The Observer

The new US ‘Department of War’ has a long history Concerns about the fitness, battle-readiness, ethos and composition of America’s fighting forces date back to George Washington

Last week, around 800 American generals and admirals were rallied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on lethality, fitness, the warrior ethos—and the supposed threat of political correctness. But as Giles Whittell reveals, the US ‘Department of War’ is nothing new.

Read more: https://bit.ly/46VFWX8

How America was stolen | The Observer The exploits of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill became wild west myth, as Peter Cozzens’s history of Deadwood shows. But behind them lay the venal, illegal s...

"The exploits of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill became wild west myth, as Peter Cozzens’s history of Deadwood shows. But behind them lay the venal, illegal settlement of Native American land", writes @ericawgnr.bsky.social.

Read more: https://bit.ly/46UxDdV

France’s prime minister resigns… again | The Observer Sébastien Lecornu lasted just 27 days in office. His departure suggests France may be ungovernable

Is France ungovernable? In the past year, it has had four prime ministers, with its most recent, Sébastien Lecornu, only lasting 27 days.

Read more as Fred Harter explores what this means for France: https://bit.ly/3VQ1Ypd

Nigel Slater’s kitchen diary: celebrate apple season with... English apples and stilton cheese are one of autumn’s unbeatable flavour combinations

Nigel Slater’s kitchen diary: celebrate apple season with puff pastry dumplings trib.al/umnZjYG

Protests erupt over Gaza after plea to respect grief More than 400 demonstrators were arrested in London on Saturday, while tensions ran high at a Manchester vigil for the victims of Thursday’s attack

More than 400 demonstrators were arrested in London on Saturday, while tensions ran high at a Manchester vigil for the victims of Thursday’s attack, read more as John Simpson reports:
https://bit.ly/4nBzkUL

NHS cuts will ‘severely impact’ those who struggle to bre... Decision to cancel surgery in England to correct breathing difficulties has been criticised by doctors

Doctors have heavily criticised a decision to cancel surgery in England to correct breathing difficulties.

Read more as James Tapper explores why NHS cuts will ‘severely impact’ those who struggle to breathe: https://bit.ly/4q1KpjS

British firms hungry to join booming anti-obesity market Startups urge UK government to create better conditions for innovation of new drugs

As popularity in weight-loss injectables soar, startups are urging the UK government to create better conditions for innovation of these new drugs.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4nMprUr

The new US ‘Department of War’ has a long history Concerns about the fitness, battle-readiness, ethos and composition of America’s fighting forces date back to George Washington

Concerns about the fitness, battle-readiness, ethos, and composition of America’s fighting forces date back to George Washington, writes Giles Whittell.

Read more: https://bit.ly/46VFWX8

Opposing genocide requires crossing a Rubicon of fear The first year of Israel’s war in Gaza was defined by grief and rage. The second year has been about endurance and the refusal to be silent, even as the ...

"The first year of Israel’s war in Gaza was defined by grief and rage. The second year has been about endurance and the refusal to be silent, even as the world looks away", writes Selma Dabbagh.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3VSR1TK

Britain’s VAT rules need a total rethink | The Observer Businesses should call on the chancellor to put VAT on everything while complex rules should be consigned to history

Businesses should call on the chancellor to put VAT on everything while complex rules should be consigned to history, writes Tim Leunig.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4nFvYAn

British firms hungry to join booming anti-obesity market Startups urge UK government to create better conditions for innovation of new drugs

British firms hungry to join booming anti-obesity market trib.al/xA5KX92

Labour cuts funding for state school IB diplomas The sudden decision may mean the IB program is only available in private schools

Labour's sudden decision to cut funding for state school IB diplomas may mean the IB program is only available in private schools.

Read more as Rachel Sylvester reports:
https://bit.ly/42PKjBZ

France’s prime minister resigns… again | The Observer Sébastien Lecornu lasted just 27 days in office. His departure suggests France may be ungovernable

Sébastien Lecornu has resigned after 27 days in the job.

Why does that matter? In today's Sensemaker, we explore how Lecornu's departure suggests France may be ungovernable.

Read now: https://bit.ly/3VQ1Ypd

Illegal practices tear the reputation of Italian luxury f... It is an industry that thrives on quality, yet Italy’s top houses are being investigated for sub-contracting, black market mark-ups and sweat shop labour

Luxury fashion is an industry that thrives on quality, yet Italy’s top houses are being investigated for sub-contracting, black market mark-ups and sweat shop labour.

