Observer | The Guardian (2024)

Front page Sunak suffers poll blow as levelling-up cash-for-votes row erupts Benjamin Netanyahu insists on Hamas ‘destruction’ as part of plan to end Gaza war Starmer on Abbott: ‘I’ve actually got more respect for Diane than she probably realises’ Scotland’s remote land of bogs and bugs in line for world heritage status Starmer must introduce wealth tax after Labour wins election, top Blair aide says ‘Gove saw the polls and realised he might lose’: Lib Dems hope to knock down Tory ‘blue wall’ in Surrey ‘A full tummy means pupils can concentrate.’ But is Labour’s school breakfast plan bold enough? Election diary: dismal dribbles and poor paddleboarding fail to elevate the debate Tories accused of ‘colonising’ state by granting public roles to allies Labour and Conservative battlebuses hit the road, but ‘lonely figure’ Sunak seems like a solo traveller Predictive blood test hailed as ‘incredibly exciting’ breast cancer breakthrough King turns to David Beckham to rebuild charity hit by cash-for-honours scandal ‘Once in a lifetime’: UK and European space scientists urged to join Nasa mission to Uranus ‘No way out without bloodshed’: the right believe the US is under threat and are mobilizing Mexico votes in election certain to bring country’s first female president Children die of malnutrition as Rafah operation heightens threat of famine in Gaza Giorgia Meloni has emerged as a kingmaker for the EU – but will she turn to centre right or far right? ‘We refuse to disappear’: the Hong Kong 47 facing life in jail after crackdown Biden’s ‘non-starter’ Gaza ceasefire deal only demonstrates his lack of influence ‘I’m bringing his music back to life’: the singer whose grandfather was silenced by the Holocaust ‘The first TikTok election’: are Sunak and Starmer’s digital campaigns winning over voters? Labour is already dominating the online general election campaign Domestic abuse drove our daughters to suicide, say families. So what stops coroners acknowledging that? What the last veterans can teach us all as D-Day fades from memory Reassuring, serious, a sense of duty: who is Keir Starmer really? Socialism isn’t a dirty word. It’s simply about wanting to make a fairer society Child sex abuse is all around us – and online it can start with legal p*rn Youcan laugh all you like at Ed Davey’s antics if they restore the Lib Dems’ clout Baby boomers are much more worried about the NHS than their pensions, Mr Sunak Theaffluent can have their souls enriched at university, so why not the poor as well? Must we pity put-upon parents sacrificing all to send their offspring to private school? Filthy lucre is everywhere, but book festivals are an easy target for protesters’ fury Chris Riddell on Donald Trump trying, and failing, to fill Abraham Lincoln’s boots – cartoon Acentury after his death, Kafka still sums up our surreal world Whocan afford the expensive gamble of going to see a play that you might not like? Whatever happens next, the Donald Trump effect will continue to stain politics the world over Editorials & Letters TheObserver view on the social care crisis: whoever wins the election, it needs addressing urgently It’s not my fault the progressive vote is split. Blame the system Forthe record Areenergy performance certificates worth the paper they’re written on? Ocado faces FTSE 100 relegation after failing to deliver on pandemic promise Europe must splash the cash (and seize it) to save 2024 Finding a job in Ireland is easy. Finding a place to live is the hard bit Sunil Chhetri: India’s Messi seeks to sign off with a World Cup milestone José Mourinho returns to football as new Fenerbahce head coach French Open: Medvedev finds groove on clay, Djokovic wins late-night thriller T20World Cup makes the earth move and brings proper pitch to the US Women in Sport’s 40 years mark both progress and need to end inequality Sixissues that England must address before the start of Euro 2024 ‘It seems like a dream but it is reality’: Real Madrid win delights Ancelotti Dortmund try to outrun reality before sipping from cup of sadness again Real Madrid play the waiting game and are victors by stealth once more Dortmund 0-2 Real Madrid: Champions League final player ratings Champions League final disrupted by pitch invaders in major security failure Reviews ‘She dominates our age’: how Taylor Swift became the greatest show on Earth Stirling prize 2024: a two-horse race? Theweek in theatre: Bluets; People, Places & Things – review Mark Kermode on… David Cronenberg, master of gore as a metaphor for our deepest anxieties Charli XCX: ‘Labels are desperate for artists to be liked, otherwise you’re bad, evil and wrong’ ‘I’m a fan of chaos’: Blondie’s Chris Stein on Bowie, Debbie Harry and 50 years in rock’n’roll ‘If I lost this flute, it would be pretty tragic’: Shabaka, Corinne Bailey Rae and Nilüfer Yanya on their favourite instruments Tate director Maria Balshaw: ‘I still come into work feeling terrified’ Canpsychedelics treat depression? Maybe, and you might not even have to take a trip ‘We need other logics for our approach to nature’: the woman uprooting colonialism in botany Nowthey think they’ve lost, the Tories are full of big ideas ‘Behind everything was this lingering drug situation’: Chris Stein on Blondie’s heyday Thebig picture: Robbie Lawrence’s search for the tartan spirit Rose Tremain: ‘Sex scenes are like arias in opera. They have to move the story forwards’ Sure, Google’s AI overviews could be useful – if you like eating rocks Onmy radar: Kevin Barry’s cultural highlights Oneto watch: Charlotte Day Wilson From temporary wallpaper to injections of colour: giving a rented home a makeover Howlearning about the science of shyness helped me 10of the UK’s best outdoor yoga and activity retreats Nigel Slater’s recipes for cucumber, mint and cornichon pâté, and strawberries with grapefruit ‘There’s a lot of bullying’: the shocking life of a teenage elite swimmer Mytwo-year-old can’t even say her own name, but she’s already boxing clever Notes on chocolate: the delights of slow-crafted liquorice balls Whyhealth trackers can push you off the road to wellness Who’s next please? The top 20 fish and chip shops in the UK Heart of the batter: my lifelong love affair with fish and chips Sunday with Joe Wicks: ‘I might change my outfit three times a day’ Bronzers: 10 of the best Wines to capture the taste of summer Idon’t want to invite my alcoholic dad to my wedding Verjus, top pesto, umeboshi: are restaurant menus becoming more baffling? ‘The insults and screaming took their toll’: the worst time of my life as a chef Academic and doctor Chris van Tulleken: ‘Ultra-processed products are food that lies to us’ Lamb kofta, sea bream puttanesca, potato cakes – 20-minute recipes from Anna Haugh Pancetta tarts, vegan ginger slice, onion flatbreads – Nigel Slater’s recipes for all-day bakes Welcome to May’s Observer Food Monthly Ruby Bhogal’s secret ingredient – ginger, in all forms Chef Sally Abé: ‘It’s only when I go into a male-dominated kitchen that I notice the friction’ Whyis social media getting all churned up about cottage cheese? Nish Kumar: ‘Nando’s is the only thing uniting this increasingly fragmented nation’ Crisp taste test: ‘What’s this flavour? Oh my God, so weird’ Have you tried eating in a city centre hotel room recently? My advice – don’t Salmon pie, pork in cider, fig tart – Nigel Slater’s one-pot dinners Right up your street: favourite local shops in the UK, chosen by chefs and food writers Most viewed Most viewed in UK news Most viewed Across the guardian FAQs