- Wildfire spreads near popular French tourist town as thousands are evacuated AP News
- France evacuates 20,000 as wildfires spread in south-west BBC
- More than 10,000 flee wildfire near popular French tourist town The Seattle Times
- Thousands of tourists forced to evacuate as fire rages in southwest France France 24
- France wildfires force evacuation of over 20,000 people from tourist town Al Jazeera
Pauline Hanson blames ‘fake news’ media for her bad press. But serious leaders have to own their actions
In a fortnight of rolling blunders, the One Nation leader digs deep into the Trump playbook of blame-shifting
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
There’s apparently only one thing to blame for Pauline Hanson’s string of bad headlines in recent weeks, from her decision to pal around with the far-right convicted criminal Tommy Robinson to her description of domestic violence on Wednesday as a “two-way street”.
According to the One Nation leader, it’s of course not Hanson herself who is to blame.
Continue reading...Murdoch and Musk in the crosshairs at Venice film festival
Danny Boyle’s drama about the acquisition of the Sun and a four-hour Elon Musk documentary will premiere alongside new films from Martin McDonagh and Werner Herzog – but only one female director has a movie in competition
The Venice film festival promises to take a swing at media moguls of the print and digital era this year, with Trainspotting director Danny Boyle’s new film about Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the Sun and a new documentary about Elon Musk included in the lineup of the films for the festival’s 83rd edition.
In Boyle’s Ink, which will open the festival on the Lido on 2 September, Australian actor Guy Pearce plays compatriot newspaper tycoon Murdoch, whose purchase of the Sun in 1969 sensationalised the media landscape and transformed public life in Britain. The script is written by Olivier award-winning playwright and screenwriter James Graham (Dear England, Brexit: The Uncivil War).
Continue reading...A Turkish governor is sacked over photos in snug cycling shorts. Many want him reinstated – AP News
- A Turkish governor is sacked over photos in snug cycling shorts. Many want him reinstated AP News
- On your bike! Turkish governor fired after wearing Lycra cycling tights The Telegraph
- Thousands sign petition supporting Turkish governor after cycling tights row BBC
- Erdoğan dismisses governor after criticism over cycling outfit Bianet
- AP Trending SummaryBrief at 11:02 a.m. EDT wdtimes.com
Israeli security minister joins Jewish extremists as they storm al-Aqsa mosque compound
Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was among thousands who gathered at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site
Israel’s far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, joined thousands of Jewish extremists who stormed Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Thursday.
Escorted by armed police, they prayed, waved the Israeli flag and sang the national anthem in a provocative display of political power.
Continue reading...Liberia seizes €277 million in cocaine in major drug bust – Euronews.com
- Liberia seizes €277 million in cocaine in major drug bust Euronews.com
- Cocaine worth $317m seized in Liberia's biggest-ever drugs bust BBC
- Several Liberian Officers Interrogated Over Record Drug Bust allAfrica.com
- Today in Africa — July 22, 2026: Liberia’s Record $370 Million Cocaine Bust, ECOWAS’ Push for a Single Currency OkayAfrica
- Liberia seizes US$317 million of cocaine bound for Europe, police chief says CTV News
Has Russia helped Iran target CIA sites in the Gulf? – Al Jazeera
- Has Russia helped Iran target CIA sites in the Gulf? Al Jazeera
- US Investigating Possible Russian Role In Iranian Strikes On CIA Facilities In Gulf - Report i24NEWS
- Did Russia aid Iranian drone attacks on CIA sites? What report says The Times of India
- US probing possible Russian link to Iran strikes on CIA facilities Yahoo
- Russia's Secret Hand in Iran's Drone War: U.S. Probes Kometa-M Tech Behind CIA Station Strikes in Riyadh Defence Security Asia
MoD cancels army training in Kenya over powers to prosecute British soldiers
September exercise called off after Kenya raises concerns over funding and jurisdiction for criminal offences
The British army has been forced to cancel training for its troops in Kenya after the Kenyan government refused to ratify a bilateral defence agreement.
While the UK government wanted to renew the existing agreement, Kenyan lawmakers had sought changes to give local authorities greater powers to hold British soldiers accountable for any offences committed in the country.
