Patients on long NHS waiting lists will get private care
‘Carrot and stick’ tactics to make the worst hospitals more efficient
Thousands of patients at the country’s worst hospitals for long waiting lists will be offered treatment in the private sector and elsewhere in the NHS so they can be seen quicker. Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, is taking a “carrot and stick’ approach to the NHS, demanding tougher action...Thousands of patients at the country’s worst hospitals for long waiting lists will be offered treatment in the private sector and elsewhere in the NHS so they can be seen quicker. Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, is taking a “carrot and stick’ approach to the NHS, demanding tougher action...Thousands of patients at the country’s worst hospitals for long waiting lists will be offered treatment in the private sector...
POLITICS IN DEPTH
Forget the election — Sunak’s allies wonder if he’ll even get that far
It was not a typical resignation letter. Robert Halfon, a staunch Sunak loyalist and well-liked minister, turned to the Lord of the Rings for inspiration this week as he announced that he was standing down after 14 years as an MP. He was, he said, reminded of the words of the wizard Gandalf after the hobbits had defeated evil and were...It was not a typical resignation letter. Robert Halfon, a staunch Sunak loyalist and well-liked minister, turned to the Lord of the Rings for inspiration this week as he announced that he was standing down after 14 years as an MP. He was, he said, reminded of the words of the wizard Gandalf after the hobbits had defeated evil and were...It was not a typical resignation letter. Robert Halfon, a staunch Sunak loyalist and well-liked minister, turned to the Lord of...
history
How a 96-year-old law could stop Easter hopping around the calendar
This Easter is not overflowing with the joys of spring. It promises rain, wind and sleepiness as the clock change robs the four-day weekend of a precious hour. It’s the price of an early Easter, but there is a law which could prevent it. For 96 years, the statute book has had a trigger which would fix the date of...This Easter is not overflowing with the joys of spring. It promises rain, wind and sleepiness as...This Easter is not overflowing with the joys of spring. It promises rain, wind and sleepiness as...
dispatch from kyiv
Ukraine’s secret weapon: the £40bn tech firm that ‘found Bin Laden’
health
Why are more young people getting cancer?
One of the reasons the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis felt so shocking is her age. When she addressed the nation from Windsor last week, it brought home the cruelty of a disease that can strike anyone out of the blue. Cancer is not rare —...One of the reasons the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis felt so shocking is her age. When she...One of the reasons the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis felt so shocking is her age. When she...
in depth
How British luxury cars are still being sold in Russia
British luxury cars worth up to £650,000 are still being sold in Moscow and St Petersburg two years after the government imposed tough sanctions banning exports to Russia. Wealthy Russians are buying Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, built in...British luxury cars worth up to £650,000 are still being sold in Moscow and St Petersburg two...British luxury cars worth up to £650,000 are still being sold in Moscow and St Petersburg two...
INTERVIEW
Lang Lang, renowned pianist: Stop forcing piano lessons on children
Parents forcing their offspring to have piano lessons to keep up with the neighbours are putting children off...Parents forcing their offspring to have piano lessons to keep up with the neighbours are putting...Parents forcing their offspring to have piano lessons to keep up with the neighbours are putting...
UK NEWS
Boy, 5, dies in hospital after being found in River Thames
A young boy has died in hospital after being found in the River Thames. The Metropolitan Police launched an appeal to...A young boy has died in hospital after being found in the River Thames. The Metropolitan Police...A young boy has died in hospital after being found in the River Thames. The Metropolitan Police...
relationships
‘Most thrilling day of my life’: the first same-sex marriages 10 years on
When John Coffey and Bernardo Marti fell in love, they never envisioned marriage as part of their journey since it remained inaccessible to them as a gay couple. Ten years ago on Friday they became the first same-sex couple to be legally married...When John Coffey and Bernardo Marti fell in love, they never envisioned marriage as part of their...When John Coffey and Bernardo Marti fell in love, they never envisioned marriage as part of their...
POLITICS
He’s denied it for decades. Now Gerry Adams faces court over IRA links
When interviewed for a podcast by Alastair Campbell last year, the former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he had lost count of the number of times he had been asked if he was a member of the IRA. Campbell — who got to know Adams well as Tony...When interviewed for a podcast by Alastair Campbell last year, the former Sinn Fein leader Gerry...When interviewed for a podcast by Alastair Campbell last year, the former Sinn Fein leader Gerry...
technology
Is the Temu £50 cash reward real? Alarm over Chinese app’s data grab
The popular online retailer Temu is heaven for tat. For the kitchen, you can buy a banana slicer, hot dog toaster or...The popular online retailer Temu is heaven for tat. For the kitchen, you can buy a banana slicer...The popular online retailer Temu is heaven for tat. For the kitchen, you can buy a banana slicer...
the times diary
Mrs T’s guards save their bacon
Police protection officers must be ready to throw themselves in front of a bullet, but some get to throw themselves...Police protection officers must be ready to throw themselves in front of a bullet, but some get...Police protection officers must be ready to throw themselves in front of a bullet, but some get...
It feels like 1939, says Poland’s prime minister
Donald Tusk: Europe is not ready for war
Europe is in a “pre-war” period reminiscent of the situation in 1939, Poland’s prime minister has said, in a bleak comparison with his own family’s experience of the Nazi German invasion. Donald Tusk, whose grandfather was forced to work in a concentration camp and then conscripted into the...Europe is in a “pre-war” period reminiscent of the situation in 1939, Poland’s prime minister has said, in a bleak comparison with his own family’s experience of the Nazi German invasion. Donald Tusk, whose grandfather was forced to work in a concentration camp and then conscripted into the...Europe is in a “pre-war” period reminiscent of the situation in 1939, Poland’s prime minister has said, in a bleak comparison...
