Guardian

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Archie Rhind-Tutt, Nick Ames and Sid Lowe as error-prone USA are picked off by Belgium and Cristiano Ronaldo bids farewell to the World Cup for good. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

In the last 50 years, Britain has lost an astonishing 73 million wild birds from its landscape, according to the British Trust for Ornithology. Habitat loss, pesticides, disease, cats and the climate crisis mean there are fewer birds than ever before. For children and young people it can be difficult to appreciate the scale of the loss due to a psychological phenomenon called ‘shifting baseline syndrome’, where each generation inherits a degraded version of the environment, and therefore doesn’t notice the overall decline. But Gen Z are bucking the trend. Thanks to social media and the Merlin Bird ID app, birding has become cool. To find out what we’re missing from the dawn chorus, and why young people are embracing birdwatching, Madeleine Finlay hears from the writer Robert Macfarlane and from Jess Painter, a member of the RSPB’s youth council. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Nigel Farage claimed he was the victim of an ‘establishment hit job’ after it was revealed he accepted money from his friend, the convicted felon George Cottrell. The parliamentary standards commissioner is currently investigating whether Farage broke the rules previously, in relation to an undisclosed gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Farage has always said the money was for personal use, and denied breaking any rules. But where does this leave him and the future of Reform UK?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Archie Rhind-Tutt, Nicky Bandini and Lars Sivertsen as England beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca in an all-time great World Cup game. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Archie Rhind-Tutt, Barney Ronay and Philippe Auclair as France beat a spiky Paraguay side to reach the quarter-finals. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Archie Rhind-Tutt and Lars Sivertsen as Cape Verde take Argentina to extra time in the game of the World Cup so far. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Archie Rhind-Tutt and Jonathan Wilson as Cristiano Ronaldo breaks his World Cup knockout duck in a dramatic win over Croatia. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Keir Starmer has been accused of leaving Andy Burnham with a £4.7bn black hole in defence funding. The government announced on Tuesday the defence investment plan, complete with a £15bn boost – but nearly £5bn would have to be found by a future chancellor. Allies of Burnham have called the announcement an ‘unexploded bomb’, so what options does the PM-in-waiting have? Kiran Stacey and Jessica Elgot discuss the political fallout. Plus Kiran and Jess answer your questions on Labour, No 10 North and Burnham. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Archie Rhind-Tutt and Osasu Obayiuwana as Harry Kane’s second-half double sees England past DR Congo and there is late drama between Senegal and Belgium.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Researchers claim they are closer to creating life from nothing after building tiny, quivering blobs that use lab-made DNA to feed, grow and multiply in a dish. To find out how significant this step is, and where scientists hope it will lead, Madeleine Finlay hears from co-host Ian Sample and from Kate Adamala, professor of genetics at the University of Minnesota. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod