Daily Briefing

• Neerja Chowdhury’s weekly column analyzes the political landscape of Punjab ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for early next year. • The analysis focuses on "competitive politics" and the influence of controversies surrounding Charanjit Singh Channi and the film *Satluj* starring Diljit Dosanjh. • Chowdhury emphasizes that candidates must prioritize stability, as Punjab is a sensitive border state facing an unsettled neighborhood and global uncertainty.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jalandhar, Punjab, on July 17 to unveil several railway and development infrastructure projects. • The visit occurs as the BJP prepares to contest the February 2027 state Assembly elections independently, signaling a strategic shift in its regional approach. • The trip takes place amid a shifting political narrative in Punjab, specifically highlighted by ongoing tensions regarding the Satluj river row.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.