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At least 11 people, including a toddler, are feared to have been killed and as many as 80 others were wounded when a car was driven into a crowd at a Christmas market in the east German city of Magdeburg, in a suspected terror attack. The scale of...At least 11 people, including a toddler, are feared to have been killed and as many as 80 others...At least 11 people, including a toddler, are feared to have been killed and as many as 80 others...
No police officers will face charges, says CPS
Two brothers have been charged in connection with a violent altercation at Manchester airport that provoked widespread outrage. Mohammed Amaaz, 20, and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 25, have been charged with assaults on police officers, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The CPS said that no police officers would be charged in relation to the incident on July 23. Mobile...Two brothers have been charged in connection with a violent altercation at Manchester airport...Two brothers have been charged in connection with a violent altercation at Manchester airport...
A judge who gave Sara Sharif’s father and eventual murderer custody of the ten-year-old cannot be named over concerns...A judge who gave Sara Sharif’s father and eventual murderer custody of the ten-year-old cannot be named over concerns they would be subject to a “virtual lynch mob”. A High Court court judgment published on Friday said that attempting to hold professionals involved in the historic proceedings accountable for Sara’s...A judge who gave Sara Sharif’s father and eventual murderer custody of the ten-year-old cannot be named over concerns they...
profile
It is, so the joke goes, the third coming. At the age of 71 Lord Mandelson has made a remarkable political comeback...It is, so the joke goes, the third coming. At the age of 71 Lord Mandelson has made a remarkable...It is, so the joke goes, the third coming. At the age of 71 Lord Mandelson has made a remarkable...
Let’s raise a festive toast to scientists who this week brought us the news that a small glass of wine every night...Let’s raise a festive toast to scientists who this week brought us the news that a small glass of...Let’s raise a festive toast to scientists who this week brought us the news that a small glass of...
Less need to work Christmas overtime after 15 per cent deal, says Heidi Alexander
Small councils that will be replaced in local government overhaul might not pass on debt to newly formed successors
new
Health secretary announces plans to cut bureaucracy and improve access, slashing ‘tick-box’ targets and vowing to ‘bring back the family doctor’
British government in the final stages of renegotiating with Mauritius
newOlga will never forget the moment Russian soldiers opened fire on her car, or the agonised look on her 13-year-old son’s face as the bullet passed through his abdomen. It fell to her husband to deliver the harshest blow of all. “Our son had not...Olga will never forget the moment Russian soldiers opened fire on her car, or the agonised look...Olga will never forget the moment Russian soldiers opened fire on her car, or the agonised look...
This is the sort of river many people would picture in England and Wales — aWind in the Willows-style home to kingfishers, brown trout and other wildlife; a playground for anglers, children and paddleboarders. The reality is far more grim. “Every single river in England today is polluted,” according to Steve Reed, the environment secretary. When I spoke to him...This is the sort of river many people would picture in England and Wales — aWind in...This is the sort of river many people would picture in England and Wales — aWind in...
Water company bosses have received six-figure bonuses and boosts to their pay even as customers’ bills rise. The...Water company bosses have received six-figure bonuses and boosts to their pay even as customers’ bills rise. The government has pledged to prevent customers’ cash being spent on bonuses for water company leaders as bosses of disgraced firms receive £20 million this year in pay, pensions and bonuses. At Thames Water...Water company bosses have received six-figure bonuses and boosts to their pay even as customers’ bills rise. The government has...
Farah Sayeed and Rashid Iqbal were quietly living a happy middle-class life. Both were doing well in their careers — Farah as a social worker, Rashid as the head of a small charity. Their three children were all thriving, with their eldest at...Farah Sayeed and Rashid Iqbal were quietly living a happy middle-class life. Both were doing well...Farah Sayeed and Rashid Iqbal were quietly living a happy middle-class life. Both were doing well...
The defence secretary says the Russian withdrawal should act as a warning to the Kremlin’s prospective allies
Russia has suffered a “huge strategic defeat” with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, the UK defence secretary has said as Britain seeks to shore up its influence in the region. On a visit to Ukraine, John Healey said that Russia was “clinging” to its remaining two bases in Syria, having started to retreat after rebel groups seized power. He warned allies of...Russia has suffered a “huge strategic defeat” with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria...Russia has suffered a “huge strategic defeat” with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria...
British troops training soldiers in Ukraine would be a “target” for Russian missiles, western officials believe. John...British troops training soldiers in Ukraine would be a “target” for Russian missiles, western officials believe. John Healey, the defence secretary, has suggested that the training of Ukrainian forces could be moved from Britain to bases in the west of Ukraine, hundreds of miles from the front line. On a visit to...British troops training soldiers in Ukraine would be a “target” for Russian missiles, western officials believe. John Healey...
