The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
Parties of left and right unite to bring down minority government over austerity budget in blow to Emmanuel Macron
liveThe Elysée palace said that President Macron will address the nation at 8pm local time tomorrow. Patrick Martin, the head of Medef, France’s federation of business owners, said firms “need to get back to stability very rapidly”. The government’s collapse, he added, would “leave traces”. Marine Le...The Elysée palace said that President Macron will address the nation at 8pm local time tomorrow. Patrick Martin, the head of Medef, France’s federation of business owners, said firms “need to get back to stability very rapidly”. The government’s collapse, he added, would “leave traces”. Marine Le...The Elysée palace said that President Macron will address the nation at 8pm local time tomorrow. Patrick Martin, the head of...
analysis
President Macron came to power in 2017 promising to rule France like Jupiter, handing down decisions from on high that would be implemented by the mere mortals under his orders. He was true to his word. Macron seems to have consulted only a tiny circle of advisers before concluding in June that he would dissolve the National Assembly...President Macron came to power in 2017 promising to rule France like Jupiter, handing down decisions from on high that would be implemented by the mere mortals under his orders. He was true to his word. Macron seems to have consulted only a tiny circle of advisers before concluding in June that he would dissolve the National Assembly...President Macron came to power in 2017 promising to rule France like Jupiter, handing down decisions from on high that would be...
The entire British Army would be destroyed in “six months to a year” if engaged in a major conflict with the likes of Russia, the veterans minister has warned. Colonel Alistair Carns, one of the most battle-hardened defence ministers in modern history, warned the UK must be able to “generate mass rapidly” if faced...The entire British Army would be destroyed in “six months to a year” if engaged in a major...The entire British Army would be destroyed in “six months to a year” if engaged in a major...
Healthier, eco-friendly, altogether virtuous? If that’s what you think of yourself as you splash almond milk over...Healthier, eco-friendly, altogether virtuous? If that’s what you think of yourself as you splash...Healthier, eco-friendly, altogether virtuous? If that’s what you think of yourself as you splash...
what i’ve learnt
Dame Arlene Phillips, 81, is a choreographer, theatre director and former dancer. She has choreographed West End and...Dame Arlene Phillips, 81, is a choreographer, theatre director and former dancer. She has...Dame Arlene Phillips, 81, is a choreographer, theatre director and former dancer. She has...
Chanel took its distinctive aesthetic to China this week, staging its latest presentation on the shores of the celebrated West Lake in Hangzhou at dusk. But its Métier d’Art collection wasn’t just a showcase for the highly recognisable house codes...Chanel took its distinctive aesthetic to China this week, staging its latest presentation on the...Chanel took its distinctive aesthetic to China this week, staging its latest presentation on the...
The British rock band Sports Team were robbed at gunpoint just “ten minutes” into the first day of their US tour. The...The British rock band Sports Team were robbed at gunpoint just “ten minutes” into the first day...The British rock band Sports Team were robbed at gunpoint just “ten minutes” into the first day...
Clive Myrie has vowed to stop doing any external speaking engagements after being reprimanded for failing to disclose...Clive Myrie has vowed to stop doing any external speaking engagements after being reprimanded for...Clive Myrie has vowed to stop doing any external speaking engagements after being reprimanded for...
Alison McGovern says the system makes it hard for the long-term sick to find work
The chancellor told the Confederation of British Industry last week there would be no more borrowing or tax rises, but has since refused to commit
The prime minister is due to travel to Belgium to discuss European security in the light of Donald Trump’s election
political sketch
Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have not been afraid to take tough decisions. The only thing they’re less afraid of than taking tough decisions is telling you they’ve been taking tough decisions. One suspects the phrase “taking tough decisions”...Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have not been afraid to take tough decisions. The only thing...Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have not been afraid to take tough decisions. The only thing...
The King surprised a group of tourists from Texas as he stopped to say hello on a visit to Notting Hill. Charles wandered over to a group of people who had been waiting in the rain to see him emerge from St Peter’s Church in the west London neighbourhood. Rather than get into the waiting state Bentley, Charles walked towards the crowd. The King said that he was “so...The King surprised a group of tourists from Texas as he stopped to say hello on a visit to...The King surprised a group of tourists from Texas as he stopped to say hello on a visit to...
