The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
Santa Ana winds fuel multiple blazes
liveRobert Luna, the Los Angeles county sheriff, said two people had been arrested for looting this morning as emergency services were battling four separate wildfires in the city. “I’m sad to report we made two arrests this morning for looting,” Luna told a news conference a few moments ago. “If you are thinking about coming into any of these areas to steal from our...Robert Luna, the Los Angeles county sheriff, said two people had been arrested for looting this...Robert Luna, the Los Angeles county sheriff, said two people had been arrested for looting this...
Within 24 hours, wildfires have consumed nearly 3,000 acres of southern California, threatening 13,000 buildings and...Within 24 hours, wildfires have consumed nearly 3,000 acres of southern California, threatening 13,000 buildings and prompting the evacuation of 30,000 people. Gavin Newsom, the governor, declared a state of emergency after fire officials announced that the flames raging through the Pacific Palisades, one of Los...Within 24 hours, wildfires have consumed nearly 3,000 acres of southern California, threatening 13,000 buildings and prompting...
Snow could fall in the south including parts of London on Wednesday afternoon, the Met Office has said, with temperatures set to be as low as minus 2C in a cold snap that is expected to last into next week. Between 2 and 5cm of snow could...Snow could fall in the south including parts of London on Wednesday afternoon, the Met Office has...Snow could fall in the south including parts of London on Wednesday afternoon, the Met Office has...
A random sampling of Elon Musk’s output on X for 24 hours until midday on Tuesday showed that he had posted or...A random sampling of Elon Musk’s output on X for 24 hours until midday on Tuesday showed that he...A random sampling of Elon Musk’s output on X for 24 hours until midday on Tuesday showed that he...
Carabao Cup
Mikel Arteta partly blamed the Carabao Cup balls for Arsenal’s wasteful shooting performance in their 2-0 defeat by...Mikel Arteta partly blamed the Carabao Cup balls for Arsenal’s wasteful shooting performance in...Mikel Arteta partly blamed the Carabao Cup balls for Arsenal’s wasteful shooting performance in...
More than 30,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as wildfires spread across California. With strong winds fanning flames across a 3,000-acre area, Los Angeles has declared a state of emergency. Off-duty firefighters have been called in...More than 30,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as wildfires spread across California.More than 30,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as wildfires spread across California.
Call for research into issues that let criminals flourish
The national inquiry into child sex abuse failed to get to grips with the root causes of grooming gangs which have still not been properly examined, according to The Times reporter who revealed the scandal. Andrew Norfolk, the paper’s former chief investigative reporter, said that such abuse would never be fully stamped out until there was proper research into and...The national inquiry into child sex abuse failed to get to grips with the root causes of grooming...The national inquiry into child sex abuse failed to get to grips with the root causes of grooming...
The ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang is still living and working in the town nearly a decade after he was...The ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang is still living and working in the town nearly a decade after he was ordered to be deported by a judge. Qari Abdul Rauf, 55, was part of a gang of nine Asian men convicted of sex offences against vulnerable girls in 2012, including rape and trafficking. The former taxi...The ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang is still living and working in the town nearly a decade after he was ordered to be...
The government’s state threats watchdog warns that foreign actors could exploit social media to skew public discourse
Alexis Jay made 20 key recommendations, following a seven-year inquiry that cost £200 million, but she says none has yet been implemented
The Labour leader is ‘genuinely furious’ at Elon Musk’s attacks on him and Jess Phillips
POLITICAL SKETCH
The deputy prime minister is determined to build 1.5 million homes, but does she have the skills to do it?
The shadow justice secretary said Pakistani men are ‘over-represented’ among perpetrators of child abuse
The backstabbing and sex-laden world of BBC’s Industry has helped propel three of its stars into this year’s film...The backstabbing and sex-laden world of BBC’s Industry has helped propel three of its stars into...The backstabbing and sex-laden world of BBC’s Industry has helped propel three of its stars into...
Rod Liddle, the journalist and broadcaster, is joining Times Radio to present a Saturday morning show. Liddle, who is...Rod Liddle, the journalist and broadcaster, is joining Times Radio to present a Saturday morning...Rod Liddle, the journalist and broadcaster, is joining Times Radio to present a Saturday morning...
