The north Norfolk coast has once again received national attention after The Times named the Morston to Cley-next-the-Sea trail a top winter walk. Stretching 4.5 miles, the publication's travel experts recommended the route for anyone looking to spot wildlife in the winter months. The route it suggests begins at the Morston Quay car park and takes Peddars Way and the coastal path to Cley. READ MORE: Norfolk Broads hailed as one of the best national parksWalkers can then choose to double the hike with the walk back or take the Coasthopper bus to Morston. For those who become peckish, the article suggests a stop for lunch at The George and Dragon Hotel.

An 18-year-old Briton convicted of having sex with an underage 17-year-old British girl in Dubai has handed himself in to authorities there to begin a one-year jail sentence, a charity says. Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, began a secretive romance in September with another Londoner, who is now 18, while both were on holiday with their families. After returning home and seeing pictures and chats between the pair, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who arrested Fakana at his hotel. Sex with someone under 18 is illegal in Dubai. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was supporting a British man in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

An author believes he has discovered a previously unknown battle involving a famous lost Roman legion. Using clues from aerial photography and chance finds in fields, archaeologist and Roman expert Simon Elliott thinks he has identified a major engagement involving the Ninth Legion in Derbyshire. The Ninth was part of the invasion force which arrived in Britain in AD43 but vanished from the record around 80 years later. Dr Elliott believes the evidence indicates superior Roman artillery technology led to an overwhelming victory, claiming: "The Romans may as well have had lasers."

After the relentless social onslaught of the holidays — cocktail parties, family gatherings, office do’s — the low-key quiet of winter is the perfect time to dial things down and decamp with your other half to a cosy cottage. You’ll have space and time to get reacquainted while curling up in front of crackling fires, exploring scenic wilds on frosty walks and cooking up candlelit dinners — all ahead of long, warm nights under the duvet. This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue1. A wood-burner warms the lounge while you rustle up meals in the small but sleek kitchen, and a rolltop bath big enough for two entices just a few steps from the four-poster bed. Details Three nights’ self-catering for two from £720 (boutique-retreats.co.uk)

Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, In your obituary of Jimmy Carter (Dec 30), you describe him as a “deeply devout man possessed of an almost missionary zeal”. However, chest x-ray remains the recommended test for almost all lung cancer symptoms in the UK and in most guidelines worldwide. The reason is that most lung cancer symptoms — for example, a cough — are very common in general, so have a very low risk for cancer. Michael PinnerCretingham, SuffolkWriting wrongsSir, Both my parents wrote very readable and hugely welcome letters to me at school, in quite distinctive styles (“Handwriting is not just for Christmas thank-you letters”, Dec 26, and letters, Dec 28 & 30). Sir, The Shipping Forecast (letters, Dec 30) is also useful as a generator of names for dogs.

Representative image/AgenciesLONDON: Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) tools may soon "covertly influence" users' decision making in a new commercial frontier called the " intention economy ", University of Cambridge researchers warned in a paper published Monday.The research argues the potentially "lucrative yet troubling" marketplace emerging for "digital signals of intent" could, in the near future, influence everything from buying movie tickets to voting for political candidates.Our increasing familiarity with chatbots, digital tutors and other so-called "anthropomorphic" AI agents is helping enable this new array of " persuasive technologies ", it added.It will see AI combine knowledge of our online habits with a growing ability to know the user and anticipate his or her desires and build "new levels of trust and understanding", the paper's two co-authors noted.Left unchecked, that could allow for " social manipulation on an industrial scale", the pair, from Cambridge's Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI), argued in the paper published in the Harvard Data Science Review.It characterises how this emergent sector -- dubbed the "intention economy" -- will profile users' attention and communicative styles and connect them to patterns of behaviour and choices they make. "AI tools are already being developed to elicit, infer, collect, record, understand, forecast, and ultimately manipulate and commodify human plans and purposes," co-author Yaqub Chaudhary said.The new AI will rely on so-called Large Language Models -- or LLMs -- to target a user's cadence, politics, vocabulary, age, gender, online history, and even preferences for flattery and ingratiation, according to the research.That would be linked with other emerging AI tech that bids to achieve a given aim, such as selling a cinema trip, or steer conversations towards particular platforms, advertisers, businesses and even political organisations.Co-author Jonnie Penn warned: "Unless regulated, the intention economy will treat your motivations as the new currency. ""It will be a gold rush for those who target, steer, and sell human intentions," he added. "We should start to consider the likely impact such a marketplace would have on human aspirations, including free and fair elections, a free press, and fair market competition, before we become victims of its unintended consequences. "Penn noted that public awareness of the issue is "the key to ensuring we don't go down the wrong path".

