The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
The council accused of failings over the Grenfell tragedy has made some of its residential blocks less safe since the disaster, its former head of fire safety has said. The experienced fire risk and building safety engineer, who did not want to be named, joined the Royal Borough of Kensington and...The council accused of failings over the Grenfell tragedy has made some of its residential blocks less safe since the disaster, its former head of fire safety has said. The experienced fire risk and building safety engineer, who did not want to be named, joined the Royal Borough of Kensington and...The council accused of failings over the Grenfell tragedy has made some of its residential blocks less safe since the disaster...
The UK’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel has caused a diplomatic row with the country as Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, denounced the move as “shameful” and said it would only “embolden” Hamas. The government has suspended 30 of Britain’s 350 arms export licences with Israel amid concerns that the weapons...The UK’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel has caused a diplomatic row with the country as Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, denounced the move as “shameful” and said it would only “embolden” Hamas. The government has suspended 30 of Britain’s 350 arms export licences with Israel amid concerns that the weapons...The UK’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel has caused a diplomatic row with the country as Binyamin Netanyahu, the...
At least 12 migrants have died after their overcrowded dinghy capsized while they were trying to cross the Channel. Several others were in a critical condition, according to La Voix du Nord, the regional newspaper. French media reported that rescue workers were still searching for migrants feared to be lost at sea.At least 12 migrants have died after their overcrowded dinghy capsized while they were trying to...At least 12 migrants have died after their overcrowded dinghy capsized while they were trying to...
It starts out innocently enough: the shredding of evidence after a Selfridges splurge (the bright yellow bags get...It starts out innocently enough: the shredding of evidence after a Selfridges splurge (the bright...It starts out innocently enough: the shredding of evidence after a Selfridges splurge (the bright...
As much as many of us feel we need a lie-in at the weekend, it has long been freighted with warnings that this...As much as many of us feel we need a lie-in at the weekend, it has long been freighted with...As much as many of us feel we need a lie-in at the weekend, it has long been freighted with...
A viscountess whose pet duck Quackers was strangled and tossed into long grass has turned detective and is being helped by hundreds of amateur sleuths in her hunt for the killer. Viscountess Hinchingbrooke — also known as Julie Montagu, an...A viscountess whose pet duck Quackers was strangled and tossed into long grass has turned...A viscountess whose pet duck Quackers was strangled and tossed into long grass has turned...
National pride has declined sharply over the last decade, possibly because Britain is redefining itself as it becomes...National pride has declined sharply over the last decade, possibly because Britain is redefining...National pride has declined sharply over the last decade, possibly because Britain is redefining...
THE TIMES DIARY
With Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump in the polls, America may finally get a female president. It has been coming...With Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump in the polls, America may finally get a female president.With Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump in the polls, America may finally get a female president.
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s populist prime minister, has scored a victory in her attempts to exert more influence in the European Union as a minister from her hard-right Brothers of Italy party is poised to take a top job in Brussels. According to diplomatic sources, Ursula von der Leyen, the German...Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s populist prime minister, has scored a victory in her attempts to exert more influence in the European Union as a minister from her hard-right Brothers of Italy party is poised to take a top job in Brussels. According to diplomatic sources, Ursula von der Leyen, the German...Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s populist prime minister, has scored a victory in her attempts to exert more influence in the European...
video
A Russian missile attack in central Ukraine has killed 51 people and injured more than 200, Ukrainian officials have said. President Zelensky said that Russian forces struck “an educational institution and a neighbouring hospital” with two ballistic missiles in the city of Poltava. The educational facility in question is understood to be...A Russian missile attack in central Ukraine has killed 51 people and injured more than 200, Ukrainian officials have said. President Zelensky said that Russian forces struck “an educational institution and a neighbouring hospital” with two ballistic missiles in the city of Poltava. The educational facility in question is understood to be...A Russian missile attack in central Ukraine has killed 51 people and injured more than 200, Ukrainian officials have said.
video
Tran Thi Ly Vaan was ten years old when she first heard an explosion in her central Vietnamese home town. The deadly blast, which instantly killed a local woman, left a lasting impression. “This haunted me,” Tran recounted. “It was a constant threat, living in the contaminated area where so many bombs were left...Tran Thi Ly Vaan was ten years old when she first heard an explosion in her central Vietnamese...Tran Thi Ly Vaan was ten years old when she first heard an explosion in her central Vietnamese...
in depth
The scrawled handwriting across six pages of notepaper contained sordid details of drug use, trips to ranches owned by cartels and the tale of an innocent mother caught in the spiral of her partner’s addiction. Kouri Richins, 34, already the...The scrawled handwriting across six pages of notepaper contained sordid details of drug use...The scrawled handwriting across six pages of notepaper contained sordid details of drug use...
