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England v Argentina
This is going to hurt
This evening’s match against Argentina is almost impossible to call, and for both sides will be a contest of destiny and desire, writes George Simms
Body politic
Xoxo
What we teach kids about hugs and kisses will shape how they understand consent as adults. It’s time we rethink our approach, Eva Wiseman writes
AI
Your chatbot love coach
Millions of us are appealing to AI as a relationship referee, Patricia Clarke asks: is it helping or harming us?
The World Cup Dispatch
Join Rory Smith for analysis and discussion every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
For today
Business
Barney Macintyre
British venture capital funding is booming – if you are an AI firm
Books
Lemn Sissay
How Eric Huntley revolutionised British publishing
Nicotine pouches
Marine Saint
Regulators accused of stubbing out Sweden’s ‘solution’ to smoking
Drink
Hannah Crosbie
Pitcher perfect: go large with a jug of cocktail
Ideas
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Politics
Andrew Rawnsley
Could Count Binface turn out to be Nigel Farage’s nemesis? Crazier things have happened
Immigration
Kenan Malik
South Africa’s xenophobic violence is a warning for a world searching for someone to blame
Animal kingdom
Simon Barnes
‘Let the mind drift while the body stays still’: my week as a giant clam
The Observer walk
Vanessa Thorpe
Anish Kapoor: ‘I’m not really interested in art with a message. It gets in the way’
Culture
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Lifestyle
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World
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Syria
Chloe Hadjimatheou
Asma al-Assad: how Emma the London banker became the first lady of Syria’s bloodsoaked regime
Iran
Ruth Michaelson
Iran’s ‘funeral of the century’ for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei draws regime’s top brass out of hiding
France
Kim Willsher
Bardella puts on a poker face as Le Pen’s presidential U-turn ends his dreams of power
Sport
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Wimbledon
Paul Hayward
Nosková wins her maiden Grand Slam title the hard way
Cricket
Cameron Ponsonby
Superb England leave India all at sea in Southampton
World Cup
Megan Nolan
It’s ‘football innit’: Identity and fandom blur in a New York bar
Les Mans 24 Hours
Martin Love
No seat belt, no helmet: my 150mph Le Mans ride
In Real Life
Observations and scenes from beyond your phone screen
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?