WORLD NEWS
Clues from 200 phones over who visited Epstein’s island
Before Jeffrey Epstein died in jail while awaiting charges for sex-trafficking minors, and in the years afterwards, a trail of documentary evidence identified associates and famous friends of the financier who visited his Caribbean island. Flight logs named passengers aboard his jet, his calendar showed meetings planned at Little St James...Before Jeffrey Epstein died in jail while awaiting charges for sex-trafficking minors, and in the years afterwards, a trail of documentary evidence identified associates and famous friends of the financier who visited his Caribbean island. Flight logs named passengers aboard his jet, his calendar showed meetings planned at Little St James...Before Jeffrey Epstein died in jail while awaiting charges for sex-trafficking minors, and in the years afterwards, a trail of...
Shani Louk: Hamas victim’s father defends photo of body
This article contains an image that may cause some distress The father of a German-Israeli woman who was murdered by Hamas has defended a decision to award a prestigious journalism prize to a photographer who took a picture of her lifeless body. The photograph, taken by the Associated Press freelancer Ali Mahmud...This article contains an image that may cause some distress The father of a German-Israeli woman...This article contains an image that may cause some distress The father of a German-Israeli woman...
How a video game is helping Ukraine’s fight against Russia
When Stepan Bandrivsky fled Soledar in eastern Ukraine in February 2022, he probably never thought that the next time he’d step foot in his hometown would be as a character in a video game. Though his corporeal self may be 600 miles away in...When Stepan Bandrivsky fled Soledar in eastern Ukraine in February 2022, he probably never...When Stepan Bandrivsky fled Soledar in eastern Ukraine in February 2022, he probably never...
Bribe crackdown marks new low for Xi’s football dream
It was the nonchalance of the cash offer that shocked the new head of the Chinese football association when he took...It was the nonchalance of the cash offer that shocked the new head of the Chinese football...It was the nonchalance of the cash offer that shocked the new head of the Chinese football...
Baltimore bridge disaster shines light on new generation of Democratic leaders
Since a massive cargo ship toppled the Francis Scott Key bridge over Baltimore’s harbour in the early hours of...Since a massive cargo ship toppled the Francis Scott Key bridge over Baltimore’s harbour in the...Since a massive cargo ship toppled the Francis Scott Key bridge over Baltimore’s harbour in the...
Oppenheimer released in Japan — to mixed reviews
Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-sweeping film Oppenheimer had its long-delayed opening in Japan on Friday, eight months after its global release. Some Japanese cinemas posted trigger warnings outside screenings for the biopic of the “father of...Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-sweeping film Oppenheimer had its long-delayed opening in Japan...Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-sweeping film Oppenheimer had its long-delayed opening in Japan...
Why my tweet about Silvio Berlusconi’s bunga bunga HQ went viral
In a week when Italian politicians debated integrating migrants, balancing its budget and preparing to host a G7, much of the country was instead fixated on Silvio Berlusconi’s secret door. The revelations about the late prime minister’s hidden...In a week when Italian politicians debated integrating migrants, balancing its budget and...In a week when Italian politicians debated integrating migrants, balancing its budget and...
Thousands of jobs to be lost from Derby train factory closure
Thousands of jobs are to be lost after Alstom gave ministers formal notice that it will begin mothballing the historic Litchurch Lane train factory in Derby. The train maker laid the blame for the closure of what is seen as a strategic national asset at the door of Mark Harper, the transport...Thousands of jobs are to be lost after Alstom gave ministers formal notice that it will begin mothballing the historic Litchurch Lane train factory in Derby. The train maker laid the blame for the closure of what is seen as a strategic national asset at the door of Mark Harper, the transport...Thousands of jobs are to be lost after Alstom gave ministers formal notice that it will begin mothballing the historic...
‘Magic circle’ law firms limit partnerships to cut costs
Linklaters, one of the City’s so-called magic circle firms, promoted 27 solicitors to its partnership last week, about two thirds of the figure last year. Several days earlier Slaughter and May, also one of the five-strong magic circle, said that it had promoted five lawyers to its partnership, half the number that made the grade last...Linklaters, one of the City’s so-called magic circle firms, promoted 27 solicitors to its partnership last week, about two thirds of the figure last year. Several days earlier Slaughter and May, also one of the five-strong magic circle, said that it had promoted five lawyers to its partnership, half the number that made the grade last...Linklaters, one of the City’s so-called magic circle firms, promoted 27 solicitors to its partnership last week, about two...
Britain looks to Finland for a nuclear waste solution
There are deer, wolves and even lynx living among the pine forests on Olkiluoto Island and soon this quiet corner of Finland will be home, too, to a facility that its creators hope one day will be as inconspicuous as some of the local wildlife. Finland has become the first country in the world to build a storage...There are deer, wolves and even lynx living among the pine forests on Olkiluoto Island and soon...There are deer, wolves and even lynx living among the pine forests on Olkiluoto Island and soon...
Unilever hopes power brand will be liquid gold in the UK
Most thirsty people head for the tap or the fridge, but Unilever believes there’s a more effective way to rehydrate...Most thirsty people head for the tap or the fridge, but Unilever believes there’s a more...Most thirsty people head for the tap or the fridge, but Unilever believes there’s a more...
comment
Dumb luck helps to bring prices down, but a proper energy policy is preferable
A little ritual that now follows the publication of the monthly inflation numbers is the chancellor and/or the prime...A little ritual that now follows the publication of the monthly inflation numbers is the...A little ritual that now follows the publication of the monthly inflation numbers is the...
