Bleak outlook for US farmers – and Trump tariffs could make it worse

Many US midwestern grain farmers will lose money this year after reaping a bumper crop, and the outlook for their future income is bleak.US farmers harvested some of the largest corn and soybean crops in history this year. Big harvests traditionally weigh on crop prices because of plentiful supply. And those price pressures comes at a time when costs remain persistently high to grow corn and soybeans, the US’s most valuable crops.That double whammy is hurting farmers

And the UK winners of the 2024 awards for appalling customer service are …

For years I have lived a lie. I have lambasted corporate Britain for letting the populace down. I’ve self-righteously blamed airlines for leaving passengers grounded, I’ve hounded energy firms for slugging pensioners with invented bills and exposed councils and insurers for pushing households into homelessness. These last 12 months it’s dawned on me that my ire has been misplaced. The fault lies squarely with consumers and their penchant for illicit activity

‘All people could do was hope the nerds would fix it’: the global panic over the millennium bug, 25 years on

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, 25 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II stepped off a private barge to arrive at London’s Millennium Dome for its grand opening ceremony. Dressed in a pumpkin-orange coat, she entered the venue with Prince Philip, taking her place alongside Tony and Cherie Blair and 12,000 guests to celebrate the dawn of a new millennium. At the stroke of midnight, Big Ben began to chime and 40 tonnes of fireworks were launched from 16 barges lined along the river. The crowd joined hands, preparing to sing Auld Lang Syne. For a few long moments, the Queen was neglected – she flapped her arms out like a toddler wanting to be lifted up, before Blair and Philip noticed her, took a hand each, and the singing began

Michael Adex: the entrepreneur aiming to inspire black-founded tech startups

He is the man behind 3bn streams, a string of chart-topping artists – and Wetherspoon’s newest brand of tequila.Ask Michael Adex how he has achieved all this by the age of 28 and he gives some credit to his “immovable” will to make things happen.But the Manchester-raised entertainment mogul, who first tasted success as the talent manager behind rapper Aitch before founding a talent agency, record label and global music publishing business, is acutely aware that no matter how powerful the vision, or how good the idea, fledgling companies need cash to survive.The UK aims to be a leader in “deep tech”, the field of innovation that includes advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. But the pathway from bright idea to commercial success can be a fraught one, especially for black entrepreneurs

Katie Boulter dreading match against fiance Alex de Minaur in United Cup

The British No 1, Katie Boulter, admitted she was hoping to avoid having to play her Australian fiance, Alex de Minaur, after leading Great Britain to victory over Argentina in the United Cup.Boulter teamed up with Charlie Broom to clinch the tie with a 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Tomás Martín Etcheverry and María Lourdes Carlé in the decisive mixed doubles rubber.With their first victory, Great Britain will now shift their attention to their tussle with Australia on Wednesday. The Australian team is led by De Minaur and also boasts Matt Ebden, the men’s doubles Olympic gold medallist, meaning Boulter is unlikely to compete directly against her fiance. Still, both are determined to gain bragging rights from the tie and, on Monday, De Minaur was courtside as Boulter closed out her win

LeBron James at 40: NBA’s brightest star stares down the dying of the light

LeBron James’ birthday on Monday will make him the first NBA player to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. Knowing when to walk away may be the hardest part of his journeyIt’s Christmas Day and a scrum of journalists surround a smiling, exhausted LeBron James in the visiting locker room at Chase Center in San Francisco, minutes after the latest installment in a decades-spanning catalog of thrilling battles with his friend and foe, Stephen Curry. James is asked, in light of all the recent hand-wringing about the state of the NBA as an entertainment product, what he thinks the “good stuff” is in the league on a given night. “LeBron and Steph”, he shoots back, grinning. And he’s not wrong