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Prince Harry will visit London this week without his wife Meghan and their two children. Although Buckingham Palace offered him a place to stay, the offer was withdrawn late, and details about where he will stay or who will join him remain unclear.
Key Facts
Prince Harry is visiting London for charity events, including the Invictus Games.
He originally planned to come with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, but he will now travel alone.
Buckingham Palace offered Harry accommodation, but the offer was later withdrawn with no clear explanation.
The withdrawal was reportedly linked to a legal case hearing happening the same day as Harry’s first engagement.
Security concerns influenced the decision for Meghan and the children not to join the trip.
The Sussex family currently lives in California and uses privately funded security after losing government-provided security in 2025.
It is not known if Harry will meet King Charles III or other family members during this visit.
Archie and Lilibet have not seen their grandfather, King Charles, in person since 2022.
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Abigail Thorn, creator of the YouTube channel Philosophy Tube, has expanded her career into acting. She recently appeared as Admiral Sharako Lohar in the third season of HBO’s "House of the Dragon" and is working on an action movie project.
Key Facts
Abigail Thorn runs Philosophy Tube, a YouTube channel about philosophy with over 1.6 million followers.
She wrote and starred in a play called "The Prince" in London’s Southwark Playhouse.
Thorn acted in the TV show "House of the Dragon" as Admiral Sharako Lohar in Season 3.
Her character took part in a major naval battle and died in the show.
Thorn’s role required physical training, as she drank protein shakes to get fit.
She is developing a movie where she stars as an action hero.
Thorn also has roles in "Star Wars: The Acolyte" and the film "Again Again."
"House of the Dragon" episodes air on HBO and streaming service HBO Max.
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An Austrian court found Khaled al-Halabi, a former Syrian intelligence officer, guilty of torture and other abuses against opponents of Syria’s previous President Bashar al-Assad. He was sentenced to eight years in prison along with another former Syrian official, Musab Abu Rukbah, for crimes committed during Syria’s civil war.
Key Facts
Khaled al-Halabi was a brigadier general in Syria’s intelligence service in Raqqa from 2011 to 2013.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison by a court in Vienna, Austria.
Al-Halabi was found guilty of torture, serious bodily harm, aggravated coercion, and sexual assault.
Musab Abu Rukbah, a former police lieutenant colonel, was also sentenced to eight years for similar crimes excluding torture.
Over a dozen victims testified about beatings, electric shocks, and being hosed with hot and cold water.
The court ruled al-Halabi knew about and was responsible for the torture while in charge of detainees.
This trial is one of the few instances where a European country prosecuted Syrian state agents for war crimes.
Al-Halabi claimed he helped the Free Syrian Army take Raqqa and denied knowledge of torture devices used in his facility.
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Microsoft announced it will cut about 4,800 jobs, including 3,200 in its Xbox division, to reduce costs and restructure the gaming business. The changes include selling or spinning off four game studios and reviewing options for a fifth studio, aiming to make Xbox more profitable by 2027.
Key Facts
Microsoft is cutting around 4,800 jobs, about 2% of its workers worldwide.
About 3,200 of these cuts will happen in the Xbox gaming division over the next fiscal year.
Four Xbox game studios will be sold or spun off, and a fifth studio is being reviewed for possible closure or sale.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the division’s profit margins are much lower than competitors.
Some jobs in Microsoft’s commercial business are also being cut to support AI efforts.
Microsoft is investing $2.5 billion to help customers adopt AI with 6,000 engineers working inside those companies.
Xbox has had multiple rounds of layoffs since Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard in 2024.
The restructuring aims to make Xbox healthier financially and achieve growth by 2027.
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President Donald Trump said on Monday that he thinks the war between Russia and Ukraine is getting close to ending. He said both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy want the war to stop soon.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump spoke about the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday.
He believes the conflict is closer to ending than many people think.
Trump said President Putin wants the war to end.
He also said President Zelenskyy of Ukraine wants to end the war now.
