The New York Times' decision last week to publish leaked details of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's 2009 Columbia University application has thrust the storied paper into a blossoming scandal. Now, Mamdani's (ultimately unsuccessful) Columbia application has taken the backseat to a broader furor over the Times' motivation and sourcing. The Times' report was also pushed out "quickly" for fear of being scooped by far-right activist Christopher Rufo, "best known for his crusade against critical race theory," Semafor said. Political lessonsRegardless of the Times' motivation, there is "nonetheless value to the story of Mamdani's Columbia application," said Philip Bump at The Washington Post. Within the political arena, however, the Times' report has already been weaponized by some of Mamdani's electoral adversaries.

Open tee times look set to change over concern around band parade in PortrushThe R&A say they are working on plans to 'minimise disruption' for fans leaving the course on the Saturday eveningThe Claret Jug pictured at Royal Portrush ahead of the 153rd Open (Image: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo )The R&A are said to be weighing up a decision to move the third round tee times at the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Discussions had taken place in recent months to try and find a solution however requests to postpone the parade were rejected. The R&A's concerns centre on the logistical challenges presented with large crowds due to attend both events with close of play at the Open usually scheduled for 8pm and the parade set to get underway some 15 minutes later. Article continues belowThe 153rd Open is set to get underway at Royal Portrush on July 17 with a record crowd set to gather at the iconic Dunluce links. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Live Events(You can now subscribe to our(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channelHome-grown Tata Steel on Tuesday said the company will begin the construction of its low-carbon EAF-based steel making project in the UK this month with an investment of around 1.5 billion pounds.Of the 1.5 billion pounds, 500 million pound is funded by the UK government.Tata Steel aims to commence operations at the project by 2027, as per the company's annual report for FY2024-25.In a statement, Tata Steel said, "The work on the EAF project is progressing with construction at Port Talbot on course to commence this month. "The company has received necessary approvals for its USD 1.5 billion project at Port Talbot, Tata Steel CEO & MD T V Narendran, and ED & CFO Koushik Chatterjee said in the company's annual report for FY2024-25. "We are now transitioning to decarbonised and state-of-the-art EAF-based steelmaking by FY2027-28, supported by 500 million pounds in the UK government funding," the management said.India-based Tata Steel owns the UK's largest steelworks of 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at Port Talbot in South Wales. As part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, the company is transitioning from the blast furnace route to the low-emission electric arc furnace process, which will utilise the locally available scrap.The company's upstream operations in the UK have been shut, and Tata Steel is using substrate from India and Netherlands operations to service existing customers in the UK.The deliveries from UK was at 0.60 million tonnes (MnT) in June quarter as against 0.68 MnT in the first quarter of FY25.In India, Netherlands and Thailand, Tata Steel's production remained almost flat at 5.26 MnT, 1.70 MnT and 0.33 MnT, respectively.The deliveries in April-June quarter of 2025-26 from India was at 4.75 MnT, 1.50 MnT from Netherlands and 0.34 MnT from operations in Thailand.The maintenance related shutdowns in Jamshedpur (reline of G Blast Furnace) as well as at Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) have led to a decline in finished goods production, adversely impacting our deliveries. Operations have since resumed at NINL and the reline of G Blast Furnace is progressing and is expected to be completed in July 2025, the company said.

Villages in North Wales, Cumbria and Peak District named among 'UK's prettiest mini-breaks'The Times has released its list of the 25 prettiest villages for a mini break in the UK, and several are within reach of Greater ManchesterCartmel was included in the list, a village famous for its sticky toffee pudding (Image: Getty Images )A village in Cumbria boasting two Michelin-starred restaurants, a resort in North Wales inspired by the Italian riviera and a popular seaside spot have all been named among the UK’s prettiest villages for a mini break by The Times. ‌The Times’ list includes villages of all shapes and sizes, ranging from a “hamlet to one with a rom-com-worthy collection of trendy shops.”‌Included in the list are Askwith in North Yorkshire; Cartmel in Cumbria; Ashford in the Water, the Peak District; Portmeirion and Abersoch, both in North Wales. ‌Over in North Wales, two villages were included: Abersoch and Portmerion. The former was named the “trendiest village” in Wales in the summer months, a place “often described as Cheshire-by-sea”. Portmeirion features beautiful pastel-coloured buildings (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live )The “totally enchanting” colourful village of Portmerion, inspired by Portofino in Italy, was included in the list.

LOVE Island’s Dejon couldn’t stop smiling when Casa Amor bombshell Andrada made a steamy confession. During last night’s episode of Love Island, Dejon continued to flirt with Andrada - despite being coupled up with Meg. 3 Andrada made a steamy sex confession during a chat with Dejon Credit: ITV3 And Dejon was very happy to hear it Credit: Eroteme3 Dejon is currently coupled up with Meg Credit: ErotemeAnd, clearly determined to turn his head for good, the newcomer opened up about her high sex drive. Both the main and Casa Amor villas competed in the racy game to win a party, with each of them having to perform raunchy dares. Watch awkward moment Love Island’s Meg clashes with bombshell Billykiss over Dejon in brutal gameAlluding to Meg’s reactions, Shakira told the new boys: “Trust me you don’t want to see when D comes back off a date… Scary.”Visibly annoyed, Meg responded: “No it’s not… I’m not laughing, Shakira.”

