Guy Szafman

Andy Burnham has pledged to end rough sleeping after becoming prime minister. Helen Pidd visits Embassy Village in Greater Manchester, a homelessness project where former rough sleepers describe their experiences moving into stable accommodation. Jessica Murray examines Burnham’s record on rough sleeping during his nine years as mayor and considers whether his housing-first approach could be expanded nationwide.

Senior political correspondent Peter Walker and former Downing Street press secretary Paul Harrison examine Andy Burnham's first day as UK prime minister. They discuss the practical and political challenges of life in No 10, including relations with the US president, while assessing Burnham's first Downing Street speech and new cabinet as indicators of his governing agenda.

Andy Burnham begins his first day as prime minister after achieving his long-held ambition. Former Downing Street press secretary Paul Harrison discusses the practical and political pressures of office, including living arrangements and relations with the US president, while Guardian correspondent Peter Walker examines Burnham’s first Downing Street speech and new cabinet for indications of his governing plans.

Iran is holding a multi-day funeral for former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening day of February airstrikes, as the regime seeks to demonstrate confidence and resilience after its war with the United States and Israel. Guardian diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour reports on the large crowds attending the funeral, while former US Iran envoy Robert Malley argues that the ceasefire being negotiated may favor Tehran despite the conflict’s initially existential threat to Iran.

Over a million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training, a figure that continues to rise even as other European countries recover from post‑pandemic setbacks. Interviews reveal widespread frustration among young jobseekers facing thousands of unsuccessful applications, increasingly automated hiring processes and growing demoralisation. A recent Oxford graduate describes repeated rejection despite strong academic credentials, while experts highlight the disappearance of starter roles and call for structural reforms to support young workers and reshape the job market.

A podcast examines why luxury homes in London can remain empty while people struggle to find housing. It focuses on the 45-room mansion at 2–8A Rutland Gate in Knightsbridge, which sold for £210 million in 2020 and has reportedly been unoccupied for years, and on Anders Fernstedt, who has slept on its porch for three years. Sam Wollaston connects Fernstedt’s experience to the Guardian’s Abandoned Britain series and broader concerns about housing inequality, poverty and social exclusion in the UK.

Keir Starmer rose from opposition to a landslide victory in the 2024 UK general election, promising to repair years of Conservative rule. Within two years, mounting public anger and disappointment led to his resignation, making him the sixth UK prime minister to leave office in a decade. Guardian columnist Rafael Behr discusses with Nosheen Iqbal why Starmer appeared effective in opposition but struggled to lead the country, despite his carefully cultivated image and reputation as a decent, serious politician.

A podcast hosted by Charlotte Higgins examines the destruction of Ukraine’s cultural heritage during the war, focusing on the missile attack that devastated Kyiv’s Chornobyl Museum. It describes attacks on historic landmarks, religious sites and cultural archives as part of a broader assault on Ukrainian identity, while highlighting citizens risking their lives to preserve the nation’s artistic and historical memory.

The UK government plans to restrict social media access for under-16s, following Australia’s ban, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer citing parental demands for stronger controls. Young people argue that platforms such as Snapchat provide essential communication and community, while Australia’s experience has produced mixed results despite continued parental support. Guardian contributors Stephen Byrne and Chris Stokel-Walker debate the policy, with Stokel-Walker calling it an ill-advised political move introduced before evidence from the government’s own study is available.

Vladimir Putin’s long-standing informal bargain with Russians—allowing everyday life to continue despite the war in Ukraine—is under mounting pressure. Economic stagnation, heavy military casualties, internet restrictions and declining public comfort are fueling discontent, while reports suggest Putin has become increasingly isolated and paranoid. The podcast examines whether these pressures are weakening his control after roughly 26 years at the center of Russian power.

Guardian reporter Hannah Al-Othman describes anti-immigrant riots in Belfast, where masked men set neighboring houses on fire and smoke entered the home of Ugandan care workers and students Stella and Sumayah. Emergency services told them not to leave, and Sumayah fainted from fear. The podcast also features a Sudanese refugee and father of four who is considering leaving the city because of the violence.

Guardian reporter Hannah Al-Othman examines anti-immigrant rioting in Belfast, focusing on two Ugandan care workers and students whose west Belfast home was threatened by masked men and nearby house fires. The report also includes a Sudanese refugee and father of four who is considering leaving the city amid fears for his family’s safety.

Vladimir Putin’s long-standing informal pact with Russians—allowing everyday life to continue despite the war in Ukraine—is under growing strain. Economic stagnation, heavy military casualties, tighter internet restrictions and rising public discontent are exposing vulnerabilities in the Kremlin’s control. Reports that Putin is increasingly isolated and paranoid have fueled the nickname “grandpa in a bunker” and raised questions about whether he is losing his grip on Russia.

As the World Cup comes to Mexico, excitement in Guadalajara is tempered by the influence of a powerful criminal syndicate based in Jalisco. Journalist Leon Krauze describes the city’s deep football culture but warns that the tournament will bring significant security challenges. Mexican authorities, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, are preparing a major security operation, while concern is also heightened by Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on the regional drugs trade and the possibility of unilateral US military action. Although fans are unlikely to face direct danger, cartel power and geopolitical tensions complicate the prospect of a trouble-free celebration.

Cenk Uygur says he discovered at Los Angeles airport that the UK had withdrawn his electronic travel authorization, preventing him from boarding a flight. Uygur and his nephew, streamer Hasan Piker, had been scheduled to speak in the UK but were barred by the Home Office because their presence was deemed not conducive to the public good. The decision was reportedly linked to past remarks about Israel, which both men deny were antisemitic. The episode examines the government’s stated rationale and the political and free-speech implications of the ban.

Journalist Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his investigation into the double life and mysterious death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler, who posed as the son of a Russian billionaire and sought entry into London’s oligarch social circle. Brettler was found dead on a riverbank in central London, while the Metropolitan police failed to resolve key questions surrounding the case. The story explores London’s role as a hub for global wealth and alleged dirty money, as well as the dangerous networks Brettler became involved in.

Journalist Jamie Bartlett investigates people who deliberately try to bypass the safety rules of major AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok and Claude. The discussion examines why AI jailbreakers attempt to make large language models produce prohibited content and what their efforts reveal about how the technology and its safeguards work.

Journalist Justin McCurry examines Sanae Takaichi’s influence as Japan’s prime minister, including her heavy-metal fandom and plans to amend the country’s pacifist constitution. The discussion considers whether her authority and international significance make her the world’s most powerful woman.

Apple faces a leadership transition after Tim Cook stepped down as CEO following 15 years in charge. Cook is credited with expanding the company into a $4tn global technology giant through supply-chain development and high-level relationship-building, but Apple is now criticized for falling behind rivals in artificial intelligence, particularly with Siri, and for not producing another product with the transformative impact of the iPhone. The appointment of hardware specialist and longtime insider John Ternus raises questions about the company’s next strategic priorities.

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is seeking the first amendment to the country’s constitution since 1947, arguing that Article 9 unfairly limits Japan’s ability to defend itself. The provision renounces war and restricts military force to defensive use, although legislation passed over the past decade has broadened the possibility of assisting allies such as the United States. The episode examines public reaction in Japan and the potential consequences of reform for security in the wider region.