Technology News

Faisal Islam: Trump's tough tariff tactics are getting results

July 23, 2025

The U.S. and Japan have reached a trade deal after long negotiations. This agreement is part of President Trump's strategy using tariffs to negotiate better terms with trade partners, and Japan's deal could influence other major economies.

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The U.S. and Japan have agreed on a trade deal after extensive discussions.
A 15% tariff will be applied to Japanese goods imported to the U.S.
Japan holds $1.1 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds, the largest by any country.
The agreement stops possible joint retaliation by Japan, the EU, and Canada.
Japan will import more U.S. rice while protecting its agricultural imports overall.
Japan's private companies plan to invest half a trillion dollars in the U.S.
U.S. tariffs are raising significant revenue, expected to reach $300 billion annually.
These tariffs could lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers on imported goods.

Source Information

BBC World

Texas lawmakers review catastrophic floods but say they aren’t out to assign blame

July 23, 2025

Texas lawmakers are reviewing the July 4 floods that killed at least 136 people to find ways to prevent future disasters, without assigning blame. The floods in the Texas Hill Country and the proposed redrawing of U.S. House maps are the main topics for the state's special session this summer.

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The review of the July 4 floods aims to improve flood prevention and preparedness, not to blame local officials.
At least 136 people died in the floods, with two still missing, and many initially unaccounted for were later found safe.
The review includes testimony from state and county emergency officials, excluding Kerr County officials to let them focus on their duties.
Kerr County, heavily affected by the floods, lacked a warning system for river flooding.
Proposed legislation includes improving early warning systems and providing relief funding.
The special legislative session will also address redrawing U.S. House maps to potentially increase Republican seats.
Democrats want flood issues resolved before voting on congressional maps and may use walkouts to protest.
Texas officials have threatened penalties for lawmakers who attempt to disrupt the special session through tactics like walkouts.

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PBS NewsHour

The night Iran struck Qatar

July 23, 2025

On June 23rd, Iran carried out the biggest missile strike in the Gulf's history by targeting Qatar. The attack highlighted how quickly missiles can travel, taking only 120 seconds to reach their target.

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Iran launched a missile attack on Qatar on June 23rd.
It is considered the largest missile strike in Gulf history.
The missiles took only about 120 seconds to reach their target.
Al Jazeera’s Arabic Digital newsroom reported on the event.
The report focused on the timing and speed of the missiles' impact.

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Al Jazeera

Skeleton in Guatemalan jungle likely US birdwatcher missing since 2023

July 23, 2025

Human bones were discovered in the Guatemalan jungle near an archaeological site. Officials believe the bones may belong to Raymond Vincent Ashcroft, a U.S. birdwatcher who went missing in February 2023. Clothes found with the bones match the ones Ashcroft wore when he disappeared, and DNA tests will confirm if the remains are his.

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Human bones were found 14 kilometers from the Tikal archaeological site in Guatemala.
Clothes found with the bones match those worn by Raymond Vincent Ashcroft when he disappeared.
Ashcroft, 66, went missing in February 2023 while visiting Tikal with a birdwatching group.
His wife reported him missing after he did not return to their hotel.
Search efforts, including sniffer dogs, began soon after Ashcroft was reported missing but were unsuccessful.
The remains were found within dense jungle vegetation and required traveling on foot to reach.
Officials plan to use DNA tests to confirm if the bones are Ashcroft's.
Other tourists have gone missing in the national park area before, with some outcomes being fatal.

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BBC US

Apple and Google have 'effective duopoly' in UK says regulator

July 23, 2025

Apple and Google might need to change some of their mobile services in the UK because the UK's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), says they have too much control over the market. The CMA is looking into their app stores, operating systems, and web browsers, and has suggested that both companies have an "effective duopoly," meaning they largely control the market and limit competition.

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The CMA is investigating how Apple and Google run their app stores, operating systems, and web browsers.
According to the CMA, Apple and Google control almost all mobile platforms in the UK, creating an "effective duopoly."
The CMA can require changes if companies have too much market power according to a new law.
Apple and Google have been given a month to respond to the CMA before a decision is finalized.
If the CMA's decision is finalized, Apple and Google may need to make changes to promote competition and consumer choice.
Apple is concerned that these changes might weaken user privacy and security.
Google wants any new rules to be based on clear evidence and not hinder growth.
Other regulatory investigations into Apple and Google are taking place in the UK, EU, and US.

