The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
Labour overhaul includes concessions for bosses
More than seven million people will gain rights to claim sick pay, maternity pay and protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in the job under sweeping new laws. Labour will announce what it calls a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul of workers’ rights on Thursday in an attempt to...More than seven million people will gain rights to claim sick pay, maternity pay and protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in the job under sweeping new laws. Labour will announce what it calls a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul of workers’ rights on Thursday in an attempt to...More than seven million people will gain rights to claim sick pay, maternity pay and protection against unfair dismissal from...
In DEPTH
For Sir Keir Starmer and his allies, the Conservative Party conference this week represented something of a reprieve. After a challenging start to his premiership, dominated by infighting in No 10, rows over gifts and hospitality and gloomy warnings of economic ruin, the shift to the latest round of Tory psychodrama was welcomed. “They’ve...For Sir Keir Starmer and his allies, the Conservative Party conference this week represented something of a reprieve. After a challenging start to his premiership, dominated by infighting in No 10, rows over gifts and hospitality and gloomy warnings of economic ruin, the shift to the latest round of Tory psychodrama was welcomed. “They’ve...For Sir Keir Starmer and his allies, the Conservative Party conference this week represented something of a reprieve. After a...
PROFILE
Behind Robert Jenrick’s campaign to take charge of the Conservative Party is a “force of nature”, according to Tory MPs. His “hugely ambitious” wife, Michal Berkner, is said to be the person pushing him on during his turbulent battle to become the party’s next leader. Berkner, a “tough” but “fun” Israeli-American...Behind Robert Jenrick’s campaign to take charge of the Conservative Party is a “force of nature”...Behind Robert Jenrick’s campaign to take charge of the Conservative Party is a “force of nature”...
COSMO LANDESMAN
I recently joined a club I would never have imagined joining when I was young. It’s a club for men in their seventies.I recently joined a club I would never have imagined joining when I was young. It’s a club for...I recently joined a club I would never have imagined joining when I was young. It’s a club for...
interview
If Industry — the tense, drink and drug-fuelled drama set in a London investment bank — is, as The Sun calls it, “the...If Industry — the tense, drink and drug-fuelled drama set in a London investment bank — is, as...If Industry — the tense, drink and drug-fuelled drama set in a London investment bank — is, as...
Figures show a 1.7 per cent drop in pupil numbers
MPs to get vote on legislation ‘within weeks’
political sketch
You may be hungry for knowledge, but your chatbot is thirsty for the world’s water supplies. The huge computer clusters powering ChatGPT need four times as much water to deliver answers than previously thought, it has been claimed. Using the...You may be hungry for knowledge, but your chatbot is thirsty for the world’s water supplies. The...You may be hungry for knowledge, but your chatbot is thirsty for the world’s water supplies. The...
interview
What is a woman? This now highly controversial issue will be decided in November by the highest court in the land. Five senior judges will sit in the quiet, restrained atmosphere of Court One in the Supreme Court in Parliament Square, impervious...What is a woman? This now highly controversial issue will be decided in November by the highest...What is a woman? This now highly controversial issue will be decided in November by the highest...
in depth
An alert sounds and police officers surround a man walking through the market in Woolwich, southeast London. “Why are you stopping me?” he shouts, becoming increasingly agitated. “You’re not stopping anyone else.” The officers explain that he has...An alert sounds and police officers surround a man walking through the market in Woolwich...An alert sounds and police officers surround a man walking through the market in Woolwich...
Forget “The Rachel Cut” or the “Farah Flip”, the stylish celebrity hairdo that has women marching down to the...Forget “The Rachel Cut” or the “Farah Flip”, the stylish celebrity hairdo that has women marching...Forget “The Rachel Cut” or the “Farah Flip”, the stylish celebrity hairdo that has women marching...
THE TIMES DIARY
Egosurfing, or searching for your name on Google, carries a risk of disappointment but for authors it is essential to...Egosurfing, or searching for your name on Google, carries a risk of disappointment but for...Egosurfing, or searching for your name on Google, carries a risk of disappointment but for...
dispatch
On Biden Street in the heart of the must-win state of Pennsylvania, all is not well for the Democrats, despite the area’s links to the US president. Business owners in Scranton are unhappy — not because the city’s most famous son was replaced by Kamala Harris for next month’s election but because...On Biden Street in the heart of the must-win state of Pennsylvania, all is not well for the Democrats, despite the area’s links to the US president. Business owners in Scranton are unhappy — not because the city’s most famous son was replaced by Kamala Harris for next month’s election but because...On Biden Street in the heart of the must-win state of Pennsylvania, all is not well for the Democrats, despite the area’s links...
Of all the Israeli hostages languishing in tunnels under Gaza, from the patchy accounts that have emerged, Yahya Sinwar has only shown a flicker of emotion towards one. The Hamas leader, 62, mastermind of the October 7 terror attacks, is a deeply religious man whose adherence to his warped version of the Muslim faith informs his every...Of all the Israeli hostages languishing in tunnels under Gaza, from the patchy accounts that have emerged, Yahya Sinwar has only shown a flicker of emotion towards one. The Hamas leader, 62, mastermind of the October 7 terror attacks, is a deeply religious man whose adherence to his warped version of the Muslim faith informs his every...Of all the Israeli hostages languishing in tunnels under Gaza, from the patchy accounts that have emerged, Yahya Sinwar has...
Jed Bartlet is a Democrat, a devout Catholic and a president cut from the same cloth as JFK. He’s a liberal’s dream. Javier Milei is an “anarcho-capitalist”, an amateur rock musician, and is determined to upset the political order by any means possible. He’s a liberal’s nightmare. There are, however, a few things...Jed Bartlet is a Democrat, a devout Catholic and a president cut from the same cloth as JFK. He’s...Jed Bartlet is a Democrat, a devout Catholic and a president cut from the same cloth as JFK. He’s...
ITALY CONFIDENTIAL
in depth
Make no mistake, one official says — this could sow chaos
Huw Pill says UK inflation is stubborn and rates must fall gradually
Interest rates must fall gradually and stay higher over the long run to treat stubborn inflation, the Bank of England’s chief economist said, suggesting growing disagreement among the central bank’s ratesetters. Huw Pill said he expected the UK economy to undergo a “virtuous cycle” of stabilising...Interest rates must fall gradually and stay higher over the long run to treat stubborn inflation, the Bank of England’s chief economist said, suggesting growing disagreement among the central bank’s ratesetters. Huw Pill said he expected the UK economy to undergo a “virtuous cycle” of stabilising...Interest rates must fall gradually and stay higher over the long run to treat stubborn inflation, the Bank of England’s chief...
The price of oil recorded its biggest weekly gain in more than a year after markets bet on further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by 0.8 per cent to hit $78.24 in Friday trading, putting total weekly gains at 9 per cent and closing in on the $80 mark last reached at the end of...The price of oil recorded its biggest weekly gain in more than a year after markets bet on further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by 0.8 per cent to hit $78.24 in Friday trading, putting total weekly gains at 9 per cent and closing in on the $80 mark last reached at the end of...The price of oil recorded its biggest weekly gain in more than a year after markets bet on further escalation of the conflict...
Mulberry’s billionaire backer has been charged in Singapore over the case of a former cabinet minister who was sentenced to jail for obtaining gifts from him. Ong Beng Seng, who holds a controlling stake in the luxury goods company, did not enter a plea in response to charges of abetment and obstruction of justice.Mulberry’s billionaire backer has been charged in Singapore over the case of a former cabinet...Mulberry’s billionaire backer has been charged in Singapore over the case of a former cabinet...
dominic o’connell
Silicon Valley has had things its own way in the United States for a long time. Lawmakers by and large took a...
Silicon Valley has had things its own way in the United States for a long time. Lawmakers by and...
Silicon Valley has had things its own way in the United States for a long time. Lawmakers by and...
The attempt by Italy’s UniCredit to buy one of Germany’s biggest lenders has received a boost after a top European...The attempt by Italy’s UniCredit to buy one of Germany’s biggest lenders has received a boost...The attempt by Italy’s UniCredit to buy one of Germany’s biggest lenders has received a boost...
LUNCH WITH THE TIMES
Start-ups
Comparatively unsung, the city’s tech community is building on successes in fintech and healthcare
big tech
Apple is ranked the worst of the big six American tech giants for helping European start-ups, with Google and Microsoft leading the way
recruitment
In a fiercely competitive jobs market it makes sense to recruit from the widest possible talent pool, but many UK firms still overlook working class talent. Only about half of big employers actively seek out candidates from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds; even fewer go on to hire and keep working class staff. With 48 per cent of UK adults thinking of...In a fiercely competitive jobs market it makes sense to recruit from the widest possible talent...In a fiercely competitive jobs market it makes sense to recruit from the widest possible talent...
SIX FROM THE BEST
SIX FROM THE BEST As chief executive of the Camphill Village Trust, Sara Thakkar helps to provide opportunities for...SIX FROM THE BEST As chief executive of the Camphill Village Trust, Sara Thakkar helps to provide opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and autism to live active, independent lives in one of the charity’s nine rural centres. Here she shares her gentle but impactful lessons for effective management.
...SIX FROM THE BEST As chief executive of the Camphill Village Trust, Sara Thakkar helps to provide opportunities for adults with...
