The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
video
Kamala Harris is almost certain to become the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate after gaining the backing of enough delegates to secure the nomination on Monday night. The vice-president, 59, has seen a surge in support and donations after President Biden announced on Sunday that he will...Kamala Harris is almost certain to become the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate after gaining the backing of enough delegates to secure the nomination on Monday night. The vice-president, 59, has seen a surge in support and donations after President Biden announced on Sunday that he will...Kamala Harris is almost certain to become the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate after gaining the backing of enough...
President Biden said publicly that only the Lord Almighty could tell him to stand aside, or perhaps a doctor, but in the end he was convinced by the brutal logic of polling data. Biden was holed up in his Rehoboth Beach holiday home with his family and four close aides after his circle of confidantes dwindled during his Canute-like...President Biden said publicly that only the Lord Almighty could tell him to stand aside, or perhaps a doctor, but in the end he was convinced by the brutal logic of polling data. Biden was holed up in his Rehoboth Beach holiday home with his family and four close aides after his circle of confidantes dwindled during his Canute-like...President Biden said publicly that only the Lord Almighty could tell him to stand aside, or perhaps a doctor, but in the end he...
It has been eight years since Hillary Clinton stood for the presidency, the first woman nominated by a major political party and the first woman to lose the general election. Issues with her candidacy, personality and presentation aside, many people blamed her gender for her loss. Today, however, with a record...It has been eight years since Hillary Clinton stood for the presidency, the first woman nominated...It has been eight years since Hillary Clinton stood for the presidency, the first woman nominated...
A new study has revealed that British office workers are coming up with more and more nicknames to describe their...A new study has revealed that British office workers are coming up with more and more nicknames...A new study has revealed that British office workers are coming up with more and more nicknames...
Robert Crampton
Forty-four years ago, in October 1980, when I was 16, a radio and TV personality called Lady Isobel Barnett, the star...Forty-four years ago, in October 1980, when I was 16, a radio and TV personality called Lady...Forty-four years ago, in October 1980, when I was 16, a radio and TV personality called Lady...
She’s ‘adored’ by her two step-children, and friends with her husband’s ex-wife. What does all this say about the woman who could be Potus?
political sketch
video
It’s a threat to democracy, Trump’s running-mate claims as party readies attack ads
Athletes will be offered military-style “decompression” counselling at the end of the Paris Olympics to help them recover from the “post-Games blues”. The end of months of intense training and of the Olympic fortnight, which opens on Friday, has...Athletes will be offered military-style “decompression” counselling at the end of the Paris...Athletes will be offered military-style “decompression” counselling at the end of the Paris...
The royal family have access to a treasured private collection of jewellery, including historic tiaras, brooches and...The royal family have access to a treasured private collection of jewellery, including historic...The royal family have access to a treasured private collection of jewellery, including historic...
A woman in her thirties has died after being attacked by a dog at a house in Coventry. Emergency services were called...A woman in her thirties has died after being attacked by a dog at a house in Coventry. Emergency...A woman in her thirties has died after being attacked by a dog at a house in Coventry. Emergency...
A region of southwest Scotland has been chosen as the location for the country’s third national park, with campaigners saying it will transform a struggling economy and tackle biodiversity loss. Galloway was selected from a shortlist of five for...A region of southwest Scotland has been chosen as the location for the country’s third national...A region of southwest Scotland has been chosen as the location for the country’s third national...
A drone-hunting laser gun has been successfully fired from a British armoured vehicle for the first time — with each shot costing less than a cup of tea. Scientists at Porton Down, Britain’s top-secret defence laboratory, have been experimenting...A drone-hunting laser gun has been successfully fired from a British armoured vehicle for the...A drone-hunting laser gun has been successfully fired from a British armoured vehicle for the...
Dogs can sniff out our emotions, a study has concluded — and the smell of human stress makes them pessimistic. The...Dogs can sniff out our emotions, a study has concluded — and the smell of human stress makes them...Dogs can sniff out our emotions, a study has concluded — and the smell of human stress makes them...
the times diary
Lincoln Jopp, the new Tory MP for Spelthorne, has lots of pluck, having been awarded the Military Cross for his...Lincoln Jopp, the new Tory MP for Spelthorne, has lots of pluck, having been awarded the Military...Lincoln Jopp, the new Tory MP for Spelthorne, has lots of pluck, having been awarded the Military...
