The briefing for Saturday, July 25.

President Trump imposed new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners Friday, replacing temporary duties that expired at midnight. The levies, justified as measures against forced labor, cover 99% of U.S. imports from countries including the UK, China, and the European Union. Trading partners that commit to enforcing forced labor bans face the 10% rate, while others get 12.5%.

The move comes after the Supreme Court struck down Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs in February as illegally enacted under emergency powers. Trade expert Caroline Freund of UC San Diego told the BBC the new tariffs are 'not about forced labor' but represent Trump 'looking for a legal reason' to maintain his trade barriers. The forced labor justification provides different legal grounding than the emergency powers the Court rejected.

The tariffs put the UK at a disadvantage compared to the EU, which secured a 10% all-inclusive deal. British Chambers of Commerce head William Bain noted UK goods now face the 10% universal tariff plus any product-specific duties, while EU goods are capped at 10% total. The Liberty Justice Center has already filed a lawsuit challenging the new tariffs in trade court.

Iran reported no American airstrikes overnight into Saturday, breaking a 13-night streak of consecutive U.S. attacks. The apparent pause came as tensions remain high following weeks of conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Central Command did not announce new strikes for the first time since the escalation began, though it has not confirmed the cessation.

The conflict expanded Friday when Saudi Arabia struck Houthi targets in Yemen's port city of Hodeida after Iran-backed Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and announced a maritime blockade. The Houthis responded by firing missiles at the Saudi city of Jizan. Meanwhile, U.S. forces disabled another merchant vessel attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.

More than 3,400 people have died in Iran since the conflict began in February, according to the Iranian Health Ministry. The fighting has spread across the region, with 18 U.S. service members killed along with thousands in Lebanon as Hezbollah joined the conflict. The U.S. and UK will hold a conference in London next week to discuss the Strait of Hormuz situation.

ICC member states voted 82-to-remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Friday over sexual misconduct allegations, marking the first time the court has ousted its top prosecutor. Khan, elected in 2021, was suspended last month after the court's oversight body found he committed 'serious breach of duty and serious misconduct' by engaging in an improper sexual relationship with a junior staff member and attempting to prevent her from filing complaints.

The British barrister has repeatedly denied all allegations. His lawyer said Khan would challenge 'the lawfulness and fairness of the decision through all available legal mechanisms,' though it remains unclear what legal avenues are available. Khan was unable to attend the UN headquarters vote because he is barred from entering the United States under Trump administration sanctions imposed over ICC investigations into Israeli officials.

The removal comes as the court faces unprecedented pressure, including a U.S. campaign to 'dismantle' the institution 'brick by brick.' Hours after the vote, Venezuela announced it would withdraw from the court, citing 'demonstrated geographical bias.' Palestinian Ambassador Ammar Hijazi emphasized the vote was 'not a political proxy vote' on any ICC situation, and the removal will have no immediate impact on existing arrest warrants, which can only be withdrawn by judges.

The Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it canceled $7.6 billion in clean energy grants 'based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient's state.' The admission contradicts repeated claims by Energy Secretary Chris Wright that the 321 funding awards across 223 projects were cut because they failed to advance national energy needs or were economically unviable.

The canceled projects were located in 16 states that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Government lawyers confirmed the selection was 'influenced by whether a grantee's address was located in a State that tends to elect Democratic candidates,' and used keywords related to diversity, gender, vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 to screen projects.

Democrats called the cuts 'outright un-American' and an abuse of power. Representatives Marcy Kaptur and Senator Patty Murray said the administration 'weaponized the federal government' to punish working families for their political views. The Energy Department announced the cuts last October, slashing support for battery plants, hydrogen technology, electric grid upgrades, and carbon capture projects. The department's internal watchdog launched an investigation in December.

India's education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned Saturday following more than a month of nationwide protests demanding his removal over exam leaks and education system irregularities. The resignation marks the first major concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to one of the most visible waves of public dissent it has faced in recent years.

The 'Cockroach' movement began after allegations of leaks in some of India's biggest entrance exams but grew into broader protests over unemployment, government accountability, and economic opportunities. Thousands of students, professionals, families and activists joined demonstrations, sit-ins and hunger strikes across New Delhi and other cities. Tensions escalated Monday when police used tear gas and batons to disperse marchers, injuring several students.

Celebrations erupted at protest sites after the announcement, with demonstrators embracing and waving Indian flags. The Cockroach Janta Party declared 'Democracy Wins!' but said their campaign would continue, seeking compensation for families of students who died by suicide after exam leaks and action against police officers accused of excessive force. Modi's government had earlier announced fast-track courts and anti-cheating legislation, but protesters said these measures failed to address accountability.

China's State Administration for Market Regulation imposed nearly $765 million in penalties on Trip.com Group, the country's largest online travel platform, over monopolistic conduct including exclusive hotel partnerships and restricting cross-platform business. The regulator said Trip.com had been abusing its dominant market position since at least 2020.

The company, which operates Ctrip and Skyscanner among other brands, was found to have prohibited some hotels from collaborating with competing platforms and demanded hotels operating on multiple platforms ensure their rates were the lowest available online. The regulator said this 'eliminated and restricted market competition, constrained hotel operators from conducting cross-platform business, infringed upon hotel operators' right to set their own prices and harmed consumer interests.'

The penalties include confiscation of more than $245 million in 'illegal gains' and a fine exceeding $520 million. Trip.com was also ordered to refund about $18 million withheld from hotel operators. In a statement, the company said it 'sincerely accepts and will resolutely comply' with the penalties and would 'systematically implement the rectification measures item-by-item.' The regulator began its investigation in January.