The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
Donald Trump celebrated a “big win” after the US Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have criminal immunity for some actions while in the White House. The nation’s top court ruled by six to three that, for the first time in US history, presidents enjoy immunity for official acts but not...Donald Trump celebrated a “big win” after the US Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have criminal immunity for some actions while in the White House. The nation’s top court ruled by six to three that, for the first time in US history, presidents enjoy immunity for official acts but not...Donald Trump celebrated a “big win” after the US Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have criminal immunity for some...
Rishi Sunak will tell Britons not to “surrender your voice to Labour” today as the general election campaign enters its final days. The prime minister is campaigning in the Midlands, while Sir Keir Starmer visits the southeast. Rishi Sunak suggested he would never finish work at 6pm, after Sir Keir Starmer said that he rarely does...Rishi Sunak will tell Britons not to “surrender your voice to Labour” today as the general election campaign enters its final days. The prime minister is campaigning in the Midlands, while Sir Keir Starmer visits the southeast. Rishi Sunak suggested he would never finish work at 6pm, after Sir Keir Starmer said that he rarely does...Rishi Sunak will tell Britons not to “surrender your voice to Labour” today as the general election campaign enters its final...
The Times Education and Health Commissions offered a radical blueprint for public service reform that would transform schools and universities, the NHS and social care. Several ideas have been taken up by the political parties in their election manifestos. The Conservatives promise a new qualification at 18. Labour...The Times Education and Health Commissions offered a radical blueprint for public service reform...The Times Education and Health Commissions offered a radical blueprint for public service reform...
in depth | series
first person
I’m out jogging when I notice my vision is slightly dodgy. I hastily book an optician appointment. Nothing unusual...I’m out jogging when I notice my vision is slightly dodgy. I hastily book an optician appointment.I’m out jogging when I notice my vision is slightly dodgy. I hastily book an optician appointment.
The King has always been full of bright ideas, from the fate of the Patagonian toothfish to the design of the...The King has always been full of bright ideas, from the fate of the Patagonian toothfish to the...The King has always been full of bright ideas, from the fate of the Patagonian toothfish to the...
Great Yarmouth, the faded Norfolk resort, is a three-way marginal where the candidates compete to lift the locals after years of neglect
The UK no longer has any small or medium farms growing new potatoes, according to the founder of one of the country’s...The UK no longer has any small or medium farms growing new potatoes, according to the founder of...The UK no longer has any small or medium farms growing new potatoes, according to the founder of...
A prisoner who was compared to Al Capone by a judge after being convicted for tax evasion left court last week before...A prisoner who was compared to Al Capone by a judge after being convicted for tax evasion left...A prisoner who was compared to Al Capone by a judge after being convicted for tax evasion left...
Despite Russian bombardment, the cafés remain open, couples buy homes and settle down and the city adapts to its new normal
newThe sun was out, the cafés and parks were full, while everywhere in central Kharkiv there were signs of life, blossoming. A newly married couple posed for photographs, the bride bashful in a white dress. Students celebrated their graduation, giddy with the endless possibilities that stretched...The sun was out, the cafés and parks were full, while everywhere in central Kharkiv there were signs of life, blossoming. A newly married couple posed for photographs, the bride bashful in a white dress. Students celebrated their graduation, giddy with the endless possibilities that stretched...The sun was out, the cafés and parks were full, while everywhere in central Kharkiv there were signs of life, blossoming. A...
Jordan Bardella, the president of the populist right National Rally, has written an open letter to French voters urging them to give him an absolute majority in this week’s parliamentary elections. Bardella, 28, the party’s candidate for the post of prime minister, depicted himself as the guardian of order in the face of extremist...Jordan Bardella, the president of the populist right National Rally, has written an open letter to French voters urging them to give him an absolute majority in this week’s parliamentary elections. Bardella, 28, the party’s candidate for the post of prime minister, depicted himself as the guardian of order in the face of extremist...Jordan Bardella, the president of the populist right National Rally, has written an open letter to French voters urging them to...
Thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem in violent protests over a Supreme Court ruling to begin enlisting the community for military service. Protesters targeted an Israeli minister’s car during the demonstration on Sunday night, which turned angrier over the course of the evening...Thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem in violent protests...Thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem in violent protests...
President Biden was cloistered at Camp David with his family on Sunday amid the continuing fallout from his debate...President Biden was cloistered at Camp David with his family on Sunday amid the continuing...President Biden was cloistered at Camp David with his family on Sunday amid the continuing...
Family ties are famously crucial to the mafia and two rival mobster mothers have used social media to prove the point...Family ties are famously crucial to the mafia and two rival mobster mothers have used social...Family ties are famously crucial to the mafia and two rival mobster mothers have used social...
PHOTOGRAPHY
My new book This Train,, published by Mack, looks back to my time on the road, travelling with my son Casper, and the trains I photographed because of his love for them. I had always made work on the road, so when Casper was born in 2004, I...My new book This Train,, published by Mack, looks back to my time on the road, travelling with...My new book This Train,, published by Mack, looks back to my time on the road, travelling with...
Aircraft maker is buying the supplier it spun off in 2005 as it acts to end its safety problems and shore up its production line
Boeing has agreed to buy Spirit AeroSystems in a $4.7 billion all-share deal as it attempts to move on from a production crisis. Spirit, which Boeing spun off in 2005, made the door plug that blew out in mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet on January 5, exposing safety and quality problems and slowing output at Boeing. According to a subsequent investigation...Boeing has agreed to buy Spirit AeroSystems in a $4.7 billion all-share deal as it attempts to...Boeing has agreed to buy Spirit AeroSystems in a $4.7 billion all-share deal as it attempts to...
analysis
Boeing’s swoop on Spirit AeroSystems places a question mark over the future of one of Belfast’s most important...Boeing’s swoop on Spirit AeroSystems places a question mark over the future of one of Belfast’s most important employers, a high-tech manufacturing plant that governments have been eager to support financially in the knowledge that such good-quality jobs help to underpin the Northern Ireland peace process. Spirit...Boeing’s swoop on Spirit AeroSystems places a question mark over the future of one of Belfast’s most important employers, a...
Simon French | comment
Sustainable and ethical investing is back in the headlines. After a period during which a European energy crisis and...Sustainable and ethical investing is back in the headlines. After a period during which a...Sustainable and ethical investing is back in the headlines. After a period during which a...
David Aikman and Richard Barwell | comment
Clare Lombardelli takes up her role today as the new deputy governor for monetary policy at the Bank of England and...Clare Lombardelli takes up her role today as the new deputy governor for monetary policy at the...Clare Lombardelli takes up her role today as the new deputy governor for monetary policy at the...
English wine is an industry in ferment. Investment in new and existing vineyards is accelerating, businesses have started changing hands, high-net-worth individuals are sitting on big stakes and its sparkling wines are being exported worldwide.English wine is an industry in ferment. Investment in new and existing vineyards is accelerating...English wine is an industry in ferment. Investment in new and existing vineyards is accelerating...
Julian Richer | comment
HOW I MADE IT
FT Pipeline Systems, a business launched in 1982 by Second World War veterans, supplies parts to repair Britain’s broken water and sewerage systems
RECRUITMENT
Ex-forces hires are increasingly attractive to UK businesses hoping to boost sluggish growth rates. But how can they be recruited?
Could calling in the military solve the UK’s productivity crisis? With record sickness levels, underinvestment and an absence of joined-up policymaking, productivity in this country has barely grown since the 2007-2008 financial crisis. However, with their aptitude of getting stuff done, ex-forces hires are increasingly attractive to businesses hoping to boost...Could calling in the military solve the UK’s productivity crisis? With record sickness levels...Could calling in the military solve the UK’s productivity crisis? With record sickness levels...
recruitment | six from the best
Former Lieutenant Colonel Neil Jurd OBE taught leadership at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and led on overseas...Former Lieutenant Colonel Neil Jurd OBE taught leadership at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and led on overseas operations. Now chief executive at the experiential leadership training company LeaderConnect and author of The Leadership Book, these are his tips to lead with military precision. 1. Have a...Former Lieutenant Colonel Neil Jurd OBE taught leadership at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and led on overseas operations.
Euro 2024
Jude Bellingham is to be investigated for a “potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct” after he made a seemingly lewd gesture following his dramatic equaliser in England’s round-of-16 win over Slovakia at Euro 2024. In a statement on Monday, Uefa said it had launched a...Jude Bellingham is to be investigated for a “potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct” after he made a seemingly lewd gesture following his dramatic equaliser in England’s round-of-16 win over Slovakia at Euro 2024. In a statement on Monday, Uefa said it had launched a...Jude Bellingham is to be investigated for a “potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct” after he made a...
matt lawton
Our party arrives in Kyiv on a train they call “The Bravery Express” but pulling into the station on an adjacent platform are the real men of courage. It is the medical train that transports Ukraine’s fallen heroes back from the front line, and it is met by a convoy of more than 20 ambulances for the wounded as well as an unmarked truck for...Our party arrives in Kyiv on a train they call “The Bravery Express” but pulling into the station on an adjacent platform are the real men of courage. It is the medical train that transports Ukraine’s fallen heroes back from the front line, and it is met by a convoy of more than 20 ambulances for the wounded as well as an unmarked truck for...Our party arrives in Kyiv on a train they call “The Bravery Express” but pulling into the station on an adjacent platform are...
carl lewis interview | Rick Broadbent
Fittingly for a man who made his name by running the 100 metres, Carl Lewis was in a straight-talking mood after seeing his British protégé deliver in the murk of Manchester. Louie Hinchliffe, a man with distinctive hair and unorthodox style, had just won the UK title and booked his place at the Olympics. He is 21...Fittingly for a man who made his name by running the 100 metres, Carl Lewis was in a...Fittingly for a man who made his name by running the 100 metres, Carl Lewis was in a...
euro 2024 | PAUL HIRST
molly hudson
Of all the wisdom Jos Verstappen imparted on his young son as they drove around Europe to take part in karting...Of all the wisdom Jos Verstappen imparted on his young son as they drove around Europe to take...Of all the wisdom Jos Verstappen imparted on his young son as they drove around Europe to take...
euro 2024 | martin samuel
Some may think they did it despite him. Some may imagine they did it for him. A precious few may even believe they...Some may think they did it despite him. Some may imagine they did it for him. A precious few may...Some may think they did it despite him. Some may imagine they did it for him. A precious few may...
tour de france | david walsh
Halfway up the second ascent of San Luca in Bologna, 14km from the finish, Adam Yates moved to the front of the elite group that included his team leader Tadej Pogacar and arch-enemy Jonas Vingegaard. Yates’s job was to up the pace on the steep 1.9km climb so that when his team-mate accelerated, the others might already be at their limit. Pogacar waited, his foot on the...Halfway up the second ascent of San Luca in Bologna, 14km from the finish, Adam Yates moved to...Halfway up the second ascent of San Luca in Bologna, 14km from the finish, Adam Yates moved to...
Jonny Bairstow’s form has gone backwards and he needs a break from international cricket to try to “get back to his...Jonny Bairstow’s form has gone backwards and he needs a break from international cricket to try to “get back to his best”, according to Rob Key. England’s managing director of men’s cricket defended the decision to drop the 100-cap Bairstow and the wicketkeeper Ben Foakes from the 14-man squad for the first Test...Jonny Bairstow’s form has gone backwards and he needs a break from international cricket to try to “get back to his best”...
THE Ruck podcast special
wimbledon | jannik sinner interview
BILL EDGAR | EUROS IN NUMBERS
England’s 2-1 win over Slovakia was their first match since the 1966 World Cup final in which they have scored twice...England’s 2-1 win over Slovakia was their first match since the 1966 World Cup final in which...England’s 2-1 win over Slovakia was their first match since the 1966 World Cup final in which...
euro 2024 | ian hawkey
Murat Yakin, the head coach of Switzerland, paused the usual routines of preparation last week to join his players in...Murat Yakin, the head coach of Switzerland, paused the usual routines of preparation last week to...Murat Yakin, the head coach of Switzerland, paused the usual routines of preparation last week to...
olympics
There is always something special about witnessing the first bloom of a rare talent and on a cold, grey day in Manchester a teenage dream was realised. Phoebe Gill, a schoolgirl from St Albans who only turned 17 two months ago, won the UK 800m title and booked her place at the Olympic Games. It was a race flushed with mind-boggling promise. Gill’s run was strong...There is always something special about witnessing the first bloom of a rare talent and on a cold...There is always something special about witnessing the first bloom of a rare talent and on a cold...
euro 2024 | match report
It was all in the plan. Bukayo Saka at left back. Only one in midfield. On with big Ivan Toney and long throws...It was all in the plan. Bukayo Saka at left back. Only one in midfield. On with big Ivan Toney and long throws launched into Slovakia’s box. And the real bit of genius was not to put a shot on target for the first 95 minutes. One-nil Slovakia with only seconds to go? No worries. Keep calm and carry on, England. It...It was all in the plan. Bukayo Saka at left back. Only one in midfield. On with big Ivan Toney and long throws launched into...
wimbledon | Annabel croft
Last week I was fortunate to watch up close the performances of Emma Raducanu as she reached the quarter-finals of...Last week I was fortunate to watch up close the performances of Emma Raducanu as she reached the...Last week I was fortunate to watch up close the performances of Emma Raducanu as she reached the...
Stuart Barnes
International rugby needs players like Marcus Smith. So says Scott Robertson, who takes charge of the All Blacks for...International rugby needs players like Marcus Smith. So says Scott Robertson, who takes charge of...International rugby needs players like Marcus Smith. So says Scott Robertson, who takes charge of...
Euro 2024 | James Gheerbrant
There have been better Spain teams, more regal Spain teams, probably Spain teams more dizzying and deadening to play against. But watching here as Luis de la Fuente’s cast of young stars and old stagers calligraphed this tournament with their magic, you couldn’t help thinking: has there ever been a more purely exciting Spain team, a more fun Spain team to watch? By the...There have been better Spain teams, more regal Spain teams, probably Spain teams more dizzying...There have been better Spain teams, more regal Spain teams, probably Spain teams more dizzying...
wimbledon | grigor dimitrov interview
February 19, 2024, was a dark day for those who love to see a one-handed backhand in full flow on a tennis court. For...February 19, 2024, was a dark day for those who love to see a one-handed backhand in full flow on a tennis court. For the first time since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973, not a single member of the world’s top ten possessed this aesthetically pleasing stroke in their arsenal. Step forward Grigor Dimitrov...February 19, 2024, was a dark day for those who love to see a one-handed backhand in full flow on a tennis court. For the first...
t20 world cup | mike atherton
When the great prizes land early in life and easily, can they ever be properly appreciated and savoured? Ask an author who writes a bestseller with their first book and then never sells well again. Or an actor who wins a major award in their youth, and strives valiantly but in vain thereafter. Think of those things and then think of Rohit Sharma, India’s T20 World...When the great prizes land early in life and easily, can they ever be properly appreciated and...When the great prizes land early in life and easily, can they ever be properly appreciated and...
county championship
Jamie Smith marked his call-up to the England Test squad with a dominant century for Surrey on the first day of their...Jamie Smith marked his call-up to the England Test squad with a dominant century for Surrey on the first day of their top-of-the-table clash against Essex (Elizabeth Ammon writes). It is not hard to see what has made the 23-year-old so attractive to the England selectors. He has all the attributes to thrive in Test...Jamie Smith marked his call-up to the England Test squad with a dominant century for Surrey on the first day of their...
Here’s what we’ll remember about this year’s festival
first person
After a slight issue with her vision while jogging turned out to be cancer, Tessa Parry-Wingfield found herself on a journey that was by turns terrifying and darkly humorous
interview
The Great British Menu champion tells Tony Turnbull how he overcame Lyme disease
She’s no-nonsense and fun. She won’t want the flummery of being a princess, says Hilary Rose
Why wear your politics on your sleeve when you can state it on flip-flops, asks Jane Mulkerrins
ASK PROFESSOR TANYA BYRON
My daughter is ending her first year of her university course and has announced to us that she is dropping out. We...My daughter is ending her first year of her university course and has announced to us that she is...My daughter is ending her first year of her university course and has announced to us that she is...
Ask the experts
I have recently left the military after about 26 years and will soon get my military pension. I think it will be...I have recently left the military after about 26 years and will soon get my military pension. I...I have recently left the military after about 26 years and will soon get my military pension. I...
MindGames
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
Verdi’s second opera, usually translated as “King for a Day”, itself lasted only a day when first staged in 1840 at La Scala, Milan. This very high-profile flop nearly persuaded the young composer to give up altogether. He didn’t, but he also didn’t attempt to write another comedy for 50 years. Un giorno di regno hasn’t been revived much since. But rarity value is not...Verdi’s second opera, usually translated as “King for a Day”, itself lasted only a day when first...Verdi’s second opera, usually translated as “King for a Day”, itself lasted only a day when first...
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
It’s not every day that an orchestra must perform for an hour and a half, faces obscured either by masks or burglar’s...It’s not every day that an orchestra must perform for an hour and a half, faces obscured either by masks or burglar’s war paint, dressed in what seemed to be items from the fire sale of a bankrupt Norwegian gents’ outfitters, with a bit of tartan madness thrown in. Playing from memory, the superb Norwegian Chamber...It’s not every day that an orchestra must perform for an hour and a half, faces obscured either by masks or burglar’s war paint...
GLASTONBURY REVIEW
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
Viewing GUide
excLusIve INTERVIEW BY Matthew SYED
Fans worried the golden age of men’s tennis was over. Then along came the 21-year-old Spanish superstar — who’s looking for a girlfriend
The 12th-century Beeleigh Abbey has been lovingly restored over decades, but is being sold following the death of Christopher Foyle
INTERVIEW
From the Mitfords to Alexander McQueen and now making music: the brewery heiress’s world is anything but ordinary. Vassi Chamberlain pops round for a cup of tea
INTERVIEW
The menopause hit the presenter hard. She tells Claire Cohen about what she wish she’d known beforehand, the wonder of HRT, her husband Kenny’s cancer diagnosis — and their sex life
From golden belt buckles to red Roman socks, Stephen Fry, Mary Beard and Dominic Sandbrook make their pick
Beautifully made and able to transport anything from caviar to violins — it’s no wonder that vintage LV luggage remains a status symbol
The tennis star known for her prowess on court could just as easily have been a motocross racer
motoring
What can seat seven adults in luxury, yet rocket from 0-60 in under five seconds? David Green climbs aboard the BMW X7
Madeleine Silver is a guest of the Countess de Limburg, in her grand 500-acre Spanish family home
video
A new, direct flight is your ticket to tiny Torshavn and its enchanting landscapes of heart-stopping fjords, cinematic waterfalls and fortress-like islands
Hostels aren’t just for backpackers — they can also be perfect for parents. So is a week-long sprint in Europe with a family of five for under £1500 really possible?
A week on Cape Verde’s uncrowded beaches will cost you under £900 — and that’s during peak season
Deal’s chic, colourful pier is great for a family getaway, especially this cottage complete with its own ship’s mast, palm tree and sunshine-inspired colour scheme
Kathy Lette | Travel Troubleshooter
Kathy Lette on what it means when your partner opts for a solo upgrade and how to navigate the first holiday as a stepmum
video
The Cotswolds is a lot bigger than most think. It’s spread over five counties — Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire — and provides visitors with countless golden villages and sprawling estates to explore. The...The Cotswolds is a lot bigger than most think. It’s spread over five counties — Oxfordshire...The Cotswolds is a lot bigger than most think. It’s spread over five counties — Oxfordshire...
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
WHOEVER dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91.1 (NIV) Bible verses...WHOEVER dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm...WHOEVER dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm...
law report
Supreme Court
Published on July 1, 2024
Sharp Corporation Ltd v Viterra BV (previously known as Glencore...Supreme Court
Published on July 1, 2024
Sharp Corporation Ltd v Viterra BV (previously known...Supreme Court
Published on July 1, 2024
Sharp Corporation Ltd v Viterra BV (previously known...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
The Scottish Conservatives have descended into civil war days before the general election, with senior figures calling for a clear-out at the top of the party. In a scathing attack on the hierarchy, which goes beyond Douglas Ross, the outgoing leader, one source described the election campaign as...The Scottish Conservatives have descended into civil war days before the general election, with senior figures calling for a clear-out at the top of the party. In a scathing attack on the hierarchy, which goes beyond Douglas Ross, the outgoing leader, one source described the election campaign as...The Scottish Conservatives have descended into civil war days before the general election, with senior figures calling for a...
She is, Anas Sarwar says, his party’s “secret weapon”. The Scottish Labour leader is talking about a young woman called Cathleen Murray who follows him wherever he goes on the campaign trail, her camera always at the ready. The 27-year-old’s job is to upload videos of the MSP on to the web. And she does this fast. Within half an hour of her...She is, Anas Sarwar says, his party’s “secret weapon”. The Scottish Labour leader is talking about a young woman called Cathleen Murray who follows him wherever he goes on the campaign trail, her camera always at the ready. The 27-year-old’s job is to upload videos of the MSP on to the web. And she does this fast. Within half an hour of her...She is, Anas Sarwar says, his party’s “secret weapon”. The Scottish Labour leader is talking about a young woman called...
comment | Iain macwhirter
Headline writers are struggling for superlatives to apply to the coming Labour victory on Thursday. “Starmergeddon” is already becoming overused. They’ll need even more expressive language to describe the collapse of the Conservative Party, once regarded as the most successful election-winning machine in UK history.Headline writers are struggling for superlatives to apply to the coming Labour victory on Thursday.Headline writers are struggling for superlatives to apply to the coming Labour victory on Thursday.
This will be the most closely fought election in Scotland for decades, with the prospect of major changes in the fortunes of the three main parties. The SNP took 45 per cent of all votes cast in Scotland at the last election in 2019, while the...This will be the most closely fought election in Scotland for decades, with the prospect of major...This will be the most closely fought election in Scotland for decades, with the prospect of major...
![Rana Yared, general partner at Balderton Capital, said the firm believes “that offering [parental support] gets better outcomes for founders, therefore better investment returns”](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F88832cb3-e0c8-4882-b517-6bc038225082.jpg?crop=2591%2C1728%2C205%2C88&resize=320)
Comment
Farage will still dominate after the election
Trevor Phillips
The Reform leader has been the standout success of the campaign and a union with the Conservatives is inevitable
Edward Lucas
Betting on politics is dangerous for all of us
Libby Purves
It’s a bit like 1997, but without the optimism
Helen Rumbelow | Notebook
The one thing I am grateful to Tories for
Sonia Friedman
Show must go on by bringing back tax-free shopping
Leading Articles
Muddled Middle
The Liberal Democrats present a confused programme on economic, fiscal and foreign policy. Such a lack of realism ought to cost the party electoral support
Iranian Apathy
Despite voter disillusionment, Iran’s presidential election is a consequential moment
Brit Pack
The next generation of young British thespians is set to take centre stage in America
letter to the editor
Decision time for Democrats as Biden falters
Sir, In the wake of the TV debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it is clear to all objective observers that the president needs to step down to make way for a younger candidate who will have a chance of winning in November (news, ...Sir, In the wake of the TV debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it is clear to all...Sir, In the wake of the TV debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it is clear to all...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: Wimbledon tennis tournament begins; Nationwide Building Society publishes its house price index for June and Q2 regional data; changes to the price cap on consumer energy bills take effect this month with the cap falling to £1,568 for a typical household, down from £1,690.