The prosecution had sought a death sentence for the accused, Nitin Bhanushali (65). Bhanushali was earlier convicted in two other drug cases.Special judge S E Bangar said Bhanushali didn't appear remorseful or repentant. The court said given the widespread issue of drug addiction, particularly among the youth, and the severe penalties in place to deter drug trafficking, showing leniency to him was not justified. Four accused, including a Pakistani national, Ibrahim, are still absconding, while one died during the trial's pendency. Bhanushali was accused of renting the godown where the contraband was stored and helping prepare fraudulent export documents.

Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, I enjoyed Libby Purves’s excellent article on the BBC’s Shipping Forecast (“The power of the shipping news”, Saturday Review, Dec 28). It certainly brought back memories, but some of them were not so good. Back in the old days, long before the wall-to-wall sports coverage on television, the only place to listen to “continuous” cricket Test Match commentary was Radio 4. The Shipping Forecast was read out at 5.57pm precisely on that station, which frequently meant that it obscured commentary of the day’s final over. On those days I abhorred the “dratted Shipping Forecast”.

Celebrating the first 100 issues of the St Albans TimesPosted at 10:52h in by admin_albans in FeatureDespite hitting a milestone 100 issues, there was a reluctance at the St Albans Times to appear too self-congratulatory in marking the occasion. Here’s to 100 more issues – and beyond!”Professor Tim Boatswain, chair of Blue Plaques St Albans, said: “Congratulations – for the 100th edition of the St Albans Times. Matt’s tireless efforts, his passion for truth, and his commitment to quality journalism have made the St Albans Times an indispensable part of St Albans’ life. St Albans, an advocate of collaborative planning and locally produced design codes, said: “When you published the first edition of the St Albans Times, I did breathe a sigh of relief. Thanks to the St Albans Times for flying that flag.”Amanda Yorwerth, coordinator of St Albans Friends of the Earth, said: “Congratulations to all at the St Albans Times on the 100th issue.

Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Something went wrong, please try again later. He asked: “I’m hosting a podcast discussion today about BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound programme. Click here for Scottish News, click here for Politics and click here to return to the Home Page.

Scores of objections were submitted to Windsor and Maidenhead council before the plan was refused by council officers over highway safety and flooding risks in March. Ms Lewis said: “This is considered a serious safety issue for Network Rail and one we cannot accept.”Worry over the development’s impact on traffic safety was echoed by The Cookham Society chairman Dick Scarff. In a letter on the application, Mr Scarff said visibility for drivers exiting the access road was poor and could cause problems for pedestrians. Mr McCaffery said the improvements would mitigate the ‘modest increase’ in cars turning into the access road, and ‘directly addresses’ Network rail’s concern. But in a decision notice, the planning inspector upheld the council’s decision to dismiss the application on highways and flooding risk.

In an age of growing patient demand and persistent staff shortages, time has become the most precious resource in radiology – and there’s never enough of it. In our 2024 Future Health Index report, 77% of healthcare leaders reported care delays due to staff shortages. Backlogs in imaging studies risk missed diagnoses, while delays in cancer treatment – which can be life-threatening – have unfortunately become ‘routine’ in some healthcare systems [2, 3]. Instead, we must empower existing radiologists and imaging staff by enhancing their skills and efficiency. However, there’s a catch: in a radiology workflow, every step is interconnected – from gathering and organizing prior patient data to image acquisition, interpretation, reporting, and communicating imaging studies to patients.

The Daily Telegraph carries a warning from business leaders that the chancellor's Budget tax rises are "milking" them. The paper says Rachel Reeves "has six months" to win business over, external, with a string of executives warning that Britain is becoming a less attractive place to invest under Labour. The i newspaper says public spending cuts are on the way from 2026, external, after the chancellor pledged not to put up taxes again during this Parliament. "Britain isn't working, external, admits PM in jobs push," is the headline on the front of the Times. It reports on Sir Keir Starmer's plan to "beat long-term sickness", as the paper puts it.

In other words, it was misleading to claim Vance called for a "federal response" to block travel for abortions. Vance Proposed 'Federal Response' to Stop Women Traveling for Abortions." Vance Proposed 'Federal Response' to Stop Women Traveling for Abortions." "JD Vance Called for 'Federal Response' to Block Women from Traveling for Abortions." "Vance Once Called for 'federal Response' to Traveling for Abortions."

Pep up a bland turkey with Yotam Ottolenghi’s ancho chilli gravy. Food styling: Emily Kydd. For Claire Dinhut, author of The Condiment Book, it’s all about staying within the confines of the traditional Thanksgiving menu, but giving each dish some extra zhoosh. Add the cabbage mix, press down, then pour in some red wine and top with sliced apple (pink lady, for preference). Carrots are another Thanksgiving must, though Dinhut breaks from tradition by roasting hers with maple syrup and pumpkin spice blend ( cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves).