In the News

Omicron 'a storm not a hurricane', says scientist

Risk of hospital stay 40 per cent lower than Delta

updated

The risk posed by the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been downgraded from "a hurricane to very severe storm", a scientific adviser said after two studies suggested that it was less likely to cause severe disease than the Delta variant. Andrew Hayward, an epidemiologist and member of the... The risk posed by the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been downgraded from "a hurricane to very severe storm", a scientific adviser said after two studies suggested that it was less likely to cause severe disease than the Delta variant. Andrew Hayward, an epidemiologist and member of the... The risk posed by the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been downgraded from "a hurricane to very severe storm", a scientific...

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Maxwell will spend Christmas behind bars as jury deliberation continues

Ghislaine Maxwell will spend Christmas Day — her 60th birthday — in a New York jail cell after the jury in her sex trafficking trial failed to reach a verdict following its second full day of deliberations. The British former socialite's wait to hear her fate will stretch into next week, with jurors due to return to the court in downtown... Ghislaine Maxwell will spend Christmas Day — her 60th birthday — in a New York jail cell after the jury in her sex trafficking trial failed to reach a verdict following its second full day of deliberations. The British former socialite's wait to hear her fate will stretch into next week, with jurors due to return to the court in downtown... Ghislaine Maxwell will spend Christmas Day — her 60th birthday — in a New York jail cell after the jury in her sex trafficking...

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New women's tsar to combat 'gender health gap'

A women's health ambassador will be appointed to help reduce "gender health inequality" in England after a review found that four out of five women believed they were not properly listened to by doctors and other health professionals. Maria Caulfield, the minister for women's health, said that some of the... A women's health ambassador will be appointed to help reduce "gender health inequality" in... A women's health ambassador will be appointed to help reduce "gender health inequality" in...

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Nato must arm Ukraine to repel Russian invasion, says Lithuania

Russia "clearly" intends to invade Ukraine in the coming months and Nato should arm Kiev with defensive weapons in readiness for war, according to Lithuania's top diplomat. Gabrielius Landsbergis, the foreign minister of the largest Baltic state, told The Times the western alliance... Russia "clearly" intends to invade Ukraine in the coming months and Nato should arm Kiev with defensive weapons in readiness for war, according to Lithuania's top diplomat. Gabrielius Landsbergis, the foreign minister of the largest Baltic state, told The Times the western alliance... Russia "clearly" intends to invade Ukraine in the coming months and Nato should arm Kiev with defensive weapons in readiness...

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UAE officials 'hacked phone of Khashoggi's wife'

An Emirati government agency hacked the phone of Jamal Khashoggi's wife using the notorious Pegasus spyware months before the Saudi dissident was murdered, a report has claimed. Hanan Elatr, 53, a former Emirates flight attendant and Khashoggi's fourth wife, had her devices hacked while being interrogated at Dubai airport three years ago... An Emirati government agency hacked the phone of Jamal Khashoggi's wife using the notorious Pegasus spyware months before the Saudi dissident was murdered, a report has claimed. Hanan Elatr, 53, a former Emirates flight attendant and Khashoggi's fourth wife, had her devices hacked while being interrogated at Dubai airport three years ago... An Emirati government agency hacked the phone of Jamal Khashoggi's wife using the notorious Pegasus spyware months before the...

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Libya braces for violence as elections are called off with two days to go

Tensions and fears of renewed violence have intensified in Libya after tomorrow's presidential elections were postponed for at least a month. The decision by the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) yesterday came after a parliamentary committee tasked with overseeing the electoral process said it was... Tensions and fears of renewed violence have intensified in Libya after tomorrow's presidential... Tensions and fears of renewed violence have intensified in Libya after tomorrow's presidential...

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Flutter pays £1.6bn for Italian betting business

updated

Flutter Entertainment has struck a £1.6 billion takeover that will make the owner of Paddy Power and Betfair the biggest online gambling business in Italy and links it with a bid to run the National Lottery. The FTSE 100-listed group said that it had agreed to buy Sisal, a Milan-based betting... Flutter Entertainment has struck a £1.6 billion takeover that will make the owner of Paddy Power and Betfair the biggest online gambling business in Italy and links it with a bid to run the National Lottery. The FTSE 100-listed group said that it had agreed to buy Sisal, a Milan-based betting... Flutter Entertainment has struck a £1.6 billion takeover that will make the owner of Paddy Power and Betfair the biggest online...

