video
Sunak to push benefit claimants into work
Rishi Sunak will end the “national scandal” of two million people who are out of work by forcing more benefits claimants to look for jobs, under plans announced in the autumn statement. Under the changes, to be revealed on Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of people with mobility and mental-health...Rishi Sunak will end the “national scandal” of two million people who are out of work by forcing more benefits claimants to look for jobs, under plans announced in the autumn statement. Under the changes, to be revealed on Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of people with mobility and mental-health...Rishi Sunak will end the “national scandal” of two million people who are out of work by forcing more benefits claimants to...
tom whipple
What Vallance told the Covid inquiry — and why it matters
Europe’s scientific advisers, it seems, had a support group. Sometimes, said Sir Patrick Vallance, they called each other during the pandemic and compared notes. Today we learnt that during one such call, someone — Vallance would not say who — made a confession. The scientist declared their leader had “enormous problems with exponential...Europe’s scientific advisers, it seems, had a support group. Sometimes, said Sir Patrick Vallance, they called each other during the pandemic and compared notes. Today we learnt that during one such call, someone — Vallance would not say who — made a confession. The scientist declared their leader had “enormous problems with exponential...Europe’s scientific advisers, it seems, had a support group. Sometimes, said Sir Patrick Vallance, they called each other...
war in ukraine
Russia has led world to brink of World War Three, says Zelensky
Russia has led the world to the brink of World War Three, President Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian president accused Moscow of “lighting fires” around the world, exporting conflicts everywhere from the Balkans to the Middle East. In an interview with The Sun, Zelensky accused President Putin of supporting the...Russia has led the world to the brink of World War Three, President Zelensky has said. The...Russia has led the world to the brink of World War Three, President Zelensky has said. The...
celebrity
Adele’s not so secret wedding
Melanie phillips
Western opinion is naive about hatred of Israel
ROBERT CRAMPTON
I’m on Team Farage — and no one is more surprised than I am
I always thought nothing could shock me more than the discovery that Nigel Farage and I were born in the same year...I always thought nothing could shock me more than the discovery that Nigel Farage and I were born...I always thought nothing could shock me more than the discovery that Nigel Farage and I were born...
INTERVIEW
Chris Packham: threats, intimidation, arson – they’ve tried everything
Evidence of man’s inhumanity to man is so plentiful that the phrase is a cliché. Man’s inhumanity to animals...Evidence of man’s inhumanity to man is so plentiful that the phrase is a cliché. Man’s inhumanity...Evidence of man’s inhumanity to man is so plentiful that the phrase is a cliché. Man’s inhumanity...
COVID INQUIRY
Sunak ‘wanted to let people die during pandemic’
Food and drink
How to cook a steak — don’t use salt, microwave it
Chefs often liberally season steak with salt before searing it but a physicist has concluded that they are wrong and...Chefs often liberally season steak with salt before searing it but a physicist has concluded that...Chefs often liberally season steak with salt before searing it but a physicist has concluded that...
SCIENCE
Fertility woes linked to having an autistic child
Rates of autism are higher in children born to parents who struggled with fertility, research shows. A study of 1.37...Rates of autism are higher in children born to parents who struggled with fertility, research shows.Rates of autism are higher in children born to parents who struggled with fertility, research shows.
UK NEWS | in pictures
Khan bursts Las Vegas Sphere plan for London
SCIENCE
Search for longer life ‘could be catastrophic’ for planet
For thousands of years, mystics sought an elixir that would grant eternal life. That they did not succeed is possibly...For thousands of years, mystics sought an elixir that would grant eternal life. That they did not...For thousands of years, mystics sought an elixir that would grant eternal life. That they did not...
澳洲幸运五开奖号码查询 The Times DIARY
David Cameron gets his title shelved
Before donning his ermine to be greeted in the Lords as “right, trusty and well-beloved counsellor (delete as...Before donning his ermine to be greeted in the Lords as “right, trusty and well-beloved...Before donning his ermine to be greeted in the Lords as “right, trusty and well-beloved...
video
Argentina’s new leader pledges to rip up the rulebook
Argentina’s radical libertarian president-elect promised mass privatisations in his first policy statement after his landslide victory on Sunday. Javier Milei, 53, who in his campaign pledged to take a figurative chainsaw to the bloated Argentinian state, listed the vast, part-nationalised energy...Argentina’s radical libertarian president-elect promised mass privatisations in his first policy statement after his landslide victory on Sunday. Javier Milei, 53, who in his campaign pledged to take a figurative chainsaw to the bloated Argentinian state, listed the vast, part-nationalised energy...Argentina’s radical libertarian president-elect promised mass privatisations in his first policy statement after his landslide...
Birthday blow for Biden as popularity slumps to new low
President Biden celebrated his 81st birthday at the White House yesterday, but the mood of any party will have been dampened by a poll suggesting that he is more unpopular than ever with voters. As the oldest person yet to serve as president, Biden has faced incessant questions about his competency for office almost since he was inaugurated...President Biden celebrated his 81st birthday at the White House yesterday, but the mood of any party will have been dampened by a poll suggesting that he is more unpopular than ever with voters. As the oldest person yet to serve as president, Biden has faced incessant questions about his competency for office almost since he was inaugurated...President Biden celebrated his 81st birthday at the White House yesterday, but the mood of any party will have been dampened by...
Hundreds behind bars in mafia crackdown
With over 300 defendants in the dock and lasting almost three years, the biggest mafia trial in Italy for 30 years has finally drawn to a close with the convictions of a former senator, two police officers and 200 mobsters. A court in Calabria, in Italy’s far south, convicted Giancarlo Pittelli, a former senator...With over 300 defendants in the dock and lasting almost three years, the biggest mafia trial in...With over 300 defendants in the dock and lasting almost three years, the biggest mafia trial in...
video
middle east crisis
Watch the moment Yemeni rebels hijack ‘Israeli’ cargo ship
video
Middle East crisis
CCTV ‘shows Hamas taking hostages into al-Shifa hospital’
PHOTOGRAPHY
Spotted in the wild: 13 pictures that capture leopards’ plight
Remembering Leopards by Wildlife Photographers United is published by Remembering Wildlife and available for £49.50 at www.rememberingwildlife.com. All proceeds go to leopard conservation. For more pictures from 澳洲幸运五开奖号码查询 The Times, follow us on InstagramRemembering Leopards by Wildlife Photographers United is published by Remembering Wildlife and...Remembering Leopards by Wildlife Photographers United is published by Remembering Wildlife and...
US finally cleans up site of Oppenheimer’s Manhattan Project
More than 80 years after the United States started the Manhattan Project, its government has started cleaning up the radioactive remnants of its race to build nuclear weapons in New York. The Army Corps of Engineers removed...More than 80 years after the United States started the Manhattan Project, its government has started cleaning up the radioactive remnants of its race to build nuclear weapons in New York. The Army Corps of Engineers removed...More than 80 years after the United States started the Manhattan Project, its government has started cleaning up the...
French trains give no platform to gender-neutral titles
French society is not ready for gender-neutral titles, according to the state rail operator SNCF, which is being sued for asking passengers to choose between monsieur and madame when booking tickets. SNCF set out its arguments...French society is not ready for gender-neutral titles, according to the state rail operator SNCF, which is being sued for asking passengers to choose between monsieur and madame when booking tickets. SNCF set out its arguments...French society is not ready for gender-neutral titles, according to the state rail operator SNCF, which is being sued...
video
War in Ukraine
We’re with you for long haul, US tells Kyiv
video
Shakira pays €7m to avoid prison for tax fraud
Shakira has reached a settlement with Spanish prosecutors to avoid a prison sentence for allegedly defrauding the state of €14.5 million. The case could have resulted in an eight-year jail term and a €24 million fine for the pop star. But after...Shakira has reached a settlement with Spanish prosecutors to avoid a prison sentence for...Shakira has reached a settlement with Spanish prosecutors to avoid a prison sentence for...
OpenAI staff in revolt over Altman firing
The future of OpenAI was in the balance last night as the overwhelming majority of staff threatened to leave the ChatGPT creator unless the board resigned and the company reappointed Sam Altman as chief executive, reversing a dramatic boardroom coup. Employees, investors and even the new interim...The future of OpenAI was in the balance last night as the overwhelming majority of staff threatened to leave the ChatGPT creator unless the board resigned and the company reappointed Sam Altman as chief executive, reversing a dramatic boardroom coup. Employees, investors and even the new interim...The future of OpenAI was in the balance last night as the overwhelming majority of staff threatened to leave the ChatGPT...
Abu Dhabi-backed group on verge of deal to take over Telegraph
An Abu Dhabi-backed consortium has struck a deal to repay the Barclay family’s bank debts in a move that could pave the way for a foreign takeover of the Telegraph. An American investment firm has teamed up with a media investor from the emirate to provide loans to refinance the Barclay family’s debt to Lloyds Bank after the lender seized...An Abu Dhabi-backed consortium has struck a deal to repay the Barclay family’s bank debts in a move that could pave the way for a foreign takeover of the Telegraph. An American investment firm has teamed up with a media investor from the emirate to provide loans to refinance the Barclay family’s debt to Lloyds Bank after the lender seized...An Abu Dhabi-backed consortium has struck a deal to repay the Barclay family’s bank debts in a move that could pave the way for...
economy
Lower borrowing bill gives Hunt a boost before autumn statement
newThe chancellor has been handed a further pre-autumn statement boost as official figures this morning showed that the government borrowed £16.9 billion less than expected so far this year. The government borrowed £14.9 billion in October, the second-highest figure for that month since records began in 1993 and above...The chancellor has been handed a further pre-autumn statement boost as official figures this...The chancellor has been handed a further pre-autumn statement boost as official figures this...
business commentary
Only humans can mess up like this
More proof that the AI revolution is yet to arrive. Who could imagine robots making as big a screw-up of a company’s...More proof that the AI revolution is yet to arrive. Who could imagine robots making as big a...More proof that the AI revolution is yet to arrive. Who could imagine robots making as big a...
Comment
Striking a balance between tax cuts and inflation is no easy challenge
The game of chicken between financial markets and central bankers took another turn last week, when investors...The game of chicken between financial markets and central bankers took another turn last week...The game of chicken between financial markets and central bankers took another turn last week...
Spin-out founders set to gain more financial benefits
Academics and students who commercialise their ideas are set to gain greater financial benefits from their efforts after the government accepted the recommendations of a review into the way in which universities support spin-outs. The Treasury launched the review in March as part of the chancellor’s plan to nurture “the world’s next Silicon Valley”. It came after...Academics and students who commercialise their ideas are set to gain greater financial benefits...Academics and students who commercialise their ideas are set to gain greater financial benefits...
Comment | Nathan Benaich
Unlocking tech potential won’t be painless — but it must be public
newBefore I joined the venture capital industry in 2013, I’d planned to train as a physician-scientist, with a focus on...Before I joined the venture capital industry in 2013, I’d planned to train as a physician-scientist, with a focus on translational medicine. During the undergraduate summers that I spent at MIT, I saw the power of the Boston biotech ecosystem. This engine translated research breakthroughs from the lab into spinouts...Before I joined the venture capital industry in 2013, I’d planned to train as a physician-scientist, with a focus on...
Tempus
Compass must map out growth plan
The easy gains are behind Compass. The powerhouse catering group has generated extraordinary revenue growth over the...The easy gains are behind Compass. The powerhouse catering group has generated extraordinary...The easy gains are behind Compass. The powerhouse catering group has generated extraordinary...
Comment
Growing old is not a liability but can help to advance our economy
Last week was Longevity Week, a chance to think about the challenges and opportunities that past increases in life...Last week was Longevity Week, a chance to think about the challenges and opportunities that past...Last week was Longevity Week, a chance to think about the challenges and opportunities that past...
Need to know
Your three-minute digest
RECRUITMENT
Fill the skills gap with teaching role
Improving the nation’s skills is vital if the UK is to remain globally competitive. Now a new campaign is urging professionals to take up a part-time teaching role in further education (FE) alongside their current job. The “Teach in FE” drive aims to tackle the shortages that have left one in 20 further education teaching roles vacant, alongside 2.6 per cent of college...Improving the nation’s skills is vital if the UK is to remain globally competitive. Now a new...Improving the nation’s skills is vital if the UK is to remain globally competitive. Now a new...
SIX FROM THE BEST
Learn from your peers. No one has a monopoly on good ideas
The energy boss Bill Bullen pioneered the use of smart meters in the UK. As founder of pay-as-you-go energy firm...The energy boss Bill Bullen pioneered the use of smart meters in the UK. As founder of pay-as-you-go energy firm Utilita, he has pledged to help customers go greener and spend less through smart data use. The engineering graduate quit a lucrative career at British Gas to challenge the Big Six. Here is his advice to...The energy boss Bill Bullen pioneered the use of smart meters in the UK. As founder of pay-as-you-go energy firm Utilita, he...
Football
Mendy to sue City for millions in unpaid salary
Benjamin Mendy has launched a multimillion-pound lawsuit against his former club Manchester City, claiming unauthorised deductions from his wages between 2021 and 2023. The 29-year-old defender, who is now at the Ligue One side Lorient, is making the claim to an employment tribunal. It is alleged...Benjamin Mendy has launched a multimillion-pound lawsuit against his former club Manchester City, claiming unauthorised deductions from his wages between 2021 and 2023. The 29-year-old defender, who is now at the Ligue One side Lorient, is making the claim to an employment tribunal. It is alleged...Benjamin Mendy has launched a multimillion-pound lawsuit against his former club Manchester City, claiming unauthorised...
EURO 2024 QUALIFYING | HENRY WINTER
Tough questions for Southgate after Kane rescue act
In the city of statues, England must have been tempted to erect one to Harry Kane. He is a colossal figure for his country. Without him, England laboured for almost an hour. With Kane, they immediately looked more secure, more certain in their movements and they equalised within 40 seconds of his arrival, Kane forcing an own goal by Jani...In the city of statues, England must have been tempted to erect one to Harry Kane. He is a colossal figure for his country. Without him, England laboured for almost an hour. With Kane, they immediately looked more secure, more certain in their movements and they equalised within 40 seconds of his arrival, Kane forcing an own goal by Jani...In the city of statues, England must have been tempted to erect one to Harry Kane. He is a colossal figure for his country.
rugby union | JOHN WESTERBY
With Earl injured and Vunipola ageing, who is England’s next No 8?
newFinding a suitable candidate to pack down at No 8 has been a recurring problem for successive England coaches in recent years. Steve Borthwick looked to have taken a significant step in the right direction with his choice of Ben Earl, whose energetic performances were one of the brightest elements of England’s...Finding a suitable candidate to pack down at No 8 has been a recurring problem for successive...Finding a suitable candidate to pack down at No 8 has been a recurring problem for successive...
football | TOM ALLNUTT
What’s behind the shocking rise in fan violence in Europe?
tennis | Dan evans interview
‘I want to coach and give back – not chase money like some pundits’
Dan Evans should be in sunny Malaga preparing to play a key role for Great Britain in their bid for Davis Cup glory...Dan Evans should be in sunny Malaga preparing to play a key role for Great Britain in their bid...Dan Evans should be in sunny Malaga preparing to play a key role for Great Britain in their bid...
football | Henry Winter
Three Lions v one Lionel: missing date with greatness may never take place
England have never faced Lionel Messi. In their long, celebrated history they have played against greats such as Pelé...England have never faced Lionel Messi. In their long, celebrated history they have played against...England have never faced Lionel Messi. In their long, celebrated history they have played against...
formula one
Laps and naps – sleepy drivers demand change to Las Vegas timings
Formula 1 drivers have requested that the timings of the Las Vegas Grand Prix be amended for next year. Not only the start times of qualifying and the race itself, but also where it falls in the calendar. The race was held at 10pm local time on...Formula 1 drivers have requested that the timings of the Las Vegas Grand Prix be amended for next...Formula 1 drivers have requested that the timings of the Las Vegas Grand Prix be amended for next...
