- Your Next Vacation Could Be a 'Coolcation' AOL.com
- In Norway, Are ‘Coolcations’ Taking a Toll? The New York Times
- ‘Coolcations’ are booming again as tourists prioritize quieter, off-peak trips CNBC
- Hotter Summers and Overcrowding Threaten Europe’s Tourist Economies Bloomberg.com
- More tourists look to Greek vacations through autumn, winter stockwatch.com.cy
US-Mexico border wall to be painted black to stop climbers
Using black paint to make the entire US-Mexico border wall hotter and harder to climb was reportedly Trump's idea.
Confrontation between Tunisia’s General Union, President Saied escalates
While the confrontation was inevitable, the union's power has been weakened, analysts say.
Japan proposes ‘economic zone’ linking Indian Ocean to Africa, seeks greater role in the region – AP News
- Japan proposes 'economic zone' linking Indian Ocean to Africa, seeks greater role in the region AP News
- JICA to designate four Japanese cities as 'hometowns' for African nations The Japan Times
- TICAD African development conference gets underway in Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News nhk.or.jp
- Japan eyes low-cost debt to mitigate Africa blow from aid cuts Financial Times
- TICAD: In Japan, private-sector optimism over Africa is cautious but growing The Africa Report.com
China FM in Afghanistan, offers to deepen cooperation with Taliban rulers
Mining, Belt and Road participation feature in trilateral meetings between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Kabul.
Iran says moment for ‘effective’ nuclear talks with US not yet reached
Iran's FM sceptical about resuming talks with the US, says Iran cannot break ties with UN nuclear watchdog.
Russia expects India to keep buying its oil and seeks China-India-Russia talks – Reuters
- Russia expects India to keep buying its oil and seeks China-India-Russia talks Reuters
- "Perplexed At Logic": S Jaishankar On US Tariff Over Purchase Of Russian Oil NDTV
- Russia Says It Will Keep Selling Oil to India Despite US Tariffs Bloomberg.com
- India keen to expand trade with Russia despite US tariff tirade Deccan Herald
- U.S. asked us to buy energy from Russia to stabilise global energy market: Jaishankar in Moscow The Hindu
Concern Australian doctor ‘pushed’ out as chair of medical insurer board over social media posts on Gaza war
Dr Stephen Parnis says public comments based on ‘my views and conscience’ in resignation email that has prompted letter writing campaign in his support
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High-profile emergency physician Dr Stephen Parnis has stepped down as chair of the board of a leading medical insurance provider in an apparent response to concerns about statements he has made on social media opposing the war in Gaza.
Parnis, a former vice-president of the Australian Medical Association, announced in an email to members of the Medical Insurance Group of Australia (Miga) last Monday that he was giving up his role as chair of the board.
Continue reading...Here is what actually needs to be done to address Australia’s childcare abuse crisis – and politicians can’t say they didn’t know
Review after review has made recommendations to government that have never been implemented. It’s time to take childcare safety out of the too-hard basket and commit to real reform
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On Friday, state education ministers will meet Jason Clare to discuss the thorny and critically important issues facing the country’s childcare sector.
There could not be a more significant moment for the conversations that we are having about the safety of the more than 1 million Australian children who attend childcare.
Continue reading...Imposing Further Sanctions in Response to the ICC’s Ongoing Threat to Americans and Israelis – U.S. Department of State (.gov)
- Imposing Further Sanctions in Response to the ICC’s Ongoing Threat to Americans and Israelis U.S. Department of State (.gov)
- US imposes sanctions on international court officials in ‘flagrant attack’ The Guardian
- Trump administration imposes new sanctions on four ICC judges, prosecutors Reuters
- The ICC strongly rejects new US sanctions against Judges and Deputy Prosecutors | International Criminal Court
- Trump expands sanctions against ICC officials over Israel, U.S. investigations The Washington Post
Denmark to abolish VAT on books in effort to get more people reading
Culture minister says government will propose ending the 25% rate, the highest in the world, in its budget bill
Denmark is to stop charging VAT on books in an attempt to get more people reading.
At 25%, the country’s tax rate on books is the highest in the world, a policy the government believes is contributing to a growing “reading crisis”.
Continue reading...India and China hail warming ties amid Trump-induced geopolitical shake-up
Countries agree to resume trade links and work to resolving border dispute after visit to Delhi by top diplomat Wang Yi
India’s prime minister and China’s foreign minister have hailed “steady” progress in their countries’ fractious relationship, agreeing to resume trade and other ties, as well as work towards resolving the long-running Himalayan border dispute, amid a global geopolitical shake-up instigated by Donald Trump’s tariff regime.
According to statements from China’s foreign ministry, the two sides agreed to resume direct flights – reiterating a pledge made in January – as well as issuing visas to journalists and facilitating business and cultural exchanges.
Continue reading...Trump Calls Netanyahu A ‘War Hero,’ Adds: ‘I Guess I Am Too’ – HuffPost
- Trump Calls Netanyahu A ‘War Hero,’ Adds: ‘I Guess I Am Too’ HuffPost
- Trump Calls Netanyahu a ‘War Hero’ and Adds: ‘I Guess I Am, Too’ The New York Times
- Fox News’ Mark Levin defends Trump calling himself a ‘war hero’: ‘Let me educate the truly stupid’ The Independent
- Kinzinger: Trump claiming to be war hero ‘just nuts’ The Hill
- Trump’s ‘war hero’ comment is merely his latest flippant comparison of himself to troops CNN
Man held after four bodies found in River Seine
A passer-by led French police to the grim discovery at the foot of a bridge south-east of Paris.
Airbus workers vote to strike for 10 days next month in pay dispute
Unite says stoppages at Broughton and Filton factories could disrupt production of wings and delay deliveries
Thousands of Airbus workers in the UK are to go on strike for 10 days in September in a row over pay that threatens to disrupt the production of aircraft wings.
A series of two-day strikes are planned to begin on 2 September and continue throughout the month at the company’s factories in Broughton, north Wales, and Filton, near Bristol, according to Unite.
Continue reading...South African MP opens fire to fend off attack during attempted hijacking
Two teens, aged 16 and 18, have been arrested over the attack as police search for a third suspect.
South African MP opens fire to fend off attack during attempted hijacking
Two teens, aged 16 and 18, have been arrested over the attack as police search for a third suspect.
Israel expands Gaza City offensive as UK decries West Bank settlement approval
Construction would be ‘flagrant breach of international law’ and undermine two-state solution, foreign secretary says
Israel has announced it is expanding its military operations in Gaza City, as the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, condemned its approval of a huge new illegal settlement in the West Bank as a “flagrant breach of international law.”
The Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Effie Defrin said the IDF had begun the second phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots in Gaza, which it launched in May.
Continue reading...Russia says it must be part of international talks on Ukraine’s security
Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov dismisses European diplomacy as ‘clumsy effort to sway Trump’
Moscow has said it must be part of any international talks on Ukraine’s security, as Russia continues to stall on Donald Trump’s push for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Wednesday that Moscow must be included in any talks on Ukraine’s security guarantees, dismissing European diplomacy as “aggressive escalation” and a “clumsy effort to sway Trump”.
Continue reading...Zelenskyy’s speedrun of gratitude—nine thank yous in one minute—shows how foreign leaders talk to Trump – Fortune
- Zelenskyy's speedrun of gratitude—nine thank yous in one minute—shows how foreign leaders talk to Trump Fortune
- August 19, 2025: White House says Putin-Zelensky meeting plans are ‘underway’ following Trump meetings CNN
- Trump and Zelenskyy's meeting with European leaders marks a historic moment NBC News
- President Trump’s Peace Summit Hailed as a Game-Changer The White House (.gov)
- 5 Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelensky and European Leaders The New York Times