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Balfour Beatty admits defrauding US military

new

Balfour Beatty has pleaded guilty to defrauding the US military after a two-and-half year investigation by special agents of the armed forces and the FBI and has been told to return fraudulently claimed payments and pay penalties totalling nearly £50 million. The FBI and one of America's top federal prosecutors said the company had been... Balfour Beatty has pleaded guilty to defrauding the US military after a two-and-half year investigation by special agents of the armed forces and the FBI and has been told to return fraudulently claimed payments and pay penalties totalling nearly £50 million. The FBI and one of America's top federal prosecutors said the company had been... Balfour Beatty has pleaded guilty to defrauding the US military after a two-and-half year investigation by special agents of...

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Third Point's Daniel Loeb criticises 'juvenile antics' of activist investors

new

The American corporate raider Dan Loeb has hit out at activist investors after the resignation of the chairman of his London-listed fund, calling them a stain on the City and accusing them of engaging in "juvenile antics". Third Point Investors (TPIL), based in Guernsey, said that Steve Bates, 64, had resigned... The American corporate raider Dan Loeb has hit out at activist investors after the resignation of... The American corporate raider Dan Loeb has hit out at activist investors after the resignation of...

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business commentary

Lender paying for its 'brilliant history'

Some banks are too modest for their own good. Log on to Metro Bank and up pops the full lowdown on its "brief but... Some banks are too modest for their own good. Log on to Metro Bank and up pops the full lowdown... Some banks are too modest for their own good. Log on to Metro Bank and up pops the full lowdown...

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Premier League

Two Boxing Day fixtures postponed due to Covid

Liverpool v Leeds and Wolves v Watford called off

new

Liverpool's Boxing Day clash with Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers's game with Watford have been postponed due to outbreaks of Covid-19. Requests from Leeds and Watford were made to the Premier League, whose board met on Thursday and agreed to call off the fixtures. Both matches were due... Liverpool's Boxing Day clash with Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers's game with Watford have been postponed due to outbreaks of Covid-19. Requests from Leeds and Watford were made to the Premier League, whose board met on Thursday and agreed to call off the fixtures. Both matches were due... Liverpool's Boxing Day clash with Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers's game with Watford have been postponed due to...

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cricket

Burns and Pope set to be dropped as England look to Crawley and Bairstow

England are set to drop Rory Burns, the only batsman to have scored a Test hundred for them this year apart from Joe Root, and Ollie Pope for the must-win Boxing Day Test match at the MCG. Zak Crawley is earmarked to replace Burns at the top of the order and form what would be England's fourth opening partnership in 15 Tests this year. Pope... England are set to drop Rory Burns, the only batsman to have scored a Test hundred for them this year apart from Joe Root, and Ollie Pope for the must-win Boxing Day Test match at the MCG. Zak Crawley is earmarked to replace Burns at the top of the order and form what would be England's fourth opening partnership in 15 Tests this year. Pope... England are set to drop Rory Burns, the only batsman to have scored a Test hundred for them this year apart from Joe Root, and...

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The Ashes | Mike Atherton

Giles put too much power in Silverwood's hands and now England are counting the cost

England have invested a lot of authority in one man. Chris Silverwood has been given more power than any other England coach, taking account of his responsibilities across all three formats and for the selection as well as coaching of those teams. It is, when you think about it, a remarkable concentration of power... England have invested a lot of authority in one man. Chris Silverwood has been given more power... England have invested a lot of authority in one man. Chris Silverwood has been given more power...

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the lowdown

Tom Cruise and Churchill's war office

I'm terribly sorry about this.
Oh come on. Not this close to Christmas. We've come so far! Not that. Another C... I'm terribly sorry about this.
Oh come on. Not this close to Christmas. We've come so far! Not... I'm terribly sorry about this.
Oh come on. Not this close to Christmas. We've come so far! Not...

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obituary

Eve Babitz

Artist, author and muse who wrote steamy autobiographical exposés of life in the fast lane with Hollywood's leading men

Eve Babitz was furious. Walter Hopps, her married lover, was curating the 1963 Marcel Duchamp retrospective at Pasadena Art Museum. Knowing his wife would be there, Hopps had not invited Babitz to the preview. Later, when Julian Wasser, a photographer with Time magazine, asked her to pose playing chess with Duchamp, Babitz took her revenge: she was naked; Duchamp was not. Eve Babitz was furious. Walter Hopps, her married lover, was curating the 1963 Marcel Duchamp... Eve Babitz was furious. Walter Hopps, her married lover, was curating the 1963 Marcel Duchamp...

