The i - 21.08.2026
全球报刊态势与全景学术研判总览 — 2026-08-21
🌐 第一部分：全球宏观战略态势报告（SITREP）
今日综述：本日共全量采集并深度研判来自全球各大主流语系与核心地缘区域的 1 份权威报刊与学术特刊。
📡 今日全球主要报道要闻速览
亚太及全球其他媒体 (Asia-Pacific & Global Others) - 《The i - 21.08.2026.pdf》法院 男子被判谋杀分居妻子罪名成立：61岁男子雷蒙德·威廉姆斯被判定谋杀40岁分居妻子塔妮娅，死因被确定为颈部受伤导致失血过多。 - 《The i - 21.08.2026.pdf》14岁男孩死亡后巴士司机被捕：一名14岁男孩在朴次茅斯被车辆撞击后伤重去世，涉事巴士司机已被警方逮捕。 - 《The i - 21.08.2026.pdf》哈里王子的回归与王室关系：哈里与梅根计划搬回英国以重建与查尔斯国王的关系，但预计将保持私人身份，被禁止参加重大官方国家活动。
💡 各大报刊的报道脉络呈现出高度多维的地缘博弈、制度转型、社会痛感与前沿科学突破。读者可通过下方【今日跨报思想雷达总矩阵】快速把握各报最具穿透力的思想理论对话与生活世界痛感切入点，或在【全景报刊分卷】中按区域细读每份大报的具体文章精要、制度权力批判与理性情感辩证。
🧭 第二部分：今日跨报思想文化与批判深思雷达总矩阵
本矩阵自动系统汇编当日全球报刊最具穿透力的 【思想与文化深思切入点】 与 【生活世界痛感切入点】，为学者提供一站式理论对话与现象学经验索引：
- （本日暂未提取到独立的跨报思想雷达条目）
📚 第三部分：全景报刊分卷学术档案与精粹汇编
📍 亚太及全球其他媒体 (Asia-Pacific & Global Others)
📰 《The i - 21.08.2026.pdf》
Newspapers - 21.08.2026法院 男子被判谋杀分居妻子罪名成立
- 一日概览 / 法院 / 法院 男子被判谋杀分居妻子罪名成立：61岁男子雷蒙德·威廉姆斯被判定谋杀40岁分居妻子塔妮娅，死因被确定为颈部受伤导致失血过多。
- 一日概览 / 警方 / 14岁男孩死亡后巴士司机被捕：一名14岁男孩在朴次茅斯被车辆撞击后伤重去世，涉事巴士司机已被警方逮捕。
- 王室 / 哈里王子的回归与王室关系：哈里与梅根计划搬回英国以重建与查尔斯国王的关系，但预计将保持私人身份，被禁止参加重大官方国家活动。
- 政治 / 苏·格雷男爵夫人谈唐宁街工作经历：前办公厅主任苏·格雷在辞职后表示，唐宁街内部的泄密战使其工作环境难以忍受，并对斯塔默未采取应对措施感到失望。
- 国际新闻 / 俄罗斯大规模空袭基辅：俄罗斯发射巡航、弹道及高超音速导弹并使用168架无人机袭击基辅，导致16人死亡，多处民用设施受损。
- 福利 / 关于个人独立支付金（PIP）的观点：作者朱莉·伯切尔质疑心理健康申请者的PIP资格，指出英格兰和威尔士共有400万人领取该福利，其中焦虑抑郁者超60万人。
- 国际新闻 / 朝鲜发射短程弹道导弹：朝鲜向东部海域发射约10枚导弹，旨在回应美韩缩减军事演习，并试图在重启谈判前迫使特朗普做出更大让步。
- 文化评论 / 情景喜剧《安·卓伊德》评论：BBC热门剧集《安·卓伊德》首集观众超400万，探讨了未来AI机器人缓解老年人孤独感的主题。
- 文化评论 / 美国创作歌手史密斯传记：新传记揭示史密斯在签约DreamWorks后，因追求无法掌控的音乐声音而对后期作品感到不满。
- 天气 / 英国五日天气预报：预报显示周六至周日南部地区较为干燥晴朗，周二起英国全境将出现阵雨。
- 体育 / 足球比赛新赛季规则调整：引入掷界外球5秒倒计时及球员受伤离场至少1分钟等新规，旨在减少拖延时间，并允许VAR检查第二张黄牌。
暂无制度批判分析。
暂无情感辩证分析。
The i - 21.08.2026.pdf
新闻矩阵
一日概览
法院
男子被判谋杀分居妻子罪名成立
一名男子被判定谋杀其分居妻子的罪名成立。诺福克警方表示，61岁的雷蒙德·威廉姆斯（Raymond Williams）曾在诺里奇的多个场所寻找40岁的塔妮娅·威廉姆斯（Tania Williams），后者在今年1月17日当晚外出。其死因被确定为颈部受伤导致失血过多。
警方
14岁男孩死亡后巴士司机被捕
一名14岁男孩在被车辆撞击后死亡，一名巴士司机因此被捕。汉普郡警署表示，事故于周一下午发生在朴次茅斯的 The Hard 地区。该警署补充道：“该男孩被送往医院，当时伤势危及生命，遗憾的是随后不幸去世。”
人物
凯尔特人球迷在比赛中发病去世
一名凯尔特人足球俱乐部的支持者在周三主场赢得对阵奥地利LASK队的欧冠联赛期间突发疾病，随后去世。俱乐部的一份声明称：“我们非常悲痛地确认，一名支持者在昨晚的比赛期间发病并已去世。尽管医护人员尽了最大努力，但遗憾的是，他在医院内死亡。”
就业
斯威尼希望挽救造船厂岗位
苏格兰首席部长约翰·斯威尼（John Swinney）表示，部长们“不想看到”格拉斯哥弗格森造船厂出现强制裁员。
这家国有造船厂本周宣布计划通过自愿离职计划裁员最多70人，并将其归咎于在准备交付两艘延期且超预算的渡轮中的第二艘时，工作中出现了“不可避免的缺口”。
苏格兰政府有一项禁止公共部门强制裁员的政策，斯威尼表示，他希望这一政策也能应用于波特格拉斯哥造船厂的员工。
苏格兰
改革党领导人在癌症手术后回归
改革英国党（Reform UK）的苏格兰领导人透露，他在5月圣罗德选举当天被诊断出患有前列腺癌。马尔科姆·奥福德（Malcolm Offord）表示，那“不是最好的一天”，但在上周接受手术后，他已“准备好大干一场”。奥福德的目标是在2003年赢得苏格兰的多数席位。
北爱尔兰
联合主义者巴特勒出任新卫生部长
阿尔斯特联合主义者罗比·巴特勒（Robbie Butler）成为了斯托蒙特的卫生部长。这位拉根谷的立法会议员接替了迈克·内斯比特（Mike Nesbitt），后者因与UUP领导人乔恩·伯罗斯（Jon Burrows）在关于拟从伦登德里郡科莱恩的考斯韦医院撤出紧急普外科服务的议题上产生分歧而辞职。
电影
明星为《小羊肖恩》配音
电视主持人罗曼·肯普（Roman Kemp）和获奖演员保罗·怀特豪斯（Paul Whitehouse，左）是《小羊肖恩：慈悲底部的野兽》（Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mercy Bottom）的配音演员。该系列的第三部故事片还将由嘻哈组合 Rizzle Kicks 重新演绎主题曲《生活是一场盛宴》（Life's a Treat）。
喀麦隆
总统在离开10周后回国
喀麦隆总统保罗·比亚（Paul Biya）昨日回国。这是他四十多年前掌权以来记录在案的最长海外停留时间，结束了数月来关于其健康状况和行踪的猜测。这位93岁的领导人在离开超过10周后，乘坐从瑞士日内瓦起飞的包机抵达。
爱尔兰
扎克伯格对购买城堡感到“兴奋”
一名发言人表示，亿万富翁马克·扎克伯格（Mark Zuckerberg）及其妻子普莉希拉·陈（Priscilla Chan）在购买了沃特福德郡的斯特兰卡利城堡（Strancally Castle）后，对于能够照管这座城堡感到“兴奋”。
这位 Meta 首席执行官从著名的英爱血统艾伦-巴克利（Alen-Buckley）家族手中买下了这座三层哥特式建筑。
目前尚不清楚扎克伯格为该房产支付了多少费用。
扎克伯格的发言人表示：“马克和他的家人很高兴能继续照管这座历史悠久的住宅，并期待在爱尔兰共度时光，Meta 在都柏林设有国际总部。”
第3页人物档案
戴尔·沃顿，一个天生注定成功的人
砖墙之战...
英国产生了一位新的英国及欧洲冠军。在砌砖领域。
建筑导师戴尔·沃顿（Dale Wherton），35岁，在仅一小时内砌筑了859块砖，令众人惊叹。这意味着每4.2秒就要砌一块涂好砂浆的砖。
这使他成为了圣奥尔本斯（St Albans）“超级抹灰刀”（Super Trowel）比赛中无可争议的冠军，击败了其他15名参赛者。
更重要的是，他在这场所谓的“砌砖超级碗”中的表现创下了新的欧洲纪录。
永不放弃。
沃顿在转行教学前做了20年的砌砖工，他表示这是一个“梦想成真”的时刻。
“在学院里，当我第一次把抹灰刀握在手中时，我就知道这将是我职业生涯余生要从事的工作。”
为了迎接这个重要日子，来自德比（Derby）的沃顿使用了特殊的“训练砂浆”，这种砂浆不会凝固，因此他可以尽可能多地练习而不会浪费砖块。
“超级抹灰刀”活动被誉为“终极砌砖比赛”，旨在展示该行业最顶尖的水平。
全方位的成功
沃顿原籍斯托克-昂-特伦特（Stoke-on-Trent），他曾赢得地区冠军，但深知自己能“提供更多”。
他在六个月前转为教学工作，以便专注于训练。
在英国夺冠后，他将前往美国的拉斯维加斯参加1月份的 Spec Mix brickwork 500 比赛，并希望成为历史上第二个获胜的英国人。
他说：“去拉斯维加斯参赛是我从15岁起就梦想做的事。”
他对其他希望追随他脚步的砌砖工的建议是？专注于“稳定性与耐力”。
弗洛拉·西明顿（Flora Symington）
德国
风暴导致树木倒塌，一名女性死亡
一场严重的风暴在德国部分地区造成广泛破坏，导致一名女性死亡，至少另两人受伤。
在莱茵兰-普法尔茨州（Rhineland-Palatinate）的瓦尔多夫（Waldorf），一名女性被倒塌的树木击中，受致命伤。警方表示，另一名女性在事故中受重伤。
这两名女性，分别为58岁和47岁，当时正一起散步，风暴袭来时，她们在有顶棚的休息区寻求避雨。
当一棵树被连根拔起并砸在她们身上时，两人均被击中。
一名警方发言人表示，58岁的女性在现场死亡。
报纸支持回收。2024年英国报纸的再生纸含量为37.2%。
清单
最喜欢在家里唱的音乐剧歌曲
音乐剧迷通常喜欢在家里大声演唱剧中曲目，其中25%的人经常听原声带。Marella Cruises 发现，在受访者中，超过五分之一的人曾在洗澡时演唱音乐剧歌曲，而只有十分之一的人表示自己“没有音乐天赋”。最受欢迎的音乐剧歌曲为：
1 《Dancing Queen》（《妈妈咪呀》） 2 《Mamma Mia》（《妈妈咪呀》） 3 《Circle of Life》（《狮子王》） 4 《Let It Go》（《冰雪奇缘》） 5 《We Will Rock You》（《We Will Rock You》） 6 《Hakuna Matata》（《狮子王》） 7 《You're the One That I Want》（《油脂》） 8 《The Winner Takes it All》（《妈妈咪呀》） 9 《Time Warp》（《洛基恐怖秀》） 10 《Defying Gravity》（《魔法坏女巫》）
© 由 Harmsworth Media 出版，地址：9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HX。在英格兰和威尔士注册编号：00284421。印刷厂：Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Brasbourne), Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Knowsley), KP Services (Jersey) Ltd, Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Burscetton), Lanarkshire, Irish Times (Citywest), Dublin, Ireland。往期刊物可从 Historic Newspapers 获取，邮箱：info@historic-newspapers.com。2026年8月21日，星期五。已在邮政局注册为报纸。
新闻 2-26
观点 16-22
电视 26-31
星期五 17-43
星期一 44-47
体育 50-56
2026年8月21日，星期五
3
健康
男性心脏病与癌症风险增加相关
作者：Storm Newton
一项研究表明，患有心脏病的男性面临更高的患癌及死于癌症的风险。
研究人员表示，男性病例的“主要驱动因素”是吸烟、肥胖和饮酒过多，这种联系在肺癌和食管癌中最为显著。
专家呼吁在管理风险方面“采取更多措施”，例如开展针对性筛查。
研究发现，在患有心血管疾病（CVD）的人群中，男性的终身患癌风险（17.3%）高于女性（12.8%）。
在不患有心血管疾病的人群中，男性的患癌风险为 10.2%，女性为 8.2%。
NHS Grampian 的心脏病专科注册医生 Tiberiu Pana 博士表示：“我们发现，心血管疾病患者的癌症发病率和死亡率高于非患者——这一点我们此前已有一定的了解。”
“然而，通过在很长一段时间内观察这一庞大的患者群体，我们能够对其进行更深入的研究。”
“我们已经确定，在心血管疾病患者以及所有类型的癌症中，男性和女性在多种因素上存在明显差异。”
对生殖系统以外癌症的进一步分析发现，心脏病患者患胃癌、食管癌、肺癌、肠癌和非黑色素瘤皮肤癌的概率更高。
阿伯丁大学的 Rosa Thuemmler 博士表示：“我们发现，男性在最初患癌以及遗憾地死于癌症方面的发病率都更高，在心血管疾病患者中尤其如此。”
这位 DJ 表示在确诊后他的“世界天翻地覆” WIREIMAGE
人物
Nelson 因脑瘤接受手术
作者：Carla Feric
BBC Radio 2 的 DJ Trevor Nelson 透露，在被诊断出患有脑瘤后，他接受了“非常严重的手术”，但他表示现在正在“康复中”。
这位 62, 岁的广播员在 6 月份暂停了工作，以处理“健康问题”。
在昨天的一篇社交媒体帖子中，Nelson 表示，当他发现自己长了肿瘤时，他的“世界天翻地覆”。
这位电台明星解释说，他在过去的一个月里一直在“手术后休养、休息和恢复，手术进行得非常顺利”——并表示希望很快能重返工作。
大学
首位指控 Arday 的男子被停职
作者：Ben Sutherland
一名在 Jason Arday 教授去世前对其提出剽窃指控的学者已被其就读大学停职。
本月辞去了在剑桥大学的职务，此前他因同行学者 Nathan Cofnas 最初提出的剽窃指控而面临严厉审查。
主张“种族现实主义”的 Cofnas 是根特大学（Ghent University）哲学系的博士后研究员。
他在 X 平台的一篇帖子中写道：“我正因歧视 而受到大学的调查。”
他补充道：“我刚刚被根特大学停职。他们几乎肯定会解雇我。”
根特大学在表示 的去世“应当引发反思”后，确认了他的停职，并补充说该机构“反对歧视、仇恨和种族主义”。
该大学表示，虽然支持学术自由和公开的学术辩论，但“自由并非无限，且与责任并行”。
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新闻 2-21
观点 16-22
电视 28-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
体育 50-54
2026 年 8 月 21 日，星期五
5
史前根源展出
园丁们正在照料一只“副栉龙”，它是今年夏天在伊甸项目（Eden Project）热带雨林生物群落中安家的恐龙之一。
康沃尔郡该地点的恐龙景点在消失十多年后重新回归，且规模有所扩大——在世界上最大的室内热带雨林之一中，分布着 15 只恐龙和飞行爬行动物。
其中包括一只 40 英尺高的“霸王龙”，其模型参考了该恐龙在现实生活中的比例。
“恐龙世界现场”（Dinosaur World Live）剧场表演也是该景点的一部分，活动将持续至 9 月 6 日。WILLIAM DAVIS / ANS
文学
跟随缺乏“rizz”的 Pip 获得“aura”——在 Gen Alpha 版《远大前程》中
作者：Flora Symington
当一部经典小说被更新为现代语言时，其目的通常是为了帮助年轻读者掌握原著文本。
因此，年长一代的读者可能会感到惊讶：一部用 Gen Alpha（阿尔法世代）俚语编写的、经过大幅删减的《远大前程》新版本已经出版，其目的是为了帮助家长理解孩子，而不是相反。
《简易期待》（Bare Expectations）以 35 分钟有声书的形式在播客平台发布，并附有词汇表。它使用当今青少年最常用的词汇或短语，重新构思了查尔斯·狄更斯（见插图）的这部经典作品。
在译文中，主角 Pip 哀叹自己的名字没有什么“rizz”，而囚犯马格维奇被描述为“绝对 clapped”且“没有 aura”。
这段新文本是与 Gen Z 和 Gen Alpha 专家 Chloe Combi 合作设计的。
Combi 表示：“青少年的俚语正以史无前例的速度演变。一个词可能在一天之内成为社交媒体上的狂热词汇，第二天就变成了日常语言。”
“《简易期待》通过将一个熟悉的故事翻译成当今的青年语言，有趣地展示了沟通方式的演变，帮助父母理解孩子的世界，并能更自信地开启对话。”
该项目推出之际，一项研究显示……
新俚语 No cap：让你不再被视为 unc 的词汇
以下是《简易期待》中使用的一些词汇和短语：
Gyatt 兴奋的表达，最常用于看到漂亮的臀部时
Clapped 丑陋
Aura 酷
Finsta 秘密的 Instagram 账号
Mewing 将舌头顶住上颚以塑造下颌线
Mogging 看起来明显比别人好看
委托该作品的 Tesco Mobile 发现，84% 的家长承认由于不断变化的青少年俚语，他们难以理解自己的孩子。
研究还发现，在孩子使用俚语的家长中，41% 的人每周至少查一次词汇、缩写或表情符号。
“Gyatt”、“finsta”和“mewing”是让家长最困惑的词汇。
Skibidi 一个无意义 / 模因词汇，意指某事奇怪、混乱或愚蠢
Rizz 魅力
No cap 没有撒谎
NPC 看起来缺乏创意或缺乏独立思考的人，non-player character（非玩家角色）的缩写
Bussin 非常棒的事物
Unc 年长者（贬义），源自 uncle（叔叔）
Slimed 被杀
Glazing 过度赞美
电视
纪录片将展现莱尼克的人生
作者：Sean O'Grady
加里·莱尼克（Gary Lineker）的人生与职业生涯将在明年于 Prime Video 播出的四集纪录片系列中得到探讨。
该系列暂定名为《莱尼克》（Lineker），将讲述这位前足球运动员在体育和广播领域 50 年的职业生涯及其人生故事。
该节目将包含莱尼克早年时期的档案影像，包括他在莱斯特的童年生活。
此外，还将有这位明星本人的见解，以及对其家人、足球同行和评论家的采访。
执行制片人纳特·利皮特（Nat Lippiett）表示：“世界杯英雄、《今日比赛》（Match of the Day）主持人、活动家，甚至是薯片的代言面孔——几十年来，他一直处于国民讨论的中心。”
另一位执行制片人丹·格拉比纳（Dan Grabiner）表示：“本系列将超越头条新闻，揭示英国最知名且最具争议的人物之一的多面性，并由加里本人以及那些最接近其成功与争议的人提供坦诚的见解。”
社会
该游乐设施在改回“泰坦尼克号”之前曾被命名为“大倾斜者”
泰坦尼克号游乐设施“并非对受害者不尊重”
作者：Flora Symington
在赫特福德郡经营一个“泰坦尼克号”主题滑道游乐设施的一对夫妇在为其名称辩护，此前网络批评者称该设施对死者“不尊重”。
该设施去年建在希钦附近的格雷夫利水果农场（Gravely Fruit Farm）。这个船形游乐设施的一侧会升起，让狂欢者从另一端向下滑下。
泰坦尼克号于 1912 年与冰山相撞并沉没，船上约 1,500 人溺亡。
Facebook 上的评论称该设施对受害者的记忆而言是“令人反感的”和“冒犯性的”，这促使业主去年将名称改为“大倾斜者”（The Big Tipper）。
业主蒂姆·富兰克林（Tim Franklin）表示：“随后有更多的人告诉我们不要向‘觉醒者’（wokes）低头，于是我们把它改回了泰坦尼克号。”
他说：“据我所知，它只冒犯了极少数人。”
“泰坦尼克号几乎成了一个代名词。如今已经没有幸存者或幸存者的后代在世了。”
苏格兰
竞选活动力促联合国教科文组织认可早晨面包卷地位
作者：Flora Symington
一项旨在让苏格兰早晨面包卷（morning rolls）被列入联合国教科文组织（Unesco）非物质文化遗产名录的竞选活动得到了该国绿党的支持。
格拉斯哥南区（Glasgow Southside）的苏格兰绿党议员霍莉·布鲁斯（Holly Bruce）发起了一项议会动议，呼吁“将早晨面包卷认可为一种独特的食物类别”。
布鲁斯在昨天发起动议时表示：“这是一款标志性的苏格兰产品，被世世代代珍视，并融入到全国日常生活的肌理之中。我非常自豪能支持将其申请联合国教科文组织地位的呼吁。”
她说：“数百年来，它一直是我们的早餐、面包店、社区和传统的一部分——而且它的历史比法国的法棍面包还要长。”
苏格兰早晨面包卷：一项竞选活动希望将其列入遗产名录
法国法棍面包于 2022 年获得联合国教科文组织的认可。
苏格兰保守党议员斯蒂芬·克尔（Stephen Kerr）批评了布鲁斯的动议，他在告诉《泰晤士报》（The Times）时称，如果布鲁斯认真对待代表其格拉斯哥南区选民的职责，“她应该专注于那些真正影响人们日常生活的事务”。
6
新闻
封面故事
萨塞克斯夫妇在没有……的情况下返回英国
作者：Lizzie Dearden, Alannah Francis 和 Caroline Wheeler
《i报》获悉，哈里和梅根在没有公共资金资助的安全安排的情况下返回英国——但鉴于他们将永久搬迁，这一点可能会被重新评估。
由于他们是非工作王室成员的身份，萨塞克斯夫妇——周三晚间被披露在加利福尼亚生活六年之后将返回英国——在英国并不自动享有由纳税人资助的警察保护权。
一名接近英国王室的消息人士暗示，考虑到他们直到周日才将决定告知查尔斯国王，这对夫妇可能尚未就其安全安排采取任何坚决的“行动”。
决定谁能获得此类保护的机构——即负责王室及公众人物保护的执行委员会（简称 Ravec）——在萨塞克斯夫妇于 2020 年卸任王室职务并离开英国后，取消了他们的这项权利。
Ravec 委员会包括内政部高级官员、警察以及王室管家的代表。
2020 年的这一决定引发了一场旷日持久的法律斗争，哈里在去年输掉了这场官司。
但该裁决为他未来获得国家资助的安全保护留下了可能性。
Ravec 的决定意味着，只有在逐案批准且被证明存在“特殊且具体的情况”，并作为萨塞克斯公爵“定制”安排的一部分时，才能提供该级别的保护。
这意味着，在之前访问英国期间，让他们能够获得武装保护的安全级别，是基于英国情报部门和伦敦警察厅的“相关威胁评估”而确定的。
据了解，既然他现在与妻子和孩子永久搬迁，这种情况可能会发生变化。
一名了解该领域的消息人士表示，对于一个需要全年实质性保护的家庭，专业的私人安全计划每年的费用很容易达到七位数。
前英国皇家军事警察（RMP）近身保护部队成员理查德·艾奇（Richard Aitch）表示，200 万英镑m 左右的成本是最低基准——而且每年的账单甚至有可能超过 600 万英镑m。
他说：“如果将接送孩子上学纳入其中，那么在任何一个时间点，如果哈里和梅根在不同的场所，且孩子们在学校需要持续保护，那么在不同的移动过程中可能会使用六辆以上的车辆。”
艾奇在该领域工作了 30 年，曾担任高知名度人物的私人保镖，他认为，对于哈里王子及其家人而言，针对长期日常需求的私人服务无法替代警察保护。
他说：“如果提供保护的商业努力被 Ravec 不必要地阻碍，或者在风险缓解和控制方面不平衡，我认为严重事件的发生将是‘何时’问题，而非‘是否’会发生的问题。”
当首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）在访问西约克郡期间被问及政府是否会建立并使用纳税人的资金来资助公爵与公爵夫人的安全保障时，他表示：“嗯，这是哈里和梅根的私人事务……我们祝愿他们的搬迁顺利。”
内政部的一位发言人在一份声明中表示：“英国政府的保护安全系统是严谨且适度的。”
“我们的长期政策是不提供有关这些安排的详细信息，因为这样做可能会损害其完整性并影响个人的安全。”
在 7 月访问英国时，哈里是独自前往的。梅根和孩子们随后秘密飞抵该国。
英国王室的安全保障通常由公共税收资助，并由伦敦警察厅提供。
一条私人道路通往萨塞克斯夫妇在加利福尼亚的住所 JANE ROSSI / 路透社
反应
三分之一公众反对哈里返回英国
作者：劳拉·埃尔斯顿 (Laura Elston)
三分之一的英国公众反对萨塞克斯公爵与公爵夫人返回英国。
在哈里和梅根出人意料地改变主意后的第二天，一项 YouGov 民意调查显示，33% 的人认为国王最小的儿子和这位前《金装律师》明星不应该回来，而 45% 的人表示不知道。
支持萨塞克斯夫妇从美国搬回英国的人数不足四分之一（21%）。
在动荡的“梅根退出”（Megxit）危机中，萨塞克斯夫妇于六年前搬到了加利福尼亚州，随后是持续不断的家庭不和，以及针对威尔士亲王与王妃、国王以及卡米拉王后的密集指责。
但现在，哈里和梅根计划在本月晚些时候返回，居住在伦敦以外的一处非王室住所，并且已经为阿奇王子和莉莉贝特公主办理了英国学校的入学手续。
这对夫妇的计划在周三晚上令许多人感到惊讶，甚至连国王也是在消息公开前三天才得知此事。
YouGov 的民意调查发现，年长一代更倾向于认为他们不应该搬回来——在 65 岁以上的人群中，47% 认为这对夫妇不应返回，而 18-24 岁的人群中这一比例为 24%。
关于哈里和梅根将选择在何处定居，传闻四起，有建议称可能是牛津郡科茨沃尔德或格洛斯特郡的乡村地区。
据称，国王很高兴能与萨塞克斯一家共度更多时间，但他依然坚决认为他们不会成为执行公务的王室成员，且不存在“半进半出”的折中方案。
萨塞克斯夫妇尚未就搬回英国的原因发表评论，但 BBC 报道称，他们在 7 月访问英国期间，非常享受与国王共处以及与戴安娜家人相聚的时光，这促使萨塞克斯夫妇确认了搬迁决定。
威尔士亲王与王妃尚未对该消息做出公开反应，但前 BBC 王室记者彼得·亨特（Peter Hunt）暗示，威廉将会“愤怒至极”。
威廉与他的
21%
受访者中支持萨塞克斯公爵与公爵夫人返回英国的比例。
新闻 2-25
观点 15-22
电视 26-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
周日 50-56
周五 2026年8月21日
7
关于纳税人资助安保的协议
君主制
回归可能会改变英国王室的聚会方式
哈里王子的回归为他重新融入英国王室打开了大门，但前方仍有新的障碍。
短期来看，哈里和梅根搬回英国为查尔斯国王提供了一个更好的机会，去重建他与萨塞克斯公爵与公爵夫人以及他的孙辈——7岁的阿奇王子和5岁的莉莉贝特公主之间的关系，且无需允许他们承担官方王室职责。查尔斯国王在周日被告知他们将搬回英国时感到措手不及。
萨塞克斯夫妇未来可能会在某些王室场合受到欢迎，但很可能被禁止参加重大的官方或国家活动。
王室消息人士已明确表示，哈里和梅根将保持私人身份，而不是由纳税人资助的君主制代表。
白金汉宫拒绝讨论这将如何影响他们出席活动，但实质上，他们可能会被邀请参加在桑德灵汉举行的圣诞节家庭聚会、在温莎城堡举行的复活节聚会、在巴尔莫勒尔举行的夏季聚会，以及像皇家赛马会周（Royal Ascot week）这样的半官方活动。
但由于威尔士亲王与王妃也在场，这种情况具体将如何实现尚不明确，而且在他们能于同一天出席同一活动之前，可能需要先达成和解。
根据目前的惯例，哈里（一名阿富汗战争退伍军人）或梅根将不会收到参加国家活动的邀请，例如军队阅兵仪式（Trooping the Colour）或阵亡将士纪念日（Remembrance Sunday）在纪念碑（Cenotaph）前的活动。同样，由于他们不是在职王室成员，他们不会被邀请参加在威斯敏斯特教堂举行的年度英联邦日礼拜，也不会被邀请代表国王主持授勋仪式或任何其他官方活动。
据朋友透露，他们也不太可能受到威尔士亲王与王妃的欢迎，后者已与哈里和梅根数年未说话，且目前仍没有和解的意愿。
41岁的哈里和45岁的梅根目前尚未就搬回英国的决定发表公开评论，但朋友们表示，这次搬迁背后有多种因素。他们说，这位王位第五顺位继承人思念他的朋友、家人以及英国，并且他希望孩子们在英国环境下成长并在英国上学。
众所周知，这对夫妇
国王将希望欢迎他们，但前方仍有许多障碍。作者：理查德·帕尔默（Richard Palmer）
并不喜欢唐纳德·特朗普，也不喜欢在他总统任期下美国的政治不稳定。
然而，他们似乎并不担心哈里的签证会被取消，尽管右翼智库传统基金会（Heritage Foundation）发起了一场运动，试图揭露并挑战允许他居住在加利福尼亚州的基础。
此外还有猜测称他们可能资金短缺——这一说法被其亲近的人否认——以及在现阶段返回英国可能对他们有某些税务优势。
但一名亲近他们的消息人士表示：“决定搬回来并非因为单一原因，”并补充说“总是多种因素在起作用”。同一消息人士补充道：“但哈里的签证不是因素，税务也不是。”
这对夫妇的办公室与英国政府一样，拒绝透露其安保状态是否发生了变化。安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）表示，该安排的资金问题属于“私人事务”。在过去的几年里，哈里一直坚持认为英国太危险，不能把家人带回来，因为他们不再
哈里和梅根表示，他们希望有一天他们的孩子能在英国王室中发挥充分作用
卡米拉王后，她的头衔标志着国王在关于哈里的决定上可能改变主意，这是一个反转
拥有武装警察保护和获取国家情报的自动权利。
但上个月，尽管他们被拒绝提供警察保护，必须依赖自己在美国雇佣的私人安保团队，梅根和孩子们还是陪同哈里王子一起拜访了亲戚，包括在海格罗夫庄园拜访国王和王后，以及在阿尔索普（Spencer家族的祖宅，戴安娜王妃安葬于此）拜访斯宾塞伯爵及其家人。
他们似乎还去考察了新家以及孩子们将就读的学校，不过这两方面的细节目前仍处于保密状态。
全球对萨塞克斯公爵夫妇的关注以及围绕他们的争议，意味着他们本月底出人意料的回归也带来了一种风险，即他们经常直言不讳的观点、商业活动以及在英国更高的曝光度，将与王室的目标和传讯产生冲突。
据王室消息人士透露，现年 77 岁的国王将欢迎哈里及其孙辈的靠近，但从表面上看，萨塞克斯公爵夫妇并没有恢复履行官方职责的前景。
查尔斯和威廉长期以来在这一点上立场坚定，他们担心家庭成员在承担国家官方职责的同时经营企业和达成交易，会让自己陷入像国王的弟弟安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎所面临的那种滥用职权的指控中。
但这不会是查尔斯的第一次重大转向。他的办公室此前曾表示，在戴安娜王妃去世后，他无意与卡米拉结婚；在宣布结婚计划时，表示无意让卡米拉成为王后；而在他成为国王时，则表示完全打算住在白金汉宫。他违背了所有这些承诺。
哈里和梅根曾暗示，他们希望有一天两个孩子能在英国王室中发挥充分作用，但他们及其孩子的机会之窗正在迅速关闭。
据知情人士透露，如果不能与威廉达成和解，那么这种可能性微乎其微。而且在下一个统治时期进一步精简的君主制中，未来的职能王室成员最终可能仅剩威廉、凯特及其子女。
理查德·帕尔默报道英国王室已超过 20 年
军事
公爵将启动帮助前军职人员的计划
作者：罗布·弗里曼 (Rob Freeman)
萨塞克斯公爵表示，他正在研究启动一项商业计划，以帮助前军职人员。
哈里在华盛顿与美国退伍军人交谈时发表了上述言论，与此同时有报道称，他与萨塞克斯公爵夫人计划带着孩子们搬回英国。
他告诉这些前服役人员和国防官员，“世界需要更多英雄”。
“这不是要创造更多英雄，因为他们已经生活在我们中间，”他在由独立基金会（The Independence Fund）组织的活动上说道。
“而是要能够真正重视他们的专业知识。”
他表示，军事技能在平民生活中未得到利用，他正在寻求一种“商业”解决方案，以肯定“那些服役过的人”的价值。
关于哈里及其他人败诉于 Associated Newspapers Limited 一案中需支付多少法律费用的判决，将于今日下午2点公布。
8
新闻
威尔士亲王与王妃可能面临一些尴尬的时刻，尤其是因为他们的孩子们是第一代堂 / 表亲 MAX MUMBYINDIGDIGETTY
观点
萨塞克斯夫妇的回归之秀可能会让王室裂痕看起来像一道深渊
珍妮·邦德 (Jennie Bond)
这似乎就是他们的行事风格。极力维护隐私，痴迷于保密——然后，砰的一声，又抛出一个重磅炸弹。是的，哈里和梅根，我们确实都惊呆了。此外，我们都在问同一个简单的问题：为什么？
别误会我的意思：我希望这次非同寻常的方向转变能让他们获得成功。考虑到家庭紧张关系以及民意调查所显示的对萨塞克斯夫妇的敌意，这看起来是一个勇敢的举动。
但由于关于他们决定的信息匮乏而产生的真空，导致了各种疯狂的猜测。难道美国梦变成了失败之作？哈里在美国过得极其不快乐吗？他们是在试图讨好地重新回到职能王室的圈子里吗？还是说这一切都与孩子的教育有关？
关于这一点，他们究竟是如何在没有泄露半点风声的情况下，就选好学校并让阿奇和莉莉贝特入学的？
如果哈里能发表一份声明，解释这一决定并阐明其中至少一部分原因，一切将会清晰得多。看来他上个月去海格罗夫庄园喝茶时，甚至没有告诉他的父亲。
国王一定在抓耳挠腮，纳闷为什么直到周日才被告知此事。这绝不是重建亲密且充满爱意的关系的方式。信任是英国王室内部至关重要的组成部分，而哈里已经将其挥霍殆尽。难道他甚至不信任自己的父亲，不愿将这个消息告诉他吗？
由此产生的影响很多：当他们都试图度过一个愉快、安静的暑假时，媒体却出现了关于这个问题家庭动态的不受欢迎的头条新闻；关于谁为萨塞克斯夫妇的安保买单的问题（以及与哈里之前说他无法预见一个能安全地将家人带到这里的世界相比，现在发生了什么剧烈变化？）。
而对于宫廷官员来说，则陷入了一个困境：这位王子是否正走在最终实现他最初想要的“半进半出”状态的道路上。据了解，在这方面没有任何改变，已故的伊丽莎白女王和国王都将其否决了。
但事实是，哈里正在开展越来越多的慈善工作——其中大部分在英国——而且他和梅根还进行海外访问并开展商业活动。这几乎成了一个既成事实。有一件事是可以肯定的：这让威廉处于一个非常困难的境地。
兄弟之间的裂痕很深，但当哈里在数千英里外的加利福尼亚时，这在某种程度上不那么显眼。而当他们两人生活在同一个国家，且他们的孩子——第一代堂表亲——彼此之间仍然
威廉会决定现在是时候和他的姻亲一起过圣诞节了吗？
查尔斯国王直到周日才被告知哈里的决定
互不相识时，这段裂痕将看起来像一道深渊。例如，圣诞节会发生什么？英国王室总是聚集在桑德灵厄姆，并进行那次广受欢迎的早晨步行前往教堂。
国王会邀请他的两个儿子吗——还是他必须做出选择？威廉是否会方便地决定现在是时候和他的姻亲一起过圣诞节，而错过桑德灵厄姆？哈里已经坚定地将球踢到了威廉这一方。
我希望这次举动能标志着兄弟之间和解的开始。哈里是对的，生命是宝贵的——尤其是当你的年迈父亲正与癌症抗争时。
我想不到梅根会期待在进入我们漫长、阴暗的冬季月份时离开阳光明媚的加利福尼亚。也许她是在为团队做出牺牲，因为她爱她的丈夫，并且知道他思念故土。为了防止万一不成功，他们保留了在蒙特西托的豪宅。这大概是明智的。
未来的日子将充满考验，我们都应该记住，这位女性曾表示，她在英国生活期间所遭受的对待让她产生了自杀念头。一些方面已经开始了围攻，但这必须停止。现在就停止。
珍妮·邦德曾担任 BBC 的王室记者 14 年
美国
更多关于他们即将离开的那个国家的思考
詹姆斯·鲍尔 (James Ball)
比他们 2020 年宣布移居美国时更加突然，哈里和梅根宣布他们计划回归。每个人心中都在疑问：为什么？
寻找萨塞克斯夫妇可能回归英国线索的最明显切入点，是回顾他们离开的原因。“梅xit”的两个主要公开原因是这对夫妇与王室以及与媒体的关系。但在他们离开的这些年里，这两者都没有明显缓和。
有人认为答案可能在于哈里和梅根希望在英国教育孩子。但加利福尼亚州并不缺乏优秀的私立学校。
当然，他们回归可能是出于更私人Reasons，尤其是考虑到查尔斯国王被诊断出癌症，但一些信号表明，这里的关系回暖速度十分缓慢。
也许这对夫妇决定回归的原因反而在于美国。如果萨塞克斯夫妇曾希望在远离媒体关注的地方寻找避风港，那么事情并没有那样发展——这在一定程度上可能是由他们自己的奈飞系列剧以及哈里的自传所推动的。
美国媒体对他们的活动与英国媒体一样感兴趣，而英国媒体则继续报道他们的每一个举动。但除此之外，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普个人非常不喜欢梅根。
即便在去年重返白宫之后，特朗普仍然抽出时间评价道：“她太糟糕了。”自然地，每当特朗普发表此类言论，就会再次引发一场围绕这对夫妇的跨大西洋媒体狂热。
王室传记作家安德鲁·洛尼（Andrew Lownie）将回归英国描述为“财务上的一个新起点”，他表示：“传闻是梅根将赚到数百万美元，而哈里希望他的孩子们能认识他的家人。这对威尔士亲王夫妇来说是一场噩梦，而萨塞克斯夫妇得到了他们想要的协议——即处于一种‘半在半外’的状态。”
萨塞克斯夫妇回归的原因可能在数月内都不会变得清晰。但哈里和梅根回归的英国，在种族、身份和媒体方面的争端比他们离开时更加激烈——而且他们知道自己的每一个举动都将被审视。
如果这就是他们选择回归的环境，那么这反映了他们即将离开的那个国家是什么样子？
詹姆斯·鲍尔是《新世界》的政治编辑
新闻 2-20
观点 16-22
电视 28-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
体育 50-56
2026年8月21日，星期五
9
政治
一场激烈的改革党权力斗争正席卷法拉奇的高层团队
该党内政发言人齐亚·尤苏夫声称自己成为了被攻击的目标
奈杰尔·法拉奇领导的改革英国党（Reform UK）陷入了一场关于其内政发言人齐亚·尤苏夫（Zia Yusuf）未来的激烈权力斗争。
改革党内部在尤苏夫问题上产生分歧，一些内部人士希望他离开该党，而另一些人则认为他仍然是一项关键资产。
部分人士还担心，如果他第二次被踢出改革党，一些成员可能会随他而去。
在政治评论员蒂姆·蒙特戈默里（Tim Montgomerie）被该党暂停党籍后，尤苏夫再次成为媒体关注的焦点。
蒙特戈默里是一位中右翼评论员，于2024年从保守党叛离。他在质疑法拉奇在克拉克顿补选后的语气并公开批评尤苏夫后被暂停党籍。
在周一接受《旁观者》（The Spectator）采访时，蒙特戈默里表示尤苏夫在政治上的表现“像个孩子”，并敦促他成为一名“团队协作成员”。
上周，他批评尤苏夫将前保守党国防大臣本·华莱士（Ben Wallace）贴上“叛徒”的标签。
蒙特戈默里曾表示：“齐亚对待任何对手的语言和态度都是不恰当且适得其反的……奈杰尔·法拉奇领导能力中最大的疑问之一，就是他能否控制住齐亚。”
蒙特戈默里的暂停党籍决定由该党首席党鞭李·安德森（Lee Anderson）签署，且该决定是在《旁观者》的批评报道公开之前做出的。法拉奇显然对这一决定并不知情。
蒙特戈默里表示他将提出上诉，并希望将其作为一个“测试案例，以验证（改革党）是否是一个能够容忍言论自由和异议的政党”。
一名改革党发言人表示：“齐亚是党内的关键人物，并将长期留在这里。”
这并非尤苏夫第一次成为党内动荡的中心，也并非第一次给法拉奇带来不想要的头条新闻。
今年5月，他在该党驱逐政策的细节问题上公开驳斥了同事罗伯特·詹里克（Robert Jenrick）。
去年，在与改革党议员莎拉·波钦（Sarah Pochin）就波卡（burka）发生争执后，他突然辞去了该党主席一职。然而，他在48小时内回到了党内，法拉奇称其离职是工作相关的“精疲力竭”所致。
改革党内部人士称，在
尤苏夫与来自保守党的叛离者之间存在特别紧张的关系。改革党内部现在有些人认为，尤苏夫是一个毫无帮助且具有破坏稳定性的存在。
一名党内消息人士指责他“粗鲁”且是“一个自大狂”，并声称法拉奇忽略了议员鲁珀特·洛（Rupert Lowe）关于尤苏夫的警告，洛目前领导“恢复英国”（Restore Britain）。
洛在被指控对尤苏夫实施“身体暴力威胁”以及欺凌员工后被踢出改革党。
尤苏夫对群众说正确的话。但他的最终目标是成为领导人
理查德·泰斯（Richard Tice）对接替法拉奇成为改革党领导人“感兴趣”，图中与苏西拉·布拉弗曼（Susila Braverman）在一起
洛否认了这些指控，英国皇家检察署（CPS）在将其移交给警方后表示，他将不会面临刑事指控。
“鲁珀特（洛）就齐亚的问题警告过奈杰尔，”该消息人士说。“鲁珀特与许多认识他的人交谈过。奈杰尔忽略了他，因为他想要他的商业运作敏锐度，但他收到了关于他的警告，却选择视而不见。”
第二名改革党消息人士声称：“（尤苏夫）说的每件事都围绕着齐亚·尤苏夫。奈杰尔容忍他，是因为他在公开演讲和应对新闻发布会方面相当出色。他对群众说正确的话。但他有一个最终目标——在奈杰尔离职时成为领导人。”
据称，尤苏夫、詹里克和副党魁理查德·泰斯都对接替法拉奇成为改革党领导人感兴趣。据了解，尤苏夫否认自己在为接替法拉奇做准备，或计划离开该党。
其他改革党内部人士承认存在紧张关系，但认为尤苏夫值得保留，因为他说话直率且在支持者中很受欢迎。
第三位改革党消息人士表示：“齐亚的行为方式与其他同事不同，”但补充道：“我认为，总的来说，他对改革党是一个积极的优势。
“成员们喜欢他。成员们喜欢直言不讳，而他们发现齐亚就是一个直言不讳的人。”
这种内斗加剧了改革党高层笼罩在其中的偏执感，因为他们担心内部人员可能向媒体泄露关于法拉奇的敏感信息。据了解，法拉奇对这些泄密行为感到“极其愤怒”。
他的愤怒尤其集中在《星期日泰晤士报》的报道上，该报发表了一系列文章，探讨被定罪的诈骗犯、绰号为“精致乔治”的乔治·科特雷尔（George Cottrell）与法拉奇之间的关系。消息人士称：“只有极少数人知道这些信息。”
尤苏夫对近几日发生的事件似乎毫无悔意，并声称倾向于保守党的报纸正试图将他拉下马：“整个托利党客户媒体现在都想整我，因为他们看到了我的民调数据。我对他们的政党构成了致命的选举威胁。
“他们知道我正锁定目标，致力于让奈杰尔·法拉奇成为首相。”
一名改革英国党（Reform UK）发言人补充道：“总书记（汤姆·沃特豪斯）和主席（李·安德森）在数月内收到了关于蒂姆行为和操守的投诉。他们认为有必要采取行动以保护政党。”
报道：威尔·哈泽尔（Will Hazell）和基蒂·唐纳森（Kitty Donaldson）
简讯
环境
干旱可能持续至新年
官员和专家警告称，如果英国冬季干燥，明年部分地区可能会再次遭受干旱袭击。
国家干旱小组（National Drought Group）由气象局、监管机构、政府、水务公司、农民、科学家和环保组织组成，每年会合多次。该小组表示，本周的降雨和较低的温度不会对水资源短缺产生任何显著影响。
干旱状况甚至可能持续到新年，预测表明今年秋季不会出现恢复所需的那种比正常情况更潮湿的季节。
警察
破坏者“斩首”佩帕猪绿植雕塑
一个生长多年、由绿植修剪而成的佩帕猪雕塑被破坏者“斩首”。
警方正在展开调查，这件受欢迎的树篱雕塑被发现头部在 8 月 11 日至 15 日之间被锯子锯掉。
这让其所有者和居民感到“心碎”。劳拉·欣顿（Laura Hinton）表示，它已成为当地著名的地标，需要多年的精心呵护。
她的家人在牛顿珀塞尔（Newton Purcell）附近、前往牛津郡比斯特（Bicester）的路线上创建并维护了这个绿植雕塑（左下），他们表示损坏（右）似乎是蓄意而为。
法律
男子因袭击犹太会堂被起诉
一名男子被指控未能披露与曼彻斯特希顿公园（Heaton Park）犹太会堂恐怖袭击相关的信息。
去年 10 月，出生于叙利亚的英国公民、35 岁的吉哈德·阿尔-沙米（Jihad Al-Shamie）开车冲进犹太会堂大门并开始用刀袭击人群，导致梅尔文·克拉维茨（Melvin Cravitz）和亚德里安·达德利（Adrian Dudley）丧生。
西北地区反恐警察局（Counter Terrorism Policing North West）表示，来自大曼彻斯特郡索尔福德（Salford）的伊拉克国民、49 岁的赫克马特·奥马尔·阿里·哈基姆（Hekmat Omar Ali Hakim）被还押候审，并将于今日在威斯敏斯特地方法院出庭。
10
新闻
经济
伯纳姆恢复对外援助的计划可能迫使税收上涨
独家报道
作者：Caroline Wheeler
政治编辑
安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）及其外交大臣埃德·米利班德（Ed Miliband）已私下承诺扭转英国援助预算的削减——这一决定可能会给财政部增加进一步的压力，迫使其提高税收。
《i报》获悉，两人已私下表示支持寻找一条回归将国民总收入（GNI）的 0.7 per cent 用于国际援助的路径。然而，目前尚未就实现这一支出承诺需要多长时间设定具体的时间表。
英国的对外援助预算用于资助全球贫困国家的人道主义救援、医疗保健、教育和发展项目。
工党在保守党政府执政期间反对削减对外援助预算，并在 2024 election 前承诺，在情况允许时将其恢复至 0.7 per cent。
但在就任首相后，基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）却采取了截然相反的进一步行动，他在 2025 February 宣布，到 2027, 援助支出将从 GNI 的 0.5 per cent 削减至 0.3 per cent，并将节省下来的资金用于增加国防开支。
此后，具有影响力的工党后座议员一直游说政府恢复援助目标。
在伯纳姆进入 No 10 的前几天，工党议员弗勒·安德森（Fleur Anderson）呼吁伯纳姆恢复这一承诺。她曾任部长，在进入议会之前的职业生涯从事国际发展工作。
工党议员弗勒·安德森呼吁伯纳姆恢复该承诺
130亿英镑
如果恢复 GNI 0.7 per cent 的援助目标，所需的支出增量
她建议设定一个 10-year 的回归目标路线图，未来的政府可以在危机时期对此进行调整。
伯纳姆和米利班德在历史上都是 0.7 per cent 目标的坚定支持者，伯纳姆在 2010 年工党领导权之争期间曾明确为其辩护，而米利班德在担任工党领袖期间也支持这一承诺。
一名政府消息人士告诉《i报》：“他们两人都明白履行这一承诺的重要性”，而另一名消息人士则表示，两人已私下表示有意寻找回归该目标的路径。
完全回归 0.7 per cent 的援助目标最终将意味着支出较计划中的 0.3 per cent 水平大幅增加——根据目前的经济预测，每年大约 130亿英镑 ——这一数字得到了受人尊敬的智库财政研究学会（IFS）的认可。
IFS 高级研究经济学家马克斯·沃纳（Max Warner）告诉《i报》：“这些金额并非微不足道，与任何支出增加一样，需要通过削减其他领域的支出、提高税收或增加借款的某种组合来筹集资金。”
但目前没有迹象表明部长们必须在一年内恢复全部金额。分阶段增加可以将成本分摊到数年，每一步都取决于国家的财政状况。
伯纳姆的支出计划面临严峻限制。IFS 上个月警告称，尽管国家规模在扩大，但公共服务支出仍将紧张，国民医疗服务体系（NHS）可能会获得相对丰厚的拨款，而这将以牺牲其他部门为代价。
米利班德已发出信号，打算将国际发展和气候政策置于其外交大臣工作的核心位置。
在就职时，他表示英国将与其他国家合作应对气候危机。
! 最近对斯塔默时期削减影响的分析表明，对某些非洲国家的双边援助被削减了高达 50 per cent。
威斯敏斯特
策划隐瞒员工方案的议员忘记提及自己雇佣了妻子
独家报道
作者：Caroline Wheeler
政治编辑
一名主导隐藏威斯敏斯特地区由政治家雇佣的 2,000 名议会工作人员姓名的国会议员，因未能申报其雇佣妻子的事实而道歉。
南莱斯特郡的保守党议员、下议院标准委员会主席阿尔贝托·科斯塔（Alberto Costa）在关于工作人员登记册的辩论发言时，未能申报其妻子的雇佣情况。
六个月后，由他担任主席的委员会建议不再公布工作人员的姓名——批评者警告称，这一决定将增加揭露威斯敏斯特地区利益冲突、游说和外国影响的难度。
这场争端发生在科斯塔领导的委员会一个尴尬的时机，该委员会负责判定议员是否违反了议会规则。
科斯塔雇佣其妻子玛丽亚·科斯塔博士（Dr Maria Costa）担任兼职办公室经理。
自 2016 年起，她的雇佣情况已在《议员财务利益登记册》中得到了妥善记录。
但在去年 7 月 16 日，科斯塔在下议院就标准委员会关于《议员工作人员利益登记册》的一份报告进行辩论时发表了讲话。他当时并未申报其妻子为他工作。
在辩论期间，科斯塔表示，委员会意识到了工作人员对于姓名被列入公开登记册所产生的担忧，并将考虑是否需要做出调整。
委员会随后同意
阿尔贝托·科斯塔为其所称的无意违规行为道歉
所有工作人员的姓名（包括科斯塔的妻子）应由仅限职位的描述取代。
这些变更于上个月生效，标志着对自 1993. 年起一直公布议员工作人员姓名及相关利益的登记册进行了重大改革。议会标准专员丹尼尔·格林伯格（Daniel Greenberg）随后得出结论，科斯塔应当申报其妻子的雇佣情况，因为人们有理由认为他的言论受到了其妻子职位的影响。
但他补充说，此次违规是“无意的”，该案件未被提交至委员会。
4 月 22 日，科斯塔向下议院道歉，称：“我无意中未能申报一项相关利益：即我雇佣了我的妻子，而她受《议员工作人员利益登记册》规则的约束。”
“这违反了议院的规则，我对这一错误表示道歉。”
新规则意味着需要登记利益的人数将从约 2,000 人扩大到 4,000 人——包括能够访问议会 IT 系统的工作人员以及持有议会通行证的人员。
但尽管现在有更多工作人员必须登记，公众能获得关于他们的信息却减少了。
委员会表示，由于安全和隐私担忧（特别是对于在议员选区办公室工作的人员），这一变更十分必要，且透明度的丧失与安全问题相比是相称的。
改革英国党（Reform UK）领导人奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）正因涉嫌未能申报来自商人克里斯托弗·哈博恩（Christopher Harborne）的一笔 500 万英镑m 礼金而接受标准专员的调查。法拉奇否认自己被要求申报该款项。
科斯塔已被要求就此发表评论。
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周五 2026 年 8 月 21 日
11
苏格兰
斯威尼为前往世界杯比赛观赛辩护
作者：Craig Paton
苏格兰首席部长约翰·斯威尼（John Swinney）为其近期赴美行程的费用进行了辩护。
今年6月，斯威尼飞越大西洋，观看苏格兰国家男子足球队参加28年来首次世界杯。
根据苏格兰政府根据《信息自由法》公布的数据，斯威尼及苏格兰政府官员访问波士顿及随后访问肯塔基州的费用，以及体育部长玛丽·托德（Maree Todd）为观看球队对阵巴西队的小组赛最后一战而访问迈阿密的费用，总计近 10 万英镑。
首席部长、其私人秘书约翰·韦伯斯特（John Webster）和幕僚长科林·麦考利斯特（Colin McAllister）的机票——全部为商务舱——费用超过 4.5 万英镑。
根据数据，这三人的酒店费用为 3,212 英镑。托德及其私人秘书均乘坐经济舱，机票费用为 1,471 英镑。
首席部长昨日在接受 BBC 采访时表示：“显然，在必须预订机票且时间压力巨大的情况下，费用可能会更高。”
他补充道：“我们已尽量降低这些成本。”
苏格兰政府司法部长尼尔·格雷（Neil Gray）早前在接受 BBC Radio Scotland 采访时表示：“部长们的行程非常繁忙，他们能够以精神饱满的状态抵达，以便能够立即参与并开展工作，我认为这是合理的支出。”
他补充说，首席部长和官员们此次出行是为了“建立重要的国际联系”，这是“正确”的。
移民
寻求寻求庇护者住房的“公平分布”
作者：Rob Freeman
内政大臣沙哈娜·马哈茂德（Shahana Mahmood）表示，她希望寻求庇护者的安置房能够实现“公平分布”。
安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）上周表示，国家“不能出现一种只有全国最贫困社区”安置寻求庇护者的局面。
马哈茂德表示，她的目标是采用一种混合安置模式，利用军事基地、前学生公寓、单间公寓（bedsits）和多人共用住宅（homes of multiple occupancy）。
她告诉《泰晤士报》：“必须实现公平分布。我们在新安置模式以及未来安置方案中所做的是仔细思考如何实现公平分布，从而避免最终集中在某个单一社区。”
“在某种程度上，无论你是在国家富裕地区，还是像我所在的这种较为贫困的选区，其实都没有太大区别。”
“人口的变化，以及寻求庇护者通常居住的房屋情况及其人口的流动性质，确实会产生影响。”
马哈茂德表示，她理解住在庇护安置点附近的人们的担忧，因为她在伯明翰莱迪伍德（Birmingham Ladywood）选区有相关经验。
她说：“我理解这些令人们担忧的事情，我也明白他们的想法。事实上，国家富裕地区的人们所面临的问题，与我所代表的人们面临的问题并没有太大不同。”
在牛津郡皮丁顿村（Piddington）的一处前军事基地安置 1,000 多名寻求庇护者的计划遭到了抗议，并被指在安全和成本方面“不合逻辑”。
政治
格雷：在斯塔默的唐宁街10号工作“非常、非常困难”
作者：乔治·汤普森（George Thompson）
基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）的前任办公厅主任在辞职后的首次采访中表示，在唐宁街10号工作“绝对难以忍受”。
苏·格雷男爵夫人（Baroness Sue Gray）谈到了政府内部的泄密战如何让她感到“非常、非常困难”——并导致人们担心有人在记录“你说的每一句话”。
格雷在2024, 离职前是工党政府中最高级别的顾问，她表示，斯塔默没有采取更多措施来应对针对她的向记者泄密行为，这让她感到“失望”。
她在接受埃德·鲍尔斯（Ed Balls）在《政治货币》（Political Currency）播客采访时发表了上述言论。
在被问及针对她的泄密行为时，她表示这些行为在工党处于反对党地位时就已经开始了，当时她会“读到关于我说了什么或没说什么的消息”，这种情况一直持续到了本届政府。
“作为一名公务员和特别顾问，我一直认为在房间里应该能够自由发言，”她说。
“我不记得这类讨论曾被泄露出去。”
“然而在这里我发现自己……你知道，有传闻说我试图将摩根·麦克斯威尼（Morgan McSweeney，时任工党政治战略负责人，在格雷卸任后接任办公厅主任）移到办公楼的后方。”
“实际上，那纯粹是因为‘我不敢相信你们这么多人要挤在这个小房间里，让我们给你们找个更好的房间吧’。”
“情况发展到最后，你知道你说的每一句话，你都会觉得——有人在记录。”
当被问及斯塔默是否愿意就她的担忧采取行动时，她表示：“我跟他谈过几次，我不想透露具体的对话内容，但我很失望没有采取更多措施，因为我认为是可以做到的。”
在离职后，格雷成为了去年12月公布的30名新工党贵族议员之一，其中还包括前议员桑加姆·德博奈尔（Thangam Debbonaire）和卢西亚娜·伯格（Luciana Berger）。
斯塔默政府面临着来自工党成员的批评，包括该党副党魁露西·鲍威尔（Lucy Powell），她将唐宁街10号描述为一种“男子俱乐部”文化，存在一种“匿名的恶意泄密”模式——尤其是针对女性。
“这绝对难以忍受，对我来说尤其如此，”格雷说。“我想说，那些泄密都不是出自我的口。”
“我认为这非常困难，而且影响到了我和我的生活。”
“我每天一大早就进办公室，很晚才离开，为了避开……那是一段非常、非常、非常困难的时期。”
在谈到工党政府初期缺乏积极愿景以及这在多大程度上是她的责任时，她说：“我认为归根结底，你有一个政党领袖，你有一个首相，一个反对党领袖。”
“你必须设定你的愿景，你的议程——这绝对是每个人都在寻找的东西。”
格雷在2021年负责调查鲍里斯·约翰逊（Boris Johnson）在唐宁街10号违反新冠防疫规定事件后，从一名影响力大但鲜为人知的公务员行为仲裁者变成了家喻户晓的人物。
随后，由于她决定在白厅工作数十年后辞去内阁办公室职务并加入工党担任斯塔默的办公厅主任，她的公正性受到了质疑。
在经历了数周的负面泄密后，她在声明中宣布辞职，理由是担心自己“成为了政府工作的干扰”。
格雷男爵夫人表示，斯塔默未能阻止向记者泄露针对她的消息，这让她感到“失望” PA
12
新闻
教育
性别差距降至2000年以来最低水平
作者：Alexa Phillips
男孩在GCSE（英国中等教育通用证书）成绩上与女孩的差距已缩小至历史最低水平，但今年未能通过英语和数学考试的学生人数有所增加。
尽管获得最高等级的学生人数有所上升，但这些科目中参加补考的学生导致了及格率的下降。
教育大臣露西·鲍威尔（Lucy Powell）誓言要打击这种“极其糟糕”的GCSE补考制度，但专家表示，她的计划可能会适得其反，导致更多年轻人脱离教育和工作。
英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰的数十万名青少年于昨日收到了他们的GCSE成绩。
根据联合资格委员会（Joint Council for Qualifications）的成绩数据，获得至少7级或A级的男孩比例从2025年的19.4%上升到今年的19.6%。女孩继续保持领先，但其获得最高等级的比例从24.5%下降到24.4%。男孩与女孩之间的差距从5.1个百分点缩小到4.8个百分点——这是自2000年以来的最低水平。女孩在及格率上领先男孩的幅度从6.2个百分点缩小到5.8个百分点。
在数学科目中，37.3%的学生达到了4级或C级及以上（被称为“标准及格”），比去年下降了一个百分点。在17岁及以上参加补考的学生中，及格率下降了一个百分点，至16.5%。
更多16岁的学生未能
教育大臣露西·鲍威尔与大曼彻斯特博尔顿哈珀格林学校的一名学生在一起
在该科目中获得标准及格，这可能会导致今年秋季或明年想要补考的人数激增。
在英格兰，GCSE英语和数学未获得至少4级或C级的学生，必须在学习下一阶段课程（例如A-level或T-level）的同时继续学习这些科目。
在英语科目中，60%的学生及格，比去年下降了0.2个百分点。这主要是由17岁及以上参加补考的学生引起的，其及格率下降了1.4个百分点，至21.7%。与此同时，今年获得最高等级的学生有所增加，22%的报考者获得了至少7级或A级。
鲍威尔表示，政府将通过修改国家课程来减少补考GCSE不及格考试的学生人数。
在英语和数学中获得2级或以下成绩的学生将被引导至新的阶梯式资格认证，以向雇主和学院证明其计算和读写能力。
通过这种被称为“Level 1e”的新资格认证的学生，随后将能够补考其GCSE。
获得3级（接近及格所需的4级）的学生将直接补考。
学校和学院领导者协会（Association of School and College Leaders）的16岁后教育与技能政策专家克莱尔·格林（Claire Green）表示，获得1级或2级的学生已经达到了该替代资格认证中所提议的Level 1同等水平。
“我们担心，在他们获得补考机会之前让他们再做一个Level 1，实际上可能会让他们更加厌学，我们可能会在无意中加剧Neet（不在教育、就业或培训中）危机，而不是减轻它。”
学院协会（Association of Colleges）首席执行官大卫·休斯（David Hughes）表示，计划中的变更仍将强制所有学生参加英语和数学的GCSE考试，且学生在第一时间应被给予选择替代资格认证的选项。
资金，第47页
天文学、圣经希伯来语、古典希腊语和汽车研究是报考人数低于1,500人的科目。
社会
区域差距扩大，仅靠学校“无法解决问题”
作者：Alison Kershaw 和 Ian Jones
教育专家警告称，学校系统的区域不平等“既非必然，也不可接受”，因为 GCSE（英国中考）的数据显示，英格兰各地的成绩差异依然存在。
有观点认为，年轻人所能获得的机会存在一种“结构性分歧”，仅靠学校无法将其修复。
GCSE 结果显示，伦敦获得最高等级成绩的考生比例与英格兰北部及中部的比例之间差距进一步扩大。
今年，首都伦敦共有 28.6% 的考生获得了 7 级或以上成绩——这是英格兰所有地区中最高的比例。
英格兰东北部的数值最低，仅有 17.7% 的考生获得至少 7 级的成绩。
这意味着这两个地区之间的差距目前达到了 10.9 个百分点——这是自 2010 年有可用数据以来最大的差距。
在英格兰西北部，有 18.9% 的考生获得了 7 级或以上成绩。
伦敦与西北部之间的差距已从 2025 年的 9.6 个百分点扩大至 9.7 个百分点。
此外，伦敦与东米德兰兹及西米德兰兹之间的差距也在扩大，达到了至少自 2010 年以来的最大规模。
Schools North East 主任 Chris Zarraga 表示：“在学校质量，以及年轻人的才华、潜能或抱负方面，并不存在南北分歧。”
“存在的是围绕在他们身边的环境和机会的结构性分歧。”
“区域成绩表是这种分歧的地图，而不是学校质量的地图。”
“这些不平等既非必然，也不可接受。”
“政府需要将其视为一个系统性挑战，在解决学校内部情况的同时，处理学校周围的环境条件。”
埃克塞特大学社会流动性教授 Lee Elliot Major 表示：“这些结果证实，英格兰的教育分歧不能再被简单地理解为南北分歧。”
“这些分歧远远超出了学校大门，反映了家庭资源、交通、就业以及年轻人所能预见的未来的差异。我们需要更强有力的区域性方案，将教育与经济机会联系起来。”
在国家层面，北爱尔兰有 31.7% 的考生获得了 7 / A 级或更高成绩，高于英格兰（21.8%）和威尔士（19.6%）。
在获得 4 / C 级或更高成绩的考生中，北爱尔兰以 83.6% 领先，高于英格兰（67%）和威尔士（62.3%）。
成绩未达标？仍有多种选择
如果你或你的孩子在昨天没有获得预期的成绩，很容易感到沮丧，但对于那些表现不如预期的人来说，仍有许多可行的路径。
第一步是与你的学校或学院沟通。如果你认为成绩有误，他们可以帮助安排重新评分（尽管这可能需要支付费用），并且他们可以就下一步该怎么做提供建议。
对于想要留在学校的人来说，未能达到预测成绩或未能获得第六年级（sixth-form）录取通知，并不一定意味着你将失去进入心仪机构的机会。
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周五 2026年8月21日
13
当学生收到 GCSE 成绩时
许多学院并不要求你必须达到预测成绩才能入学，即使是那些有特定入学要求的学院，通常也会允许你在 9 月份开始学习，并在修读课程的同时完成补考。
如果你未能达到想要修读的 A-level 课程所需的成绩，你或许可以更换另一个科目。
如果你已经明确了职业目标并希望为此开始努力，T-level（仅在英格兰提供）或职业技术资格证书（包括 BTecs）可能适合你。许多学院提供这些课程，将实践经验与课堂学习相结合。
你被允许在教育之余花费最多
从上至下：位于滑铁卢的伦敦航海学校；位于伦敦东南部的 Ark Greenwich 自由学校；位于约克郡的利兹语法学校
20 小时进行工作或志愿服务，但如果你想全职工作，学徒制可能是最佳选择。学徒制将工作与实践学习相结合。请在政府网站上申请。
如果你仍然不确定，请拨打国家职业服务（National Careers Service）帮助热线。 Flora Symington
数据概览 今年的评估情况
22%
获得 3 / A 级或以上成绩的考生总比例，较 2025 年的 21.9% 略有上升
67.3%
获得 4 / C 级或以上成绩的考生份额——与去年的 67.4% 比例相似
24.4%
获得 3 / A 级或以上成绩的女性考生比例。男性的总比例为 19.6%
70.2%
获得 4 / C 级或更高成绩的女性考生比例，而男性为 64.4%，差距为 5.8 points
28.6%
在英格兰各地区中，伦敦获得 3 / A 级或更高成绩的考生比例最高
17.7%
英格兰东北部获得 3 / A 级或更高成绩的比例最低，低于之前的 17.8%
31.7%
北爱尔兰获得 3 / A 级或更高成绩的考生比例，高于英格兰（21.8%）和威尔士（19.6%）
1,007,628
科学双项奖（science double award）的报考人数最高——自 2018 年引入以来一直如此
232
今年排名最底端的是休闲与旅游，这是一个北爱尔兰特有的科目
6,199,256
今年 GCSE 的总报考人数，比去年的 6,160,034 人增加了 0.6%
人物
祖母们首次通过考试
作者：Sam Russell
两名通过了 GCSE 考试的祖母敦促其他成年学习者不要放弃。
52 岁的 Wynne Hindle 在寻求职业转型时，在第五次尝试中获得了数学资格证书；49 岁的 Sandra Young 通过了她人生中第一次 GCSE 考试，“为了向自己证明一些事情”。
来自萨福克郡萨德伯里的 Hindle 女士在 2022-23 学年首次参加了数学考试。
这位三个孩子的母亲获得 4 级合格成绩，是四年努力的结晶。
“我只是想取得某种成就，而且我是一个坚韧的人，”Hindle 女士说。
来自萨福克郡伊普斯威奇、有两个孩子的 Young 女士（插图）表示，她的英语 4 级合格成绩是“我一直以来想要的一切”。
这位五个孩子的祖母在萨福克新学院（Suffolk New College）参加了考试，并表示：“我回到了学院，想向自己证明一些事情，因为我之前没有 GCSE 证书。”
“我对其他成年学习者的建议就是大胆尝试——不要放弃。”
儿童
神童七岁获数学高分
作者：Lauren Beavis
一名七岁男孩被授予了数学 GCSE 证书。
Jivyan Dhruva 获得了 8 级成绩，在通常由 16 岁左右学生参加的资格考试中获得了 240 分中的 196 分。
这位来自西伦敦的小学者已经在为明年的 A-level 考试做准备。
他的父亲，36 岁的 AI 工程师 Dhruva Katta 表示：“我们非常自豪——他已经在准备明年的数学和进阶数学 A-level 考试了。”
“我们建议他休息一下，但他不想。” 表示，他的儿子直到今年 2 月还就读于普通的小学二年级——当时他觉得“太无聊了”，想改为在家自学。
尽管学习的数学知识远超其年龄，但 表示，Jivyan 仍然是一个幽默且充满活力的七岁孩子，除了数学，他还热爱国际象棋、足球和舞蹈。
表示：“他的前途光明。”
品味世界之最，价值之选。
唯一获得 3 项世界葡萄酒大奖的超市。
价值之选。
视供应情况而定。仅限部分门店。仅限英国。价格和包装可能会有所不同。在苏格兰和威尔士，根据苏格兰法律，店内酒精价格可能会更高，且在上午 10 点之前可能不销售酒精。18 岁以上，详情请参阅 drinkware.co.uk。酒精百分比可能因生产日期而异。Crémant de Loire Brut, 75cl, £8.99, £11.95 / L。Valdobbiadene Prosecco Spumante, 75cl, £7.99, £10.65 / L。Bissinger Champagne AOP Premier Cru, 75cl, £24.99, £33.32 / L。
新闻
新闻 2-20
观点 16-22
电视 26-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
体育 50-56
2026 年 8 月 21 日，星期五
15
人物
Ethel Caterham 与查尔斯国王的合影，她在庆祝 116 岁生日后与国王会面 JONATHAN BRADFORD
动物
蟒蛇首获癌症治疗
作者：Eleanor Barlow
一条以美国女演员 Jodie Foster 命名的 15 英尺长蟒蛇被认为是世界上第一条受益于通常用于人类癌症治疗方法的蛇。
切斯特动物园（Chester Zoo）的兽医表示，这只 40 公斤的爬行动物在接受了针对其颌骨癌瘤的电化学疗法后，已恢复到“活泼且好斗的状态”。
这只 23 岁的网纹蟒在 20 年前抵达动物园时被命名，当时工作人员注意到其文件上的缩写为 JP（代表 juvenile female，幼年雌性）。
2024 年，在饲养员注意到她进食量减少后，她接受了手术以切除颌部的恶性肿瘤。但去年，肿瘤复发了。
切斯特动物园的兽医官 Ian Ashpole 表示：“肿瘤让她进食更加困难，因此我们与癌症专家合作，探讨是否可以将电化学疗法应用于蛇类。”
在 90 分钟的手术后，她的恢复速度惊人。
这条蟒蛇颌部的肿瘤使其难以进食
电影
《白莲花度假村》主演 James：“我演邦德太老了”
作者：Sean O’Grady
Theo-James 表示，他“太老了”，无法成为下一任詹姆斯·邦德，并认为这个角色会让他失去演艺生涯中的自由。
这位 41 岁的《白莲花度假村》（White Lotus）明星（插图）是与该角色挂钩的几个人选之一。
但 James 已经排除了自己的可能性，他在接受英国《GQ》采访时表示：“我现在绝对太老了。”
James 补充说，他担心接受那些会给他带来过多名气的角色。
他说：“想象一下，突然之间，你和我不能在街上行走。这对你的孩子们会产生什么影响，他们正试图在极度的审视和名声中寻找自我？”
“对我来说，这一切都不值得。”
世界最高龄老人庆祝117岁生日，经历了一年“诸多首次”
作者：Anahita Hossein-Pour 和 Laura Elston
世界最高龄老人今天庆祝她的117岁生日，在过去的一年里，她经历了“诸多首次”，包括会见国王并与他握手。
埃塞尔·卡特汉姆（Ethel Caterham）现居住在萨里郡莱特沃特（Lightwater）的 Hallmark Lakeview 护理院，她正与家人和朋友共度这一天以纪念这一时刻。
她在一份预先准备好的声明中表示：“感谢所有亲切的生日祝福。”
“即便在117岁，我在这[过去]一年里仍经历了许多首次，从抚摸羊驼到与国王握手。我期待着明年会带来什么。”
去年9月，就在卡特汉姆夫人庆祝116岁生日后不久，查尔斯访问了她，并在自我介绍时握住了她的手。
在巴西修女伊娜·卡纳巴罗·卢卡斯（Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas）以116岁去世后，她于2025年4月成为世界上最高龄的在世人士。
在与查尔斯的会面中，她回忆起他21岁时，即1969年被册封为威尔士亲王的情景，并补充道：“当时所有的女孩都爱慕你，想嫁给你。”
卡特汉姆夫人于1909年8月21日出生在汉普郡的希普顿·贝林格（Shipton Bellinger），比第一次世界大战爆发早五年，她是八个兄弟姐妹中年龄第二小的。
她是爱德华七世（1910年5月去世）最后一名在世的臣民。
1927年，18岁的她前往印度，担任一个军人家庭的互惠生，直到她21岁。
根据吉尼斯世界纪录，史上最高龄人士的纪录由法国女性让娜·卡尔芒（Jeanne Calment）保持，她活到了122岁164天。
1931年，她在英国的一次晚宴上遇到了她的丈夫诺曼（Norman），诺曼曾是英国陆军的中校，于1976年去世。
他们在被派驻直布罗陀和香港之前住在索尔兹伯里。卡特汉姆夫人在香港期间创办了一所幼儿园，并抚养了两个女儿，两人均在她之前去世。
她的其中一位姐妹格拉迪斯（Gladys）活到了104岁。
卡特汉姆夫人一直开车到97岁，并在百岁后的岁月里喜欢玩合约桥牌。
专题见第23页
人物
“母亲在生命的大部分时间里都穷困潦倒”
作者：Sean O’Grady
米奎塔·奥利弗（Miquita Oliver）表示，她的电视厨师母亲安迪（Andi）曾“穷困潦倒了20年”。
这位42岁的电视节目主持人在青少年时期与西蒙·阿姆斯特尔（Simon Amstell）共同在第四频道主持《Pop World》而成名。
尽管她的母亲（63岁）在80年代是朋克团体 Rip Rig + Panic 的成员，并于90年代开始在电视上露面，但奥利弗表示，她直到过去十年才获得稳定的成功。
在与亚当·弗罗斯特（Adam Frost）和凯特琳·莫兰（Caitlin Moran）的《Outsiding》播客节目中，她说道：“妈妈在生命中只有最后八年是成功的。”
“我们当时很穷，然后我上了电视，但妈妈在接下来的20年里依然穷困潦倒。她只是在艰苦奋斗。”
安迪·奥利弗于2016年加入《至尊英国菜单》（The Great British Menu）。
五线索隐喻填字游戏 No 4913
答案见第51页
横向
- 3 奶酪上的昆虫，时间短暂 (7)
- 5 / 6 包含被忽视的牙科治疗 (3,2,3,4)
纵向
- 1 装饰性搭扣和戒指，发现于苏格兰铁器时代塔楼 (6)
- 2 拉脱维亚人定期咀嚼的一种沙拉蔬菜 (7)
- 4 伦敦的一半，看，是荒凉的 (6)
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新闻
NEPST 2-20
观点 16-22
电视 28-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
体育 50-56
2026年8月21日，星期五
17
伊朗
德黑兰称特朗普增加制裁的威胁为“经济恐怖主义”
作者：Kanishka Singh 和 Jana Chouhoir
随着美国寻求解决其与以色列在近六个月前共同发起的战争，唐纳德·特朗普警告称，任何向“伊朗提供任何形式生命线”的国家都将面临经济后果。
美国总统在社交媒体上承诺将开展“规模前所未有的经济战和孤立行动”。就在几小时前，其财政部长斯科特·贝森特（Scott Bessent）表示，美国将对伊朗实施“历史上最严厉的制裁”，旨在使该政权“崩溃”。
特朗普写道：“任何允许其金融机构、企业、机场或政府实体向伊朗提供任何形式生命线的国家都将……面临巨大的经济后果。”
伊朗外交部长阿巴斯·阿拉格齐（Abbas Araqchi，见插图）称特朗普的言论是企图将美国公众的注意力从国内金融问题（包括创纪录的债务和上升的利率）中转移出去。
他表示，华盛顿坚持执行他所描述的失败政策将带来进一步的失败，并使伊朗人疏远。
阿拉格齐所属的外交部表示，这些措施针对的是普通伊朗人，等同于“经济恐怖主义”和反人类罪。
伊朗另在与阿曼就管理霍尔木兹海峡达成协议进行谈判。特朗普对此回应称，如果阿曼“阻碍进程”，他可能会轰炸阿曼。
阿曼外交部长巴德尔·阿尔布赛迪（Badr Albusaidi）昨日表示，海峡的持久安全需要该地区的永久和平，并拒绝进一步升级局势。
根据分析公司 Kpler 的 2025 年数据，中国购买了伊朗 80% 以上的出口石油，但如果美国与中国进一步展开经济战，则面临遭到报复的风险，中国是美国关键稀土矿产等物资的主要出口国。
中国外交部发言人林剑表示：“制裁和压力无法解决问题。”但昨日，贝森特警告称：“现在是我们盟友以及世界其他地区做出决定的时候了。”
周三，设有美国重要军事基地的阿联酋表示，将暂停与伊朗的所有贸易活动。此前，阿联酋国防部称监测到两枚从伊朗发射并坠入海中的导弹——德黑兰对此报告予以否认，称其毫无根据。
特朗普尚未实现他在战争之初设定的目标：拆除伊朗的核计划，遏制其攻击地区对手的能力，并为伊朗人推翻其神职统治者创造条件。
国防航母接替
美国军方昨日表示，驻亚的“乔治·华盛顿”号航空母舰目前正在中东地区执行任务，接替一艘部署时间较长的航母。此前有报道称，该接替航母在支持伊朗战争期间，舰上出现了心理健康挑战和供应短缺问题。
美国中央司令部表示，“华盛顿”号于周三抵达该地区，目前尚不清楚即将离去的“亚伯拉罕·林肯”号何时返回美国。
“林肯”号的部署包括了创纪录的连续 250 天以上在海时间，期间出现了关于船员压力大、心理健康状况差以及包括食品和卫生用品在内的供应短缺的报道。
民主党政治人物已敦促国防部就“林肯”号上的情况承担责任，而国防部长皮特·海格塞斯（Pete Hegseth）则表示，这些情况被“完全歪曲了”。
中东
以色列拒绝米利班德对定居点的反对
作者：海伦·科贝特 (Helen Corbett)
昨日，在特拉维夫发布了一项在被占领的约旦河西岸进行建设的招标书后，以色列与英国之间爆发了外交争端。
外交大臣埃德·米利班德（Ed Miliband）将此举描述为“不可接受且具有破坏性的行为”，并表示英国不会“袖手旁观，接受两国方案被摧毁”。
米利班德表示，英国已明确反对 El 定居点项目，他认为该项目通过将约旦河西岸与东耶路撒冷分隔开，有危及两国方案的风险。
他的以色列同行吉迪昂·萨拉尔（Gideon Salar）指责他“完全片面”，并表示他拒绝其言论中“傲慢的语气”。
外交部还召见了以色列代办，以阐明英国对此次举措的“深切反对”。
米利班德表示：“以色列政府发布 El 定居点项目的招标书是一项不可接受且具有破坏性的行为。”
“英国在私下和公开场合都明确表示反对 El 项目，并支持两国方案，因为这是确保巴勒斯坦人和以色列人长期安全与和平的唯一途径。”
“所有定居点都会损害这一前景，并且公然违反了国际法。”
去年 9 月，基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）领导的政府正式承认巴勒斯坦国，引发了以色列的批评。
昨日，萨拉尔表示：“英国在犹太人与其在人类历史上记录最详尽的祖传狭小家园的联系和权利面前，竟然教犹太人应该住在哪里，这简直荒谬。”
他补充说，英国“只指责以色列而忽视巴勒斯坦极端主义”的政策，助长了针对英国犹太社区的反犹太袭击。
与此同时，一直试图调停加沙冲突的土耳其、埃及和卡塔尔谴责了以色列近期在巴勒斯坦飞地的袭击。
据医护人员称，自周二以来，以色列的袭击已导致加沙至少 16 名巴勒斯坦人死亡。
在其他方面，以色列指责土耳其在“叙利亚进行危险冒险”，而安卡拉则在以色列轰炸一个其称土耳其军队将部署的叙利亚空军基地后，呼吁停止以色列“鲁莽的”袭击。
吉迪昂·萨拉尔（左）表示埃德·米利班德的言论是“傲慢的”
乌克兰
莫斯科袭击基辅，泽连斯基恳请提供武器
作者：丹尼尔·弗林（Daniel Flynn）和安娜·普鲁奇尼卡（Anna Pruchnicka）
昨日，俄罗斯一次大规模空袭导致基辅及其周边地区 16 人死亡，40 多人受伤。总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基表示，乌克兰的盟友未能补充其防空导弹库存，这正在导致人员伤亡。
乌克兰空军表示，在这次大规模的夜间袭击中，俄罗斯发射了数十枚巡航导弹，以及弹道导弹和高超音速导弹，并使用了 168 架无人机。
空军表示，近 90% 的无人机和大多数巡航导弹已被击落。
泽连斯基称此次袭击是这场持续四年半战争中最为“愤世嫉俗、精心计算且规模最大”的袭击之一。基辅市长维塔利·克利奇科呼吁将今天定为哀悼日。
泽连斯基表示，首都及周边地区共有 30 栋房屋、一所学校、一家儿童医院和一家托儿所受损。
俄罗斯国防部表示，莫斯科通过空袭和无人机袭击了基辅及其周边地区，击中了生产
这次对首都的大规模夜间袭击涉及巡航导弹和无人机 KOSTMATYN LIBEROVL BIKOSIGETTY
无人机零部件的设施、一个军事仓库和一个物流枢纽。
罗马尼亚国防部表示，在袭击乌克兰期间，一架无人机坠入了北约和欧盟成员国罗马尼亚。摩尔多瓦总统玛雅·桑杜表示，一架无人机也坠落在摩尔多瓦领土上。
由于俄罗斯在近几个月升级了弹道导弹袭击，泽连斯基恳请盟友补充乌克兰的“爱国者”拦截导弹库存——这是其武器库中唯一能够击落弹道导弹的武器。“不幸的是……世界对此类袭击的反应并不总是充分的，”他说道。
乌克兰也增加了对俄罗斯的袭击，目标是石油设施和物流基础设施。由于基辅拒绝屈服于俄罗斯割让更多领土的要求，由美国调停的旨在结束战争的谈判在今年早些时候陷入停滞。
最新的这次袭击发生之际，泽连斯基正面临战争爆发以来最严峻的国内政治考验。
周二，乌克兰前国防部长米哈伊洛·费多罗夫（Mykhailo Fedorov）——他上个月被解职引发了抗议——呼吁举行选举，并表示基辅在腐败问题上面临“系统性的治理危机”。
任何投票都需要修改乌克兰宪法，因为宪法禁止在战争期间举行选举。
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来自国内外的评论
OUTDO
移民指南手册
说明书实际上相当有用
《独立报》
内政部的手册是一种无害且有用的方式，旨在尝试处理那些事实上可能不会在英国停留太久的人。并非每个寻求庇护的申请者都能成功，但在他们停留期间，了解一些注意事项是有好处的。（肖恩·奥格雷迪 Sean O'Grady）
Unfierd
政府的对策是向新抵达者发放关于如何不实施强奸的指南，而不是追求强有力的移民政策，甚至不承认并非所有文化都是平等的。这简直就是一种被管理的衰落。（约瑟芬·巴托什 Josephine Bartosch）
AI 成本上升
当前的狂热带有价格标签
《金融时报》
值得询问的是，AI 热潮是否正在吸走其他部门的资源。数据中心和模型开发需要大量的芯片、电力和资金。这种狂热是否意味着其他人正面临匮乏？（苏马约·凯恩斯 Soumayo Keynes）
《经济学人》
起初有了 AI，各地的老板都说你们必须使用这项技术。果然，使用率确实上升了。然后老板们想起了“预算”。随后，关于回报的另一个问题在董事会会议室中响起，而这个问题更难回答。（巴特尔比 Bartleby）
适应山火
恢复湿地以降低风险
《新政治家》(New Statesman)
我希望理查德·泰斯上周能看到我。他一定会感到非常自豪。当时我正躺在哈尔基迪基的海滩上，一边涂着SPF50的防晒霜，一边看着人们的房子被烧毁。我是《电讯报》的读者，所以我知道在面对世界燃烧时如何保持淡定。（Stella Tsontekidou）
《对话》(The Conversation)
通过恢复一种我们一直竭力清除的栖息地——湿地，使我们的景观在面对山火时更具韧性是可能的。自1700年以来，英国超过75%的湿地已被挖掘、排干并被摧毁。（Christian Dunn）
进步民主党人
他们承诺让生活成本变得可负担
《卫报》(The Guardian)
美国选民选择进步民主党人并非因为他们想要社会主义。他们投票给那些他们认为会为普通工薪家庭争取让住房、食物、医疗和育儿变得可负担的候选人。（Robert Reich）
《大西洋月刊》(The Atlantic)
民主党左翼在这里进行了一场复杂的内部豪赌。该派系试图将大党劫持到他们那些不受欢迎的事业上的努力，只有在他们能说服民主党选民相信特朗普并非美国人面临的最重要问题时才会奏效。（David Frum）
美国经济
$40trn 债务是不可持续的轨迹
CNN
美国正让自己陷入一个越来越深的债务深渊。联邦债务在周二达到了创纪录的 $40trn ($29trn)。这是一个不祥的里程碑，将在未来几年给美国人、企业和政府带来后果。（Tomi Luhby）
《华尔街日报》(Wall Street Journal)
$40trn 是一个巨大的数字，可能会至少在短期内引起人们对经济学家一致认为的不可持续财政轨迹的关注。近日，长期政府借贷成本的上升凸显了其中的利害关系。（Sam Goldfarb）
爱丁堡边缘艺术节
到处都是网红和名人
《先驱报》(The Herald)
在边缘艺术节这个旨在自我表达和自由的节日里，几乎不可能在不感到紧张的情况下享受演出，因为你总觉得有人在监视你的一举一动。由于网红的存在，爱丁堡最美丽的地方正变成人们想要避开的地方。（Grace Hussey）
《苏格兰人报》(The Scotsman)
随着节日的进行，名人的数量在增加——斯托卡德·钱宁在Pleasance，杰森·伯恩在乔治广场，尤恩·布雷姆纳在凯尔特舞会上，约翰·斯威尼在电影院——他们所有人都比你想象的要高。（Janet Christie）
今日金句
我遇到了世界各地拥有不同信仰的许多人，而我们其实并没有那么大的不同。
艾米·李 (Amy Lee) Evanescence乐队主唱谈其政治观点
生活简讯
希拉·马修斯 (SHEILA MATHEWS) 演员
西区明星希拉·马修斯或许并非家喻户晓的名字，但据称她是娱乐业从业时间最长的表演者，她在1930年仅三岁时就完成了舞台首秀。
在一段始于电视出现之前并延续至21世纪的职业生涯中，她曾与电视和戏剧界的一些顶尖人物同台演出。她于本月早些时候去世，享年99岁。
马修斯1927年出生于伦敦北部的埃德蒙顿，首次在伦敦亚历山德拉宫登台，在名为“玫瑰蕾” (The Rosebuds) 的儿童舞团中饰演贝贝·希拉 (Bebe Sheila)。
在芬斯伯里公园帝国剧院演出被发掘后，由于她的母亲无力支付费用，她获得了免费的歌唱培训。
1943年，16岁的马修斯出演了西区剧作《敲响新音符》(Strike a New Note)，与年轻的埃里克·莫康比 (Eric Morecambe) 共舞，当时后者仍在使用原名埃里克·巴塞洛缪 (Eric Bartholomew)。
她还与汤米·特林德 (Tommy Trinder) 在《快乐与光荣》(Happy and Glorious) 中共同主演，并出演了弗兰基·霍华德 (Frankie Howard) 的轻歌舞剧《超凡脱俗》(Out of This World)。
这使她被选中参加1950年在伦敦帕拉第姆剧院举行的第21届皇家综艺表演，当时乔治六世国王和伊丽莎白公主（后来的伊丽莎白二世女王）在场。
1951年，她前往美国出演卡巴莱表演。在美期间，她与美国歌手威廉·本德 (William Bender) 结婚。然而，两人随后离婚。
马修斯于1955年回到英国，成为参与ITV开台的首批英国顶尖明星之一，并拥有自己的系列剧《周五女孩》(Friday's Girl)。
1957年，她与作家兼导演查尔斯·雷丁 (Charles Reading) 结婚，雷丁因其在伦敦剧院的工作而被誉为“帕拉第姆先生”。
马修斯的西区职业生涯得以延续，她于1973年在音乐剧《掌声》(Applause) 中接替劳伦·巴科尔 (Lauren Bacall)，在《欲望号街车》(A Streetcar Named Desire) 中饰演布兰奇·杜波依斯 (Blanche DuBois)，并主演了诺埃尔·考沃德 (Noel Coward) 的《黄昏之歌》(A Song at Twilight)。
她曾一度在斯特兰德的阿德尔菲剧院担任《查理女孩》(Charlie Girl) 中安娜·尼格尔 (Anna Neagle) 的替演，同时在威廉街的表演者剧院出演《深夜之乐》(Late Joys)。
马修斯出演过《酸甜》(Sweet 'N' Sour)、《谢莉》(Shelley) 和《保镖》(Minder) 等电视节目。
但她最著名的荧幕角色是在《十字路口》(Crossroads) 中饰演迷人的劳拉·马歇尔 (Laura Marshall)，她是汽车旅馆老板大卫·亨特 (David Hunter) 的女友。她还曾是BBC系列剧《好时光》(The Good Old Days) 在1955年至1983年间的首席表演者。在退出娱乐圈照顾丈夫（丈夫于1999年去世）后，马修斯于2000年在伊斯特本复排的《我与我的女孩》(Me and My Girl) 中重返舞台。
她在2023年6月获得了英国音乐厅协会的终身成就奖。她的女儿萨莉 (Sally) 和简 (Jane) 在世。
出生 1917年5月31日 去世 2016年8月11日 乔纳森·哈伍德 (Jonathan Harwood)
新闻 2-20
观点 18-22
电视 26-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
体育 50-56
2026年8月21日，星期五
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安妮·麦克尔沃伊 (Anne McElvoy)
哈里与梅根需要保持谨慎
威廉与凯特并不希望这对夫妇进入他们的世界
关于哈里与梅根的传奇故事，唯一不会缺乏的就是剧情反转。因此，关于蒙特西托的这对夫妇即将返回英国寻求重启关系的传闻，用希腊人的话来说就是一场“peripeteia”——一种如此剧烈的环境或命运转变，以至于我们可以称之为 180 度大转弯。
然而，这是一个新奥德赛的开始，而非终结，而且很有可能在某些方面会遭遇冷遇。哈里将根据其父亲在夏季达成的一系列条款获得欢迎。而他与哥哥威廉（威尔士亲王）的关系则是完全另一回事。
这次突破是由于君主的高龄和近期的疾病，以及萨塞克斯公爵夫妇在经历了美国一段低迷时期后为了保持影响力而进行的不懈努力，以及今年夏天早些时候与查尔斯国王和卡米拉王后的一次初步成功的会面。王室急于强调，这是萨塞克斯公爵夫妇的私人决定，且他们此前放弃的王室成员工作职责不会改变。
但在某种程度上，查尔斯是在接受我知道一些亲密朋友所提供的敦促。在女王的葬礼上，哈里如此疏远，随后前安德鲁王子的失势，这对家庭以及这个动荡十年的遗产来说是非常糟糕的——现在是开始修补关系的时候了。
假设哈里和梅根在英国建立家庭并送孩子就学时是出于诚意——顶级的教育对于坚信教育力量的梅根来说是一个强大的驱动力——那么这次回归应该在愉快的氛围中开始，展示出代际之间的延续性。
但存在一个严重的分歧点——那就是王位继承人的个人处理方式，以及他作为下一代王室领导者的处境动态，与他父亲并不相同。
这并不是我们看到威尔士亲王与王妃以及国王与王后像一个“整体”那样行动的场合——就像他们此前达成一致，将安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎从温莎的皇家小屋驱逐，并将其从正式家庭中除名那样。
哈里的夏季茶会邀请
尽管萨塞克斯公爵夫妇返回海格罗夫（Highgrove），但威廉与哈里达成和解的可能性较低 HANNAH McKAYSAPP
这次邀请本质上是一次忠诚度测试，旨在确保对话保持私密，但没有任何迹象表明威廉参与其中——恰恰相反。他非常明确地与这根“橄榄枝”保持距离，兄弟两人之间的紧张关系依然如此剧烈，以至于即使在 2024 年最近的一次叔辈家庭葬礼上，两人都没有做出任何表现友好的举动。
长子继承制已经产生了如此巨大的紧张感，以至于哈里允许他的回忆录被命名为《备胎》（Spare）——也就是说，王室需要一个继承人和一个备胎，而成为第一个比成为第二个要好得多。威廉认为自己肩负着将君主制延续到下一代的沉重责任；而糟糕且有时甚至是公开挑衅的兄弟关系，使这一点更加凸显并引起公众关注。
只要萨塞克斯公爵夫妇远在数千英里之外，国内的关注点就集中在威廉和凯瑟琳身上（如今凯特倾向于被称作凯瑟琳，以强调她在继承顺序中作为下一任女王的地位）。乔治王子的公开露面日益频繁，以及他与年幼弟妹作为温莎王朝继承线的精心策划的形象，一直是一种信号，表明无论其他地方发生了怎样的动荡，他们代表着王室的未来。
理论上，这一点不会改变——威廉和凯瑟琳是“工作”王室成员，而回归的两人则不是。然而，哈里和梅根的任何公开露面都会引发一个问题，即这是否与威尔士亲王夫妇的露面相冲突——并且
威廉和凯特性格强势，对于如何经营自己的生活有着坚定的见解
明确地说，他们希望孩子们能参与到这次重新建立联系的过程中，并重点关注其英国王室的传承。
如果能密切关注时间顺序、冲突点以及目前用于确保查尔斯和威廉沟通一致的那种“时间表”，这件事或许可行。但如果另外两位“核心人物”（宫廷用语）彼此不和，或者对基本原则的看法截然不同，那么想要处理好这件事将极其困难。
我们可能会说，既然一个小奇迹已经发生了，那么威廉与哈里以及他们配偶之间是否也到了和解的时候？问题在于，两人反目成仇的复杂程度更深。在威廉看来，这对夫妇不仅背弃了英国和王室，而且还沉溺于反复讲述所谓的创伤。
阅读《备胎》（Spare）就会发现，哈里的分析是国王和王后分心且有时不公正。然而，与他在书中以及奈飞（Netflix）纪录片中对威尔士亲王和王妃的猛烈抨击相比，这根本不算什么。
哈里在书中详细描述的那场臭名昭著的兄弟在厨房中的争执，实际上是两个成年男子之间严重的肢体冲突，他们本应早已成熟到不再采取青少年的“拳脚相加”方式——而起因则是两人在维护各自配偶名誉时产生的紧张情绪。
随后，哈里发表了一番带有报复性的声明，称他对他那个被锁在王室“笼子”里的兄弟感到遗憾，这暗示了性格坚毅、尽职且极其自豪的威廉无法自行判断自己的处境。据威尔士亲王夫妇的朋友告诉我，这次嘲讽尤其令人愤怒。
而且不能忘记凯特与梅根之间紧张的关系，这种关系在萨塞克斯公爵夫妇的婚礼筹备期间爆发得如此剧烈。在梅根看来，这是她后来所厌恶的王室那种极度冷漠的迹象。而在威尔士亲王夫妇看来，这是未来麻烦的早期预警，以及梅根持有不一致的预期。
在陪同王妃经历艰苦的癌症治疗，并进一步强调家庭需要平静的私人生活以抵消角色带来的压力后，威廉更加关注她的健康状况。我认为这一点在他们结婚后变得更加强烈。
如今，任何观察威尔士亲王夫妇互动的人都能看到一对互相关心的伴侣——以至于威廉明确表示，他将不理会关于他在她癌症康复期间花更多时间在家中的批评。
尽管他们待人亲切，但威廉和凯特性格强势，对于如何经营自己的生活有着坚定的见解，这也是为什么他们的媒体公关和家庭运营与王室其他成员保持高度独立的原因之一。
君主及其配偶决定给悔改的哈里另一次机会，这并不意味着这是一个共同的观点，即便这种观点必须被接纳——但想象一下，在王室住所风大的球场上，所有孩子在旁欢呼，而他们打双打网球的前景看起来十分渺茫。
安妮·麦克埃尔沃伊（Anne McElvoy）是政治版执行编辑，也是《Sam and Anne’s》政治播客的共同主持人
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当年并非一切都好
玛丽莎·贝特（Marisa Bate）动情地写到了千禧一代面临的困难，包括几乎不可能实现的住房所有权和极不确定的就业市场，以及所有近期出现的问题，如新冠疫情。（第 10, 页，《千禧一代被灌输了一个巨大的谎言》，8月18日）
她的文章确实激起了同情，而我个人非常希望情况能尽快改善。然而，作为一个古板的婴儿潮一代，我想建议，正如她的文章所暗示的那样，通往就业保障和财富的道路并不总是那么容易。
仅举一例，我们在20世纪70年代接受律师培训的人必须经历两年的职场培训，即所谓的“实习期”（articles）。在那两年里，我们的工资非常低，且在结束时没有任何工作保证。
度假和外出就餐是遥远的梦想，而那些在金融城出类拔萃的人所承受的压力和紧张程度与现在一样大。当时并没有真正的雇佣权利。
因此，在不希望以任何方式削弱文章观点的前提下，我想说有些事情确实有所改善。——帕特里夏·派普·马利恩（PATRICIA PIPE MULLION），康沃尔
我们大多是听命行事
保罗·多兰（Paul Dolan）忽略了人类行为中的主要因素——人们会做正确的事（“下次人们将不会盲目遵守规则”，8月19日）
他预计如果再次发生大流行，人们将不再遵守限制措施，但只要有更好的指导，一些人仍然会做正确的事。针对大流行调查的主要教训是，没有尽早实施限制措施导致了数千人的死亡。——迈克尔·哈利（MICHAEL HARLEY），爱丁堡
分歧被用作分心之计
感谢亚斯敏·阿里拜-布朗（Yasmin Alibhai-Brown）就杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）教授之死发表的一篇非常恰当且清醒的文章（《我的观点》，8月19日）
我们需要问问自己，为什么针对社会中许多群体的愤怒和仇恨在增长，这些群体由各种特征定义，包括肤色、健康状况、神经多样性、此前居住地，甚至贫困；为什么许多媒体在煽风点火，而许多政治家则保持沉默或说话含糊。
所有这些极具破坏性的仇恨和分歧是否是一种分心之计？在有这么多工作需要完成——保护弱势群体、喂饱饥饿的孩子、增强应对气候变化的韧性——的时候，为什么这么多人将如此多的精力投入到负面和恶毒的事情上？——安妮史密斯（ANNESMITH），卡马森郡拉内利
助听器的副作用
我从1969, 年起就一直担任音乐评论员，两周前我开始佩戴助听器。
在听音乐方面从未出现过问题（谢天谢地），但在过去的一年里，对话和电视声音变得越来越模糊。
经过一位才华横溢的听力学专家的一次听力测试，并立即安装了这些低调且舒适的设备（全部由优秀的国民医疗服务体系 NHS 提供），清晰度得到了恢复。它也有副作用，
一位读者解释说，chorizo（西班牙香肠）的正确发音应该是“choreetho” GETTY
然而，由于我现在能听到周围到处都是——在电梯里和超市排队时——普通大众（Joe Public）所说的那些废话，这让我感到愤怒。
你无法面面俱到，但我的“蝙蝠耳”在听音乐方面依然敏锐如初。
请不要拿贝多芬开玩笑。——克里斯托弗·莫利（CHRISTOPHER MORLEY），西米德兰兹郡海尔索文
发音剖析
“Sh-co-da”似乎漏掉了一个几乎没有人——甚至包括学识渊博的斯蒂芬·弗雷（Stephen Fry）——能正确发音的词（见 8 月 19 日《你可以再说一遍，揭秘最常被误读的词汇》）。
似乎只有专业的病理学家能正确读出“dissect”这个词。也就是说，读作“dis-sect”，而不是为了与“bisect”押韵而读成“di-sect”。
电视上调查神秘谋杀案的犯罪病理学家总是读错。
琳达·福特，伯克希尔郡，伯菲尔德公地
我带着极大的兴趣阅读了关于误读的文章。
一个困扰我多年的词是西班牙语的“chorizo”（乔利佐 / 香肠）。与英语不同，西班牙语有严格的发音规则。
人们去伊比萨岛（Ibiza，读作‘eebetha’）度假，那么为什么他们不把 chorizo 读作‘choreetho’呢？
多年前，一个电视烹饪节目读错了这个词，随后在超市广告中也被读错。从那时起，大批英国人坚持把 chorizo 读成‘choreetho’，就像意大利披萨（pizza，读作‘peetsa’）那样。
规则是：在卡斯蒂利亚语中，c / z 发‘th’音，但在安达卢西亚、加那利群岛和南美洲则发‘s’音。
这么多英国人害怕其他语言并不奇怪，因为英语本身的拼写和发音就如此困难。
然而，学习一些法语、西班牙语和意大利语的基础规则会让生活变得轻松得多。
桑德拉·汉娜，北约克郡，海明布鲁
边缘明信片...
斯蒂芬妮·科德关于明信片乐趣的来信非常精准（见 8 月 19 日《您的观点》）。不过，这里有一个古怪的例子。
我的儿子和儿媳在 2026 年初在南极洲度假。他们在 2 月 12 日从洛克罗伊站给我们寄了一张明信片，据我了解，那是世界上最南端的邮局。
我们在英国的家中直到 7 月 16 日才收到这张明信片！
这张卡片一定经历了一段曲折的旅程，但具体是在哪里被耽搁的，我不得而知。
迈克·霍奇金斯
我非常认同明信片的乐趣，并且一直用自己的照片制作明信片，照片内容要么与收件人相关，要么与我们双方相关。
不过，这涉及到使用卡纸和胶水——因此必须使用信封，以确保对方收到的不是一张白卡！ 吉莉安·贝利，伦敦
请提供更多尖锐的分析
詹姆斯·奥布赖恩不仅对奈杰尔·法拉奇的改革英国党（Reform UK）进行了精彩的法医式剖析（见 8 月 19 日《我的观点》），他还极其出色地让凯米·巴德诺赫措手不及，用放大镜审视了她的诸多矛盾之处。
我们需要更多像这样深入的新闻报道。 克里斯托弗·莫利，西米德兰兹郡，海尔索文
哈里能分到一座备用宫殿吗？
所以我们心爱的“备胎”和他的妻子要回家了。希望查尔斯国王能给他们一座宫殿——如果他能拿得出的话。
伊丽莎白·坎顿，诺丁汉郡，基沃思
更多评论请见 theipaper.com
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玩法：在网格中将 1 – 9 各放置一次，并遵守方格对之间的求和结果
答案：第 51 页
周一，在《i报》中
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21
我理应获得每一分 PIP 津贴——而大多数人并非如此
福利
朱莉·伯切尔 (Julie Burchell)
当我思考在我的观点中，谁理应获得、谁不理应获得个人独立支付金（PIP）（在此公开：我领取的是增强版津贴，因为我使用轮椅，无法行走，且在没有他人推动的情况下无法离开公寓）时，我想到了我在广播节目《荒岛唱片》基础上创造的一个变体。我称之为“荒岛残障”。如果受苦的人被困在荒岛上，会发生什么？
我——或者一个患有癌症或许多其他疾病的人，如果在没有药物的情况下被冲上岸——会在几周内死亡。但对于许多因各种心理健康状况而申请 PIP 的人来说，这反而可能让他们脱胎换骨。由于没有时间坐在这里通过互联网搜索自己的症状，生存将成为首要任务。
所有那些此前投入在争取他们认为自己天生就应享有的权利上的挫败能量，现在将被用于捕鱼、搭建避难所以及吸引经过船只的注意。被救出后，他们还可以写一篇关于这次经历的励志记录。
政府数据显示，有超过 600,000 人因焦虑和抑郁申请 PIP，其中包括 60,000 名年轻人。领取 PIP 没有工作要求，每年的支付金额在 1,580 英镑 和 10,120 英镑 之间。在英格兰和威尔士，总共有 400 万人在领取这项福利。
精神障碍目前占所有 PIP 申请的 39%，是迄今为止最大的类别。想到其中有多少是伪造的，以及哪些可能会让像我这样真正残疾的人受到怀疑，甚至面临失去现有保障的危险，我就感到愤怒。我们都读到过那些撒谎的无赖，他们
凯瑟琳·维兰德 (Catherine Wieland) 在领取 PIP 期间被拍到在墨西哥玩滑索 (DWFP)
将福利视为一笔不错的零花钱——由那些为了生计而工作的傻瓜提供。
今年早些时候，来自戈灵-拜-西 (Goring-by-Sea) 的凯瑟琳·维兰德因诈骗 2.3 万英镑 的福利金被定罪，此前她声称自己因焦虑而无法出门——结果被拍到在一次看起来非常热闹的墨西哥之旅中玩滑索和冲浪。在现今这种急于对心理健康问题患者“保持友善”的风气下，身体残疾者和病患——即 PIP 最初设立的对象——正变得像被冷落的穷亲戚。
“祝你花 PIP 钱喝鸡尾酒愉快！”一位心怀怨恨的前友写信给我，这显然旨在为我们动荡的联盟画上一个毁灭性的句号。但我花在鸡尾酒上的不是我的 PIP——我
我们都读到过那些撒谎的无赖，将福利视为一笔零花钱
我将它花在身为残疾人昂贵的开支上。我把它花在成人尿布、夜用护垫、三种类型的湿纸巾、为了保持家居整洁的清洁服务、个人助理和物理治疗师身上。
我花在鸡尾酒上的钱是我自己赚的，在 67, 这个年纪，我每天日出时分强撑着身体起床，将我半截臀部安置在沙发上，打开笔记本电脑，用我的大脑来维持生计。
是的，有时我也渴望躺在床上，但我很高兴自己没有这么做。当我的生命走到尽头，我敢肯定我的最后一个念头不会是：“噢，我希望我能花更多时间在网上搜索可能让我无法自食其力的新症状！”我很乐意把这件事留给其他人，以及他们那些绝望且各异的“荒岛残障”。
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22
威廉斯对法拉奇利用基督教掩护的看法有误
政治 伊莎贝尔·哈德曼 (Isabel Hardman)
奈杰尔·法拉奇在与“宾脸伯爵”（Count Binface）的补选之战后，恰恰需要这样的关注：现在，一位前坎特伯雷大主教盯上了他。罗温·威廉斯（Rowan Williams）在任职期间的头饰与那位克拉克顿（Clacton）的星际候选人相比，其抢眼程度仅略逊一筹；他指责改革英国党（Reform UK）的领导人利用基督教来煽动反穆斯林情绪。
在接受《新人文主义者》（New Humanist）杂志采访时，威廉斯表示：“我实际上怀疑法拉奇和其他人想要引导反穆斯林情绪，而抛出‘我们是一个基督教社会’这种说法会有所帮助。这提供了一种支撑。”
他还针对极右翼活动人士汤米·罗宾逊（Tommy Robinson）发表了看法，后者近期宣称信仰基督教。威廉斯表示，他很想向罗宾逊“提出一些尴尬的问题”，关于“试图过一种基督教门徒的生活，如何能与旨在产生敌意和暴力的公开言论相协调”。
然而，法拉奇和罗宾逊并不是同一类人，甚至不是同一个问题。首先，法拉奇厌恶罗宾逊，并将自己的政治运动视为一个压力释放阀，旨在防止极右翼在英国占据主导地位，就像它们在其他国家所做的那样。
当然，并非所有人都认同这个论点：可以推测，威廉斯认为法拉奇是通往罗宾逊式政治的滑坡的一部分。他显然认为两者都在滥用基督教。
暂时撇开罗宾逊不谈，为什么法拉奇谈论基督教比其他任何有信仰的政治人物更值得受到批评？他在复活节期间表示，“我们的国家建立在基督教价值观之上，这是值得自豪的”——这句话几乎平淡到同样可以出现在基尔·斯塔默（Keir Starmer）的 X 账号上。他并没有过多地谈论基督教。
他确实主张，这个国家有“一些年轻人不认同英国的价值观，事实上厌恶我们所代表的大部分东西”，并对今年三月在特拉法加广场举行的开斋饭（Iftar）活动表示不满，当时数千人共同结束了斋月禁食。
但与罗宾逊不同，他根本没有试图用基督教来掩护自己：你更有可能发现他被笼罩在浓浓的烟雾之中。
威廉斯显然代表了英格兰教会高层的一种思维倾向，即主张支持移民并淡化其影响：这种论点通常伴随着这样一个观点，即耶稣本人在遭受严重迫害的时期也是一名移民。
圣经并没有关于政府应如何监管边境，或者健康的净移民水平应该是怎样的实际教导，就像它没有详细阐述何时发动战争、如何计算福利资格或学校标准一样。
它提供的是关于社会正义、保护并为受压迫者发声，以及在上帝面前人人平等的通用原则。
但可以说，任何政党的任何领导人在宣称基督教信仰的同时，都可能违反这些原则：事实上，圣经的核心教义就是每个基督教门徒每天都无法达到其标准——包括圣公会的高级成员在内。
至于教区信徒的标准，法拉奇本人此前曾主张，主教们的观点与许多坐在教堂长椅上的信徒脱节：这个国家并非所有去教堂的基督徒都相信开放边境或高水平的入境移民，或者相信不应阻止危险的小型或大型船只跨境。因此，这场争端值得继续关注。
然而，防止任何政治人物“重新发行”基督教的最强堡垒，并非威廉姆斯或他的任何资深同事。而是因为英国的文化基督教与美国截然不同。它拥有一个名为“稳住”（steady on）的压力阀，这是一种非常典型的圣公会信念，即任何对任何事情过于狂热的人都应受到某种程度的怀疑。
即便那些确实想在公开场合谈论信仰的政治人物，也倾向于温和地表达，而不是将其视为一个特殊的卖点。我们不是一个世俗国家，我们是一个基督教国家。但我们也是一个相当克制的国家。
除了政治立场，罗宾逊通过参加那些人们扛着十字架并高喊“基督为王”的游行，也将限制他自己的空间：那同样不太符合英国人的习惯。事实上，唯一能在这种行为中全身而退的人，通常被认为应该穿着全套大主教礼服并在大教堂中进行，就像威廉姆斯曾经做过的那样。否则，大多数人认为喧闹且具有攻击性的基督教信仰展示，比一个人头上顶着个垃圾桶走来走去更令人反感。
法拉奇显然明白这一点：奇怪的是威廉姆斯本人竟然没有注意到。
Lisa 在当地创造改变
储备 大品牌
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23
特朗普的美国
加里·布雷卡（Gary Brecka）是一位人类生物学家，也是一名专业的“长寿专家”，其客户包括梅尔·吉布森（Mel Gibson）和马克·沃尔伯格（Mark Wahlberg）等名人。他强调的一条核心信息高于一切：“测试，而非猜测。”
常驻迈阿密的布雷卡告诉《i报》：“最危险的健康策略就是因为你没有检查，而希望一切都好。”
这位 55 岁的专家还与前综合格斗选手、唐纳德·特朗普的朋友达纳·怀特（Dana White）合作。他是众多美国“生物黑客”之一，他们正在彻底改变人们对待健康的思考方式。他们的目标不仅仅是保持健康和良好的外貌，而是要将寿命延长数十年。
该领域中一些最具争议的人物——例如给自己注射儿子的血液的风险投资家布莱恩·约翰逊（Bryan Johnson）——声称他们正在积极地变得年轻，并将“征服死亡”设定为目标。其他人，如自称“生物黑客与人类优化之父”的戴夫·阿斯普雷（Dave Asprey，见右图），则谈到通过专业训练、营养补充剂以及监测身体的关键指标，将人类寿命延长至 180 岁。
早先的一代富裕美国人痴迷于人体冷冻学——将死者身体在极低温度下冷冻，相信一旦医学科学进步就可以将其复活——而现在，他们已被个人以及一个随之而起的产业所取代，后者推广这样一种观念：死亡是可以完全避免的。
48, 岁的约翰逊去年表示：“这是人类历史上第一次有人能一本正经地说：‘我们可能是第一代不会死亡的人。’”
“长寿产业”也是一门利润丰厚的生意。总部位于印度的市场研究公司 SNS Insider 今年早些时候的一份报告指出，长寿市场规模可能会从 2025 年的 2.7亿美元 (198亿英镑) 增长到 2035. 年的 670亿美元。难怪世界上最富有的人们也参与其中。
今年早些时候，埃隆·马斯克（Elon Musk）告诉播客主持人彼得·迪亚曼迪斯（Peter Diamandis），“半永生是一个极其容易解决的问题”。他补充道：“你被预设了死亡程序，所以如果你改变这个程序，你就会活得更久。”
2021, 年，杰夫·贝佐斯（Jeff Bezos）共同创立了 Altos Labs，这是一家生物技术公司，其使命是通过“细胞回春来恢复细胞健康和韧性，以逆转生命周期中可能出现的疾病、损伤和残疾”。
OpenAI 的首席执行官萨姆·奥特曼（Sam Altman）向 Retco Biosciences 投资了 1.8亿美元，这是一家旨在为“人类寿命增加 10 年健康年限”的生物技术公司。
除了训练计划和品牌产品外，目前还有 800 多家所谓的长寿中心
每天六小时，约翰逊让自己经历一套高强度的锻炼和治疗方案
痴迷于战胜死亡的美国亿万富翁们
巨额财富正被投入到生物黑客技术中。安德鲁·邦克姆（Andrew Buncombe）对此进行了深入探讨。
在美国，人们付费接受诸如浸入极冷水槽和红外光疗等治疗。
阿斯普雷（Asprey）被指控推广“伪科学”，他拥有一系列围绕长寿趋势的业务。他是 Bulletproof 的创始人——该公司以混合了黄油的咖啡而闻名——以及 Upgrade Labs 的创始人，在那里人们可以接受“冷冻疗法”（极速冷却）以使细胞恢复活力，以及全身红光和红外光疗程以“优化身心健康”。Upgrade Labs 的会员费每月在 $150 到 $800 之间。媒体报道称阿斯普雷的身价为 5000万美元。
这一趋势也不限于美国。在伦敦，Hooke 提供治疗和所谓的“身体调查”，该公司称这能为人们提供“更健康、更长久生活的基石”。会员费每年约为 2 万英镑 起，包括“前沿诊断，涵盖广泛的血液分析、基因组测序、认知测试、影像学检查以及前沿的癌症筛查”。
风险投资家约翰逊（Johnson）每天六小时，每周七天，让自己处于一套高强度的锻炼和治疗方案中。除了体育锻炼，他还服用含有 60 多种“超级分子”的补充剂，其中包括甘氨酸、镁和锂，并且既要蒸桑拿，也要在红光下进行疗程。
他在头发和脸上使用特殊的乳液，并且只食用由他自己开发并销售的纯素餐。他在中午停止进食，
并在晚上 8.30pm 前上床睡觉。他一直熟睡到凌晨 5am，并夸耀自己在床上时的勃起情况。他告诉我，他会敦促人们专注于获得充足的睡眠。
“把睡眠作为你生活的 number one 生活优先级，”约翰逊说。“这是任何人能做的最好的长寿疗法，因为睡眠决定了一个人的意志力以及他们是否愿意锻炼。它决定了情绪以及你对生活的感受。”
当被问及关于他夸大其词并从中获利的批评时，他说，在历史上总会有这样时刻，一个人会挑战公认的智慧。约翰逊将长寿科学的发展与肥胖症的情况进行了类比，在 GLP-1 疗法被发现之前，肥胖症似乎是一个无法解决的危机。
“死亡感觉是不可避免的，但一旦我们开始获得首批真正有效的抗衰老疗法，时代精神将迅速改变，”他补充道。“我只是走在了曲线的前端。”
当被问及为什么想永生时，他说关于来世的宗教信仰表明人们不想死亡。“我所做的是人类自古以来一直在做的事情，只不过是通过科学和技术的手段。”
在他网站的一篇帖子中，他说他进行了所谓的表观遗传测试，通过测量 DNA 来查看细胞是否老化。他每年在治疗上花费 200万美元，并声称他每年的衰老速度在 0.48 到 0.54 岁之间。他将这些数据发布在网上，并挑战他人在他所谓的“回春奥运会”中与他竞争。
不出所料，约翰逊及其同类人士的说法引发了争议。书籍《寿命：我们为何衰老——以及为何不必如此》（Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don't Have To）的作者、生物学家大卫·辛克莱（David A Sinclair）认为，人类可以像弓头鲸一样长寿，后者的寿命可达 200 年。
辛克莱声称“生物学中没有任何理论表明存在 [年龄] 限制”，并声称他的生物年龄比其实际的 57 岁小 10 岁。在一次采访中，他说：“我认为今天出生的人将活到 [150]，因为技术发展得实在太快了。”
美国生物化学家、赫尔辛基大学代谢调节教授查尔斯·布伦纳（Charles Brenner）表示，辛克莱的书是“关于长寿的具有影响力的误导性信息来源，其中包含关于长寿基因的违背事实的主张”。
辛克莱没有回应《i报》的查询。他此前曾驳回布伦纳等人的批评，在接受《华尔街日报》采访时表示：“在这样一个竞争激烈的职业领域中，我支持自己作为一名值得信赖的科学家的过往记录。”
布雷卡表示，考虑到他的许多客户日程繁忙，关键不在于增加他们的负担，而在于微调他们已经在做的事情。“睡眠并不是在你的头部触碰到枕头时才开始的。睡眠是你白天的生活方式的结果，因此我们从早晨就开始构建它，”他说。“关于我合作对象的真实答案是：那些获得成效的人并不是时间最多或金钱最多的人，而是那些将微小的习惯与他们每天已经在做的事情相结合的人。”
加里·布雷卡经常与超模兼商业女性艾尔·麦克弗森（Elle Macpherson）共同主持生物黑客活动。ROMAIN MAURICE / GETTY
Gtech 在混乱失控之前将其清理
AirRAM 2 Core
以实惠的价格实现精准清洁。
节省 £60
现价 £139.99
原价 £199.99
"我的核心实力强劲"
AirRAM 2 Core 将人们喜爱 AirRAM 2 的所有特点浓缩进这款轻便的无线吸尘器中，为日常生活做好准备。
凭借专利 AirLOC 技术、全宽 LED 前照灯、动态转向且无需更改设置，它能提供毫不费力的清洁体验，而无需不必要的复杂操作。
我们将其打造得在关键之处动力强劲且易于使用。因为当你理解问题所在时，最好的解决方案往往是最简单的那个。
包含免费快速清洁套装
- 最长 30 分钟运行时间。
- 专利 AirLOC 技术。
- 无需更改设置——只需开启即可使用。
- 3.2kg 轻量化设计，配备动态转向。
- 全宽 LED 前照灯。
- 可沿踢脚线和在角落进行边缘清洁。
- 低剖面手柄可触及家具下方。
- 简单一滑即可轻松清空集尘桶。
- 可拆卸 22V 电池，充电方便。
评级：优秀 4.8 / 5 ★★★★★
立即在 www.gtech.co.uk 订购或扫描二维码
结账时输入代码 SD72
节省 £60 包含价值 £20 的免费快速清洁套装 现价 £139.99 原价 £199.99
如果您在 9 月 30 日前订购。¹免费次日送达。
"AirRAM 的传承源于一款旨在帮助我年迈母亲的产品，她曾深受沉重的有线吸尘器之苦。它依然是我们的明星产品，而通过 AirRAM 2 Core，我们包含了所有让清洁变得更简单的要素，包括价格。"
Nick Grey 发明者兼创始人
Gtech
深受客户喜爱 超过 10 万条验证：5.5568 条评论
¹所有英国地址均可免费配送。所有仅订购备件和配件的其他订单将收取 £3.99 的配送费。次日送达仅限英国本土（包括高地地区）。请访问 Gtech.co.uk 查看完整条款与条件。
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2026 年 8 月 21 日，星期五
25
环境
欧洲山火危险区域可能增加两倍
作者：Stephen Beech
一项研究警告称，由于气候变化，受山火影响的区域在 75 年内可能会增加两倍。
研究结果显示，日益炎热、干燥和多风的条件可能会“大幅扩展”欧洲境内受山火影响的地区。
德国的研究人员计算得出，在低排放情景下，到本世纪末，每年被烧毁的土地面积将比目前的平均水平增加约 39%。
但根据发表在《全球变化生物学》（Global Change Biology）杂志上的这项研究，在高排放情景下，这一比例将约为 192%。
虽然减少排放对于减轻火灾影响至关重要，但结果还表明，在预防、早期检测和灭火方面的改进在帮助缩小受影响区域范围方面发挥着关键作用。
该研究由波茨坦气候影响研究中心（PIK）的科学家领导，并得到了森肯堡自然研究学会的贡献。
欧洲国家（如西班牙）一直在努力遏制山火
根据欧洲森林火灾信息系统的资料，截至 8 月 12 日，欧盟境内约有 550,000 公顷土地被烧毁，约为该年度同期的平均值的 2.5 倍。
研究第一作者、PIK 研究员 Maik Billing 博士表示：“随着炎热、干燥和多风条件的加剧，气候变化正在推动整个欧洲的火灾活动增加。”
“我们的结果表明，即使在约 1.8℃ 的相对低温升情况下，过火面积也可能广泛增加。”
“但如果我们排放更多，全球气温上升约 3.6℃，我们会看到火灾变得更加普遍，尤其是在地中海周边以及西欧和中欧的大部分地区，包括迄今为止没有发生过多次火灾的区域。”
研究共同作者、来自森肯堡自然研究学会的 Thomas Hickler 教授表示：“如果欧洲增加在山火管理方面的投资——培训消防队、配备适当设备、加强协调——我们的预测显示这可以产生显著影响。”
“但如果火灾变得极其严重，我们遏制火灾的能力可能会崩溃。”
霍尔尼科特庄园拥有绿意盎然的河流走廊 STEVE SAYERS / NATIONAL TRUST / PA
自然
河狸助力干旱景观实现“防旱”
作者：Emily Beaumont
国家信托基金会（NT）表示，一项旨在将河流恢复到自然状态并引入河狸以创建湿地的先驱计划表明，景观如何能增强对干旱的抵御能力。
该慈善机构位于萨默塞特郡的霍尔尼科特庄园（Holnicote Estate）的航拍照片显示，尽管今年夏天西南地区遭受干旱袭击，但部分河流走廊和恢复的湿地依然保持着绿色和繁茂。
国家信托基金会表示，当地农民从具有韧性的湿地放牧栖息地中获益，各种饲料、遮荫处和水源帮助牲畜应对天气。
此外，包括水 vole、鳟鱼和草蛇在内的野生动物正在繁衍生息，而青脚鹬、灰鹤和白鹳等新物种也已到来。
中国
太阳能电池板覆盖区域的鸟类多样性受影响
作者：Flora Symington
一项来自中国的研究表明，在大规模使用太阳能电池板的区域，鸟类多样性正在受到打击，这预示着更广泛的生态系统可能正在遭受损害。
涵盖 2014 年至 2023 年间 2,000 多个中国县级行政区的数据显示，与没有太阳能扩张区域 1% 的损失相比，太阳能扩张区域的鸟类生物多样性减少了 2%。昆明红嘴拟雀鸟类研究所的研究人员发现，受影响最严重的是那些在相关区域分布广泛的鸟类，以及非沙漠地区的鸟类。
中国政府将太阳能作为其未来能源体系的重要组成部分予以推广，数千平方米的土地被光伏电池覆盖。
研究摘要的作者 Walter Beckwith 表示：“大规模的太阳能开发可能会通过转换或碎片化栖息地并导致生物多样性丧失，从而产生一种新的环境权衡。”
根据 Beckwith 的摘要，鸟类多样性是其他环境影响的早期指标，因为鸟类“对植被、繁殖栖息地和食物可用性的变化反应敏感”。
隐喻填字游戏
第 4849 期，由 TEES 出题
横向
- 8 我的法语能量饮料金属容器？ (8)
- 9 被 Herb 避开的会议中心 (6)
- 10 他在更大程度上反对宗教改革 (4)
- 11 前内政大臣，在英国岛上疯狂谈论的一位 (9)
- 12 真正的好友介绍了白金汉宫等 (6)
- 14 独特的特征，岛屿之神写就的神圣作品 (8)
- 15 来自 Grobschnitt 最终的材料，陈旧之物 (7)
- 17 艺术家绘制的显示生存挣扎的草图 (3,4)
- 20 牺牲一个同伴跨越第二个湖泊 (8)
- 22 / 25 对斯蒂尔顿奶酪不够慷慨？ (12)
- 23 破坏丢失公主的外貌？ (9)
- 24 罢工破坏者的革命性支付方式 (4)
- 25 见横向 22
- 26 最终的比赛，例如，在弧光灯下开始 (8)
纵向
- 1 在名校中看到墙壁爆炸 (8)
- 2 伦敦乐队中的未知个体？ (4)
- 3 玛格丽特·霍尔罗伊德夫人，在人群中失去女儿 (6)
- 4 在皇冠与权杖酒吧供应的极佳啤酒？ (7)
- 5 带有时间的瞬时事物 FM 广播 (8)
- 6 饮酒并驾驶以容纳一名紧张的剧作家 (10)
- 7 运动后痴迷的人发现了蛋白质来源 (6)
- 13 锤持者在金容器中携带的文字 (10)
- 16 拒绝提供出口 (8)
- 18 旅行者遗弃的可能路线笔记 (8)
- 19 流亡者关注陈旧气氛，腾空围栏 (7)
- 21 巴尔莫勒尔的琐碎之事或许导致皮疹 (6)
- 22 有能力的保守派施压手段 (6)
- 24 据报道该地点是个眼中钉 (4)
昨日隐喻填字游戏答案
在解隐喻填字游戏时遇到困难？如需今日答案，请致电 0905 789 3580。通话费用每分钟 8p 起，另加您的网络接入费。如果您在拨打此号码时遇到问题，请致电我们的帮助台 0333 202 3390。
完整条款和条件见第 29 页
电视指南 8 月 21 日星期五
评论家之选
BEN WALSH
今日推荐
《第十一站》(Station Eleven) 10. 05pm, Sky Atlantic 频道
Patrick Somerville 这部极具智慧且出人意料地充满希望的末日剧集在结尾处，Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis 饰) 启动了一项计划，旨在彻底解放“巡回交响乐团”。该剧在 2022. 首次发行时获得了极高的赞誉但关注度较低，因此在 Sky 频道重新发行完全是值得的。故事设定在两条时间线之间——但在时间上肆意跳跃——主要聚焦于演员 Kirsten (Matilda Lawler 饰)，她在 8 岁时被作家 Jeevan (Himesh Patel 饰，左 8) 从致命流行病中救出，20 年后，她随一支莎士比亚表演团巡演，为地球上 1% 的幸存者提供娱乐。震撼的电视作品
[...OMITTED...]
Ann Droid
9.30pm, BBC One
以自我为中心的迈克尔陷入了抑郁——他的妻子怀了那个极其讨人厌的“教授”克里斯的孩子，他失去了工作，且失去了人生目标——于是琳达尝试在半夜播放《Cotton Eye Joe》来让他振作起来。这是这部令人愉快的机器人情景喜剧的最后一集，琳达为了缓解苏的悲伤而带她参加了过多的舞蹈课，而迈克尔则在准备告诉他的母亲，琳达必须回到商店。
电影选择
劳伦斯·费兰 (LAURENCE PHELAN)
今日电影
《美国队：世界警察》(Team America: World Police) 9.30pm, Sky Cinema Comedy (特雷·帕克，2004)
这部由《南方公园》制作团队打造的、以《雷鸟》风格呈现的男性傀儡讽刺剧，以一种欢快且冒犯的方式戏仿了那些夸张且沙文主义的好莱坞动作片。片中，这群下颌方正的英雄们与计划制造“911 times 100”规模袭击的中东恐怖分子，以及一群被身材矮小的傀儡操纵者金正日在无意中操纵的“有用白痴”自由派演员（马特·达蒙、苏珊·萨兰登、亚历克·鲍德温等人）展开战斗。这部电影毫无掩饰地幼稚、粗俗且不符合政治正确，但其手工制作的细节极其考究，剧本带有犀利的讽刺眼光且无所畏惧
《逃出鸡舍》(Chicken Run) 7.40pm, BBC Three (尼克·帕克，彼得·洛德，2000) 这部来自阿德曼工作室的动画片幽默且机智，向第二次世界大战时期的战俘电影（尤其是《大逃亡》和《Stalag 17》）致敬，讲述了一群母鸡努力逃离50年代约克郡一个农场的故事。
《27次伴娘》(27 Dresses) 10.40pm, BBC One (安妮·弗莱彻，2008) 一部非常讨喜的痴迷婚礼的浪漫喜剧，凯瑟琳·海格尔饰演一名无可救药的浪漫主义者，到目前为止她一直扮演伴娘而从未成为新娘——她衣橱里的27件丑陋礼服证明了这一点。詹姆斯·马斯登与其共同主演。
点播
《外滩》(The Outer Banks) Netflix 在这部扣人心弦的青少年故事的最终季中，波格帮开始了最后一次超级行动。
《灯笼》(Lanterns) HBO Max 亚伦·皮埃尔和凯尔·钱德勒饰演DC宇宙的星际警察。
《老鹰》(The Hawk) Netflix 威尔·法瑞尔在这部粗犷的体育喜剧中饰演一名妄想症高尔夫球手。
iDv3
6.00 George And Mildred (S) 8.35 George And Mildred (S) 7.95 Classic Emnerdale (S) 8.95 Classic Coronation Street (S) 8.40 Coronation Street (S) 9.10 Agathe Christie's Power (S) 10.35 Agathe Christie's Power (S) 11.30 Heartbeat (S) 12.35 Heartbeat (S) 1.25 Midcomer Murders (S) 3.35 Emnerdale (S) 4.45 Emnerdale (S) 4.40 Coronation Street (S) 5.15 Coronation Street (S) 5.20 Heartbeat (S)
6.55 Heartbeat 一名狙击手在 Adansfield 开火 (S)
6.30 The Simpsons (S)
7.00 The Simpsons 前任回忆 Magge 的出生 (S)
7.30 The A 走向 Springfield (S)
8.00 Doc Martin 马丁必须完成三门复习课程 (S)
9.00 Doc Martin Louisa 计划一个特别的夜晚来庆祝马丁的生日 (S)
10.00 Lewis 一名植物学家意外挖掘出一具尸体 (S)
10.00 Gegglebox 扶手椅评论员们进入 Rarvinium 状态 (S)
11.50 Trial & Retribution 一辆救护车被撞出公路，患者头部中弹 (S)
1.45 George And Mildred (S) 2.15 Unwind With ITV (S) 2.20 Fainfooping
6.00 Modern Family (S) 6.55 Rodelahl Tube Diaries (S) 7.00 Caupka Come Dine With Me (S) 8.00 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (S) 9.00 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (S) 10.00 America's Funniest Home Videos (S) 11.00 Below Deck: Mediterranean (S) 12.00 The (S) 12.20 The (S) 1.00 The (S) 1.30 The (S) 2.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S) 2.30 Brooklyn - (S) 3.00 Modern Family (S) 3.30 Modern Family (S) 4.00 Modern Family (S) 4.30 Modern Family (S) 5.00 The (S) 5.20 The (S)
6.00 The Mr Burns 就在监狱隔壁 (S)
6.30 The (S)
8.00 The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer 由 Dermal O'Leary 和 Gray James 主持 (S)
9.00 Celebrity Gegglebox For StipC 再次观看 StipC 特辑的机会 (S)
10.05 Is Hours In A&E 一名机械师被自己的车压在墙上 (S)
11.05 电影：《阿丽塔：战斗天使》(Alita Battle Angel) (罗伯特·罗德里格兹，2009) 科幻冒险片，由 Rose Salazar 主演 (S)
11.10 Is Hours In A&E 一名五岁儿童呼吸困难 (S)
1.10 电影：《355》中国场景 (The 355 Chinese Scenes) (S) 3.40 The Goldbergs (S) 4.05 The Goldbergs (S) 4.20 Brooklyn - (S) 4.35 Brooklyn - (S) 5.00 Brooklyn - (S)
8.55 Final It, Fix It, Flag It (S) 10.00 Four In A Bed (S) 10.25 Four In A Bed (S) 11.05 In A (S) 11.35 In A (S) 12.10 In A (S) 12.40 Come Dine Me 残奥会特辑 (S) 1.10 残奥会特辑 (S) 1.40 残奥会特辑 (S) 2.15 残奥会特辑 (S) 2.30 残奥会特辑 (S) 3.20 In A (S) 3.30 In A (S) 4.00 In A (S) 4.30 In A (S) 5.00 In A (S) 5.50 Car S.O.S (S)
6.50 Car S.O.S Tim Shaw 和 Fuzz Townshend 获得 James Nadozt 的帮助 (S)
7.55 Grand Designs 建造一座激进的自加热家庭住宅 (S)
7.30 The (R) (S)
8.00 A League Of Their Own 由 Wayne Rooney, Marge Jema 和 Alex Brooker 主持 (R) (S)
9.00 Cerpe Diem 一名女性要求 Tom 为她丈夫的谋杀指控进行辩护 (S)
9.00 Micby Flanagan – An' Another Fing Live 单口喜剧表演，录制于伦敦的 Oz Arena (R) (S)
10.45 Grimsburg Marvin 新获得的名声让他飘飘然 (S)
11.15 Grimsburg 一名连环杀手将目标锁定在 Jowin's 才艺表演赛的获胜者身上 (S)
11.45 Grimsburg (S)
12.15 Grimes (R) (S) 1.10 Eed (R) (S) 2.05 The Force Manchester (R) (S) 3.00 Hawaii Five in (R) (S) 4.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 5.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S)
6.00 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 6.30 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 7.00 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 7.30 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 8.00 Diergets SG-6 (R) (S) 9.00 Diergets SG-5 (R) (S) 10.00 The Simpsons (R) 10.30 The Simpsons (R) 11.00 The (R) 11.30 The (R) 12.00 Africa's Murders (R) (S) 1.00 Hawaii Five in (R) (S) 2.00 Hawaii Five in (R) (S) 3.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 4.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 5.00 The (R) (S) 5.30 Formula 1 (R)
6.30 The Homer: Marge and the kids have biblical dreams (R) (S)
7.00 The The family is stranded in Japan (R) (S)
7.30 The (R) (S)
11.45 Grimsburg (S)
6 5
广播
BBC Radio 1
6.5am Newsbeat 新闻节 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast 与 Greg James 10.00 Radio 2 Airtherm 与 Nat 和 Vicky 11.00 Radio 2x Group Club 与 Nat 和 Vicky 12.45pm Newsbeat 新闻节 1.00 Mylie 和 Rose 2.00 Radio 2 Dance Party Starters 舞曲派对热身 4.00 Radio 1 官方排行榜 与 Jack Saunders 5.45 Newsbeat 新闻节 6.00 Radio 2x Dance Party 与 Danny Howard 8.00 Radio 2x Future Dance 与 Sarah Dore 10.00 First Tong 12.00 Radio 2x Essential Mix 精选混音 2.00 Radio 3 Dance Presents 3.00 Danny Howard's Club Mix 俱乐部混音 4.00 Radio 3 Dance Party Starters 舞曲派对热身 5.00 Radio 3.1 Happy Airtherm
BBC Radio 1Xtra
6.30am Ultra Flights 7.00 Ultra Breakfast 与 Nadia Joe 10.00 Di Day Day 12.45pm Newsbeat 新闻节 1.00 Kayzie Goldring 4.00 Rami Burgi 5.45 Newsbeat 新闻节 6.00 Rami Burgi 7.00 Kash & Pharaoh 8.30 Kash & Pharaoh 9.00 Ultra Ray Show 与 Kenny Allstar 10.30 Kenny Allstar-Peek to Mix 11.00 Ultra's Friday Night Party 与 Izzy Bossy 12.30am Ultra's Friday Night Party 与 Izzy Bossy 1.00 Ultra's Rave Show 与 Jeremiah Asumah 2.30 Ultra's Rave Show 与 Jeremiah Asumah 3.00 Ultra's R&B Show 与 Charles 4.30 Ultra's R&B Show Jima Mix 与 Charles 5.00 Ultra's Salaries
BBC Radio 2
6.30am The Sara Cox Breakfast Show 早餐节目 9.30 Version Key 12.00am Jeremy Vine 2.00 Di Spoony 4.00 Jason MacNir 7.00 Michelle Visage 8.30 Michelle Visage's Handbag Hits 9.00 Sophie Ellis-Beator's Kitchen Disco 厨房迪斯科 11.00 The Rock Show 与 Shaun Kaseem 12.00am Romesh Kanganaffare Fire The Love Of Hip-Hop 嘻哈之爱 1.00 Tony Blackburne Sounds Of Soul 灵魂之声 2.00 Pick Of The Pops 精选流行曲 2.00 Pick Of The Pops 精选流行曲 4.00 Radio 2 音乐会：Kozi And The Gang 5.00 Thedis Of My Years
BBC Radio 3
6.30am Breakfast 早餐节目 9.30 Essential Classics 经典精选 12pm Classical Live 古典现场 4.00 本周作曲家：费利克斯·门德尔松 (Felix Mendelssohn) 5.00 In Tuna 7.00 BBC Presto 2026 母亲的 Oke Lied onnder Erde 10.00 Lulu Junction 11.30 Round Midnight 午夜时分 12.30am Through The Night 彻夜
BBC Radio 4
6am Today 今日 8.00 Chant Island Disco 岛屿迪斯科 10.00 Women's Hour 女性时间 11.00 The Food Programme 美食节目 12.15 本周之书《山中之火：Sizzy Etna 及其人民》 12.00am 新闻 10.00 Rare Earth 稀土 12.27 天气 6.00 The World At One 一个世界 5.45 Human Intelligence 人类智能 2.00 The Archers 2.15 戏剧：中央情报局 2.45 Living On The Edge 生存边缘 3.00 Gentlemen Question Time 绅士问答时间 3.30 Short Works 短篇作品 4.00 Last Word 最后的话 4.30 Sideways 5.00 PM 下午五点 5.37 天气 6.00 六点新闻 6.30 The People Have Spoken Ian Smith (Nola Hall 和 Ashley Storms 试图解决世界问题) 7.00 The Archers：Lizy 出现了令人惊讶的进展 7.15 Add To Playlist：庆祝逍遥音乐节 (The Proms) 8.00 Any Questions? 来自 Bakewell, Darrington 的 Medway 中心时事讨论 8.15 本周历史：威廉·华莱士 (William Wallace) 因叛国罪于 1305 年被处以绞刑、剖腹和分尸 9.00 Natalie Haynes 为经典正名：探讨早期传统生活与哲学家 Hypeba 9.30 Brooker The Cycle：Color 接手执导电影 10.00 The World Tonight 与 Beyer-Lizy 10.45 睡前书：《萨福克邮局》作者 Amman Bvar 10.00 American：分析美国最新的文化和社会故事 11.30 All Under One Magnifications：自然发生的电磁声景世界 12.00am 新闻与天气 12.30 本周之书：《山中之火：Sizzy Etna 及其人民》 12.45 航运预报 1.00 BBC 全球服务 1.30 新闻摘要 1.35 航运预报 1.45 今日祷告 1.45 Living On The Edge 生存边缘
BBC Radio 4, Extra
6am A Study In Sex 性研究 7.00 Flying The Day 7.30 Beyond Our Own 超越自我 8.00 The Confessional 忏悔室 8.30 Adrian Male：卡布奇诺岁月 8.45 Agnes Gerty 9.00 Olga Koch：离职作曲家 9.30 随笔：来自喜剧演员的兄弟 9.45 日常服务 10.00 Soul Music 灵魂音乐 10.30 Spinning Tales 编织故事 11.00 A Study In Sex 性研究 12.00am Flying The Flag 扬旗 12.30 Beyond Our Own 超越自我 1.00 The Confessional 忏悔室 1.30 Adrian Male：卡布奇诺岁月 1.45 Agnes Gerty 2.00 The Pleasure Of Curiosity 好奇之乐 2.30 Midport 2.45 There's a South Things 4.00 Soul Music 灵魂音乐 4.30 Spinning Tales 编织故事 5.00 A Study 研究
Sophie Ellis-Beator's Kitchen Disco 厨房迪斯科
晚上9点，BBC Radio 2
在 Michelle Visage 的 Handbag 节目之后，是 Sophie Ellis-Beator（见上文）
通过进一步增强营地氛围，带来两小时可舞动的迪斯科超级热门金曲
In Sin 6.00 Flying The Flag 6.30 Beyond Our Own 7.00 The Confessional 7.30 Adrian Male: The Cappuccino Years 7.45 Agnes Gerty 8.00 The Museum Of Curiosity 8.30 Midport 8.00 Frank Art-Such Things 10.00 Comedy Club: Olga Koch: Off Composer 10.30 Comedy Club: The Mark Street Lecture 11.00 Comedy Club: The House Seen Star Wars 11.30 Comedy Club: The Shores What You Know 12.00AM Soul Music 12.30 Spinning Tales 1.00 A Study In Sin 2.00 Flying The Flag 2.30 Beyond Our Own 3.00 The Confessional 3.30 Adrian Male: The Cappuccino Years 3.45 Agnes Gerty 4.00 The Museum Of Curiosity 4.30 Midport 4.30 There Are Such Things
BBC 5 Live
6am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Kylie Fishdane 11.00 Gordon Smart 12.00 Ella James And John Robins 2.00 Chant-Tanning 4.00 5 Live Onion 7.00 Premier League Club: Off With Darren Fletcher 10.00 Stephen Nolan 1.00 Joel Mitchell 5.00 5 Live Boxing
BBC 6 Music
6am Noli Grimshaw 10.00 Lauren Laurens 12.00 Craig Charles 4.00 Deb Grant 7.00 The People's Party With Femi Kretzick 9.00 I 's Wide Forever 12.00 G-'s Wide Forever 11.00 The G-Mix With Mary Anne Hicks 12.00 G-'s Rave Forever 1.00 G-'s Forever Dark 2.00 Fenza Beats 4.00 Ambient Focus
Classic FM
6.30am Classic FM Breakfast With Tom Chernick 9.00 The Classic FM Hall Of Fame Hour With Tom Chernick 10.00 Soul Jones 12.00 Anne-Marie Mitchell 4.00 Diergenitz Taylor 8.00 Classic FM At The Movies With Jonathan Ross，包含来自《星球大战》、《惊奇队长》、《詹姆斯·邦德》和《E.T.：外星恐怖分子》的音乐 8.00 Classical Spotlight With Alexander Armstrong Flankering Full Concierge of Deborah Kamby Suite 10.00 Scion Classics 2.00 Kylie Breathwork
Absolute Radio
6am Dave Barry 10.00 Claire Shurgess 12.00 Ben Burrell 4.00 Hometime With Bush & Richie 7.00 Absolute Box With Claire Shurgess 10.00 Sophie 1.45am Ben Coley
Mopart
6.30am It And Kelly Brook 10.00 Finders Christ's 12.00 Matt Wilkinson 4.00 Rob Howard 7.00 Huer's Club Hospital Artist: Sally Annis 11.00 Fuzzy Ghalijar 12.00 Seb Bailey
TalksPORT
6am TALSPORT Breakfast With Alan Brazil 10.00 Sam Robertson & Paul Crook 12.00 Howkides And Jacobs 4.00 TALSPORT Show 7.00 Kids Off 10.00 The Sports Bar Weekender 12.00 Extra Time With Ben Fletcher
32
新闻
Panorama
用 10 个故事环游世界
中国
恒大富豪因欺诈被判终身监禁
作者：Chan Ho-Him
路透社报道
一名中国法院昨日判处房地产大亨许家印终身监禁，其罪名与恒大地产集团的崩溃相关的金融犯罪有关，该集团曾是全球债务最沉重的开发商。
在 2020 年中国当局打击房地产行业过度借贷，导致恒大在负债超过 2.2 亿英镑m 的情况下崩溃后，这一裁决标志着恒大传奇事件的一个里程碑。
这引发了开发商之间的危机，并导致房地产市场下滑。
深圳法院判定许家印（插图，昨日）, 67, 及恒大公司通过虚增集团资产和隐瞒负债实施欺诈罪名成立。
法院还表示，许家印利用职务之便策划欺诈并挪用公司资产。
恒大集团被罚款 88.2亿 元 (9.6 亿英镑m)，恒大地产集团被罚款 70 亿加元 元。
法院声明称：“涉案金额异常巨大，情节特别恶劣，造成了极其沉重的经济损失。对社会的危害极其严重。因此，应依法予以严惩。”
许家人的儿子许腾鹤和许志坚，以及恒大高管和其他与该集团相关的人员，也因涉嫌非法吸收公众存款、集资诈骗和非法使用资金而被判刑。
共有 50 多人被判处 22 个月至 18 年不等的监禁。许家印在被拘留后，于 4 月承认了包括非法吸收公众存款、欺诈和贿赂在内的多项指控。
成立于 1996, 的中国恒大在 2021. 出现债务违约。在被命令清算资产之前，它是全球债务最沉重的房地产开发商。
在恒大的垮台引发中国房地产行业下滑后，房价自 2021 年以来已下跌约 20%。美联社（AP）
印度尼西亚
游客因不尊重“静默日”被判入狱
作者：Niniek Karmini
GENDER报道
巴厘岛度假胜地的一家法院判处一名瑞士游客一年监禁，理由是其侮辱了巴厘岛印度教的神圣祭典。
Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, 被裁定违反了印度尼西亚的新刑法，他在社交媒体上发布了关于“静默日”的信息；在静默日，人们被要求留在家里，并被敦促保持沉默并冥想。
登巴萨地方法院认定，即便在被其入住的别墅工作人员告知相关规定后，他仍在 Instagram 上吹嘘自己无视这些限制。
法官 Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima 表示：“被告的行为冒犯了巴厘岛人民，伤害了他们的信仰，并引发了公众愤怒。”
静默日（当地称为 Nyepi）通常在 3 月。在这一天，该岛世界闻名的海滩和街道上空无一人，只有旨在确保静默被遵守的特别巡逻队。
这些限制适用于所有人，无论其宗教信仰或国籍如何。美联社（AP）
澳大利亚
“蘑菇杀手”的判决“过于轻微”
作者：Rod McGuirk
发自墨尔本
一名检察官昨日告诉法院，三重复杀犯埃琳·帕特森（Erin Patterson）在用致命鹅膏菌毒害其分居丈夫的四名亲属后，绝不应被释放出狱。
布伦丹·基桑（Brendan Kissane）在针对其量刑过轻的上诉中告诉维多利亚州上诉法院，此前判定帕特森必须在终身监禁中服刑 33 年后才能申请假释的判决“明显不足”。
基桑表示，帕特森不应被考虑假释，但如果法官不赞同，那么他们应当设定一个超过 33 年的非假释期。
周三，帕特森开始就三项谋杀罪和一项谋杀未遂罪提起上诉。这些罪名与她 2023 年 7 月在位于里昂加萨（Leongatha）的乡村家中准备的一顿惠灵顿牛排午餐有关。
很少有澳大利亚囚犯在没有假释希望的情况下被判刑。法官将两项上诉的决定保留至待定的日期。
帕特森被关押在墨尔本戴姆·菲利斯·弗罗斯特中心（Dame Phyllis Frost Centre）女子监狱的高安全级别单元中，该单元用于安置被评估为面临其他囚犯高风险的囚犯。
去年 9 月对其量刑时，法官克里斯托弗·贝尔（Christopher Bale）表示，帕特森有“很大可能性”在“未来的几年里被单独监禁”。
帕特森分居的丈夫西蒙·帕特森（Simon Patterson）受邀参加了那顿致命午餐，但并未出席。
他的父母唐·帕特森（Don Patterson）和盖尔·帕特森（Gail Patterson），以及盖尔的妹妹海瑟·威尔金森（Heather Wilkinson）死亡。海瑟的丈夫伊恩·威尔金森（Ian Wilkinson）在医院住了数周，但幸存了下来。
帕特森在审判中称这次中毒是一场意外。AP
新闻 2-35
观点 15-22
电视 26-31
周五 17-23
周一 44-47
体育 55-56
2026年8月21日，星期五
33
刚果民主共和国
世卫组织捐赠埃博拉疫苗
世界卫生组织（WHO）及其合作伙伴表示，刚果民主共和国（DRC）将收到 70,000 剂 Ervebo 疫苗，该疫苗在以往的埃博拉疫情中证明有效。
官员们正努力遏制这场被描述为历史上爆发速度最快的埃博拉疫情。
Ervebo 疫苗获准用于对抗埃博拉病毒（引起埃博拉病的一种病毒），但并非用于对抗导致此次疫情的布迪布格约（Bundibugyo）病毒。
世卫组织表示，虽然尚不清楚 Ervebo 是否能防御布迪布格约病毒，“但早期的实验室和动物数据表明，它可能提供一定的保护”。
该机构表示，此次分配包括 20,000 剂用于第三期临床试验，以了解该疫苗对布迪布格约病毒的影响。其余 50,000 剂将用于一线人员和医务工作者。AP
明信片来自……
斯雷姆斯卡米特罗维察（Sremska Mitrovica）
一艘蒸汽拖船生锈的船壳——曾是一艘名为“斯洛文尼亚号”（Slovenian）的著名船只——本月在贝尔格莱德西北 45 英里的塞尔维亚小镇斯雷姆斯卡米特罗维察附近的萨瓦河中浮现。
“距离上次见到它已经过去好几年了，”该镇博物馆馆长、历史学家安德里亚·波波维奇（Andrija Popovic）说道。
在酷暑引发的干旱中，随着多瑙河、莱茵河及其他河流的水位下降，战舰、猛犸象骨骼以及古代建筑的残骸纷纷显现。
据波波维奇介绍，“斯洛文尼亚号”于 1913 年制造于匈牙利布达佩斯的一个造船厂。它长 54 米（177 英尺），配备蒸汽发动机，在布达佩斯与多瑙河沿岸城镇之间牵引货物。
第一次世界大战结束时，该船的所有权转移到了新成立的塞尔维亚、克罗地亚和斯洛文尼亚王国——该国后来成为了南斯拉夫。
在第二次世界大战期间，“斯洛文尼亚号”及其所属的新国家被纳粹占领。1944 年，南斯拉夫反法西斯力量解放贝尔格莱德后，他们利用这艘船运送伤员和设备。
波波维奇表示，这艘船在 1945 年 4 月运送受伤战士时触碰到了一枚德国水雷。“它沉没了，从那天起一直留在原地。” AP
马尔科·德罗布尼亚科维奇（Marko Drobnjakovic）和约万娜·盖茨（Jovana Gec）
朝鲜
特朗普向金正恩示好后，平壤发射导弹
作者：金贤进（Hyun-Jin Kim） 发自 仁川（IN REEKA）
朝鲜昨日向海域发射了约 10 枚短程弹道导弹。韩国军方表示，此前一天平壤对美国决定缩减与首尔的军事演习不屑一顾，而美国此举显然是为了重启外交。
联合参谋本部表示，发射活动发生在朝鲜首都地区，目标指向朝鲜东部海域。
军方表示，韩国已加强了监视态势，并正与美国和日本密切协调有关发射的信息。
韩国总统国家安全会议召开紧急会议讨论此次发射。会后，该委员会发表声明，敦促朝鲜停止被联合国安理会决议禁止的弹道导弹发射。
周三，韩美军队表示，他们将缩减为期 11 天的“统一自由之盾”（Uichi Freedom Shield）演习。
美国总统唐纳德·特朗普此前在周一演习开始前，命令五角大楼“大幅削减”演习规模，理由是他与朝鲜领导人金正恩关系良好，且韩国拒绝在伊朗战争问题上支持他。
金正恩极具影响力的妹妹金与正周三驳回了特朗普的示好。她克制了朝鲜典型的激烈措辞，表示其兄长与特朗普之间的个人关系“依然极佳”。
这表明朝鲜希望在重返谈判之前，等待特朗普做出更大的让步。
她否认了特朗普关于其兄长已回应其对话请求的说法。当被问及今年是否会会见金正恩时，特朗普说：“是的，我会的。”
他拒绝讨论是否在与朝鲜领导人交换书信。 AP
匈牙利生日快乐
昨日，在匈牙利国庆典礼期间，匈牙利空军的 Gripen JAS 39 战斗机飞越布达佩斯的议会大厦。此次活动标志着匈牙利首任国王斯蒂芬一世（Stephen I）建立匈牙利国家 1,025 周年。 ATTILA KISBENEDE OGETTY
秘鲁
利马发现古代祭祀遗骸
考古学家揭晓了一具成年人的骨骸，他们认为该遗骸是被作为祭品埋葬在秘鲁首都利马的古代土坯金字塔——普克利亚纳神庙（Huaca Pucllana）基座附近的。
据信，这些遗骸是一名男子的，他可能在一次关闭与仪式池相连的水渠的祭祀活动中被牺牲。
领导此次挖掘工作的考古学家格拉迪斯·帕兹（Gladys Paz）表示，这些骨骼将帮助研究人员更好地理解“利马文化的祭祀仪式”，并重建数百年前举行的典礼。
帕兹表示，尸体被埋在一条水渠内，身体左侧着地，头骨面向金字塔和太平洋方向。
一名在利马普克利亚纳神庙挖掘骨骸的考古学家
利马文化在公元1世纪至7世纪期间，在秘鲁干旱的中部海岸地带繁荣发展。
普克利亚纳神庙曾是利马文化最重要的祭祀和行政中心之一，而该文化在西班牙人于1535年建立利马市的几个世纪前就已消失。美联社（AP）
瑞士
登山者遗体在三十年后被发现
官员表示，两名三十多年前在瑞士阿尔卑斯山失踪的比利时登山者的遗体已被找到。
西南部瓦莱（Valais）地区的警方表示，该地区拥有一个记录过去一个世纪失踪人员的数据库，冰川的退缩导致数十年前失踪人员的遗骸显现。
地区政府表示，上个月底，一名骑行者在卢塞恩市以南的特里夫特（Trift）冰川融化后发现了人类遗骸，随后触发了回收行动。
瓦莱一家医院进行的DNA检测确定，这些遗骸属于两名比利时骑行者，失踪时分别为39岁和41岁，他们于1992年在魏斯米斯山（Weissmies）附近失踪。
随着瑞士冰川以越来越快的速度融化，此类发现变得更加频繁。三年前，DNA检测确认在瑞士冰川上发现的一具尸体是一名于1986年失踪的德国登山者。美联社（AP）
越南
死刑将被削减
作为国家刑法修订的一部分，越南政府提议取消六项罪行的死刑，包括贩毒和强奸未成年人。
公安部长量谈光（Luong Tam Quang）表示，法律草案将仅对四项罪行保留死刑，包括叛国罪、谋杀罪、恐怖主义和非法生产麻醉药品。
目前尚不清楚该国有多少人被判处死刑并等待执行。路透社（REUTERS）
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新闻
人际关系
我与在幼儿活动组认识的一位父亲发生了婚外情
一名住在南伦敦的四十多岁女性讲述了她的幼儿社区小组如何意外地成为了她与当地一位父亲之间浪漫关系的催化剂。
我清楚地记得第一次注意到戴夫（Dave*）时的情景。当时我们盘腿坐在社区大厅幼儿组的地上，抓着一把彩色降落伞上下抛掷。我们的孩子在其中跑进跑出。
我曾带着儿子们参加过很多这类活动组。我的大儿子马修（Matthew）在就读接待班（reception），小儿子劳里（Laurie）部分时间由育儿嫂照顾，但每周五我都会带他去“闪亮脚趾”（Twinkle Toes）活动组。在人群中，戴夫显得很突出，因为那里通常更多的是母亲。
戴夫和我开始聊天。他告诉我他在电视行业工作，但目前处于项目间隙，基本上处于失业状态，所以承担了所有的育儿工作。“你想让我帮你冲杯咖啡吗？”他问。大厅里有水壶、茶和饼干。我点点头，开玩笑说我每天靠六杯咖啡撑着。“是啊，如果切开我的静脉，流出来的都是咖啡因，”他回答道。
我们在南伦敦住了几年，我热爱这里的一点就是这里有大量的婴儿和幼儿小组。我讨厌一个人带孩子。在养两个男孩期间，我从公关工作岗位上休了一年产假。我的伴侣理查德（Richard*）无法请假，因为他是一名自由营销顾问。
当我回想我的产假时，我感到相当绝望和孤独。我经常被困在房子里，试图让劳里午睡（我对睡眠习惯近乎痴迷），而理查德则在他的花园家庭办公室里。他会给自己冲杯咖啡，沿着花园小径走过去，然后关上门。他偶尔会进来拿零食，然后再次消失。我知道他并不是一直都在工作，但那个办公室变成了他的“男人洞穴”。
理查德的另一件让我恼火的事是，他从不在深夜起床——即使在周末——帮我照顾孩子，而劳里的睡眠质量并不好。理查德说他压力很大——总是有截止日期，或者需要赢得竞标，或者客户取消工作。我被自己的工作和育儿搞得太累了，没有精力去挑战他。
我对戴夫似乎承担的这么多工作感到惊叹。所有的烹饪、清洁和育儿。我被工作和养育孩子搞得精疲力竭，但理查德甚至从未关心过我。我有时怀疑他在网上和别人聊天，或者在看色情片。如果他偶尔接手育儿，他会表现得好像我欠了他什么一样。这是一种令人沮丧的关系模式，但我朋友们和她们的伴侣之间也是如此。
在另一个幼儿小组中，戴夫和我并肩坐在木凳上，看着孩子们玩耍。他的女儿萨斯基亚（Saskia）和劳里同岁。我问他是否计划要更多孩子。他开始讲述一个长故事，讲述他的伴侣贝基（Becky）如何难以受孕，他们做了试管婴儿（IVF），大约做了四轮，但无法再次尝试。
“那太糟糕了，几乎让我们分手，”他说。我对他的坦诚感到惊讶。不过，父母们有时会这样，因为他们太累了，正常的心理防线会降低。我拿了戴夫的电话——坦白说，我觉得他不是我通常喜欢的类型，但他有一双深邃的蓝色眼睛，审视我的目光比我习惯的要强烈得多。
劳里和萨斯基亚似乎很合得来，所以我们约定下周五在当地公园见面。“我在那里见过你，”他说，“我们就住在几个街区之外。”我也没提到我之前注意到过他。事实上，我甚至给另一位母亲朋友发过短信，告诉她这里有个“性感爸爸”。在那之后，我在外出办事时经常偶遇
戴夫。我没有向理查德提起他，反正理查德也没问过我一天的经历。当我试图和他说话时，他会告诉我他有工作要完成，然后消失在办公室里。我的父亲也是如此，沉溺于工作，我感到很沮丧，因为我让自己陷入了同样的情境，重复着童年时期烙印在身上的模式。
戴夫的性格截然不同。他毫无保留地分享一切。能把脑海中的想法说出来感觉如此自由。他坦诚地讲述自己的童年创伤。他的父母关系不和。他有一个患有心理健康问题的兄弟。戴夫有时也曾在心理健康方面挣扎。
他说贝基是主要的经济支柱，同样深陷于工作中。他正试图启动一个项目，但一直没有
'我们在另一个更远的公园见面'
运气。有时我们在唱一些愚蠢的歌曲时会目光交汇，他会微笑。我觉得我们变得更亲近了。我开始期待婴儿小组的活动，我们还约定在周末进行几次游戏约会。最后，我们在另一个更远的公园见面。
然后有一天，我注意到他看起来很忧郁。我问他发生了什么。“我父亲去世了，”他向我倾诉道，“他患帕金森病很久了，但我现在感觉内心空虚。我开始抽电子烟了，而且必须把它藏起来，因为贝基很讨厌这个。”我把手放在他的背上，我不知道为什么，这感觉很自然，而就在那一刻，事情发生了变化。
现场一片混乱，充斥着噪音，孩子们在尖叫和哭泣。戴夫伸手回握住我的手。“这咖啡真难喝，”他说，我们笑了起来，因为这让那一刻显得没那么沉重。
我没有感到愧疚。我已经忘记了被人触碰是什么感觉。理查德和我已经 12 个月或更长时间没有发生性关系了。在那之后，我发现自己经常在想戴夫。他给了我一本诗集。“我需要你读第 19 页的那首，”他说道。那并不是一首露骨的浪漫诗，但我读了 100 遍。
社交媒体开始向我推送一些奇怪的内容，全部关于“当你痴迷于某人并想停止思考对方时该怎么办”。就像我的手机能读懂我的想法一样。我从未见过戴夫的伴侣贝基，
而且一旦我们牵了手，我们就再也没有谈论过各自的伴侣。
“我想单独见你，”有一天，当我们坐在公园的野餐垫上，孩子们在玩耍时，戴夫说道，“你觉得怎么样？”我不觉得这不对——我欢迎他想将关系提升到下一个阶段。理查德是个工作狂。很明显，戴夫有婚姻问题，而他的妻子痴迷于工作。这就是为什么我们被彼此吸引。他正成为我最好的朋友。
我们告诉伴侣，我们要和当地的一个家长小组出去喝酒。这并不奇怪，因为我有时会和一群妈妈出去。我们在布伦特福德预订了一家廉价酒店。戴夫用信用卡支付了费用，因为理查德和我有一个共同账户。
我们点了一瓶葡萄酒，然后直接回房。我们发生了关系。我对自己的身体感到局促不安。“你的曲线如此美丽，”戴夫事后说道。他在房间里抽电子烟，告诉我他觉得在我的面前，他能 100% 地做回自己。“我能感觉到自己陷入了爱河。”
那天晚上，理查德给我发了一连串短信，抱怨孩子们很烦躁，没吃晚餐，而且哄他们睡觉简直麻烦透顶。我直接忽略了他——这就是他躲在棚子里时的我的日常生活。
在那之后，戴夫和我一直互发信息。我必须在结束时删除这些信息
新闻 2-35
观点 11-22
电视 26-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
体育 50-56
2026年8月21日，星期五
35
我早已忘记被他人触碰的感觉。理查德和我已经12个月没有发生过性关系了
每天如此。我就像个傻傻的青少年。理查德甚至不看我的手机。戴夫和我聊到了我们两人感到多么孤独。“情况已经恶化很久了，”他说，“她怨恨我，因为我们不得不依赖她的收入。”
现在，当戴夫和我约好带孩子一起玩时，我们发现很难不牵手。当地的一位店主告诉我他“刚刚看到你丈夫”，我知道他描述的是戴夫，因为他见过我们一起在社区附近出现。我们现在见面更加频繁。编造各种理由带着孩子去公园。盖子被揭开了。
孩子们似乎没有注意到，但我很担心，因为孩子比你想象的要聪明。我知道我的大儿子可能会察觉，但幸运的是，他大部分时间都在托儿所，只见过戴夫几次。
而且，我并没有感到愧疚。我觉得这是我应得的。
戴夫和我再次在同一家酒店见面。性爱非常美妙。我意识到我有多么想念那种感觉。
我甚至买了一些新内衣，准备下次见面时穿。
我们发送的短信比我与理查德分享过的任何内容都要亲密。我是一个43岁的女人，但我觉得自己像16岁一样。听着电台里的情歌，想着他。我觉得他的能量非常有吸引力。我感到快乐，几乎处于一种亢奋状态。——因为有了这段新恋情，我甚至不再介意照顾孩子。
“第一次见到你时，我就知道会发生什么，”戴夫最近说，“谁能想到我们会在一个臭烘烘的旧社区大厅相遇？”他说。确实，那不是最能激发情欲的地方（空气中经常弥漫着脏尿布的臭味）。
我们不谈论未来。我对自己的 compartmentalise（分区处理）能力以及将自己的行为正当化的能力感到震惊。有时我在深夜醒来，思考如果我们的伴侣发现了会发生什么。
但我认为我不再爱理查德了，也许我渴望被发现？我不知道那会是什么样子，所以我尽量只活在当下。我不确定孩子们会有什么感觉——我知道他们很少看到我们快乐的样子，所以这对他们来说并不是一个健康的成长环境。
有时我担心戴夫会终止这段关系，但他发来的短信充满了爱意。“你工作这么努力，没人看到，但我看到了。我全部都看到了。”这是那种女性朋友会对我说的情话，这让我意识到戴夫是多么不同。就好像他准确地知道我需要听到什么。
*所有姓名均已更改
生活方式
我已经10年没睡过好觉了——这就是我的应对之策
演奏键盘的喜剧演员休·戴维斯（Huge Davies）揭秘与失眠共处的日常挣扎。作者：索菲·威尔金森（Sophie Wilkinson）
如果你不熟悉喜剧演员休·戴维斯在伴随键盘的单口喜剧表演，或者他在各种喜剧访谈节目中的表现，他担心你可能是通过他去年的那次“崩溃”认出他的。
他当时参加了《10只猫玩拼字》（10 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown），结果无法说话。“那次真的很糟糕。参加访谈节目时我会非常紧张，”他用一种单调的慢腔告诉我。“但通常，我会尝试通过让自己处于极度清醒的状态来缓解紧张，所以我会喝三杯咖啡并摄入大量糖分。”
“我还吃了Wagamama的餐点。而且（现场）太热了。我想我当时完全不在状态。吉米·卡尔（Jimmy Carr）问我问题，而我根本不知道发生了什么。他们不得不暂停节目，检查我是否还好。”
他说，他没有被再次邀请参加，并补充道：“在乔纳森·罗斯（Jonathan Rose）[喜剧俱乐部]也发生过同样的事。他们不得不拿出剧本来提醒我该说什么。”
35, 岁的休曾为王飞（Phil Wang）和乔·莱塞特（Joe Lycett）担任开场嘉宾，共同主持播客《粘液之国》（Slime Country），并出演了大量电视喜剧节目。他以黑色幽默和荒诞的观察而闻名，这些内容与他背在肩上的雅马哈键盘弹出的欢快曲调形成了惊人的对比。
唯一的问题是！他已经十多年没睡过好觉了。“我从未感到神清气爽；我觉得每天早晨都像是在崩溃。”休在大学二年级时，“在某个时间点，我意识到我已经好几周没睡觉了。”
“部分原因是环境使然；每个人都熬夜写论文或出去派对。我当时也是个派对爱好者，所以并没有真正感受到[不睡觉]的影响。但当这种情况持续了五个月时，我觉得，‘噢，我快要死了’。”
情况一度糟糕到他在几个月的时间里将自己的卧室分租出去。“一个朋友因为某些事情来到市区，我就让他们住下——反正我也没在用我的房间。”
如今，他会让自己上床，但不是为了睡觉。“我的身体需要静止，我需要闭上眼睛一段时间，”他说。“我每晚都听同一本有声书——《霍比特人》——这能让我的大脑休息。它能帮我逐渐脱离现实；我会进入一种类似出神的状态。”
第二天早晨，他的闹钟在 8.30am 响起，而当他的女友“在熟睡时，我已经去过莫多（Mordor）并见过了史矛格（Smaug）”。虽然许多缺乏睡眠的成年人会依赖大剂量咖啡因，但休仅用“一罐冰咖啡”凑合。“我会变得相当颤抖，我无法承受咖啡因。如果我要录制电视节目，我会喝很多咖啡
我的症状听起来像 ADHD，但其实我只是累了。当别人说话时，我会走神
“但那样我就永远学不到东西，”他补充道。
他说，如果没有这个常规习惯，“我感觉糟透了……如果我熬夜工作，第二天我就彻底垮了，从下午 2 点起什么都做不了。”
有时 Huge 能睡五个小时，但上一次发生这种情况已经是“三四年前”的事了。他近乎持续的昏沉感带来了巨大的影响。“我的症状听起来像 ADHD，但其实我只是累了，”他说。“当别人说话时，我会走神。
“我总在想，如果我不累会是什么样子，比如如果我在一个状态良好的日子开始一天，我能完成多少工作？我看到喜剧界很多人在努力工作，而有时我就是做不到。”
当然，他依然有想法，他的笔记应用里塞满了这些点子。“但有时我会想到一个有趣的创意，然后在一秒钟之内就把它忘了。这不像我的注意力被转移到了其他地方；我能身体力行地感觉到我的大脑在起雾。那时我会非常恼火；就像是我不被允许拥有自己的想法，就像因为产生了一个好想法而受到惩罚一样！”
结交新朋友也变得困难，因为陌生人无法理解他为什么如此分心。“我的朋友们知道我总是很累，在我和他们在一起时会考虑到这一点。如果我反应迟钝或有点不在状态，他们不会问我那些需要思考的问题。”
他们也不会像来看他爱丁堡新剧《睡眠瘫痪公主》（Sleep Paralysis Princess）的观众那样，急切地提供解决方案，建议他尝试“褪黑素或运动，就好像我没在谷歌上搜过一样”。他还尝试过镁剂，但没有效果，而且他觉得“吃金属感觉很奇怪”。
至于强效安眠药？“我在一次播客录制的前一晚吃了一颗——甚至不是强效的。我确实睡着了，但第二天感觉如此昏沉，以至于我实际上不记得录制过程了。”
他还尝试过心理治疗，每周花费约 £90。“她会使用道具，并且对睡眠问题非常感兴趣。但几年后，失眠问题依然没有消失，什么都没有改变，所以我停止付费了。”
接着，他尝试了针灸，每周 £80，但只坚持了一年。“那是浪费时间，”他说。“电影里总在演没人注意到针扎进去的样子，但实际上真的很疼，你的身体会变得很烫。”
总而言之，Huge 说他已经“花费了数万英镑试图解决这个问题”。
Huge 对医生的恐惧意味着去看全科医生（GP）不是一个选项。“在我青少年时期，我曾担心自己患有某种会致死的疾病。结果证明我没问题，不会死，但我因此充满了恐惧。”
死亡经常在他脑海中盘旋。“如果你花足够的时间独处，你可能会最终想到死亡。我觉得死亡相当可怕，但我认为喜剧好的一点是，只要互联网永存，就总会有一个版本的你永远存在。这在死亡问题上帮到了我，因为我不想消失。”
还是有一线希望的；他发现，如果环境不对，他其实能打个盹。“我以前有时在演出回程的高速公路上会睡几个小时。”
问题在于，“只要给我一张床，我就睡不着，但我却会在不该睡的时候直接昏过去。我敢肯定我在参加《倒计时》（Countdown）节目时睡着了”。
《睡眠瘫痪公主》在爱丁堡 Monkey Barrel Comedy 演出至 30 August
Huge Davies 尝试过安眠药、镁剂、心理治疗和针灸，花费数万英镑试图解决这个问题 OYLAN WOODLEY
THE i PAPER
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21.08.2026
星期五
电影
音乐
电视
书籍
朋克 50 周年：内部故事
自 1976, 年起被神话，朋克的文化影响力至今仍有共鸣。该运动的关键人物向 Shaun Curran 讲述了关于乳胶、愤怒以及与嬉皮士共同蜗居的故事。
未来的 Adam and the Ants 乐队吉他手 Marco Pirroni 发现，他在 1976 年看到 Sex Pistols 乐队演出后，生活发生了改变。“我从未见过具有那种态度的东西。我从未见过一个侮辱观众、双手插兜像无聊了一样唱歌的歌手。这都是你听到的那些陈词滥调——在一次演出之后，你走出场馆时已变成了一个截然不同的人。”
五十年前，英国的朋克场景正在爆发。Sex Pistols 乐队在领头冲锋，在伦敦各地以及著名的曼彻斯特自由贸易大厅（Free Trade Hall）举行具有煽动性且混乱的演出，当时 Morrissey、Mick Hucknall 以及未来的 Joy Division 成员都在场。具有影响力的朋克同人志《Sniffin' Glee》刚刚出版了第一期；The Clash 和 The Damned 进行了首次现场演出，后者在当年 10 月发行了第一张朋克单曲《New Rose》。在那之前一个月，首届朋克节在伦敦牛津街的 100 Club 举行：Pirroni 与 Siouxsie and the Banshees 在其首场演出中共同表演，Sid Vicious 担任鼓手。
到 12 月，传奇且短命的 The Roxy 俱乐部开业，为该场景提供了类似于利物浦 The Cavern 的场所，此时朋克已经臭名昭著：
Sex Pistols 在由 Bill Grundy 主持的 Thames Television 现场早间新闻节目《Today》中出现，其粗口之多令人闻之丧胆；小报将朋克描绘成顶着刺头、穿着别满安全针的堕落恶魔，令全国震惊。
五十年过去了，朋克的影响力继续被颂扬、讨论和神话。或许“神话”这个词最恰当。Andrew Czezowski
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星期五
音乐
它影响了整个国家。人们看起来截然不同
曾管理过 The Damned 乐队和比利·艾多尔（Billy Idol）的 Generation X 乐队，并与合伙人苏珊·卡灵顿（Susan Carrington）共同开设了 Roxy 俱乐部。“人们对[朋克]的认知，大部分来自维基百科，”Czezowski 说道。然而，现实情况往往大相径庭。
那么究竟发生了什么？伦敦的朋克场景确实可以追溯到切尔西的国王路（King's Road），以及由马尔科姆·麦克拉伦（Malcolm McClaren）和薇薇安·威斯特伍德（Vivienne Westwood）经营的精品店（见下方插图）。这家名为 Let It Rock 的店后来更名为 SEX，成为了一个小众边缘群体聚集的中心，他们被这里的 S&M 时尚、反主流文化态度以及自动点唱机里那些进口的、冷门的美国摇滚单曲所吸引。
“那里与外部世界截然相反，”从青少年时期起就是该店常客的 Pirroni 说道。麦克拉伦管理着 Sex Pistols 乐队，他想要打造一个属于自己的纽约娃娃（New York Dolls）版本，在一次纽约之行后，他被后者那种狂野的底层魅力所迷住。
“他痴迷于摇滚乐，但并不真正喜欢它，”Pirroni 说。“他兴奋于那种态度。他绝对热爱混乱的状态。”
威斯特伍德的服装将恋物癖和束缚装的乳胶、皮带和拉链转化为时尚，她俏皮地将其称为“办公室橡胶装”——这对早期的朋克青年具有巨大的吸引力。“我们热爱鲍伊（Bowie）和 Roxy Music，所以被那种极端的装扮所吸引，”Pirroni 回忆道。“Sid Vicious 那种刺头、皮夹克的风格还没开始。那时每个人都非常有个性。”
青年运动 全女子乐队 The Raincoats 由伦敦艺术系学生 Ana da Silva 和 Gina Birch 于 1977 年创立。ANETTE BECKMAN
Czezowski 曾担任 SEX 店以及竞争对手——国王路朋克时尚店 Acme Attractions 的业务经理。“比时尚更重要的是时尚背后的态度，”Czezowski 说。“因为它给了你一种你可以改造自己的想法。”
一个既定的说法是，朋克的出现是经济因素的结果：高青年失业率和社会疏离感导致了被剥夺权利的年轻人的愤怒起义。
“坦白说，我认为那很多都是报纸编造的废话，”Czezowski 说道，而 Pirroni 则说：“确实有少数人有工作。”
事实上，这种说法否定了一个事实，即 The Clash 以及 Siouxie and the Banshees 等几个乐队都来自舒适的中产阶级，而且许多早期的理念和美学更多地源自艺术学院而非街头。
但即使是那些失业的人也有安全网，让他们能够追求创意。“当时你有自由住在非法占屋（squats）里，领取失业救济金或申请学生助学金，”后来组建艺术朋克乐队 The Raincoats 的 Gina Birch 说道。
Birch 在 1976 年夏天从诺丁汉搬到伦敦学习（在一次偶然的机会下，她在 1975 年 11 月的一次伦敦之行中，在圣马丁艺术学院看到了 Sex Pistols 的首场演出），并与其他的朋克圈人士以及——与传说相反——嬉皮士社区的成员一起住在西本伯恩格罗夫（Westbourne Grove）附近的一处非法占屋中。
“存在一种嬉皮士与朋克的交叉，”她说。“两者都在做 DIY（自己动手）的事情。他们彼此非常怀疑，但有时又能互补。”
DIY 态度是朋克的核心精神，很大程度上受到了
Pistols 乐队的启发。“这是第一次，你可以直接上手去做，”在加入 Adam Ant 之前组建过短命朋克团体 The Models 和 Rema-Rema 的 Pirroni 说道。“我只需要一把吉他和三个哥们。”
对于 Birch 来说，看到 The Slits——这支由独一无二的 14 岁少女 Art Up 领导的先驱全女性朋克乐队——成为了催化剂。“在 70 年代，女性和女孩无法如此自由地进入世界的许多领域，”她说。“The Slits 所做的事情太惊人了，因为她们用自己的方式讲述自己的故事。这正是我感兴趣的地方。”
另一种说法认为，朋克是对过去音乐的敌视，并且刻意
旨在抹除前一代人。对于臃肿的前卫摇滚运动（这在某种程度上无论如何都已经处于衰落之中）来说，这或许是事实，但并不完全准确。“我们都热爱鲍伊、Roxy和Iggy，”皮罗尼说道，“很多人也听迪斯科和放克。”
伯奇表示，帕蒂·史密斯是另一个基准。“皮斯托尔斯和 Clash 的歌曲并非一场革命——
更重要的是时尚背后的态度……你可以让自己去适应
电视
《安·卓伊德》是年度喜剧
尼克·杜尔登（Nick Duerden）认为，这部温情热门剧集只要有一季就足以保持其完美。
戴安·摩根（Diane Morgan）最新的情景喜剧《安·卓伊德》（Ann Droid）凭借其温情的幽默和对老年生活的轻快视角，成为了 BBC 的大热门。超过 400 万人观看了第一集，而我则贪婪地一口气看完了剩下的所有剧集。尽管我非常喜爱摩根饰演的机器人琳达（Linda），但我仍迫切希望这位演员兼编剧能给《安·卓伊德》画上句号——并非为了让它解脱，而是为了保持它的完美。
任何经常看电视的人都能证明，情景喜剧是最难拍好的类型。其中很多作品要么笨拙，要么内容过于单薄。有些甚至敢于犯下喜剧领域最严重的罪行：一点也不好笑（比如里基·热尔维斯（Ricky Gervais）的《巷弄剪辑》（Alley Cuts））。但《安·卓伊德》证明了自己是这条浑浊尼罗河中的一颗明珠。
该剧设定在不久的将来，老年人中持续存在的孤独感和社会隔离流行病正越来越多地由机器人来处理。对于疲于奔命的“三明治一代”来说，将年老体衰的父母交给人形 AI，难道不是最好的选择吗？这样他们就能腾出精力来应对自己步入中年后的混乱生活。
苏（Sue，苏·约翰斯顿 Sue Johnston 饰）丧偶两年，最近在昏倒时受伤了（她坚持说这不是“摔倒”）。她那不幸的儿子迈克尔（Michael，保罗·雷迪 Paul Ready 饰）正忙于失业和质疑自己的精子数量，没时间给她所需的关注，于是他给她买了一个过时的二手安卓机器人。
当琳达（摩根 饰）经过一夜充电并获得强有力的 Wi-Fi 连接后，她能熟练地在家里帮助苏，为她做饭，陪她玩棋盘游戏，甚至开车送她去商店。
苏起初很犹豫，但很快就与她的新“朋友”找到了共同语言。随着剧集的推进，一种极具温情的联系逐渐建立。《安·卓伊德》地步步精准，其六集内容如此精美地
音乐的新形式。这在很大程度上是一种态度。”但这种态度的背后是什么？皮罗尼（Pirroni）说：“我们只是反体制。我们甚至没有意识到这一点。没有计划。这是一场音乐和社会革命，而不是一场政治革命。”
确实没有宣言。切佐沃斯基（Czezowski）说：“街上的孩子们对政治毫无兴趣。而 The Damned 乐队和其他人想要的只是常规的东西：饮料、药物、女孩、性、乐趣、唱片公司，以及口袋里能有钱。”
尽管如此，社会评论无疑贯穿了朋克文化：The Clash 乐队于 1977 年 3 月发行的首支单曲《白色暴动》（White Riot），讲述的是当年夏天诺丁山狂欢节骚乱期间的种族紧张局势和警察暴力。对于 Sex Pistols 乐队来说，对权威的蔑视是通过雄辩的愤怒来表达的。
在谈到约翰·莱登（John Lydon，当时的 Rotten）时，切佐沃斯基说：“约翰就是约翰。他很棒。但他不会为了合群而随大流。”
但朋克们并没有像著名的《上帝保佑女王》（God Save The Queen）那样宣称“没有未来”，而是看到了一个改善自身境遇的代际机会。比尔奇（Birch）说：“人们乐观地认为情况会好转。是的，当时存在种族主义、性别歧视以及核战争的可能性。但你觉得某种程度上，我们可以带来改变。”
温情之珠 在六集剧集中，苏（苏·约翰斯顿 饰）与机器人琳达（戴安·摩根 饰）建立了一段不可思议的友谊 GARY MOHE'S/ BOFFOLA PICTURES / BBC
且分量十足，判断精准。约翰斯顿光彩照人，而雷迪（正如他在《母国》（Motherland）中出色证明的那样）则拥有一张天生适合中年危机的苦瓜脸。
然后是摩根。她在饰演菲洛米娜·坎克（Philomena Cunk）时始终表现卓越，但在之前的情景喜剧《Mundy》中，我觉得她几乎没法看。然而在这里，她通过饰演一个面无表情且毫无情感的机器人，献上了一场低调的演技大师课；尽管机器人目光呆滞，但仍能从中唤起一种足以改变生活的共情暗示。英国电影学院奖（Bafta）请留意。
这部剧在收视率上也取得了成功，成为近年来 BBC 最成功的喜剧首播作品之一，规模超过了《Small Prophets》以及今年的《Amundaland》系列。第二季几乎是必然的，因为电视高层希望委任那些可能的爆款，而不是在新鲜事物上冒险。
皮罗尼（Pirroni）补充道：“我确实在想，‘我们正在改变这里’。它影响了整个国家。人们看起来变得不同了。”
