Genuine hope may have been fleeting for England. But it was still life-affirming | Max Rushden
Two minutes and 55 seconds. That’s how long I really had hope of reaching the World Cup final. And it didn’t kill me In her book Hope in the Dark…
A friend, Facebook or … Ukraine? No easy surrogacy options for Australian families desperate for children
With huge amounts of money at stake and power imbalances in play, the Australian Law Reform Commission is looking at how to better regulate the industry Over eight years, Ethan…
‘We slept with three of the same women’: 12 people on what it’s really like dating a friend’s ex
Guardian readers tackle a thorny topic and share their stories of dating a friend’s ex – or a friend dating their ex Life is full of big, messy questions. How…
‘Leo has surpassed Diego’: after two decades Argentina embraces Messi
The little maestro has hitherto lived in the shadow of Maradona who has for so long coloured the soul and defined the passion of football in Argentina It is time…
Smoke, travel and Trump threaten New York’s grand World Cup finale
Wildfires, transport issues and the appearance of the president could overshadow the final for a city that has embraced the tournament The thick smoke that has engulfed New York and…
VAR ‘fixes’, AI slop and perpetual outrage: the World Cup in the age of conspiracy | Karim Zidan
With cries of malfeasance and injustice over referee decisions, Fifa actions and even Argentina’s run, the tournament is a mirror of a theory-pilled society “Life is unfair.” This was the…
God’s will? Destiny? Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, that photo and the World Cup final
The boy in the baby bath has unbelievably become the successor to Messi at Barcelona and now, maybe, on the world stage too “Maybe Lionel Messi has picked up lots…
Brenda Fricker, Oscar winner for My Left Foot, dies aged 81
The acclaimed Irish actor started her career in Coronation Street and Casualty before a string of high-profile Hollywood roles Brenda Fricker, who became the first female Irish Oscar winner for…
World Cup of memes: Japan fans, Beckham unbothered and a simmering bromance
A tournament with more teams and more games has been filled with euphoria, heartbreak, and these weird and wonderful viral moments As a Japanese supporter exclaimed to a television camera,…
Australia updates travel advice for Laos as charges announced over mass methanol poisoning
Distillery owner could face only three months in jail over alleged poisoning of Australian teenagers Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Australian government has…