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obituary

Sir Peter Thompson

"I was fired within two hours of arriving," said Sir Peter Thompson of his first job, at Wall's ice cream. He had... "I was fired within two hours of arriving," said Sir Peter Thompson of his first job, at Wall's ice cream. He had done nothing wrong. "I was summoned to the chairman's office. He asked me three questions: was I prepared to work all hours, would I work anywhere and did I have any attachments? I answered yes, yes and... "I was fired within two hours of arriving," said Sir Peter Thompson of his first job, at Wall's ice cream. He had done nothing...

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obituary

David Longdon

David Longdon came to success as a rock singer late: he was 44, with two young daughters, by the time he began... David Longdon came to success as a rock singer late: he was 44, with two young daughters, by the... David Longdon came to success as a rock singer late: he was 44, with two young daughters, by the...

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announcements

Births, marriages and deaths

THEN I heard the Lord say, "Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered, "I will go! Send me!" Isaiah... THEN I heard the Lord say, "Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered, "I will go! THEN I heard the Lord say, "Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered, "I will go!

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Word Watch

Can you spot the real definition among the fakes?

Word Watch

Fears for struggling firms as nightclubs ordered to shut

new

Some struggling businesses will miss out on coronavirus support funding, the deputy first minister has conceded, as he confirmed that nightclubs will be forced to close for at least three weeks. Late-night venues had been absent from the Scottish government's announcement earlier this week of... Some struggling businesses will miss out on coronavirus support funding, the deputy first minister has conceded, as he confirmed that nightclubs will be forced to close for at least three weeks. Late-night venues had been absent from the Scottish government's announcement earlier this week of... Some struggling businesses will miss out on coronavirus support funding, the deputy first minister has conceded, as he...

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Coronavirus

Death toll from chronic diseases starts to mount

A "death wave" linked to conditions such as cancer and heart disease is sweeping over Scotland as evidence emerges of a delayed response linked to the pandemic. Fatalities linked to chronic conditions are now catching up fast with fatalities caused by respiratory illnesses such as coronavirus, official figures have shown. They show there... A "death wave" linked to conditions such as cancer and heart disease is sweeping over Scotland as evidence emerges of a delayed response linked to the pandemic. Fatalities linked to chronic conditions are now catching up fast with fatalities caused by respiratory illnesses such as coronavirus, official figures have shown. They show there... A "death wave" linked to conditions such as cancer and heart disease is sweeping over Scotland as evidence emerges of a delayed...

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Ex-Rangers owner arrested at airport

The former owner of Rangers has appeared in court after being arrested at Manchester airport. Craig Whyte, 50, has been charged with failing to provide passwords for various laptops and phones seized more than three years ago. At Manchester and Salford magistrates' court yesterday Whyte said he was not guilty, which... The former owner of Rangers has appeared in court after being arrested at Manchester airport. The former owner of Rangers has appeared in court after being arrested at Manchester airport.

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CORONAVIRUS

Prioritise ventilation in schools, education department urged

The education department must prioritise ventilation in its review of public health measures in schools, teachers unions have said. Norma Foley, the education minister, met representatives of teachers' organisations yesterday along with Colm Henry, the HSE's chief clinical officer, and officials... The education department must prioritise ventilation in its review of public health measures in schools, teachers unions have said. Norma Foley, the education minister, met representatives of teachers' organisations yesterday along with Colm Henry, the HSE's chief clinical officer, and officials... The education department must prioritise ventilation in its review of public health measures in schools, teachers unions have...

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Ireland 'worse than other countries' for Christmas overindulgence

Irish people tend to overindulge for weeks rather than days over the Christmas holidays with the intention of making up for extra treats in the new year, an expert has said. Fergus Shanahan, chair of medicine at University College Cork, said while it was commonplace to eat a little extra over the Christmas period, it was important to limit... Irish people tend to overindulge for weeks rather than days over the Christmas holidays with the intention of making up for extra treats in the new year, an expert has said. Fergus Shanahan, chair of medicine at University College Cork, said while it was commonplace to eat a little extra over the Christmas period, it was important to limit... Irish people tend to overindulge for weeks rather than days over the Christmas holidays with the intention of making up for...

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Quarantined fundraisers walk 15km inside their hotel room

Two Northern Irish activists in quarantine in Spain after testing positive for Covid-19 have walked more than 15km in a hotel "room-a-thon" to raise money for charity. Andrew McAnallen and Ryan Harling travelled to Barcelona for an Erasmus+ programme but have been unable to return home after contracting the disease. Two Northern Irish activists in quarantine in Spain after testing positive for Covid-19 have... Two Northern Irish activists in quarantine in Spain after testing positive for Covid-19 have...

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