The Queen told Qatari guests at Buckingham Palace that she had pneumonia, as she provided more details about the...The Queen told Qatari guests at Buckingham Palace that she had pneumonia, as she provided more details about the health condition that has kept her away from public duties. Before a state banquet at the palace Camilla, 77, pulled out of the ceremonial welcome for the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani...The Queen told Qatari guests at Buckingham Palace that she had pneumonia, as she provided more details about the health...
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have donated $250,000 to a women’s wellness centre founded by President Biden’s daughter. The gift was made last year by Harry and Meghan’s charity, the Archewell Foundation, to Ashley Biden’s Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) in Philadelphia, tax returns show. The centre aims to help women who have experienced trauma to “break from the cycle of...The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have donated $250,000 to a women’s wellness centre founded by...The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have donated $250,000 to a women’s wellness centre founded by...
The King is selling several of the late Queen’s racehorses at auction this week, collecting more than £200,000 on the...The King is selling several of the late Queen’s racehorses at auction this week, collecting more than £200,000 on the first day alone. Trainers and breeders were seen studying horses from the Royal Stud at the Tattersalls auction house in Newmarket, Suffolk, on Monday. Three were sold, including Make Fast, an...The King is selling several of the late Queen’s racehorses at auction this week, collecting more than £200,000 on the first day...
the times diary
A Russian ship fired a “signal munition” at a German military helicopter over the Baltic Sea, the German foreign minister has disclosed. The incident is the latest sign of growing tensions in the region, where Nato has stepped up its exercises and a series of pipelines and underwater cables have...A Russian ship fired a “signal munition” at a German military helicopter over the Baltic Sea, the German foreign minister has disclosed. The incident is the latest sign of growing tensions in the region, where Nato has stepped up its exercises and a series of pipelines and underwater cables have...A Russian ship fired a “signal munition” at a German military helicopter over the Baltic Sea, the German foreign minister has...
profile
The crisis in South Korea is a sign that no country is immune from the wave of populist politics sweeping the world’s democracies. The figures at the forefront of events in Seoul this week, President Yoon and the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, can in that light be seen as both showing their roots in South Korea’s distinctive politics and...The crisis in South Korea is a sign that no country is immune from the wave of populist politics sweeping the world’s democracies. The figures at the forefront of events in Seoul this week, President Yoon and the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, can in that light be seen as both showing their roots in South Korea’s distinctive politics and...The crisis in South Korea is a sign that no country is immune from the wave of populist politics sweeping the world’s democracies.
Prince Albert of Monaco has ordered concerts, fireworks and a drone display to celebrate the inauguration of a new neighbourhood that boasts the world’s most expensive real estate. The beleaguered prince, whose reign has been tarnished by rumours of marital discord and corruption, is seizing the occasion to give...Prince Albert of Monaco has ordered concerts, fireworks and a drone display to celebrate the...Prince Albert of Monaco has ordered concerts, fireworks and a drone display to celebrate the...
video
aNALYSIS
King Charles and the British government have been accused of behaving like “slave owners” by the president of...King Charles and the British government have been accused of behaving like “slave owners” by the...King Charles and the British government have been accused of behaving like “slave owners” by the...
A palliative care physician in Berlin is under investigation on suspicion of having murdered as many as 40 of his...A palliative care physician in Berlin is under investigation on suspicion of having murdered as...A palliative care physician in Berlin is under investigation on suspicion of having murdered as...
At some point almost a century ago, Raymond Chandler sat at his typewriter, possibly with a pipe in his mouth and a drink in his hand, to write a list. Its content was to be the things he hated. The author of hard-boiled detective fiction decided...At some point almost a century ago, Raymond Chandler sat at his typewriter, possibly with a pipe...At some point almost a century ago, Raymond Chandler sat at his typewriter, possibly with a pipe...
analysis
It was a sight that President Assad of Syria has long feared and, many believe, President Erdogan has long dreamt of: a Turkish flag flying from the ancient battlements of the Citadel of Aleppo. Who hoisted the flag on Monday...It was a sight that President Assad of Syria has long feared and, many believe, President Erdogan has long dreamt of: a Turkish flag flying from the ancient battlements of the Citadel of Aleppo. Who hoisted the flag on Monday...It was a sight that President Assad of Syria has long feared and, many believe, President Erdogan has long dreamt of...
