Protests

• India's 25-day Monsoon Session of Parliament was characterized by frequent disruptions and standstills inside the Houses. • Despite the turmoil, several pieces of legislation were passed, including the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, which expands record definitions to include digital and cloud-based data. • Other legislative actions included the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill to rename the state to Keralam, alongside bills regarding mining, tribunals, and cooperative development.

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded following weeks of intense protests and political deadlock between the BJP and the INDIA bloc. • Legislative efficiency plummeted, with the Lok Sabha recording a productivity rate of only 19% throughout the session. • Rival demonstrations occurred near Makar Dwar, featuring BJP attacks on Rahul Gandhi regarding Jharkhand protests and Opposition campaigns against the government.

High schoolers join university walkouts in major cities and several smaller locations amid urge to ‘stand up against the far right’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCalls for striking students to stay in school are unlikely to deter thousands across the country preparing to take part in a major walkout in protest against Pauline Hanson.High schoolers have begun joining the coordinated university union protests taking place in every major city and several smaller locations across the country on Thursday afternoon. Continue reading...

• A political activist in Rawalakot raised concerns on Tuesday regarding elections held across various areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoJK) on Monday. • The activist alleged that election results in several regions were "adjusted and compromised," with specific reports still emerging from the Haveli area. • These claims highlight potential electoral fraud and instability within the region's democratic process.

• Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the government is prepared to debate recent student protests during the 2026 Parliament Monsoon Session. • Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused opposition parties of avoiding the discussion, contributing to a legislative stalemate. • The announcement comes as the session enters its final two days, with the government attempting to push through its remaining legislative agenda.

• The Indian government is attempting to resolve a parliamentary deadlock with the opposition regarding discussions on student protests and the FCRA bill. • Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to provide a reply as the Monsoon session of Parliament approaches its conclusion in two days. • The issue is politically sensitive for the BJP, which is currently prioritizing the Ram Mandir narrative ahead of upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

• Opposition and NDA MPs have intensified protests during the current monsoon session of Parliament, leading to heightened tensions in the house. • The Lok Sabha is scheduled to discuss two key pieces of legislation today: the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. • Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to address the house today, potentially addressing the ongoing political friction and legislative priorities.

• Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir entered the final phase of its assembly elections on Monday amid heightened security measures. • The voting process is taking place following weeks of violent protests and reports of a crackdown by Islamabad-backed forces in the region. • The elections are facing significant opposition, with calls for a boycott from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JAAC).

• Pakistan has indefinitely postponed elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amid escalating political instability and widespread civil unrest. • The crisis is driven by a three-pronged resistance involving India's rejection of the polls, internal political rivalry, and intense protests from local residents. • Protesters, led by the JAAC, have issued a 38-point charter demanding judicial reforms, lower electricity prices, resource rights, and the release of detained activists.

• Voting in seven constituencies during the third phase of elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been postponed indefinitely. • The decision follows a wave of violent protests and formal requests from local political figures and candidates citing the unstable security situation. • India has criticized the electoral process, labeling the entire exercise a farce.

Opposition parties say nationwide protests that forced resignation of education secretary are beginning to dent BJP supportIndia’s ruling Bharatiya Janata party has suffered a byelection defeat in a seat it had held for three decades following the Cockroach movement student protests that have shaken Narendra Modi’s government.Prashant Kishor, a high profile electoral strategist turned politician, scored a breakthrough win for his fledgling Jan Suraaj (Good Governance) party in the Bankipur constituency in Patna, the capital of the eastern state of Bihar. Continue reading...

• Deadly protests have erupted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir over the allocation of 12 refugee seats, leading to calls for election boycotts and staggered voting. • The Jammu and Kashmir Awareness Campaign (JAAC) claims these seats allow external political parties to influence the local government and divert essential development funds. • On June 5, authorities designated the JAAC as a "proscribed organisation" and implemented a region-wide internet and mobile service blackout lasting until June 20.

• India has increased its semiconductor demand forecast to $150 billion by 2030, signaling a massive push for domestic chip infrastructure. • In the AI and tech sector, MediaTek is investing $5 billion in AI chips, while investor Chamath Palihapitiya has secured $135 million in funding. • Global attention has turned toward escalating exam protests in India, highlighting a growing national employment crisis.

• Protests have erupted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) over a three-phase election process, which the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed as a "cosmetic exercise." • The unrest highlights growing instability and a perceived failure in Pakistan's Kashmir policy, as local populations demand genuine political rights. • The situation underscores the contradiction between Pakistan's claim that the region is "Azad" (free) and the reality of its strict control and manipulation.

• Lok Sabha Question Hour in New Delhi was disrupted for the second consecutive week due to intense protests by Opposition MPs. • The demonstrations centered on two primary grievances: the NEET exam paper leak controversy and disputes regarding Ram Temple donations. • These disruptions highlight the growing tension between the government and the opposition over critical educational integrity and religious funding issues.

• Youth-led protests in India are challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's perceived political invincibility and dominance. • The protests signal growing unrest among the younger population, creating a significant political crisis for the current administration. • The Modi government is actively attempting to implement strategies to get ahead of the crisis and mitigate the impact of the demonstrations.