Belgium: Hungary assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, until the end of December.
Canada: Canada Day national holiday.
On this day
In 1867 the British North America Act created the dominion of Canada; in 1899 the Gideons evangelical Christian association was founded, in Wisconsin, US. The first Bible in a hotel room in Montana in 1908. By 2015 more than two billion had been distributed; in 1921 the Communist Party of China was founded — although later documents revealed the first national congress was actually held on July 23-31. On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was established, with Mao Zedong its leader from March 20, 1943, until his death on September 9, 1976; in 1967 BBC2 began colour television broadcasts, with the Wimbledon tennis championships.
Nature notes
It is the end of the flowering season for man orchids, which bloom later in the UK, at the northern edge of their range, than in the Mediterranean. This curious species is extremely rare in the UK but is spotted occasionally, usually on short, chalky grasslands. When one turns up it often causes a stir on social media because of the extraordinary shape of the lower lips of the greenish-yellow flowers, which resemble tiny human torsos, heads hidden, limbs dangling down. Like all orchids, they have a complex symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi that is not yet fully understood. It is likely to be why they need undisturbed and unimproved soil, and why they are rarely spotted.
Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison
Birthdays today
Carl Lewis, pictured, athlete, nine-time Olympic gold medallist, 63; Pamela Anderson, actress, Baywatch (1992-97, 2017), 57; Leslie Caron, actress, Gigi (1958), 93; Sir Wayne David, Labour MP for Caerphilly (2001-May 2024), 67; Rosie Duffield, Labour MP for Canterbury (2017-May 2024), 53; Malcolm Elliott, sprint cyclist, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist (1982), 63; John Ellis, theoretical physicist, Clerk Maxwell professor of theoretical physics, King’s College London, 78; Sir Vernon Ellis, chairman, British Council (2010-16), 77; Trevor Eve, actor, Waking the Dead (2000-11), 73; Iain Ferguson, chairman, Crest Nicholson (housebuilder), 69; Lord (David) Filkin, former Labour minister, 80; Carl Fogarty, motorcyclist, four-time superbike world championship winner, 59; Prof Dame Julia Goodfellow, molecular biologist, 73; Jasset Ormsby-Gore, Lord Harlech, government whip (lord in waiting, HM Household), 38; Debbie Harry, singer, Heart of Glass (1979), 79; Dame Julia Higgins, polymer scientist, emeritus professor and senior research investigator, Imperial College London, 82; Mark Hunter, rower, Olympic gold medallist (2008), 46; Prof Sir David Lane, scientist involved in discovering the cancer gene, 72; Richard Lloyd, deputy chairman, Financial Conduct Authority, chairman, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, 59; Jean Marsh, actress and co-creator, Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-75, 2010-12), 90; Toshihiro Mibe, president and chief executive, Honda Motor Company, 63; Victoria Miro, director, Victoria Miro galleries, London, 79; Stephen Neidle, emeritus professor of chemical biology and Cancer Research UK professorial fellow, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 78; Daniel Ricciardo, racing driver, 35; Alan Ruck, actor, Succession (2018-23), 68; Garry Schofield, rugby league player, England (1984-95), 59; Léa Seydoux, actress, No Time to Die (2021), 39; Twyla Tharp, dancer and choreographer, 83.