| Greetings from India! You're reading Meanwhile, Back Home, our daily newsletter specially curated for our overseas readers. While you were asleep, it was a whirlwind of a day here in India. We've got the top highlights lined up for you.
Welcome back, readers! Finland’s done it again! It has clinched the top spot in the World Happiness Report 2025 for the eighth year in a row! Its Nordic neighbors —Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden— aren’t far behind. India, however, has ranked 118th, trailing behind Pakistan at 109th. Surprised? Despite facing economic and social challenges, Pakistan’s stronger social support systems seem to give it an edge. Meanwhile, the US has hit an all-time low at 24th—turns out, dining alone (up 53% in 20 years) isn’t doing wonders for happiness. And the unhappiest? Afghanistan remains at 147th, with Afghan women facing particularly tough conditions. But there’s hope! Costa Rica and Mexico cracked the top 10 for the first time, showing that community, trust, and kindness are universal happiness boosters. The takeaway? Happiness isn’t about wealth—it’s about connection.
 Spotlight Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has taken the Indian government to court, challenging what it calls a “parallel” and “unlawful” censorship regime. The lawsuit, filed in the Karnataka High Court, argues that the government is using Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act to bypass the stricter safeguards of Section 69A, which governs online content blocking. 📌 Government Overreach? – X claims various government agencies are issuing takedown notices without proper legal oversight, violating the Supreme Court’s 2015 Shreya Singhal ruling. 📌 ‘Censorship Portal’ Controversy – The company objects to Sahyog, an online platform where authorities can order content removal without court approval or due process. 📌 A 2nd legal battle – This isn’t X’s first clash with India. A similar challenge in 2022 was dismissed after the court ruled the platform failed to comply with orders before filing suit. 📌 The stakes – X warns that if the government’s actions stand, it could erode free speech online and set a dangerous precedent for global tech platforms operating in India. Meanwhile, Indian scholar in the dock The detention of Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar at Georgetown University, has ignited fresh debate over academic freedom and political dissent in the US. Homeland Security agents arrested Suri outside his Virginia home, accusing him of ties to Hamas—a charge he and his lawyer strongly deny. Here’s what’s going on: 📌 A visa revoked, an arrest made: US immigration authorities canceled Suri’s visa, claiming he was spreading Hamas propaganda. He was taken into custody outside his home. 📌 A targeted crackdown? Critics argue this isn’t just about Suri—he’s the latest in a wave of students and academics facing deportation or visa cancellations for supporting Palestine. Just last week, Columbia University student Ranjani Srinivasan had her visa revoked and chose to leave the US voluntarily. 📌 His defense Suri’s lawyer says he has no criminal record, no formal charges, and is being punished for his political views—and perhaps even for his wife’s Palestinian heritage. Suri is now being held in Louisiana, awaiting his court hearing.
☕ Spill the Expresso Saliva ban lifted: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is just around the corner, and we've got some game-changing news to kick things off—the saliva ban is officially lifted! The BCCI has decided to scrap the Covid-era restriction, which had made it tougher to generate swing, especially reverse swing. After discussions with IPL captains, the board unanimously decided to scrap the rule, allowing bowlers to once again use saliva to maintain the ball. Hedging bets: Several popular actors, including Rana Daggubati, Vijay Devarakonda, and Prakash Raj, have landed in legal trouble as the Telangana Police have filed an FIR against 25 actors and influencers for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps. The platforms, including Junglee Rummy, A23 Rummy, and Jeet Win, are accused of luring people into financial ruin. Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty says this is “just the beginning” of the probe.
🚨 Must Read Tariff trouble With April 2 approaching, India must decide whether to retaliate or negotiate against US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on India. He has accused India of maintaining excessively high tariffs on American goods and vowed to match them. This move threatens key Indian exports such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals. India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), aiming to resolve disputes by the end of the year. India already lowered tariffs on bourbon whiskey and motorbikes to ease tensions. Analysts predict India will face tariff hikes at multiple levels, including non-tariff barriers such as licensing restrictions and import quotas.
📰 In Other News Punjab’s farmer crackdown: The Punjab government’s recent crackdown on protesting farmers comes as public support wanes and industrial pressure mounts. With the Ludhiana West bypoll looming, AAP is desperate to regain trader confidence, fearing backlash over transport disruptions. Farm leaders Sarvan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal were detained, while Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the action, citing economic losses. Critics, however, argue this move was to appease Arvind Kejriwal rather than resolve farmer grievances. Will this crackdown cost AAP votes, or win back the business community, only time will tell. That’s all for now. Until next time, Aishwarya Khosla
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