The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
Law will give investigators access to bank accounts and ‘search and seizure’ powers
newSir Keir Starmer is to announce plans to “root out” benefit fraudsters by giving investigators new powers to access information about people’s bank accounts. The prime minister will use his Labour conference speech to announce plans for a law to give benefit inspectors similar powers to those...Sir Keir Starmer is to announce plans to “root out” benefit fraudsters by giving investigators new powers to access information about people’s bank accounts. The prime minister will use his Labour conference speech to announce plans for a law to give benefit inspectors similar powers to those...Sir Keir Starmer is to announce plans to “root out” benefit fraudsters by giving investigators new powers to access information...
Nearly 500 people have been killed after Israel unleashed dozens of airstrikes against what it said were Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Israelijets bombed southern and central Lebanon on Monday as Binyamin Netanyahu urged people to stay clear of Hezbollah positions. “Israel’s war is not with you; it’s with Hezbollah. For too long Hezbollah...Nearly 500 people have been killed after Israel unleashed dozens of airstrikes against what it said were Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Israelijets bombed southern and central Lebanon on Monday as Binyamin Netanyahu urged people to stay clear of Hezbollah positions. “Israel’s war is not with you; it’s with Hezbollah. For too long Hezbollah...Nearly 500 people have been killed after Israel unleashed dozens of airstrikes against what it said were Hezbollah targets in...
After hours cooped up on a flight, most passengers are more than ready to be back on the tarmac. But they may soon be on board even longer thanks to a report by scientists at the University of Cambridge, which has recommended that planes should fly slower to burn less fuel and reduce emissions. The report said that...After hours cooped up on a flight, most passengers are more than ready to be back on the tarmac.After hours cooped up on a flight, most passengers are more than ready to be back on the tarmac.
The Times Crime and Justice Commission
If you are prone to more than your fair share of fitness injuries, it could be down to simple mistakes you are making...If you are prone to more than your fair share of fitness injuries, it could be down to simple...If you are prone to more than your fair share of fitness injuries, it could be down to simple...
robert crampton
The UK needs an extra 1.3 million tradespeople to meet demand over the next decade. The website Checkatrade says...The UK needs an extra 1.3 million tradespeople to meet demand over the next decade. The website...The UK needs an extra 1.3 million tradespeople to meet demand over the next decade. The website...
video
Chancellor says she will not avoid hard decisions
photography
An arresting image showing more than 4,000 birds that died after colliding with windows has taken the grand prize in the world’s largest avian photography competition. Patricia Seaton Homonylo, from Canada, was declared the Bird Photographer of the Yearfor her thought-provoking image When Worlds Collide. “I am a conservation photojournalist and have been working...An arresting image showing more than 4,000 birds that died after colliding with windows has taken...An arresting image showing more than 4,000 birds that died after colliding with windows has taken...
A senior City banker has been awarded £10,000 after his wife’s pet dog suffered a broken leg while being treated for...A senior City banker has been awarded £10,000 after his wife’s pet dog suffered a broken leg while being treated for anxiety. The Jack Russell, named Sirius, was said to have broken a hind leg last year during a £2,500 course of canine therapy with Four Paws Walking and Training. Yigit Onkan Sazak, an executive at...A senior City banker has been awarded £10,000 after his wife’s pet dog suffered a broken leg while being treated for anxiety.
A four-year-old boy whose life support was turned off despite his mother’s pleas after doctors told a judge he was...A four-year-old boy whose life support was turned off despite his mother’s pleas after doctors...A four-year-old boy whose life support was turned off despite his mother’s pleas after doctors...
THE TIMES DIARY
As a deathbed valedictory, saying “Tell David Cameron that if he screws up my beloved NHS I’ll come back and bloody...As a deathbed valedictory, saying “Tell David Cameron that if he screws up my beloved NHS I’ll...As a deathbed valedictory, saying “Tell David Cameron that if he screws up my beloved NHS I’ll...
