Primary voting begins in New York, Maryland and Utah – US politics live

In New York, Mamdani has thrown support behind three congressional candidates and Super Pacs have been pouring money into a single race In the next few minutes, the US supreme court is expected to render at least one judgment as the term is set to come to an end later this month. There are a series of high-stakes cases yet to be decided, including on Donald Trump’s attempt to limit birthright citizenship and plan to remove legal protection from Haitian and Syrian immigrants. Crucially, Carlson added in that interview: “And if I’m out, I think a lot of other people are out.” Tucker is not the only one who is done supporting the Republican Party. There is A LOT of us that are absolutely fed up and will not support a party that betrays its voters and country. That does not mean we are turning into Democrats either. But we are DONE with the America LAST Republican Party.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jun/23/primary-elections-ny-maryland-utah-supreme-court-ruling-politics-latest-updates theguardian.com

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UK could rejoin EU on ‘short’ timeline if it wanted, former Brexit negotiator says – Europe live

John Curtice suggests the next UK prime minister has significant room to improve relations with Europe. This comes amidst speculation about the future leader's stance compared to Keir Starmer. Labour's voter base shows considerable support for rejoining the EU. The party possesses greater political scope to deepen ties with the European Union. However, Labour must address concerns within its traditional "Red Wall" constituencies. Public opinion has demonstrably shifted, favoring rejoining the EU over remaining outside. This change is partly attributed to Leave voters being less resolute in their position than Remain voters. A decade of new voters, ineligible in 2016, now influences public perception. Those who abstained from voting in 2016, regardless of age, now view Brexit's consequences, particularly economic ones, more akin to Remain voters' perspectives.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jun/23/uk-eu-brexit-visegrad-four-czech-republic-hungary-poland-slovakia-latest-news-updates theguardian.com

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From yoghurt to luxury sails: how to shade your home from supercharged UK heatwaves

As hot weather becomes more common, companies and homeowners are coming up with innovative ways to keep properties cool When graphic designer Marc Alabaster had a new set of glass doors installed at his West Sussex home eight years ago, he soon realised how they magnified the heat of the afternoon sun. “The kitchen was 40-plus degrees,” he said. Then he went on holiday to Spain and saw an apartment building wrapped in louvre-like rows of angled fins or blades that shaded the external walls against the sun.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/23/how-to-shade-your-home-supercharged-heatwaves-uk theguardian.com

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World Cup 2026: Jordan fan dies in crowd crush; criticism of Ronaldo and Portugal ‘unfair’; England face Ghana – live

⚽ All the latest news from day 13 of the tournament ⚽ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail Dominic Our man in the camp David Hytner goes under the hood (nailed it) of England’s preparations for the Black Stars. Thomas Tuchel shares his view on what Ghana will bring in Foxborough: “I expect more ball possession. I expect Ghana to rely on counterattacks because they are very physical, very fast and dangerous.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jun/23/world-cup-2026-news-live-messi-mbappe-haaland-england-ghana-portugal-uzbekistan-panama-croatia-colombia-dr-congo theguardian.com

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‘A new world has been opened up’: how a London street got filled with art – and brought the neighbours together

From a mural in a baby’s bedroom to a sound sculpture designed to be played out of a convertible, top contemporary artists rose to the challenge of making work for one lucky community In 1986, an exhibition called Chambres d’Amis took contemporary art beyond the confines of the museum setting and into the homes of 58 residents in Ghent. Forty years on, a similar experiment is taking place, but on a small street in Peckham, south-east London. Rooms of Neighbours is the brainchild of curator Ben Broome, who came across Chambres d’Amis when he was between institutional jobs. With time on his hands and an urge to get to know his neighbours better, he began to wonder how he could apply the idea to his own community, but with a broader focus. Unlike the exhibition in Ghent, which mostly took place in the homes of art world friends and museum patrons, his own street – a mix of council and privately owned flats and houses – represented a wider demographic, with different age groups, social classes and diasporas. Few of the residents had any prior connection to the art world, he tells me: “The majority of people have never been to the Tate; they have never even been to the South London Gallery, which is a local institution. But that’s not to say some of the neighbours aren’t really creative.”

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/jun/23/rooms-of-neighbours-experimental-art-project-peckham-south-london-gallery theguardian.com

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‘I’d pause then carry on’: Peter Marinker, star of Krapp’s Last Tape, on performing with Alzheimer’s

The 84-year-old actor has spent decades bringing Samuel Beckett’s plays to life. Does his recent diagnosis give him new insights into playing ‘sad clown’ Krapp in a drama about age and the battlefield of memory? What a lot of Krapp. Pardon my French but Samuel Beckett’s haunting 1958 masterpiece about regret and isolation is having a moment. Stephen Rea recently took Krapp’s Last Tape on an international tour, Gary Oldman returned to the stage after decades away to deliver the tragicomic one-man show and this summer Stockard Channing will direct it at the Edinburgh fringe, with David Westhead as Krapp. Beckett’s eponymous loner, who sits in his dark den and ritually listens to tapes he made as a younger man, is riding a new wave of popularity. Peter Marinker first played Krapp half a lifetime ago and is preparing to star in a new production, reusing the tapes he recorded in 1983. How does he feel listening back now? “I thought of redoing them – it could have been better,” he says when we meet at the tiny Cockpit theatre in London. That assessment matches the spirit of the self-lacerating Krapp who looks back not just in anger but anguish. Marinker quotes Dennis Potter, who said we should consider our past with “tender contempt”. He adds wryly: “That rang a bell.”

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/jun/23/peter-marinker-krapps-last-tape-samuel-beckett-alzheimers theguardian.com

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No 10 says there will be ‘no new major policy or spending commitments’ before new PM appointed – UK politics live

Spokesperson did not suggest this would cover the defence investment plan and added Burnham will be allowed civil service ‘access talks’ Peter Walker is a senior Guardian political correspondent. The Liberal Democrats are marking the tenth anniversary of Brexit by enjoying their favourite pursuit – being rude about Nigel Farage. Nigel Farage pocketed a £5m “reward” for the damage he’s caused, while the rest of us are paying for it dearly. When he promised we would be better off, he clearly only meant himself. We are taking over billboards across the UK today to say enough is enough. Key to a serious Jones run seems to what he makes of Burnham’s economic policies in the coming days - including public control of utilities. And whether Ed Miliband ends up as chancellor.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/jun/23/burnham-leadership-contest-starmer-jones-streeting-eu-brexit-badenoch-latest-news-updates theguardian.com

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Hantavirus quarantine ends for Americans held for six weeks in Nebraska

The US health department said the enforced 42-day quarantine was necessary to protect the public Eight Americans quarantined for six weeks in Nebraska after they were exposed to a deadly hantavirus outbreak were released on Monday, including one who accused the government of holding her against her will. The US health and human services department (HHS) confirmed that it had ended the required isolation for the group, who were among dozens evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Canary Islands early in May.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/hantavirus-quarantine-ends-nebraska theguardian.com

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Middle East crisis live: Trump claims Iran has agreed to nuclear inspections ‘long into future’, accusing Tehran of ‘false statements’

US president says Tehran has committed to ‘nuclear honesty’, while Iran’s foreign ministry says there are no plans for IAEA to inspect sites bombed by US and Israel last year Oman and Iran said in a statement that the two countries will ⁠form ⁠a ​team to reach an ⁠agreement on “administration of navigation ⁠in ​the Strait ‌of Hormuz” ‌and associated ‌costs and services, Reuters reports. The two states will hold ⁠talks with ​coastal countries ​and other ​concerned parties, ​the ‌statement ​said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jun/23/iran-us-israel-lebanon-un-peace-deal-nuclear-iaea-frozen-assets-strait-of-hormuz-latest-news-updates theguardian.com

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Nigel Farage: I can spend £5m gift on Ferraris or betting on horses if I want

Reform leader says it is ‘purely private matter’ and it is not hypocritical to criticise Keir Starmer for receiving glasses UK politics live – latest updates Nigel Farage has said his £5m gift from a crypto billionaire is “not any of your business” as it was given unconditionally to be spent on anything from Ferraris to gambling on horses. The Reform UK leader bristled at questions about the £5m gift from the British Thai-based businessman Christopher Harborne in two radio interviews on Tuesday, saying it was “a purely private matter”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/23/nigel-farage-5m-gift-crypto-billionaire-not-any-of-your-business theguardian.com

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Peter Murrell jailed for five years after embezzling £400,000 from SNP

Estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon is sentenced for stealing from party over 12-year period UK politics live – latest updates Peter Murrell has been sentenced to five years and three months in jail after he admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National party while he was its chief executive. Murrell stole the money over a 12-year period, splashing out on a luxury motorhome, a Jaguar SUV, Montblanc pens and luxury watches, a set of Lalique salt and pepper grinders and 2kg of coffee granules.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/23/peter-murrell-sentenced-embezzlement-snp-scottish-national-party theguardian.com

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Kenyan minister orders halt to construction of US Ebola facility

Decision comes after Aden Duale was held in contempt for ignoring previous high court ruling to stop work Kenya’s health minister told a court he had ordered preparations for a US-run Ebola quarantine facility to stop, after being held in contempt for ignoring a previous order to end work. Many Kenyans strongly oppose the facility, with deadly protests erupting since the complex was announced in May for US citizens evacuated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is grappling with a widespread Ebola outbreak.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/23/kenya-minister-orders-halt-us-ebola-facility theguardian.com

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‘Lawns don’t need watering!’ How to garden in a heatwave, from recycling bathwater to making the most of shade

Whether you have a few pots on a balcony or an expanse of greenery, here’s how to help everything thrive when the mercury spikes After the two hottest May days on record in the UK last month, gardeners may be surveying the damage and dreading the summer months ahead. “Heatwaves early in the summer can result in scorched, brown leaves,” says Leigh Hunt, the principal horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society. “When temperatures climb over 35C, there are more extreme effects.” (Thermometers hit 35.1C in London on 26 May.) But don’t put down your trowel in defeat just yet. “Plants were caught out by the sudden change in temperature,” says Hunt. “They are a bit more naturally resistant later in the summer.” Plus, there is plenty you can do to support them without wasting gallons of water or installing an inefficient sprinkler system – and the payoff is massive. “Plants provide shade and release moisture; they cool our towns and cities by 2C to 4C,” says Hunt. “Your little bit of greenery is part of a network of greenery doing its bit. It makes the places we live better and cooler.”

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/23/lawns-dont-need-watering-how-to-garden-in-a-heatwave-from-recycling-bathwater-to-making-the-most-of-shade theguardian.com

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UK prioritised ties with UAE over averting mass atrocities in Sudan, MPs to be told

Foreign Office failed to act on warnings of genocide due to ‘pressure’ from emirates, Yale human rights investigator will tell a parliamentary select committee The British government had received intelligence that Ethiopia appeared to be supporting a genocidal militia in Sudan’s civil war as far back as 2024 but did not go public with the news for fear of upsetting the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a parliamentary committee will hear. In May 2024, officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told Nathaniel Raymond, an American human rights investigator at Yale University, that “significant private pressure” from the UAE meant the UK would not publicly divulge information linking Ethiopia and the emirates to their support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jun/23/uk-ties-uae-mass-atrocities-sudan-mps-select-committee-nathaniel-raymond theguardian.com

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Audit firm to Gupta metals empire fined and banned for ‘egregious’ failures

UK watchdog gives King & King severe reprimand for failing ‘to identify clear self-interest’ when conducting audits Business live – latest updates The UK’s accounting watchdog has fined and temporarily banned a tiny audit firm for “egregious” failures and “widespread deficiencies” linked to its work in signing off accounts of several companies in Sanjeev Gupta’s metals empire. King & King and its managing partner Milankumar Patel have been fined a total of £378,184, received a “severe reprimand”, and hit with serious restrictions on audit work after a four-year investigation by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC).

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/23/audit-firm-gupta-metals-empire-fined-and-banned-frc-uk theguardian.com

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You’re only supposed to blow the bloody hooves off: AI Michael Caine narrates Odyssey audiobook

AI company ElevenLabs unveils its officially licensed replica of the iconic actor’s voice in a retelling of Homer’s epic poem, while director who previously recorded the star recalls real-life experience Next month, Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster version of The Odyssey is set to storm cinemas around the globe. Auguries suggest the almost three-hour drama will repeat the success of Nolan’s previous film both at the box office (Oppenheimer took nearly a billion dollars) and the Academy Awards (it won seven Oscars). But before that, a new audiobook version of Homer’s tale has been released starring one of Nolan’s most frequent collaborators: Michael Caine, with whom he has worked on eight films, including the Dark Knight trilogy.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/23/youre-only-supposed-to-blow-the-bloody-hooves-off-ai-michael-caine-narrates-odyssey-audiobook theguardian.com

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Sniffin’ Glue at 50! Do you make a music zine? If so, we want to see it

To mark 50 years since the punk DIY publishing explosion, we want to compile a map of the UK’s contemporary zine scene This year marks what is officially considered the 50th anniversary of punk: five decades since the Sex Pistols played Manchester Lesser Free Hall and allegedly inspired everyone present to start a band; and since the Ramones acted as a similar catalyst at London’s Roundhouse. Although zines – self-made magazines – had existed for at least a decade prior to that, punk’s DIY spirit manifested in an explosion of homemade publications documenting the scene, its mores, norms and beefs – most famously Sniffin’ Glue.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/23/sniffin-glue-at-50-do-you-make-a-music-zine-if-so-we-want-to-see-it theguardian.com

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Reader Q&A: ask Rafael Behr your questions now

It’s 10 years since Brexit – and it’s also another one of those weeks in British politics … Guardian columnist Rafael Behr will be here at 5pm to answer your questions about Burnham, Starmer, Brexit and more. Sign up here to join the discussion and post your questions Welcome to our latest Q&A with a Guardian journalist. Raf will be joining us at 5pm. We have originally asked him to take questions about Brexit as we mark 10 years since the UK’s vote to leave the EU. But … you may well have questions about the last 48 hours as Andy Burnham looks certain to become the next prime minister. In the meantime, though, Andrew Sparrow is covering another busy and dramatic day in Westminster on the politics live blog and here’s some more on the end of Keir Starmer’s premiership:

https://www.theguardian.com/community/live/2026/jun/23/reader-qa-ask-rafael-behr-your-questions-now theguardian.com

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Monochromatic Light (Afterlife) review – Tyshawn Sorey’s meditations yield their mysteries slowly

Sorey/BBC Singers/Tines/Gibson/GBSR Duo St Giles’ Cripplegate, London The Pulitzer-winner’s sprawling amalgam of Morton Feldman and African American spiritual felt meandering, but the GBSR duo, the BBC Singers and Ruth Gibson’s viola were luminous and charismatic Monochromatic Light (Afterlife) by Pulitzer-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey demands patience. Subtitled “A meditation on Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel”, the work uses a similar ensemble – percussion, keyboards, a viola, a choir, a solo voice – and a similarly abstract dialogue of rhythms and pitches to Feldman’s 1971 tribute to the US painter. But where Feldman’s meditative soundscape lasts half an hour, Monochromatic Light sprawls across 80 minutes and discloses only in its final bars a second vital anchoring in the African American spiritual Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child. Such a score is not ideally experienced from a hard pew in a hot church during a week of record-breaking temperatures. There were moments between its opening, barely detectible murmur of tubular bells and its closing revelation of the bass-baritone soloist’s single line of text (pieced together syllable by syllable over 50 minutes) when I struggled to hold on to a sense of musical architecture, when the pinpricks of dissonance and slow-motion scatterings of instrumental lines began to feel meandering. Other details offered more rapid gratification: elemental rumbling on bass drum and timpani using sticks with heads like candyfloss; a glistening sheen of bowed marimba on a rare, mill-pond calm octave unison from the choir; wild bass-baritone melismas plunging acrobatically across the voice.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/23/monochromatic-light-afterlife-review-st-giles-cripplegate-davone-tines-tyshawn-sorey theguardian.com

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Manfred defends MLB’s response to Bible verses on players’ Pride caps

San Francisco Giants pitchers wrote Bible verses on hats MLB had warned players over violation of league rules MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has defended the league’s policy over Pride celebrations in a letter to Republican senator Josh Hawley. Most of MLB’s 30 teams celebrate Pride month with a themed game to acknowledge the LGBTQ community and its baseball fans. During a 12 June game against the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote Bible verses on their hats, which featured the Giants’ logo in rainbow colors, while pitcher Sam Hentges chose not to wear the themed cap at all.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/23/manfred-defends-mlbs-response-to-bible-verses-on-players-pride-caps theguardian.com

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Ransom note about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance says she died, according to reports

Note reportedly said kidnappers her didn’t mean to kill mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, but she died shortly after her disappearance A ransom note related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie – the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie – said the 84-year-old had died, CNN and other news organizations are reporting, citing law enforcement sources. Some media outlets had previously reported receiving ransom notes tied to the case in the days after Guthrie’s disappearance in early February from her home in the foothills just outside Tucson, Arizona.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/ransom-note-nancy-guthrie-dead theguardian.com

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A super El Niño threatens disaster. Trump is handling it recklessly | Terry Garcia

The administration interrupted data streams that are key to forecasting. These systems should not be vulnerable to political whims In 1877, North Americans experienced an unusually mild winter – it was known as the “year without a winter”. It coincided with one of the strongest El Niño events ever recorded. Scientists suspect the same El Niño was a major factor in one of the worst environmental disasters in history. As much of the world was enveloped in drought, harvests collapsed in India, China, parts of Africa, and Brazil. The drought, compounded by colonial and other socioeconomic policies, led to the “Great Famine”, which killed between 30 and 60 million people, about 3% of the world’s population at the time. What distinguishes us from the victims of 1877 is not luck but data. When I served as deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, I saw modern ocean monitoring and forecasting provide the advance warnings the Victorians lacked. This lead time saves thousands of lives and billions of dollars each year. Today, we can anticipate climate shocks before they arrive. Terry Garcia is a former deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/23/super-el-nino-extreme-weather-trump theguardian.com

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Why are my scones dry? | Kitchen aide

Dry and tough scones often result from overhandling the dough, so use a light touch. Always cut in the fat with a knife, and don't worry about a few lumps remaining. Ensure your leavener, like baking powder and baking soda, is fresh for optimal air bubbles. Using buttermilk, kefir, or soured cream thinned with water is recommended for moisture. Insufficient liquid is another common cause of dry scones. Flour's absorption rate varies with weather and age, so dough consistency is key. A wetter dough generally leads to lighter scones, contrary to common belief. Add liquid gradually to achieve the right dough consistency. The volume and choice of liquid are crucial factors in scone making. Ultimately, after achieving the right texture, flavouring can be adjusted to personal preference.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/jun/23/why-are-my-scones-dry theguardian.com

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How to Live on Earth review – Benedict Cumberbatch exudes positivity in response to the climate crisis

An antithesis of the doom and gloom docs about environmental destruction, Cumberbatch and expert contributors look at how we can all help to protect it There is value in a documentary about the environment and the climate crisis that does not simply indulge in hand-wringing, anger and despair. Fredi Devas’s film, presented by Benedict Cumberbatch in London’s National History Museum and composed of segments from different contributors, focuses on real, positive measures that individuals and communities can take – or begin to take – to make a difference. I’m agnostic about the sometimes touchy-feely tone of the film which can feel like a schools educational programme rather than something intended for adults, and occasionally also about the surging score which is there to tell us when to feel hopeful and when to feel euphoric. But there is food for thought here. The film revives the issue about meat eating, which requires colossally destructive land clearance for the cattle involved, but it doesn’t simply try to make people feel guilty for liking meat. Plant-based substitutes for meat like mycelium are not good enough yet, we hear, but improvements are being made all the time. Bio-investment initiatives are discussed – business models which are linked to regenerating the natural world, the source of raw materials. The film interviews a forest healing instructor in South Korea who uses woodland spaces for therapy; of course, it’s tempting to do jokes about “tree hugging” and yet who can doubt that these natural places are indeed restorative? Naturalist and broadcaster Dan O’Neill is shown visiting Singapore and instead of throwing up his hands in horror at this turbo-capitalist place where people can reputedly be severely reprimanded for spitting gum on the pavement, he praises its policy of integrating green spaces into the urban environment.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/23/how-to-live-on-earth-review-benedict-cumberbatch-climate-crisis theguardian.com

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The experience that coloured everything Britten went on to write

Three months after Bergen-Belsen was liberated, Britten and Yehudi Menuhin performed there. Survivor and cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was ‘transfixed’ – as she told the composer when they played together decades later In 1945, the violinist Yehudi Menuhin was on a short tour of Germany, offering recitals to survivors of the concentration camps. On Friday 27 July 1945 he reached Bergen-Belsen, liberated three months earlier, and gave two concerts, in the cinema at the camp. The experience had a profound impact. “I shall not forget that afternoon as long as I live,” said Menuhin. “After Belsen, Yehudi was never the same again,” his sister Yaltah Menuhin reported. Anita Lasker, a survivor of Belsen, was present at one of those concerts. Nineteen years old, and a cellist, as a child she had been at Auschwitz, where she played in the women’s orchestra, under the direction of Alma Rosé, the niece of Gustav Mahler. Lasker wrote to her cousin about the concert. “Who would ever have believed that Belsen Camp would hear Yehudi Menuhin playing? A wonderful evening”, which included “the Bach/Kreisler Prelude and Fugue, the Kreutzer Sonata, Mendelssohn’s Concerto, something by Debussy and several smaller, unfamiliar items”.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/23/benjamin-britten-bergen-belsen-yehudi-menuhin-anita-lasker-wallfisch theguardian.com

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‘When my brother died, it separated us’: the grief and trauma pulling apart siblings of homicide

When André Robinson Jr was shot and killed in Oakland in 2020, his family was upended – how do siblings navigate the fallout from violent loss? The Robinson family once looked forward to Sundays. It was the day they would gather with dozens of their closest relatives and friends to eat, laugh and catch up. “Sunday was the day that we cherished the most,” said RoShanda Robinson, the oldest child in the family. But in the fall of 2020, these get-togethers abruptly stopped. A day that used to include bountiful meals and booming laughter suddenly became a painful reminder of life-changing loss.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/gun-violence-homicide-siblings theguardian.com

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Can the UK kick its cod habit? Fish and chip shop favourite slips down the menu as prices soar

The cost of the traditional takeaway has doubled since 2019, and more outlets are trying to tempt customers with cheaper options such as coley, pollack and hake In late April, visitors to Harbour Lights in Falmouth, Cornwall, may have raised an eyebrow. The fish and chip shop was in the midst of a “cod-free week”, its owners having removed cod from its menu entirely. It was the second time owner Pete Fraser had undertaken the experiment, 15 years after the first. He also removed cod from his shops in Penzance and Helston, replacing it with coley, pollack, hake and hoki. The result was very different. “Some of the feedback we had, which certainly wasn’t what we got when we ran it years ago, is ‘Can you repeat this?’ Before, it was like, ‘Have you guys lost your head’?”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/23/britain-cod-soaring-prices-fish-chip-shop-favourite-cheaper-options theguardian.com

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Childbirth room? It’s next to the period room … the astonishing Kerala homes designed for women’s bodies

The tharavad is a traditional style of housing designed for and run by women. Our writer went on a pilgrimage to find her own family’s – and uncovered a way of life fast disappearing A chance conversation with a distant family member led me to Palayil, the name bestowed on my ancestral tharavad. The latter is the name given to a house designed around women. Ours had stood, in some form, since at least the 17th century. My great-grandmother, Palayil Sreedevi, was the last woman in my line to live in one. It was in the southern Indian village of Tholanur. My great-grandmother belonged to the Nair community, a matrilineal caste with its origins in the state of Kerala. Historically, it was a martial nobility that served royal dynasties. For centuries, Nair boys left home at 12 to train as soldiers before being dispatched to serve the Travancore royal family. When men returned, they often slept in outhouses – satellites to the tharavad of women.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/jun/23/tharavad-kerala-womens-bodies-childbirth-period theguardian.com

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Air pollution is a fixable problem – just look at how London and New York have cleaned up their acts | Sadiq Khan and Michael Bloomberg

Measurable progress is achievable in cities and can be replicated globally. While major public health crises like COVID-19 and Ebola garner significant attention, air pollution, a far deadlier threat, remains largely overlooked. Air pollution kills over 8 million people annually, surpassing deaths from HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. This invisible killer shortens lives and causes serious illnesses such as heart and lung disease, cancer, and other fatal conditions. Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, and Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, are advocates for addressing this issue. Their cities have demonstrated that significant improvements in air quality are possible. These efforts highlight successful strategies that can serve as models for other urban areas worldwide. The text implies a call to action to bring greater awareness and implement solutions for air pollution. Such initiatives are crucial for improving global public health and saving millions of lives.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/23/air-pollution-clean-up-london-new-york-sadiq-khan-michael-bloomberg theguardian.com