After the trials and jubilation of a classic challenger series, Sir Ben Ainslie immediately turned his attention to next week’s America’s Cup match and the chance to skipper the first British team to victory in the 173-year-old competition. “It probably took me two minutes to start thinking about the next race,” he said amid emotional scenes, and while freshly doused in...After the trials and jubilation of a classic challenger series, Sir Ben Ainslie immediately...After the trials and jubilation of a classic challenger series, Sir Ben Ainslie immediately...
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has refused to give his backing to Erik ten Hag by saying that although he liked the under-fire...Sir Jim Ratcliffe has refused to give his backing to Erik ten Hag by saying that although he liked the under-fire Manchester United manager any decision on his future would not be his call. Ratcliffe took charge of business operations at Manchester United but said any decision on sacking the manager would not be...Sir Jim Ratcliffe has refused to give his backing to Erik ten Hag by saying that although he liked the under-fire Manchester...
OWEN SLOT
Reports that this weekend may be Gary Lineker’s final show as the presenter of Match of the Day have hit hard. On the...Reports that this weekend may be Gary Lineker’s final show as the presenter of Match of the Day...Reports that this weekend may be Gary Lineker’s final show as the presenter of Match of the Day...
mike atherton
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. England’s Bazballers ransacked Pakistan two winters ago, their batsmen swooping...To be forewarned is to be forearmed. England’s Bazballers ransacked Pakistan two winters ago...To be forewarned is to be forearmed. England’s Bazballers ransacked Pakistan two winters ago...
Paul Hirst
They did not get the win they deserved, but for Porto, Thursday night was a cause for celebration. It was the 500th home match at the Estádio do Dragão, originally built in 2003 for the European Championship the following year. Porto’s rich history is documented in a gallery on the walls of one of the many walkways near the entrance to the 50,000-seat stadium. There is...They did not get the win they deserved, but for Porto, Thursday night was a cause for celebration.They did not get the win they deserved, but for Porto, Thursday night was a cause for celebration.
Pep Guardiola has claimed that the Premier League rejected an attempt from Manchester City to push back the start of...Pep Guardiola has claimed that the Premier League rejected an attempt from Manchester City to push back the start of next season to account for their participation in the Club World Cup. City and Chelsea are the two English teams taking part in the expanded 32-team tournament, which will start on June 15 and end on...Pep Guardiola has claimed that the Premier League rejected an attempt from Manchester City to push back the start of next...
the notebook | martyn ziegler
archie gray interview
Gregor Robertson
It was well after midnight deep in the bowels of Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi Stadium, but it was clear that Craig Harrison and his history-making players really did not want the night to draw to an end. “We’ve proved we’re worthy of playing at...It was well after midnight deep in the bowels of Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi Stadium, but it was...It was well after midnight deep in the bowels of Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi Stadium, but it was...
fran kirby interview
The Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic has been banned for eight games and fined £15,000 for biting Owen Beck, of Blackburn Rovers. Osmajic, 25, stunned players on both teams when he sunk his teeth into the back of the 22-year-old defender...The Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic has been banned for eight games and fined £15,000...The Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic has been banned for eight games and fined £15,000...
Paul Pogba has had his drugs ban reduced from four years to 18 months after a successful appeal. The France...Paul Pogba has had his drugs ban reduced from four years to 18 months after a successful appeal.Paul Pogba has had his drugs ban reduced from four years to 18 months after a successful appeal.
tailender | patrick kidd
Martin Samuel wrote last week that the best value sports ticket is watching your children. Last Sunday it cost me a...Martin Samuel wrote last week that the best value sports ticket is watching your children. Last...Martin Samuel wrote last week that the best value sports ticket is watching your children. Last...
Racecards
BET OF THE DAY Germanic (3.35 Ascot)
Ran an absolute blinder when a close third on his handicap debut...Racecards
BET OF THE DAY Germanic (3.35 Ascot)
Ran an absolute blinder when a close third on his handicap debut at Doncaster, racing far too keenly as he built up a clear early lead and keeping going surprisingly well as he was overhauled in the dying strides. He was fitted with cheekpieces there, which seemed...Racecards
BET OF THE DAY Germanic (3.35 Ascot)
Ran an absolute blinder when a close third on his handicap debut at...
As the number of higher rate taxpayers grows, so does the list of errors reported to HMRC. Rachel Mortimer is here to help
Holly Mead
The investment trust has become a household name, but it’s not a holding for the faint-hearted
Rent out your driveway, garage, camper van or even pool for extra income, says Gillian Harvey
The big question
Relatives may wish to be consulted on decisions that could affect an inheritance. We ask two experts if that should be a legal requirement
The Bank of England rate may be going down, but high street banks want to keep customers on board, says George Nixon
troubleshooter
Lucy Andrews helps a reader whose delivery disappeared from her letterbox
I bought a set of miniature Penhaligon’s ladies’ fragrances through the reselling platform Vinted in July. It would have cost me £50 at Fortnum & Mason but I got it for £35. The parcel was delivered three days later while I was out and I had a notification from the courier Yodel. The delivery message contained a picture of the package, which I saw, to my horror, was...I bought a set of miniature Penhaligon’s ladies’ fragrances through the reselling platform Vinted...I bought a set of miniature Penhaligon’s ladies’ fragrances through the reselling platform Vinted...
