Selfie

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a selfie video praising the passage of a new, stricter bill aimed at preventing question paper leaks. • Modi stated that paper leaks have plagued both central and state governments for decades, creating significant instability and threatening the academic futures of students. • The legislation is designed to implement harsher penalties and more rigorous security measures to ensure the integrity of competitive examinations.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a rare late-night selfie message addressing students and parents following protests by the CJP regarding paper leaks. • The Prime Minister stated that the government recognizes the gravity of the crisis and is committed to resolving the issues surrounding examination integrity. • This response follows growing public unrest and demands for accountability over leaked exam papers that have impacted numerous candidates.

• Actor Sean Penn skipped the 2026 Oscars ceremony, opting not to attend in person to accept his Best Supporting Actor trophy. • Penn has previously criticized the Academy Awards, claiming in 2024 that the event functions more as a "television show" than an artistic celebration and limits diverse cultural expressions. • The actor also revealed a strict personal policy against taking selfies, stating he would refuse even in extreme emotional scenarios involving vulnerable individuals.

A National Portrait for the National Portrait Gallery aims to bring people together in increasingly atomised countryCan a collective portrait of Britain hold together a country that feels as if it is splintering apart? That is the quietly radical hope behind Es Devlin’s new installation at the National Portrait Gallery: a living portrait comprised not of monarchs, politicians or celebrities but of thousands of ordinary faces drifting slowly into and out of one another.Created in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture Lab, A National Portrait for the National Portrait Gallery invites people across the UK to upload a selfie, which is then transformed into a portrait rendered in Devlin’s smoky charcoal-and-chalk style before joining a constantly evolving and revolving carousel of portraits projected on to a framed screen. Continue reading...

One pilot ordered to repay some of the $600,000 of damage caused by collision in 2021South Korea’s air force has apologised for a 2021 mid-air collision involving two fighter jets, a day after auditors said pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight and held them responsible for the accident.“We sincerely apologise to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021,” an air force spokesperson said in a press briefing. The spokesperson said one of the pilots involved had been suspended from flying duties, received severe disciplinary action and has since left the military. Continue reading...