A slow train to Manchester

With HS2 firmly on the scrap heap, Simon Calder inspects proposals from companies eager to fill the yawning gap

'We just want him to stop'

Netflix docuseries The Man with 1000 Kids’ explores the case of a sperm donor who was banned from fathering any more children. Two mothers at the centre of the controversy talk to Kevin EG Perry about how their lives were upended

Keir clocking off wouldn't make him a part-time PM

Is anyone else worried that Keir Starmer is deluding himself? The Labour leader has said that if he makes it to No 10, he hopes to continue his routine of carving out “protected time” to spend with his wife, Victoria, their 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.

Boulter and Dart advance to set up spicy Battle of Britain

With one sweeping backhand passing shot down the line, British No 1 Katie Boulter sauntered through to the second round at Wimbledon yesterday evening.

Draper marches into void as Murray departs centre stage

Under the roof on Centre Court, the symbolism felt a little too obvious.

Ruthless Gakpo leads the way as Oranje hit top form

For the first time in 16 years, the Netherlands have made it through to a European Championship quarter-final, and a showdown with Turkey in Berlin on Saturday.

Turkey stuns Austria with chaotic but deserved win

Turkey were supposed to be Euro 2020’s dark horses. Maybe everyone whose predictions looked hideously bad when they crashed out with no points and a lone goal merely got the wrong tournament.

Foreign judges urged to quit Hong Kong by mogul's son

The son of media mogul Jimmy Lai has called on all foreign judges to leave Hong Kong’s judicial system, which he claimed pressures them to go along with Beijing’s clampdown on “prodemocracy protesters”.

Beryl heads towards Jamaica leaving a trail of destruction

Hurricane Beryl roared through open waters yesterday as a category 5 storm on a path that will take it near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands after earlier making landfall in the southeast Caribbean, killing at least six people.

Orban to Zelensky: Seek a quick ceasefire with Russia

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has urged Ukraine “to consider a quick ceasefire” with Russia during his first visit to the war-torn country since its invasion by Vladimir Putin.

Russian forces launch new recruitment drive in Africa

Moscow has enlisted a new mercenary group to train paid fighters for Putin’s war in Ukraine, writes Kim Sengupta

Man who murdered two of his girlfriends jailed for life

Aman has been jailed for life for murdering two girlfriends who had both complained to the police about his violence.

Killer Letby found guilty of attempted murder of baby

Lucy Letby was forced to listen to a judge’s sentencing remarks she previously refused to hear, as she was found guilty of the attempted murder of a baby at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit.

Airline turned woman away over 'confusing' Brexit rules

UK passport holder denied boarding twice on the same day

Chief of nursing regulator stands down after four days

The nursing regulator’s new interim chief executive has stepped down just four days into the job after facing widespread staff backlash over her links to a high-profile race discrimination case.

Here's everything to watch out for once the polls close

John Rentoul on the seats worth staying up for, potential Portillo moments’ and when’s best to take a power nap

Could a postal vote delay affect the election results?

Britain’s failing public services have been something of a theme in the general election. Now, it seems an important part of the election process itself is failing, with questions over the slow delivery of ballot papers for postal voting in some areas.

Johnson returns to the trail just as campaigning finishes

Boris Johnson has lent his support to Rishi Sunak on the campaign trail as pollsters forecast their party could win a lower share of the vote than at any past general election”.

Farage leads social media with 40 billion video views

Politician much more popular online than mainstream rivals

'Silly Rishi': Tory hits out at Sunak's attack on Starmer

A former Conservative cabinet minister has branded as desperate” Rishi Sunak’s attack on Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for time with his family in Downing Street.

Sunak poll bump 'too little, too late' on road to oblivion

Rishi Sunak is on the verge of leading the Conservative Party to the worst defeat in its 346-year history, according to a new poll for The Independent.

An emergency cut short our trip - can we get a refund?

I am sorry to hear of the reason for curtailing the holiday. In such circumstances, the first issue is the arrangement for returning home early.

'Winning ugly' Raducanu evokes Three Lions spirit

It’s been two years since Emma Raducanu – 2021’s breakthrough British sporting star – strode out onto the Wimbledon stage with the weight of an expectant crowd on her shoulders.

Southgate hopes the lessons of 1966 can inspire success

As the Three Lions scrape through to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024, the England manager is drawing on history to keep his whole squad of players hungry

Shootout sends below-par Portugal into quarter-finals

The Cristiano Ronaldo show rumbled into Frankfurt, and it didn’t disappoint.

Dour France get lucky to sink Belgium in a stinker

Of course, it wasn’t pretty.

Bankers' bonuses return as families struggle with bills

The bonus boys and girls look set to make a comeback in the City of London.

Why Russia is ordering its troops to take no prisoners

Putin's commanders in Ukraine are compelling their men to murder defenceless enemies

Banksy's Glastonbury boat stunt was tasteless and lazy

Rather than Coldplay’s “spectacle of a lifetime”, or the return of Avril Lavigne, or the return (again) of the Sugababes, the Glastonbury moment that caught the nation’s attention was a tasteless stunt by Banksy.

Here's why I'm glad I caused a BA flight to be cancelled

It was all going swimmingly until we began our descent into Gatwick.