Syrian opposition forces led by the jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had come within six miles of the city of Hama by the end of Tuesday morning, as Western-backed Kurdish forces opened up a second front against...Syrian opposition forces led by the jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had come within six miles of the city of Hama by the end of Tuesday morning, as Western-backed Kurdish forces opened up a second front against...Syrian opposition forces led by the jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had come within six miles of the city...
Interview
It was somewhere between the third and fourth child that Catherine Pakaluk had a revelation. “There was this sense that, ‘Oh, this isn’t getting any harder, in fact, maybe it’s getting easier’,” she mused on motherhood. “I can only describe it...It was somewhere between the third and fourth child that Catherine Pakaluk had a revelation.It was somewhere between the third and fourth child that Catherine Pakaluk had a revelation.
Police are investigating claims that bosses at the fast-fashion group were followed
exclusivePolice are investigating claims of stalking and “corporate espionage” made by executives at Boohoo Group, The Times can reveal. Police forces in Manchester and Kent are examining reports of stalking offences, including those involving “serious alarm and distress”, allegedly aimed at several...Police are investigating claims of stalking and “corporate espionage” made by executives at Boohoo Group, The Times can reveal. Police forces in Manchester and Kent are examining reports of stalking offences, including those involving “serious alarm and distress”, allegedly aimed at several...Police are investigating claims of stalking and “corporate espionage” made by executives at Boohoo Group, The Times can reveal.
Higher government spending will temporarily lift the UK’s economic growth next year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which also warned of accelerating inflation and the “crowding out” of private investment. The OECD said Britain’s economy would be one of the best-performing in the G7 next year, with...Higher government spending will temporarily lift the UK’s economic growth next year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which also warned of accelerating inflation and the “crowding out” of private investment. The OECD said Britain’s economy would be one of the best-performing in the G7 next year, with...Higher government spending will temporarily lift the UK’s economic growth next year, according to the Organisation for Economic...
The UK could escape the worst impact of Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs due to the dominance of its trade in services rather than goods exports to the United States, the governor of the Bank of England has said. Economists have warned of higher consumer prices for American households from Trump’s import levies and...The UK could escape the worst impact of Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs due to the dominance of...The UK could escape the worst impact of Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs due to the dominance of...
Revisions to a closely watched survey suggest that the UK private sector economy expanded marginally last month but...Revisions to a closely watched survey suggest that the UK private sector economy expanded...Revisions to a closely watched survey suggest that the UK private sector economy expanded...
A legal ruling that could pave the way for multimillion-pound payouts over car financing deals has left consumer...A legal ruling that could pave the way for multimillion-pound payouts over car financing deals...A legal ruling that could pave the way for multimillion-pound payouts over car financing deals...
ALISTAIR OSBORNE
Some corporate governance questions look easy to answer. Take this one: should Elon Musk be allowed a gargantuan $56...Some corporate governance questions look easy to answer. Take this one: should Elon Musk be...Some corporate governance questions look easy to answer. Take this one: should Elon Musk be...
DAVID SMITH
Every so often a statistic comes along that makes you sit up and take notice. So it was a few days ago when the...Every so often a statistic comes along that makes you sit up and take notice. So it was a few...Every so often a statistic comes along that makes you sit up and take notice. So it was a few...
An American chief executive made a surprising confession to me during a recent interview in Connecticut: he likes to...An American chief executive made a surprising confession to me during a recent interview in...An American chief executive made a surprising confession to me during a recent interview in...
LAUREN ALMEIDA | TEMPUS
Seasoned green investors will be familiar with the Greencoat brand, seeing as one of its funds — Greencoat UK Wind —...Seasoned green investors will be familiar with the Greencoat brand, seeing as one of its funds —...Seasoned green investors will be familiar with the Greencoat brand, seeing as one of its funds —...
technology
Laura Jardine Paterson’s team of developers delivers projects on time from refugee camps in a war zone
RECRUITMENT
The sector generates £343 billion in annual turnover and is already a bigger player than telecoms
Black Friday may be the nation’s busiest shopping day, but it’s also the most frantic for data processing and collection too. In the UK alone, hundreds of millions of “data validation requests” are generated by shoppers browsing websites, using contactless travel, scrolling social media and paying online. Every single one requires a team of data experts to make it...Black Friday may be the nation’s busiest shopping day, but it’s also the most frantic for data...Black Friday may be the nation’s busiest shopping day, but it’s also the most frantic for data...
