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• A new streaming guide highlights upcoming releases for the week, including 'King of the Hill' Season 15 and 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 4. • A professional dunking competition will air across six episodes, featuring global athletes judged by a panel of celebrities and TNT Sports Analytics. • The competition culminates in a world championship on Tuesday, Aug. 25, where the winner will receive a $500,000 grand prize.

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels have expanded their conflict by implementing a blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea. • This escalation follows a series of military actions, including the U.S. launching strikes against Iran for the 10th consecutive night. • The blockade is expected to increase pressure on global energy markets, while Tehran reports receiving new proposals from mediators to resolve the tension.

• The conflict in Yemen continues to be exacerbated by the Southern Transitional Council's (STC) renewed demands for an independent southern state and a surge in attacks by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). • A severe humanitarian crisis persists, with 21.6 million people requiring urgent aid, including 11 million children. • Over 4.5 million individuals remain displaced, highlighting the devastating human cost of the prolonged instability.

• ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting to discuss how the bloc can maintain a unified front as global powers, including the US, China, and Russia, increase their diplomatic courting of the region. • The geopolitical landscape is shifting as the bloc navigates complex relations with leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, while preparing for potential policy changes under a possible Trump administration. • This strategic positioning is critical for ASEAN to avoid becoming a proxy for superpower competition and to instead leverage these interests for regional economic and security gains.

• In an article published July 20, 2026, author Ellen Brown explores the "AI Abundance Paradigm" and the societal shift occurring as machines replace human labor. • The piece examines how the transition from a scarcity-based economy to one of abundance alters human behavior, moving away from competition and fear of loss. • This shift is significant because it challenges traditional notions of meaning and identity that have been tied to professional work for centuries.

• ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting in Manila to address critical regional challenges, including food and energy security, the Myanmar crisis, and tensions in the South China Sea. • To ensure energy stability, governments are urged to modernize electricity grids, invest in battery storage, and strengthen cross-border transmission infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. • Officials warned that food security is becoming an increasingly urgent concern as climate change triggers more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather across Southeast Asia.

• Top ASEAN diplomats are convening for a summit to address critical regional and global security threats. • Key agenda items include the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, as well as the ongoing instability and civil war in Myanmar. • The meeting is significant as Southeast Asian leaders seek to navigate geopolitical tensions and maintain regional stability amidst superpower friction.

• Financial markets are shifting focus toward the current earnings season, though investor sentiment remains vulnerable to crude price volatility and geopolitical tensions. • Economic stability is heavily dependent on the quality and distribution of seasonal rains, which directly impact food inflation, rural demand, and consumer spending. • Inflation has recently surged above the central bank’s 4% target for the first time in nearly 18 months, signaling potential economic pressure.

• U.S. stock markets showed mixed results as investors await the upcoming corporate earnings season to provide a new catalyst for market movement. • Market volatility is being driven by uncertainties regarding how AI will transform businesses and a current shortage of critical economic data. • Investors are particularly on edge due to the Federal Reserve's blackout period and speculation surrounding the next interest rate decision.

• The BBC released a four-minute campaign film titled "What Has The BBC Ever Done For Me?" featuring nearly 100 celebrities to promote the license fee. • The advert has faced heavy criticism, with detractors describing it as "nauseating" and "shameless self-promotion." • Star Romesh Ranganathan acknowledged the corporation's "flaws" while the campaign aims to justify the BBC's funding model.

• ASEAN top diplomats are meeting in Manila on Tuesday to discuss critical global security issues, including renewed hostilities in the Middle East and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. • The talks will include representatives from major global powers, including the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union. • A primary focus is the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where tensions have spiked specifically between Chinese and Philippine naval and coast guard forces.

• Manchester United is reportedly targeting multiple high-profile attackers, including PSG's Bradley Barcola and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. • The club faces stiff competition for Barcola, who has already been linked to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool. • These potential moves signal United's intent to aggressively strengthen their offensive options during the current transfer window.