The Duchess of Sussex has paid tribute to her “beloved” dog, Guy, in a message on her Instagram page. Meghan, who made her return to the social media platform on New Year’s Day, told her more than one million followers that the beagle had died.The Duchess of Sussex has paid tribute to her “beloved” dog, Guy, in a message on her Instagram...The Duchess of Sussex has paid tribute to her “beloved” dog, Guy, in a message on her Instagram...
ANTHONY LOYD IN SUDAN
In the final part of our series on Sudan’s forgotten war, a family man tells of his dramatic escape as war destroyed his tranquil island home
Once the dusk was dark enough the swimmer rose from his hiding place in the reeds and stepped into the water. A strong, broad-shouldered man, Abdullah Elamin had swum in the River Nile along the banks of Tuti Island since he was a boy. This time, aged 62, the stakes were much higher. An...Once the dusk was dark enough the swimmer rose from his hiding place in the reeds and stepped into the water. A strong, broad-shouldered man, Abdullah Elamin had swum in the River Nile along the banks of Tuti Island since he was a boy. This time, aged 62, the stakes were much higher. An...Once the dusk was dark enough the swimmer rose from his hiding place in the reeds and stepped into the water. A strong...
The founder of the website used by Dominique Pelicot to recruit men to rape his wife has been placed under arrest in France. Isaac Steidl, 44, was summoned by police wanting to question him over claims that his site — initially called Coco.fr, and then Coco.gg when it was registered in Guernsey — facilitated 23,051 crimes, including murder...The founder of the website used by Dominique Pelicot to recruit men to rape his wife has been placed under arrest in France. Isaac Steidl, 44, was summoned by police wanting to question him over claims that his site — initially called Coco.fr, and then Coco.gg when it was registered in Guernsey — facilitated 23,051 crimes, including murder...The founder of the website used by Dominique Pelicot to recruit men to rape his wife has been placed under arrest in France.
Across the city, the sound of clicking padlocks marks the beginning of the hunt. As night falls, Kyiv’s defenders climb out on to icy roofs and turn their guns to the sky. From the top of a Soviet apartment block, the drone-hunters scour the enormous blackness above for prey. The conditions are hardly pleasant — the...Across the city, the sound of clicking padlocks marks the beginning of the hunt. As night falls...Across the city, the sound of clicking padlocks marks the beginning of the hunt. As night falls...
Three days before Matthew Livelsberger took his life inside a rented Tesla Cybertruck, he reached out to an...Three days before Matthew Livelsberger took his life inside a rented Tesla Cybertruck, he reached...Three days before Matthew Livelsberger took his life inside a rented Tesla Cybertruck, he reached...
The beach is a symbol of Australia, open to all and a place where, for a few short hours at least, the trappings of...The beach is a symbol of Australia, open to all and a place where, for a few short hours at least...The beach is a symbol of Australia, open to all and a place where, for a few short hours at least...
It’s the year 2720 and our world is unrecognisable. Wars over resources have come and gone and humankind has ventured into the heavens, to Mars and beyond. Back on Earth, however, in Japan centuries of population decline has resulted in a singular...It’s the year 2720 and our world is unrecognisable. Wars over resources have come and gone and...It’s the year 2720 and our world is unrecognisable. Wars over resources have come and gone and...
Welcome to New York’s “bitcoin bar”, an old dive in a Greenwich Village basement, where the brave soldiers of cryptocurrency come to trade stories from the front line of the brutal, volatile battlefield of the bitcoin market. When Pubkey opened...Welcome to New York’s “bitcoin bar”, an old dive in a Greenwich Village basement, where the brave...Welcome to New York’s “bitcoin bar”, an old dive in a Greenwich Village basement, where the brave...
video
Hundreds of people joined demonstrations to celebrate the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen in France on Tuesday, drawing condemnation from a government minister and at least one police intervention. About 1,000 people joined a radical left gathering in...Hundreds of people joined demonstrations to celebrate the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen in France on...Hundreds of people joined demonstrations to celebrate the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen in France on...