拉斯·贝斯特利（Russ Bestley）当时是肯特郡汤布里奇韦尔斯（Tunbridge Wells）的一名 15 岁少年，在远处痴迷地观察着朋克的展开。和英国许多人一样，他首先了解到的是争议。“那些言论很有说服力。能让父母感到非常恼火的事情，对叛逆的孩子来说非常有吸引力。一旦我听到了音乐，一切就变得合理多了。”
贝斯特利现在是一名学者，也是期刊《Punk and Post-Punk》的编辑，他认为在伦敦出现朋克场景的同时，全国各地也出现了充满活力的朋克场景——曼彻斯特就是一个显而易见的例子。
“约翰·萨维奇（John Savage）将其称为‘朋克离散’，我非常喜欢这个词，”贝斯特利说。“伦敦一直有一种文化精英的傲慢，觉得‘哦，是我们发明了东西，然后它才传到外省去’。”
尽管如此，在 1976 年 12 月，伦敦仍是中心，并且在 The Roxy 拥有了自己的圣地。切佐夫斯基（Czezowski）开设这家容量为 150 人的俱乐部，仅仅是为了给由他管理的乐队争取演出机会，因为大多数场所都不愿接触朋克。“那是一个充满异味、肮脏的地方，一个旧的同性恋酒吧，”他说。“但它变得规模宏大。”
这里成了朋克聚集地：唐·莱茨（Don Letts）经常出没，所有关键的朋克乐队都曾在此演出。切佐夫斯基允许孩子们跳 pogo 舞和吐口水，而其他俱乐部绝不会允许。但这里很快就有了暴力的名声。“不
但，等等！《Ann Droid》是全新的！事实上，它的新颖正是其吸引力的一部分。而且，难道“新”这个概念不正是优秀电视节目的生命线吗？如果我们渴望熟悉感，我们会去看肥皂剧。
第二季看起来将不再那么具有创造性。而且它不会有同样的叙事推动力，原因很简单，因为它已经以如此罕见的雄辩，讲述了一个大胆的关于存在主义的故事——当生活变得妥协，我们在现代社会该如何生存？
如果相反，它就简单地在这里结束，像扔掉麦克风一样戛然而止，立即被视为一部安静的经典，那难道不令人兴奋吗？这将允许摩根和共同编剧莎拉·肯德尔（Sarah Kendall）离开这里去构思其他作品。这就是真正的创意工作者的伟大之处。他们创造。他们变出更多魔力。
《Ann Droid》现可在 BBC iPlayer 上流媒体播放
暴力，”切佐夫斯基说。“同样，这是媒体编造的。但正因为他们编造了，暴力随后便被创造了出来。”
The Roxy 仅维持了 100 天，因为外来者潜入俱乐部寻找麻烦，而缺乏经验的切佐夫斯基欠下了债务和租金欠款。“但如果没有 Roxy，朋克还能生存吗？”切佐夫斯基问道。“因为来自报纸和体制的压力 [非常巨大]。”
对于一些纯粹主义者来说，The Roxy 在 1977 年 4 月的关闭标志着
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2026 年 8 月 21 日
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朋克已经结束了。皮罗尼认为它变成了一种讽刺，他说：“它变得贫民窟化了。它变成了一种新的从众方式。”
贝斯特利并不认同。“我个人认为 77 年 [性手枪乐队、冲突乐队和被诅咒乐队首张 LP 发行的年份] 的朋克大爆发才是朋克的真谛，因为那是大多数人听到这种音乐，并据此采取行动的时候。”
显而易见的是，50年后，这场地震的余震依然能被感受到。在音乐上，无论是那种粗粝的风格还是DIY的态度——Rough Trade等独立厂牌的成功就是一个明显的例子——都构成了持续的影响。
“很多女性因为这个而开始弹吉他，”伯奇（Birch）说道，“这对我们来说是一个解放因素。”
在社会层面也是如此。“人们以前不知道自己还可以成为另一种样子，”皮罗尼（Pirroni）说，“而且这种影响依然存在。它至今仍在影响着人们的思考。它改变了一切。”
马可·皮罗尼（Marco Pirroni）的《你的金钱或你的生命》（Your Money or Your Life）将于9月10日出版（New Modern出版社，£25）
持有权由Riviera Travel运营并受其预订条件约束。ABTA VIVING A763，3400 production，一家独立于Associated Newspapers Ltd和i-Travel Offers的公司。价格基于单人入住且视供应情况而定。起步价基于2026年12月22日从伦敦希思罗机场出发，随后登上MS Emily Brumel号。最高节省200天仅适用于呼叫。请在2026年8月26日前预订。**2026年和2027年的游轮行程包括从上午10点到午夜的所有提交饮品数量，当然前提是可用饮品已收集。Riviera Travel保留随时撤回或修改此优惠的权利。价格在印刷时正确。
40 星期五
书籍
阿加莎·克里斯蒂已被视为“舒适推理”（cosy crime）的缩影。在风度翩翩的赫尔克里·波洛或看似天真的马普尔小姐的主导下，她的侦探故事披着一层英国乡村生活的田园外衣，而邪恶的行径则暂时扰乱了这种平静。但克里斯蒂从未真正“舒适”过。她的小说包含隐藏的、更深层的阴暗面，其中的人物、情节和事件都是她从自己动荡的生活中挖掘出来的。
英国作家凯西·伦岑布林克（Cathy Rentzenbrink）是一名克里斯蒂狂热爱好者，她在个人和职业生涯陷入一系列危机时，转向这位“犯罪女王”寻求慰藉。但正如她在新书《阿加莎·克里斯蒂的关怀》（The Agatha Christie Care）中所揭示的，克里斯蒂面临的无数问题往往反映了她自己的处境。
“当我的生活脱轨时，”伦岑布林克写道，“我觉得她在失望和心碎方面有东西可以教给我。”
伦岑布林克（见上方插图）按顺序阅读了克里斯蒂的所有书籍。
犯罪女王的书作是如何在隐藏的动荡中诞生的
当凯西·伦岑布林克（Cathy Rentzenbrink）发现自己被生活的剧变耗尽时，她转向了她文学上的初恋——阿加莎·克里斯蒂——并挖掘出这位饱受困扰的作家如何度过个人危机并重新开始生活的秘密。作者：戴尔·肖（Dale Shaw）
目睹作者的生活在面前分崩离析，尤其是当她读到 1926. 年时。那一年奠定了克里斯蒂的声誉，但也是几乎摧毁她的一年。
尽管被认为是一位典型的英国作家，但克里斯蒂始终是一个局外人，并利用潜入者的视角来窥视周围人们的古怪行为。
她出生于德文郡托基一个富裕的上中产阶级家庭，原名阿加莎·米勒，是三个孩子中最小的一个。她的父亲弗雷德·米勒（Fred Miller）是一个富有的、
比小说更离奇 警察还原 1926 年 12 月阿加莎·克里斯蒂在萨里郡失踪期间的相关事件 TOPICAL PRESS / GETTY
好交际的美国人，而她的母亲克拉拉（Clara）出生于都柏林，母亲是半德国人。当克里斯蒂于 1890 年 9 月 15 日出生时，该家庭是托基社交圈中富有且有影响力的人物。但弗雷德有他的秘密。
他的财富很快缩水，而他向家人隐瞒了这一事实。当他在 1901 年突然去世时，他们陷入了财务的不确定性，11 岁的阿加莎那稳定的世界瞬间崩塌。
她的母亲完全被悲痛击垮，似乎变成了一个截然不同的人。这位作者后来的作品中充满了那些并非表面样子的人物，正如她的父亲
星期五 2026 年 8 月 25 日
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一位推理小说作家的神秘失踪，对小报来说实在太具吸引力，以至于无法忽视
以及母亲在她面前似乎发生了改变。
当未来的这位作家梦想着接受高等教育时，她的母亲则计划为她找一个富有的丈夫，以确保家庭的财务状况。1912年10月，在一次当地的舞会上，她遇到了阿奇·克里斯蒂（Archie Christie），一名英俊且风度翩翩的飞行员。他们坠入爱河并迅速结婚，但随即几乎立即就分开了。
第一次世界大战爆发时，阿奇被派往法国参战。他的妻子则在托基（Torquay）的一家医院担任志愿护士，治疗从前线返回的伤员。
这对她作为一名初露头角的作家产生了深远的影响。她第一次目睹了来自所有社会阶层的人们相互交融。她还看到了那些掌权者可以多么地无能。这让她终身对权威人物持有不信任感。她后来的书中充满了那些看似掌权却在职责上失败的人。
她的工作还包括协助当地的药剂师，这使她对毒药有了深入的了解，而这在她的情节构思中被证明是极其宝贵的。她很快意识到，只要掌握正确的信息，实施一场完美的谋杀可能会相当容易。她将所有这些新获得的经验融入到《风格案》（The Mysterious Affair at Styles）中，这是她在1916年创作的侦探小说处女作。
故事背景是一栋庞大但破旧的乡村别墅，非常像她成长的地方。受害者被士的宁中毒，克里斯蒂在履行医疗职责期间对这种毒药非常熟悉。而且故事中充斥着相当无用、虚荣且特权过多的男性，正如她在医院期间所见到的那样。而且，正如伦岑布林克（Rentzenbrink）所指出的，这本书也充满了痛苦的爱。她写道：“想到她在阿奇在法国且战争结果尚不确定时写了这本书，真是令人惊讶。”
为了塑造她的侦探，克里斯蒂根据她周围看到的人创造了一个角色。德文郡当时充满了逃离战争恐怖的比利时难民。克里斯蒂作为一名局外人，深知这样一个人物将能以完美的视角审视英国人的心理。赫尔克里·波洛（Hercule Poirot）衣着考究，冷静且细致到近乎偏执。这是一个完全新型的侦探，但他立即俘获了公众的想象力。
经典创作：大卫·萨切特（David Sachet）在1990年的《风格案》改编剧中饰演赫尔克里·波洛（中），与休·弗雷泽（Hugh Fraser，左）和菲利普·杰克逊（Philip Jackson）共同出演；下面是饰演马普尔小姐（BBC电视版）的琼·希克森（Joan Hickson）
这本书大获好评，随后更多作品相继问世。她现在正确立自己作为一名优秀犯罪小说作家的地位，同时扮演着罗莎琳德（Rosalind）女儿的忠诚妻子和母亲。但这一切在1926年崩塌了。
《罗杰·艾克罗伊德谋杀案》（The Murder of Roger Ackroyd）是克里斯蒂的第六部小说，在年初出版时广受赞誉。但就在它位居畅销书榜首时，一系列事件几乎摧毁了她。正当她开始感受到残酷的出版计划带来的压力时，她深爱的母亲去世了。在悲痛欲绝中，她发现自己再也无法写作。随后，在这场危机之中，阿奇要求离婚。他爱上了克里斯蒂的一位朋友，并告诉她他们希望立即结婚。
心碎的克里斯蒂当时35岁，精神崩溃。她的车被发现停在萨里郡纽兰兹角（Newlands Corner）一个白垩采石场的边缘，车内有她的外套和过期的驾驶执照。而她却不知所踪。随后展开了一场规模巨大的、为期11天的搜寻，伴随着媒体对一位推理小说作家神秘失踪的急促报道，这对于小报来说实在太具吸引力，以至于无法忽视。
克里斯蒂最终在北约克郡哈罗盖特（Harrogate）的一家酒店被发现平安无事。据称车祸导致她失忆，但没有人相信这个故事。
直到今天，在哈罗盖特究竟发生了什么仍然是个谜，而这位作家在事后也很少提及此事。但这次报道让她成为了家喻户晓的人物，并对其作品产生了深远的影响。
她的惊悚小说开始融入更多心理层面的探讨。虽然从未得到证实，但人们推测克里斯蒂在从那次明显的精神崩溃中恢复期间，接受了某种形式的治疗或分析。很快，波洛便开始声称，物质证据对他而言吸引力较低，而犯罪者的心理活动反而更有用。
克里斯蒂还引入了一位新侦探，正如 Rentzenbrink 所描述的那样，这个角色是作为“一种防御机制、一个避风港以及一场秘密复仇”而创造的。在被阿奇背叛、被新闻记者追逐之后，克里斯蒂在一位拥有强大坚韧精神的小老太太身上找到了慰藉：简·马普尔小姐。
与被围攻的克里斯蒂不同，年长的马普尔被人们忽视和低估。但在侦查中，这正是她的超能力。第一部马普尔小说《牧师教堂谋杀案》于 1930 年出版。
处于恢复期的克里斯蒂此时已离婚，女儿在寄宿学校就读，她发现自己拥有了写作和探索的自由。
她开始了冒险生活，穿越中东访问历史遗迹，最终于 1930 年 9 月在爱丁堡结识并嫁给了比她小 13 岁的英国考古学家马克斯·马洛万。他在余生中一直陪伴在她身边，并于 1968 年被封为爵士。
在马洛万的陪伴下，克里斯蒂迎来了她最辉煌的成功，畅销书包括《东方快车谋杀案》（1934）、《尼罗河上的死亡》（1937）和《无人生还》（1939）。
到 1976 年去世时，她是全球最成功的小说家（由于《The Monstroop》，她也是最成功的剧作家）。只有莎士比亚和《圣经》的销量超过了她。直到最后，她的作品依然包含着她在生活中遭受的残酷现实，并通过虚构故事将其驱散。
“我们将她视为犯罪小说女王，”Rentzenbrink 写道，“但她也是那个 11 岁的小女孩——她的父亲开朗，但父亲的去世带走了所有的欢笑与安全感。”
Cathy Rentzenbrink 所著的《阿加莎·克里斯蒂疗法》（The Agatha Christie Cure）将于 20 September 出版精装本（Canongate 出版社，£20）。
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42
书籍
星期五
书架之爱：梅格·梅森（MEG MASON）推荐史上最浪漫的小说
梅格·梅森的《悲伤与极乐》（Sorrow and Bliss）在2022年出版后迅速引起轰动。她讲述了一段被精神疾病所破坏的婚姻，以幽默而温柔的方式描绘了浪漫爱情与功能失调的家庭。这位澳大利亚作家的最新小说《站在那里的索菲》（Sophie, Standing There）讲述了一个女人偶然发现了一位她多年未读的作者的作品，随后与对方产生了强烈的精神依恋。这本书承诺将深入探讨孤独、人类的连接以及支撑我们的各种形式的爱。那么，梅森最喜欢的关于爱的书籍有哪些呢？
《劝导》（PERSUASION） 简·奥斯汀（Jane Austen） (企鹅出版社，£9.99)
“既然你无疑读过《劝导》，就不需要提醒你这是一个关于安妮·埃利奥特的故事，她在19岁时被劝说放弃与年轻的温特沃斯上尉结婚。安妮在接下来的八年里一直无法忘掉他，但当他们偶然再次相遇时，很明显他已经忘记了她。或者他真的忘记了吗？这就是安妮脑海中的独白，她试图从每一个字和每一个手势中寻找线索。
‘安妮和温特沃斯在同一个房间里，她正与他人交谈，而温特沃斯在安静地写信，这一幕是史上最浪漫的场景。’”
《帕嫩卡》（PANENKA） 布林哈·赫西恩（Blinha Hession） (Bloomore出版社，£9.99)
“当我开始读《帕嫩卡》时，我并没预料到这是一个爱情故事。这部2021年的小说讲述了一名足球运动员约瑟夫的故事，他在一次公开失误后职业生涯惨淡收场。如今50岁的他刚刚发现自己患有脑癌，这令他以及他成年后的女儿深感悲痛。
‘但随后他遇到了一位同龄的女士埃丝特，一名友好的理发师，两人成为了朋友。他们关系的深化被讲述得如此美丽且令人心酸，让你渴望他们能在一起；最大的危机在于约瑟夫决定是否告诉她他爱她，因为如果她也爱他，他们在一起的时间将太短。’”
《米德尔马契》（MIDDLEMARCH） 乔治·艾略特（George Elliot） (Wentworth Editions出版社，£4.99)
“是的，也许《米德尔马契》不能被描述为爱情故事，因为众多角色中只有两个得到了幸福结局，而我之所以强行把它列进来，是因为在经历了多次失败的尝试后我终于读完了它，我只是需要让每个人都知道。
‘但如果浪漫爱情的定义要素是两个角色分别渴望对方，且没有明显的在一起的可能性，那么《米德尔马契》符合条件。
‘而且，由于核心爱情故事是与另外两段令人心碎且痛苦至极的婚姻相对比，这种强度被进一步增强了，这种痛苦在不显得悲剧的时候，简直有些滑稽。’”
《查令十字路4号》（B4 CHARING CROSS ROAD） 海伦·霍夫（Helene Hoeff） (Virugs出版社，£10.99)
“这是一部美国作家海伦与伦敦书商弗兰克之间的书信集，她于1949年首次就一本二手书与他联系。
‘这同样不是一部浪漫小说，但他们友谊展开的方式——他们的信件慢慢地从书籍话题转向各自的家庭生活——是一种坠入爱河的过程，柏拉图式的爱与浪漫之爱同样强大。在二十年后，你期待着他们相见。尽管这本书早在1970年就出版了，但在这里透露他们是否相见感觉就像剧透。’”
《这就是幸福》（THIS IS HAPPINESS） 斯塔德·威廉姆斯（Stad Williams） (Bloomsbury出版社，£9.99)
‘有时，小说中有一行文字如此精准且完美，让你愿意起床去拿一支笔。
‘这部2019年的小说讲述了一个爱尔兰小教区里的成长故事，其中的一行文字来自小男孩克里斯蒂，他静静地观察着他爱上的那个同意去电影院的漂亮女孩。我不记得是否是在昏暗的电影院里偷偷地斜视，但就假设是吧，克里斯蒂心想：‘那支烟和她之间有某种默契。’
“还有这段，来自一个与一生挚爱失去联系的老年角色，当被问到距离上次见到她多久时，他回答：‘面对面地见？差不多 50 年了……但在其他所有方面，从那时起，每天都有时间在想她。’”
梅格·梅森（Meg Mason）的《站在那里的苏菲》（Sophie, Standing There）将于 8 月 27 日出版（Bloomsbury 出版社，£20）。
1998 年 3 月 23 日，美国创作歌手艾略特·史密斯（Elliott Smith）在第 70 届奥斯卡金像奖上演唱了《Miss Misery》。他的入围出乎意料，这首歌是在大片《心灵捕手》（Good Will Hunting）的片尾字幕中播放的。
不情愿的史密斯被告知，如果他不在奥斯卡颁奖典礼上亲自演唱这首歌，别人会替他唱。于是他穿上一套白色西装，独自带着一把原声吉他站在舞台上，在 5700 万 名电视观众面前演唱。这成为了历史上观看人数最多的奥斯卡转播。
“我觉得非常甜蜜的一点是，他想为了他的母亲而这么做，”史密斯的传记作者杰米·费舍尔（Jamie Fisher）告诉我，“这样她就能在《人物》（People）杂志上读到关于他的报道。”
在好莱坞版本的史密斯人生中，这是一个转折点。一个来自俄勒冈州波城的朋克圈无名之辈，加入了一支独立乐队，获得了一些认可，然后开始单飞，在奥斯卡上古怪地表演，随后迅速成为超级巨星——随之而来的名声、压力和关注导致他在短短五年后，在 34 岁时早逝。但就像史密斯生活中的大多数事情一样，现实远比这复杂得多。
正如费舍尔在她关于史密斯的新传记《没有人伤你的心》（Nobody Broke Your Heart）中所揭示的，他是一个既复杂又矛盾的艺术家。他声称讨厌音乐产业和名声带来的附庸，但当他签约一家大唱片公司时，他曾考虑用预付款买一辆宝马（后来在劝说下买了一辆没那么张扬的大众）。
作为一名艺术家，媒体将史密斯塑造为一个忧郁主义者——但当他与感到亲近或自在的人在一起时，他热爱傻傻的笑话和荒诞的行为。他经常威胁或暗示要伤害自己或自杀，但随后又激烈地拒绝任何实际的帮助尝试。在一次特别低落的时期，一位朋友为史密斯组织了一次干预行动；史密斯再也没有和他说话。
他 1969 年出生在内布拉斯加州奥马哈，原名史蒂文·史密斯（Steven Smith），父亲加里·史密斯（Gary Smith）是一名医学生，母亲邦妮·贝里曼（Bunny Berryman）是一名学校音乐教师。他在六个月大时父母离婚，随后随母亲搬到了德克萨斯州邓肯维尔的小镇。他成长为一个看似快乐、热爱运动的孩子——但与他的继父（一名严厉的管教者）冲突不断。
这些冲突导致了一种史密斯似乎永远无法摆脱的创伤，他写了许多关于他认为自己遭受的虐待的歌曲。
青少年时期，他搬到波城与生父同住，并很快组建了一支名为 Heatmiser 的乐队，该乐队吸引了一批追随者并受到维珍唱片公司的青睐，史密斯歌曲的质量是主要吸引力。他还将自己重新命名为艾略特（Elliott），以让自己与过去的生活保持距离。
通知表选择
彼得·比尔德（Peter Beard）的《游戏的终结》（The End of the Game）最初出版于 1963 年，揭露了入侵者对非洲（“被侵犯的伊甸园”）及其野生动物所犯下的令人震惊的暴行。正如摄影师本人所指出的：“白人进入非洲越深，生命流逝得越快，从平原流走，从灌木丛流走……消失在数英亩的战利品、皮革和尸骸之中”。随着鲜血继续流淌，在环境崩溃升级的时代，许多物种处于灭绝边缘，新版（Taschen 出版社，£80）及时出版，是对猎人们给大陆带来的破坏的一次毁灭性的提醒——这是以冒险和人类“进步”之名留下的不可逆转的遗产。© 彼得·比尔德遗产管理委员会。由彼得·比尔德工作室提供。
星期日 2020 年 8 月 23 日
43
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[注：译文超长截断]
神秘人物埃利奥特·史密斯那段悲剧且未被讲述的故事
戴尔·肖（Dale Shaw）写道，一部关于这位美国创作歌手的新传记包含了对他朋友和亲属的采访，而这些人此前一直拒绝讨论他的死亡。
史密斯还开始在家里录制自己那些甜美、简单且富有氛围感的歌曲，这些作品引起了资深独立厂牌 Kill Rock Stars 的注意。他那些低调的专辑，尤其是第三张《Either / Or》，开始获得评论界的赞誉，一批忠实的粉丝也随之出现。
导演古斯·范·桑（Gus Van Sant）就是其中一名粉丝，这使得史密斯的音乐被用于 1997 年的电影《心灵捕手》（Good Will Hunting），该片由本·阿弗莱克（Ben Affleck）和马特·达蒙（Matt Damon）编剧并主演，罗宾·威廉姆斯（Robin Williams）亦在其中出演。
在奥斯卡奖之后，各大主流厂牌将目光锁定在史密身上。他签约了 DreamWorks，希望扩大后的预算能帮助他实现音乐抱负。
他将目标定在了阿比路录音室以及与伦敦爱乐乐团的合作录音。但在实现了其中一些梦想后，
他似乎对音乐结果变得越来越不满，总是试图追求一种他永远无法完全掌控的声音。
人们喜爱他早期作品中的亲密感和真实感。而后来加入的元素，如弦乐、号角以及更具巴洛克风格的声音，却疏远了一些粉丝。
身处主流厂牌名单的压力，以及宣传职责和无休止巡演对他时间的索求，导致他药物使用增加，行为变得不稳定，且偏执症和强迫症发作。史密斯生命的最后几年笼罩在不间断的黑暗之中。通过与朋友、同伴和家人的亲密交谈，费舍尔（Fisher）成功地塑造了一个复杂人物的引人入胜的画像：他极具天赋，能够创作出有史以来最令人难忘、最心碎的歌曲，但似乎一直在与自我搏斗。
我在 20 世纪 90 年代与史密斯有过几次简短的接触。当时我在华盛顿特区的一家场馆担任新闻官，被指派为他拍摄照片。他明确表示自己并不享受这次经历。
费舍尔（《teart》）在采访以及平等呈现史密斯生命中许多人物方面做了出色工作。有些人此前从未谈论过他，至今仍对他的去世感到震惊。
他的故事中有很多未知之处，尤其是最后一章。史密斯死于心脏的两处刺伤。自残似乎是最可能的原因（他此前曾尝试自杀），而非任何更阴险的因素。但调查仍处于开放状态，导致了多年的推测和阴谋论。
“是的，甚至有人在揣摩我的标题，”费舍尔透露，“《没有人弄碎你的心！》（Nobody Broke Your Heart!）你是在暗示他自杀了吗？”这其实是一首歌的歌词。而且他们知道这是歌词。那些在寻找某种特定故事的人，无论看向哪里都会找到它。
费舍尔无法讲述完整的故事。没有人能。依然存在太多的
“我发现最难理解的是他在生命最后几年是什么样的人，那时他正深陷成瘾的挣扎之中”
阴暗与混乱。但她勇敢地尝试尽可能清晰、公开地呈现这位音乐家，并在矛盾和误解出现时将其指出。她尝试实现这一目标的方法之一是将自己纳入叙事之中。
“我出现在其中，部分原因是很多地方你无法确定发生了什么，”她解释道，“我认为最诚实的方式就是用我自己的声音说：‘这是我的思考。’”
“我知道赋予人们生命的方法之一，就是展示坐在房间里是什么样子，并展示与他们对话的双向过程。”
史密斯那不安的天性——他似乎一直在变动，抛弃财产和友谊——增加了费舍尔任务的难度。每个人心中都有一个属于自己的埃利奥特·史密斯。
“我认为我在书中试图挑战的观点之一，就是这些人格（指史密斯的人格）是完全碎片化的，”她说。
“你可以从人们描写他在德克萨斯州童年生活的方式中看出这一点。‘哦，他曾是一个金发、快乐、踢足球的孩子，然后他把头发染成黑色，变成了艾略特·史密斯。’但事实并非如此，那全部都是同一个人。”
“所以这是一本关于改变的书。但它同样关乎稳定性，以及一个人核心特质的持久性。我发现最难理解的是他在生命最后几年、深陷成瘾困扰时的状态。但即便在那时，依然存在某种重叠，即艾略特作为艾略特的那种本质核心。”
在另一个平行宇宙中，艾略特继续做他自己，留在 Kill Rock Stars 唱片公司，追求低调的职业生涯，发布那些令人心碎并激发崇拜的歌曲和专辑。但这注定不会发生。或许它永远不可能发生。
“我不知道他是否一直清楚自己想要什么，”费舍尔补充道，“而且他肯定没有真正准确地传达出他需要什么。我认为这正是让这个故事如此悲伤的原因之一——这是一个没有任何反派的故事。”
《没有人伤你的心：艾略特·史密斯亲密传记》（Nobody Broke Your Heart: An Intimate Biography of Elliott Smith），作者杰米·费舍尔（Jamie Fisher），将于 9 月 10 日由 Faber and Faber 出版（售价 £20）。
动机与商业
今日金句
“它远超竞争对手，但在财务上，它就像是在自我吞噬——俱乐部每年需要如此巨额的额外资金，才能保持竞争力。”
蒂姆·布里奇 (Tim Bridge) 德勤（Deloitte）负责英超联赛纪录级支出金额的首席合伙人
@theipaper business@theipaper.com
餐饮酒店业
Travelodge 首席执行官在酒店袭击事件引发的轩然大波中辞职
作者：Holly Williams
由于其连锁酒店发生两起住客被袭击事件，Travelodge 集团正紧急全面修订安全措施，首席执行官乔·博伊德尔（Jo Boydell）已辞职。
博伊德尔于 2022 年 5 月被任命为首席执行官，此前自 2013. 年 3 月起担任首席财务官。在找到永久继任者之前，首席财务官雷·雷迪（Ray Reidy）将临时接任其职务。
她因处理这些事件的方式而受到严厉批评，整个连锁酒店的安全问题引发了关注——前首相基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）在今年早些时候甚至介入其中，在博伊德尔取消与国会议员的会议后，敦促她就该情况与政府进行“严肃接触”。
在伯克郡梅登黑德（Maidenhead, Berkshire）的一家 Travelodge 酒店，一名住客被一名获得了其房间房卡的男子性侵。
凯兰·史密斯（Kyran Smith）在 2022 年 12 月实施袭击后，于 2 月被判处七年半监禁。
本月又有消息披露，伦敦的一家酒店发生了另一起事件，Travelodge 的员工将一名女性的家庭暴力施暴者给了房卡，该女性随后遭到肢体攻击。
这名要求匿名的女性表示，她入住该酒店是为了躲避该男子，但该男子追踪到了她的位置并跟到了那里。
Travelodge 表示，此类情况“非常罕见”，客户安全是首要任务。雷迪表示：“我们依然专注于住客的安全与福祉，并将继续采取必要行动以加强业务。我们还将就安全与保障问题，继续与政府及更广泛的酒店业进行积极且建设性的接触。”
Travelodge 表示，在意识到员工在未经过适当检查的情况下发放重复房卡后，已“迅速采取行动”改进安全程序。
该集团表示，保罗·格里尼（Paul Greaney）国王大律师（KC）已开展了一项独立审查，内部审查也正在进行中。正在推行的变更包括新的房间进入安全系统（已在 600 多家酒店中“上线”），以及针对 12,000 名一线员工的额外培训。
公司表示，现在住客必须给出明确许可，才能发放额外的或更换的房卡，且公司绝不会向第三方确认住客是否入住其旗下酒店。
该公司还采取行动检查并确认所有房卡门均设有二级死锁。
Travelodge 的管理层还在参加一项由应对针对女性和女孩暴力问题的专家制定的培训计划。
斯安德鲁斯旧球场（Old Course at St Andrews）上的斯威肯桥（Swilcan Bridge），该球场将于 2027 年举办英国公开赛 GETTY INVESTMENTS
美国运通将“高尔夫之家”纳入其体育投资组合
作者：Simon Straker
美国运通（American Express）已与位于法夫（Fife）的“高尔夫之家”圣安德鲁斯（St Andrews）达成合作，这是该信用卡集团体育投资组合的最新扩张。
圣安德鲁斯林克斯（St Andrews Links）现与美式足球NFL、一级方程式赛车（Formula 1）、温布尔登网球赛以及英超联赛布莱顿和霍夫阿尔比恩足球俱乐部一样，与美国运通签署了赞助协议。
该协议将使美国运通持卡人能够预约圣安德鲁斯标志性的旧球场（Old Course）的开球时间，但该集团强调，这不会影响当地人的使用权限。
相关套餐将于明年推出，届时圣安德鲁斯将举办第155届英国公开赛。
美国运通全球品牌赞助与营销副总裁铃木志兹（Shiz Suzuki）表示：“高尔夫是全球持卡人的热情所在，而世界上很少有地方比圣安德鲁斯更具传奇色彩。”
“我们为这次与圣安德鲁斯林克斯信托基金会（St Andrews Links Trust）开展的首创性合作伙伴关系感到自豪，旨在创造体验这一历史名胜并在‘高尔夫之家’打球的新方式。”
美国运通同时也是美国公开赛高尔夫锦标赛的合作伙伴，并且是加利福尼亚州一项PGA巡回赛赛事的冠名赞助商。
在最近一个赛季开始前，它取代了Visa成为NFL的合作伙伴，同时也是布莱顿和霍夫足球俱乐部的球场及球衣前胸赞助商。
经济
美国国债在十年内翻倍，突破$40trn
作者：Simon Straker
美国国债首次突破$40trn（$29.4trn）——在不到十年的时间里翻了一倍多，这是一个令人震惊的里程碑。
美国财政部昨日披露的数据为$40.05trn，标志着财政状况的迅速恶化。这种恶化是由特朗普和拜登两届政府的大规模支出驱动的，可追溯到2106, 年，当时的国债仅略低于$20trn。
随着华盛顿积累起长期的联邦债务赤字，此后数万亿美元被用于疫情期间的紧急救援、大规模减税以及扩大国内和军事计划。
美国总统唐纳德·特朗普进一步增加了国防开支，以资助他在近六个月前发起的伊朗战争。
但偿还国债的利息支出超过了上述金额——它已成为联邦预算中第二大支出项目，仅次于社会保障支出。
其后果在整个美国经济中产生共鸣，推高了通货膨胀并增加了消费者的压力。
抵押贷款和信用卡借款增加，而工资下降。燃料和杂货的价格也飞涨。
国会预算办公室警告白宫，债务轨迹“从根本上说是不可持续的，并且正迅速接近$41.1trn的法定上限”。
一旦达到该上限，国会必须就是否提高或暂停该上限进行投票。
MONT 4-20
ORINON 16-22
TY 28-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONET 44-47
SPORT 50-56
2026年8月23日，星期五
45
我是如何理财的
“我目标是在 50 岁前攒够 100 万英镑m，因为我不确定届时是否还会有国家养老金”
在我们的“我如何理财” (How I Manage My Money) 系列中，我们旨在了解英国民众如何消费、储蓄和投资，以应对开支并实现目标。
本周我们采访了 LAUREN THORPE，28, 她与伴侣 Charlie，28. 住在谢菲尔德。劳伦在一家 NHS 慈善机构从事筹款工作。她的目标是在 50 岁前拥有 100 万英镑m 的储蓄和投资，因为她不确定自己年老时国家养老金是否依然存在。
在我成长过程中，没有人教我关于钱的事情。人们很少谈论这个话题。如果能学习到关于可用账户的不同类型、如何开始为房屋首付款储蓄以及如何投资等知识，那就太好了。
在职业生涯的前几年里，我曾过着月月出薪即花光的日子，而且是个习惯性过度消费的人。我会把钱花在那些我知道自己永远不会穿的糟糕且廉价的衣服上。
在大学学习小学教育后，我在小学教了几年书。我现在在一家 NHS 慈善机构工作，扣税前的年薪约为 3 万英镑。
几年前，我开始参加一些免费的在线金融素养课程，以便更多地了解金钱。在离开教师岗位后，我开设了一个 TikTok 频道 (@learningmoneylos)，并在一年多前开始专注于个人财务教育和基础预算技巧。
我觉得我需要通过副业来增加收入。我为品牌拍摄视频，他们会为此付费。我还会在 Vinted 和 Facebook Marketplace 等平台上转卖我们不再需要的衣服和家具。
我最近更换了活期账户，获得了 100 万英镑70 的转户奖金。除了副业，我尝试通过步行而非乘坐巴士上班来省钱。我喜欢免费的活动，包括在晚上散步和阅读。
新西兰有一家名为 Friends That Invest 的公司让我接触到了投资。我听了该公司所有者关于投资的播客并阅读了她的书。随后，我开始阅读其他关于投资的书籍，并在 25 岁时通过 Vanguard 的交易所交易基金（ETF）进行了首次投资。
我每月向我的股票和股份个人储蓄账户 (ISA) 存入 £200 到 £300，该账户目前约有 1 万英镑。作为一对伴侣，我们每月还会向 Monzo 的各种储蓄池中存入约 1,000 英镑。我们还在 Chase 拥有一个约 7,000 英镑 的高利率储蓄账户，作为应急资金池。
我的目标是在 50. 岁时拥有 100 万英镑m 的投资和储蓄。为了实现这一目标，我将
仅靠储蓄和节俭无法让我富有。我需要使我的收入来源多样化
劳伦·索普表示：“我想回到学校，在增加自身储蓄的同时，教育孩子们关于金钱的知识。”
每月预算、副业与投资
我的月收入： 我在 NHS 慈善机构全职工作的税后月薪约为 2,000 英镑。我还通过各种副业每月赚取约 £500，包括为品牌提供用户生成内容（UGC）、在社交媒体上进行品牌合作以及参与市场调研。我的伴侣是一名电线工，每月税后收入约为 2,800 英镑。
我需要增加投资并提高收入。我想回到学校教育孩子们关于金钱的知识，同时增加自己的储蓄。单纯的省吃俭用无法让我富有。我需要继续使我的收入来源多样化。
我住在谢菲尔德的一栋三居室半独立屋里，我们于 2025 年 7 月以 25 万英镑 的价格购入，首付为 2.5 万英镑。
我们的房贷利率为 4.7%，我们办理了五年期固定利率贷款，将于明年到期。
我们的每月支出： 房贷，1,023 英镑，杂货，£300 至 £350，市政税，£170，燃气和电费，£130，水费，£47，电视执照费，£15，宽带，£30，人寿保险，£30；健身房，£13；汽车燃料，£100；隐形眼镜，£22；沙发分期付款，£50；共同消费资金（如外出就餐），£200。我们每月将资金存入不同的账户，用于旅行和礼品等支出。我们还
各自投资于股票和股份个人储蓄账户（ISA）。我每月向我的股票和股份 ISA 账户存入约 £200 至 £300。我每月工资的 5% 进入职场养老金，公司贡献 6%。我买衣服基本只买二手货或寻找打折商品。我参加的一个合唱团每月花费 £15，并且刚刚开始学习冰上溜冰，课程费用每月 £50。
我将 NHS 慈善机构工作的工资 5% 存入一项确定给付养老金计划，而雇主贡献 6%。我目前的职场养老金账户中约有 5,000 英镑。我已经将基金切换到了可用风险最高的一档，并考虑开设一个个人自管养老金账户（SIPP）将所有资金转移进去。
我希望在 45 到 50 岁左右能够达到一个工作变为可选状态的境地。到那时，我想能够从事一些我
热爱的事情。在晚年，我无法仅靠国家养老金生存。我甚至不确定当我到达那个年龄时，国家养老金是否还存在。
我现在将金钱视为提升生活的工具，并以看着资金增长为动力。
正如我所说，我的目标是在 50 岁时拥有 100 万英镑的投资和储蓄。我还希望帮助更多的人学习基础预算和资金管理。
如果您想参与“我是如何管理我的钱”活动，请发送电子邮件至 money@theipaper.com
时尚
Boohoo 因虚假折扣被罚款 200 万英镑
作者：Holly Williams
快时尚公司 Boohoo 因误导性的定价行为被法国消费者监管机构罚款 230万欧元（200万英镑）。
竞争、消费事务和反欺诈总局（DGCCRF）表示，（近期更名为 Debentures Group 的一部分，在伦敦上市）在其网站的法国版本上，给购物者留下了关于所提供折扣的错误印象。
据 DGCCRF 称，总部位于曼彻斯特的 在应用折扣前，没有考虑之前已应用的促销活动，甚至在打折前提高了价格。
调查发现，在分析的商品列表中，95% 未能遵守其规定，其中 40% 没有提供任何价格降低，7% 提供的折扣低于广告宣传，而 48% 实际上提高了价格。
还使用了被禁止的词汇，例如用“羽毛”或“绒面革”来描述合成产品，违反了法国关于服装和鞋类标签的规定。
的一名发言人表示：“这些问题发生在之前的管理层时期，目前已得到解决。我们已与监管机构充分合作。”
美食与饮品
零售
JD Sports 加大折扣力度
JD Sports 在公布季度销售额同比下降 3.1% 后，下调了其利润预期。该公司表示，消费者支出的压力打击了其鞋类销售，尤其是运动鞋，迫使其不得不采取“大幅折扣”。该零售商目前预计其全年税前利润将在 7 亿英镑m 至 9 亿英镑m 之间，低于此前预期的 7.5 亿英镑m 至 8.5 亿英镑m。
改革英国党（Reform UK）
学徒工资返还承诺
改革英国党表示，在其政府领导下，将引入由纳税人出资的“学徒工资抵免”，以致力于“实现技能革命”。企业在雇佣 16 至 18 岁学徒时将获得 30% 的工资返还，改革党设定了五年内新增 600,000 名工人的目标，成本最高可达 20亿英镑。
农业
北爱尔兰农业利润上升
由于牛肉价格涨至历史最高水平，北爱尔兰去年的农业利润激增 36%，首次突破 10亿英镑。利润的计算方法是：产出价值与补贴（增长 12% 至 36亿英镑）之和，减去生产和财务成本（略微上升至 22亿英镑）。
验光
Specsavers 向母公司支付 1200 万英镑
在年度税前利润增长至 4.297 亿英镑m，销售额同比增长 7% 至 43亿英镑 后，Specsavers 向其 Perkins 家族母公司支付了 1200万英镑 的股息。该集团成立于 1983 年，通过数百家独立合作伙伴在全球运营近 3,000 家门店，其中在英国超过 1,200 家。
食品与饮料
Matthews 将关闭德比工厂
Bernard Matthews Foods 因“重大财务损失”将关闭其在德比的工厂。该食品集团以其所有者在 2010 年去世前使用的“bootiful”口头禅而闻名，将于今年年底前关闭位于 Shaftesbury Street 的加工设施——在此之前两年，它已关闭位于诺福克郡 Great Witchingham 的总部，而 Matthews 正是在那里建立了其商业帝国。
招聘
受 A1 招聘转型影响 Hays 陷入亏损
在向 A1 招聘转型以及全球前景不明朗的背景下，Hays 全年亏损 5450 万英镑m，而去年利润为 150 万英镑m。由于同类净费用下降 8%，该集团表示，它正“面临规模和速度前所未有的全球变革，就业市场也随之发生转型”。
慈善机构
乐施会（Oxfam）商店前景不明
该慈善机构表示，乐施会商店的未来“无法保证”，其仓库业务也正在审查中。这一警告出现在捐款减少以及来自二手在线卖家的激烈竞争之中。目前尚未计划关闭门店，但内部人士称，其在英国 500 多家门店中有多达 100 家“不再具备生存能力”。
制造业
出口订单簿有所改善
本月，受海外需求推动，英国制造业订单簿大幅改善。英国工业联合会（CBI）表示，出口订单簿自 2022 年 6 月以来首次恢复“正常”。但 CBI 补充说，尽管产出量的下降速度有所放缓，但企业仍“准备迎接未来的艰难时期”。
市场
富时 100 指数昨日收盘上涨 4.81 点，或 0.04%，报 10.748.16。涨幅最大的是工程集团 Weir，上涨 1.08p 至 2.750p，以及矿业公司 Fresnillo，上涨 83p 至 3.168p。跌幅最大的是零售商 JD Sports Fashion，下跌 13.38p 至 80.08p，以及银行投资者，下跌 26.0p 至 63up。在法国，CAC40 下跌 0.57%，而德国 DAX 指数收盘下跌 0.41%。布伦特原油价格上涨至每桶 $93.72。
***
在伦敦交易收盘时，英镑兑加元和欧元均有所上涨，兑加元上涨 0.28 美分，报 $1.3636；兑欧元上涨 0.11 美分，报 $1.16 / 1。
MONY 2-20
OPINION 16-22
TH 28-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONET 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST 2020
47
教育
“我离开学校时几乎没有任何资历，但这并不重要”
并非每个老板都会询问考试成绩，戴夫·菲什威克（Dave Fishwick）从中获益匪浅
如果你在一个有 40 个孩子的班级里，窗外发生的事情看起来比窗内有趣得多，那么很容易被落下。我参加了几门 GCSE 考试，但对于大多数科目，我根本没费心去参加。
在每年的这个时候，我经常思考这件事，因为全国成千上万的年轻人正急切地等待他们的成绩，并思考接下来该做什么。
对于任何在拿到成绩后感到失望或担忧的人，请记住这一点：我就是活生生的证明，证明你可以没有任何资历离开学校，且不让这件事阻碍你。
在我离开学校之前的那个夏天，我的父母能看出情况不妙。我父亲联系了一位他认识的经营建筑、抹灰和铺瓦业务的人，询问是否有学徒岗位。之后，我在六周的假期里担任他的体力劳动者提供帮助。
终于，我觉得自己有了归属感，觉得我可以学到一些东西。那年晚些时候我毕业后，他给我提供了一份工作。他对我的考试成绩不感兴趣，他在意的是我每天都能准时出现并全身心投入工作。
那时，我单纯认为在学校表现不好是我的错；也许是我不够聪明。我没有意识到有些人只是通过不同的方式学习效果更好。我也没意识到还有其他选择。
安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）热衷于让更多年轻人获得学徒机会并掌握技术技能，我对此深表赞同。太多时候，
屋顶工目前暂时无需担心机器人抢走工作的风险 GETTY
年轻人发现自己被抛在身后，没有职业选择，并认为这是自己的错。必须有另一种方式。
从建筑工地开始，我从买汽车发展到买面包车，然后是巴士，最后成为了英国最大的小型巴士供应商——一个在英国和美国拥有六家企业并被授予 OBE（大英帝国官佐勋章）的人。
这些年来我雇佣了很多人，从未询问过对方拥有什么资历。相反，我会问：你能为团队带来什么？你能做哪些别人做不到的事情？政府应该鼓励建筑工、抹灰工、机械师以及各类企业雇佣更多年轻人。
这可以通过税收激励和补贴来实现。在授予招标合同时，应将投标公司提供的学徒岗位数量考虑在内。
学校需要提供更多的职业建议和支持。邀请来自各种工作场所的演讲者，让他们解释可行的不同职业路径。
父母需要帮助他们的
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概况
今日一个低压系统影响英国，各地区天气各异。苏格兰、北爱尔兰以及英格兰部分地区出现降雨，主要集中在北部和东部地区。与此同时，伦敦和英格兰东南部天气干燥且晴朗。威尔士和英格兰西南部有阵雨，云量多变。风力普遍较轻，但部分沿海地区会出现较强阵风。伦敦、英格兰东南部、东安格利亚、海峡群岛：白天开始时有阳光且伴有部分云层，气温保持温和。预计下午晴间多云的情况将持续，但有轻雨威胁，尤其是最西部地区。傍晚南风将略微增强，大部分时间保持干燥。最高气温：25℃。今晚，晴朗，有凉风。最低气温：10℃。英格兰中部、英格兰西南部、中英格兰、南威尔士、北威尔士：白天开始时大部分时间多云，伴有零星阳光。预计会有阵雨，尤其是北部地区，并伴有凉风。随着时间推移，西部地区将出现阵雨，而东部地区下午天气转晴。风力保持温和。最高气温：39℃。今晚，零星阵雨。最低气温：10℃。
苏格兰东南部，英格兰东北部，英格兰东部：
预计早晨多云，随后将有小雨。在最北部地区，灰色天空下体感凉爽。下午大部分时间多云，最东部地区偶尔有阳光。傍晚将保持多云，全程有轻风。最高气温：10℃。今晚，轻雨，有风。最低气温：10℃。英格兰西北部，苏格兰西南部，北爱尔兰，爱尔兰共和国，马恩岛：预报早晨大部分时间多云，伴有部分阳光。西风吹拂，气温较低。随着时间推移，有轻阵雨威胁，尤其是最北部地区。预计到傍晚天气将转干。最高气温：10℃。今晚，晴，有风。最低气温：9℃。苏格兰西北部，苏格兰东北部，西群岛，北群岛：白天开始时多云，全程有轻雨威胁。早晨气温较低，到下午逐渐升高。最北部地区预计有强风，体感较凉，而最西部地区下午云量更多。傍晚云层增多。最高气温：35℃。今晚，轻雨，有风。最低气温：10℃。
图例：
1024
等压线
单位：毫巴
▲▲
暖锋
▲▲
冷锋
锢候锋
天气形势：一个位于东安格利亚的低压系统影响英国大部分地区，给苏格兰、北爱尔兰以及英格兰和威尔士部分地区带来阵雨。与此同时，一个高压脊从西群岛延伸，维持当地干燥天气。许多地区持续出现北风，尤其是南部地区。
最高与最低记录
（周三，截至13pm）
最高温：泰丁顿，布拉迪公园，泰晤士河畔里士满，35℃
最低温：阿克纳加特，罗斯和克罗马蒂，8℃
最高降水量：卡莱尔，坎布里亚，40.8mm。
最长日照：阿尔蒙兹伯里，Cloud soundstime，9.2hrs。
黑夜时长
阿伯丁 20.35-05.49 伯明翰 20.20-06.01 布里斯托 20.20-06.07 卡迪夫 20.22-06.09 格拉斯哥 20.39-06.01 赫尔 20.17-05.52 因弗内斯 20.44-05.54 利物浦 20.27-06.03 伦敦 20.10-05.57 曼彻斯特 20.24-06.00 Shamoway 20.55-06.03 斯旺西 20.26-06.12 约克 20.20-05.54
五日天气预报
周六 全天大部分时间干燥，伴有晴朗时段，尤其是南部地区；北部地区云层较多。
周日 南部和东部地区天气晴朗，北部和西部地区多云，伴有晴朗间隔。
周一 北部地区大部分时间干燥，伴有晴朗时段；南部地区多云有雨；西部地区有微风；东部大部分时间维持多云。
周二 英国全境有阵雨，东部地区云层更厚，南部地区气温温和。
周三 北部和南部地区有雨，西部地区多云，东部地区有晴朗间隔。
49
天气
50
体育
赛马
Kalpana顶住Sparan Nua的冲击，“顺利完赛”
作者：Ashley Iveson & Josh Luckhurst
在经历来自Sparan Nua的剧烈威胁后，乔治王赛的英雄Kalpana在约克举行的传奇全球约克橡树锦标赛（Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks）中惊险夺冠。
艾丹·奥布莱恩（Aidan O'Brien）的冷门马Sugar Island立即冲到领先位置，罗南·惠兰（Ronan Whelan）迅速拉开了与大部队的距离，在进入最后直道前将领先优势扩大到20个马身。
但随着主要竞争者开始缩小领先差距，科林·基恩（Colin Keane）在距离终点三分之一个英里处派出Kalpana进行追击，并在距离终点两个分之一个英里处加速。然而，吉姆·博尔格（Jim Bolger）的Sparan Nua——尽管在某一阶段受到了挤压——仍追回了大量距离并缩小了差距。终点线及时出现，使得这匹赔率10-11的热门马以微弱优势（short head）守住胜局。这让基恩、安德鲁·鲍尔丁（Andrew Balding）以及马主Juddmonte在24小时内赢得了第二场一级赛，此前Item已在周三赢得了标志性的Juddmonte国际赛。
“在跑了几个分之一个英里后，你就知道情况会变得混乱，在经过三分之一个英里标志时，我认为领跑马已经没力了，”Juddmonte的欧洲赛马经理巴里·马洪（Barry Mahon）表示。“科林可能比他预想的要更早地决定全力出击。当他看到领跑马没力时，他必须稍微追赶，所以她一直容易受到最后冲刺者的威胁，但她很有勇气，而且知道终点在哪里。”
“她低头冲刺，顺利完赛。虽然过程不怎么漂亮，但她完成了任务，这是最重要的。无论是快地还是慢地，12 furlongs——你甚至不必担心将她的赛程缩短到10。”
“她非常全能，现在是一个顶级的职业选手。她在五岁时已经完全成熟，并且能应对所有挑战，这太棒了。”
马主现在必须考虑如何分配他们的王牌，Kalpana或Item其中之一可能会尝试参加凯旋门大赛（Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe）。
如果Item获得前往巴黎隆尚赛马场的许可，那么去年凯旋门大赛获得第七名的Kalpana几乎肯定会尝试在10月下旬的雅士谷赛马场赢得Qipco英国冠军雌马锦标赛（Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes）。
马洪补充道：“我们还有昨天的那匹马，所以是让他去参加凯旋门大赛，还是让这匹小雌马等待雅士谷赛马场——我们需要在一两周内坐下来讨论这一切。”
科林·基恩（Colin Keane，左）骑乘Kalpana在约克顶住Sparan Nua的冲击 PA
自行车
对手称维贝斯的冲刺胜利不可避免
作者：劳拉·霍华德（Laura Howard）
在布莱克浦（BLACKPOOL）
洛雷娜·维贝斯（Lorena Wiebes）已成为一种必然，以至于竞争对手们在冲刺阶段甚至不再尝试击败她，而她在布莱克浦的闪耀光芒下再次展现了惊人的实力。
这位来自荷兰 SD Woxx-Protime 车队的骑手在充满波折的劳合信英国巡回赛（Lloyds Tour of Britain）当天取得了两个赛段的胜利，从而保住了绿衫和积分榜领先地位。
在 UCI 女子世界巡回赛的英国站中，维贝斯总共获得了九次赛段胜利，她的统治力正迫使大集团采取替代战术。
“我们无法在冲刺中获胜，所以为什么要等待并看着洛雷娜无论如何地获胜呢，”Uno-X Mobility 车队的卡特琳·阿勒鲁德（Katrine Aalerud）说道，她是当天最具攻击性的骑手。
“她是顶尖的冲刺手，大多数时候她都会赢得冲刺，所以我们只能尝试用自己的方式比赛，那么为什么不尝试突围看看是否能成功呢？”
“而且，我们在环法女子赛（TdFF）中通过这种行动取得了成功，那么在其他比赛中为什么不行？”
这支挪威车队是两次突围尝试的核心，首先是通过丹麦选手埃米莉·阿尔贝特·格雷夫（Emille Alberte Greve），随后阿勒鲁德在第一次爬坡后进行了持续的努力。
当赛段在途中因车队前方发生道路交通事故而延迟时，她领先 40 秒，这导致比赛在 17. 处被重新规划路线，且第二个登山女王爬坡点被取消。
虽然阿勒鲁德这次被追上，但这正成为 Uno-X 的特点，此前她的挪威同胞西格丽德·豪格塞特（Sigrid Haugset）在环法女子赛中独自领先骑行 90km 后获得了一个赛段冠军。
而且，他们的评估似乎是正确的，即在山地赛段之外，这是击败维贝斯的唯一方法，而维贝斯则轻松脱离领骑车阵，率先冲线。
“在进入冲刺阶段时，我非常有信心，”这位 27 岁的选手说道。“但今天也相当艰难，因为在最后 10. 几乎是直线冲向终点，所以有更大的风险被挤在里面。”
“这就是为什么我在最后阶段提前开始冲刺，因为我担心被挤在里面，但这次足够了，所以我对此很满意，因为终点前有很强的逆风。”
英国自行车协会（British Cycling）正通过劳合信英国巡回赛激励全国的骑手和粉丝，庆祝这项最大的免费观赛自行车赛事。请访问 britishcycling.org.uk
体育电视节目
飞镖：澳大利亚大师赛 ITV4, 30am
测试板球：英格兰 对 巴基斯坦 Sky Sports Cricket, 10.15pm
高尔夫：Nexo 锦标赛 Sky Sports Golf, 12. 30pm
高尔夫：宝马锦标赛 +, 3. 45pm
网球：ATP / WTA 辛辛那提赛 Tennis, 4pm
体操：欧洲锦标赛 BBC Two, 3pm
足球：阿森纳 对 考文垂 Premier Lge, 6. 30pm
田径：钻石联赛 洛桑站 BBC Two, 7. pm
英式橄榄球联赛：威根 对 韦克菲尔德 Action, 7. 30pm
赛事结果服务
足球
欧足联欧洲协会联赛资格赛
首轮首回合
Goal: 0 Hibernian 10 0
Hearts (1) 3 Rapid Flexion 10 2
Race Ten (2) 3 Wisber 50 International 75
Lincoln Rednepe (1) 0 Larva (1) 2
17 / 9 / 45 85 17 / 9 / 45 90
McDonnell (1) 1 Freiburg (1) 3
Charles-Crest 2 Gentler (2) 10 (点球)
Rangers (1) 1 Jablons (1) 0
Stalzer (1) 1 Jablons (1) 0
Hammock Powers (1) 1 KuPS (1) 5
Tennessee (1) 0 Pennzook 85
Trenton (1) 0 Brighton (1) 0
SKY BUY 英甲联赛
Shelf West (1) 0 Bradford (1) 5
Blackpool (1) 5
板球 郡冠军赛 - 第一组
约克郡冠军队，新路球场，约克郡
173 (0-2 轮, 6-7, 6-8, 6-9, 4-7, 5) 汉普郡 60-6 (36 轮)
莱斯特郡：格拉摩根，莱斯特 莱斯特郡
153-7 (0-2 )
萨默塞特：格洛斯特，汤顿 萨默塞特 268-9 (36 , 27 Thomas 133, H M Nicholls 68, T B Abell 102)
赫廷汉姆郡：格拉摩根，老路球场
赫廷汉姆郡 (0-6, 6-10, 6-10, 6-11, 6-12) 赫茨福德：吉列
Herts, T Leaver 5-4 (1 萨里 13-5 (3 ))
萨塞克斯 v 华威郡，埃奇巴斯顿：萨塞克斯 99 (0-2 )
第二组
达勒姆 v 德比郡，德比，达勒姆 102-8 (20 , 4-2 Leav 3 )
4-2 Leav 3
格洛斯特郡 v 伍斯特郡，切尔滕纳姆
格洛斯特郡 107-9 (4-1 , T W Boultman 3 )
北安普顿郡 v 兰开夏郡，老特拉福德
北安普顿郡 6-6 (16 )
肯特郡 v 米德尔塞克斯，诺斯伍德：肯特郡 359-6 (16 , 5-7, Northwood 85, Z Chomsky 85)
高尔夫
NESO 锦标赛 特朗普国际
高尔夫球场，AERIOIDENHORE，第一轮 (3-0-6, 10 )
unions stated for '22 89-14 (Celtic) (Goal 89-6 Baker 1) Neso (7-5, 8-7, 6-8) Gendle (2-0-6, 6-10) Goker
1 Neso (7-5, 8-7, 6-8) Gendle (2-0-6, 6-10) Goker (3-0-6, 6-10) (4-0-6, 6-10) (5-0-6, 6-10) (6-0-6, 6-10) (7-5, 8-7, 6-8) (8-7, 8-7, 6-8) (9-7, 9-7, 6-8) (10-7, 10-7, 6-8) (11-7, 11-7, 6-8) (12-7, 12-7, 6-8) (13-7, 13-7, 6-8) (14-7, 14-7, 6-8) (15-7, 15-7, 6-8) (16-7, 16-7, 6-8) (17-7, 17-7, 6-8) (18-7, 18-7, 6-8) (19-7, 19-7, 6-8) (20-7, 20-7, 6-8) (21-7, 21-7, 6-8) (22-7, 22-7, 6-8) (23-7, 23-7, 6-8) (24-7, 24-7, 6-8) (25-7, 25-7, 6-8) (26-7, 26-7, 6-8) (27-7, 27-7, 6-8) (28-7, 28-7, 6-8) (29-7, 29-7, 6-8) (30-7, 30-7, 6-8) (31-7, 31-7, 6-8) (32-7, 32-7, 6-8) (33-7, 33-7, 6-8) (34-7, 34-7, 6-8) (35-7, 35-7, 6-8) (36-7, 36-7, 6-8) (37-7, 37-7, 6-8) (38-7, 38-7, 6-8) (39-7,
39-7, 6-8) (40-7, 40-7, 6-8) (41-7, 41-7, 6-8) (42-7, 42-7, 6-8) (43-7, 43-7, 6-8) (44-7, 44-7, 6-8) (45-7, 45-7, 6-8) (46-7, 46-7, 6-8) (47-7, 47-7, 6-8) (48-7, 48-7, 6-8) (49-7, 49-7, 6-8) (50-7, 50-7, 6-8) (51-7, 51-7, 6-8) (52-7, 52-7, 6-8) (53-7, 53-7, 6-8) (54-7, 54-7, 6-8) (55-7, 55-7, 6-8) (56-7, 56-7, 6-8) (57-7, 57-7, 6-8) (58-7, 58-7, 6-8) (59-7, 59-7, 6-8) (60-7, 60-7, 6-8) (61-7, 61-7, 6-8) (62-7, 62-7, 6-8) (63-7, 63-7, 6-8) (64-7, 64-7, 6-8) (65-7, 65-7, 6-8) (66-7, 66-7, 6-8) (67-7, 67-7, 6-8) (68-7, 68-7, 6-8) (69-7, 69-7, 6-8) (70-7, 70-7, 6-8) (71-7, 71-7, 6-8) (72-7, 72-7, 6-8) (73-7, 73-7, 6-8) (74-7, 74-7, 6-8) (75-7, 75-7, 6-8) (76-7, 76-7, 6-8)
Goker (77-7, 77-7, 6-8) Goker (78-7, 78-7, 6-8) (79-7, 79-7, 6-8) (80-7, 80-7, 6-8) (81-7, 81-7, 6-8) (82-7, 82-7, 6-8) (83-7, 83-7, 6-8) (84-7, 84-7, 6-8) (85-7, 85-7, 6-8) (86-7, 86-7, 6-8) (87-7, 87-7, 6-8) (88-7, 88-7, 6-8) (89-7, 89-7, 6-8) (90-7, 90-7, 6-8) (91-7, 91-7, 6-8) (92-7, 92-7, 6-8) (93-7, 93-7, 6-8) (94-7, 94-7, 6-8) (95-7, 95-7, 6-8) (96-7, 96-7, 6-8) (97-7, 97-7, 6-8) (98-7, 98-7, 6-8) (99-7, 99-7, 6-8) (100-7, 100-7, 6-8)
Bacia (3.35, York)
Blizzard One
opposition in
the Palace of
Hollywoodhouse at
Royal Ascot. Three
picking against him
will say that was
only a handicap but
it was run in a faster
time than the Group
One King Charles III
Stakes was over the
same trip earlier in
the week.
约克礼品推荐
AL BASTI EQUINORLO-SUBAS GINCEACK STAKES
GROUP 3 (CLASS 1) (YTD 2) (YTD 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7) ( 8) ( 9) ( 10)
AGGAD AGGAD (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
(2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(5) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(7) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(8) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(9) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(10) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(11) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(12) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(13) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(14) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(15) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(16) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(17) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(18) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(19) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(20) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(21) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WEST 2-35
观点 16-22
电视 26-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
二月 50-56
2026年8月31日，星期五
51
体育矩阵
当日赛事概览
田径
亨特在斩获四枚金牌后享受宁静
网球
状态低迷的萨巴伦卡在辛辛那提出局
联盟橄榄球
沃尔特斯签署三年合同，激励圣海伦斯队
在一场艰苦的帆船赛中，一支船员队伍在一次即兴的野生动物救援行动中，救起了一只精疲力竭的海燕，而这只鸟试图加入该团队。在环英国和爱尔兰赛期间，这只鸟在距离诺福克海岸 70 英里的“英国士兵号”上出现，在英国陆军船员向考恩终点进发的同时，引发了一场协调救援行动。这名小乘客最初被命名为“小雷格”，随后被重新命名为“小雷吉娜”。
英国短跑运动员艾米·亨特在伯明翰创造历史，包揽欧洲锦标赛四项冠军后，渴望一段安静的时间。这位 24 岁（上图）的运动员成为首位在同一届欧洲锦标赛上赢得四枚金牌的运动员，其中包括两项短跑冠军和两项接力赛胜利。
亨特今晚将在洛桑钻石联赛的 200 米项目中再次出战，并正在学习如何从伯明翰赛后随之而来的关注中恢复过来。
“过去两天我的状态就像是，‘我不想和任何人说话，我不想开口，请不要跟我说话，’”亨特说，“但这一切都是我们工作的一部分。”
世界 No 1 阿里娜·萨巴伦卡在直落两盘输给萨拉·贝杰莱克后，在辛辛那提公开赛中被淘汰。
这位捷克选手在第四轮以 7-6(7), 6-4 击败了萨巴伦卡，这是她首次战胜种子选手。她将在四分之一决赛中面对麦迪逊·基斯，后者以 7-6(3), 6-4 击败了王曦雨，基斯曾是 2009 年的冠军。
这次失败延续了萨巴伦卡的低迷状态，她自 3 月以来尚未进入过决赛。这位白俄罗斯选手在月底卫冕美网冠军之前，面临失去世界第一排名的风险。
埃琳娜·里巴金娜以 6-4, 6-4 战胜迪亚娜·施耐德晋级八强，如果她能在本周末的辛辛那提赛中进入决赛，就有可能超越萨巴伦卡。
圣海伦斯队已宣布任命凯文·沃尔特斯为新任主教练，合同期为三年。沃尔特斯（左）目前是澳大利亚队的主教练，将在 10 月开始的 2026 年联盟橄榄球世界杯结束后，接管 Brewdog 体育场的球队。
在保罗·罗利 7 月卸任后，圣海伦斯队一直在寻找新主教练，并决定引进沃尔特斯，他曾在去年带领澳大利亚队以 3-0 系列赛横扫英格兰队。
沃尔特斯，58, 表示：“成功就是创造一个正确环境，让球员和工作人员享受训练和工作。”
谜题答案
多米诺骨牌
Journey Finder
Making Tracks
数字方格
Idoku
Kakuro
Wijuko
二进制
ABC逻辑
Zygolox
从左至右：cope, threat, dean, goat, deal, threat, steal, nick, neck, steam, peck, cream, nibble, vapour, pack.
每日测验
- The World Tonight
- Quoots
- 西班牙
- Stevie Wonder
词梯
Sudoku
拼图数独
数字六边形
周四代码字 4590
单词轮
九字母单词 SHAMBOLIC
其他单词 abolish, bash, blah, bash, cash, charmos, chaos, chasm, clash, catch, hail, hails, halo, hams, holism, holm, lash, loach, loch, macho, mash, milch, mocha, mosh, ohmic, sahib, schmo, shalom, sham, shim, shmo, shoal.
数字金字塔
杀手数独
扫雷
数字金字塔
Calcudoku
词方格
骑士巡游
路径寻找者
链式链接
Futoshiki
Hexalex
Word Fit
Cells
战舰
桥梁
单词搜索
五影 cryptic 纵横字谜
横向：3 Brie-fly, 5 / 6 Out in the cold* 纵向：1 Bro-O-ch, 2 Lett-u-c-e, 4 Lon(don)-Ely
52
体育
足球 切尔西
恩佐·费尔南德斯在季前赛期间遭到部分切尔西球迷的嘘声
阿隆索表示“满意”但费尔南德斯的未来尚不明确
作者：Robert O'Connor
切尔西主教练哈维·阿隆索表示，恩佐·费尔南德斯在回归季前赛训练以来表现出了良好的态度，但他不愿确认这名中场球员是否告诉过他希望留队。
费尔南德斯在阿根廷队闯入世界杯决赛后获得了额外的假期，于上周初报到参加训练，并在周六的一场友谊赛战胜皇家社会期间遭到了部分支持者的嘘声。
在费尔南德斯表达了离开斯坦福桥的意愿后，俱乐部在上赛季末为其标价 1.2 亿英镑m，但在上周五切尔西接受合理报价的截止日期过后，俱乐部的立场是他在此次转会窗口期间不予出售。
据了解，曼城仍有兴趣签下这位 2022 年世界杯冠军成员，并且仍可能出价，尤其是在罗德里本周完成向巴塞罗那的转会之后。
“恩佐是一名切尔西球员，一名顶尖中的顶尖球员，”阿隆索说道。“自从 10 天前开始训练以来，他训练得非常好，融入得很好。”
“他训练得非常好，我看到他态度积极，这正是我们想要的。”
在今年夏天签下九名一线队球员后，切尔西的账面上仍有大约 40 名成年球员，其中利亚姆·德拉普、托辛·阿达拉比奥约和尼古拉斯·杰克逊本周与主力阵容分开训练。
曼联
卡里克渴望“增强”实力，签下巴莱巴的努力正加速推进
作者：西蒙·皮奇（Simon Peach）
迈克尔·卡里克表示，随着注意力转向明天对阵升级球队赫尔的英超揭幕战，曼联正忙于增强他的球队阵容。
这位前红魔中场、队长兼教练在带领球队上赛季获得第三名并重返欧冠联赛后，获得了正式主教练的职位。
曼联在今年夏天通过签下尤里·蒂莱曼斯、安德烈·桑托斯和卡尔·达洛增强了阵容，但在7月中旬的那波签约热潮之后，再没有一线队球员加盟。
本周，他们加快了对布莱顿中场卡洛斯·巴莱巴的追求，据了解交易已接近达成，但仍有缺口需要填补，例如另一名左后卫。
当被问及具体位置时，卡里克（左）表示：“我认为我们正寻求增强阵容。”
“我们正朝着这个方向努力，充分利用现有情况，试图改善现状并向前推进。当然，我们正努力抓住机会，使我们在转会窗关闭时的状态比开启时更强，我认为到目前为止我们正朝着这个方向良好地发展。”
利物浦
范戴克：我们将向球迷证明我们愿意为队徽而战
作者：Carl Markham
范戴克坚称，利物浦在开启新赛季时并没有什么需要证明的，尽管上赛季在卫冕英超联赛冠军时的表现令人失望，并导致主教练阿尔内·斯洛特被解雇。
十二个月前，他们以五连胜开局，但比赛表现的性质掩盖了裂痕，而一旦伤病开始出现，这些裂痕便被严重暴露，导致他们在接下来的七场顶级联赛中输掉了六场。
这种状态给球队内部带来了不和谐，穆罕默德·萨拉在声称自己被当作替罪羊后，公开与斯洛特闹翻。
利物浦在56场比赛中输掉了19场（34%），在英超联赛的38场比赛中输掉了12场，仅比前三个赛季输掉的场数少一场。
萨拉、伊布拉希马·科拉特和安迪·罗伯逊已经离队——柯蒂斯·琼斯转会国际米兰的事宜尚在处理中——但大部分球员仍留在队中，仅签下了西班牙边锋维克多·穆诺兹和雷恩后卫杰里米·雅凯，以及租借而来的巴塞罗那中后卫罗纳德·阿劳霍。
新任主教练安多尼·伊拉奥拉的任务是恢复在斯洛特执教期间消失的高强度足球，并且可能需要进一步的补强。
“去年是不可接受的。我们有机会扭转局面，”范戴克（左）在周日对阵纽卡斯尔联的揭幕战前表示。
“我们知道这将多么艰难，但如果你不迎接挑战，那么你就不在正确的地方。每个人都准备好迎接挑战。我期待着这个赛季，而且我认为我们没有什么需要证明的。我们需要展示我们有多在乎，我们有多想为这个队徽而战，以及能为利物浦效力是多么荣幸。”
“如果我们继续努力、保持信念并展现我们的实力，我们可以非常兴奋。我们需要一支能够在四个战线同时竞争的阵容。”
阿森纳 对阵 考文垂城
作者：Philip Duncan
米克尔·阿尔特塔坚称，在阿森纳开始卫冕英超冠军之季时，他宁愿成为“被猎捕者而非猎人”。
枪手今晚将主场迎战升级球队考文垂城。而在94天前，曼城在对阵伯恩茅斯的比赛中战平，让这支北伦敦球队结束了长达22年的冠军等待。
阿森纳在进入新赛季时拥有两名重要签约——布鲁诺·吉马良斯和克里斯托斯·措利斯，总价为1.09 亿英镑m——第三名签约也迫在眉睫，预计将以£5的价格从阿斯顿维拉签下英格兰后卫埃里·科努斯。
阿尔特塔的球队被视为击退对手并首次在阿森纳历史上实现英超两连冠的大热门。
但当被问及是否认为自己的球队成为了众矢之的（背负目标）时，阿尔特塔表示：“今天还没有，因为我们是从零开始，我们需要证明我们具备再次回到那个位置的水平。”
“我们需要展现出那种渴望，以及比上赛季、一个月前、一周前变得更好的雄心。”
“在过去的三个赛季里，我们在某些时刻排名第一，在某些时刻则在追赶。你永远不知道哪种更好。”
“但如果让我选择，我想排名第一，我想被猎捕，我想掌控我们的未来，而不是依赖于别人。”
凭借比上赛季更强大的阵容，在结束了长达二十年的冠军等待压力后，且曼城正准备迎接后佩普·瓜迪奥拉时代，阿尔特塔被追问他是否认为更衣室现在能够主导联赛。
“这就是我们想要的，我保——”
全面变革：新规则旨在解决拖延时间问题
作者：Jamie Gardner
2026-27赛季英超联赛今晚开赛，冠军阿森纳将对阵新升级的考文垂城。
《i报》将探讨新的法律变更——以及我们在世界杯上看到但不会在英国足球中采用的一些调整。
拖延时间
上赛季，针对手抛球开球的“8秒规则”获得了广泛认可，而旨在减少拖延时间与干扰的努力现已在新的赛季中应用于比赛的其他领域。
裁判已收到指示，在他们认为球员在掷界外球和死球开球时耗时过长的情况下，将开始进行5秒倒计时——如果超过5秒限制，掷界外球的球权将反转，而球门球将变为角球。
导致比赛中断的球员受伤将要求该球员离开球场至少1分钟——此前为30秒。如果导致受伤的对抗结果为黄牌或红牌，或在其他特殊情况下，则不适用此规定。
英国足球还在试行一项旨在防止球队在守门员因伤倒地时采取战术性暂停的举措。在这种情况下，教练必须立即指定一名场上球员，该球员将在比赛重启后离开球场至少1分钟。
换人时间将限制在10秒内——如果一名球员离开球场的时间超过此限制，其替代球员将被禁止进入球场至少额外1分钟。
第二张黄牌
视频助理裁判（VAR）现在也将能够检查第二张黄牌，并在明显误判的情况下将其撤销。
然而，如果场上最初没有给出第二张黄牌，VAR不能介入建议给予第二张黄牌。
定位球
如果定位球在执行前被发现存在进攻方犯规，且该定位球导致了进球、点球或纪律处分，VAR现在可以介入并命令重新执行该定位球。
英超联赛足球原则
除了全球适用的比赛规则外，联赛还拥有一套自己的框架，规定其希望官员如何解读这些规则。这包括维持
10 球队将有10秒时间完成一次换人，若 1.6 或 2.0m 离开时间过长。法律要求将其延长至一分钟
新内容 2-36
观点 18-22
电视 28-31
周五 37-43
周一 44-47
体育 50-56
周五 2025年8月21日
53
“我们有能力进步，有能力进化，这就是我在俱乐部周围感知和感受到的一切”
“我用生命向你们保证情况确实如此，”他回答道。“但我们需要在球场上证明我们是否能做到这一点。”
“我们还需要呼吸，因为这将是一场漫长的马拉松。我们有能力进步，有能力进化，这就是我在俱乐部周围，尤其是球员周围感知和感受到的一切。”
阿森纳足球俱乐部在转会窗口最后11天仍可能加强其进攻选择——马德里竞技的胡利安·阿尔瓦雷斯（Julian Alvarez）仍在他们的关注范围内——同时预计将有多名球员离开。
加布里埃尔·热苏斯（Gabriel Jesus）、赖斯·尼尔森（Reiss Nelson）和法比奥·维埃拉（Fabio Vieira）都有可能被转会。加布里埃尔·马蒂内利（Gabriel Martinelli）的前景取决于是否会有左路前锋加盟。伊桑·恩瓦内里（Ethan Nwaneri）将被租借出去，但阿尔特塔排除了另一名19岁球员迈尔斯·刘易斯-斯凯利（Myles Lewis-Skelly）离开的可能性。
当被问及最近几周与切尔西和曼联都有传闻的刘易斯-斯凯利是否会在9月1日截止日期后留在阿森纳时，这位西班牙人表示：“百分之百会。”
尽管这位巴西人在上周日于卡迪夫举行的社区盾杯中，阿森纳以3-0大胜曼城后因右大腿问题被换下，但预计吉马良斯（Guimaraes）在今晚迎接弗兰克·兰帕德（Frank Lampard）率领的“天蓝军团”到访时将能够出战。
尤里安·廷贝尔（Jurrien Timber）因长期腹股沟问题继续缺阵，威廉·萨利哈（William Saliha）是另一名缺席者，这位中后卫仍在继续康复治疗在今年夏天世界杯期间遭受的背部伤势。
兰帕德：我们需要为艰难时刻做好准备
弗兰克·兰帕德承认，在今晚对阵冠军阿森纳足球俱乐部的英超联赛揭幕战之前，他的考文垂城队在本赛季需要为“更艰难的时刻”做好准备。
这位 48 岁的教练目前执掌其在顶级联赛中的第三家俱乐部。此前，他在切尔西有过两段执教经历，期间曾担任埃弗顿主教练，并在 2022 年带领该俱乐部成功保级。
“天蓝军团”在上赛季以冠军身份升入顶级联赛，共获得 95 分，领先于同样升级的亚军伊普斯维奇镇 11 分。
兰帕德表示，在远离顶级联赛 25 年后重返最高舞台，他此前在英超联赛的经验使他能够更好地应对本赛季球队可能面临的一些艰难时刻。
“由于我们现在面对的竞争，今年我们肯定会经历更艰难的时刻，”这位主教练（见下图）说道。“因此，我们在某些时刻需要韧性，在某些时刻需要冷静。”
“我职责的一个重要部分就是保持这种平衡。通过长期的球员生涯，以及在教练生涯中经历过一些非常辉煌的时刻和一些困难的时刻，我学会了这一点。”
“但作为一家俱乐部，在那些时刻我们需要团结一致。不过，我不想在事情发生之前显得过于消极。这只是一个我们需要做好准备面对的现实。”
“我在切尔西的第二段经历从公关角度来看对我来说并不太好。但在我的教练生涯中经历过好坏各种挑战后，这让我处于一个更好的位置来处理——不要过于亢奋，也不要过于低落——继续专注于你的工作，而且我现在比以前更擅长这样做。”
对判罚挑战设定了较高的门槛——尽管裁判主席霍华德·韦伯希望裁判在死球状态下的纠缠和拉拽行为上采取更坚决的立场。
联赛还希望维持 VAR 干预的高标准——上赛季英超联赛每场比赛的干预次数为 0.28 次，而欧冠联赛则为 0.51 次。
我们将不会看到的内容
国际足球联合会（FIFA）曾使用“身份误认”VAR 协议，在世界杯期间撤销犯规的黄牌，并将其重新指派给假摔的球员——其中最具争议的是在与阿根廷的四分之一决赛中，给瑞士球员布雷尔·恩博洛（Breal Embolo）出示了第二张黄牌。随后，足球比赛规则制定者国际足球协会理事会（IFAB）澄清，根据该协议，违规行为本身不能被审查或更改，只能更改违规者的身份。
值得庆幸的是，三分钟的补水休息时间也将不再出现——英超联赛仅在开球前温度超过 30 摄氏度时才会暂停进行冷却休息。
英超联赛还未采纳由 VAR 审查角球判罚，或对在面对对手时遮掩口部的球员出示红牌的选项。
其他事项？
为了进一步提高透明度，现在将允许在比赛转播中出现由裁判摄像头（Ref Cam）记录的裁判与球员之间的部分对话。支持者还将能够看到“关键比赛事件小组”的判定结果，该小组负责评估裁判和 VAR 对重大判决的执行是否正确。该小组的调查结果现在将在每轮比赛结束后约 10 天在英超联赛官方网站上公布。
X 平台上的 PL Match Centre 账号现在还将发布裁判和 VAR 的直接引语，以澄清比赛期间做出的重大决定和推翻原判的行为。
欧协联
伊布拉希姆·奥斯曼在布莱顿于挪威的一场平局中表现出色 GETTY
特罗姆瑟战平，海鸥军团主场考验艰巨
作者：Jim van Wijk
在昨晚于特罗姆瑟举行的欧协联附加赛首回合比赛中，布莱顿与霍夫阿尔比恩最终以0-0战平。
这支上赛季英超联赛排名第八、并将于周日在主场对阵阿斯顿维拉开启新赛季英超征程的“海鸥军团”创造了多次机会，但始终无法突破雅各布·豪加德的防线。在经历三次租借后迎来布莱顿首秀的易卜拉欣·奥斯曼在上半场表现活跃，而亚辛·阿亚里随后也迫使豪加德做出了一次扑救。
特罗姆瑟在比赛末段险些绝杀，但伊萨克·瓦德布的射门偏出。至此，两队在下周四于美克斯球场进行第二回合较量前维持平局。卢卡·武斯科维奇在从托特纳姆热刺以5.40m转会加盟后，在布莱顿的防线中首发，而同样的新援扎多克·约汉纳、帕斯卡尔·斯特鲁伊克、科斯蒂尼亚和迈克尔·斯沃博达均在替补席候命。近几周与曼联传出绯闻的卡洛斯·巴莱巴因脚踝受伤未能参赛，利物浦的目标人物扬莱巴·明莱同样缺阵。
布莱顿的球员们已承诺，将为407名前往北极圈观赛的随队球迷报销门票费用。在罗姆萨竞技场的合成草皮上，布莱顿开局积极。奥斯曼在后点的射门被伊萨克·达尔奎斯特挡出。
随后，这位21岁的加纳球员在抢在特罗姆瑟后卫之前时被达尔奎斯特铲倒，但点球申诉被裁判驳回。特罗姆瑟此前从欧联杯资格赛降级，目前在挪威超级联赛中排名第三，他们通过特洛伊·尼哈默和拉斯·奥尔登·拉森的快速反击制造威胁。奥斯曼再次发力，他用胸停球后直接凌空抽射，迫使豪加德做出一次精彩的反应扑救。上半场补时阶段，奥利维尔·博斯卡利的一次头球射门高出横梁。
下半场开始后，特罗姆瑟迅速发起进攻，拉森接应前场传球单刀直入，但巴特·费布鲁根及时出击完成一次精彩扑救。布莱顿重新掌控局面，阿亚里的斜向射门再次被豪加德化解。
在最后20分钟，海鸥军团主教练法比安·许尔策尔试图通过换人刷新阵容，查拉兰波斯·科斯图拉斯和阿马里奥·科齐尔-杜贝里分别替换了迭戈·戈麦斯和马利克·亚莱苏耶。两名替补球员随后展开配合，科斯图拉斯在接应科齐尔-杜贝里的传中时头球偏出。比赛还剩3分钟时，特罗姆瑟再次反击，但瓦德布未能完成终结。
在其他赛场，格拉斯哥流浪者在伊布罗克斯球场1-0小胜捷克球队亚布洛内茨，在一周内取得两场胜利。瑞安·纳德里在下半场早段打入进球，而卡米·德夫林在比赛还剩15分钟时被红牌罚下。
哈茨在泰恩卡斯尔球场2-2战平维也纳快速，奥地利客队尼古劳斯·武姆布兰德在比赛还剩11分钟时扳平比分。爱丁堡死敌希伯尼安在比利时客场0-0战平根特。马瑟韦尔虽然通过里根·查尔斯-库克早早取得领先，但因马丁·穆尔曼被罚下，最终在主场1-3负于弗赖堡。拉恩2-0战胜林肯红鹦鹉。
瑞安·纳德里在两场流浪者比赛中打入的第二粒进球足以锁定胜局
54
体育
板球首场测试赛
冷静的考克斯抓住机会，证明自己并非这支英格兰队的临时替代者
巴基斯坦
171
英格兰 布鲁克 10, 考克斯 73, 鲁特 66, 劳伦斯 52, 乌斯曼 5-91
366-8
Chris Stocks
板球记者 驻海丁诺利（HEJDRNOLLY）
在这些年来我采访过的数百名板球运动员中，很少有人像乔丹·考克斯（Jordan Cox）那样如此从容且自信。
我第一次见到他是在 2024 年 4 月，在他签约埃塞克斯（Essex）俱乐部后的季前媒体日上。人们常说，自信与傲慢之间只有一线之隔，而考克斯在这一界限上行走得极其危险。
然而，你无需怀疑，他深信自己命中注定要参加国际板球比赛。
两年前，他在 21 岁时被英格兰队征召参加在巴基斯坦的 T20 巡回赛。他当时没有上场，对于一名认为自己机会来得太晚而感到不幸的球员来说，这是他多次与机会擦肩而过的开始。
在我们于切姆斯福德（Chelmsford）会面七个月后，考克斯准备在新西兰迎来他的测试赛首秀，接替决定缺席此次巡回赛以陪伴首胎出生的杰米·史密斯（Jamie Smith）担任守门员。
在一个阴沉的周日早晨，在英格兰队与总理十一队（Prime Minister's XI）热身赛最后一天之前的皇后镇，我与其他几名英国记者一起坐在一个便携式房车（Portakabin）里，采访教练布伦-
海丁利（Headingley）计分板
第一场测试赛
沃恩称其为一名真正的球员，且与德维利尔相似
作者：Rory Dollard
在乔丹·考克斯（Jordan Cox）的首个半世纪得分帮助英格兰队掌控对阵巴基斯坦队的第一场测试赛后，迈克尔·沃恩（Michael Vaughan）对他给予了认可，称其为一名“真正的球员”。
在海丁利（Headingley），主队取得了 195 分的领先优势。在因雨缩短的第二天结束时，英格兰队在还剩两个三柱门的情况下得分 366 分，前六名球员中有四人得分超过 50 分。
世界排名第一的击球手哈里·布鲁克（Harry Brook）以仅 93 个球拿到 91 分，成为最高得分者；回归的队长乔·鲁特（Joe Root）表现一如既往地稳健，获得 66 分；而丹·劳伦斯（Dan Lawrence）在回归后的起伏击球中奋战获得 51 分。
但引起前英格兰队长沃恩关注的是考克斯，他在仅第二次参加测试赛时就被提升到了 3 号这个核心位置。这位来自埃塞克斯（Essex）的球员在 100 次击球中击得 73 分，击出 11 次边界球，并展现出了掌控比赛节奏的能力。
“考克斯是我今日的选择。他看起来就像一名真正的球员，”沃恩说道。
“他看起来时间充裕，今天他打出的两三个球让我想起了（南非名将）AB·德维利尔（AB de Villiers）。”
“那些穿过掩护区的击球——而且他击中的球质量很高——还有一两次穿过中腿区的击球……他是一名真正的球员。”
考克斯在最高舞台上的机会来之不易。在训练中拇指骨折，且雅各布·贝塞尔（Jacob Bethell）在顺位上超过他之后，他错过了原定于 2024 年的首秀。
乔丹·考克斯帮助英格兰队将比赛局势从疲软的巴基斯坦队手中夺回
现在他迎来了第二次机会，并且似乎准备充分利用这次机会，他对自己要求更高，而不是满足于在 3 号位置上留下一个强有力的第一印象。
“我让自己有点失望，但归根结底，拿到 70 多分是不错的，不是吗？如果在测试赛开始时，我会接受这个成绩，”他说。
“但关键是要尽可能地把脚伸进那扇门并将其撞开。一旦我开始击球，我很快就达到了 60 分，当时我在想，‘如果我能保持自律，一个球一个球地打，这里就有机会’。”
“我脑子里确实在想，‘你已经这么努力了，不要放弃这个机会’。这正是我在郡级比赛中的做法——基本上就是看我需要打多少分，然后以此为目标努力。”
新闻 2-21
观点 18-22
电视 26-31
周五 17-23
周一 44-47
体育 50-56
2025年8月21日，星期五
55
也不要排除他在明年夏天的灰烬杯（Ashes）中担任开局击球手的可能性，因为考克斯在两年前转会至埃塞克斯之前，曾在肯特（Kent）队担任开局击球手。
贝塞尔在伤愈回归后，如果盖伊（Gay）不能证明自己是长期人选，也可能是那个开局位置的竞争者。不过，在那之前，英格兰队可以让考克斯在本系列赛中继续留在目前的位置。
他无疑极具天赋，今年 6 月在代表埃塞克斯对阵莱斯特郡（Leicestershire）的比赛中，他用 201 个球击得 204 分，这使得他被英格兰队选中参加在椭圆球场（Oval）对阵新西兰队的测试赛。事实上，自从他从肯特转会到切姆斯福德（Chelmsford）以来，他在一级板球赛中的平均分是 68。
在今年的印度超级联赛（IPL）期间，他效力于皇家挑战者班加罗尔队，期间与维拉特·科利（Virat Kohli）建立了友谊，并在南伦敦的那场测试赛首秀前寻求过科利的建议。
这位在击球区具有破坏性打击能力的球员被比作南非名将 AB·德维利尔，看来在可预见的未来，他注定将继续与该项运动的顶尖精英们并肩作战。
考克斯暗示，那些在没有彻底击垮对手的情况下进入击球区的人，集体感到错失了机会，但巴基斯坦队已经需要巨大的反转才能重新获得竞争力。
哈里·布鲁克的 91 分是他自 2025 年 7 月以来的 17 场比赛中的最高测试赛得分。
“今天我们有四个人得到了 50 分，所以我们中可能有一个人本可以继续冲分。”
“每支球队和每位球员都希望在测试赛中拿到百分分，今天我们有四个人拿到了50分，所以我们中可能有人本可以继续突破，”他在谈到主场球员未能有人达到三位数得分时说道。
“与其仅仅拿到一百分，不如争取拿到150、160、170分，这绝对能让我们处于更有利的局面。”
“我还不够[满意]！希望我们能再拿一个50分，然后我们就可以开始进行球权工作了。”
一级方程式赛车
罗素在重新发起追赶安东内利的挑战时选择审慎起步
作者：Scott Hunt
乔治·罗素（George Russell）打算信任自己的直觉，以让自己重新回到一级方程式赛车的冠军争夺战中，并反超队友基米·安东内利（Kimi Antonelli）。
这位英国车手在车阵中占据主导地位的赛车中一直无法与他 19 岁的梅赛德斯队友相匹敌，在安东内利获得 6 次胜利的情况下，他仅赢了 2 次；他在承认表现未达到预期之余，也抱怨自己的运气不佳。
这位 28 岁的车手将在本周末的赞德福特站结束这项运动的夏季休赛期回归，此时他落后于这位意大利车手 59 分，且落后于法拉利的刘易斯·汉密尔顿（Lewis Hamilton） 9 分。
罗素希望利用这次重启的机会，让自己的夺冠进程重回正轨。
“我完全放松了。赛季下半场对我们所有人来说都将非常激烈，所以我充分利用了这几周的时间，”罗素说道。
“我认为每个比赛周末都至关重要，你需要建立起那种势头。有很多三连赛，我们现在才处于赛季的中点。”
“之前的三场比赛由于不同的原因而十分艰难。我期待重新开始，并希望找回良好的状态。”
“我不想过度思考，要信任我的能力，并更多地凭直觉驾驶。这也许是我在休赛前没有做到的。”
罗素利用夏季停赛期在个人生活中做出了重大决定，与他的长期伴侣卡门（Carmen）订婚。
在与同胞兰多·诺里斯（Lando Norris）并肩而坐时，罗素承认他
乔治·罗素在休赛后回归，落后基米·安东内利 59 分
“我不想过度思考，要信任我的能力，并更多地凭直觉驾驶”
希望他的喜讯能给赛道表现带来好运。
“我希望这能带来零点几个秒的提升。如果能提升零点几个秒，即使是兰多也会去订婚的！”罗素开玩笑说。
“个人生活非常重要。我和卡门在一起已经很长时间了，所以我认为这不会带来巨大的改变。”
“设计戒指之类的过程非常有趣。不过我当时说不出话来，单膝跪地的时候非常紧张。”
维斯塔潘在与红牛续约至2030年后表示：我绝不会加入其他任何车队
作者：Alan Baldwin
马克斯·维斯塔潘在同意将合同延长至2030, 后，希望在红牛车队度过其一级方程式赛车生涯。这位荷兰人承认，他更有可能离开这项运动，而不是加入另一支车队。
这位四届冠军此前曾与梅赛德斯和迈凯伦传出绯闻，但在本周末他的家乡荷兰大奖赛前宣布新协议后，他淡化了这些传闻。
“我认为我离退休比离更换车队更近，”这位28岁的车手透露。
维斯塔潘并不喜欢这项运动的新工程师，也不喜欢由于电力组件增加而导致赛车必须采取的驾驶方式。在本赛季初，他就明确表示自己正在权衡选择。
他在赛季初告诉车队负责人劳伦特·梅基斯（Laurent Mekies）不要讨论未来，因为他不知道自己是否想留在这项运动中。
这位在整个F1职业生涯中一直效力于红牛的车手表示，他与管理机构国际汽联（FIA）以及这项运动的管理层进行了良好的讨论，现在期待未来的规则变更以及2030年V8发动机可能回归。
维斯塔潘（右）表示，他接受目前赛车性能存在的问题，相信未来能重返顶峰，并补充说，如果能在这个能量饮料品牌车队结束职业生涯，那将是一个伟大的故事。
车队还允许他追求F1之外的兴趣，例如耐力赛，并且公开讨论所有事项。
“我从未感觉到想要更换车队、尝试在其他地方获胜的欲望或需求，”他解释道。“如果我在目前的车队感觉很好，为什么要离开？”
维斯塔潘重申，红牛就像他的第二个家庭，是他效力了10年的车队。他与一年多前接替克里斯蒂安·霍纳（Christian Horner）的梅基斯保持着良好的关系。
“我一直这么说，在迪特里希（Dietrich [Mateschitz]，创始人）还活着的时候我就说过，我的目标和宗旨是在这支车队结束我的职业生涯。我们正接近这个目标。当然，前面还有很多年，但这仍然是目标。这就是为什么我为续约感到非常自豪，并且当然会尝试重返顶峰。”
梅基斯补充说，这次续约真实地证明了车队对其顶级车手的信任。
“对我们来说，他不仅仅是世界上最快的车手，”梅基斯说。“我们已经说过很多次了。他是车队的中心点。在我们做出所有战略决策时，他始终是我们参考的对象。”
“得知他将与我们在一起，共同构建下一个获胜周期，这太棒了。”
体育
《i报》
23 AUGUST 2026
The iPaper Sport @TheiPaperSport
英国环赛 Wiebes的胜利 让对手 毫无头绪
足球 格拉斯哥流浪者队 在附加赛中险胜 布莱顿则以 0-0战平
“我宁愿被猎杀
也不愿成为猎人”
阿尔特塔在阿森纳 今晚开始卫冕赛前 信心十足
10秒换人、 计时界外球
所有即将生效的 英超联赛 新规则
PS2
球迷团体呼吁因凡蒂诺辞职
作者：杰米·加德纳（Jamie Gardner）
全球范围内的支持者团体发起了一项请愿，呼吁国际足球联合会（Fifa）主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺（Gianni Infantino）辞职，并对该组织进行全面改革。
这位瑞士人目前面临压力，此前他被迫放弃了寻求私人投资成立一家公司来运营 Fifa 赛事（包括男女世界杯）的计划。
上周，三个洲际足联在公开信中指责因凡蒂诺在制定该计划的方式上存在“欺骗”行为；而欧洲足球协会联盟（Uefa）在对因凡蒂诺的领导力“失去信心”后，仍坚持抵制 的活动。
这位 56 岁的领导人在非洲和南美洲仍保有支持，但球迷组织已敦促他下台，并在 change.org 网站上发起了一项请愿。
球迷组织的声明中写道：“一个人——即 主席本人——试图将世界杯出售给私人投资者的可耻行径，揭露了一场足球界永远不会忘记的背叛。”
“因凡蒂诺的计划是在秘密中拼凑而成的。在闭门会议中协商。对 自身的成员以及数百万热爱足球的人们隐瞒。”
个体球迷正被鼓励签署该请愿书，目前该请愿已获得 所有六个足联的支持。
在球迷组织看来，私人投资者计划是压死骆驼的最后一根稻草，此前 还参与了关于欧洲超级联赛的讨论，以及在今年夏天世界杯上的票价问题。
声明继续写道：“一个反复背叛足球并嘲弄我们这项运动的主席，已经失去了领导它的权利。为了 的公信力，他必须辞职。”
该请愿呼吁球迷和利益相关者参与到塑造这项运动未来的决策中。
THE i PAPER
IMPARTIAL NEWS + INTELLIGENT DEBATE
£1.10
Friday 21 August 2026
No. 4,913
theipaper.com
TELEVISION
Comedy of the year
Ann Droid is perfect - that's why it shouldn't come back
OPINION
Julie Burchill
I deserve every penny of my benefits - most people don't
IN DEPTH
The vicious Reform power struggle engulfing Farage's top team
P9
WORLD
I want to live for ever The billionaires trying to cheat death
P23
CULTURE
Sussexes fly back to UK without a deal for taxpayer funded security
But police protection negotiations may reopen due to permanent residency
- Prince Harry's surprise return to Britain opens door to reintegration into Royal Family - but hurdles lie ahead
- The King, blindsided when told on Sunday, can now rebuild relationship with Duke and Duchess without allowing them to undertake official royal duties
- PM says security arrangements are 'private matter'
- Royal sources say they will remain private individuals, not publicly-funded representatives of the monarchy
Plus Jennie Bond: This will split Royal Family in two
P6
EXCLUSIVE
Burnham plans £13bn boost to foreign aid
P10
EXCLUSIVE
MP behind plan to keep Commons staff secret ... forgot to mention he employs his wife
P10
LIFE
I haven't had a good night's sleep for 10 years. How I cope with insomnia, by Huge Davies
P35
AGATHA CHRISTIE'S HIDDEN DARK SIDE P40 | WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON, ETHEL FROM SURREY, HITS 117 P15 | PUZZLES P27
FRIDAY
AUGUST
Quote of the day
Realism has no more to do with reality than anything else ELSE HOB BROUN
Birthdays
Kim Cattrall (below) actress. 70, Peter Weir, director. 82, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. 63, Sen Tankian, musician. 59, Usain Bolt. Olympic sprinter. 40, Robert Lewandowski. Polish footballer. 38, Kacey Musgraves, country singer. 38, Paul Chowdhry, comedian. 52
Anniversaries
Monday 21 August 1911 Leonardo da Vinci's Mono Lisa is stolen from Paris's Louvre Museum. Vincenzo Peruggia, an ex-employee, hid the painting for more than two years, believing it belonged in Italy. Its disappearance caused a sensation and dramatically increased the painting's fame.
index
| Crossword | 25 |
|---|---|
| TV & Radio | 26 |
| Puzzles | 27 |
| Music | 37 |
| Money | 44 |
| Weather | 49 |
The News Matrix
The day at a glance
COURTS
Man guilty of murder of estranged wife
A man has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife. Norfolk Police said Raymond Williams, 61, had gone from venue to venue in Norwich looking for Tania Williams, 40, who was on a night-out on 17 January this year. Her cause of death was given as blood loss resulting from wounds to the neck.
POLICE
Bus driver arrested after boy, 14, dies
A bus driver has been arrested after a 14-year-old boy died after being hit by the vehicle. The accident happened on The Hard in Portsmouth on Monday afternoon, Hampshire Constabulary said. The force added: "The boy was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and has since sadly passed away."
PEOPLE
Celtic fan dies after falling ill at match
A Celtic supporter has died after being taken ill while at Wednesday's Champions League home win over LASK of Austria. A statement from the club read: "It is with real sadness that we confirm that one of our supporters has passed away after becoming ill during last night's match. Despite the efforts of medical staff, tragically, he died in hospital."
EMPLOYMENT
Swinney wants jobs at shipyard saved
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has said ministers "do not want to see" compulsory redundancies at Ferguson Marine in Glasgow.
The publicly owned shipyard announced plans this week to shed up to 70 staff through a voluntary redundancy scheme, blaming an "inevitable gap" in work as it prepares to hand over the second of two delayed and over-budget ferries.
The Scottish Government has a policy barring compulsory redundancies in the public sector and Swinney said he would like to see the same applied to the workforce at the Port Glasgow yard.
SCOTLAND
Reform leader back after cancer surgery
Reform UK's Scottish leader has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer on the day of the Holyrood election in May. Malcolm Offord said it "wasn't the best day", but after having surgery last week he was "raring to go". Offord has set his sights on winning a majority in Scotland in 2003.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Unionist Butler is new Health Minister
Ulster Unionist Robbie Butler has become Stormont's Health Minister. The Lagan Valley MLA replaces Mike Nesbitt who resigned amid a fallout with UUP leader Jon Burrows over the proposed withdrawal of emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Co Londonderry.
FILM
Stars give voice to 'Shaun the Sheep'
TV presenter Roman Kemp and award-winning actor Paul Whitehouse (left) are among the voice cast for Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mercy Bottom. The third feature film in the franchise will also feature a new remix of the theme song "Life's a Treat" by hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks.
CAMEROON
President returns after 10 weeks away
Cameroon's president Paul Biya returned home yesterday after his longest recorded stay abroad since taking power more than four decades ago, ending months of speculation about his health and whereabouts. The 93-year-old leader arrived aboard a chartered flight from Geneva, Switzerland, after more than 10 weeks away.
IRELAND
Zuckerberg 'excited' over castle purchase
Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are "excited" to care for Strancally Castle in Co Waterford after buying the property, a spokesman for them has said.
The Meta chief executive bought the three-storey Gothic-style house from the prominent Anglo-Irish Alen-Buckley family.
It is not known how much Zuckerberg paid for the property.
The spokesman for Zuckerberg said: "Mark and his family are excited to continue caring for this historic home and look forward to spending time in Ireland, where Meta maintains its international headquarters [in Dublin]."
The Page 3 Profile
DALE WHERTON, A MAN BUILT TO SUCCEED
Bricking it...
Britain has a new UK and European champion. In bricklaying
Construction tutor Dale Wherton, 35, wowed on lockers by laying 859 bricks in just one hour. That's one brick, with suitably spread mortar, every 4.2 seconds.
It left him the undisputed winner of the 'Super Trowel' competition in St Albans, seeing off 15 other contests nts.
What's more, his efforts at the so-called 'superbowl of bricklaying' set a new European record.
Never throw in the trowel.
Wherton, who spent 20 years as a bricks before turning to teaching said it was a 'dream come true'
As soon as I put a trowel in my hand at college I knew that was what I was going to do for the rest of my working career.
To prepare for the big day, Wherton, from Derby, used special 'training mortar' which doesn't set so he can practice as much as he wants without wasting bricks.
The Super Trowel event is billed as 'the ultimate bricklaying competition' and aims to showcase the very best in the business.
Wall-to-wall success
Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, Wherton won regional titles but knew he could 'offer more'.
He switched to teaching six months ago to focus on his training.
Having won in the UK, he is off to the US, to Las Vegas to compete in the Spec Mix brickwork 500 competition in January, and is hoping to be the second Englishman ever to win.
'Going to Vegas to compete is what I've dreamed of doing since I was 15,' he said.
His advice to other brickies hoping to follow in his footsteps? Focus on 'consistency and stamina'.
Flora Symington
GERMANY
Woman dies after tree falls in storm
A woman died and at least two other people were injured as severe storms caused extensive damage across parts of Germany.
In Waldorf, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, a woman was struck by a falling tree and fatally injured. Another woman suffered serious injuries in the accident, police said.
The women, 58 and 47, were walking together when a storm rolled in and they sought shelter under a covered seating area.
Both were struck when a tree was uprooted and fell on top of them.
The 58-year-old died at the scene, a police spokesperson said.
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The List
Favourite musical songs to sing at home
Fans of musicals often enjoy belting out show tunes at home, with 25 per cent regularly listening to soundtracks. Marella Cruises found that more than one in five of those questioned had sung songs from musicals in the shower and just one in 10 said they were "not musical people". The favourite musical songs were:
1 "Dancing Queen" (Mamma Mia) 2 "Mamma Mia" (Mamma Mia) 3 "Circle of Life" (The Lion King) 4 "Let It Go" (Frozen) 5 "We Will Rock You" (We Will Rock You) 6 "Hakuna Matata" (The Lion King) 7 "You're the One That I Want" (Grease) 8 "The Winner Takes it All" (Mamma Mia) 9 "Time Warp" (The Rocky Horror Show) 10 "Defying Gravity" (Wicked)
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3
MUSIC
Sparks working on new studio album
Sparks singer Russell Mael has revealed his band are working on a new studio album. The American duo, formed in the late-1960s by Mael and his brother, keyboard player Ron, released their first live album as a full band in Live on the Moon earlier this month and put out their 28th studio album just last year.
TECHNOLOGY
Cinemas to ban or restrict Meta glasses
Many cinemas are banning or restricting the use of Meta glasses due to privacy and piracy concerns, an industry group has said. Cinemas have become the latest industry to clamp down on use of the smart glasses after action from pub operators and theatres in recent weeks.
SPORT
Verstappen signs new Red Bull deal
Max Verstappen has put an end to speculation over his Formula One future by signing a new long-term contract with Red Bull. The four-time world champion's future has dominated the agenda throughout the season amid Red Bull's indifferent form and his unhappiness at the sport's new rules. PAGE55
PEOPLE
Kudrow rejected for other 'Friends' role
Actress Lisa Kudrow has revealed she was rejected for the role of Rachel Green on Friends because she "wouldn't work as the romantic interest". Kudrow went on to be part of the famous six that appeared in the 90s sitcom and won an Emmy playing Phoebe Buffay. Jennifer Aniston starred in the Rachel role.
Letter from the Political Editor
Caroline Wheeler
c@theipaper.com
Aid budget could be Burnham's first test
Andy Burnham has built his brief premiership on a simple promise: that his Government will do what is right, not merely what is easy. The question of Britain's aid budget will show whether that promise survives contact with reality and the Treasury's spreadsheets.
That Burnham and his Foreign Secretary have privately signalled support for restoring the 0.7 per cent aid target is unsurprising.
Both have long track records as instinctive internationalists and supporters of the target. It is also, politically, the path of least resistance.
Backbenchers who never forgave Kerr Starmer and Rachel Reeves for raiding the aid budget to fund defence spending would welcome its reversal. It would also restore Britain's standing among the world's poorest nations, and reassert the internationalist tradition that many in the party feel Starmer abandoned.
But popularity with the back benches may not be met with the same level of enthusiasm among the public at large.
It is also not necessarily synonymous with fiscal responsibility. The £13bn price tag the Institute for Fiscal Studies attaches to a full restoration is not trivial at a time when public services are already being asked to do more with less, and when tax rises or further spending cuts elsewhere would be the inevitable price of the switch.
The choice, therefore, is not between doing what is right and doing what is easy, but between competing ideas of what 'right' means.
Burnham will need to demonstrate that restoring aid can be justified not only as an expression of Labour values, but as a credible investment in Britain's interests and global influence.
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4
NEWS
HEALTH
Heart disease in men linked to higher risk of developing cancer
By Storm Newton
Men with heart disease face a higher risk of developing and dying from cancer, a study has suggested.
The “primary drivers” behind cases in men were smoking, obesity and drinking too much alcohol, researchers said, with the link most pronounced in lung and oesophageal cancers.
Experts called for “more to be done” to manage risks, such as targeted screening.
The study found the lifetime risk of developing cancer among those with cardiovascular disease (CVD) was higher in men (17.3 per cent) compared with women (12.8 per cent).
In those without CVD, the risk of cancer was 10.2 per cent for men and 8.2 per cent for women.
Dr Tiberiu Pana, specialty registrar in cardiology at NHS Grampian, said: “We found that cancer incidence and death were higher in peo-
ple with cardiovascular disease than in those without – a relationship we already knew a bit about.
“However, through looking at this large patient group over a very long period of time we were able to examine it more thoroughly.
“We have identified clear differences between men and women across a range of factors in those with cardiovascular disease and all types of cancer.”
Further analysis of cancers outside the reproductive system found that people with heart disease faced higher rates of gastric, oesophageal, lung, bowel and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Dr Rosa Thuemmler, of the University of Aberdeen, said: “We found that men had a higher incidence of both getting cancer in the first place and sadly, also in dying from it, and this was particularly true among people with cardiovascular disease.”
The DJ said his ‘world was turned upside down’ after the diagnosis WIREIMAGE
PEOPLE
Nelson had surgery for brain tumour
By Carla Feric
The BBC Radio 2 DJ Trevor Nelson has revealed he had “very serious surgery” after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, but says he is now “on the mend”.
The broadcaster, 62, took a break from work commitments in June to deal with “health issues”.
In a social media post yesterday, Nelson said his “world was turned upside down” when he found out he had the tumour.
The radio star explained he had spent the last month “recuperating, resting, and recovering after surgery, which went incredibly well” – and that he hoped to return to work soon.
UNIVERSITIES
Man who first accused Arday is suspended
By Ben Sutherland
An academic who made plagiarism allegations against Professor Jason Arday before his death has been suspended by a university.
Arday resigned from his role at the University of Cambridge this month after he faced intense scrutiny over accusations of plagiarism initially made by fellow academic Nathan Cofnas.
Cofnas, who has advocated for “race realism”, is a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University’s department of philosophy.
In a post on X, he said: “I am under investigation by my university for discriminating against Arday.”
He added: “I was just suspended by Ghent University. They will almost certainly fire me.”
Ghent University confirmed his suspension after saying Arday’s death “should prompt reflection”, adding that the institution “opposes discrimination, hatred and racism”.
The university said that while it supported academic freedom and open academic debate, “freedom is not unlimited and goes hand in hand with responsibility”.
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5
Prehistoric roots on show
Gardeners tend to a 'Parasaurolophus', one of the dinosaurs to have made its home inside the Eden Project's rainforest biome this summer.
The Cornwall site's dinosaur attraction returned after more than a decade, but in an expanded form – with 15 dinosaurs and flying reptiles dotted around one of world's largest indoor rainforests.
They include a 40ft 'Tyrannosaurus rex', modelled after the dinosaur's real-life proportions.
The 'Dinosaur World Live' theatre show is also part of the attraction, which runs until 6 September. WILLIAM DAVIS/ANS
LITERATURE
Follow along as rizzless Pip gains aura – in a Gen Alpha 'Great Expectations'
By Flora Symington
When a classic novel is updated into modern-day language, the aim is usually to help younger readers get to grips with the original text.
It might therefore surprise readers of an older generation to hear that a new, heavily abridged version of Great Expectations written in Gen Alpha slang has been published to help them understand their children, rather than the other way around.
Bare Expectations, released as a 35-minute audiobook on podcasting platforms with an accompanying glossary, reimagines the Charles Dickens (inset) classic using some of the most common words or phrases used by today's teenagers.
In the translation the protagonist Pip laments that his name is without much 'rizz', and the convict Magwitch is described as 'absolutely clapped' with 'no aura'.
The new text was devised in partnership with Chloe Combi, an expert on Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Combi said: 'Teenage slang is evolving at an unprecedented pace. A word can emerge as a social media craze one day and become everyday language the next.
'Bare Expectations funnily shows how much communication has evolved by translating a familiar story into today's youth language, helping parents to understand their children's world and to start more confident conversations.'
The project comes as research by
New slang No cap: words to stop you giving unc
Here are some of the words and phrases used in Bare Expectations
Gyatt An expression of excitement, most often on seeing a nice bottom
Clapped Ugly
Aura Being cool
Finsta A secret Instagram account
Mewing Holding your tongue
against the roof of your mouth to define your jawline
Mogging Looking noticeably better than someone else
Tesco Mobile, which commissioned the work, found that 84 per cent of parents had admitted struggling to understand their children due to the ever-changing teenage slang.
The study also found that 41 per
Skibidi A nonsense/meme term meaning something is weird, chaotic or silly
Rizz Charisma
No cap Not lying
NPC Someone who seems unoriginal or lacking independent thought, short for non-player character
Bussin Something that's very good
Unc An older person (derogatory), from the word uncle
Slimed Killed
Glazing Overly praising
cent of parents whose children use slang had looked up a word, abbreviation or emoji at least once a week.
'Gyatt', 'finsta' and 'mewing' were among the words causing most confusion to parents.
TELEVISION
Lineker's life to play out in documentary
By Sean O'Grady
Gary Lineker's life and career will be explored in a four-part docuseries on Prime Video set to air next year.
Tentatively titled Lineker, the series will tell the story of the former footballer's life and 50-year career in sport and broadcasting.
The show will feature archive footage from Lineker's early years, including his childhood in Leicester.
There will also be insights from the star himself as well as interviews with family members, fellow footballers and critics.
Executive producer Nat Lippiett said: 'The World Cup hero, the Match of the Day presenter, the activist or even the face of crisps – for decades he has been at the centre of the national conversation.'
Fellow executive producer Dan Grabiner said: 'This series goes beyond the headlines to reveal the many sides of one of Britain's most recognisable and divisive figures, with candid insight from Gary himself and those closest to both his triumphs and controversies.'
SOCIETY
The ride was dubbed 'The Big Tipper' before reverting back to just 'Titanic'
Titanic ride 'not disrespectful to victims'
By Flora Symington
A couple who run a Titanic-themed slip-n-slide ride in Hertfordshire have defended the name after online critics claimed it was 'disrespectful' to those who died.
The ride was built last year at Gravely Fruit Farm near Hitchin. One side of the boat-shaped ride lifts up, allowing revellers to slide back down the other end.
The Titanic collided with an iceberg in 1912 and sank with around 1,500 people aboard drowning.
Comments on Facebook branded the ride 'distasteful' and 'offensive' to the memory of the victims, prompting the owners to change the name to The Big Tipper last year.
Owner Tim Franklin said: 'We then got considerably more people telling us not to give into the 'wokes', so we changed it back to Titanic.
'As far as I'm aware it has offended only a handful of people,' he said.
'Titanic has become almost a by-word. There are no survivors, or children of survivors, alive today.'
SCOTLAND
Campaign butters up Unesco for roll status
By Flora Symington
A campaign to get Scottish morning rolls recognised on Unesco's Living Heritage list has been backed by the country's Green Party.
Holly Bruce, Scottish Greens MSP for Glasgow Southside, has launched a parliamentary motion calling for 'recognition of the morning roll as a unique food group'.
Launching the motion yesterday, Bruce said: 'It is an iconic Scottish product that has been treasured for generations and woven into the fabric of everyday life across the country. I'm really proud to be backing the call for it to have Unesco status.
'It has been part of our breakfasts, our bakeries, our communities and our traditions for hundreds of years – and it has been around longer
Scottish morning rolls: a campaign wants them on a heritage list
than France has had the baguette,' she said.
The French baguette received Unesco recognition in 2022.
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr criticised Bruce's motion, telling The Times that Bruce 'should be focusing on what truly impacts people's lives every day if she is serious about representing her Glasgow Southside constituents'.
6
NEWS
COVER STORY
Sussexes returning to UK without a
By Lizzie Dearden, Alannah Francis and Caroline Wheeler
Harry and Meghan are returning to the UK without publicly funded security arrangements in place – but this could be reassessed in light of their permanent relocation, The i Paper understands.
Because of their status as non-working royals, the Sussexes – who on Wednesday night were revealed to be returning to the UK after six years living in California – are not automatically entitled to taxpayer-funded police protection in Britain.
A source close to the Royal Family suggested it was unlikely that the couple had yet “done anything” firm about their security arrangements, given that they had only informed King Charles of their decision on Sunday.
The body that decides who gets this protection, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as Ravec, removed this entitlement from the Sussexes after they stepped down from their royal roles and left Britain in 2020.
The Ravec committee includes senior Home Office officials and police officers, as well as representatives of the Royal Household.
The 2020 decision sparked a long-running legal battle that Harry lost last year.
But the ruling left the possibility open to him receiving state-funded security in the future.
Ravec’s decision meant that level of protection could only be provided if approved on a case-by-case basis and justified by “particular and specific circumstances” as part of a “bespoke” arrangement for the Duke of Sussex.
It means that the level of security – which gives the royals access to armed protection – during previous visits to the UK had been “informed by relevant threat assessments” by Britain’s intelligence services and the Metropolitan Police.
It is understood that this may change now that he is permanently relocating with his wife and children.
A source with knowledge of the sector said a professional private
security programme for a family requiring substantial year-round protection could easily run into seven figures annually.
Richard Aitch, a former member of the Royal Military Police’s close protection unit, said costs in the region of £2m were a minimum baseline – and there was potential the bill could even exceed £6m per year.
“If school runs are built in, then more than six vehicles could be used throughout different moves at any one time should Harry and Meghan be at separate venues and the children requiring constant protection at school,” he said.
Aitch, who has worked in the sector for 30 years and acted as a personal bodyguard for high-profile figures, said he believed that privately provided services for long-term, daily needs would be no substitute for police protection for Prince Harry and his family.
“If the commercial effort in delivering protection is unnecessarily impeded by Ravec or unbalanced in the mitigations and controls of risk, I would expect a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’ a serious incident occurs,” he said.
When the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, was asked during a visit to West Yorkshire whether the Government would establish and use taxpayers’ money to fund the Duke and Duchess’s security, he said: “Well, this is a private matter... for Harry and for Meghan – and we wish them well in the move.”
In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.
“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”
On his visit to the UK in July, Harry came alone. Meghan and the children later flew into the country in secret.
Security for the Royal Family is usually funded from public taxes and provided by the Metropolitan Police.
A private road leads to the Sussexes home in California JANE ROSSIREUTERS
REACTION
Third of the public against Harry’s return to Britain
By Laura Elston
A third of the British public are against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to the UK.
A YouGov poll, carried out the day after Harry and Meghan’s surprise U-turn, showed 33 per cent believe the King’s youngest son and the former Suits star should not come back, while 45 per cent do not know.
Fewer than a quarter (21 per cent) were in favour of the Sussexes relocating from the US.
The Sussexes moved to California more than six years ago amid the turbulent Megxit crisis, which was followed by ongoing family fallouts and a barrage of accusations fired at the Prince and Princess of Wales and the King and Queen Camilla.
But now, Harry and Meghan are set to return later this month to live
in a non-royal residence outside of London, having already enrolled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in British schools.
The couple’s plans came as a surprise to many on Wednesday night, with even the King only finding out about it just three days before it was made public.
The YouGov poll found the older generation was more likely to say they should not move back – with 47 per cent of those over 65 thinking the couple should not return, compared with 24 per cent of those aged 18-24.
Rumours have abounded as to
where Harry and Meghan will choose to settle, with suggestions including rural locations in the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire.
The King is said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the Sussex family, but remains adamant they will not be working royals, and there is no half-in, half-out option.
The Sussexes have not commented on their reasons for moving back to Britain but the BBC reported that it was their enjoyment of visiting the King, alongside spending time with Diana’s family, during their trip to the UK in July, that encouraged the Sussexes to confirm their move.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have not reacted publicly to the news, but former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt suggested William would be “apoplectic”.
William is estranged from his
21%
Proportion of people polled who are in favour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returning to the UK.
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7
deal for taxpayer-funded security
MONARCHY
Homecoming could alter Royal Family gatherings
Prince Harry's return to Britain opens the door to his reintegration into the Royal Family - but new hurdles lie ahead.
In the short term, Harry and Meghan's move to the UK offers King Charles, who was blindsided when told on Sunday that they were moving back, a stronger chance to rebuild his relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, without allowing them to undertake official royal duties.
The Sussexes could be welcomed at some Royal Family occasions in future but are likely to be banned from big official or state events.
Royal sources have made it clear that Harry and Meghan will remain private individuals and not taxpayer-funded representatives of the monarchy.
Buckingham Palace declined to discuss what that would mean for their attendance at events but, in essence, they could be invited to family gatherings at Sandringham at Christmas, Windsor Castle at Easter, Balmoral in the summer and semi-official events such as Royal Ascot week.
But quite how that could be achieved with the Prince and Princess of Wales there is unclear and it might require a rapprochement before they could be at the same event on the same day.
Under current practice, there will be no invitation for Harry, a veteran of the Afghanistan conflict, or Meghan to state events such as Trooping the Colour or the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. Similarly, they would not be invited to the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey or invited to step in for the King to host an investiture or any other official engagement because they are not working royals.
It is also unlikely that they will be welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have not spoken to Harry and Meghan for several years and are still in no mood to reconcile, according to friends.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, have declined to comment publicly so far on their decision to relocate to Britain, but friends said that there were a number of factors behind the move. The fifth-in-line to the throne has missed his friends and family and the UK, they said, and he wants the children to grow up British and go to school in the UK.
It is no secret that the couple are
The King will want to welcome them but many hurdles still lie ahead. By Richard Palmer
not fans of Donald Trump and the political instability in the US under his presidency.
However, they appear to have had no fears that Harry's visa might be cancelled amid a campaign by a right-wing think-tank, the Heritage Foundation, to uncover and challenge the basis on which he is allowed to live in California.
There has also been speculation that they might be running short of money - a claim denied by people close to them - and that there might be some tax advantage for them to return to Britain at this stage.
But a source close to them said: "The decision to move back is not any one thing," adding that there were "always a number of factors in play". The same source added: "But Harry's visa is not a factor, nor is tax."
The couple's office, like the British Government, refused to say whether there had been a change in their security status. Andy Burnham said funding for the arrangement was a "private matter". For the past few years, Harry has insisted that Britain was too dangerous to bring his family back to because they no longer
Harry and Meghan have suggested they hope one day their children will play a full part in the Royal Family
Queen Camilla, whose title marked a U-turn from the King suggesting he may yet change his mind on Harry
had the automatic right to armed police protection and access to national intelligence.
But last month, even though they were denied police protection and had to rely on their own US-based private security team, Meghan and the children joined Harry on a visit to see relatives, including the King and Queen at Highgrove and Earl Spencer and his family at Althorp, the Spencer ancestral home where Princess Diana is buried.
It seems likely that they also went to check out their new home and where the children will go to school, the details of both remaining under wraps for the moment.
The worldwide interest in the Sussexes and the controversy surrounding them means that their surprise comeback at the end of this month also creates a danger that their often outspoken views, commercial activities and an even higher profile for them in the UK will clash with the Royal Household's objectives and messaging.
The King, now 77, will welcome having Harry and his grandchildren closer, according to royal sources, but on the face of it there is no prospect of the Sussexes returning to official duties.
Charles and William have long been firm on this point, worrying that family members running businesses and doing deals while undertaking official duties for the state open themselves up to the sort of accusations of abuse of position the King's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is facing.
But it would not be the first major U-turn by Charles. His office previously said he had no intention of marrying Camilla after Princess Diana's death, no intention of making Camilla his Queen when they did announce plans to wed, and every intention of living in Buckingham Palace when he became King. He has reneged on all those pledges.
Harry and Meghan have suggested that they hope one day their two children will play a full part in the Royal Family, but the window for them and their children is closing rapidly.
Without a rapprochement with William, there is little prospect of that, according to well-placed sources, and in a further slimmed-down monarchy in the next reign, it is likely that the future working Royal Family will eventually be only William, Kate and their children.
Richard Palmer has covered the Royal Family for more than 20 years
MILITARY
Duke to launch scheme helping ex-personnel
By Rob Freeman
The Duke of Sussex has said he is looking into launching a commercial scheme to help former military personnel.
Harry was speaking to US veterans in Washington amid reports that he and the Duchess of Sussex plan to move back to Britain with their children.
He told the former service members and defence officials that the "world needs more heroes".
"It's not about creating more heroes because they already live among us," he said at the event organised by The Independence Fund.
"It's about being able to really value their expertise."
He said military skills were not being utilised in civilian life and he was looking at a "commercial" solution to value "those who served".
A judgment on how much Harry will pay in legal fees for the case that he and others lost against Associated Newspapers Limited will be delivered at 2pm today
8
NEWS
The Prince and Princess of Wales could be facing some awkward times, not least because their children are first cousins MAX MUMBYINDIGDIGETTY
OPINION
Return of the Sussex show could make the Royal Family rift look like a chasm
Jennie Bond
It seems to be the way they rock. Precious privacy, obsessive secrecy – and then, wham-bam, another bombshell. Yes, Harry and Meghan, we are indeed all gobsmacked. Furthermore, we are all left asking the same simple question: why?
Don't get me wrong: I hope this extraordinary change of direction works out for them. It seems like a brave move, given the family tensions and the hostility towards the Sussexes suggested by opinion polls.
But the vacuum created by the lack of information about their decision has led to all sorts of wild speculation. Has the American dream turned out to be a flop? Is Harry unbearably unhappy in the States? Are they trying to wheedle their way back into the fold of working royals? Or is it all about the children's education?
And on that point, how on earth have they managed to choose a school and have Archie and Lilibet enrolled without a whisper getting out?
How much clearer it would all have been if Harry had issued a
statement explaining the decision and setting out at least some of the reasons behind it. It seems he didn't even tell his father about it when he went for tea at Highgrove last month.
The King must be scratching his head and wondering why he was only informed about it on Sunday. This is hardly the way you go about rekindling a close and loving relationship. Trust is a vital component within the Royal Family and one that Harry has squandered. Did he not even trust his own father with his news?
The repercussions are many: unwelcome headlines about the dynamics of a troubled family when they are all trying to have a pleasant, quiet summer break; questions about who pays for the Sussexes' security (and what has changed so dramatically from when Harry said he couldn't foresee a world where it would be safe to bring his family here?)
And a quandary for the Palace mandarins over whether the Prince is on the road to finally achieving the 'half-in, half-out' status he wanted in the first place. It's understood nothing has changed on that front, the late Queen Elizabeth and the King ruled it out.
But the fact is Harry is carrying out an increasing amount of charity work – much of it in the UK – and he and Meghan go on overseas tours
and have commercial activities. It is almost a fait accompli. One thing is for sure. This puts William in a very difficult position.
The rift between the brothers is deep, but with Harry thousands of miles away in California it was somehow less front and centre. And when the two of them are living in the same country, with their children – first cousins – still
Will William decide that it is time to spend Christmas with his in-laws?
King Charles was only told about Harry's decision on Sunday
strangers to one another, the rift is going to look like a chasm. What, for example, will happen at Christmas? The Royal Family always gather at Sandringham and make that ever-popular morning walk to church.
Will the King invite both his sons – or will he have to choose? Will William conveniently decide that it is time to spend Christmas with his in-laws and give Sandringham a miss? Harry has firmly placed the ball in William's court.
I hope this move can signal the start of a reconciliation between the brothers. Harry is right, life is precious – and especially when your elderly father is living with cancer.
I cannot think that Meghan is looking forward to leaving sunny California as we head into our long, dark winter months. Perhaps she is taking one for the team because she loves her husband and knows that he misses his homeland. Just in case it doesn't work out, they are hanging on to their Montecito mansion. And that's probably wise.
There will be testing times ahead, and we should all bear in mind that this is a woman who said she was driven to suicidal thoughts by the way she was treated when she lived in the UK. The pile-on has already begun in some quarters, but it needs to stop. Now.
Jennie Bond was the BBC's royal correspondent for 14 years
UNITED STATES
Move more about the country they are leaving
James Ball
Even more abruptly than they announced their departure to the US in 2020, Harry and Meghan have announced they plan to return. The question on everyone's minds is why?
The obvious place to look for clues as to why the Sussexes might return to the UK is to look at why they left. The two big stated reasons for 'Mejxit' were the couple's relations with the Palace and with the press. But neither of these have visibly thawed in the years they have been away.
Some have suggested that the answer might lie in the desire of Harry and Meghan to educate their children in the UK. But California has no shortage of superb private schools.
They might be returning for more personal reasons, of course, especially given King Charles's cancer diagnosis, but some signals suggest relations here are warming up only slowly.
Perhaps the answer as to why the couple are making their return lies instead in the US. If the Sussexes had hoped for a sanctuary from media attention, things did not work out that way – possibly in part fuelled by their own Netflix series, and Harry's autobiography.
The US media was just as interested in their activities as the British had been and the UK press continued to report their every move. More than that, though, the US President, Donald Trump, took a personal dislike to Meghan.
Even after returning to the White House last year, Trump still found time to say: 'She's terrible.' Naturally, each time Trump made remarks of this sort, it would reignite a transatlantic media frenzy around the couple.
The royal biographer Andrew Lownie described a return to the UK as 'a new start financially', saying: 'The story is that Meghan will make millions and Harry wants his children to know his family. It's a nightmare for the Waleses and the Sussexes have got the deal they wanted – of being half-in, half-out.'
The reasons for the Sussexes' return will probably not become clear for months. But Harry and Meghan are returning to a UK even more embroiled in rows over race, identity and the media than the one they left – and they know their every move must be scrutinised.
If this is what they are choosing to return to, what does that say about the country they're leaving behind?
James Ball is political editor at 'The New World'
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9
POLITICS
A bitter Reform power struggle is engulfing Farage's top team
Party's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf claims he is being targeted
Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has become engulfed in a bitter power struggle over the future of its home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf.
Reform figures are split over Yusuf, with some insiders wanting him out of the party while others think he remains a key asset.
There is also a fear in some quarters that if he crashes out of Reform for a second time, some members could follow him.
Yusuf is back in the media spotlight following the suspension of the political commentator Tim Montgomerie from the party.
Montgomerie, a centre-right commentator who defected from the Conservatives in 2024, was suspended after questioning Farage's tone after the Clacton by-election and publicly criticising Yusuf.
In an interview with The Spectator on Monday, Montgomerie said Yusuf was behaving "like a child in politics" and urged him to be a "team player".
The previous week he criticised Yusuf for branding the former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace a "traitor".
Montgomerie had said: "Zia's language and attitude towards any opponent is inappropriate and counter-productive... One of the biggest question marks over Nigel Farage's leadership is whether he brings Zia under control."
Montgomerie's suspension was signed off by the party's chief whip, Lee Anderson, and the decision was taken before the criticism in The Spectator came in light. Farage was apparently unaware of the decision.
Montgomerie has said he will appeal and wants to make it a "test case of whether [Reform] is a party that can tolerate free speech and dissent".
A Reform spokesman said: "Zia is a key party figure and will be here for the long term."
It is not the first time Yusuf has been at the centre of turbulence within the party and unwanted headlines for Farage.
In May, he publicly slapped down his colleague Robert Jenrick over the details of the party's deportation policy.
Last year, he abruptly quit as the party's chairman after a row about the burka with the Reform MP Sarah Pochin. However, he returned to the party within 48 hours, with Farage saying his exit had been the result of work-related "exhaustion".
Reform insiders claim there have been particular tensions between
Yusuf and the Tory defectors. Some people in Reform now believe Yusuf is an unhelpful and destabilising presence.
One party source accused him of being "rude" and "an egomaniac" and claimed Farage had ignored warnings about Yusuf from the MP Rupert Lowe, who now leads Restore Britain.
Lowe was kicked out of Reform after he was accused of "threats of physical violence" towards Yusuf and of bullying employees.
Yusuf says the right thing to the crowds. But his endgame is to be leader
Richard Tice, who is 'interested' in succeeding Farage as Reform leader, with Susila Braverman
Lowe denied the claims and the Crown Prosecution Service said he would not face criminal charges after he was referred to police.
"Rupert [Lowe] warned Nigel re Zia," the source said. "Rupert spoke to many people who knew him. Nigel ignored him as he wanted his business operations acumen, but he was warned about him and chose to ignore it."
A second Reform source claimed: "Everything [Yusuf] says is about Zia Yusuf. Nigel tolerates him because he is quite good at public speaking and holding his own when it comes to press conferences. He says the right thing to the crowds. But he has an endgame - to be leader when Nigel goes."
Yusuf, Jenrick and deputy leader Richard Tice are all said to be interested in succeeding Farage as Reform leader. It is understood that Yusuf denies positioning himself to take over from Farage or that he is planning on leaving the party.
Other Reform insiders agreed that tensions exist but argued Yusuf is worth keeping because of his straight talking and popularity with their supporters.
A third Reform source said: "Zia has got a different sort of way of behaving from other colleagues," but added: "I think, on balance, he's a positive advantage to Reform.
"The members like him. The members like plain speaking and they find that Zia is a plain speaker."
The infighting has contributed to the sense of paranoia which has gripped the upper ranks of Reform amid fears that an insider may be leaking sensitive information about Farage to the media. Farage is understood to be "absolutely furious" about the leaks.
His anger is particularly focused on stories by The Sunday Times, which has run a series of articles examining the relationship between the convicted fraudster George Cottrell, nicknamed "Posh George", and Farage. The source said: "This information is known by so few people."
Yusuf has appeared unrepentant about the events of recent days and claimed that Conservative-leaning newspapers were trying to bring him down: "The entire Tory client press is now out to get me because they've seen the polling I have. I am a lethal electoral threat to their party.
"They know I am locked on to the target of making Nigel Farage prime minister."
A Reform UK spokesman added: "The general secretary [Tom Waterhouse] and chairman [Lee Anderson] have had months of complaints regarding Tim's behaviour and conduct. They saw fit to take action and protect the party."
Reporting by Will Hazell and Kitty Donaldson
News in brief
ENVIRONMENT
Drought could last into the new year
Drought could hit parts of the UK again next year if the country has a dry winter, officials and experts have warned.
The National Drought Group, which brings together the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies, farmers, scientists and conservation organisations several times a year, said this week's rainfall and cooler temperatures will not have any significant impact on water scarcity.
Drought conditions could even persist into the new year, with forecasts suggesting this autumn will not be the wetter-than-normal season required to drive recovery.
POLICE
Vandals 'behead' Peppa Pig topiary
A Peppa Pig topiary that took years to grow has been "beheaded" by vandals.
Police are investigating after the popular hedge sculpture was found to have had its head backed off with a saw between 11 and 15 August.
It has left its owners and residents "devastated". Laura Hinton said it had become a well-known local landmark and had required years of dedicated care.
Her family, who created and maintained the topiary (below left) near Newton Purcell on the route towards Bicester, Oxfordshire, said the damage (right) appeared to be deliberate.
LEGAL
Man charged over synagogue attack
A man has been charged with failing to disclose information in relation to the terror attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester.
Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Dudley were killed when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, a Syrian-born British citizen, drove into the gates of the synagogue in October last year and began attacking people with a knife.
Counter Terrorism Policing North West said Iraqi national Hekmat Omar Ali Hakim, 49, of Salford, Greater Manchester, was remanded in custody and will appear before Westminster magistrates' court today.
10
NEWS
ECONOMY
Burnham's plan to restore foreign aid could force tax rises
Exclusive
By Caroline Wheeler
POLITICAL EDITOR
Andy Burnham and his Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, have privately committed to reversing cuts to Britain's aid budget – in a decision likely to heap further pressure on the Treasury to raise taxes.
The i Paper understands that the pair have privately indicated that they support finding a route back to spending 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) on international aid. However, no timeframe has yet been put on how long it will take before such a spending commitment can be met.
The UK's foreign aid budget helps fund humanitarian relief, healthcare, education and development projects in poorer countries around the world.
Labour opposed cuts to the foreign aid budget under the Conservative government and ahead of the 2024 election promised to restore it to 0.7 per cent when circumstances permitted.
But after becoming prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer went further in the opposite direction, announcing in February 2025 that aid would be cut from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of GNI by 2027, using the savings to increase defence spending.
Since then influential Labour backbenchers have been lobbying the Government to restore the aid target.
Days before Burnham entered No 10, Labour MP Fleur Anderson, a former minister whose career before entering parliament was in international development, called
Labour MP Fleur Anderson called on Burnham to restore the commitment
£13bn
The increase in spending that would be required if the aid target of 0.7 per cent of GNI is reinstated
on Burnham to restore the commitment. She suggested setting a 10-year road back to meeting that goal, which future governments could deviate from in times of crisis.
Both Burnham and Miliband have historically been vocal supporters of the 0.7 per cent target, with Burnham explicitly defending it during the 2010 Labour leadership contest and Miliband backing the commitment as Labour leader.
A government source told The i Paper: 'They both understand why meeting the commitment is important,' while another said they had both privately indicated their intention to find a route back to meeting the target.
A full return to the 0.7 per cent aid target would eventually imply a substantial increase in spending compared with the planned 0.3 per cent level – roughly £13bn a year on current economic projections – a figure recognised by the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think-tank.
Max Warner, a senior research economist at the IFS, told The i Paper: 'These are not insignificant sums, and as with any increase in spending would need to be funded by some combination of lower spending elsewhere, higher taxes or higher borrowing.'
But there is no suggestion that ministers would have to restore the full amount in a single year. A phased increase could spread the cost over several years, with each step dependent on the country's finances.
Burnham faces tight constraints on his spending plans. The IFS warned last month that, despite a growing state, spending on public services would remain tight, with the NHS potentially taking relatively generous settlements at the expense of other departments.
Miliband has signalled that he intends to put international development and climate policy at the centre of his work as Foreign Secretary.
On taking office, he said Britain would work with other countries to tackle the climate crisis.
! Recent analysis of the effect of the cut under Starmer suggested bilateral aid to some African countries had been cut by as much as 50 per cent.
WESTMINSTER
MP behind plan to keep staff secret forgot to say he employs wife
Exclusive
By Caroline Wheeler
POLITICAL EDITOR
The MP who oversaw moves to hide the names of 2,000 parliamentary staff employed by politicians in Westminster has apologised for failing to declare he employed his wife.
Alberto Costa, the Conservative MP for South Leicestershire and chairman of the Commons Standards Committee, failed to declare his wife's employment while speaking in a debate about the staff register.
Six months later the committee he chairs recommended that staff names should no longer be published – a decision critics warned would make it harder to expose conflicts of interest, lobbying and foreign influence in Westminster.
The row comes at an awkward time for Costa's committee, which is responsible for judging whether MPs have broken Parliament's rules.
Costa employs his wife, Dr Maria Costa, as a part-time office manager.
Her employment has been properly recorded in the Register of Members' Financial Interests since 2016.
But on 16 July last year, Costa spoke in the Commons during a debate on a report by the Standards Committee about the Register of Interests of Members' Staff. He did not declare that his wife worked for him.
During the debate, Costa said the committee was aware of concerns raised by staff about having their names placed on a public register and would consider whether changes were needed.
The committee later agreed that
Alberto Costa apologised for what he says was an inadvertent breach
all staff names, which included Costa's wife, should be replaced by job titles only.
The changes took effect last month, marking a major overhaul to a register that had published the names and relevant interests of MPs'
staff since 1993. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, later concluded Costa should have declared his wife's employment as it could reasonably be thought his words were influenced by her position.
But he added that the breach had been 'inadvertent' and the case was not referred to the committee.
On 22 April, Costa apologised to the Commons, saying: 'I inadvertently failed to declare a relevant interest: that I employ my wife, who is subject to the rules about the Register of Interests of Members' Staff.'
'This was in breach of the House's rules, and I apologise for this error.'
The new rules mean the number of people required to register their interests will expand from around 2,000 to 4,000 – including
ing staff with access to parliamentary IT systems and those with parliamentary passes.
But while more staff now have to register, the public will have less information about them.
The committee said the change was necessary because of security and privacy concerns, particularly for staff working in MPs' constituency offices and that the loss of transparency was proportionate to the security issues.
The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, is being investigated by the Commissioner for Standards over an alleged failure to declare a £5m gift from businessman Christopher Harborne. Farage denies he was required to declare it.
Costa has been approached for comment.
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11
SCOTLAND
Swinney defends £100,000 visit to World Cup match
By Craig Paton
Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, has defended the cost of his recent trip to the US.
Swinney jetted across the Atlantic to watch the Scotland men's national team take part in their first World Cup in 28 years in June.
According to data published by the Scottish Government under Freedom of Information legislation, almost £100,000 was spent for Swinney and Scottish Government officials to visit Boston and a subsequent trip to Kentucky, along with another visit to Miami by sports minister Maree Todd for the team's final group stage tie against Brazil.
Flights for the First Minister, his
Swinney, with Scotland fans in the US, took flights in business class
private secretary John Webster and chief of staff Colin McAllister - all business class - cost more than £45,000.
Hotels for the trio cost £3,212,
MIGRATION
'Fair spread' sought for asylum housing
By Rob Freeman
The Home Secretary, Shahana Mahmood, has said she wants a "fair spread" of accommodation to house asylum seekers.
Andy Burnham said last week that the country "cannot have a situation where it's only the poorest communities in the country" housing asylum seekers.
Mahmood said she is targeting a mixed model of accommodation utilising military sites, former student apartments, bedsits and homes of multiple occupancy.
She told The Times: "You've got to get a fair spread and what we are doing with the new model of asylum accommodation and the future of asylum accommodation is think carefully about how you have a fair spread that doesn't end up being in one community.
"In a way it doesn't really matter whether you're in an affluent part of the country or in a more deprived constituency like mine.
"A change in the population, and in the housing in which asylum seekers are often housed and the transient nature of that population does have an impact."
Mahmood said she understood the concerns of people living near asylum accommodation, with experience in her Birmingham Ladywood constituency.
"I understand these are things that worry people and I get where they're coming from," she said. "The people in better-off parts of the country, really, the issues aren't that different to people who I represent."
Plans to house more than 1,000 asylum seekers at an ex-military base in the village of Piddington in Oxfordshire were met with protests and labelled "illogical" in terms of security and cost.
according to the data. Both Todd and her private secretary flew in economy class, with the flights costing £1,471.
Speaking to the BBC yesterday, the First Minister said: "Obviously, when flights have got to be booked, when there's intense pressure on the time involved, then the costs are likely to be higher."
He added: "We tried to minimise those costs."
The Scottish Government's Justice Secretary, Neil Gray, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland earlier, said: "These are busy trips for ministers and it is right that they are able to arrive fresh, they're able to arrive in a way that means that they're able to participate and do their work immediately, so I think that's a proportionate use."
He added that it was "right" that the First Minister and officials made the trip to "make significant international connections".
POLITICS
Gray: working in Starmer's No 10 was 'very, very difficult'
By George Thompson
Working in No 10 was "definitely unbearable", Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff has said in her first interview since resigning.
Baroness Sue Gray has spoken about how briefing wars inside the Government were "very, very difficult" - and led to fears someone was recording "everything you say".
Gray, who was the most senior adviser in the Labour administration before her departure in 2024, said she was "disappointed" that Starmer did not do more to tackle briefings against her to journalists.
She made the comments to Ed Balls on the Political Currency podcast.
Asked about the briefings against her, she said they had started while Labour was in opposition, where she would "read about things that I would have said or not said", which continued on into this government.
"I had always taken a view as a civil servant, and as a special adviser, that you should be able to speak freely in rooms," she said.
"And I couldn't recall those sort of discussions being briefed out.
"And yet here I found myself... you know, stories about supposedly trying to move Morgan McSweeney (then Labour's head of political strategy who went on to become chief of staff when Gray stepped down) to the back of the building.
"Actually, that was a genuine 'I can't believe so many of you are going to sit in this small room, let's find a better room for you.'"
"It just got to the point where you know everything you say, you feel-somebody is recording it."
Asked whether Starmer was willing to act on her concerns, she said: "I talked to him a couple of times about it and I don't really want to disclose individual conversations, but I was disappointed that not more was done because I think it could have been done."
Following her departure, Gray was among 30 new Labour peers announced last December, also including former MPs such as Thangam Debbonaire and Luciana Berger.
Starmer's government has faced criticism from Labour members, including the party's deputy leader, Lucy Powell, who described a "boys' club" culture in No 10, with a pattern of "anonymous nasty briefings" - particularly against women.
"It was definitely unbearable, particularly for me," Gray said. "And I would say that none of that briefing came from me.
"I think it was very difficult, and it was affecting me and my life.
"I was getting into the office very early in the morning. I was leaving late to avoid... It was a very, very, very difficult period."
Talking about the lack of positive vision in the early days of the Labour government and how much was her responsibility, she said: "I think ultimately, you have a leader of the party, you have a prime minister, leader of the opposition.
"You have to set your vision, your agenda - and that is definitely what everybody is looking for."
Gray went from being an influential but little-known arbiter of conduct in the Civil Service to a household name when she took on the investigation into Covid rule-breaking at Boris Johnson's No 10 in 2021.
Her impartiality was later called into question amid criticism of her decision to quit the Cabinet Office after decades in Whitehall and join Labour as Starmer's chief of staff.
After weeks of negative briefings, she announced her resignation in a statement citing concerns that she was "becoming a distraction" to the work of government.
Baroness Gray says she is 'disappointed' that Starmer was not able to stop briefings against her to journalists PA
12
NEWS
EDUCATION
Gender gap is narrowest since 2000
By Alexa Phillips
Boys have narrowed their GCSE results gap with girls to the smallest level on record, but more pupils failed their English and maths exams this year.
Pupils resitting their exams in these subjects fuelled the decline in pass rates despite a rise in others achieving the top grades.
The Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, vowed to crack down on the “pornicious” system of GCSE resits, but experts said her plans could backfire by looking more young people out of education and work.
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their GCSE results yesterday.
The proportion of boys awarded at least a grade 7 or A rose from 19.4 per cent in 2025 to 19.6 per cent this year, according to results data from the Joint Council for Qualifications. Girls continued to outperform them but their share of top grades declined from 24.5 per cent to 24.4 per cent. The gap between boys and girls narrowed from 5.1 to 4.8 percentage points – its lowest level since 2000. Girls’ lead over boys in pass rates shrank from 6.2 to 5.8 percentage points.
In maths, 37.3 per cent of students achieved a grade of 4 or C and above – known as a “standard pass” – dropping one percentage point since last year. Among those aged 17 and over resitting these exams, the pass rate dropped one percentage point to 16.5 per cent.
More 16-year-olds also failed to
The Education Secretary Lucy Powell with a pupil at Harper Green School in Bolton, Greater Manchester
achieve a standard pass in the subject, which could lead to a surge in those wanting to retake their exams this autumn or next year.
In England, pupils who do not get at least a grade 4 or C in GCSE English and maths have to continue studying for it alongside their next course – their A-levels or their T-level, for example.
In English, 60 per cent of pupils passed – a drop of 0.2 percentage points on last year. This was driven by those aged 17 and over resitting their exams, with their pass rate dropping by 1.4 percentage points to 21.7 per cent. Meanwhile, more pupils achieved top grades this year, with 22 per cent of entries awarded at least grade 7 or A.
Powell said the Government will reduce the number of students resitting failed GCSE exams by changing the national curriculum.
Those who received a 2 or below in English and maths are to be
steered towards new stepping-stone qualifications to show their numeracy and literacy skills to employers and colleges.
Those who pass the new qualifications, known as Level 1e, will then be able to resit their GCSEs.
Pupils who achieve a grade 3 – which is close to the grade 4 needed to pass – would resit their exams.
Claire Green, a post-16 and skills policy specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said pupils who get a grade 1 or 2 are already achieving the equivalent of the Level 1 proposed in this alternative qualification.
“We’re worried that making them do another Level 1 before they even get the opportunities to retake might actually switch them off [education] even more, and we might in an unintended way potentially add to the Neet [not in education, employment or training] crisis rather than reduce it.”
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said the planned changes would still force all students to take GCSE exams in English and maths and that students should be given the option of an alternative qualification in the first instance.
Money, page 47
Astronomy, biblical Hebrew, classical Greek and motor vehicle studies were among the subjects that had under 1,500 entries
SOCIETY
Schools alone ‘cannot fix problem’ as regional divides grow wider
By Alison Kershaw and Ian Jones
Regional inequalities in the school system are “neither inevitable nor acceptable”, education experts have warned, as GCSE figures showed differences in results across England persist.
There is a “structural divide” in the opportunities open to young people which schools alone cannot fix, it is suggested.
The gap has widened between the proportion of GCSE entries in London awarded the top grades and those in both northern England and the Midlands, GCSE results show.
A total of 28.6 per cent of entries in the capital received grade 7 or above this year – the highest for any region in England.
North East England had the lowest figure, with 17.7 per cent of entries awarded at least a 7.
It means the gap between these two regions now stands at 10.9 percentage points – the largest since the start of available data in 2010.
In North West England, 18.9 per
cent of entries received grade 7 or above.
The gap between London and the North West has widened to 9.7 points from 9.6 in 2025.
There has also been a widening of the gap between London and both the East and West Midlands, to the largest size since at least 2010.
Chris Zarraga, director of Schools North East, said: “There is not a North-South divide in the quality of schools, nor in the talent, potential or aspirations of young people.
“There is a structural divide in the circumstances and opportunities surrounding them.
“The regional results table is a map of that divide, not a map of school quality.
“These inequalities are neither inevitable nor acceptable.
“The Government needs to treat them as a system challenge and address the conditions around
schools as well as what happens inside them.”
Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said: “These results confirm that England’s educational divide can no longer be understood as a simple North-South divide.
“These divides extend far beyond the school gates, reflecting differences in family resources, transport, jobs and the futures young people can see around them. We need much stronger regional approaches that connect education with economic opportunity.”
At a national level, 31.7 per cent of entries in Northern Ireland received grade 7/A or higher, above the figure for England (21.8 per cent) and Wales (19.6 per cent).
For entries awarded 4/C or higher, Northern Ireland was ahead at 83.6 per cent, above England (67 per cent) and Wales (62.3 per cent).
Missed the grade? There are many options
It is easy to feel discouraged if you or your child did not get what you were hoping for yesterday but there are plenty of routes open to those who did not do as well as they expected to.
The first step is to talk to your school or college. They can help to arrange re-marks if you think your
results are wrong, though this may come with a fee, and they can give advice on what to do next.
For those wanting to stay in school, missing your predicted grades or sixth-form offer does not necessarily mean you will miss out on your institution of choice.
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as pupils receive their GCSE results
Many colleges do not require you to get your predicted grades to enrol and even those with specific entry requirements will often let you start in September and complete resits alongside your course.
If you missed the grades you need for the A-level you wanted to take, you might be able to switch to another subject.
If you already know what you want to do for work and want to start working towards that, T-level (only available in England) or vocational technical qualifications (including BTecs) might be for you. Many colleges offer these courses, which combine practical experience with classroom learning.
You are allowed to spend up to
From top: London Nautical School in Waterloo; Ark Greenwich Free School in south-east London; Leeds Grammar School in Yorkshire
20 hours working or volunteering alongside education, but if you want to work full-time, an apprenticeship might be the best option. These combine work with hands-on learning. Apply for these on the Government website.
If you are still unsure, call the National Careers Service helpline. Flora Symington
In numbers This year's assessments
22%
Total proportion of entries awarded grade 3/A or above, up slightly from 21.9 per cent in 2025
67.3%
The share of entries that received a grade 4/C or above – similar to the 67.4 per cent proportion last year
24.4%
The proportion of female entries awarded grade 3/A or above. The total for boys was 19.6 per cent
70.2%
Female entries awarded 4/C or higher, compared with 64.4 per cent for boys, a gap of 5.8 points
28.6%
Across the regions of England, London had the highest proportion of entries given grade 3/A or higher
17.7%
North East England had the lowest proportion of grades at 3/A or higher, down from 17.8 per cent
31.7%
Entries at 3/A or higher in Northern Ireland, above England (21.8 per cent) and Wales (19.6 per cent)
1,007,628
Entries to the science double award, the highest – as has been the case since its introduction in 2018
232
At the very bottom of the rankings this year is leisure and tourism, a subject specific to Northern Ireland
6,199,256
The overall number of GCSE entries this year, up by 0.6 per cent on last year's figure of 6,160,034
PEOPLE
Grandmothers secure first exam passes
By Sam Russell
Two grandmothers who have passed GCSE exams have urged other adult learners not to give up.
Wynne Hindle, 52, secured her maths qualification at the fifth attempt as she pursues a career change, and 49-year-old Sandra Young passed her first ever GCSE "to prove something to myself".
Ms Hindle, of Sudbury, Suffolk, first sat her maths exam in the 2022-23 academic year.
The mother of three's grade four pass is the culmination of four years of trying.
"I just wanted to achieve something and I'm a resilient person," said Ms Hindle.
Ms Young (inset), who is a mother of two from Ipswich, Suffolk, said her grade four pass in English was "all I ever wanted".
The grandmother of five sat the exam at Suffolk New College, and said: "I came back to college and wanted to prove something to myself as I've got no GCSEs.
"My message to other adult learners is to just go for it – don't give up."
CHILDREN
Prodigy gets high maths grade – at seven years old
By Lauren Beavis
A seven-year-old boy has been awarded his maths GCSE.
Jivyan Dhruva has received a grade eight, scoring 196 out of 240 in a qualification normally taken by pupils around 16.
The young academic from West London is already preparing for his A-levels next year.
His dad, Dhruva Katta, 36, an AI engineer, said: "We are very proud – he's already preparing for his A-levels in maths and further maths next year.
"We suggested he cool down, but he doesn't want to." Dhruva said his son attended regular Year 2 primary school until February this year – when he got "too bored" and wanted to be homeschooled instead.
Despite studying mathematics far beyond his age, Dhruva said Jivyan is still a funny and energetic seven-year-old who loves chess, football and dance alongside maths.
Dhruva said: "He's got a bright future ahead of him."
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PEOPLE
Ethel Caterham with King Charles, who she met after her 116th birthday JONATHAN BRADFORD
ANIMALS
Snake is first to get cancer treatment
By Eleanor Barlow
A 15ft python named after the US actress Jodie Foster is believed to be the first snake in the world to benefit from a cancer treatment normally used on humans.
Vets at Chester Zoo say the 40kg reptile is back to her “bright and feisty self” after undergoing electrochemotherapy for a cancerous tumour on her jawbone.
The 23-year-old reticulated python was named when she arrived at the zoo two decades ago and staff noticed the initials JP, for juvenile female, on her paperwork.
In 2024 she underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumour from her jaw after keepers noticed she was eating less. But, last year the growth returned.
Ian Ashpole, veterinary officer at Chester Zoo, said: “The tumour made it more difficult for her to eat, so we worked with cancer specialists to see whether we could adapt electrochemotherapy for a snake.”
After 90 minutes of surgery, she recovered remarkably quickly.
The python had a tumour in the jaw that made it difficult to eat
FILM
‘White Lotus’ star James: ‘I’m too old for Bond’
By Sean O’Grady
Theo-James has said he is “too old” to be the next James Bond and thinks it would be a role that would lose him freedom over his acting career.
The White Lotus star (inset), 41, is one of several names who have been linked to the part.
But James has ruled himself out, telling British GQ “I’m definitely too old now.”
James added that he is wary of accepting roles that would bring him too much fame.
He said: “Imagine, suddenly, you and I cannot walk down the street. What that does to your children, who are trying to find themselves in the midst of hyperscrutiny and fame?”
“None of that, to me, is worth it.”
World’s oldest person celebrates 117th birthday after a year of ‘many firsts’
By Anahita Hossein-Pour and Laura Elston
The world’s oldest person celebrates her 117th birthday today after a year of “many firsts”, including meeting the King and holding his hand.
Ethel Caterham, who lives at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, Surrey, is spending the day with her family and friends to mark the occasion.
She said in a pre-prepared statement: “Thank you for all of the kind birthday wishes.
“Even at 117, I’ve had many firsts this [last] year, from stroking a llama
to holding hands with the King. I look forward to seeing what next year brings.”
Mrs Caterham was visited by Charles, who held her hand as he introduced himself, in September last year just after her 116th birthday.
She became the oldest living person in April 2025 after the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas at 116.
During the meeting with Charles, she recollected his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales when he was 21, adding: “All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you.”
Mrs Caterham was born on 21
August, 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, five years before the start of the First World War, as the second youngest of eight siblings.
She is the last surviving subject of Edward VII, who died in May 1910.
In 1927, aged 18, she travelled to India and worked as an au pair to a military family until she was 21.
The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.
She met her husband Norman, who was a lieutenant colonel in the British Army and died in 1976, at a dinner party in the UK in 1931.
They lived in Salisbury before being stationed in Gibraltar and Hong Kong. Mrs Caterham set up a nursery school while in Hong Kong and raised two daughters, both of whom died before her.
One of her sisters, Gladys, lived to be 104.
Mrs Caterham drove until she was 97 and enjoyed playing contract bridge in her centenarian years.
Feature, page 23
PEOPLE
‘Mum was skint for much of her life’
By Sean O’Grady
Miquita Oliver has said her TV chef mother Andi was “skint for 20 years”.
The TV presenter, 42, found fame in her teens presenting Pop World on Channel 4 with Simon Amstell.
Although her mother, 63, was a member of punk group Rip Rig + Panic in the 80s and began making TV appearances in the 90s, Oliver said she had only found consistent success in the past decade.
Speaking on the Outsiding podcast
Andi Oliver, left, with her daughter Miquita Oliver, in 2024
with Adam Frost and Caitlin Moran, she said: “Mum’s only been successful for the last eight years of her life.
“We were skint and then I got on telly and mum was still skint for 20 years. She just grafted.”
Andi Oliver joined The Great British Menu in 2016.
The Five-Clue Cryptic Crossword No 4913
Solution, page 51
Across
- 3 Insect on cheese for a short time (7)
- 5/6 Include tooth treatment that’s neglected (3,2,3,4)
Down
- 1 Ornamental clasp and ring found in Scottish Iron Age tower (6)
- 2 Latvian regularly munches a salad vegetable (7)
- 4 Half of London, see, is desolate (6)
BRINGING YOU
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IRAN
Tehran calls Trump threats of more sanctions 'economic terrorism'
By Kanishka Singh and Jana Chouhoir
Donald Trump has warned of economic consequences for any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran" as the United States looks to resolve a war it began alongside Israel nearly six months ago.
The US President promised "Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale," on social media hours before his Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said the US would impose the "toughest sanctions in history" on Iran in a bid to "collapse" the regime.
"ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will...face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences," Trump wrote.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi (inset) called Trump's comments an attempt to divert Ameri-
can public opinion from domestic financial problems, including record debt and rising interest rates.
He said Washington's insistence on policies he described as failed would bring further failures and alienate Iranians.
Araqchi's ministry said the measures targeted ordinary Iranians and amounted to "economic terrorism" and crimes against humanity.
Iran has separately been negotiating an agreement on managing the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. Trump responded with a warning that he might bomb Oman if it "gets in the way".
The Omani foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said yesterday that lasting security in the strait required a permanent peace in the region and rejected further escalation.
China buys more than 80 per cent of Iran's shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler, but the US risks retaliation should
Defence Carrier relieved
The Asia-based USS George Washington aircraft carrier is now operating in the Middle East, the US military said yesterday, relieving a long-deployed carrier following reports of mental health challenges and supply shortages aboard while it was supporting the Iran war.
US Central Command said the Washington arrived in the region on Wednesday it was not clear when the departing USS Abraham Lincoln would arrive back in the US.
The Lincoln's deployment has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 250 days, with reports emerging of crew stress and poor mental health, as well as supply shortages, including food and hygiene products.
Democratic politicians have pressed the Department of Defence for accountability over conditions aboard the Lincoln, which Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said were "completely misrepresented".
it engage in further economic warfare with China, a major exporter of items such as vital rare earth minerals to the US.
"Sanctions and pressure will not solve the problem," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian. But yesterday, Bessent warned: "It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision."
On Wednesday, the UAE, which hosts a major US military base, said it was suspending all trade activities with Iran. The step came after its defence ministry said it had detected two missiles launched from Iran that fell into the sea - a report Tehran dismissed as baseless.
Trump has yet to achieve the objectives he set out at the start of the war: dismantling Iran's nuclear programme, curbing its ability to attack regional rivals and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers.
MIDDLE EAST
Israel rejects Miliband's opposition to settlements
By Helen Corbett
A diplomatic row broke out between Israel and the UK yesterday after Tel Aviv published a tender for construction in the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the move as an "unacceptable and destructive act" and said the UK would not "stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution".
Miliband said the UK had been clear about its opposition to the El settlement project, which he said risks endangering a two-state solution by separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
His Israeli counterpart, Gideon Salar, accused him of being "entirely one-sided" and said that he rejected the "patronising tone of his words".
The Foreign Office also summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires to set out the UK's "profound objection to this move".
Miliband said: "This Israeli government's publication of a tender for the El settlement project is an unacceptable and destructive act.
"The UK has been clear privately and publicly in our opposition to El and our support for a two-state solution as the only way to ensure long-term security and peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
"All settlements damage that prospect and are a flagrant breach of international law."
Last September, the government under Sir Keir Starmer formally recognised a Palestinian state, prompting criticism from Israel.
Yesterday, Salar said: "It is absurd for Britain to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their historic tiny homeland, when the Jewish people's connection and right to this land is the most extensively documented of any people in human history."
He added that the UK's policy of "blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism" has contributed to antisemitic attacks against the British Jewish community.
It came as Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, which have been trying to mediate an end to the Gaza conflict, condemned recent Israeli strikes in the Palestinian enclave.
Israeli strikes have killed at least 16 Palestinians in Gaza since Tuesday, according to medics.
Elsewhere, Israel accused Turkey of "dangerous adventures in Syria", while Ankara called for a halt to "reckless" Israeli attacks, after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase where it said Turkish troops were to deploy.
Gideon Salar (left) said Ed Miliband's comments were 'patronising'
UKRAINE
Moscow hits Kyiv as Zelensky pleads for weapons
By Daniel Flynn and Anna Pruchnicka
A major Russian air strike killed 16 people and injured more than 40 in Kyiv and the surrounding region yesterday as President Volodymyr Zelensky said a failure by Ukraine's allies to replenish its stock of air defence missiles was costing lives.
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched dozens of cruise missiles, as well as ballistic and hypersonic ones, and 168 drones, in the massive overnight attack.
The air force said that nearly 90 per cent of the drones and most of the cruise missiles were downed.
Zelensky called the strike one of the most "cynical, calculated, and large-scale" of the four-and-a-half-year-long war. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko called for today to be observed as a day of mourning.
Overall, 30 homes, a school, a children's hospital, and a nursery were damaged in the capital and the surrounding areas, Zelensky said.
The Russian defence ministry said Moscow attacked Kyiv and the surrounding region with air strikes and drones, hitting facilities producing
The massive overnight strikes on the capital involved cruise missiles and drones KOSTMATYN LIBEROVL BIKOSIGETTY
drone components, a military depot and a logistics hub.
A drone crashed into Romania, a Nato and EU member, during the attack on Ukraine, the Romanian defence ministry said. A drone also came down on Moldovan territory, its President Maia Sandu said.
As Russia has escalated its ballistic strikes in recent months, Zelensky has pleaded with allies to replenish Ukraine's stock of Patriot
interceptors - the only weapon in its arsenal capable of downing a ballistic missile. "Unfortunately... the world's response to such attacks is not always adequate," he said.
Ukraine has also increased its attacks on Russia, targeting oil facilities and logistics infrastructure. US-mediated talks to end the war stalled earlier this year as Kyiv refused to yield to Russian demands to cede more territory.
The latest attack comes as Zelensky faces his sternest domestic political test since the war began.
On Tuesday, Ukraine's former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov - whose sacking last month prompted protests - called for elections and said Kyiv faced a "systemic crisis of governance" over corruption.
Any vote would require a change to Ukraine's constitution, which bars elections during wartime.
18
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The Opinion Matrix
COMMENT FROM HOME AND ABROAD
OUTDO
MIGRANT GUIDE BOOK
Instructions are actually quite useful
The Independent
The Home Office booklet is a harmless and useful way to try and deal with people who may not, in fact, be in Britain for very long. Not every applicant for asylum is successful, but for as long as they're here, it's as well they have some dos and don'ts. (Sean O'Grady)
Unfierd
Rather than pursue a robust immigration policy, or even acknowledge that not all cultures are equal, the Government's answer is to issue new arrivals with instructions on how not to commit rape. This is nothing short of managed decline. (Josephine Bartosch)
THE RISING COST OF AI
Current fad comes with price tag
Financial Times
It is worth asking whether AI mania is sucking resources from other sectors. Data centres and model development require vast numbers of chips, electricity and financing. Does the craze mean others are going without? (Soumayo Keynes)
The Economist
In the beginning there was AI and bosses everywhere said you must all use this technology. And lo, usage did indeed rise. And then the bosses remembered 'budgets'. And then a different question rang through the boardrooms about returns and it was harder to answer. (Bartleby)
ADAPTING TO WILDFIRES
Bring back wetlands to cut risks
New Statesman
I wish Richard Tice could have seen me last week. He would have been so proud. There I was, watching people's houses burn while applying SPF50 on a beach in Chalkidiki. I am a Telegraph reader, so I knew how to remain staic in the face of the world burning. (Stella Tsontekidou)
The Conversation
It's possible to make our landscapes more resilient to wildfires - by restoring a habitat we have been doing our best to remove wetlands. Over 75 per cent of the UK's wetlands have been dug up, drained and destroyed since 1700. (Christian Dunn)
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
They pledge to make life affordable
The Guardian
US voters are opting for progressive Democrats not because they want socialism. They're voting for candidates whom they believe will fight to make housing, food, healthcare and childcare affordable to average working families. (Robert Reich)
The Atlantic
The Democratic left is making a complicated internal gamble here. The faction's efforts to hijack the larger party to their own unpopular causes will work only if they can convince Democratic voters that Trump is not the most important problem facing Americans. (David Frum)
THE US ECONOMY
$40trn debt is unsustainable trajectory
CNN
The United States is digging itself into an ever-deeper debt hole. The federal debt hit a record $40trn ($29trn) on Tuesday. It's an inauspicious milestone that will have consequences for Americans, businesses and the government for years to come. (Tomi Luhby)
Wall Street Journal
$40trn is a big number, likely to at least briefly draw attention to what economists agree is an unsustainable fiscal trajectory. In recent days, rising long-term government borrowing costs have underscored the stakes. (Sam Goldfarb)
EDINBURGH FRINGE
Influencers and slebs everywhere
The Herald
At the Fringe, a festival meant for self-expression and freedom, it's almost impossible to enjoy performances without being on edge that someone is witnessing your every move. The most beautiful parts of Edinburgh are becoming places to avoid due to influencers. (Grace Hussey)
The Scotsman
As the festival wears on the sleb count piles up - Stockard Channing up at the Pleasance, Jason Byrne in George Square, Ewen Bremner at a ceilidh, John Swinney at the cinema - all of them taller than you think. (Janet Christie)
Quote of the day
I meet so many people around the world with different beliefs, and we're not that different
Amy Lee The Evanescence singer on her political views
Life In Brief
SHEILA MATHEWS ACTRESS
The West End star Sheila Mathews may not have been a household name, but she was said to be the longest-serving performer in the entertainment business, having made her stage debut at the age of three in 1930.
Over the course of a career that began before the advent of television and lasted into the 21st century she appeared alongside some of the biggest names in television and theatre. She died earlier this month at the age of 99.
Mathews was born in Edmonton, north London, in 1927 and first appeared on stage at Alexandra Palace, London, where she played Bebe Sheila in a group of child dancers known as The Rosebuds.
She was offered free singing tuition, as her mother could not afford to pay, after she was spotted performing at the Finsbury Park Empire.
In 1943, at the age of 16, Mathews
appeared in the West End production Strike a New Note, dancing alongside a young Eric Morecambe, then still performing under his birth name, Eric Bartholomew.
She also starred alongside Tommy Trinder in Happy and Glorious and in Frankie Howard's revue, Out of This World.
It led to her being chosen for the 21st Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium in 1950 in the presence of King George VI and Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1951 she went to the United States to star in cabaret. While there she married the American singer William Bender. However, the pair divorced.
Mathews returned to the UK in 1955 and was one of the leading British stars to take part in the inauguration of ITV with her own series, Friday's Girl.
She married the writer and director Charles Reading, who was known as 'Mr Palladium' for his work at the London theatre, in 1957.
Mathews' West End career continued and she stepped in for Lauren Bacall in the musical Applause in 1973, played Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire and starred in Noel Coward's A Song at Twilight.
For a time she was Anna Neagle's understudy in Charlie Girl at the Adelphi Theatre in The Strand while also appearing in Late Joys at the Players' Theatre in Villiers Street.
Mathews appeared in television shows such as Sweet 'N' Sour, Shelley and Minder.
But her best-known screen role was as the glamorous Laura Marshall, the girlfriend of motel boss David Hunter, in Crossroads. She was also a principal performer in the BBC series.
The Good Old Days between 1955 and 1983. Having stepped back from showbusiness to care for her husband, who died in 1999, Mathews returned to the stage in 2000 in a revival of Me and My Girl in Eastbourne.
She received the Lifetime Achievement award from the British Music Hall Society in June 2023. She is survived by her daughters, Sally and Jane.
Born 31 May 1917 Died 11 August 2016 Jonathan Harwood
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Anne McElvoy
Harry and Meghan need to be wary
William and Kate do not want the pair in their world
One thing the Harry and Meghan saga will never be short of is plot twists. So news that the first couple of Montecito will soon rock up to rebound with Britain is what the Greeks would have called a “peripeteia” – a change of circumstances or fate so dramatic that we might call it a 180-degree turn.
This is, however, the beginning of a new Odyssey, not its conclusion, and the odds are that it will encounter some areas of coolness. Harry will be getting a welcome on terms which have been agreed over the summer by his father. His relationship with his brother William, the Prince of Wales, is another matter altogether.
The breakthrough is a result of the monarch’s advanced age and recent illness, the Sussexes relentless drive to stay relevant after a lean period in the US, and a tentatively successful meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla earlier this summer. The Palace is keen to underline that this is a private decision by the Sussexes and that the roles they relinquished as working royals will not change.
But on some level, Charles is accepting the urging I know that some close friends have offered. To have Harry as estranged as he was at the Queen’s funeral, and then the former Prince Andrew’s fall from grace, has been awful for the family and the legacy of a turbulent decade – and now is the time to begin to mend fences.
Assuming that Harry and Meghan act in good faith when they set up a home and send their children to school here – and top-notch schooling is a powerful driver for Meghan, who is a strong believer in education – the return should start off in a cheerful atmosphere, showcasing continuity across the generations.
But there is a serious sticking point – and that is that the heir to the throne’s personal approach, as well as the dynamics of his situation as the next-gen royal leader, are not the same as his father’s.
This has not been one of the occasions where we have seen the Prince and Princess of Wales and King and Queen acting as a “quarter” – in the way that they did to agree the ousting of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from Royal Lodge at Windsor and ousting from the formal family.
The summer tea invite of Harry
The likelihood of a reconciliation between William and Harry is low despite the Sussexes’ return HANNAH McKAYSAPP
to Highgrove was in essence a loyalty test that the conversation would remain private, but there was no sign of William’s involvement – rather the opposite. He has very clearly kept his distance from the olive branch and tensions are still so lively between the brothers that neither has made a move to appear friendly, even at a recent family funeral of an uncle in 2024.
Birth order primogeniture has produced such tension already that Harry allowed his memoir to be entitled Spare – as in, the Crown needed an heir and a spare, and it is a lot nicer to be the first than the second. William sees himself carrying the heavy responsibility for the continuation of the monarchy into the next generations; the poor and at times downright aggressive fraternal relations brings that back into sharp relief and to public attention.
As long as the Sussexes were thousands of miles away, domestic focus was on William and Catherine (as Kate is nowadays keen to be called to underline her place in
the succession order as the next Queen). The more frequent public outings of Prince George, and carefully curated images of him and his younger siblings as the succession line of the Windsors, has been a way of signalling that, whatever the rock and roll going on elsewhere, they stand for the future of the Crown.
Theoretically, that will not change – William and Catherine are the “working” royals and the returning duo are not. Any outing of Harry and Meghan, however, will raise the question of whether it clashes with the Waleses appearances – and
William and Kate are strong characters with strong views of how they want to run their worlds
explicitly, they want their children to be part of the reconnection with a focus on their British royal heritage.
This could work if there were close attention to sequencing, clashes and the kind of “grid” used to ensure now that Charles and William’s communications are aligned. It is vanishingly hard to get right if the two other “principals” (in palace-speak) are at odds with each other or see the fundamentals differently.
We might say, as a small miracle has happened already, might it not also be time for a reconciliation between William and Harry and their spouses? The problem here is that the complexities of the falling out run deeper. As far as William was concerned, the duo not only turned their backs on the UK and the royals but then dwelt sorrowfully on repeated trauma.
Read Spare and Harry’s analysis is that the King and Queen were distracted and at times unfair. That is nothing, however, compared to the tongue-lashing dealt out there and in the Netflix documentary
to the Prince and Princess of Wales. The infamous bro-on-bro altercation in the kitchen detailed by Harry in the book was a serious physical scuffle between two men who should have been well beyond adolescent resort to fisticuffs – and the cause was tension over the two men defending their other halves’ reputations.
A subsequent vengeful statement from Harry that he felt sorry for a brother locked in a royal “cage” implied that William, who is steely, dutiful and also notably proud, could not judge his circumstances for himself. I am told by friends of the Waleses that this jibe was particularly infuriating.
And that’s not to forget the tense relationship between Kate and Meghan, which blew up so spectacularly in the Sussexes wedding preparations. From Meghan’s point of view, this was an indicator of the arch chill she came to loathe about the Royal Family. From the Wales’s perspective, it was an early warning system of trouble ahead and unaligned expectations from Meghan.
And having been alongside the Princess for her gruelling cancer treatment and placed yet more emphasis on the family having a peaceful private life to offset the pressures of their roles, William is even more watchful of her wellbeing. I do think that has intensified since their wedding.
These days, anyone watching the Wales’s interactions sees a couple watching out for one another – to the extent that William was clear he would brush off criticism of spending more time at home during her cancer recovery.
For all their affability, William and Kate are strong characters with strong views of how they want to run their worlds, which is one reason their press and household operations remain very separate from the rest of the family.
The fact that the monarch and his spouse have decided to give a repentant Harry another chance does not signal that this is a shared view even if it has to be accommodated – but the prospect of doubles tennis on the windy courts of the royal residences with all the children cheering along looks remote.
Anne McElvoy is executive editor at Politics and co-host of the Politics at Sam and Anne’s podcast
l@theipaper.com
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Your View
Tweets, emails and letters to The Editor: The iPaper, 9 Derry Street, London W8 9HY
It wasn't all good back then
Marisa Bate writes movingly about the difficulties millennials face, to include the virtual impossibility of home ownership and a very uncertain job market, as well as all the recent problems such as Covid. (At 10, we are struggling – millennials were sold a big lie', 18 August)
Her article certainly evokes sympathy and I, for one, very much hope the situation improves, and quickly. However, as an old fogey baby boomer I would suggest that there wasn't always such an easy route to job security and riches as her article implies.
Simply by way of example, those of us who trained as solicitors in the 1970s had to undergo two years of workplace training, known as articles. For those two years we were paid a very low wage with no guarantee of a job at the end.
Holidays and meals out were a distant dream, and high-flying City types suffered as much pressure and stress as they do now. There were no real employment rights.
So without wishing to undermine in any way the points made in the article, I would say that some things have improved a bit. PATRICIA PIPE MULLION, CORNWALL
We mostly do as we're told
Paul Dolan ignores the main element in human behaviour – people will do the right thing ('Next time people will not blindly obey the rules', 19 August)
He expects people not to follow restrictions if there were to be another pandemic, but with some better guidance, some people will still do
the right thing. The main lesson from the inquiry into the pandemic was that not putting in place restrictions early cost thousands of lives. MICHAEL HARLEY EDINBURGH
Division serves as distraction
Thank you Yasmin Alibhai-Brown for a very apt and clear-eyed article on the death of Professor Jason Arday (My View, 19 August)
We need to ask ourselves why anger and hatred are growing towards many groups in our society, defined by a variety of characteristics, including skin colour, health, neurodiversity, where they last lived, and even poverty, why much of the media fans the flames and many politicians are silent or mealy-mouthed.
Could all this very harmful, hatred and division be a distraction? When so much needs to be done, to protect the vulnerable, to feed hungry children, to build resilience against climate change, why are so many putting so much energy into the negative and the nasty? ANNESMITH LLANELLI, CARMARTHENSHIRE
Downside to hearing aids
I have been a music critic since 1969, and two weeks ago I began wearing hearing aids.
There had never been a problem in listening to music (thank goodness), but over the last year conversation and TV sound had become increasingly fuzzy.
One hearing test by a brilliant audiologist and immediate fitting of the discreet and comfortable devices, all on the wonderful NHS, and clarity has been restored. It has its downsides,
A reader explains that chorizo should be correctly pronounced 'choreetho' GETTY
however, as I now seethe at the inanities from Joe Public I pick up all around me, in lifts and in supermarket queues.
You can't win, but my bat ears for music-listening are as sharp as ever.
No cracks about Beethoven, please. CHRISTOPHER MORLEY HALESOWEN, WEST MIDLANDS
Pronunciation dis-sected
'Sh-co-da' seems to have missed the one word that almost no one – not even the very learned Stephen Fry – pronounces correctly ('You can say that again, the most mispronounced words revealed', 19 August)
Only professional pathologists seem able to say the word 'dissect' That is to say 'dis-sect' and not 'di-sect' to rhyme with bisect.
Crime pathologists investigating mysterious murders on TV always get it wrong.
LINDA FORT BURGHFIELD COMMON, BERKSHIRE
I read with much amusement the article about mispronunciation.
One that has plagued me for years is the Spanish 'chorizo'. Spanish has firm rules about pronunciation, unlike English.
People go on holiday to Ibiza ('eebetha'), so why don't they eat chorizo ('choreetho')?
It was mispronounced on a TV cookery programme years ago then mispronounced in a supermarket ad. Since then hordes of English people insist on eating 'choreetho' like the Italian pizza ('peetsa')
The rules are: 2/c! ce are 'th' in Castilian but 's' in Andalusia, the Canaries and South America.
It is not surprising that so many English people
fear other languages as English itself is so hard to spell and pronounce.
However, learning a few basic rules in French, Spanish and Italian makes life so much easier.
SANDRA HANNA HEMINGBROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Postcards from the edge...
Stephanie Codd's letter on the joy of postcards is spot on (Your View, 19 August) Here's a quirky one though.
My son and daughter-in-law were holidaying in Antarctica in early 2026. They sent us a postcard on 12 February, from Port Lockroy, which I understand is the southernmost post office in the world.
The postcard was received by us at our house in the UK on 16 July!
This card must have had a tortuous journey, but exactly where the main hold-up was I do not know.
MIKE HODGKIES
I do so agree with the pleasures of postcards and have always made my own using my own photographs, either relevant to the recipient or to us both.
However, this involved using card and glue – and therefore an envelope just to be sure a blank card did not arrive! GILLIAN BAILEY LONDON
More trenchant analysis, please
Not only does James O'Brien carry out a brilliant forensic dissection of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party (My View, 19 August), he also spectacularly pulls the rug from under Kemi Badenoch's feet, turning the magnifying glass on so many of her contradictions.
We need more probing journalism like this. CHRISTOPHER MORLEY HALESOWEN, WEST MIDLANDS
Will Harry get a spare palace?
So our beloved spare and his wife are coming home. Let's hope King Charles gives them one of his palaces – if he can spare it.
ELIZABETH CANTON KEYWORTH, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
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21
I deserve every penny of my PIP - most people don't
BENEFITS
Julie Burchell
When I think of who - in my opinion - deserves and doesn't deserve personal independence payments (full disclosure: I get the enhanced form, as I am in a wheelchair, cannot walk and cannot leave my flat without being pushed by another person), I think of a variation I've created on the radio show Desert Island Discs. I call it Desert Island Disabilities. If the person suffering was shipwrecked on a desert island, what would transpire?
I - or a person with cancer or many other diseases, washed up without their drugs - would be dead within a few weeks. But for many
people claiming PIP for a range of mental health conditions, it might just be the making of them. With no time to sit around and google their symptoms on the internet, survival would become an imperative.
All that frustrated energy which previously had been invested in getting what they believed was their birthright would now be employed on catching fish, building shelters and attracting the attention of passing vessels. When rescued, they could write an inspiring account of their experience.
Government figures show more than 600,000 claim PIP for anxiety and depression, including 60,000 young people. There is no requirement to work attached to PIP, which is paid out at between £1,580 and £10,120 per year. In total, four million people in England and Wales are claiming the benefit.
Psychiatric disorders now account for 39 per cent of all PIP claims - by far the largest category. It makes me furious to think how many of these are fake, and which may be bringing genuinely disabled people such as myself under suspicion, and even in danger of losing what we have. We've all read about the lying rotters who
Catherine Wieland was caught zip-lining in Mexico while claiming PIP (DWFP)
see benefits as a nice bit of pocket money - supplied by the suckers who work for a living.
Earlier this year, Catherine Wieland of Goring-by-Sea was convicted of nabbing £23,000 in benefits after she claimed to be housebound with anxiety - and was photographed zip-lining and surfing during a lively-looking trip to Mexico. In the present day, the
rush to "be kind" to those with mental health issues, the physically disabled and ill - who PIP was invented for - are becoming the poor relations.
"Enjoy spending your PIP on cocktails!" an embittered ex-friend wrote to me, in what was obviously meant to be a devastating end to our tempestuous alliance. But it's not my PIP I spend on cocktails - I
We've all read about the lying rotters who see benefits as a bit of pocket money
spend it on the expensive business of being disabled. I spend it on adult nappies, night pads, three types of wipe, a cleaning service to keep my home decent, personal assistants and physiotherapists.
The money I spend on cocktails is the money I earn, at 67, by dragging my body out of bed every morning at sunrise, then positioning my halfling-haunches on the couch and turning on my laptop, and using my brain to make my living.
Yes, sometimes I long to lie a-bed, but I'm glad I don't. When my time comes to leave this mortal coil, I'm pretty sure that my last thoughts won't be: "O, I wish I'd spent more time googling new symptoms that might make me unfit for making my own living!" I'm happy to leave that to others, with their desperate, disparate Desert Island Disabilities.
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22
Williams wrong about Farage's cloak of Christianity
POLITICS Isabel Hardman
Just what Nigel Farage needed fresh from his by-election battle with Count Binface: now he's got a former Archbishop of Canterbury on his case. Rowan Williams, whose headgear in the job was only marginally less striking than the intergalactic candidate for Clacton, has accused the Reform UK leader of using Christianity to stir up anti-Muslim feeling.
In an interview with New Humanist magazine, Williams said: "I suspect really that Farage and others want to channel anti-Muslim feeling, and it helps to have 'we're a Christian society' to fling back. It gives a sort of ballast."
He also took aim at Tommy Robinson, the far-right activist who has recently professed Christian faith. Williams said he would
"really want to ask [Robinson] some awkward questions" about "how attempting to lead a life of Christian discipleship squares with public rhetoric designed to produce hostility and violence".
Yet, Farage and Robinson aren't the same people or indeed even the same problem. Farage loathes Robinson, for one thing, and sees his own political movement as the pressure release valve that stops the hard right from taking a hold in the UK in the way it has managed in other countries.
Of course, not everyone will agree with this argument: presumably Williams thinks that Farage is part of a slippery slope towards Robinson's politics. He clearly thinks both are misusing Christianity.
To leave Robinson aside for a minute, why is Farage particularly deserving of criticism for talking about Christianity any more than any other believing politician? He said at Easter that "the Christian values on which our country is built are something to be proud of" - which is almost so anodyne that it could have appeared on Keir Starmer's X account as well. He doesn't go on about Christianity all that much.
He does argue that there are "young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values, in fact loathe much of what we stand for", and complained about the Iftar in Trafalgar Square where thousands broke their Ramadan fast together in March.
But unlike Robinson, he doesn't try to cloak himself in Christianity at all: he's much more likely to be found cloaked in a cloud of tobacco smoke.
Williams is clearly part of the strand of thinking in the higher echelons of the Church of England that involves arguing in favour of immigration and downplaying its impact: this argument is often offered alongside the point that Jesus himself was a migrant at a time of great persecution.
The Bible has no real lessons on how governments should police borders or what a healthy level of net migration should look like, any more than it goes into detail about when to go to war, how benefit eligibility
should be calculated or standards in schools.
It offers general principles on social justice, on protecting and speaking up for the oppressed, and on equality in the eyes of God.
But any leader of any political party could arguably breach these while professing a Christian faith: in fact, the central doctrine of the Bible is that every Christian disciple does daily fail to meet its standards - the senior members of the Anglican Church included.
As for the standards of parishioners, Farage himself has previously argued that the bishops are out of after with the views of many sitting in the pews: not all churchgoing Christians in this country believe in open borders or high levels of inward immigration, or indeed in failing to stop dangerous small or large boat crossings. So it's an interesting fight to keep picking.
The strongest bulwark against any politician "reissuing" Christianity, though, is not Williams or any of his senior colleagues. It is that Britain's cultural Christianity is so very different to that in the US. It has its own safety valve of "steady on", a very Anglican belief that anyone who gets too fervent about anything should be regarded with some suspicion.
Even politicians who do want to talk about their faith in public tend to do so quite gently, rather than seeing it as a particular selling point. We are not a secular country, we are a Christian country. But we are also a rather restrained country.
Aside from his politics, Robinson will also be limiting himself by going on marches where people carry crosses and chant "Christ is King": that isn't very British either. In fact, the only people who really get away with that kind of behaviour are also expected to be wearing full archbishop paraphernalia and be doing it in a cathedral, as Williams once did. Otherwise, most people regard noisy and aggressive displays of Christian faith as more off-putting than someone walking around with a bin on their head.
Farage clearly knows that: it's strange that Williams himself hasn't noticed.
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by dobroware.co.uk Scan the code call: 4 you market.com
Nigel Farage faced an accusation of misusing the Christian faith GETTY
NEWS
NEWS 2-26
OPINION 18-22
TV 26-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONDAY 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2026
23
TRUMP'S AMERICA
Gary Brecka, a human biologist and professional "longevity expert" with celebrity clients like Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg, stresses one message above all others: "Test, don't guess."
Brecka, who is based in Miami, tells The i Paper: "The most dangerous health strategy is hoping everything is fine because you haven't looked."
The 55-year-old, who also works with Dana White, a former mixed martial arts fighter and a friend of Donald Trump, is one of many American "biohackers" revolutionising the way people are thinking about their health. Their aim is not simply to stay fit and keep looking good, but to extend their lives by decades.
Some of the most controversial in this field – like Bryan Johnson, the venture capitalist who injected himself with his son's blood – claim they are actively getting younger and have set "conquering death" as their goal. Others, such as the self-described "father of biohacking and human optimisation" Dave Asprey (pictured right), talk of extending human life to 180 years using specialist training, supplements and monitoring the body's key markers.
An earlier generation of wealthy Americans who were obsessed with cryonics – freezing their dead bodies at super-low temperatures in the belief they could be resuscitated once medical science had advanced – has been replaced by individuals and an attendant industry promoting the notion that death can be avoided altogether.
Johnson, 48, said last year: "This is the first moment in the history of the human race where somebody can say with a straight face: 'We may be the first generation who will not die.'"
The "longevity industry" is lucrative business, too. A report earlier this year by SNS Insider, a market research firm based in India, suggested the longevity market could grow from $270m (£19.8bn) in 2025 to $67bn by 2035. It's no wonder that the world's richest men are getting involved.
Earlier this year, Elon Musk told podcaster Peter Diamandis that "semi-immortality is an extremely solvable problem". He added: "You're pre-programmed to die and so if you change the programme, you will live longer."
In 2021, Jeff Bezos co-founded Altos Labs, a biotechnology firm with a mission of restoring "cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury and the disabilities that can occur throughout life".
Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, invested $180m into Retco Biosciences, a biotech firm aiming to add "10 healthy years to the human lifespan".
In addition to training programmes and branded products, there are more than 800 so-called longevity centres
For six hours a day, Johnson puts himself through an intense regime of exercise and treatments
The American billionaires fixated on the quest to outsmart death
Fortunes are being spent on biohacking. Andrew Buncombe delves deeper
in the US, where people pay for treatments such as immersion in extremely cold tanks of water and infrared light therapy.
Asprey, who has been accused of promoting "pseudoscience", has a series of businesses centred around the longevity trend. He is the founder of Bulletproof – known for its coffee blended with butter – and Upgrade Labs, where people can receive "cryotherapy" (intense chilling) to rejuvenate cells and full-body red and infrared light sessions to "optimise physical and mental wellbeing". Upgrade Labs memberships run from $150 to $800 per month. Media reports suggest Asprey is worth $50m.
The trend is not limited to the US, either. In London, Hooke offers treatments and a "body investigation" it says gives people the "foundation to live healthier, for longer". Memberships start at around £20,000 a year and involve "pioneering diagnostics, including extensive blood panels, genome sequencing, cognitive testing, imaging and pioneering cancer screening".
For six hours a day, seven days a week, venture capitalist Johnson puts himself through an intense regime of exercise and treatments. In addition to physical workouts, he takes supplements containing more than 60 "super-molecules" that include glycine, magnesium and lithium and has both a sauna and a session under red lights.
He uses special lotions on his hair and face and consumes only vegan meals he has developed himself and sells. He stops eating at noon
and is in bed by 8.30pm. He sleeps solidly until 5am and boasts of the erections he has while in bed. He tells me that he would urge people to focus on getting sufficient sleep.
"Make sleep your number one life priority," Johnson says. "It's the best longevity therapy anybody could do because sleep determines someone's willpower and if they're willing to exercise. It determines mood and how you feel about life."
Asked about criticism that he is hyping claims and cashing in, he says there are always moments in history when a person will challenge accepted wisdoms. Johnson draws a parallel to developments in longevity science with what has happened to obesity, which appeared an unsolvable crisis before the discovery of GLP-1 treatments.
"Death feels inevitable, but once we start getting our first really effective anti-ageing therapies, the zeitgeist is going to change rapidly," he adds. "I'm just ahead of the curve."
Asked why he wants to live for ever, he says religious beliefs about an afterlife showed people don't want to die. "What I'm doing is what humans have been doing for all of time, through the means of science and technology."
In a post on his website, he says he carries out so-called epigenetic testing, in which his DNA is measured to see if his cells have aged. He spends $2m on treatments every year and claims he is ageing at between 0.48 to 0.54 years annually. He posts this data online and dares others to challenge him in what he calls the "Rejuvenation Olympics".
Not surprisingly, claims made by Johnson and the like have triggered controversy. David A Sinclair, the biologist behind the book Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don't Have To, suggests that humans could live as long as howhead whales, whose lives span 200 years.
Sinclair has claimed "there is nothing in biology that says that there is an [age] limit", claiming his biological age is a decade less than his actual 57 years. In one interview, he said: "I do think somebody born today will live [to 150] because the technology is just going so quickly."
Charles Brenner, an American biochemist and professor of metabolic regulation at the University of Helsinki, says Sinclair's book is "an influential source of misinformation on longevity, featuring counterfactual claims about longevity genes".
Sinclair did not respond to enquiries from The i Paper. He has previously dismissed criticism by Brenner and others, telling The Wall Street Journal: "I stand behind my track record as a trusted scientist in [a] competitive profession."
Brecka says the key, given many of his clients have busy schedules, is not to add to their load but tweak what they already do. "Sleep doesn't start when your head hits the pillow. Sleep is the result of the way you lived your day, so we build it from the morning," he says. "That's the honest answer about [who] I work with: the ones who get results aren't the ones with the most time or the most money, they're the ones who attach small practices to things they already do every day."
Gary Brecka regularly co-hosts biohacking events with the likes of the supermodel and businesswoman Elle Macpherson ROMAIN MAURICE/GETTY
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NEWS
NEW! 2-21
OPINION 16-22
TV 26-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONET 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2026
25
ENVIRONMENT
Wildfire danger zones could triple in Europe
By Stephen Beech
Areas affected by wildfires could triple due to climate change within 75 years, a study has warned.
Increasingly hot, dry and windy conditions may “substantially extend” regions affected by wildfires across Europe, according to the findings.
Researchers in Germany calculated that, in a low emissions scenario, around 39 per cent more land would be burnt per year by the end of the century compared with today’s average.
But, in a high emissions scenario, it would be around 192 per cent, according to the study published in the journal Global Change Biology.
While emissions reductions are crucial to reducing the effects of fires, the results also show that improvements in prevention, early detection and firefighting have a key role to help to reduce the scope of the area affected.
The study was led by scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate
Countries in Europe, such as Spain, have struggled to contain wildfires
Around 550,000 hectares have burned across the EU as of 12 August, according to the European Forest Fire Information System, about 2.5 times the average for that point in the year.
Impact Research (PIK) with contributions from the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research.
Study lead author, Dr Maik Billing, a researcher at PIK, said: “Climate change is driving up fire activity across Europe as hot, dry and windy conditions become more severe.
“Our results indicate there could be widespread increases in burned areas even under comparatively low warming of around 1.8°C.
“But if we emit more, and global temperatures rise by roughly 3.6°C, we see fires become much more prevalent, especially around the Mediterranean and across much of Western and Central Europe, including areas that to date have not experienced many fires.”
Study co-author Professor Thomas Hickler, from the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, said: “If Europe increases investment in wildfire management - training fire crews, proper equipment, good coordination - our projections show this can make a significant difference.
“But if fires become really extreme, our ability to contain them might break down.”
Holinicote Estate has a verdant river corridor STEVE SAYERS/NATIONAL TRUST/PA
NATURE
Beavers help ‘drought-proof’ arid landscape
By Emily Beaumont
A pioneering scheme to restore a river to a natural state and bring in beavers to create wetlands shows how landscapes can be more resilient to drought, the National Trust (NT) said.
Aerial shots of the charity’s Holnicote Estate in Somerset reveal how stretches of the river corridor and restored wetlands have remained green and lush despite drought that has gripped the South West this summer.
The NT said local farmers have benefited from resilient wetland grazing habitats, with a range of forage, shade and water helping livestock cope with the weather.
And wildlife including water voles, trout and grass snakes are thriving, while new species including green sandpiper, common crane and white stork have arrived.
CHINA
Bird diversity affected in areas with solar panels
By Flora Symington
Bird diversity is taking a hit in areas with large-scale use of solar panels, indicating the wider ecosystems could be suffering, a study from China has suggested.
Data covering more than 2,000 Chinese counties from 2014 to 2023 showed a 2 per cent reduction in bird biodiversity in areas with solar expansion, compared with 1 per
cent loss in areas without. The birds most affected were those whose populations are widespread across the area, and those in non-desert regions, the scientists behind the research at the Kunming Rosefinch Bird Institute found.
The Chinese government has promoted solar power as a large component of their future energy system, with thousands of square metres of land covered in photovoltaic cells.
Walter Beckwith, author of the research summary, said: “Large-scale solar development may create a new environmental trade-off by converting or fragmenting habitat and contributing to biodiversity loss.”
Bird diversity is an early indicator for other environmental effects, as birds “respond sensitively to changes in vegetation, breeding habitat, and food availability”, according to Beckwith’s summary.
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
No 4849 BY TEES
ACROSS
- 8 Metal container for my French energy drink? (8)
- 9 Conference centre shunned by Herb (6)
- 10 He opposed the Reformation to a greater degree (4)
- 11 Former Home Secretary, one talking wildly in British isle (9)
- 12 Really good friend’s introduced Buckingham say (6)
- 14 Distinct character, island god pens holy work (8)
- 15 Material from Grobschnitt ultimately old hat (7)
- 17 Sketch by artist showing struggle to survive (3,4)
- 20 Sacrifice one companion crossing second lake (8)
- 22/25 Being less than generous with the Stilton? (12)
-
23 Spoil lost princess’s appearance? (9)
-
24 Revolutionary payment method for strike-breaker (4)
- 25 See 22 Across
- 26 Final race, say, under arc lights for starters (8)
DOWN
- 1 See walls in posh school explode (8)
- 2 Unknown individual in London band? (4)
- 3 Margaret, Lady Holroyd, losing daughter in crowd (6)
- 4 Excellent beer served up in Crown & Sceptre? (7)
- 5 FM broadcast with time for transitory things (8)
- 6 Drink and drive to accommodate a tense playwright (10)
- 7 An obsessed person after exercise finds protein source (6)
- 13 Writing from hammer-wielder
carried in gold vessel (10)
- 16 Refuse to provide exits (8)
- 18 Note possible routes for traveller abandoned (8)
- 19 Exile concerned with stale atmosphere vacated enclosure (7)
- 21 Petty at Balmoral perhaps causes rash (6)
- 22 Capable Conservative means to apply pressure (6)
- 24 Place is an eyesore reportedly (4)
Solution to yesterday’s Cryptic
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Television Friday 21 August
CRITIC'S CHOICE
BEN WALSH
PICK OF THE DAY
Station Eleven 10.05pm, Sky Atlantic
Patrick Somerville's fiercely intelligent, surprisingly hopeful apocalyptic drama concludes with Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis) setting a plan in motion to free the Travelling Symphony once and for all. It fully merited a re-release on Sky after it was initially released to great acclaim but little adoration in 2022. It's set across two timelines – but skips around in time with wild abandon – and mainly focuses on actor Kirsten (Matilda Lawler) who, at the age of eight, is saved from the killer pandemic by writer Jeevan (Himesh Patel, left 8 and, 20 years later, tours with a Shakespearean acting company, entertaining the 1 per cent of Earth's survivors. Sensational TV
The Hairdresser Mysteries
2pm, BBC One
"Hate the phrase cosy crime," maintained the prolific crime writer Anthony Horowitz, and he has a point: there needs to be jeopardy and emotional oomph, which the likes of Ludwig and Death Valley have. Jim Cartwright's slightly bonkers daytime show has precious little of that oomph, but does have humour. It concludes with sleuthing hairdresser Lily Petal investigating the sudden death of a mysterious American who had plans to save the church tower.
Live FNF
6.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event Arsenal vs Coventry City (kick-off is at 8pm). The Premier League season
kicks off with Mikel Arteta's reigning champions taking on Premier League newbies Coventry, who return to the top tier after 25 years.
Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich
8pm, Channel 4
Cheshire-based Victoria turns to a non-surgical skin tightening treatment after losing 25 kilos through weight loss injections. Combining radiofrequency microneedling and suction therapy, the full course costs £3,300. With weight loss injections surging in popularity, the demand for treatments to tackle loose skin is booming. Entrepreneur JC invests in one of the fastest-growing trends in aesthetic medicine, fat banking
harvesting and storing his own fat cells for future rejuvenation treatments as part of a long-term package that costs £7,500. Meanwhile, interior designer Ava opts for jaw-slimming. Botox to subtly reshape her face, part of a growing trend for "tweakments" that deliver definition without going under the knife.
Bergerac
9pm, BBC Two
"Grief was defining me, I was a mess," explains alcoholic detective Jim Bergerac (Damien Molony). The John Nettles version wasn't this dark, and there's no fun Liza Goddard but there is Zoe Wanamaker as Charlie Hungerford in this slick modern re-imagining of the Jersey-set crime drama. The troubled DCI is still.
Games&Puzzles
Dominoes
How to play All of the 28 domino pieces from 0-0 through to 6-6 have been placed once into the grid. Can you work out where each of them is placed?
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 0 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | ||||||
| 5 | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 1 | ||||||
| 0 |
Journey Finder
How to play Move between the numbers in order 1,2,3,4, 1,2,3,4, and so on, starting with the grey 1 and ending with the grey 4. On each step you may move one square in any direction (including diagonally). You must form a continuous path that visits every square exactly once.
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Making Tracks
How to play
Numbers around the outside indicate how many squares in each row and column the track passes through between A and B. The track either passes straight through a square or turns at right angles in it.
Binary
How to play Complete the grid so that each row and column contains five 0s and five 1s. The same number cannot appear in more than two consecutive squares in any row or column. In the finished puzzle, each row must have a different sequence of 0s and 1s to any other row, and likewise for each column.
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 0 | |||||||||
| 1 | 0 |
Number Hexagon
How to play Each hexagon is divided into six triangles. The sum of these six triangles is always 25. Place a number from 1-9 in each empty triangle to complete the puzzle: you cannot repeat a number within a hexagon.
Pathfinder
How to play Moving from letter to adjacent letter, can you create a continuous path that visits every square once and spells out all the words listed to the right of the grid? Start on the shaded square.
| D | U | H | M | U | S | C | E | W | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | C | S | P | E | E | I | T | K | E |
| H | A | R | E | S | U | M | S | D | A |
| A | N | G | L | T | E | C | U | U | Y |
| K | F | A | E | H | R | O | J | N | I |
| R | T | P | R | E | M | M | Y | Y | C |
| A | E | A | M | N | E | S | S | C | L |
| H | R | A | D | T | F | U | I | L | E |
| Y | R | O | C | H | E | R | N | R | S |
| R | R | E | H | C | N | T | G | A | T |
Battleships
How to play Locate the position of each of the ships listed below in the grid. Numbers around the edge tell you the number of ship segments in each row and column of the puzzle. Ships are surrounded on all sides by water, including diagonally.
Chain Link
How to play Place the numbers 1-6 in each row, column and along each series of squares linked by the chain.
Daily Quiz
- Which current affairs radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 every weeknight faces the axe as part of a cost-cutting drive?
- What traditional game involves the throwing of a metal, rope or rubber ring over a spike?
- Which European country produces jamón serrano, meaning ham from a mountain range?
- Which singer, composer and musician was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan on 13 May 1950?
Answers, page 51
Jigsawdoku ● Zygolex ● Codeword ● Sudoku ● idoku ● Knight's Tour ● Word Wheel »
Hot honey, pepperoni, gherkin and onion pizza
MAKES 1 PIZZA
- 1 pizza base (homemade or shop bought)
- 2tbsp pizza sauce
- 1 mozzarella ball, drained, torn into pieces
- 50g grated Cheddar (optional)
- 15-17 slices pepperoni
- 12 small silverskin onions
- 10 cocktail gherkins, sliced
- 1tbsp capers
- Drizzle of hot honey
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 Place either a pizza baking sheet or large flat baking tray in the oven to heat up
Add the tomato sauce to the pizza base, followed by the cheese, pepperoni, onions, capers and gherkins
Place in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden
Drizzle with hot honey and serve immediately
TIPS:
- Delicious with a rocket salad, or use rocket to garnish the pizza
- Substitute with your favourite ingredients such as olives, red jalapeños, finely sliced fresh red chillies, artichokes and basil to garnish.
- Swap out the pepperoni for 'nduja.
- For a veggie alternative, omit the meat and top with olives, mushrooms, artichokes, etc.
Recipe from bennettopie.com
PUZZLES The country's best barred crossword every Saturday
Games&Puzzles
Kakuro
How to play Fill the white squares so that the total in each across or down run of cells matches the total at the start of that run. You must use the numbers from 1-9 only and cannot repeat a number in a run.
| 3 | 4 | 41 | 42 | 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 3 | 9 | ||||||
| 10 | 4 | |||||||
| 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | |||||
| 12 | 13 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 21 | 12 | |||||||
| 12 | 12 | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||||
| 6 | 11 | |||||||
| 9 | 9 |
Jigsawdoku
How to play Place the numbers 1-9 once in each row, column and bold-lined jigsaw region.
| 3 | 4 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6 | 4 | |||||
| 4 | 7 | 5 | |||||
| 6 | 8 | ||||||
| 1 | 9 | 7 | |||||
| 5 | 9 | ||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||
| 7 | 6 | 4 | |||||
| 1 | 8 |
Killer Sudoku
How to play Each row, column and 3 by 3 box must contain each number (1 to 9) only once. The sum of all numbers contained within grey lines must match the number printed in its top-left corner. No number can appear more than once in an area formed by grey lines.
| 14 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 17 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 6 | |||||||
| 14 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 10 | |||
| 9 | 18 | 13 | ||||||
| 10 | 16 | 10 | ||||||
| 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 7 | ||||
| 16 | 13 | 9 | ||||||
| 11 | 3 | 10 | 21 | 15 | ||||
| 15 | 8 |
Zygolex® In The i Paper every day
Find the missing words by following the RHYME, LETTERS and MEANING links – eg, a word that rhymes with 'cheek', has one letter different from 'pear' and has the same meaning as mountain, would be 'peak'. Full rules at zygolex.com Solution, page 51
Futoshiki
How to play Place the numbers from 1-5 exactly once in each row and column. The greater than and less than signs ('x' and 'c') indicate where one cell is greater/less than the adjacent cell indicated.
Minesweeper
How to play Find all the mines in the grid. Numbers in certain squares indicate how many mines there are in the neighbouring squares, including diagonally touching squares. Mines cannot be placed in squares with numbers.
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
MOST 2-21
OPINION 18-22
TV 26-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONET 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 11 AUGUST 2026
29
Number Square
How to play Fill the empty squares with numbers that will make the across and down calculations produce the results shown in the grey squares. Each numeral from 1 to 9 must only appear once. The calculations should be performed from left to right and top to bottom, rather than in strict mathematical order.
Easier
| × | 8 | - | 70 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| × | × | - | |||
| ÷ | + | 7 | 12 | ||
| - | + | - | |||
| × | - | 21 | |||
| 41 | 14 | -8 |
Harder
| + | × | 84 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | |||
| 6 | × | - | 16 | ||
| × | - | × | |||
| × | × | 45 | |||
| 10 | -8 | 5 |
Codeword No 4591
How to play The numbers in the grid correspond to the letters of the alphabet. Solve the puzzle and fill in the letters in the key as you discover them. Three letters are provided to give you a start. The solution will be printed in tomorrow's paper: the solution to Thursday's codeword is on page 51.
| 22 | 25 | 8 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 22 | 13 | 18 | 21 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 18 | ||||||
| 16 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 9 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 3 | |
| 7 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 19 | 18 | ||||||
| 14 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 8 | |
| 18 | 18 | 3 | 12 | 3 | ||||||||
| 26 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 18 | ||
| 3 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 2 | ||||||||
| 5 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 9 | |
| 18 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 23 | 9 | 24 | ||||||
| 6 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 15 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 9 | |
| 16 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 6 | 12 | ||||||
| 18 | 17 | 3 | 18 | 25 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 18 | 21 | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Need a little help getting started? Then call for up to four extra clue letters on 0901 202 3204. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge (if you are having trouble with the phone service, call the helpline: 0333 202 3390). Or text THE! CLUE to READ to receive your clues. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge (if you are having trouble with the text service, call the helpline: 0333 335 3351). Clues change each day at midnight.
Word Ladder
How to play
Convert the word at the top of the ladder into the word at the bottom of it, using only the five rungs in between. On each rung, you must put a valid four-letter word that is identical to the word above it, apart from a one-letter change. There may be more than one way of achieving this.
idoku Exclusive to i
How to play Each numeral from 1 to 9 must appear (once only) in the squares forming the red letter i.
| 7 | 8 | 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | ||||||
| 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||||
| 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | ||||
| 1 | 5 | ||||||
| 8 | 4 | 9 | 1 | ||||
| 4 | 7 | 5 | |||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||
| 8 | 3 | 6 |
Sudoku Easier
| 1 | 9 | 3 | 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |||||
| 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 6 | ||||
| 8 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 5 | |||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||||
| 8 | 1 | 9 | ||||||
| 9 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
Tomorrow: Harder
ABC Logic
How to play Place the letters A, B and C only once in each row and column. Each row and column has two blank cells. The letters at the edge of a row/column indicate which of the letters is the first/last to appear in that row/column.
Word Wheel
How to play How many words can you find using the letters in the wheel? Each must use the centre letter and at least three others. Letters may be used only once. You may not use foreign words, proper nouns or plurals though you may use verb forms ending in 's'. There is at least one nine-letter word to be found.
How you rate 13 good, 19 very good, 24 excellent, 29 genius
Terms &
Conditions
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Concise Crossword No 4913
ACROSS
- 1 Joke (4)
- 3 Rowing crew (5)
- 7 Take for granted (6)
- 8 Larder (6)
- 9 Pretend to be (11)
- 11 Bill of fare (4)
- 12 Elderly (4)
- 16 Speak or act evasively (11)
- 17 Housefly larva (6)
- 19 Deadly (6)
- 20 Moist (5)
- 21 Dry (4)
DOWN
- 1 Fragrant climbing plant (7)
- 2 Work of art (9)
- 3 Use (6)
- 4 Weapon (3)
- 5 Laconic (5)
- 6 Bizarre (5)
- 10 Variety of gypsum (9)
- 13 Green gemstone (7)
- 14 Squandered (6)
- 15 Young female horse (5)
- 16 Cook by simmering (5)
- 18 Adhesive (3)
Stuck on the concise crossword?
For today's solutions, call 0902 789 3590. Calls cost 80p per minute plus your network access charge. If you are having trouble accessing this number, please call our helpdesk on 0333 202 3390.
PUZZLE BOOKS
Our range of puzzle books includes crosswords, codewords, jigsawdokus, children's games, sudokus and more. Available on Amazon for £799 each.
See the full range at minURL.co.uk/ibooks
Solution to yesterday's Concise Crossword
ACROSS 1 Ruff, 3 Lea (Roughly), 7 Gait, 8 Audition, 9 Highly strung, 11 Cave in, 13 Limpet, 15 Hard feelings, 18 Generous, 20 Crag, 21 Sum, 22 Nest. DOWN 1 Reach, 2 Fatigue, 3 Lick, 4 Alter, 5 Partance, 6 Lounge, 10 Selfless, 12 Amazed, 14 Monocle, 16 Dregs, 17 Shaft, 19 Ohm.
Today's other puzzles Cryptic Crossword, page 25
Five-Clue Cryptic, page 15. One-Minute Wipuko, page 20
Puzzle solutions See page 51
30
GAMES & PUZZLES
Children's Corner Number Pyramid
How to play The value of each square in the number pyramid is the sum of the two squares directly under it.
Knight's Tour
How to play A chess knight visits each square of the grid exactly once, starting at 1 and ending at 100 (these squares are shaded). Deduce the whole path of the knight – some of which is already given – and thus complete the grid. The knight moves either two squares horizontally followed by one square vertically, or two squares vertically followed by one square horizontally.
| 55 | 46 | 44 | 73 | 77 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 24 | 78 | 21 | ||||||
| 51 | 61 | 74 | 76 | 41 | |||||
| 58 | 69 | 100 | 12 | 71 | 20 | ||||
| 52 | 65 | 60 | |||||||
| 67 | 28 | 82 | 15 | 36 | |||||
| 6 | 87 | 83 | 10 | 98 | |||||
| 16 | |||||||||
| 86 | 31 | 96 | 38 | 1 | |||||
| 4 | 93 | 91 | 34 |
Cells
How to play Divide the grid into square or rectangular blocks, each containing one digit only. Every block must contain the number of cells indicated by the digit inside it.
| 2 | 6 | 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||
| 3 | 8 | |||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | |||||
| 2 | 6 |
Word Fit
How to play Can you fit all the words into the grid to complete the puzzle? Some words may initially fit in more than one place, but there is only one way to fit all the words together to complete the grid.
4 Letters Inch Mole Veil
5 Letters Crypt Curve Pound Whine
6 Letters Divine Frozen Morsel Strobe
7 Letters Officer Oxidise Scratch Shingle Subject
8 Letters Bearable Frenzied Suspense
Word Square
How to play Simply answer the clues alongside the grid, writing the answers in the respective rows. The solution must read the same horizontally in each row as it does vertically in each column.
Hard wood Deserve Mythical ship Button or handle
Bridges
How to play Connect every island (represented by circles) into a single interconnected group. To do this draw bridges between islands. The number in each circle states how many bridges must be connected to that island. Bridges cannot cross each other, can only be drawn horizontally or vertically, and there can be a maximum of two bridges between any pair of islands.
Word Search
How to play The classic word-search puzzle, find all the words in the grid. Words may be hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and in either a forwards or backwards direction.
| L | A | F | A | Y | E | T | T | E | F | K | F | I | R | I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | L | H | H | E | Q | B | E | X | X | B | D | O | J | Q |
| G | A | G | A | N | D | E | R | S | O | N | B | S | K | Q |
| O | Z | H | E | N | N | I | N | G | G | B | W | T | O | H |
| V | E | T | E | S | I | U | D | V | I | S | R | G | M | Q |
| D | T | Y | I | R | D | B | A | N | X | O | E | Q | A | U |
| A | N | Y | Y | W | U | I | S | R | W | R | P | D | N | O |
| N | A | M | I | R | O | B | V | W | O | C | O | X | Y | X |
| I | D | A | P | I | H | D | L | J | Q | A | O | G | D | H |
| E | P | L | N | J | T | R | A | A | G | R | C | R | O | T |
| L | A | F | B | G | R | U | L | S | Y | P | E | U | Q | N |
| S | C | O | P | P | E | R | F | I | E | L | D | P | L | N |
| N | W | O | R | B | B | L | W | I | L | I | J | O | W | E |
| P | A | H | K | C | O | H | V | E | N | I | A | L | B | P |
| M | U | L | H | E | R | N | T | I | G | Q | Y | O | F | R |
| ANDERSON | HOUDINI |
|---|---|
| ANGEL | JAY |
| BLAINE | LAFAYETTE |
| BROWN | MULHERN |
| COOPER | PENN |
| COPPERFIELD | ROBBINS |
| DANIELS | ROBERT-HOUDIN |
| DANTE | SADOWITZ |
| DYNAMO | SORCAR |
| HENNING | TELLER |
Solutions: page 51
Calcudoku
How to play Place the numbers 1-6 once in each row and column, obeying sums in bold-lined regions. The number in each region indicates the total for the region, and the symbol shows which type of operation should be applied to the numbers' addition, subtraction, division or multiplication. Numbers may repeat within bold-lined regions. With subtraction always take the lower numbers away from the highest number in a region, and with division divide the highest number by the lower numbers.
| 3- | 2+ | 3- | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30× | 2+ | 2× | 9+ | 13+ | |
| 3+ | |||||
| 3+ | 3- | 13+ | |||
| 7+ | 8× | 5- | 6+ | ||
| 7+ |
Hexalex
How to play Place each of the letters below once into the empty hexagons, crossing them off as you do so. Enter the letters in such a way that it is possible to find all the words listed alongside the grid by moving from hexagon to adjacent hexagon to spell out each word.
A D E F G H I J K N O P R S T U
FEZ FOND FORM JOG LAKE ORB ORAL PRONG SHY STUNG TIC TUX
WEST 2-24
ORINON 15-22 TH 26-31
FRIDAY 37-41
MONDAY 46-47
SPORT 55-58
FRIDAY 51 AUGUST 2026
31
tracking down the killer of Philip Glenister's tycoon daughter. "I have a map with a way out," claims his therapist. but the case is, of course, proving thorny with Jim's daughter Kim, in peril, too.
Ann Droid
9.30pm, BBC One
Self-centred Michael is depressed – his wife is carrying the deeply annoying 'professor' Chris's baby, he's lost his job and he has no purpose – so Linda attempts to cheer him up by playing "Cotton Eye Joe" in the middle of the night. It's the last slice of this enjoyable robot sitcom and Linda is taking Sue to too many dance classes (to alleviate her grief) while Michael is preparing himself to tell his mother that Linda has to return to the shop.
FILM CHOICE
LAURENCE PHELAN
FILM OF THE DAY
Team America: World Police 9.30pm, Sky Cinema Comedy (They Parker, 2004)
In this cheerfully offensive Thunderbirds-style man-provette parody of bombastic and jingoistic Hollywood action movies from the makers of South Park, the titular band of square-jawed heroes do battle with Middle Eastern terrorists planning "a '911 times 100', and a coalition of useful-idiot liberal actors (Matt Damon, Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin, et al) who are being unwittingly manipulated by the diminutive puppet puppetmaster Kim Jong-il. It is unapologetically childish, profane and un-PC but also handcrafted with extraordinary attention to detail, written with a piercing satirical eye and fearless
Chicken Run 7.40pm, BBC Three (Nick Park, Peter Lord, 2000) Droll and witty Aardman animation that pays homage to Second World War PoW movies – The Great Escape and Stalag 17 in particular – with the tale of a brood of hens striving to escape a farm in 50s Yorkshire.
27 Dresses 10.40pm, BBC One (Anne Fletcher, 2008) Perfectly likeable wedding-obsessed romcom, with Katherine Heigl as an incurable romantic who thus far has always been the bridesmaid but never the bride – and has the 27 ugly dresses in her wardrobe to prove it James Marsden is her co-star
ON DEMAND
The Outer Banks Netflix The Pogues embark on one last super in the final series of this gripping teen tale
Lanterns HBO Max Aarren Pierre and Kyle Chandler play the DC Universe intergalactic cops.
The Hawk Netflix Will Ferrell plays a delusional golfer in this coarse sporting comedy.
iDv3
6.00 George And Mildred (S) 8.35 George And Mildred (S) 7.95 Classic Emnerdale (S) 8.95 Classic Coronation Street (S) 8.40 Classic Coronation Street (S) 9.10 Agathe Christie's Power (S) 10.35 Agathe Christie's Power (S) 11.30 Heartbeat (S) 12.35 Heartbeat (S) 1.25 Midcomer Murders (S) 3.35 Classic Emnerdale (S) 4.45 Classic Emnerdale (S) 4.40 Classic Coronation Street (S) 5.15 Classic Coronation Street (S) 5.20 Heartbeat (S)
6.55 Heartbeat A sniper strikes in Adansfield (S)
6.30 The Simpsons (S)
7.00 The Simpsons Former recalls Magge's birth (S)
7.30 The Simpsons A normal heads for Springfield (S)
8.00 Doc Martin Martin has to complete three refresher courses (S)
9.00 Doc Martin Louisa plans a special evening to celebrate Martin's birthday (S)
10.00 Lewis A botanist accidentally unearths a body (S)
10.00 Gegglebox The armchair critics get in Rarvinium mood (S)
11.50 Trial & Retribution An ambulance is run off the road and the patient is shot in the head (S)
1.45 George And Mildred (S) 2.15 Unwind With ITV (S) 2.20 Fainfooping
6.00 Modern Family (S) 6.55 Rodelahl Tube Diaries (S) 7.00 Caupka Come Dine With Me (S) 8.00 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (S) 9.00 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (S) 10.00 America's Funniest Home Videos (S) 11.00 Below Deck: Mediterranean (S) 12.00 The Simpsons (S) 12.20 The Simpsons (S) 1.00 The Simpsons (S) 1.30 The Simpsons (S) 2.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S) 2.30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S) 3.00 Modern Family (S) 3.30 Modern Family (S) 4.00 Modern Family (S) 4.30 Modern Family (S) 5.00 The Simpsons (S) 5.20 The Simpsons (S)
6.00 The Simpsons Mr Burns is next to prison (S)
6.30 The Simpsons (S)
8.00 The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer With Dermal O'Leary and Gray James (S)
9.00 Celebrity Gegglebox For StipC Another chance to see the StipC
special (S)
10.05 Is Hours In A&E It mechanics is crushed against a wall by his own car (S)
11.05 FILM: Alita Battle Angel (Robert Rodriguez, 2009) Sci-Fi adventure, with Rose Salazar (S)
11.10 Is Hours In A&E It five-year-old struggle to breathe (S)
1.10 FILM: The 355 Chinese Scenes (S) 3.40 The Goldbergs (S) 4.05 The Goldbergs (S) 4.20 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S) 4.35 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S) 5.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S)
8.55 Final It, Fix It, Flag It (S) 10.00 Four In A Bed (S) 10.25 Four In A Bed (S) 11.05 Four In A Bed (S) 11.35 Four In A Bed (S) 12.10 Four In A Bed (S) 12.40 Come Dine With Me Paralympics Special (S) 1.10 Come Dine With Me Paralympics Special (S) 1.40 Come Dine With Me Paralympics Special (S) 2.15 Come Dine With Me Paralympics Special (S) 2.30 Come Dine With Me Paralympics Special (S) 3.20 Four In A Bed (S) 3.30 Four In A Bed (S) 4.00 Four In A Bed (S) 4.30 Four In A Bed (S) 5.00 Four In A Bed (S) 5.50 Car S.O.S (S)
6.50 Car S.O.S Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend get help from James Nadozt (S)
7.55 Grand Designs Building a radical, self-heating family home (S)
7.30 The Simpsons (R) (S)
8.00 A League Of Their Own With Wayne Rooney, Marge Jema and Alex Brooker (R) (S)
9.00 Cerpe Diem A woman asks Tom to defend her husband on a murder charge (S)
9.00 Micby Flanagan – An' Another Fing Live I stand-up show recorded at London's Oz Arena (R) (S)
10.45 Grimsburg Marvin's newfound fame goes to his head (S)
11.15 Grimsburg A serial killer targets the winner of the Jowin's talent show (S)
11.45 Grimsburg (S)
12.15 Grimes (R) (S) 1.10 Eed (R) (S) 2.05 The Force Manchester (R) (S) 3.00 Hawaii Five in (R) (S) 4.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 5.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S)
6.00 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 6.30 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 7.00 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 7.30 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 8.00 Diergets SG-6 (R) (S) 9.00 Diergets SG-5 (R) (S) 10.00 The Simpsons (R) 10.30 The Simpsons (R) 11.00 The Simpsons (R) 11.30 The Simpsons (R) 12.00 Africa's Murders (R) (S) 1.00 Hawaii Five in (R) (S) 2.00 Hawaii Five in (R) (S) 3.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 4.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 5.00 The Simpsons (R) (S) 5.30 Formula 1 (R)
6.30 The Simpsons Homer: Marge and the kids have biblical dreams (R) (S)
7.00 The Simpsons The family is stranded in Japan (R) (S)
7.30 The Simpsons (R) (S)
11.45 Grimsburg (S)
Radio
BBC Radio 1
6.5am Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Greg James 10.00 Radio 2 Airtherm With Nat And Vicky 11.00 Radio 2x Group Club With Nat And Vicky 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Mylie And Rose 2.00 Radio 2 Dance Party Starters 4.00 The Official Chart On Radio 1 With Jack Saunders 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 2x Dance Party With Danny Howard 8.00 Radio 2x Future Dance With Sarah Dore 10.00 First Tong 12.00 Radio 2x Essential Mix 2.00 Radio 3 Dance Presents 3.00 Danny Howard's Club Mix 4.00 Radio 3 Dance Party Starters 5.00 Radio 3.1 Happy Airtherm
BBC Radio 1Xtra
6.30am Ultra Flights 7.00 Ultra Breakfast With Nadia Joe 10.00 Di Day Day 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Kayzie Goldring 4.00 Rami Burgi 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Rami Burgi 7.00 Kash & Pharaoh 8.30 Kash & Pharaoh 9.00 Ultra Ray Show With Kenny Allstar 10.30 Kenny Allstar-Peek to Mix 11.00 Ultra's Friday Night Party With Izzy Bossy 12.30am Ultra's Friday Night Party With Izzy Bossy 1.00 Ultra's Rave Show With Jeremiah Asumah 2.30 Ultra's Rave Show With Jeremiah Asumah 3.00 Ultra's R&B Show With Charles 4.30 Ultra's R&B Show Jima Mix With Charles 5.00 Ultra's Salaries
BBC Radio 2
6.30am The Sara Cox Breakfast Show 9.30 Version Key 12.00am Jeremy Vine 2.00 Di Spoony 4.00 Jason MacNir 7.00 Michelle Visage 8.30 Michelle Visage's Handbag Hits 9.00 Sophie Ellis-Beator's Kitchen Disco 11.00 The Rock Show With Shaun Kaseem 12.00am Romesh Kanganaffare Fire The Love Of Hip-Hop 1.00 Tony Blackburne Sounds Of Soul 2.00 Pick Of The Pops 2.00 Pick Of The Pops 4.00 Radio 2 in Concert: Kozi And The Gang 5.00 Thedis Of My Years
BBC Radio 3
6.30am Breakfast 9.30 Essential Classics 12pm Classical Live 4.00 Composer Of The Week Felix Mendelssohn 5.00 In Tuna 7.00 BBC Presto 2026 Mothers' Oke Lied onnder Erde 10.00 Lulu Junction 11.30 Round Midnight 12.30am Through The Night
BBC Radio 4
6am Today 8.00 Chant Island Disco 10.00 Women's Hour 11.00 The Food Programme 12.15 Book Of The Week The Fire In The Mountain: Sizzy Etna And Her People 12.00am News 10.00 Rare Earth 12.27 Weather 6.00 The World At One 5.45 Human Intelligence 2.00 The Archers 2.15 Drama Central Intelligence 2.45 Living On The Edge 3.00 Gentlemen Question Time 3.30 Short Works 4.00 Last
Word 4.30 Sideways 5.00 PM 5.37 Weather 6.00 Six B'Clock News 6.30 The People Have Spoken Ian Smith (Nola Hall and Ashley Storms try to solve the world's problems 7.00 The Archers: There's a surprising development for Lizy 7.15 Add To Playlist: A celebration of the Proms 8.00 Any Questions? Topical discussion from Medway Centre, Bakewell, Darrington 8.15 This Week In History: William Wallace was hung drawn and spunfured for treason in 1305 9.00 Natalie Haynes Stands Up for The Classics A look at the early's traditional Live and philosopher Hypeba 9.30 Brooker The Cycle: Color takes over directing the movie 10.00 The World Tonight With Beyer-Lizy 10.45 Book At Badtime: Mr Suffolk Post Office By Amman Bvar 10.00 American: Analyses of cultural and social stories breaking in the US 11.30 All Under One Magnifications: The world of naturally occurring electromagnetic soundscapes 12.00am News And Weather 12.30 Book Of The Week: The Fire In The Mountain: Sizzy Etna And Her People 12.45 Shipping Forecast 1.00 An BBC World Service 1.30 News Summary 1.35 Shipping Forecast 1.45 Prayer For The Day 1.45 Living On The Edge
BBC Radio 4, Extra
6am A Study In Sex 7.00 Flying The Day 7.30 Beyond Our Own 8.00 The Confessional 8.30 Adrian Male: The Cappuccino Years 8.45 Agnes Gerty 9.00 Olga Koch: Off Composer 9.30 The Essay Brother from Comedians 9.45 Daily Service 10.00 Soul Music 10.30 Spinning Tales 11.00 A Study In Sex 12.00am Flying The Flag 12.30 Beyond Our Own 1.00 The Confessional 1.30 Adrian Male: The Cappuccino Years 1.45 Agnes Gerty 2.00 The Pleasure Of Curiosity 2.30 Midport 2.45 There's a South Things 4.00 Soul Music 4.30 Spinning Tales 5.00 A Study
Sophie Ellis-Beator's Kitchen Disco
9pm, BBC Radio 2
Sophie Ellis-Beator (above) follows Michelle Visage's Handbag
Hits by cranking the camp up further spinning two hours of danceable disco megahits
In Sin 6.00 Flying The Flag 6.30 Beyond Our Own 7.00 The Confessional 7.30 Adrian Male: The Cappuccino Years 7.45 Agnes Gerty 8.00 The Museum Of Curiosity 8.30 Midport 8.00 Frank Art-Such Things 10.00 Comedy Club: Olga Koch: Off Composer 10.30 Comedy Club: The Mark Street Lecture 11.00 Comedy Club: The House Seen Star Wars 11.30 Comedy Club: The Shores What You Know 12.00AM Soul Music 12.30 Spinning Tales 1.00 A Study In Sin 2.00 Flying The Flag 2.30 Beyond Our Own 3.00 The Confessional 3.30 Adrian Male: The Cappuccino Years 3.45 Agnes Gerty 4.00 The Museum Of Curiosity 4.30 Midport 4.30 There Are Such Things
BBC 5 Live
6am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Kylie Fishdane 11.00 Gordon Smart 12.00 Ella James And John Robins 2.00 Chant-Tanning 4.00 5 Live Onion 7.00 Premier League Club: Off With Darren Fletcher 10.00 Stephen Nolan 1.00 Joel Mitchell 5.00 5 Live Boxing
BBC 6 Music
6am Noli Grimshaw 10.00 Lauren Laurens 12.00 Craig Charles 4.00 Deb Grant 7.00 The People's Party With Femi Kretzick 9.00 I Music's Wide Forever 12.00 G-Music's Wide Forever 11.00 The G-Mix With Mary Anne Hicks 12.00 G-Music's Rave Forever 1.00 G-Music's Forever Dark 2.00 Fenza Beats 4.00 Ambient Focus
Classic FM
6.30am Classic FM Breakfast With Tom Chernick 9.00 The Classic FM Hall Of Fame Hour With Tom Chernick 10.00 Soul Jones 12.00 Anne-Marie Mitchell 4.00 Diergenitz Taylor 8.00 Classic FM At The Movies With Jonathan Ross, Music from Star Wars, Captain Marvel, James Bond and ET: The Extra-Terrorist 8.00 Classical Spotlight With Alexander Armstrong Flankering Full Concierge of Deborah Kamby Suite 10.00 Scion Classics 2.00 Kylie Breathwork
Absolute Radio
6am Dave Barry 10.00 Claire Shurgess 12.00 Ben Burrell 4.00 Hometime With Bush & Richie 7.00 Absolute Box With Claire Shurgess 10.00 Sophie 1.45am Ben Coley
Mopart
6.30am It And Kelly Brook 10.00 Finders Christ's 12.00 Matt Wilkinson 4.00 Rob Howard 7.00 Huer's Club Hospital Artist: Sally Annis 11.00 Fuzzy Ghalijar 12.00 Seb Bailey
TalksPORT
6am TALSPORT Breakfast With Alan Brazil 10.00 Sam Robertson & Paul Crook 12.00 Howkides And Jacobs 4.00 TALSPORT Show 7.00 Kids Off 10.00 The Sports Bar Weekender 12.00 Extra Time With Ben Fletcher
32
NEWS
Panorama
Around the world in 10 stories
CHINA
Evergrande tycoon jailed for life over fraud
By Chan Ho-Him
IN REUTERS
A Chinese court sentenced the property tycoon Hui Ka Yan to life in prison yesterday for financial crimes linked to the collapse of his Evergrande property group, once the world's most heavily indebted developer.
The decision marks a milestone in Evergrande's saga after it collapsed with more than £220m in liabilities when Chinese authorities cracked down on excessive borrowing in the property industry in 2020.
That triggered a crunch among developers and brought on a downturn in the property market.
The Shenzhen court convicted Hui (inset, yesterday), 67, and Evergrande of engaging in fraud in inflating the group's assets and concealing its liabilities.
The court also said Hui abused his position in orchestrating fraud and misappropriating company assets.
Evergrande group was fined 8.82bn yuan (£960m) and Evergrande Real Estate Group was fined 7 billion yuan.
"The amount involved is exceptionally large, the circumstances are particularly egregious and extraordinarily heavy economic losses have been caused," the court's statement said. "The harm to society is extremely serious. Therefore, severe punishment should be given in accordance with the law."
Hui's sons, Xu Tenghe and Xu Zhijian, were also sentenced alongside senior Evergrande executives and others linked to the group on charges including illegally taking public deposits, fundraising fraud and the illegal use of funds.
A total of more than 50 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment of between 22 months and 18 years. Hui pleaded guilty in April to various charges including illegal absorption of public deposits, fraud and bribery after he was detained.
China Evergrande, founded in 1996, defaulted on its debts in 2021. It was the world's most heavily indebted property developer before it was ordered to liquidate its assets.
After Evergrande's downfall triggered the downturn in China's property sector, home prices have fallen by roughly 20 per cent since 2021. AP
INDONESIA
Tourist jailed for disrespecting day of silence
By Niniek Karmini
IN GENDER
A court on the resort island of Bali sentenced a Swiss tourist to one year in prison for insulting a sacred Balinese Hindu observance.
Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was found guilty of violating Indonesia's new criminal code by posting social media messages about the day of silence, when people are required to stay home
and are urged to remain silent and meditate.
The Denpasar District Court determined that he boasted on Instagram about defying the restrictions even after being informed about them by staff at the villa where he was staying.
"What the defendant did offended the Balinese people, hurt their faith and provoked public outrage," said judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima.
The day of silence, locally known as Nyepi, usually falls in March. For a day, the island's world-famous beaches and streets are empty of people except for special patrols meant to ensure silence is observed.
The restrictions apply to everyone regardless of religion or nationality. AP
AUSTRALIA
Mushroom killer's sentence 'too lenient'
By Rod McGuirk
IN MELBOURNE
Triple-murderer Erin Patterson should never be released from prison after she poisoned four of her estranged husband's relatives with death cap mushrooms, a prosecutor told a court yesterday.
Brendan Kissane told the Victoria state Court of Appeal that a judgment that Patterson must serve 33 years of a life sentence before she can apply for parole was "manifestly inadequate," in an appeal on the leniency of her sentence.
Kissane said Patterson should never be considered for parole but that if the judges did not agree, then they should impose a non-parole period longer than 33 years.
On Wednesday, Patterson began
her appeal against convictions on three counts of murder and one of attempted murder relating to a lunch of beef Wellington pastries she prepared at her rural home in Leongatha in July 2023.
Few Australian prisoners are sentenced without prospect of release on parole. The judges reserved their
Erin Patterson is depicted by an artist's sketch from a video link
decisions on both appeals until a date to be set.
Patterson is held in a high-security unit of Melbourne's Dame Phyllis Frost Centre women's prison for prisoners assessed as being at high risk from other inmates.
Sentencing her in September last year, judge Christopher Bale said there was a "substantial chance" that Patterson could be held in "solitary confinement for years to come".
Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to the fatal lunch but did not attend.
His parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, died. Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, spent weeks in hospital, but survived.
Patterson told her trial that the poisoning was an accident. AP
NEWS 2-35
OPINION 15-22
TV 26-31
FRIDAY 17-23
MONDAY 44-47
SPORT 55-56
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2026
33
DRC
WHO donates Ebola vaccines
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which has been effective in past Ebola outbreaks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners have said.
Officials are struggling to contain what has been described as the fastest Ebola outbreak in history.
The Ervebo vaccine is licensed for use against Ebola virus, one of the viruses that cause Ebola disease, but not for Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak.
The WHO said that while it is not known whether Ervebo may protect against the Bundibugyo virus, 'early laboratory and animal data suggest it may provide some protection'.
The allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, the agency said. The remaining 50,000 doses will be used for frontline and health workers. AP
Postcard From...
Sremska Mitrovica
The rusting hull of a steam tugboat - once a famed vessel known as the Slovenian - surfaced this month from the Sava river near the Serbian town of Sremska Mitrovica, 45 miles north-west of Belgrade.
'It's been several years since it was last seen,' said Andrija Popovic, a historian and head of the town's museum.
Warships, mammoth bones and parts of ancient constructions have all emerged from the subsiding waters of the Danube, the Rhine and other rivers in the scorching drought.
According to Popovic, the Slovenian was made in 1913 in a
shipyard in Budapest, Hungary. It was 54m (177ft) in length and, with a steam engine, pulled cargo between Budapest and towns on the Danube.
As the First World War ended, the boat's ownership switched to the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians - which would later become Yugoslavia.
In the Second World War, the Slovenian - and its new country - came under Nazi occupation. After Yugoslav anti-fascist forces liberated Belgrade in 1944, they used the boat to transfer the wounded and equipment.
The boat was carrying wounded fighters when it hit a German mine in April 1945, Popovic said. 'It sank and has stayed in the same place since that day.' AP
Marko Drobnjakovic and Jovana Gec
NORTH KOREA
Pyongyang launches missiles after Trump overture to Kim
By Hyun-Jin Kim IN REEKA
North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea yesterday. South Korea's military said, a day after Pyongyang shrugged off a US decision to scale back military drills with Seoul in an apparent bid to resume diplomacy.
The joint chiefs of staff said the launches happened from North Korea's capital region and were aimed towards North Korea's eastern waters.
The military said South Korea has bolstered its surveillance posture and was closely coordinating information on the launches with the US and Japan.
South Korea's presidential national security council held an emergen-
cy meeting to discuss the launches. After the meeting, the council issued a statement urging North Korea to halt ballistic missile launches that are banned by UN Security Council resolutions.
On Wednesday, the South Korean and US militaries said they were scaling back their 11-day Uichi Freedom Shield exercises.
The US President, Donald Trump, earlier ordered the Pentagon to 'substantially reduce' the exercises, just before they began on Monday, citing what he said was a good relationship with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, and South Korea's refusal to support him over the war in Iran.
Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un, dismissed Trump's overture on Wednesday. She refrained from the typical North Korean reaction of fiery rhetoric and said personal relations between her brother and Trump are 'still excellent'.
That signals North Korea would want to wait for Trump to make bigger concessions before returning to talks.
She denied Trump's claim that her brother had responded to his request for a conversation. When asked if he would be meeting Kim Jong-un this year, Trump said, 'Yeah, I will be.'
He would not discuss whether or not he is exchanging letters with the North Korean leader. AP
Happy birthday, Hungary
Gripen JAS 39 fighter aircraft of the Hungarian Air Force fly over the parliament building in Budapest yesterday during a ceremony on the country's national day. It marked the 1,025th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state by the first king of Hungary, Stephen I. ATTILA KISBENEDE OGETTY
PERU
Ancient ritual remains found in Lima
Archaeologists have unveiled the skeletal remains of an adult they believe was buried as an offering near the base of Huaca Pucllana, an ancient adobe pyramid in Peru's capital of Lima.
The remains are believed to be those of a man who may have been sacrificed during a ritual in which a canal linked to a ceremonial pool was closed.
Gladys Paz, the archaeologist who led the excavation, said the bones will help researchers better understand 'the rituals of the Lima culture' and reconstruct ceremonies performed hundreds of years ago.
Paz said that the body was buried inside a canal, resting on its left flank, with the skull facing the pyramid and the Pacific Ocean.
