Page 2 - Protest

Schools up to class 8 to reopen in Leh as situation returns to normal

With the situation limping back to normalcy after violent clashes on September 24 left four people dead in Leh, the authorities have ordered reopening of all schools up to Class 8 from Friday. However, they called for strict adherence to the prohibitory orders that ban assembly of five or more persons, an official order said. "It is hereby ordered that all shops and schools up to Class 8 within Leh district shall remain open, and small buses (public transport) shall be permitted to ply between 10 am and 6 pm on October 3, subject to strict adherence to the restrictions laid down under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita," it read. The order was issued by Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Shabbir Hussain on directions of the district magistrate. The situation in the district began getting back on track when authorities relaxed the curfew for seven hours on September 30 and gradually increased the duration on Wednesday and Thursday.

LBA confirms member's suicide in Ladakh, says he admired Sonam Wangchuk

A general council member of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) has committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence, its president Chering Dorjay Lakruk said on Thursday. Stenzin Dorjay, a resident of Skitmang village, some 100 km from Leh town, was a big fan of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who was detained under National Security Act and lodged in Jodhpur jail on September 26, Lakruk, also co-chairman of Leh Apex Body (LAB), told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. Survived by his wife and two children, Dorjay was found dead by hanging at his house early Wednesday. His brothers claimed that he was highly depressed after the September 24 violence that left four persons dead and scores of others injured. "He was a member of our general council and was linked to our movement (in support of statehood and safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Constitution). He was a big fan of Wangchuk, I know it because I saw him with Wangchuk on September 24," Lakruk said.

Two killed as youth-led anti-government protests turn deadly in Morocco

Anti-government demonstrators in Morocco filled the streets for a fifth straight night on Wednesday, as protests over the state of public services descended into deadly violence. Police opened fire at the protesters in a southern town, reportedly in self-defence, killing two people. The deaths in Leqliaa, about 500 kilometres (312 miles) south of the capital of Rabat, were the first fatalities as anger mounts across this North African country over conditions and government spending. Morocco's state news agency, MAP, cited local authorities as saying the two troublemakers were killed by police acting in self-defence. It said those shot were attempting to seize police weapons, though no eyewitnesses could corroborate the report. There were no further details. The demonstrations, organised by a leaderless movement dominated by internet-savvy youth, have taken the country by surprise and emerged as some of Morocco's biggest in years. By midweek, they appeared to be spreading to new ...

Curfew relaxed in Leh, markets open after shutdown, residents relieved

The protests were a result of people demanding statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, which turned into clashes with the police officials in Leh

Thousands march in Serbia in resistance to autocratic leader Vucic

Thousands joined protest marches in several Serbian towns on Wednesday reflecting persistent resistance to autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic's rule despite a government crackdown. Crowds gathered to mark 11 months since a concrete canopy collapsed in a northern Serbian city that killed 16 people and triggered a major anti-government movement. Protesters believe that the crash at the renovated train station in Novi Sad resulted from graft-fuelled negligence in construction projects. The building's renovation was part of a wider railway overhaul with Chinese companies. Holding up lights on their phones, the protesters in Belgrade walked in silence to honour the victims who included children. Huge crowds also gathered in Novi Sad, braving heavy rain falling in the city. No incidents were reported, unlike at previous several demonstrations when riot police used tear gas against the protesters. University students - a main force behind the rallies - are demanding justice in the Nov

Datanomics: Decoding the unrest in Ladakh and rising unemployment

The budget allocation for the region for most years showed a decline compared to Budget Estimates

Madagascar president sacks govt following days of deadly Gen Z protests

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina fired the prime minister and the rest of his government Monday in response to days of deadly Gen Z-led protests in the Indian Ocean island over the failure of the electricity and water supplies. Rajoelina said in a speech on national television that Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and other government officials would stay on an interim basis until a new government is formed. He invited applications for government positions and gave a three-day time frame to review proposals for a new prime minister. Your demands have been heard, and I apologise if there are members of the government who have not done the work that the people expected, Rajoelina said. The protesters had called for the resignation of both Ntsay and Rajoelina, but Rajoelina gave no indication that he would step down. The protests against chronic electricity and water cuts began on Thursday and drew thousands onto the streets, prompting the government to order nighttime curfews in t

Amid political turmoil, ousted Nepalese PM Oli dismisses exile rumours

Oli recently vacated the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar on September 9 after weeks of Gen Z-led protests culminated in the fall of his government

Delhi riots: HC denies bail to Tahir Hussain, order says allegations grave

While denying bail to former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the murder case of IB staffer Ankit Sharma during February 2020 riots, the Delhi High Court order has highlighted the "extremely grave" allegations against him. Justice Neena Krishna Bansal said the incident was not merely an "ancillary crime, but a gruesome manifestation" of a larger conspiracy. "Dragging of Ankit Sharma by an enraged mob, his brutal murder with 51 injuries, and the subsequent disposal of his body in a drain, defines the gravity of the offence," the court said. The verdict prima facie found Hussain not only a "passive participant" but a "key figure" in the events. "Viewing this incident as an off-shoot of the larger conspiracy is essential to appreciate its full gravity and the prima facie role of the applicant (Hussain) within it," the bail rejection order added. On February 26, 2020, complainant Ravinder Kumar informed the Dayalpur police station officials that his son Ankit Sharma, who was posted in

Bengal school job aspirants protest over fair recruitment process

A section of school job aspirants, who appeared for recent exams conducted by WBSSC, staged a demonstration in Salt Lake on the eastern fringes of Kolkata on Thursday, demanding fair recruitment in government-aided schools. They gathered at Karunamoyee Metro station and took out a one-km march to Bikash Bhavan, the state education department headquarters. The agitators, who appeared for the State Level Selection Test (SLST) conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission on September 7 and 14, were demanding the abolition of the provision of awarding 10 extra marks to untainted teachers who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order and have participated in the fresh exams. The Supreme Court ordered the sacking of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff at state-aided schools, describing the 2016 recruitment process as vitiated and tainted. The protesters claimed the 10-grace-marks provision would deprive new candidates and violate the norms that ensure a level playing .

Ladakh protests: What led to the violent clashes that killed 4 in Leh

The protests followed a 15-day hunger strike over the statehood demand, led by environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk

How angry Gen Z kids in Nepal sparked Asia's deadliest uprising of 2025

The protests escalated dramatically on Sept. 8, when police fired on groups of young demonstrators, killing more than 20 people

4 killed in Ladakh as statehood protests turn violent, LG clamps curfew

Four killed; 45, including 22 police personnel, injured

South Asia lived with inequality. Then 'nepo babies' fuelled public outrage

South Asia stayed calm as the upper-middle class aspired to a globalised life, but slowing growth, tech shifts, and travel limits, amplified by TikTok and Instagram, are stoking frustration

Indian envoy assures aid to rebuild Nepal structures hit in Gen Z protests

India on Sunday assured to help in reconstruction of various structures damaged during the Gen Z protests earlier in the month, if Nepal made a request. Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava, during a meeting with Nepal's Energy Minister Kulman Ghising at the latter's office at Singhdurbar here mainly discussed bilateral cooperation on energy and water resources and reviewed progress of various projects being undertaken under NepalIndia cooperation, the sources at the ministry said. Indian ambassador Srivastava said that India is ready to extend help in the reconstruction of various structures damaged during the Gen Z protests, if Nepal makes a request, the sources added. During the courtesy call on Ghising, who also holds the Water Resources and Urban Development & Physical Infrastructure portfolios, the Indian ambassador congratulated the Nepali minister for his new charge and also discussed additional electricity exports from Nepal to India. Sushila Karki, who leads the interim ..

160-mile march for democracy arrives in Washington from Philadelphia

Over the span of 14 days, nearly 200 people marched from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in defense of democracy. From children to the elderly, members of the We Are America march arrived in the nation's capital on a warm and sunny Friday afternoon, tired but joyous, where they were greeted with hugs and cheers from supporters and members of Congress. The mission of their sprawling walk was to unite a movement strong enough to hold America's leaders accountable in the face of mass firings at government agencies, the federal takeover of the District of Columbia's law enforcement and myriad disagreements with actions made by the Trump administration and the president himself. Marchers from across the country gathered in Philadelphia, then trekked through Newark, Delaware; Wilmington, Delaware; Baltimore and beyond. Along the way they were housed in churches, where they slept in pews, or at people's homes. One night the group camped outdoors. Founding member Maggie Bohara said the .

Strikes, protests roil France, pitting streets against Macron, new PM

Marching with thousands of other protesters in Paris, hospital nurse Aya Tour put her finger on the pulse of many who took to streets across France on Thursday against the government of President Emmanuel Macron. Fed up. Really, really fed up," she said. Those people governing us, they have no clue about real-life issues. We are paying the price. Strikes that hobbled the Paris Metro and disrupted other services, coupled with nationwide demonstrations that saw sporadic clashes with police who fired volleys of tear gas, gave loud voice to widespread complaints that eight years of leadership by France's business-friendly president have benefited too few people and hurt too many. The day of upheaval for the European Union's second-largest economy aimed to turn up the heat on new Prime Minister Sbastien Lecornu and his boss, Macron. They're engaged in an intensifying battle both in parliament and on the streets about how to plug holes in France's finances, with opponents fighting propos

France braces for day of strikes as unions challenge new PM's budget plans

Strikes and street demonstrations called by all major trade unions to denounce budget cuts were expected Thursday across France, as new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu talks with political opponents about curbing France's massive deficit and debt. Unions are urging Lecornu to abandon draft budget measures proposed by his predecessor, which include social welfare freezes and austerity measures that many say will further erode the purchasing power of low-paid and middle-class workers. In a joint statement issued before the change of prime minister last week, unions described such measures as unprecedented brutality, regretting that previous government had "chosen to make workers, those in precarious employment, retirees, and the sick pay the price. Unions also continue to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform that raised the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64. Outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said Wednesday he expects a very strong mobilization in the ...

Datanomics: New Nepal PM faces challenges from graft to economic revival

She begins her term with a promise to fight corruption, which is the foremost challenge in the fragile economy

Sudan Gurung's group demands PM Karki's resignation over cabinet picks

A group led by Sudan Gurung protested in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, opposing Om Prakash Aryal's appointment as Home Minister and accusing PM Sushila Karki of ignoring their concerns