Catherine Philp in Ukraine
IN maps and CHARTS
in maps and charts
President Biden urged working-class Americans in his first joint campaign appearance with Kamala Harris to “make...President Biden urged working-class Americans in his first joint campaign appearance with Kamala...President Biden urged working-class Americans in his first joint campaign appearance with Kamala...
analysis
Kamala Harris is leading in opinion polls to become the next US president, even as her position on numerous issues...Kamala Harris is leading in opinion polls to become the next US president, even as her position...Kamala Harris is leading in opinion polls to become the next US president, even as her position...
Apple has warned Britain’s competition watchdog that its “flawed and insufficient” analysis of the iPhone maker’s dominance in the mobile browser market risks harming consumers and developers. The Silicon Valley tech group claimed the Competition and Markets Authority was using outdated...Apple has warned Britain’s competition watchdog that its “flawed and insufficient” analysis of the iPhone maker’s dominance in the mobile browser market risks harming consumers and developers. The Silicon Valley tech group claimed the Competition and Markets Authority was using outdated...Apple has warned Britain’s competition watchdog that its “flawed and insufficient” analysis of the iPhone maker’s dominance in...
Nine new offshore wind farms were among the record number of projects agreed in the Labour government’s first renewable energy auction. The sixth annual auction round for state subsidies yielded 131 new green infrastructure projects. This was the highest yet, and up from 92 in the previous auction, according to the Department for Energy...Nine new offshore wind farms were among the record number of projects agreed in the Labour government’s first renewable energy auction. The sixth annual auction round for state subsidies yielded 131 new green infrastructure projects. This was the highest yet, and up from 92 in the previous auction, according to the Department for Energy...Nine new offshore wind farms were among the record number of projects agreed in the Labour government’s first renewable energy...
Investors rushed to buy UK government bonds on Tuesday by placing a record order of more than £100 billion at a gilt auction, defying Labour’s warnings about the parlous state of the public finances and a possible “run on the pound”. Bond investors placed orders totalling £110 billion during the auction for an £8...Investors rushed to buy UK government bonds on Tuesday by placing a record order of more than...Investors rushed to buy UK government bonds on Tuesday by placing a record order of more than...
business commentary
Pre-budget lobbying is a predictable affair. Who yet knows if Offshore Energies UK, the campaigner for the oil and...Pre-budget lobbying is a predictable affair. Who yet knows if Offshore Energies UK, the...Pre-budget lobbying is a predictable affair. Who yet knows if Offshore Energies UK, the...
mehreen khan
This week’s European rentrée from the summer break has been hijacked by a deepening Franco-German headache. In Berlin...This week’s European rentrée from the summer break has been hijacked by a deepening Franco-German...This week’s European rentrée from the summer break has been hijacked by a deepening Franco-German...
powering up britain
With billions of pounds of investment, national energy security and tens of thousands of jobs on the line, the next few months could be defining for Britain’s oil and gas industry. Companies operating in the North Sea are accustomed to political...With billions of pounds of investment, national energy security and tens of thousands of jobs on...With billions of pounds of investment, national energy security and tens of thousands of jobs on...
comment
On October 14, Sir Keir Starmer will host the UK International Investment Summit, a flagship event for a government...On October 14, Sir Keir Starmer will host the UK International Investment Summit, a flagship...On October 14, Sir Keir Starmer will host the UK International Investment Summit, a flagship...
tempus
Nestlé, the Swiss food giant, ousted its chief executive last month. The business has lagged rivals in recent years...Nestlé, the Swiss food giant, ousted its chief executive last month. The business has lagged...Nestlé, the Swiss food giant, ousted its chief executive last month. The business has lagged...
