Remarks

• DeepSeek has abruptly halted its second round of fundraising following the leak of private remarks made by founder Liang Wenfeng during an investor meeting. • During the meeting, Liang emphasized that the company's primary objective is the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) rather than prioritizing market share. • This decision is significant as it signals a strategic shift toward long-term research goals over immediate commercial expansion and capital accumulation.

• Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has paused its second fundraising round shortly after securing a record $7 billion in previous funding. • The decision follows the viral spread of comments attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng regarding China's AI industry and its competition with the United States. • This pause highlights the volatility of the AI investment landscape and the potential impact of public statements on corporate financing.

• On July 20, 2026, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a formal response to remarks made by New York City Mayor Mamdani. • The dispute centers on comments made by Mayor Mamdani regarding an arrest, though specific details of the incident were not elaborated in the update. • This clash highlights the ongoing diplomatic and political tension between local U.S. leadership and the Israeli government.

Political leaders in both countries rebuke Mariano Rajoy after he writes team ‘does not have any French players’The former Spanish conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy is facing growing accusations of racism after writing in a World Cup newspaper column that the French national team “does not have any French players”.Rajoy, who was in office from 2011 to 2018, pondered Spain’s looming semi-final showdown with France in an article for the online newspaper El Debate on Friday. Continue reading...

• Indian equity markets experienced a sharp sell-off on July 8, 2026, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 both sinking over 2% during the final hour of trading. • The crash was triggered by US President Donald Trump announcing that negotiations with Iran had ended and confirming renewed US strikes on Iranian targets, sparking fears of rising oil prices. • Despite the volatility, India remains in a high earnings growth phase supported by policy stimulus, with all 10 sectors expected to show positive revenue growth.

• The Sensex and Nifty 50 indices plummeted over 2% on July 8, 2026, following remarks from Donald Trump regarding Iran. • The market decline was primarily triggered by investor fears that geopolitical tensions would lead to a surge in global oil prices. • Despite the dip, India remains in a high earnings growth phase supported by policy stimulus, with all 10 sectors expected to show positive revenue growth.

• Bilahari Kausikan, former Permanent Secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and current chairman of the Middle East Institute, has issued a sharp critique of Pakistan's current state. • Kausikan described the nation as "teetering on the brink of failure," suggesting that the country is facing a severe systemic crisis. • He argued that international attention toward Pakistan is driven by anxiety over its strategic nuclear weapons arsenal rather than respect for its geopolitical influence.

• Postmaster General David Steiner announced that the U.S. Postal Service will cease delivering mail ballots in states that refuse to provide necessary voter data. • The decision has sparked immediate alarm among Democrats and voting rights advocates who fear the move could disenfranchise voters and undermine election integrity. • This policy shift highlights a growing conflict between federal postal operations and state-level data privacy or administrative regulations.

BBC says its vetting process ‘clearly failed’ after Guardian reveals presenter’s past comments about womenWarning: this article contains sexually explicit, offensive languageThe BBC has pulled a documentary series with its controversial presenter Ashley Cain after revelations over his history of abusive and misogynistic comments about women.In a statement late on Thursday, the BBC said its vetting requirements had “clearly failed” in the case of Cain, who was lauded by executives at the corporation for his ability to connect with young men. It added the BBC had “no plans” to broadcast a new series of Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone, a BBC programme that was filmed earlier this year at various locations across the world. Continue reading...

• The Gateway Pundit is revisiting the key remarks from President Trump’s second inaugural address to mark his birthday. • The article frames the address as the foundation for a "revolutionary administration" following what it describes as the most extraordinary political comeback in U.S. history. • The piece highlights Trump's return to power after the 2020 election, noting his victory in the Electoral College, the popular vote, and the capture of both chambers of Congress.

• The United States Mission to the United Nations issued a briefing calling for immediate economic and political reforms by the Cuban regime. • The U.S. demanded the release of political prisoners, the opening of the economy, and an end to the government's practice of blaming American policies for Cuba's internal misery. • The U.S. urged UN Member States to stop voting for the annual anti-embargo resolution and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the Cuban people directly rather than the government.

President’s remarks about Taiwan arms deals being a ‘negotiating chip’ with Beijing have been seized on by Chinese state mediaIt has been an unsettling few days for Taiwan’s government. When Donald Trump met Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, many feared the unpredictable US leader could upend Washington’s longstanding support for Taipei.But beyond a starkly worded statement from Xi stressing China’s claims over Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory despite never having ruled it, initial signs appeared good for Taipei. Continue reading...

