Today in Focus
Episodes
Deadly heatwave grips Europe with record high temperatures - The Latest
23 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Europe is dealing with a debilitating heatwave, with schools closed, trains cancelled and France holding an emergency meeting after heat-related death...
Where did it all go wrong for Starmer?
23 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The UK has lost its sixth prime minister in a decade. How did Keir Starmer go from landslide victory to resigning in two years?. Help support our inde...
Starmer resigns as UK prime minister - The Latest
22 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has announced he is standing down as prime minister after days of intense pressure from Labour MPs, including cabinet ministers, followin...
The complicated truth about adoption reunions
22 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Guardian news editor David Batty spent years longing to meet his birth mother. But his reunion with the woman who had been forced to give him up was f...
Think like a billionaire: part 2
20 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Glamorous, rich and well-connected, Julie Meyer was a darling of the dotcom boom. But people who worked with the entrepreneur complain about unpaid wa...
Has Burnham’s win in Makerfield sealed Starmer’s fate? - The Latest
19 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Burnham’s resounding win in the Makerfield byelection has set the stage for a leadership battle with Keir Starmer. The outgoing mayor of Greate...
Think like a billionaire part one
19 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Glamorous, rich and well-connected, Julie Meyer was a darling of the dotcom boom. But people who worked with the entrepreneur complain about unpaid wa...
Trump’s Iran deal: the art of the fail? – The Latest
18 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump is claiming his Iran peace plan is a victory for Washington, despite the 14-point agreement revealing significant concessions to Tehran. ...
Culture wars: the fight to save Ukraine’s art
18 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Guardian’s chief culture writer, Charlotte Higgins, on the citizens risking their lives to salvage Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Help support o...
Russia warship fires warning shot at British couple – The Latest
17 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has called the firing of warning shots by a Russian warship at a British yacht sailing across the Channel on Tuesday ‘deeply concerning...
Will a ban keep the UK’s kids off social media?
17 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Governments around the world want to keep under-16s off YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Australia has introduced a ban and now the UK is doing the same...
The scramble to convince Trump to back Ukraine – The Latest
16 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has urged Russia to ‘make a deal’ with Ukraine as the leaders of G7 countries meet on Tuesday and try to put the conflict back at the...
How the murder of my sister, Jo Cox, changed Britain
16 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a decade since the MP for Batley and Spen was killed by a far right extremist. Her sister, Kim Leadbetter, who took over her parliamentary seat...
Will US-Iran peace deal hold? – The Latest
15 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US and Iran have reached a tentative deal to end the conflict in the Middle East, but competing claims from Donald Trump and Tehran have left the ...
In Makerfield for the byelection that could change everything
15 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Pidd goes to Makerfield where the Labour candidate and would-be prime minister Andy Burnham faces Reform UK in a crucial byelection. With report...
Should you boycott the World Cup? – The Latest
12 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The football’s only just kicked off, but this World Cup has already seen its fair share of controversy. With a Somali referee barred from entering t...
On the ground in the Belfast riots
12 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Guardian reporter Hannah Al-Othman on the anti-immigrant rioting in Northern Ireland and the residents afraid for their lives. Help support our in...
Defence secretary quits with ‘blistering’ swipe at Starmer - The Latest
11 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
John Healey has resigned as defence secretary over the government’s military spending plans, in another significant blow for Keir Starmer. In a scat...
Mehdi Hasan on Donald Trump’s big, beautiful birthday
11 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the US prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary and Trump turns 80, what state is the country in? And its president?. Help support our independe...
The view from Belfast after a night of violent protests - The Latest
10 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Violence erupted in Northern Ireland last night in response to a stabbing attack in Belfast that was captured in a graphic video. Crowds, including ma...
‘Grandpa in a bunker’: is Putin losing control?
10 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Russian affairs reporter Pjotr Sauer on Vladimir Putin’s increasing isolation – and seeming paranoia – as ordinary Russians become more restive ...
Can Badenoch’s culture war win back Reform supporters? – The Latest
09 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kemi Badenoch has vowed to reform the Equality Act in what is viewed as an attempt to win back support from Reform voters. The Conservative leader, wh...
The criminal cartels cashing in on the World Cup
09 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Football fans are celebrating the tournament coming to Guadalajara. But with a brutal crime syndicate holding sway there, what are the risks for fans ...
Israel and Iran trade strikes: what does this mean for peace deal? – The Latest
08 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel and Iran have exchanged direct strikes for the first time since a ceasefire was reached in April, raising fears of a return to a full-scale reg...