NEED TO KNOW
Your three-minute digest
The Manifesto
The man who’s putting Flora in everyone’s fridge
In the reception of Upfield’s Food Science Centre in Wageningen, an hour’s drive from Amsterdam, the company’s “master blender” is making a margarine spread for visitors using only a few natural ingredients, a handheld blender and a small domestic...In the reception of Upfield’s Food Science Centre in Wageningen, an hour’s drive from Amsterdam...In the reception of Upfield’s Food Science Centre in Wageningen, an hour’s drive from Amsterdam...
International trade
Gary Neville has his eyes on a new goal — overseas expansion
Minimum wage
Pay living wage at 18, government urged
football | Paul Joyce
How Amorim caught Liverpool’s eye in hunt to replace Klopp
Rúben Amorim was aware of all the doubts. His first senior coaching assignment at SC Braga had been short but sweet, encompassing only 13 matches but bringing notable success: a domestic cup final victory over Porto and a first win away to Benfica since 1955. Yet, to many, it still seemed a...Rúben Amorim was aware of all the doubts. His first senior coaching assignment at SC Braga had been short but sweet, encompassing only 13 matches but bringing notable success: a domestic cup final victory over Porto and a first win away to Benfica since 1955. Yet, to many, it still seemed a...Rúben Amorim was aware of all the doubts. His first senior coaching assignment at SC Braga had been short but sweet...
NFL
Rees-Zammit signs three-year deal with Super Bowl champions
Louis Rees-Zammit has signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Bowl champions who count Taylor Swift as their most famous fan. The Chiefs confirmed on Friday that Rees-Zammit had completed the deal, which includes an undisclosed signing bonus and “some guaranteed money”. Guaranteed money goes to the player whether...Louis Rees-Zammit has signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Bowl champions who count Taylor Swift as their most famous fan. The Chiefs confirmed on Friday that Rees-Zammit had completed the deal, which includes an undisclosed signing bonus and “some guaranteed money”. Guaranteed money goes to the player whether...Louis Rees-Zammit has signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Bowl champions who count Taylor Swift...
owen slot
Why this college basketball player could be world’s most influential athlete
Very occasionally, another one comes around that looks as though they might change the world. Tiger Woods was the most obvious. Venus Williams flagged up Serena and off they marched together. That may be a preposterously hyperbolic introduction, but I think we need to know about Caitlin Clark. How far she takes this...Very occasionally, another one comes around that looks as though they might change the world.Very occasionally, another one comes around that looks as though they might change the world.
Jonathan Northcroft | MOHAmMED KUDUS INTERVIEW
‘I’m going to tax people who copy my celebration – I need a new one’
rugby union | immanuel feyi-waboso interview
‘A Test player? I’ve got a long way to go – I still live in uni halls’
football | James Gheerbrant
Gabriel and Saliba are the rock-solid partnership title rivals lack
Henry winter | Illia Zabarnyi interview
‘How do I help Ukraine: pick up a gun and fight or play at Euros?’
Every month, Illia Zabarnyi makes a donation to help 12 families of Ukraine fans killed in the war inflicted on their country by Russia. Every day, the Bournemouth defender talks to neighbours and team-mates about his family back in Kyiv living with air strikes. Every hour, he thinks of school friends on the front line. Qualifying for Euro 2024 this week means so much...Every month, Illia Zabarnyi makes a donation to help 12 families of Ukraine fans killed in the...Every month, Illia Zabarnyi makes a donation to help 12 families of Ukraine fans killed in the...
the boat race
Floods and sewage add new twist to this year’s slog on the Thames
The grey waters of the Thames rose high on Putney Embankment this week, punishing those who carelessly left their...The grey waters of the Thames rose high on Putney Embankment this week, punishing those who carelessly left their cars by the bank, and lapping at the blue plaque on London Rowing Club that marks the peak of the great flood of 1875. After the winter of unending rain, this swollen river is too dangerous for many to row.The grey waters of the Thames rose high on Putney Embankment this week, punishing those who carelessly left their cars by the...
Gallagher PremiershIP
Smith stars as leaders Saints bounce back to smash Saracens
RUGBY UNION | SAM WARBURTON
Rees-Zammit’s NFL switch can be great sports story – but I fear for Wales
Louis Rees-Zammit reminds me a bit of my former team-mate Jamie Roberts. They are not your usual Welsh rugby players.Louis Rees-Zammit reminds me a bit of my former team-mate Jamie Roberts. They are not your usual...Louis Rees-Zammit reminds me a bit of my former team-mate Jamie Roberts. They are not your usual...
tailender | patrick kidd
Messi’s napkin ‘contract’ goes under the hammer for £200,000
Nahid Rana stayed true to his natural game on his Test debut this week. I wrote four months ago about the Bangladeshi...Nahid Rana stayed true to his natural game on his Test debut this week. I wrote four months ago...Nahid Rana stayed true to his natural game on his Test debut this week. I wrote four months ago...
notebook | martyn ziegler
Premier League games in US? Give it ten years, says expert
One of the biggest powerbrokers in world sport has predicted that competitive football matches between English clubs will be played in the US in the next ten years. Casey Wasserman, the head of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and founder of the Wasserman sports and entertainment agency, which represents some of sport’s biggest stars including the Arsenal manager, Mikel...One of the biggest powerbrokers in world sport has predicted that competitive football matches...One of the biggest powerbrokers in world sport has predicted that competitive football matches...
tennis
Sinner surges into Miami final after Alcaraz is ‘made to feel 13 years old’
Jannik Sinner is only one win from becoming the world No 2 for the first time after sweeping aside Daniil Medvedev in...Jannik Sinner is only one win from becoming the world No 2 for the first time after sweeping aside Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Miami Open. The 22-year-old from Italy, who won his first grand-slam title at January’s Australian Open, kept up his momentum with a 6-1, 6-2 win against the world No 4...Jannik Sinner is only one win from becoming the world No 2 for the first time after sweeping aside Daniil Medvedev in the...
