Ram

• The Indian government has convened an all-party meeting this Sunday at 11 am in the Parliament House annexe to coordinate before the upcoming Monsoon Session. • The meeting aims to secure cooperation from opposition parties to ensure the smooth functioning of both Houses of Parliament. • Key agenda items for discussion include the NEET controversy, Sonam Wangchuk's protests, and the ongoing Ram Mandir row.

• Actress Roh Yoon-seo has successfully debuted in her first historical drama, *The East Palace*, portraying a palace lady named Saenggang who possesses the ability to hear spirits. • The series has achieved significant commercial success, currently ranking in the top 10 of Netflix's charts in South Korea. • This role allows Roh to demonstrate her versatility as a performer by transitioning from modern roles to a period piece.

Australia risks ‘shipping’ intellectual capability overseas if educational rigour not restored, experts warnGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn academic at the Australian National University has accused it of a “hysterical” response to students using AI to cheat, as tertiary institutions rush to shore up the credibility of assessments.But a colleague warned Australia is in danger of “shipping our national intellectual capability” to companies in California and China if educational rigour is not restored. Continue reading...

• The Group of Seven (G7) nations have issued an urgent call for rebel forces in Sudan to cease actions that could lead to atrocities in the city of El-Obeid. • Violence has escalated in recent weeks between the Sudanese army and the renegade Rapid Support Forces (RSF), intensifying an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. • This international intervention aims to prevent a repeat of previous massacres and protect civilians caught in the crossfire of the ongoing power struggle.

• Tensions are escalating as the U.S. and Iran exchange missile strikes, leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising global oil prices. • Israel reports that U.S. forces may shift their targeting strategy from Iranian military sites to civilian infrastructure following recent remarks by President Donald Trump on Fox News. • This shift signifies a potential escalation in conflict, prompting Israel to prepare for intensified hostilities between the two nations starting next week.

• The Trump administration is considering a new framework for the release of advanced open-source AI models to maintain a competitive edge. • This move comes as Chinese rivals gain ground by offering low-cost AI systems and achieving hardware breakthroughs that reduce energy consumption. • The shift highlights a critical intersection of national security and economics, as global businesses increasingly adopt more affordable Chinese alternatives.

• Wall Street banks are increasing their deployment of AI-powered digital assistants to enhance operational productivity and efficiency. • According to Richard James, head of AI product at UBS, these tools aggregate internal data from emails, accounts, and meetings to support decision-making. • The technology allows AI agents to execute trades and complete money transfers once a financial advisor has finalized a transaction strategy with a client.

• Thailand has emerged as the leader in Southeast Asia for short-drama in-app purchase revenue and ranks as the region's third-largest market for downloads, according to Sensor Tower. • TikTok Thailand is leveraging this trend by providing local content producers with distribution channels to reach new audiences through mini-dramas. • This shift is significant as mini-dramas are now one of the fastest-growing mobile entertainment categories, currently outperforming traditional over-the-top (OTT) streaming apps in downloads.

Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah will lose ‘close to a million and a half acres each’ and open land to developers and oil industryDonald Trump has approved a sharp reduction in the size of two national monuments in Utah held sacred by many Native Americans, in the latest move to open US public land to corporate developers and the oil and gas industry.The two monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, will see a reduction of “close to a million and a half acres each”, Trump said during an executive order signing event on Monday, undoing protections established by former presidents. Continue reading...

Ukraine and nine other countries including UK issue joint statement as leaders meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy in ParisUkraine and nine other countries including the UK, Germany and France are to build a shared protection programme for Europe against ballistic missiles, using Kyiv’s experience in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion for more than four years.“Our goal is to build a shared ballistic missile defence capability for Europe,” the 10 nations said in a statement on Monday as leaders met the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for talks in Paris. Continue reading...

A bipartisan group argue in lawsuit that $110bn merger would hurt competition and lead to thousands of job lossesA bipartisan group of US state attorneys general are seeking to block the $110bn merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, arguing in a lawsuit filed on Monday that it would hurt competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.The coalition behind the lawsuit is led by the California attorney general, Rob Bonta, who has been a staunch critic of the merger since it was agreed to in February after a bidding war between David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and Netflix. Continue reading...

• Senator Lindsey Graham has passed away, leaving a significant political void in both Washington and his home state of South Carolina. • His death occurs as Senate Republicans face mounting pressure due to deteriorating relations with the White House. • The timing is critical as Democratic candidates are actively attempting to seize momentum ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

• Former officials associated with Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election are actively promoting claims that noncitizens are voting in U.S. elections. • These efforts aim to sow doubt regarding the legitimacy of upcoming midterm election results by highlighting a phenomenon that voting experts describe as extremely rare. • This strategy is significant as it mirrors previous attempts to undermine public confidence in the electoral process and democratic institutions.

Lawmakers face obstacles, including demands from Trump, Mitch McConnell’s absence and Graham’s sudden deathHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Republican lawmakers return to the Capitol this week after the unexpected death in office of Lindsey Graham, as the party seeks to appoint a new senator to see out his term.The Senate judiciary committee has scheduled two days of confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general Trump has nominated to the post, though it was unclear if the death of Graham, who served on the committee, will affect the schedule. The intelligence committee has separately announced that the confirmation of Clayton is back on.Republicans in both chambers remain confounded by Trump’s renewed fixation on the Save America Act, which would ban mail-in ballots and impose new rules on voting nationwide. The measure, a version of which was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year almost entirely with Republican votes, has no path through the Senate, where it faces opposition from Democrats and some in the GOP.Ro Khanna accused the Israeli government and military of “lying” on Sunday about the US congressman’s detention by armed settlers and Israeli soldiers during a recent visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Khanna – a California Democrat – had posted video evidence on social media of Israeli settlers and soldiers blocking the path of his convoy on Wednesday in the South Hebron hills, near the village of Zanuta, where Israelis have driven Palestinians from their homes in what Amnesty International calls a government-backed “ethnic cleansing campaign”. Continue reading...

