AJA Newsbites – July 29, 2026 - THE AsiaN

• Progressive Americans are increasingly abandoning traditional media in favor of a new, independent media ecosystem designed to reshape Democratic politics. • Platforms like Drop Site News, co-founded by veteran Ryan Grim, provide an alternative space for progressive politicians to reach voters directly.

• The "Wall of Receipts" is being updated to track the voting patterns of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. • The analysis focuses specifically on their decisions regarding the interim and certiorari dockets over the past year.

• FIFA President Gianni Infantino has cultivated a close relationship with Donald Trump and the White House during his decade-long leadership of the Swiss-based nonprofit. • These ties may become a political liability if Democrats flip control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming fall elections.

• The Lok Sabha held a marathon debate on Tuesday regarding the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. • Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Opposition for focusing on political attacks rather than legislation, while the government defended the bill as a necessary framework to stop paper leaks.

• Sports betting firms have launched a $72 million political influence campaign in the United States to shape industry regulations. • The spending is primarily aimed at fighting predatory tax rates and establishing "regulatory moats" to protect market share.

• A court has ruled that Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times is allowed to proceed. • The legal proceedings will center on the "actual malice" standard, which requires proof that the publisher acted with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

• The Jammu and Kashmir Awareness Campaign (JAAC) reports that 14 activists were killed and dozens injured during clashes with security personnel in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). • The violence occurs amid a phased election cycle, with the first round of voting already completed in Mirpur on Monday.

• Chaos erupted in the Lok Sabha during the 2026 Parliament monsoon session as Opposition members sloganeered over a new anti-paper leak bill. • Rahul Gandhi appealed to the Speaker to restore order following a ruckus sparked by a remark calling someone an "idiot."

• A Gen-Z protest group in India has successfully pressured Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government into a policy reversal, marking a rare moment of vulnerability for the leader. • For over a decade, Modi and the BJP have maintained a dominant political grip, effectively silencing dissent and securing major victories in recent state elections.

• The Supreme Court of India has questioned the police crackdown on student protesters, while other reports cover the 2022 Khargone Ram Navami violence and India's status as a global power. • A featured narrative follows Kumar, a man who spent decades in a cat-and-mouse game with police following a gangland murder involving Krishna Pillai.

• TS Financial has launched a new sports program, featuring the debut of B-Girl Hsu Fu-ya at the Asian Games. • Botanicure presented clinical findings regarding the development of a botanical drug designed to treat early dementia at the BIO International Convention.