Binyamin Netanyahu has asked to see Donald Trump during his visit to the United States this week, risking a further increase in tension with the White House. The Israeli prime minister, 74, is in Washington for a planned address to Congress on Wednesday. He is reported to be meeting with Kamala...Binyamin Netanyahu has asked to see Donald Trump during his visit to the United States this week, risking a further increase in tension with the White House. The Israeli prime minister, 74, is in Washington for a planned address to Congress on Wednesday. He is reported to be meeting with Kamala...Binyamin Netanyahu has asked to see Donald Trump during his visit to the United States this week, risking a further increase in...
Analysis
President Biden, 81, and Binyamin Netanyahu, 74, spent most of their long political careers on parallel tracks. They met first in 1982 in Washington, when Biden was the junior senator for Delaware and already making a name for himself on the foreign affairs committee and Netanyahu was the newly arrived deputy ambassador of Israel, at the...President Biden, 81, and Binyamin Netanyahu, 74, spent most of their long political careers on parallel tracks. They met first in 1982 in Washington, when Biden was the junior senator for Delaware and already making a name for himself on the foreign affairs committee and Netanyahu was the newly arrived deputy ambassador of Israel, at the...President Biden, 81, and Binyamin Netanyahu, 74, spent most of their long political careers on parallel tracks. They met first...
The Palestinian factions Hamas and its rival Fatah have agreed to form a unity government after meetings hosted by China, in Beijing’s latest foray into Middle East diplomacy. The groups had announced similar agreements since Hamas violently expelled the ruling Fatah party from Gaza in 2007, but they had all...The Palestinian factions Hamas and its rival Fatah have agreed to form a unity government after...The Palestinian factions Hamas and its rival Fatah have agreed to form a unity government after...
It is a steamy morning in New York City, the skies are cloudy and the passengers aboard the Hamptons Streamliner all feel a curious floating sensation as we take off for Long Island. “We will be serving a selection of pop-up bagels,” says a lady...It is a steamy morning in New York City, the skies are cloudy and the passengers aboard the...It is a steamy morning in New York City, the skies are cloudy and the passengers aboard the...
Morocco has sentenced an 82-year-old former minister to five years in prison after he criticised King Mohammed’s...Morocco has sentenced an 82-year-old former minister to five years in prison after he criticised...Morocco has sentenced an 82-year-old former minister to five years in prison after he criticised...
In a city with more than 50,000 eateries, Pete Wells knew that taking the role of restaurant critic at one of the...In a city with more than 50,000 eateries, Pete Wells knew that taking the role of restaurant...In a city with more than 50,000 eateries, Pete Wells knew that taking the role of restaurant...
Rachel Reeves is preparing to woo Wall Street titans next month in an effort to boost US investment in the UK. The chancellor is planning a visit to New York in early August to meet some of America’s biggest investment firms, The Times has learnt. The trip will include a one-on-one dinner with Stephen Schwarzman, the billionaire chairman and chief executive of...Rachel Reeves is preparing to woo Wall Street titans next month in an effort to boost US...Rachel Reeves is preparing to woo Wall Street titans next month in an effort to boost US...
Lord Harris of Peckham has struck a multimillion-pound deal to rescue Carpetright, the flooring retailer he built...Lord Harris of Peckham has struck a multimillion-pound deal to rescue Carpetright, the flooring retailer he built from scratch about 35 years ago. Tapi, the rival flooring chain he later co-founded, has purchased the Carpetright brand, intellectual property, 54 stores and a pair of warehouses in a pre-pack...Lord Harris of Peckham has struck a multimillion-pound deal to rescue Carpetright, the flooring retailer he built from scratch...
business commentary
Rachel Reeves is reported to be minded to accept recommendations from public sector pay review bodies that teachers...Rachel Reeves is reported to be minded to accept recommendations from public sector pay review...Rachel Reeves is reported to be minded to accept recommendations from public sector pay review...
TEMPUS
Given recent events, it’s unlikely to be the most surprising news this week. Crowdstrike, one of the biggest...Given recent events, it’s unlikely to be the most surprising news this week. Crowdstrike, one of...Given recent events, it’s unlikely to be the most surprising news this week. Crowdstrike, one of...
comment
Global markets were given a jolt last week, interrupting a bullish streak that stretched into last year. The S&P...Global markets were given a jolt last week, interrupting a bullish streak that stretched into...Global markets were given a jolt last week, interrupting a bullish streak that stretched into...
comment
With change comes opportunity. A new government with a new outlook could transform the UK into a life sciences...With change comes opportunity. A new government with a new outlook could transform the UK into a...With change comes opportunity. A new government with a new outlook could transform the UK into a...
