Tag Archives: News

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY —- JULY 24, 2026 PREVIEW

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘Up In Flames’ – Are we ready for the age of global wildfires?

Across the globe, wildfires are on the move. Acrid smoke from huge Ontario fires choked major cities across Canada and the US last week, while in western Europe, France, Portugal and Spain have each been torched by a record-breaking number of blazes for this time of year.

In the UK, parched conditions after a hot dry summer have helped fuel blazes from national parks to cities. Last weekend, firefighters were tackling a blaze on Arthur’s Seat, the volcanic outcrop in the middle of Edinburgh. The week before, dozens of crews were confronted by a wildfire in north-east London.

Because of the climate crisis, fires are burning simultaneously in more places around the world – and they are often hotter, less predictable, and greater in number. For our big story, Ajit Niranjan surveys what seems to be a new normal and considers the impossible decisions specialist fire crews are making when multiple fires are burning in different parts of the world.

In Australia, bushfires have always been part of the country’s landscape. Graham Readfearn talks to some of those who have learned to live with the ever-present danger and asks what they can teach others in this rapidly changing world.

Spotlight | Trump is risking midterm disaster. Why?
Less than a month after hailing a ceasefire, Trump resumed strikes on Iran – a move experts warn could prolong the war and hurt Republicans in upcoming elections. Robert Tait asks what is going on

Science | Is the world facing a male reproductive crisis?
Reports of falling sperm counts and testosterone levels have fuelled fears over chemicals, pollution and modern lifestyles. Hannah Devlin investigates

Feature | The business of rewilding
Intensive farming has all but destroyed England’s ancient woodlands and freshwater wetlands. On a farm in Lincolnshire, a radical aristocrat hopes to show there’s money in protecting nature. Patrick Barkham went to find out

Opinion | What’s left after this World Cup? A kind of messy hope
Kazakhs cheering Uzbeks, Bengalis wild for Argentina … This tournament was once a playground for nationalism. Now it shows how flimsy that allegiance is, argues Jonathan Liew

Culture | All shook up: the return of Alabama Shakes
With Brittany Howard at the helm, the American three-piece band are back with a new album railing against the state of the US in 2026. Dave Simpson caught up with them

THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Oil Prices Surge After Attacks in Red Sea

The price of Brent crude rose to almost $99 a barrel as Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen claimed strikes on two Saudi tankers. The U.S. and Iran showed no letup in their fighting.

Recent Attacks Show Iran Retains Ability to Inflict Damage on U.S. Targets

Video footage and satellite images reveal new details about Iranian strikes on U.S. targets in the Middle East during the latest flare-up in fighting.

U.S.-Saudi Deal Prompts Fears of a Global Nuclear Arms Race

In Europe, Asia and the Middle East, nations seek nuclear capabilities to hedge against aggressive neighbors, potentially creating a more freewheeling era.

Oil-Rich Saudi Arabia Isn’t Short on Energy. Here’s Why It’s Going Nuclear.

The world’s largest exporter of crude oil stands to benefit from diversifying its energy sources — and freeing up more oil to sell.

A New Target for Ukraine’s Long-Range Attacks: Russia’s Version of Amazon

Kyiv is escalating its air war by striking commercial warehouses, trying to bring the conflict closer to home for ordinary Russians.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026

Saudis Reach Deal With U.S. That Could Let Them Enrich Nuclear Fuel

The agreement, which officials said would be announced today, is likely to set off a debate on whether the Saudis can be trusted with the technology.

Expected U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Stokes Israeli Concerns of Regional Arms Race

Rubio Signals No Letup in U.S. Strikes

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said U.S. attacks would continue as long as Iran tried to control the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that Tehran was “not serious” about diplomacy.

See How Houthis Put the Red Sea, an Alternative Oil Route, at Risk

Saudi Arabia has diverted huge amounts of oil to the Red Sea since the war began. Now Iranian-backed Houthi militants say they intend to block that route.

Mamdani Calls Netanyahu a ‘War Criminal’ and Calls on U.S. to Arrest Him

Mayor Zohran Mamdani challenged the United States to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, which New York itself cannot do.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026

The U.S. Is Pulling Back on Energy Efficiency Just as Prices Are Rising

The Trump administration is undoing fuel-saving efforts even as the war in Iran, data centers and heat waves are pushing up gasoline and electricity costs.

Trump Rejected Nearly 6,000 Clemency Applications Amid Hope of Pardon Wave

Expectations were raised for a raft of pardons in connection with the country’s 250th birthday, but President Trump granted fewer than 20 on July 3.

Burnham Promises Hope and Change. The Hurdles Remain High.

Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, promised policies that would give people financial “breathing space.” His opponents are already doling out criticism.

Houthis in Yemen Edge Closer to Entering U.S.-Iran War

The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has declared a Red Sea blockade on Saudi Arabia, potentially opening a new front in the war.

