Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Wednesday briefing: ​How misinformation and ​a​ hardened immigration policy ​turned Ceuta ​into Europe’s ​latest ​flashpoint

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:54:54+00:00

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 th

Discussion
•••

Sensex today | Stock Market Live: RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 5.25%; Sensex jumps 405 pts to 78,834; Nifty edges up 18 pts to 24,633

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-08-05T05:54:44+00:00

Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices LIVE: The benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty edged lower in the morning session on Wednesday, after the RBI held the repo rate steady at 5.25%. At 11.14 am, Sensex gained 404.81 pts or 0.52% to 78,833.76; and Nifty 50 inched up 17.90 pts or 0.07% to 24,632.80 The top gainers on the Nifty 50 were Shriram Finance (up 1.81%), L&T (1.74%), HDFC Life (1.18%), Grasim (1.35%) and Bajaj Auto (1.08%). The laggards were Apollo Hospitals (down 1.71%), ITC (-1.16%), HCL Tech (-1.15%), Sun Pharma (-1.07%) and TCS (-0.90%).

Discussion
•••

NSW Liberal leader defers decision on frontbencher Damien Tudehope following leak revelations at Icac

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:54:23+00:00

Kellie Sloane says ‘leaking a report is never good’ as Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet tells inquiry group signed up members to ‘dodgy’ branchesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe younger brother of a former Liberal premier has told an anti-corruption watchdog that a group of young conservative power breakers, now under investigation for soliciting illegal donations, recruited members to “dodgy” branches controlled by rival factions.Jean-Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of ex-New South Wales premier Dominic Pe

Discussion
•••

NSW Liberal leader defers decision on frontbencher Damien Tudehope after leak revelations at Icac

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:54:23+00:00

Kellie Sloane says ‘leaking a report is never good’ as Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet tells inquiry group signed up members to ‘dodgy’ branchesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe younger brother of a former Liberal premier has told an anti-corruption watchdog that a group of young conservative power breakers, now under investigation for soliciting illegal donations, recruited members to “dodgy” branches controlled by rival factions.Jean-Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of ex-New South Wales premier Dominic Pe

Discussion
•••

Russian attack on Kyiv region kills at least 14 people, say Ukrainian authorities

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:53:38+00:00

Air raid alerts last for more than an hour as Moscow inflicts another heavy bombardment on Ukraine’s capitalRussian 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.Air raid alerts lasted for more than an hour as Moscow’s forces continued a series of deadly heavy attacks on the Ukrainian capital. The military administration said seven sites were hit in an assault that began on Wednesday after midnight. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Services growth slows markedly in July, PMI dipped to 53.3

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-08-05T05:33:27+00:00

Manufacturing has a share of over 17% in GVA. Both the indices are derived from responses collected among purchasing executives of 400 companies

Discussion
•••

Картопля проти кукурудзи: дієтолог пояснив, який продукт краще для рівня цукру в крові

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-08-05T05:33:00+00:00

Хоча в обох продуктах є крохмаль, їхня користь залежить від сорту, який ви обираєте, способу їх приготування та того, що ви кладете на тарілку поруч із ними.

Discussion
•••

Daniel Andrews defends actions as opposition labels Labor ‘a gangster government’ after Ibac report released

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:30:44+00:00

Victorian corruption watchdog finds ‘serious and concerning’ conduct by senior Andrews government members in dealings with union bossFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has defended the actions of senior members of his government, whom the state’s anti-corruption watchdog found engaged in “serious and concerning” conduct in their dealings with the leader of the firefighters union.A long-awaited report by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, tabled in parliamen

Discussion
•••

Sensex today | Stock Market Live: RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 5.25%; Sensex up nearly 300 points, Nifty flat

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-08-05T05:30:35+00:00

Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices LIVE: The benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty edged lower in the morning session on Wednesday, after the RBI held the repo rate steady at 5.25%. At 10:47 am, Sensex was at 78,706, up nearly 300 points but off its early highs. Nifty was flat at 24,606, down 10 points on its previous close. The top gainers on the Nifty 50 were Shriram Finance (up 1.81%), L&T (1.74%), HDFC Life (1.18%), Grasim (1.35%) and Bajaj Auto (1.08%). The laggards were Apollo Hospitals (down 1.71%), ITC (-1.16%), HCL Tech (-1.15%), Sun Pharma (-1.07%) and TCS (-0.90%).

