The Times & The Sunday Times Homepage
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Humza Yousaf has announced his intention to resign as Scotland’s first minister ahead of a vote of confidence in his leadership. The first minister said he had “clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset” that the abrupt end of the Bute House agreement, the SNP’s power-sharing deal with...Humza Yousaf has announced his intention to resign as Scotland’s first minister ahead of a vote of confidence in his leadership. The first minister said he had “clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset” that the abrupt end of the Bute House agreement, the SNP’s power-sharing deal with...Humza Yousaf has announced his intention to resign as Scotland’s first minister ahead of a vote of confidence in his leadership.
Every tragicomedy needs a fall guy and it was Humza Yousaf’s misfortune to be that fellow. Worse still, he did not know it. Yousaf was elected leader of the SNP without enthusiasm and his departure is not accompanied by any great measure of regret. No one is wasting time lamenting what might have been. It is undoubtedly true that Yousaf has...Every tragicomedy needs a fall guy and it was Humza Yousaf’s misfortune to be that fellow. Worse still, he did not know it. Yousaf was elected leader of the SNP without enthusiasm and his departure is not accompanied by any great measure of regret. No one is wasting time lamenting what might have been. It is undoubtedly true that Yousaf has...Every tragicomedy needs a fall guy and it was Humza Yousaf’s misfortune to be that fellow. Worse still, he did not know it.
Russell Brand was baptised in the River Thames on Sunday as he seeks to embrace Christianity following allegations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. In an Instagram video recorded on Monday, Brand said he had found his “path” and was left feeling “incredibly blessed” and “nourished” following the baptism.Russell Brand was baptised in the River Thames on Sunday as he seeks to embrace Christianity...Russell Brand was baptised in the River Thames on Sunday as he seeks to embrace Christianity...
ask the experts
Q. I’m 32 and recently bought my first home in London. I have been paying 15 per cent of my salary into my...Q. I’m 32 and recently bought my first home in London. I have been paying 15 per cent of...Q. I’m 32 and recently bought my first home in London. I have been paying 15 per cent of...
Tomiwa Owolade
The first recorded author in history was a woman (Enheduanna). The first novelist was a woman (Murasaki Shikibu). The...The first recorded author in history was a woman (Enheduanna). The first novelist was a woman...The first recorded author in history was a woman (Enheduanna). The first novelist was a woman...
interview
There have been seven jobs given by four prime ministers in the culture secretary’s six years in government. Dizzying...There have been seven jobs given by four prime ministers in the culture secretary’s six years in...There have been seven jobs given by four prime ministers in the culture secretary’s six years in...
A violent career criminal who stabbed to death a grandfather in his mobility scooter just days after being freed from...A violent career criminal who stabbed to death a grandfather in his mobility scooter just days...A violent career criminal who stabbed to death a grandfather in his mobility scooter just days...
PHOTOGRAPHY
For the first time in the history of its Square Print Sale, Magnum Photos has partnered with Granta, an esteemed literary magazine, for its upcoming sale from April 29–May 5. Titled Fable, the online sale is said to explore the symbiosis...For the first time in the history of its Square Print Sale, Magnum Photos has partnered with...For the first time in the history of its Square Print Sale, Magnum Photos has partnered with...
A social worker who was suspended over her gender critical views has been awarded almost £58,000 in damages from...A social worker who was suspended over her gender critical views has been awarded almost £58,000...A social worker who was suspended over her gender critical views has been awarded almost £58,000...
NICK ROSS | COMMENT
Barry George, the man convicted in 2001 of Jill Dando’s murder, has said in a remarkable plea to The Times that he...Barry George, the man convicted in 2001 of Jill Dando’s murder, has said in a remarkable plea to...Barry George, the man convicted in 2001 of Jill Dando’s murder, has said in a remarkable plea to...
After five days of high drama and speculation Pedro Sánchez has announced that he will not resign as Spain’s prime minister. Sánchez published a letter on Twitter/X on Wednesday announcing that he was pausing his public duties to review his future, after a judge launched a criminal judicial...After five days of high drama and speculation Pedro Sánchez has announced that he will not resign as Spain’s prime minister. Sánchez published a letter on Twitter/X on Wednesday announcing that he was pausing his public duties to review his future, after a judge launched a criminal judicial...After five days of high drama and speculation Pedro Sánchez has announced that he will not resign as Spain’s prime minister.
analysis
To right-wingers there was no surprise about Pedro Sánchez’s decision to stay on. For them, it has been clear since the publication of his letter on Twitter/X last Thursday that this was an attempt to control the political agenda. Sánchez referred to their accusations in the first minutes of his TV address when he insisted that the letter...To right-wingers there was no surprise about Pedro Sánchez’s decision to stay on. For them, it has been clear since the publication of his letter on Twitter/X last Thursday that this was an attempt to control the political agenda. Sánchez referred to their accusations in the first minutes of his TV address when he insisted that the letter...To right-wingers there was no surprise about Pedro Sánchez’s decision to stay on. For them, it has been clear since the...
A mosquito species that spreads malaria has returned to southern Italy, more than 50 years after the country was declared free of the disease. The discovery of a population of Anopheles sacharovi, considered one of the most efficient carriers of malaria, in six sites in Puglia — the heel of Italy — shows there is...A mosquito species that spreads malaria has returned to southern Italy, more than 50 years after...A mosquito species that spreads malaria has returned to southern Italy, more than 50 years after...
Organised gangs of thieves are prowling some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Los Angeles to steal Birkin handbags...Organised gangs of thieves are prowling some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Los Angeles to...Organised gangs of thieves are prowling some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Los Angeles to...
Following the lead of singers Adele and Beyoncé and the actress Zendaya, the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni...Following the lead of singers Adele and Beyoncé and the actress Zendaya, the Italian prime...Following the lead of singers Adele and Beyoncé and the actress Zendaya, the Italian prime...
Investors seek to unwind £1.2bn refinancing of the family’s debts
newThe Barclay family are on course to lose control of the last pillar of their corporate empire as their Gulf-based backers plot a sale of Very Group. The Abu Dhabi investment firm that launched an unsuccessful attempt to buy the Barclays’ media assets last year is drawing up plans for an auction...The Barclay family are on course to lose control of the last pillar of their corporate empire as their Gulf-based backers plot a sale of Very Group. The Abu Dhabi investment firm that launched an unsuccessful attempt to buy the Barclays’ media assets last year is drawing up plans for an auction...The Barclay family are on course to lose control of the last pillar of their corporate empire as their Gulf-based backers plot...
If Elon Musk had been hoping that his visit to China would represent a turning point in Tesla’s recent fortunes, then he was amply rewarded today by the removal of key regulatory barriers that had been holding back the carmaker’s efforts to bring its self-driving software to China and then by a much-needed jump in its share price. Wall...If Elon Musk had been hoping that his visit to China would represent a turning point in Tesla’s recent fortunes, then he was amply rewarded today by the removal of key regulatory barriers that had been holding back the carmaker’s efforts to bring its self-driving software to China and then by a much-needed jump in its share price. Wall...If Elon Musk had been hoping that his visit to China would represent a turning point in Tesla’s recent fortunes, then he was...
Humza Yousaf’s successor as the first minister of Scotland should prioritise the economy, reduce taxes and target greater inward investment, business groups have said. They also have called for stability, with a requirement for the vacuum created by Yousaf’s resignation to be filled as quickly as possible. In...Humza Yousaf’s successor as the first minister of Scotland should prioritise the economy, reduce...Humza Yousaf’s successor as the first minister of Scotland should prioritise the economy, reduce...
MARKET REPORT
The big acquisition by JD Sports Fashion last week may have cheered the stock market, but it certainly didn’t impress...The big acquisition by JD Sports Fashion last week may have cheered the stock market, but it...The big acquisition by JD Sports Fashion last week may have cheered the stock market, but it...
comment
Last week the prime minister committed to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national income by 2030. I got...Last week the prime minister committed to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national...Last week the prime minister committed to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national...
