Wednesday

• John Sununu won the nomination to run against Pappas in the general election after receiving an endorsement from Donald Trump. • New Hampshire voters have a history of splitting the ticket, having elected a Republican governor and two Democratic representatives in 2024. • The outcome of this race will determine which candidate represents the state in the upcoming general election.

In today’s newsletter: Ed Miliband has announced the strongest statement on Israel’s actions ever issued by the the UK government, but will it make a meaningful difference to Palestinians?Good morning. For almost half a century, British governments have condemned illegal Israeli settlements, acknowledging they represent an obstacle to peace and threaten the prospect of a two-state solution. And yet no government has ever compelled Israel to stop its expansion.Ed Miliband’s statement in the House of Commons yesterday was an attempt to change that. In a powerful and emotive speech, the foreign secretary recounted childhood memories of picking oranges on his grandmother’s kibbutz, accused Israeli “terrorists” of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and announced a series of new measures intended to address what he described as a “deeply painful contrast” between rhetoric and reality.UK news | Police have been told by the government they expect better intelligence gathering after masked far-right groups took to the streets at the weekend, the Guardian has learned, as the Kent force admitted mishandling warnings of potential trouble.UK politics | Andy Burnham should tackle inequality in the UK by introducing a wealth tax, universal free personal social care and bringing gas and electricity networks under public ownership, according to a report from more than a dozen influential thinkers.Airline industry | Flight delays and cancellations were expected to continue today at UK airports after another air traffic control failure kept planes grounded for hours, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.Iran | Iranian forces claimed to have seized an American underwater drone in the strait of Hormuz that the US military said had “malfunctioned” more than a day earlier.US news | Donald Trump gave sizeable holiday gifts to four White House aides, according to new financial disclosures released by the administration, including $45,000 to executive assistant Natalie Harp. Continue reading...

• Indian equities continued to drop on Tuesday, with the Sensex falling 555 points and the Nifty index closing below 23,650. • Analysts attributed the decline to rising crude oil prices, concerns over Federal Reserve interest rate hikes, and the absorption of funds by initial public offerings. • Market participants are monitoring the 23,600 level as a key technical support point for the Nifty index to prevent further losses.

• Google and Meta launched competing "workhorse" AI models, while Anthropic's Claude introduced background computer use and OpenAI implemented agent shutdown controls. • Security researchers Zack Korman and Nirit Weiss-Blatt criticized the Hugging Face review for treating a cybersecurity forensics failure as an alignment issue, citing a lack of focus on network logs and engineering accountability. • Anthony Aguirre, CEO of the Future of Life Institute, called for an indefinite global halt on training systems beyond current frontiers until developers can prove oversight to an independent authority.

• The Missouri Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of a vote regarding the state's congressional redistricting process. • The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, though specific allegations were not detailed. • In local business news, a new Trader Joe's storefront has officially opened for business in Merriam.

In today’s newsletter: Communities from Scotland to India are pushing back against datacentres they feel have been forced upon them, warning they threaten energy supplies and the climateGood morning. This summer, datacentres have become targets of resistance across the world. Ever since the arrival of ChatGPT, big tech has been lobbying for the creation of enormous new facilities. Many governments claim they’re essential in any country that wants to cash in on AI.Campaigners argue datacentres drain resources and exacerbate the climate crisis. The Scottish National Party has backed a moratorium on new developments; so has the Greens. The boom has been immense, and so has the backlash. Today’s newsletter explains why.UK politics | Andy Burnham has blamed Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for a decade of low growth in the UK, arguing that Britain needs to be brutally honest about having taken “a series of wrong turns” in the last 40 years.Nepal-Tibet | A week on from the flash flooding disaster, authorities are urging relatives of the thousands of missing and dead to provide blood samples.Middle East | The US has launched new airstrikes on Iranian targets, prompting counter strikes by Tehran targeting American interests in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq, fuelling concerns about a ⁠wider renewal of hostilities.Ukraine | Russia has opened a deadly new phase in its war against Ukraine by deliberately targeting the country’s railway network, with six employees killed on Tuesday in the latest strikes on Kyiv.US news | Mark Carney has rebuked Donald Trump’s administration and urged officials in Washington to “start being serious” amid escalation trade tensions between the US and Canada. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: A collapsing trade deal has united Canadians more than ever, in an existential confrontation with the US presidentGood morning. When the Guardian asked Canadian readers whether they planned to boycott US products after dramatic escalations in the ongoing DC/Ottawa trade war, we received more than 2,000 responses within 12 hours.This inundation is perhaps evidence of the existential crisis many Canadians feel they now face, something often lost in the granular reporting of trade negotiations: this is about so much more than the price of lumber.US news | Dolly Parton, one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music who was also much cherished for her philanthropy, has died aged 80.UK news | UK citizens will be told to stock up on tinned food and take steps to ensure they are prepared for national emergencies as part of a new government campaign to improve the nation’s resilience.UK politics | Andy Burnham will face an immediate test of his backing for electoral reform in his first week in parliament as prime minister, with almost 100 Labour MPs supporting a bid for a new national commission.Ukraine | A man from South Yorkshire is believed to be the first British citizen to die fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine.Climate crisis | The carbon emissions from just two planned datacentres in England will exceed all of the fossil fuel company ExxonMobil’s UK emissions, analysis has revealed. Continue reading...

