My Jane Austen-themed weekend (and no, not in Bath)
It’s an exciting year for us Jane Austen fans. AdvertisementBargate is the entrance to the old town ALAMYWe began our Austen-inspired weekend at the Bargate, a medieval gatehouse in Southampton city centre, where we were met by local tour guides Pauline Bisson and Jean Watts (£10pp; southamptontouristguides.co.uk/tours). By the end of our weekend in Southampton I felt more closely connected to Austen; as for David, this trip made an impact. The Gainsborough Bath Spa is hosting two six-day Jane Austen programmes from April 7-12 and October 13-18, featuring local tours and Regency teas. Details B&B doubles from £120 (roseatehotels.com)Will you be embarking on any Austen-themed trips this year?
Source:The Times
January 10, 2025 13:45 UTC
Dunzo's co-founder to lead Flipkart's quick commerce business
Photo/AgenciesBENGALURU: Instant delivery platform Dunzo co-founder Kabeer Biswas will head Walmart-owned Flipkart 's quick commerce operations, Minutes, according to sources familiar with the matter. Through the deal, it bought a 25.8% stake in the Bengaluru-based startup. In the last few years, the startup faced severe financial difficulties, failing to pay staff salaries for more than 18 months. Biswas himself went without his salary for an extended period. With an addressable market projected to reach $20 billion by 2026, these companies are racing to expand delivery networks and lock in customer loyalty with promises of sub-15-minute deliveries.
Source:The Times
January 10, 2025 12:45 UTC
UK govt considering candidates to replace Tulip: Sunday Times
Senior allies of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are considering candidates to replace Tulip Siddiq if she is forced to quit over links to her aunt's ousted Bangladeshi regime, reports The Sunday Times. Starmer has said he has full confidence in Tulip, and a UK PM's spokesman said it was "completely untrue" to suggest the party had drawn up a shortlist. But The Times has been told some of those close to the prime minister are at least informally considering who could succeed her. Among the candidates who may be considered are the two ministerial aides to Rachel Reeves, Alistair Strathern and Imogen Walker. In her referral to Magnus, Tulip said: "I am clear that I have done nothing wrong.
Source:The Times
January 10, 2025 11:39 UTC
UK Labour Party ‘considering candidates to replace Tulip Siddiq: The Times
Starmer said he had full confidence in Tulip, and a No 10 spokesman said it was “completely untrue” to suggest the party had drawn up a shortlist. However, The Times reported that some of the close aides to the prime minister were at least informally considering who could succeed her. A spokesman for Tulip said it was “categorically wrong” to suggest the properties were linked to her support for the Awami League. Tulip says she raised the issue with the Foreign Office in the UK, who said they would raise the case with the High Commission in Dhaka. A spokesman for Tulip said, "No evidence has been presented for these allegations.
Source:The Times
January 10, 2025 10:24 UTC
China Economic Talks: UK Treasury chief heading to China to revive suspended economic and financial talks
File photo: Britain's chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves (Picture credit: AP)LONDON: Britain's treasury chief is travelling to China this weekend to discuss economic and financial cooperation between the countries, as the UK's Labour government seeks to reset strained ties with Beijing.The Treasury said Friday that Rachel Reeves will travel to Beijing and Shanghai and will meet with her Chinese government counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng.Reeves' trip is expected to revive the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, annual bilateral talks that have been suspended since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and deteriorating relations in recent years.A series of spying allegations from both sides, China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war and a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony, have soured ties.Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and the UK Financial Conduct Authority's chief executive, Nikhil Rathi, are also in the delegation, according to the Treasury. Representatives from some of Britain's biggest financial services firms will join the trip.Officials did not provide details, but media reports have said senior executives from HSBC Holdings and Standard Chartered were included.Reeves' visit comes after foreign secretary David Lammy travelled to China in October and Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil in November.The meetings form part of a bid by Starmer, who was elected as leader in July, to strengthen political and economic ties with China, the UK's fifth-largest trading partner.Officials said Starmer wanted a "pragmatic" approach to working with Beijing on global stability, climate change and the transition to clean energy.But some in the opposition Conservative Party have criticised his stance and said trade ties should not come at the expense of national security and human rights concerns.British political leaders and intelligence chiefs have warned repeatedly of the security threats that China poses. Calls to tackle the challenge grew louder last month when it emerged that an alleged Chinese spy had cultivated close ties with Prince Andrew and carried out "covert and deceptive activity" for China's ruling Communist Party, according to officials.Nevertheless, Lammy told reporters in London on Thursday that "there are many areas of trade that don't impact on national security. "He said Reeves "will repeat many of the messages that I took to China. ""What we've said is in this complex relationship with a global superpower, we are guided by three Cs": challenge, compete and cooperate, for example in areas including health and climate challenges, Lammy added.
Source:The Times
January 10, 2025 10:12 UTC
Viewpoint with Andrew Brown: Newspapers make the unimaginable seem real
You are trying to defend your country against wildly exaggerated slanders from people who know nothing much about it. You may even be trying to work out in clear historical terms who was responsible for which mistakes. Nothing that you write or think will make any difference to the narrative already established in the minds of your enemies. But they can also do, without effort, something that successful newspapers really had to work at: they can make some kinds of news unimaginable. On the internet, no human needs to keep the readers ignorant of the things that they don’t want to know.
Source:The Times
January 10, 2025 00:57 UTC
Jimmy Carter state funeral service: How, where to watch and stream the memorial
Jimmy Carter state funeral service: How to watch liveWhat time is Jimmy Carter's funeral? Where is Jimmy Carter's funeral? Where to watch Jimmy Carter's funeral on TVWhere to stream Jimmy Carter's funeral onlineWhat is Jimmy Carter's funeral schedule? (You can now subscribe to our(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channelFormer US President Jimmy Carter died aged 100 last year. His private funeral service will be in Plains, Georgia, his hometown.Carter's funeral will be broadcast on "TODAY" and NBC News.
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 18:48 UTC
BRUV Party: Can Andrew Tate pull off a Donald Trump in the UK?
What Is the BRUV Party? Tate’s Media Mastery“Andrew Tate For PM?” - Musk & Tommy Robinson BATTLE Grooming Gangs To Save The U.KIs the BRUV Party a Serious Threat? While the sentiment may appeal to some, the policy’s feasibility—let alone its popularity—remains questionable.The BRUV Party advocates for stringent immigration controls, promising a zero-tolerance approach to illegal migration. Much like Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign, Tate has used his mastery of social media to amplify his message. The BRUV Party is, for now, more a reflection of Tate’s personal brand than a serious political endeavour.The prospect of Andrew Tate’s BRUV Party reshaping British politics is, let’s face it, about as likely as tea being replaced by energy drinks as the UK’s national beverage.
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 18:02 UTC
Will Donald Trump face same fate as ex-British PM Liz Truss? Spiking US bond yields risk a situation similar to one that ousted her in 2022, Apollo chief economist says
FAQs:What significant risks are being faced by the US bond market in 2025? What is being assigned by Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slok regarding the Federal Reserve? (You can now subscribe to our(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channelUS bond markets are actually facing some significant risks in the year 2025 with potential for a ‘Liz Truss moment’ triggered by the fiscal policies of the incoming US President- elect Donald Trump administration, reported Business Insider. Adding onto that, Torsten Slok actually highlights an unusual phenomenon where bond yields are rising as the Federal Reserve cuts rates while suggesting severely underlying economic tensions.The proposed combined spending and tax cut bill of US President- elect Donald Trump could actually dramatically increase the deficit spending while potentially sparking a bond market rebellion, asserted Business Insider. At the same time, the market is already grappling with quantitative tightening unsustainable fiscal deficits and high Treasury issuances.Torsten Slok gradually assigns a 40% probability of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in the year 2025, which would be actually a shocking development for investors expecting rate cuts.
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 17:05 UTC
UK government introduces new sanctions to combat migrant smuggling networks
The UK government has announced a new sanctions regime aimed at disrupting networks responsible for smuggling tens of thousands of migrants into Britain each year. Lammy previously stated that Britain would be pursuing the manufacturers of the boats that were used by the migrant smugglers.Speaking to Times Radio, he pointed out that many of the boats and their engines are manufactured in China.When asked by the BBC if the UK would sanction these Chinese businesses, he further confirmed: “Absolutely, because when you look at those boats, where do the engines come from? Where does the rubber come from?”Lammy also highlighted that the UK would be “the first country in the world to develop legislation for a new sanctions regime specifically targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime.”The proposed sanctions, expected to take effect by the end of the year, will include banning individuals linked to people-smuggling from entering the UK, freezing their assets, and penalising those conducting business with them. However, questions remain over the policy’s effectiveness, as many smugglers operate outside British jurisdiction, limiting the reach of asset freezes.This year, over 36,800 people crossed the Channel to reach Britain, marking a quarter uptick against 2023. Government figures also show that dozens have died attempting the dangerous journey.Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to discuss migration and other issues with French President Emmanuel Macron at a summit near London on Thursday, underscoring the international dimension of the crisis.
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 16:45 UTC
I was raped 22 times by grooming gang using plastic bags instead of condoms…inquiry was chance for gov to show support
A happy child from a loving family, Christina was 14 when she fell into the clutches of an evil child sex ring. Ironically, I thought I was the one in the wrong.”If Christina ever tried to refuse the gang, her family and their home were targeted. I turned my life around.”Two years after her release, her police statement was found at the back of a filing cabinet, and Operation Tendersea, the investigation into the grooming gang was launched. “If the government won’t speak out and help young girls, then I will.”But Christina remains haunted by the ghosts of her younger years and says support for the abuse victims isn't good enough. We were just left to swim – or sink.”Read Christina’s full story in her book Groomed By A Gang (£8.99, Mirror Books).
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 15:26 UTC
Flintshire and Gwynedd among the UK's best places to live
The best places to live in the UK (in 2025) have been revealed by The Times, based on data this year rather than the usual panel of experts. Where are the UK’s best places to live – according to data? So The Times has developed a list of the best places to live in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The best places to live in Wales (2025)The best places to live in Wales in 2025, according to The Times, are:Ceredigion Powys Monmouthshire Carmarthenshire Pembrokeshire Swansea Gwynedd Neath Port Talbot Flintshire Caerphilly Conwy Wrexham The Vale of Glamorgan Torfaen Cardiff Bridgend Newport Denbighshire Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent Rhondda Cynon TafFlintshire was named the ninth best places to live in Wales in 2025. (Image: Getty Images)Gwynedd and Flintshire among top 10 best places to live in WalesTwo North Wales counties featured inside the top 10 for the best places to live in Wales in 2025 - Gwynedd (7th) and Flintshire (9th).
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 13:56 UTC
Times letters: Call for national inquiry into grooming gangs
Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, If there is to be an inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal (“Line of Inquiry”, leading article, Jan 7) it must examine the causes of child sexual exploitation. I have represented, over many years, victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and have been struck by the lack of insight into the reasons behind what they endured. Profiling offenders, tougher sentences and exposing those who failed the victims may well be very necessary, but we already know enough about what has been happening to very vulnerable young people in our country, and we owe it to them to fully understand how it came about. Only by understanding why child abuse occurs may we stand a chance on turning the
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 13:34 UTC
From when you should drink coffee before brekkie to exact minute you should have sex – the best times to do everything
EATING, exercising and even having sex at specific times of the day could help you clock up health benefits. We revealed yesterday how research has shown your morning coffee could slash the risk of a heart attack or stroke. 10 The optimal time to have breakfast is 7:11am, though anytime between 6am and 9:45am is good Credit: Getty7.11am: Breakfast time. Eating within 30 minutes of waking is best to boost metabolism and provide energy for the day ahead. 10 Bedtime sex can reduce stress and boost heart health Credit: Getty10.20pm: Have sex.
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 13:30 UTC
Merton named as one of England’s best places to live
Merton named as one of England’s best places to liveMerton has been named as one of the best places to live in England (Image: Google)A south London borough, known for hosting one of the world’s biggest tennis tournaments, has been named as one of the best places to live in the UK. The Times has named Merton as number four on a list of the UK’s best places to live, with Richmond and Sutton as number one and number eight respectively. According to data gathered by The Times, 26 per cent of Merton schools are outstanding. Merton is one of south London’s more expensive places to live, with the average house price costing £579,000. Merton was named one of the best places to live by The Times and one of the best places to retire by The Telegraph.
Source:The Times
January 09, 2025 12:55 UTC