EU temporarily extends controversial chat-scanning regime until 2028

• Germany's top court is currently deliberating whether the national parliament requires a legislative "speed limit" to regulate the pace of lawmaking. • Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock concluded a two-day visit to Nigeria on Wednesday, aiming to strengthen trade ties and business opportunities across Africa.

• The deadlock between the CJP and the government has intensified, leading to the announcement of nationwide protests scheduled for tomorrow. • Protesters have rejected a government offer to hold talks at the health minister's residence, while authorities suspended mobile internet services around Jantar Mantar.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to punish officials responsible for widespread exam leaks, stating that those harming the future of India's youth "will not be spared." • The scandal has sparked massive protests led by the "Cockroach Janta party" (CJP), a satirical movement named after a top judge who referred to unemployed youths as "cockroaches."

• Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his hunger strike following a visit and negotiations with ministers representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. • The protest, which included a "cockroach" themed demonstration, focused on demanding constitutional safeguards for Ladakh's environment and political autonomy.

• The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day during the 2026 Monsoon Session following intense protests by Opposition members. • Protesting lawmakers are demanding the immediate resignation of Minister Kiren Pradhan, though the specific cause of the grievance was not detailed.

• 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.

• Justice Elena Kagan stated on Thursday that the U.S. Supreme Court is not a "rubber stamp" for President Donald Trump, despite the court's deep conservative majority. • The comments come amid a period where public trust in the Supreme Court has reached historic lows and critics have accused justices of being driven by political motivations.

• European centrist-liberal parties are shifting toward a "politics of security," increasingly supporting a more muscular state approach they previously opposed. • This strategic pivot includes backing higher defense budgets and implementing tighter controls over social media to protect European freedoms.

• The European Council on Foreign Relations proposes a "Team Enlargement" coalition consisting of ten EU member states to accelerate the accession of Ukraine and other candidate nations. • The group includes diverse interests: France, Germany, and the Netherlands focus on rule of law; Austria and Italy lead Western Balkans efforts; Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, and Sweden prioritize eastern security; and Hungary represents a complex outlier.

• NGOs, including Transparency International EU and the Corporate Europe Observatory, are challenging the European Commission's selection of Guidehouse to design the rules for its hydrogen bank subsidy scheme. • The controversy centers on whether Guidehouse maintains inappropriately close ties to the fossil fuel industry, potentially compromising the bidding and evaluation processes for qualifying projects.

• Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan asserted that the Court does not act as a "rubber stamp" for former President Donald Trump's legal and policy initiatives. • To support her claim, Kagan highlighted specific judicial rulings that rejected Trump's implementation of sweeping tariffs and his attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.