After Indian tax authorities concluded what they called “surveys” of the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai last week, journalists and activists are wondering whether it is still possible to speak out in India and call things for what they are.

Protests erupted throughout India on Tuesday after the country’s top agency for combating financial crimes detained opposition leader Rahul Gandhi after questioning him and his mother Sonia about embezzlement accusations involving their party’s funds.

Press freedom advocates have urged India to immediately release a prominent Muslim journalist and outspoken critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over tweets for which authorities claim are promoting religious and ethnic division.

The regional administration of Indian-administered Kashmir has shut down the office of Kashmir Times, a leading local English-language newspaper. Authorities gave no reason for the actiont, but the publisher believes it was retaliation for the daily’s critical reporting.

Police in Indian-administrated Kashmir questioned on Tuesday a female photojournalist and accused her of sharing anti-national content on Facebook with the intent to induce the youth.

India’s Government continued its anti-corruption campaign by forcing 22 senior officials - all heads of tax and customs departments - to retire,Indiatoday reported on Monday. The move is seen by the opposition as a political vendetta.

ROME, Italy - On a hot night in early July, the southern Italian region of Calabria woke to the roar of helicopters and the wail of police sirens.

Shrouded in darkness, more than a thousand policemen in full military gear swept the streets of 19 towns on the very toe of Italy’s boot, entering neighborhoods where they seldom go.

(Photo: Eneas De Troya, CC-BY 2.0)

Indian law enforcement officers Tuesday raided the residences and properties of top opposition leaders and businessmen as part of a multi-city crackdown on alleged corruption.