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The 2-1 vote along party lines repealed ‘national cap’ that served as a key check on consolidation of the TV industryIn a historic vote on Thursday morning, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted along party lines to overturn a key check against the consolidation of the television industry, throwing out a rule that prevented any one company from owning stations that collectively reach more than 39% of all US TV households.The vote is a win for television conglomerates that aim to expand their reach across the country, particularly conservative-leaning companies like Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new policy on Tuesday banning federal funding for "dangerous" gain-of-function research. • This type of research involves enhancing viruses to predict potential threats, a practice that has faced scrutiny following the COVID-19 pandemic. • The move follows a 2020 order from the Trump administration and aligns with a bipartisan bill signed by President Joe Biden on March 20, 2023.

• Major stock indexes rose on Tuesday driven by positive corporate earnings, including a 4% jump in Coca-Cola shares following growth reports from CEO Henrique Braun. • Market gains were partially offset by continuing losses in chip stocks, while oil prices experienced a further decline. • Investors are awaiting the Bureau of Economic Analysis report on Thursday, with economists predicting a 3.7% annual increase in consumer prices for June.

Campaigners urge government to introduce right of access to water, particularly as heatwaves become more commonAlmost three-quarters of riverbanks in England have no public access, according to data released by the Right to Roam campaign.Across the country, the public cannot use riverbanks or gain access to the rivers themselves in most of the river catchments from the west of Cornwall up to the Tweed, which flows through northern England and Scotland. Continue reading...

• During a Senate subcommittee hearing on July 14, Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Justice Elena Kagan addressed concerns regarding the judiciary's ethical standards. • Senatorial questioning focused on whether the Supreme Court has implemented policies to manage the "meteoric rise" of prediction markets and the resulting ethical predicaments. • This scrutiny occurs alongside a broader push by Democrats to establish formal term limits for Supreme Court justices to increase accountability.

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced on July 20, facing a highly charged atmosphere due to student unrest and political disputes. • Lawmakers are expected to engage in intense debates regarding the NEET examinations, the delimitation process, and the government's broader legislative agenda. • The session serves as a critical test of the government's legislative strategy and the Opposition's ability to maintain unity and influence the national discourse.

Visas will be shortened to 240 days, down from five years, and Chinese journalists will be limited to 90 daysThe Trump administration has said it will drastically shorten visas for foreign journalists in the US to 240 days, down from five years, and cut those for Chinese journalists to only 90 days.The rule announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will do away with the “duration of status” system, which allows foreign journalists to stay and work in the United States as long as they meet eligibility requirements. Continue reading...

• 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 Israeli Knesset passed a contentious bill on Wednesday with a 65–51 vote that significantly restricts the authority of the attorney-general. • The new legislation allows the government to disregard the attorney-general’s legal opinions and grants ministers control over the office's appointment and removal processes. • This move represents a major milestone in the government’s broader judicial overhaul, shifting power from legal advisors to political leadership.

Ex-minister who helped write draft calls for bolder action on voting reform, crypto donations and social mediaThe government was “timid” and “incremental” when deciding what to include in its elections bill, a former minister who helped write it has said, as she urged the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to go further.Rushanara Ali, who resigned as democracy minister last August, said the draft legislation still contained big gaps when it came to voting reform, cryptocurrency donations and social media regulation. Continue reading...

• The European Union is planning to gradually limit children's access to social media platforms to enhance online safety. • This initiative builds upon existing EU regulations designed to rein in Big Tech companies and protect general user data. • The European Commission has indicated that additional rules are currently being developed to further restrict harmful digital environments for minors.

• Tech giants are engaging in a historic borrowing spree, issuing roughly $250 billion in bonds to fund the massive infrastructure requirements of artificial intelligence. • This surge in supply is weighing down bond prices as the market struggles to absorb the sheer volume of new debt. • The trend highlights the immense capital intensity of the AI race, forcing Wall Street investors to question whether the pace of spending is sustainable.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will introduce a proposal to limit children's access to social media platforms. • The formal proposal is scheduled to be presented after the summer, targeting the regulation of how minors interact with digital networks. • This move reflects growing concerns over the impact of social media on youth mental health and the need for stronger online safety protections.

• AI-related chip stocks are experiencing significant volatility as investors debate the sustainability of AI demand and corporate spending. • Rebellions, a South Korean chip startup backed by industry giants Samsung and SK Hynix, reports that demand for its technology remains "almost unlimited." • This surge in demand suggests that despite market fluctuations, the underlying need for AI hardware continues to grow rapidly.

• OpenAI will globally release its most advanced AI model, GPT-5.6, this Thursday following a limited preview for select partners. • The wide rollout follows the lifting of restrictions by the Trump administration, which had previously pressured the company to stagger the release. • An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed that the launch now has the official "green light" from U.S. government leadership.

• The U.S. Supreme Court struck down long-standing limits on the amount of money political parties can spend in coordination with their candidates in a case originating from Ohio. • These spending restrictions had been in place since the 1970s, having been originally established to combat corruption within the Nixon administration. • The ruling follows a broader legal trend, including the Citizens United decision, which prioritizes free speech by removing campaign finance restrictions.

Environmental protection agency and independent studies have found food biggest source of chemical exposureThe US Food and Drug Administration has rejected a legal petition demanding it set limits on toxic Pfas “forever chemicals” in food, marking another setback for public health advocates’ push to limit exposures to the dangerous compounds.The agency is refusing to set limits despite a growing body of science and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finding food is the biggest source of Pfas exposure. Testing has found the levels of Pfas in single servings of some contaminated foods to be equivalent to drinking many glasses of contaminated water. Continue reading...

• An Ohio court case has eliminated previous limits on coordinated spending between political parties and candidates. • The ruling follows a decision by the Trump administration to stop defending these coordination limits in court. • The Federal Elections Commission (FEC), the executive branch agency responsible for enforcing campaign rules, is now tasked with managing the fallout.

• Venture capital firms backed by the European Tame Capital Initiative (ETCI) are reportedly divided over a proposal to limit investments made outside of Europe. • Some VCs argue that mandates requiring a higher concentration of European investments could reduce their attractiveness to private Limited Partners (LPs) who seek global diversification. • This conflict highlights the tension between efforts to bolster the European tech ecosystem and the need for funds to remain competitive on a global scale.

• NPR correspondents Joanna Kakissis and Greg Myre analyze the ongoing conflicts involving Russia's attacks on Kyiv and the broader tensions between the U.S. and Iran. • The discussion focuses on whether these wars demonstrate the inherent limits of modern military might and the inability of global powers to achieve decisive victories. • This analysis matters as it challenges traditional assumptions about the effectiveness of superior technology and weaponry in achieving strategic political goals.

• President Trump and lawmakers are exploring legal avenues to end birthright citizenship, though legal experts cited by The Epoch Times believe such changes are unlikely. • Experts suggest that while constitutional or legislative amendments are nearly impossible to achieve, the administration could instead implement a stricter visa process. • A primary focus of these proposed measures is to combat "birth tourism," where foreign nationals use fraudulent documents and coaching services to enter the U.S. to give birth.

• The Supreme Court overturned a key campaign finance restriction on Tuesday in the case of National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission. • The ruling allows political parties to spend unlimited amounts of money on behalf of candidates in federal elections, removing previous coordination limits. • Justice Kagan dissented, arguing that the decision violates the First Amendment's intent and could cause "untold harm" by facilitating secret backdoor dealings.

• London-based corporate intelligence firm Ascendancy Advisors Limited (AAL) has launched the China Commercial Intelligence Brief (CCIB). • The CCIB is a practitioner-level publication designed for investors, sponsors, and companies managing commercial exposure to China. • The service aims to provide critical intelligence and strategic guidance to help cross-border decision-makers navigate the complexities of the Chinese market.

• The Supreme Court's conservative majority has overturned existing campaign finance laws, removing limits on political party spending for advertising and other expenses. • This ruling specifically allows parties to spend unlimited amounts of money in direct coordination with political candidates. • The decision is significant as it fundamentally transforms how campaigns are funded and increases the financial influence of political parties in elections.

• In a 6-3 landmark ruling on Tuesday, the US Supreme Court struck down campaign spending limits, citing protections under the First Amendment. • The decision overrules a 2001 precedent involving the Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee and reverses a 2024 ruling by the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. • This shift follows arguments from plaintiffs that evolving campaign finance jurisprudence over the last two decades had eroded the original rationale for the spending caps.

• In a 6-3 ruling on Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down restrictions on coordinated campaign spending between political parties and candidates. • The court found that the Federal Election Campaign Act's limits violated the First Amendment by hindering a party's ability to communicate and amplify its adherents' voices. • This decision follows a Trump administration pledge to stop enforcing these limits and removes a long-standing regulatory barrier for GOP spending.

• The Supreme Court struck down a federal election law over 50 years old, removing limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for president and Congress. • The ruling eliminates previous financial restrictions that governed the relationship between party spending and individual candidate campaigns. • This decision significantly alters the landscape of campaign finance by allowing parties to provide much larger sums of direct support to their nominees.

• The Supreme Court struck down Watergate-era limits on campaign funds for political parties, ruling that such funding is protected free speech under the First Amendment. • This decision follows a recent conservative court ruling regarding the Voting Rights Act, which allowed Republican-controlled Southern states to redraw congressional districts. • The combined legal victories are expected to provide a significant election-year boost for the GOP, potentially flipping several seats in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida.