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Brazil · Politics Key Facts —Goldman Sachs warning. Alberto Ramos says Brazil needs a primary surplus above 2.5% of GDP to reverse its debt trajectory, regardless of who wins the election. —2027 budget tightening. Reuters reported the Planning Ministry is preparing stricter spending controls and a 0.5% of GDP surplus target for 2027. —Campaign tax break. Lula’s political strategy benefits from an income-tax break for the middle class as his party debates future fiscal rules. —Core tension. The debate is split between the Workers’ Party tradition of flexible social spending and the orthodox market view demanding tighter expenditure control. —Unverified…

भारतीय क्रिकेट टीम के स्टार बल्लेबाज विराट कोहली और उनकी पत्नी व बॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री अनुष्का शर्मा एक बार फिर आध्यात्मिक नगरी वृंदावन पहुंचे. दोनों ने संत प्रेमानंद महाराज के श्री हित राधा केली कुंज आश्रम में पहुंचकर उनका आशीर्वाद लिया. आश्रम तक पहुंचने के दौरान दोनों कीचड़ भरे रास्ते पर नंगे पैर चलते नजर आए, उनकी यही सादगी अब सोशल मीडिया पर चर्चा का विषय बन गई है, गुरु पूर्णिमा से ठीक पहले हुई इस यात्रा का वीडियो सोशल मीडिया पर तेजी से वायरल हो रहा है. कोहली हाल में इंग्लैंड के ख‍िलाफ वनडे सीरीज खेलते हुए नजर आए थे. और पढ़ें वायरल वीडियो में विराट और अनुष्का आश्रम परिसर से बाहर निकलते हुए दिखाई देते हैं. दोनों बेहद सादगी भरे अंदाज में अपनी कार की ओर…

Ecuador · Defense Key Facts —The operation. Ecuador’s army destroyed five hectares of coca, or more than 60,000 plants, near the San Miguel River on July 14, 2026. —The lab. Troops dismantled an active clandestine laboratory capable of producing 80 to 120 kilograms of coca paste per cycle. —The impact. The military estimated losses exceeding US$1 million for criminal groups operating in the border zone. —The trend. President Daniel Noboa said in October 2025 that satellite reports showed 2,000 hectares of coca in Ecuador, valued at US$320 million. —The context. Ecuador sits between Colombia and Peru, the world’s top cocaine producers, and about 70% of…

Spain 'closes' for the month, the first total solar eclipse in a century, new AI laws come into effect, more wildfires expected, bottled drinks to cost more at bars, and plenty more - Here's what's happening in August 2026. Main summer 'Operación Salida' to take place Spain’s grand summer exodus will take place this month as thousands escape the hot cities and head for the cooler beaches and the mountains. This is known as ‘Operación Salida’. Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is expecting more than 104 million long-distance road journeys this summer, with 54.5 million in August alone. The busiest dates will be from July 31st to August 2nd,…

Brazil · Companies Key Facts —The asset Enel Distribuição São Paulo, the power concession formerly tied to Eletropaulo. —Regulatory trigger Brazilian regulator Aneel is reviewing a possible termination (caducidade) of the concession. —Contract end The current concession runs to 2028, with renewal or relicitação (rebid) also possible. —Valuation range Market estimates span roughly R$16.7 billion (US$3.3 billion) to R$40 billion (US$7.8 billion). —Enel’s stance Enel has denied wanting to sell and says it remains committed to renewing the concession. CPFL Enel Sao Paulo took concrete shape as Brazilian utility CPFL Energia publicly named itself a…

Morocco has demanded that Italian authorities explain the death of one the kingdom's nationals during his arrest in Bologna, an event that sparked major protests in the Italian city. Abderrahim Fakir died after being tackled to the ground by police in Bologna, prompting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to call for "the truth right to the end" on Tuesday, after the incident sparked demonstrations. Rabat urged Italian authorities to "shed full light" on the incident and called for "responsibility to be established and that the full application of the required legal measures and procedures be guaranteed", the foreign ministry said late Tuesday. It…

Cop, on patrolling duty, shot dead in J\&K's Anantnag; sources say vehicle-borne terrorist opened fire This is a developing story. It will be updated. - Ends Published On: Jul 22, 2026 13:16 IST