SIX FROM THE BEST
As the UN attempts to end the globe’s plastic addiction at the Busan treaty talks in South Korea, Sarah Perreard is...As the UN attempts to end the globe’s plastic addiction at the Busan treaty talks in South Korea, Sarah Perreard is focused on turning sustainability into a catalyst for success. As co-chief executive of the Swiss research consultancy EA Earth Action, she helps global corporations transition to the circular economy.As the UN attempts to end the globe’s plastic addiction at the Busan treaty talks in South Korea, Sarah Perreard is focused on...
Club’s hierarchy losing patience after only four wins this season, with Graham Potter, Edin Terzic and Sergio Conceicao among the alternatives
West Ham United are considering potential replacements for Julen Lopetegui, with figures high up the club now pushing for a change after their defeat by Leicester City. West Ham have won only four of their first 14 Premier League games since Lopetegui replaced David Moyes in the summer and the...West Ham United are considering potential replacements for Julen Lopetegui, with figures high up the club now pushing for a change after their defeat by Leicester City. West Ham have won only four of their first 14 Premier League games since Lopetegui replaced David Moyes in the summer and the...West Ham United are considering potential replacements for Julen Lopetegui, with figures high up the club now pushing for a...
The loss-making streaming service DAZN has agreed a $1billion contract with Fifa to broadcast next year’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup free-to-view globally, with Saudi Arabia expected to invest in the platform. There was astonishment in football circles at the deal as the UK-based streaming platform recorded losses of $1.2billion...The loss-making streaming service DAZN has agreed a $1billion contract with Fifa to broadcast next year’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup free-to-view globally, with Saudi Arabia expected to invest in the platform. There was astonishment in football circles at the deal as the UK-based streaming platform recorded losses of $1.2billion...The loss-making streaming service DAZN has agreed a $1billion contract with Fifa to broadcast next year’s inaugural 32-team...
Coventry have applied for the right to earn promotion into the Gallagher Premiership — but the club’s first battle will be to win a legal challenge against the RFU. To secure promotion on the field, Coventry must win the RFU Championship and then prevail in a two-legged play-off against the team who finish bottom of...Coventry have applied for the right to earn promotion into the Gallagher Premiership — but the...Coventry have applied for the right to earn promotion into the Gallagher Premiership — but the...
Mike Atherton
The scale of Ben Stokes’s frustration with the ICC’s over rate policies was laid bare two days before the Wellington...The scale of Ben Stokes’s frustration with the ICC’s over rate policies was laid bare two days...The scale of Ben Stokes’s frustration with the ICC’s over rate policies was laid bare two days...
MARTIN SAMUEL
So here we are. “Jesus loves you” may now be a message that brings an FA charge. Had Marc Guéhi tattooed his devotion...So here we are. “Jesus loves you” may now be a message that brings an FA charge. Had Marc Guéhi...So here we are. “Jesus loves you” may now be a message that brings an FA charge. Had Marc Guéhi...
ian hawkey
Europe’s big guns have grumbled about tournament but players from across the rest of the world see it as a chance to prove their worth on big stage
newSomewhere scenic on New Zealand’s North Island, Albert Riera will wake up on Friday morning thrilled and a little daunted. The head coach of Auckland City has gone on a well-earned holiday. His club have just clinched the domestic league title and his horizons are about to expand like never before. It will be sometime after 7.30am where he is when the draw for next...Somewhere scenic on New Zealand’s North Island, Albert Riera will wake up on Friday morning...Somewhere scenic on New Zealand’s North Island, Albert Riera will wake up on Friday morning...
It is a new 32-team club tournament that will be played every four years from 2025, with teams from around the world.It is a new 32-team club tournament that will be played every four years from 2025, with teams from around the world. It is being run by Fifa and championed by its president, Gianni Infantino, who has been pushing for it since 2017. The old Club World Cup, involving seven teams, has now been rebranded as the...It is a new 32-team club tournament that will be played every four years from 2025, with teams from around the world. It is...
