Family asks for help in searching for missing Filipino after Nepal flash flood

Following the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief Abhijit Dipke addressed a protest rally at Jantar Mantar and thanked those who had referred to young people as “cockroaches.” Speaking at the demonstration, Dipke directly addressed Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, saying that if the chief justice had not used the term, he would not have returned to India and the protest movement would never have begun. According to Indian media reports, the youth-led campaign began after a Supreme Court hearing on May 15. During a case concerning the designation of senior advocates, Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly compared some young people to cockroaches, saying they struggled to find employment and opportunities in their professions. The chief justice later clarified that his remarks were directed at people holding fake law degrees and were not intended to describe unemployed youth generally. However, the statement quickly spread across social media and triggered widespread criticism. The following day, Abhijit Dipke, a student based in Boston and a former communications strategist for the Aam Aadmi Party, announced the formation of the Cockroach Janta Party in a satirical social media post. Dipke presented the group as a platform for young people who considered themselves “cockroaches” — including unemployed youth, active social media users and those critical of the existing system. The campaign gained momentum as public anger increased over allegations surrounding a National Eligibility Test (NET) paper leak. Dipke returned to India in early June and began leading protests at Jantar Mantar. The protesters’ main demand was the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations. The movement later received wider attention when social activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike on June 28. He ended the hunger strike after 26 days following written assurances from the government. The assurances included a commitment that peaceful protesters would not face criminal cases. The government also agreed to consider examination reforms and accountability measures in Parliament. It further agreed to consider a proposal for compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the reported paper leak. Despite the end of Wangchuk’s hunger strike, the Cockroach Janta Party continued demanding Pradhan’s resignation. The protests continued even after demonstrators were reportedly subjected to a baton charge on July 20. Growing pressure eventually led to Pradhan stepping down. In his resignation, Pradhan said he was leaving his position with the future of students in mind. He also said the decision was necessary to prevent anti-national elements from taking advantage of the situation at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere across the country.

Professor Jason Arday, who became the youngest Black professor appointed in the history of the University of Cambridge, has resigned from his post with immediate effect following escalating accusations of academic misconduct and misrepresentation of his qualifications. In a statement released on Wednesday via the Good Law Project, the 41-year-old sociologist said he had “concluded that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away”, citing the severe personal cost of public scrutiny. Arday maintained that his resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt or an acceptance of the allegations against him. The resignation coincided with an official announcement from the University of Cambridge confirming the launch of an investigation into new details surrounding Arday’s academic credentials and honorary titles, alongside ongoing complaints handled under its research misconduct policy. Jesus College, where Arday held a fellowship, confirmed a parallel internal review. The controversy began when former Cambridge researcher Nathan Cofnas published allegations detailing extensive textual overlap in Arday’s published academic papers using plagiarism-detection software. Cofnas also questioned several public claims made by Arday regarding his charitable activities, including assertions of running 30 marathons in 35 days and raising more than £5 million for charity. Arday previously acknowledged editorial oversights in his earlier work, attributing textual similarities to processing methods linked to his neurodivergence and autism, while strongly denying intentional deceit or dishonesty. He argued that the scrutiny was part of a racially motivated campaign targeting his position and diversity initiatives within academia. Publisher Simon & Schuster, which is slated to publish Arday’s memoir later this month, issued a statement defending his professional integrity, while Cambridge officials stressed that formal review processes will proceed in accordance with employment law and institutional guidelines.

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing growing dissatisfaction among young voters as the country moves closer to a national election expected next year. Recent opinion polls indicate that voters aged 18 to 34 are increasingly moving away from Meloni’s right-wing coalition and towards opposition parties. Analysts say the shift could become significant if young Italians turn out in large numbers at the 2027 election. Lorenzo Pregliasco, head of polling agency Youtrend, said younger voters were clearly showing greater support for the centre-left. Meloni’s coalition, which includes her Brothers of Italy party, Matteo Salvini’s League and Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia, now has less than 30% support among voters under 35. The opposition bloc, led by the Democratic Party, the 5-Star Movement and the Left-Green Alliance, commands close to half of the support among the same age group. The situation marks a major change from 2023, when Meloni’s party alone enjoyed support among young voters comparable to the combined backing now received by her coalition. Analysts attribute much of the discontent to Italy’s economic difficulties and limited opportunities for younger people. Critics argue that the government has failed to introduce major economic reforms capable of improving employment prospects and reversing the country’s long-standing youth unemployment problem. Eurostat data shows that Italy has the lowest employment rate among people aged 15 to 24 in the 21-member eurozone. The country also spends less on education than most of its European partners. The economic challenges have encouraged many young Italians to seek opportunities abroad. According to Bank of Italy data cited in the analysis, young graduates in Germany earn substantially more than their Italian counterparts. Meloni’s approval rating among voters under 35 stands at around 25%, compared with approximately 35% among the wider population. Political scientist Lorenzo De Sio of Rome’s Luiss University said the lack of movement on economic policy was a major source of frustration among young voters. Meloni is also facing competition from the far right. National Future, a party formed earlier this year by former army general Roberto Vannacci, has already gained around 7% support in some polls. The party has attracted middle-aged men but is also gaining attention among some young urban voters opposed to immigration. The government’s law-and-order policies have further contributed to tensions with sections of the younger population. Measures targeting rave parties, cannabis production, street protests, squatters and juvenile crime have drawn criticism from youth groups. A nationwide student protest known as “No Meloni Day” brought thousands of demonstrators onto the streets last year. Protesters criticised security measures, education spending and Meloni’s position on the Gaza conflict. The government has also proposed changes to rules governing criminal responsibility for minors. Under the proposed legislation, people aged 14 to 17 who commit crimes could be treated as fully responsible unless it is established that they did not understand the consequences of their actions. Youth dissatisfaction has previously been difficult to measure because turnout among younger Italians is traditionally low. Many young voters have tended to stay away from elections rather than support opposition parties. That pattern changed during a March referendum on a judicial reform backed by Meloni. Around 67% of voters under 35 participated, and 60% of them rejected the proposed reform. The result demonstrated the potential influence of young voters when they participate in large numbers.