Cricket World Cup | steve james
Sharp eyes, huge heart: why ICC is wrong to omit Head from World Cup XI
INTERVIEW
Chris Packham: threats, intimidation, arson – they’ve tried everything
The wildlife campaigner and presenter talks about the death threats, libels and arsonists with which he has had to contend, as well as his more positive relationships
health
How to get fit in 20 minutes
The latest research says 20 minutes of exercise a day is enough. Peta Bee asks the experts for their tips
LIFE
I tried Bear Grylls’s mental health app for men. Did it work?
Could a daily ‘workout for the head’ save us from depression and stress? Simon Mills gives it a trial run
ROBERT CRAMPTON
I’m on Team Farage — and no one is more surprised than I am
LIFE
Guys, what’s with your Napoleon complex? (Not the one you think)
Yes, he was a lover and a fighter, but why are men so fixated on the French emperor, asks Hannah Betts
celebrity
Adele’s not so secret wedding
Dr Mark Porter
It’s not just cervical cancer that the HPV vaccine may help to prevent
NHS England has pledged to eliminate cancer of the cervix by 2040 using the combination of an updated human...NHS England has pledged to eliminate cancer of the cervix by 2040 using the combination of an...NHS England has pledged to eliminate cancer of the cervix by 2040 using the combination of an...
health
Are wellness shots worth it? The nutritionist’s (damning) verdict
Once downed only by health fanatics, little bottles of ginger or turmeric are now everywhere on the high street, from...Once downed only by health fanatics, little bottles of ginger or turmeric are now everywhere on...Once downed only by health fanatics, little bottles of ginger or turmeric are now everywhere on...
MY CULTURE FIX
Michael Caine: I’d love to see Coldplay again
movinG storIES
‘We live above the theatre where we had our first date’
First night reviews
critics' choice
The best classical concerts and opera: our reviews
updatedHere are some of the best concerts and opera performances our critics have seen in the past few weeks. We’ll also point out when you can catch up with further performances or on-demand streams of these events. Feel free to join in the conversation...Here are some of the best concerts and opera performances our critics have seen in the past few...Here are some of the best concerts and opera performances our critics have seen in the past few...
first night | pop
Dave Stewart — revisiting the Eurythmics hits without Annie Lennox
first night | dance
The Dante Project — stunning choreography, shame about the designs
first night | classical
Personhood — merry mayhem kicks off the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
first night | pop
Ed Sheeran — his flop of a new album gets the full band treatment
VIEWING GUIDE
What’s on TV and radio tonight
MindGames
澳洲幸运五开奖号码查询 The Times Daily Quiz
tv review
I’m a Celebrity — Farage gives poor snake scare of its life
★★☆☆☆
“I am,” remarked Marvin Humes, TV presenter and member of the four-piece boyband JLS, as he was about to...★★☆☆☆
“I am,” remarked Marvin Humes, TV presenter and member of the four-piece boyband JLS, as...★★☆☆☆
“I am,” remarked Marvin Humes, TV presenter and member of the four-piece boyband JLS, as...
INTERVIEW
‘Childhood pain drove him’: The truth about my father, Cary Grant
When Jennifer Grant was researching Archie, the four-part ITVX biopic of her father, the Hollywood legend Cary Grant, she and the screenwriter Jeff Pope visited Bristol, where Grant was born — named Archie Leach — in 1904 into extreme...When Jennifer Grant was researching Archie, the four-part ITVX biopic of her father...When Jennifer Grant was researching Archie, the four-part ITVX biopic of her father...
fashion
‘There have been tears in the changing room’ — Daisy Knatchbull on bespoke suits for women
How Savile Row’s The Deck has revolutionised female tailoring. By Anna Murphy
GIFT GUIDE 2023
Ten superyachts to buy in time for Christmas
It’s the ultimate gift — just don’t try to fit it under the tree. By Stewart Campbell
watches
Cogs of war: Napoleon’s timepieces
Bonaparte and his extended family not only ruled Europe — they were also great watch lovers
photography
A new exhibition reveals the magic of the celebrity Polaroid
Steven Klein is known for his glossy, poised images of the famous, but just as compelling are these previously unseen photographs from a time before Instagram
City break
I’ve visited Brussels a dozen times — this is why I love it
It’s a lazy stereotype to label this city as boring when it is home to contemporary art, natural wine bars, live music and much more. Plus your 48-hour guide
Middle east
The Middle East’s most unexpected foodie city break
The Sunday Times’ restaurant critic Charlotte Ivers tucks into Jordan’s lesser-explored capital Amman for a trip packed with history — and hummus
SKI
My stay at the £26,000-a-night Swiss hotel loved by the A list
The hedonistic Badrutt’s Palace has hosted Hitchcock and Hepburn — and its most extravagant penthouse suite is now available to book. Our writer finds out who checks in
UK
Seven fabulously festive ice-skating rinks to visit this Christmas
From a Swiss ski resort-inspired setting to the battlements of a medieval castle, these are the most magical rinks in Britain
Winter sun
I returned to the pink beach island I loved as a teen — with my children
Two decades since her first visit to Bermuda, our writer heads back to see if it holds the same appeal for her young family
Kathy Lette | Travel troubleshooter
‘Where should I go for my first post-divorce holiday?’
Something to declare
I want my free hotel breakfast buffet back
Attention, travelling public! I’m sorry to report that a worrying trend has overtaken hotels. It has nothing to do...Attention, travelling public! I’m sorry to report that a worrying trend has overtaken hotels. It...Attention, travelling public! I’m sorry to report that a worrying trend has overtaken hotels. It...
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
Win a £1,000 gift certificate from Relais & Châteaux
I didn’t want to hand over control of the day to my friend. But it’s his car and he’s driving. So, instead, I’m...I didn’t want to hand over control of the day to my friend. But it’s his car and he’s driving. So...I didn’t want to hand over control of the day to my friend. But it’s his car and he’s driving. So...
weather eye
Small problem with Brussels sprouts
announcements
Births, marriages and deaths: November 21, 2023
from the archive
Lon Chaney is a wonderful Quasimodo
court circular
November 20, 2023
澳洲幸运五开奖号码查询 The Times Daily Quiz
Fifteen questions to get you thinking
Printable Puzzles
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
£1.8bn of homes lie empty in Edinburgh
Survey shows that a shocking 7,000 properties are vacant despite high rents
Edinburgh is known for being one of the hardest cities in which to find a home, with tens of thousands on waiting lists. But now it has emerged that thousands of properties lie empty across the capital, adding to the shortage. Nearly 7,000 Edinburgh homes, collectively worth £1.8 billion, are...Edinburgh is known for being one of the hardest cities in which to find a home, with tens of thousands on waiting lists. But now it has emerged that thousands of properties lie empty across the capital, adding to the shortage. Nearly 7,000 Edinburgh homes, collectively worth £1.8 billion, are...Edinburgh is known for being one of the hardest cities in which to find a home, with tens of thousands on waiting lists. But...
168幸运澳洲5历史开奖记录 Comment
British complacency over defence has to end
William Hague
The army is remote to most of us and investing in security is deemed unethical — but we need to wise up to new threats
Melanie phillips
Western opinion is naive about hatred of Israel
SUSIE GOLDSBROUGH
We need to talk about young women and drink
GILES COREN | NOTEBOOK
Don’t stop at Diana — let’s have all the royal ghosts
jawad iqbal
BBC journalists have no place in extradition cases
SARA TOR | NOTEBOOK
This will end with talking, so let’s have a ceasefire now
Gaza needs a ceasefire now. The majority of our MPs couldn’t call for this in the vote last Wednesday, but I’m not afraid to say it: the conflict in the Middle East needs to stop immediately. I’m aware that Israel may be hesitant; that in its eyes...Gaza needs a ceasefire now. The majority of our MPs couldn’t call for this in the vote last...Gaza needs a ceasefire now. The majority of our MPs couldn’t call for this in the vote last...
Leading Articles
Treading Softly
Rishi Sunak is right to begin the process of lowering taxes in the autumn statement. But to reassure the markets he must control burgeoning public spending
Don’t Cry for Me
Argentina’s new president is determined to overturn decades of misgovernment
Foraging Farage
The former Ukip leader is taking a calculated risk by appearing in I’m a Celebrity …
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Unrest over plan to ignore Human Rights Act
Sir, You report that some ministers want to disapply the European Convention on Human Rights in asylum cases (“Sunak faces cabinet row on new plan for Rwanda”, Nov 20). Before going down that route it is worth establishing precisely what would...Sir, You report that some ministers want to disapply the European Convention on Human Rights in...Sir, You report that some ministers want to disapply the European Convention on Human Rights in...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: President Yoon of South Korea, with his wife Kim Keon-hee, begins a state visit to the UK, including an address by Yoon to parliament this afternoon followed by a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in the evening, hosted by the King; the Commons justice committee holds an evidence session on the future prison population and estate capacity with Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons; UK Space Conference begins in Belfast; Wales v Turkey Euro 2024 qualifying match at Cardiff City Stadium.
On this day
In 1789 North Carolina became the 12th state of the USA. The state capital is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who had chartered two colonies on the territory’s coast in the late 1580s; in 1918, ten days after the First World War ended, 70 German battleships, cruisers and destroyers sailed into the Firth of Forth ready for internment at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands; in 1980 the first BBC Children in Need telethon was broadcast live from Elstree Studios. It was presented by Terry Wogan, Sue Lawley and Esther Rantzen and raised £1 million for charities; in 1996 the United Nations general assembly designated November 21 as World Television Day. A two-day forum had been held to discuss the growing significance of television. In 2012, February 13 was designated World Radio Day.
Nature notes
Most weeds are drying or rotting down for the year now. Burdock — both lesser and greater — often remains, a tangle of tough stalks, dead leaves and the prickly burs for which it is named. Each round, spiky bur was once a purple, thistle-like flower and is now a seed-head armed with long hooks that catch on to passing animals (or people) and are carried to a new place. Burdock often appears in landscape paintings, including those by Gainsborough, Constable and Turner; the burs are also central to the “Burry Man” ceremony held every August in South Queensferry. Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison
Birthdays today
Alex Baldock, chief executive, Currys (retailer), 53; Björk, singer, It’s Oh So Quiet (1995), 58; Tina Brown (Lady Evans), journalist, former editor-in-chief of Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, 70; Andrew Caddick, cricketer, England (1993-2003), 55; Lord (Mervyn) Davies of Abersoch, banker, senior adviser at Corsair Capital, minister for trade, investment and business (2009-10), 71; Sir Charles Dunstone, founder (1989) of Carphone Warehouse, chairman, Talktalk Telecom Group, The Prince’s Trust (2009-15), 59; Amelia Freedman, founder (1964) and artistic director, Nash Ensemble, 83; Preet Gill, Labour (Co-op) MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, shadow primary care and public health minister, 51; Nickolas Grace, actor, Brideshead Revisited (1981), 76; Richard Hannon, racehorse trainer, 48; Goldie Hawn, actress, The First Wives Club (1996), 78; Alex James, bass guitarist with Blur and cheesemaker, 55; Lord (Stanley) Kalms, former chairman of Dixons Retail, 92; Peter Kyle, chairman, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (2011-22), 75; Jacques Laffite, Formula One driver (1974-86), 80; Justin Langer, cricketer, Australia (1993-2007), head coach of Australia (2018-22), 53; Natalia Makarova, prima ballerina and choreographer, 83; Juliet Mills, actress, Avanti! (1972), 82; Prof Susan Philipsz, artist, Day is Done (2014), and Turner prizewinner (2010), 58; Tim Robinson, England cricketer (1984-89), and umpire, 65; Dani Rowe (née King) track cyclist, Olympic gold medallist (2012), 33; Prof Sir Peter Rubin, chairman, General Medical Council (2009-14), 75; Brian Scovell, sports writer and author, former chairman of the Cricket Writers’ Club and the Football Writers’ Association, 88; Nicollette Sheridan, actress, Desperate Housewives (2004-09), 60; Michel Suleiman, president of Lebanon (2008-14), 75; Liza Tarbuck, actress, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), and presenter, BBC Radio 2, 59; Dame Kate Thirlwall, lady justice of appeal, senior presiding judge of England and Wales (2020-1), 66; Georgie Twigg, hockey player, Olympic gold medallist (2016), 33; Lord (Peter) Weir of Ballyholme, politician, education minister in the Northern Ireland Executive (2016-17, 2020-21), 55.