LOWER SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: The death toll from rain-related incidents during the ongoing monsoon spell and flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has risen to 18. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the current rain spell, which began on July 19, is expected to last till July 23 in KP. The latest rain-related fatalities in the province were reported from Upper South Waziristan, where four people were killed in a roof collapse incident, Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazal Wadood told Dawn. He said the incident occurred in the Bangiwala village on the outskirts of Sararogha tehsil during heavy rainfall. The victims belonged to the same…

Japanese cities are experiencing "cruelly hot days", a new meteorological term devised this year to warn people of intense heat above 40°C, with heatstroke alerts issued across almost the whole country. Three central cities on Tuesday logged scorching heat above the threshold, called "kokushobi" which translates to "cruelly hot day", according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. On Wednesday, swathes of other areas, including the central hub of Nagoya and communities near Tokyo in the east, were enduring temperatures approaching or exceeding 40°C. The agency has issued heatstroke alerts in 41 out of Japan's 47 prefectures, urging the public --…

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Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni dismissed claims of unfair officiating at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Argentina lost the final 1-0 to Spain at the MetLife stadium in a largely one-sided contest. The 2022 champions failed to register a shot on target in regulation time and got just two shots away in the entire game, as compared to Spain's 20. Ferran Torres' goal in the 105th minute sealed the deal for La Roja. Argentina players were left fuming with referee Slavko Vincic after he sent off Enzo Fernandez late in the second half for his second bookable offence. Fernandez tackled Pau Cubarsi while trying to get to the ball and was given his marching…

Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan \| Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) expressed strong condemnation over the arrest of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a day ago from outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi, where he was agitating in connection with recent police action against student protesters. Mr. Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other top party leaders staged a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday demanding his resignation over the police action against the…

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former Cebu Provincial Capitol consultant Byron Garcia has filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against three Mandaue City prosecutors, accusing them of violating his right to due process in cases that led to his arrest. Garcia filed his complaint-affidavit on July 22 against Associate Prosecutor Mariven […]...Keep on reading: Byron Garcia files graft, administrative complaints vs 3 Mandaue prosecutors

A House of Councilors committee on Wednesday approved a bill to ease requirements for appointing poll watchers under the law on national referendums for amending the Constitution. The bill to revise the law was backed by the ruling coalition as well as opposition parties, excluding the Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi, at a meeting of the Upper House Commission on the Constitution. The ruling bloc hopes that the bill will pass the full Upper House on Friday following last month’s approval by the House of Representatives. It is co-sponsored by the ruling coalition and the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito, both opposition…

Over 200 nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises (NMSMEs), including sari-sari store owners and vendors gathered at the Wais Tindera Caravan in Cebu to deepen their understanding of digitalization and responsible borrowing. In celebration of MSME Month, GCash reinforces its commitment to being the trusted growth partner of Filipino NMSMEs, powering every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. GCash continues to champion local businesses by providing easier access to the integrated financial and digital tools they need to sustain their livelihoods, navigate uncertainty, and drive the Philippine economy. The Wais Tindera Caravan serves as the…

On July 14, the Supreme Court had refrained from restoring status quo ante after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared that the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex was a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and barred Friday namaz at the site. \| Photo Credit: ANI The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) directed the Union and Madhya Pradesh governments to comply “in letter and spirit” with its July 14 order requiring the authorities to identify a separate open space near the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex where members of the Muslim community could offer Friday namaz between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. as an interim arrangement. The…

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

SINGAPORE – A 30-year-old man died after a traffic accident involving a lorry at Changi Village on the night of July 20. The accident, which the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force were alerted to at about 10.55pm that day, occurred at the traffic junction of Telok Paku Road and Changi Village Road. The pedestrian was taken unconscious to Changi General Hospital, where he later died, the authorities said. A 37-year-old male lorry driver is assisting with police investigations. Videos of the aftermath of the accident circulating online show police vehicles and officers, and several heavy vehicles at the scene. Road traffic fatalities in…

Former West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee addresses the Martyrs' Day rally organised by her faction, in Kolkata, West Bengal, on July 21, 2026. \| Photo Credit: PTI Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) called the arrangement of rebels a “B-team of BJP”, engineerined to keep CM Suvendu Adhikari in power. Speaking at the annual Martrys Day rally in Kolkata, Ms. Banerjee said that the defections from the Trinamool Congress have been engineered to ensure that Suvendu Adhikari remains in power. She described the rebel TMC MPs as “BJP signboard”. At least 65 of the…

