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World Cup
England join the party
The Three Lions’ 4-2 opening win over Croatia was frantic at times, writes George Simms, but, dare we say it, also fun?
Masculinity
Boys at home
The number of young men living with their parents has jumped by over a third. But why is it happening and what is it doing to their identities, Arielle Domb asks
Books
Shakespeare sans borders
A new book about translating our greatest writer into other languages shows that doing so is as challenging as it is magical, Fintan O’Toole writes
For today
Politics
Ceri Thomas
The direction of British politics hinges on the voters of Makerfield
Football
Osasu Obayiuwana
Senior Fifa figure says treatment of Iranian team is ‘not acceptable’
Pop
Kitty Empire
Harry Styles and the Jules Buckley Orchestra at Meltdown – many strings to his bow
New York
Erica Wagner
The Knicks’ victory party is more than a celebration of basketball – it’s a celebration of hope
Books
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Fiction
John Self
Meena Kandasamy’s Fieldwork As a Sex Object is a potent deepfake satire
Royal disgrace
Andrew Anthony
‘We’ve moved on from sugarcoating the royals – they are grifters and need to be called out’
Geopolitics
Ben Zaranko
A survival guide for the age of trade warfare
Alternative music
Kitty Empire
Simon Reynolds’ hazy history of shoegaze
Time well spent
Everyday Sommelier
Great whisky treats and gifts
These irresistible gifts are just the order for Father’s Day. Or that aficionado friend. Or yourself…
Further reading
From Shakespeare to Meena Kandasamy
Your essential guide from The Observer’s books desk
Playlist of the week
Long songs for long days
Our critic selects five tracks that span at least six minutes to accompany the longest days of June
Lifestyle
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Dollars and dreams
Eva Wiseman
Sleep is the multi-billion-dollar global industry that keeps me up at night
Do not disturb
Hayley Myers
‘The place feels like a metaphor for life’: Jack Guinness
An hour with
Rich Pelley
‘I find it much easier to cry in character than in person’: Theo James
Humour
Séamas O’Reilly
The case for… Automated checkouts
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
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Football
Rory Smith
Minnows rise to the surface in World Cup’s surprisingly deep pool
Rugby
Ben Coles
Exeter Chiefs produce astonishing comeback to reach Prem final
Cricket
Paul Hayward
Curfews are ridiculous, but Ben Stokes is paying a proportionate price
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?