Women’s Six Nations
George lends a hand to Red Roses before Wales clash
tennis | stephen hammond mp
Wimbledon plans are damaging to local area – they must change
racing
Thunderer’s racing tips
Why it’s not such an awful April
The next financial year offers tax cuts, cheaper energy and lower inflation — but other bills will rise, says George Nixon
SAVINGS
I don’t want them to blow it in Ibiza — why I save in secret for my children
Parents are saving billions into Junior Isas but control of these accounts is handed over once a child turns 18. Will they use it wisely, asks Lucy Alderson
holly mead | deputy money editor
Yes, you need to get on with writing an e-will
How to tell if your smart meter is really quite stupid
Many of these energy-saving devices are still not working, but you may not even realise that yours is one of them. George Nixon offers some testing tips
The big question
Should Waspi women get compensation?
The way that changes to the state pension age were communicated was inadequate, the ombudsman has ruled. We ask for the experts’ views
Troubleshooter
I don’t have a smartphone, so parking firm fined me £170
fame and fortune
Amy Nuttall: ‘My dad cut up my first — and only — credit card’
DAVID BRENCHLEY | investment eye
Why I’m on the hunt for dividend income
Whisper it, but dividend investing may be getting sexy again – even for young (ish) investors like me. But to make...Whisper it, but dividend investing may be getting sexy again – even for young (ish) investors...Whisper it, but dividend investing may be getting sexy again – even for young (ish) investors...
‘Give us more time to plug the state pension gap’
Andy Jones is 25 years away from retirement but is already concerned that he won’t get the full state pension. “It’s...Andy Jones is 25 years away from retirement but is already concerned that he won’t get the full...Andy Jones is 25 years away from retirement but is already concerned that he won’t get the full...
janice turner
Why aren’t British women having babies any more?
The birthrate in Britain has plunged to a new low. Janice Turner wonders how motherhood became such a dirty word
first person
What really happened in Prince Andrew’s interview — and the part I played
When top photographer Mark Harrison was sent to shoot the Duke of York’s Newsnight interview, he had no idea what was about to unfold
first person
I’m a digital native — can I survive without my smartphone?
Can James Marriott survive without the likes and swipes?
caitlin moran
Feeling depressed? Rewild your garden, just like I did
Goldfinches perch in my cherry blossom, and frogs are doing their sexy groans in the pond. Life has exploded
report | NHS
How my mum, 82, got trapped between the NHS and social care
When Adam Luck’s mother, Ann, was admitted to hospital with a suspected stroke, it was the beginning of a distressing seven-week stay
interview
I feared my daughter, Lily Allen, would end up like Amy Winehouse
The film producer Alison Owen on her daughter, Lily Allen, and her treatment by the tabloid press
In the mid-Noughties the film producer Alison Owen attended a music industry function with her daughter, Lily Allen. Allen was then in her early twenties and a freshly minted pop star. Also present was another new talent: Owen recalls watching Amy Winehouse taking to the dancefloor with her partner, Blake Fielder-Civil.“Amy was as thin as a pencil,” she says. “And she...In the mid-Noughties the film producer Alison Owen attended a music industry function with her...In the mid-Noughties the film producer Alison Owen attended a music industry function with her...
beta male
How did I end up here, mincing through Birmingham?
I’m a martyr to my feet, which are unusually wide for their length, with a high arch. My wife says I walk too much on...I’m a martyr to my feet, which are unusually wide for their length, with a high arch. My wife says I walk too much on the balls of my feet. I say that’s because I’m a coiled spring, ready to leap into action. She says it reminds her of a pantomime horse. Either way, I wear out shoes from the front and also have...I’m a martyr to my feet, which are unusually wide for their length, with a high arch. My wife says I walk too much on the balls...
TELEVISION
Kate Winslet does comedy: ‘Being ridiculous was a breath of fresh air’
Filming The Regime, a new satirical series about a European dictator, was a riot. The actress, her co-star and director talk sex, politics and power dressing
video
HUGO RIFKIND ON TV
What has happened to Ewan McGregor?
Ever since Fargo the actor has impressed, now playing opposite his wife in A Gentleman In Moscow, he’s brilliant — and together as lovers they make the air crackle
MUSIC
We’re not ashamed! Times writers reveal their secret pop crushes
Coldplay, U2, Rizzle Kicks … some bands are quietly loved by millions because everyone else says they’re naff. Caitlin Moran, Janice Turner and others confess their guilty pleasures
visual art
Your guide to the wacky new world of immersive exhibitions
From Van Gogh to Bubble Planet, high-tech shows are all the rage, but are they art, a fun day out or just a load of balls? Our art critic finds out
bookS | history
The shameful secret of Britain’s very own ‘Magdalene Laundries’
Under the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act, unmarried mothers were classified as ‘moral imbeciles’ and had their babies taken away
BOOK of the week
Deepfake porn and digital sweatshops — the dark reality of AI
my culture fix
Sheryl Crow: the best lyric is in The End by the Beatles
My favourite piece of music
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. My nephew was playing it the other night — he’s a great piano player — and it’s just beautiful. Every time I hear it, it makes me feel something, whether it’s melancholy or awe. The music that cheers me up
Last weekend my son and I were in the kitchen and I put on disco from the Seventies and Eighties — so...My favourite piece of music
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. My nephew was playing it the...My favourite piece of music
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. My nephew was playing it the...