Ask the experts
Q. I am 66 years of age, have recently retired and am looking at the most tax-efficient way of sustaining my lifestyle.Q. I am 66 years of age, have recently retired and am looking at the most tax-efficient way of sustaining my lifestyle. I have just applied for the state pension. I live in a mortgage-free property and have another with a mortgage that I am renting out. I have various pension pots, adding up to about £100,000 and...Q. I am 66 years of age, have recently retired and am looking at the most tax-efficient way of sustaining my lifestyle. I have...
The young mother-of-three who’s become a viral sensation, thanks to a peanut butter sandwich
Ten of the most popular — and profitable — players on the platform
Under the Latin and hair-ruffling, he’s a gossipy old bitch. His nearest competitor is Prince Harry’s Spare
When their son died aged 20, his parents believed that his life had been a tragically lonely one — until hundreds of emails from strangers arrived
What I’ve learnt
The academic and co-founder of the Zoe personal nutrition company on health scares and plant diets
interview
The actress explains why her treatment for cancer changed her view of her body
If Industry — the tense, drink and drug-fuelled drama set in a London investment bank — is, as The Sun calls it, “the filthiest show on television”, the lion’s share of that filth is thanks to Yasmin Kara-Hanani. The privileged daughter of a billionaire publishing scion, Yasmin “runs around Notting Hill with an unlimited Coutts card” and a bag of cocaine, in season one...If Industry — the tense, drink and drug-fuelled drama set in a London investment bank — is, as...If Industry — the tense, drink and drug-fuelled drama set in a London investment bank — is, as...
Spinal Column
For the days when I feel like my brain is going to explode or I’m going to burst into tears in the most inappropriate...For the days when I feel like my brain is going to explode or I’m going to burst into tears in the most inappropriate places, both of which happen a lot these days, I keep a happy list. Brain balm. Or maybe you could call it a lifebelt. Ah, said a wise friend, every strong woman has one of those, because it’s the...For the days when I feel like my brain is going to explode or I’m going to burst into tears in the most inappropriate places...
A classic camel coat is a wardrobe stalwart to see you through winter and beyond. This season, they come in an array...A classic camel coat is a wardrobe stalwart to see you through winter and beyond. This season...A classic camel coat is a wardrobe stalwart to see you through winter and beyond. This season...
We love tiramisu in our house. It is the kind of dessert that lends itself to a large gathering as you can put it in...We love tiramisu in our house. It is the kind of dessert that lends itself to a large gathering...We love tiramisu in our house. It is the kind of dessert that lends itself to a large gathering...
First person
Hannah Betts’ father was her favourite drinking buddy. When his addiction led to his death in 2016, it helped her make the decision to sober up
Sober birthdays are weird. September 15, 2024, was the ten-year anniversary of my giving up booze. Hello, the woman who has a home, a dog and a partner, who leaves the house in daylight, boasts a sofa she has actually sat on and flat shoes in which she can stride. Farewell, the lone, forever renting party girl who worked by day and caroused by night, the last at any...Sober birthdays are weird. September 15, 2024, was the ten-year anniversary of my giving up booze.Sober birthdays are weird. September 15, 2024, was the ten-year anniversary of my giving up booze.
Beta Male
We’ve come to France for a long weekend, our first visit to our place here in 14 months. Why the long break? Several...We’ve come to France for a long weekend, our first visit to our place here in 14 months. Why the long break? Several reasons, not the least of which is the last two summers we’ve been, it was basically too blinking hot. Thirty-five years ago, when I first started coming to Lot-et-Garonne, just below the Dordogne in...We’ve come to France for a long weekend, our first visit to our place here in 14 months. Why the long break? Several reasons...
Fifty years after his breakthrough smash, the legendary director tells how he was left traumatised by the pressure of a disaster-ridden shoot
review | MEMOIR
The former prime minister avoids introspection or penetrating insight in his autobiography
After a few record-breaking years and the opening of ambitious new headquarters around the world, the auction house is struggling to adapt to a lean art market
Tom Peck
The disgraced presenter complains of trial by social media in Cast Away but sounds like Alan Partridge
![Alfonso Cuarón and Cate Blanchett: “You can really start to go a little deeper and understand the emotional and narrative mirrors inside [if you watch it again]”](https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fe1c5e1d8-a10a-46d2-8bd7-2f1277f5697c.jpg?crop=2867%2C1911%2C204%2C417&resize=320)
interview
Alfonso Cuarón’s new drama starring Cate Blanchett features a shocking twist and a sex scene so explicit it needs a trigger warning
Life is tough for the Hardacre family on Channel 5 this week (Monday, 9pm). As they spend their days gutting fish in a Yorkshire port in the 1890s, you can almost hear the stirring strings from Ridley Scott’s 1973 Hovis advert. It’s the story of a smiley, hard-working clan who are nearly undone by their greedy, unscrupulous boss (a man who looks so much like the...Life is tough for the Hardacre family on Channel 5 this week (Monday, 9pm). As they spend their...Life is tough for the Hardacre family on Channel 5 this week (Monday, 9pm). As they spend their...
David Edgar seems to be on a roll at the moment. Here in America, his intelligent dual portrait of Arthur Miller...David Edgar seems to be on a roll at the moment. Here in America, his intelligent dual portrait of Arthur Miller and Elia Kazan, is still running at the Orange Tree in Richmond. And with The New Real the playwright delivers a timely drama about elections and fake news. Holly Race Roughan directs the story of...David Edgar seems to be on a roll at the moment. Here in America, his intelligent dual portrait of Arthur Miller and Elia...
My Culture FIX
review | crime
review | fiction
review | memoir
review | history
Rereading
The Woman in Black has been haunting its readers for more than 40 years. The stage version was the second...The Woman in Black has been haunting its readers for more than 40 years. The stage version was...The Woman in Black has been haunting its readers for more than 40 years. The stage version was...
review | politics
I was ready to dislike On Freedom before I even opened it. Is it because of its title, which hubristically invites...I was ready to dislike On Freedom before I even opened it. Is it because of its title, which...I was ready to dislike On Freedom before I even opened it. Is it because of its title, which...
Television
tELEVISION | STREAMING GUIDE
first night review
first night review
children’s book of the week
Looking for the latest and greatest films fresh from the cinema to rent or buy, or fancy a movie classic this week? Our experts pick the best films on TV, to stream, rent and buy
There’s never been a better time to be an armchair cinema fan with more ways to watch movies across TV channels, streaming services and digital downloads than ever before. But sometimes there can be too much choice, and that’s why our experts have hand-picked the very best films to watch each day. Every week we’ll update this list with the best films available...There’s never been a better time to be an armchair cinema fan with more ways to watch movies...There’s never been a better time to be an armchair cinema fan with more ways to watch movies...
REVIEW
Our critics pick the best albums of 2024. From R&B to indie hits, this guide has you covered. We will update...Our critics pick the best albums of 2024. From R&B to indie hits, this guide has you covered. We will update this list regularly, so make sure to check it out again. What’s your favourite album of the year? Are there any you think our critics have missed? Let us know in the comments what you’re listening to at...Our critics pick the best albums of 2024. From R&B to indie hits, this guide has you covered. We will update this...
From adding chickpeas to your meals to eating beetroot raw, these simple changes can enhance your diet and improve your health
Laura Murphy was due to marry when tragedy hit. She tells Charlotte Lytton how a trip alone helped her deal with her grief
INTERVIEW
The Monty Python comedian on his solo tour, money and how cancer changed him
As prescription of the hormones comes under scrutiny, Peta Bee talks to the experts
COSMO LANDESMAN
What it means to be a single septuagenarian now
DEEPAK CHOPRA
Is this your blue time of year? Many people report being down during the months when the days are darker and shorter.Is this your blue time of year? Many people report being down during the months when the days are...Is this your blue time of year? Many people report being down during the months when the days are...
sex counsel
Q. We’ve been married for almost six years but, since having children, almost everything my husband does now turns me...Q. We’ve been married for almost six years but, since having children, almost everything my...Q. We’ve been married for almost six years but, since having children, almost everything my...
JANE MACQUITTY
Stephen Anderton
Joe Swift
Add some structure to your garden with these modern alternatives
Evergreens such as box, yew and laurel add solidity and green year-round, whereas deciduous plants like beech, hornbeam and field maple (Acer campestre) put on a fabulous autumn display before dropping their leaves. In a mild winter they may actually hold on to plenty of their foliage before the fresh leaves push through in spring. But even if naked, their form...Evergreens such as box, yew and laurel add solidity and green year-round, whereas deciduous...Evergreens such as box, yew and laurel add solidity and green year-round, whereas deciduous...
Viewed from the northwest, across the rippling expanse of Loch Rannoch, Schiehallion is a picture-perfect mountain...Viewed from the northwest, across the rippling expanse of Loch Rannoch, Schiehallion is a picture-perfect mountain, its steeply sloping sides meeting at a sharply pointed summit. It’s an alluring image but the climb looks improbable for anyone without ropes and crampons. Thankfully, the popular way up takes the...Viewed from the northwest, across the rippling expanse of Loch Rannoch, Schiehallion is a picture-perfect mountain, its steeply...