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The Breakdown | End-of-season rugby union awards: best games, players and more

From that crunch classic in Paris to the Red Roses’ trailblazing and Rhys Carré’s try, our pick of the moments that made the 2026-27 season Best games attended 1) 14 March, France 48-46 England. Thirteen tries – including four for Louis Bielle-Biarrey – and a last-gasp winning penalty from Thomas Ramos. Truly magnifique.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/23/end-of-season-rugby-union-awards-2025-26-best-games-players-and-more theguardian.com

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Sizzle reels: nine films to watch in a heatwave

Whether you fire up the outdoor projector or Netflix and chill in a cool, dark place – let the escapism of cinema be a balm amid the punishingly hot weather As you will no doubt have noticed, it is quite warm out. Historically warm, in fact. By the end of the week it is likely that the UK will have seen its warmest June day since records began. The Met Office has issued a red warning, recommending that people stay out of the sun entirely. Which sounds an awful lot like code for “stay inside and watch films.” But which films? It seems only right to watch something that reflects this apocalyptic weather somehow. Here are some suggestions:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/23/the-nine-films-to-watch-in-a-heatwave-hot-weather-netflix theguardian.com

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‘I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget’: Madonna says biopic was scrapped after ‘falling out’ with studio

‘Maybe they just didn’t believe in me,’ the pop star said of Universal, which was set to make a film about her life starring Julia Garner Madonna says that the long-gestating movie about her life that she was personally overseeing was cancelled after she fell out with Hollywood studio Universal over the size of the film’s budget. Speaking to Interview magazine, Madonna said: “We had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget because I needed – I’ve had an extraordinary life. I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget.”

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/23/madonna-biopic-scrapped-universal theguardian.com

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David Squires on … the big names putting on a show at World Cup

Our cartoonist on the heroes, villains and superstar performances in week two of the tournament Buy a cartoon | Some of David’s favourite works And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now

https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2026/jun/23/david-squires-on-big-names-messi-mbappe-ronaldo-putting-on-a-show-at-world-cup theguardian.com

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I could listen to gardeners chat for hours. It always sounds like they’re up to no good | Zoe Williams

The author attributes a current problem to an uncle's disregard for rules. The uncle owns a gingko tree, ironically called a memory tree, despite his poor short-term memory. He vividly recalls a previous gingko sapling being confiscated by customs, a "smuggling" incident he still resents. The exact origin of the current tree in his garden is unclear to the author, raising questions about whether it was another smuggled item. The author humorously dismisses the idea of the uncle using a decoy tree, then immediately contradicts this by referencing a past incident. This past event involved the same uncle smuggling seven varieties of seed potatoes from Germany in 1985. He did this by placing them in the pockets of the narrator and their siblings. The uncle's reasoning was that customs officials would never search a child. The article concludes by inviting readers to submit their opinions on the issues raised.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/23/i-could-listen-to-gardeners-chat-for-hours-up-to-no-good theguardian.com

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It’s not easy being green: Trump’s botched reflecting pool becomes 2,028ft metaphor

The symbolic power of a stagnant pond beneath Lincoln’s statue has proven irresistible for the president’s critics Narcissus was cursed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Donald Trump is finding that his effort to overhaul the Lincoln ⁠Memorial reflecting pool in Washington has turned into a perverse tourist attraction and 2,028ft national metaphor. On Monday afternoon a massive algae bloom had turned the pool a green reminiscent of a plane passenger clutching a sick bag. It also stank, but that did not deter a steady flow of curious tourists snapping photos and TV crews doing eyewitness interviews about the folly of Donald Trump’s $14.7m renovation.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/donald-trump-reflecting-pool-metaphor theguardian.com

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Mystery of hit on Tren de Aragua leader: is it linked to US mining plans in Venezuela?

Trump boasted of assassinating Héctor Guerrero Flores but details are scarce and experts doubt it will harm drug trade At 10am on 9 June, a huge explosion rattled Las Claritas, a ramshackle town on the edge of a vast goldmine carved out of the Venezuelan Amazon. “The blast was so powerful that my sister’s house shook, and she was 10 kilometres away,” said one miner, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons. “Imagine the impact.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/23/venezuela-tren-de-aragua-assassination-mining theguardian.com

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Rory Kennedy revisits Boeing in new film sparked by whistleblower’s death: ‘We’ve got to stay at this’

Film-maker talks about her documentary on John Barnett, the Boeing whistleblower who killed himself in 2024 It is widely recognized that for the Kennedys, tragedy has come often and from unexpected quarters. The filmmaker Rory Kennedy, born six months after the assassination of her father Robert Kennedy, has known her share. But in 2024 it was a loss outside the political dynasty that shook her to the core. John Barnett, a quality inspector turned whistleblower at Boeing, one of the world’s biggest plane manufacturers, was found dead in his truck outside a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. Affectionately known as “Swampy” because of his roots in Louisiana, Barnett had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/boeing-documentary-whistleblower-rory-kennedy-interview theguardian.com

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In Iran, Trump’s victory claims only deepened a self-made catastrophe | Sidney Blumenthal