• Over three dozen California state legislators sent a formal letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and state leaders warning that the film and TV tax credit program is under threat. • The legislators are urging government officials to protect the incentives that attract entertainment productions to the state. • This program is critical for maintaining California's competitive edge against other states and countries that offer aggressive tax breaks to lure studios.

• China is seeing a surge in the popularity of "microdramas," characterized by racy plot lines and short, 60-second episodes. • The format's massive scale is evidenced by one popular show that garnered over 4.6 billion views across its 90-episode first season. • This trend represents a significant soft power victory for China's entertainment industry, which has struggled to compete globally against South Korea's dominance.

• The INDIA bloc intends to challenge the central government during the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament over several critical issues. • Key points of contention include the construction of the Ram temple, the NEET exam paper leak, and the protection of democratic rights. • RJD leader Sudhakar Singh warned that failing to address these concerns could lead to an "illusion of democracy," comparing potential future elections to those in China, Russia, and North Korea.

• Researchers have identified new threats of flesh-eating bacteria in summer waters, coinciding with a broader decline in public health oversight. • Dr. Jha warns that the Trump administration is dismantling critical policies and incentives intended to combat the nationwide chronic disease epidemic. • The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the dismantling of USAID have weakened global health coordination, specifically impacting the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Major media companies, including Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, and CNN, are conducting widespread layoffs as the industry adjusts to the aftermath of COVID-19 and two major strikes. • Film Independent, the organization behind the Spirit Awards, has cut six positions from its 40-person staff since December due to the loss of federal grant funding. • These cuts reflect a broader industry instability driven by the rise of streaming services and the integration of artificial intelligence in production.

• Global cybersecurity spending is projected to reach $240 billion by 2026, according to a new report from IDC. • The rise of AI and post-quantum security is forcing organizations to redefine their cybersecurity framework selections to combat evolving threats. • AI has fundamentally shifted the landscape, with threat actors now using the technology to automate phishing, accelerate vulnerability discovery, and launch model poisoning attacks.

• SpaceX launched the Transporter-17 rideshare mission on July 7, continuing its series of dedicated small-satellite deployments. • The launch occurs amid growing industry concerns regarding the long-term viability and future of the Transporter program. • Rival company executives have described the current atmosphere surrounding the program's stability as a state of "panic."

• The Trump administration is increasing pressure on state election officials to ensure noncitizens are not registered to vote. • Federal courts have rejected multiple Justice Department requests for detailed voter and election worker data from states including Georgia, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. • The federal government has lost over 10 similar legal challenges involving requests for information from 30 states and the District of Columbia.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have launched a joint conservation project to restore the 1,200-year-old Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta. • During the launch, PM Modi highlighted his personal connection to temple preservation, citing his involvement with the Somnath temple in Gujarat and the Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple in his hometown of Vadnagar. • This initiative strengthens cultural and diplomatic ties between India and Indonesia through the shared heritage of Hindu architecture and spiritual history.

• Indian Prime Minister Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo have officially inaugurated a restoration project for the UNESCO-listed Prambanan Temple. • The project will be led by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) following an agreement reached during Prabowo’s visit to India in 2025. • The initiative highlights the deep cultural and spiritual ties between the two nations, specifically through the temple's Ramayana reliefs.

The US president is in combative mood as Nato leaders meet for a two-day summit in Ankara. There are divisions over Russia’s war in Ukraine, defence spending, and the US-Israel war in Iran with signs of the fragile ceasefire collapsing.The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is holding talks with leaders as he rallies the European cause against Russia’s war that has reached the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as Nato allies present an increasingly united front against an unreliable US.Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s central and eastern Europe correspondent Shaun Walker – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

• An SIT probe into donation theft at the Ram Temple revealed systemic failures, including CCTV blind spots, relaxed frisking protocols, and a flawed cash-counting system. • Journalists Bhupendra Pandey, Manish Sahu, and Deeptiman Tiwary analyze the report and the unique operational structure of the Trust managing the temple. • C Raja Mohan examines the "G Minus Two" Indo-Pacific order, arguing that middle powers like India and Indonesia will be critical as US-China rivalry intensifies.

• Prime Minister Modi is embarking on a three-nation tour to test and refine India's strategic overseas vision. • Market trends show iron ore prices have dropped below pre-war levels, while BHEL is seeing a revival through strong orders, though execution remains a critical challenge. • Geopolitical instability in the Middle East is causing corporate caution, making a return to the status quo essential for stabilizing investor sentiment.

• Actor Salman Khan revealed a rugged new look for his upcoming project, *Maatrubhumi*, via a first-glimpse post on Instagram on July 8, 2026. • The announcement comes as part of a broader trend of high-profile celebrity updates and movie teasers within the $2.83 trillion global entertainment industry. • This reveal is significant for fans and industry analysts tracking the actor's career trajectory and the potential scale of the new production.