TELEVISION
The Death in Paradise effect — why TV is addicted to spin-offs
Put a television executive in front of a microphone at an industry get-together and it won’t be long before you hear...Put a television executive in front of a microphone at an industry get-together and it won’t be long before you hear the words “risk taking”, “new ideas”, “boldness” and “innovation” pass their lips. If you are playing TV executive bingo, you could get a full house in seconds. But, going by the TV schedules, it...Put a television executive in front of a microphone at an industry get-together and it won’t be long before you hear the words...
BOOKS I CHILDREN
Check mate! A child’s guide to becoming a grandmaster
BOOKS I rereading
What happens when the ‘rough, sexual world’ comes to suburbia
books | children
Red-eyed witches and skateboard stars: children’s books to read this Easter
Spring is in the air in the Hundred Acre Wood, and what better way to celebrate than an Easter hunt with Piglet, Tigger, Kanga and Roo? Only, they have forgotten what they are meant to be hunting for. The Easter Bunny? Or Poohsticks? “Perhaps we’re hunting for no good reason at all” — classic Eeyore. Thankfully, Christopher Robin is on hand to nudge them in the right...Spring is in the air in the Hundred Acre Wood, and what better way to celebrate than an Easter...Spring is in the air in the Hundred Acre Wood, and what better way to celebrate than an Easter...
CRIME books OF THE YEAR
10 best crime books of 2024 (so far)
From floating corpses to meta mysteries, from abandoned Rolls-Royces to runaway trains, crime fiction has got off to...From floating corpses to meta mysteries, from abandoned Rolls-Royces to runaway trains, crime fiction has got off to a cracking start in 2024. Have we uncovered the next Colin Dexter? Does the heir to Agatha Christie lurk on this list? Scroll down to find out. We’ll be updating the list regularly so it’s well worth...From floating corpses to meta mysteries, from abandoned Rolls-Royces to runaway trains, crime fiction has got off to a cracking...
First night reviews
FIRST NIGHT | THEATRE
Rachael Stirling impresses, but The Divine Mrs S is forced fun
FIRST NIGHT | CLassical
Virtuoso percussion in Colin Currie Group’s five-star show
first night | THEATRE
Greg Hicks excels in Dostoyevsky’s Dream of a Ridiculous Man
Laurence Boswell’s adaptation of a Dostoyevsky short story begins like a Ted Talk. Except for a briefcase, the actor...Laurence Boswell’s adaptation of a Dostoyevsky short story begins like a Ted Talk. Except for a...Laurence Boswell’s adaptation of a Dostoyevsky short story begins like a Ted Talk. Except for a...
FIRST NIGHT | theatre
Campus politics reach a complex crisis in Power of Sail
Two tantalising plays about politics and ethics have opened in the past few weeks. They may not be perfect, but...Two tantalising plays about politics and ethics have opened in the past few weeks. They may not...Two tantalising plays about politics and ethics have opened in the past few weeks. They may not...
VIEWING GUIDE
What’s on TV and radio this weekend
For full TV listings for the week, see our comprehensive TV guide Saturday viewing guide, by Ben Dowell and James Jackson
Traces
BBC1, 9.25pm
The first series of the Dundee-set drama by Val McDermid and Amelia Bullmore was a decent yarn about...For full TV listings for the week, see our comprehensive TV guide Saturday viewing guide, by Ben...For full TV listings for the week, see our comprehensive TV guide Saturday viewing guide, by Ben...
INTERVIEW
Raymond Blanc: ‘Britain’s taught me how to be a better Frenchman’
The Michelin-starred chef, 74, tells Hannah Evans why he’s not slowing down after 40 years at the top
OUTSIDE
Get your boots on! 20 glorious spring walks in the UK
From tranquil lakeside paths to bracing mountain hikes: Times walks correspondent Christopher Somerville shares his favourite trails
interview
Sharleen Spiteri: ‘I’ve always had a big gob on me. I’ve got a reputation’
The Texas singer, 56, talks to Nina Myskow about the menopause, grief and going on tour
MY STORY
I’m blind but I’m not broken — how I turned loss into joy
A rare condition meant that Lucy Edwards lost her sight at 17. Ten years on, she has a million followers on TikTok and a new book
DRINK
The best bottles for bank holiday weekend
From a melt-in-the-mouth beaujolais to pair with lamb to a keenly-priced bubbly, our expert reveals her top picks for Easter
GARDENS
The expert guide to bamboo
SEX COUNSEL
Can a friend with benefits help me?
Q. I’m still smarting from my divorce (instigated by my ex-wife) and not ready for a new relationship, or even dating,...Q. I’m still smarting from my divorce (instigated by my ex-wife) and not ready for a new...Q. I’m still smarting from my divorce (instigated by my ex-wife) and not ready for a new...
men’s health
Work out with me: my ‘prehab’ routine for runners
If you have trained for a marathon or are doing so now, you’ll be aware that getting to the start line injury free...If you have trained for a marathon or are doing so now, you’ll be aware that getting to the start...If you have trained for a marathon or are doing so now, you’ll be aware that getting to the start...
video
rail journeys
My £59 night on the first sleeper train from Brussels to Prague
It covers 800 miles, connecting four cities and bringing strangers together in couchettes — but is this a return to the golden age of rail travel?
FRANCE
25 of the best mini breaks in France for spring
The pre-summer months are perfect for a balmy French holiday. From new art shows on the Côte d’Azur to wine-tasting in the Loire, let our expert be your guide
video
inspiration
I’ve been to 124 countries in a wheelchair — here’s what I’ve learnt
Renee Bruns has used a wheelchair for most of her life. She explains how her disability has inspired her travels and how she’s become a Guinness World Record holder
belize
How Belize taught me that travel can support the nature I love
Exploring vibrant rainforest, mangroves and mountains, the Times Earth editor sees the positive impact of tourism first hand — and looks at ways to make every trip more eco-friendly
canada
The Canadian wilderness where in-the-know city dwellers escape to
A three-hour drive from Toronto, Algonquin Park is home to 2,400 lakes, chic cabins galore and plenty of wildlife. Our writer puts down their phone and goes exploring
US
The coolest city in Texas? It’s no longer Austin
Almost 150 years ago, in an act of sneery superiority, the Dallas Herald published a story about Fort Worth. In it...Almost 150 years ago, in an act of sneery superiority, the Dallas Herald published a story about...Almost 150 years ago, in an act of sneery superiority, the Dallas Herald published a story about...
INSPIRATION
12 of the best last-minute holidays from just £98
What type of accommodation do you prefer? Because this week’s top travel bargains cover a raft of options. If it’s a...What type of accommodation do you prefer? Because this week’s top travel bargains cover a raft of...What type of accommodation do you prefer? Because this week’s top travel bargains cover a raft of...
city breaks
This is the cheaper alternative to Amsterdam — without the crowds
Get on your bike — it’s second nature in Utrecht, which frequently ranks as one of the world’s friendliest cities for cyclists. A bicycle is the best way to see this alternative to Amsterdam — it’s the best way to get around the stag-do-free...Get on your bike — it’s second nature in Utrecht, which frequently ranks as one of the world’s...Get on your bike — it’s second nature in Utrecht, which frequently ranks as one of the world’s...
From the archive
Scheme to protect Norfolk’s wild birds takes flight
J John | credo
Great stories change lives if they are real and relevant — Easter is both
As a speaker I tell stories to illustrate my message but I handle them with care: stories have the power to either...As a speaker I tell stories to illustrate my message but I handle them with care: stories have...As a speaker I tell stories to illustrate my message but I handle them with care: stories have...
announcements
Births, marriages and deaths
THEN took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.THEN took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of...THEN took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of...
MindGames
The Times Saturday Quiz
1 A phrase used in elocution teaching is “How now brown …” what? 2 Which language is the lingua franca of the Islamic world? 3 In business, what is the opposite of nationalisation? 4 Mary of Teck described which king’s abdication as “a pretty...1 A phrase used in elocution teaching is “How now brown …” what? 2 Which language is the lingua...1 A phrase used in elocution teaching is “How now brown …” what? 2 Which language is the lingua...
MARRIAGES and engagements
‘I always had a crush on him at school’
Lauren Maddock, 35, an executive assistant at Angels Costumes, and Darren Pavis, 33, a customer services manager at The Directory Guys, an online advertising company, were married on February 3, 2024, at Dorney Court in Windsor Fourteen years passed between Lauren and Darren’s first kiss and their first date. By then, she had deleted all her dating apps and given...Lauren Maddock, 35, an executive assistant at Angels Costumes, and Darren Pavis, 33, a...Lauren Maddock, 35, an executive assistant at Angels Costumes, and Darren Pavis, 33, a...
births
New Reader: Rielle Prosper
Rielle Maya Prosper was born on October 7, 2023, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire to Megen, 29, and...Rielle Maya Prosper was born on October 7, 2023, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire to Megen, 29, and Jeanmal Prosper, 30 Rielle, who is nearly six months old, is so full of energy that the family have started calling her “the hulk baby”. “She is very strong,” says Megen. “At our baby massage class they...Rielle Maya Prosper was born on October 7, 2023, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire to Megen, 29, and Jeanmal...
Centuries of Scots law tradition set to end
‘Not proven’ verdict should go, say MSPs on criminal justice committee
Scotland’s centuries-old “not proven” verdict is set to be abolished after MSPs concluded that it “has had its day”. The Holyrood criminal justice committee has recommended a seismic change to Scots law, scrapping the third option available to juries deliberating over a crime. The committee noted...Scotland’s centuries-old “not proven” verdict is set to be abolished after MSPs concluded that it “has had its day”. The Holyrood criminal justice committee has recommended a seismic change to Scots law, scrapping the third option available to juries deliberating over a crime. The committee noted...Scotland’s centuries-old “not proven” verdict is set to be abolished after MSPs concluded that it “has had its day”. The...
Holyrood officials ‘gave themselves pay rises during cost of living crisis’
Senior Holyrood officials awarded themselves promotions and pay rises in a restructure during the cost of living crisis, unions have claimed. Angry staff members have accused management at the Scottish parliament of creating new roles and inserting themselves into the higher-grade posts. In a letter to the parliament’s corporate body — the...Senior Holyrood officials awarded themselves promotions and pay rises in a restructure during the cost of living crisis, unions have claimed. Angry staff members have accused management at the Scottish parliament of creating new roles and inserting themselves into the higher-grade posts. In a letter to the parliament’s corporate body — the...Senior Holyrood officials awarded themselves promotions and pay rises in a restructure during the cost of living crisis, unions...
Glasgow University rector’s victory ‘could make Jewish students feel less safe’
Jewish leaders have warned that a rector’s plan to change the definition of antisemitism at Glasgow University will risk “making students feel less safe”. Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon, won a landslide election to claim the post on Tuesday, attracting 80 per cent of...Jewish leaders have warned that a rector’s plan to change the definition of antisemitism at...Jewish leaders have warned that a rector’s plan to change the definition of antisemitism at...
In case you missed it
Nicky Campbell weeps in wife’s arms as judge rules teacher abused him
Nicky Campbell said that he wept in his wife’s arms after a judge ruled his former teacher carried out a series of...Nicky Campbell said that he wept in his wife’s arms after a judge ruled his former teacher...Nicky Campbell said that he wept in his wife’s arms after a judge ruled his former teacher...