• ASEAN diplomats are gathering in Manila for annual ministerial talks to address critical regional and global security threats. • The agenda focuses on renewed hostilities in the Middle East, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, and escalating territorial disputes in the South China Sea. • Tensions are particularly high between Chinese and Philippine naval and coast guard forces, involving other claimants like Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

• Arsenal FC has entered the race for Diomande and is linked with Ezri Konsa to provide cover for William Saliba, who faces a potential six-month absence due to a back fracture. • Chelsea is reportedly preparing for a medical examination for Rogers as part of their summer recruitment drive. • Manchester United continues to bolster its midfield following the additions of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, with the club contacting Hugo Larsson and preparing a bid for Manu Kone.

• By 2025, ASEAN's combined GDP reached approximately $4.25 trillion, surpassing Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. • The region is experiencing rapid growth at a rate of 4.3 percent, significantly outperforming the global economic growth average of 3.2 percent. • Member states are specializing in high-tech sectors: Singapore leads in R&D and finance, Malaysia focuses on wafer fabrication, Vietnam attracts giants like Nvidia and Samsung, and the Philippines is developing circuit design.

Albanese’s comments come as One Nation leader nears end of UK tour. Follow today’s news liveAlbanese helps launch major air combat exerciseAnthony Albanese has announced the official opening of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, Australia’s premier international air combat exercise, happening in Darwin.Australia is strongest when we work closely with our partners.Exercise Pitch Black strengthens those partnerships and demonstrates Australia’s commitment to working closely across our region to support peace, stability and security.When I have the opportunity to represent Australia overseas, I talk Australia up.I don’t talk Australia down. I go as someone who’s proud to represent our nation and proud to talk about what we are as a nation. There’s nowhere you’d rather be than Australia, and I think that it is up to our representatives, no matter where they stand in the parliament, when they’re overseas, to talk Australia up, not talk Australia down. Continue reading...

Outbreak has sickened dozens in the city but officials say they believe source of outbreak ‘has likely been eliminated’A second person has died amid a legionnaires’ disease outbreak that has sickened dozens of people in New York City, according to officials, who also say there is evidence that the source of the outbreak “has likely been eliminated”.New York City’s health department served notice of the second death in a statement on Saturday. The statement didn’t have any information about that person’s identity, age, or details on when and how they fell ill, as was the case when city officials on Friday announced the first death in the outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Continue reading...

Calls grow for global regulation as rising numbers of westerners use surrogates in countries with different lawsWhy Mexico is at the heart of ethical debate over global surrogacyWhy one couple are pinning their surrogacy hopes on MexicoThe rise in the use of surrogates abroad is leaving more babies at risk of becoming stateless, experts have said, amid growing calls for urgent global regulation of the practice.The warning follows the suspension of a 15-year effort by The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) to establish a global surrogacy convention, which was paused due to divisions among member states. Continue reading...

• Dr. Bert Mandelbaum is overseeing the health, performance, and overall wellbeing of the United States men’s national soccer team during their current tournament competition. • The FIFA World Cup is returning to the U.S., with matches scheduled across 16 different cities throughout Canada, Mexico, and the United States. • The event takes place throughout June and July, drawing global attention to North America as the host region for the prestigious tournament.

• Central banks from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and India have formalized Project Nexus under Nexus Global Payments. • The initiative aims to address the fragmentation of international currency settlements by creating a more integrated cross-border payment system. • This structural leap signals Southeast Asia's transition from merely adopting digital technology to leading the development of financial infrastructure.

• Researchers have uncovered new details regarding the asteroid impact that occurred 66 million years ago, leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs. • The findings emphasize the extreme misfortune of the dinosaurs, though scientists continue to investigate the precise mechanisms that wiped out life on Earth. • The discovery is significant as it helps clarify the catastrophic event, while some experts suggest that pre-existing climate change or volcanic activity may have also contributed.

• NASA is conducting crew swap activities aboard the International Space Station (ISS), welcoming three new crew members while a trio from Expedition 74 prepares for their return to Earth. • The incoming crew is currently undergoing orientation to adapt to living and working in a microgravity environment. • Scientific operations have resumed in full swing, with researchers focusing on studies regarding how weightlessness impacts the human body.

• General Romeo Brawner Jr., the chief of the Philippine Armed Forces, is set to retire following the completion of his three-year term. • President Marcos must now appoint a successor, with the selection process currently centering on a race between candidates Gustilo and Cordura. • This leadership transition occurs amid escalating tensions and increased pressure from China in the South China Sea.