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Politics
Team Tessa
A Labour MP for decades, Tessa Jowell gave Andy Burnham his first job in politics. You can understand a lot about the next prime minister by looking at her influence, Rachel Sylvester writes
Interview
The weaver’s tale
Booker prize-winning author Douglas Stuart shows Craig McLean and Robert Ormerod the textile workshops of the outer Hebrides that inspired his latest book, John of John
World Cup 2026
Yes we Kane
It wasn’t pretty, and players and fans suffered for large swathes of Wednesday afternoon – but Harry Kane again dug the Three Lions out, George Simms writes
For today
The Sensemaker
Fred Harter
The UK’s defence spending struggles are one part of a bigger picture
Sport
George Simms
I went to America to watch sport and all I got was this stupid t-shirt
Books
Andrew Rawnsley
What’s in store for Britain under Farage? Here’s a wake-up call and a frothy profile
Music
Kitty Empire
With Confessions II, Madonna dances in the middle of the road
Ideas
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Silicon Valley
Tim Adams
Google and the (multi) billion dollar question
Jeffrey Donaldson
Melanie Reid
In the hands of abusers, holiness is another tool of control
State of the nation
Kenan Malik
From anti-racists to racists, the grooming gangs debate has betrayed the victims
Profile
Xavier Greenwood
Lonnie Bunch: the last bulwark for the Smithsonian
Time well spent
Further reading
From Dave Eggers to Benjamin Zephaniah
Your essential guide from The Observer’s books desk
Further listening
Pride anthems
As London welcomes Pride this weekend, our critic selects the best queer tunes for both celebration and protest
Further watching
From Chris and Martina to The Pitt
The Observer’s TV critic Barbara Ellen on the best new shows airing and streaming
Books
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Fiction
Olivia Ovenden
In Contrapposto, Dave Eggers finds refuge in art and beauty
History
Tanya Gold
How Britain’s coastal communities lost hope
Music
Evan Moffitt
Mighty Real charts the gay anthems that shaped a generation
Interview
Ellen Peirson-Hagger
Alice Hattrick: ‘Embroidery is a form of resistance’
Culture
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Interview
Simon Parkin
‘I poked the bear and the bear ate me’: Alfie Brown, the last cancelled comedian
Theatre
Olivia Ovenden
Inside the control room with Punchdrunk
Books
Rachel Sylvester
Beeban Kidron’s Users calls out the tech bros making billions selling porn to children
Games
Simon Parkin
Tour de France 2026 is not just for cyclists
World
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Myanmar
Isabel Coles
Did Norwegian telecoms giant’s data sharing condemn Myanmar activists? A court will decide
Venezuela
Thomas Graham
Venezuela’s devastating earthquake leaves rescuers in race against time to save survivors
France
Kim Willsher
Murder of Lyhanna, 11, exposes French justice system’s failure to tackle child abuse
Sport
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Tennis
Paul Hayward
Serena Williams’s Wimbledon return ends in first-round defeat after four-year absence
Cricket
Paul Hayward
RIP, again, to the remains of Bazball
Interview
Harriet Millard
From Carson to cricket: How Jim Carter became a pioneer for women’s sport
World Cup
Rory Smith
World Cup knock-outs: Well that was fun – but now things get serious
Food
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Recipe
Nigel Slater
Summer berry trifle
Drink
Joanna Taylor
Walk on the mild side: why mid-strength wines are flavour of the month
Recipe
Tomos Parry
Broad beans with burnt cucumbers, and peas, little gem and anchovy cream
Restaurants
Tony Naylor
Maria, Sheffield: ‘I was done, stuffed, punch-drunk on flavour’
In Real Life
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Observations and scenes from beyond your phone screen
Slow Newscast
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Weekly investigations in audio
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?
