The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a new nationwide programme in India to show solidarity with protesters allegedly subjected to police abuse. The party called for candlelight marches across the country on Sunday evening, according to a report published on July 25, 2026.

In a message posted on X, the CJP said student groups and other organisations should work together on a cooperative basis to secure permissions and make related arrangements for the programme. The report described the marches as an expression of support for protesters who were victims of police abuse.

A third round of talks between the Modi government and protesters is scheduled for Saturday. However, the CJP said there was no point in entering discussions unless the government agreed to remove Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said in an X post that the party would not retreat from its demand for Pradhan's resignation, and that no further talks would be necessary if the government did not agree.

An opinion article by Syed Musa Reza, published in Amar Desh on July 25, 2026, portrays the funeral and mourning ceremony in Tehran for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a symbol of shifting power relations in the Middle East and global politics. The article says mourners chanted against the United States and Israel and demanded revenge for Khamenei’s death. It argues that the event conveyed institutional continuity and unity behind Iran’s current leadership.

Citing an analysis by Middle East Monitor, the article says large gatherings in Tehran, Qom and Karbala challenged assumptions that removing senior leaders through a “decapitation strategy” would collapse Iran’s state system and allied axis. It also interprets the attendance of senior leaders from Pakistan and Tajikistan as evidence that Global South states are making diplomatic choices based on national interests and regional realities.

The article references seven lessons identified by Russia’s state media outlet RT from a recent Persian Gulf conflict. These include the reduced impact of sanctions, cheaper military technologies, limits on sole naval control, asymmetric warfare, discussion of alternative energy-trade currencies, divisions in military alliances and the importance of strategic patience. It concludes that international politics is moving toward a multipolar balance of power.

The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civilian nuclear agreement on Wednesday at the US Energy Department headquarters in Washington after nearly two decades of talks. The following morning, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords for the deal to take effect. He also said Saudi Arabia would not be allowed to enrich uranium under the agreement.

CNN reported that Trump had already been dissatisfied because Energy Secretary Chris Wright set the timing for the agreement’s announcement without informing him. White House officials said the agreement was not formally final because required documents had not been sent to Congress. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the deal depended on Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords, while the Energy Department said it coordinated every stage with the White House and State Department.

Conservative outlets including Fox News and The Wall Street Journal had questioned granting Saudi Arabia the benefits without normalization with Israel. Nonproliferation experts raised concerns about uranium enrichment and the absence of additional International Atomic Energy Agency inspections. Israeli sources suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened, but the White House denied Trump spoke with him. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said Trump did not speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before or after announcing the conditions.

Ahead of a planned third round of talks with India’s central government on Saturday, the protesting Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) said discussions would be meaningless unless the Modi government agreed to remove Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a Saturday morning post on X, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the party would not withdraw its demand for Pradhan’s resignation.

The second round of talks was held Friday at Constitution Club in New Delhi between CJP representatives and central ministers J. P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh. CJP presented three main demands: Pradhan’s resignation, assurance that protesting students would face no legal action, and compensation of one crore rupees each to families of students who died by suicide in the NEET paper leak case. The centre reportedly gave in-principle consent to the latter two demands.

Nadda said the meeting, lasting nearly two hours, also covered five proposals on examination reform, with the government due to communicate its final position at Saturday’s meeting. NDTV, citing government sources, reported that Pradhan’s resignation was unlikely. The government has announced fast-track courts, tougher penalties, a change of education secretary, dismissal of 47 National Testing Agency officials, and a commitment to fully restructure the agency.

Mohammad Kamal Uddin, known in Chattogram as a leader of Bangabandhu Soldiers League, attended a dinner at the state guest house Jamuna with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, according to a report published on July 25. A photograph of the two shaking hands prompted questions over how he was invited and whether his political background was properly vetted. The report says he is also known locally as “Bakery Kamal.”

A document obtained by the newspaper states that Kamal Uddin applied to attend the event as vice-chairman of Gono Dal, using a Dhaka address. He was invited after verification in Dhaka, the report says. Chattogram Police Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali said the address used was in Dhaka and was not verified from Chattogram. Dhaka Metropolitan Police said it handled event security but did not select guests or issue invitations.

Unnamed security and intelligence sources said an internal review began after the matter became public. Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said local input could have provided relevant information on guests’ political and organizational identities. Kamal Uddin said he would send a statement, while the report says he did not deny involvement in Awami League-supported activities mentioned in questions put to him.