Manufacturing
times enterprise network | Expert Tips
RECRUITMENT
The new Labour government has pledged to recruit 6,500 expert teachers in “key subjects to set children up for life, work and the future”, promising £350 million in funding to achieve the aim. While shortages of physics, computing and languages teachers have been well documented, it is religious education that is facing the biggest skills gap. Despite RE being...The new Labour government has pledged to recruit 6,500 expert teachers in “key subjects to set...The new Labour government has pledged to recruit 6,500 expert teachers in “key subjects to set...
six from the best
As Deutsche Bank learning and development manager, Andy Ward focuses on technology and engineering training. However...As Deutsche Bank learning and development manager, Andy Ward focuses on technology and engineering training. However, following lived experience of mental ill health, he set about transforming how mental health is supported and is now a non-executive director at MHFA England and the founding chairman of the...As Deutsche Bank learning and development manager, Andy Ward focuses on technology and engineering training. However, following...
david walsh
By the standards they set for themselves, it was a disappointing Tour de France for Ineos Grenadiers. Relating their results to the team’s £50million budget, it was a disastrous three weeks. The team that once dominated the race have fallen so far that those now at the summit can hardly see them...By the standards they set for themselves, it was a disappointing Tour de France for Ineos Grenadiers. Relating their results to the team’s £50million budget, it was a disastrous three weeks. The team that once dominated the race have fallen so far that those now at the summit can hardly see them...By the standards they set for themselves, it was a disappointing Tour de France for Ineos Grenadiers. Relating their results to...
molly hudson
It is usually Red Bull against the world. Max Verstappen the mercurially talented and direct driver, and his team of engineers, who see a softer side of the three-times world champion and feel he is often misunderstood. On Sunday at the Hungarian Grand Prix, however, even they were the target of his ire — although it would be easier to list...It is usually Red Bull against the world. Max Verstappen the mercurially talented and direct driver, and his team of engineers, who see a softer side of the three-times world champion and feel he is often misunderstood. On Sunday at the Hungarian Grand Prix, however, even they were the target of his ire — although it would be easier to list...It is usually Red Bull against the world. Max Verstappen the mercurially talented and direct driver, and his team of engineers...
Andy Murray has confirmed that he will retire from tennis after the Paris Olympics. The 37-year-old had already announced that he expected 2024 to be his last season as a player, earmarking Wimbledon and the Olympics as his farewell events. They are the tournaments at which he has achieved his greatest success...Andy Murray has confirmed that he will retire from tennis after the Paris Olympics. The...Andy Murray has confirmed that he will retire from tennis after the Paris Olympics. The...
PARIS 2024 | rick broadbent
THE HUNDRED
Avram Glazer wants to expand his stake in cricket by investing in one of the eight Hundred franchises later this year.Avram Glazer wants to expand his stake in cricket by investing in one of the eight Hundred...Avram Glazer wants to expand his stake in cricket by investing in one of the eight Hundred...
Chelsea are aware of River Plate fans singing racist chants in support of Enzo Fernández after the midfielder...Chelsea are aware of River Plate fans singing racist chants in support of Enzo Fernández after...Chelsea are aware of River Plate fans singing racist chants in support of Enzo Fernández after...
PARIS 2024
While competitors at the London 2012 Olympics flocked to eat fast food at McDonald’s, at the Paris Games the most in-demand place in the athletes’ village is the restaurant area staffed by Michelin-star chefs. Instead of the chicken nuggets that...While competitors at the London 2012 Olympics flocked to eat fast food at McDonald’s, at the...While competitors at the London 2012 Olympics flocked to eat fast food at McDonald’s, at the...
LUOL DENG INTERVIEW
Twelve years removed from his first Olympic Games experience in London, the basketball legend Luol Deng found himself experiencing a keen sense of déjà vu as he prepared for his second, representing the “newest” country on earth. The crucial...Twelve years removed from his first Olympic Games experience in London, the basketball legend...Twelve years removed from his first Olympic Games experience in London, the basketball legend...
THE OPEN | tom kershaw
“Links golf is nature in all its unforgiving force” was how the Open’s official website previewed the week at Royal...“Links golf is nature in all its unforgiving force” was how the Open’s official website previewed...“Links golf is nature in all its unforgiving force” was how the Open’s official website previewed...
Alice Procter, an amateur jump jockey, has “indications of damage to the spinal chord” and remains in intensive care...Alice Procter, an amateur jump jockey, has “indications of damage to the spinal chord” and...Alice Procter, an amateur jump jockey, has “indications of damage to the spinal chord” and...
She’s ‘adored’ by her two step-children, and friends with her husband’s ex-wife. What does all this say about the woman who could be Potus?
Anna Maxted asks the experts how to stop yourself — and your children — fretting
You don’t have to be sporty to benefit. Load up on leafy greens and take your tea black — you might not win any races but your body will thank you
There’s a slew of new nicknames for colleagues — none of them flattering. Stuart Heritage reveals his own list
Robert Crampton
Nowadays, the social shame of not having an on-brand loaf of artisanal bread on the kitchen table outweighs the risk of any potential shame in being busted
My Culture Fix
At a wedding recently I sat next to an actress turned TV cook whose latest book was on cakes, so naturally we fell to...At a wedding recently I sat next to an actress turned TV cook whose latest book was on cakes, so...At a wedding recently I sat next to an actress turned TV cook whose latest book was on cakes, so...
dr mark porter
Nearly half a million people have now been diagnosed with dementia in England, a 5 per cent increase on the year before.Nearly half a million people have now been diagnosed with dementia in England, a 5 per cent...Nearly half a million people have now been diagnosed with dementia in England, a 5 per cent...
In a roll call of famous ski resorts, few would mention Revelstoke, a small town in Canada. Yet redevelopment of the resort, in full flow this summer, means that in years to come it will trip off the tongue alongside Whistler and Banff. During the...In a roll call of famous ski resorts, few would mention Revelstoke, a small town in Canada. Yet...In a roll call of famous ski resorts, few would mention Revelstoke, a small town in Canada. Yet...
MindGames
1 The Latin phrase “lapsus linguae” means “a slip of the …” what? 2 Boston is the capital of which US state? 3 What...
1 The Latin phrase “lapsus linguae” means “a slip of the …” what? 2 Boston is the capital of...
1 The Latin phrase “lapsus linguae” means “a slip of the …” what? 2 Boston is the capital of...
Viewing GUide
tELEVISION | STREAMING GUIDE
Television
Boucheron’s new Or Bleu collection is inspired by Iceland’s extraordinary landscape
interview
The skateboarder and new Tag Heuer ambassador taking on the world at 15
For the first time in 150 years, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo in Monaco is granting guests access to its collection
![Arsha Kaviani: “I always thought it was bizarre that you could commission a sculptor, you could commission an artist, [but] musically that never seemed to be the case”](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F3cb0f8d1-a8a8-4f4b-ad19-c4b60007e068.jpg?crop=1500%2C1000%2C0%2C0&resize=320)
The celebrated young concert pianist Arsha Kaviani doesn’t just perform
watches
The French luxury brand is bringing an exhibition to London illuminating the creative skills of its watchmakers
video
If you are going to learn how to cook, you may as well learn from the best — and you can’t get better than the Waterside Inn in Bray. Established by the brothers Michel and Albert Roux in 1972 and for the past 22 years under the control of...If you are going to learn how to cook, you may as well learn from the best — and you can’t get...If you are going to learn how to cook, you may as well learn from the best — and you can’t get...
video
The Castle of Mey, which the Queen Mother called home and where the monarch still holidays, is now open for stays for those who want a taste of real royal life
video
Lively beaches, pretty fishing villages and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world await in Bodrum — alongside glitzy marinas, beach bars and glamorous hotels
Luxury cruising is thirsty work. These are the best speakeasies, rooftops and gin bars in which to raise a glass of champagne, a martini or a mocktail
kathy lette | travel troubleshooter
Kathy Lette sets a father-in-law straight — and what to do when you get the ick at your companion’s travel habits
Europe’s biggest travel firm is attempting to recover from the CrowdStrike chaos by axing thousands of getaways
video
Yes, you can fly and flop on the 33 islands that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines, but this corner of the Caribbean is also ideal for anyone who loves hiking, birds, botanical gardens and cocktails. Laura Jackson spends a week hunting down...Yes, you can fly and flop on the 33 islands that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines, but this...Yes, you can fly and flop on the 33 islands that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines, but this...
video
The Times has been publishing life stories of the great and the good (and the not so good) for more than 170 years. Now the obituary is also becoming a podcast, explains Anna Temkin
IF YOU feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshiping me, the LORD. What I like best is showing...IF YOU feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshiping me, the LORD. What I...IF YOU feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshiping me, the LORD. What I...