The jailing of Germany’s most wanted woman
08 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dancer, dog owner, bank robber. Germany’s most wanted woman, Daniela Klette, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after decades on the run. Debo...
Outrage in Albania over Kushner-Trump $1.6bn luxury resort – The Latest
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands have protested in the streets of the Albanian capital, Tirana, this week against a planned luxury resort backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-l...
How the myth of ‘two-tier policing’ took hold
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The far-right conspiracy theory is heard everywhere from pubs to parliament and riots to talk radio. Hugh Muir and Joe Mulhall explain why. Help suppo...
Israel strikes southern Lebanon despite new ceasefire - The Latest
04 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire to end hostilities as the US attempts to overcome one of the largest barriers to reaching a br...
Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker: the US commentators banned from the UK
04 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The leftwing American commentator Cenk Uygur talks about the ban on him and his nephew, Hasan Piker, entering the UK this week. With reporting from Ki...
How the murder of Henry Nowak is being exploited by the far right – The Latest
03 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There has been violent disorder on the streets of Southampton sparked by the murder of student Henry Nowak. Politicians and community leaders have cal...
Nicola Sturgeon’s ex and his £400,000 shopping spree
03 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fast cars, luxury watches – and, of course, that motorhome: the list of what former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell bought with embezzled funds is...
What’s missing from ‘embarrassing’ Mandelson files? – The Latest
02 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The second tranche of documents related to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador have been released. The documents, running at more than...
The party dragging Nigel Farage further to the right
02 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Trilling on the far-right party threatening Reform’s chances in the Makerfield byelection. Help support our independent journalism at theguar...
‘Sit back and relax’: Trump insists Iran deal close despite strikes – The Latest
01 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Israel threatens to bomb Beirut and the US and Iran trade missile strikes, Donald Trump insists it will ‘all work out well in the end’ and urge...
‘A husband expects a yes’: wife schools and the Christian nationalist movement
01 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Alaina Demopoulos reports on the Christian influencers telling women to submit to their husbands. Help support our independent journalism at theguardi...
Could Nato be dragged into Russia-Ukraine war? – The Latest
29 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Nato has vowed to ‘defend every inch’ of its territory after a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Romania. The strike prompted swift conde...
Why are our homes and cities all so hot?
29 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the week when the hottest May days were recorded, environment editor Fiona Harvey examines a new Climate Change Committee report on how the UK can ...
‘Lost generation’: why can’t young people get jobs? – The Latest
28 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A landmark report has warned that the UK risks a ‘lost generation’ of young people, as new figures show that more than 1 million 16- to 24-year-ol...
Human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese on life under US sanctions
28 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The UN’s special rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese, on the war in Gaza, living under US sanctions and accusations of antisemitism. Help s...
Revealed: Mandelson vetting warned of ties to China, Russia and Israel – The Latest
27 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Mandelson’s links with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the UK’s vetting agency when it conclude...
Can dating reality shows ever be safe?
27 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sirin Kale on the BBC Panorama investigation into Married at First Sight UK. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
US strikes Iran as Trump faces backlash over ‘disastrous’ peace deal plan - The Latest
26 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US has launched fresh strikes on Iran despite suggestions that a peace deal could be within reach. Donald Trump faces growing criticism from Repub...
Andy Burnham’s (third) bid for the Labour leadership
26 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Halliday on why Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is tipped to be the future Labour leader … if he wins the Makerfield byelection. Help support our...
Heatwave hell: are soaring temperatures the new normal? – The Latest
25 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The UK is experiencing record-breaking temperatures in an unprecedented May heatwave, while large parts of Europe are also facing blistering condition...
The death penalty returns to Israel
25 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Senior Middle East correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison on a pair of laws recently passed by the Israeli parliament to bring back the death penalty – ...
Stateside with Kai and Carter: Why the fight over abortion in US isn’t finished
23 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US supreme court has preserved nationwide access to mail-order abortion pills, for now. As Carter Sherman explains, the fight to protect this medi...
World Cup: England’s shock squad and the politics of football – The Latest
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A ruthless Thomas Tuchel has left several big names at home for his England squad at this summer’s World Cup. There was no space for Harry Maguire, ...
Are we heading for another Ebola crisis?
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kay Lay and Prosper Heri Ngorora report on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Help support our independent journalism at theg...