• The BJP-led Indian government has implemented a "measured crackdown" in response to the ongoing ‘Cockroach’ protests. • Authorities are balancing security enforcement with strategic efforts to appeal to and woo the youth demographic involved in the unrest. • This dual approach highlights the government's attempt to maintain public order while mitigating political backlash from young citizens.

Cockroach Janta party says government has broken promise, with detentions in Delhi, Assam, West Bengal and BiharIndia’s youth-led “Cockroach” movement, whose nationwide protests forced the resignation of the education minister, has accused the government of backtracking on its promise not to act against student protesters and has threatened to restart demonstrations.The Cockroach Janta party (CJP), which organised mass protests over exam paper leaks and other irregularities, said it had received reports of hundreds of students being detained or “harassed” by police. Continue reading...

• Union minister Jitendra Singh has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill to implement tougher measures against paper leaks. • The legislative process has faced significant delays, with the Opposition successfully halting the Centre's push to pass the bill on two previous occasions. • The bill is critical as it aims to curb systemic cheating and unfair means in public examinations to ensure fairness for millions of candidates.

• Polling has commenced for a three-phase assembly election in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amid violent protests and a heavy security crackdown. • Local residents are protesting economic exploitation and a controversial reserved seat system that historically ensures the party governing Islamabad maintains power in PoK. • The unrest highlights deep-seated grievances regarding political autonomy and the use of excessive force by security forces during the electoral process.

In today’s newsletter: Across ​the country, a ​younger generation is turning private disillusionment into public defiance​ against a government that once felt untouchableGood morning. As flames engulfed parts of France and Spain this weekend, in India, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, was trying to put out a very different kind of fire. Thousands of people arrived in Delhi on Saturday to demand the resignation of his education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan. When he stepped down in the early afternoon, the protests turned into a triumphant block party.But the Cockroach protests that have swept through India this summer are about much more than a single minister. They have humiliated Modi and undermined the indomitable power of his Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) that has ruled India for the past 12 years. They’re also a lesson in using humour to political advantage.Wild fires | Authorities in France battled to contain a huge wildfire near Bordeaux in the south-west as Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, warned Spain and the Iberian peninsula were suffering the effects of the climate emergency.Germany | A man suspected of driving a van into a crowd near Berlin’s Pride festival then going on a knife rampage in an Islamist terror attack has been shot dead by police, German officials have said.Iran | The US has paused strikes on Iran for a second night as top military officials advised Donald Trump to halt his bombing campaign, and diplomatic negotiations have continued to avoid a return to all-out war.UK politics | Britain’s foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, is to indicate he will put the climate crisis and overseas development at the heart of UK international relations by taking up the country’s seat on the board at the World Bank.UK news | Five Palestine Action activists face being sentenced as terrorists for breaking windows and throwing red paint at a branch of Barclays Bank in Lancashire.Monday | Andrew and Tristan Tate are due back in the Florida court where they’re fighting their extradition to the UK, to face rape and sex-trafficking charges.Tuesday | Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to be among those attending the Washington DC memorial service for the late South Carolina senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham.Thursday | People will go to the polls to elect the next mayor of Greater Manchester, who will replace Andy Burnham. Continue reading...

• 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. • Beyond employment issues, the protests evolved into a broader challenge against Prime Minister Modi’s government, citing authoritarianism and the repression of journalists and activists.

• India’s "Cockroach movement" has officially ended weeks of widespread protests after the government agreed to meet all of the group's demands. • The resolution follows the resignation of the education minister, a key move that satisfied the protesters' requirements for accountability. • This movement highlights significant public unrest regarding educational policies and the demand for leadership changes within the ministry.

• The Citizens' Justice Peace (CJP) has called off its protests at Jantar Mantar "in good faith" following discussions with the Central Government. • Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that he submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing distress over a series of incidents occurring over the last 10 days. • Pradhan emphasized his commitment to Indian democracy and the role of the youth as the architects of a "new and developed India."

• India's education minister has resigned following nationwide protests led by the viral Cockroach Janta Party. • The movement called off its demonstrations on Saturday after the government agreed to accept all of the activists' major demands. • This escalation represents a significant challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, forcing high-level government concessions.

• India's education minister has resigned following weeks of intense demonstrations led by the "Cockroach" movement. • The protests concluded after the Indian government agreed to accept all demands put forward by the movement. • This resignation marks a significant political victory for the protesters and highlights growing public dissatisfaction with the education ministry.

• India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned following a series of nationwide protests, sit-ins, and hunger strikes led by the youth-driven 'Cockroach' movement. • Pradhan announced his departure via a post on X, marking a significant political victory for the student activists who spearheaded the demonstrations. • The resignation serves as a critical turning point in the movement's effort to demand educational reforms and government accountability.

• A youth-led movement in India, dubbed the ‘cockroach’ protests, has rapidly expanded from a massive online presence to a potent political force, eclipsing the BJP's social media reach. • The movement follows a broader South Asian trend where digital outrage translates into mass street mobilizations, similar to recent government-toppling protests in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. • Despite these parallels, analyst Namita Singh suggests a crucial difference exists that makes a similar regime-change outcome far less likely within the Indian context.