Norman Tebbit, an uncompromising right-wing British politician who was once thought of as a potential prime minister, died on Monday at his home in Bury St Edmunds, a town in Suffolk, England. He resigned from the House of Lords in 2022. In the early 1980s, as a minister and initially a close ally of Mrs. Thatcher, he took a lead in her campaign to crush the power of labor unions. He “personified the cruel, uncaring side of Thatcherism,” the columnist William Leith wrote in The Independent in 1993. “He was the man who seemed to have no sympathy for slackers, but every sympathy for a rather vulgar kind of nationalism.”

A picturesque pub has received a rave review from a “premier” restaurant critic. Giles Coren from The Times paid an overnight visit to Sculthorpe Mill, near Fakenham, where he wined and dined before penning a pleasing review. “You could just charge people to stand here,” were the words he used to describe the pub’s attractive setting. ‘You could just charge people to stand here’, were the words Giles Coren used to describe Sculthorpe MillMr Coren ventured to West Norfolk with his partner and two children, as his son had a cricket match in the area. “The whole team is thrilled to receive such a glowing review from the country’s premier food critic.”The pair have also recently opened The Ship in Brancaster.

12Kolkata: The Indian team's victory at Edgbaston on Sunday fuelled a rush among Kolkata travellers in England and city cricket fans to catch the Lord's Test from July 10. "I have planned to watch the Lord's Test from the stands with my friends," he said.On the website Viagogo, the price of a Lord's Test ticket ranges between Rs 23,421 and Rs 28,443. The win sparked off a demand for Lord's Test tickets among fans, especially those who are already in England, said Anil Punjabi, committee member of the Travel Agents' Federation of India (TAFI). "The interest level has suddenly gone up after India showed that they are good enough to win the series. The Lord's Test is always a big attraction, and we have been receiving requests for tickets.

THE Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, spoke in the House of Lords last week in support of a change to the legal definition of a stillbirth: from a death after 24 weeks into pregnancy to a death after 20 weeks. Bishop Watson was speaking on the Lords Bill introduced by Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat). “Up to 10,000 families in the UK lose their babies between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy,” Baroness Benjamin said in the debate last Friday. The World Health Organization draws the line at 22 weeks, and countries including Australia and the United States put the definition at 20 weeks. She highlighted work being done on this area, including moves to extend bereavement leave, but suggested that the legal definition of stillbirth should remain at 24 weeks.

The role, which will see Mr Sunak return to Goldman after 21 years, is his first major position since resigning as lead of the Conservative Party following its general election defeat last year. Mr Sunak, who was prime minister between October 2022 and July 2024, is set to advise leaders across the firm and provide “insights on the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape”. Rishi Sunak previously worked at Goldman Sachs until 2004 (Alamy/PA)The MP for Richmond and Northallerton worked for Goldman Sachs between 2001 and 2004. The appointment comes just over a year since Mr Sunak’s resignation as prime minister, allowing him to take on the advisory position. Chairman and chief executive David Solomon said: “I am excited to welcome Rishi back to Goldman Sachs in his new capacity as a senior advisor.

Norman Tebbit, an uncompromising right-wing British politician who was once thought of as a potential prime minister, died on Monday at his home in Bury St Edmunds, a town in Suffolk, England. He resigned from the House of Lords in 2022. In the early 1980s, as a minister and initially a close ally of Mrs. Thatcher, he took a lead in her campaign to crush the power of labor unions. He “personified the cruel, uncaring side of Thatcherism,” the columnist William Leith wrote in The Independent in 1993. “He was the man who seemed to have no sympathy for slackers, but every sympathy for a rather vulgar kind of nationalism.”

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Player of the match Shubman Gill after winning the 2nd Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Edgbaston on July 06, 2025 in Birmingham, England. "I watched a little clip on his dismissals early in his career, and the ball was moving a lot. "However, former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin showered praise on the new Indian captain. It's about how you react to that and come back.And he's come back world-class. "And that's good for an Indian captain because a lot of the time, you can get caught up in the emotion of what's happening in the game.

The Sunday Times has compiled a list of the 20 seaside towns where it is best to live in the UK – and one Wirral area has made the rankings. According to the newspaper, New Brighton is one of the best coastal towns to live in the UK. Described as a “Victorian spot just across the Mersey from Liverpool” the Times says it’s the “opposite of a fading resort”. Prices are relatively forgiving too, with four-bedroom Victorian semis and terraces from about £250,000.”The average house price in New Brighton is £183,869. Some owners really want to sell, others wisely recognise that a correction now on their sale price will be reflected in their onward purchase price.”

Joe Root was castled by Akash Deep in the second innings of the second Test between India and England. CricbuzzAkash Deep's dismissal of Joe Root created a flutter for being a no ball during the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston. "The MCC concluded: "Clearly, at the point Deep's foot first touched the ground, the back foot was within and not touching the return crease. At the point of landing he was within the crease, and this was therefore rightly deemed to be a legal delivery. "England were eventually bowled out for 271 on the final day, resulting in India's series-levelling victory by 336 runs in the second Test of the five-match series.

The military's recruitment processes have been blasted as behind the timesThe Armed Forces are in the midst of a recruiting crisis due to an inability to process applications quickly and effectively. Last year, the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF received 177,510 applications to join the forces, but were able to only recruit just 10,930 as the three services failed to meet recruitment targets. The figures illustrate an ability to effectively capitalise on interest in joining the military by processing effectively and in a timely manner. “They do not expect to have to fill in the most difficult computer system ever. We lose too many people.” Some 83% of the 707,000 people who applied to join the Army over the last decade have withdrawn their application voluntarily.