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Andy Burnham
Things can get better
The former mayor of Greater Manchester is not entering Downing Street on the same wave of optimism as Tony Blair in 1997. But The Observer view is that the sense of hope he has ignited should not be dismissed
Michael and Clare Morpurgo
Walking in a wonderland
On a tour of their residential teaching farm, the beloved children’s author and his wife talk to Katherine Cowles about the importance of childhood wonder, their 63-year love story and otter poo
World Cup 2026
A ridiculous ending
England’s summer gets a fitting send off with 6-4 victory against France. It’s their best World Cup finish since 1966, George Simms writes
For today
Middle East
Haroon Janjua
‘The war is now at our doorsteps – it’s entering our homes’: Iranians fear escalation of US strikes
Politics
Andrew Rawnsley
Britain was in need of a good news story. Sadly, no-drama Starmer didn’t know how to tell one
Athletics
Ben Bloom
The months of meticulous planning that made Josh Kerr’s miracle mile
The Puzzle Edit
Caitlin O'Kane
Look closer
Rethinking our future
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Greg Jackson
Overhaul the energy market – or pay the price in the long run
Jude Kelly
Culture must be valued for its own sake – it is everyone’s right to enjoy it
Imran Shafi
Rethinking our future: How Andy Burnham can put Britain at the heart of the AI revolution
Ben Zaranko
The crisis in adult social care has to be confronted, not kicked into the long grass – again
National
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Politics
Tom Baldwin
Burnham’s cabinet picks will be his first test as leader – and the last day of the honeymoon
Crime
John Simpson
Things don’t add up, say family of Ann Widdecombe murder suspect
Health
John Simpson
NHS should drop its £330m patient data contract with Palantir, say voters
History
Xavier Greenwood
House of secrets that helped the Allies win the Second World War
Business
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Politics
Ben Zaranko
How do economists judge Rachel Reeves’ time as chancellor?
No 10
Bill Keegan
Burnham needs to be bold to repair the damage done by Thatcher, Osborne and Brexit
Hostile takeover
Emma Haslett
Warehouse giant Seagro continues to fight off hostile takeover bid by US rival
AI spending
Barney Macintyre
SpaceX’s torrid week underlines concerns about AI spending
Lifestyle
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Clubbing
Craig McLean
Manumission: the story behind Ibiza’s house of hedonism
Do not disturb
Hayley Myers
Ione Gamble: ‘Film has always been the best form of escapism for me’
Reservations
Tabitha Joyce
Why you should hop to Toad bakery in Deptford
What’s on my mind
Beatriz Serrano
Beatriz Serrano: ‘All writers envy other writers’
Culture
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Books
Mark Rylance
‘When will we awake. How will we resist?’
Interview
Vanessa Thorpe
Bryony Kimmings: ‘I’m a bit perimenopausal, I’m not gonna lie’
Film
Wendy Ide
Christopher Nolan’s big, fat Greek epic
Interview
Alice Vincent
Joan Barfoot: ‘My career was wrapped – now suddenly this magic is happening’
Ideas
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Adele Zeynep Walton
This online curfew is a PR stunt. Internet users don’t need to be regulated – internet platforms do
Kate Maltby
Badenoch’s attacks on net zero and ECHR supporters won’t win back floating voters
John Naughton
When social media causes context to collapse, we all end up in the same room
Dirty tricks scuppered the assisted dying bill. It must not happen again
In Real Life
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Observations and scenes from beyond your phone screen
The critics
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Sport
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World Cup 2026
Rory Smith
All eyes on him: Lionel Messi’s final act
TV
Patrick Kidd
No World Cup final send-off for Keir Starmer, but there’s always the golf
F1
Matt Majendie
Antonelli hoping for more relaxing weekend at Spa after qualifying on pole
Cricket
Cameron Ponsonby
This is the world we live in – the Test game is in thrall to franchise cricket
Meet the Observers
To meet more of our team, click here
Slow Newscast
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Weekly investigations in audio
Tortoise Investigates
Deep Water
In the high-stakes sport of freediving, athletes descend as deep as they can on a single breath. They are used to putting their lives at risk. Through her diving instructor, Lydia Gard discovered a new threat that could tear their community apart: drug use
Sweet Bobby
Kirat is a successful radio presenter. On Facebook she meets Bobby, a handsome cardiologist. He’s a catch. Soon, they get tangled up in a love affair full of lies and manipulation. Then… Kirat discovers a deception of almost unimaginable proportions. Alexi Mostrous investigates a very modern love story
Lucky Boy
Gareth’s whole life has been defined by a relationship he had 35 years ago when, as a 14-year-old schoolboy, he fell in love with an attractive young teacher at his school. He spent most afternoons in her bedroom. But when she walked out of his life, everything started to unravel. Chloe Hadjimatheou asks: who gets to be a perpetrator, and who gets to be a victim?