Discussion
•••

Australia news live: Reformers member needed a ‘Valium or a break’ after factional work, Icac inquiry hears

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:06:52+00:00

Follow today’s news liveAlan Jones trial: live updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlmost every house sold in first six months of the year made a profitThe vast majority of homeowners are selling their properties for more than they bought them for, even as house prices enter a tailspin, AAP reports. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Women must not feel pressure to have ‘ideal birth’, says Yvette Cooper

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:00:11+00:00

Exclusive: New health secretary promises root-and-branch reform after damning maternity scandalsWomen 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.Cooper, who returns to the department 27 years after she was the minister for public health under Tony Blair, said maternity and child health would be a major focus in the role, where she will also be expected to implement significant reforms to social care. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Palantir paid just £2m corporation tax in UK in 2024 despite lucrative public sector contracts

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:00:09+00:00

Software group benefits from global systems and accounting practices ‘that enable tax to be shirked’, says union bossThe software group Palantir paid just £2m in corporation tax in the UK in 2024, despite holding public sector contracts worth hundreds of millions, thanks to tax breaks that are likely to reduce its contributions to governments around the world for years to come.The US-headquartered company, which has harnessed AI to secure lucrative work for the NHS and the Ministry of Defence, is growing exponentially. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Calls to ban ‘toxic’ pet flea treatments that harm UK wildlife and environment

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:00:09+00:00

Over-the-counter treatments for cats and dogs contain chemicals that are banned in pesticides and pollute waterwaysOver-the-counter flea treatment for cats and dogs should be banned as millions of hazardous chemicals are unnecessarily applied to UK pets each year, a parliamentary report has concluded.Cats and dogs are widely treated with topical, or “spot on”, treatments that include insecticides to prevent fleas. Vets often recommend regular treatments as a preventive measure, even when the animals do not have fleas.It’s Invertebrate of the Year again! Every day from 3-12 August, we will be p

Discussion
•••

Bangladesh Truth Seeker

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-08-05T05:00:00+00:00

Amid political upheaval in Bangladesh, a journalist debunks fake news in a fight for his nation’s democratic future.

Discussion
•••

Jetstar to charge fees to put carry-on luggage in overhead lockers

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T04:58:31+00:00

Airline to remove 7kg weight limit for carry-on bags and introduce new fee from February 2027Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJetstar will charge its passengers to put carry-on luggage in the overhead lockers, in a major change to the budget airline’s carry-on rules.The airline on Wednesday announced it would remove the 7kg weight limit for carry-on bags, beginning in February 2027. There will still be size restrictions. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

Australia news live: Reformers member needed a ‘Valium or a break’ after factional work, inquiry hears

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-08-05T04:56:56+00:00

Follow today’s news liveAlan Jones trial: live updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlmost every house sold in first six months of the year made a profitThe vast majority of homeowners are selling their properties for more than they bought them for, even as house prices enter a tailspin, AAP reports. Continue reading...

Discussion
•••

MPC leaves repo rate unchanged at 5.25%; neutral stance continues

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-08-05T04:46:07+00:00

With this, the Committee, which met from August 3rd to August 5th, has kept the repo rate on hold at 5.25 per cent in its last four meeting

Discussion
•••

Sensex today | Stock Market Live: RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 5.25%; Sensex up 300 points, Nifty flat

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-08-05T04:41:28+00:00

Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices LIVE: Sensex opens 626 points higher at 79,055.38 compared to the previous close of 78,428.95, while Nifty 50 opened marginally flat at 24,669.20 against the previous close of 24,614.90. Stocks from rate sensitive sectors such as banking, realty, NBFCs (especially HFCs) and auto stocks are likely to remain in focus on Wednesday as RBI is scheduled to announce the monetary policy decision, with investors closely tracking the repo rate decision, monetary policy stance, inflation and GDP growth forecasts, and the governor’s commentary on global risks and liquidity. 

Discussion
•••
news

Editorial wall of the news flow

A query on the internal database produces an ordered selection of articles, ready for reading and discussion.