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Wednesday voiced hope that Pope Leo XIV's visit to South Korea next year could help revive exchanges between South and North Korea. "We hope the pope's visit to Korea will serve as a bridge between the two Koreas, whose communication has been completely cut off over the past seven or eight years," Chung told Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, the Vatican's secretary of state for the clergy, during a meeting in Seoul. The cardinal is currently in South Korea on his summer vacation. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit the country next year for World Youth Day (WYD), a major Catholic youth…

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, hit by further risk of oil supply disruptions caused by Iran-backed Houthi militants threatening to attack ships in the Red Sea. The won was quoted at 1,480.1 won per dollar at 3:30 p.m., down 6.7 won from the previous session. Renewed tension in the Middle East affected the won exchange rate amid escalating military strikes between the U.S. and Iran. The Houthi militia earlier announced a blockade on Saudi Arabia, deepening fears that the Red Sea, an alternative energy export corridor, could become dangerous for commercial shipping similarly to the Strait of…

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political…

Targeted viral surveillance of transit passengers at just two major aviation hubs, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, could speed global detection of new variants by about three days, a university study has found. Professor Leo Poon Lit-man, chair of public health virology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), said on Wednesday that the approach would help authorities stay ahead of emerging threats. “Strengthening local surveillance in all regions remains the foundation of global health security. Our proposed strategy does not require redistributing resources from other regions,” he told a radio programme. “Instead, it leverages surveillance at…

The threat of intervention was especially pronounced Wednesday following the yen’s bold but small advance above ¥163 to the dollar overnight. “Rate checks or actual market intervention could take place without prior warning,” cautioned Sony Bank in a report. Japan’s currency, which has been above ¥160 to the dollar for about two months and above ¥162 to the dollar most of July, crept across the ¥163 line tentatively at first around midday in New York on Tuesday, and then weakened decisively.

MOSCOW, July 22. /TASS/. Air defenses downed 242 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions last night, the Defense Ministry said. Logistics centers operated by the Wildberries e-commerce company came under attack in the southern cities of Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, company founder Tatyana Kim wrote on Telegram. One person was killed and ten others suffered injuries in a large-scale drone attack on the Krasnodar Region. Five people sought medical assistance after drones struck a warehouse in Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol Region. TASS has gathered the key information about the consequences of the attacks. Scale of attacks - On-duty air defenses intercepted…

The European Union said Tuesday that it had definitively cancelled a two million euro ($2.3 million) grant to the Venice Biennale over Russia's presence at the world's biggest contemporary art show. "Cultural events, funded by European taxpayers’ money, should safeguard democratic values, foster open dialogue, diversity and freedom of expression – values which are not respected in today’s Russia," said European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier, announcing the move. The Biennale opened in May with Russia taking part for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It had previously been banned in protest at the war. Kyiv and the EU protested…

U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine attend the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump's supplemental funding request for the Department of Defence. \| Photo Credit: Reuters U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) the Iran war has cost the United States $37.5 billion so far, up from a previous estimate of nearly $29 billion in mid-May. "The estimate we have as of today is $37.5 billion," Mr. Hegseth testified during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing at which he defended a request for some $67 billion in supplemental…

Step outside almost anywhere in India this week, and the sky tells you nothing useful. It is white, wall to wall, horizon to horizon. That should not be happening. Not this year. Not with a Godzilla El Nino sitting in the Pacific Ocean, an informal nickname climate watchers have given to an exceptionally powerful warming event, first used for the 1997-98 El Nino and again in 2015-16. Scientists tracking this year's version describe it developing at an unprecedented pace, with a near-certainty of lasting into early 2027. A Godzilla El Nino is meant to starve India's monsoon, not drown it in clouds. So why is 95 per cent of the country cloudy right now?…

Skip next section Donning black, India's Opposition MPs protest at parliament complex 07/22/2026July 22, 2026 Donning black, India's Opposition MPs protest at parliament complex India's opposition MPs held a protest in the parliament premises in New Delhi on Wednesday wearing black clothes as they called out "police brutality" in Monday's crackdown on youth protesters in the capital. The lawmakers are protesting against the "Modi government's mishandling of the students' movement, and the continuation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in office," the opposition Congress party said. India's main leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and senior…