The former boss of Persimmon, who stepped down as chief executive of the listed housebuilder amid an outcry over his “unfathomable” pay package, is on a collision course with the American hedge fund backer of his new venture. Jeff Fairburn, best...The former boss of Persimmon, who stepped down as chief executive of the listed housebuilder amid...The former boss of Persimmon, who stepped down as chief executive of the listed housebuilder amid...
Type the word “Gucci” into Instagram or TikTok and dozens of videos pop up of luxury experts explaining how to spot fake versions of the designer label’s handbags, shoes and clothing. The Italian fashion house has become one of the most globally...Type the word “Gucci” into Instagram or TikTok and dozens of videos pop up of luxury experts...Type the word “Gucci” into Instagram or TikTok and dozens of videos pop up of luxury experts...
Households have seen their disposable incomes grow for a whole year on average, research shows, suggesting that...Households have seen their disposable incomes grow for a whole year on average, research shows...Households have seen their disposable incomes grow for a whole year on average, research shows...
Tax-favourable investment vehicles used by some of the highest-paid people in Britain are under scrutiny after the...Tax-favourable investment vehicles used by some of the highest-paid people in Britain are under...Tax-favourable investment vehicles used by some of the highest-paid people in Britain are under...
the week ahead
International trade
recruitment
From Terence Conran’s interiors and Tom Dixon’s furniture to Vivienne Westwood’s fashion and Peter Saville’s album covers, Britain has a proud history of producing outstanding designers. Yet this legacy could be under threat. Entries to the design and technology GCSE have plummeted by 68 per cent over the past decade, a decline that has not been offset by increases in...From Terence Conran’s interiors and Tom Dixon’s furniture to Vivienne Westwood’s fashion and...From Terence Conran’s interiors and Tom Dixon’s furniture to Vivienne Westwood’s fashion and...
recruitment
As chief executive of Speakers for Schools, the social mobility charity, Nick Brook focuses on empowering...As chief executive of Speakers for Schools, the social mobility charity, Nick Brook focuses on empowering state-educated students to reach their potential, irrespective of background or circumstance. With a career spanning 30 years of education leadership, here he shares the lessons he has learnt from classroom to...As chief executive of Speakers for Schools, the social mobility charity, Nick Brook focuses on empowering state-educated...
Forward facing ban after incident in Spanish bar
newBilly Vunipola is facing the end of his rugby career in England after being arrested in Mallorca on a Saracens bonding trip, having been stunned by a Taser. Vunipola, the 31-year-old England and Saracens No 8, has paid a fine of €240 (about £205) after an express trial in Palma. He had been arrested on suspicion of disobedience and assaulting a police officer at a...Billy Vunipola is facing the end of his rugby career in England after being arrested in Mallorca...Billy Vunipola is facing the end of his rugby career in England after being arrested in Mallorca...
john westerby
When Billy Vunipola was good, he really was very, very good. Good enough to be the transformative presence that...When Billy Vunipola was good, he really was very, very good. Good enough to be the transformative presence that powered England to the record-equalling run of 18 consecutive victories that defined the start of Eddie Jones’s tenure as head coach. As a dynamic ball-carrying No 8 at the peak of his powers, irresistible...When Billy Vunipola was good, he really was very, very good. Good enough to be the transformative presence that powered England...
premier league
There are seven games left that will decide the Premier League title. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have three to go, while Manchester City have a crucial game in hand that could take them to a fourth consecutive success. We asked Times writers who cover the clubs involved to assess the chances of them taking points off the title rivals… Bournemouth (home)
...There are seven games left that will decide the Premier League title. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have...There are seven games left that will decide the Premier League title. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have...
Liverpool expect Mohamed Salah to remain at the club next season as he enters the final year of his existing contract.Liverpool expect Mohamed Salah to remain at the club next season as he enters the final year of his existing contract. The Egypt international’s touchline rumpus with Jürgen Klopp at the London Stadium on Saturday prompted new questions about Salah’s future, but there has never been any suggestion that he wants to...Liverpool expect Mohamed Salah to remain at the club next season as he enters the final year of his existing contract. The...
mike atherton
The oft-told story of Sir Alex Ferguson being first to the desk the morning after winning another trophy is a...The oft-told story of Sir Alex Ferguson being first to the desk the morning after winning another...The oft-told story of Sir Alex Ferguson being first to the desk the morning after winning another...
ian hawkey
In the summer of 2017, a big, noisy club in a leading European league sought a head coach to answer a complex problem.In the summer of 2017, a big, noisy club in a leading European league sought a head coach to...In the summer of 2017, a big, noisy club in a leading European league sought a head coach to...
Harry Brook interview
It has become almost commonplace for sportspeople to say there is more to life than the game to which they have dedicated a vast proportion of their lives. Relatively few, however, have had to deal with the sort of situation that faced Harry Brook...It has become almost commonplace for sportspeople to say there is more to life than the game to...It has become almost commonplace for sportspeople to say there is more to life than the game to...
Gregor Robertson
Last week a short video was doing the rounds on social media, the kind of vignette that the official accounts of...Last week a short video was doing the rounds on social media, the kind of vignette that the...Last week a short video was doing the rounds on social media, the kind of vignette that the...
Tom Allnutt
There is so much to like about this Tottenham Hotspur team, the fearless approach, that sense of adventure and...There is so much to like about this Tottenham Hotspur team, the fearless approach, that sense of...There is so much to like about this Tottenham Hotspur team, the fearless approach, that sense of...
game in numbers
The four own goals scored this weekend by Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, West Ham United and Sheffield United were the most in the Premier League in the space of two days for more than seven years. The rate of one own goal per 7.4 Premier League...The four own goals scored this weekend by Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, West Ham United and...The four own goals scored this weekend by Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, West Ham United and...
interview
The Grand Designs presenter on how the show has made him allergic to super-spending on homes
EXPLAINER
It’s trending on TikTok, but Peta Bee asks the experts if the morning ritual really is good for one’s wellbeing
new
interview
The Diddly Squat farmers are back. We put our wellies on to meet the odd couple of the Cotswolds
new
interview
The former Radio 1 star is happy to put her stoma bag on show. It helps others, she tells Anna Maxted
new
Judith Godrèche tells Adam Sage about her legal claims against two film directors and her assault by Harvey Weinstein
Q&A
Eye discomfort, including burning and stinging, can be caused by dryness or irritation. These symptoms can be acute...Eye discomfort, including burning and stinging, can be caused by dryness or irritation. These...Eye discomfort, including burning and stinging, can be caused by dryness or irritation. These...
Kevin Maher
Country living. Don’t you just hate it? At least you do, apparently, if you write for Country Life, a magazine based...Country living. Don’t you just hate it? At least you do, apparently, if you write for Country...Country living. Don’t you just hate it? At least you do, apparently, if you write for Country...
In 2003 (but really, 1537), a weary, hunchbacked lawyer on the trail of a killer stumbled into our bookshops for the first time and an entire genre of fiction — historical crime — was spawned. The lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, inhabited a vividly recreated Tudor world, investigating, dodging political intrigue and becoming embroiled in questions of faith, heresy and high...In 2003 (but really, 1537), a weary, hunchbacked lawyer on the trail of a killer stumbled into...In 2003 (but really, 1537), a weary, hunchbacked lawyer on the trail of a killer stumbled into...
YOUNG POWER LIST
The rising stars in the first ever Sunday Times Young Power List are artists and entertainers, sportsmen and women...The rising stars in the first ever Sunday Times Young Power List are artists and entertainers, sportsmen and women dominating their field, entrepreneurs changing the world for the better, tech trailblazers, a political powerhouse and many more. Our winners, from across the UK and Ireland, were chosen by editors...The rising stars in the first ever Sunday Times Young Power List are artists and entertainers, sportsmen and women dominating...
It became a running joke among his friends that for every milestone birthday Raymond Briggs would receive a lifesize...It became a running joke among his friends that for every milestone birthday Raymond Briggs would...It became a running joke among his friends that for every milestone birthday Raymond Briggs would...
We’ve had Bridget Jones’s boyfriend, then break-up, then baby. And 23 years after the first film came out, we’re in...We’ve had Bridget Jones’s boyfriend, then break-up, then baby. And 23 years after the first film...We’ve had Bridget Jones’s boyfriend, then break-up, then baby. And 23 years after the first film...
