Culture
World Cup Semifinals Beckon as Merino Sinks Belgium With Another Late Winner
The World Cup semifinals are taking shape: Merino's late winner sent Spain past Belgium 2-1 and into a Dallas showdown with France.
Free Thought Daily
Latest Stories
All recent Free Thought Daily posts in one clean reading list.
Science and Technology
Microsoft MAI Models Take Over Everyday Copilot Work in Excel and Outlook
Microsoft MAI models now handle everyday Copilot prompts in Excel and Outlook, cutting reliance on OpenAI and Anthropic.
Bangladesh
Chattogram Floods Leave 30 Dead as Waters Recede and the Recovery Bill Comes Due
Chattogram floods have killed 30 people and marooned over 7.5 lakh. Waters are receding, but crops, homes and roads lie damaged.
International
Gaza Ceasefire at Nine Months: Israel Now Controls Nearly 70% of the Strip
Nine months into the Gaza ceasefire, Israel controls nearly 70% of the strip. The UN says about 200 people have died near shifting lines.
News
Strait of Hormuz Becomes the Price of Peace as Washington Demands a Public Pledge
The Strait of Hormuz is now the test of the US-Iran truce. Washington wants Iran to publicly declare the waterway open to all shipping.
International
Buried Under Fire: Khamenei Goes to His Grave on Day 132 of a War That Would Not Pause
Khamenei was buried as American strikes hit Iran for a second day. History will remember the funeral the war refused to pause for.
News
170 Targets in 48 Hours: America Doubles Down on Iran as Democrats Cry Illegal War
US strikes on Iran continued for a second straight day — 90 more targets, 170 in 48 hours — as Senate Democrats demanded an immediate end to the war.
Opinion
The Bangladesh Economy Needs Honesty, Not Optimism, After the ADB Downgrade
The Bangladesh economy needs honesty after the ADB cut its growth forecast to 4.5%, citing energy and banking-sector strains.
Ex-Muslim Voices
Leaving Islam Is Still a Death Sentence Somewhere — Even as Britain Sheds Its Blasphemy Law
Leaving Islam remains a capital crime in 11 countries, even as Britain repeals its last blasphemy law. An ex-Muslim column.
Humanism
Frontline Health Workers Deserve Pay, Not Praise — the Humanist Case From Congo
The humanist case is simple: frontline health workers in Congo's Ebola outbreak deserve pay, not praise. A column on dignity and duty.
Atheism
Northern Ireland Just Repealed Its Blasphemy Law — the Last One in the UK
Northern Ireland repealed its blasphemy law by a 57-24 vote, ending the last such offence in the UK. A column on why it matters.
Culture
World Cup Semifinal Booked: France Beat Morocco 2-0 as Mbappe Leads the Charge
France reached the World Cup semifinal with a 2-0 win over Morocco, as Mbappe scored and set up Dembele despite a missed penalty.
Science and Technology
OpenAI Government Stake Proposal Would Hand Washington 5% of the Company
An OpenAI government stake proposal would give Washington 5% of the company, worth roughly $43 billion, modelled on Alaska's oil fund.
Bangladesh
July Uprising Trials Widen as Prosecutors Ready Charges Against Two Dozen Suspects
Bangladesh's July uprising trials are widening as prosecutors prepare crimes-against-humanity charges against around two dozen suspects.
Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin Price Climbs Near $64,000 as an Asian Chip Rally Does the Heavy Lifting
The Bitcoin price climbed near $64,000 as an Asian chip rally and a weaker dollar, not crypto news, drove the gains.