LEADING ARTICLE
The Times Scotland view on Yousaf’s first year in charge: Legacy Liabilities
Humza Yousaf’s election as first minister a year ago was a singular moment in Scottish political history. As a Scot...Humza Yousaf’s election as first minister a year ago was a singular moment in Scottish political...Humza Yousaf’s election as first minister a year ago was a singular moment in Scottish political...
photography
From a celebratory sausage to Swan Lake: the week in pictures
The family-run Ayrshire butcher We Hae Meat created what they believed to be the world’s largest square sausage slice, measuring 30cm by 40cm and weighing more than 2kg, to mark the first National Square Sausage Day on Monday. Jamie and Daisy...The family-run Ayrshire butcher We Hae Meat created what they believed to be the world’s largest...The family-run Ayrshire butcher We Hae Meat created what they believed to be the world’s largest...
travel
Heart of class: inside Edinburgh’s most unlikely new hotel
Our football correspondent (and Aberdeen fan) checks out Hearts’ venture into four-star hospitality
Interview
Sara Sheridan: ‘A good historical novel is a time machine’
The writer on how to set a book in a particular time period, the beauty of the Isle of Cumbrae and the moment she understood love while taking the bus home in a mood
food
Pretty Pittenweem’s glorious seafood spot
Excited by the village’s Michelin Guide-listed bistro, Claire Sawers finds the Dory to be no fluke on the East Neuk
Entertainment
Five things to do in Scotland this week: from Swan Lake to Lulu
Plus, kaleidoscopic sounds from King Creosote on his tour beginning in Troon and a family day out at Edinburgh Science Festival
gabriella bennett
Scottish spring lures you in, then plays by its own rules
It’s the season of rebirth, but look at the art it’s inspired and you realise that there’s far more to March than daffodils
outside
Otters and waterfalls on a walk around West Dunbartonshire mansion
There are several waymarked walks around the grounds of Overtoun House in West Dunbartonshire. The estate is a haven for wildlife — look out for otters, pine martens, ravens, owls and woodpeckers — and this lovely route explores the estate on...There are several waymarked walks around the grounds of Overtoun House in West Dunbartonshire.There are several waymarked walks around the grounds of Overtoun House in West Dunbartonshire.
Spirit of Speyside 2024
spirit of speyside SPECIAL
What to see and do at Scotland’s biggest whisky festival
The annual celebration celebrates its 25th anniversary and has nearly 700 events to choose from in 2024 — from paddle boarding to foraging, we choose the best outdoor activities
video
spirit of speyside SPECIAL
How I went from whisky novice to master of the malt
Carla Jenkins was determined to enjoy her dad’s favourite drink — a trip to Macallan distillery in Aberlour was just what she needed
spirit of speyside SPECIAL
The best tours and tastings at Spirit of Speyside festival 2024
Among the many events on offer this year are dozens of tours and chances to try rare whiskies — here are the ones not to miss
spirit of speyside SPECIAL
Food and whisky — there’s no better pairing
Food plays a key part at the festival, with events from a blindfolded tasting to fine dining. Here, along with some of the quirkier happenings, we round-up the best
spirit of speyside special
Can a tour of Speyside turn a sceptic into a whisky lover?
The annual festival has almost 700 events this year. Jeremy Watson — and his whisky-phobic wife — get a first look
Peter Irvine's best restaurants
food
30 of Edinburgh’s top restaurants
Shiny tram, new de-luxe hotels, good restaurants popping up everywhere even in the suburbs — Edinburgh is on a roll. With Little London around St Andrew’s Square and the World Food Mile down from the top of Leith Walk to Michelin-studded Leith, a...Shiny tram, new de-luxe hotels, good restaurants popping up everywhere even in the suburbs —...Shiny tram, new de-luxe hotels, good restaurants popping up everywhere even in the suburbs —...
Comment
We can’t afford a taboo on assisted dying
Matthew Parris
The argument against it is that pressure will grow on the terminally ill to hasten their own deaths – that’s not a bad thing
janice turner
Tories resort to Trumpian scaremongering
GILES COREN
The real Sacha Baron Cohen has always been on show
MATT CHORLEY
The doctor’s right, we’re all walking on eggshells this Easter weekend
ann treneman | notebook
Lord Byron was buried as he lived, with flair
weekend essay | edward lucas
China has a licence to spy: it’s time to revoke it
DOMINIC SANDBROOK
Two weeks that shook the British state
ROSE WILD | FEEDBACK
Grubby sheets are always taken to the cleaners
Writing in the travel section about a package trip to Mexico, Olivia Petter described encounters with dodgy minivans...Writing in the travel section about a package trip to Mexico, Olivia Petter described encounters...Writing in the travel section about a package trip to Mexico, Olivia Petter described encounters...
MATTHEW OATES | NATURE NOTEBOOK
Great leap into spring is earlier than ever
Mild winters lead into early springs. Indeed, the difference between the two seasons is becoming rain-blurred. The...Mild winters lead into early springs. Indeed, the difference between the two seasons is becoming...Mild winters lead into early springs. Indeed, the difference between the two seasons is becoming...
Leading Articles
Security Spending
In a hostile geopolitical environment, it should be a matter of political consensus across parties for Britain to increase its defence budget to 3 per cent of GDP
Rayner’s Finances
Labour’s deputy leader should candidly address queries over her property dealings
Remedy for Rain
Prayers for better weather have a record of success
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Crisis of confidence in our health service
Sir, The research revealing that only a quarter of the British public is satisfied with the NHS comes as no surprise and Rishi Sunak’s response that the “tragedy” of rising sickness levels is an unfortunate consequence of the pandemic rings hollow...Sir, The research revealing that only a quarter of the British public is satisfied with the NHS...Sir, The research revealing that only a quarter of the British public is satisfied with the NHS...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
Today
UK: The Boat Race (women and men); Edinburgh Science Festival (until April 14).