JOHN WESTERBY
It would be easy to miss the cricket club in Burnmoor if you were just passing through this former mining village on the main road from Sunderland to Chester-le-Street. Shielded by a long brick wall behind the bowler’s arm, the well-tended...It would be easy to miss the cricket club in Burnmoor if you were just passing through this...It would be easy to miss the cricket club in Burnmoor if you were just passing through this...
first person
Drunk flirting, illicit snogs, waking up in a taxi … the truth about the office festive knees-up
CAITLIN MORAN’S CELEBRITY WATCH
Even the government is having its say on the MasterChef presenter’s grubby, antediluvian banter
Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift has been unveiled as the world’s most popular artist
new
Sony’s landmark product was released in December 1994. The video games world has never been the same since
new
Some of the A-list looks at this year’s Fashion Awards were surprisingly practical — if a little tricky to pull off on the dancefloor, says Harriet Walker
Healthier, eco-friendly, altogether virtuous? If that’s what you think of yourself as you splash almond milk over...Healthier, eco-friendly, altogether virtuous? If that’s what you think of yourself as you splash...Healthier, eco-friendly, altogether virtuous? If that’s what you think of yourself as you splash...
If you really want to see which labels have caught the attention — not to mention the hearts — of our fashion pack...If you really want to see which labels have caught the attention — not to mention the hearts — of...If you really want to see which labels have caught the attention — not to mention the hearts — of...
review
Jennifer Lopez is such a strange performer. Like a curious photosensitive creature, she is frequently ghastly in the bright light of centre stage and has littered the canon with relentless duds, vanity pieces and puff projects, including Marry Me...Jennifer Lopez is such a strange performer. Like a curious photosensitive creature, she is...Jennifer Lopez is such a strange performer. Like a curious photosensitive creature, she is...
what i’ve learnt
Carol Midgley
‘Brain rot” is the Oxford dictionary’s word of the year and it is terrible. First, it is two words and, second, it is...‘Brain rot” is the Oxford dictionary’s word of the year and it is terrible. First, it is two...‘Brain rot” is the Oxford dictionary’s word of the year and it is terrible. First, it is two...
a life in the day
Born in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, Titchmarsh worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew before moving into writing and TV....Born in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, Titchmarsh worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew before...Born in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, Titchmarsh worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew before...
WILL LYONS
When was the last time you enjoyed a glass of golden, lusciously sweet wine, the kind that tastes of anything from candied apple to apricot and quince. I’ll wager it was last Christmas — if at all. Outside the festive period we seem to have lost...When was the last time you enjoyed a glass of golden, lusciously sweet wine, the kind that tastes...When was the last time you enjoyed a glass of golden, lusciously sweet wine, the kind that tastes...
LAURA FREEMAN
You think the worst of the Turner prize was in the Nineties and early Noughties? When Damien Hirst won for the shark in formaldehyde (1995) and Chris Ofili won for the elephant dung (1998) and Tracey Emin didn’t win for the unmade bed (1999) and Martin Creed won for the lights going on and off and Madonna swore on Channel 4 (2001)? When some bloke in a frock won for his...You think the worst of the Turner prize was in the Nineties and early Noughties? When Damien...You think the worst of the Turner prize was in the Nineties and early Noughties? When Damien...
ask the experts
Q. I notice a lot of your readers’ complaints appear to be about insurers not paying out, especially on holiday luggage....Q. I notice a lot of your readers’ complaints appear to be about insurers not paying out, especially on holiday luggage. I was talking with my wife and it occurred to us that when we travel, we pack in more than £2,000 worth of clobber, all of it old and without receipts. I have been collecting old Levi’s and Ralph...Q. I notice a lot of your readers’ complaints appear to be about insurers not paying out, especially on holiday luggage. I was...
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
first night review
first night review
first night review
Were you a Pauline, a Petrova or a Posy? If you have an instant answer to this question, you probably grew up reading Noel Streatfeild’s Ballet Shoes, the story of three adopted sisters sent to stage school to pay their way. Between publication...Were you a Pauline, a Petrova or a Posy? If you have an instant answer to this question, you...Were you a Pauline, a Petrova or a Posy? If you have an instant answer to this question, you...
It’s a case of the good, the bad and the furry. In this year’s round-up of the finest life writing, we are...It’s a case of the good, the bad and the furry. In this year’s round-up of the finest life...It’s a case of the good, the bad and the furry. In this year’s round-up of the finest life...