Martyr Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of Inqilab Mancha, was a leading figure in student-public protests demanding the resignation and arrest of President Md. Sahabuddin Chuppu after Sheikh Hasina’s fall and flight on August 5, 2024. The report says Chuppu remained in office while the speaker, chief justice and Baitul Mukarram khatib appointed under Hasina left the country.

Protests intensified after comments attributed to the president in a newspaper interview regarding Sheikh Hasina’s resignation letter. Hadi called for demonstrations, describing the remarks as a betrayal of revolutionaries’ blood. On October 23, 2024, he led thousands from Dhaka University, the Raju Sculpture and the Shaheed Minar toward Bangabhaban. Hasnat Abdullah, Nasiruddin Patwary and Sarjis Alam were among other movement leaders involved.

Protesters blocked roads in front of Bangabhaban and near Shapla Chattar, while Hadi issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the president to resign voluntarily. At a Shaheed Minar gathering the following day, he formally presented five demands, including the president’s resignation and reforms. Hadi was shot in Dhaka on December 12 last year and died in Singapore on December 18. The report says Chuppu resigned seven months and six days after Hadi’s killing.

A report published by Amar Desh on July 25, 2026 recounts violence surrounding the quota reform movement on July 25, 2024. It says hospitals across Dhaka were treating people with gunshot wounds and other injuries while morgues received bodies. The report makes strong political allegations regarding then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her government's response to the unrest.

The report says at least 867 injured people received treatment at public and private hospitals in Uttara between July 18 and 25, while 29 bodies were brought in. It says Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hospital received 265 injured people and eight bodies, and Uttara Adhunik Medical College received 263 injured people and 11 bodies. Citing Anjuman Mufidul Islam, it also says 21 unidentified bodies were buried.

According to the report, Hasina visited the Mirpur-10 metro station on July 25 and sought justice over vandalism. It says about 700 protesters and leaders of different parties were arrested that day, including Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Andaleeve Rahman Partho. The report adds that Amnesty International expressed concern that day and alleged the government was using lethal weapons to suppress protests.

The protesting Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is set to hold another round of talks with India’s Modi government on July 25, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over an alleged question-paper leak. The party has been staging continuous protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, with the demonstrations also spreading to other Indian cities.

On Friday, a two-member CJP delegation met central ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Party spokesperson Saurav Das said the delegation reiterated that it remained firm on its demand for the education minister’s resignation.

The CJP also demanded a public apology to protesters who it said were subjected to a police attack on July 20. It further sought compensation of one crore rupees for the families of people who died by suicide after the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test was cancelled on May 3. The two sides are scheduled to meet again on Saturday.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party and chief whip of the opposition in parliament, urged the head of government to ensure genuine employment rather than relying on card-based assistance. He made the remarks as chief guest at a July March roadside meeting in Tengapara Station Field in Mohanganj municipal town, Netrokona, at 7pm on Friday. The meeting was organised by Mohanganj উপজেলা NCP.

He questioned whether assistance cards would reach genuinely distressed people or party affiliates, saying social security programmes and government benefits had previously gone to partisan beneficiaries while poor people were excluded. He called for administrative oversight to ensure eligible people receive cards. Referring to 30 kilograms of rice provided to fishers during seasonal fishing restrictions, he said such support was insufficient to sustain livelihoods.

Islam called for a special government plan for the haor areas of Netrokona, Sunamganj and Kishoreganj, including development of fisheries and tourism. He also demanded implementation of the July Charter and reforms to police, courts and the constitution. He said his party would oppose the government on reasonable grounds while assisting it when national interests required, but warned that cooperation would not be possible if reforms were not implemented.

Indian educator and social activist Sonam Wangchuk has rejected allegations that he ended his hunger strike under a deal with the central government. In a 24-minute, 22-second video message posted on social media on Friday night, he said his focus was on securing justice for students and meeting their demands. He was receiving treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

Wangchuk had begun the fast in support of ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar over question-paper leaks. He ended the 26-day strike at midnight on Thursday in the presence of central ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. He said he withdrew the fast after receiving assurances from the government and members of various political parties, but critics alleged that he had reached an agreement with the government.

