Arla Foods, the multi-billion-pound dairy cooperative and the biggest milk supplier to UK supermarkets, has built its public image around ‘holistic’ farming and a strong commitment to animal welfare.

Its website features polished photographs of apparently happy cows grazing in green fields, alongside promises of ‘clean and comfortable resting areas’, outdoor access, waterbeds and automated brushes – amenities described as providing cows with a satisfying scratch.

However, footage obtained by The Mail on Sunday appears to present a starkly different picture at some of the 2,400 British farms supplying Arla. Workers are allegedly seen kicking cows lying on the ground, pulling them over concrete using farm vehicles and leaving them to rest on straw contaminated with urine and faeces.

The distressing material also appears to show farm workers separating a newborn calf from its mother only 25 minutes after birth, well short of the 24-hour period recommended by the Government.

Other clips reportedly show workers urinating inside cow pens and using metal shackles while moving cattle towards milking parlours.

In another troubling sequence, two workers are seen taking turns with a large pair of bolt cutters as they struggle to remove a metal screw protruding from a cow’s eyelid. The animal appears to flinch throughout the attempt.

One employee is heard shouting, ‘I hate cows, f*** it, I hate you,’ before kicking an animal and painfully twisting her tail, according to the undercover footage.

The year-long investigation also captured a series of other alleged animal welfare failures across the farms:

Independent specialists who examined evidence gathered during the investigation into 15 Arla farms identified 360 possible breaches of animal welfare law. Several of the farms supply businesses including Tesco, Morrisons and Starbucks. The experts warned that the repeated nature of the incidents suggested the problems could be systemic rather than isolated.

Arla began an urgent investigation after being presented with the footage.

An Arla spokesman said: ‘Animal welfare is of the utmost importance to us, and we take all reports and concerns seriously. We have therefore launched an urgent investigation.’

A Morrisons spokesman said: ‘We take animal welfare extremely seriously and expect all of our suppliers to operate to the high standards that we and our customers demand.

‘This footage is deeply concerning. Arla is undertaking an urgent investigation and we will take all necessary action once we have the findings.’

A Starbucks spokesman said: ‘The footage shows treatment of animals which is deeply concerning and falls far short of the high standards of animal welfare we expect to be upheld across our supply chain.

‘We support Arla’s decision to open an immediate investigation and will remain in close contact as it takes appropriate action.’

Based in Denmark, Arla Foods is a multinational dairy cooperative owned by approximately 11,200 farmers across seven countries.

Its British subsidiary produces three billion litres of milk annually from around 2,400 farms and turns over more than £2billion a year – making it the UK’s largest dairy company. Campaign group the Animal Justice Project installed hidden cameras in barns as part of a probe into Arla, which began after whistleblowers and members of the public approached it with concerns about the cows’ welfare.

Its findings appear at odds with the standards Arla sets its farmers in its Arlagarden programme, which include more than 100 rules to protect animal welfare and milk quality.

The guidance, which it insists goes beyond what the law requires, says animals must be fed, watered and looked after so that their needs are ‘fully met’, and that any which are sick or failing to thrive ‘must be treated accordingly’.

In addition, the farms must also follow national legislation and Red Tractor rules.

Some of the worst breaches were documented on two Dorset farms owned by Arla director George Holmes. Mr Holmes, who in 2024 told Parliament that his businesses aim to operate with ‘the highest welfare standards’, has sat on the company’s board since 2024.

At Mr Holmes’ Littlewood Farm in Frampton, near Dorchester, workers were filmed landing blows on cows’ udders, striking their hind legs with a hose and punching another. A sadistic worker at another of his farms, a short drive away in Frampton, was filmed repeatedly slamming an overhead milking parlour lever against cows’ backs and necks.

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Claire Palmer, executive director at the Animal Justice Project, said: ‘It shows an industry where injury is routine and where the milk keeps flowing even when the cow is broken.’ She added: ‘This investigation is not about one farm or one worker losing their temper.

‘Across 13 counties and 15 Arla farms, we documented the same problems again and again: cows struggling to walk, calves dragged and forced to feed, mothers calling for their newborns, and animals subjected to rough handling and violence.

‘Arla tells shoppers its cows are healthy, comfortable and treated as individuals.

‘What our cameras documented was very different. These are not abstract statistics: they are individual animals living in pain.

‘Consumers deserve to know what lies behind the milk they are buying. When the same problems appear across farm after farm, we have to question the system itself. That is the Big Milk Con.’ Workers at Oak Lodge Farm in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire, which supplies Tesco, were filmed kneeing cows in the spine, pinching their flanks and pulling their tails.

At Kingston Hill Farm in Oxfordshire, run by David Christensen, a member of Arla’s board of representatives since 2012, cows were beaten with metal pipes and forced to walk despite lameness.

The Christensen family rent the farm from Oxford University’s St John’s College, which also takes its milk.

Farmer Doug Roper was seen roughly slamming a metal gate into a cow at Lower House Farm in Worcestershire to force it to move, then wrenching a cow’s tail just hours after it gave birth.

Gruesome footage from Marsh Farm in Dorset revealed the body of a calf had been left in a plastic wheelbarrow for three days, despite government guidance requiring dead animals to be collected and disposed of without ‘undue delay’ for safety reasons.

The highest number of potential breaches was recorded at a family-run farm also called Longlands, in Derbyshire, including a malnourished cow who went 31 hours without water.

Sickening footage shows how one cow that was too weak to stand was hoisted by its hips and dragged across concrete behind a farm vehicle, repeatedly kicked, kneed and pulled by its nostrils until its front legs were left injured and bloody.

The cow was also pulled by the face, punched and suspended in mid-air by the hoist, while two young children could be clearly seen in the pens kicking and slapping fallen animals.

Guidance from the British Cattle Veterinary Association says hip hoists ‘can be a useful tool to help lift downer cows to prevent them from pressure related injury’, but are ‘intended to lift the cow, rather than move it’.

‘We love our girls, it’s a hard day when they go,’ a worker at the farm told undercover investigators at an open day.

The farmer was recorded at the same event telling investigators that he used ‘electric shocks’ to move cows away from the robotic milkers, despite industry standards banning electric prods.

Andrew Knight, a veterinary professor of animal welfare, said: ‘Having reviewed the footage I am deeply concerned by what it shows. This is not one bad farm. Similar failures appear on farm after farm, all within Arla’s assurance schemes. This footage suggests the system is failing the animals it claims to protect.’

He added: ‘It’s worth recognising that some of what the footage shows, such as separating calves from their mothers within hours of birth, is permitted under current rules. That is why legal compliance and assurance labels should not be treated as guarantees of good welfare.’

Paul Burr, president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, said: ‘Cruelty has no place on any farm. These allegations must be investigated promptly, and any animals suffering must receive immediate care.

‘Farm vets work every day to protect cattle welfare, and we will continue to support farmers in upholding high animal welfare standards and challenge poor practice wherever we find it.’

Jenny Mace, an independent animal welfare expert and academic at St Andrews University, said: ‘This body of evidence points to much of the illegality being systemic.

‘It is not due to one bad apple, either a farm or a staff member, but widespread and recurring across UK dairy farms.

‘Multiple bodies including the Government’s own advisers have affirmed that a majority of criminality on UK farms goes unprosecuted, highlighting a deep enforcement problem.’

The removal of the screw from the cow’s eyelid was ‘a dangerous intervention’ that should have only been carried out using the correct equipment, with veterinary intervention and under sedation, she said.

She also cautioned against the dairy industry’s over-reliance on self-assessment, pointing out that Arla’s own standards scheme gives flagged farms 48 hours’ notice before a ‘spot check’.

After years of imagining a future in Japan, Australian couple Kate and Andrew Buchan have bought an abandoned house there for just $16,000—the country where their relationship began.

The 40-year-old property is located in Myoko Kogen, a well-known ski region in Niigata Prefecture around two and a half hours from Tokyo by bullet train. The couple hopes to renovate the akiya into a comfortable holiday base for their family.

Kate told the Daily Mail that owning a Japanese home had been a long-held ambition, and the chance to purchase this particular property appeared just as they were ready to begin searching seriously.

“For us, it was about creating a family base in a country we already loved,” she said. “Japan was already a big part of our lives before we bought. We’d spent a lot of time there, we love the snow, and we knew we wanted to keep returning.”

The couple, both 40, live with their two children, aged two and six, in Torquay, a picturesque surf town roughly 100km south-west of Melbourne.

As passionate snowboarders, Kate and Andrew wanted somewhere they could stay during their regular Japanese snow trips with their young son and daughter.

Their connection to the country dates back to 2013, when they met during a ski season in Hakuba. “Andrew and I actually met in Japan back in 2013 during a snow season in Hakuba, so it’s always been a special place in our hearts ever since,” Kate said.

After spending numerous winter seasons in Japan, the couple is now looking forward to introducing their children to the country’s culture, lifestyle and mountains.

The opportunity came through a friend who had already purchased a house directly across the road, meaning the Buchans happened to be looking at the right time.

“He let us know it was coming up for sale and that’s how we found ours,” Kate explained. “So it was a word-of-mouth opportunity.”

Japan’s vacant-home problem has created a growing supply of low-cost properties known as akiya. A 2024 survey estimated that as many as nine million homes were empty, with an ageing population, migration from rural areas to cities, expensive upkeep or demolition and property taxes all contributing to the trend.

These abandoned Japanese homes have increasingly attracted overseas buyers. For travellers planning frequent visits, an akiya can offer a more affordable long-term alternative to repeatedly booking hotels or holiday rentals.

The Buchans’ $16,000 purchase also highlights the sharp contrast with Australian housing prices. The average home costs about $1.06 million in Melbourne and approximately $1.7 million in Sydney.

Although the initial price was dramatically below what they would expect to pay in Australia, Kate stressed that owning the Japanese property still comes with ongoing expenses.

“We pay utilities, including gas and water, and need to allow for heating, upkeep, local assistance, rates and flights,” she said.

The couple is still working out the full cost of running the home over 12 months. Kate estimates the regular annual expenses will be about $2,000, excluding travel, maintenance and any renovation work.

Despite the property being overseas, Kate described the Japanese home-buying process as relatively simple.

Andrew managed the purchase and travelled to Japan in February this year to complete the paperwork. With help from a translator, they paid roughly $1,500 in additional fees on top of the $16,000 sale price.

‘We also have someone locally who helps coordinate trades when needed and manage bill payments using funds we provide. That local support has been really helpful while we’re in Australia.

‘The purchase price is only one part of the overall cost. Travel, fees, repairs and ongoing upkeep all need to be factored in.’

The home, which sits on an 800-square-metre block of land, features two bedrooms – one downstairs and a large, traditional tatami room upstairs – a bathroom, a lounge and kitchen area, and an additional outdoor-style room with a fireplace.

‘It’s in fairly good condition overall but it needed clearing out, a thorough clean-up and a few repairs,’ she said. 

‘My favourite feature is the setting. It’s surrounded by beautiful forest, and I’m so looking forward to watching the snow falling from the trees outside our window. 

‘The quiet location is a big part of what we love about it.’

The previous owners had left the property untouched, so when Kate and Andrew opened the doors to their new home, they were greeted by a house full of personal belongings.

‘There were a lot of belongings left inside, including clothing, slippers and unemptied rubbish bins, bedding and loads of other weird and wonderful things,’ Kate said.

‘The most memorable discovery was a very large collection of owls. There were wooden owls, porcelain owls, soft toys, paintings and even owl hooks. So many owls.

‘We found a sign outside that said it was called the ‘Owl House’, which made sense. We’re going to continue with that name – we think it’s pretty cool.

‘We were told owls are associated with good fortune in Japan, and we’ve kept a few in the house and brought some home to Australia.’

As the home had been unoccupied for some time, the couple found some mould, a silverfish issue and a hole in the water pipe.

‘Those were the main issues we dealt with,’ she said. 

Her husband Andrew is a carpenter by trade and has been doing most of the renovations himself, saving the family a fortune.

‘He bought a new bathroom vanity, and installed new lighting, removed the bathtub and tidied up the bathroom. We repaired the hole in the water pipe, ripped up and replaced a heap of the flooring,’ she said. 

‘We also repaired the damaged roof and replaced the flue for the fireplace. We spent approximately $10,000 on repairs and improvements.

‘Having Andrew as a carpenter is such a bonus. It’s going to save us a lot in labour costs. He is very handy, which is fabulous.’

Just like in Australia, owners need a building permit in Japan to carry out major renovations that alter the structure or size of a property. 

‘From what we understand, smaller cosmetic renovations and repairs generally don’t require approval, but larger renovations can,’ Kate explained. 

‘At the moment we’re mainly focusing on cleaning, repairs and cosmetic improvements, but we’ll definitely be checking the local regulations before doing anything more substantial.’

The couple spent several days clearing the property, with rubbish removal costing an additional $1,500.

‘We focused on making it clean, comfortable and usable, with further renovations planned for next year. We’re planning further renovations during a future summer visit, but haven’t finalised the scope or budget yet,’ Kate said.

During their recent visit, the couple stayed in their new home.

‘We found it comfortable to use, although we’re not fussy,’ Kate explained. 

‘We had no gas and no water for the first few days, but with so many local onsens around, it wasn’t much of an issue for us.’

The family plan to spend a few months at their new holiday home each year during the Japanese winter, which typically runs from December to February. 

‘It will primarily be a family holiday home for the Japanese winter, and somewhere friends and family can stay too,’ she said. 

‘The plan is to spend a few months each year during the Japanese winter, and we’ll also return in spring and summer each year to work on the house. 

‘Our next trip back will be in January, which we are all very excited about. The kids haven’t seen the house yet, so it’ll be a lot of fun.’

Keen to enjoy the best of both worlds, the couple will split their time between Myoko and Torquay.

‘We don’t have plans to move permanently. At this stage, we’re looking forward to making it a regular part of our family life while keeping our home base in Torquay,’ Kate said. 

The couple run a successful e-commerce business called Retreat Yourself, which Kate started 11 years ago. 

‘We both work full-time in my business,’ she said. 

‘Andrew manages our warehouse and also has his own snowboarding clothing brand called Blak Headwear.

‘We will work while we’re over in Japan so it’ll just be a continuation of our life, but in a totally different place – and lots of snowboarding.

‘We’re lucky to have the freedom to balance work with fun and spend time as a family.’

Kate has offered some advice for Aussies dreaming of owning a property in Japan, saying: ‘Start with whether you love the place and whether you’ll use the house regularly.

‘You need to be pretty realistic about how often you’ll visit and how you’ll manage the upkeep while you’re away,’ she said. 

‘A low purchase price is appealing, but it’s important to understand the full commitment. There are buying fees, travel costs, repairs, utilities and ongoing maintenance. Clearing out and updating a house takes time and effort too. 

‘We were fortunate that Andrew could do so much of the work himself because of his building background. That’s something other buyers would need to factor into their own budgets.’

For Australians hoping to move to Japan permanently, Kate said it’s important to consider the types of visas available, as the process can be tricky.

‘For us, it’s a long-term lifestyle decision and a place to make memories with our children and show them a different way of life,’ she said. 

‘We’re really excited about that.’

Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s conclusion that North Korea was responsible for what officials described as the largest hack in history.

On Saturday evening, the FBI said its investigation had determined that TraderTraitor, a North Korean cybercrime operation, carried out an unprecedented attack on Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange.

Binance disclosed on Thursday that the breach had caused an estimated $6.3 billion in losses, placing the incident among the most serious cryptocurrency security failures ever recorded.