Who are the members of the new ruling class? Are mobile phones turning teenagers loopy? Did the Virgin Mary ever...Who are the members of the new ruling class? Are mobile phones turning teenagers loopy? Did the...Who are the members of the new ruling class? Are mobile phones turning teenagers loopy? Did the...
Five easy ways to transform festive side dishes — with the aid of your spice rack. By Rahul Mandal
From pea crostini to honey mustard sausages and brie and cranberry bites
The invitations are landing, but what to wear? Here’s our ultimate party dressing wish list
Bring out the bubbly personalities with these extra special cocktails
Essential tools, growing kits, beautiful pots and how-to books to inspire your friends and family to get outdoors
MindGames
In a gated development about ten minutes’ drive from the centre of Bolton, this iroko-clad modern home has a cool...In a gated development about ten minutes’ drive from the centre of Bolton, this iroko-clad modern...In a gated development about ten minutes’ drive from the centre of Bolton, this iroko-clad modern...
TELEVISION
Television
TELEVISION
TELEVISION
Television
television
TELEVISION
Anna Murphy talks to the founder of Abask, Tom Chapman, about his “more is more” philosophy
Leonora Field-Foster compiles a list of treats for the family (or yourself) this Christmas
It’s the season of the white truffle, that fine fragrant tuber. Tony Turnbull recommends the best places to enjoy it — and what to order
Treat your MAMIL with the best bikes, bibs, computers and a nifty foldable helmet
julia samuel
The psychotherapist addresses your dilemmas
Fancy a dip in the Mersey? A new wellness spot at Liverpool’s historic docks means you can take the plunge in style. Plus our pick of other exciting city centre saunas in the UK
It doesn’t get more fabulously festive than these boutiques. Once you’ve stocked up on everything from tartan reindeer to cheese-shaped baubles, make a weekend of it with a cosy stay nearby
Take in 45,000 years of history, cute quokkas and white-sand beaches on a laid-back break in Perth, home to the world’s oldest living culture
Saltmoore, a luxurious boutique stay in the North Yorkshire town of Whitby, is the brain child of former reality TV star Montana Brown. Susan d’Arcy is first to check in
A fortnight travelling from Singapore to Bangkok with her dad and her toddler was a big family holiday test for this writer — with some surprises along the way
comment
I’ve taken so many city breaks over the years that I’ve lost count. There’s nothing like the thrill of waking up in a...I’ve taken so many city breaks over the years that I’ve lost count. There’s nothing like the...I’ve taken so many city breaks over the years that I’ve lost count. There’s nothing like the...
With its culture, cuisine and sun-blessed climate, Spain has long been a magnet for tourists — in fact, it’s the most...With its culture, cuisine and sun-blessed climate, Spain has long been a magnet for tourists — in...With its culture, cuisine and sun-blessed climate, Spain has long been a magnet for tourists — in...
video
Barcelona is known for its outstanding art, architecture and, over the last few years, its issues with overtourism. But there’s so much more to the city than the likes of buzzy La Rambla. Let our expert take you off the tourist trail to...Barcelona is known for its outstanding art, architecture and, over the last few years, its issues...Barcelona is known for its outstanding art, architecture and, over the last few years, its issues...
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
Buckingham Palace
3rd December, 2024
The Emir of the State of Qatar and Sheikha Jawaher Bint Hamad Bin Suhaim...Buckingham Palace
3rd December, 2024
The Emir of the State of Qatar and Sheikha Jawaher Bint...Buckingham Palace
3rd December, 2024
The Emir of the State of Qatar and Sheikha Jawaher Bint...
BANNOCK on 26th November 2024 to Katie Rose (née French) and James Henry, a son, George Henry, brother to Harry Thomas.BANNOCK on 26th November 2024 to Katie Rose (née French) and James Henry, a son, George Henry...BANNOCK on 26th November 2024 to Katie Rose (née French) and James Henry, a son, George Henry...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
Robison vows to scrap two-child benefit cap
newThe SNP has effectively kick-started its 2026 Holyrood election campaign with a budget of record health spending, modest tax cuts and measures to support business. In a highly political tax-and-spend announcement, Shona Robison, the finance secretary, attempted to wrong foot Labour on the party’s...The SNP has effectively kick-started its 2026 Holyrood election campaign with a budget of record health spending, modest tax cuts and measures to support business. In a highly political tax-and-spend announcement, Shona Robison, the finance secretary, attempted to wrong foot Labour on the party’s...The SNP has effectively kick-started its 2026 Holyrood election campaign with a budget of record health spending, modest tax...
