European Leaders Look for Allies to Secure Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal
Britain and France have promised to muster a “coalition of the willing” to secure a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Now comes the acid test for Europe: How many countries will step up, and does that even matter, given Russia’s rejection of such a coalition as part of any settlement? Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain left those questions unanswered as he bade farewell to fellow leaders after a summit meeting in London on Sunday. For the moment, the United States appears determined to strike a deal with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia over the heads of Europe and Ukraine, and without any security guarantees. That is where the coalition would come in.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 15:25 UTC
Lawmakers, area stakeholders discuss environmental issues impacting NEPA
Natural gas drilling reform was a hot-button topic among lawmakers and officials. “The problem is a lot of the regulations.”The Delaware River Basin Commission voted in February 2021 to permanently ban natural gas drilling and fracking in the watershed, according to the Associated Press. “The ability to harvest natural gas right in our backyard would lead to almost a billion-dollar industry that would allow us to reinvest in our schools and public roads and recreation activities,” he said. Zeldin also highlighted the potential employment benefits related to natural gas extraction. I want clean air and clean water just like everybody else, but I think we can do it in a much bigger way.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 15:06 UTC
US economy has surged ahead of UK since financial crisis
Britons are often sniffy about American politics but a new analysis has laid bare the extent to which the US economy has surged ahead of the UK under the leadership of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and George W Bush. Income per head in America has risen by 72 per cent since the financial crisis of 2007 while it has shrunk by 2 per cent in the UK in dollar terms over the same period. The figures mean GDP per head in America is now $82,800 (£65,767) compared to $49,500 in Britain, according to the analysis by New World Wealth, a global analytics firm. In 2007 when the financial crisis struck, triggering the demise of many banks such as Northern Rock and Lehman Brothers
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 13:47 UTC
Where to watch Oscar-winning films Anora and Conclave in UK
#Oscars pic.twitter.com/snYKmhf2op — Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) March 3, 2025Where to watch itIt was released in UK cinemas on November 1 and is available to rent and buy digitally. Where to watch itIt was released in UK cinemas on January 24 and is available to rent and buy digitally. Where to watch itIt was released in UK cinemas on January 10. Recommended reading:Where to watch itIt was released in UK cinemas on November 29 and is available to rent and buy digitally. Where to watch itIt was released in UK cinemas on November 22, and is now available to rent and buy digitally.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 13:09 UTC
WHSmith could disappear from Hertfordshire high streets
The retailer has a long history, having opened its first store way back in 1792, but the name could soon be be gone from towns and cities across the country. According to The Times, talks are under way to offload high street stores to a new buyer and give up the rights to the WHSmith name. This would mean that whoever purchases the shops can rebrand them entirely, with the report claiming the retailer is set to focus on its travel business, which accounts for 85 per cent of the company's profits. WHSmith has a large presence in Hertfordshire, with stores in Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth, Welwyn Garden City, St Albans, Harpenden, Watford, Rickmansworth, Royston and Borehamwood. The sale could lead to the closure of underperforming stores, many of which have short leases remaining.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 12:53 UTC
Dip in number of mortgage approvals to home buyers in January
Stamp duty discounts are set to become less generous for some home buyers from April. Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland. “Bond market dramas at the start of the year pushed mortgage rates up a little. At £1,129, the average fee currently charged on a fixed-rate mortgage deal (excluding no-fee products) has risen by £89 since March 2020, the website said. UK Finance said it had seen changes for first-time buyers in the level of deposit required, particularly in and around London, where buyers are needing to find bigger deposits to make up for the lower loan sizes available.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 12:36 UTC
Specialist children’s nursing charity to partner with 2025 Nursing Times Awards
Each year, the Nursing Times Awards shines a light on the brightest talent in the profession and recognises those making nursing innovative, patient-focused and inclusive. “We feel completely privileged to have been selected as the Nursing Times Awards’ charity partner in 2025” Louise GriewIn line with those ambitions, we can reveal that Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity will be our charity partner for the 2025 Nursing Times Awards. This represents the second time in recent years that Nursing Times has worked closely on an event with the charity, which was previously our partner for the 2024 Nursing Times Workforce Awards. “So, we feel completely privileged to have been selected as the Nursing Times Awards’ charity partner in 2025. Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters so far for the 2025 Nursing Times Awards.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 12:35 UTC
Fury over secretive fast-track HMRC phone line for 'VIPs' that deals with tax queries eight times quicker