TraderTraitor is widely believed to have links to the Lazarus Group, the North Korean hacking network accused of breaking into Sony Pictures in 2014. That attack was reportedly retaliation for The Interview, a comedy depicting the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump has often referred to Kim as “Little Rocket Man” while criticizing Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

Hours after the FBI’s Cyber Branch released its findings, Trump responded cautiously, saying he was not certain North Korea was behind the attack.

A reporter questioned Trump about the investigation Saturday night at Mar-a-Lago, where he said his administration was still reviewing the details.

“We don’t know if it’s North Korea,” Trump said.

He added that if Pyongyang was responsible, “we’ll talk to North Korea about it.”

Trump also said he had long considered the situation “a little bit dangerous,” but noted that officials believed the problem was largely under control. “We’ll see,” he said.

Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said in a video message Friday that the exchange was working around the clock and would cover the losses from the hack. He also sought to reassure customers that their assets remained secure.

“This was a complex attack,” Teng said, explaining that the hackers had used a self-destruct feature that complicated efforts to track the stolen cryptocurrency.

Binance said Saturday that it had repurchased 90 percent of the stolen cryptocurrency. The remaining 10 percent, the company said, would take longer to recover because the tokens involved were less liquid and harder to buy in large quantities.

TraderTraitor has been connected to a series of sophisticated, multibillion-dollar cyber schemes. Its alleged activity stretches back to the 2014 Sony Pictures hack, which followed the release of The Interview, a fictional comedy centered on a plot to kill North Korea’s leader.

North Korea never formally claimed responsibility for the Sony attack. However, the country’s sophisticated cyber operations have become a significant part of its international strategy. A United Nations panel reported in 2024 that cyberattacks generated roughly half of North Korea’s foreign-currency earnings.

Security officials have repeatedly warned that proceeds from North Korean cybercrime help fund the country’s military and nuclear weapons programs.

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House and the FBI for comment.

The FBI’s announcement comes against a tense international backdrop, as relations between Trump and Kim remain complicated and increasingly strained.

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Earlier this month, five people with knowledge of their relationship told Reuters that the possibility of a meeting between the two world leaders was fading. 

The US reportedly did not receive a response from North Korea on organizing a meeting before a regional summit in China in November. 

When asked about meeting with Kim, Trump told reporters at the White House: ‘I get along with him very well, and I’m not sure that anybody’s asking for a meeting.’

Kim has not shied away from meetings with other world leaders. He arrived at the Chinese border last weekend for a surprise meeting with one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s top lieutenants. 

In September, Kim joined Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin for a military parade in Beijing. Xi also visited North Korea over the summer for the first time in seven years. 

Trump became the first US president to set foot in North Korea during his first term, meeting with Kim at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. 

He said at the time that he had ‘no problem’ going to the country and was ‘proud to step over the line.’ 

Later that year, Trump told reporters he received a ‘beautiful letter’ from Kim. In 2020, Kim sent a get-well message to the US president after he tested positive for Covid-19. 

Patricia Kim, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told the Washington Post that the geopolitical landscape has shifted significantly since the two world leaders first met in 2018.

‘Back then, Washington was negotiating from a position of considerably greater leverage,’ she argued. 

‘Today, Kim is in a much stronger position. He is far less diplomatically isolated, having forged a new security partnership with Moscow and deepened its economic and political ties with Beijing. And he’s done this all while continuing to expand North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities.’

Trump has continually promised to keep nuclear capabilities out of the hands of foreign adversaries. 

This foreign policy goal launched the US into a war with Iran and prompted negotiations with North Korea. 

In 2018, Trump and Kim released a joint statement on North Korea’s denuclearization. The White House called the step an ‘epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tensions.’

However, in the years since, North Korea has only increased its nuclear arsenal, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Kim has condemned the US’s war in Iran but has supplied ammunition and troops to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. 

As the foreign landscape changes, the US has fewer bargaining chips to hold North Korea accountable for cybercrime. 