The charity regulator is conducting an inquiry into a transgender youth charity over its criticism of a government review that led to a ban on puberty blockers. LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS) issued a furious response in April to the Cass Review, a report into gender identity services for young people provided by NHS England that found...The charity regulator is conducting an inquiry into a transgender youth charity over its criticism of a government review that led to a ban on puberty blockers. LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS) issued a furious response in April to the Cass Review, a report into gender identity services for young people provided by NHS England that found...The charity regulator is conducting an inquiry into a transgender youth charity over its criticism of a government review that...
Analysis
What she said: The UK budget resulted in an increase in funding through the Barnett formula. That’s welcome, but let’s be clear. After inflation, it represents growth in resource spending — that’s day-to-day spending to pay for services — of only around 1 per cent year on year. Substantial financial pressures...What she said: The UK budget resulted in an increase in funding through the Barnett formula....What she said: The UK budget resulted in an increase in funding through the Barnett formula....
scottish business digest
Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland. 1. Ambitious £150 million plans to turn a former coal terminal into an offshore wind and renewable energy hub have been approved. Peel Ports...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.
Premiership | Michael Grant
SCOTTISH BUDGET 2024
Scotland’s finance secretary has set out her budget, which she said “offers hope for Scotland’s future”. After announcing the Scottish government’s tax and spending plans for the next financial year to Holyrood, her speech was accompanied by a budget bill, putting the plan into a legal document. MSPs will not vote on the bill until February, when the SNP government...Scotland’s finance secretary has set out her budget, which she said “offers hope for Scotland’s...Scotland’s finance secretary has set out her budget, which she said “offers hope for Scotland’s...
The block grant from Westminster to Holyrood still accounts for most of the money available to the Scottish...The block grant from Westminster to Holyrood still accounts for most of the money available to the Scottish government in its budget, despite significantly increased tax-raising powers being devolved in recent years. The Scottish government will outline its latest budget this week on December 4, when...The block grant from Westminster to Holyrood still accounts for most of the money available to the Scottish government in its...
Struan Stevenson
The combined effects of the highest taxes in the UK, together with huge fiscal transfers from Westminster under the...The combined effects of the highest taxes in the UK, together with huge fiscal transfers from...The combined effects of the highest taxes in the UK, together with huge fiscal transfers from...
A teenager who murdered a woman after an apparent argument over an e-scooter has been detained for a minimum 18 years.A teenager who murdered a woman after an apparent argument over an e-scooter has been detained...A teenager who murdered a woman after an apparent argument over an e-scooter has been detained...
PrEMIERSHIP
Rangers’ attempt to appoint businessman Malcom Offord as their new chairman has broken down. The club had hoped to confirm the 60-year-old as the replacement for John Bennett, who stepped down in September for health reasons, but discussions have...Rangers’ attempt to appoint businessman Malcom Offord as their new chairman has broken down. The...Rangers’ attempt to appoint businessman Malcom Offord as their new chairman has broken down. The...
Comment
Europe needs to get serious on Ukraine now
Juliet Samuel
With North Korea outgunning Nato, the defence secretary’s excuses for delaying his military strategy are paper thin
newALICE THOMSON
Wallace the wally and how MeToo went wrong
ROGER BOYES
Three funerals to reshape the Middle East
MATTHEW PARRIS | NOTEBOOK
Lovey-dovey Davey really needs to toughen up
DANIEL FINKELSTEIN
Money is starting to talk in British politics
georgia heneage | notebook
There’s no place for prudes in Naples
I have never seen as many phalluses as I did on my trip to Naples this weekend. The city is brimming with them: phallus-shaped limoncello bottles and dried pasta, on keyrings, fridge magnets, bottle openers, greetings cards, socks. You’d have your...I have never seen as many phalluses as I did on my trip to Naples this weekend. The city is...I have never seen as many phalluses as I did on my trip to Naples this weekend. The city is...