• Sensex and Nifty closed higher on Tuesday after reversing early losses, despite experiencing sharp volatility during the first expiry day following the launch of the closing auction session. • Market performance was mixed, with healthcare and financial stocks leading gains while broader market breadth remained cautious. • Key points of interest for Wednesday include analysis from Aswath Damodaran on why major firms like Reliance and L&T are pursuing aggressive acquisition strategies.

• Indian equities declined on Tuesday, with the Sensex falling 493 points and the Nifty dropping 133 points due to intensified risk-off sentiment. • The market downturn was driven by fading hopes for peace in the Middle East, elevated crude oil prices, rising US yields, and weak global cues. • Technical indicators suggest further downside for the markets, while analysts like Aswath Damodaran are examining the acquisition strategies of major firms like Reliance and L&T.

Fresh search teams to scour Nattai national park for Lily Hooper, 18, who failed to return home from a bushwalkGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe search for an 18-year-old bushwalker missing in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales since Wednesday is continuing, with fresh teams arriving at the Nattai national park on Saturday morning.Lily Hooper left her home in Sydney’s south-west about 8am on 12 August, after telling family she was going for a hike in the national park, north-west of Mittagong. Continue reading...

• New research from France suggests that stopping cholesterol-lowering statins at age 75 may be harmless for patients with no history of cardiovascular disease. • A separate Duke University study confirms that the real-world safety and effectiveness of the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab (Leqembi) align with its original clinical trial data. • Despite risks of brain swelling and bleeding (ARIA), approximately 80% of early-stage Alzheimer's patients remained on lecanemab treatment for at least one year.

• Donald Trump has claimed total control over the Strait of Hormuz and is demanding that Iran pay reparations. • The Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to keep interest rates on hold, while Singapore has significantly increased its annual economic growth forecast. • Carlos Caasanova of Union Bancaire Privée reports that inflation likely peaked in Q2 2026 and that rates have stabilized.

In today’s newsletter: As ministers scramble to resolve overcrowding in prisons, experts say the crisis demands a rethink of who we lock up – and what happens when they’re set freeGood morning. On his family holiday last week, the prime minister, Andy Burnham, was reported to be taking daily calls from Ministry of Justice officials about his government’s early release scheme. A furious public outcry has gathered pace since it emerged that the plan – brought in by his predecessor, Keir Starmer, to alleviate overcrowding in prisons across England and Wales – might include two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper and other serious sexual offenders, including grooming gang perpetrators.After several weeks of “system says no” briefings, which Harper’s mother Debbie Adlam has described as “a rollercoaster … really draining”, yesterday Burnham endeavoured to put a pin in it until September.UK news | Repeated debilitating heatwaves this summer are likely to have cost the UK economy more than £4bn in lost economic output by the end of July, new analysis shows.Meta | Courts in England and Wales have joined a number of restaurants, theatres and pubs in banning the controversial Meta glasses, which can record video footage while being worn.Middle East | Firefighters and residents of south Lebanon have accused the Israeli military of lighting wildfires in the region, as forested areas burned down in blazes sparked by Israeli bombing.UK politics | Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice has been accused of using “nasty tactics” in an attempt to intimidate journalists and deflect attention from his own financial affairs after issuing a legal threat to the Guardian.US news | Democrats called on Tuesday for a congressional briefing over a stunning charade in which Donald Trump was secretly spirited to a different plane than the one the public and press believed he was travelling on. Continue reading...

