Factory farm revolution looms

Martin Hickman: A battle is under way in the British countryside to fight off plans for massive factory farms that would house thousands of animals in industrialised units without access to traditional grazing

Michael McCarthy: How long before we see indoor units of up to 40,000 cows?

A humpback whale dives near the island of Vava'u in Tonga in the south Pacific

A victory for the whalers, a defeat for humanity

Philip Hoare: The IWC's decision to retain its ban on whaling does not mean that the killings will stop. Quite the reverse

We all live in an oil slick now

Johann Hari: Step by step, US politicians on all sides become an oiligarchy that sees moving off petrol as irrational: turning off the spigot would turn off their election funds

A hard chair equals a hard heart

Jeremy Laurance: Want to talk tough? Sit on an uncomfortable chair – for the texture of objects around us affects our behaviour

David Cameron speaks to sailors on HMS Ark Royal in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the ship is taking part in centenary celebrations of the Canadian navy. He will attend the G8 and G20 summits in Toronto today

'Revive the trade deal', Cameron urges summit

David Cameron marked his debut on the global stage with a warning to leaders of the world's most powerful countries that their regular summits have become "grand talking shops".

Leading article: There is still a common global interest

Republicans exploit sacking to challenge Afghan strategy

David Usborne: McCain leads assault on Obama's decision to reveal exit strategy from warzone

Don't miss...

Ms Leaders
The 15 women taking over the world
Private viewing
Our updated tour of the property market

Check mate!
Ten things to know about the Lewis Chessmen
Ones to watch
The festival artists to listen out for

Glasto at 40!
From hippies to Britpop: 40 years of Glastonbury
Break a leg
Play-acting: Football's most memorable dives

On the ball
The ten women to watch at Wimbledon
Italy v Slovakia
Player ratings following Italy's shock exit

Germany v Ghana
Player ratings after Germany top the group
Not just for fans
Try our World Cup quiz - and the alternative version

Hughes threatens 'trouble' for the coalition over treatment of poor

Nigel Morris and Richard Garner: Liberal Democrats' disquiet at Osborne's Budget grows

How lessons in the dark arts of special ops led McChrystal to the edge

Kim Sengupta: From watching 'Kill TV' to leading undercover night raids, the two-star general was on a brutal, bleak journey

Penalties? We're ready this time, says Defoe

Striker will start again alongside Rooney – and hopes Capello's spot-kick regime will pay off

Where are the women to rock the music industry?

Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and Florence Welch have towered over pop music in recent years. So why, asks Fiona Sturges, does the backstage arena remain almost entirely dominated by men?

1f18ba48-98bd-48c1-b14a-9a08dff37add

Vanessa Paradis: Heartbreaker with a life that looks like paradise

In her new movie the beautiful pop star, actor, and wife of Johnny Depp plays a woman who also has it all, until things start to go wrong.

Greece shakes the markets again as Bank warns of eurozone shocks

Fears that the Greek government may soon have to tap its €110bn eurozone/IMF rescue package sent the cost of insuring Greek government bonds against default soaring to record highs yesterday – and hit UK banks shares in London badly, thanks to the "contagion" factor.

Payout for hospital chief after 90 superbug deaths

A senior judge has delivered a stinging rebuke to the Department of Health over its treatment of a former head of an NHS trust that experienced the worst superbug outbreak in memory.

YouTube video views hit record high in US

Google-owned YouTube served up a record-high 14.6 billion online videos in May to US Internet users who, on average, watched nearly 200 videos per person, comScore said Thursday.

Coalition axe expansion of free school meals

Children from poorer homes are having to take it in turns to eat school dinners because of their cost, inspectors revealed today.

Number of undergraduates set to plummet

Giant China algae slick getting bigger: report

A floating expanse of green algae floating off China's eastern seaboard is growing and spreading further along the coast, state-run media has reported.

Victory for anti-whaling campaigners

Partners

Holiday offers
Holidays for the discerning traveller from the Independent Travel directory
Ticket service
Ticket Exchange Buy and sell your gig, theatre and sports tickets here

Executive Jobs
Largest selection of senior jobs in the UK and Europe
Compare finance
Compare hundreds of deals on top finance offers

Dating
Register for free to find your perfect partner with Independent Singles
Finance guides
Where should you invest your money and when? Get a Free Guide.

Travel Planner
Compare cheap holidays, flights, hotels and car rentals to find the best deal.
Business Finder
Search for local businesses in your area

Fans delight as Apple launches latest iPhone

Over a thousand eager technophiles queued outside Apple's Regent Street store yesterday, as the group officially launched the latest version of its iconic iPhone.

Thinner, faster – and the battery lasts (Rated 4/ 5 )
Smartphones drive Imagination's profits

Pregnant women who fast for Ramadan risk damage to their babies, study finds

Pregnant muslim women who fast during Ramadan are likely to have smaller babies who will be more prone to learning disabilities in adulthood, according to new research.

Chris Sievey: The man behind the papier-mâch� mask of Frank Sidebottom

The Manchester musician and comedian Chris Sievey brought a surreal sense of humour, amazing attention to detail and great fun and dedication to both stages of his career.