Quarter of parents would quit private schools if VAT added to fees
Survey casts doubt on Labour’s claim policy will raise £1.6bn
newOne in four wealthy parents plan to remove their children from private school if VAT is added to fees, a poll has found. Others plan to move house so children who are boarding can remain as day pupils, which can save more than £10,000 a year, or to be near a cheaper private school. The survey of...One in four wealthy parents plan to remove their children from private school if VAT is added to fees, a poll has found. Others plan to move house so children who are boarding can remain as day pupils, which can save more than £10,000 a year, or to be near a cheaper private school. The survey of...One in four wealthy parents plan to remove their children from private school if VAT is added to fees, a poll has found. Others...
video
middle east crisis
Allies call for restraint after Israeli airstrikes inside Iran
liveTehran has said that it does not plan an immediate military retaliation after Israel reportedly launched an attack inside Iranian territory. The overnight strikes, which Iran said were limited to drone attacks by “infiltrators from inside Iran”, were in response to missile and drone attacks on Israel six days ago. The strikes have been met...Tehran has said that it does not plan an immediate military retaliation after Israel reportedly launched an attack inside Iranian territory. The overnight strikes, which Iran said were limited to drone attacks by “infiltrators from inside Iran”, were in response to missile and drone attacks on Israel six days ago. The strikes have been met...Tehran has said that it does not plan an immediate military retaliation after Israel reportedly launched an attack inside...
health
Fasting diets not a ‘magical’ solution for weight loss, study finds
Trendy intermittent fasting diets offer no “magical” weight loss solution and it is more important to stay focused on cutting calories, scientists have found. The practice of intermittent fasting — when you only eat during a set time window each day such as 12pm to 8pm — has been credited by celebrities as the...Trendy intermittent fasting diets offer no “magical” weight loss solution and it is more...Trendy intermittent fasting diets offer no “magical” weight loss solution and it is more...
Editor's picks
interview | health
I hide the chocolate from him: my life with the 5:2 diet doctor
Health | first person
My friend and I have cancer. We’re making the most of it
Just over a year ago, I wrote a piece for The Times about my cancer diagnosis. A regular checkup with my GP in...Just over a year ago, I wrote a piece for The Times about my cancer diagnosis. A regular...Just over a year ago, I wrote a piece for The Times about my cancer diagnosis. A regular...
first person
Do I have ADHD? Might explain the drugs, chaos and oversharing
I have a scattered and chaotic mind. Lately, I’ve been taking drugs designed for people with attention deficit...I have a scattered and chaotic mind. Lately, I’ve been taking drugs designed for people with...I have a scattered and chaotic mind. Lately, I’ve been taking drugs designed for people with...
Politics
politics
Labour calls for police investigation of Tory MP over fraud claims
‘Jekyll and Hyde’ MP has to go, says local councillor
MEDIA
The Times and The Sunday Times scoop top honours at the Press Awards
The Times and The Sunday Times have been crowned Daily Newspaper of the Year and Sunday Newspaper of the Year at the prestigious Press Awards celebrating the best of British journalism. In a successful night for both papers, The Times was praised...The Times and The Sunday Times have been crowned Daily Newspaper of the Year and Sunday Newspaper...The Times and The Sunday Times have been crowned Daily Newspaper of the Year and Sunday Newspaper...
arts
‘Wickedness’ of Byron’s memoirs revealed in newly found letter
Their destruction has been called the greatest literary crime in history. Now, a newly uncovered letter has shed fresh light on the “wickedness” of Lord Byron’s missing memoirs. The Romantic poet, who was 36 when he died in 1824, had entrusted the...Their destruction has been called the greatest literary crime in history. Now, a newly uncovered...Their destruction has been called the greatest literary crime in history. Now, a newly uncovered...
MEDIA
BBC World Service director resigns amid cutback fears
The director of the BBC World Service has quit over anticipated sweeping cuts. Liliane Landor, 68, is to leave the...The director of the BBC World Service has quit over anticipated sweeping cuts. Liliane Landor, 68...The director of the BBC World Service has quit over anticipated sweeping cuts. Liliane Landor, 68...
THE TIMES DIARY
London Marathon’s MPs have eyes on the finish line
British politicians stand for their legislature, Americans run. Except on Sunday when a record 18 MPs, 14 of them...British politicians stand for their legislature, Americans run. Except on Sunday when a record 18...British politicians stand for their legislature, Americans run. Except on Sunday when a record 18...
PHOTOGRAPHY
The world’s best pictures: from the American wilderness to Maya beekeepers
The Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition 2024 runs from April 19 to May 6 at Somerset House, London, WC2R 1LA
The Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition 2024 runs from April 19 to May 6 at Somerset House...The Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition 2024 runs from April 19 to May 6 at Somerset House...
courts
Couple accused of hiring hitman: ‘They must have something on us’
A shopkeeper and his mistress accused of hiring a hitman to kill his wife were secretly recorded asking what police “have on us” more than 40 years after the murder, a court was told. In the summer of 1981 Carol Morgan was...A shopkeeper and his mistress accused of hiring a hitman to kill his wife were secretly recorded asking what police “have on us” more than 40 years after the murder, a court was told. In the summer of 1981 Carol Morgan was...A shopkeeper and his mistress accused of hiring a hitman to kill his wife were secretly recorded asking what police...
PM’s wife in line for multimillion-pound Infosys payout
The wife of the prime minister is due another multimillion-pound payment related to her holding in Infosys, the IT multinational co-founded by her father. Akshata Murty owns a 0.94 per cent stake, worth about £650 million, in...The wife of the prime minister is due another multimillion-pound payment related to her holding in Infosys, the IT multinational co-founded by her father. Akshata Murty owns a 0.94 per cent stake, worth about £650 million, in...The wife of the prime minister is due another multimillion-pound payment related to her holding in Infosys, the IT...
video
Tenerife fights back against developers threatening last untouched beaches
Extreme measures to halt hotel development
Silent mountains to the northeast seem to stand guard over the red, rocky, almost lunar landscape. Banana plantations are dotted between the occasional lean-to shack near the shoreline and the lapping waters. It could be a picture-postcard image of “getting away from it all”. But threatening the...Silent mountains to the northeast seem to stand guard over the red, rocky, almost lunar landscape. Banana plantations are dotted between the occasional lean-to shack near the shoreline and the lapping waters. It could be a picture-postcard image of “getting away from it all”. But threatening the...Silent mountains to the northeast seem to stand guard over the red, rocky, almost lunar landscape. Banana plantations are...
Spain tourism drive raises fears over ‘Ibiza of the north’
The Magdalena palace rises dramatically at the end of Santander’s peninsula. Its English and Scottish architecture recalls the British-born Queen of Spain who, every summer, resided here in this northern port city. From 1912 until the advent of Spain’s second republic in 1931, Victoria Eugenie and her husband, Alfonso XIII, decamped to the...The Magdalena palace rises dramatically at the end of Santander’s peninsula. Its English and Scottish architecture recalls the British-born Queen of Spain who, every summer, resided here in this northern port city. From 1912 until the advent of Spain’s second republic in 1931, Victoria Eugenie and her husband, Alfonso XIII, decamped to the...The Magdalena palace rises dramatically at the end of Santander’s peninsula. Its English and Scottish architecture recalls the...
Anthony Loyd in Kyiv
I’m fighting so my children don’t have to: a Ukrainian mother at war
Mariana Zhaglo has never kept a war diary. She once said she did not want her children to read the details of what she has seen and done. She would not wish its pages to describe how the original 100 volunteers in her infantry company were whittled down to ten survivors; how the Ukrainian dead lie unclaimed among...Mariana Zhaglo has never kept a war diary. She once said she did not want her children to read...Mariana Zhaglo has never kept a war diary. She once said she did not want her children to read...
ANALYSIS
Why did Israel attack Iran and what happens next?
Iran had promised a “massive and harsh response” to “even the tiniest invasion” by Israel, but has now poured cold water over reports of an attack on its territory. Minutes after explosions were heard over Isfahan, a central city that is home to a...Iran had promised a “massive and harsh response” to “even the tiniest invasion” by Israel, but...Iran had promised a “massive and harsh response” to “even the tiniest invasion” by Israel, but...
Leading AfD member charged with using Nazi-era slogan
A leading member of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has appeared in court to face charges of using...A leading member of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has appeared in court to...A leading member of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has appeared in court to...
video
Song hails Kim Jong-un amid signs of cooling in father’s cult
North Korea has broadcast a new song in praise of its supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, accompanied by a video of ecstatic...North Korea has broadcast a new song in praise of its supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, accompanied by...North Korea has broadcast a new song in praise of its supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, accompanied by...
video
Indonesian volcano erupts forcing thousands to evacuate
Thousands of people are being evacuated, flights have been cancelled and the authorities have warned of potential tsunamis as an island volcano in eastern Indonesia continues to erupt, sending out fiery lava and clouds of ash miles into the air.Thousands of people are being evacuated, flights have been cancelled and the authorities have...Thousands of people are being evacuated, flights have been cancelled and the authorities have...
Joe Biden, his war pilot uncle and a disputed claim about cannibals
President Biden’s claim that his uncle’s body was not recovered during the Second World War because of the risk of...President Biden’s claim that his uncle’s body was not recovered during the Second World War...President Biden’s claim that his uncle’s body was not recovered during the Second World War...
The Richard Beeston Bursary 2024
Applications are invited for the Richard Beeston Bursary 2024, offered in association with The Times. Richard was a...Applications are invited for the Richard Beeston Bursary 2024, offered in association with The...Applications are invited for the Richard Beeston Bursary 2024, offered in association with The...
film
Leonardo DiCaprio is tipped to play Frank Sinatra. Can he sing?
Martin Scorsese is working on a new Frank Sinatra biopic with Leonardo DiCaprio set to play Ol’ Blue Eyes, it has been reported. The 81-year-old director, whose parents — like Sinatra’s — were first-generation Sicilian Americans, has made no...Martin Scorsese is working on a new Frank Sinatra biopic with Leonardo DiCaprio set to play Ol’...Martin Scorsese is working on a new Frank Sinatra biopic with Leonardo DiCaprio set to play Ol’...
US election
gerard baker
In truth, this is the week that parody died
In case you missed it, parody died this week. It had been ailing for some time, steadily enfeebled by the growing...In case you missed it, parody died this week. It had been ailing for some time, steadily...In case you missed it, parody died this week. It had been ailing for some time, steadily...
video
US ELECTION
Trump’s jury selected after one member is dismissed for ‘lying’
The 12 members of the jury for Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York have been seated, after an earlier setback...The 12 members of the jury for Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York have been seated, after...The 12 members of the jury for Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York have been seated, after...
Unilever boss waters down plastic pledges
Unilever has watered down a series of environmental and social pledges months after its boss said it would stop “force-fitting” social justice messaging on to its brands. Hein Schumacher, who became chief executive last year, has made his intentions clear since taking over from Alan Jope, who...Unilever has watered down a series of environmental and social pledges months after its boss said it would stop “force-fitting” social justice messaging on to its brands. Hein Schumacher, who became chief executive last year, has made his intentions clear since taking over from Alan Jope, who...Unilever has watered down a series of environmental and social pledges months after its boss said it would stop “force-fitting”...
Rate-rigging ruling misguided and incorrect, say Euribor founders
The creators of an interest rate benchmark that underpins trillions of euros of loans have accused English courts of repeatedly ignoring the “meaning and intention” behind rules they drew up, leading to traders being sent to jail in error. Three founding members of the steering committee for Euribor issued a statement in which said they had...The creators of an interest rate benchmark that underpins trillions of euros of loans have accused English courts of repeatedly ignoring the “meaning and intention” behind rules they drew up, leading to traders being sent to jail in error. Three founding members of the steering committee for Euribor issued a statement in which said they had...The creators of an interest rate benchmark that underpins trillions of euros of loans have accused English courts of repeatedly...
Thames Water submits plan to raise bills by 56%
Thames Water is understood to have resubmitted a business plan to the industry regulator based on a much sharper rise in bills than had been thought before now. It envisions households having to foot an increase in charges of 56 per cent over the next five years. The government is finalising a renationalisation plan...Thames Water is understood to have resubmitted a business plan to the industry regulator based on...Thames Water is understood to have resubmitted a business plan to the industry regulator based on...
BUSINESS COMMENTARY
Investors should buckle up, flights could get bumpy
Airline stocks including those of IAG and easyJet have failed to regain altitude since they were battered by the...Airline stocks including those of IAG and easyJet have failed to regain altitude since they were...Airline stocks including those of IAG and easyJet have failed to regain altitude since they were...
comment
Thames Water cannot escape that sinking feeling
The swirling seas around Thames Water will become a bit darker next week when it is expected to go public with the...
The swirling seas around Thames Water will become a bit darker next week when it is expected to...
The swirling seas around Thames Water will become a bit darker next week when it is expected to...
How Greece got back on its feet after world’s longest recession
newThe Greek financial crisis more than a decade ago almost wiped out Thanassis Tzoukas. He lost his job, the tiling company he worked for went bankrupt and any prospect of finding steady employment evaporated. He and his family survived only thanks...The Greek financial crisis more than a decade ago almost wiped out Thanassis Tzoukas. He lost his...The Greek financial crisis more than a decade ago almost wiped out Thanassis Tzoukas. He lost his...
MARKET REPORT
American dream is proving elusive for Rentokil
For a business whose role in life is to calm nerves and remove nasty pests and irritants, Rentokil wasn’t exactly...For a business whose role in life is to calm nerves and remove nasty pests and irritants...For a business whose role in life is to calm nerves and remove nasty pests and irritants...
Comment
The company that eats together stays together
I was in the City one evening last week, going past the London headquarters of Bank of America. I noticed that a...I was in the City one evening last week, going past the London headquarters of Bank of America. I...I was in the City one evening last week, going past the London headquarters of Bank of America. I...
Consumer confidence at its highest in two years
Consumer confidence rose to its highest level in two years in the last quarter, boosted by a sharp improvement in sentiment among younger people. Deloitte’s consumer confidence index rose to a net balance of -11 per cent in the first three months...Consumer confidence rose to its highest level in two years in the last quarter, boosted by a...Consumer confidence rose to its highest level in two years in the last quarter, boosted by a...
recruitment
A life of luxury, or how to build your career in the sector
The soaring cost of living may have dampened conventional consumer spending, but at the luxury end of the market the tills are still ringing. The flourishing British luxury sector has grown by 69 per cent in only five years and is now worth an impressive £81 billion a year to the economy. Companies operating in the market produce a vast range of exclusive products, from...The soaring cost of living may have dampened conventional consumer spending, but at the luxury...The soaring cost of living may have dampened conventional consumer spending, but at the luxury...
recruitment | six from the best
Scale through technology, not people. The possibilities are incredible
Famous for inventing the commercial diary in 1812, the Letts Group has evolved to become a branded venture group...Famous for inventing the commercial diary in 1812, the Letts Group has evolved to become a branded venture group, developing media, technology and climate enterprises. Philip Letts, its chairman, is a serial entrepreneur with moire than 25 years’ experience in building and exiting businesses. Here he shares his...Famous for inventing the commercial diary in 1812, the Letts Group has evolved to become a branded venture group, developing...
football | Martin Hardy
Premier League is world’s best… that’s why its teams failed in Europe
newIt was getting on for midnight local time in Bergamo, northern Italy, and in a room inside the Gewiss Stadium Jürgen Klopp put a hand to his cheek, gave a bemused look and laughed. Game 52 of the season for Liverpool had not long finished. It was a 1-0 win against Atalanta in the second leg of...It was getting on for midnight local time in Bergamo, northern Italy, and in a room inside the Gewiss Stadium Jürgen Klopp put a hand to his cheek, gave a bemused look and laughed. Game 52 of the season for Liverpool had not long finished. It was a 1-0 win against Atalanta in the second leg of...It was getting on for midnight local time in Bergamo, northern Italy, and in a room inside the Gewiss Stadium Jürgen Klopp put...
owen slot
Child abuse? ‘Tim Uncle’ is proof that rugby can transform young lives
At the start of the year, we reported a story with a headline that stated: “Rugby is a form of child abuse”. Unsurprisingly, it caused quite a stir. The credibility of the academic work that triggered it was arguably a matter for question, but rather than reject it dismissively, I’ve been looking ever since for the story that best proves it...At the start of the year, we reported a story with a headline that stated: “Rugby is a form of child abuse”. Unsurprisingly, it caused quite a stir. The credibility of the academic work that triggered it was arguably a matter for question, but rather than reject it dismissively, I’ve been looking ever since for the story that best proves it...At the start of the year, we reported a story with a headline that stated: “Rugby is a form of child abuse”. Unsurprisingly, it...
football
How ‘Testosterone Bull’ Ortega earned Guardiola’s trust after tough start
Jörg Neblung was enjoying a quiet evening on July 11, 2022, until his phone started buzzing. On the end of the line was a client, Stefan Ortega, who had just joined Manchester City on a free transfer after his departure from the German club Arminia Bielefeld. The agent was excited to hear tales about Ortega’s first...Jörg Neblung was enjoying a quiet evening on July 11, 2022, until his phone started buzzing. On...Jörg Neblung was enjoying a quiet evening on July 11, 2022, until his phone started buzzing. On...
football | Hwang Hee-chan interview
‘Pep calling me Korean guy? I’m just happy he knows where I’m from’
football | Gregor Robertson
‘We’d be lambs to slaughter’ – why some fans don’t want to get promoted
football | DANNY RöHL INTERVIEW
From Bayern to pride of Sheffield – meet ‘Danny Cool’, league’s youngest boss
women’s champions league
Hayes battling fatigue, emotion and old foes in last bid for elusive title
newbill edgar’s deep dive
The 51 players who have won league titles with two different clubs
The Arsenal pair of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are aiming to be the 52nd and 53rd players to win the English league title with two clubs, having previous become champions at Manchester City. The identity of their present club is apt...The Arsenal pair of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are aiming to be the 52nd and 53rd...The Arsenal pair of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are aiming to be the 52nd and 53rd...
Europa Conference League
Martínez suspended after confusion over two yellow cards
football
United in line for £3.4m Sancho bonus if Dortmund reach final
Manchester United could be in line to receive an additional £3.4 million for the loan of Jadon Sancho to Borussia...Manchester United could be in line to receive an additional £3.4 million for the loan of Jadon...Manchester United could be in line to receive an additional £3.4 million for the loan of Jadon...
football
Why City’s own fans may be to blame for Silva’s botched penalty
Jude Bellingham is a player who takes control of situations — and Wednesday night was no different. He had just seen...Jude Bellingham is a player who takes control of situations — and Wednesday night was no different.Jude Bellingham is a player who takes control of situations — and Wednesday night was no different.
CYCLING | BEN HEALY INTERVIEW
‘Being humbled by Pogacar is annoying – but it makes us work harder’
football | martin samuel
Cup final should be sacred – but FA too weak to resist Premier League
mike atherton | brian lara interview
‘I couldn’t sleep before breaking record – so I played nine holes at 5am’
It started with a word from the big man. Curtly Ambrose knew a graveyard pitch when he saw one, and, as a local, he was very well acquainted with an Andy Roberts special at the Antigua Recreation Ground. In any case, the series was already won and...It started with a word from the big man. Curtly Ambrose knew a graveyard pitch when he saw one...It started with a word from the big man. Curtly Ambrose knew a graveyard pitch when he saw one...
fA Cup
‘I’m smiling as I head it’ – Houchen relives iconic FA Cup goal
Coventry City are back at Wembley in the FA Cup 37 years after winning one of the competition’s most memorable finals. Coached by joint-managers John Sillett and George Curtis, Coventry pulled off a remarkable 3-2 victory after extra time to...Coventry City are back at Wembley in the FA Cup 37 years after winning one of the competition’s...Coventry City are back at Wembley in the FA Cup 37 years after winning one of the competition’s...
rugby union | stuart barnes
Why Bristol are more likely to win the Premiership than Leicester
Northampton Saints will qualify for the Gallagher Premiership play-offs. Gloucester and Newcastle Falcons will not.Northampton Saints will qualify for the Gallagher Premiership play-offs. Gloucester and Newcastle...Northampton Saints will qualify for the Gallagher Premiership play-offs. Gloucester and Newcastle...
Champions League | Paul Hirst
Real copy Arsenal playbook to give Guardiola new problem to solve
The most deified members of Real Madrid’s history tend to be their flair players, the ones whose artistry in and...The most deified members of Real Madrid’s history tend to be their flair players, the ones whose...The most deified members of Real Madrid’s history tend to be their flair players, the ones whose...
olympics
Sleek, modern and no ‘hoo haas’ – shame about Daley’s trunks
We’ve seen much kit controversy this year already — yes, I’m referring to the recent unveiling of that terrible mauve Euros away shirt. And as heads turn towards what athletes will wear at this summer’s Olympic Games, so far colour has been the...We’ve seen much kit controversy this year already — yes, I’m referring to the recent unveiling of...We’ve seen much kit controversy this year already — yes, I’m referring to the recent unveiling of...
Bill edgar’s premier league quiz
Who are the only team to beat Pep before semi-finals in FA Cup?
Gallagher Premiership | Matt Cotton
Bath in a panic, Saracens eye redemption – and can Falcons end 526-day rut?
BOOKS | INTERVIEW
David Nicholls: ‘One Day should have had a sex scene but I chickened out’
The author is back with a new novel about midlife romance. He talks about class, insomnia and why he can’t resist love stories
newALBUM REVIEW
Love, men and the story behind every song on Taylor Swift’s five-star album
The Tortured Poets Department is an assured reflection on love but which ex-boyfriend comes out worst? Our chief music critic breaks down every track
FIRST PERSON
A female lecturer was ogled by a man in her audience? No surprise there
The Spectator’s theatre critic Lloyd Evans has boasted of visiting a prostitute after being ‘distracted’ by a philosopher’s blonde hair
newthe arts column
Seven UK sites want Unesco world heritage status — which deserve it?
From an Iron Age settlement in Shetland to a bird migratory route, these cultural treasures are invaluable
Caitlin Moran’s celebrity watch
Call the Celebrity UN! Sharon Osbourne has declared war on Amanda Holden
The phrase ‘handbags at dawn’ is sexist and demeaning — unless we’re talking two wealthy dames going hammer-and-tongs in defence of Simon Cowell’s honour
FOOD | INTERVIEW
Meet Emily English, the nutritionist everyone’s talking about
Who would be your dream dinner party guest? I’ll tell you who probably isn’t top of the list: a nutritionist. Nobody wants a guest who is going to talk about the nutritional value of that second helping of tiramisu or third glass of wine. Except, everyone loves Emily English, a cook, author and arguably Instagram’s most famous nutritionist. The 28-year-old, who has a...Who would be your dream dinner party guest? I’ll tell you who probably isn’t top of the list: a...Who would be your dream dinner party guest? I’ll tell you who probably isn’t top of the list: a...
drink
How Britain became the world’s cocktail capital
The French have never been all that enamoured by the British taste in food — to cook something à l’anglaise means as...The French have never been all that enamoured by the British taste in food — to cook something à l’anglaise means as plain as possible. Think boiled veg. However, our cousins over the Channel have their eye on one aspect of our gastronomy: our masterful mixology. Praise has come from the top. President Macron’s...The French have never been all that enamoured by the British taste in food — to cook something à l’anglaise means as plain as...
HEALTH
The 11 benefits (and downsides) of running
On Sunday, 50,000 runners will lace up their trainers to take part in the TCS London Marathon. With miles of training...On Sunday, 50,000 runners will lace up their trainers to take part in the TCS London Marathon.On Sunday, 50,000 runners will lace up their trainers to take part in the TCS London Marathon.
video
tv review
The Apprentice final — was this Lord Sugar’s worst ever joke?
The Apprentice final
BBC1 Bottom Exposed
Gold There’s a “last day of school” vibe to the finale of The Apprentice...The Apprentice final
BBC1 Bottom Exposed
Gold There’s a “last day of school” vibe to the finale...The Apprentice final
BBC1 Bottom Exposed
Gold There’s a “last day of school” vibe to the finale...
Film reviews
video
film review
Johnny Depp is terrifying, but Maïwenn is the star in Jeanne du Barry
The French director’s story about Louis XV and his mistress Jeanne Bécu is a powerful blast of autofiction
video
Film review
Rebel Moon Part Two: The Scargiver — this franchise is still awful
The Netflix space sequel is better than the first instalment, but that doesn’t mean much
video
FILM REVIEW
Sean Penn dazzles in Black Flies, but there is too much going on
Despite the director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire throwing everything at the screen, the star is frequently sublime in a brutal and unrelenting film
First night reviews
VISUAL ART
Barmy, bizarre, beautiful — eight things I learnt at the Venice Biennale
There’s a move I’ve come to recognise over my past few days in Venice. Let’s call it the Biennale back-up. It’s the action of someone who has just entered a pavilion of staggering oddity and is attempting to beat a hasty retreat while maintaining...There’s a move I’ve come to recognise over my past few days in Venice. Let’s call it the Biennale...There’s a move I’ve come to recognise over my past few days in Venice. Let’s call it the Biennale...
first night | dance
From England with Love is Hofesh Shechter at his anarchic best
FIRST NIGHT | CLASSICAL
Dani Howard’s percussion concerto is a fine showcase for Evelyn Glennie
FIRST NIGHT | THEATRE
Bridgerton star shines in the RSC’s tropical Love’s Labour’s Lost
FIRST NIGHT | CLASSICAL
Five-star Verdi as Mark Elder leads an extraordinary Simon Boccanegra
FIRST NIGHT | visual art
‘One painting is worth the flight alone’ — Willem de Kooning in Venice
first night | theatre
The cast of Killing Kate excels in this prison drama
first night | theatre
This is a thundering suffrage musical produced by Hillary Clinton
FIRST NIGHT | THEATRE
Muriel Spark’s The Girls of Slender Means gets a handsome, haunting adaptation
MUSIC REVIEWS
The best new music to listen to this week
classic film of the week
The Fortune (1975) — Stockard Channing outshines Jack Nicholson
This screwball comedy is known as “the one that Jack Nicholson never discusses”. Industry gossips claim that it’s...This screwball comedy is known as “the one that Jack Nicholson never discusses”. Industry gossips...This screwball comedy is known as “the one that Jack Nicholson never discusses”. Industry gossips...
MUSIC
Taylor Swift has a new album? Good for her, but I won’t be listening
The call came in on Friday night: Taylor Swift has a new album coming out. Would I write about it? And then you get the brief and, yeah, I see it. I’m the straight man here. I’m the guy who’s not supposed to get Taylor Swift, who hasn’t heard...The call came in on Friday night: Taylor Swift has a new album coming out. Would I write about it?The call came in on Friday night: Taylor Swift has a new album coming out. Would I write about it?
What to watch: your TV and streaming guide
Viewing GUide
What’s on TV and radio tonight
Television
5 of the best … rock music documentaries
tELEVISION | STREAMING GUIDE
What to watch now on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video and beyond
updatedMindGames
The Times Daily Quiz
1 What is the first vowel of the Greek alphabet? 2 The Parky Charter is a list of recommendations about which medical condition? 3 Which king was the eldest son of George III and Queen Charlotte? 4 In May 2023, which Harry Potter actress launched...1 What is the first vowel of the Greek alphabet? 2 The Parky Charter is a list of recommendations...1 What is the first vowel of the Greek alphabet? 2 The Parky Charter is a list of recommendations...
In case you missed it
FIRST PERSON
Why I decided to stop smacking my children
Doctors called on the government this week to make it illegal for parents to smack their children. It is banned in...Doctors called on the government this week to make it illegal for parents to smack their children.Doctors called on the government this week to make it illegal for parents to smack their children.
Deborah Ross
Come on, smoking was fun, remember? I do — I started aged 12
Cigarettes, I have decided to talk to you directly today, and be open about the relationship we had for many years...Cigarettes, I have decided to talk to you directly today, and be open about the relationship we...Cigarettes, I have decided to talk to you directly today, and be open about the relationship we...
motoring
The SUV that comes with its own scatter cushions
With the Burford, Range Rover has created a car worthy of the most glamorous village in England
fashion
A first look at the glamorous new Dolce & Gabbana exhibition in Milan
From corsets and crystal-encrusted silk coats, Peter Howarth is given the grand tour
Beauty
Spring’s most seductive new scents
It’s not just about florals this season. The latest fragrances are sexy too
video
drinks
How to make the perfect martini, according to the Connaught
How can something so simple give so much pleasure? The martini is, on paper, one of the most straightforward drinks in the world: a combination of two (sometimes three) liquids mixed with ice and served with the minimum of garnishes. Yet such is...How can something so simple give so much pleasure? The martini is, on paper, one of the most...How can something so simple give so much pleasure? The martini is, on paper, one of the most...
germany
The romantic German region with a hidden art history
A new exhibition at London’s Tate Modern celebrates the work of avant-garde artists — here’s where to see their art at home in Munich and rural Bavaria
UK
The perfect weekend: a new National Trust cottage and an underrated county
A converted stables next to a medieval manor in rural Herefordshire delivers lamb-spotting walks, historic visits and cider tastings — and some unexpected pedestrians
australia
My eye-opening stay at South Australia’s coolest island hideaway
A tiny wilderness cabin on Kangaroo Island kicks off our writer’s tour of the region’s nature, empty beaches and a deeper understanding of Aboriginal history and culture
video
UK
My exhilarating trip on the world’s fastest zip line — in north Wales
Our writer discovers why this corner near Conwy is fast becoming a centre for adrenaline-seekers of all ages
uk
Seven of the UK’s best secret beaches
These under-the-radar spots in Cornwall, Anglesey, the Highlands and more are big on head space and low on tourists
thailand
Thailand’s incredible nature reserve — where a stay costs just £8
Outside my tent it’s like Jurassic Park. The thundering footsteps of what must be some primordial giant make...Outside my tent it’s like Jurassic Park. The thundering footsteps of what must be some...Outside my tent it’s like Jurassic Park. The thundering footsteps of what must be some...
Comment
Overtourism in the Canaries is our fault — we have no imagination
I was 36 years old when I went to Tenerife for the first time. I’d spent three decades avoiding it, having gobbled up...I was 36 years old when I went to Tenerife for the first time. I’d spent three decades avoiding...I was 36 years old when I went to Tenerife for the first time. I’d spent three decades avoiding...
TRAVEL ADVICE
Is it safe to travel to the Middle East right now?
video
UK
The secret to finding affordable hotels in London
If you want to find a budget beautiful hotel in London for under £200, then look beyond zone one. Travel writer Emma Cooke takes us to three of her favourites — find the full list here. Sign up for our Times Travel newsletter and follow us...If you want to find a budget beautiful hotel in London for under £200, then look beyond zone one.If you want to find a budget beautiful hotel in London for under £200, then look beyond zone one.
Weather Eye
The downpour that did for Byron
Announcements
Births, marriages and deaths
From the archive
Raging against the blight of feminist teachers
Court Circular
April 18, 2024
Printable Puzzles
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
market watch
How to sell your house in a cut-throat spring market
Plus, check how easy it is to sell in your postcode with our tracker
improve
‘Our decor was inspired by the Hammersmith & City Line’
Leisure centres, hospital floors and even the Tube all influenced the refresh of a Tottenham home
home of the week
An avant-garde 1930s home with an avocado bath is on sale for £2.2m
Described as ‘fort-like’, this six-bedroom house is an example of the International Modern architectural style
INTERIORS
David Lynch, rude rugs and wearable storage: welcome to Milan Design Week
Fun and opulence were everywhere this year, from Ikea’s range for first-time buyers to ultra-luxe wallpaper
RENTAL market
Beware the lettings fee trap
Long-term contracts with management agencies can land both landlords and tenants with big bills if their circumstances change
OVERSEAS
Where to buy property in Nice
For those after a year-round pied-à-terre, with more sun than Paris or Bordeaux, Nice is hard to beat. After buying an apartment there during the pandemic, Clare Williams Fannin and her husband Stephen have enjoyed their first Nice Carnival, the...For those after a year-round pied-à-terre, with more sun than Paris or Bordeaux, Nice is hard to...For those after a year-round pied-à-terre, with more sun than Paris or Bordeaux, Nice is hard to...
uk news
Sturgeon breaks silence after husband charged with embezzlement
Nicola Sturgeon said the situation has been “incredibly difficult” after her husband, the former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was charged in connection with alleged embezzlement of funds. Murrell was rearrested and questioned at Falkirk police station by detectives as part of the Operation...Nicola Sturgeon said the situation has been “incredibly difficult” after her husband, the former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was charged in connection with alleged embezzlement of funds. Murrell was rearrested and questioned at Falkirk police station by detectives as part of the Operation...Nicola Sturgeon said the situation has been “incredibly difficult” after her husband, the former SNP chief executive Peter...
GPs warn over cuts to NHS care as fees to run surgeries soar
Patient services will be cut as bills for running GP surgeries rise by as much as 600 per cent, family doctors have warned. Some clinicians in NHS Lothian have said they may give up their practices because charges imposed by the health board could plunge them into the red. Thousands of appointment slots would have to be cut to cover the...Patient services will be cut as bills for running GP surgeries rise by as much as 600 per cent, family doctors have warned. Some clinicians in NHS Lothian have said they may give up their practices because charges imposed by the health board could plunge them into the red. Thousands of appointment slots would have to be cut to cover the...Patient services will be cut as bills for running GP surgeries rise by as much as 600 per cent, family doctors have warned.
politics
What is the SNP finances investigation? Operation Branchform explained
The SNP’s former chief executive Peter Murrell was charged on Thursday in connection with embezzlement of party funds. The 59-year-old husband of the former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, was taken into custody for questioning more than a year after his first arrest. Murrell’s charge is part of an investigation...The SNP’s former chief executive Peter Murrell was charged on Thursday in connection with...The SNP’s former chief executive Peter Murrell was charged on Thursday in connection with...
ASK THE EXPERT
I want to rent out my home. What do I need to know?
Q. I recently purchased a property in Glasgow and I’m considering renting it out. What are the key things I need to...Q. I recently purchased a property in Glasgow and I’m considering renting it out. What are the...Q. I recently purchased a property in Glasgow and I’m considering renting it out. What are the...
alex massie | holyrood sketch
Don’t worry about scrapping of climate target. It was merely a ‘stretch goal’
When is a target not a target? When it is merely an aspiration. And when is an aspiration not really an aspiration?When is a target not a target? When it is merely an aspiration. And when is an aspiration not...When is a target not a target? When it is merely an aspiration. And when is an aspiration not...
travel
They’re treehouses all right, but not like any I used to build
The badger moon hung low in the sky as we pulled away from Glasgow and pointed our wheels east. Its orange glow would guide us through the first snowfall of the season, and towards a woodland hideout that somehow managed to be both within easy...The badger moon hung low in the sky as we pulled away from Glasgow and pointed our wheels east.The badger moon hung low in the sky as we pulled away from Glasgow and pointed our wheels east.
FERGUS EWING | COMMENT
Scotland needs more conifer plantations
A constant danger in pursuing what sounds like a virtuous green agenda is that we end up with something that is not...A constant danger in pursuing what sounds like a virtuous green agenda is that we end up with...A constant danger in pursuing what sounds like a virtuous green agenda is that we end up with...
RUGBY UNION
Ali Price rejects interest from France to extend Edinburgh stay
Ali Price will move to Edinburgh from Glasgow Warriors on a one-year deal when his initial loan spell ends this summer.Ali Price will move to Edinburgh from Glasgow Warriors on a one-year deal when his initial loan...Ali Price will move to Edinburgh from Glasgow Warriors on a one-year deal when his initial loan...