What the US president succeeded in obliterating was any rationale he offered for going to war Before Donald Trump finally surrendered in his Iran war, he declared victory several dozen times, including on day eight– “We’ve already won!” – day 10 – “The war is very complete”– day 12, proclaiming he had won five times in 13 seconds – “We’ve won, let me say we’ve won. You know, you never like to say too early you won, we won, we won the bet in the first hour it was over”– and day 39 –“Total and complete victory, 100%. No question about it”– and claimed a deal to end the war was just around the corner 38 times. The first time he raised the prospect of peace, on day 24, he said the two sides had reached “almost all points of agreement”. Trump boldly affixed his signature with a sharpie to the Memorandum Of Understanding on day 110, 17 June, at the Palace of Versailles, where the ruinous treaty concluding the first world war was signed. He seemed oblivious to the historical symbolism of the place, but bedazzled by its gold. “Versailles is not gold leaf – Versailles is the real deal,” he remarked.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/23/trump-iran-victory-rationale theguardian.com

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‘Some are prayers, some are protests’: 76 musicians reimagine America the Beautiful

The iconic song has been given a diverse new set of versions thanks to pianist Min Kwon’s ambitious musical project Despite what you may have heard, there is no definitive version of the song America the Beautiful. Katharine Lee Bates wrote its lyrics as a poem in 1893, inspired by an ecstatic road trip from the Massachusetts house she shared with her longtime companion Katharine Coman to a teaching gig in Colorado. Over the next few decades, dozens of musicians set it to music, including New Jersey’s Samuel A Ward. His 1882 uniting of the text to a hymn he’d previously composed became, in time, a standard. In 1972, Ray Charles recorded the more or less definitive performance of it. But everyone from Pete Seeger to Tammy Faye Messner have tried their hand at Bates’s ode to equality between peoples and equanimity with nature. At Joe Biden’s inauguration, Jennifer Lopez belted it into a medley, while Carrie Underwood struggled through it at Donald Trump’s second one.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/23/america-the-beautiful-song-min-kwon theguardian.com

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Houseplant hacks: does putting gravel at the bottom of pots improve drainage?

Generations of gardeners have added stones to their pots before topping up with compost, but does it really help? The problem Most old houseplant guides suggest adding a layer of gravel or stones to the bottom of the pot before adding compost. It is presented as basic good practice; the thing you do to stop soil from retaining water, which can cause root rot. The hack This layer of gravel is said to improve drainage by providing a place for excess water to collect below the root zone, keeping roots above the waterlogged area and allowing air to reach them from beneath.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/23/houseplant-hacks-gravel-bottom-pots-improve-drainage theguardian.com

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‘I don’t know how to save my daughter from her husband’: the brutal reality of the Taliban’s new marriage law

The latest decree from Afghanistan’s rulers makes it impossible for women and girls to leave unwanted or abusive relationships, even with family support When Fatima arrived at a district court in northern Afghanistan in late 2025 with her parents, she hoped a judge would finally allow her to leave her calamitous marriage. She had never met her husband before their arranged wedding in the summer of 2024. Each time her family asked to see him, they were told he was shy. It was only on the wedding day, relatives say, that Fatima understood what had been hidden from her: her husband had severe intellectual and physical disabilities and could not eat, wash or dress himself without help.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jun/23/taliban-new-marriage-law-afghanistan-families-daughters-abusive-relationships theguardian.com

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RIP Alan Greenspan: you were charming, powerful, and wrong | Robert Reich

The former Federal Reserve chair was a smart guy – but he had a huge blind spot. Here’s what I wish I’d said to him Alan Greenspan has died at the age of 100. My students don’t recognize his name, but you probably do. When he was chair of the Federal Reserve – for more than 18 years, from 11 August 1987 to 31 January 2006 – he not only ran the US (and most of the world’s) economy but was also in many ways the most powerful person in the US. Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Guardian US columnist and his newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com. His new book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America, is out now in the US and in the UK

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/23/alan-greenspan-federal-reserve theguardian.com

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‘Climate change is a form of oppression’: the voices affected most by environmental crisis

In HBO documentary The Welcome Table, director Josh Fox brings together people from across the world whose lives have been dramatically altered by the climate crisis In an age of division, director Josh Fox is hoping to bring people of all kinds together. Specifically, he wants them to share a table – to break bread for a meal, and come together in exuberant song. In his new documentary film The Welcome Table, the director of the the Emmy-winning Gasland travels around the world to talk to people at the leading edge of global warming’s effects. The film is part stark warning of the climate crisis, part opportunity to enter into the experience of those living in the corners of the globe. It culminates with the sounds of these individuals together at an enormous table in New Orleans, eating and rejoicing.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/23/the-welcome-table-hbo-documentary theguardian.com

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Goodbye, pilates princess – hello, gym goblin: how the just-got-out-of-bed look took over fitness

The colour-coordinated ‘clean girl’ athleisure aesthetic is dead. Now it’s all about mismatched outfits and vintage sportswear At first, the goblins came for our downtime. Going “goblin mode” was a lifestyle confined to the home – to the bed, mostly. The “comforts of depravity” it brought (“watching 90 Day Fiancé on mute while scrolling endlessly through social media, pouring the end of a bag of chips in your mouth”, for example) weren’t compatible with doing anything productive. Enter the gym goblin. The optics remain much the same – think ancient T-shirts, knackered socks, oversized cardigans – but the setting has changed, with goblincore devotees rising up from unmade beds, Diet Cokes in hand, to hit the treadmill. It’s Diana, Princess of Wales’s oversized college sweatshirts meets Josh O’Connor’s half-tracksuit look for the Disclosure Day press tour – and the polar opposite of the matcha-drinking, Lululemoned “clean girl” aesthetic that dominates fitness circles.

