How green is Andy Burnham? Britain’s next PM faces tough climate decisions 16. July 2026 (16:00) 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 as shrouded as his city.“Burnham has been very quiet about the climate [crisis] so far,” says Chris Venables, an environmental campaigner and fellow at the Green Alliance thinktank. “I don’t think [it] is at the forefront of his mind, but that does not mean he will water down this agenda.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s Board of Peace drops full Gaza recovery plan in favour of tiny pilot scheme 16. July 2026 (15:58) Revised plan aims to ‘keep something going’ amid fears Netanyahu may gamble on new all-out offensive before Israeli electionsMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesThe 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 administration, police and a small international security force – is not expected to take shape before the end of the year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hal Williams, actor best known for Sanford and Son and 227, dies aged 91 16. July 2026 (15:49) The actor, who also appeared in The Waltons and Private Benjamin, died at his home in CaliforniaHal Williams, the 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.This article was amended on 16 July 2026. It was originally stated that Sanford and Son ran from an incorrect number of years Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump to meet Darline Graham at the White House today – US politics live 16. July 2026 (14:51) President will meet new Republican senator who has taken over the seat following the death of her brother Lindsey GrahamSign up for the Breaking News US emailAt 10am ET, Keith Sonderling will face lawmakers on the Senate health, education, labor and pensions committee for his confirmation hearing to be the new labor secretary.A reminder that the former department head, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, resigned in April after a series of misconduct allegations including having an affair with a subordinate and drinking on the job. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mafia law gives Italian families right to break free from a life of crime 16. July 2026 (14:50) Wives and children offered new identities to try to stop gangsters recruiting down the generationsChildren and young adults raised in mafia families will be given a chance to break away from organised crime under new legislation in Italy that aims to stop the inter-generational recruitment of gangsters.In an unprecedented effort to sever the family chain, the Italian state will offer children aged under 25 and other close relatives of mafia bosses a chance to start over: a new home in another city, a new school and, if necessary, a new identity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Making Mahmood chancellor shows Burnham ‘subservient to City’, claims Polanski – UK politics live 16. July 2026 (14:50) Green leader says expected appointment shows new PM ‘won’t challenge the power of the bankers, or tax their wealth’Couples could legally marry in forests, on beaches, at sea or in their gardens under new proposals, the Press Association reports. PA says a government consultation announced today, covering rules in England and Wales, could help cut the costs of weddings and mean two ceremonies are no longer required to cover different faiths. PA says:The average wedding in England is estimated to cost more than £20,000, with venue hire alone typically accounting for around £6,000 without catering.The system as it stands means some couples have two ceremonies – one where they feel their beliefs are best reflected and another making their marriage legal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US gas prices edge up again as US-Iran tensions heighten over strait of Hormuz 16. July 2026 (14:26) Diesel tops $5 a gallon as regular gas reaches almost $4, nearly a dollar and a quarter more than a year agoMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesThe average price of diesel fuel in the US has increased again to more than $5 a gallon, according to the AAA, and the average price of gas is almost $4, returning to their highs before the June memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.It’s a reminder to consumers and truckers of the costs of the Iran war and the unpredictable rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran. A year ago today, the AAA says, the average price for a gallon of diesel was $3.72, almost a dollar and a quarter less than it is now. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer wants Fifa investigation into Argentina players who held Falklands banner 16. July 2026 (14:11) Spokesperson says islands belong to the UK‘PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain’Keir Starmer supports the idea of Fifa investigating Argentina players who displayed a banner touting their country’s claim to the Falklands Islands after their World Cup semi-final win against England, Downing Street has said.Starmer, who watched the match while travelling to Ukraine by train for the final overseas trip of his premiership, endorsed a call by Peter Kyle, the business secretary, for Fifa to investigate what rules may have been broken. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump fires new US attorney in Seattle an hour after federal judges appoint him 16. July 2026 (14:07) Roger Rogoff’s was selected by panel of judges for top prosecutor job after interim US attorney’s term endedUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump fired the new top federal prosecutor in Seattle on Wednesday less than an hour after the attorney was unanimously appointed by the federal judges in the district, highlighting tensions between the courts and the president over the powerful positions.Roger Rogoff, a former judge and veteran state and federal prosecutor, was sworn in as US attorney before 8am at the US courthouse in downtown Seattle. In a phone interview, he said he then went to the US attorney’s office and asked to meet with Charles Neil Floyd, whose 120-day interim term in the position ended in February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Keys to the kingdom’: hackers who gained access to heart of London transport network jailed 16. July 2026 (14:01) Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 19, sentenced to five and a half years each for cyber-attack that cost Transport for London £39mThe data of millions of commuters was stolen, Londoners were left out of pocket and 27,000 Transport for London staff were forced to reset their passwords.Over four days in 2024 a pair of teenage hackers had London’s transport network at their mercy. Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers had burrowed into the heart of Transport for London’s IT systems and held the “keys to the kingdom”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