PHOTOGRAPHY
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the times diary
Four years after the death of Sir Harry Evans, the former Sunday Times editor, his widow is being urged by friends...Four years after the death of Sir Harry Evans, the former Sunday Times editor, his widow is being urged by friends to find a new love. She is not interested. Tina Brown, who edited Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, has no hobbies but writing and finds that all the men of her age just “bang on about their golf...Four years after the death of Sir Harry Evans, the former Sunday Times editor, his widow is being urged by friends to find...
Maxim Tucker | in depth
The assassination of a top Russian general in Moscow is part of a campaign to track and kill Kremlin war criminals wherever they are in the world
With cuts and bruises on his face that suggested his confession had been made under duress, Akhmad Kurbanov, a 29-year-old Uzbek, explained how he came to plant a bomb in the heart of Moscow that killed the highest-ranking general targeted by the Ukrainian secret service. According to Russia’s...With cuts and bruises on his face that suggested his confession had been made under duress, Akhmad Kurbanov, a 29-year-old Uzbek, explained how he came to plant a bomb in the heart of Moscow that killed the highest-ranking general targeted by the Ukrainian secret service. According to Russia’s...With cuts and bruises on his face that suggested his confession had been made under duress, Akhmad Kurbanov, a 29-year-old...
Elon Musk has stirred up the German election campaign by endorsing the radical right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), saying that it is the only party that could “save” the country. The world’s richest man, a sponsor and ally of Donald Trump, has already flirted with the populist right in a number of other countries, including Britain...Elon Musk has stirred up the German election campaign by endorsing the radical right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), saying that it is the only party that could “save” the country. The world’s richest man, a sponsor and ally of Donald Trump, has already flirted with the populist right in a number of other countries, including Britain...Elon Musk has stirred up the German election campaign by endorsing the radical right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), saying...
President Macron has been accused of making racist, sexist and homophobic comments by the respected French newspaper Le Monde. The report on Friday prompted a furious denial from the Élysée, but the paper said that it stood by its story. It said Macron told Aurélien Rousseau, his former health minister, last year...President Macron has been accused of making racist, sexist and homophobic comments by the...President Macron has been accused of making racist, sexist and homophobic comments by the...
DAVID CHARTER | analysis
Gabrielle Weiniger | in depth
ANALYSIS
Donald Trump is determined to do things differently this time. The president-elect spent much of his first term between 2017 and 2021 battling against the people he had appointed to senior roles. He came to believe that many of them thought it was...Donald Trump is determined to do things differently this time. The president-elect spent much of...Donald Trump is determined to do things differently this time. The president-elect spent much of...
GEORGE GRYLLS | DISPATCH
will pavia in ohio
tom kington in florence
The chance to soar above the rooftops of Florence starts at an anonymous doorway in the Uffizi Gallery, which leads to a labyrinth of passageways and then a corridor lined with porthole-like windows that stretches off into the distance. Built...The chance to soar above the rooftops of Florence starts at an anonymous doorway in the Uffizi...The chance to soar above the rooftops of Florence starts at an anonymous doorway in the Uffizi...
Drug company’s market value falls by $100 billion as trial of a new weight-loss jab misses expectations
Disappointing late-stage trial results for a next-generation obesity drug developed by Novo Nordisk wiped about $100 billion off the Danish drug company’s market value in the biggest one-day sell-off for a US-traded company. The lower-than-expected weight loss from its drug candidate CagriSema...Disappointing late-stage trial results for a next-generation obesity drug developed by Novo Nordisk wiped about $100 billion off the Danish drug company’s market value in the biggest one-day sell-off for a US-traded company. The lower-than-expected weight loss from its drug candidate CagriSema...Disappointing late-stage trial results for a next-generation obesity drug developed by Novo Nordisk wiped about $100 billion...
Retail sales in Britain fell short of expectations last month despite early Black Friday discounting in the build up to Christmas. Sales volumes rose by a weaker-than-expected 0.2 per cent month-on-month in November, having fallen by 0.7 per cent in October, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. City economists...Retail sales in Britain fell short of expectations last month despite early Black Friday discounting in the build up to Christmas. Sales volumes rose by a weaker-than-expected 0.2 per cent month-on-month in November, having fallen by 0.7 per cent in October, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. City economists...Retail sales in Britain fell short of expectations last month despite early Black Friday discounting in the build up to Christmas.
The FTSE 100 recorded its worst week in more than a year after downbeat economic news prompted investors to ditch UK stocks. The index of the UK’s largest listed companies fell by 2.6 per cent last week, its biggest five-day fall since October 2023. The yield on the 30-year UK government bond briefly hit its highest...The FTSE 100 recorded its worst week in more than a year after downbeat economic news prompted...The FTSE 100 recorded its worst week in more than a year after downbeat economic news prompted...
in depth
Built in extreme cold in the 1970s and 1980s, the 2,600 mile-plus Baikal-Amur mainline railway pierces through eastern Siberia to the Sea of Japan. It is one of countless pieces of technology fashioned during the US-Soviet space race to have...Built in extreme cold in the 1970s and 1980s, the 2,600 mile-plus Baikal-Amur mainline railway...Built in extreme cold in the 1970s and 1980s, the 2,600 mile-plus Baikal-Amur mainline railway...
ALISTAIR OSBORNE | BUSINESS COMMENTARY
Maybe it’s what comes from dealing with the water industry: a regulator that ends up looking pretty wet. The Ofwat...Maybe it’s what comes from dealing with the water industry: a regulator that ends up looking...Maybe it’s what comes from dealing with the water industry: a regulator that ends up looking...
HARRY WALLOP
I spend a lot of my day wading through press releases that I have been emailed and exclaiming “utter tosh”, then...I spend a lot of my day wading through press releases that I have been emailed and exclaiming...I spend a lot of my day wading through press releases that I have been emailed and exclaiming...
Soho House & Co, the New York-listed, London-based private members club, has received a take- private offer from a new consortium, sending its shares up sharply. The offer was for $9 a share, said Soho House, representing a premium of 83 per cent...Soho House & Co, the New York-listed, London-based private members club, has received a take-...Soho House & Co, the New York-listed, London-based private members club, has received a take-...
comment
The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold as expected in its final decision of 2024 but in doing so has exposed...The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold as expected in its final decision of 2024 but in...The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold as expected in its final decision of 2024 but in...
LAUREN ALMEIDA | TEMPUS
The advertising company WPP is one of the biggest in the world but its returns have long trailed its rivals overseas.The advertising company WPP is one of the biggest in the world but its returns have long trailed...The advertising company WPP is one of the biggest in the world but its returns have long trailed...
Nike’s new chief executive has vowed to reduce discounting and revive its “obsession with sport” in a strategy to put the world’s biggest sportswear brand back on track. Elliott Hill, 61, a Nike veteran who returned to lead the company in October...Nike’s new chief executive has vowed to reduce discounting and revive its “obsession with sport”...Nike’s new chief executive has vowed to reduce discounting and revive its “obsession with sport”...
The world’s biggest luxury goods retailer is pulling further ahead in the glitzy world of fashion, by establishing a permanent presence in one of the planet’s most glamorous locations. LVMH is said to have bought a €46.5...The world’s biggest luxury goods retailer is pulling further ahead in the glitzy world of fashion, by establishing a permanent presence in one of the planet’s most glamorous locations. LVMH is said to have bought a €46.5...The world’s biggest luxury goods retailer is pulling further ahead in the glitzy world of fashion, by establishing a...
The government has stepped in with additional taxpayer funding to save the Harland & Wolff shipyards and protect around 1,000 jobs. Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, said that Navantia, a Spanish-state owned...The government has stepped in with additional taxpayer funding to save the Harland & Wolff shipyards and protect around 1,000 jobs. Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, said that Navantia, a Spanish-state owned...The government has stepped in with additional taxpayer funding to save the Harland & Wolff shipyards and protect...
marketing
Matt Cairns, founder of Lancashire-based Eleven Sports Media, has built relationships with sports clubs that give small businesses pitch-side branding
Sustainability
Hospitality
Craig Bunting co-founded the Bear cafés in his hometown of Uttoxeter and quickly learnt people must relate to the product while still enjoying something new
Sustainability
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...
tom kershaw
The maverick Tyson Fury that once dressed as Batman for a press conference and tirelessly taunted Oleksandr Usyk in the build-up to their first bout in May has been replaced by a terse malevolence this week in Riyadh. Intensely focused and dangerously combustible, it has been hard to decipher if...The maverick Tyson Fury that once dressed as Batman for a press conference and tirelessly taunted Oleksandr Usyk in the build-up to their first bout in May has been replaced by a terse malevolence this week in Riyadh. Intensely focused and dangerously combustible, it has been hard to decipher if...The maverick Tyson Fury that once dressed as Batman for a press conference and tirelessly taunted Oleksandr Usyk in the...