Maxim Tucker | Dispatch
The Ukrainian military has revealed how it shot down two Russian A-50s with Soviet-era missiles, forcing Moscow to change its tactics
The Ukrainian crew of the Soviet-era missile system waited as their launch controller called out the final countdown. No armed force had ever shot down an airborne early warning and control aircraft before. Their mission to blind the Russian air force had been nearly two years in the planning.The Ukrainian crew of the Soviet-era missile system waited as their launch controller called out the final countdown. No armed force had ever shot down an airborne early warning and control aircraft before. Their mission to blind the Russian air force had been nearly two years in the planning.The Ukrainian crew of the Soviet-era missile system waited as their launch controller called out the final countdown. No armed...
A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile that President Putin once called unstoppable has blown up in its silo during a test launch, satellite images indicate. The RS-28 Sarmat, known in the West as Satan II, was one of several “superweapons’ unveiled by Putin in 2018. Moscow said it had carried out a successful test launch in April...A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile that President Putin once called unstoppable has blown up in its silo during a test launch, satellite images indicate. The RS-28 Sarmat, known in the West as Satan II, was one of several “superweapons’ unveiled by Putin in 2018. Moscow said it had carried out a successful test launch in April...A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile that President Putin once called unstoppable has blown up in its silo during a...
dispatch from denver
As Sean Azzariti tells it, queueing in the snow outside a cannabis dispensary in Denver was the end of a long road from Iraq. The former marine had been in charge of base security at al-Qa’im and al-Asad — “constantly mortared, constantly being shot at” — causing post-traumatic stress disorder that a 13-pill...As Sean Azzariti tells it, queueing in the snow outside a cannabis dispensary in Denver was the...As Sean Azzariti tells it, queueing in the snow outside a cannabis dispensary in Denver was the...
Fifty years after the world flocked to watch Emmanuelle, an erotic drama that marked the 1970s, France is about to release a version for the #MeToo era, with the heroine a model of female empowerment. Directed and written by Audrey Diwan...Fifty years after the world flocked to watch Emmanuelle, an erotic drama that marked the...Fifty years after the world flocked to watch Emmanuelle, an erotic drama that marked the...
The Pope has cancelled a series of appointments because of a bout of influenza, days before a planned international...The Pope has cancelled a series of appointments because of a bout of influenza, days before a...The Pope has cancelled a series of appointments because of a bout of influenza, days before a...
Janet Jackson has been criticised by her fans on the eve of her European tour after she claimed that Kamala Harris...Janet Jackson has been criticised by her fans on the eve of her European tour after she claimed...Janet Jackson has been criticised by her fans on the eve of her European tour after she claimed...
Germany’s coalition government could fall apart by Christmas, allies of the chancellor Olaf Scholz warned, after his ruling Social Democratic Party narrowly beat the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the eastern German state of...Germany’s coalition government could fall apart by Christmas, allies of the chancellor Olaf...Germany’s coalition government could fall apart by Christmas, allies of the chancellor Olaf...
IN maps and CHARTS
in maps and charts
in mapS and charts
The chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority did not follow the letter of the rules when he unmasked a whistleblower to senior colleagues, the regulator ruled today, as it revealed that a second whistleblowing complainant had experienced the same treatment. The findings on the conduct of...The chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority did not follow the letter of the rules when he unmasked a whistleblower to senior colleagues, the regulator ruled today, as it revealed that a second whistleblowing complainant had experienced the same treatment. The findings on the conduct of...The chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority did not follow the letter of the rules when he unmasked a whistleblower to...
The pound is on course to reach its highest level since 2021 against the US dollar thanks to the UK economy’s gathering momentum in growth and the Bank of England gradually lowering interest rates, Goldman Sachs has predicted. The US investment bank forecast that the pound will hit $1.40 in a year’s time, up from its previous projection of...The pound is on course to reach its highest level since 2021 against the US dollar thanks to the UK economy’s gathering momentum in growth and the Bank of England gradually lowering interest rates, Goldman Sachs has predicted. The US investment bank forecast that the pound will hit $1.40 in a year’s time, up from its previous projection of...The pound is on course to reach its highest level since 2021 against the US dollar thanks to the UK economy’s gathering...
