Keir Starmer to look at India’s digital ID system during visit to Mumbai

Storm Claudia has brought heavy rain and flooding to the UK, with some areas expecting up to a month's worth of rain in just one day. Weather warnings are in effect as the storm continues to impact various regions.

Keir Starmer's allies attempted to bolster his leadership position, but their efforts backfired, revealing the fragility of his role as Prime Minister. A botched briefing operation aimed at accusing Wes Streeting of plotting against him only served to highlight the ineffectiveness of No 10's leadership.

An Ipsos survey of nearly 10,000 people across nine Western countries reveals that satisfaction with democracy is below 50% in eight of them, with only Sweden showing higher levels of contentment. The survey highlights significant concerns regarding the future of democracy, as majorities in all but one country express fears about its stability. Key threats identified include fake news, lack of political accountability, extremism, and corruption.

The Home Secretary is expected to announce that asylum seekers in the UK will only be allowed to stay temporarily. This new rule is anticipated to affect the status of successful asylum applicants, limiting their residency duration in the country.

A group of prominent British music artists, including Radiohead, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay, have called on Labour leader Keir Starmer to address the issue of ticket tout websites, which they describe as 'extortionate and pernicious.' These artists, who have collectively sold over half a billion albums, are advocating for a cap on resale prices to protect fans from exploitation by secondary ticketing platforms like Viagogo and StubHub. This plea highlights the ongoing concern about how ticket reselling practices can harm music fans and the integrity of live events.

British American Tobacco has been accused of hypocrisy for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Zambia that are already enforced in the UK. A letter from the company's Zambian subsidiary urged local ministers to abandon or delay plans for advertising bans, health warnings, and restrictions on flavored tobacco products. This situation highlights the disparity in tobacco regulation between developed and developing nations, raising concerns about the influence of multinational corporations on public health policies in Africa.

The United Kingdom has ceased sharing intelligence regarding suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean due to concerns over the legality of recent U.S. military strikes. This decision, reported by sources to NBC News, highlights the potential impact of international military actions on collaborative efforts in combating drug trafficking. The withholding of intelligence could affect operations aimed at curbing drug smuggling in the region, raising questions about the implications for both U.K. and U.S. law enforcement efforts.

A new book raises concerns about the potential consequences of counting castes in India, suggesting that such an action may reinforce the caste system rather than dismantle it. This provocative stance invites debate on the implications of caste enumeration, which could affect social dynamics and policies aimed at addressing caste-based inequalities. The discussion is particularly relevant as India continues to grapple with the complexities of its social structure and the ongoing quest for equality.