Personal Development
international trade
six from the best
As a former high-flying London headhunter, Natalie Fee had a house, car and high-paying job by the age of 21. But a chance viewing of a trailer for the film Albatross, about plastic pollution, led her to a career pivot. Now, as the founder of City to Sea, she campaigns to stop plastic pollution at source. 1. For all the good you want to do in the world, start with...As a former high-flying London headhunter, Natalie Fee had a house, car and high-paying job by...As a former high-flying London headhunter, Natalie Fee had a house, car and high-paying job by...
recruitment
Did you dread heading back into the office after the Bank Holiday, or did you bounce back to work? Whichever it was...Did you dread heading back into the office after the Bank Holiday, or did you bounce back to work? Whichever it was, it will have been influenced by your organisation’s culture. Elusive to measure and even harder to achieve successfully, company culture encapsulates the shared norms, values and behaviour of a...Did you dread heading back into the office after the Bank Holiday, or did you bounce back to work? Whichever it was, it will...
MIKE ATHERTON
Brendon McCullum gave no clues, did he? Lounging on the Lord’s balcony, feet up, shades on, he looked like a man utterly content with his lot as his players romped to another Test and series win against Sri Lanka. It is a measure of the impact he has made in his short time with the England Test...Brendon McCullum gave no clues, did he? Lounging on the Lord’s balcony, feet up, shades on, he looked like a man utterly content with his lot as his players romped to another Test and series win against Sri Lanka. It is a measure of the impact he has made in his short time with the England Test...Brendon McCullum gave no clues, did he? Lounging on the Lord’s balcony, feet up, shades on, he looked like a man utterly...
us open | annabel croft
One of my first encounters with Jack Draper was in December 2019 when I was asked by the LTA to help out with some media coaching for a group of the country’s most promising players. Also in the room over the course of two days at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton was a young Emma Raducanu. To be honest, I didn’t know who they all...One of my first encounters with Jack Draper was in December 2019 when I was asked by the LTA to help out with some media coaching for a group of the country’s most promising players. Also in the room over the course of two days at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton was a young Emma Raducanu. To be honest, I didn’t know who they all...One of my first encounters with Jack Draper was in December 2019 when I was asked by the LTA to help out with some media...
The planned demolition and redevelopment of the Tavern and Allen stands at Lord’s that was due to commence next month is set to be delayed because of the project’s rising costs. The two stands, which are situated to the left of the pavilion, are set to be demolished over the next two years as the last part of a...The planned demolition and redevelopment of the Tavern and Allen stands at Lord’s that was due to...The planned demolition and redevelopment of the Tavern and Allen stands at Lord’s that was due to...
Women’s champions League
ALYSON RUDD
No one should feel sorry for Ivan Toney, who is reportedly now earning nearly £1million a week in Saudi Arabia. And...No one should feel sorry for Ivan Toney, who is reportedly now earning nearly £1million a week in...No one should feel sorry for Ivan Toney, who is reportedly now earning nearly £1million a week in...
gregor robertson
It was an interview that made everyone who saw it smile. It was May 2021, and Marc Guéhi was standing on the pitch at...It was an interview that made everyone who saw it smile. It was May 2021, and Marc Guéhi was...It was an interview that made everyone who saw it smile. It was May 2021, and Marc Guéhi was...
MOLLY HUDSON
From a winning machine to an undriveable monster, Red Bull have witnessed their championship lead diminish in front of their eyes in a matter of weeks, thanks to an engineering issue with their once dominant car. Now they must work around the clock to fix it and set up a fascinating conclusion to the season. In Formula 1, thousands of people of varying seniority levels...From a winning machine to an undriveable monster, Red Bull have witnessed their championship lead...From a winning machine to an undriveable monster, Red Bull have witnessed their championship lead...
Red Bull and Ferrari have claimed that the car design being used by McLaren and Mercedes is giving them an unfair...Red Bull and Ferrari have claimed that the car design being used by McLaren and Mercedes is giving them an unfair advantage in the Formula 1 title race. Their complaint focuses on the flexibility of the front wings, which are crucial to the aerodynamics of the present generation of cars, and comes after Red Bull’s...Red Bull and Ferrari have claimed that the car design being used by McLaren and Mercedes is giving them an unfair advantage in...
US Open | Stuart Fraser
Paul Hirst
As you walk down the corridors to the boardroom in the East Stand at Old Trafford, you are reminded of the Manchester...As you walk down the corridors to the boardroom in the East Stand at Old Trafford, you are...As you walk down the corridors to the boardroom in the East Stand at Old Trafford, you are...
MIKE ATHERTON
At my first glance on Monday morning there were 170 comments under the digital report of Sunday’s play in the second...At my first glance on Monday morning there were 170 comments under the digital report of Sunday’s...At my first glance on Monday morning there were 170 comments under the digital report of Sunday’s...
TIMES SPORT UNSEEN
This week Bradley Ormesher is flying solo but that does not mean a smaller Unseen Gallery. Our photographer was busy capturing the action at Old Trafford on Sunday as Liverpool turned up and blew away Manchester United 3-0 in the Premier League.This week Bradley Ormesher is flying solo but that does not mean a smaller Unseen Gallery. Our...This week Bradley Ormesher is flying solo but that does not mean a smaller Unseen Gallery. Our...
From a £199 trench coat to a midi kilt, Harriet Walker on what she has her eye on from the high street store’s new season
It’s one of the pie-maker’s most popular dishes — so what happens when Hilary Rose tries to whip one up herself?
new
Yes, you can wear leopard print, leather and trouser suits — with a twist. Here are my top tips for corporate dressing to look stylish, not staid, says Anna Murphy
new
Amal Clooney is part of a select club of globally famous, immaculately turned-out women. Why wear jeans and a T-shirt when you could wear Versace instead, asks Hilary Rose
New research has found they lower the risk of heart disease, but there’s more to it than that
venice REVIEW
Daniel Craig delivers possibly his best screen performance for director Luca Guadagnino in what is nonetheless one of the former Bond star’s least interesting and most ill-disciplined movies (and that’s including Cowboys & Aliens). Guadagnino, hot from the flawless Challengers, has reunited with that film’s writer Justin Kuritzkes to adapt Queer, the patchy...Daniel Craig delivers possibly his best screen performance for director Luca Guadagnino in what...Daniel Craig delivers possibly his best screen performance for director Luca Guadagnino in what...
Interview
Maggie Rogers is sick of being asked about her experience of overnight fame. “It’s been a f***ing decade!” and “There...Maggie Rogers is sick of being asked about her experience of overnight fame. “It’s been a f***ing decade!” and “There are so many more interesting things to talk about” is the American indie pop artist’s attitude to questions about it. The issue is that it’s a great, heartwarming tale, one she has previously...Maggie Rogers is sick of being asked about her experience of overnight fame. “It’s been a f***ing decade!” and “There are so...
dr mark porter
Ian McKellen has announced he will be taking the rest of this year off after his fall from the stage in the Noël...Ian McKellen has announced he will be taking the rest of this year off after his fall from the...Ian McKellen has announced he will be taking the rest of this year off after his fall from the...
ROBERT CRAMPTON
This billionaire Joe Lewis bloke parking his superyacht in Dartmouth for almost a month has really got to me. There’s...This billionaire Joe Lewis bloke parking his superyacht in Dartmouth for almost a month has...This billionaire Joe Lewis bloke parking his superyacht in Dartmouth for almost a month has...
first person
When you get “the call”, the notification that Ofsted will descend the next day and pass judgment on the entirety of your professional life, there are certain standard reactions not dissimilar to food poisoning. Cold sweats, shaky knees, a queasy...When you get “the call”, the notification that Ofsted will descend the next day and pass judgment...When you get “the call”, the notification that Ofsted will descend the next day and pass judgment...
video
REVIEW
The Tower (ITV1/ITVX), while a perfectly good cop drama, has never hugely grabbed me by the you-know-whats before and I’m not quite sure why. Maybe it’s because the characters aren’t as compelling as the ones in, say, Blue Lights, and it doesn’t feel as pacy. However, I do like a long-term undercover cop story because it’s such a terrifying, selfless job to do...The Tower (ITV1/ITVX), while a perfectly good cop drama, has never hugely grabbed me by...The Tower (ITV1/ITVX), while a perfectly good cop drama, has never hugely grabbed me by...