U.S. and Iran Launch Attacks for 10th Straight Night

News Analysis

When Protesters Speak, Zelensky Listens, in the Ukrainian Tradition

With anger high over the firing of the defense minister, the president’s office is signaling an openness to compromise.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – MONDAY, JULY , 20, 2026

Despite New Attacks, U.S. and Iran Signal Glimmers of Hope for Diplomacy

Energy prices rose amid escalating strikes by the U.S. and Iran. Still, both countries’ top diplomats indicated that they were open to restarting talks.

Pentagon Identifies Two U.S. Troops Killed in Jordan

Burnham Becomes Britain’s New Prime Minister

In a day of ceremonies, King Charles III formally asked Andy Burnham to form a new government. He is Britain’s seventh leader in a decade.

Trump Says New Air Force One Will Be Taken Out of Service to Be ‘Maxed Out’

The Qatari-donated plane has been under scrutiny over whether it is fitted with sufficient defensive capabilities to adequately protect the president.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026

U.S. and Iran Edge Closer to Wider War After U.S. Troops Are Killed

The U.S. military said it had targeted Iranian forces that were responsible for an attack in Jordan that left two service members dead and one missing.

A Modest Proposal for the Strait Dispute: A Shared Pact Among Gulf States

Jordan Is Becoming a New Focus in the U.S.-Iran War

Four Iranian attacks in five days have targeted U.S. troops in Jordan, U.S. officials said, including one on Friday that killed two soldiers and left another service member missing.

Russia Batters Kyiv in One of the Largest Missile Assaults of the War

On Saturday, Ukraine hit two warehouses in Russia in strikes that killed at least eight people and injured

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026

Fighting Intensifies With Strikes on Critical Infrastructure

The U.S. and Iran have expanded the scope of their attacks in recent days, with reports of water facilities and other structures coming under fire.

Israel Recruits Rabbis to Warn Followers: Don’t Spy for Iran

The Israeli authorities have enacted a broad array of countermeasures to contain what they describe as online recruiting efforts by Iranian agents.

They Were Charged With Assaulting ICE Agents. The Cases Are Crumbling.

The Trump administration has lost or abandoned hundreds of criminal cases against protesters and immigrants, a Times investigation found.

As Trump Scraps With Meloni, His Envoy to Italy Is at Sea

Tilman J. Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Rome, is summering on his superyacht as President Trump squabbles with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026

A Trump Obsession That Carries a Cost for Democracy

In demanding steps to address the integrity of voting, President Trump persisted in relitigating his 2020 election defeat while casting doubt on the 2026 outcome.

U.S. Hits Bridges and a Port in Country’s South, Iranian Media says

The U.S. military’s Central Command said the latest round of attacks had “hit dozens of Iranian military targets” but made no mention of civilian infrastructure.

Andy Burnham Becomes Labour Leader and Is Set to Be Britain’s Prime Minister

In a speech, Mr. Burnham promised more public control of essential services, a shift of power toward local governments and a push for economic growth.

How the ‘King of the North’ Conquered U.K. Politics

New Prime Minister Faces an Old Problem: Making Britain’s Economy Grow

THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, a Proponent of Drone Warfare, Is Forced Out

Mykhailo Fedorov announced he was leaving the ministry after conflicts with generals and military contractors over the role of innovative weaponry.

Mass Protests Across Ukraine Oppose Ouster of Defense Minister

In Iran, Trump Risks Another American ‘Forever War’

President Trump, who promised to “end wars,” not start them, may have fallen into a familiar presidential trap.

U.S. and Iran Escalate Attacks, While Hinting at Diplomacy

Global Opinion Shifts Toward Favoring China Over the U.S., Poll Finds

An annual survey from the Pew Research Center found that more countries felt positively about China than America.

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY —- JULY 17, 2026 PREVIEW

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘Andy Burnham’s path to No 10″…

Andy Burnham is to become Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, having secured the Labour leadership with the landslide support of his party’s MPs.

The former Manchester mayor is now set to replace Starmer as Labour leader on Friday before walking through the doors of No 10 and becoming prime minister next Monday.

For our big story this week, Daniel Boffey looks at how Burnham charted the route from school politics to No 10, while Jessica Elgot runs through the bulging in-tray awaiting him when he steps into the new role. And Gaby Hinsliff examines how the PM-in-waiting might fare on the global stage, asking whether, unlike Keir Starmer, he has the skills to deal with Donald Trump.

Spotlight | A revolution in ruins
Discontent with Venezuela’s Trump-backed government is mounting as Chávez heirs struggle to respond to the earthquake disaster, writes Tom Phillips

Science | We’re going on a water bear hunt
Scientists hope DNA sequencing tardigrades – tiny yet virtually indestructible creatures – could help us understand the secrets of their superpowers. Patrick Barkham reports

Feature | The battle of the Bell hotel
Tim Burrows visits the town of Epping in Essex to hear from local people about the impact of last year’s far-right protests that centred on a hotel housing asylum seekers

Opinion | The real source of Trump’s power exposed
The Nato summit showed the US president’s willingness to violate all norms, rules and laws – and leave everyone else to pick up the pieces, argues Robert Reich

Culture | Never-ending story
With Christopher Nolan’s take on the Odyssey set to break box office records, Charlotte Higgins asks why a poem from 600BC holds a vice-like grip on pop culture