St James’s Palace
22nd July, 2024
The Princess Royal this evening departed from Heathrow Airport, London, for...St James’s Palace
22nd July, 2024
The Princess Royal this evening departed from Heathrow...St James’s Palace
22nd July, 2024
The Princess Royal this evening departed from Heathrow...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
Relatives ‘heartbroken at radio silence’
Relatives of those who died during a Covid outbreak at a failing care home are still waiting for answers four years after investigations began, as figures reveal a backlog of similar inquiries. Ten residents died at Home Farm Care Home on Skye during the initial coronavirus wave and in 2020...Relatives of those who died during a Covid outbreak at a failing care home are still waiting for answers four years after investigations began, as figures reveal a backlog of similar inquiries. Ten residents died at Home Farm Care Home on Skye during the initial coronavirus wave and in 2020...Relatives of those who died during a Covid outbreak at a failing care home are still waiting for answers four years after...
One of Scotland’s most senior literary figures has been urged to apologise after he called two gender-critical authors “vile and jeering trolls”. Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust, has been criticised over the accusation by Magi Gibson, the poet, and her husband Ian Macpherson, a comic novelist. Both Gibson and...One of Scotland’s most senior literary figures has been urged to apologise after he called two gender-critical authors “vile and jeering trolls”. Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust, has been criticised over the accusation by Magi Gibson, the poet, and her husband Ian Macpherson, a comic novelist. Both Gibson and...One of Scotland’s most senior literary figures has been urged to apologise after he called two gender-critical authors “vile...
magnus linklater
We swam in the pure waters of the Adriatic; azure blue, translucent, you could see the sand and the rocks 20ft down, clear as daylight in the midday sun. Around us, on the beaches, ringed by hotels, tourists thronged the beaches, and out in the bay the oligarchs’ yachts sat smugly at anchor. Yet the sea stays clean.We swam in the pure waters of the Adriatic; azure blue, translucent, you could see the sand and...We swam in the pure waters of the Adriatic; azure blue, translucent, you could see the sand and...
Illegal immigrants set up cannabis farms producing drugs worth more than £2.3 million in two derelict buildings in...Illegal immigrants set up cannabis farms producing drugs worth more than £2.3 million in two...Illegal immigrants set up cannabis farms producing drugs worth more than £2.3 million in two...
A convicted murderer and thief who stole £120,000 from his mother-in-law’s estate and then tried to blame the crime...A convicted murderer and thief who stole £120,000 from his mother-in-law’s estate and then tried...A convicted murderer and thief who stole £120,000 from his mother-in-law’s estate and then tried...
SCOTTISH BUSINESS DIGEST
in depth
The area covered by Highland council has the worst public services in Scotland, while East Renfrewshire has the best, according to new Sunday Times analysis which exposes huge variations in performance by local authorities, health boards and police across the country. Some councils recycle twice as much rubbish as others, while cancer patients in parts of Scotland are...The area covered by Highland council has the worst public services in Scotland, while East...The area covered by Highland council has the worst public services in Scotland, while East...
Lesley Christie is having her lunch break on a bench emblazoned with the phrase “I love Clarkston” when I tell her...Lesley Christie is having her lunch break on a bench emblazoned with the phrase “I love Clarkston” when I tell her that the council, East Renfrewshire, has been named the best in Scotland. Her facial expression changes, suggesting her love of the local authority may not be strong. “It’s a nice place to live,” she says.Lesley Christie is having her lunch break on a bench emblazoned with the phrase “I love Clarkston” when I tell her that the...
Comment
Biden’s last act must be to strengthen Ukraine
William Hague
President got some big foreign policy calls wrong but it’s not too late to grant Zelensky permission to hit Russian targets
Sarah ditum
For most women, trad wives are a freak show
gerard baker
Ignore Biden’s media shills — this is a dark moment for democracy
melanie phillips
Tories could take a leaf out of JD Vance’s book
giles coren | notebook
My wife’s life in the fast lane is driving me insane
harriet Walker | notebook
Live in the moment, said the Three Horsemen over dinner
After a university reunion last weekend, I’ve been dwelling on my own mortality — not for reasons of rose-tinted nostalgia, but because I was seated with three out of four horsemen of the apocalypse at dinner. Across the table: War (an army bod) and Famine (a climate change analyst), and further along Death (a virologist). Presumably Conquest couldn’t get the time off.After a university reunion last weekend, I’ve been dwelling on my own mortality — not for reasons...After a university reunion last weekend, I’ve been dwelling on my own mortality — not for reasons...