The famous Hollywood adage that MGM once contained “more stars than there are in heaven” has been widely co-opted...The famous Hollywood adage that MGM once contained “more stars than there are in heaven” has been widely co-opted this year by the Venice Film Festival. The expected arrival of Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett, Daniel Craig, Lady Gaga, George Clooney, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law, Angelina Jolie and...The famous Hollywood adage that MGM once contained “more stars than there are in heaven” has been widely co-opted this year by...
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
first night review
PROMS 2024
Will it be a vintage season at the BBC Proms? It’s David Pickard’s last hurrah as director of the festival, and the concerts are also spread out over Great Britain like never before, with important events scheduled in Bristol and Gateshead as well...Will it be a vintage season at the BBC Proms? It’s David Pickard’s last hurrah as director of the...Will it be a vintage season at the BBC Proms? It’s David Pickard’s last hurrah as director of the...
Viewing GUide
tELEVISION | STREAMING GUIDE
Television
Television
TELEVISION
TELEVISION
MindGames
1 Sanguivores feed on which body fluid? 2 Tom Shippey’s 1982 book The Road to Middle-Earth is a scholarly study of...1 Sanguivores feed on which body fluid? 2 Tom Shippey’s 1982 book The Road to Middle-Earth is a...1 Sanguivores feed on which body fluid? 2 Tom Shippey’s 1982 book The Road to Middle-Earth is a...
ask professor tanya byron
The most beautiful human creations — art, music, poetry — are now in the hands of machines
Beaujolais nouveau is only one of the wonderful products the region is turning out
Coral, pearl and desert crystal: these are the scents that Diptyque’s Parisian master perfumers were tasked with distilling
Ed Gorman witnesses one of the greatest fleets of classic yachts off the coast of Cornwall
A rare glimpse of the Tiffany & Co jeweller’s treasure-filled rustic houses
Transport yourself to the Land of Rising Sun with a weekend based around these gorgeous Japanese-style spots, complete with special places to stay nearby
video
Halifax, Nova Scotia, is North America’s most joyous, laid-back break – and a new direct seasonal flight makes it easier to reach than ever
Our expert classes each of these spots as an absolute must-visit, from a carefree paradise island to a feel-good city with an authentic vibe
video
Exploring via a new train and boat itinerary from Star Clippers is the gentle way to experience the beauty of Bari, Amalfi, Sicily and beyond
video
The pedestrianised Cies Islands, off the coast of Galicia, have some of the world’s most alluring (and exclusive) beaches. No wonder they don’t want everyone to know
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
video
Sicily is a richly varied, enormous island — the largest in the Mediterranean — so you shouldn’t expect to see all of its golden beaches, archaeological sites, and regions in one go. But if you’re looking to pack as much Sicilian magic as possible...Sicily is a richly varied, enormous island — the largest in the Mediterranean — so you shouldn’t...Sicily is a richly varied, enormous island — the largest in the Mediterranean — so you shouldn’t...
ARE not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And...ARE not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your...ARE not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your...
video
What have the Victorians ever done for us? Well, along with those familiar things like inventing the telephone...What have the Victorians ever done for us? Well, along with those familiar things like inventing...What have the Victorians ever done for us? Well, along with those familiar things like inventing...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
Finance secretary to announce £600m of cuts
Scotland is facing a “new era of austerity”, Shona Robison has warned as she prepares to announce up to £600 million spending cuts on Tuesday. The finance secretary will seek to blame Westminster politicians for the financial crisis by invoking past prime ministers before turning her fire on...Scotland is facing a “new era of austerity”, Shona Robison has warned as she prepares to announce up to £600 million spending cuts on Tuesday. The finance secretary will seek to blame Westminster politicians for the financial crisis by invoking past prime ministers before turning her fire on...Scotland is facing a “new era of austerity”, Shona Robison has warned as she prepares to announce up to £600 million spending...
