Briefly

BRAZIL

Death toll from heavy rains rises to 126

The death toll from heavy rains last week in the Brazilian city of Recife and its metropolitan area has risen to 126, with two people still missing, said the government of northeastern state Pernambuco on Thursday. At least 9,302 people have been driven from their homes due to rains that caused major floods and landslides in Recife. It is the worst tragedy to occur in Pernambuco since the start of the 21st century.

SWITZERLAND

Health body upgrades monkeypox risk level

The World Health Organization confirmed on Wednesday more than 550 monkeypox cases across 30 countries as the virus continues to spread. The surge in monkeypox infections worldwide has prompted the WHO to upgrade the threat level of the virus to "moderate". WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the sudden appearance of monkeypox in multiple countries indicates the virus has been spreading undetected for some time.

TURKEY

Annual inflation hits 24-year high

Turkey's consumer price index surged by 73.5 percent year-on-year in May, hitting a record high since October 1998, the Turkish Statistical Institute announced on Friday. Transport prices jumped by 107.6 percent in May while the food was up 91.6 percent. The inflation poses a challenge for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of elections next year.

Agencies - Xinhua