The political landscape in France is set to undergo a major shift as Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is expected to be ejected from office after a surprise no-confidence vote. This move has plunged the country into a crisis and dealt a blow to President Emmanuel Macron's leadership. Despite attempts to secure support from opposition parties, Bayrou is unlikely to retain his position, making him the second PM in a row to be removed from office in less than a year.
Tensions continue to rise in Kathmandu as protesters, largely made up of members of Nepal's "Gen Z" generation, take to the streets to oppose both government corruption and a recent social media ban. The curfew in the city has been extended as clashes between police and demonstrators escalate, with reports of protesters storming government buildings. The ban, which has blocked popular platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, has left millions without access to key channels for entertainment, news, and business, sparking public outrage. While the government claims to respect freedom of expression, the ban and its demands for companies to register in the country have sparked heated debates over censorship and the erosion of individual rights.
In her recent column, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government's Great Nicobar Project, labeling it a "planned misadventure" that threatens the rights of indigenous communities and ignores important environmental safeguards. She also highlighted the potential ecological and cultural catastrophe that the development project could cause, displacing the Nicobarese people from their ancestral homes. Gandhi further criticized the government's inadequate approach to compensatory afforestation and questioned the project's staggering scale and cost, citing concerns over deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
In a controversial and unprecedented move, Mehraj Malik, an MLA from Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, was detained under the Public Safety Act for alleged involvement in activities that pose a threat to public order. This is the first instance of a sitting MLA being held under the stringent act that allows detention without charge or trial for up to two years. Several political parties, including AAP, have condemned the action and assert that it will not deter their legislator from speaking for the rights of the people. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also criticized the use of the law against Malik, stating that it is unjustified and erodes faith in democracy.
The French parliament has delivered a major blow to Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's administration, voting against it by a large margin. According to Article 50 of the constitution, Bayrou must now resign from his government. This leaves President Emmanuel Macron with the difficult task of choosing a new prime minister, or possibly calling for a new parliamentary or presidential election. Some parliamentary groups are pushing for Macron to resign, but he has refused to do so. Deputy Mathilde Panot has given him two options - impeachment or resignation.
In response to escalating protests that have claimed 19 lives, the Nepali government has lifted its ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X. The move comes after Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak offered to resign, citing moral responsibility for the loss of lives during demonstrations. The protests intensified as citizens pushed into restricted areas near the parliament, leading to multiple injuries and a curfew being imposed in key areas of the city. Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, stated that social media was being reopened as an excuse to incite agitation.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) lost its stronghold in Islampur, a general category constituency in the Nalanda Lok Sabha constituency, to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Chandrasen Prasad of the JD(U) was defeated by Rakesh Kumar Roushan of the RJD, who secured a narrow victory with 41.65% of the votes. This loss can be attributed to the LJP's decision to join hands with the RJD and dent the JD(U)'s traditional Dalit vote base. With the upcoming intensive revision of the electoral roll in Bihar by the Election Commission, all political parties are gearing up for the 2025 Assembly Elections and are eagerly awaiting the official schedule.
The Supreme Court's decision on Aadhaar as a proof of citizenship caused a stir in the political world, while students in Nepal are taking a stand against a proposed social media ban. In sports, Carlos Alcaraz continues to dominate at the US Open, while India faces Oman in football. Additionally, the Education sector is making waves with the rollout of a new GST structure, joint ventures in the defence industry, and changes to the Class 12 board exams.
Nepal has been rocked with nationwide protests led by Gen Z youth after the government banned 26 social media and communication platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. The ban, implemented due to concerns about fake news and cybercrime, has been met with fierce opposition, resulting in at least 19 deaths and 347 injuries. As the tensions continue, the ruling coalition is facing internal divide and the resignation of the Home Minister. Here are 10 key points to understand the ongoing political and social unrest in Nepal.
An encounter broke out in the Guddar forest region of Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the death of a terrorist and injury of a soldier. Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir, Army and CRPF were on the site, as informed by Kashmir zonal police. The encounter was initiated based on a specific intelligence, according to a tweet by Jammu and Kashmir police. Further details about the operation are awaited.