adds it will fall…
And now they've blocked @BBCUrdu. #FoE #censorship #India #JournalismIsNotACrime
This kind of breathless misinformation that’s floating on social media in the last few days requires round the clock busting, and we could not be more thankful for @zoo_bear and @AltNews right now
Old and unrelated.
Over 8,000 orders to block X accounts and tweets is mad!
X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company’s local employees. The orders include demands to block access in India to…
The quantum of anger for the people killed in Kashmir is not even a fraction in comparison with what was seen post Pahalgam. Their lives matter less? Why were they not evacuated before? Was it not expected that Pakistan will respond? Or that dead bodies are needed for politics?
STORY | 13 killed, over 50 injured as Pak army pounds villages along LoC in J-K; Poonch worst hit; people evacuated READ: ptinews.com/story/national…
India did launch 'Operation Sindoor' hitting terror camps. But reporters shouldn't be misleading by sharing old videos of Gaza.
What are Indian Muslims supposed to do? The pressure to publicly declare condemnation, just to prove we are “not one of them,” is unjust. If we speak out, we’re told it’s performative, If we don't, it’s twisted into guilt and the cycle keeps repeating!
I’m deeply worried about what the Kashmir incident will mean for India’s mis/disinformation landscape and what it will unleash in the coming days and weeks. I sent this to my family WhatsApp groups. Feel free to share it with yours. This is a time for extreme care and caution 🙏🏽
Student journalists are anonymizing bylines, unpublishing stories, and resigning from newsrooms amid a crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech under Trump. "These are not normal times," the Student Press Law Center has warned. My latest for @guardian: theguardian.com/us-news/2025/a…