In Aix-en-Provence in the Nineties, Polly Vernon eschewed studies for baguettes and backgammon, rosé and reading. Would a long overdue return recapture that bliss?
travel doctor
Plus: how to find jazz in New York, options for no-frills cruising in Scandinavia and a half-term family dilemma solved
Ageing better is the new focus of wellness tourism — and a new Bali retreat mixes vitamin-boosting drips with exercise and spa in its quest to help you live longer
video
The country’s new gastronomic frontier — just south of Hadrian’s Wall — reveals great restaurants and hotels, a rich history and fantastic walking routes
Swap gloomy weekends in the UK for cooking tapas in Cordoba, surfing in Basque country and cycling along the Catalan coast
video
There are few better ways to access the soul of a country than by exploring it slowly and meeting people organically along the way. And during Simon Parker’s epic 4,373-mile-long cycle ride over ten weeks from Seattle to Key West, that was the aim...There are few better ways to access the soul of a country than by exploring it slowly and meeting...There are few better ways to access the soul of a country than by exploring it slowly and meeting...
video
The Times has been publishing life stories of the great and the good (and the not so good) for more than 170 years. Now the obituary is also becoming a podcast, explains Anna Temkin
MindGames
1 Canberrans are natives of which country’s capital? 2 The V&A has called the miniskirt “the most era-defining look of …” which decade? 3 In Morse code, how many dots are used to represent the letter S? 4 Which religious role is played by...1 Canberrans are natives of which country’s capital? 2 The V&A has called the miniskirt “the...1 Canberrans are natives of which country’s capital? 2 The V&A has called the miniskirt “the...
Charlotte Rooney and Nick Sacks
readers’ lives
Winter benefit cut and donations row blamed for losses
Scottish Labour insiders insist the Downing Street donor scandal and the cuts to winter fuel payments are to blame for two council by-election losses in Dundee. Labour had been hopeful of securing a double Dundee victory, building on a closely fought Westminster election which saw them lose out...Scottish Labour insiders insist the Downing Street donor scandal and the cuts to winter fuel payments are to blame for two council by-election losses in Dundee. Labour had been hopeful of securing a double Dundee victory, building on a closely fought Westminster election which saw them lose out...Scottish Labour insiders insist the Downing Street donor scandal and the cuts to winter fuel payments are to blame for two...
A renowned independent school at the centre of a historical abuse scandal is taking an insurance company to court over who should pay the compensation for the victims’ abuse. More than 20 former teachers and staff at Edinburgh Academy were accused of attacking pupils between 1960 and 2000. Nicky Campbell, the broadcaster, was among 38...A renowned independent school at the centre of a historical abuse scandal is taking an insurance company to court over who should pay the compensation for the victims’ abuse. More than 20 former teachers and staff at Edinburgh Academy were accused of attacking pupils between 1960 and 2000. Nicky Campbell, the broadcaster, was among 38...A renowned independent school at the centre of a historical abuse scandal is taking an insurance company to court over who...
A Scottish crime author has claimed an iced smoothie nearly killed him, leaving him “staring into the void of his own mortality”. Ed James, who lives in the Scottish Borders and has sold 2.5 million books, revealed that a homemade smoothie in 2020 caused his heart to go into an irregular and abnormally fast rhythm.A Scottish crime author has claimed an iced smoothie nearly killed him, leaving him “staring into...A Scottish crime author has claimed an iced smoothie nearly killed him, leaving him “staring into...
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Auchterarder Trishaw Project is part of the larger Cycling Without Age Scotland movement, which aims to combat loneliness and promote inclusivity for the elderly and those with mobility challenges. The project uses specially designed...The Auchterarder Trishaw Project is part of the larger Cycling Without Age Scotland movement...The Auchterarder Trishaw Project is part of the larger Cycling Without Age Scotland movement...
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
scottish business digest
Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland. 1. The Scottish...Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland.Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland.
Mark Palmer
Jonny Gray has backed Blair Kinghorn to become the starting full back for the British & Irish Lions on their tour of...Jonny Gray has backed Blair Kinghorn to become the starting full back for the British & Irish...Jonny Gray has backed Blair Kinghorn to become the starting full back for the British & Irish...
From comedy to drama, music to art, we’ve scoured Scotland’s cultural scene to pick out the shows and events you won’t want to miss. It might not have volcanoes or a global reputation as a honeymoon destination, but there’s another reason that...From comedy to drama, music to art, we’ve scoured Scotland’s cultural scene to pick out the shows...From comedy to drama, music to art, we’ve scoured Scotland’s cultural scene to pick out the shows...
