The Guardian

Florence Welch’s mother says cuts to arts and humanities ‘absolutely tragic’

Exclusive: Prof Evelyn Welch, vice-chancellor of Bristol University, believes her daughter’s success shows value of arts educationOne of Britain’s leading university vice-chancellors has described sweeping cuts to arts and humanities across the sector as “absolutely tragic”, citing her famous daughter as an example of the value of a creative arts education.Prof Evelyn Welch, the vice-chancellor of Bristol University and incoming chair of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, is t

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Save the Children clashes with Labour after accusing Starmer of ‘complicity’ in Gaza deaths

Government – which provides significant portion of charity’s funding – is understood to have demanded an explanationThe charity Save the Children has angered the government with a social media post marking Keir Starmer’s impending exit from Downing Street.The organisation suggested on X that the outgoing prime minister was complicit in the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Israel-Gaza war. Continue reading...

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Pete Hegseth says soldiers over age 30 to be screened for testosterone deficiency

US defense secretary unveils plan that will work to ensure service members have the ‘right testosterone levels’Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the Department of Defense will offer testosterone deficiency screening for soldiers 30 and older.The US defense secretary unveiled plans for a new screening program for testosterone deficiency among troops that will work to ensure service members have the “right testosterone levels” to perform at their optimal conditions in a video posted to X. Cont

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Chaos and confusion bring US no closer to resolution on strait of Hormuz

Five months of U-turns and false boasts leave Donald Trump in worse position than when he startedDonald Trump has taken the war with Iran into a new, murkier phase as the two sides move further and further from the vague memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 17 June.And as during the opening phase of the conflict, the US leader’s objectives and methods are clouded in confusion, daily U-turns and boasts that within hours are revealed to be false. Continue reading...

general  Jul 15, 2026

BBC World

French MPs approve assisted dying law with strict rules after years of argument

The bill would allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults who meet strict criteria.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Search continues for three people missing after Alcatraz boating disaster

One person dead after pontoon boat involved in memorial service capsized in San Francisco Bay on TuesdayRescuers were still searching for three missing people on Wednesday after a boat involved in a memorial service sank in the cold, fast-moving waters of San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island, authorities said.At least one person died and 16 people were rescued after the boat capsized on Tuesday afternoon in what witnesses described as “rough seas”, San Francisco fire chief Dean Crispen said at

general  Jul 15, 2026

WSJ World News

Opinion | India’s Affirmative-Action Lesson for America

Quotas hold the country back, even as China’s meritocracy fuels its economic advancement.

general  Jul 15, 2026

NY Times World

U.S. Strikes Hit Greater Tunb Island in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military said on Wednesday it had attacked Iranian cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb, one of several small islands in the Strait of Hormuz subject to a decades-old territorial dispute.

general  Jul 15, 2026

BBC World

More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests

There is more confidence in Xi Jinping than Donald Trump, the US think tank's survey indicates.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Trump’s barbed eulogy for Lindsey Graham reveals how fragile his ego is

In interviews and social posts, the loyalty-obsessed president couldn’t help but weave criticism into his praiseThis was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every WednesdayNormal procedure in the immediate aftermath of an unexpected death is to shower the deceased with praise, irrespective of whether it is deserved.Donald Trump, commemorating Lindsey Graham in recent days, has taken a different tack, sometimes extolling the South Carolina senator’s

general  Jul 15, 2026

BBC World

Five arrested after Hong Kong police raid independent bookshops

Officials say they are suspected of selling "seditious" books which incited "hatred" against authorities.

general  Jul 15, 2026

Washington Post World

Trump and Iran signed a truce but still can’t agree on what its terms mean

Ambiguous language on who controls the Strait of Hormuz has pushed the United States and Iran back toward war.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Nobby Stiles died with brain condition caused by repeatedly heading a football, coroner rules

England World Cup winner died in 2020 but his death was never reported by authorities to the coroner’s officeEngland World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died with a brain condition caused by repeatedly heading a football, a coroner has ruled.Stiles, a tenacious, tough-tackling midfielder described by Geoff Hurst as the “heart and soul” of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, died in 2020 but his death was not reported by authorities to the coroner’s office. Continue reading...

general  Jul 15, 2026

WSJ World News

Opinion | Netanyahu Isn’t a Bogeyman

He’s an avatar of regional stability built on mutual interests.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Stonegate pub and bar chain investigated over ‘unfair’ treatment of landlords

Pubs code adjudicator says it has reasonable grounds to believe group has breached industry regulationsThe owner of the Slug & Lettuce and Be At One chains is being investigated over concerns about possible “unfair” treatment of landlords who run more than 3,000 of its venues.Stonegate Group, Britain’s biggest chain of bars and pubs, could be fined up to 1% of revenue, more than £16m, if it is found to have breached the “pubs code”, legislation governing how pub-owning companies treat their

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Wisconsin panel finds Elon Musk’s $1m state supreme court voter giveaway was likely illegal

Musk distributed money to three people before the 2025 election, which he claimed was critical to Trump’s agendaBillionaire Elon Musk likely violated Wisconsin law when he gave out $1m checks to voters in the 2025 state supreme court election, a bipartisan elections panel has found.Musk distributed the money before the vote, which he claimed was critical to Donald Trump’s agenda and “the future of civilization”. Continue reading...

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Social media curfew for teens: is it pointless? – The Latest

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds face an overnight social media curfew in an extension of the government’s social media ban for under-16s. Under the plan, aimed at reducing online harms, certain apps would be blocked by default from midnight to 6am. But the curfew will not be mandatory and teenagers can opt out, so will it achieve anything? Annie Kelly speaks to social affairs correspondent Jessica Murray – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

general  Jul 15, 2026

Washington Post World

How did Canadian wildfire smoke tamp down New England storms?

The smoke minimized the buildup of storm fuel, blunting a forecast this week for strong storms in northern Vermont, New Hampshire and western Maine.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Wildfires in Ontario make Toronto air quality worst in world

Environment Canada issued health warnings after sky over city turns yellowSmoke from more than 100 active wildfires in northern Ontario have made Toronto’s air quality the worst in the world on Wednesday and caused yellow, smoky air in cities across the northeast US.Environment Canada issued health warnings on Wednesday after the sky over country’s largest city turned a sickly yellow and was ranked the worst in the world according to IQAir, the Swiss technology company that racks global air qual

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Man arrested on suspicion of posting social media threat to shoot Nigel Farage

Met police detain man in his 20s after post on X was reported to them by parliamentary authorities in MayA man has been arrested on suspicion of publishing a message on social media in which he threatened to shoot Nigel Farage.The Metropolitan police arrested a man in his 20s on Tuesday after the post was reported to them by the parliamentary authorities in May. Continue reading...

general  Jul 15, 2026