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Highlights

The monstrous myths that have hijacked the life of Sylvia Plath

Head shot of Robert McCrum

The latest book on the poet casts her in a world of agony and repressed domestic violence at the hands of her husband Ted Hughes – a dark lord of a callous patriarchy. It’s a familiar tale, says Robert McCrum, who knew Hughes, but turning a bitter marital breakdown into a mythical yarn does her a great disservice

<p>The latest rereading of Sylvia Plath’s tragic life is a biographical take in which the author suggests a rare communion with her subject </p>

<p>Scientists believe we experience dramatic ageing in our mid-forties and early sixties </p>

Health and Wellbeing

Humans experience rapid ageing at 44 and 60 – here’s how to slow it

Inside Story

The real reason Steven Bartlett became the man we love to hate

<p>US vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has made a habit of mocking the former president Donald Trump </p>

How Kamala Harris became Donald Trump’s supertroll and broke him

How Western democracy could collapse in our lifetime

The Longer Read

<p>Close shave: most men can’t get away with stubble without it looking like trouble</p>

This is what women really think about your ‘cool summer stubble’

As Prince William appeared sporting a new hirsute look, for all those who swooned on the internet, there were the same number of ladies rolling their eyes at the ‘convict chic’ of it, says Rowan Pelling

<p>Donald Trump, Mike Pence and faith leaders say a prayer during the signing of a proclamation in the Oval Office in 2017 </p>

Meet the evangelicals who think Trump is an apostle who will reclaim America for Christ

<p>The Winchcombe meteorite seen above the village of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire on 28 February, 2021</p>

A new age for the discovery of secret spacecraft and lost meteorites

Voices

Health and Wellbeing

<p>Many of us are still not getting sunlight – even in the summer </p>

Fitness and wellbeing

How to have a great day at work: Keep taking your vitamin D tablets

<p>Cricketer Graham Thorpe pictured in Sydney in 2022 </p>

Health and Wellbeing

Graham Thorpe’s death shows how misunderstood male depression is

<p>Studies show a fermented-food diet increases immunity and overall health</p>

Fitness and wellbeing

The simple food trick which helps with weight loss and mental health

Culture

<p>A calling: before Bruce Chatwin became a celebrated travel writer in his thirties, he worked for the auction house Sotheby’s </p>

Book of a lifetime: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin

<p>‘I’ll be back’: Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator</p>

Why The Terminator has never felt more relevant, 40 years on

<p>Margaret Forster wrote two volumes of memoirs, ‘Hidden Lives’ and ‘Precious Lives’, as well as many novels, biographies and literary pieces </p>

Book of a lifetime: Hidden Lives by Margaret Forster

<p>Ismat Chughtai made it clear that she had no intention of ignoring difficult subjects </p>

Book of a lifetime: The Quilt and Other Stories by Ismat Chughtai

John RentoulThe Independent’s chief political commentator

<p>It is unfair to blame Sunak for the failings of May, Truss and Johnson, but that is how the party system works</p>

Is this Britain’s worst government ever? Not compared to this lot...

<p>For young Mr Men fans in France, the adventures of Mr Nonsense come in a different guise</p>

Errors & Omissions

Mea Culpa: A bizarrely overused headline word

<p>One theme that was more prominent than in the past was the need for more civility in public life</p>

There’s one important thing our new MPs can all agree on

Andrew GricePolitical columnist who keeps his ear to the ground inside Westminster

<p>Labour is not ‘caving in’ to its union paymasters, as some critics claim</p>

Labour will have to learn to say ‘No’ – or risk being walked over

<p>Keir Starmer has been commended for his handling of the riots so far </p>

The big question for Starmer after the riots is: What’s next?

<p>Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick suggested people shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ in the street should be arrested</p>

The riots are exposing just how irrelevant the Tories have become

Chris BlackhurstRenowned business journalist and former editor of The Independent

<p>The riots are symptomatic of much that is wrong with the country Labour has inherited </p>

Business Comment

The riots showed that governments can act quickly – but who will pay?

<p>Three men stole the work from a roof in Peckham </p>

Why the thieves who stole a Banksy may have made a huge mistake

<p>‘Rishi will regret cosying up to Musk now he’s become so toxic…’ </p>

Is this the end to the ‘bromance’ between Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk?

Sean O'GradyAssociate Editor of the Independent, known for his columns on politics and economics

<p>Anything is possible in a Conservative leadership election </p>

Politics Explained

Is James Cleverly the new frontrunner in the Tory leadership election?

<p>The slim front light bar with six white LEDs gives the KGM Torres EVX the look of having dragon’s teeth – which is apt, given their badge </p>

Southern comfort: KGM Torres EVX

<p>It may be just as well that Harris has some populist lines of her own to promote</p>

Politics Explained

Should Harris fight fire with fire in the battle over economic policy?

Editorials

<p>Certain non-violent offenders are to be released after 40 per cent of their tariffs, rather than the usual 50 per cent</p>

The Independent View

It will be a long stretch until our jails are fit for purpose

<p>The home secretary should ensure her review is as ‘rapid’ as she promises</p>

The Independent View

Yvette Cooper is right, the government must do more to fight extremism

<p>A damaged monument to Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin stands in a central square in Sudzha, Kursk</p>

The Independent View

Kursk’s damaged Lenin statue is a monument to Putin’s incompetence

Politics Explained

<p>Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, whose members are to vote on a pay offer to end industrial action </p>

Politics Explained

Does the railway pay deal mean strikes are over? Don’t count on it...

<p>The prime minister visits the Metropolitan Police Command and Control special operations room at Lambeth police headquarters earlier this month </p>

Politics Explained

Why is Starmer taking flak from Tory leadership hopefuls over riots?

<p>The chancellor Rachel Reeves is promising action</p>

Politics Explained

What is the answer to Britain’s labour shortage?

<p>More than 700 migrants crossed the Channel on Sunday, as two people died attempting the journey</p>

Politics explained

What can the government do to turn the tide of Channel casualties?

Alan RusbridgerPulitzer Prize winning journalist and former editor-in-chief of The Guardian

<p>Elon Musk bought the site in 2022 </p>

What would happen if we all abandoned Elon Musk’s toxic platform?

<p>In the first six months of Musk’s ownership of X, revenues fell by nearly 40 per cent </p>

Musk is an arsonist with a box of matches – politicians must stand up

<p>One of the first things Musk did when buying Twitter was to scrap or downsize the teams that tried, however ineffectively, to make it a place of decent and honest discourse</p>

Elon Musk’s misinformation machine made Southport much worse

Mary DejevskyExpert on foreign affairs, Russian politics and diplomatic relations between the Kremlin and the west

<p>Keir Starmer spoke to Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday evening to urge him to refrain from attacking Israel</p>

Will Keir Starmer calling the president of Iran make any difference?

<p>Walz is funny, a good orator and was the first to call Trump ‘weird’</p>

We’ve never seen a running mate quite like Tim Walz before

Prisoner swap is a triumph – but it may be a sign of something greater

Jon SopelFormer BBC North America Editor and co-host of the News Agents podcast

<p>Kamala Harris may be rising in the polls but she is under growing pressure to start talking policy </p>

The uncomfortable truth is Trump has the edge on Kamala in a key area

<p>The race is not the one that Donald Trump thought he would be running</p>

Trump has no idea how to handle Kamala – and now she’s laughing at him

<p>‘Joe Biden’s resignation letter contained praise for his veep, Kamala Harris – but there was one sentence conspicuously absent: there was no endorsement of her to be his successor. Nothing’ </p>

Biden was a drag to the Democrats, but Kamala Harris may be even worse

America

<p>Kamala Harris addressing a crowd in Glendale, Arizona</p>

Why Trump should fear the women going all out for Kamala Harris

<p>Donald Trump, Mike Pence and faith leaders say a prayer during the signing of a proclamation in the Oval Office in 2017 </p>

Meet the evangelicals who think Trump will reclaim America for Christ

<p>The conspiracist YouTuber attends the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on 18 July 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin</p>

How Russell Brand became a Trump-supporting conspiritualist

News analysis

<p>It’s understandable Joe Biden would want to hold onto the top job – who wouldn’t? </p>

Jack Straw: Biden clung on for so long because power is delicious

<p>Keir Starmer seated beside Joe Biden at Nato’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington on Wednesday</p>

Britain aims to be lead European nation in Nato – but will Trump care?

<p>Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrive in Washington for the Nato summit(Stefan Rousseau/PA)</p>

Starmer enters a dangerous world and knows our army isn’t match-fit

<p>Keir Starmer chairs his first cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street</p>

Who will wield the power now Labour has its landslide?

Simon CalderThe Independent’s travel correspondent – and one of the UK’s most trusted travel journalists

<p>UK visitors to the Schengen area currently need entry and exit passport stamps</p>

What will the EU’s new entry-exit system mean for British travellers?

<p>Up to scratch? Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737, of the type which experienced the insect issue</p>

Cockroaches on a plane: Luggage missing after insect-infested flight

Travel

<p>Take advantage of rail and boat routes when travelling to and from New Zealand’s capital </p>

Can we reboot a Wellington trip for this nervous flyer?

<p>Asolo is a tranquil town in the Veneto region of northern Italy </p>

The mountain town that’s an escape from the summer crowds in Venice

<p>The green city: Valencia Cathedral </p>

Spain unlocked: Why British tourists are still welcome in Valencia

Jim WhiteFounding member of The Independent, celebrated football pundit and sports presenter

<p>‘I love you, Daddy’: Adam Peaty hugs his son George after winning silver in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke</p>

Why Paris 2024 is turning into the ‘Dadlympics’

<p>Alvaro Morata hoists the European Championship trophy aloft</p>

The one thing that made the Spanish the best footballers in the world

<p>The British legend has finally bowed out of the men’s singles at SW19 this year - so no what? </p>

Andy Murray’s body is broken – it’s time for him to retire

Sport

<p>Liddell’s untold story is not just one of glory, but one of sacrifice</p>

The tragic and untold story of ‘Chariots of Fire’ runner Eric Liddell

How hi-tech running shoes are set to rewrite Olympic records