Neta Heiman Mina
UNRWA is only indispensable to Hamas, not ordinary Palestinians
As a member of Israel’s peace movement, I have always believed that strangers can be turned into partners. That...As a member of Israel’s peace movement, I have always believed that strangers can be turned into partners. That belief remains with me today. On October 7 last year, my 84-year-old mother Ditza was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. But she was taken by Hamas, an enemy that Israelis are all too familiar with...As a member of Israel’s peace movement, I have always believed that strangers can be turned into partners. That belief remains...
Leading Articles
Bowing to the Inevitable
Joe Biden’s belated realisation that he is unfit to run for a second term gives the Democrats a chance in the US election. But doubts surround his likely replacement
Storm Warning
The government’s silence over the future of the Tempest fighter is deeply concerning
Bat Crave
Fewer insects means some chiropterans are being driven to the edge of starvation
letters to the editor
Kamala Harris’s run for the Democratic nomination
Sir, As US President, Joe Biden achieved more in his first term, with three landmark pieces of legislation, than most presidents achieve in two terms. His place in history is secure. But his decision not to stand for a second term is absolutely...Sir, As US President, Joe Biden achieved more in his first term, with three landmark pieces of...Sir, As US President, Joe Biden achieved more in his first term, with three landmark pieces of...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: BBC publishes its annual report.
China: Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, meets his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing.
US: President Biden and Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, meet at the White House.
On this day
In 1940 the acting US secretary of state Sumner Welles condemned the annexation of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) by the Soviet Union. Known as the Welles Declaration, more than 50 countries then took the same stance; in 1967 five days of rioting began in Detroit after a police raid on an illegal drinking club, resulting in 43 deaths and 343 injuries. More than 7,000 National Guard and army troops were called upon. It was the bloodiest incident in the Long Hot Summer of 1967, when there were 159 race riots; in 1982 the International Whaling Commission voted to ban commercial whaling; in 1994, after 20 years of exile in the US, the dissident writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn arrived in Moscow; in 2010 the boy band One Direction formed on the television programme The X Factor, having failed to progress as solo competitors. The group have sold more than 50 million albums.
Nature notes
White umbellifers succeed one another all summer long. Cow parsley is familiar to everyone; it likes nitrogen and thrives in areas of human habitation and alongside roads. Its tiny cousin pignut appears from May to June on uncultivated ground such as old churchyards and traditional meadows. Hemlock and hemlock water-dropwort are toxic; both mimic cow parsley on first glance, but bloom later, in damp areas. The former has purple-spotted stems; the umbels of the latter are rounded rather than flat. Hogweed’s leaves are broad and less feathery than its relations, while wild carrot, also in flower now, usually has a red dot in the centre of each umbel. Low-growing yarrow persists the longest, often into October. Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison
Birthdays today
Prof Christopher Andrew, former official historian, MI5, The Secret World: A History of Intelligence (2018), 83; Alan Barnes, saxophonist, composer, The Sherlock Holmes Suite (2007), 65; Jo Brand, comedian, writer and actress, Going Forward (2016), 67; Jonathan Brearley, chief executive, Ofgem, 51; Prof Sir Ross Cranston, High Court judge (2007-17), Labour MP (1997-2005), 76; David Essex, singer-songwriter, Rock On (1973), and actor, 77; Alex Fraser, chief executive, London Institute of Banking and Finance, 65; Graham Gooch, cricketer, former England captain and coach, Test career 1975-95, 71; Martin Gore, musician, Depeche Mode, Just Can’t Get Enough (1981), 63; Woody Harrelson, actor, Cheers (1985-93), The People v Larry Flynt (1996), 63; Fran Healy, singer-songwriter, Travis, Why Does It Always Rain on Me? (1999), 51; Dr Penelope Hewitt, emeritus consultant anaesthetist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, 86; Jakub Hrusa, conductor, music director-designate, Royal Opera House, 43; Mike Hulme, professor of human geography, University of Cambridge, Climatism and Its Discontents: Why Net-Zero Obsession is Unfair to the World’s Poor (2024), 64; Alison Krauss, singer, Raising Sand (2007), 53; Sergio Mattarella, president of Italy, 83; Len McCluskey, general secretary, Unite (2011-21), 74; Judit Polgár, chess grandmaster, title achieved at the age of 15 years and 4 months, 48; Daniel Radcliffe, actor, Harry Potter film series (2001-11), 35; Robin Simon, founding editor, British Art Journal, 77; Slash (Saul Hudson), guitarist, Guns N’ Roses, 59; David Strettle, rugby union player, England (2007-13), 41; Prof Michael Wood, historian and broadcaster, The Story of China (2016), 76.