V Somanna assumes office as Minister of State for Railways
New Delhi, Jun 11: V Somanna on Tuesday assumed office as the Minister of State for Railways at the Rail Bhawan on Tuesday.
He was welcomed by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Jaya Varma Singh and other senior railway officials.
A Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka's Tumkur constituency, Somanna expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for entrusting him with ministerial responsibilities.
"In the last 10 years, the railways has experienced significant growth under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji.
"As we move into Modi 3.0, we will maintain the growth momentum of the railways," Somanna said.
"Delighted to work under the able guidance of the Union Railways Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw ji and contribute to the development of Railways and Viksit Bharat. Together, we will achieve the dream of a Viksit Bharat and we will work 24/7 for it," he said.
ಅಧಿಕಾರದ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ವಹಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಯಿತು.
— V. Somanna (Modi Ka Parivar) (@VSOMANNA_BJP) June 11, 2024
ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ, ಮಾಜಿ ಸಂಸದರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಜಿ.ಎಸ್ ಬಸವರಾಜು ಅವರು, ಶ್ರೀ ಉಮೇಶ್ ಜಾದವ್ ಅವರು, ಬಾಗಲಕೋಟೆಯ ಸಂಸದರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಪಿ.ಸಿ ಗದ್ದಿಗೌಡ ಅವರು ಹಾಗೂ ಕಛೇರಿಯ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.#BJP #JDS #CentralMinister #Modiji #Tumakuru #MemberOfParliament #Railways
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Women journalists face doubling of online abuse since 2020, AI intensifies harassment: report
New Delhi: Incidents of online violence against women journalists have doubled since 2020, with growing use of artificial intelligence intensifying the scale and impact of abuse, according to a new report released ahead of World Press Freedom Day.
The study is titled “Tipping point: Online violence impacts, manifestations and redress in the AI age.” It is published by UN Women and its partners and highlights how digital harassment has become more invasive and technologically sophisticated.
The study is based on a 2025 global survey covering 641 respondents across 119 countries. The report found that women journalists and media workers are increasingly resorting to self-censorship due to online abuse. Around 45 per cent said they avoid expressing themselves on social media, which is a sharp rise from 2020. Nearly 22 per cent reported limiting their professional work for similar reasons.
The findings also indicate that 12 per cent of respondents have experienced non-consensual sharing of personal images, including intimate content, and six per cent reported being targeted by AI-generated “deepfakes.” One in three said they had received unsolicited sexual advances online.
The report highlights the psychological toll of such harassment, noting that nearly a quarter of women journalists surveyed had been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, while about 13 per cent reported post-traumatic stress disorder.
An environmental journalist from India, quoted in the report, described how coordinated online attacks and misinformation campaigns had led to fear and withdrawal from investigative reporting, and the repercussions extending to family members.
However, as the abuse has increased, so too has the number of women journalists reporting such incidents. The percentage of women journalists approaching law enforcement agencies has doubled from 11 per cent to 22 per cent in 2025 compared with 2020. The report also shows an increase in legal action against perpetrators, technology platforms, and employers.
However, the report points to significant gaps in legal protection. It presents data that fewer than 40 per cent of countries have laws addressing cyber harassment or stalking. Kalliopi Mingerou, who leads efforts to end violence against women at UN Women, said emerging technologies are amplifying existing threats. “AI is making abuse easier and more damaging,” she said, warning that the trend risks undermining democratic participation and hard-won rights.
The report can be accessed at https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2026/04/tipping-point-online-violence-impacts-manifestations-and-redress-in-the-ai-age