Inflation fears drive 10-year bond yield – a proxy for the government’s debt servicing bill – to the highest since 2008
The UK’s benchmark borrowing costs have risen to the highest level since the financial crisis as investors dumped government debt over inflation fears. The yield on the UK’s 10-year gilt – a proxy for the government’s debt servicing bill – rose by 0.08 percentage points to 4.76 per cent on...The UK’s benchmark borrowing costs have risen to the highest level since the financial crisis as investors dumped government debt over inflation fears. The yield on the UK’s 10-year gilt – a proxy for the government’s debt servicing bill – rose by 0.08 percentage points to 4.76 per cent on...The UK’s benchmark borrowing costs have risen to the highest level since the financial crisis as investors dumped government...
The oil major Shell has cut its gas production guidance for the final three months of last year and warned that the performance of its trading business was lower than during the third quarter. The update, which comes before the FTSE 100 group releases its full-year results on January 30, marked a disappointing end to the year after several...The oil major Shell has cut its gas production guidance for the final three months of last year and warned that the performance of its trading business was lower than during the third quarter. The update, which comes before the FTSE 100 group releases its full-year results on January 30, marked a disappointing end to the year after several...The oil major Shell has cut its gas production guidance for the final three months of last year and warned that the performance...
The founder of RBG Holdings has said the listed legal services group is “insolvent” and that he would consider suing its board for an allegedly “defamatory’’ statement made to the market as it ousted him from the firm on Wednesday morning. In an escalation of a bitter boardroom battle, RBG announced that a...The founder of RBG Holdings has said the listed legal services group is “insolvent” and that he...The founder of RBG Holdings has said the listed legal services group is “insolvent” and that he...
business commentary | alistair osborne
Christmas traditions aren’t always fair. Take the one that allows Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise to parade his festive...Christmas traditions aren’t always fair. Take the one that allows Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise to...Christmas traditions aren’t always fair. Take the one that allows Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise to...
david smith
Industry is under significant pressure, even before the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs. There is a pervasive sense...Industry is under significant pressure, even before the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs. There...Industry is under significant pressure, even before the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs. There...
Dame Emma Walmsley has vowed GSK stands “unflinchingly” in support with those looking to reform US healthcare after the “absolutely unconscionable” shooting of the UnitedHealthcare boss. Speaking in a fireside chat at the Economic Club of New York...Dame Emma Walmsley has vowed GSK stands “unflinchingly” in support with those looking to reform...Dame Emma Walmsley has vowed GSK stands “unflinchingly” in support with those looking to reform...
Louisa Clarence-smith
Since moving to the United States last year, I have often been asked about the cultural differences with the United...Since moving to the United States last year, I have often been asked about the cultural...Since moving to the United States last year, I have often been asked about the cultural...
tempus
Diageo, the FTSE 100 group behind alcoholic beverages such as Tanqueray gin and Johnnie Walker whisky, has had a...Diageo, the FTSE 100 group behind alcoholic beverages such as Tanqueray gin and Johnnie Walker...Diageo, the FTSE 100 group behind alcoholic beverages such as Tanqueray gin and Johnnie Walker...
The luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce is to invest £300 million to expand its Goodwood plant on the south coast of England to focus more on bespoke cars for high-end clients after sales fell by more than 5 per cent last year.
While it has been a...The luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce is to invest £300 million to expand its Goodwood plant on the...The luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce is to invest £300 million to expand its Goodwood plant on the...
Debt-laden Asda was the worst-performing supermarket chain over Christmas.
The private equity-controlled group suffered a 5.8 per cent fall in sales in the 12 weeks to December 29, driving its market share down from 13.5 per cent to 12.5 per...Debt-laden Asda was the worst-performing supermarket chain over Christmas.
The...Debt-laden Asda was the worst-performing supermarket chain over Christmas.
The...
hospitality
Siddhi Mittal, who set up the London-based start-up with Heinin Zhang in 2019, says Yhangry is pushing back against the consistently low pay for chefs
FLEXIBLE WORKING
International survey shows adoption of hybrid arrangements almost doubled in 2024
business planning
We lay out some of the key changes that business owners will have to confront in 2025, as well as a few that can be ignored — for now at least
RECRUITMENT
With a 33% growth in the past year, the demand for corporate investigators is soaring. Here’s how to get into the industry
Saying you’re employed as an “investigator” conjures up images of sleuths lurking in the shadows, but the new breed of corporate investigator is one of the UK’s fastest-growing professional careers. The incoming 2025 introduction of the new “failure to prevent fraud” offence — which will hold large firms to account if they profit from fraud committed by their employees...Saying you’re employed as an “investigator” conjures up images of sleuths lurking in the shadows...Saying you’re employed as an “investigator” conjures up images of sleuths lurking in the shadows...