Owen Slot
In the annual race to slag off the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year programme, I didn’t get out of the blocks this time. The programme had me early, tear in the eye, with Chris Hoy and his address about the Olympics. Oh my, Chris, only two months since you announced that your cancer was terminal. The best piece of theatre was yet to...In the annual race to slag off the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year programme, I didn’t get out of the blocks this time. The programme had me early, tear in the eye, with Chris Hoy and his address about the Olympics. Oh my, Chris, only two months since you announced that your cancer was terminal. The best piece of theatre was yet to...In the annual race to slag off the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year programme, I didn’t get out of the blocks this time.
Ange Postecoglou has said he finds some of the criticism towards him “offensive” and vowed to carry on ignoring Jamie Carragher after the former Liverpool defender urged the Tottenham Hotspur players to go against their head coach’s instructions. Postecoglou’s side came through a chaotic Carabao Cup quarter-final...Ange Postecoglou has said he finds some of the criticism towards him “offensive” and vowed to...Ange Postecoglou has said he finds some of the criticism towards him “offensive” and vowed to...
john westerby
Some players have a natural flair for getting under the skin of their opponents and Henry Pollock has his own...Some players have a natural flair for getting under the skin of their opponents and Henry Pollock...Some players have a natural flair for getting under the skin of their opponents and Henry Pollock...
Tony Cascarino
Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United reinforced that there is so much...Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United reinforced...Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United reinforced...
Followers of English rugby are probably familiar with the minimum standards criterion OF6. To be promoted to the Gallagher Premiership, a club require a 5,000-capacity ground, with permission to upgrade to 10,001 by the fourth season. Coventry...Followers of English rugby are probably familiar with the minimum standards criterion OF6. To be...Followers of English rugby are probably familiar with the minimum standards criterion OF6. To be...
Carl Frampton
If Tyson Fury can win on Saturday, he will be right up there with Lennox Lewis as Britain’s best heavyweight, but...If Tyson Fury can win on Saturday, he will be right up there with Lennox Lewis as Britain’s best...If Tyson Fury can win on Saturday, he will be right up there with Lennox Lewis as Britain’s best...
Tailender | Patrick Kidd
The menu at the Oval on Monday was the same as it has been on that day for 70 years: roast lamb and apple pie. This...The menu at the Oval on Monday was the same as it has been on that day for 70 years: roast lamb...The menu at the Oval on Monday was the same as it has been on that day for 70 years: roast lamb...
peter rutzler
The Premier League’s coaching newcomers are making light work of off-field challenges this season. At Old Trafford, Rúben Amorim has quickly set about reframing Manchester United’s troubles with a firm line on squad discipline and his charming press conferences, while Arne Slot, at Liverpool, continues to breeze through the weekly maze of contract-related questions. But...The Premier League’s coaching newcomers are making light work of off-field challenges this season.The Premier League’s coaching newcomers are making light work of off-field challenges this season.
Notebook | Martyn Ziegler
The Chelsea captain Enzo Fernández and his fellow Argentina players appear to have escaped disciplinary action for a...The Chelsea captain Enzo Fernández and his fellow Argentina players appear to have escaped disciplinary action for a racist and homophobic song about France players. Kick It Out, football’s anti-discrimination body, has hit a brick wall after making inquiries into the incident by the Copa America-winning team in the...The Chelsea captain Enzo Fernández and his fellow Argentina players appear to have escaped disciplinary action for a racist and...
owen slot
One of the hangovers of the old Eddie Jones regime was the nickname handed down to Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief...One of the hangovers of the old Eddie Jones regime was the nickname handed down to Bill Sweeney...One of the hangovers of the old Eddie Jones regime was the nickname handed down to Bill Sweeney...
ALYSON RUDD
One win in 11 matches is the sort of form that prompts patronising sympathy or sniggers of schadenfreude. It is not...One win in 11 matches is the sort of form that prompts patronising sympathy or sniggers of...One win in 11 matches is the sort of form that prompts patronising sympathy or sniggers of...
james gheerbrant
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an emergency humanitarian resource, buried 150m deep within a snowbound sandstone mountain on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen. Inside the vault, entombed behind a huge steel door, is a collection of millions of...The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an emergency humanitarian resource, buried 150m deep within a...The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an emergency humanitarian resource, buried 150m deep within a...
in depth
With the King’s cancer treatment set to continue into next year, Kate Mansey talks to those in the know about an eventful 2024
Janice turner
When I reported from the trial, it leached into my dreams. French culture enabled these men. Will there be a reckoning?