Senior civil servants, ministers and other high-earning public officials are having their tax queries dealt with eight times quicker than the general public through a secretive helpline. This is due to a secretive helpline, known as Public Department 1 (PD1), that prioritises high earning public officials, MPs and the royal family. Some 11.5million taxpayers filed returns for the 2023/24 tax year before the deadline - including 10.9million expected returns plus voluntary returns and late registrations. HMRC said there are extra penalties for paying late of 5 per cent of the tax unpaid at 30 days, six months and 12 months. If tax remains unpaid after the deadline, interest will also be charged on the amount owed - in addition to these penalties.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 12:22 UTC
Digital collection of oldest English language daily newspaper to be boosted
The News Letter, first published in September 1737, will this year mark its 288th anniversary as the oldest continuously published English language daily paper. The Northern Ireland Office is working in partnership with the British Library and FindMyPast to expand the online collection of the publication in the British Newspaper Archive. Mr Benn said: “The News Letter’s status as the longest-running continuously published English language daily newspaper in the world is an important part of Northern Ireland’s unique cultural heritage. This ensures the faithful reproduction of the newspaper as it once appeared and enables online searching of the newspaper by name, keyword, date, or specific location. They will also be accessible to people around the world with a subscription to the Findmypast or British Newspaper Archive websites.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 12:18 UTC
UK probes TikTok and Reddit for children's data privacy concerns
With agency inputs. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched an investigation into how TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur handle children's personal data. The probe aims to determine whether these platforms comply with data protection laws and adequately safeguard the privacy of young users.The ICO is particularly concerned about how TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, uses the personal information of 13-17-year-olds to suggest content in their feeds. The investigation will also examine how Reddit and Imgur assess the age of their child users and ensure compliance with age-related regulations. TikTok and Imgur have yet to respond to the ICO's investigation.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 10:08 UTC
TikTok and Reddit investigated over use of children's data
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it wanted to look into how TikTok uses the personal information of 13-17-year-olds to deliver content recommendations to them. The ICO also introduced a children’s code for online privacy in 2021, which requires firms to take steps to protect children’s personal information online. “It’s what they’re collecting, it’s how they work,” he told PA.“I will expect to find that there will be many benign and positive uses of children’s data in their recommender systems. Recommended Reading“The selection was made based on the direction of growth travel in relation to young users, market dominance and potential for harm. “Now, they’re all competing for attention and eyeballs, and so they’re using techniques to maximise those.”Discussing the investigation, a TikTok spokesperson said: "We're deeply committed to ensuring a positive experience for young people on TikTok, just like the ICO.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 10:08 UTC
Private hospitals threaten to refuse NHS patients as Labour's plan to cut waiting lists hits wall in row over costs
Private hospitals threaten to refuse NHS patients as Labour's plan to cut waiting lists hits wall in row over costsCardiff, Wales, UK - 17 February 2025: Ambulances waiting outside the accident and emergency department of The Heath Hospital near Cardiff city centre. Picture: AlamyBy Danielle de WolfeLabour's plan to cut waiting lists by sending patients to private hospitals has hit a stumbling block amid threats to refuse NHS patients in a clash over costs. The plans, unveiled by ministers in January, involved paying private hospitals per NHS patient they take on, with the price capped. The move is set to incentivise private hospitals to provide care to as many patients as possible. Ministers said the plan forms the foundations of Labour's plan to cut NHS waiting times, with a target of 92 per cent of patients waiting fewer than 18 weeks for routine procedures by the next election.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 09:17 UTC
Papers rally behind Starmer’s leading role in pushing for Ukraine support
The Times praises the Prime Minister’s call for a “coalition of the willing” from Ukraine’s European allies, but warns the power of any peacekeeping force would be limited without US firepower. The paper says: “The risk is that Sir Keir is talking himself into a deployment that could result in Britain’s threadbare army fighting with no US help. “After decades of freeloading on defence, Europe would be hard put to field anything but a token force in Ukraine. “Sir Keir must try to lower the temperature and re-establish unity. “Fair play to Sir Keir Starmer, he has acted with the calmness of an international statesman in dealing with a crisis,” the paper’s editorial states.
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 07:28 UTC
Starmer tells of ‘common ground’ with Italy’s Meloni after meeting
The UK Prime Minister welcomed Ms Meloni for a bilateral meeting on Sunday before the summit of political leaders in London focused on Ukraine and wider European security. Sir Keir, speaking at a press conference in Lancaster House, joked that they had the “first bilateral brunch in the history of British-Italian relations”. “And I think on this the UK and Italy can play an important role in bridge-building, let’s say. A Downing Street spokesperson said the leaders “agreed on the importance of the transatlantic alliance in confronting shared challenges”. “They reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, agreeing that the UK and Italy will stand with them for as long as it takes.”
Source:The Times
March 03, 2025 06:17 UTC