Trump made these comments while talking to the press at the White House.
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Thousands of people gathered in Tehran for the funeral procession of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members who died in a recent airstrike. The crowd called for revenge against U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid ongoing tensions and paused negotiations between Iran and the U.S.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died at age 86 and was buried in Mashhad, his birthplace.
The funeral procession in Tehran drew a massive crowd, larger than previous events for notable leaders.
Khamenei’s coffin and those of his family members killed in an airstrike were paraded through the city.
Mourners carried signs and chanted for the death of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The airstrike that killed Khamenei’s family members started a war involving Israel and the United States.
Iranian officials organized the event and managed crowds for safety during the long procession.
Iran and the U.S. are currently negotiating to end the conflict and address issues like Iran’s nuclear program and Strait of Hormuz access.
The funeral and public mourning are being used to show Iran’s strength and resolve during sensitive talks with the U.S.
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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a U.S. government program started by President Donald Trump in early 2025 to cut costs and reduce federal workforce, officially ended on July 4, 2026. Despite its goal to save money and reduce bureaucracy, DOGE faced criticism, legal challenges, and only achieved part of its savings target before being folded into other government agencies.
Key Facts
DOGE was created by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, with an 18-month mission to make the government smaller and more efficient.
By late 2025, DOGE was quietly ended early, even though its official end date was July 4, 2026.
Elon Musk led DOGE initially but left in May 2025 to focus on his businesses after facing criticism and investor concerns.
Over 260,000 federal employees left their jobs during 2025 through buyouts and early resignation programs pushed by DOGE.
DOGE reduced federal funding for many programs and canceled billions in government contracts.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) lost 83% of its programs under DOGE and is set to shut down in September 2026.
Federal worker unions filed lawsuits against workforce reductions and other DOGE actions.
DOGE’s mission to reduce waste and fraud in government continues under other government efforts.
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Anthropic secretly added a hidden tracker in its Claude Code AI tool to monitor some users in China. The company removed the tracker after it was discovered, saying it was meant to stop unauthorized reselling and copying of their AI models. This incident adds to growing tensions between US and Chinese AI firms over technology copying.
Key Facts
Anthropic inserted a hidden tracking code in Claude Code users in China.
The tracker collected info like time zone, proxy, and links to Chinese AI labs.
Anthropic’s engineer said the tracker started in March as an experiment.
The tracker aimed to stop unauthorized resellers and AI model copying, called “distillation.”
Distillation is when someone copies an AI model by querying it many times.
Anthropic has been fighting the US government to prevent surveillance of US users.
Chinese AI models have recently matched or outperformed US models quickly.
Anthropic and OpenAI want distillation attacks to be illegal and regulated by the US.
Alibaba’s Qwen AI showed signs of copying Claude after heavy distillation attacks.
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Canada has chosen a German company, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), to build 12 new advanced submarines. This is one of Canada’s largest defense deals and aims to strengthen its navy and ties with NATO ahead of an important summit.
Key Facts
Canada will buy 12 new diesel-electric submarines from German company TKMS.
These submarines will replace older, secondhand vessels currently used by the Royal Canadian Navy.
The submarines use stealth technology and will support missions in the Arctic, including the Northwest Passage.
The contract is worth over $12 billion USD, with total costs including maintenance possibly exceeding $70 billion USD.
The deal involves a long negotiation process before it is finalized.
TKMS is NATO’s largest supplier of non-nuclear submarines, while South Korean company Hanwha Ocean was the other bidder.
Canada is increasing defense spending and aims to spend 5% of its GDP on defense by 2035.
Canada is also looking to diversify its military suppliers beyond the US, buying aircraft from the US but submarines from Germany.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, is under investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner for not declaring a £5 million gift he received before his election. Additional concerns have arisen after reports of undisclosed support from another political ally, leading opposition parties to ask for a deeper parliamentary inquiry.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received £5 million from Christopher Harborne, a billionaire donor, before becoming an MP in April 2024.
