The Guardian Weekly magazine is a round-up of the world news, opinion and long reads that have shaped the week. Inside, the past seven days' most memorable stories are reframed with striking photography and insightful companion pieces, all handpicked from The Guardian and The Observer.
Editor’s notes
Global report • Headlines from the last seven days
Global report • United Kingdom
Reader’s eyewitness
SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT
Now a wasteland of rubble, dust and graves How Gaza looks from the sky • The Guardian joins a Jordanian military airdrop for a rare chance to observe a landscape devastated by Israel’s offensive
‘Who is next?’ • Fears grow for journalists in the line of Israel’s fire
Takeover plan • A delusional occupation that could lead to perpetual war
‘They slaughtered us like animals’ • As the UK prepared to host a global summit on bringing peace to Sudan, RSF paramilitaries began a ‘genocidal’ massacre in Zamzam refugee camp. But when reports emerged of the killings, London stayed silent. For the first time, using intelligence reports and witness testimony, we have pieced together what happened during the April atrocity – and why it was not stopped
Peace sign • Confusion over summit shows Putin still calls the shots Trump’s rewarding of the Kremlin’s hardline attitude shows Russia can sideline Ukraine from deal to end war
Scorched earth
Defiance grows over ban on Palestine Action • A total of 532 arrests were made at London protest last Saturday, most for displaying signs in support of the proscribed group
SENIOR SERVICE • Half arrested were aged 60 or above
Human links to nature have fallen acutely, study finds
Trunk call • Woman’s long quest to protect elephants
Why European rail travel is still not an easy ride • A lack of joined-up thinking, complicated ticketing and incomprehensible timetables mean travellers face long-term disruptions
Iceberg town divided as tour workers frozen out of tourist trade
Seoul buddy • Government prioritises a multicultural social future
A burning question The science of sunscreen • Too much sun exposure can lead to cancer. But social influencers are saying that ingredients in sun cream are toxic too. So what is the truth?
Is Melania exercising her power as chief Trump whisperer?
mRNA jabs • Despite RFK’s funding block, science can’t be ignored
THE STORM THAT MOVED A MOUNTAIN • On a small ledge in the Swiss mountains, 200 people were enjoying a summer football tournament. As night fell, they had no idea what was coming.
‘I’M A CAUTIOUS OPTIMIST’ • The head of Google’s DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, says artificial intelligence could usher in an era of ‘incredible productivity’ and ‘radical abundance’. But who will it benefit?
Jonathan Freedland • The world is in flames. But I’ve found some hope amid the gloom
Helen Pilcher • If other creatures keep evolving into anteaters, could we do the same?
Marina Hyde • What could JD Vance do in the Cotswolds? Maybe go for a delightful swim
The GuardianView • Attacks on ECHR are part of a wider campaign to undermine the rule of law
Opinion Letters
Reel journeys • What single film best represents a nation? Here, 12 critics choose the one they believe most captures their country’s culture and cinema
A window on ways of seeing America • New York’s Whitney Museum has brought together works made over eight tumultuous decades to ref lect on responses to the American dream
Reviews
‘A Steve Carell film made me realise I was being abused’
The real deal • This dazzling satire about an unworldly heckler explores art...