ASK PROFESSOR TANYA BYRON
ask the experts
MindGames
MINDGAMES
first night review
The Rolling Stones arguably invented arena rock. But in a stadium named after an electricity company, amid the smell of corporate sponsor beer, defrosted chicken strips and VIP lounge complimentary cocktails, what space could there be for the...The Rolling Stones arguably invented arena rock. But in a stadium named after an electricity...The Rolling Stones arguably invented arena rock. But in a stadium named after an electricity...
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
first night review
first night review
first night review
first night review
Chichester opens its summer season with an adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s novel about Henry VIII’s love life
It’s always a troubling sign when you spend a good part of a period drama pondering the costumes rather than being drawn into the intrigue itself. That’s not to say that Mike Poulton’s adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s novel about romantic entanglements at the court of Henry VIII is lacking in quality. As you’d expect from the writer responsible for the first two...It’s always a troubling sign when you spend a good part of a period drama pondering the costumes...It’s always a troubling sign when you spend a good part of a period drama pondering the costumes...
First night review
I doubt that I will be the only person to come out of this double bill, mounted by the young singers and directors on...I doubt that I will be the only person to come out of this double bill, mounted by the young singers and directors on the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker scheme, with a big smile on my face and hardly the foggiest notion of what any of it meant. If pushed, I would say that Bohuslav Martinu’s surreal 1928 miniature Larmes...I doubt that I will be the only person to come out of this double bill, mounted by the young singers and directors on the Royal...
Viewing GUide
tELEVISION | STREAMING GUIDE
Television
TELEVISION
Television
interview | Susannah Constantine
first person
I am 74, a pensioner. An OAP with a bus pass, hearing aids and a shopping trolley. Many people’s perception of a...I am 74, a pensioner. An OAP with a bus pass, hearing aids and a shopping trolley. Many people’s...I am 74, a pensioner. An OAP with a bus pass, hearing aids and a shopping trolley. Many people’s...
the Lowdown
Do you have an alternative name?
A nickname? I’ve got plenty of those. Some of them aren’t very nice though, I...Do you have an alternative name?
A nickname? I’ve got plenty of those. Some of them aren’t...Do you have an alternative name?
A nickname? I’ve got plenty of those. Some of them aren’t...
Dainty faces and orange details are just two of the new trends showcased at Geneva’s Watches and Wonders event
How the passion of a local sake master has transformed a little-known town into a gourmet destination
Whether it’s for a classic handwritten invitation or a 3D pop-up cathedral save-the-date, we have the stationers for you
video
Go behind the scenes with world famous pâtissier, and learn how is hyper-realistic treats are made
video
Do you like the sound of a golden zipper as it eases open a leather Louis Vuitton suitcase? What about the feeling of a cool string of Tasaki pearls hitting your palm, the pearls lightly tapping against each other? Does the sound of an Hermès...Do you like the sound of a golden zipper as it eases open a leather Louis Vuitton suitcase? What...Do you like the sound of a golden zipper as it eases open a leather Louis Vuitton suitcase? What...
Ships by night aren’t all cocktails and casinos — from camping in Antarctica to illuminated Venice, these incredible cruise experiences only happen once the sun sets
video
Would you go analogue on holiday, relying on paper maps, taking the advice of strangers and making dice-based decisions for a fortnight? Our writer did — here’s what happened
video
The DJ has presided over the Balearic club scene for 40 years. As the island’s season kicks off, he gives us an insider’s lowdown on its best known hotels
uk
These under-the-radar spots in Cornwall, Anglesey, the Highlands and more are big on headspace and low on tourists. We also want to know your suggestions
Travel advice
Walkouts by Border Force officials are set to disrupt operations at Europe’s busiest airport – although the refuellers’ strike has been called off. Here’s what you need to know
kathy lette | travel troubleshooter
video
Comparing Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two best-known destinations in the United Arab Emirates, is a bit like comparing...Comparing Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two best-known destinations in the United Arab Emirates, is a...Comparing Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two best-known destinations in the United Arab Emirates, is a...