ROBERT CRAMPTON
The perpetrators were all ages, from all walks of life — and they were all willing to commit rape
Tom Peck
Tom Peck asks why Christmas television is turning into a long celebration of retail — Martin Lewis even uses a spreadsheet to play scrabble
As research shows that wine can be good for your heart, Peta Bee looks at other ways festive indulgence can boost health
first night review
There’s never been a better time to be an armchair cinema fan, with more ways to watch movies across TV channels, streaming services and digital downloads than ever before. But sometimes there can be too much choice, and that’s why our experts have hand-picked the very best films to watch over the festive period. We update this list weekly with the best films available...There’s never been a better time to be an armchair cinema fan, with more ways to watch movies...There’s never been a better time to be an armchair cinema fan, with more ways to watch movies...
The TV Christmas special is, as the name suggests, a very special thing. It’s the chance to take our favourite...The TV Christmas special is, as the name suggests, a very special thing. It’s the chance to take our favourite characters and put them in silly hats, lace them with booze and explore character traits and stories that may not have been seen before. It’s also, for many shows, the opportunity to end chapters and start...The TV Christmas special is, as the name suggests, a very special thing. It’s the chance to take our favourite characters and...
Last Christmas by Wham! finally made it to Christmas No 1 last year, for the first time since its release in...Last Christmas by Wham! finally made it to Christmas No 1 last year, for the first time since...Last Christmas by Wham! finally made it to Christmas No 1 last year, for the first time since...
Jane MacQuitty
For those wanting to celebrate Christmas without overdoing it, the latest, more palatable run of lower-alcohol wine...For those wanting to celebrate Christmas without overdoing it, the latest, more palatable run of...For those wanting to celebrate Christmas without overdoing it, the latest, more palatable run of...
PROFILE
Standing on a pile of $5 million in cash, Jimmy Donaldson — the king of YouTube, better known as Mr Beast — declares it a reward for “the most insane competition show you have ever seen”. Donaldson’s previous escapades include being buried alive for a week and recreating Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory but his £80 million new show, Beast Games, which has just premiered...Standing on a pile of $5 million in cash, Jimmy Donaldson — the king of YouTube, better known as...Standing on a pile of $5 million in cash, Jimmy Donaldson — the king of YouTube, better known as...
Debra Craine
It may be almost 30 years old, but Matthew Bourne’s gender-bending 1995 staging is still going...Debra Craine
It may be almost 30 years old, but Matthew Bourne’s gender-bending 1995 staging is still going strong. Swan Lake has had an amazing year in London — with no fewer than six versions on offer — but 2024 ends with the one that has rightly earned its status as a modern classic. With a terrifying ensemble...Debra Craine
It may be almost 30 years old, but Matthew Bourne’s gender-bending 1995 staging is still going strong. Swan...
CHRISTMAS VIEWING GUIDE
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
It’s been quite the year for Swan Lake in London. From the lovingly traditional stagings by the Royal Ballet and English National Ballet, to a less loving version by visiting Georgians, an acrobatic one from China and Matthew Bourne’s...It’s been quite the year for Swan Lake in London. From the lovingly traditional stagings by the...It’s been quite the year for Swan Lake in London. From the lovingly traditional stagings by the...
video
review
Mads Mikkelsen is a magnificent villain and Lin-Manuel Miranda delivers his finest songwriting work since Moana in Disney’s follow-up
video
review
This funny, poignant drama is about a goofy layabout trying to wheedle his way into his sick grandmother’s inheritance
video
review
Justin Kurzel falls victim to stereotypes in his film about far-right bigots in Eighties USA
video
classic film
Already a household name in Japan by the 1980s, this Oscar-winner made Hayao Miyazaki globally famous
It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most expensive. So it shouldn’t come as a...It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most expensive. So it...It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most expensive. So it...
Not a fan of Christmas pudding? While Tesco reported last week that their sales of Christmas puddings are up by 20...Not a fan of Christmas pudding? While Tesco reported last week that their sales of Christmas...Not a fan of Christmas pudding? While Tesco reported last week that their sales of Christmas...
CHRISTMAS VIEWING GUIDE
There’s no better way of getting in the mood for Christmas than by settling in for a fine festive film. Whether it’s a classic Christmas movie like It’s a Wonderful Life with James Stewart or a more modern festive favourite like Will Ferrell’s Elf...There’s no better way of getting in the mood for Christmas than by settling in for a fine festive...There’s no better way of getting in the mood for Christmas than by settling in for a fine festive...
television
first night review
As a giant inflatable bauble ricocheted across a grey-pate moshpit and the Wonder Stuff’s Miles Hunt — he of the tartan trouser, jocular crowd abuse and bovine measurement system — arrived on stage in a gold lamé shirt with two beer bottles held...As a giant inflatable bauble ricocheted across a grey-pate moshpit and the Wonder Stuff’s Miles...As a giant inflatable bauble ricocheted across a grey-pate moshpit and the Wonder Stuff’s Miles...
