When the Taliban invited The Telegraph to tea

By Chris Evans,
EDITOR

Dear Reader,
The question of how to reform social care has been problematic for Boris Johnson since he promised to overhaul the system on the day he became Prime Minister. Tomorrow, he is expected to lay out how he intends to pay for his plan but is facing growing upset from within his own party over reports that he will break a manifesto pledge and increase National Insurance contributions.
Marcus Fysh, chairman of the Economic Growth Group of Conservative MPs, writes in this hard-hitting piece that he is worried his party leader is losing sight of what it means to be Conservative.
After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, leaders of the Islamist group began a charm offensive. Ben Farmer, our correspondent in Kabul, was invited for tea and given a warm welcome when he arrived unannounced at a government building. In this fascinating dispatch, he describes the surreal scene of talking to an official – before he was given a chilling warning to the West.
Lockdown caused many of us to place greater value on outdoor space. One couple risked it all for the rural dream in North Yorkshire, but quickly discovered they had signed up for more than they had bargained for, including bewildering cattle markets and 16-hour days. They tell Boudicca Fox-Leonard about the harsh reality of life as first-time farmers.
Finally, tennis star Emma Raducanu has the hopes of the nation on her young shoulders. After her victory on Saturday, the 18-year-old Briton is preparing for her fourth-round match against American Shelby Rogers at the US Open this evening. Simon Briggs, our tennis correspondent, explains why he believes the teenager is ready to write more history. Our Sport team will have live coverage of tonight’s match here.
(To read more of the best sport coverage and analysis, sign up for our free Sport Briefing newsletter.)
Chris

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