Comment
Smacking has lasting effects. I should know
Giles Coren
If my father had not been allowed to hit me, both of us would have been happier — that’s why the law has to change
newBEN MACINTYRE
Caravaggio’s death still haunts his work
newIn the second episode of Ripley, the Netflix adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Talented Mr Ripley, would-be artist Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) takes the grifter Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) to see The Seven Acts of Mercy by Caravaggio. “He painted it when he was 36, a year after he murdered a man in Rome,” Dickie tells Tom. “Colourful life. And...In the second episode of Ripley, the Netflix adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel ...In the second episode of Ripley, the Netflix adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel ...
matt chorley
The way MPs treat pets, it’s no wonder the country has gone to the dogs
newRinka didn’t die for this. Almost half a century ago the most famous Great Dane since Hans Christian Andersen was...Rinka didn’t die for this. Almost half a century ago the most famous Great Dane since Hans Christian Andersen was gunned down, the innocent victim of that complicated business between Jeremy Thorpe, Norman Scott and the national insurance number. Porlock Hill is an unforgiving place, as anyone who has ever driven an...Rinka didn’t die for this. Almost half a century ago the most famous Great Dane since Hans Christian Andersen was gunned down...
patrick maguire
Can Labour turn tide on battered English coast?
emma duncan
Birbalsingh is right – make schools secular
martin samuel | notebook
I love the Olympics but is it all Greek to Parisians?
peter wanless
A smartphone ban would let tech firms off the hook
Leading Articles
Bear Hug
Georgia, supposedly an aspiring member of the EU, is slipping towards authoritarian rule, and with it the possibility of reabsorption into Russia’s sphere of influence
Undue Influence
The growing reach of the Chinese government in UK universities must be resisted
Confected Outrage
Nestlé was right to oppose the demands of activists who scoff at unhealthy treats
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
U-turn over Russian athletes at Olympics
Sir, Matthew Syed has shone a brilliant light on the government’s decision to support the inclusion of Russian athletes at the Olympic Games, and I agree with every word of his piece (“Why silence over insulting U-turn?”, sport, Apr 18). We...Sir, Matthew Syed has shone a brilliant light on the government’s decision to support the...Sir, Matthew Syed has shone a brilliant light on the government’s decision to support the...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: The Sutton Trust, an education charity, publishes a survey showing a sharp increase in school leaders reporting spending cuts, with three quarters of primary school heads saying they have had to reduce the number of teaching assistants this year; the House of Commons public accounts committee releases its report on the government’s work to manage risk from extreme weather events.
US: The singer-songwriter Taylor Swift releases a new album, The Tortured Poets Department; the Nato-Ukraine Council to discuss Ukraine’s request for supplies of air defence systems and ammunition. President Zelensky and Nato defence ministers will attend.
On this day
In 1927 the actress Mae West was convicted of obscenity for writing (as Jane Mast), producing and directing the Broadway play Sex. She was released from her ten-day sentence early, “the first time I ever got anything for good behaviour”. Negative reviews (“crude and inept play”) did not deter 325,000 people from attending the show; in 1956 Prince Rainier III of Monaco married the actress Grace Kelly. The religious ceremony followed the required civil ceremony the previous day; in 1971 the Soviet Union launched Salyut I, the first space station; in 1994 Rodney King was awarded $3.8 million damages in a civil lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles. The 1992 acquittal of four police officers accused of violating his civil rights (captured on video beating him during an arrest in 1991) provoked race riots; in 2009 the British writer JG Ballard died aged 78. His novels included Crash, High Rise and Empire of the Sun.
Nature notes
When did it begin, this deep and bitter prejudice against dandelions? Some gardeners experience a wave of irritation when they see these little sun flowers daring to bloom on their perfect lawns. Toxic weed killers, constant mowing, fertilisers, specially designed grab tools and even mini flame throwers are used to prevent them from growing. Yet dandelions are strikingly beautiful, and bring life to countless pollinators, birds and mammals. Attitudes are slowly changing though. A decade ago, typing “dandelions” into a web browser would have brought pages listing endless ways to eradicate them; now the same search yields the Royal Horticultural Society advising us that welcoming these flowers into our gardens is a great way to boost local biodiversity. Jonathan Tulloch
Jonathan Tulloch
Birthdays today
Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director, Reliance Industries, 67; Dame Geraldine Andrews, lady justice of appeal, 65; Sue Barker, tennis player, broadcaster, A Question of Sport (1997-2021), 68; Dickie Bird, cricket umpire, 66 Tests (1973-96), 91; Baroness (Jane) Campbell of Surbiton, disability rights campaigner, commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission (2006-09), 65; Dame Julia Cleverdon, social justice campaigner, chairwoman, National Literacy Trust (2014-22), 74; Tim Curry, actor, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), 78; James Franco, actor, 127 Hours (2010), and director, 46; Sonia Friedman, theatre producer, producer of the year, Stage awards (2015-17, 2019), 59; Larry Gagosian, owner, Gagosian Gallery chain of art galleries, 79; Prof Dame Anne Glover, biologist, president, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 68; Lady Pamela Hicks (née Mountbatten), bridesmaid and lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth II, 95; Dame Kelly Holmes, middle-distance athlete, double Olympic gold medallist (2004), 54; Kate Hudson, actress, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Bride Wars (2009), 45; Friedrich Joussen, chief executive, TUI Group (2013-22), 61; Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, 43; Gina Miller, entrepreneur who won a High Court case over the government’s handling of Brexit, 59; Prof Hugh Pennington, bacteriologist, chairman of inquiries into E. coli outbreaks in Scotland (1996) and south Wales (2005), 86; Paloma Picasso, fashion and jewellery designer, 75; Maria Sharapova, pictured, tennis player, five-time grand-slam singles champion, 37; Beth Shriever, BMX racer, Olympic gold medallist (2020) and world champion (2021, 2023), 25; Ruby Wax, actress and comedian, 71.