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
first night review
MindGames
1 Which US singer was dubbed “Wacko Jacko” by The Sun newspaper? 2 Which question session takes place at midday every...1 Which US singer was dubbed “Wacko Jacko” by The Sun newspaper? 2 Which question session takes...1 Which US singer was dubbed “Wacko Jacko” by The Sun newspaper? 2 Which question session takes...
photography special
It’s been a seismic year, with voters in more than 60 countries going to the polls, often with the aim of ousting incumbents. Labour won by a landslide in the UK, and Donald Trump — revitalised after a close encounter with a would-be assassin’s...It’s been a seismic year, with voters in more than 60 countries going to the polls, often with...It’s been a seismic year, with voters in more than 60 countries going to the polls, often with...
Ingenious contraptions for making fine wine last longer, a premium whisky tasting, and of course some lovely bottles
Sharky & George made their name planning kids’ events, but now they are entertaining the grown-ups with madcap themed adventures that can cost millions
Nothing under the tree yet? Worry not, these opulent spas experiences are certain to please
CONVERSATIONS
Banish the daily existential crisis of choosing what to wear by finding the benefits of a capsule uniform, says Emma Freud
video
Travel to Italy and learn just how the famed Galleria bag is made at the historic brand’s factory
From seaside standouts to sleek skyscrapers with shimmering rooftop pools and jaw-dropping views, Dubai’s hotels elevate getaways and stopovers to a superlative level
Little Luxembourg, at the crossroads of Belgium, France and Germany, has twinkly markets and magical castles — but its roads and towns stay crowd-free even at Christmas
From the rocky residences of Matera to the baroque brilliance of Lecce, there are countless treasures just off the beaten track
Chase the northern lights, go husky-sledging, or — deep breath — take a traditional ice dip for an unforgettable Arctic experience. Our expert shares his top picks
Chief travel writer Chris Haslam picks out his favourite tried and tested stretches of sand for the colder months — complete with cosy places to stay afterwards
Crack open the Toffifee and dig out the slanket — TV viewing season is upon us. It’s when the temperature drops and...Crack open the Toffifee and dig out the slanket — TV viewing season is upon us. It’s when the...Crack open the Toffifee and dig out the slanket — TV viewing season is upon us. It’s when the...
Nip the January blues in the bud and head south to Athens for a bargain post-Christmas pick-me-up. While you...Nip the January blues in the bud and head south to Athens for a bargain post-Christmas pick-me-up.Nip the January blues in the bud and head south to Athens for a bargain post-Christmas pick-me-up.
OBITUARY
Performer and writer who starred in the bestselling educational sex video The Lovers’ Guide
OBITUARY
Equerry to the Queen and pilot who performed one of the first successful ejections from an inverted plane
OBITUARY
Journalist and author of an absorbing biography of Sir Keith Joseph
OBITUARY
Senior counsel who quietly helped her sons make the luxury brand one of the most successful in the world
Sir Richard Carew Pole, Charles Handy, Lord Prescott and Colonel Euan Houstoun
Buckingham Palace
19th December, 2024
The King spoke to Mr Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India) via telephone...Buckingham Palace
19th December, 2024
The King spoke to Mr Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of...Buckingham Palace
19th December, 2024
The King spoke to Mr Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of...
NOW THE birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but...NOW THE birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged...NOW THE birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
When the Harry Potter publisher Barry Cunningham struggled to find a buyer for his £1.5m family house, he brought in professional stagers to give it a glow-up
Homeowners are waiting months or even years for property records to be updated — putting purchases and mortgage deals at risk
interview
The Michelin-starred cook is getting ready to make his first Christmas lunch in his revamped Scandi space
HOuse HIstories
Staff buildings are rarely in the spotlight, but Egan House was part of an estate where a prime minister grew up
One couple are paying the cost of ignoring their surveyor. Here’s how to ensure this doesn’t happen to you
first person
I never thought I would move to Dubai — in fact, before Covid I was considering Spain where I have enjoyed many trips to stay with friends (says Sue Cobb, 62). It all began when my daughter Imogen moved to Dubai 13 years ago, while working...I never thought I would move to Dubai — in fact, before Covid I was considering Spain where I...I never thought I would move to Dubai — in fact, before Covid I was considering Spain where I...
Inquiry participant wrote: ‘If you are reading this it means I have died’
A vulnerable man who urged the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to remove his name from harrowing testimony that was posted online is believed to have taken his own life. Kevin Sutherland, 34, gave evidence to the hearing in 2022, outlining how his adult life was ruined by the sexual and physical...A vulnerable man who urged the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to remove his name from harrowing testimony that was posted online is believed to have taken his own life. Kevin Sutherland, 34, gave evidence to the hearing in 2022, outlining how his adult life was ruined by the sexual and physical...A vulnerable man who urged the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to remove his name from harrowing testimony that was posted online...
