What evidence of man-made climate change that did not already exist could possibly be compelling enough to change the view of a scientist previously describing himself as a "committed sceptic" on the topic? That's what happened to Professor Richard Muller, a physicist and climate change doubter who founded the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project, a massive global analysis of records dating back to 1753.
As Leo Hickman's fascinating cover story reveals, the Berkeley research – funded by organisations from both sides of the climate change divide – found humans "were almost entirely the cause" of a land temperature increase of 1.5C over the past 250 years. But will the findings be enough to turn the heads of more sceptics like Muller? Only time will tell.
Inside the edition, we have some exceptional reportage from Syria, where Ghaith Abdul-Ahad meets the al-Qaida fighters infiltrating the Free Syria Army. Meanwhile Martin Chulov reports on the other foreign jihadis descending on the city of Aleppo, where many expect a critical battle to be fought in the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The Republican presumptive nominee Mitt Romney has been in the Middle East this week, reiterating his party's backing for Israel in its tense standoff with Iran. As well as the latest news, Gary Younge considers why the fear of the foreign aggressor could once again be so crucial to Republican election hopes.
Also in the Americas (well, technically at least), we bring you news of Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who has claimed asylum in Ecuador's London embassy since June, and find out why his hosts are so keen to prevent his deportation to the US. And we examine the growing Mexican youth movement unhappy about the recent election of President Enrique Peña Nieto.
Back on the environmental front, we bring you two features from our sister publications, Le Monde and The Washington Post, One concerning the replanting of destroyed forests in south-west France, and the other examines moves to reduce air pollution from cruise ships visiting Alaska.
In Europe as in the rest of the world, much attention has been focused on the London Olympics, though in Moscow this week the trial began of the female punk band Pussy Riot, charged with "hooliganism" and which is widely seen as a test of President Vladimir Putin's intention to crack down on political dissent inside Russia. We consider the implications.
Following a major Aids conference in Washington, we bring you news of the latest efforts to find a cure for HIV, as well as the poignant story of some survivors of the disease who are now entering a bittersweet old age they never envisaged, and in many cases never planned for materially.
Last but not least it's been a busy news week in India, with mass power cuts and regional sectarian violence. To balance out the gloom, we bring you heart-warming (not to say heart-burning) news of how extra-hot chilies are bringing unexpected new prosperity to farmers of Assam.
In the Weekly Review, the Guardian's Orwell Prize-winning features writer Amelia Gentleman takes a frank, behind the scenes look at life in a lap-dancing club. And on our Science pages we consider evidence suggesting that civilised human behaviour all begins … with a hug.
Last but not least, back at the Olympic Park, just a few miles from my desk (and yes, London's creaking transport system is holding up very nicely, thank you), the teenage Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen's record-breaking feats have been questioned. Prodigal talent or something altogether more sinister, asks our writer Andy Bull .
As ever we'd love to hear your thoughts on the edition, so please do email them to me (the editor Abby Deveney is on holiday for a few weeks).
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