How they voted, July 26, 2026 | News in brief

• The Trump administration has signaled a pause in military strikes against Iran to provide "some space" for diplomatic efforts and negotiations to progress. • Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that defending Hezbollah remains a strategic priority and demanded a "complete and unconditional" end to Israeli attacks.

• The Indian government is set to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, during the Parliament Monsoon Session. • The draft legislation, approved by the Cabinet on Friday and circulated to MPs on Saturday, aims to implement tougher penalties to prevent paper leaks.

• South Korean election authorities reportedly made 72 revisions to data figures following the local elections held on June 3. • The revisions were revealed in data released on Monday, sparking significant controversy and allegations of irregularities regarding the vote count.

• A Gen Z-led protest movement, dubbed the ‘Cockroach’ movement, successfully pressured the Indian government into sacking a key minister under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. • The protests lasted several weeks, highlighting a surge in youth-led political activism and dissatisfaction with current educational or governmental policies.

• Youth-led protests in India have been called off following the resignation of the Education Minister. • The movement began in May after Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly compared unemployed youth to "cockroaches," a slur later reclaimed by the Cockroach Janta Party and strategist Abhijeet Dipke.

• Gen Z activists have gathered at Jantar Mantar to challenge existing political narratives and demand greater accountability from the government and media. • The protests highlight a generational shift in political engagement, with youth emphasizing the need for transparency and the restoration of public trust.

• North Korea has vowed to strengthen its nuclear arsenal and explicitly rejected a call for denuclearization from Asean. • In other global developments, Ukraine reportedly hit an Iranian ship, prompting Tehran to vow that the attack will not go unanswered.

• IMAX is expanding its presence in India, driven by the success and technical innovation of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, *The Odyssey*. • To overcome the format's notorious camera noise, IMAX developed a specialized soundproof “blimp” enclosure at Nolan's request.

• Rescuers from Vietnam, the Philippines, and China launched a multinational search operation on Sunday for 17 missing crew members. • The search follows the sinking of a cargo ship caused by severe weather conditions off a Chinese-occupied shoal in the disputed South China Sea.

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament has commenced with the potential introduction of the controversial Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, known as the "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) Bill. • The proposal aims to synchronize elections, addressing concerns that frequent polling cycles lead to development programs being put on hold due to government restrictions during election periods.

• Students led by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) marched from Jantar Mantar toward Parliament in Delhi on July 20, resulting in a prolonged confrontation with police. • Protesters broke through barricades to voice anger over systemic issues, including widespread exam paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, and high unemployment rates.