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BBC Tech

WATCH LIVE: Trump reveals ‘AI Action Plan’ shaped by his tech supporters after revoking Biden policy

July 23, 2025

President Donald Trump is set to announce an "AI Action Plan" which aligns with ideas from tech leaders who supported his campaign. This plan follows his decision to cancel the AI policies introduced by former President Joe Biden.

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President Trump is introducing an "AI Action Plan."
This plan is tied to suggestions from tech industry leaders.
Trump's plan will replace AI policies set by former President Biden.
The plan may focus on selling AI technology to other countries.
It could also simplify building data centers, essential for AI.
A person familiar with the plan shared some details without being named.
The announcement is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.
The story is ongoing and may have updates.

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PBS NewsHour

Heathrow boss 'frustrated' at being asleep during fire

July 23, 2025

Heathrow Airport had to stop flights after a fire at a nearby power station in March. The airport's CEO, Thomas Woldbye, missed emergency calls because his phone was on silent. The fire affected 270,000 passengers, and Heathrow might take legal action against the company responsible for the power station.

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A fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport led to a flight stoppage.
1,300 flights were canceled, affecting 270,000 passengers.
Heathrow's CEO, Thomas Woldbye, missed emergency calls due to his phone being on silent mode.
The airport's pre-tax profit dropped by 37.2% in the first half of 2025.
The fire was caused by a known fault at the substation that National Grid had not fixed since 2018.
Heathrow is considering taking legal action against National Grid because of the fire.
Thomas Woldbye said he trusted the airport's crisis management even though he was not aware of the incident immediately.

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BBC Business

Appeal to fight food poverty during summer holidays

July 23, 2025

A food charity called FareShare Sussex & Surrey is asking for help to fight food poverty during the summer school holidays. The charity supports over 28,500 people weekly and aims to provide food to children at risk of missing meals through a network of charities and community groups.

Key Facts:

FareShare Sussex & Surrey is a food redistribution charity.
They have launched a summer appeal due to expected high demand during school holidays.
The charity supports more than 28,500 people every week.
They work with 248 charities and community groups.
One in five children is at risk of missing meals during the summer holidays.
They provided 6.26 million meals last year.
The charity saved local organizations £16.5 million in costs last year.
Donations help keep their operations running to deliver food to various community services.

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BBC Business

'Sorry, Baby' writer Eva Victor: 'I tried to create a film that I feel like I needed'

July 23, 2025

"Sorry, Baby" is a new film written, directed, and starring Eva Victor. The movie focuses on the aftermath of a traumatic event and uses humor to explore serious themes. It sold to A24 for around $8 million after creating significant interest at the Sundance Film Festival.

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"Sorry, Baby" was created by Eva Victor, who wrote, directed, and starred in the film.
The film deals with the effects of a traumatic event described as "the bad thing," without showing it on screen.
It features a non-linear storyline about a graduate student turned professor named Agnes.
The film was bought by A24 for around $8 million after a bidding war.
Aside from Eva Victor, the film stars Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, and Louis Cancelmi.
Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins produced the film.
It had its first limited release in June and expanded to more theaters later.
Eva Victor's style includes humor to lighten the heavy subject matter and reflect the surreal nature of trauma.

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NPR News

Tyler, the Creator's 'DON'T TAP THE GLASS' is a petition for freedom of movement

July 23, 2025

Tyler, the Creator released his ninth album, "DON'T TAP THE GLASS," which encourages people to dance without fear. The album questions how social media has affected personal expression and invites listeners to reconnect with dance culture in hip-hop.

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Tyler, the Creator released a new album called "DON'T TAP THE GLASS."
The album was released unexpectedly at 6 a.m.
It encourages people to dance without worrying about being filmed.
Tyler suggests that people are afraid to dance in public because they don't want to be mocked on social media.
The album mixes different music styles like house, funk, and R&B.
Tyler's music often challenges traditional ideas in hip-hop, like what is considered "cool" or masculine.
Hip-hop has deep roots in dance culture, dating back to the origins of breakdancing.

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NPR News

What's it like to have Frank Lloyd Wright design your house? This 101-year-old knows

July 23, 2025

Roland Reisley, now 101 years old, has lived in a house designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright for 73 years. The house is part of the Usonia community in New York, featuring Wright's signature style of connecting homes to nature and using unique designs like hexagonal rooms.

Key Facts:

Roland Reisley lives in a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for over 70 years.
The house is located in Pleasantville, New York, about 30 miles from New York City.
It's part of a community called Usonia, which includes 47 mid-century modern homes.
Usonia was created to provide affordable, beautiful homes that connect with nature.
The house features a hexagonal design, with rooms made of triangle shapes.
Signature features include glass doors, local materials, and built-in furniture.
Wright's designs often use repeating geometric patterns for visual harmony.
The house sits among trees, giving a feeling similar to being in a treehouse.

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NPR Home

U.S. probes foreign links to agriculture research to protect food supply

July 23, 2025

The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) is tightening rules on research collaborations with foreign nationals to secure the country's food supply. This includes requiring researchers to reveal any foreign contracts and stopping work with certain countries. Recently, this led to the dismissal of 70 foreign researchers from countries the U.S. considers concerning.

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The USDA is increasing security around agricultural research to protect the U.S. food supply.
New rules require anyone who gets USDA funding to declare connections with foreign entities.
Seventy researchers from countries like Syria and Venezuela lost their jobs due to these rules.
The "National Farm Security Action Plan" aims to boost U.S. agriculture by reducing foreign involvement.
Some experts worry these rules may hurt U.S. innovation in agricultural research.
USDA researchers must get approval before working with or publishing papers with foreign nationals.
Many foreign nationals in the U.S. hold advanced degrees in sciences, highlighting the potential impact.
During fiscal year 2022, the USDA funded $3 billion worth of research.

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NPR Home

Bandmates and fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

July 23, 2025

Fans and musicians have paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, who has died at the age of 76. Osbourne passed away just weeks after Black Sabbath's final concert in his hometown of Birmingham, and he was known for his influential role in music.

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Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of Black Sabbath, has died at age 76.
Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi and other band members shared heartfelt tributes to him.
Osbourne's death followed a farewell concert in Birmingham with support from bands like Metallica and Guns 'n' Roses.
Fans and musicians called Osbourne a musical icon and inspiration.
Osbourne was famous for high-energy and controversial live performances.
After leaving Black Sabbath in 1979, he had a successful solo career with over a dozen albums.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and six children from two marriages.
Fans honored him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by placing flowers on his star.

Source Information

BBC World

FKA Twigs and Shia LaBeouf reach settlement in abuse lawsuit

July 23, 2025

FKA Twigs and Shia LaBeouf have settled a lawsuit where Twigs accused LaBeouf of abuse. The settlement ends the case, and the details will stay private. Both parties have agreed not to continue the legal battle and have expressed well wishes for each other.

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FKA Twigs accused Shia LaBeouf of physical, mental, and emotional abuse in a lawsuit filed in 2020.
They have reached a settlement agreement, which means the case is officially closed.
The details of the settlement will not be made public.
FKA Twigs had asked the court to dismiss all claims against LaBeouf with prejudice, which means she cannot sue again for the same claims.
The lawsuit process lasted about five years before reaching this settlement.
Both FKA Twigs and LaBeouf expressed wishes for each other's personal happiness and professional success.
FKA Twigs and LaBeouf dated for nine months after meeting on the film set of Honey Boy in 2018.

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BBC World

Govt 3: You are what you pay for (Budgets)

July 23, 2025

The NPR Planet Money Summer School podcast explores how the government decides to allocate the money it collects. It discusses the limitations on government spending and the reasons why certain areas receive more funding than others.

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The podcast is part of a series called Planet Money Summer School, focusing on government-related topics.
This episode discusses how the government decides to spend its collected money.
The discussion highlights that despite appearances, the government cannot spend without limits.
The episode aims to explain why some areas receive more government funding compared to others.
The series host is Robert Smith, and the producer is Eric Mennel.
Listeners can access the podcast freely on various platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the NPR app.
Additional content is available through a subscription service called Planet Money+.