SIX FROM THE BEST
It’s the busiest week of the year for jewellery sales. Anna Blackburn, managing director of the family-owned retailer...It’s the busiest week of the year for jewellery sales. Anna Blackburn, managing director of the family-owned retailer Beaverbrooks, began her career on the shopfloor at its Trafford Centre store in Manchester 26 years ago and is the first female, non-family member to lead the chain. Here, she shares her pearls of...It’s the busiest week of the year for jewellery sales. Anna Blackburn, managing director of the family-owned retailer...
gary jacob
Sacked West Ham head coach was not helped by poor recruitment but he failed to get best out of his squad and to implement craved attacking style
newJulen Lopetegui predicted West Ham United would make a “big, big noise” when he took charge last summer, furnished with ten signings at extravagant cost. His brief was to lead the club into an exciting new period, making them more fun to watch than under his predecessor, David Moyes, and...Julen Lopetegui predicted West Ham United would make a “big, big noise” when he took charge last summer, furnished with ten signings at extravagant cost. His brief was to lead the club into an exciting new period, making them more fun to watch than under his predecessor, David Moyes, and...Julen Lopetegui predicted West Ham United would make a “big, big noise” when he took charge last summer, furnished with ten...
Police have sent a file to prosecutors to decide whether to charge a Premier League footballer who has been accused of rape and sexual offences against three women. The player, who has continued to play for his club since his initial arrest in July 2022, cannot be named. He is understood to have denied any wrongdoing. After a lengthy...Police have sent a file to prosecutors to decide whether to charge a Premier League footballer who has been accused of rape and sexual offences against three women. The player, who has continued to play for his club since his initial arrest in July 2022, cannot be named. He is understood to have denied any wrongdoing. After a lengthy...Police have sent a file to prosecutors to decide whether to charge a Premier League footballer who has been accused of rape and...
There were plenty of intriguing players whom Thomas Tuchel chose not to watch in the flesh on his first Saturday as the England head coach. Tuchel opted against going to Villa Park to monitor Ollie Watkins’s fluctuating fortunes. He stayed away from the Etihad Stadium, where Rico Lewis and Phil Foden started. He did...There were plenty of intriguing players whom Thomas Tuchel chose not to watch in the flesh on his...There were plenty of intriguing players whom Thomas Tuchel chose not to watch in the flesh on his...
rick broadbent
The much-vaunted TGL indoor simulator shenanigans opened on Tuesday night in Florida with golf holes featuring lava flows and a soft rock soundtrack. Hot and Coldplay, it was a triumph for tech, the Bay Golf Club and golf’s unwavering fondness for...The much-vaunted TGL indoor simulator shenanigans opened on Tuesday night in Florida with golf...The much-vaunted TGL indoor simulator shenanigans opened on Tuesday night in Florida with golf...
Carabao Cup
Mikel Arteta partly blamed the Carabao Cup balls for Arsenal’s wasteful shooting performance in their 2-0 defeat by...Mikel Arteta partly blamed the Carabao Cup balls for Arsenal’s wasteful shooting performance in...Mikel Arteta partly blamed the Carabao Cup balls for Arsenal’s wasteful shooting performance in...
Archie Vaughan has been named as the England Under-19 captain, following in the footsteps of his father Michael.Archie Vaughan has been named as the England Under-19 captain, following in the footsteps of his...Archie Vaughan has been named as the England Under-19 captain, following in the footsteps of his...
carabao cup | James gheerbrant
paddy von behr
The Kansas City Chiefs are chasing history. No team have ever won three Super Bowls in a row, but Patrick Mahomes and his supporting cast appear well on track to change that after going 15-2 in the NFL regular season — and you can ignore that second loss, after they wrapped up the No1 seed and then wrapped their starters in cotton wool for an inconsequential 38-0 defeat...The Kansas City Chiefs are chasing history. No team have ever won three Super Bowls in a row, but...The Kansas City Chiefs are chasing history. No team have ever won three Super Bowls in a row, but...