Harborne has donated a total of £15 million to Reform UK since early 2023.
Reports claim Farage also received support from George Cottrell, an ally who paid for staff and security and provided a property near Buckingham Palace.
MPs must declare any gifts or benefits related to their political work received within 12 months before election, unless they are purely personal.
Farage says he followed the rules and argued the £5 million was unconditional and intended for future security costs.
Farage registered smaller donations from Cottrell for a trip to Belgium and a US flight but not other reported support.
Parliament’s standards commissioner is investigating Farage’s failure to declare the £5 million gift.
Opposition parties want the investigation expanded to cover all reported support from Cottrell.
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EasyJet agreed to be taken over by Castlelake, a US private equity firm, for £5.5 billion after rejecting four earlier bids. The airline’s board will recommend shareholders accept the £6.90 per share offer, and Castlelake has said it plans to support easyJet’s growth and keep the company intact.
Key Facts
Castlelake’s offer of £6.90 per share values easyJet at £5.5 billion.
The takeover is the fifth bid; easyJet rejected four previous lower offers.
Castlelake must submit a formal bid by 3 August according to UK takeover rules.
The new owners plan to support easyJet’s current strategy, including fleet modernization.
EasyJet’s largest shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who owns about 15%, has not yet commented.
Analysts said UK companies like easyJet are being bought at low prices by foreign firms.
EasyJet employs 19,000 people and flies about 93 million passengers a year.
Shares had dropped about 30% in the past year before the bid was announced.
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On July 4, Roswell Encina, president of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, was on a Washington Metro train when a group of masked men from the white supremacist group Patriot Front boarded. The encounter lasted about 30 minutes and was captured in widely shared photographs during America’s 250th Independence Day celebrations.
Key Facts
Roswell Encina was riding a Metro train to a Fourth of July party in Maryland.
A large group of masked men from Patriot Front boarded the same train car after many families and tourists got off.
Patriot Front is a white supremacist group known for staged public appearances.
Encina did not know the group before but researched them discreetly during the ride.
The men did not confront Encina directly but the situation made him uncomfortable.
A Getty photographer on the train documented the scene, giving Encina some reassurance.
Patriot Front also held a march in Washington, D.C., on July 4 with around 400 members, carrying flags including Patriot Front and Confederate flags.
Encina reflected on the moment’s significance during America’s 250th anniversary and said it highlights ongoing challenges in U.S. democracy and society.
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Cédric Jubillar, a French man sentenced to 30 years for killing his wife Delphine, has admitted from prison that he killed her and is willing to show where her body is buried. Delphine disappeared in December 2020 in southern France, and her body was never found until now.
Key Facts
Cédric Jubillar was convicted in October 2025 for the murder of his wife, Delphine Jubillar.
Delphine went missing in December 2020 during the Covid pandemic in rural southern France.
Jubillar denied killing her during the trial but recently confessed from prison.
He wrote a letter admitting involvement and said he would cooperate to find the body.
The exact cause and details of Delphine’s death remain unknown.
Jubillar’s confession may delay his scheduled appeal trial.
Witnesses at the original trial said Jubillar had threatened his wife and spoken about hiding her body.
Lawyers hope the confession helps the children grieve and allows Delphine to be properly buried.
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President Donald Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office about the upcoming NATO summit and a phone call he had with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The call involved U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun. This took place during an event to launch "Trump Accounts."
Key Facts
President Trump held an event in the Oval Office.
The event was to launch "Trump Accounts."
He answered questions from reporters during the event.
He talked about the upcoming NATO summit.
He discussed a phone call with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The phone call concerned U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun.
Reporters from CBS News and The Athletic covered the event and related topics.
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The article suggests that the MAGA movement and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) share similar roots related to their views on government. It implies both groups see government as problematic or destructive.
Key Facts
MAGA stands for "Make America Great Again," a political movement supporting President Donald Trump.
