The Guardian

Zelenskyy defends sacking Ukraine’s defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov

President says he had to choose ‘one side or the other’ after breakdown of relations between ministry and military leadersEurope live – latest updatesUkraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has defended his decision to dismiss the country’s popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and confirmed reports that relations had broken down between the ministry and the country’s top army leadership.Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv with the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, Zelenskyy said

general  Jul 16, 2026

WSJ World News

Yohei Kono, Who Apologized for Japan’s Role in Sex Slavery During World War II, Dies at 89

As a high-ranking government official, he acknowledged the government’s role in running “comfort stations.”

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Nearly one in five World Cup matches reached heat levels players’ union warns against

Guardian analysis finds 19% of games reached heat levels warranting delays, as Fifa defends its player safeguardsThe climate crisis has come for football.During this year’s World Cup, nearly one in five of the tournament’s 100-plus matches took place in levels of heat and humidity that a football players’ union has previously said should trigger delays or postponements, a Guardian analysis has found. An additional 23 matches were played in cities as they reached those heat levels, but in stadium

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Smoking rates fall to historic low across Australia despite the rise of illicit tobacco

Long-running AIHW survey shows daily rates of smoking dropped to 5.6% last year – down from 8.3% two years agoGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDaily smoking rates have fallen to a historic low and are tracking well ahead of national targets, while vaping rates have stabilised, according to the largest nationally representative survey on tobacco use.But those who do smoke are increasingly using illicit tobacco, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Nati

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

‘We are waiting with bated breath’: Super El Niño forecast could make 2027 hottest year on record, BoM says

Most Australian capital cities have at least 80% chance of unusually warm and dry spring as climatologists watch developing system with increasing alarmGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe El Niño climate phenomenon linked to record global temperatures and now locked in place in the Pacific Ocean could develop into the strongest on record, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology.Climatologists are watching the strengthening El Niño with increasing alarm, saying t

general  Jul 16, 2026

NY Times World

Why Netflix’s ‘The Polygamist’ Has Viewers Outside South Africa Talking

The hit Netflix show follows the life of a wealthy married couple in South Africa as they deal with the pressures of infidelity and appearances.

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Target of Monaco bomb blames attack on Ukrainian spy agency

Vadym Iermolaiev says military intelligence officers were behind assassination attempt that seriously wounded his wife and childEurope live – latest updatesThe Ukrainian businessman who survived an assassination attempt in Monaco has accused Ukraine’s military intelligence agency of organising the attack.In his first public statement since the bombing that shook the wealthy principality, Vadym Iermolaiev alleged that serving and former officers of the GUR military intelligence agency were behind

general  Jul 16, 2026

BBC World

Watch: What we know about newly discovered monkey species

New monkey species hailed as 'amazing discovery' by conservationist.

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Air quality plummets in 20 states as smoke from Canadian wildfires spreads across the US

Millions of Americans face air quality alerts from Minnesota to New York as authorities urge people to stay indoorsSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Smoke from wildfires burning in south-central Canada and parts of Minnesota is spreading across the US, prompting air quality alerts in more than 20 states with millions of Americans expected to face unhealthy air conditions this week.The smoke from the more than 180 active wildfires in northern Ontario briefly made Toronto’s air qua

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Private schools offer 41% more tree shade than state schools in England

Analysis reveals stark socioeconomic divide, with schools with highest free school meal eligibility having fewer treesPrivate school grounds in England offer 41% more tree cover than state schools for cooling and shade in extreme temperatures, research has found.As teachers and students prepare to take their summer holidays after weeks of high temperatures where some classrooms reached highs of 40C, an analysis of tree cover in schools in England reveals a stark socioeconomic divide. Continue re

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Burnham too influenced by ‘vested interests’ to offer change, Polanski says

Exclusive: Green party launches pushback against idea that next PM will have more left-leaning agenda than StarmerUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham is “too in hock to vested interests” to offer real change, Zack Polanski has said as the Greens launched a pushback against the incoming prime minister, portraying him as cautious and weak on such areas as wealth taxes, Gaza and rent controls.Under Polanski’s leadership the Green party in England and Wales has more than tripled its member

general  Jul 16, 2026

NY Times World

Highway Executive Given 12-Year Sentence Over Deadly Bridge Collapse in Italy

Giovanni Castellucci oversaw a company that managed the Morandi Bridge in Genoa when it fell down in 2018, killing 43 people.

general  Jul 16, 2026

WSJ World News

Opinion | The Church’s Hope in China

Ezra Jin’s release raises hopes for the country’s faithful.

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

How green is Andy Burnham? Britain’s next PM faces tough climate decisions

Heatwaves, high energy prices, calls for reindustrialisation and North Sea drilling are all high on the to-do listUK politics live – latest updatesWildfires cast a pall of smoke this week over Greater Manchester, whose former mayor Andy Burnham stands on the threshold of No 10. Amid three UK heatwaves so far this year, which have killed thousands of people in England and Wales, damaged harvests and left children crying in classrooms, the new prime minister’s plans for the climate crisis remain a

general  Jul 16, 2026

NY Times World

Iran War Live Updates: U.S. and Iran Escalate Attacks, While Hinting at Diplomacy

As the renewed fighting entered its sixth day, both sides appeared to leave the door open to more negotiations to end the war.

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Trump’s Board of Peace drops full Gaza recovery plan in favour of tiny pilot scheme

Revised plan aims to ‘keep something going’ amid fears Netanyahu may gamble on new all-out offensive before Israeli electionsThe Gaza recovery plan being pursued by Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP) has shrunk dramatically from an ambitious blueprint for the reconstruction of the whole territory to a small pilot project in the south of the strip.Even the envisaged pilot scheme – involving a temporary camp for a tiny fraction of Gaza’s 2 million displaced people, with a Palestinian administrati

general  Jul 16, 2026

WSJ World News

Trump Has Threatened to Bomb Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain. What Is Hidden There?

Officials worry Tehran could use an underground complex at the site to advance its nuclear program.

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Hal Williams, actor best known for Sanford and Son and 227, dies at 91

The actor, who also appeared in The Waltons and Private Benjamin, died at his home in CaliforniaHal Williams, actor best known for TV roles in Sanford & Son and 227, has died at the age of 91.His representative confirmed that Williams died on 15 July at his home in California. Continue reading...

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

Offer teenagers a meningitis B vaccine on NHS, advisers tell UK government

JCVI says children should have one or two doses of menB vaccine at age 15, depending on if they had one as a babyTeenagers should be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against deadly meningitis B (menB), government advisers have recommended.The move by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which needs approval from the government, means young people should get a jab around the age of 15, with catch-up programmes for those who would otherwise miss out. Continue reading.

general  Jul 16, 2026

The Guardian

UK government drops plan to stop paying coastguard volunteers

Move raises questions over position of the head of the Maritime and Coastguard AgencyUK politics live – latest updatesMinisters have U-turned on plans to strip volunteer coastguard officers of their hourly pay after coming in for intense criticism over the plan.The announcement, made by the maritime minister in parliament on Thursday, was described as a huge win for coastguards many of whom had said they would reduce their hours or leave the service altogether if the government had pushed ahead.

general  Jul 16, 2026