The highly regarded Northern Ireland player Tom McKibbin has been targeted by Jon Rahm for a switch to LIV Golf as...The highly regarded Northern Ireland player Tom McKibbin has been targeted by Jon Rahm for a switch to LIV Golf as the game’s merry-go-round creaks back into life. McKibbin, 22, hails from the same Holywood club that produced Rory McIlroy and was one of the ten players to earn a PGA Tour card based on their finish...The highly regarded Northern Ireland player Tom McKibbin has been targeted by Jon Rahm for a switch to LIV Golf as the game’s...
He once said he kept out of politics, now he rages against the British government. Helen Rumbelow reports
In the 1970s a group called PIE lobbied to legalise sex with children. Their tentacles spread far and wide — one of Alex Renton’s teachers socialised with a prominent member
Did a fan yell ‘Judas’ when Dylan went electric? And why did Dylan break up with Joan Baez? As the Timothée Chalamet movie is released, we ask an expert
new
Interview
He’s a TikTok sensation, selling $1 million of make-up in 12 hours last year. How did the man behind Made by Mitchell do it?
Interview
I am talking to a man who has won — deep breath — eight Oscars, seven Golden Globes, 11 Grammys, a Tony and one Emmy, the latter win in 2020 making him the 16th person to score EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). I was rather hoping to see...I am talking to a man who has won — deep breath — eight Oscars, seven Golden Globes, 11 Grammys...I am talking to a man who has won — deep breath — eight Oscars, seven Golden Globes, 11 Grammys...
nadine baggott
a life in the day
When, on September 16, 1977, Ferruccio Mezzadri brought Maria Callas her usual morning cappuccino, he had no idea it would be her last. Standing in her bathroom, the star soprano told Mezzadri, her butler, that she felt unwell. If she didn’t drink her coffee quickly, he quipped, the foam would turn to liquid and he’d have to remake it. “Idiot, don’t joke. I don’t feel...When, on September 16, 1977, Ferruccio Mezzadri brought Maria Callas her usual morning cappuccino...When, on September 16, 1977, Ferruccio Mezzadri brought Maria Callas her usual morning cappuccino...
From big orchestral showpieces to intimate chamber-music programmes, grand operas (including on Blu-ray/DVD) to solo...From big orchestral showpieces to intimate chamber-music programmes, grand operas (including on Blu-ray/DVD) to solo piano recordings, The Times and Sunday Times critics select the best new classical albums for you to buy or stream this year. We will review the latest releases from the starriest conductors, singers...From big orchestral showpieces to intimate chamber-music programmes, grand operas (including on Blu-ray/DVD) to solo piano...
review
★★★★★
Hats off to the divining power of Channel 4’s schedulers. Though surely even they wouldn’t have predicted...★★★★★
Hats off to the divining power of Channel 4’s schedulers. Though surely even they...★★★★★
Hats off to the divining power of Channel 4’s schedulers. Though surely even they...
first night review
Don’t look directly into Rob Copland’s eyes, he urges us, or we will catch ADHD. It’s a joke: Copland’s hour, which...Don’t look directly into Rob Copland’s eyes, he urges us, or we will catch ADHD. It’s a joke...Don’t look directly into Rob Copland’s eyes, he urges us, or we will catch ADHD. It’s a joke...
review
With roles on Top Gear, Question of Sport and his own Radio 2 show, Paddy McGuinness’s presence in so many BBC programmes suggests that the commissioning editors at our national broadcaster might not feel as if they have a great deal of...With roles on Top Gear, Question of Sport and his own Radio 2 show, Paddy McGuinness’s...With roles on Top Gear, Question of Sport and his own Radio 2 show, Paddy McGuinness’s...
Viewing GUide
TELEVISION
Television
TELEVISION
Comment
Our homes should be a place of warmth, safety and shelter from the outside world — but for far too many elderly people in this country, there is no home sweet home. New research from the Centre for Ageing Better shows there are 4.5 million people...Our homes should be a place of warmth, safety and shelter from the outside world — but for far...Our homes should be a place of warmth, safety and shelter from the outside world — but for far...
MindGames
Fifteen questions to get you thinking
1 The New Jedi Order is a series of 19 novels set in which franchise’s expanded universe? 2 Which brand of Worcestershire sauce was granted a royal warrant in 1904? 3 “Top quality since 1853”, the C Bechstein name is “synonymous with exquisite grand and upright …” what? 4 The 737 Max is which US company’s best-selling aircraft? 5 Anadin Ultra and Nurofen are commercial...1 The New Jedi Order is a series of 19 novels set in which franchise’s expanded universe? 2 Which...1 The New Jedi Order is a series of 19 novels set in which franchise’s expanded universe? 2 Which...
In 2025 your travels could take you to space or to a remote location via sports car. You could also stay in the most glorious European hideaways
There is now an ebike for every sort of cyclist, from the urban traffic dodger to the alpine thrill-seeker
Lisa Grainger gets to see the most beautiful hotels in the world. Here she picks her favourite openings of 2024
These are the new hotels, islands and trains you’ll want to book for 2025
Jeremy Langmead delights in his glossy new locks, courtesy of a transplant and some daily pills and potions
Come for swaggering sunsets and blissful beaches, stay for hilltop restaurants and quotidian calm — all best enjoyed from a lovely villa. Here are our top picks for all budgets
Two people have died and four fierce forest blazes continue to impact neighbourhoods across Los Angeles with a state of emergency declared. Here’s what you need to know
Our ski expert reveals the most affordable apartments, cut-price lessons and (almost) free lunches that make swishing around Val Thorens on a budget possible
Inspired by The Traitors? Practise your own sleuthing skills on one of these exciting events around the UK — and recharge with a cosy stay afterwards
Whatever floats your river boat, there’s something exciting this year, from luxurious family sailings on the Danube to a captivating chance to party at Colombia’s Carnavel
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
June marks a slight pause on the travel calendar, falling as it does between May’s bank holidays and the traditional...June marks a slight pause on the travel calendar, falling as it does between May’s bank holidays...June marks a slight pause on the travel calendar, falling as it does between May’s bank holidays...
In French, Montreal takes its name from Mont Royal, the mountain where French explorers planted their flag nearly 500...In French, Montreal takes its name from Mont Royal, the mountain where French explorers planted...In French, Montreal takes its name from Mont Royal, the mountain where French explorers planted...
Obituary
Controversial politician who built a following in some areas but whose antisemitism and xenophobia meant opponents on all sides united against him
OBITUARY
Senior official in the Church of Scientology who turned whistleblower and accused the church of being an abusive and brainwashing cult
OBITUARY
Redoubtable perfectionist who put Twiggy on the cover, a boa constrictor around Nastassja Kinski and collaborated with the photographer Richard Avedon
OBITUARY
Legendary but prickly competitor who claimed his greatest victory was all the money he made
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
obituaries
Andrew Knight writes: Since your excellent obituary (December 30, 2024) of Jimmy Carter, countless...Andrew Knight writes: Since your excellent obituary (December 30, 2024) of Jimmy Carter...Andrew Knight writes: Since your excellent obituary (December 30, 2024) of Jimmy Carter...
NOT that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
2...NOT that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith...NOT that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
Economists say party’s plan to mitigate the cap could strain public spending
Economists have warned that taxes in Scotland will have to rise or spending cut if SNP ministers go ahead with plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap. It will cost the Scottish government £155 million to get rid of the policy that prevents families from receiving means-tested support for a...Economists have warned that taxes in Scotland will have to rise or spending cut if SNP ministers go ahead with plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap. It will cost the Scottish government £155 million to get rid of the policy that prevents families from receiving means-tested support for a...Economists have warned that taxes in Scotland will have to rise or spending cut if SNP ministers go ahead with plans to scrap...
A nurse suspended after she complained about a trans woman in a female changing room has beaten an attempt to gag reporting of her employment tribunal. The health worker claims her experiences amounted to harassment and is taking legal action against both her employer, NHS Fife, and the colleague who undressed in what she believes should be...A nurse suspended after she complained about a trans woman in a female changing room has beaten an attempt to gag reporting of her employment tribunal. The health worker claims her experiences amounted to harassment and is taking legal action against both her employer, NHS Fife, and the colleague who undressed in what she believes should be...A nurse suspended after she complained about a trans woman in a female changing room has beaten an attempt to gag reporting of...
