Iranian president rejects resignation rumours

NEW DELHI: A massive youth-led protest in India’s capital has taken an unusual turn after thousands of demonstrators responded to a police crackdown not only with slogans but also with memes, short videos and social media posts. The online campaign has become a powerful extension of the street movement, with young protesters using humour to document their experiences and keep public attention focused on their demands. The demonstrations were organised by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement that first emerged over allegations of examination paper leaks and irregularities in government recruitment. Over time, the campaign expanded into a broader call for transparency, accountability and reforms in India’s education and recruitment systems. Tens of thousands of protesters marched towards Parliament in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Demonstrators accused the government of failing to stop repeated examination leaks that they say have damaged the future of millions of students. The minister has rejected the allegations and insisted that opposition parties are using students for political purposes. Police blocked the march before protesters could reach Parliament. Security personnel used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd after demonstrators attempted to cross security barriers. Authorities also suspended mobile internet services around the protest area, saying the measure was necessary to maintain law and order. Both protesters and police reported injuries during the clashes. Demonstrators claimed that many participants were beaten during the operation, while police said several officers were also injured. Once internet services were restored, social media platforms were flooded with videos recorded during the protest. Instead of sharing only images of violence, many young protesters posted humorous clips showing themselves preparing for the march, running from tear gas and joking about the day’s events. Several participants uploaded “fit check” videos before joining the protest. The popular social media trend, usually used to show clothing and fashion, was transformed into political content. Some joked that they were dressed for a protest where they expected to face police action. Hours later, many of those same individuals were posting videos from the streets after the clashes. Other protesters shared short clips reviewing the effects of tear gas in a humorous style or laughing about the long distances they ran while escaping baton charges. The humour quickly attracted millions of views and became one of the defining features of the protest movement online. Participants said the jokes were never meant to make light of the violence. Instead, they described humour as a way to deal with fear and emotional stress. Many said laughing together helped them remain calm during an extremely tense situation. Young demonstrators also explained that recording videos had become a natural part of participating in modern protests. Smartphones allowed them to document events from their own perspective and preserve evidence of what happened on the streets. Researchers who study digital culture say the protests highlight how political activism is changing among younger generations. Unlike traditional demonstrations that relied mainly on speeches, banners and newspapers, today’s movements increasingly use short videos, memes and online storytelling to spread their message. Experts believe internet humour has become an effective political tool because it reaches audiences who may not normally follow current affairs. A single viral video or meme can introduce complex political issues to millions of young people in a simple and engaging way. Observers also note that humour has always played an important role in protest movements around the world. Songs, cartoons, street theatre and satire have historically helped protesters build unity, reduce fear and maintain morale during difficult campaigns. Social media has simply given those traditions a new digital form.

Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air west of Athens while tackling a major wildfire, killing a Greek and a Danish pilot aboard one of the aircraft. The two crew members on the second helicopter survived and were rescued, while the destroyed aircraft had been leased from Australia’s McDermott Aviation to support Greek operations. The tragic crash occurred as high winds whipped up severe blazes across the region, destroying more than 100 homes overnight in the coastal village of Porto Germeno. More than 500 firefighters remain deployed to combat the active flames despite extreme weather conditions hampering aerial firefighting efforts.

Twelve years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared without a trace, relatives of Chinese passengers returned to a Beijing court seeking answers they say they have been denied for more than a decade. The families insist that financial compensation alone cannot resolve their pain and are urging the court to focus on establishing the truth behind one of aviation’s greatest unsolved mysteries. The appeal comes after a Beijing court ruled in December that Malaysia Airlines should pay compensation of 2.9 million yuan to each of eight Chinese families. While the ruling acknowledged their loss, two families challenged the decision, arguing that it failed to address the airline’s responsibility or explain what happened to the aircraft and the 239 people on board. Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, disappeared from radar with 239 passengers and crew members. Nearly two thirds of those on board were Chinese nationals. Despite years of international search operations across the Indian Ocean, investigators have never located the aircraft’s main wreckage or recovered its flight recorders, leaving the fate of those on board unknown. The latest court hearing in Beijing was held behind closed doors, but family members gathered outside to express their frustration. Li Eryou, whose son was among the passengers, said the original court ruling left him feeling insulted because it focused only on financial compensation while ignoring the deeper questions surrounding the disappearance. Li said no one had apologized to the families during the past 12 years and argued that the case deserved to be treated as an international tragedy rather than a routine legal dispute. He believes the compensation awarded by the lower court does not reflect the seriousness of the disaster or the emotional suffering experienced by relatives who continue to live without closure. Over the years, aviation experts have proposed several possible explanations for the disappearance. Theories have included deliberate actions by the pilot, hijacking, a missile strike or a technical failure. Another widely discussed possibility suggests that a fire involving electronic equipment may have filled the cabin with smoke, causing everyone on board to lose consciousness before the aircraft continued flying on autopilot until it ran out of fuel and crashed into the Indian Ocean. However, none of these theories has been confirmed because investigators have never recovered enough evidence to determine exactly what happened. The absence of definitive findings has continued to fuel uncertainty and speculation, leaving many families convinced that important questions remain unanswered. Jiang Hui, whose mother was on the missing aircraft, said the appeal is not primarily about receiving more money. Instead, he said the families want the court to establish the facts surrounding the case and examine whether Malaysia Airlines responded appropriately after the aircraft disappeared. According to Jiang, determining responsibility and uncovering the truth are far more important than the compensation itself. People from 14 different countries were on board Flight MH370, including 50 Malaysian passengers and crew members. While legal proceedings continue in China, there are currently no similar cases pending against the airline in Malaysia. Last month, the Malaysian government announced that the search for MH370 would continue until June next year. The renewed operation is being carried out by private exploration company Ocean Infinity, which has previously led several unsuccessful search missions in the southern Indian Ocean. Although earlier efforts failed to locate the aircraft, relatives remain hopeful that new technology and expanded search areas could finally provide long awaited answers. Jiang welcomed Malaysia’s decision to extend the search and urged authorities to allow families to organize their own independent search missions alongside official efforts. For many relatives, discovering what happened to Flight MH370 remains their greatest priority, believing that only the truth can finally bring closure after more than a decade of uncertainty.