Read more: https://bit.ly/48ookWl

There seems to be no end to this murderous routine In October 2023, I told a grieving child the nightmare would pass. But war has become routine and the end feels impossibly out of reach

"In October 2023, I told a grieving child the nightmare would pass. But war has become routine and the end feels impossibly out of reach," writes Etgar Keret.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4nHo2P5

The gay scene saved my life. Don’t let it wither and die With the closure of London’s iconic G-A-Y bar, the LGBTQ+ community is losing yet another vital safe space

As London’s legendary G-A-Y bar closes its doors, Matt Cain reflects on their first experiences of queer clubbing culture and the feeling of finally finding a place to belong.

Read now: https://bit.ly/4mTWJQe

Since Donald Trump’s return to office, trans Americans are facing unprecedented legal and social threats - with some now seeking asylum abroad.

Listen to today's Sensemaker wherever you get your podcasts to discover more: lnk.to/QTxcQzBS

For Israelis and Palestinians, 7 October is the day that ... Each morning we wake into the same night – 7 October 2023 is with us still

The day that never ended: Each morning we wake into the same night – 7 October 2023 is with us still, writes Avraham Burg.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4o6QpG0

Opposing genocide requires crossing a Rubicon of fear The first year of Israel’s war in Gaza was defined by grief and rage. The second year has been about endurance and the refusal to be silent, even as the ...

Opposing genocide requires crossing a Rubicon of fear trib.al/Z4ubAqg

Climate cost debate rages on | The Observer Opinion in Europe is divided on EU directives on corporate sustainability reporting

The climate cost debate rages on, but as Matthew Bishop explains opinion in Europe is divided on EU directives on corporate sustainability reporting.

Read more: https://bit.ly/46CMpY5

A record buyout of Electronic Arts deepens Saudi Arabia’s... The $55 billion deal is part of an attempt to diversify the kingdom’s economy and improve its international image

A record buyout of Electronic Arts deepens Saudi Arabia’s soft power push into gaming trib.al/5aT7jP8

France’s prime minister resigns… again | The Observer Sébastien Lecornu lasted just 27 days in office. His departure suggests France may be ungovernable

France’s prime minister resigns… again trib.al/RLt6jVk

Wendy Ide’s pick of other films: The Smashing Machine, Ur... Dwayne Johnson delivers an unexpectedly bruised performance in the solo directorial debut from Benny Safdie

Wendy Ide’s pick of other films: The Smashing Machine, Urchin and more trib.al/xwQDcln

The Observer view: we cannot allow Britain to become an u... The violence in Manchester and the language in Whitehall are ruptures in the social fabric that has made Britain a beacon of freedom and safety

The Observer view: we cannot allow Britain to become an unsafe haven trib.al/SEAXC1c

NHS cuts will ‘severely impact’ those who struggle to bre... Decision to cancel surgery in England to correct breathing difficulties has been criticised by doctors

NHS cuts will ‘severely impact’ those who struggle to breathe trib.al/CAu9vKq

Britain’s high borrowing costs and low fertility rate cou... Debt problems are now very public and will be Rachel Reeves’s biggest challenge this autumn

Debt problems are now very public and will be Rachel Reeves’s biggest challenge this autumn, writes Richard Davies.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4mSbL9d

‘They are treated with the most appalling hostility’: the... The number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Britain has soared, and many are being put at risk having got here

‘They are treated with the most appalling hostility’: the children seeking safety on our shores trib.al/sKk6LjA

Love in a time of war: the new sex therapy for Ukraine's ... As thousands of young veterans return home with life-changing injuries, many are wondering if physical intimacy is something they'll ever know again

More than 130,000 veterans are living with disabilities caused by the war and they are navigating not only physical rehabilitation, but also how to reclaim their intimate lives.

✍️ Read Liz Cookman on love in a time of war

https://bit.ly/3Ks2k2T

The Observer view: we cannot allow Britain to become an u... The violence in Manchester and the language in Whitehall are ruptures in the social fabric that has made Britain a beacon of freedom and safety

The violence in Manchester and the language in Whitehall are ruptures in the social fabric that has made Britain a beacon of freedom and safety.

Read more: https://bit.ly/46FINVa

Protests erupt over Gaza after plea to respect grief More than 400 demonstrators were arrested in London on Saturday, while tensions ran high at a Manchester vigil for the victims of Thursday’s attack

Despite pleas from the prime minister and home secretary to halt demonstrations, protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza saw more than 400 arrests in London and 150 in Manchester over the weekend.

Read more as John Simpson reports: https://bit.ly/4nBzkUL