The American fugitive Nicholas Rossi is facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence after he rejected a plea deal that would have allowed him to serve as few as four years behind bars. In October, Rossi, 37, finally admitted that he faked his death and created a bogus identity after fleeing across the Atlantic.The American fugitive Nicholas Rossi is facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence after he...The American fugitive Nicholas Rossi is facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence after he...
kenny farquharson
The start of January brings familiar routines. The last trace of tinsel is removed from the mantelpiece. The final...The start of January brings familiar routines. The last trace of tinsel is removed from the...The start of January brings familiar routines. The last trace of tinsel is removed from the...
Scottish business digest
Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland. 1. Scotcoin...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.
Residents in Brechin, Angus, are still waiting for action from the council after the River South Esk burst its banks in 2023
In October 2023, Brechin in Angus experienced heavy rain from Storm Babet which caused the River South Esk to breach its banks and 400 homes to be evacuated. More than a year on it is still a “ghost town”, according to one of the few residents able to return. Kim Clark, one of the only inhabitants with home insurance, has been flooded four times in the 23 years she has...In October 2023, Brechin in Angus experienced heavy rain from Storm Babet which caused the River...In October 2023, Brechin in Angus experienced heavy rain from Storm Babet which caused the River...
The Glen Sannox ferry is pencilled in for repairs even before it carries its first passengers while doubts have been...The Glen Sannox ferry is pencilled in for repairs even before it carries its first passengers while doubts have been raised about the delivery date of its sister ship, MSPs have heard. Officials from Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the ferry procurement agency, confirmed the anchor system on Glen Sannox...The Glen Sannox ferry is pencilled in for repairs even before it carries its first passengers while doubts have been raised...
British Vogue has listed the archipelago on its influential ‘10 Best Places to Travel’ during 2025
A Scottish archipelago that includes a cluster of 35 inhabited islands has earned its place on Vogue’s top ten places to visit over the coming year. British Vogue, the fashion magazine, has named the Inner Hebrides as one of the “10 Best Places to Travel” during 2025. Among the Inner Hebrides, the islands of Skye, Mull and Islay typically draw the most tourists and each...A Scottish archipelago that includes a cluster of 35 inhabited islands has earned its place on...A Scottish archipelago that includes a cluster of 35 inhabited islands has earned its place on...
Underwater seagrass from the west coast of Scotland will feature at the Chelsea Flower Show in a first for the...Underwater seagrass from the west coast of Scotland will feature at the Chelsea Flower Show in a first for the ocean’s only flowering plant. A submerged meadow will be created in miniature at the prestigious event in London, highlighting the efforts of a remote Scottish community to revive biodiversity on the seabed.Underwater seagrass from the west coast of Scotland will feature at the Chelsea Flower Show in a first for the ocean’s only...
![Tom Kerridge: “The first couple of years [sober] were very difficult. But drinking is a habit I’ve broken”](https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F3aca5dc4-ee72-4eb5-8c8c-05eaa4e089e3.jpg?crop=2610%2C1468%2C198%2C762&resize=320)
Comment
Starmer, take note: money makes us happier
Daniel Finkelstein
PM should remember what he knew in opposition — it’s easier to improve the quality of your life with more income
ROGER BOYES
Why Trump’s Greenland pitch makes good sense
Alice Thomson
Once again, no one talks about the girls
tom whipple | NOTEBOOK
Ignorance of history was bliss for Bill, Ted and me
harvey proctor
We should recall what prompted the Jay inquiry
Leading Articles
Siddiq Saga
Tulip Siddiq faces growing questions about her family’s financial and housing interests. The City minister should stand aside
Justin Time
Canada’s era of progressive illiberalism is coming to a well-deserved end
Literary Landscapes
Ever-inventive nimbys are using great writers in an attempt to stop the bulldozers
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Patient choice and cutting NHS waiting lists
Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, I was disappointed to read that Sir Kier Starmer’s plan for NHS reform focuses so heavily on the familiar theme of “tackling waiting lists” (“Booking NHS treatment ‘should be as easy as online shopping’”...Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, I was disappointed to read that Sir Kier Starmer’s plan for...Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, I was disappointed to read that Sir Kier Starmer’s plan for...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: Teachers in sixth forms in England who are members of the National Education Union due to strike in a dispute over pay and funding, following four days of strikes in December; an inquest into the death of the former England rugby player Tom Voyce opens in North Shields. Voyce, 43, died in Alnwick, Northumberland, after being reported missing on December 8; Oxford Farming Conference opens (to Friday).
