Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest, Bank of Scotland to shut branches
Lloyds is expected to close a further 23 banks before the end of 2025, while Halifax will shut a total of 23 branches before the end of the year. NatWest, meanwhile, will shut 46 branches, it has confirmed, with a further eight listed but without dates. Meanwhile, the Bank of Scotland is closing four of its branches in the remaining months of 2025. Here, we have a full list of 2025 closures confirmed, as per The Sun. Whether you want to speak to a real person in branch, or do your banking online, there are many ways you can bank with us.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 14:46 UTC
Tourists 'spot' weird beast in Loch Ness waters
Domino’s, which has been diversifying the way it delivers its goods in recent months, including via robot dog and on a pothole proof bike – has now gone one step further, utilising a semi-submersible watercraft. (Image: Robert Perry/PinPep)While the sighting wasn’t of the Loch Ness Monster, those watching from the shore were staggered at the sheer pace of the unidentified object which delivered the pizza brands goods to the pair at a nearby camping spot in Loch Ness, Scotland. The Domi-dog, a robot pooch designed to keep pizza safe this summer from pesky seagulls, was let loose on a south coast beach. Another was the pothole proof delivery bike, complete with onboard oven set to 68C to keep orders warm in transit. Not to mention their other endeavours to break new markets with the creation of a Pepperoni Passion perfume ahead of Valentines Day.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 14:35 UTC
Starmer hails ‘breakthrough’ on security guarantees after Ukraine talks
Sir Keir said work with the US on what the security guarantees would entail could start as soon as Tuesday. “The two outcomes were a real significant breakthrough when it comes to security guarantees, because we’re now going to be working with the US on those security guarantees,” he told the BBC. Sir Keir described the talks as “good and constructive” and said there was a “real sense of unity” between the European leaders, Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky. “During the meeting we discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, which guarantees would be provided by the various European countries, with a co-ordination with the United States of America,” he posted on his Truth Social platform. “At the conclusion of the meetings, I called president Putin and began arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between president Putin and president Zelensky.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 14:02 UTC
Victim satisfaction with police at historic low, survey suggests
The findings have been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) using data from its long-running annual crime survey of people aged 16 and over. Some 51% of survey respondents who had been a victim of crime in the 12 months to March 2025 said they were either very or fairly satisfied with how the police handled the matter. This is down from 55% in the previous year and is the lowest figure since this question was first asked in 1992. Satisfaction rose steadily between 2006/07 (58% of victims) and 2013/14 (a peak of 75%) but has since been on a general downward trend. The ONS found differences in victim satisfaction by crime type, ranging from 62% in the latest survey for domestic burglary and 58% for violence, to 41% for bicycle theft and just 26% for theft from the person.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 13:06 UTC
Worst times to travel this bank holiday weekend as 18million drivers to hit the road – check your route
BRITS are being warned of traffic chaos this August bank holiday as nearly 18 million drivers prepare for getaway trips. In England and Wales, motorists are set to make 17.6 million leisure journeys between Friday and Monday. The RAC said traffic will start building on Friday with three million trips planned. On top of that, another 6.1 million drivers say they will be on the roads at some point across the long weekend, adding to the strain. Drivers are advised to top up oil and coolant, check tyre tread and pressure, and ensure vehicles are “road ready” before a long trip.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 09:32 UTC
Russia rejects NATO troop deployment in Ukraine, slams UK remarks
SynopsisRussia opposes NATO troop deployment in Ukraine. The Foreign Ministry calls UK's statements provocative. Moscow believes London is undermining efforts for a fair resolution. Russia and Washington are working towards a lasting solution. The ministry says UK's stance contradicts these efforts.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 06:07 UTC
‘A hidden passport rule meant I was denied boarding’
✉ I booked to fly with Norwegian from Gatwick to Copenhagen on August 3, but when I reached the gate I was denied boarding by the ground handling agents. The second was when the agent checked my passport and boarding card at the bag drop. Your passport is valid under Schengen area rules but Denmark has decided to apply a stricter interpretation than other Schengen countries. I can only advise you to get a new passport if you are planning any more trips to Denmark. Since then, easyJet has changed the flight times twice.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 05:47 UTC
Ben Stiller won’t direct on ‘Severance’ Season 3. But he’s got plenty else to do
He was also putting the finishing touches on a documentary about his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. “These things take time to come together,” Stiller says of the numerous ambitious projects he has in the pipeline. Stiller & Meara were a hugely popular comedy team in the 1960s before going their separate ways professionally in the 1970s. “Or from Jerry Stiller in the Great Beyond?” Stiller continues, finishing the thought with a laugh. I’d love to work with him.”He is a big fan of “Severance.” Might Pacino show up at Lumon Industries someday?
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 02:54 UTC
Downton Abbey props and costumes go on display ahead of auction
The wedding dress actress Michelle Dockery wore as Lady Mary Crawley (Bonhams)The outfit was worn by actress Michelle Dockery for Lady Mary’s wedding to Matthew Crawley, played by Dan Stevens. Also on display is the Grantham family car, a 1925 Sunbeam Saloon, which has an estimated sale price of £25,000 to £35,000. The third film, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, is due to be released in UK cinemas on September 12. Gareth Neame, chief executive of Carnival Films, the producers of Downton Abbey, with actress Penelope Wilton, among a display of props used in the production (James Manning/PA)The set pieces, props and costumes will be on display at a free exhibition at Bonhams sale room in New Bond Street in London until September 16. The auction is available for online bidding now.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 02:49 UTC
Strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants declared illegal
He said it was disappointing that talks have not led to a deal, and added that it is important that flight attendants are compensated fairly at all times. Air Canada then said it planned to resume flights on Sunday evening. But when the workers refused, the airline said it would resume flights on Monday evening instead. Air Canada and Cupe have been in contract talks for about eight months, but remain far apart on the issue of pay and the unpaid work that flight attendants do when planes are not in the air. Last year, the government forced the country’s two major railroads into arbitration with their labour union during a work stoppage.
Source:The Times
August 19, 2025 00:50 UTC
Times Square: Evacuation in New York City as bomb squad rush to midtown Manhattan
Police are looking for a suspect after Times Square in central Manhattan, New York City, was evacuated following a bomb threat. The NYPD was called at around 10.32 am local time to reports of a suspicious package at West 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue. The Emergency Service Unit and bomb squad also responded. Roads were then cordoned off and the 42nd Street-Times Square subway station was temporarily closed. Police are now looking for the suspect who they believe deliberately left the suspicious package outside the subway station.
Source:The Times
August 18, 2025 18:50 UTC
Person of interest detained after bomb scare leads to Times Square evacuations
Read our Privacy noticeA person of interest has been taken into custody, after a suspicious package was found outside a New York City police precinct and sparked a massive evacuation of Times Square Monday morning. The Emergency Service Unit and bomb squad responded to the scene, and by 11:53 a.m., the package was deemed non-hazardous, the NYPD said. A tourist from Madrid said the incident should prompt New York City officials to make some much-needed safety improvements. “I think it’s important for the city that security measures improve day by day,” they said. Despite earlier police cordons in the area, tourists and other workers had already begun to flood back into the square and surrounding area.
Source:The Times
August 18, 2025 17:30 UTC
Trump meets Zelensky in the White House — as it happened
Closed-door meeting has endedThe meeting between Trump, Zelensky and European leaders has ended, a spokesman for the Ukrainian president has said. Trump calls Putin during meeting with European leadersPresident Trump has interrupted a White House meeting with European leaders to call President Putin, according to Bild, a German news outlet. The prime minister is among the European leaders arriving for the peace talks with President Trump and President Zelensky. Starmer lands in USSir Keir Starmer has landed in the US ahead of a meeting between President Zelensky, President Trump and other European leaders at the White House. President Trump has told President Zelensky that Ukraine must “swap” land to agree a deal with Russia.
Source:The Times
August 18, 2025 16:58 UTC
New UK parking rules kick in today — drivers risk £100 fines if they don’t follow them
For instance, someone earning approximately £37,000 per year could face fines ranging from £100 depending on how much they exceeded the speed limit. This approach is designed to make fines proportionate, ensuring that all drivers are held accountable regardless of income.In addition, using a mobile phone while driving has also become a serious offense. Both drivers and adult passengers can now receive penalty points for failing to wear seatbelts, aligning enforcement with Northern Ireland and other international standards. Fines and penalties for different driving offenses are being increased. Rules on speeding, mobile phone usage, seatbelts, insurance, and alcohol limits are stricter.A2.
Source:The Times
August 18, 2025 16:32 UTC
First Minister Michelle O’Neill among leaders seeking UK sanctions on Israel
SDLP leader Claire Hanna has said the situation in Gaza is 'deteriorating, with more people dying every day' and that the UK government must act. Photograph: GettyUK prime minister Keir Starmer has been urged to recall parliament and “impose immediate sanctions” on Israel in a letter from political leaders in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The signatories included the North’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, SDLP leader Claire Hanna and her party’s leader in the Assembly, Matthew O’Toole, as well as Alliance leader Naomi Long and People Before Profit leader Gerry Carroll. “We are demanding the immediate recall of parliament and an intervention that sends a clear message to the Israeli government that this cannot continue,” she said. However, it is not yet clear when any children may arrive in Northern Ireland.
Source:The Times
August 18, 2025 16:21 UTC