Angela Constance, the Scottish justice secretary, travelled with a close family member in a ministerial car to the Old Firm League Cup final on Sunday, it has been reported. The Conservatives said it showed the SNP had “learnt nothing” after Neil Gray was chauffeured to a series of football matches involving the team he supports, Aberdeen.Angela Constance, the Scottish justice secretary, travelled with a close family member in a ministerial car to the Old Firm League Cup final on Sunday, it has been reported. The Conservatives said it showed the SNP had “learnt nothing” after Neil Gray was chauffeured to a series of football matches involving the team he supports, Aberdeen.Angela Constance, the Scottish justice secretary, travelled with a close family member in a ministerial car to the Old Firm...
The long-delayed Glen Sannox ferry is to carry its first passengers from the mainland to Arran on January 13. CalMac, the prominent Scottish passenger and vehicle ferry operator, have confirmed the vessel is “performing well” and will run on its timetable between Brodick, Arran, and Troon from next month. The ship...The long-delayed Glen Sannox ferry is to carry its first passengers from the mainland to Arran on...The long-delayed Glen Sannox ferry is to carry its first passengers from the mainland to Arran on...
‘The road is thickly wooded with oak, birch, beech, mountain ash etc,” Queen Victoria wrote in More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands in 1869, describing a private visit to the Trossachs and the site of what is today the stately...‘The road is thickly wooded with oak, birch, beech, mountain ash etc,” Queen Victoria wrote in...‘The road is thickly wooded with oak, birch, beech, mountain ash etc,” Queen Victoria wrote in...
travel | Best of Alba
Ask a local to direct you to the W Edinburgh and you might be faced with a blank expression. Ask about the Golden...Ask a local to direct you to the W Edinburgh and you might be faced with a blank expression. Ask...Ask a local to direct you to the W Edinburgh and you might be faced with a blank expression. Ask...
INTERVIEW
Derby weeks are necessarily partisan affairs, but Chris Paterson finds himself in the unusual position of having a...Derby weeks are necessarily partisan affairs, but Chris Paterson finds himself in the unusual...Derby weeks are necessarily partisan affairs, but Chris Paterson finds himself in the unusual...
The 1872 Cup
I’m struggling to see past Glasgow in both legs of this season’s 1872 Cup, but my fervent wish is that we witness a showcase of the very best of Scottish rugby over the next seven days. While the Warriors are much further along their journey of growth and so must be considered heavy favourites, both teams are packed with the sort of quality that should ensure two great...I’m struggling to see past Glasgow in both legs of this season’s 1872 Cup, but my fervent wish is...I’m struggling to see past Glasgow in both legs of this season’s 1872 Cup, but my fervent wish is...
INTERVIEW
It is nearly Christmas, so those who love their rugby will no doubt gather around pubs, clubhouses and living rooms...It is nearly Christmas, so those who love their rugby will no doubt gather around pubs, clubhouses and living rooms debating, tweaking and arguing over their British & Irish Lions XVs for next summer’s tour to Australia. Fly half? Now that’s a tricky question for Andy Farrell, the head coach. What do you think? Finn...It is nearly Christmas, so those who love their rugby will no doubt gather around pubs, clubhouses and living rooms debating...
Comment
Raise a glass to our amazing creative industry
Max Hastings
Britain’s film, TV, theatre, music and book sectors are shining lights in a bleak year but they are facing huge challenges
newJanice turner
Pelicot horrors are waking world up to porn
newRobert Crampton
If 70 is the new 60, I’m positively youthful
newLara Spirit
How Labour plans to send fewer people to jail yet still sound tough about crime
Ann Treneman
Forget the shops, I’m off down the graveyard
newWeekend Essay | AN Wilson
What does one do with a problem like Andrew?
Dominic Sandbrook
Exiled tyrants offer role models for Assad
Rob Nash | Feedback
Some words are always ‘ick’; others we learn to accept
We all have our verbal bugbears, our “ick” words, the phrases that make our teeth itch and our hands twitch. One of...We all have our verbal bugbears, our “ick” words, the phrases that make our teeth itch and our...We all have our verbal bugbears, our “ick” words, the phrases that make our teeth itch and our...
Miriam Darlington | Nature Notebook
Woodland scents bring comfort to winter’s chill
newWe walk deep into a tucked-away meander of the Cotswolds, into a valley named Slad — from the Saxon word “slaed”...We walk deep into a tucked-away meander of the Cotswolds, into a valley named Slad — from the...We walk deep into a tucked-away meander of the Cotswolds, into a valley named Slad — from the...