World: Pope Francis celebrates Easter Vigil (Vatican City); World Bipolar Day.
Tomorrow
UK: British Summer Time begins; energy price guarantee expires.
World: Easter Day.
On this day
Today
In 1724 a three-day battle began in which Agaja, ruler of the kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin, west Africa), defeated and killed a rival king. Between 1724 and 1727 Agaja doubled his territory and made Dahomey a leading Slave Coast power. Displays of military might included enslavement and human sacrifice, with about 4,000 deaths taking place during one ceremony in 1727. Between 1851 and 1852 the British imposed a naval blockade on Dahomey to force a stop to the export of slaves, which have been estimated to have been in the hundreds of thousands; in 1814 forces allied against Napoleon entered Paris. A series of attacks led to surrender by the French the next day, and on April 6 Napoleon abdicated unconditionally as emperor; in 1971 the first Starbucks coffee shop opened in Pike Place Market, Seattle. The name of the company is that of the first mate of the Pequod in the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. In 2021 there were more than 33,000 shops worldwide; in 1979 Airey Neave, Conservative MP and shadow Northern Ireland secretary, was killed by a terrorist bomb in the House of Commons car park. The Irish National Liberation Army claimed responsibility.
Tomorrow
In 1939 the Slovak-Hungarian war ended, having started on March 23 (the Little War). On April 4 Slovakia ceded eastern territories to Hungary; in 1959 the Dalai Lama, fleeing Chinese repression of an uprising in Tibet, arrived at the Indian border and was granted asylum; in 1980 Jesse Owens, the four-time 1936 Berlin Olympic Games gold medallist, died, aged 66; in 2014 a report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that the threat from global warming was likely to be “severe, pervasive and irreversible”.
Nature notes
You might call it the resurrection tree. The little rowan on the bridleway was planted in the winter of 2019, and grew well for the first two years. Then came summer 2022 when even the north of England sweltered in heatwaves approaching 40C. The sapling was watered regularly, but succumbed to the relentless sun. When autumn brought a little relief from the weather, the sapling appeared dead. It spent the following winter as a mere stick in the ground, but then, the next year grew a handful of leaves. As the season progressed, it seemed to be recovering. Its renaissance has continued. Already this spring, buds of many flowers are visible, their gorgeous white tipped with a beautiful peach colour. Jonathan Tulloch
Jonathan Tulloch
Birthdays
Today
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, 65; Warren Beatty, actor, Bonnie and Clyde (1967), 87; Eric Clapton, musician, Layla (1971), 79; Martina Cole, crime writer, 65; Debbie Crosbie, chief executive, Nationwide Building Society, TSB (2019-22), 54; Jeremy Deller, artist, Turner prizewinner (2004), 58; Céline Dion, singer, My Heart Will Go On (1997), 56; Filippo Grandi, UN high commissioner for refugees, 67; MC Hammer, rapper, U Can’t Touch This (1990), 62; Simon Humphries, head of design, Toyota Motor Corporation, 57; Lord (Mervyn) King of Lothbury, pictured, governor, Bank of England (2003-13), 76; Eddie Jordan, founder of F1 team Jordan Grand Prix, 76; Karim Khan KC, International Criminal Court prosecutor, 54; The Ven (Air Vice-Marshal) Giles Legood, archdeacon for the RAF, 57; Chris Longcroft, executive vice-president, publisher of The Times and The Sunday Times, 53; Lord (Ian) MacLaurin of Knebworth, chairman, Tesco (1985-97), 87; Piers Morgan, broadcaster, Piers Morgan Uncensored, 59; Hugo Rifkind, columnist for The Times and presenter on Times Radio, 47; Andrew Russell, Duke of Bedford, 62; Klaus Schwab, founder, World Economic Forum, 86; Johnnie Walker, radio DJ, 79.
Tomorrow
Herb Alpert, bandleader, 89; Dame Janet de Botton, chairwoman, the Wolfson charitable foundation, 72; Richard Chamberlain, actor, Dr Kildare (1961-66), 90; Sir Peter Coulson, lord justice of appeal, 66; Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, 46; Sir Alan Duncan, Europe and the Americas minister (2016-19), 67; Lord (Don) Foster of Bath, former coalition government minister, 77; Al Gore, US vice-president (1993-2001), 76; Christopher Hampson, chief executive and artistic director, Scottish Ballet, 51; Shirley Jones, singer and actress, Carousel (1956), 90; Sir Roderic Lyne, UK ambassador to Russia (2000-04), 76; Ewan McGregor, actor, Trainspotting (1996), 53; Prof Tim O’Brien, astrophysicist, 60; Peter St Clair-Erskine, Earl of Rosslyn QPM, lord steward of Royal Household and personal secretary to the King and Queen, 66; Lord (David) Steel of Aikwood, leader of the Liberal Party (1976-88), 86; Ian Macpherson, Lord Strathcarron, chairman, Unicorn Publishing Group, 75; Lord (David) Trefgarne, longest-serving member of House of Lords (1962), 83; Christopher Walken, actor, The Deer Hunter (1978), 81; Shai Weiss, chief executive, Virgin Atlantic, 56; Sir Wyn Williams, High Court judge (2007-17), 73; Peter Wilson, director-general for Europe (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), 56; Chloé Zhao, film-maker, Nomadland (2020; Oscar), 42.