Briefing

• The Delhi High Court conducted India's first Covid-era virtual hearing via WhatsApp, presided over by Justice Talwant Singh. • The proceeding involved a high-stakes anti-suit injunctive action regarding an emergency arbitration case based in Singapore. • This shift toward virtual hearings marks a significant adaptation of the Indian judicial system to maintain legal operations during pandemic restrictions.

• Rikard Jozwiak's "Wider Europe Briefing" highlights the EU's "Super Tuesday" regarding enlargement and the status of Ukrainian civil detainees held by Russia. • A coalition of nations, including Belgium, Bulgaria, and Sweden, criticized the European Commission for allegedly "sugarcoating" Serbia's progress on necessary reforms. • These countries pointed to the Commission's own rule-of-law report from one month prior, which heavily criticized Belgrade on multiple issues.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is scaling up containment efforts to combat an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. • The disease has expanded into two additional provinces, Haut-Uele and Tshopo, with specific cases reported in Kisangani. • This spread is critical because Kisangani serves as a major hub, increasing the risk of wider transmission along key transport corridors.

In today’s newsletter: The representation of the people bill has become a test of whether ​Britain can curb the surge in billionaire‑backed ​donations trying to influence how we run the countryGood morning. I’m Hettie O’Brien, and I’ll be arriving in your inbox regularly from today, rounding out the First Edition team alongside Libby and Michael.I’ve spent much of my time at the Guardian writing about who is pulling the strings in Britain: I enjoy illuminating knotty subjects for our readers, exposing how power works, and helping to make sense of the stories defining our world. I’d love to hear what you think – just reply to this email – we want you to play a part in shaping First Edition. But go easy, it’s my first day.UK news | The police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe is examining whether a leftwing or single-issue cause may lie behind her killing, the Guardian has learned.Middle East | Donald Trump has threatened to expand US strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to a deal amid a continuing dispute over the strait of Hormuz.UK politics | Boris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn of public money because of the way it went about buying PPE during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded.Europe news | A spokesperson for the EU has pushed back against the Trump administration’s assertion that the international criminal court poses a threat to US sovereignty.US news | The man killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Maine on Monday has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, according to local news outlets. Continue reading...

• The Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.46% to close at 5,495.610 on Tuesday, July 14, with DBS emerging as the top-performing stock. • Market trends show mass production shifting toward Malaysia, while research, development, and quality control operations remain localized. • Other business developments include a new "Thick Crunch" pizza range to drive non-party orders and the creation of MAS-backed vaulting for central banks.

• Gmarket has launched a storefront on the Lazada app, offering Singaporean consumers access to over 800,000 products sourced from South Korea. • A new sports facility has opened featuring 10 air-conditioned pickleball courts alongside amenities for various other sporting activities. • The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has issued a public health warning advising citizens against eating off public tabletops to prevent contamination.

• The Ladakh administration announced that all seven districts of the Union Territory will now have their own Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs). • This expansion extends the existing council system beyond Leh and Kargil to include the five newly created districts of Drass, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, and Zanskar. • Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra stated the move aims to achieve democratic decentralization and stronger grassroots governance by fulfilling long-standing demands for elected local bodies.

In today’s newsletter: A new law criminalising public bodies and officials that lie to the British public is expected to complete it final stages in the Commons. Why did it take so long?Good morning. We think we know this story, the one about the 97 who went to watch a football match on a sunny afternoon. Perhaps you remember, as I do, watching footage of the lethal crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium, on the evening news in your childhood living room. Or maybe you read later how South Yorkshire police presented a series of false narratives that blamed Liverpool football club supporters, rather than take responsibility for their own catastrophic mismanagement of the FA Cup semi-final.Today, after a decade of campaigning, a new law criminalising public bodies and officials that lie to the British public, and supporting people fighting these authorities for the truth, is expected to complete it final stages in the Commons, pushed through by Keir Starmer as one of his final acts as prime minister.UK news | British counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe in a shock development that has renewed the debate over the security of politicians. A 28-year-old man from Rotherham is being held in custody on suspicion of her murder.Middle East | The US has launched its third consecutive night of strikes on Iran hours after Donald Trump said Washington would reinstate a maritime blockade on the country and, in an apparently policy reversal, charge ships for safe passage.UK politics | Andy Burnham is to become Britain’s next prime minister after winning the backing of 349 Labour MPs, including all eligible members of Keir Starmer’s current cabinet, making it impossible for any rival to secure enough nominations to challenge him.Environment | Most of the UK media stories about the record-breaking heatwave that struck in June failed to mention the climate crisis, analysis has found. Even fewer pieces drew a link between the heatwave and government policies designed to tackle the climate crisis.US news | The US government has already paid back tens of billions of dollars in tariffs it collected before the supreme court ruled them illegal, according to budget figures released on Monday. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Andy Beckett takes your questions – and mine – about where UK politics is at and where it’s headed, from leadership churn and policy choices to electoral reform and moreGood morning. This week, we anticipate the arrival of Britain’s seventh prime minister in the space of a decade. Barring a sequence of events too freakish to contemplate this early in the day, Andy Burnham will be declared Labour leader on Friday and invited to form a new government thereafter.Sceptical as I am about doomy predictions on Britain’s chronic ungovernability, I wanted to speak to somebody who could offer some deeper context. Step forward Guardian columnist Andy Beckett, who also writes vivid modern histories about the country’s defining political ideas, and step forward you – First Edition readers – who responded when I asked what contemporary liabilities we should be talking about.Middle East | The US military has launched a new wave of attacks against Iran amid the escalating standoff over the strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying the latest strikes had “rendered futile” all the diplomatic efforts of the past few months.UK news | Senior police figures and politicians have warned against speculation during the murder investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death, after detectives said there was “nothing to suggest” political motivation.US politics | Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally in Washington, died this weekend after a short illness, his office announced.Far right | Elon Musk’s family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, according to the billionaire X owner’s father. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said on Sunday the news was a sign Britain “must do more to defend its democracy”.UK politics | Reform UK would have held just 15% of the donations it received last year if a proposed £100,000 cap on political donations had been in force, according to analysis shared with the Guardian.Monday | Green MP Hannah Spencer presents her Maximum Workplace Temperature Bill to the Commons, which would establish an independent body to recommend safe working temperatures.Tuesday | MPs debate capping political donations as they seek to strengthen a new law on party funding.Wednesday | Sir Keir Starmer will face his final PMQs. Continue reading...

• The Modi government plans to reintroduce legislation during the upcoming Monsoon Session to secure a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. • The proposed constitutional amendment and Delimitation Bill aim to implement these quotas starting from the 2029 elections. • This move follows a previous attempt earlier this year that failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority in Parliament.

• The July 10, 2026, threat briefing highlights several critical vulnerabilities, including "ConsentFix" and "ClickFix" methods used to hijack Microsoft 365 accounts in seconds. • New security threats are emerging, such as "Ghost Phishing" that bypasses traditional email filters and fraudulent campaigns where hackers impersonate Interpol to target small businesses. • Experts are warning of an "unprecedented" threat campaign resulting from the collaboration of two separate ransomware groups.

• New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon detailed the strategic partnership between India and New Zealand in an exclusive interview with The Indian Express. • Luxon identified economic, defense, security, and people-to-people ties as the three primary pillars supporting the relationship between the two nations. • The Prime Minister highlighted a global geopolitical "inflection point," noting a shift from a rules-based multilateral system to a power-based multipolar system.

• India and Indonesia have finalized a partnership for the sale of the BrahMos missile system, developed via a joint venture between DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. • This agreement expands India's defense export footprint, marking the third country to acquire the system after the Philippines and Vietnam. • The deal underscores India's growing role as a global defense supplier and strengthens strategic military ties between New Delhi and Jakarta.

• Cristiano Ronaldo has bid farewell to the World Cup, marking the end of his tournament history after scoring three goals in his final appearance. • Ronaldo achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments. • Despite his individual record, Ronaldo failed to score against Spain, who maintained a record-breaking streak of six consecutive World Cup clean sheets.

• FIFA overturned the automatic suspension of player Balogun, allowing him to participate in the world's biggest football tournament. • The decision followed a reported appeal made by Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, utilizing a rarely used rule to reinstate the player. • This move has sparked widespread debate and criticism regarding the potential for political influence to sway official sporting decisions.

• Anthropic surpassed OpenAI in revenue during the week of July 6, 2026, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape of the AI industry. • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly attempted to transfer $42 billion in equity to the U.S. government, signaling a complex move regarding corporate governance and public oversight. • Meta is shifting its strategic direction, though the specific nature of its new objective remains partially detailed in the briefing.

In today’s newsletter: Former Reasons to Be Cheerful guests on the challenges facing the presumptive next occupant of No 11 Downing StreetGood morning. Does anybody else remember Reasons to Be Cheerful? The podcast was hosted by radio presenter Geoff Lloyd and Ed Miliband, during what has been unkindly described as his wilderness years, after he stepped down as Labour leader in 2015.I flipping loved that podcast. It started in 2017, soon after my son was born, and I have fond memories of driving across the country with a pooping infant, listening to Ed and Geoff discuss ideas to fix the world. It gave me hope my kid might grow up into a half-decent future.UK politics | Nigel Farage has been accompanied by his friend George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster, to numerous Reform events and fundraisers and on a trip to Abu Dhabi, raising questions about the claim that he has no official role in the party.World Cup | Donald Trump said he personally asked Fifa president Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun, saying he believed the dismissal was unfair but insisting he did not pressure football’s governing body to overturn the suspension.UK news | One of the UK’s most horrific and shocking child custody scandals was collectively ignored for decades because the victims were working-class boys from the north of England, a government minister has said.Immigration | A Jamaican man who has lived more than half his life in the UK is facing deportation to his home country in one of the first cases since new anti-immigration measures were announced in last week’s immigration bill.Israel | A British charity is funding a religious school at the heart of expansion plans for the illegal Israeli settlement in the Palestinian city of Hebron. Continue reading...

