CLEARLY a labour of love and born of a passion for recording and celebrating women who have lived the Christian life in Asia Minor and what is now Turkey over two millennia, Rosamund Wilkinson’s information-crammed book is absorbing and just a little frustrating. More than 50 women are showcased, from Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16) to Sister Meryem NDS (born Zübeyde Ismet Faik Topuz, Istanbul, 1901, died near Marseilles, 1991). Her title allows for treatment of foreign Christian women who came to Asia Minor and Turkey, such as Florence Nightingale, and those like Sister Meryem who left it, as well as the many who were born and died within its vast geography. Movingly, Wilkinson tells the story of Araxie Jebejian, a 30-year-old Armenian “Bible woman” and teacher trained in Birmingham who was murdered in the Armenian Genocide of 1916. Christian Women in Turkey — A history: A survey of notable Christian women in Asia Minor and Anatolia from 33CE to 2021Rosamund WilkinsonEgeria Press £19.99(978-1-3999-0464-3)Church Times Bookshop £17.99

NEW DELHI: Independent professionals as well as business visitors, company executives and investors can expect a more predictable visa regime to the United Kingdom once the trade deal signed Thursday is implemented.The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement seeks to "lock in" business mobility rules for Indian business visitors attending meetings and conferences, experienced employees, graduate trainees, investors, as well as musicians, chefs and yoga teachers. The British govt will, however, closely monitor eligibility norms to avoid a large influx.For instance, senior executives of service sector companies with branches in India and UK will get visas for three years. Last year, the UK granted 25,117 visas under the Global Business Mobility route. Like in the Australian ECTA, architectural services are now open to British firms. The UK has made offers across 12 major services sectors and 137 sub-sectors.

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal and his British counterpart Jonathan Reynold during the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in the UK. NEW DELHI: Indian negotiators are targeting labour-intensive goods and services to boost India's tiny 1.9% share of UK imports. So, readymade garments or home textiles, carpets, handicrafts and traditional items such as pashmina shawls or Kanchipuram or bandhini sarees are expected to gain. Indian exporters hope to replace competitors across a variety of engineering goods, including machinery and components, where zero-duty access will be provided to 1,659 items. With exports of $4.3 billion, India holds a small share of the $194 billion machinery imports by British businesses.

From August 4 until August 17, children shopping with their families in Tesco stores will be able to pick up free fruit at checkout. This continues the work of Tesco’s Stronger Starts Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, and the supermarket expects to give away over 3.5 million apples over two weeks. Millions of customers will also be offered the chance to earn extra Clubcard points and vouchers by choosing to buy more fruit and vegetables. New Clubcard Prices and offers across the summer on fruit, veg and healthy lunchbox snacks, on top of weekly Fresh 5 offers on five-a-day basics. The campaign will run across Tesco stores and online to help incentivise customers to make healthier choices through offers and recipe inspiration.

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Carmarthenshire County Council has announced plans to introduce a digitally integrated service model at Ammanford Public Library. However, not all locals are convinced the changes will meet the needs of every member of the community. Lawrence Raison thinks the digital changes will be difficult for the older generation. (Image: Newsquest) Local resident, Lawrence Raison said: “I’m not into digital stuff as it’s difficult with my eyesight. As far as I’m aware, the library is fine the way it is.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, and his wife, Brigitte Macron, filed a defamation suit on Wednesday against an American right-wing podcaster who falsely claimed Ms. Macron is a man. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court against the podcaster, Candace Owens, argues that Ms. Owens used false claims about the Macrons to “promote her independent platform, gain notoriety and make money.”In a filing running more than 200 pages, the Macrons are suing for 22 counts of defamation and related claims, and are seeking actual and punitive damages (the amount was not specified), as well as legal costs. The battle began in March 2024, when, according to the lawsuit, Ms. Owens “told the world” she would stake her “entire professional reputation” on the accusation that Ms. Macron, “is, in fact, a man.” Ms. Owens made the claim on her podcast, then carried by The Daily Wire, and repeated it in a post on X.

You might need a glass of water to read this review, and you think about it differently afterwards. The Wellcome Collection is looking at water, and how humans harness it for their critical needs, such as staying alive, which is pretty critical when you think about it. Talking of which, the ancient Bummolo water bottle is a fascinating invention that prevents pollutants from entering the vessel without requiring a lid. The exhibition, Thirst: In Search of Freshwater is at the Wellcome Collection until February 2026. It’s free to visit and open from 10am to 6pm daily except Mondays – and open late to 8pm on Thursdays.

The S&P Global flash UK composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reported a reading of 51 in July, sliding from a nine-month high of 52 reported in June. Any score above 50.0 indicates that activity is growing while any score below means it is contracting. Firms linked job cuts to higher labour costs in last autumn’s budget from Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Anthony Devlin/PA)It was also weaker than expected by economists, who had predicted a reading of 51.8 for the month. Surveyed firms reported a drop in overall new work from the private sector, slipping to its weakest level for three months. Lower levels of new work contributed to another drop in employment, with the survey showing the fastest rate of “job shedding” since February, with job cuts across the manufacturing and service sectors.

However, GOV.UK advises that before visiting a country, you should always check whether it recognises the UK Blue Badge. It explains: “Some countries may require you to display a local parking notice as well as your Blue Badge.”Popular countries in Europe where Blue Badges could be usedLet’s take a look at just some of the most popular countries in Europe where your Blue Badge could be recognised:AustriaBelgiumCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmark - you must use a parking disc (clock) if using parking time concessionsEstoniaFinlandGermanyHungaryIrelandMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalSwedenSwitzerland - you must use a parking disc (clock) if using parking time concessionsGOV.UK says France “may not recognise non-EU issued parking cards” while in Italy “non-EU parking cards accepted in some regions only”. You can see the full list of European countries where Blue Badges are recognised for parking on the GOV.UK website. Blue Badge user rulesUK travellers can also find links to each country’s rules when it comes to parking for disabled people and Blue Badges. GOV.UK states: “Even in countries that recognise the Blue Badge, parking rules can vary in different parts of the country.

Kooymans, from The Hague, was in his mid-teens when he helped found what became Golden Earring in the early 1960s: The band’s name was inspired by an instrumental of the time, Golden Earrings. “George bore this devastating and debilitating illness with exceptional strength and dignity,” a statement from Golden Earring reads in part. George was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, but above all, a friend.”With more than 20 top 10 singles in their native country, Golden Earring had more success at home than overseas. Golden Earring shared bills with Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin among others and toured with such stars as Aerosmith, Rush and the Doobie Brothers. Golden Earring continued to tour and record in the 1990s and beyond.

Prince: Sign O' The Times concert film is coming to IMAX cinemasJust for one week! Prince Author: Anna Sky Magliola Published 12 hours agoLast updated 9 hours agoThe critically acclaimed 1987 concert film Prince: Sign O' The Times, is making its way to IMAX cinemas across the country very soon. How to watch the filmThe film is only available in IMAX cinemas, to find your nearest one visit the IMAX website. Becoming Led Zeppelin (Cinemas) The long-gestating Led Zeppelin documentary film Becoming Led Zeppelin is finally set to hit cinema screens on 7th February in the UK. Bono: Stories of Surrender U2 frontman Bono is the subject of a feature-length documentary film called Bono: Stories to Surrender.

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'We never used to have sex, then I started Mounjaro and it's four times a week'Jackie says she and partner Carl are 'like kids again' after she started taking the weight-loss jabsJackie Collins with partner CarlA woman says she has gone from having sex "a couple of times a month to four times a week" thanks to Mounjaro after losing nearly 3st in just six months. ‌After a friend suggested she try Mounjaro, within weeks Jackie began to notice her hunger reducing. Perhaps the biggest change though, is Jackie says the "passion" in her sex life with her partner, Carl, 44, has returned - going from just a couple of times a month to four times a week. We've gone from a couple of times a month to three or four times a week. Jackie Collins after weightlossArticle continues below"Now my body is getting used to it, I fancy meals, but I don't eat as much.

* The FTA creates new market access for emerging products, such as jackfruit, millets, and organic herbs, helping farmers diversify against domestic price volatility. * India exports worth USD 36.63 billion globally, while the UK imports USD 37.52 billion, but imports just USD 811 million from India, indicating a room for growth in high-value agri products. * Despite the UK's USD 5.4 billion marine import market, India's share remains at just 2.25 per cent, underscoring a significant untapped export opportunity. * India is facing a duty disadvantage vis-a-vis Bangladesh, Pakistan and Combodia, which had duty free access to the UK market. * The FTA is projected to add 5 per cent UK market share within 1-2 years.