• Indian equities declined on Tuesday, with the Sensex falling 388 points and the Nifty dropping 112 points due to a weaker rupee and rising crude oil prices. • Market analysts have identified 24,400 as a critical support level for the Nifty as investors navigate heightened geopolitical risks. • Market sentiment remains volatile as traders await upcoming inflation data, which will likely influence short-term stock action.

• President Donald Trump reported holding productive all-day negotiations with Iran on Tuesday to secure a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. • The proposed agreement aims to stabilize global oil markets and lower gas prices, which have remained high due to tensions in the region. • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that Israel will take all necessary actions to ensure its own security, regardless of any U.S.-Iran deal.

In today’s newsletter: The past week shows how quickly images, rumours and ​right-wing political opportunism can eclipse the facts on the groundGood morning. Last week, an estimated 72,000 migrants began crossing into a tiny Spanish enclave on the tip of Morocco. Within 24 hours, most of them had headed home. At least 88 people died after attempting the crossing, according to local officials. This isn’t the whole story of what happened over the last week, but the facts are worth remembering.At an emergency meeting yesterday, EU interior ministers sought to draw a line under Ceuta, insisting that the passport-free Schengen area had never been at risk from the arrival of migrants at this scale. Despite this, much of the media coverage has suggested that events in Ceuta represent a territorial threat to Europe, sparking calls for greater security across the region’s borders.Environment | Eight of the biggest oil companies amassed profits of more than $90bn (£67bn) in just three months as the Iran conflict sent energy prices soaring and the emissions-fuelled climate crisis caused deadly heatwaves.UK politics | Women should not feel pressurised into experiencing an “ideal birth”, the new health secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said, promising a root-and-branch reform of standards after several damning maternity scandals.Middle East | Jordan is convening an emergency meeting over an “imminent” threat of an Israeli takeover of the most important Muslim site in Jerusalem, with the potential to “trigger a religious conflict”.Ukraine | Russian strikes in and around Kyiv killed at least 14 people, ⁠injured 27 and ⁠damaged warehouses, ​emergency service officials said. Some reports put the death toll at 15.Ceuta | Hundreds of people have gathered in the northern Moroccan town of Fnideq, near the border with Spain’s Ceuta, flashing photos of their missing loved ones to passersby in the hope of tracking them down. Continue reading...

• Indian stock markets closed lower on Tuesday due to volatility from the new Closing Auction Session and forced retail square-offs during weekly expiry. • Investors are closely monitoring the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy decisions and geopolitical developments in the Strait of Hormuz. • Market analysts are focusing on key technical support levels and the performance of major stocks including SBI, HDFC Bank, and Infosys.

• Betting platforms Kalshi and Polymarket now allow users to wager on whether the FDA will approve treatments for lung, breast, pancreas, and blood cancers this year. • Kalshi intends to expand its offerings by allowing users to bet on the specific outcomes of clinical drug trials. • Simultaneously, the FDA has reiterated concerns regarding Replimune's lack of adequate data as the biotech company attempts for a third time to gain clearance for a controversial skin cancer drug.

• Indian equities closed lower on Tuesday, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 erasing early gains following a sharp rally. • Market analysts attribute the decline to cautious investor sentiment ahead of upcoming global central bank meetings and fluctuations in crude oil prices. • While the broader market remained range-bound near key technical resistance levels, IT stocks showed relative strength by outperforming other sectors.

In today’s newsletter: A recent government reshuffle has exposed deep fractures within Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s wartime cabinetGood morning. Another week, another diplomatic success for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Monday, his first meeting with Andy Burnham as PM confirmed continuity in the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine. “We’ve got your back,” Burnham said as the pair spoke in Portsmouth. Yesterday, in Washington DC, after attending the funeral of Lindsey Graham – a once supportive Republican senator – Zelenskyy and Trump held a “positive and productive” meeting, as per the White House. Overnight, the US Senate advanced a sweeping Russian sanctions bill.Save for that somewhat shaky start in the early days of Donald 2.0, these well-executed global stage set-pieces have come to define Zelenskyy’s wartime leadership. The hundreds of billions he has secured in military, financial and humanitarian aid from the US, Europe, the UK and beyond during a period of global economic unease is remarkable.UK news | Young people will be expected to engage with new support to find work, Pat McFadden has said.World news | At least 13 people have been killed after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan, injuring hundreds and knocking out power and water to tens of thousands.Europe news | Nearly 4,000 people have been evacuated from tourist sites on France’s Atlantic coast as the return of winds and extreme heat jeopardises firefighters’ battles to contain wildfires raging in France and Spain.US news | Donald Trump hosted back-to-back White House meetings with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, as Ukraine seeks more firepower for its air defences and the Israeli prime minister tries to repair his strained relationship with the US president.UK news | Led By Donkeys has received compensation after a giant banner it displayed in Parliament Square saying “Yes It’s A Genocide” was seized by officials and destroyed. Continue reading...