Rightmove is considering a third £6.1 billion takeover offer from a Melbourne-based property company after rejecting two previous proposals. Rea Group’s latest indicative offer — 341p in cash and 0.0422 new Rea shares — values the UK property website at 770p a share, a 39 per cent premium on Rightmove’s share price...Rightmove is considering a third £6.1 billion takeover offer from a Melbourne-based property...Rightmove is considering a third £6.1 billion takeover offer from a Melbourne-based property...
business commentary
Heathrow airport often triggers strong reactions from passengers, Londoners, green campaigners and politicians alike.Heathrow airport often triggers strong reactions from passengers, Londoners, green campaigners...Heathrow airport often triggers strong reactions from passengers, Londoners, green campaigners...
mehreen khan | comment
It’s a sign of our strange times that the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision was more significant for...It’s a sign of our strange times that the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision was...It’s a sign of our strange times that the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision was...
From a standing start five years ago, Realty Income, an American property investment trust, has quietly established itself as one of the largest owners of shops, supermarkets and retail parks in Britain. While most other investors have stayed on...From a standing start five years ago, Realty Income, an American property investment trust, has...From a standing start five years ago, Realty Income, an American property investment trust, has...
Thousands of new jail cells due to be built to help alleviate the prisons crisis will be affected by the collapse of ISG, the biggest construction company failure since Carillion, it has emerged. It is understood that the Ministry of Justice had...Thousands of new jail cells due to be built to help alleviate the prisons crisis will be affected...Thousands of new jail cells due to be built to help alleviate the prisons crisis will be affected...
The average tenure of chief executives of UK-listed companies is just shy of five years and four months. That’s three...The average tenure of chief executives of UK-listed companies is just shy of five years and four...The average tenure of chief executives of UK-listed companies is just shy of five years and four...
tempus
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company, is a hot topic in both Hollywood and Wall Street thanks to the...Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company, is a hot topic in both Hollywood and Wall Street...Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company, is a hot topic in both Hollywood and Wall Street...
family Businesses
Alex Wright | Comment
Alex Wright, co-founder of Dash Water, on why you should ignore the noise and double down on your vision
Expert Tips
SIX FROM THE BEST
Six tips from a social historian and adviser on inclusion, ethics and anti-racism
National inclusion week begins on Monday and as a social historian, author and adviser on inclusion, ethics and anti-racism, Nick Basannavar is at the forefront of global debate. Running his own consultancy, he works with leaders in corporates, charities and governments. Here he shares his simple advice for greater inclusion at work. 1 Stop talking. Just because you’re...National inclusion week begins on Monday and as a social historian, author and adviser on...National inclusion week begins on Monday and as a social historian, author and adviser on...
RECRUITMENT
No organisation would hire an unqualified pilot, surgeon or engineer, so why hire unqualified managers? Despite about...No organisation would hire an unqualified pilot, surgeon or engineer, so why hire unqualified managers? Despite about 8.4 million people working as managers from a UK working population of 33 million, 82 per cent are “accidental managers” who do not have any formal training when promoted into their role. The result?No organisation would hire an unqualified pilot, surgeon or engineer, so why hire unqualified managers? Despite about 8.4...
Blow comes only days after City star voiced fears over player burnout
Rodri could miss the remainder of the season for Manchester City after suffering a serious knee injury. The Spain midfielder was forced off in the 21st minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal and was close to tears as he was withdrawn. Rodri went down holding his right knee after attempting...Rodri could miss the remainder of the season for Manchester City after suffering a serious knee injury. The Spain midfielder was forced off in the 21st minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal and was close to tears as he was withdrawn. Rodri went down holding his right knee after attempting...Rodri could miss the remainder of the season for Manchester City after suffering a serious knee injury. The Spain midfielder...
premier league
Erling Haaland told Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” after Manchester City’s draw with Arsenal before calling Gabriel Jesus a “f***ing clown”. Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium was full of fiery clashes, with City accusing Arsenal of gamesmanship and time-wasting as they played the second half with ten men after Leandro Trossard’s red card.Erling Haaland told Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” after Manchester City’s draw with Arsenal before calling Gabriel Jesus a “f***ing clown”. Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium was full of fiery clashes, with City accusing Arsenal of gamesmanship and time-wasting as they played the second half with ten men after Leandro Trossard’s red card.Erling Haaland told Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” after Manchester City’s draw with Arsenal before calling Gabriel Jesus a...
alex lowe
The Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson would have had every right to sip his red wine at home on Sunday night with that warm feeling of a job well done. Sale had spent all week formulating a plan to defeat Harlequins — and defeat Harlequins they did, edging an ugly, low-scoring match that was impacted by...The Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson would have had every right to sip his red wine...The Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson would have had every right to sip his red wine...
Premier League | Paul joyce
There have been plenty of significant days in Everton’s recent history. They have had their would-be saviours before...There have been plenty of significant days in Everton’s recent history. They have had their...There have been plenty of significant days in Everton’s recent history. They have had their...
molly hudson
A title fight well and truly ignited, with 52 points separating two drivers, who have risen to the top during a...A title fight well and truly ignited, with 52 points separating two drivers, who have risen to...A title fight well and truly ignited, with 52 points separating two drivers, who have risen to...
Martin Samuel
Eight minutes into stoppage time but, still, it really wasn’t Arsenal who dropped two points yesterday. It is not often we get to say this, but what was Pep Guardiola thinking? What was he thinking by keeping Jack Grealish out of the game for so long? What was he thinking allowing Rúben Dias and Mateo Kovacic to stand where Phil Foden or Bernardo Silva should have been...Eight minutes into stoppage time but, still, it really wasn’t Arsenal who dropped two points...Eight minutes into stoppage time but, still, it really wasn’t Arsenal who dropped two points...
Several angry Premier League clubs are set to put the heat on the referees’ chief Howard Webb over what they claim is...Several angry Premier League clubs are set to put the heat on the referees’ chief Howard Webb over what they claim is a series of mistakes by officials this season. Webb is expected to be grilled about standards and plans for improvements in officials’ performances after he provides an update to clubs from the...Several angry Premier League clubs are set to put the heat on the referees’ chief Howard Webb over what they claim is a series...
Ever the bridesmaid. A week ago Somerset were in the running to win all three county competitions, but their trophy cabinet will remain empty after a 15-run defeat by Glamorgan in a rain-shortened Metro Bank One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge. After Sunday, the original day for the final, was lost to the weather and with rain forecast for Monday, there was a rare...Ever the bridesmaid. A week ago Somerset were in the running to win all three county competitions...Ever the bridesmaid. A week ago Somerset were in the running to win all three county competitions...
eric ramsay interview
Eric Ramsay was in New York with his wife, Sioned, this month when he saw a Wrexham flag outside a bar. The club’s...Eric Ramsay was in New York with his wife, Sioned, this month when he saw a Wrexham flag outside a bar. The club’s rise to the top of Sky Bet League One, funded by the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and documented in a Disney+ series, has brought the United States to Wales. Ramsay has done the reverse...Eric Ramsay was in New York with his wife, Sioned, this month when he saw a Wrexham flag outside a bar. The club’s rise to the...
ian hawkey
The more the Champions League expands, the more its landscape narrows. Not least of the oddities about club...The more the Champions League expands, the more its landscape narrows. Not least of the oddities...The more the Champions League expands, the more its landscape narrows. Not least of the oddities...
Racecards BET OF THE DAY Lucky Rose (3.05 Fontwell Park) This mare is bred for stamina rather than speed and she...Racecards BET OF THE DAY Lucky Rose (3.05 Fontwell Park) This mare is bred for stamina rather...Racecards BET OF THE DAY Lucky Rose (3.05 Fontwell Park) This mare is bred for stamina rather...
Kate* worked in HR at Harrods. She watched as Mohamed Al Fayed targeted ’suitable’ women
interview
The author on coming back from her lowest ebb and the pain of losing her mum
From lifting too much and not warming up properly to trying to run too far, Peta Bee explains the things to watch out for when you are training
An Oxford University review has found that modern, pricey drugs may not be as effective at treating migraines. So what do we know?
My Culture Fix
DR MARK PORTER
The NHS website has reported a 13-fold increase in searches for laryngeal cancer over the past week following the...The NHS website has reported a 13-fold increase in searches for laryngeal cancer over the past...The NHS website has reported a 13-fold increase in searches for laryngeal cancer over the past...
review
The strangest thing for me about watching the continuing second series of My Mum, Your Dad (ITV1), aka the...The strangest thing for me about watching the continuing second series of My Mum, Your Dad (ITV1)...The strangest thing for me about watching the continuing second series of My Mum, Your Dad (ITV1)...
first night review
first night review
Louise Venables sounded out of breath when she answered the phone — and no wonder. “I’m making the big move in the...Louise Venables sounded out of breath when she answered the phone — and no wonder. “I’m making...Louise Venables sounded out of breath when she answered the phone — and no wonder. “I’m making...
If you’ve ever tried to style a bed beautifully, you’ll know that it is one of those tasks that sounds simple, but...If you’ve ever tried to style a bed beautifully, you’ll know that it is one of those tasks that...If you’ve ever tried to style a bed beautifully, you’ll know that it is one of those tasks that...
paris fashion week
We didn’t need Emily in Paris to tell us that the French capital is — look away London, Milan and New York — the ultimate fashion city. But the cult television series has certainly underlined the point. It’s not only the City of Light but also the...We didn’t need Emily in Paris to tell us that the French capital is — look away London, Milan and...We didn’t need Emily in Paris to tell us that the French capital is — look away London, Milan and...
gabriella bennett
Sunset in Tokyo, mid-September. The sky washes out behind the tower blocks, blue to pink. I’m on my way to Banban, a...Sunset in Tokyo, mid-September. The sky washes out behind the tower blocks, blue to pink. I’m on...Sunset in Tokyo, mid-September. The sky washes out behind the tower blocks, blue to pink. I’m on...
Television
television
TELEVISION
TELEVISION
Television
The arbiters, auctioneers, lighting experts and framers who can help turn your home into a chichi art gallery
Aristotle wrote that flute tunes could ‘purify the soul’ and Pythagoras used melody to treat psychological conditions
A makeover of a Provençal farmhouse with a Clarins spa and Michelin-star chef has created a new hotspot in Mougins, says Lisa Grainger
Choose a more intimate sailing for personal service, laid-back days at sea and access to smaller ports the big ships can’t visit
Norway’s Vesteralen archipelago, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, has spectacular landscapes, whales and lovely hamlets that most tourists miss
Seawater spa or swim-up bar? However you like your dips, we’ve found the cruise ships that have pools well worth getting onboard with
It’s still warm enough for dips in the pools and strolls along quieter beaches in the Costa del Sol well into October — plus long lunches on sunbaked terraces
chris haslam
Chris Haslam, our chief travel writer, has the inside track on making rail journeys magical
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
video
Think you know which type of getaway you’re most suited to? Put your theory to the test with seven quick questions that will map your holiday wishes against a range of trips and whittle it down to one perfect fit. • Mostly As: A cruise is on the...Think you know which type of getaway you’re most suited to? Put your theory to the test with...Think you know which type of getaway you’re most suited to? Put your theory to the test with...
THEN King Darius wrote to the people of all nations, races, and languages on earth: ‘Greetings! I command that...THEN King Darius wrote to the people of all nations, races, and languages on earth: ‘Greetings! I...THEN King Darius wrote to the people of all nations, races, and languages on earth: ‘Greetings! I...
Balmoral Castle
23rd September, 2024
The Hon Mia Amor Mottley MP (Prime Minister of the Republic of Barbados) spoke...Balmoral Castle
23rd September, 2024
The Hon Mia Amor Mottley MP (Prime Minister of the Republic...Balmoral Castle
23rd September, 2024
The Hon Mia Amor Mottley MP (Prime Minister of the Republic...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
‘We’ll use cameras to keep public safe’
Facial recognition technology will be used to trace and arrest violent criminals under a new strategy being championed by Scotland’s most senior police officer. Jo Farrell, the chief constable of Police Scotland, insisted it would be an “abdication” not to harness new artificial...Facial recognition technology will be used to trace and arrest violent criminals under a new strategy being championed by Scotland’s most senior police officer. Jo Farrell, the chief constable of Police Scotland, insisted it would be an “abdication” not to harness new artificial...Facial recognition technology will be used to trace and arrest violent criminals under a new strategy being championed by...
Anas Sarwar has issued a rebuke to Sir Keir Starmer’s pessimistic outlook as he pledged to offer “change and hope” in his campaign to become Scotland’s first minister. In a speech to the UK Labour conference in Liverpool, the Scottish party leader struck a noticeably different tone to senior figures in Westminster, despite efforts by the...Anas Sarwar has issued a rebuke to Sir Keir Starmer’s pessimistic outlook as he pledged to offer “change and hope” in his campaign to become Scotland’s first minister. In a speech to the UK Labour conference in Liverpool, the Scottish party leader struck a noticeably different tone to senior figures in Westminster, despite efforts by the...Anas Sarwar has issued a rebuke to Sir Keir Starmer’s pessimistic outlook as he pledged to offer “change and hope” in his...
Magnus Linklater
It was a huge amount to pay for a small island, but it was a coup for the local community and Nicola Sturgeon hailed it as a triumph. In 2018 the island of Ulva, off the west coast of Mull, was formally handed over to the North West Mull community group for £4.6 million, most of it government money. The owner, Jamie...It was a huge amount to pay for a small island, but it was a coup for the local community and...It was a huge amount to pay for a small island, but it was a coup for the local community and...
A tiny Scottish island bought by the local community under controversial land reform legislation has fallen into disrepair with some locals left with filthy brown water, residents have claimed. The isle of Ulva was purchased in 2018 after its...A tiny Scottish island bought by the local community under controversial land reform legislation...A tiny Scottish island bought by the local community under controversial land reform legislation...
Premiership | Michael Grant
Scottish business digest
A Scottish-Australian marathon swimmer has set a record for swimming around Manhattan island in New York despite suffering illness. Andy Donaldson, 33, achieved the feat in 5 hours 41 minutes and 48 seconds, beating the previous record, set in...A Scottish-Australian marathon swimmer has set a record for swimming around Manhattan island in...A Scottish-Australian marathon swimmer has set a record for swimming around Manhattan island in...
Alex Massie
Quietly, and without fanfare, this Scottish government is carefully repositioning itself. A government led by John...Quietly, and without fanfare, this Scottish government is carefully repositioning itself. A...Quietly, and without fanfare, this Scottish government is carefully repositioning itself. A...
Gillian Bowditch
Gisèle Pelicot will go down in history in much the same way as Rosa Parks has — as a woman who, at great personal...Gisèle Pelicot will go down in history in much the same way as Rosa Parks has — as a woman who...Gisèle Pelicot will go down in history in much the same way as Rosa Parks has — as a woman who...
Comment
Yes, prime minister, you have to take control
William Hague
To force through change, Starmer must get a tight grip on No 10 but he hasn’t worked out how to use the levers of power
melanie phillips
Human rights culture has eroded our freedoms
James marriott
Ignore the snobs, we need Big Ideas books
giles coren | notebook
My time as a Harrods elf was black and white
Chris O’Shea
Help suppliers to unlock billions in energy investment
tomiwa owolade | notebook
Goodbye, Evening Standard – but were we to blame for its decline?
One of my favourite things to do as a teenager on a Friday was to search the bus on my way back from school for copies of the Evening Standard. I loved the Friday edition because it contained David Sexton’s film reviews. But I loved the...One of my favourite things to do as a teenager on a Friday was to search the bus on my way back...One of my favourite things to do as a teenager on a Friday was to search the bus on my way back...
Leading Articles
Proof of the Pudding
Rachel Reeves steadied the Labour ship on Monday with reassuring words on growth. But her fidelity to a business-led recovery will be truly tested in the October budget
Parting Gift
Joe Biden must see out his presidency with a muscular commitment to Ukraine
Slow Burn
Longer flights could help save the planet
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Freebie culture and integrity in government
Sir, Given that Sue Gray is a former director-general of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet Office, one would have expected her to have advised the Starmers and senior members of the government against accepting gifts of accommodation, clothing...Sir, Given that Sue Gray is a former director-general of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet...Sir, Given that Sue Gray is a former director-general of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: Sir Keir Starmer speaks at the Labour Party conference; Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, speaks to ministers of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance; company results from Raspberry Pi and AG Barr.
US: President Biden speaks at the Bloomberg global business forum; Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, hosts a dinner with representatives of the EU’s 27 countries.
On this day
In 1716 the first “appellation” for the control of wine production was issued, for the Chianti, Pomino, Carmignano and Val d’Arno di Sopra regions; in 1844 the first international cricket match opened, between the US and Canada, in New York. Canada won by 23 runs; in 1991 Theodor Seuss Geisel, who wrote under the pen name Dr Seuss, died, aged 87. Among his more than 60 books are The Cat in the Hat (1957) and Green Eggs and Ham (1960); in 1993 Imelda Marcos, widow of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was convicted of corruption; in 2019 the Supreme Court ruled against the prorogation of parliament instigated by Boris Johnson, the prime minister. MPs returned to the Houses of Commons the next day.
Nature notes
Although similarly sized, a badger skull can easily be distinguished from that of a fox by its smaller eye sockets and dramatic sagittal ridge or crest, a sharp “Mohican” of bone that extends from above the eyes to the back of the cranium. An indicator of extraordinarily strong jaw muscles (the temporalis muscles, used for chewing, attach to it), it also serves a secondary strengthening purpose in badgers, defending their heads from vehicle collisions, underground rockfalls and the back of a spade. Badger teeth often show significant wear, especially in older animals; worms form a large part of their diet and are chewed along with soil, grit and sand. Hedgehogs also have a sagittal ridge, albeit a much less prominent one. Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison
Birthdays today
Eleanor Catton, author, The Luminaries (Man Booker prize, 2013), 39; Jack Dee, comedian and actor, Lead Balloon (2006-11), 63; Owen Farrell, rugby union player, Saracens (2008-24) and former captain of England, 33; Kate Fleetwood, actress, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (2010), 52; Brian Glanville, author, Kissing America (1985), and sports journalist, 93; Robert Griffiths, KC, former chairman of Marylebone Cricket Club committees on the laws of the game and development, 76; Prof Noreena Hertz, economist, broadcaster and author, 57; Tony Juniper, environmental campaigner, chairman, Natural England, 64; Helen Lederer, comedian and actress, Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012), 70; Ally McCoist, football player, Scotland (1986-98), manager and pundit, 62; Anna McMorrin, Labour MP for Cardiff North, assistant whip, 53; Sir Laurie Magnus, chairman, Historic England (2013-23), prime minister’s independent adviser on ministers’ interests, 69; Theo Paphitis, entrepreneur and broadcaster, Dragons’ Den (2005-21), 65; Victoria Pendleton, jockey and former Olympic (2012), European and Commonwealth cycling champion, 44; Ben Preston, journalist, executive editor and head of culture and books at The Times and The Sunday Times, 61; Dominic Reid, chief executive, Invictus Games Foundation, and pageantmaster, Lord Mayor’s Show (since 1992), 63; Sir Ivor Roberts, diplomat, former UK ambassador (Yugoslavia, Ireland, Italy), 78; Sir John Rutter, composer, conductor and founder (1981) of the Cambridge Singers, 79; Martin Sixsmith, author, Philomena (2009), and broadcaster, 70; Tim Supple, theatre and opera director, 62; Matt Vickers, Conservative MP for Stockton West, shadow crime, policing and fire minister, 41; Dame Harriet Walter, actress, Sense and Sensibility (1995), Downton Abbey (2013-15), Succession (2018-23), 74.