The far-right Israeli minister taunting detained Gaza activists – The Latest
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has triggered global outrage after sharing footage of himself taunting bound activis...
Competing in the pro-doping Enhanced Games
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Olympian Max McCusker on his decision to sign up for the Las Vegas games where performance-enhancing drugs are encouraged. Help support our indepe...
Are Xi and Putin still ‘best friends’? – The Latest
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Xi Jinping welcomed Vladimir Putin to Beijing with pomp and pageantry, just days after hosting Donald Trump. But as Russia’s war in Ukraine makes Mo...
Did Trump really rescue Venezuela?
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Phillips on life in the country four months after the US abduction of the former president Nicolás Maduro. Help support our independent journalis...
Musk v Altman: tech bros at war over OpenAI – The Latest
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A long and bitter legal battle between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman has culminated in victory for the OpenAI boss. Musk has vowed to app...
Farage’s undisclosed £5m gift
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Isaac on Nigel Farage’s response to the Guardian revelation that he was given an undisclosed £5m gift from a crypto billionaire in 2024. Help ...
Could the UK really rejoin the EU? – The Latest
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Brexit debate has been reignited after Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting called it a ‘catastrophic mistake’ and said the UK should rej...
Making jokes as the world collapses
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The comedian Munya Chawawa on satire in the age of social media and what Donald Trump has in common with wrestlers. Help support our independent journ...
Stateside with Kai and Carter: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’
16 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when they ruled in Louisiana v Callais in April that states can’t consider race in redist...
Burnham byelection: the small town that could decide next PM – The Latest
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Burnham may have a route back to Westminster – and a path to the Labour leadership. But first the Greater Manchester mayor must win a byelectio...
Labour, u ok hun?
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Guardian columnist Rafael Behr talks through a tumultuous day for Labour and Keir Starmer – following the resignation of health secretary Wes Street...
Wes walks, Starmer stays, but has Burnham got the momentum? – The Latest
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Wes Streeting has quit his cabinet role as health secretary and called on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister after days of speculation. But Stre...
Trump, Hegseth, Musk: Maga lands in Beijing
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Senior China correspondent Amy Hawkins talks through the high-stakes meeting in Beijing between presidents Trump and Xi. Help support our independent ...
Streeting to fire starting gun in Starmer leadership battle – The Latest
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Wes Streeting is expected to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer as soon as Thursday. News of the health secretary’s plans came durin...
Is Big Brother watching you shop?
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From supermarkets to corner shops, live facial recognition could be coming to retailers near you. Jessica Murray on the AI systems increasingly used b...
Labour plotters v stubborn Starmer: will he resign? – The Latest
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tensions are running high in Westminster as Keir Starmer tells his cabinet he is not going anywhere. But with several ministers quitting the governmen...
Why does everyone hate Keir Starmer?
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aditya Chakrabortty on the Labour leader’s predicament – and if he may be the last prime minister of the two-party system. Help support our indepe...
Starmer clings on amid Labour deadlock - The Latest
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer appears to have staved off an immediate leadership challenge but MPs are still calling for him to set out a timetable for his resignation...
The mysterious death of the teenager who posed as a Russian billionaire
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The journalist Patrick Radden Keefe on trying to unravel the double life and tragic death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler – and what it tells us about L...
Reform and Greens surge in local elections: what next for Labour? – The Latest
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the Green party made su...
The AI jailbreakers
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist Jamie Bartlett on the people trying to get AI to say things it shouldn’t … for the safety of us all. Help support our independent journ...
Outrage as oil giants profit billions from Iran war – The Latest
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Shell has made $6.9bn in profits since the Iran war began, cashing in on soaring energy prices. The enormous profits have reignited calls for higher t...
An Infowars insider on the warped world of Alex Jones
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the satirical online newspaper the Onion waits for court approval to take over the conspiracy website Infowars, Helen Pidd speaks to a former staff...
Hantavirus hell: deadly virus takes hold of cruise ship – The Latest
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Three people have died and several others have been medically evacuated after the outbreak of a deadly hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship. There are s...
Is Europe ready for a future without the US?
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Trump has threatened to pull 5,000 troops from Germany – while European leaders worry this is just the start of a US withdrawal from the continent. ...
Has Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ reignited war with Iran? – The Latest
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has launched a new operation, which he called ‘Project Freedom’, to try to open the strait of Hormuz. Could it spark a re-escalation ...