Source Information

NPR Business

Summer School 3: How government decides what to spend our money on

July 23, 2025

The NPR Planet Money podcast discusses how the government decides on spending. It explores why some areas receive more funding than others and examines the limits of government spending.

Key Facts:

The episode is part of a series called "Planet Money Summer School."
It focuses on understanding government spending decisions.
The podcast explains why certain areas get more government funding.
The show is hosted by Robert Smith and produced by Eric Mennel.
The series includes discussions on how taxes affect behavior and reflect values.
Listeners can find the podcast on various platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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NPR Business

‘Changed the planet of rock’: Tributes pour in for rock icon Ozzy Osbourne

July 23, 2025

Ozzy Osbourne, the famous heavy metal musician and reality TV star, passed away at age 76. His family announced his death but did not share the location or cause. Osbourne had recently been treated for Parkinson's disease and performed a final show in Birmingham, England, two weeks before his death.

Key Facts:

Ozzy Osbourne died at the age of 76, as confirmed by his family.
The cause and location of his death were not disclosed.
Osbourne had been receiving treatment for Parkinson's disease.
He performed a farewell show in his hometown, Birmingham, England, two weeks prior to passing.
His wife Sharon and children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis signed a family statement.
Aston Villa Football Club and many musicians, including Tony Iommi, Elton John, and Metallica, paid tribute to Osbourne.
Osbourne was known for being a founding member of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
Tributes highlighted Osbourne's influence on the rock and music worlds.

Source Information

Al Jazeera

Microsoft servers hacked by Chinese groups, says tech giant

July 23, 2025

Chinese groups have hacked Microsoft SharePoint servers used by businesses, according to Microsoft. The company identified the cyber attackers as connected to China and responded by releasing security updates. Microsoft encouraged customers using these servers to install the updates for protection.

Key Facts:

Microsoft reported that Chinese groups hacked SharePoint servers used by businesses.
The hacking groups are identified as Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603.
The attackers targeted on-premises SharePoint servers, not cloud-based services.
Security updates have been released by Microsoft to counter the attack.
Microsoft advised all affected server users to install the updates.
Investigations into other possible attackers are still ongoing.
Limited numbers of servers in the UK were also affected by this hacking.
The attackers aimed to steal information and potentially gain long-term access to data.

Source Information

BBC Tech

Microsoft servers hacked by Chinese groups, firm says

July 23, 2025

Microsoft reported that Chinese hacker groups breached their SharePoint document servers to access data from businesses. The company has issued security updates and advised users of its on-premises (self-hosted) SharePoint servers to install these updates promptly.

Key Facts:

Microsoft identified Chinese hacker groups, Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603, as responsible for the attacks.
The hackers used weaknesses in on-premises SharePoint servers to access business data.
Microsoft released security updates and advised affected users to install them to prevent further attacks.
Investigations into other possible cyberattack activities are ongoing.
Microsoft has high confidence that systems without these updates remain at risk.
Attacks involved hackers sending a request to steal key data from the SharePoint servers.
Governments and businesses using SharePoint were the main targets, with various sectors impacted globally.
Linen Typhoon focuses on stealing intellectual property, while Violet Typhoon primarily engages in espionage activities.

Source Information

BBC Tech

As important as exercising: noticing that you are

July 23, 2025

The article discusses the importance of mindfulness, which means paying attention to what you are doing. Research by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer suggests that being mindful can improve well-being and have positive physical effects, like weight loss and lower blood pressure.

Key Facts:

Mindfulness means being aware of what you're doing and noticing new things.
Ellen Langer is a Harvard psychologist known for studying mindfulness.
Being mindful can have physical benefits, such as helping with weight loss and lowering blood pressure.
A study showed that people who thought of cleaning as exercise lost weight and had better health measures.
Simple mindful actions like walking more or thinking about your posture can improve well-being.
Langer suggests noticing new things around you and getting comfortable with change to develop a mindful mindset.

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Axios

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