Comment
A wise friend once said that the definition of being an adult was staying in a hotel but being too busy to use the pool.A wise friend once said that the definition of being an adult was staying in a hotel but being...A wise friend once said that the definition of being an adult was staying in a hotel but being...
video
Paris is one of the most alluring cities to visit, whether you’re into food, art, culture or history. And there’s a hotel for every mood and budget. Our Paris expert Hannah Meltzer visits five of her favourites and explains why they’re perfect for...Paris is one of the most alluring cities to visit, whether you’re into food, art, culture or...Paris is one of the most alluring cities to visit, whether you’re into food, art, culture or...
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
video
Humza Yousaf has announced his intention to resign as Scotland’s first minister ahead of a vote of confidence in his leadership. The first minister said he had “clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset” that the abrupt end of the Bute House agreement, the SNP’s power-sharing deal with...Humza Yousaf has announced his intention to resign as Scotland’s first minister ahead of a vote of confidence in his leadership. The first minister said he had “clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset” that the abrupt end of the Bute House agreement, the SNP’s power-sharing deal with...Humza Yousaf has announced his intention to resign as Scotland’s first minister ahead of a vote of confidence in his leadership.
Every tragicomedy needs a fall guy and it was Humza Yousaf’s misfortune to be that fellow. Worse still, he did not know it. Yousaf was elected leader of the SNP without enthusiasm and his departure is not accompanied by any great measure of regret. No one is wasting time lamenting what might have been. It is undoubtedly true that Yousaf has...Every tragicomedy needs a fall guy and it was Humza Yousaf’s misfortune to be that fellow. Worse still, he did not know it. Yousaf was elected leader of the SNP without enthusiasm and his departure is not accompanied by any great measure of regret. No one is wasting time lamenting what might have been. It is undoubtedly true that Yousaf has...Every tragicomedy needs a fall guy and it was Humza Yousaf’s misfortune to be that fellow. Worse still, he did not know it.
political sketch
There’s always a gloomy atmosphere in the Bute House Resignation Room where Humza Yousaf held his last brief press call, so it was not surprising when the outgoing first minister almost immediately started riffing on his regrets. With a Saltire hanging limply at either elbow and, appropriately, a portrait of Robert...There’s always a gloomy atmosphere in the Bute House Resignation Room where Humza Yousaf held his...There’s always a gloomy atmosphere in the Bute House Resignation Room where Humza Yousaf held his...
melanie reid | notebook
Quietly, in a generation, wedding conventions have been revolutionised. Two old friends have recently been...Quietly, in a generation, wedding conventions have been revolutionised. Two old friends have...Quietly, in a generation, wedding conventions have been revolutionised. Two old friends have...
It’s a case worthy of Ace Ventura, the pet detective of Hollywood fame. A support group has been set up after cats...It’s a case worthy of Ace Ventura, the pet detective of Hollywood fame. A support group has been...It’s a case worthy of Ace Ventura, the pet detective of Hollywood fame. A support group has been...
Civil servants feared a conflict of interest could discourage potential buyers of Prestwick airport after the former chairman revealed that he was working for a group looking to buy the transport hub. Forsyth Black tendered his resignation after...Civil servants feared a conflict of interest could discourage potential buyers of Prestwick...Civil servants feared a conflict of interest could discourage potential buyers of Prestwick...
Comment
Turkey and Senegal prove democracy is alive
William Hague
In this bumper election year voters are benefiting when there is a spread of choices, something lacking in the US or UK
Tomiwa Owolade
Don’t tell me to listen to female podcasters
libby purves
We’re in trouble if a woman’s place is WFH
Sathnam Sanghera | Notebook
I’ll hazard a guess as to why roads are less safe
Sean O’Neill
Truth of Troubles will never out until state comes clean
Leading Articles
The Porous Border
A huge influx of refugees crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic is proving politically toxic in Dublin. Returning them to the UK is no solution
Sánchez on the Brink
Spain’s prime minister will announce on Monday whether he will stay in office
Keep the Change
The French, who long scorned tips, are being corrupted by the Anglo-Saxons
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gaza protests and how to keep Jews safe
Sir, Gideon Falter, chairman of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, says about the Metropolitan Police that “the police wanted to keep us safe but the problem is the police see themselves as peacekeepers rather than law enforcers” (“...Sir, Gideon Falter, chairman of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, says about the Metropolitan...Sir, Gideon Falter, chairman of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, says about the Metropolitan...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: The National Association of Head Teachers publishes a survey on school building maintenance; the Resolution Foundation think tank holds a discussion event on economic lessons from the past 25 years of devolution, with speakers including John Swinney, former Scottish deputy first minister, and Mark Drakeford, former Welsh first minister.
