Monday briefing: How the new phase of confrontation at al-Aqsa signals a challenge to the status quoMonday briefing: How the new phase of confrontation at al-Aqsa signals a challenge to the status quo

In today’s newsletter: ​Jerusalem’s most volatile site has again become a flashpoint, with Arab states and former Israeli officials sounding the alarm over Benjamin Netanyahu’s complicity Good morning. In late July, Itamar Ben-Gvir, West Bank settler and far-right extremist minister of security in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, joined a group of ...

Revisited: Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s stance on Gaza – podcastRevisited: Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s stance on Gaza – podcast

In July, Andy Burnham told the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, that Labour ‘didn’t get it right’ on Gaza. He apologised for the party’s slow response in calling for a ceasefire, but stopped short of describing what was happening on the ground as genocide. This is an edited version of ...

Centrist Democrats dismiss Abdul El-Sayed as a freak radical. Do they want to win in 2028 or not? | Nesrine MalikCentrist Democrats dismiss Abdul El-Sayed as a freak radical. Do they want to win in 2028 or not? | Nesrine Malik

Americans want someone on their side in the fight against vested interests – that means politicians like the Michigan primary winner and Zohran Mamdani Abdul El-Sayed’s win in the Michigan Senate primary was a historic breakthrough. Not only because he is a Muslim son of immigrants who broke with almost ...

‘I’ve sat at the very precipice of life’: Clarke Carlisle on gambling, depression – and survival‘I’ve sat at the very precipice of life’: Clarke Carlisle on gambling, depression – and survival

The former professional footballer has struggled with his mental health for most of his life. But it took five suicide attempts for him to admit how badly he wanted to end it. He talks about how he turned the corner – and his hopes for his new post with the ...

‘This is asking a lot of the buttocks’: my 23-hour Wagner marathon on a rock hard seat in a heatwave‘This is asking a lot of the buttocks’: my 23-hour Wagner marathon on a rock hard seat in a heatwave

How does it feel to be locked into a venue notorious for its unpadded seating to experience a full-throttle Ring cycle and more? Our critic found out at the 150th anniversary of the mighty Bayreuth festival Liszt and Bruckner were there from the start. Debussy, Mahler and Puccini all subsequently ...

Spotify’s new ‘skip’ button could end the podcast business as we know itSpotify’s new ‘skip’ button could end the podcast business as we know it

The News Spotify is terrifying much of the podcast industry with a tiny little widget. Last week, the audio streaming giant tweaked its streaming interface, adding a feature that allows some users to more effectively skip through the parts of a podcast no one wants — notably ads, as well as ...