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Geoje (South Korea) (AFP) – South Korea’s haenyeo, or “sea woman,” have been freediving for generations, harvesting seafood without breathing equipment. But as the legendary women grow older and their numbers decline, a new generation is taking up the tradition to help keep it alive. Diving duo Woo Jung-min and Jin So-hee quit their city jobs to work on the island of Geoje, blending ancient knowledge with social media to raise awareness about the UNESCO-recognised culture.

Geoje (South Korea) (AFP) – South Korea’s haenyeo, or “sea woman,” have been freediving for generations, harvesting seafood without breathing equipment. But as the legendary women grow older and their numbers decline, a new generation is taking up the tradition to help keep it alive. Diving duo Woo Jung-min and Jin So-hee quit their city jobs to work on the island of Geoje, blending ancient knowledge with social media to raise awareness about the UNESCO-recognised culture.

Trollhättan (Sweden) (AFP) – Ahead of Sweden’s September 13 general election, migration remains a deeply divisive issue, with calls for tougher policies and more deportations clashing with the healthcare sector’s growing reliance on migrant workers. Opinion polls for the upcoming general election show that healthcare is the top concern among voters. Polls have for months pointed to a victory for the centre-left opposition headed by the Social Democrats, but the gap has narrowed in recent weeks.

Trollhättan (Sweden) (AFP) – Ahead of Sweden’s September 13 general election, migration remains a deeply divisive issue, with calls for tougher policies and more deportations clashing with the healthcare sector’s growing reliance on migrant workers. Opinion polls for the upcoming general election show that healthcare is the top concern among voters. Polls have for months pointed to a victory for the centre-left opposition headed by the Social Democrats, but the gap has narrowed in recent weeks.

Dallas (United States) (AFP) – President Donald Trump promises $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress in November, as he attends the first Republican national convention held specifically for a midterm election. The central Republican gamble is whether Trump can mobilize voters personally loyal to him even when he is not actually running, without further alienating independents who have soured on his presidency.

Palawan (Philippines) (AFP) – Philippine rescuers race to extinguish a fire that erupted aboard a ferry near a tourist hotspot, killing at least five people and leaving 86 others missing, according to the coast guard. The blaze broke out on the M/V June Aster about 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) off the coast of Palawan province, the coast guard says.

Dallas (United States) (AFP) – US President Donald Trump urges supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot” as he rallies Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections at the party’s convention in Dallas. Opinion polls overwhelmingly show that Trump’s approval ratings are in the low 30s, as voters become increasingly angry about high prices and the war he launched against Iran.

Dallas (United States) (AFP) – US President Donald Trump urges supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot” as he rallies Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections at the party’s convention in Dallas. Opinion polls overwhelmingly show that Trump’s approval ratings are in the low 30s, as voters become increasingly angry about high prices and the war he launched against Iran.

Pyongyang (AFP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanks troops deployed overseas in a speech marking the 78th anniversary of the country’s foundation, a nod to Pyongyang’s military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. “I also extend my special gratitude and profound respect to the commanders and soldiers of our military participating in overseas military operations,” Kim says in his speech, broadcast on North Korea’s state media KCTV.

Shaoshan (China) (AFP) – Fifty years after his death, diehard fans of the Chinese Communist leader Chairman Mao Zedong line up in his hometown to pay tribute — holding portraits, leaving huge floral tributes and singing revolutionary songs. As China grapples with a slowing economy, nostalgia is growing for Mao’s egalitarian ideals, but his drastic policies are also blamed by historians for mass starvation and millions of deaths.

Shaoshan (China) (AFP) – Fifty years after his death, diehard fans of the Chinese Communist leader Chairman Mao Zedong line up in his hometown to pay tribute — holding portraits, leaving huge floral tributes and singing revolutionary songs. As China grapples with a slowing economy, nostalgia is growing for Mao’s egalitarian ideals, but his drastic policies are also blamed by historians for mass starvation and millions of deaths.

Khirbat al Fakhīt (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinians inspect the rubble after Israeli bulldozers demolished 10 homes in the West Bank village of Khirbet al-Fakhit, reportedly for being built without permits. According to an AFP tally based on data from the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 1,108 Palestinians in the West Bank, including civilians and militants, since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.