First Nations groups devastated by Canada’s wildfires say government did not help 21. July 2026 (13:45) Chiefs in Ontario say they were left to self-evacuate before homes burned to ground, after being told there was no imminent threatFast-moving wildfires have burned two First Nations communities in Canada to the ground, as members said they were left to self-evacuate without government help or emergency alerts.Thirteen communities in Ontario province have been ordered to evacuate because of wildfires, most of them First Nations. The Ontario premier, Doug Ford, told reporters on Monday that close to 2,000 people had been evacuated so far to cities including Toronto and Niagara Falls. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
What the EU wants from Andy Burnham 21. July 2026 (13:31) European leaders have made positive noises about the new UK PM, but he is likely to face the same restrictions as StarmerUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham is unknown in Brussels, but that will soon change. In his schedule for the autumn is an EU-UK summit that may underscore the same dilemmas that have confronted previous British prime ministers in the relationship with Europe.EU leaders were quick to offer congratulations to Britain’s prime minister, the seventh since the 2016 Brexit referendum. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said she looked forward to strengthening the EU-UK partnership “for the security of our shared continent” and “the prosperity of people on both sides of the Channel”. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, invited Burnham to visit Berlin “very soon”, noting that the UK and Germany’s “deep connection is particularly evident in these times”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘No electricity, no water, no fuel’: Ukrainian drone strikes bring darkness to Crimea’s summer 21. July 2026 (13:00) Interviews with residents of Russian-held region point to frustration with Moscow as Ukrainian campaign to isolate it takes toll on daily lifeFirst, the guests stopped coming. As Ukrainian drones and missiles pounded Crimea throughout the spring and into the summer, Russian tourists began cancelling their bookings at the small guesthouse Marina runs in Yevpatoria, a resort town on the peninsula’s Black Sea coast.Then petrol became scarce, making it harder to stock the business with food and other essentials. Now, electricity and running water are cut off for much of the day, just as the summer heat sets in. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Muslim leader speaks out after more than 80 days in ICE detention: ‘It brought back memories from Palestine’ 21. July 2026 (13:00) Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, said ‘dehumanizing’ treatment reminded him of time spent in Israeli military jailThe president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque said he was subjected to “dehumanizing” treatment during more than 80 days in federal immigration custody – treatment that reminded him of the time he spent in Israeli military prisons in occupied Palestine nearly four decades ago.“It all brought back old memories of things that happened to me when I was tried in Palestine,” said Salah Sarsour in his first interview since being released last month. “The humiliation, the treatment by guards, the way they talk to people, the way they try to put people down.” He said he lost more than 30lb while in immigration detention. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Protests in Italy after death of Moroccan man under police restraint 21. July 2026 (12:09) Teargas and water cannon used on protesters after Abderrahim Fakir died pleading for help from policePolice have clashed with demonstrators during a protest in the Italian city of Bologna after a Moroccan-born man died pleading for help under police restraint.Human rights campaigners and Italy’s opposition parties have demanded urgent answers over the death on Sunday of Abderrahim Fakir, 42, who had lived in Italy since he was five years old and ran a small removals and cleaning business. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Healthy diet too expensive for one in three people globally, UN report finds 21. July 2026 (12:00) Global hunger declined for the third year in a row in 2025 but experts call for action to bring down costs of fruit, vegetables and dairy as report shows 2.69bn people can’t afford to eat wellOne in three people cannot afford to eat a healthy diet, a new report has found, prompting calls for urgent action on food affordability.There are 2.69 billion people unable to afford a diverse diet that meets their energy and nutrient needs, and it will take “immense” amounts of work to achieve the global target of zero hunger by 2030, the annual report from five UN agencies warned. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham cuts VAT on electricity bills ahead of first cabinet meeting – UK politics live 21. July 2026 (11:56) Move is expected to save households around £45 a year but former minister says plan is ‘unfunded’Burnham to cut VAT on electricity bills in first cost-of-living moveAntónio Costa, the president of the European council, said in a post on X that he held a “good” phone call with Andy Burnham last night, in which he said they agreed to “further strengthen” EU-UK relations and continue to cooperate to support Ukraine.He said there was also discussion about “common geopolitical challenges facing Europe”, which could be a reference to many things, including energy prices soaring due to the US-Israel war on Iran, Europe’s trading and security relationship with Washington, the future of Nato, the continent facing a wave of hybrid warfare, driven by Russia, or the surge of national populism and backlash against immigration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
World leaders congratulate Andy Burnham as he becomes Britain’s PM 21. July 2026 (11:48) Beyond the diplomatic platitudes global media focuses on the ‘immense’ scale of the challenge he faces in the jobUK politics live – latest updatesWorld leaders have warmly congratulated Andy Burnham on his entry into 10 Downing Street as Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, but international media largely focused on the scale of the challenges awaiting him.Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, said he hoped for a deeper relationship “in the service of our peoples, and by giving new momentum to the partnership between the UK and the EU” rekindled by Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Defence shares rise after Andy Burnham appoints John Healey as chancellor 21. July 2026 (11:32) Babcock and BAE Systems benefit as markets hope former defence secretary will increase spending on sectorBusiness live – latest updatesShares in defence companies have risen sharply after Andy Burnham appointed John Healey as chancellor, prompting hope among investors of increased spending on suppliers to the military.Defence stocks were among the biggest risers on the FTSE 100 on Tuesday morning after the former defence secretary was announced as chancellor after markets closed on Monday. Babcock International rose 7%, BAE Systems was up 3% and Rolls-Royce increased nearly 2% on the FTSE 100. On the FTSE 250, QinetiQ rose nearly 4%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mitie agrees £3.1bn takeover by OCS in blow to London stock market 21. July 2026 (11:10) Board of UK government contractor recommends deal with private-equity owned rivalBusiness live – latest updatesThe outsourcer Mitie has agreed to a £3.1bn takeover by its private-equity owned rival OCS Group, ending nearly four decades on the stock market and making it the latest London-listed company to be acquired this year.On Tuesday, the government contractor said its board has recommended that shareholders accept a cash offer of 221.6p a share, a 44.7% premium to Monday’s closing price. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