One of Britain’s most notorious gangsters has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for orchestrating an international...One of Britain’s most notorious gangsters has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for...One of Britain’s most notorious gangsters has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for...
The cost of installing green heating systems has not reduced in the past decade and is putting people off adopting...The cost of installing green heating systems has not reduced in the past decade and is putting...The cost of installing green heating systems has not reduced in the past decade and is putting...
This is the perfect time of year to get out in the open, then into the pub
gabriella bennett
From Norway to Japan, civic toilets are becoming destinations in their own right thanks to efforts to beautify mundane buildings
review
No phone number, no website, but this hip new food spot is everything Dundee has been crying out for, says Chitra Ramaswamy
Plus: Crowded House, Harriet Kemsley and Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
Peter Irvine picks his favourite places for a behind-the-scenes look at how whisky is made, from a village near Edinburgh all the way to the islands
The Times’s Alba restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy has eaten at almost every table in Glasgow, from a kebab shop...The Times’s Alba restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy has eaten at almost every table in Glasgow...The Times’s Alba restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy has eaten at almost every table in Glasgow...
The Times’s Alba restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy has eaten all over Edinburgh, from Marchmont noodle bars to Auld...The Times’s Alba restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy has eaten all over Edinburgh, from Marchmont...The Times’s Alba restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy has eaten all over Edinburgh, from Marchmont...
Pretty Kirkcudbright is a harbourside town of quaint closes, historic streets and, on a clear day, a distinctive clarity of light. It’s easy to see why the Glasgow Boys, the radical young painters of the 19th century, took up residence...Pretty Kirkcudbright is a harbourside town of quaint closes, historic streets and, on a clear day...Pretty Kirkcudbright is a harbourside town of quaint closes, historic streets and, on a clear day...
Comment
Kemi Badenoch is asking the right question on integration
Trevor Phillips
The digital world makes it easier for Britain’s migrant groups to lead completely separate lives — that can be dangerous
JANICE TURNER
How to breathe new life into our cemeteries
GILES COREN
How shall we rebrand my imperfect prostate?
LARA SPIRIT
Starmer’s big state looks so active it gives the Tories something to chew on
ANN TRENEMAN | NOTEBOOK
Offer left me feeling intrigued but anxious
WEEKEND ESSAY
Iran is on the verge of a nervous breakdown: can the regime hold?
DOMINIC SANDBROOK
Jimmy Carter: hapless but ahead of his time
ROSE WILD | FEEDBACK
Mick Jagger could rest easy with Havers brothers’ homage
In last week’s Saturday Review Nigel Farndale revived the story of the 1967 drugs raid on Keith Richards’s house in...In last week’s Saturday Review Nigel Farndale revived the story of the 1967 drugs raid on Keith...In last week’s Saturday Review Nigel Farndale revived the story of the 1967 drugs raid on Keith...
Nature Notebook | Melissa Harrison
Our visitors came from the wild blue yonder
I’d been scanning the calm, sun-sparkled surface of the Aegean for five minutes and, if I’m honest, my scepticism was...I’d been scanning the calm, sun-sparkled surface of the Aegean for five minutes and, if I’m...I’d been scanning the calm, sun-sparkled surface of the Aegean for five minutes and, if I’m...
Leading Articles
Cast Away
In ceding the Chagos islands to Mauritius the government has ignored the views of displaced residents and surrendered sovereignty over an asset
Unintended Consequences
The trajectory of assisted dying legislation in other countries is a warning to the UK
Sail of the Century
With Sir Ben Ainslie at the helm, Britain is challenging for the America’s Cup
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Wisdom of returning Chagos to Mauritius
newWrite to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, The government is to be congratulated for bringing the long-running Chagos dispute to a close (“PM defies US to cede Chagos”, Oct 4). After a series of legal and political defeats, Britain had found itself...Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, The government is to be congratulated for bringing the...Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, The government is to be congratulated for bringing the...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
Tomorrow:
UK: Institute for Fiscal Studies report on Capital Gains Tax.
Israel: International Institute for Counter-Terrorism world summit begins.
On this day
Today
In 1908 Bulgaria declared independence from Ottoman Turkish rule. Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria subsequently took the title of tsar; in 1910 Portugal was proclaimed a republic when King Manuel II fled to Britain. He was the country’s last constitutional monarch and died in London in 1932; in 1917 Sir Arthur Lee, an MP and minister, donated Chequers in Buckinghamshire as a country retreat for prime ministers. David Lloyd George was the first prime minister to use the property; in 1930 the British R101 experimental airship crashed during its maiden overseas journey (to India) near Beauvais, northern France, killing 48 of the 54 people on board, including air minister Lord Thomson; in 1944 five Canadian Spitfire pilots engaged and shot down a Messerschmitt-262, during the Second World War. It was the first jet “kill” during aerial action.
