Today in Focus

After a decade in the pop fringes, Charli xcx's 2024 album Brat propelled her to global stardom: an acid-green ‘Brat summer', a Glastonbury headline slot and brat as Collins' word of the year. But how do you follow up the album that made you a star? Charli's latest album Music, Fashion, Film has now been released – and as Guardian deputy music editor Laura Snapes tells Lucy Hough: it's a pivot to guitar and a “meta masterpiece about the instability of identity.” – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

South Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen on the Cockroach movement – and the students driving India's biggest protests in years. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Millionaires including former footballer Gary Lineker are asking Andy Burnham to tax their wealth more. More than 100 wealthy Brits have signed an open letter to the prime minister, saying: ‘We want you to tax us. We can afford it.' So should the government introduce a wealth tax? And why is the idea getting more popular? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to columnist and senior economics commentator Aditya Chakrabortty – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Media critic Mark Lawson discusses with Nosheen Iqbal why even the BBC director general has lost faith in the current licence fee model, and explore what options the national broadcaster has to secure funding. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired his commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in Ukraine's biggest military shake-up in two years. Nationwide protests broke out after Zelenskyy sacked Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister, who the Ukraine president says will now be brought back into government in a ‘prominent position'. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's senior international correspondent Luke Harding – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Journalist Amjed Tantesh talks about his project to teach Gaza's children how to swim. With reporting from our chief Middle East correspondent, Emma Graham-Harrison. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The US has carried out fresh strikes on Iran after three American soldiers were killed in action. The Pentagon has admitted that nearly 100 US service members have also been wounded as Tehran responded to 10 consecutive nights of attacks. As peace talks mediated by Pakistan continue, Lucy Hough speaks to our senior international correspondent, Julian Borger – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Senior political correspondent Peter Walker and former No 10 press secretary Paul Harrison analyse Andy Burnham's first day as PM. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Andy Burnham has become the sixth UK prime minister in a decade after a transfer of power from his predecessor Keir Starmer. In his first address outside Downing Street, he said his arrival in power would be a ‘circuit breaker' moment for Britain and that his government would bring the ‘biggest changes in 40 years'. Lucy Hough speaks to political correspondent Alexandra Topping – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Tim Burrows goes back to Epping in Essex one year after protesters from across the country descended on the small town to demonstrate against asylum seekers being housed at the Bell hotel. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Christopher Nolan's star-studded take on Homer's Odyssey has received rave reviews from critics and is one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year. The three-hour Imax blockbuster has an estimated budget of $250m and a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Zendaya and Tom Holland. But will it live up to expectations? Annie Kelly speaks to film editor Catherine Shoard. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Tom Greenhill, the chartered engineer behind the Heatwave Toolkit, provides tips on keeping your home cool in the heat; the Guardian's Europe environment correspondent, Ajit Niranjan, reports on what governments across the continent are doing in response to this record-breaking summer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

England have again suffered World Cup heartache, conceding two late goals that gave Argentina a dramatic 2-1 comeback win and a place in the final against Spain on Sunday. Many have blamed manager Thomas Tuchel's substitution decisions for the defeat. So did his tactics ultimately backfire? Annie Kelly speaks to sports columnist Jonathan Liew – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Today in Focus hears from friends, colleagues and mentors of Andy Burnham to find out more about the man soon to be prime minister. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds face an overnight social media curfew in an extension of the government's social media ban for under-16s. Under the plan, aimed at reducing online harms, certain apps would be blocked by default from midnight to 6am. But the curfew will not be mandatory and teenagers can opt out, so will it achieve anything? Annie Kelly speaks to social affairs correspondent Jessica Murray – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

When Mark Lanier and his young client Kaley faced Meta and Google in an LA courtroom earlier this year, it seemed a bigger battle than David v Goliath. Lanier, however, was determined to prove the companies had not just stumbled into a youth mental health crisis, but had helped to engineer it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The US government has been forced to pay billions in refunds to companies that were hit by Donald Trump's ‘liberation day' tariffs. The US has paid out $81bn (£61bn) this fiscal year after the supreme court ruled the tariffs were illegal. Lucy Hough speaks to international editor Chris Michael – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sperm counts are in decline worldwide, and testosterone levels are said to be plunging, but male infertility still carries a stigma. Prof Michael Carroll on what every man should know. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of the former MP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe, in light of ‘new information and evidence'. A 28-year old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Senior China correspondent Amy Hawkins on China's embrace of AI, from medical avatars to food delivery drones and state surveillance. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

