Malaysia's Cybercrimes Bill 2026 passed both houses of Parliament, replacing the 1997 Computer Crimes Act. The bill addresses a surge in online fraud, with 8,014 charges recorded between January and May this year, surpassing 2025 figures.
A NSW parliamentary committee report accuses top prosecutor Sally Dowling of giving false evidence under oath regarding pitching a story about a child's sentencing hearing to radio station 2GB. The report recommends the attorney general investigate her removal from office.
Zimbabwe's upper house of parliament approved constitutional amendments allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to potentially stay in office until 2030 and replacing direct presidential elections with parliamentary appointments. Opponents label the move a "constitutional coup" and report harassment, while the government asserts it enhances stability.
A Russian senator claims the UK, France, and Germany (E3) are pushing for NATO troops to be deployed in Ukraine, while blocking its official membership to avoid direct conflict with Russia.
An NDA-backed independent candidate, Parimal Nathwani, secured a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand, defeating Congress's nominee and exposing cracks within the INDIA bloc. In Mizoram, the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) comfortably won the state's lone Upper House seat.
A truck-mounted billboard displaying AI-generated images of Victorian Premier Jactina Allan wearing a witch's hat with the slogan 'ditch the witch' has drawn criticism. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell condemned the imagery as misogynistic, citing daily sexist abuse she faces as a female MP.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned on Thursday, becoming the third party member to quit the Upper House amid growing unrest. His resignation follows similar moves by Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Sushmita Dev, deepening concerns about dissent within the party.
The Japanese Upper House Constitution Panel discussed responses to "emergencies" like large-scale disasters. The LDP proposed constitutional amendments to extend MP terms if national elections cannot be held, aligning with discussions in the Lower House. The CDP suggested utilizing "emergency meetings" under Article 54.
Japan's Upper House Constitution panel discussed emergency powers and the role of the Upper House during emergencies. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) emphasized the need for emergency clauses, including extending parliamentary terms. Differences in opinion were noted between the LDP in the Upper House and their counterparts in the Lower House.
Barnaby Joyce addressed a pro-life rally in Sydney, urging Nationals MPs to vote for a bill criminalising sex-selective abortions. Activists threatened to campaign against parties supporting abortion access, aiming to unseat incumbents in the lead-up to the NSW state election.
A NSW inquiry found systemic weaknesses in the childcare sector, including for-profit services and lax regulation, allowed predators to abuse children. The report recommends reducing for-profit providers and increasing not-for-profit and government-run services.
The Upper House Constitutional Review Committee heard opinions on the disparity in votes in the Upper House elections. A majority favored abolishing the "gōku" system, introduced in 2016 to correct disparities, due to its many issues. The LDP argued for constitutional revision to abolish it, while opposition parties expressed caution.
A NSW inquiry found systemic weaknesses in the childcare sector, including for-profit services and lax regulation, allowed predators to abuse children. The report recommends reducing for-profit providers and increasing not-for-profit and public services.
Seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs have officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, bolstering the NDA's numbers in the Upper House. This move, facilitated by the anti-defection law's provision for two-thirds party mergers, sees the BJP's strength increase significantly. The party anticipates further gains by year-end, nearing a crucial two-thirds majority.
Seven Rajya Sabha MPs, led by Raghav Chadha, have defected from AAP to the BJP, significantly boosting the ruling party's numbers to 113 and reducing AAP to just three members. This move weakens the opposition bloc's strength to 77, marking a substantial shift in the Upper House's political landscape and impacting AAP's national presence.
