Shakira and Burna Boy’s Dae Dae breaks streaming records

ISTANBUL: Former Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu has announced his decision to step away from politics and dissolve his Future Party, ending a decades-long political career that saw him rise as one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s closest allies before becoming a vocal critic. Davutoglu announced the decision this week, saying he wanted to distance himself from what he described as a “dirty political climate” in Turkiye. He said the move was not a surrender but a step taken on moral grounds and a call for a broader rethink of politics. The former premier criticized issues including corruption, favouritism and weak accountability, saying these challenges had damaged public trust. He also raised concerns over the country’s presidential system introduced in 2018, arguing that it weakened checks and balances. Davutoglu began his career as an academic before entering politics. Born in Konya in 1959, he studied political science and international relations at Bosphorus University and later earned a doctorate in the same field. Before joining government, he worked as a professor and wrote several books on foreign policy. His academic reputation helped him become a key figure in shaping Turkiye’s international strategy. After the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002, Davutoglu joined the party and became a close adviser to Erdogan. He played an influential role in developing the “zero problems with neighbours” foreign policy approach, which aimed to improve relations with regional countries. He served as Turkiye’s foreign minister from 2009 to 2014 and became prime minister after Erdogan moved to the presidency in 2014. However, relations between the two leaders gradually weakened due to differences over governance, foreign policy and the distribution of political power. In 2016, Davutoglu resigned as prime minister and was replaced by Binali Yildirim. Three years later, Davutoglu left the AKP and launched the Future Party, presenting it as a conservative alternative focused on democracy and reforms. However, the party struggled to gain major public support and received a small share of votes in the 2024 elections.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing acute political pressure following a contentious cabinet reshuffle that triggered widespread friction within his conservative ranks. The internal discord comes at a critical juncture, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) pulls ahead in national opinion polls ahead of key regional elections in September. The shake-up was prompted by the abrupt departure of party heavyweight Jens Spahn over his decision to have a child via surrogacy abroad, a practice banned in Germany and previously opposed by Spahn himself. Merz appointed his chief of staff, Thorsten Frei, to replace Spahn as leader of the conservative parliamentary group, whilst moving Health Minister Nina Warken into the chancellery. However, additional dismissals, including Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and junior minister Tino Sorge, provoked sharp backlash from party members in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt, who accused Merz of poor communication and unfair treatment. With approval ratings for the CDU/CSU alliance slipping to 21% behind the AfD’s 27%, the upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern present a formidable test. Merz has urged patience, predicting internal tempers will cool before parliament reconvenes in September. However, growing discontent within the coalition leaves the chancellor in a precarious position as he attempts to push forward economic and social reforms.

A growing youth protest movement in India has delivered one of the biggest political setbacks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in recent years, raising questions about the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s appeal among younger voters ahead of crucial state elections. What began as demonstrations over alleged examination paper leaks has developed into a wider expression of frustration over unemployment, education and economic uncertainty. The protests were led by the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, a youth movement that quickly gained massive attention on social media. Within days of launching its campaign in May, the group attracted around 22 million followers on Instagram, most of them from Generation Z. The movement demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after allegations that a medical entrance examination had been compromised. As protests spread across India, thousands of students gathered in central Delhi despite heavy police action. In an effort to calm public anger, Prime Minister Modi posted a rare selfie video on Instagram, saying he understood the concerns of young people and promising action to address their grievances. However, the message failed to ease the demonstrations. Days later, Education Minister Pradhan resigned, fulfilling the protesters’ main demand and handing the movement a significant political victory. The resignation is considered unusual because Modi’s government has generally resisted removing senior ministers in response to public pressure. Political observers say the outcome has encouraged many young Indians who believe their voices can influence government decisions. Analysts say the protests extend far beyond the issue of examination leaks. Many young people are increasingly worried about unemployment, rising competition for limited jobs and the possible impact of artificial intelligence on employment opportunities, particularly in India’s large information technology and business services sectors. While the exam controversy sparked the demonstrations, experts believe it exposed much deeper concerns among the country’s youth. Political analyst Amitabh Tiwari said the paper leak became a symbol of wider frustration felt by many young Indians who are anxious about their future. He noted that disappointment over employment prospects and economic opportunities has created growing dissatisfaction that cannot be ignored. Senior government officials have acknowledged these concerns. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the government remains committed to understanding students’ problems and ensuring that their concerns are addressed. However, critics argue the ruling party has struggled to connect with younger generations, particularly on social media platforms where political discussions are rapidly evolving. Demographic trends also highlight the challenge facing India’s political establishment. People between the ages of 18 and 40 make up roughly 40 percent of the country’s population but hold only a small share of seats in the lower house of Parliament. The average age of members of the federal cabinet remains above 60, leading some analysts to argue that younger voices are underrepresented in national decision making. Although the CJP is not officially a political party, opposition groups have openly supported the student protests and attempted to capitalize on growing public dissatisfaction. The first major political test could come during next year’s state elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat. The BJP currently governs both Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, making those contests particularly important. Some analysts believe the movement could have an even greater impact if it eventually enters electoral politics before the 2029 national election. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has said no decision has been made about transforming the movement into a political party, but its rapid popularity has already attracted widespread attention across the political spectrum. Observers also believe political campaigning in India is changing. For years, the BJP built a strong digital presence on platforms such as X and Facebook. However, younger audiences have increasingly shifted to Instagram, where authenticity and informal communication often attract greater engagement than carefully managed political messaging. While the BJP has around 10 million Instagram followers, the CJP gained more than twice that number in only a few days. Modi personally continues to command a much larger audience across multiple social media platforms, but analysts say younger users are responding differently to newer forms of political communication. Writers and political commentators argue that Generation Z is less influenced by traditional political authority and more willing to openly question established leaders. They believe successful politicians will increasingly need to engage directly with young voters rather than relying on conventional campaign strategies. For Modi, the protests represent a reminder that public expectations are changing. During much of his time in office, he built a reputation as a decisive leader who rarely reversed government decisions. Political analysts now say that demonstrating a willingness to listen and respond to public concerns may become increasingly important as India moves toward another cycle of state and national elections.