Leading Articles
Darkening Horizon
It is now clear that Rachel Reeves’s budget inflicted a severe blow to business confidence and the prospects for economic growth. Worse may follow
Fat Chance
Anti-obesity drugs appear remarkably effective and should be readily available
Frosty Conversation
Seasonal chit-chat has become the latest battleground for intergenerational strife
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Limiting political donations from foreigners
Write to [email protected] Sir, The Electoral Commission is right to continue to say that political donations from British companies should be barred if those companies have not made sufficient profits in the UK to pay for them (“Law...Write to [email protected] Sir, The Electoral Commission is right to continue to say that...Write to [email protected] Sir, The Electoral Commission is right to continue to say that...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: The Office for National Statistics publishes retail sales and public sector finances reports; Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders publishes monthly car production figures; Scottish parliament rises for Christmas recess.
Russia: The Bank of Russia announces its decision on interest rates following a monetary policy meeting.
On this day
In 1799 the poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy moved into Dove Cottage, at Grasmere in the Lake District, which he described as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”; in 1848 Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon I, was proclaimed president of the Second Republic in France. In 1870 he was deposed as emperor, and died in England in 1873; in 1917 Chequers became the official country residence of the prime minister after royal assent was given to the Chequers Estate Act 1917. The 10,000-acre Buckinghamshire estate was donated to the nation by Sir Arthur Lee (later 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham), with Lloyd George the first prime minister to use the property. Realising that future prime ministers would come from varied backgrounds, Lee said: “To none of these in the midst of their strenuous and responsible labours could the spirit and anodyne of Chequers do anything but good”; in 1987 the Philippine passenger ferry Dona Paz and tanker Vector collided. There were an estimated 4,375 deaths, the worst peacetime maritime disaster at sea; in 1989 George HW Bush, the US president, ordered 24,000 troops to invade Panama to overthrow the dictator Manuel Noriega, who surrendered on January 3, 1990.
Nature notes
An unusual tourist was seen visiting York Minster recently. Unlike the usual sightseers, this particular day tripper was exploring the architectural grandeur from the outside — at a height of about 200ft. It was a black redstart. First spotted on the central tower, the bird explored the many vertiginous plinths and ledges. Was it merely a day tripper or was it seeking nesting habitat? Only 50 pairs of black redstarts breed in Britain, but they mostly favour urban sites: railway stations, power stations, disused factories and warehouses. Could this cathedral be home to a black redstart pair next spring? The local peregrine falcons, who also call the minster home, might have a say in the matter.
Jonathan Tulloch
Birthdays today
Jenny Agutter, actress, The Railway Children (1970), Call the Midwife (2012-24), 72; Maggie Alphonsi, rugby union player, England (2003-14), now pundit, 41; Roger Alton, editor, The Observer (1998-2007), executive editor, The Times (2010-15), 77; John Armitage, hedge fund manager, co-founder of Egerton Capital, 65; Kate Atkinson, writer, the Jackson Brodie detective novels, 73; Ornella Barra, pharmacist, chief operating officer (international), Walgreens Boots Alliance, 71; Tim Bevan, film producer, Elizabeth (1998), co-chairman of Working Title Films, 67; Lord (Ivon) Brabazon of Tara, former Conservative minister, 78; Billy Bragg, singer-songwriter, 67; Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, depute leader of the Scottish National Party, 63; Ashley Cole, footballer, England (2001-14), 44; Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss, chief of Clan Colquhoun, 77; Joe Cornish, comedian and film-maker, 56; Debra Crew, chief executive, Diageo, 54; Alain de Botton, philosopher and author, 55; Baroness (Lynne) Featherstone, Lib Dem MP (2005-15), 73; Uri Geller, illusionist, 78; Simon Hughes, cricket commentator and writer, 65; Sarah Jones, Labour MP for Croydon Central, minister for industry, 52; Lesley Judd, actress and presenter, Blue Peter (1972-79), 78; Sir Nicholas Lyons, financier, chairman, Phoenix Group, 66; Sir Andrew Mackenzie, chairman, Shell, UK Research and Innovation, 68; Paddy McNally, motorsport entrepreneur, 87; Peter May, writer, the Lewis trilogy, 73; Adebayo Ogunlesi, businessman, co-founder of Global Infrastructure Partners, 71; Lord (Philip) Remnant, chairman, Coutts & Co, 70; Alexander “Solly” Solomou, founder and chief executive, LBG Media, 34; JB Straubel, co-founder of Tesla and chief technical officer (2004-19), 49; Dame Mitsuko Uchida, classical pianist and conductor, 76.