Pew research shows Americans are more worried than excited about AI as graduates voiced fears over jobsA former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, was met with students’ boos at a university commencement address in Arizona on Sunday when he raised the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its effects.Schmidt – who led the tech giant for more than a decade, acquiring a multi-billion dollar fortune in the process – was speaking to as many as 10,000 graduating University of Arizona students when he addressed the impact of modern technology on society. Continue reading...

Defense secretary accuses senator of disclosing classified info but Kelly says ‘that’s not classified, it’s a quote from you’Pete Hegseth said he has referred Senator Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers for allegedly disclosing classified information about depleted US weapons stockpiles – information Kelly says he heard from the defense secretary, in public, under oath.Speaking on CBS News’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Kelly said American inventories of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Army Tactical Missile Systems, SM-3 interceptors, THAAD rounds and Patriot missiles had been severely drawn down during the Iran conflict, warning that replenishment could take years and leave the US exposed in any future confrontation with China. Continue reading...

• President Trump declared Wednesday from the Oval Office that 'I think we won' the war with Iran, citing successful talks and Iranian willingness to negotiate. • The statement follows reports of productive discussions over the prior 24 hours, with Trump emphasizing a potential deal on nukes and the Strait of Hormuz. • Critics question the victory claim amid ongoing hostilities and rejected ceasefire proposals, impacting U.S. foreign policy credibility.

• Brent crude futures rose 88 cents or 0.9% to $102.15 a barrel, while WTI advanced $1.12 or 1.2% to $96.20, trimming prior 7% losses after US President Donald Trump called direct talks with Iran premature. • A senior Iranian lawmaker dismissed the US peace proposal as a 'wish list' rather than practical, amid demands to halt Tehran's nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. • Markets assess if Middle East peace efforts will succeed, with strategist Hiroyuki Kikukawa noting discussions may continue until the US-China summit but uncertainty persists afterward.

Former Scottish Labour leader says she understands that expressing respect for author caused ‘worry, anger and upset’The incoming chair of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, says she is “truly sorry” after she expressed “huge respect” for JK Rowling in an interview with the Guardian.Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of Scottish Labour, said she understood that her words had caused “worry, anger and upset and I am truly sorry about that”. Continue reading...

Simon Dudley fired after his comments were condemned by prime minister and families of fire victimsReform UK’s housing spokesperoson has been sacked his role after he described the Grenfell Tower fire as a “tragedy” but said that “everyone dies in the end”.Keir Starmer had called on Nigel Farage to sack Simon Dudley, a former head of Homes England, after his comments, which were condemned by Grenfell families and others. Continue reading...

Jewish families ‘narrowly escaped being struck by the car’ after girl swerved towards them in Ripponlea, police sayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 13-year-old Melbourne girl has been charged with 52 offences including allegedly shouting antisemitic remarks, throwing eggs and swerving a stolen car towards members of the Jewish community.Victorian police said in a statement on Tuesday that the girl and two other girls were alleged to have been seen driving the stolen black Hyundai sedan in the south-eastern suburbs of Hampton, Ripponlea and Caulfield over multiple days last week. Continue reading...

Review of Kai Schwemmer’s broadcasts undermines claim ‘process of growth’ had led him to abandon bigoted viewsThe newly appointed College Republicans of America political director Kai Schwemmer has made racist, antisemitic, homophobic and sexist statements while espousing extremist rightwing views on abortion, a Guardian review of livestream recordings can reveal.Schwemmer said he would accept a world in which slavery was legal if abortion was criminalised, describes himself as “very much an anti universal suffrage guy” and accepts a supporter’s description of him as “our Mormon Nick Fuentes” – referring to the white nationalist influencer whose platform he streamed on for years. Continue reading...

Pontiff’s unusually pointed comments come after Pete Hegseth’s prayer for violence against enemies ‘who deserve no mercy’Pope Leo has said God ignores the prayers of leaders who wage war and have “hands full of blood” in an apparent rebuke to the Trump administration.The pontiff made the comments on Sunday as thousands of US troops arrived in the Middle East and days after the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, prayed for violence against enemies who deserved “no mercy”. Continue reading...

• Cuba's national electricity grid failed Monday, leaving millions without power in the third major blackout in four months due to U.S.-imposed energy blockade under President Trump. • Trump stated to reporters, 'I do believe I’ll be the honor of — having the honor of taking Cuba... think I could do anything I want with it,' amid reports of U.S. pressure for President Miguel Díaz-Canel to resign. • The crisis exacerbates humanitarian conditions on the island, tying into broader U.S. foreign policy shifts.