Tomorrow
In 1802 Ludwig van Beethoven wrote the Heiligenstadt Testament, a document intended for his brothers but not discovered until 1827. In the letter he despairs about his increasing deafness; in 1892 the decisive Battle of Adégon took place during the Second Franco-Dahomean War in which French forces suffered six dead and 32 wounded, against losses by King Béhanzin including 434 of his “amazon” warriors (with 17 surviving). France proclaimed victory in 1894. The once-powerful slave-trading kingdom of Dahomey ceased to exist in 1894, and is now part of Benin, west Africa. The Woman King starring Viola Davis was released in cinemas in 2022, inspired by the female warriors, who in reality each had a retinue of from one to 50 slaves; in 1889 the Moulin Rouge cabaret opened near the Montmartre district of Paris, under the leadership of Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler. It is famed for the can-can dance; in 1890 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) in Utah renounced polygamy. The manifesto did not explain what existing plural families should do.
Nature notes
The “splat test” is a rule-of-thumb way of gauging local insect numbers. After every car journey, you check how many insects are smeared on the headlamps. These days there are generally far fewer “splats” than drivers remember from the past when it would often be necessary to clean the lights, especially after night journeys. Another gentler assessment is the “brushing teeth test”. Bathroom light on, window wide open, you see how many insects come in during your washings and brushings. Though insects rarely share our ablutions these days, tooth-brushers of the 1970s and 1980s will recall the faithful presence of moths and crane flies. The latter especially are great bathroom companions as they circle the light, mistaking it for the moon. Jonathan Tulloch
Jonathan Tulloch
Birthdays
Today
Peter Ackroyd, author, chief book reviewer, The Times (1986-2010), 75; Vic Armstrong, prolific stuntman, 78; Clive Barker, writer and producer, Hellraiser (1987), 72; Stephanie Cole, actress, Tenko (1981-84), 83; Bob Geldof KBE, singer, the Boomtown Rats, and organiser of Band Aid/Live Aid, 73; Sir Philip Hampton, chair, GlaxoSmithKline (2015-19), 71; Peter Hargreaves, co-founder (1981) of Hargreaves Lansdown (financial services), 78; Brian Johnson, singer-songwriter, AC/DC, 77; Imran Khan, prime minister of Pakistan (2018-22), and cricketer, Pakistan (1971-92), 72; Robin Lane Fox, historian, Alexander the Great (1974), 78; Steve Miller, singer-songwriter, the Steve Miller Band, Abracadabra (1982), 81; Sir Michael Morpurgo, author, War Horse (1984), 81; Parminder Nagra, actress, ER (2003-09), 49; Guy Pearce, actor, LA Confidential (1997), 57; Nick Robinson, journalist, presenter, Today, BBC Radio 4, political editor, BBC (2005-15), 61; David Sassoon, fashion designer for Elizabeth Taylor and others, 92; Lord (Adair) Turner of Ecchinswell, chair, Financial Services Authority (2008-13), 69; Sam Warburton, rugby player, Wales and British and Irish Lions, 36; Kate Winslet, actress, Titanic (1997), 49; Sam Younger, chair, Which?, 73.
Tomorrow
Lord (Melvyn) Bragg, presenter, The South Bank Show (1978-2023), controller of arts, London Weekend Television (1990-2010) , 85; Lez Brotherston, production designer, Tony and Olivier award winner, 63; Bill Buford, editor, Granta (1979-95), and author, Among the Thugs (1990), 70; Mario Capecchi, molecular geneticist, (Nobel prize, 2007), 87; Dame Bobbie Cheema-Grubb, High Court judge, 58; Major General Patrick Cordingley DSO, Gulf War commander, 80; Gareth Davies, comptroller and auditor-general, head of the National Audit Office, 59; Lord (Bob) Edmiston, chair, IM Group, 78; Britt Ekland, actress, The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), 82; Ricky Hatton, boxer, light-welterweight world champion, 46; Penny Junor, writer, The Duchess: The Untold Story (2017), 75; Lai Ching-te, president of Taiwan, 65; Sir Iain Livingstone QPM, chief constable, Police Scotland (2018-23), 58; David Morgan, president, International Cricket Council (2008-10), 87; Emily Mortimer, actress, Mary Poppins Returns (2018), 53; Peter Pellegrini, president of Slovakia, 49; Admiral Sir Derek Reffell, flag officer Third Flotilla in Falklands conflict, 96; Elisabeth Shue, actress, Leaving Las Vegas (1995), 61; Geraldine Van Bueren KC, professor emerita of international human rights law, Queen Mary, University of London, 69.