Leading Articles
Whitehall Warrior
Sir Chris Wormald’s appointment casts doubt over Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to reform Britain’s lethargic civil service
Cybermen
State and criminal actors pose an increasing threat to national security
Game On
Britons beware: your present may constitute a threat to domestic harmony
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Churches lose faith in refunds for repairs
Write to [email protected] Sir, Perhaps it is the rigour born of years of practice as an economist, but Rachel Reeves is in danger of forgetting she is a politician too. Worryingly, she appears unable to resist the siren song of Treasury...Write to [email protected] Sir, Perhaps it is the rigour born of years of practice as an...Write to [email protected] Sir, Perhaps it is the rigour born of years of practice as an...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: Sir Keir Starmer hosts Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, who is on a state visit to the UK; Shona Robison, the Scottish finance secretary, delivers the Scottish government’s budget for the coming financial year; staff at The Guardian and The Observer newspapers begin a 48-hour strike.
France: The national assembly debates and votes on a confidence motion on Michel Barnier’s government.
On this day
In 1791 The Observer was first published, a four-page edition. It was the first newspaper to regularly publish on a Sunday; in 1844 James K Polk, a Democrat, won the US presidential election. Sarah Childress Polk, the first lady, observed that her husband was in need of some fanfare to his presidency, establishing the US Marine band tradition of playing Hail to the Chief when the commander-in-chief arrives. The tune, based on a Scottish melody, had been used for previous presidents, but not routinely; in 1937 the first issue of The Dandy comic was published by DC Thomson, based in Dundee. Only ten copies are known to exist, and one free gift, an “express whistler”. The last print edition was on December 4, 2012; in 1957 90 people died and nearly 200 were injured when two trains collided in dense fog near Lewisham, southeast London; in 1991 Terry Anderson was freed after six and a half years as a hostage in Lebanon. The American journalist was reunited with his fiancée and met his six-year-old daughter for the first time (obituary, April 23, 2024).
Nature notes
Gone are the days when wild birds were a staple of London Theatreland — baskets of sparrows were released into the auditorium during Handel’s Rinaldo. But there was a surprise treat for birdwatchers recently in the Gielgud Theatre when a redshank stole the show. It occurred in the excellent production of Sean O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock when Boyle (a drunken loafer) describes how a creditor reclaimed a pair of unpaid-for trousers. “He whipped them from the chair,” Boyle explains, “an’ was off like a redshank!” This perfectly captures the redshank’s flighty character: they always fly smartly away from even the most distant threat. Before the tidal Thames was canalised, redshanks would often have been heard on a swampy Shaftesbury Avenue. Jonathan Tulloch
Jonathan Tulloch
Birthdays today
Pamela Stephenson (Lady Connolly), pictured, clinical psychologist and comedian, Not the Nine O’Clock News (1979-82), 75; Barbara Amiel (Lady Black of Crossharbour), writer, Friends and Enemies: A Life in Vogue, Prison, & Park Avenue (2022), 84; Dina Asher-Smith, sprinter, Olympics silver medallist (2024, 4x100m relay), 100m and 200m UK record-holder, six-time gold medallist, European Championships, 29; Tyra Banks, model and TV presenter, America’s Next Top Model (2003-18), 51; Ken Bates, businessman, former owner and chairman of football clubs Chelsea and Leeds United, 93; Jeff Bridges, actor, Crazy Heart (2009), 75; Baroness (Angela) Browning, Conservative MP (1992-2010), deputy chairwoman, Conservative Party (2005-07), 78; Maj-Gen Nick Caplin, chief executive, Blind Veterans UK (2014-23), 66; Gus Christie, chairman, Glyndebourne Opera, 61; Ann Christopher, sculptor, 77; Andy Currie, businessman, director of Ineos, 69; Richard Deverell, director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 59; Peter Godwin, writer, The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe (2011), 67; Dame Nia Griffith, Labour MP, minister for Wales and minister for equalities, 68; Lord (Philip) Hammond of Runnymede, Conservative MP (1997-2019), chancellor of the Exchequer (2016-19), 69; Chris Hillman, musician, original bassist with the Byrds, 80; Richard Hollis, graphic designer, 90; Gemma Jones, actress, the Harry Potter film series, 82; Clive Leach, cricketer, chairman, Durham County Cricket Club (2004-16), 90; Lord (Hugh) Matthews, senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, 71; Guy Parker, chief executive, Advertising Standards Authority, 55; (Air Chief Marshal) Lord (Jock) Stirrup AFC, chief of the defence staff (2006-10), 75; Jay-Z, rapper and businessman, 55.