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Andy Burnham Set to Become U.K. Prime Minister as Former Manchester Mayor Named Labour Party Leader
Andy Burnham has been elected leader of the UK Labour party, putting him in line to become prime minister following Keir Starmer’s resignation last month. He was confirmed at a special leadership conference on Friday, with a formal handover at 10 Downing Street expected on Monday, making him the country’s seventh prime minister in a…
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id Software Defends Studio Despite Unions’ Unfair Labor Complaints Over Xbox Restructuring
Microsoft’s Xbox layoffs have sparked conflicting narratives about their impact. id Software director Hugo Martin has publicly disputed claims that the Doom and Quake creator has been severely damaged by the cuts, reject
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The Cure’s Robert Smith Blasts FIFA’s World Cup Final Half-Time Show: ‘Please Just F— Off’
The Cure’s frontman Robert Smith has publicly criticised FIFA’s decision to stage a half-time show at Sunday’s World Cup final, calling on the organisation to “just f— off” in a pair of pointed Instagram posts. The move marks the first time a half-time show has featured at a World Cup final, and it has drawn…
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Iranian director Asghar Farhadi to receive Sarajevo festival honour
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi will be honoured with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, running from 14 to 21 August 2026, in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to the art of cinema.” A retrospective of his work will be shown as part of the festival’s “Tribute To” programme, cementing his…
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Add to playlist: the nervy breakbeats and acid delirium of Silverwingkiller and the week’s best new tracks
Salford duo Silverwingkiller are featured in the Guardian’s weekly new music playlist column for their pummelling industrial dance sound, blending nervy breakbeats, acid-house synth textures and themes of paranoia and violence. Formed in 2024 by James Baca (from Peterborough) and Yushang Ni (from Shanghai), the pair have carved out a distinctive niche through DIY releases…
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The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup
The Guardian’s latest crime and thriller review roundup covers five new releases spanning thriller, historical crime and spy fiction. The selection highlights the genre’s range, from a globe-trotting conspiracy thriller to a previously unpublished Henning Mankell novel and a debut Irish-set mystery from bestseller Jane Casey. – The Runner by Scarlett Thomas: a man on…
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BBC v ITV: who won the UK’s battle of the World Cup 2026 broadcasters?
The Guardian ran a lighthearted comparison of the BBC’s and ITV’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup, judging each broadcaster across categories such as studio setup, punditry, commentary, post-match interviews and refereeing analysis. The piece frames World Cup coverage as a long-running domestic rivalry between the two UK broadcasters, noting that ITV generally edged out…
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5 Songs That Prove Paul McCartney’s Songwriting Peaked Between 1970 and 1975
Singer-songwriter Paul McCartney of British rock group Wings, pictured wearing a neck scarf in an office in London circa 1975. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) In terms of cultural influence, Paul McCartney seemed to be at a songwriting peak during one five-year period in particular. The post 5 Songs That Prove Paul McCartney’s Songwriting Peaked…
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Over 4,500 Google workers have signed a petition calling for layoff protections: ‘These layoffs and cuts are not difficult decisions, but simply profit being put over the people that make this company run’
More than 4,500 Google employees have signed a petition demanding stronger protections against redundancies, arguing that recent job cuts prioritise profit over the people who operate the company. The action reflects continuing staff concern about instability at Google despite the company’s financial strength and prominent role in the technology sector. The petition’s signatories say layoffs…
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The Odyssey Estimated Box Office Opening Suggests a Strong Start Powered by Imax Hype
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is projected to make a strong start at the North American box office, driven largely by demand for IMAX screenings. Its performance matters because the film’s unusually high production and marketing costs mean it will need sustained ticket sales beyond its opening weekend to become profitable. The film reportedly took about…