What to watch for today
The Gaza crisis rumbles on. A rocket struck a UN-run school for Palestinians displaced by the conflict, which the UN secretary-general described as a “criminal act.” It comes after an Israeli soldier, whom Hamas was accused of kidnapping, was found dead.
The Ebola virus continues to spread. The virus has now claimed more than 700 lives in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The head of the WHO said Ebola is spreading faster than efforts to control it—as these charts show.
Europe offers some economic data points. Among the reports released is producer-price inflation in the eurozone as well the July unemployment rate for Spain, which has the highest number of unemployed youths in Europe. Also, the Halifax will update its take on the frothy UK housing market.
A century is marked. British prime minister David Cameron is in Belgium on the centenary of the UK’s declaration of war on Germany. On Sunday, the presidents of France and Germany commemorated World War I in Alsace, where the Vieil Armand cemetery contains the remains of 12,000 still-unidentified soldiers.
Over the weekend
Narendra Modi arrived in Nepal. It is the first such visit by an Indian prime minister in 17 years as Modi works on strengthening ties within the region. He will push for Nepal to write a new constitution quickly.
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow ended. Featuring 71 nations and territories, the event formerly known as the British Empire Games featured Usain Bolt as the star attraction. England led the medals for the first time in 28 years.
Oxford students took cues from the GCHQ. Six universities have had master’s degrees in cyber-security accredited by the British counterpart to the US National Security Agency.
Warren Buffett became slightly richer. His firm, Berkshire Hathaway, earned $6.4 billion in the second quarter, the most money it has ever made in a single three-month reporting period.
Quartz obsession interlude
Gwynn Guilford on how climate change will affect the wines we drink. ”By mid-century, more than four-fifths of the land in France, Italy and Spain that’s now used for vineyards will be producing grapes unsuited for wine, according to a 2013 study. Australia stands to lose up to three-quarters of its currently viable vineyard land; California’s looking at a 70% decline.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The public payphone will soon be reborn. New York leads the way.
The US’s engineering schools are a lot like Hogwarts. For example, Stanford is Gryffindor.
Libraries should be full of toys and games. More free play leads to better developed kids.
Topless sunbathing is over. Is skin cancer, social media or feminism the culprit?
Surprising discoveries
Churches in France built before 1905 are owned by the state. It helps conserve them.
People are buying the Amazon Fire phone. Reviews aren’t great, though.
You can get $55,000 to Kickstart a potato salad. And turn the joke into a charity event.
An Ohio electrician invented the dog biscuit. He was in London selling lightning rods.
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