Guardian Weekly

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.

Eyewitness Italy

Global report • Headlines from the last seven days

United Kingdom

Eyewitness

SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT

That sinking feeling • As Europe faces tough headwinds, the continent’s main leaders are bearing the brunt of delivering bad news to frustrated electorates. What can Macron, Merz, Starmer and others do to reverse their fortunes?

The week that left Britain’s PM looking like an interim leader • In a tumultuous bout of leadership jostling, Keir Starmer has been left looking vulnerable and short of time to maintain his position, with Burnham and Streeting on manoeuvres

Xi rolled out a red carpet for Trump, but gave little away

Iran to Taiwan • How much did the ‘stalemate summit’ actually achieve?

‘Like an illusion’ After Maduro, a bewildering era • Four months after Trump’s surprise raid, a political thaw is apparent – but along with hope there is confusion about what comes next

Slow lanes

The secret mission to rescue UN’s vital refugee archive

Ebola virus • What is it – and how big could this outbreak get?

‘A catastrophe’ • What the fate of Timmy the whale says about conservation

How a teacher became guardian of 200 penguins • When the birds started nesting on her land, Cecilia Durán Gafo decided she would protect the colony from people and predators

Gold rush How young Botswana sprinters raced to top • Investment has reaped rapid rewards for nation of 2.5m people, but more help is now needed for female athletes

Islands bet on tech to reverse years of brain drain

Hot ticket • Stockholm to open its first publicly run sauna

How gen Z are cashing in on trend for vintage clothing

How Europe’s translators are fighting against the rise of AI • A booming tech sector has disrupted translation jobs in publishing – but they could be needed for a while longer yet

A billionaire ‘tax-the-rich’ candidate is intriguing Democrats

In spite of global woes, why is Wall Street still booming?

‘I COULDN′T BREATHE’ THE SINISTER SPREAD OF FRANCE’S KILLER SEAWEED • After a series of deaths on the beaches of Brittany, one bereaved family set out to prove the foul-smelling bloom was to blame

SEEN AND NOT HEARD • They are hired to help Chinese businesses appear more desirable, with a foreign face adding western prestige to a product. But what is it like to be a ‘white monkey’?

Simon Tisdall • Warning: this article contains a long-forgotten thing – hope

Agnès Poirier • Cannes is crazy and gruelling, but no true cinephile would miss it

Nesrine Malik • ‘Suspect thy neighbour’ – this is what Britain looks like under Reform

The Guardian View • Founded 1821 Independently owned by the Scott Trust

Opinion Letters

Unsafe spaces • It started with a viral picture. Now Backrooms is the year’s freakiest film. Its creator and stars guide us through the labyrinth

Once upon a time in America • His podcast 99% Invisible is a worldwide hit. Now Roman Mars has teamed up with the BBC for a new series exploring the history of the United States

Last laugh Molière, AI and a play for today • A ‘new’ comedy debuts at Versailles featuring dialogue, music, costumes and scenery created with the help of AI tool Le Chat

Reviews

No man is an island • Set in the Hebrides, an epic tale of gay love and loneliness from the Booker winner

Germany’s shadow •...