Strategic move by Magyar as he picks chess prodigy for president 20. July 2026 (14:42) Judit Polgár to discuss role with prime minister, who says Hungary needs someone the whole nation is proud ofHungary’s prime minister, Péter Magyar, has announced plans to ask Judit Polgár, widely considered the greatest female chess player of all time, to take on the largely ceremonial role of president.Magyar said he would meet Polgár on Monday to discuss the matter. “Our country needs unity, peace and a president that all Hungarians can be proud of,” he wrote on social media. “Judit Polgár’s name has been synonymous with talent and perseverance for decades.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US military identifies two soldiers killed in Iranian attack on Jordan 20. July 2026 (14:36) Defense department says 1Lt Tyler James Feehan of Hawaii and Pvt Isabella Gonzales of Texas were killedThe US military on Monday identified two soldiers killed in action recently as part of the war with Iran.The defense department said in a statement that 1Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed in Jordan, where they were supporting a US mission against the Islamic State group. It’s unclear how they were killed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FDA says review of Taylor Farms lettuce shows cyclospora finding was false positive 20. July 2026 (14:20) Spokesperson for Taylor Fresh Foods told Reuters that the company was informed FDA made a mistakeWhat is the parasitic illness cyclosporiasis?How to properly clean produce to help avoid cyclosporaThe US Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday that laboratory experts re-checked lettuce sample results from Taylor Farms in an investigation into an outbreak of the cyclospora parasite and concluded the finding should be considered a false positive.As of Sunday, there were no confirmed positive sample results for cyclospora, the FDA added. The FDA on Saturday had said that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for the parasitic illness that has sickened thousands of people in the US.Guardian staff contributed Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump officials kill proposed rules for Pfas-contaminated sewage fertilizer 20. July 2026 (14:00) EPA tosses out scientific research carried out under Biden and says toxic sludge not a significant threat to publicThe Trump administration has killed proposed regulations for sewage sludge contaminated with Pfas and spread on farmland as fertilizer, a practice that has sickened farmers, destroyed their livelihoods, killed livestock, polluted water supplies, and poisoned meat and food products sold to the public.The proposed regulations would largely have ended the use of sludge, also called biosolids, in the nation’s food system. But the Environmental Protection Agency tossed out its scientific research from less than two years ago that formed the basis of the proposed regulations. It justified the decision by declaring that sludge was not a wide threat to the public because it is mostly used on farms, and only a small percentage of cropland. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tens of thousands of Cockroach party protesters defy police with Delhi march 20. July 2026 (13:37) Youth-led movement calls on education minister to quit in one of India’s largest anti-government rallies in yearsTens of thousands of protesters have defied police orders and descended on Delhi to demand the resignation of India’s education minister in one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in years.A huge crowd, largely made up of students and gen Z-ers, filled the streets in the heart of India’s capital from early Monday morning shouting anti-government slogans. Hundreds had already camped out overnight. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Investigation of Nigel Farage over undeclared gifts is ‘kangaroo court’, says Reform MP 20. July 2026 (13:37) Runcorn MP Sarah Pochin says parliament mounting ‘vicious and desperate campaign to stop Reform UK’A Reform UK MP has complained that the standards system investigating Nigel Farage over undeclared gifts is a “kangaroo court”.Sarah Pochin, the Runcorn MP, said Farage had called a byelection in his Clacton seat so voters could decide whether they backed him or not, and argued that “the media, the British state and the old parties have mounted a vicious and desperate campaign to stop Reform UK”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham vows his arrival in power will be ‘circuit breaker’ moment for UK 20. July 2026 (13:19) New PM promises new political and economic model in ‘biggest changes in 40 years’ in first speech outside No 10UK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said his arrival in power will be a “circuit breaker” moment for Britain, pledging that his government will restore hope to millions of people.Addressing the country for the first time from outside No 10 after taking over from Kier Starmer, the new prime minister Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mother pleads for return of body of Indian woman killed as she slept in London 20. July 2026 (13:01) Man charged with murder after Kirandeep Kaur was allegedly stabbed while in bed with husband and babyThe family of a woman who was killed as she slept in bed with her husband and three-month-old baby have said they want justice, and for her body to be returned to India.A man has been charged with murder over the attack on Kirandeep Kaur at her home in Hayes, west London, on the morning of 12 July. Kaur, who had reportedly been living in the UK since 2024 on a student visa, allegedly suffered a stab wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 8.26am. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AliExpress fined record €550m by EU for failing to stop sale of illegal and fake goods 20. July 2026 (12:56) Chinese retail platform handed penalty over listings for items such as counterfeit products and unsafe toysBusiness live – latest updatesThe Chinese online retail platform AliExpress has been fined a record €550m (£470m) by the EU over its failure to stop illegal goods including harmful clothing, cosmetics and kitchen gadgets being sold through its site.The European Commission fine is the biggest imposed by the bloc under the Digital Services Act (DSA), legislation that came into force in 2024 to protect consumers from illegal goods, deceptive or addictive marketing techniques. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham to become new prime minister and lay out ‘10-year plan’ for the UK in No 10 speech – UK politics live 20. July 2026 (11:59) Keir Starmer will give his final speech from Downing Street before Burnham arrives and is appointed as new PMAndy Burnham may see banners urging the government not to allow the proposed Rosebank oil field development in the North Sea as he drives to Buckingham Palace and the No 10 today.Here is a banner on Whitehall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
