As reigning 2026 FIFA World Cup champions, Spain won $50 million in prize money, but a large portion of that could be subject to federal taxes in the United States — potentially up to 30%. ‘I think it’s a rip-off,’ Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told Fox News Digital. ‘I’m not a fan of it, but Americans have to do it. American professional athletes do it, so they knew that when they came over here.’ Income earned from activities performed in America is generally, in almost all instances, taxable by the IRS. Under tax law in the U.S., certain payments to nonresident foreign athletes are generally subject to a 30% federal withholding unless reduced by a tax treaty or a different exception.” (07/21/26)
“President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that all generic drugs brought into the US will continue to have a tariff of 0% for two years starting from August 1, after which the tariff rate will be raised to 100% for one year and to 200% thereafter. ‘This is done in order to RESHORE Generic Pharmaceutical Production into America, with a penalty to those Companies that decide not to build Plant and Equipment within the stated period of time given to them,’ Trump said in a post on Truth Social. … More than 90% of medicines sold in the US are generics, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. The policy on patented, branded or innovative drugs will remain unchanged, Trump said.” (07/22/26)
“Bay Area tech giant Oracle may have to pay billions to a Wisconsin utilities company over a massive data center campus being built in partnership with OpenAI. In April, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin finalized revised energy tariffs set by its largest utility provider, We Energies. The rules, meant to protect utility customers from rising costs amid a nationwide boom in controversial data center construction, require large energy consumers to post collateral if their credit rating is too low. The new tariffs are now hitting Oracle following S&P Global’s downgrade of the company’s credit rating on July 9 over its artificial intelligence ventures, describing them as ‘increasing its overall credit risk.'” (07/21/26)
“Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been released after he was detained during growing protests over the education system. This comes as opposition parties staged a protest at parliament on Wednesday demanding the resignation of India’s education minister, echoing the demands of student demonstrators. The protests, which have been led predominantly by students and a social media-driven movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have emerged as one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Protesters have called for the resignation of Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a leak of medical school test papers forced more than two million medical students to retake their exams and was linked to at least 12 student suicides. Gandhi and other opposition leaders were detained on Tuesday during a sit-in outside Modi’s residence in New Delhi while accusing the government of ignoring student demands.” (07/22/26)
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. war against Iran has cost $37.5 billion, so far, as he is facing questions and protests at a Senate hearing ahead of a $95 billion GOP budget package to fund the military, along with aid to farmers and voting law changes that are top White House priorities. Hegseth provided the new estimate, up from earlier accounts, during testmnony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. … Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins are also testifying before the panel. … War funding makes up the bulk of the GOP’s new budget proposal, one last priority package the Republicans hope to launch before lawmakers recess to campaign for the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.” (07/21/26)
“The Ukrainian president fired his commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Tuesday, bowing to pressure after the removal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked the fiercest leadership crisis of his presidency. President Volodomyr Zelenskyy announced in a post on Telegram that Syrskyi will be replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi. Zelenskyy’s decision to fire Fedorov, one of his closest allies, led to rare wartime protests on the streets of Kyiv. Fedorov publicly aired his disagreements over military strategy with Syrskyi, known as ‘The Butcher.’ Syrskyi, 60, is a more traditional military commander focused on infantry and artillery, while Fedorov, 35, is seen as a modernizer, whose focus on technological advancements in drone warfare has led to Ukraine’s recent successes in hitting Russia.” (07/21/26)
“Republican voters in Tuesday’s Arizona primaries nominated conservative [sic] candidates for high-profile races for governor and a U.S. House seat, as Democrats rallied behind moderates [sic] leading up to the November 3 midterm elections. The results also marked wins for U.S. President Donald Trump, who endorsed victorious Republicans in two of the most-watched primary races. U.S. Representative Andy Biggs comfortably won the Republican nomination for governor and will face Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who was unopposed in her primary. With Trump’s endorsement in hand, Biggs handily defeated U.S. Representative David Schweikert and two other candidates, according to media projections. … Meanwhile, former professional football player Jay Feely, who is also backed by Trump, defeated two challengers, secured the Republican nomination that puts him on the November ballot for election to Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.” (07/21/26)
“French lawmakers have adopted a bill prohibiting minors under 15 years old from accessing social media. French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the bill’s passage in a social media post Tuesday, shortly after it received approval by both chambers of Parliament, saying it was now up to the Constitutional Council, which reviews the constitutionality of legislation, to rule on the measure. The bill, the first of its kind within the European Union, also enforces a ban on cellphones in secondary schools. … If the bill is greenlit by the Constitutional Council, the ban will take effect starting in September 2026. Some left-wing lawmakers have questioned the measure’s constitutionality and the government’s ability to actually enforce the ban, among other things.” (07/21/26)
“The Trump administration has paused more than $1bn in Medicaid funding to California and Minnesota, citing ‘suspected fraud and noncompliance’ – withholding of funding that follows a $243m pause in Medicaid payments to Minnesota earlier this year. ‘If those states want that money, they need to provide documentation that these payments are legitimate,’ said Robert F Kennedy Jr, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said at a press conference on Tuesday. Officials relied on AI to identify potential fraud, Kennedy said.” (07/21/26)
“A federal judge on Monday ordered the release of a woman [abducted] by ICE at Logan International Airport after traveling to Boston for a Noah Kahan concert. Maria Rosales, 32, a former DACA recipient whose application to renew her spot in the immigration program has been pending since 2023, was [abducted] at the airport while trying to fly home to Florida on July 10. She has been detained at an ICE [concentration camp] in Burlington since then, according to court filings. US District Judge Myong J. Joun ordered that Rosales be released by 7 p.m. Monday. Rosales was no longer listed on ICE’s detainee locator website on Tuesday morning.” (07/21/26)
