In the last few weeks, 65 parties have joined either the BJP-led or the Congress-led coalition. But it does not capture the entire political landscape of the country. There are 11 political parties that are maintaining a neutral stand and collectively they have 91 MPs.

Their neutrality at a time of heightened political activities is keeping parties, including the BJP and the Congress on tenterhooks. Sources said three states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha – will play a “deciding role” in shaping the government at the Centre as they send 63 MPs to the Lok Sabha. The Grand Old Party and 25 other opposition parties have come together under a coalition front named Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to challenge the BJP-led NDA.

A reading of the prevailing political situation says 11 parties, namely YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S), Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and SAD (Mann) are on neutral stand.

YSRCP, which had swept the election in Andhra Pradesh in 2019, and BJD, which has been ruling Odisha since 2000, have largely voted in favour of the BJP-led government in the Parliament. BRS, which is in power in Telangana, has also not taken a side in the two lobbies. Same is with the Mayawati-led BSP, which has nine LS MPs.

Russian Federation President, Vladimir Putin, ended months of speculation by deciding to take part in the BRICS Summit virtually, scheduled to be held in Johannesburg  between August 22nd to 24th. Russia will be represented in person by their Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.

Meanwhile, the 15th BRICS Summit will be the first in-person Summit since the outbreak of the pandemic. This time is it under South Africa’s presidency and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has said in a readout that they had many rounds of consultations regarding the Summit.

The Summit will be attended by leaders of India, China, Brazil and South Africa. By mutual agreement, President Putin will not attend the Summit in person. Russia will be represented by Lavrov,’’ said Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa, said in a statement.

Though India hasn’t officially given a statement on PM Modi’s in-person participation yet, sources point out that he will attend it in person. Chinese Premier Xi Jingping is likely to attend the Summit in person.

BRICS, a bloc of emerging economic powers comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China was formed in 2019 as BRIC. South Africa joined the following year after an invitation from China, expanding the group.

Ethiopia, Iran and Argentina have also applied to join the bloc. According to reports, France too has shown an interest in BRICS.

Honduras plans to build the only island prison colony in the Western Hemisphere and send its most-feared gangsters there, tearing a page from neighbouring El Salvador's unforgiving approach to murder, robbery, rape and extortion.

Honduras's progressive president once promised to address gang violence through systemic reforms to governance and the criminal justice system. Now, President Xiomara Castro plans to build an isolated prison for 2,000 gang leaders on the Islas del Cisne archipelago 155 miles off the coast, part of a larger crackdown following the gang-related massacre of 46 women in one prison.

Island prisons once were common across Latin America, with facilities in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Peru. Deadly riots, brutal conditions and bold prison escapes captured filmmakers' and authors' imaginations before the last island prison closed in Mexico in 2019.

Chinese e-commerce retailer Temu has filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts accusing its rival Shein of violating U.S. antitrust law by preventing garment makers from working with it.

Temu, which is owned by popular Chinese e-commerce site Pinduoduo Inc., is alleging that Shein has compelled clothing manufacturers to submit to unfair supply chain arrangements preventing them from working with Temu after it entered the U.S. market in 2022.

Shein (SHE-in) and Temu (TEE-mu) are fast-rising online shopping platforms. Shein has grabbed the largest share of the fast fashion market in the U.S., at over 50%, according to Temu's complaint. Temu is the most downloaded app in the U.S., according to the website data.ai, formerly App Annie, which tracks app rankings. It offers everything from apparel to household goods at similarly competitive prices.

China's regulators have cracked down on the widespread practice by internet firms there of forcing retailers, brands and suppliers to work exclusively with them.

Netflix on  on jul 19 said subscriptions to the media streaming service climbed by nearly 6 million in the wake of its crackdown on password sharing.

The streaming giant finished the recently ended quarter with a total of 238 million subscribers and a profit of $1.5 billion, according to an earnings release.

The pickup in subscribers came as a potentially crippling writers and actors strike hits the US entertainment industry but with analysts saying Netflix is better positioned than its rivals to weather the storm.

Revenue came in lower than expectations with Netflix posting $8.2 billion in sales over the April to June period, pushing the company's shares down more than 8 percent in after hours trading on Wall Street.

Netflix in May expanded its crackdown on users sharing passwords with people beyond their immediate family as it seeks to shore up revenue after a rough patch last year.

Earlier this year the company complained that more than 100 million households were sharing accounts at the service.

In its earning statement, the company said that the policy would expand to all its markets worldwide.

To convert non-paying users, Netflix has introduced "borrower" or "shared" accounts, in which subscribers can add extra viewers for a higher price or transfer viewing profiles to new accounts.

Netflix launched an ad-subsidized offering around the same time as the crackdown, and on jul 19  eliminated its lowest priced ad-free plan that cost $10 a month in the US.

A Netflix ad-supported subscription is available in the United States for $7 monthly.

Benes estimates that Netflix will generate $770 million in advertising revenue in the US this year, and more than $1 billion by 2024.

Assam's ace swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika has become the first from the North East to cross the English Channel both ways.

Hazarika completed the 78 km distance to and fro, clocking a time of 31 hours by swimming in a relay from England's Hampshire to Calis in France and then back on Jul 19.

Earlier Hazarika and his partner Rimo Saha of West Bengal had scripted history in September last year by becoming the first Indian as well as Asian relay team to cross the North Channel in Europe.

The duo also became the first swimmers from their respective states to successfully cross the North Channel, a strait between Northern Ireland and Scotland, in relay swimming in September last year.

Hazarika had become the first swimmer from Assam to cross the Catalina Channel in the US in 2019.

Jordan Henderson was a notable absentee as Liverpool beat Karlsruher 4-2 in a pre-season friendly  on Jul 19  as the England midfielder closes in on a move to Saudi Arabian team Al-Ettifaq.

Liverpool has reportedly agreed in principle a deal worth 12 million pounds ($15.5 million) for its Premier League and Champions League-winning captain.

The move would see Henderson link up with Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, who has just been hired as manager of the Saudi Pro League team.

The potential signing of the 33-year-old Henderson is further evidence of the growing lure of Saudi soccer as the oil-rich kingdom targets leading players from Europe's top leagues.

Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante are among the star names to have headed there during the offseason, with Riyad Mahrez also expected to move to Al-Ahli after Manchester City reportedly agreed deal worth up to 30 million pounds ($38.7 million) for its winger.

Henderson's former Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino has joined Al-Ahli, while another Anfield player Fabinho has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Henderson won every major club honor during his time at the Merseyside club, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title a year later.

That title success ended Liverpool's 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England again.

He still has two years to run on his current contract, but could have seen his first team opportunities impacted by manager Jurgen Klopp's midfield overhaul this offseason.

Stuart Broad hailed the influence of Australia greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath after the England veteran became just the fifth bowler to take 600 Test wickets.

Four-time Ashes series-winner Broad achieved the feat on the opening day of the fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford on  Jul 19  when he had Travis Head caught in the deep by Joe Root.

It was the second of two wickets in the seamer's haul of 2-68 with Australia 299-8 at stumps after being sent into bat by England captain Ben Stokes in a match the hosts have to win, at 2-1 down to play, if they are to regain the Ashes.

Broad has often starred against Australia, having spent his youth witnessing numerous England defeats by their arch-rivals.

Following a 1986/87 triumph in Australia where Broad's father, Chris Broad, scored three hundreds, it was not until 2005 that England next won an Ashes series -- two years before Stuart Broad's Test debut.