Megan Fox embraced the image of a dangerous siren with a sultry Halloween transformation.

The 40-year-old actress appeared as a gothic mermaid in a series of provocative photos posted to Instagram on Saturday.

In the images, Fox seemed to plunge into shadowy water beneath a glowing moon. She wore a sparkling silver bra paired with a sheer gray mermaid tail.

She pushed the fantasy further with eerie webbed fingers and dramatically long nails coated in shimmering dark polish.

Glittering face gems completed the look, along with an iridescent makeup palette of silver and violet tones.

Fox, whose former partner Machine Gun Kelly, 36, has reportedly moved on with Dakota Johnson, 37, paired the photos with a foreboding caption: ‘the song was the trap, and the sea was the grave.’

The dramatic display comes amid reports that Fox is unfazed by MGK’s relationship with Johnson.

The actress shares 18-month-old daughter Saga Blade Fox-Baker with the musician, 36, but reportedly has no interest in rekindling their romance as she concentrates on other areas of her life.

Sources told TMZ that Fox is ‘unbothered’ by her ex moving on and does not want to involve herself in his personal life.

According to the insiders, Fox is currently single and intends to remain that way while prioritizing hands-on motherhood and her business ventures.

The reports follow Fox’s launch of an exclusive content page on Subs.com, as well as the release of her latest advertising campaign for telehealth company Ro.

Fox and MGK ended their engagement in November 2024 and welcomed their daughter in March 2025. The former couple reportedly now communicate only about co-parenting.

The Daily Mail has contacted Fox’s representatives for comment.

‘MGK and Megan are done and only communicate about their daughter and co-parenting logistics,’ a source told Us Weekly in late September. ‘They both know they have toxic tendencies and it’s much better this way.’

The source added that the rapper ‘will always love Megan and have a soft spot for her,’ but said he ‘gave up pursuing a romantic relationship with her several months ago.’

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Fox and MGK, whose real name is Colson Baker, welcomed their daughter in March 2025, four months after their relationship reportedly ended in November 2024. Their split followed claims that Fox discovered he had been communicating with other women.

She is also mother to three sons – Noah, 14, Bodhi, 12, and Journey, 10 – from her past marriage to Brian Austin Green. MGK is also father to 17-year-old daughter Casie, whom he shares with ex Emma Cannon.

MGK and Fox had a turbulent, on-and-off relationship that lasted for about four and a half years. 

In January of this year, a source told People: ‘Their relationship at this point is just about co-parenting. Megan is focused on her kids and the baby and just getting settled into this new chapter. That’s genuinely her priority.

‘Megan’s very happy with how he’s stepped up for both her and the baby. While they still have separate homes, they spend a lot of time together as a family. They’re putting the baby first, and it’s brought them closer in many ways.’

Added the source, ‘Things are great now. He’s amazing with the baby and she very much enjoys spending time with him.’

Just last week, Johnson was spotted waiting for MGK outside of a recording studio in Los Angeles.

Recently, insiders also dished on Johnson ‘having the best sex of her life’ with him.

On Friday, a source told the Daily Mail that Johnson has told friends things are heating up between her and Machine Gun Kelly, stemming from time they spent with one another at the July 4 wedding between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

‘She has told friends that they have great sexual chemistry and it’s the best sex she has ever had, she calls it “fireworks,”‘ the source said. 

An insider close to the actress also told the Daily Mail that they are talking about their future and introducing him to her family.

‘They have agreed they would have the most beautiful babies, and she wants kids, so while they look like a very unlikely couple at first glance, I do think they want the same thing in the end: a family.’ 

‘They actually have a pretty firm foundation because they started out as friends and got to know each other well before ever having becoming romantic, so they know each other very well,’ they added. 

Johnson spent six years with English Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who shares his children Apple, 22, and Moses, 20, with his ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow.

She was subsequently linked to American indie singer Role Model, and a decade ago was involved with Matthew Hitt, the Welsh lead singer of the Drowners.