Pakistani businessman jailed in London for threatening Virgin Atlantic airhostess with gangrape: 'You called me a...'
Pakistani-origin London businessman Salman Iftikhar has been jailed for threatening Virgin Atlantic airhostess with gangrape on a London-Lahore flight in 2023. Salman Iftikhar, a wealthy London businessman, has been jailed for 15 months for his 2023 outburst on a London-Lahore Virgin Atlantic flight, where he threatened an airhostess with gangrape, accusing her of being racist. "Mr Iftikhar was seen drinking champagne at the onboard bar, where he was talking to cabin crew," said prosecutor Abdul Kapadia. When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: 'Don't tell me what to do you racist f**king b**ch. He shouted at the cabin crew: 'Do you know who I am?'
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 16:11 UTC
Rachel Reeves ‘must find £50bn’ in tax rises or spending cuts in budget
Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 15:32 UTC
Times letters: Plunging birthrates call for radical solutions
Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 14:41 UTC
Ozzy Osbourne’s cause of death revealed
Two weeks after Ozzy Osbourne‘s death, the Black Sabbath frontman’s cause of death has been revealed. According to a death certificate obtained by The New York Times, Osbourne died of a heart attack “out of hospital” and suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease. Osbourne died July 22. His family announced his death that day without cause, though he had publicly revealed the complications to his health due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” Osbourne’s family said in a statement confirming his death.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 14:38 UTC
US visa delays push international students to UK, Asia, and Middle East
Yet today, that status is being dismantled not by academic competitors, but by political choices.The Trump administration has openly urged US universities to reduce their reliance on international students. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has seen a 40% spike in international undergraduate applications. Hosting dozens of branch campuses from international institutions, Dubai saw a 33% jump in international students between 2024 and 2025.Kazakhstan is also rising on the academic radar. With universities like Illinois Tech and the University of Arizona operating satellite campuses, the Central Asian nation is quietly building itself into a regional education hub.For many international students, the shift is not just logistical—it’s philosophical. For now, the answer may be playing out not in Boston or Berkeley, but in Birmingham, Dubai, and Hong Kong.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 13:16 UTC
Nurse apprenticeship cuts worrying UK universities
A survey of UK universities has shown that almost half are concerned about government plans to reform the way apprenticeships for nursing, and other disciplines, are funded. “We’re urging the government to protect Growth and Skills Levy funding in this area” Mandy Crawford-LeeCurrently, employers with an employee wage bill of £3m or more per year pay into the Apprenticeship Levy. Many post-registration nurse apprenticeships, such as community nursing and school nursing, are of this level. This policy shift, due to come into effect next year, will include the total removal of levy funding for level 7 courses. She claimed that the cuts to level 7 apprenticeships would cost nurse employers around £214 in additional training costs, as they would have to self-fund any courses without access to levy funding.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 12:52 UTC
The UK’s immigration hall of mirrors is making me reflect on my future
In addition, foreign nationals have to pay visa application fees and the immigration health surcharge (IHS). The IHS is paid by migrants “to gain access to the UK’s National Health Service” – even though migrants use the NHS less frequently than local residents. Despite the long waiting lists, there isn’t an option to opt out and divert IHS fees to private care instead. If you need to extend it or switch employer within the visa period, you have to pay the fee again, even though the visa process is administratively simple and is finalised online. Developing societies are likely to appreciate any contributions we are able to make much more than the UK does.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 12:43 UTC
UK coroner confirms Sunjay Kapur died ‘natural death’, police say death ‘non-suspicious’
TOI correspondent from London:Industrialist Sunjay Kapur died of natural causes, the Surrey coroner has determined. The club has links to the British royal family.A Surrey police spokesperson said they were aware of Rani Kapur’s letter. “Police were called to The Guards Polo Club just after 5pm on June 12 following the death of a man in his 50s at the location. Colleagues from South East Coast Ambulance also attended and confirmed that the man had sadly died at the scene. Depending on the situation, this can include preparation of a consular report of the death of a US citizen abroad.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 12:28 UTC
Hot tub boss praised by Keir Starmer launches broadside over wealth exodus
Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 07:02 UTC
Nurses welcome rollout of ‘world-first’ gonorrhoea vaccine
Nurses have welcomed the launch of a targeted vaccination programme against gonorrhoea, which began its rollout this week. The vaccination rollout comes as diagnoses of gonorrhoea have reached their highest levels since records began. Loading…She said: “As nurses working within sexual health services, we see first-hand the increasing burden of gonorrhoea infections, which continue to rise at record rates. Ms Crossman highlighted vaccination as a vital means to protect individuals and their sexual partners from gonorrhoea. She added: “As nurses on the frontline of sexual health provision, we must advocate for prioritising prevention initiatives such as this, ensuring equitable access across all communities.
Source:The Times
August 06, 2025 03:10 UTC
The awful final chapter of Fred Goodwin’s story is yet to be told
Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Source:The Times
August 05, 2025 22:03 UTC
Migrants can use human rights ‘loophole’ to avoid return to France
Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Source:The Times
August 05, 2025 22:02 UTC
It’s far too early to stage such digital drama
Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Source:The Times
August 05, 2025 21:13 UTC
UK continues to operate reconnaissance planes over Gaza: 'Goal is to locate hostages'
The UK newspaper The Times reported Tuesday that the British military continues to operate spy planes over the Gaza Strip "with the aim of locating the hostages who have not yet been released." The British claim that intelligence is being transferred to Israel only for the purposes of rescuing the hostages, but British Major General (res.) Since October 7, the Times reported, British reconnaissance aircraft have been flying almost daily sorties over Gaza, gathering sensitive intelligence on ground movements. The intelligence, it is claimed, is transferred to Israel under British supervision, and solely for the purpose of rescuing the hostages. The IDF refused to comment on the report, and the British Ministry of Defense said: "Since December 2023, unarmed IAF reconnaissance aircraft have been flying over Gaza with the sole purpose of locating abductees.
Source:The Times
August 05, 2025 20:02 UTC