A war of words between Spain and Italy. Palazzo Chigi: “We will not accept ultimatums” and the borders will remain closed until 15 August. The Interior Ministry’s stance. Salvini attacks the Spanish Prime Minister: “Shut up and control your own borders”. And on the Interior Ministry: “I won’t be announcing my visit to Pontida”

The US economy continues to grow whilst creating very few new jobs. And a weak labour market reduces the likelihood of monetary tightening, which had seemed increasingly likely following the Fed’s July meeting

The ‘intellectual frauds’ exposed by Alan Sokal and the ‘little Mozart’ of diversity who has resigned. Someone who didn’t cheat by breaking the rules; if anything, he understood the game

As China’s military pressure grows, President Lai Ching-te joins the island’s largest annual defense drill, testing not only its armed forces but the survival of the government itself

The immunologist dealt wisely with Covid; for years he was Trump’s carer, the one who limited the damage caused by the hysterical anti-vax campaigns as best he could, as he ought to, and as he knew how. In short, a benefactor of humanity. Long live his smile and his flaws

A Kolobok versus Spider-Man? The debate fuelling discontent in Russian cinemas

Revelations from the Wall Street Journal, fears of false-flag operations. What are the risks facing the Atlantic Alliance in the coming months, and why might Moscow strike?

Drones in NATO countries’ airspace, military aircraft over the Baltic, GPS jamming, spy ships, submarines near critical infrastructure, men accused of working for Russian intelligence, disinformation campaigns, cyber-espionage operations, oil tankers from the ‘shadow fleet’, missiles landing beyond Ukraine’s borders. A map of Putin’s pressure

The US Vice-President, offended by a commentator who criticised him for making a mess of things in Iran, accuses him of ‘never missing out on a burrito’. Few arguments and plenty of insults