US: Federal Reserve releases minutes from the recent interest rate meeting; Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas; Palm Springs International Film Festival (to Monday).
France: The US secretary of state Antony Blinken visits France after trips to South Korea and Japan.
On this day
In 1926 Abdul Aziz ibn Saud was proclaimed king of the Hejaz in the Grand Mosque at Mecca. He was the founder (1932) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; in 1935 the singer and actor Elvis Presley was born, in Tupelo, Mississippi. He died on August 16, 1977, aged 42. His first single with RCA, Heartbreak Hotel, was a worldwide hit in 1956; in 1967 Operation Cedar Falls was launched by US and South Vietnamese forces against the Vietcong. It was the largest US ground operation of the Vietnam War; in 1991 two people died as a result of a commuter train crash into buffers at Cannon Street station, London. Cannabis was found in the driver’s blood, leading to mandatory drug and alcohol testing; in 2017 the video assistant referee (VAR) system made its debut during an FA Cup third-round football fixture between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace.
Nature notes
The beach at Hartlepool was covered with sea coal. Fine grained as sand, the coal is lifted from seams under the North Sea and dumped by the tide on the shore twice a day. With the beach encrusted with these glistening, black, ankle-deep deposits, it can be hard to spot the oystercatchers as they forage in the intertidal zone. But when these hefty waders find a mussel or cockle, then a human on the esplanade may see a flash of bright orange, as the large wader either prises open the shell with its beak, or simply smashes the mollusc open with a powerful stab. Oystercatchers were once known in the north of England as “mussel crackers”, and they have a bill as strong as a mini pneumatic drill. Jonathan Tulloch
Jonathan Tulloch
Birthdays today
Richard Angell, chief executive, Terrence Higgins Trust, 41; Dame Shirley Bassey, singer, Goldfinger (1964), 88; Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, chairman, China-Britain Business Council, senior adviser to HSBC Holdings, and former diplomat, 70; Cynthia Erivo, actress, Wicked (2024), singer-songwriter, vice-president of Rada, 38; Sir Adrian Fulford, lord justice of appeal (2013-22), vice-president of the Court of Appeal (criminal division), investigatory powers commissioner (2017-19), 72; Charles Gordon-Lennox, Duke of Richmond, owner of the Goodwood estate in West Sussex, founder of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival, 70; Lord (Andrew) Hardie, senator of the College of Justice in Scotland (2000-12), lord advocate (1997-2000), 79; Carolina Herrera, fashion designer, 86; Clarence B Jones, speechwriter and adviser to Martin Luther King Jr, 94; Kim Jong Un, leader of North Korea, 41; Robby Krieger, guitarist and songwriter, the Doors, Light My Fire (1967), 79; Gillies MacKinnon, film director, Hideous Kinky (1998), 77; George Passmore, artist, Gilbert & George, 83; James Quincey, chairman and chief executive, The Coca-Cola Company, 60; Marc Quinn, artist, Alison Lapper Pregnant, 61; Cathy Rentzenbrink, writer, The Last Act of Love (2015), 52; Lawrence Rowe, cricketer, West Indies (1972-80), 76; Peter Sands, executive director, The Global Fund (to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria), chief executive, Standard Chartered (2006-15), 63; Paul Smith, secretary-general, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, 61; Lord (Tom) Watson of Wyre Forest, chairman, UK Music, deputy leader of the Labour Party (2015-19), 58; Alannah Weston, chairwoman, Galen and Hilary Weston Foundation (UK), Selfridges Group (2019-22), 53; Prof Sir Alan Wilson, mathematician and social scientist, director (special projects), the Turing Institute (2018-23), 86; Lt-Gen Ralph Wooddisse MC, commander, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, 55.