Questioning the criticism, Wangchuk said that after fasting in Delhi's heat after coming from Ladakh's cold, he was being asked to prove his integrity and the sanctity of his protest. He said many people called him on Friday morning asking about his work and any possible agreement. He thanked supporters and said he would try to answer questions raised outside politics.

US President Donald Trump said Washington is holding talks with Iran while warning that Tehran will not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. He made the comments on Friday local time at the White House Oval Office, where he had convened a special meeting on nuclear innovation. Asked by reporters about recent remarks suggesting a possible major attack on Iran, Trump said the United States was currently in discussions with Tehran and remained militarily prepared.

Trump did not provide details of the talks, but said Iran was taking the matter seriously and should do so. The report said his comments conflicted with messages from other US officials this week, as the administration had previously indicated that diplomatic opportunities were nearly exhausted and that attention was focused on military action.

Trump said senior members of his cabinet were involved in the discussions, specifically naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Asked about a strategy or exit path from the ongoing conflict, he said he saw several possible routes but gave no details. He also said he was in no hurry to make a deal.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the country’s young people for their positive response to discussions on reforming the examination system and preventing question-paper leaks. In a video message posted on Instagram late Friday night, Modi expressed gratitude to students for watching his earlier video and offering feedback and suggestions. He said he hoped their love and support would continue and strengthen the relationship.

In the caption accompanying the video, Modi thanked all young people who sent valuable suggestions after viewing the previous day’s message. On Thursday, he had announced stricter central government action against question-paper leaks, amid allegations of irregularities in the recent NEET examination and protests across the country.

Modi said fast-track courts would be established to ensure swift trials for those involved in such offences. He also said a draft bill containing tougher punishment provisions would be presented to the cabinet soon, with an effort to pass it in parliament next week. According to his statement, legal action had been taken against accused people over the past two and a half months, and about 2.2 million students were given a chance to retake examinations, with results released on July 19.

BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu has resigned as India’s minister of state for railways and food processing industries, according to an NDTV report citing sources published on July 25. His term as a Rajya Sabha member had ended in June.

The report said Bittu may contest Punjab’s assembly election scheduled for next year. He had been closely overseeing efforts to build the BJP’s political space and establish a stronger position in the border state, which is governed by the Aam Aadmi Party.

In a post on X, Bittu thanked President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve the country as a minister of state. He said serving the people of India, especially Punjab, had been a great privilege and pledged to continue his public-service journey with renewed energy. Bittu, grandson of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, formally joined the BJP in 2024. He lost the Lok Sabha election and was later nominated for the remainder of a Rajya Sabha term from Rajasthan vacated by Congress leader K C Venugopal.

Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu resigned as Bangladesh’s president on Friday afternoon after serving for three years and eight months, citing serious health problems. His military secretary delivered the signed resignation letter to Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram at 5 pm. Under Article 54 of the constitution, the speaker immediately assumed the duties of acting president.

In his resignation letter, Shahabuddin cited heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney complications and autonomic neuropathy. He said he had undergone bypass surgery and sometimes briefly lost consciousness because of his illnesses. Sources said specialists at the Combined Military Hospital advised him to take complete rest and receive advanced treatment.

The parliamentary secretariat said the resignation was submitted under Article 50(3) of the constitution. The speaker will perform presidential duties until a new president is elected and takes office. Some political leaders and student leaders associated with the July movement described the resignation as positive, while Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party, among others, demanded Shahabuddin’s arrest and trial. Officials said he is scheduled to meet Bangabhaban staff on Saturday and move to his Gulshan residence on Sunday.

Water Resources Minister and BNP joint secretary general Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie said Bangladesh has fallen far behind because of a lack of leadership. He made the remarks on Friday night as chief guest at a discussion marking three decades of Lakshmipur Club Limited, held in the club hallroom at the municipal super market in Lakshmipur town.

Annie said Bangladesh should not have remained in its present condition after so many years since independence. He said there was no lack of sincerity from the prime minister, who had accepted a challenge. He described supporting the government as a moral responsibility for citizens.

The minister said people should think consciously about how to support the government and Tarique Rahman for the country, its people and Bangladesh. He also called for improving the country's image through development and bringing it to a stable position. The meeting was chaired by club president Moin Uddin Chowdhury Kamru and attended by educator Nani Gopal, Bangladesh Football Federation vice-president Md Wahid Uddin Chowdhury Happy, sports organizer Abdul Rab Shamim and club general secretary Humayun Kabir Jewel.