35 m. ago Walkouts, feuds and broken friendships: when book clubs go bad

While most book clubs go off without an issue, when they do turn sour the fallout can be significant. So why do some go wrong – and what can be done to prevent it?“Friendships of over six years were broken overnight,” Rosa* says of the sudden, dramatic dissolution of her book club in Victoria, Australia some months ago. What started as a chance to share notes on the finer points of dramatic literature had become a real-life drama.The book club had been an important fixture of Rosa’s calendar for several years and, like many others, was hosted on rotation in the homes of different members each month. Although its primary purpose was discussing books, Rosa felt it was equally about socialising, and members were encouraged to dress up in outfits relating to the month’s book, with prizes for the best dressed. Continue reading...

Politics

42 m. ago Hit ITV drama axed after 11 years with fans devastated as filming starts on final series

ITV has announced hit drama series Grantchester is set to end after 11 years. Star Robson Green has spoken out over the shock decision and to thank the team behind it

Events

69 m. ago ’I’m crying just remembering it!’: readers on Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s goodbye gig

On Saturday night the Brummie rockers bade farewell to a stunning career, and Guardian readers were united in awe and respect• Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne: Back to the Beginning review – all-star farewell to the gods of metal is epic and emotionalI tried to get tickets when they first went on sale, but there were only £500+ options left, which felt too steep. However, the day before the show, I watched an interview with Tony Iommi and just couldn’t bear the thought of not being there for their final goodbye. I’ve seen them a handful of times before, including their one-off show at the O2 Academy, but as a Brummie and a metal fan, it felt like a pilgrimage I just had to take. Continue reading...

Politics

78 m. ago Call the Midwife star Helen George admits 'real deep rooted fear' in new ITV show

The actress revealed her biggest fear as she competes against six other famous faces

Culture

88 m. ago Grantchester axed after 11 years as ITV drama films emotional final series

Grantchester - starring Robson Green - has been axed after 11 years and will air one more final series as a nod to the fans, with filming already having begun

Culture

93 m. ago Huw Edwards' wife appears in Wimbledon's royal box: TV producer Vicky Flind joins Robert Peston in her first public appearance since disgraced BBC star's fall from grace

Vicky Flind wore an abstract printed green dress and carried a raffia bag with contrast black straps as she sat beside Robert Peston on centre court at SW19.

Sport

98 m. ago First recorded sighting of rare dragonfly in Belfast hailed by conservationists

The black-tailed skimmer dragonfly was spotted by volunteers at the Bog Meadows Nature Reserve in west Belfast.

Politics

2 h. ago 'You never know who is watching' says Manchester busker as he lands huge gig

The 18-year-old busker has been asked to support The Black Keys at Castlefield Bowl

Politics

2 h. ago Nectarios Triantis breaks silence on Sunderland future amid Hibs talks over permanent transfer for Aussie star

The defensive midfielder shone in his loan spell at Easter Road last season

Politics

3 h. ago Man goes from 'geek' to ladies' man as extreme hair makeover changes everything

A man stunned social media users after his dramatic hair makeover left him looking like a 'completely different person' - and women admitted they'd swipe right on Tinder

Events

3 h. ago Texas flooding: a visual guide to one of US state’s worst natural disasters

Over 100 people are believed dead, many of them children, after torrential rain and extreme flash floodingTexas floods – latest updatesWith more than 100 people dead, many of them children attending a Christian summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River, Friday’s extreme flash flooding that overwhelmed a sizeable chunk of central Texas will be recorded as one of the state’s worst ever natural disasters.The brunt of the tragedy was felt in Kerr county, where at least 27 children and counsellors were killed after a deluge of water described by one witness as a “a pitch-black wall of death” swept through the all-girl Camp Mystic on the river’s south fork. About 750 young campers were celebrating the Fourth of July holiday. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Council tax bombshell: Bills in London borough 'would have to soar 27%' to plug funding reforms black hole

EXCLUSIVE: London boroughs facing being hard hit by the controversial shake-up include Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Wandsworth, Richmond, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Camden and the City of London

Economics

4 h. ago Bridgerton heartthrob to star in steamy Netflix drama set in prestigious UK university

Bridgerton actor Corey Mylchreest, who played King George / Farmer George in the spin-off show is set to star in a steamy Netflix drama set in Oxford University alongside Sofia Carson

Events

4 h. ago A baby born to a brain dead mother: this is the horror of abortion bans | Moira Donegan

Adriana Smith was legally dead for months, but kept on life support in Atlanta because she was pregnantOn Friday 13 June, a baby was born in an Atlanta hospital to a woman who had been dead for four months. Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old Black nurse and mother, was declared brain dead in February after blood clots formed in her brain. Legally, and by all meaningful measures, she was dead then: the woman who loved her family, laughed with her friends, comforted her son, helped her colleagues and cared for her patients was gone then, and was never coming back. But the state of Georgia, and the administrators of the hospital where she was declared dead, kept her corpse in a state of artificial animation for months. That’s because when Smith went to the hospital in February complaining of a headache, and later became unresponsive, she was about eight weeks pregnant. According to her family, doctors at Emory hospital, in Georgia, told the family that the state’s abortion ban required them ...

Events

4 h. ago 'Pretty much perfect' gritty period drama has 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

The Age of Shadows is a South Korean action-packed period drama set in the 1920s and has left fans in a frenzy as they are impressed by the sets and costumes

Events

4 h. ago Kate Middleton to take action as Wimbledon stars pose awkward problem

It has been suggested that the Princess of Wales may skip the Wimbledon ladies' final on Saturday to avoid awarding the title to specific players, while she consults the Palace for guidance

Politics

5 h. ago ITV This Morning host says 'we nearly lost the whole crew' after live boat drama

This Morning star Ben Shephard was left stunned after a huge mishap saw his co-star nearly fall in the sea while hosting a live segment

Events

5 h. ago Kate Middleton to get advice on how to deal with Wimbledon stars as awkward situation looms

It has been suggested that the Princess of Wales might skip the Wimbledon ladies' final to avoid presenting the title to certain players as she seeks advice from the Palace

Politics

5 h. ago Dr Karl doesn't look like this anymore! Alan Fletcher is unrecognisable as he arrives for final week of filming on axed soap Neighbours

Alan Fletcher is one of the most beloved stars to ever appear on Aussie soap opera Neighbours. 

Culture

6 h. ago The Breakdown | Beware the rectangle of doom: rugby union must heed lessons of Harry Potter drama

When a toenail in touch by a defending team means a try chalked off for the attackers, the rulebook is idioticSometimes big changes can be triggered by the smallest incidents, barely visible to the naked eye. In rugby union’s case the 59th minute of Australia’s game against Fiji in Newcastle, New South Wales on Sunday could be one of those moments. One fleeting officiating misjudgment in a relatively low-profile Test might be the catalyst that alters the sport’s entire way of thinking.There are occasions when rugby makes itself look idiotic and this was one of them. Fiji had just taken the lead and the Wallabies were looking slightly rattled as their wing Harry Potter ran back to field a long kick near his right touchline. Deciding to keep the ball alive he threw a long pass infield to an isolated teammate who was turned over. Fiji gleefully seized their opportunity and scored a potentially vital “try” through Sireli Maqala. Continue reading...

Events