Continue reading...Trump wants ‘a head for an eye’ in Iran — not ‘eye for an eye,’ Rubio says – New York Post
- Trump wants ‘a head for an eye’ in Iran — not ‘eye for an eye,’ Rubio says New York Post
- Rubio says Iran ‘begging’ for a deal with US but not ready to make one Al Jazeera
- Iran's demands over the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent, Rubio warns Asian leaders AP News
- Oil prices rise after Rubio says Iran is not serious about a deal CNBC
- Rubio accuses Iran of flying IRGC personnel into Yemen as Houthi threat escalates Fox News
Ghanaians’ ICC petition over migrant attacks ‘opportunistic’, says South Africa
The petition argues the violence against migrants in South Africa could amount to crimes against humanity.
Liquor store employee narrowly escapes leopard attack
After nearly five hours, officials captured the animal and it was later released back into the wild, local authorities confirmed.
Mideast oil producers step up plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz – AP News
- Mideast oil producers step up plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz AP News
- Middle East oil producers seek Strait of Hormuz alternatives as the U.S.-Iran war escalates CBS News
- Oil producers race to build alternatives to Hormuz as oil hits $100 Euronews.com
- From Syria to UAE, the race to bypass Strait of Hormuz is on Middle East Eye
- No route around Hormuz: Why West Asia’s pipeline alternatives fall short thecradle.co
‘Let’s enjoy the ride’ says Elon Musk, as AI fears mount
Talking to The Economist, Musk said he doesn't care if people hate him and said he was not a racist.
Dubai offers £600 rewards to residents who lure friends to visit as tourist numbers plummet
Residents eligible for dining and hotel packages if they can persuade family and friends to city spurned by visitors amid Iran war
Dubai is offering to pay residents who attract family and friends to visit the emirate in an effort to revive tourist numbers that have plummeted since the city was drawn into the US-Israel war on Iran.
The Dubai Invite scheme, an initiative of the department of economy and tourism, allows residents of the United Arab Emirates to nominate friends and relatives and then to receive benefits worth more than 3,000 UAE dirham (about £610) if they visit.
Continue reading...Trump’s nuclear deal with Saudis jettisons longstanding US demands
Signing a nuclear pact in the Middle East is a bold move that has drawn criticism in the US and in Israel.
France evacuates 20,000 as wildfires spread in south-west
Most of those evacuated were tourists from campsites around Arcachon Bay in France's Gironde region.
Andy Burnham’s first 100 days – The Economist
- Andy Burnham’s first 100 days The Economist
- Chris Mason: What his first week in power tells us about Andy Burnham BBC
- Politics The Economist
- Hedge funds circle UK stocks as new PM Andy Burnham pledges 'new economic model' CNBC
- Burnham Set to Become Britain’s First Openly Roman Catholic Prime Minister The New York Times
‘Cockroach’ protests: India’s Modi promises to punish officials over exam leaks
PM says ‘those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared’ as scandal spirals into widespread anger
Narendra Modi has vowed to set up “fast-track courts” to speed up the punishment of officials accused of leaking examination papers, as the Indian prime minister seeks to quell a youth-led “cockroach” protest movement that has rocked Delhi and posed one of the biggest challenges to his government.
In his first public remarks on the movement, Modi posted on X: “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth … Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”
Continue reading...Rubio says Iran ‘begging’ for a deal with US but not ready to make one – Al Jazeera
- Rubio says Iran ‘begging’ for a deal with US but not ready to make one Al Jazeera
- Rubio accuses Iran of flying IRGC personnel into Yemen as Houthi threat escalates Fox News
- Iran's demands over the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent, Rubio warns Asian leaders AP News
- Trump wants ‘a head for an eye’ in Iran — not ‘eye for an eye,’ Rubio says New York Post
- Rubio: Trump military policy for Iran is ‘head for an eye’ The Hill
The West’s plan to pressure Putin has a glaring flaw – Responsible Statecraft
- The West's plan to pressure Putin has a glaring flaw Responsible Statecraft
- Ukraine’s leadership shakeup / View from Moscow / Is Russia a friend or foe? : Sources & Methods NPR
- A Tale of Two Strategic Attacks: The Race to End the War in Ukraine CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
- What is Ukraine’s 40-day campaign against Russia and has it worked? The Guardian
- Ukraine appears to change tactics in Russia attacks Semafor