US: Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, pays two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
Italy: Gathering of primates and moderators from 42 provinces of the Anglican Communion in Rome.
On this day
In 1587 Sir Francis Drake led a raid into Cadiz harbour and torched more than 20 Spanish ships being equipped for war with England, the “singeing of the king of Spain’s beard”; in 1882 the electrically powered Electromote, a forerunner of the trolleybus, was tested by Ernst Werner von Siemens, its inventor, in Berlin; in 1916, after six days of fighting, a group of Irish nationalists surrendered to British forces in Dublin, bringing the Easter Rising to an end. In 1921 a treaty was signed that in 1922 established the Irish Free State, later becoming the Republic of Ireland; in 1945 French women voted in an election for the first time, in the first municipal election since the country’s liberation from German occupation. The right for women to vote had been signed into law on April 21, 1944; in 2011 Prince William married Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey, London, in a service broadcast live to an estimated two billion viewers.
Nature notes
Both as a caterpillar and in its adult form, the lappet moth is an extraordinary beast. Bark-brown and covered in fur, when the caterpillar flattens its body and clings to a twig in order not to be seen, you’d think it a sort of lump or swelling: a woody extrusion of some kind, perhaps a scar, one with a light powdering of lichen or mould. Even when it draws in its body to achieve locomotion, it can still be hard to spot, its fine hairs so blur the outline of its form. The adult moth is completely indistinguishable from a dry, brown oak leaf, right down to the small protruding snout that perfectly mimics the petiole. Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison
Birthdays today
Andre Agassi, tennis player, former world No 1, 54; Dame Helen Atkinson, engineer, pro-vice-chancellor (aerospace, transport and manufacturing), Cranfield University, 64; Frank Auerbach, painter, 93; General Sir Peter de la Billière DSO MC and Bar, Gulf War commander, 90; Bob and Mike Bryan, doubles tennis players, Olympic gold medallists (2012), 46; Sir Daniel Day-Lewis, actor, There Will Be Blood (2007), Lincoln (2012), 67; Baroness (Ruth) Deech, chairwoman, Bar Standards Board (2009-14), 81; Catherine Dixon, director-general, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, 58; Anita Dobson (Lady May), actress, EastEnders (1985-88), 75; Nat Edwards, director-general and master of the Royal Armouries, 58; Prof Sir Ian Kershaw, historian, Personality and Power: Builders and Destroyers of Modern Europe (2022), 81; Lord (Timothy) Kirkhope of Harrogate, Conservative MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber Region (1999-2016), 79; Zubin Mehta, conductor, 88; Willie Nelson, singer-songwriter, On the Road Again (1980), 91; Michelle Pfeiffer, actress, Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Murder on the Orient Express (2017), 66; Franc Roddam, film director, Quadrophenia (1979), and creator, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and MasterChef, 78; Fred Scarlett, rower, Olympic gold medallist (2000), 49; Paul Scully, Conservative MP for Sutton & Cheam, tech and the digital economy minister (2023), 56; Jerry Seinfeld, comedian, 70; Stacey Snider, co-founder of Sister (film and television studio), chair and chief executive of 20th Century Fox (2017-19), 63; Uma Thurman, actress, Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003), 54; David Tindle, painter, 92; Phil Tufnell, cricketer, England (1990-2001), 58; Klaus Voormann, artist, album cover designer for the Beatles’ Revolver (1966), and musician, bassist for Manfred Mann (1966-69), 86; Martin Whitmarsh, chairman and co-founder, BAR Technologies, 66.