Top Stories
Same event, multiple sources, transparently cited.
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Hong Kong police arrest five in raids on independent bookstores over seditious books
Hong Kong police arrested five in raids on two independent bookstores over seditious publications under the 2024 national security law.
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US 30-year fixed mortgage rates hit highest since August 2025, slowing homebuying demand
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to about 6.6% in mid-July 2026, pushing purchase applications down and home affordability lower.
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China approves Apple Intelligence AI for iPhones with Alibaba and Baidu integration
China’s Cyberspace Administration approved Apple Intelligence AI for iPhones, enabling launch with Alibaba’s and Baidu’s AI in China after a two-year delay.
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Linus Torvalds says Linux supports AI tools, tells critics to fork or leave
Linus Torvalds declared Linux is not anti-AI and backs AI use in kernel development, urging opponents to fork or walk away.
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Malaysia to study national petroleum reserve and passes National Trust Fund Bill
Malaysia’s government will study creating a national petroleum reserve and passed the National Trust Fund Bill 2026 to strengthen fund governance.
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Malaysia Cabinet approves drafting law for court-ordered compensation for road accident victims
Malaysia's Cabinet agreed in July 2026 to draft amendments allowing courts to order compensation payments to road accident victims or families.
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Argentina beat England 2-1 to reach 2026 World Cup final
Argentina overcame England 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on July 15, 2026.
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Lionel Messi inspires Argentina to 2-1 win over England in World Cup semi-final
Lionel Messi assisted both goals as Argentina beat England 2-1 to reach the 2026 World Cup final.
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New Zealand confirms first H5N1 bird flu cases in migratory and native birds
New Zealand reported its first cases of deadly H5N1 bird flu in a migratory brown skua and a native swamp harrier hawk in July 2026.
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Stripe and Advent International offer over $53 billion to acquire PayPal
Stripe and Advent International jointly offered to buy PayPal for more than $53 billion, valuing the company at $60.50 per share, a 28% premium.
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China's new home prices decline slows in June 2026 amid uneven city-level trends
China's new home prices fell 0.1% in June 2026, easing from May's 0.2% drop, with tier-one cities showing modest gains while others lagged.
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US ships a small number of Nvidia H200 AI chips to China under export licenses
The US confirmed it has shipped a very small quantity of Nvidia H200 AI chips to China under strict export licenses.
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Microsoft Restores 25-Year-Old Account After Hacker Deleted It Despite Ownership Proof
Microsoft deleted, then restored Joshua Khane's 25-year-old account after a hacking incident and initial refusal to recover it.
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European Broadcasting Union issues guidelines to curb sexualized camera angles in women's athletics
The European Broadcasting Union and European Athletics released new guidelines in June 2026 to reduce sexualized camera angles in live coverage of female athletics events.
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Publishers sue Google over alleged copyright infringement in training Gemini AI
Hachette, Cengage, Elsevier, and author Scott Turow filed a class action lawsuit against Google accusing it of unauthorized use of copyrighted books to train Gemini AI.
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US Strikes Target Iranian Civil Infrastructure Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalation
US military launched multiple strikes on southern Iran, hitting transport hubs and civilian sites, killing seven and forcing hospital evacuations.
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Sony delays launch of FlexStrike wireless fight stick set for August 6, 2026
Sony postponed the August 6 launch of its FlexStrike wireless fight stick for PS5 and PC due to production delays, with no new release date announced.
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Google revamps Google Images with browseable homepage and AI image generation for 25th anniversary
Google launched a redesigned Google Images with a dynamic gallery and AI image creation tools to mark its 25th anniversary.
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Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional Gear Up for 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election
Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, and Perikatan Nasional announce candidates ahead of Negeri Sembilan's state election on August 1, 2026.
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Australia's Ban on Social Media for Under-16s Shows Limited Effectiveness After Seven Months
Australia's ban on social media use by under-16s since December 2025 has seen limited compliance due to weak age verification.
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Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard to join Besiktas for £17 million transfer
Arsenal has agreed a £17 million deal to transfer 31-year-old winger Leandro Trossard to Besiktas, with the player traveling to Istanbul for a medical.
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US dollar softens on cooler US inflation and Middle East tensions; ringgit fluctuates amid mixed factors
US dollar slipped after June consumer inflation fell to 3.5% and Middle East tensions rose; Japanese firms felt pressure from BoJ rate hikes while Malaysia’s ringgit saw mixed moves in mid-July.
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American referee Ismail Elfath to officiate England vs Argentina World Cup semi-final
Ismail Elfath will referee the FIFA World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina in Atlanta on July 15, 2026.
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George Lucas endorses AI in filmmaking despite opposition from other directors
George Lucas said AI makes filmmaking easier and inevitable, while some directors remain skeptical or opposed.