As the World Cup gets underway, millions of us will dare to dream once again.
But in a nation that currently feels fractured by politics, pressure and uncertainty, success on the pitch could mean far more than lifting a trophy. Few things unite people quite like a major tournament.
For a few precious weeks, differences are put aside as friends, families, neighbours and complete strangers share every goal, every save, and every moment of drama.
The World Cup reminds us that we have far more in common than the things that some would have us believe divide us. And there is no better place for that shared experience than one of Britain’s greatest institutions: the local pub.
With many boozers fighting for survival, the prospect of 55 million extra pints and £275million in additional takings would provide a much-needed lifeline. So for the nation, for our communities and for the great British pub, here’s hoping England and Scotland give us a summer to remember and finally bring it home.
Every mother and baby who comes safely through childbirth is something to be thankful for. But the steep rise in emergency caesareans raises questions that deserve honest answers.
What is driving such a dramatic change in the way women are giving birth when much of Europe is not seeing the same trend? And could the relentless pressure on overstretched maternity services be playing a greater role than anyone wants to acknowledge?
Nobody should feel judged for how they give birth, and doctors must always put safety first. Yet when medics warn of a culture of fear and NHS leaders admit services are struggling to cope, alarm bells should ring.
Mums deserve answers. So do the dedicated maternity staff working under immense pressure every day.
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As the ranks of the D-Day generation grow ever smaller, our debt to them only grows
Ken Hay and Henry Rice returned to Sword Beach not for recognition, but remembrance. They carry with them the memory of friends who never came home.
The greatest tribute we can pay these heroes is to remember what they fought for, what they endured and the price so many paid for our freedoms.