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Keir Starmer
Weekend woes
The prime minister has said he will fight any challenge to his leadership, but Labour ministers are expected to tell him to walk away next week, Rachel Sylvester reports
Feuds
Tricky and me
In 1998, the Bristol rapper and his entourage beat up Craig McLean in the VIP tent at Glastonbury. Now the two adversaries have a shot at reconciliation
World Cup
Seamless in Seattle
The Washington state city has gone all in to make this a memorable location for fans and teams alike, Rory Smith reports. Is the Pacific Northwest football’s goldilocks territory?
For today
Politics
Ceri Thomas
The constituency that roared: Makerfield has its say on Britain’s future
Economy
Ben Zaranko
Financial markets wait to see how the dust will settle after Burnham’s victory in Makerfield
Games
Xavier Greenwood
Ludicrous and janky – Fifa World Cup: Launch Edition is a travesty
Recipe
Nigel Slater
Gooseberry, elderflower and ginger crisp
The World Cup Dispatch
Join Rory Smith for analysis and discussion every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
The critics
Theatre
Vanessa Thorpe
Glengarry Glen Ross – Mamet without the men
Dance
Sarah Crompton
Paul Lightfoot and Sol León’s So We Are takes dancers to unexpected places
Music
Kitty Empire
Harry Styles and the Jules Buckley Orchestra at Meltdown – many strings to his bow
Film
Wendy Ide
Toy Story 5: The kids are not all right
Time well spent
Further watching
From OnlyFans to Harlan Coben
The Observer’s TV critic Barbara Ellen on the best new shows airing and streaming
Further reading
From Shakespeare to Meena Kandasamy
Your essential guide from The Observer’s books desk
What to do this weekend
From grindhouse cinema to summer solstice
Our critic picks five cultural highlights, whether you have a few minutes, an afternoon or a whole day to spare
Lifestyle
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Fashion
Helen Seamons
Simone Rocha’s spring 2027 menswear show
Body politic
Eva Wiseman
Sleep is the multi-billion-dollar global industry that keeps me up at night
An hour with
Rich Pelley
‘I find it much easier to cry in character than in person’: Theo James
Travel
Elizabeth Bennett
In the neighbourhood: Raval, Barcelona
Ideas
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Politics
Andrew Rawnsley
Operation Fubar: even Keir Starmer’s team players are abandoning the field of battle
Disability rights
Melanie Reid
The social model of disability leaves a lot to be desired
U-16 ban
Adele Zeynep Walton
The social media ban isn’t enough
State of the nation
Brendan Cox
Ten years after my wife, Jo Cox, was murdered, I believe our country is in peril
Sport
View more
Football
Rory Smith
Minnows rise to the surface in World Cup’s surprisingly deep pool
Cricket
Jessy Parker Humphreys
Heavyweights India help Women’s T20 World Cup take off in England
Rugby
Ben Coles
Exeter Chiefs produce astonishing comeback to reach Prem final
Cycling
Jeremy Whittle
Can tech bros revive the fallen Grenadiers?
Meet the Observers
To meet more of our team, click here
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?
