Top Stories
Same event, multiple sources, transparently cited.
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AI agents and automation tools dominate GitHub trending stars on August 21, 2026
Today’s top GitHub repos highlight AI-driven workflows, agent frameworks, and developer skill tools with strong growth in Rust, Shell, and Python projects.
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Alibaba Q1 Net Profit Falls 38% as AI Investments Drive 75% Surge in Capital Spending
Alibaba reported a 38% drop in Q1 FY2027 net profit amid strong 45% growth in AI cloud revenue and a 75% rise in capital expenditure for AI infrastructure.
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US begins deporting migrants to Liberia under new third-country agreement
The US deported 20 migrants to Liberia on Thursday under a new deal to send up to 1,200 third-country deportees over the next year.
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Hong Kong court convicts pro-democracy activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung of inciting subversion
Two former leaders of Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigil group were found guilty of inciting subversion under the national security law.
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Japan's core inflation accelerates in July, fueling expectations of BOJ rate hike
Japan's core consumer price index rose 1.8% in July, supporting market bets on a September Bank of Japan rate increase.
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Japan executes Sunao Takami for 2009 Osaka pachinko parlour arson killing five
Japan executed Sunao Takami, 58, on August 21, 2026, for setting fire to an Osaka pachinko parlour that killed five people in 2009.
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US Treasury imposes new sanctions on Hezbollah, citing ties to Iran's IRGC Quds Force
The US Treasury Department imposed fresh sanctions on Hezbollah and its financing network, re-designating the group as an Iranian proxy under the IRGC Quds Force.
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US and Canada Near Trade Deal with Temporary Suspension of 50% Tariffs on Canadian Goods
The US delayed planned 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian imports amid near-final trade agreement talks.
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Malaysia’s Education Ministry to Recognize Prison School Students’ Co-curricular Merit for University Admission
Malaysia’s Education Ministry will consider awarding co-curricular merit to prison school students for university admission starting in 2027.
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Fed July minutes show majority back rate hikes if inflation stays high
Federal Reserve July meeting minutes reveal most officials support rate hikes if inflation remains elevated despite holding rates steady.
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Dave Bautista officially cast as Kratos in Prime Video’s God of War series
Dave Bautista replaces Ryan Hurst as Kratos in Prime Video’s God of War series after Hurst’s injury halted filming.
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Panama Canal to cut daily ship transits from September due to El Nino drought
The Panama Canal Authority will reduce daily ship transits from 36 to 34 on September 3 and to 32 on September 15 due to El Nino-driven drought impacts.
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2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing Highlights China’s Dominance in Humanoid Robotics
The 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing showcased over 300 companies with more than 2,000 robot products, emphasizing China’s leadership in humanoid robots and rapid market growth.
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Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim affirms Taiwan as part of China, supports use of force to maintain unity
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Taiwan is part of China and endorsed use of force to prevent secession, drawing condemnation from Taiwan.
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90s Tech Giants Like Nokia, Dell, and Cisco Surge on AI Boom in 2026
Shares of Dell, Nokia, Cisco, and other 90s tech giants have surged over 150% this year due to strong AI infrastructure demand.
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AI Dangers Outweigh Nuclear Weapons Risks at Singapore Defense Forum
At a Singapore defense forum, experts warned AI poses greater strategic threats than nuclear weapons.
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Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim backs China’s claim on Taiwan, sparks regional tensions
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated Taiwan is part of China and justified military force against secession in a recent interview, drawing wide criticism.
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At least 46 dead after boat capsizes near Gorau in Sokoto state, Nigeria
A boat capsized near Gorau in Nigeria's Sokoto state today, killing at least 46 of around 70 passengers, mostly children and farm workers.
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Anthropic aims to match or exceed SpaceX’s $75 billion record IPO size
Anthropic plans to publicly file for an IPO by the end of August 2026, targeting a debut as large as or bigger than SpaceX’s record US$75 billion offering.
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Fernando Tatis Jr. ends 55-game home run drought with solo shot for Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first home run of the 2026 MLB season May 30 at Nationals Park, ending a 55-game drought.
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Malaysia enforces Online Safety Act codes to protect children and combat harmful content
Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission introduced regulatory codes under the Online Safety Act 2025 to protect children and tighten online content controls.
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Ebola outbreak with 134 cases spreads in Congo and Uganda amid travel bans
An Ebola outbreak declared in May 2026 has caused 134 confirmed cases and 18 deaths across eastern Congo and Uganda amid travel restrictions.
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Trump Calls Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson 'Useless' and Opposes Iran Nuclear Weapons
President Donald Trump called Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson 'useless' on Truth Social and reiterated opposition to Iran having nuclear arms.
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Arsenal lose Champions League final on penalties to PSG, Declan Rice vows to come back stronger
Arsenal fell 4-3 on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the 2026 Champions League final after a 1-1 draw in Budapest, with Declan Rice expressing pride despite the defeat.