• Asian markets are expected to open lower due to ongoing valuation pressures on technology stocks, coinciding with the start of the FOMC meeting. • Investors are closely monitoring SK Hynix's earnings report, CXMT's second day of trading, and news regarding China's new deep ultraviolet lithography kit. • South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean reported a second-quarter operating profit of 736.1 billion won ($500.6 million), marking a 98% increase from the previous year.

• Global stocks are rising following optimistic expectations for peace talks with Iran. • Recent data from Asian economies, including Taiwan and Singapore, indicates that the high-tech employment share has remained largely unchanged or even declined despite the ongoing AI boom. • This trend suggests a potential disconnect between the economic contribution of the tech sector and actual job growth in these regions.

• Major U.S. stock indexes remained largely flat on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, showing minimal movement despite volatility in other sectors. • The stagnation occurred as oil prices rose by an additional 3%, putting potential pressure on energy costs and inflation. • This stability suggests a cautious market sentiment as investors weigh the impact of rising energy prices against broader economic indicators.

• German coalition leaders are calling on Deutsche Bahn to use its own staff to enforce the railway's alcohol ban rather than relying on external authorities. • Alexander Thro, domestic policy spokesman for the Union, stated to Die Welt that the company must take full responsibility for the security measures it implements. • Other reports from Wednesday, July 22nd, highlight a rise in child sexual abuse cases reported by federal police and a continuing decline in national beer consumption.

• The US announced 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods, while China is considering tighter export controls on AI chips and models to protect its technology. • To stabilize its markets, China has launched broad state support measures aimed at halting a significant selloff in tech stocks. • Taiwan's tech sector saw record growth, with US orders soaring 83.6% and ASEAN demand rising 52.3%, reinforcing its critical role in the global AI supply chain.

In today’s newsletter: ​A White House operating without expertise, strategy or restraint ​is stuck in a conflict with no easy way out, which is sending economic shockwaves far beyond its own bordersGood morning. Within two hours of entering No 10 on Monday afternoon, Andy Burnham had his first call with Donald Trump. After chit-chatting about the football (both agreed England had an “excellent tournament”) and Manchester (our new prime minister invited the president to visit the city Trump once described as a “town”), they got on to far trickier territory: the strait of Hormuz.The US has attacked Iran for the eleventh consecutive night, hitting aircraft hangars and drone storage sites across the country. It came after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US air bases and neighbouring Gulf states, which have accused it of deliberately targeting desalination plants that are essential to life in the region. Each side now claims it is preventing the other from gaining control over the strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil was shipped before the war began. Vessels carrying crucial shipments of oil, gas and fertiliser remain at a standstill.UK politics | Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure to explain how he will pay for his policy pledges as he implored his new cabinet to examine “all possible ways” to tackle the cost of living crisis.UK news | A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of the former MP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry, 28, is accused of killing the former Conservative minister at her home in Haytor, Devon, by hitting her on the head with a hammer 21 times.Middle East | The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, told the Senate the US-Israel war on Iran had cost $37.5bn so far, as he faced lawmakers furious over the conflict’s soaring price tag and the deaths last week of three American service members.Climate crisis | About 23 million people will be banned from using hosepipes by this weekend, as England and Wales moves closer to drought status.Ukraine | Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and offered a “prominent position” to the defence minister he sacked last week in a move that sparked nationwide protests. Continue reading...

• The S&P/ASX 200 is expected to rise on Wednesday, July 22, following a positive overnight session for commodity prices and a recovery on Wall Street. • Market attention is focused on potential new Section 301 tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% that could be announced this week as current global duties expire this Friday. • In corporate news, SpaceX shares rose 3% on Tuesday, breaking a seven-day decline ahead of its first earnings report scheduled for August 4.