Deputy Labour leader says No 10 needs to become more meritocratic and has asked Burnham to commit to 50/50 gender split for ministers and staffAndy Burnham will change a “boys club” culture of factional briefings at No 10 which silenced critics, according to the deputy leader of the Labour party.Lucy Powell said she had experienced “unpleasant” briefings in Downing Street, which left people afraid to speak out or challenge Downing Street’s position. Continue reading...

• The daily briefing reports on various events, including allegations of donation theft at Badrinath and the impact of Maha Kumbh footfall on Ram Temple pilferage. • In political news, Himanta Sarma led the BJP to a significant victory in the Assam Assembly elections, leaving the Congress with only 19 of the 126 seats. • Other featured segments include a review of the movie "Alpha," a story on love transcending borders, and a look toward the United States turning 250.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged approximately 595 points to reach a new record high following a soft June jobs report. • In contrast, the Nasdaq declined as investors continued a deepening selloff in artificial intelligence and semiconductor stocks. • The divergent market reaction highlights a split in investor sentiment between traditional industrial stability and high-growth tech volatility.

• East Asian economies showed positive momentum, with China's service sector improving and Vietnam receiving an upgrade from the World Bank. • Major stock markets closed higher on Friday, including Tokyo (+1.5%), Hong Kong (+1.3%), and the ASX200 (+1.4%), reflecting a generally bullish trend across the region. • Global financial indicators remained volatile, with the US 10-year Treasury yield at 4.49%, gold prices rising, and the New Zealand dollar trading at 57.1 US cents.

• The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) conducted new polling showing that over 50% of pension professionals support the government's proposed local investment mandate for Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds. • This support is conditional, as professionals insist that the mandate must not lead to a negative impact on overall investment returns. • The findings highlight a tension between the goal of stimulating local economic growth and the fiduciary duty to maximize fund performance.

• The UN Secretary-General expressed concern over the reported detention of political and civic actors in Uganda, specifically highlighting cases where the whereabouts of some individuals remain unknown. • The Secretary-General emphasized that the rights to liberty, security of person, and freedom of expression—including media independence—are legally enshrined in Uganda’s own Constitution. • This intervention underscores the international community's focus on human rights violations and the erosion of democratic freedoms within the country.

• India and Japan have unveiled an ambitious roadmap to deepen maritime and defense cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region. • Key initiatives include increasing the frequency of naval exercises, collaborating on defense technology, and scheduling an early India-Japan 2+2 ministerial dialogue. • This strategic alignment is a response to shifting global geopolitics and energy disruptions caused by the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

In today’s newsletter: As official celebrations spotlight a narrow cast of ​white heroes, communities across the US are reclaiming the histories that Freedom 250 leaves outGood morning, and a very happy 250th birthday to the United States of America. If you prefer to celebrate with cage fighting on the White House lawn, an IndyCar rally through the streets of Washington DC, or simply by watching the president do his lonely bop to YMCA at a sparsely attended state fair, so much the better.It takes a special kind of someone to make the semiquincentennial birthday of a nation of 349 million people, from a whole variety of backgrounds, all about himself. But he wouldn’t be the only one centred on a very particular (white, male, Christian-centric) view of how the nation came to be.UK news | Women from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than their white counterparts to receive an epidural while giving birth, research has revealed.Ukraine | Ukraine and Russia have promised fresh assaults after Moscow launched a huge barrage on Kyiv, killing at least 27 people, tearing open apartment buildings and sending tens of thousands of people to shelters.UK news | Criminal investigators in the UK say they have uncovered a “truly international network” of organised drug-facilitated sexual assault in which victims are sedated before being raped and sexually assaulted.UK politics | Keir Starmer has formally apologised for the British state’s role in past forced adoptions after decades of campaigning by mothers and children affected.World news | A rescue team pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from a collapsed basement, ending an operation that became a symbol of hope after the devastation of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela. Continue reading...

• A United Nations AI panel, co-chaired by Yoshua Bengio, held a briefing to discuss a preliminary report intended to serve as an evidence base for future AI governance. • Bengio emphasized that current decisions regarding artificial intelligence will have enduring impacts on individuals, businesses, institutions, and the stability of democracy. • The panel urged that science and compassion must guide AI development to prevent the technology from being derailed by commercial interests or geopolitical pressures.

• The UN Secretary-General introduced the preliminary report from the Independent Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and welcomed the General Assembly's decision to reform the organization's financial rules. • In Lebanon, thousands of displaced people continue to rely on humanitarian aid, with UN agencies and first responders providing food, water, emergency shelter, and psychological support. • The UN Development Coordination Office announced the appointment of Dmitry Shlapachenko of Ukraine as Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan and Xiaojun Grace Wang of China as Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Sanae Takaichi, while Meta is defending its WhatsApp "usernames" feature following security concerns raised by the Indian government. • Other reports include a theft controversy at the Ram Temple and the struggles of families who were pushed into Bangladesh last year and are now attempting to rebuild their lives in India. • In sports news, a new, taller statue of Lionel Messi has been erected in a Patagonian oil town in Argentina, following the removal of a 70-foot statue in Kolkata due to safety concerns.