DSA stands for Democratic Socialists of America, a political organization with progressive goals.
The article claims both groups have a common origin or background.
It highlights that both movements criticize or oppose the current role of government.
The article does not provide detailed evidence or examples.
It frames the government as destructive according to these movements.
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JD Vance wrote an essay in 2016 comparing President Trump's political appeal to opioid addiction. Ten years later, the essay was republished, showing how Vance changed from a critic of Trump to his vice president.
Key Facts
JD Vance wrote about President Trump's political appeal in 2016.
He compared that appeal to opioid addiction, which is a serious drug problem.
The essay was republished ten years later.
It discussed the role of a person enabling Trump's politics.
JD Vance shifted from criticizing Trump to supporting him as vice president.
The article highlights Vance's personal and political transformation.
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The short film "Latin Lover" tells the story of Ramon Novarro, a Mexican-born actor who was Hollywood's first Latino movie star. The film shows his life, career, and tragic death in 1968, aiming to honor his legacy and represent Queer and Latino themes.
Key Facts
Ramon Novarro was born in Mexico in 1899 and became a famous actor during the silent and early sound film eras.
He starred in films like "Ben-Hur" (1925), "Across to Singapore" (1928), and "Mata Hari" (1931).
Novarro was a closeted gay man, a Catholic, and struggled with alcoholism.
He was murdered in 1968 by two men who wrongly thought he had hidden money.
The short film "Latin Lover" was written and directed by Kevin Rios and stars Jonathan Del Arco as Novarro.
The film aims to give Novarro dignity and recognition that past press coverage denied him.
Homosexuality was illegal in California until 1976, which affected Novarro's public image after his death.
"Latin Lover" is being shown at film festivals and highlights current issues affecting Queer and Latino communities.
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A woman experienced severe symptoms like blood in her stool and frequent bathroom visits for years before being properly diagnosed. At age 21, after a colonoscopy, she learned she had severe ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease that inflames the colon and causes serious illness.
Key Facts
The woman first noticed blood in her stool at 16 but did not seek help soon.
Her symptoms worsened over many years, including nausea, fatigue, and going to the bathroom up to 30 times a day.
Doctors initially misdiagnosed her, blaming hemorrhoids, food poisoning, or pregnancy.
At 21, a colonoscopy diagnosed her with severe pan-ulcerative colitis, a condition that inflames the colon.
She was prescribed steroids and more than 20 pills daily to control the disease.
The diagnosis was emotionally difficult because there is no known cure, meaning she must manage symptoms for life.
The illness greatly affected her quality of life, causing isolation and impacting her role as a mother.
A new doctor later showed concern about the damage to her colon; she refused an ostomy surgery, preferring to manage without it.
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The third episode of Season 3 of the HBO series "House of the Dragon" focuses more on tense conversations and political moves than on battles. In this episode, Daemon Targaryen secures the loyalty of Ormund Hightower and captures a boy supposed to be Daeron Targaryen, but it is revealed to be a trick. Meanwhile, Queen Rhaenyra faces challenges ruling a divided kingdom and negotiates with Alicent Hightower about the missing royal gold and political secrets.
Key Facts
Season 3 of "House of the Dragon" shifts from large battles to intense, quieter scenes in episode 3.
Daemon Targaryen confronts Ormund Hightower with three dragons and gains his loyalty.
Ormund hands over a boy claimed to be Daeron Targaryen, but it is later revealed to be a merchant's son disguised by hair bleaching.
Queen Rhaenyra wants to find the kingdom’s royal gold, but the treasury is empty and secrets about it remain.
Alicent Hightower offers deals to Rhaenyra, including letting her and her daughter leave the city and suggesting announcing Aegon's death to protect her son.
Rhaenyra is depicted as a ruler dealing with betrayal, deception, and a fractured kingdom.
The episode highlights political intrigue and personal conflicts over physical action and dragon battles.
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