Fake fans, fake buzz? How your favourite band got big
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Shaad D’Souza explains how bands such as Geese have faced a backlash since a marketing company revealed its tricks for pushing them into the limelig...
Why the Bezos-backed Met Gala is so controversial – The Latest
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the grandest and glitziest event in the fashion calendar, but this year’s Met Gala has sparked backlash thanks to its new honorary chairs, Je...
The women who took their own lives after domestic abuse
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Geraldine McKelvie and Hannah Al-Othman tell the stories of women who died after enduring sustained campaigns of cruelty. Help support our independent...
Why has the world lost sight of the suffering of Palestinians? – The Latest
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the six months since a ceasefire was announced in Gaza, more than 800 civilians have been killed and living conditions have remained dire. Meanwhil...
Will the Greens win over Hackney?
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Pidd and Peter Walker on the local elections and why the Green party has surged in the polls. Help support our independent journalism at theguar...
‘An epidemic’: is antisemitism out of control in the UK? – The Latest
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north-west London, has become the latest in a series of antisemitic attacks. So is rising antisemitis...
Iran’s wartime executions
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last six weeks, the Iranian regime has carried out a spate of executions of political prisoners. The Guardian journalist Daniel Boffey report...
Has King Charles salvaged special relationship with Trump? – The Latest
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It was a historic day for King Charles as he became the first British monarch to address a joint session of Congress in 35 years, before enjoying a la...
Siri, where does Apple go next?
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Guardian US tech editor Blake Montgomery talks about the future of Apple after the resignation of its longtime CEO Tim Cook. Help support our independ...
Starmer staves off mutiny over Mandelson mess… but for how long? - The Latest
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer has endured another bruising day as the saga surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador continues. The prime minister f...
The secretive billionaire bankrolling Nigel Farage
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The crypto tycoon has given millions to Farage’s political parties. But who is Christopher Harborne and what does he want in return?. Help support o...
‘Sense of disbelief’: how White House press dinner attack unfolded – The Latest
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Details about the shooting at the White House correspondents gala have started to surface as the alleged shooter is set to be charged. The suspect was...
Sanae Takaichi’s push to change Japan’s pacifist constitution
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin McCurry on the political rise of the Japanese prime minister and her plan to amend rules constraining the country’s military. Help support ou...
Is Starmer on borrowed time? - The Latest
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life as the Mandelson vetting scandal threatens to end his premiership. With no end to the Mandelson saga i...
Will the backlash against AI turn violent?
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An attack on the home of OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman – and on the company’s headquarters – has led to concerns the backlash against AI could becom...
Is the tide turning for Ukraine in war with Russia? – The Latest
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With the EU approving a €90bn loan for Ukraine, a surprise visit from Prince Harry, and data suggesting Russian troops made almost no territorial ga...
What the new Michael Jackson biopic leaves out
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A new blockbuster film about the controversial singer could make $1bn worldwide. Owen Myers and Lanre Bakare explain what it says about Jackson’s le...
Trump extends Iran ceasefire – can a deal be made? – The Latest
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the US ceasefire with Iran after talks looked increasingly uncertain between both sides. Trump said he would ‘...
The security report the UK government doesn’t want you to see
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fiona Harvey tells Nosheen Iqbal why the climate crisis is a threat to national security. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/i...
Blame game deepens over Mandelson vetting scandal - The Latest
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Foreign Office chief sacked over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal has finally given his side of the story in an explosive appearance b...
Starmer addresses the Mandelson vetting saga
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Freedland on what Keir Starmer said – and didn’t say – to the House of Commons about the Mandelson vetting failure. Help support our in...
Iran war energy crisis: how bad could it get? – The Latest
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Oil and gas prices have jumped again as shipping through the strait of Hormuz came to a virtual standstill after Iran closed the waterway over the US ...
Stonewall’s new chair on trans rights, JK Rowling and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An exclusive interview with Kezia Dugdale on the charity’s mistakes and the future of the LGBTQ+ movement. With reporting by Libby Brooks. Help supp...
Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Keir Starmer says it is ‘staggering’ and ‘unforgivable’ that he was not told Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before taking up the ...
Will Trump regret taking on the Pope?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The president’s posting of an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus horrified many Christians. Sarah Posner tells Annie Kelly why evangelical voter...
Trump announces Israel-Lebanon ceasefire –The Latest
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US president, Donald Trump, has said Israel and Lebanon will begin a 10-day ceasefire. In a post on Truth Social, he said he had spoken to the lea...