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026/jun/23/how-just-got-out-of-bed-look-took-over-fitness-pilates theguardian.com

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NBA draft 2026 predictions: a consensus at No 1 and a rising Mexican star

AJ Dybantsa is widely expected to have his name called first on Tuesday. But which other young stars are worth keeping an eye on? AJ Dybantsa looked like a pro among college kids in his lone season at BYU, becoming just the fifth Division I player in the last 40 years to average more than 25 points per game while shooting better than 51%. Even beyond the numbers, Dybantsa’s natural length and ability to create his own shot make him look more like a future All-Star than Kansas’s Darryn Peterson, whose load-management habits stand in stark contrast to Dybantsa’s workhorse approach. Andrew Lawrence

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/23/nba-draft-2026-predictions-a-consensus-at-no-1-and-a-rising-mexican-star theguardian.com

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‘Devastating’: lives of nurses and patients upended by Trump migrant crackdown

The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation is being withdrawn for certain individuals. This withdrawal places workers who are crucial to the US health system in jeopardy. These workers play a vital role in providing care and support. The removal of TPS could exacerbate existing shortages within the healthcare sector. The text highlights the critical contributions of these individuals through a personal anecdote. Dolores Jacoby, a leukemia patient, received profound emotional support from her nursing assistant, Janeth. Janeth's compassionate actions provided comfort to Dolores and her family during a difficult time. This example illustrates the human element and the deep impact these workers have. John Jacoby, Dolores's son, vividly recalls Janeth's kindness over a decade later. He emphasizes how Janeth offered vital support and hope when his family received devastating news. The story underscores the essential nature of their services beyond mere medical tasks.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/trump-crackdown-tps-immigration theguardian.com

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Reader, I married him: couples tell us how books brought them together

From book club meet-cutes to shared English Literature lectures, romance has blossomed beyond the page for these bibliophiles Dua Lipa and Callum Turner have been honeymooning in Italy, after throwing a star-studded wedding in Palermo earlier this month. But their relationship began with a book: running into each other at an LA restaurant, the pair realised that they were not only reading the same novel – Trust by Hernán Díaz – but had both just finished the first chapter. “So, we’re on the same page,” Turner said to Lipa. Here, four other couples share the literary sparks of their love stories.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jun/23/reader-i-married-him-couples-tell-us-how-books-brought-them-together theguardian.com

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Artwork removed from National Portrait Gallery after row over Churchill’s role in Bengal famine

Turner prize winner Helen Cammock withdraws piece after 50 peers criticise claim former PM ‘starved people’ An artwork by a Turner prize-winning artist has been removed from the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) after a row about the role Winston Churchill played in the 1943 Bengal famine. The Persistence video installation by Helen Cammock was taken down on Monday after a week of criticism as pressure mounted on the gallery.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/jun/23/artwork-removed-national-portrait-gallery-helen-cammock-churchill-bengal-famine theguardian.com

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Fantastic Kingdom by Helene von Bismarck review – an outsider’s guide to British politics

Helene von Bismarck's "Fantastic Kingdom" aims to offer a foreign perspective on British eccentricities, following a tradition established by writers like George Mikes and Voltaire. The book seeks to illuminate the unnoticed contradictions within British society. Von Bismarck, with her German heritage and international upbringing, appears well-suited to provide this outsider's insight. Her education and extensive experience with the UK suggest a blend of distance and familiarity crucial for such an analysis. She posits that Britain is a fundamentally contradictory nation. Key tensions explored include its status as both a monarchy and a democracy. The book also examines the complexity of Britain as a state composed of four distinct nations. Furthermore, it addresses the paradox of a country both resistant to and pluralistic regarding immigration. Finally, the perceived conflict between British obsession with hierarchy and its informal social practices is highlighted as a central theme.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jun/23/fantastic-kingdom-by-helene-von-bismarck-review-an-outsiders-guide-to-british-politics theguardian.com

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Nissan ‘shelves all-electric Qashqai plans’ as it cuts costs

Firm has been developing full EV version of its top-selling model in Europe at its plant in Sunderland Business live – latest updates Nissan has reportedly stopped developing a fully electric version of its Qashqai, its top-selling model in Europe, as the Japanese carmaker seeks to cut a fifth of its models and slash costs. The carmaker quietly halted development of a full EV version of the Qashqai at Sunderland, the site of the UK’s largest car factory, last year, according to a report by Reuters.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/23/nissan-electric-qashqai-ev-sunderland theguardian.com

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