There is just one week to go until the winner of the World Cup is crowned, and it has been a memorable tournament, not least due to the extraordinary intervention by Donald Trump this week that shocked the football world. Lucy Hough speaks to global sports business correspondent Matt Hughes – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Are the disappearances or deaths of 11 US scientists really linked in a nefarious plot? Or just a conspiracy theory with roots in a bizarre broadcast that rocked Britain in the 1970s?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The US president has said the truce with Iran is ‘over' amid 48 hours of intense strikes. In the days leading to this escalation, three tankers were attacked by Iran in the strait of Hormuz, raising questions about the clarity of the ceasefire agreement signed in June. The US military's attacks occurred during the week-long funeral of Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, which drew millions on to the streets. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's senior international correspondent Julian Borger – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Political correspondent Ben Quinn talks about the forthcoming byelection in Clacton after all Reform's serious rivals declined to take part. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The US president is in combative mood as Nato leaders meet for a two-day summit in Ankara. There are divisions over Russia's war in Ukraine, defence spending, and the US-Israel war in Iran with signs of the fragile ceasefire collapsing. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is holding talks with leaders as he rallies the European cause against Russia's war that has reached the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as Nato allies present an increasingly united front against an unreliable US. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's central and eastern Europe correspondent Shaun Walker – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Patrick Wintour reports from the funeral of Ali Khamenei as the Iranian regime puts on a show of confidence and resilience.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Nigel Farage has announced his resignation as the MP for Clacton, triggering a byelection in which he intends to stand as a candidate. The Reform UK leader is under scrutiny over his finances, with two investigations by the parliamentary standards watchdog over undeclared gifts. During a 15-minute press conference, he accused the media of a ‘pile-on' over his personal finances, and harassment of his family. He said his decision was part of ‘sticking two fingers up at the establishment' and would prove the public want him to stay on as an MP. Lucy Hough speaks to policy editor Kiran Stacey – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Tom Phillips speaks to the ordinary Venezuelans struggling to find their friends and family after the country's worst earthquakes in a century. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

As Nigel Farage awaits the findings of a standards watchdog investigation into a £5m gift he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne, fresh allegations about his finances have emerged related to benefits received from the crypto entrepreneur George Cottrell, who has previously been convicted of fraud. The Reform UK leader says he is the victim of an ‘establishment hit job' and that he has ‘done no wrongdoing'. Lucy Hough speaks to senior political correspondent Peter Walker – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Has the success of the US men's team – and hosting the World Cup – finally made Americans fall in love with football? With Guardian US soccer correspondent Jeff Rueter. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The Guardian's Full Story podcast covers the inquest into the death of the influencer Stacey Warnecke. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The US superstar golden couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are finally tying the knot in a rumoured major event in New York's Madison Square Garden. The couple – who got engaged 10 months ago, announced via an Instagram post that received 14m likes in its first hour online – held an intimate rehearsal dinner at MSG with a rumoured guest list of 1,000 for today's ceremony and construction of a custom-made fairytale castle inside. But with tight security, NDAs and New York streets on lockdown – what do we know? Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian writer Elle Hunt – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Why are more states than ever in the US using the firing squad as a method of execution? With chief reporter for Guardian US Ed Pilkington. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The NHS will divert billions of pounds from essential services to pay for new medicines, under the terms of the US-UK trade deal agreed in December, which could lead to more than 200,000 excess deaths, analysis has found. Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exports avoid US tariffs and giving patients access to vital medication, but critics accuse the Labour party of caving into pressure from Donald Trump. Lucy Hough speaks to columnist Aditya Chakrabortty – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The community leader and mother of two Annabel Rook was murdered by her partner. Annie Kelly talks to Annabel's best friend and parents after the conclusion of the trial. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Donald Trump cashed in on more than $2bn from crypto and other business ventures last year. As the US races to become the self‑declared ‘crypto capital of the world', the president and his family have turned digital tokens, meme coins and merchandise into an unprecedented revenue stream. But just how rich can a sitting US president get? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian reporter Aisha Down – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Andy Burnham has set out his economic plans for Britain. Neal Lawson, from the Burnham-aligned group Mainstream, explains the thinking behind it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The prime minister has unveiled his long-delayed defence investment plan, promising an extra £15bn in defence spending over the next four years. The funding, which will be spent on drones, nuclear projects and RAF fighter jets, has been made available through cuts to energy, transport and housing projects. Keir Starmer urged his likely successor, the Labour MP Andy Burnham, not to borrow more money to pay for it. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian policy editor Kiran Stacey – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The number of young people in the UK not in work, education or training is spiralling. How much damage could it do to their long-term prospects – and the country? Sammy Gecsoyler reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Andy Burnham has set out his vision for the UK in his first big policy speech since launching a bid to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. The Makerfield MP confirmed he would set up ‘No 10 North' and pledged to ‘bring about the biggest rebalancing of power the country has ever seen'. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's north of England editor, Josh Halliday – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Why are so many luxury homes in London lying empty? Sam Wollaston reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

King Charles has become the first monarch in modern times to reveal how much tax he pays on his private income: £24.6m over the last two years. The move comes after years of calls for the monarch to be more open with the public about the royal finances. Some are heralding this as a new era of transparency – but just how open has the revelation been? Lucy Hough speaks to our European financial affairs editor, Juliette Garside – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus