Thousands protest in UK against Supreme Court ruling on definition of 'woman'
AP photoPoll Are you aware of the protests that took place in London and Edinburgh regarding trans rights? No YesThousands protest for trans rights in London after supreme court rulingThousands of people took to the streets in London and Edinburgh on Saturday to protest a recent UK supreme court ruling that defines a “woman” legally as someone assigned female at birth.Activists, trade unions, and members of the LGBTQ+ community held rallies in support of trans rights, waving flags and holding signs reading “trans women are women” and “trans rights are human rights.”The ruling, issued on Wednesday, has major implications for single-sex spaces and services such as toilets, changing rooms, and hospital wards. According to the court, these services “will function properly only if sex is interpreted as biological sex.”Many in the trans and non-binary community say the decision undermines their identity and increases their vulnerability.In London, police reported that seven statues near the protest were vandalised, including one of suffragette Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square.Justice Patrick Hodge said he and four other judges ruled unanimously that “the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman”.In the law, “the words ‘sex’, ‘woman’ and ‘man’ … mean (and were always intended to mean) biological sex, biological woman and biological man,” the judges wrote.The court’s decision followed a legal dispute between the Scottish government and campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), which challenged Scotland’s interpretation of the Equality Act. While the Scottish government argued that trans women with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) should have equal protections, the court disagreed.The group lost a ruling in a Scottish court in 2022 but was later granted permission to take its case to the supreme court, which held hearings in November.
Source:The Times
April 20, 2025 02:04 UTC
'Close to finalising agreement with UK'
India and the United Kingdom have finalised most elements of the free trade agreement, with talks on the contentious bilateral investment treaty also initiated, a senior govt official said on Saturday. "While nothing is agreed till everything is agreed, we are very close to finalising the agreement," the official said, days after Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman returned from the United Kingdom.Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal is also headed to London and may provide the final impetus to the discussions on the matter, which have been in an on-and-off mode for almost two years because of the political situation in the United Kingdom.
Source:The Times
April 20, 2025 01:46 UTC
Macron to make UK state visit months before Trump
President Macron will be granted a state visit to Britain several months before President Trump, as the UK charms the French president as part of an attempt to negotiate closer trade ties with Europe. Macron, 47, has been invited by the King to visit at the end of next month, eight years after taking office. It is the first time he has been afforded a state visit. Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump suggested his own visit was being planned for September. The invitation from Charles was issued when Sir Keir Starmer visited Washington in February.
Source:The Times
April 20, 2025 01:33 UTC
Celebs abandon posh Cotswolds countryside and move elsewhere in South West
Celebs abandon posh Cotswolds countryside and move elsewhere in South WestA posh Somerset town is one of the places they are moving to(Image: (Image: Getty) )The Cotswolds is known for its picturesque landscapes and celebrity inhabitants - but also for landmarks like Blenheim Palace and luxury hotels and spas. The area is also the backdrop for the festive favourite film The Holiday, featuring Jude Law and Kate Winslet. However, it appears that some of these stars are now trading in the Cotswolds for other charming spots in the South West. The Cotswolds are being abandoned by some major stars (Image: (Image: Getty) )With its familiar charm, the Cotswolds continues to attract tourists, drawing an estimated 35 million visitors annually. In competition for former Cotswolds favour is Norfolk, a region synonymous with Steve Coogan's character Alan Partridge.
Source:The Times
April 20, 2025 00:27 UTC
39 private schools in UK could be bought by corporate giants
Private equity giants are circling one of the biggest owners of private schools in the UK, as its owners tee up a sale that could value the business at £5 billion. Jacobs Holding, the Swiss investment group, has appointed advisers from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to explore a sale, or possibly a stock market listing, of Cognita, which operates more than 100 fee-paying schools around the world. It is understood that private equity firms including Permira, CVC and Blackstone are among the potential buyers of Cognita, which was co-founded by the late Sir Chris Woodhead, the government’s former chief inspector of schools. Cognita owns 39 schools across the UK, from Swansea’s Oakleigh House School, which educated Lord (Michael) Heseltine and Eddie Izzard, to Salcombe
Source:The Times
April 20, 2025 00:03 UTC
Why even Donald Trump bows to the power of the iPhone
Globalisation as we have known it is over and the world as we knew it is gone. This is the view of Sir Keir Starmer and Labour, advanced over the past fortnight. The prime minister’s grand statements are seeking to acknowledge — and echo — the vast and rapid shifts in global trade and co-operation instituted by President Trump in recent weeks. With his sweeping tariff announcements, Trump really does appear to have called time on decades of relatively free trade across the globe, particularly between America and its rising superpower rival in Beijing. Last Saturday, having raised tariffs on Chinese goods coming into America to 145 per cent, Trump performed one of his customary
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 23:54 UTC
Bristol's best garden centre named as South Bristol location with beloved café
Bristol's best garden centre named as South Bristol location with beloved caféOpened in 1987, it offers panoramic views of the cityRiverside Garden Centre is located in Southville, Bristol (Image: Google Street View )A garden centre in Southville has been named the best in the city by our readers. Earlier this month, we asked you to vote for what you felt was the top garden centre in Bristol - and now Riverside Garden Centre has been crowned the winner. The garden centre is easily accessed from the local road system and has ample parking for cars and bicycles." Riverside Garden Centre has 4.6 stars out of 5 on Google after 1,200 reviews. Furthermore, we have found a takeaway in South Bristol serves the best Chinese food in the city, according to our readers.
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 23:33 UTC
Russia’s Easter truce is a lie and attacks go on, says Zelensky
President Putin announced an Easter truce in Ukraine on Saturday, in a move that was met with scepticism in Kyiv as attacks continued. The Russian leader hailed a 30-hour ceasefire coming into effect that evening in a gesture that, according to Ukraine, soon bore no relation to life on the ground. Air raid sirens rang out in Kyiv four hours after the proposed truce was expected to begin due to a “missile threat” and Russian offensive actions continued in points along the 600-mile front line. “Russian assault operations continue in some areas of the front and Russian artillery does not subside,” President Zelensky of Ukraine wrote on social media on Saturday evening. On Sunday Zelensky claimed Russian units had carried out hundreds of shellings and
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 14:09 UTC
WrestleMania 41 Full Schedule, Match Card, Date, Time, Where and How to watch live streaming in India, US, UK, and more
Image via WWEWrestleMania 41: Where and How to watch live streaming in India, US, UK, and moreWrestleMania 41 Full Schedule & Match Card:WrestleMania 41 Saturday Match Card:World Heavyweight Championship Match: Gunther vs. Jey UsoWWE World Tag Team Championship Match: The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)Rey Mysterio vs. El Grando AmericanoJade Cargill vs. NaomiWWE United States Championship Match: LA Knight vs. Jacob FatuWWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte FlairTriple Threat Match: Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk (with Paul Heyman) vs. Seth RollinsWrestleMania 41 Sunday Match CardTriple threat for WWE Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs Rhea RipleyWWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Bayley and Lyra ValkyriaAJ Styles vs. Logan PaulFatal four-way match for WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik MysterioDamian Priest vs. Drew McIntyreUndisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. John CenaWrestleMania 41: Date & VenueWrestleMania 41 is all set to unspool over a span of two incredible nights in Las Vegas. The Grandest Show of all will be featuring heel John Cena trying to floor Cody Rhodes, while a triple-threat battle between Seth Rollins, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns will also be bringing the roof down in the Allegiant Stadium.WWE gears up to deliver another blockbuster event in the form of WrestleMania 41 with power-packed matches, incredible surprises, and most importantly, some God-level showmanship. The latest iteration of the Showcase of Immortals will be unfurling itself over a span of two days. It also serves as the home turf for the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL.With The Show of Shows set to present another blockbuster edition of WrestleMania in Las Vegas, the two night grand spectacle is set to conquer Sin City with an experience of a lifetime for wrestling fans worldwide.Also Read: “It’ll be the 20th time” – Randy Orton refuses to sit out at WrestleMania 41 on WWE SmackDown
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 12:41 UTC
Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta given all-clear for move for Athletic Club's Nico Williams - Paper Talk
The top stories and transfer rumours from Saturday's newspapers...DAILY STARMikel Arteta has been given the all-clear for a move for Athletic Club's Nico Williams. Joshua Zirkzee took aim at Manchester United supporters for leaving early before the stunning late Europa League comeback against Lyon. THE GUARDIANPep Guardiola fears Manchester City could miss out on summer transfer targets if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. Manchester United are reportedly plotting a swoop for Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling if they win the Europa League. Image: Southampton's Tyler Dibling has attracted plenty of interestScott Munn is expected to leave Tottenham after two years as the club's chief football officer.
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 10:45 UTC
Times letters: Protection of rights and single-sex spaces
Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, The Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a woman should be based on biological sex at birth will hopefully herald a new era where truth is recognised as the absolute concept it is (news, leading article and letters, Apr 18). How interesting though that it has not been necessary for the courts to make a similar ruling regarding the definition of a man. Perhaps we can all recognise now that this toxic debate has been more aimed at curtailing the hard-won rights and safety of biological women rather than increasing the rights of trans women, which already have legal protection. Dr Julia HawkinsStockportSir, I have recently retired, having worked on an acute female psychiatric ward
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 09:36 UTC
'Fixed it for you': White House 'corrects' NYT headline over wrongly deported man, netizens call it 'disgusting'
"Senator meets with wrongly deported Maryland Man in El Salvador," the NYT headline said.In the tweet, the White House wrote, "Fixed it for you,@NYTimes." ""The official White House Twitter account is such an embarrassment. "Nothing to see here - just the official White House Twitter account stating that it's going to blatantly defy the Supreme Court while openly defaming a man," another wrote. "The White House Twitter account is just the absolute dregs of the sh*tposting world. "Who is the actual PERSON who's in charge of the White House Twitter account, do all these jackals take a turn?
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 09:12 UTC
How JK Rowling funded a legal battle that curtailed trans rights in UK
Critics, however, view it as a major setback for transgender rights, effectively reversing hard-won civil protections.Rowling, who has been outspoken on issues relating to gender and women’s rights, appeared to celebrate the judgment on social media. Rowling’s financial support for the organisation is seen by her supporters as part of her broader advocacy to preserve sex-based rights.The case has drawn criticism for excluding testimony from trans individuals or trans rights organisations. A similar lack of trans representation was flagged in the NHS-commissioned Cass Report, which examined gender-affirming healthcare for youth.Internationally, the ruling reflects a broader trend of increasing legal and cultural challenges to transgender rights. In the United States, federal and state-level measures have restricted gender-affirming care and banned trans athletes from school sports, among other moves.While trans rights remain deeply influenced by geography and political context, the UK judgment has become a flashpoint in the global conversation. Advocates are calling for more inclusive dialogue as legal and cultural debates continue to unfold.
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 05:31 UTC
Ex-New York Times editor breaks down in tears as he apologizes to Sarah Palin for smearing her in paper
A former New York Times editor broke down in tears as he made an emotional apology to Sarah Palin over a 2017 editorial that she claims damaged her reputation. James Bennet testified on Friday in a libel case brought by Palin over a 2017 piece written by the former opinion page editor in response to the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise in 2017. Bennet choked up and wept on Friday as he testified that he 'blew it' when he published the piece, saying: 'I did, and I do apologize to Governor Palin for this mistake.' Palin first brought her action against the outlet in 2017, saying the article damaged her reputation and standing as a political commentator. The Times issued a correction noting the editorial had 'incorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting.'
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 05:24 UTC
I ate lunch at a high street mainstay that has moved with the times
More infoThe Royal Sportsman Hotel in Porthmadog is one of the most well-established venues in the town. It used to be like a traditional pub with tables by the bar and the hubbub of a pub atmosphere. (Image: David Powell)I was rather astonished to see it has been turned into a plush, modern hotel bar and restaurant. I was in the hotel bar. The factsLocation: The Royal Sportsman Hotel, 131 High Street, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9HB.
Source:The Times
April 19, 2025 03:33 UTC