Middle and higher-income Scots may see a reduction in their income tax burden after official forecasters suggested a change to the SNP’s finance strategy. The Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC), Scotland’s official economic forecaster which also aids the Holyrood budget process, recently released guidance suggesting tax bands might increase...Middle and higher-income Scots may see a reduction in their income tax burden after official forecasters suggested a change to the SNP’s finance strategy. The Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC), Scotland’s official economic forecaster which also aids the Holyrood budget process, recently released guidance suggesting tax bands might increase...Middle and higher-income Scots may see a reduction in their income tax burden after official forecasters suggested a change to...
Kenny Farquharson
Being Scotland’s finance minister is a thankless task. From the outside it looks like a position of great power. You are Scotland’s chancellor of the exchequer. You call the shots. The reality is somewhat different. Nothing is quite as it seems. Numbers that cross your desk are often unreliable. Everything is an...Being Scotland’s finance minister is a thankless task. From the outside it looks like a position...Being Scotland’s finance minister is a thankless task. From the outside it looks like a position...
At a ceremony in 1935 overseen by the Italian consul Ferruccio Luppis, a band of fascists donned black shirts and sang marching songs outside La Casa D’Italia, the newly opened Italian embassy in the heart of Glasgow. Speakers came to the building...At a ceremony in 1935 overseen by the Italian consul Ferruccio Luppis, a band of fascists donned...At a ceremony in 1935 overseen by the Italian consul Ferruccio Luppis, a band of fascists donned...
Magnus Linklater
How do you quantify risk? Madcap irresponsibility? Or carefully weighing up the consequences, and making a balanced...How do you quantify risk? Madcap irresponsibility? Or carefully weighing up the consequences, and...How do you quantify risk? Madcap irresponsibility? Or carefully weighing up the consequences, and...
Premiership | Analysis
There were any number of desperate displays from Rangers players as their Old Firm rivals pulled them from pillar to...There were any number of desperate displays from Rangers players as their Old Firm rivals pulled...There were any number of desperate displays from Rangers players as their Old Firm rivals pulled...
Premiership | Analysis
Three men who seemingly always deliver for Celtic against Rangers did so once again in Sunday’s routine 3-0 win. Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor not only scored the champions’ goals but owned their individual area of the field...Three men who seemingly always deliver for Celtic against Rangers did so once again in Sunday’s...Three men who seemingly always deliver for Celtic against Rangers did so once again in Sunday’s...
Popular Scottish foods such as square sausage, Scotch pies and caramel shortbread are to become healthier thanks to a...Popular Scottish foods such as square sausage, Scotch pies and caramel shortbread are to become...Popular Scottish foods such as square sausage, Scotch pies and caramel shortbread are to become...
conference sketch
Imagine a rock festival where the headliners didn’t show: Woodstock ’69 without Janis Joplin, the Isle of Wight ’70...Imagine a rock festival where the headliners didn’t show: Woodstock ’69 without Janis Joplin, the...Imagine a rock festival where the headliners didn’t show: Woodstock ’69 without Janis Joplin, the...
Comment
Fearless David Owen is a brilliant one-off
Daniel Finkelstein
newHUGO RIFKIND
Then they came for our buttery croissants
MELANIE PHILLIPS
Netanyahu’s problem is his moral cowardice
GILES COREN | NOTEBOOK
Let’s go back to a Bond with no time to diet
MARK DAMAZER
Look beyond GDP for the truth about a shaky economy
Leading Articles
German Alternative
The triumph of the hard-right Alternative for Germany is a warning to Berlin’s unwieldy coalition to cut immigration and boost the economy
Playing to the Gallery
Labour’s half-hearted arms embargo against Israel is cynical and performative
No Time to Die
James Bond is a centenarian by one reckoning. But never say never again
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Aukus pact and American military leadership
Sir, Max Hastings is right to question the wisdom of continuing the “high-reward, high-risk enterprise” of the Aukus deal (“Aukus pact is not a blank cheque for the US”, Sep 2). In any event a decision about the future of the project should be within the context of the strategic defence review. The fundamental issue that our focus should remain fixed on is our...Sir, Max Hastings is right to question the wisdom of continuing the “high-reward, high-risk...Sir, Max Hastings is right to question the wisdom of continuing the “high-reward, high-risk...
HARRIET WALKER | NOTEBOOK
New addition to our household is a star in the making
I knew it was smug and vaguely middle-aged of me to post a pic of my new tumble dryer on Instagram at the weekend...I knew it was smug and vaguely middle-aged of me to post a pic of my new tumble dryer on Instagram at the weekend, but I have been working on self-acceptance recently and if this is my quintessence now, then so be it. What I hadn’t banked on was so many other people’s joy being sparked. Below the artfully styled...I knew it was smug and vaguely middle-aged of me to post a pic of my new tumble dryer on Instagram at the weekend, but I have...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: Merchant Navy Day, marking the contribution of the navy to the war efforts and remembering those who died; Tour of Britain cycling event begins, until Sunday.
China: António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, visits China, where he participates in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit and is expected to meet Chinese officials.
Mongolia: President Putin is expected to visit at the invitation of the president Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.
On this day
In 1658 Oliver Cromwell died, aged 59, from complications linked to a form of malaria and kidney stone disease. He appointed his son, Richard, as his successor as lord protector of the commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland; in 1938 the 1940 Olympic Games were awarded to Helsinki (summer) and St Moritz (winter) after the withdrawal of the original host cities of Tokyo and Sapporo on July 16, 1938, with Japan citing the “China incident” — the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945); in 1944 the British Second Army liberated Brussels during the Second World War; in 1954 the National Trust for Scotland acquired Fair Isle, an island known for its birdlife and knitted sweaters. It had been bought by George Waterston, an ornithologist from Edinburgh, in 1948; in 2004 the Beslan school siege by Islamist militants ended in North Ossetia, after a storming by Russian special forces. An estimated 350 people were killed, including more than 180 children.
Nature notes
Slow worms give birth to live young in late summer, having mated in spring. The females incubate their eggs internally; these hatch but remain inside her, feeding on the remains of the yolk sac, until they are ready to emerge later in the year, by which time they are about 4cm long. Not snakes but legless lizards, slow worms have eyelids, unlike snakes, and a flat tongue. Generally pewter-coloured, their scales are smoother than those of other reptiles, making them appear very shiny, as though recently polished; females can be more of a bronze colour and both sexes can develop a darker stripe along their spines. The gardener’s friend, they eat slow-moving things, including large numbers of slugs and snails. Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison
Birthdays today
Gareth Southgate, footballer, England (1995-2004), and manager of the England team (2016-Jul 2024), 54; Geoff Arnold, cricketer, England (1967-75), 80; Noah Baumbach, film director and screenwriter, Barbie (2023, co-writer), 55; Sarah Bradford (Viscountess Bangor), historian and author best known for her royal biographies, 86; Caryl Churchill, playwright, Love and Information (2012), 86; Pauline Collins, actress, Shirley Valentine (1989), 84; Fearne Cotton, TV and radio presenter, 43; Tony Defries, impresario who managed David Bowie’s early career, 81; Kiran Desai, author, The Inheritance of Loss (2006, Man Booker prizewinner), 53; Mario Draghi, prime minister of Italy (2021-22), president, European Central Bank (2011-19), 77; Frank Duffy, architect, founder (1974), DEGW architectural practice, 84; Lord (Euan) Geddes, deputy speaker, House of Lords, 87; Malcolm Gladwell, author, The Tipping Point (2000), and journalist, 61; Prof Peter Goddard, mathematical physicist, master, St John’s College, Cambridge (1994-2004), 79; Guido Imbens, economist, co-recipient of the Nobel memorial prize in economics (2021), 61; Al Jardine, singer, the Beach Boys, Help Me, Rhonda (1965), 82; Rachel Johnson, journalist and author, Rake’s Progress (2020, 2021), editor of The Lady (2009-12), 59; Steve Jones, guitarist, the Sex Pistols and Iggy Pop, 69; Dawid Malan, cricketer, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, England (2017-23), 37; Claire Miles, chief executive, Stagecoach, Yell (2019-22), 52; Michael More-Molyneux, lord-lieutenant of Surrey, 73; Rob Page, footballer, manager of the Wales national football team (2020-Jun 2024), 50; Josie Rourke, theatre and film director, Mary Queen of Scots (2018), 48; Charlie Sheen, actor, Wall Street (1987), 59; Dick Strawbridge, presenter, Escape to the Chateau (2016-22), 65.