32 minutes ago My family has grown Britain’s food for 140 years. Here’s what politicians don’t understand about farming | Clare Wise

We’ve cared for our farm through war, pandemic and money worries. The inheritance tax row shows how little the government respects thatClare Wise is a farmer based in County DurhamIf you are familiar with the pangs of parental guilt, then you can relate to owning a farm. Take that gut-wrenching, often irrational feeling, amplify it, and welcome to being a farmer. From the moment you’re born into a family farm, there’s a weight of expectation on you to look after it, to put it before yourself, to uphold your family’s pride. All farm kids know they don’t open presents on Christmas morning until the animals are fed, that parents miss special occasions because cows are calving, and that hopes of a foreign holiday are almost nil, at least on a livestock farm such as mine.Owning a farm is lik...

Politics

32 minutes ago Khéphren Thuram on father Lilian: ‘It’s a beautiful thing – listening to him makes me grow’

The Juventus midfielder discusses his father’s activism, what Thierry Henry always told him and how Douglas Luiz views the challenge of facing Aston Villa“I don’t know if it was destiny,” says a beaming Khéphren Thuram over a video call from Turin, but all the same he can glimpse a certain poetry in his journey. Born in Italy, the son of the great Juventus defender Lilian Thuram, now running the midfield in those same black and white stripes. “It’s a beautiful story,” he says. “People outside see the romance in it. But I’m just doing my job.”On Wednesday his job takes him to Villa Park in the Champions League, the first time the 23‑year‑old will play competitively on English soil. Not that he will be underprepared. His teammate Douglas Luiz has already briefed him on thei...

Politics

32 minutes ago Carla Ward: ‘People hang on Emma Hayes’s every word, and rightly so – she’s the best’

The former Aston Villa manager on helping USA to Olympic glory, pushing herself to the limit and a return to the dugoutFully in “holiday mode”, Carla Ward had enjoyed a few drinks when the surprise phone call came from Emma Hayes. The USA head coach was asking her to come and work for her during a large sporting event taking place in France in July and August. “I’ll be really honest, I’d had a few glasses of wine or a few strawberry daiquiris, I can’t remember which, and I didn’t take it seriously,” the former Aston Villa manager recalls. “I was like: ‘I’ve got a holiday booked, let me see if I can change it.’ And my friend said: ‘What is wrong with you? This is the Olympics!’ – then it dropped in my brain. Emma meant: ‘Come to the Olympics.’”Ward is certainly glad she said yes. The 40-...

Events

33 minutes ago Mum told firefighters her four kids were safely out, then they found a child sleeping in a bedroom

The house was found smeared with faeces, rubbish and broken glass, and a plastic bag had been placed over one of the smoke alarms in the property

Events

45 minutes ago SNP government wins Greens support as new law on early release of prisoners in Scotland is passed

The early release of prisoners has officially been passed as a Bill at the Scottish Parliament

Events

58 minutes ago 'I found blood in the toilet and had to pay £3,000 to skip waiting list'

Alissa was terrified by her symptoms but was told she would be on a long waiting lost for the right test

Economics

69 minutes ago National Lottery issues urgent appeal for players to check tickets for huge £177m win

The EuroMillions jackpot has been won by a single UK ticket-holder scooping a whopping £177m - with the life-changing prize landing them a spot on The National Lottery's Rich List

Economics

85 minutes ago Most optometrists see at least one patient a month who drives despite being told their eyesight is ILLEGAL

The Association of Optometrists wants changes to law to require that all drivers to have their vision checked when they first apply for a licence as well as each they renew.

Science

92 minutes ago Never Look Away review – Lucy Lawless’s portrait of a fearless news camerawoman

Fascinating documentary about Margaret Moth, whose footage from war zones almost killed her in 1992, lives up to her motto ‘don’t be boring’When TV news camerawoman Margaret Moth was shot through the face by a Serbian sniper in Sarajevo in 1992, her CNN colleagues were told that it was touch and go. One medic said that her face was so badly injured it might be better if she died. But not only did Moth survive, she went back to the frontline. “She didn’t do less war after she was shot,” remembers one colleague and friend. “She did more.” This documentary about her life, directed by the actor Lucy Lawless, is a fascinating portrait of a woman who had two mottoes: “no regrets” and “don’t be boring”.With her jet-black hair, thick black eyeliner and army combat boots (which she slept in on t...

Politics

92 minutes ago France has the highest cannabis consumption in Europe. It’s high time to tax it | Alexander Hurst

With the nation’s finances in a parlous state, decriminalisation could raise millions of euros – as well as cut crimeFrance might not be broke, but the state of its public finances is, well, definitely not good. Total debt stands at €3.2tn – 112% of GDP. Interest payments on that debt are the second largest public expenditure after education (which includes everything from crêche, or preschool, to universities) and are higher than the amount spent on defence. And this year’s budget deficit is projected to be 6%, three points above the EU’s 3% limit.If it weren’t for the euro, France might very well be in the throes of a fiscal crisis – as it is, interest rates on some French debt are higher than for Portugal or Spain. Continue reading...

Politics