An archaeologist excavating skeletal remains at Huaca Pucllana in Lima
The Lima culture flourished between the first and seventh centuries along Peru's arid central coast.
Huaca Pucllana was one of the most important ceremonial and administrative centres of the Lima culture, which disappeared centuries before the Spanish founded Lima in 1535. AP
SWITZERLAND
Bodies of mountaineers found after three decades
The bodies of two Belgian mountaineers who went missing in the Swiss Alps more than three decades ago have been found, officials said.
Police in the south-western Valais region, which has a database of people listed as missing over the past century, said the retreat of glaciers has led to the emergence of remains of people who went missing decades earlier.
Late last month, a biker discovered human remains that turned up following the melting of the Trift glacier south of the city of Lucerne,
prompting a recovery operation, the regional government said.
DNA tests conducted at a Valais hospital determined that the remains were those of two Belgian bikers, aged 39 and 41 at the time, who went missing near the Weissmies mountain in 1992.
Such discoveries have become more frequent as Switzerland's glaciers have melted at an increasing rate. Three years ago, DNA confirmed that a body found on a Swiss glacier was that of a German mountaineer who disappeared in 1986. AP
VIETNAM
Death penalty to be curtailed
Vietnam's government has proposed abolishing the death penalty for six offences, including drug trafficking and the rape of minors, as part of a revision of the country's criminal code.
Public security minister Luong Tam Quang said the draft code would retain the use of capital punishment for only four crimes, including treason, murder, terrorism and the illegal production of narcotics.
It is not known how many people are currently on death row in the country. REUTERS
34
NEWS
RELATIONSHIPS
I'm having an affair with a dad I met at playgroup
A south London-based woman in her forties tells how her toddler's community group became the unlikely catalyst of a romance with a local father
I clearly remember the first time I spotted Dave*. We were sitting cross-legged on the floor of a toddler group in a community hall, clutching a colourful parachute and throwing it up and down. Our children were running in and out.
I'd been to a lot of these playgroups with my sons. My eldest Matthew is in reception, and my youngest Laurie is at a childminder part-time, but every Friday I'd take him to Twinkle Toes. Dave stood out in the crowd as it's more often mums who are there.
Dave and I started chatting. He told me he worked in TV but was in between projects and basically unemployed, so was doing all the childcare. "Do you want me to make you a coffee?" he asked. The hall had a kettle, tea and biscuits. I nodded and joked that I was surviving on six a day. "Yeah, if you cut my veins, caffeine comes out," he replied.
We'd lived in south London for a few years and one of the things I loved about it was the amount of baby and toddler groups. I hated being alone with the kids. With both boys, I'd taken a year of maternity leave from my job in PR. Richard*, my partner, had not been able to take time off as he's a freelance marketing consultant.
When I reflect on my maternity leaves, I felt pretty hopeless and lonely. I was often trapped in the house, trying to get Laurie to nap (I was obsessed with sleep routines), and Richard was in his garden home office. He'd make himself a coffee, walk up the garden path and shut the door behind him. He used to pop in to get snacks and then disappear again. I knew he wasn't working all that time but that office turned into his man cave.
Another thing that annoyed me about Richard was that he never got up in the night - even at the
weekends - to help with the boys and Laurie was not a good sleeper. Richard said he was stressed - there were always deadlines or pitches to win or clients cancelling work. I was too tired with my own work and parenting to challenge him.
I marvelled at how much Dave seemed to do. All the cooking, cleaning and childcare. I was burnt out by work and child-rearing, but Richard would never even check in on me. I sometimes suspected he was talking to someone online or perhaps watching porn. If he ever took over the childcare, he'd act as if I owed him something. It was a frustrating dynamic but one that my friends had with their partners too.
At another toddler group, Dave and I sat side by side on a wooden bench, watching our kids playing. His daughter Saskia was the same age as Laurie. I asked him if he planned to have more children. He launched into a long story about how his partner Becky had struggled to conceive, that they'd had IVF, about four rounds, and couldn't go through it again.
"It was terrible, it almost made us split up," he said. I was surprised at how candid he was. Parents can be like this though as they're so tired, their normal defences are down. I took Dave's number - to be honest I didn't find him my usual type but he had piercing blue eyes which seemed to study me with more intensity than I was used to.
Laurie and Saskia seemed to really get on so we arranged to meet the following Friday in our local park. "I've seen you in there," he said, "We only live a few streets away." I didn't mention that I'd noticed him before either. In fact, I'd even texted another mum friend and told her there was a "hot dad". After that, I kept bumping into
Dave when I was out on errands. I didn't mention him to Richard but he didn't ask me about my day anyway. When I tried to talk to him, he'd tell me he had work to finish and disappear into his office. My dad had been the same, losing himself in work, and I was feeling depressed that I'd got myself into the same scenario, repeating a pattern imprinted on me as a child.
Dave had a very different personality. He shared everything. It felt so freeing to say the thing that was in your head. He was open about his childhood trauma. His parents hadn't got on. He had a brother who had mental health issues. Dave had also struggled with his mental health at times too.
He said Becky was the main earner and was also lost in work. He was trying to get a project off the ground but he'd not had any
'We ended up meeting in another park which was further away'
luck. We sometimes just locked eyes when we were singing some stupid song and he'd smile. I felt like we were getting closer. I looked forward to the baby group and we arranged a couple of playdates on the weekend too. We ended up meeting in another park which was further away.
Then one day, I noticed he looked sad. I asked him what was going on. "My dad died," he confided. "He'd been ill for ages with Parkinson's but I just feel empty. I've started vaping, and have to hide it as Becky hates it." I put my hand on his back, I don't know why, it just felt natural, and that was the point where things changed.
The scene was chaotic with noise and kids shouting and crying. Dave reached back and held my hand. "This coffee sucks," he said, and we laughed because it made the moment feel less loaded.
I didn't feel guilty. I'd forgotten what it felt like to have someone touch you. Richard and I hadn't had sex in 12 months or more. After that, I noticed that I was thinking about Dave a lot. He gave me a book of poetry. "I need you to read the one on page 19," he'd said and it wasn't an overtly romantic poem, but I read it 100 times.
I started getting fed this weird content on social media which was all about "what to do when you're obsessed with someone and want to stop thinking about them". Like my phone could read my thoughts. I never saw Dave's partner Becky,
and once we'd held hands, we never talked about our partners again.
"I want to see you on your own," Dave said one day as we sat on a picnic blanket in the park while the children played. "What do you think?" I didn't feel it was wrong - I welcomed the fact he wanted to take it to the next level. Richard was a workaholic. It was obvious that Dave had marriage problems and his wife was obsessed with work. That was why we were drawn to one another. He was becoming my best friend.
We told our partners that we were going out for drinks with a local parents' group. This wasn't unusual as I sometimes went out with a group of mums. We booked into a cheap hotel in Brentford. Dave paid for it on a credit card as Richard and I have a joint account.
We ordered a bottle of wine and just went straight to the room. We had sex. I felt self-conscious about my body. "You have such beautiful curves," Dave said afterwards. He vaped in the room and told me that he felt like he was 100 per cent himself with me. "I can feel myself falling in love."
That night, Richard sent me a barrage of texts complaining that the boys were grumpy, hadn't eaten their dinner and it had been a pain in the arse getting them to sleep. I just ignored him - this was my daily life when he was hiding in the shed.
After that, Dave and I kept messaging back and forth. I had to delete the messages at the end
NEWS 2-35
OPINION 11-22
TV 26-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONDAY 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2026
35
I'd forgotten what it felt like to have someone touch you. Richard and I hadn't had sex in 12 months
of each day. I was like a silly teen. Richard didn't even look at my phone. Dave and I talked about how isolated we both felt. "It's been going south for a long time," he said. "She resents me because we're having to rely on her income."
Now, when Dave and I met for playdates we found it hard to not hold hands. A local shop owner told me that he had "just seen your hubby" and I knew he was describing Dave because he'd seen us together around the neighbourhood. We were now meeting more frequently. Inventing reasons to go to the park with the kids. A lid had come off.
The children didn't seem to notice, but I worried as kids are smarter than you think. I knew my older son would possibly twig but luckily he was in childcare more of the time and he only met Dave a couple of times.
But also, there wasn't any guilt. I felt like this was something I deserved.
Dave and I met again at the same hotel. The sex was amazing. I realised how much I'd missed that.
I have even bought some new underwear for when we next meet up.
The texts that we send are more intimate than anything I've shared
with Richard. I'm a 43-year-old woman but I feel 16. Listening to love songs on the radio and thinking about him. I find his energy so attractive. I feel happy, high almost. - I don't even mind looking after the children any more as I have this new love.
"I knew something would happen when I first saw you," Dave said recently. "Who would have thought we'd meet in a smelly old community hall?" he said. It's not the most erotic location, it's true (there is often the stench of dirty nappies in the air).
We don't talk about the future. I've been shocked at my ability to compartmentalise and justify what I'm doing. Sometimes I wake in the night and think about what might happen if our partners find out.
But I don't think I love Richard any more and perhaps I want to be discovered? I have no idea what that would look like, so I try to just stay in the moment. I'm not sure how the children would feel - I knew they rarely see us being happy, so it isn't a healthy dynamic for them to grow up with.
Sometimes I worry that Dave will call it off, but the texts he sends are full of affection. "You work so hard and nobody sees that, but I do. I see it all." It was the kind of thing a female friend would test me and I was reminded of just how different Dave is. It's almost as if he knows exactly what I need to hear.
*All names have been changed
LIFESTYLE
I haven't slept properly for 10 years - this is how I cope
Keyboard-playing comedian Huge Davies reveals the daily struggles of living with insomnia. By Sophie Wilkinson
I you don't know the comedian Huge Davies from his keyboard-supplemented stand-up sets, or his appearances on various comedy panel shows, he's concerned you might recognise him from his "crash out" last year.
He appeared on I out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and couldn't speak. "It was really bad. I get very nervous when I do panel shows," he tells me in a monotone drawl. "But often, I'll try to fix the nerves by being really awake, so I'll take three coffees and eat loads of sugar.
"I also had Wagamamas. And it was so hot (on set). I think I was fully out of it. Jimmy Carr asked me things, and I just didn't know what was going on. They had to stop the show and check if I was alright."
He's not been invited back on, he says, adding: "It happened on Jonathan Rose [Comedy Club] as well. They had to bring out the script to remind me what to say."
Huge, 35, has supported Phil Wang and Joe Lycett, co-hosted the podcast Slime Country and appeared on plenty of TV comedy shows. He's become renowned for his dark jokes and absurdist observations contrasting amazingly with the poppy tunes he bashes out on his neck-slung Yamaha.
The only problem! He's not slept properly in over a decade. "I never feel refreshed; I feel like I'm crashing every morning." Huge was in his second year of university when, "at some point, I realised I hadn't been asleep for a few weeks.
"It's partly the environment; everyone's staying up all night to do essays or go out partying. I was a partier so I wasn't really feeling the effects of [not sleeping]. But when it turned into five months I felt like, 'Oh, I'm almost going to die'."
It got so bad that, for a few months, he sublet his bedroom. "A friend was in town for something
in the city so I just let them stay - it wasn't like I was using my room."
These days, he will take himself to bed, but not to sleep. "My body needs to be still and I need to close my eyes for a certain amount of time," he says. "I listen to the same audiobook - The Hobbit - every night, which puts my mind to rest. It helps me phase out; I go into a bit of a trance."
The next morning, his alarm goes off at 8.30am and while his girlfriend "has been to sleep, I've been to Mordor and Smaug". While many a sleep-deprived adult will turn to big doses of caffeine, Huge will make do with "one can of iced coffee". "I get quite shaky, I can't deal with the caffeine. If I'm doing a TV record, I'll take a lot of coffee
My symptoms sound like ADHD but it's just that I'm tired When someone's talking, I will space out
but then I never learn," he adds.
Without this routine, he says, "I feel awful... if I do an all-nighter working, the next day I'm ruined and can't do anything from 2pm."
Sometimes Huge can get five hours' sleep, but the last time this happened was "three-four years ago". The effects of his near-constant grogginess have been massive. "My symptoms sound like ADHD but it's just that I'm tired," he says. "When someone's talking, I will space out.
"I always wonder what it would be like if I wasn't tired, like if I started the day on a good day, how much could I get done? I see loads of people in comedy working and sometimes I just can't do it."
He still has ideas, of course, and has a notes app bursting with them. "But sometimes I'll think of a funny idea and I will forget it within a second. It's not like my attention's
been driven somewhere else; I can physically feel my brain fogging. That's when I get really annoyed; it's like I'm not allowed to have my own thoughts, like I'm being punished for having a good thought!"
Making new friends becomes hard, too, because strangers don't get why he's so distracted. "My friends know I'm always tired and will take that into account when I'm with them. If I'm stoppy or a bit out of it, they won't ask me things that I need to think about."
They also won't eagerly offer up solutions, like people coming to his new Edinburgh show, Sleep Paralysis Princess, do, suggesting "melatonin or exercise, as if I've not been in the Googleo". He's also tried magnesium, but it didn't work and that "it felt weird to eat a metal".
As for stronger sleeping pills? "I took one - not even a hardcore one - the night before a podcast recording. I did sleep, but I felt so groggy the next day that I don't actually recall the recording."
He also tried therapy, at about £90 a week. "She would use props and was very interested in the sleep stuff. But years later, the sleeplessness wasn't going away, nothing had changed, so I stopped paying for it."
Next, he tried acupuncture, at £80 every week, but he only lasted a year. "That was a waste of time," he says. "There's this whole thing in movies about how no one notices the needles sticking in, but it really hurts, your body goes so hot."
All in all, Huge says he has "spent tens of thousands of pounds trying to solve it".
Huge's fear of doctors means going to the GP isn't an option. "When I was in my teens there was a fear I had something that I was going to die of. It turns out I was going to be OK and I wasn't going to die, but I am full of dread from that."
Death plays in his mind often. "If you spend enough time alone you probably end up thinking about death. "I find death quite scary, but I think what's good about comedy, that there's always going to be a version of you that lasts for ever, if the internet lasts for ever. That helps me with the death stuff, because I don't want to disappear."
There is some sliver of hope; he's discovered that, if the setting is wrong, he can actually take a nap. "I did sometimes use to sleep for a few hours on the motorway on the way back from gigs."
The problem is, "as soon as I've been given a bed, I can't sleep, but I can just pass out when I'm not meant to. I'm pretty sure I slept during Countdown".
'Sleep Paralysis Princess' is on at Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh, to 30 August
Huge Davies has tried sleeping pills, magnesium, therapy and acupuncture, spending tens of thousands of pounds trying to solve it OYLAN WOODLEY
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The insIDE Story OF punk in its 50th year
Mythologised since 1976, punk's cultural impact still resonates. Key players in the movement speak to Shaun Curran about latex, rage and squatting with hippies
Marco Pirroni, the future guitarist with Adam and the Ants, found his life changed when he saw the Sex Pistols in 1976. "I'd never seen anything with that attitude. I'd never seen a singer who insulted their audience, who sang with his hands in his pockets like he was bored. It was all the clichés you hear - after one gig, you walked out a different person."
Fifty years ago, the UK's punk scene was erupting. The Sex Pistols were leading the charge, playing incendiary, scrappy gigs around London and, famously, at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, where Morrissey, Mick Hucknall and future members of Joy Division were in attendance. The influential punk fanzine Sniffin' Glee had just published its first issue; The Clash and The Damned made their live debuts, with the latter
releasing the first punk single, "New Rose", in October that year. A month before that, the first punk festival had taken place at London's 100 Club in Oxford Street: Pirroni played with Siouxsie and the Banshees on their debut gig, with Sid Vicious on drums.
By the time the legendary, short-lived club The Roxy opened in December, giving the scene its own version of Liverpool's The Cavern, punk was already notorious:
Sex Pistols made an infamously sweary appearance on Thames Television's live early-evening news programme Today, hosted by Bill Grundy; the tabloids painted punk as the spiky-haired, safety pin-clad degenerate bogeyman scandalising the nation.
Five decades on, punk's impact continues to be celebrated, debated and mythologised. And perhaps mythologised is the word. Andrew Czezowski
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It affected the whole country. People looked different
Continued from page 37
managed The Damned and Billy Idol's Generation X, and with his partner Susan Carrington opened the Roxy. "Most of [what people think about punk] they get from Wikipedia," Czezowski says. The reality, though, was often very different.
So what did happen? The London punk scene can certainly be traced back to the King's Road in Chelsea, and the boutique owned by Malcolm McClaren and Vivienne Westwood (inset below). Let It Rock, later rebranded as SEX, became a hub for a small group of outsiders drawn to its S&M fashion, countercultural attitude and jukebox of imported, obscure American rock singles.
"It was the opposite of the outside world," says Pirroni, who was a regular at the shop from his teens. McClaren managed Sex Pistols, wanting his own version of New York Dolls, whose wild gutter glamour he had become fascinated by after a trip to New York.
"He was obsessed with rock and roll but didn't really like it," Pirroni says. "He was excited by the attitude. He absolutely loved when things were chaotic."
Westwood's clothes transforming the latex, straps and zips of fetish and bondage wear into fashion that she cheekily called "rubber wear for the office" – had huge appeal for the early punks. "We loved Bowie and Roxy Music so were attracted to that kind of extreme dressing," Pirroni recalls. "The Sid Vicious spiky hair, leather jacket thing hadn't started yet. Everyone was really individual."
Youth movement All-girl band The Raincoats were founded by London art students Ana da Silva and Gina Birch in 1977. ANETTE BECKMAN
Czezowski was the business manager for SEX and the rival King's Road punk fashion store Acme Attractions. "What was more important was the attitude behind the fashion," Czezowski says. "Because it gave you an idea that you could adapt yourself."
An established narrative is that punk happened as a result of economic factors: high youth unemployment and social alienation that resulted in an angry uprising from the disenfranchised young.
"I think that's a lot of rubbish invented by the newspapers, frank-
ly," says Czezowski, while Pirroni says: "A few people did have jobs."
Indeed, this narrative negates the fact that several bands, such as The Clash and Siouxie and the Banshees, were comfortably middle class, and that many of the early ideas and aesthetics were more art school than street level.
But even those out of work had a safety net that allowed them to pursue their creativity. "You had the freedom to live in squats and sign on the dole or get a student grant at the time," says Gina Birch, who later formed the art-punk band The Raincoats.
Birch moved to London from Nottingham to study in the summer of 1976 (by happy accident she saw the first Sex Pistols gig, at St Martin's School of Art, in November 1975 on a trip to London) and lived in a squat off Westbourne Grove with other punk scenesters, as well as, contrary to legend, members of the hippie community.
"There was a hippie-punk crossover," she says. "Both were doing a DIY thing. They were very suspicious of each other, but sometimes they complemented each other."
The DIY attitude was the central ethos of punk, largely inspired by the
Pistols. "For the first time, you could just do it," says Pirroni, who formed short-lived punk acts The Models and Rema-Rema before joining Adam Ant. "I just need a guitar and three mates."
For Birch, seeing The Slits – the pioneering all-female punk band led by inimitable 14-year-old Art Up – was the catalyst. "In the 70s, women and girls didn't have that free-flowing entry into a lot of aspects of the world," she says. "What The Slits did was amazing, because they told their own stories in their own way. That's what I was interested in."
Another narrative says that punk was antagonistic to the music of the past, and deliberately
set out to obliterate the older generation. Perhaps true of the bloated prog-rock movement (which was arguably already on the way out anyway) but not entirely accurate. "We all loved Bowie, Roxy, Iggy," Pirroni says. "A lot of people listened to disco and funk."
Birch says that Patti Smith was another touchstone. "The Pistols and Clash songs weren't a revolu-
What was more important was the attitude behind the fashion... you could adapt yourself
TELEVISION
'Ann Droid' is comedy of the year
But one series of this tender hit is enough to preserve its perfection, argues Nick Duerden
Diane Morgan's latest sitcom Ann Droid has been a huge hit for the BBC, thanks to its tender humour and spritely outlook on old age. More than four million of us watched the first episode and I greedily
hoovered up the rest. But despite how much I love Morgan's robot Linda, I'm desperately hoping that the actress and writer will pull the plug on Ann Droid – not to put it out of its misery, but rather to preserve its perfection.
As any regular television viewer will attest, sitcoms are the hardest genre to get right. So many of them are clunky, or else too thinly spread. Some even dare commit the very worst crime available to comedy: not being funny at all (here's looking at you Ricky Gervais's Alley Cuts). But Ann Droid has proved a jewel in this particularly murky Nile.
The series is set in the very near future, where the ongoing loneliness and social isolation epidemic among elderly people is being increasingly dealt with by robots. What better option for the harried sandwich generation than to offload ageing and ailing parents on to AI-in-human-form,
thereby freeing them up to focus on the carnage of their own advancing years?
Sue (Sue Johnston) has been a widow for two years and recently hurt herself when she fainted (it wasn't "a fall", she insists). Her hapless son Michael (Paul Ready) is too busy losing his job and questioning his sperm count to give her the attention she requires, so he buys her an out-of-date, second-hand android.
When Linda (Morgan) is charged overnight and supported by a strong Wi-Fi connection, she can ably help Sue around the house, cooking for her, playing board games with her, even driving her to the shops.
Sue is initially reluctant but soon finds common ground with her new "friend". As the series progresses, a connection of great tenderness develops. Ann Droid does not put a foot wrong, and its six episodes are so beautifully
tionary new form of music. It was an attitude as much as anything." But what lay behind the attitude? Pirroni says: "We were just anti-establishment. We didn't even know it. There was no plan. It was a musical and social revolution. It was not a political revolution."
There was certainly no manifesto. "The actual kids on the street had no interest in politics," says Czezowski. "And The Damned and the other hands, they wanted the usual stuff: drinks, drugs, girls, sex, fun, a record label, get some money in the pocket."
Still, a social commentary undoubtedly ran through punk: The Clash's debut single "White Riot", released in March 1977, was about
racial tensions and police brutality at the Notting Hill Carnival riots that summer. For Sex Pistols, the disdain for authority was delivered with eloquent rage.
"John was John," Czezowski says of John Lydon, then Rotten. "He was great. But he wouldn't go along with the common thought process just to fit in."
But far from "no future", as "God Save The Queen" notoriously railed, punks saw a generational opportunity to improve their lot. "There was optimism that things would get better," Birch says. "Yeah, there was racism and sexism, the potential of nuclear war. But you felt that somehow, we could make a difference."
Gentle gem Sue (Sue Johnston) strikes up an improbable friendship with robot Linda (Diane Morgan) over six episodes GARY MOHE'S/ BOFFOLA PICTURES/BBC
weighted and impeccably judged. Johnston is utterly radiant, while Ready (as he ably proved on Motherland) has a hanged face that was made for a midlife crisis.
And then there is Morgan. She is consistently phenomenal as Philomena Cunk, but I found her largely unwatchable in her previous sitcom, Mundy. Yet here she offers an understated acting masterclass as the deadpan and unemotional robot that nevertheless manages to conjure, beneath its blank stare, an intimation of life-changing empathy. Do take note, Bafta.
It has been a ratings hit too, making it one of the BBC's most successful comedy launches in recent years, bigger than both Small Prophets and this year's series of Amundaland. A second series is surely inevitable, because TV bosses want to commission probable hits, rather than take a punt on something new.
Pirroni adds: "I did think, 'we are changing things here'. It was affecting the country. People were looking different."
Russ Bestley was a 15-year-old in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, watching punk unfold from afar, fascinated. Like many around the UK, he knew of the controversies first. "The rhetoric was persuasive. Something that's really irritating your parents is quite attractive to rebellious kids. Once I heard the music, it made a lot more sense."
Bestley, now an academic and editor of the journal Punk and Post-Punk, argues that vibrant punk scenes were emerging across the country at the same time as in London - Manchester being the obvious example.
"John Savage called it the punk diaspora, and I really like that term," Bestley says. "London has always got this cultural elite snobbishness about 'Oh, we invent things and then it fades away into the provinces'."
Still, in December 1976, London was the epicentre and now had its own mecca in The Roxy. Czezowski only opened the 150-capacity club as a means to get a gig for the bands he managed, as most places wouldn't touch punk. "It was a smelly, dirty place, an old gay bac," he says. "But it became huge."
It was the place for punks to congregate: Don Letts Died regularly and all the key punk bands played. Czezowski let the kids pogo and spit, which other clubs would never allow. But it soon had a reputation for violence. "No
But, wait! Ann Droid was new! Its newness, in fact, was part of its appeal. And besides, isn't the whole concept of "new" the very lifeblood of good TV? If we crave familiarity, we head to the soaps.
A second series won't seem as inventive. And it won't have the same narrative thrust, for the simple reason that it has already told its boldly existential story - how do we live in the modern age when life becomes compromised? - with such rare eloquence.
Wouldn't it be thrilling if, instead, it simply ended here, with a mic drop, immediately preserved as quiet classic? This would allow Morgan and co-writer Sarah Kendall to go away and come up with something else. That's the great thing about true creatives. They create. They conjure more magic.
'Ann Droid' is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer
violence," Czezowski says. "Again, this was made up by the press. But because they made it up, the violence was then created."
The Roxy lasted just 100 days as outsiders infiltrated the club looking for trouble, and the inexperienced Czezowski ran up debts and rent arrears. "But without the Roxy, would punk have survived?" asks Czezowski. "Because the pressure from the papers and the system [was huge]."
For some purists, the closure of The Roxy in April 1977 signalled
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that punk was already over. Pirroni believes it became a caricature, saying: "It became ghettoised. It became a new way to conform."
Bestley disagrees. "I personally think the big punk explosion of '77 [the year of debut LP releases by Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned] was what punk was, because that is when most people heard the music, and when people did something with it."
What is clear is that 50 years on, the tremors of the earthquake are still being felt. Musically, both the abrasive style and DIY attitude - the success of independent labels like Rough Trade a clear example - form an ongoing legacy.
"Loads of women are playing guitars because of it," Birch says. "It was a liberating factor for us."
Socially, too. "People didn't know there was another way they could be," Pirroni says. "And it's still there. It's affected people's thinking to this day. It changed everything."
'Your Money or Your Life' by Marco Pirroni is published on 10 September (New Modern, £25)
Holdings are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel. ABTA VIVING A763, 3400 production, a company, independent of Associated Newspapers Ltd and i-Travel Offers. Prices are based on sole occupancy and are subject to availability. From price based on December 22, 2026 from London Heathrow, then on board MS Emily Brumel. Save up to 200 days applies to the calling only. Book by August 26, 2026. **2026 and 2027 from cruises include all submitted quantity of drinks from 10am to midnight when of course collected drinks available. Riviera Travel reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time. Price correct at time of print.
40 FRIDAY
BOOKS
Agatha Christie has come to be seen as the epitome of cosy crime. With the dandified Hercule Poirot or the seemingly innocent Miss Marple at the helm, her detective stories have a veneer of bucolic English life, temporarily derailed by nefarious deeds. But Christie was never cosy. Her novels contain hidden, darker depths, with characters, plots and incidents that she dredged from her own troubled existence.
The British author Cathy Rentzenbrink is a Christie fanatic, who found herself in the midst of a series of crises, both personal and professional, and turned to the “Queen of Crime” for comfort. But as she reveals in her new book The Agatha Christie Care, the innumerable problems that Christie faced often reflected her own.
“As my own life derailed,” Rentzenbrink writes. “I felt she had something to teach me about disappointment and heartbreak.”
Rentzenbrink (inset, aboce) read all of Christie’s books in order,
How the Queen of Crime’s books emerged from hidden turmoil
When Cathy Rentzenbrink found herself drained by life’s upheavals, she turned to her first literary love – Agatha Christie – and unearthed the secrets of how the troubled writer survived personal crises and started life again. By Dale Shaw
witnessing the author’s life unravel before her, especially when she reached 1926. That was the year which cemented Christie’s reputation, but also the year that nearly destroyed her.
Though considered a quintessentially British writer, Christie was always an outsider, and utilised the perspective of an interloper spying on the bizarre activities of the people around her.
She was born Agatha Miller – the youngest of three children – into a wealthy upper middle-class family in Torquay, Devon. Her father, Fred Miller, was a wealthy,
Stranger than fiction Police reconstruct the events surrounding Agatha Christie’s disappearance in Surrey in December 1926 TOPICAL PRESS/GETTY
gregarious American, while her mother, Clara, was born in Dublin with a half-German mother. When Christie was born on 15 September 1890, the family were rich, influential members of Torquay society. But Fred has his secrets.
His fortune soon dwindled, a fact that he kept from the family. When he died suddenly, in 1901, they were plunged into financial uncertainty, and the 11-year-old Agatha’s stable world crumbled in an instant.
Her mother, completely undone by grief, appeared to transform into a different person. The author’s later works are filled with characters who are never exactly as they seem, just as her father
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The mysterious disappearance of a mystery writer was too good for the tabloids to ignore
and mother appeared to alter before her.
While the future author dreamed of higher education, her mother's plan was to find her a rich husband and secure the family's finances. In October 1912, at a local dance, she met Archie Christie, a handsome, dashing pilot. They fell in love and quickly married, only to be almost instantly separated.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Archie was sent to France to fight. His wife volunteered as a nurse at a Torquay hospital, treating injured men returning from the front.
This would have a profound effect on her as a burgeoning writer. For the first time, she witnessed people from all social classes intermingling. She also saw how completely incompetent those in charge could be. It left her with a lifelong distrust of authority figures. Her later books were filled with those seemingly in charge who fail in their duties.
Her post also involved her assisting the local pharmacist, which gave her an in-depth knowledge of poisons, something that would prove invaluable in her plots. She soon realised that, with the right information, the perfect murder could be quite easy to achieve. She bundled all of this new-found experience into The Mysterious Affair at Styles, her first foray into detective fiction, written in 1916.
The setting was a large but shabby country house, much like the one she grew up in. The victim was poisoned with strychnine, with which Christie would have been familiar from her medical duties. And the story was populated with rather useless, vain, overprivileged men, as she witnessed during her time in the hospital. And, as Rentzenbrink points out, it is also a book full of anguished love. "How astonishing to think she wrote it while Archie was in France and the outcome of the war was still in doubt," she writes.
For her detective, Christie created a character hewn from the people she saw around her. Devon was filled with Belgian refugees fleeing the horrors of war. Christie knew, as an outsider herself, that a figure like this would have the perfect perspective on the British psyche. Hercule Poirot was dapper, calm and meticulous to a fault. It was a com-
Classic creations David Sachet as Hercule Poirot (centre) in a 1990 adaptation of 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' with Hugh Fraser (left) and Philip Jackson; Joan Hickson (below) as Miss Marple (TV BBC)
pletely new type of detective, but he immediately captured the public's imagination.
The book was well received and more followed. She was now establishing herself as a crime writer of merit, while acting as a devoted wife and mother to her daughter, Rosalind. But all of this came crashing down in 1926.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was Christie's sixth novel and was published to acclaim as the year began. But as it sat at the top of the bestseller lists, a series of events nearly destroyed her. Just as she was starting to feel the pressure of her relentless publishing schedule, her beloved mother died. Grief-stricken, she found that she could no longer write. Then, in the midst of this crisis, Archie demanded a divorce. He was in love with a friend of Christie's and told her that they wished to marry at once.
A distraught Christie, then 35, dissolved. Her car was discovered teetering on the edge of a chalk quarry at Newlands Corner in Surrey, with her coat and expired driving licence inside. She was nowhere to be found. A huge, 11-day search followed, accompanied by breathless press coverage about the mysterious disappearance of a mystery writer that was too good for the tabloids to ignore.
Christie was eventually discovered safe in a hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. It was claimed that the car accident had left her with memory loss, but no one bought the story.
To this day, what really happened in Harrogate is unknown and the writer rarely spoke about it afterwards. But the coverage turned her into a household name and would have a profound impact on her work.
Her thrillers started to adopt a more psychological aspect. Though it was never confirmed, it was assumed that Christie en-
gaged in some sort of therapy or analysis as she recovered from her apparent breakdown. Soon, Poirot was claiming that material evidence held less interest for him and it was the criminal's mental activity that proved more useful.
Christie also introduced a new detective, created – as Rentzenbrink describes her – "as a defence mechanism, a refuge and a secret revenge". Betrayed by Archie, pursued by the men of the press, Christie found solace in a little old lady with tremendous fortitude: Miss Jane Marple.
Unlike the besieged Christie, the elderly Marple was overlooked and underestimated. But, in detection, this was her superpower. The first Marple novel, The Murder at the Vicarage, was published in 1930.
The recovering Christie, now divorced and with her daughter in boarding school, found herself free to both write and explore.
She began a life of adventure, travelling across the Middle East to visit historic sites and eventually meeting and marrying Max Mallowan, a British archaeologist 13 years her junior, in Edinburgh in September 1930. He would remain by her side for the rest of her life and was knighted in 1968.
With Mallowan beside her, Christie would go on to have her greatest successes, with bestsellers including Murder on the Orient Express (1934), Death on the Nile (1937) and And Then There Were None (1939).
By the time of her death in 1976, she was the most successful novelist (and playwright, thanks to The Monstroop) on the planet. Only Shakespeare and The Bible have outsold her. To the end, her work continued to contain the harsh realities that she had suffered in her life, exorcised through fiction.
"We think of her as the Queen of Crime," Rentzenbrink writes, "but she is also the little girl – 11 years old – whose jolly father died, taking the laughter and security with him."
'The Agatha Christie Cure' by Cathy Rentzenbrink will be published in hardback on 20 September (Canongate, £20)
In tomorrow's weekend
The most surprising free days out
Books: uplifting historical fiction
24 of the best beach bars in the UK
42
BOOKS
FRIDAY
SHELF LOVE MEG MASON on the most romantic novels of all time
Meg Mason's 'Sorrow and Bliss' quickly became a sensation when it was published in 2022. Her story of a marriage marred by mental illness offered a witty yet tender portrayal of romance and dysfunctional families. The Australian's new novel, 'Sophie, Standing There', tells the story of a woman who stumbles across the work of an author she hasn't read for years - and then forms an intense emotional attachment to her. It promises to be a raw delve into loneliness, human connection and all the forms of love that sustain us. So which are Mason's favourite books about love?
PERSUASION Jane Austen (Penguin, £9.99)
'Since you've no doubt read Persuasion, you don't need reminding it's the story of Anne Elliot, who was persuaded at 19 against marrying the young Captain Wentworth. Anne spends the next eight years not getting over him, but when they meet again by chance, it's clear that he got over her. Or did he? So goes the monologue inside Anne's head as she reads every word and gesture for clues.
'The part where Anne and Wentworth are in the same room, she is talking to someone else and Wentworth quietly writes a letter is the single most romantic scene ever written.'
PANENKA Blinha Hession (Bloomore, £9.99)
'When I started Panenku, I wasn't expecting a love story. This 2021 novel is about a football player, Joseph, whose career came to a spectacular end after one public mistake. Now 50, he has just found out that he has brain cancer, to his great grief and the grief of his adult daughter.
'But then he meets a lady of his own age, Esther, a friendly hairdresser, and they become friends. The way their relationship deepens is so beautifully, poignantly told, you long for them to be together; the great peril is Joseph deciding whether to tell her that he loves her, because, if she loves him
too, their time together will be too short.'
MIDDLEMARCH George Elliot (Wentworth Editions, £4.99)
'Yes, it's possible Middlemarch can't be described as a love story, since only two of the many characters get their happy ending, and I'm only crowbarring it in having read it for the first time after so many failed attempts, and I just need everyone to know.
'But if the defining element of a romance is two characters separately longing for each other with no apparent possibility of getting together, then Middlemarch qualifies.
'And the intensity of it all is heightened by the central love story being set against two other marriages that are so gut-twistingly miserable, it's almost funny, when it isn't tragic.'
B4 CHARING CROSS ROAD Helene Hoeff (Virugs, £10.99)
'This is a collection of letters between American writer Helene and London bookseller Frank, whom she first contacted in 1949 about a second-hand book.
'It's also not a romance, but the way their friendship unfolds,
their letters slowly moving beyond the topic of books to their own domestic lives, is a kind of falling in love, the platonic just as powerful as the romantic. After two decades, you are waiting for them to meet. Even though the book has been out since 1970, revealing here whether or not they do feels like a spoiler.'
THIS IS HAPPINESS Stad Williams (Bloomsbury, £9.99)
'Sometimes, there is a line in a novel so precise and perfect, you're willing to get out of bed and fetch a pen.
'The line in this 2019 novel about coming of age in a small Irish parish comes from the young boy, Christie, quietly observing the beautiful girl he is in love with, who has agreed to go to the cinema. I can't remember if it's with a stealthy sideways glance in the darkened theatre, but let's say it is, as Christie thinks, 'The cigarette and her had their own thing going.'
'And this, too, from an older character who lost contact with the love of his life, when asked how long it's been since he saw her: 'In the flesh? Near enough 50 years... But in every other way, some time every day since.''
'Sophie, Standing There' by Meg Mason will be published on 27 August (Bloomsbury, £20)
23 March 1998, the American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith performed 'Miss Misery' at the 70th Academy Awards. His had been a surprise nomination, the song heard playing over the closing credits of the blockbuster movie Good Will Hunting.
A reluctant Smith was told that if he didn't play the song himself at the Oscars ceremony, someone else would do it for him. So he donned a white suit, stood alone on the stage with an acoustic guitar and sang in front of 57 million television viewers. It turned out to be the most-watched Oscars broadcast in history.
'Something I thought was really sweet was that he wanted to do it for his mom,' Smith's biographer, Jamie Fisher, tells me. 'So she could read about him in People magazine.'
In the Hollywood version of Smith's life, this was the turning point. A no-name from the punk scene in Portland, Oregon, who joined an indie band, gained some recognition, went solo, flakily performed at the Oscars and skyrocketed to superstardom - with the subsequent fame, pressure and attention leading to his early death just five years later, at the age of 34. But as with most things in Smith's life, the reality is far more complicated than that.
As Fisher reveals in her new biography of Smith, Nobody Broke Your Heart, he was an artist both complex and contradictory. He claimed to hate the music business and the trappings of fame, but when he signed to a major label, he contemplated buying a BMW with his advance (he was talked into getting a slightly less showy Volkswagen).
As an artist, the media represented Smith as a miserabilist - but when with people he felt close to, or comfortable with, he loved goofy jokes and ridiculous behaviour. He often threatened, or alluded to, causing himself harm or taking his own life, but then bitterly rejected any practical attempts to help him. A friend organised an intervention for Smith during a particularly low period; Smith never spoke to him again.
He was born Steven Smith in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1969 - the only child of Gary Smith, a medical student, and Bunny Berryman, a school music teacher. His parents divorced when he was six months old, and Smith moved with his mother to the small town of Duncanville, Texas. He grew into a seemingly happy, athletic kid - but tussled with his stepfather, a stern disciplinarian.
These battles led to a trauma that Smith never seemed able to shake off, writing a number of songs about the abuse that he felt he suffered.
He moved to Portland to live with his biological father as a teenager and soon started a band, Heatmiser, who attracted a following and were courted by Virgin Records, the quality of Smith's songs being the main attraction. And he also rechristened himself Elliott, to distance himself from his old life.
NOTICE TABLE CHOICE
Originally published in 1963, Peter Beard's 'The End of the Game' revealed shocking truths about the atrocities done by man to Africa ('a violated Eden') and its wildlife by interlopers. As
the photographer himself noted: 'The deeper the white man went into Africa, the faster the life flowed out of it, off the plains and out of the bush... vanishing in acres of trophies and hides and carcasses'. With blood continuing to be split, and many species on the brink of extinction in an era of escalating environmental collapse, a new edition (Taschen, £80) is timely, a devastating reminder of the destruction done to a continent by hunters - an irreversible legacy in the name of adventure and human 'progress'. © THE ESTATE OF PETER BEARD. COURTESY PETER BEARD STUDIO
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The tragic, untold story of the enigmatic Elliott Smith
A new biography of the US singer-songwriter features interviews with friends and relatives who previously refused to discuss his death, writes Dale Shaw
Smith also began home recording his own sweet, simple, atmospheric songs, which came to the attention of the venerable independent label Kill Rock Stars. His low-key albums, especially the third, Either/Or, began to attract critical acclaim and a devoted fan following started to emerge.
The director Gus Van Sant was one such fan, leading to Smith's music being used on the 1997 film Good Will Hunting, written by and starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, alongside Robin Williams.
After the Oscars, the major labels zeroed in on Smith. He signed to DreamWorks in the hope that an expanded budget would help to fulfil his musical ambitions.
He set his sights on Abbey Road and sessions with the London Philharmonic. But having achieved some of these dreams,
he seemed to grow increasingly dissatisfied with the musical results, always trying to attain a sound he could never quite grasp.
People loved the intimacy and authenticity of his early work. The new, added elements such as strings and horns and a more baroque sound alienated some fans.
The pressures of being on a major label roster, and the demands on his time for promotional duties and endless touring, led to increased drug use, erratic behaviour and flare-ups of paranoia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The final few years of Smith's life possessed an unremitting darkness. Through intimate conversa-
tions with friends, handmates and family, Fisher has managed to build up a compelling portrait of a complex man who was extremely talented, capable of creating some of the most unforgettable, heart-rending songs ever recorded, yet who constantly seemed to be wrestling with himself.
I had a few brief interactions with Smith during the 1990s. I was tasked with taking his photograph while working as the press officer at a venue in Washington DC. He made it very clear that he wasn't enjoying the experience.
Fisher (teart) has done a remarkable job in speaking to, and equally representing, many of the
figures in Smith's life. Some have never spoken about him before, and are still shaken by his death.
There are many unknowns in his story, especially the final chapter. Smith died from two stab wounds to the heart. Self-infliction seems the most likely cause (he had attempted suicide before), rather than anything more sinister. But the investigation remains open, leading to years of conjecture and conspiracy theories.
"Yeah, there are even people reading into my title," Fisher reveals. "Nobody Broke Your Heart! Are you saying that he killed himself?" It's a lyric from a song. And they know it's a song lyric. People who are looking for a certain kind of story are going to find it wherever they look."
Fisher cannot tell the full story. No one can. There is still too much
"I found it hardest to understand the sort of person he was in the last years of his life when he was really struggling with addiction
murk and confusion. But she valiantly attempts to represent the musician as plainly and openly as she possibly can, pointing out the contradictions and misconceptions when they appear. One way she attempts to achieve this is by including herself in the narrative.
"I'm there partly because there's a lot where you can't say for certain what happened," she explains. "And I thought that the most honest way to do that was just to say in my own voice, 'Here's what I'm considering.'"
"One of the tools I know for giving life to people is showing what it's like to sit down in a room and showing both sides of a conversation with them."
The restless nature of Smith, who seemed to be constantly on the move, shedding possessions and friendships behind him, added to the difficulties of Fisher's task. Everyone had their own idea of Elliott Smith.
"I think that one of the things I was trying to challenge with the book is the idea that these personalities [of Smith's] were completely fragmented," she says.
"You see it in the way that people would write about his childhood in Texas. 'Oh, he was this dirty blond, happy kid who played football and then he dyed his hair black, and he became Elliott Smith.' And it's like, no, that was all the same person.
"So it's a book about change. But it's also about stability and the durability of that core of who a person is. What I found hardest to understand was sort of the person he was in the last years of his life when he was really struggling with addiction. But even then there was still this overlap, where there was this essential core of Elliott being Elliott."
There is another universe where Elliott continued being Elliott, remaining on Kill Rock Stars, pursuing a low-key career, releasing songs and albums that broke hearts and inspired devotion. But this was never meant to be. Perhaps it never could have been.
"I don't know if he always knew what he wanted," adds Fisher. "And he certainly wasn't really communicating exactly what he needed. I think that is one of the things that makes the story so sad is that it's a story without any villains in it."
'Nobody Broke Your Heart: An Intimate Biography of Elliott Smith' by Jamie Fisher is published on 10 September by Faber and Faber (£20)
Motives & Business
Quote of the day
It's far ahead of its rival competitions, but financially it's like it's eating itself – the clubs need so much extra money each year just to remain competitive
Tim Bridge Deloitte's lead partner on the record amounts being spent in the Premier League
@theipaper business@theipaper.com
HOSPITALITY
Travelodge boss quits amid uproar over hotel assaults
By Holly Williams
Travelodge chief executive Jo Boydell has stepped down as the group urgently overhauls its safety measures following two incidents of guests being assaulted at its chain of hotels.
Boydell was appointed chief executive in May 2022 and was the chief financial officer from March 2013. She will be replaced by chief financial officer Ray Reidy on an interim basis until a permanent successor is found.
She had been heavily criticised for her handling of the incidents with concerns raised over safety across the chain – former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had even stepped in earlier this year, urging her to “seriously engage” with the Government on the situation after she cancelled a meeting with MPs.
A guest at a Travelodge in Maidenhead, Berkshire, was sexually as-
saulted by a man who had been given a key card to her room.
Kyran Smith was jailed in February for seven-and-a-half years following the attack in December 2022.
And this month it emerged that there had been another incident at a hotel in London, where Travelodge staff had given a room key to the domestic abuser of a woman, who was subsequently physically attacked.
The woman, who is remaining anonymous, said she had been staying in the hotel to escape the man, but
that he had tracked her down and followed her there.
Travelodge has said such instances are “very rare” and customer safety is a priority. Reidy said: “We remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and will continue taking the actions necessary to strengthen the business. We will also continue to engage proactively and constructively with Government and the wider hospitality industry on the issue of safety and security.”
Travelodge said it had “acted quickly” to improve safety procedures after it had been made aware that staff had been giving out duplicate keys without proper checks.
The group said that an independent review by Paul Greaney KC had been carried out, and that an internal review was ongoing. Changes being rolled out include new room access security, which is already “live”
Jo Boydell cancelled a meeting with MPs earlier this year on the matter
across more than 600 of its hotels, and additional training for its 12,000 customer-facing staff.
It said a guest must now give explicit permission for an extra or replacement room key to be given out and that it would never confirm to a third party if a guest was staying at one of its hotels.
The firm has also taken action to check and confirm that all key-card doors have a secondary deadbolt.
Travelodge bosses are also undertaking a training programme put together by an expert in tackling violence against women and girls.
The Swilcan Bridge on the Old Course at St Andrews, which will host the Open Championship in 2027 GETTY
INVESTMENTS
Amex adds 'home of golf' to its sports portfolio
By Simon Straker
American Express has teamed up with St Andrews – the “home of golf” in Fife – in the latest expansion of the credit card group's sports portfolio.
The St Andrews Links joins American football's NFL, Formula 1 motor racing, Wimbledon tennis and Premier League football club Brighton and Hove Albion in having sponsorship agreements with Amex.
The deal will give Amex holders
access to tee times on the iconic Old Course at St Andrews, but the group insisted that it would not impact access for locals.
Its packages will be available from next year, when St Andrews hosts the 155th Open Championship.
Shiz Suzuki, global brand sponsorship and marketing vice-president at American Express, said: “Golf is a passion of our card members globally, and there are few places in the world more legendary than St Andrews.
“We're proud of this first-of-its-kind partnership with St Andrews Links Trust to create new ways of experiencing this historic destination and to play at the home of golf.”
Amex is also a partner of the US Open golf tournament and is a title sponsor of a PGA Tour tour event in California.
It replaced Visa as a partner of the NFL ahead of the recent season and is also the stadium and front-of-shirt sponsor for Brighton & Hove FC.
ECONOMY
US national debt doubles to over $40trn inside decade
By Simon Straker
The US national debt has surpassed $40trn ($29.4trn) for the first time – a staggering milestone after more than doubling in less than a decade.
A figure of $40.05trn was revealed by the US Treasury yesterday, marking a rapid fiscal decline that has been driven by heavy spending under both the Trump and Biden administrations going back to 2106, when the national debt was just under $20trn.
Trillions of dollars have since been spent on pandemic-era emergency relief, sweeping tax cuts and expanded domestic and military programmes as Washington has run up the chronic federal debt deficit.
The US President, Donald Trump, has further ramped up defence spending to fund the Iran war that he started almost six months ago.
But the interest payments to service the national debt eclipses that – it has become the second-largest outlay in the federal budget, trailing only social security expenditure.
The consequences have reverberated across the broader US economy, fuelling inflation and increasing pressure on consumers.
Mortgages and credit card borrowing has risen while wages have fallen. The cost of fuel and groceries have also skyrocketed.
The Congressional Budget Office has warned the White House that the debt trajectory was “fundamentally unsustainable and rapidly approaching its statutory limit of $41.1trn”.
Once reached, Congress would have to vote on whether to raise or suspend the limit.
MONT 4-20
ORINON 16-22
TY 28-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONET 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST 2026
45
HOW I MANAGE MY MONEY
'I'm aiming for £1m before I hit 50 as I'm not sure of a state pension'
In our How I Manage My Money series we aim to find out how people in the UK are spending, saving and investing money to meet their costs and achieve their goals.
This week we speak to LAUREN THORPE, 28, who lives in Sheffield with her partner, Charlie, 28. Lauren works in fundraising at an NHS charity. She wants to have £1m in savings and investments by the age of 50 and is not sure the state pension will exist when she is older.
I wasn't taught about money when I was growing up. It just wasn't talked about a lot. It would have been good to have been taught about things like the different types of accounts available, how to start saving for a house deposit and investing.
I used to live payslip to payslip and was a serial over spender in the first few years of my career. I'd spend money on horrible cheap clothes I knew I'd never wear.
After studying primary education at university, I taught in primary schools for a few years. I now work at an NHS charity, earning about £30,000 a year before deductions.
A few years ago I started taking some free online financial literacy courses so I could learn more about money. After I left teaching, I set up a TikTok channel (@learningmoneylos) and a year ago started focusing on personal finance education and basic budgeting tips.
I feel I need to boost my income with side hustles. I film videos for brands and they pay me to use them. I also resell clothes and furniture we don't need any more on platforms like Vinted and Facebook Marketplace.
I recently switched my current account and got a £170 switching bonus. Aside from side hustles, I try to save money by walking rather than taking the bus to work. I like free activities, including walking and reading in the evenings.
There's a firm in New Zealand called Friends That Invest that got me into investing. I listened to the owner's podcast on investing and read her book. I then started reading other books about investing and made my first investment at the age of 25 with an exchange-traded fund on Vanguard.
I add £200 to £300 a month to my stocks and shares ISA, which has around £10,000 in it. As a couple, we also add about £1,000 to various savings pots with Monzo. We also have about £7,000 in a high-interest savings rate with Chase as an emergency pot.
My goal is to have £1m in investments and savings by the time I am 50. To achieve this I will
Saving and scrimping won't make me wealthy. I need to diversify my income streams
Lauren Thorpe says: 'I want to get back into schools and educate children about money while boosting my own savings'
Monthly budget Side hustles and investment
My monthly income: The take-home pay from my full-time NHS charity job is about £2,000 a month. I also make around £500 a month from various side hustles, including providing user-generated content for brands, brand partnership work on social media and taking part in market research. My partner works as an electrical linesman, taking home around £2,800 per month.
need to invest more and increase my income. I want to get back into schools and educate children about money while boosting my own savings. Saving and scrimping won't make me wealthy. I need to keep diversifying my income streams.
I live in a three-bed semi in Sheffield which we purchased in July 2025 for £250,000 using a £25,000 deposit.
Our mortgage interest rate is 4.7 per cent and we took out a five-year fix which expires next year.
Our monthly outgoings: Mortgage, £1,023, groceries, £300 to £350, council tax, £170, gas and electric, £130, water, £47, TV licence, £15, broadband, £30 life insurance, £30; gym, £13; car fuel, £100; contact lenses, £22; sofa payment, £50; money for joint spending like eating out, £200. We put money into different pots each month for things like travel and gifts. We also
each invest in a stocks and shares ISA. I add about £200 to £300 to my stocks and shares ISA each month. Five per cent of my pay goes into my workplace pension each month and my company contributes 6 per cent. I only really shop second-hand for clothes or look for things on sale. I spend £15 a month on a choir I'm part of and have just started ice-skating, costing £50 a month for classes.
I add 5 per cent of my NHS charity job pay into a defined benefit pensions scheme, while my employer contributes 6 per cent. I have about £5,000 in my current work pension. I've switched the fund to the highest risk one available and am considering opening a self-invested personal pension to transfer everything into.
I want to be in a position where work could be optional for me by the age of around 45 to 50. I want to be able to do something I
am passionate about by that point. I could not survive solely on the state pension in later life. I'm not even sure the state pension will exist by the time I reach that age.
I now view money as a tool to enhance my life and am motivated by watching my money grow.
As I've said, I'm working towards having £1m in investments and savings by the age of 50. I also want to help educate more people about basic budgeting and money management.
If you want to take part in How I Manage My Money please email money@theipaper.com
FASHION
Boohoo given £2m fine over false discounts
By Holly Williams
Fast fashion firm Boohoo has been fined €2.3m (£2m) by the French consumer watching over misleading pricing practices.
The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) said Boohoo – part of the recently rebranded Debentures Group, which is listed in London – had given shoppers a false impression about the discounts being offered on the French version of its website.
Manchester-based Boohoo did not take account of previously applied promotions, or even increased prices before applying a discount, according to the DGCCRF.
It found that 95 per cent of the listings analysed failed to comply with its rules, with 40 per cent offering no price reduction, 7 per cent offering a smaller discount than advertised and 48 per cent actually increasing prices.
Boohoo also used terms that are banned, such as 'feather' or 'suede' to describe synthetic products, going against French rules on clothes and footwear labelling.
A Boohoo spokesperson said: 'The issues relate to a period under previous management and are now resolved. We have cooperated fully with the regulator.'
FOOD & DRINK
Danone green light for £860m Huel takeover
By Anna Wise
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given the green light to Danone's £860m acquisition of British protein powder and shake maker Huel following a review.
The merger was cleared after a preliminary inquiry was launched last month to examine potential competition concerns.
The French food and drink company agreed to buy Huel in March as it looks to grow its presence in the nutrition sector, while Huel said the investment would help to drive its international expansion.
Danone owns a roster of brands in the UK, including baby milk duo Aptamil and Cow & Gate, yoghurts Activia and Actimel, and waters Evian and Volvic.
Huel is based in Hertfordshire and was founded by Julian Hearn in 2015 to provide nutritionally complete food products, aimed at reducing meal times and providing essential nutrients.
The brand has rapidly grown in the years since, expanding into retail stores and growing its product range to items including powders, shakes, snack bars and drinks.
Dragons' Den star and podcaster Steven Bartlett was previously a director of the nutrition brand.
£5,000
The amount I spend has in her current work pension, which has defined benefit shares
46
BUSINESS
FTSE 100 up 0.04% at 10,748.16
| Company | Price | Chg % | High | Low | Company | Price | Chg % | High | Low | Company | Price | Chg % | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3i Group | 2753.0 | -0.94% | 4667.0 | 1825.0 | Kansas Mortis | 58795.0 | +0.48% | 23540 | 0140700.0 | Reddit Ben | 4997.0 | +0.06% | 6522.9 | 3664.0 |
| Absolvent Group | 2453.6 | -0.61% | 265.0 | 177.5 | Elmware | 584.5 | +0.76% | 707.2 | 281.5 | MSLX | 2587.0 | +1.05% | 3634.0 | 1991.0 |
| AB Foods | 2031.0 | -0.30% | 2358.0 | 1729.5 | CDX | 1920.5 | +0.23% | 2282.0 | 1298.6 | Reinfeld Initial | 541.1 | -0.99% | 507.0 | 329.6 |
| Admiral | 3616.0 | +0.72% | 4006.0 | 2624.0 | Nelson | 939.5 | +0.56% | 418.1 | 274.4 | Rio Tinto | 7504.0 | +1.57% | 9117.0 | 4440.5 |
| Arctic Africa | 325.4 | -0.87% | 438.2 | 211.6 | Rohse | 1470.0 | -0.34% | 4902.0 | 3354.0 | Rollo Royce | 1499.4 | -1.32% | 3580.0 | 990.0 |
| Alliance Witan | 1303.0 | -0.51% | 1294.0 | 1178.0 | House | 1792.0 | +1.01% | 1904.0 | 1257.2 | Salmberry/J | 328.7 | -2.06% | 380.3 | 292.3 |
| Anglo Amer | 3980.0 | -1.22% | 4239.0 | 2123.0 | Howden Jolimery | 790.0 | -0.19% | 981.0 | 713.0 | Schroders | 583.5 | -0.09% | 504.5 | 354.6 |
| Arkinagents | 3790.0 | +0.11% | 4479.0 | 2077.0 | HSBC M&gs | 1002.8 | +0.36% | 1810.0 | 942.8 | Scot short Inv Tot | 1443.0 | -1.56% | 1663.0 | 1035.7 |
| Arlind&news | 12088.0 | +0.32% | 15712.0 | 9892.0 | IAS | 418.7 | -2.08% | 492.9 | 332.7 | Sagro | 357.0 | -0.29% | 347.4 | 603.0 |
| Automatic Group | 527.4 | -1.31% | 831.2 | 438.6 | ICE | 2002.0 | -1.28% | 2540.0 | 1424.9 | Severn Trust | 3090.0 | +0.72% | 3595.0 | 2381.0 |
| Avion | 714.2 | -0.72% | 740.6 | 550.6 | IG Group | 1302.0 | -1.21% | 1856.0 | 1016.0 | Shelf | 3440.0 | +0.57% | 3758.0 | 2051.6 |
| Babcock Intl | 11130.0 | -1.19% | 15277.0 | 902.4 | IBK | 2066.0 | -0.60% | 3166.0 | 2216.0 | Smith&Kings | 1073.0 | +0.47% | 1641.5 | 1050.0 |
| B&E Systems | 2149.0 | -0.69% | 2985.0 | 2539.0 | Imperial Brands | 2520.0 | -0.60% | 3632.0 | 2476.0 | Smith Op | 2583.0 | -0.34% | 2754.2 | 2088.0 |
| Barrison | 489.0 | -1.43% | 554.1 | 352.5 | Informa | 666.6 | -0.47% | 1000.0 | 715.0 | Spraw Group | 6965.0 | -0.64% | 8050.0 | 5950.0 |
| Barnett Redman | 303.1 | -2.09% | 432.2 | 216.4 | IntLion/IRIS | 11722.0 | -1.41% | 13303.1 | 8618.0 | S&S | 2380.0 | +0.13% | 2767.5 | 1597.0 |
| Beazley | 1249.5 | +0.04% | 1598.0 | 700.0 | InterNet | 1048.0 | -0.04% | 1660.0 | 1010.4 | Stan Chart | 1352.0 | -0.05% | 1379.0 | 1335.8 |
| BH | 552.2 | +2.28% | 605.4 | 369.4 | Investec | 634.0 | -4.50% | 1602.0 | 459.4 | Standard Life | 1025.1 | +0.72% | 948.5 | 615.0 |
| British Tobacco | 4501.0 | +1.59% | 5126.0 | 3677.0 | JD Sports Fashion | 80.08 | -14.32% | 108.2 | 64.0 | St. James's Place | 1183.0 | -0.77% | 1579.5 | 1038.8 |
| British Land | 424.6 | +0.43% | 451.6 | 318.6 | Kingfisher | 320.4 | -1.60% | 372.3 | 240.3 | Tecro | 548.6 | +0.04% | 510.4 | 411.7 |
| BT | 301.6 | -0.74% | 242.1 | 173.0 | Land Incrs | 669.0 | +0.37% | 726.0 | 522.5 | The Sage Gra | 1088.0 | +1.21% | 1185.0 | 775.7 |
| Beard | 2706.0 | -0 | 2886.0 | 1661.0 | Legal & Gen | 286.1 | -3.50% | 518.1 | 237.2 | Triton Big Ben | 358.0 | +0.15% | 379.0 | 132.2 |
| Burberry | 1056.5 | -2.45% | 1376.5 | 676.0 | Lion Finance | 12770.0 | -0.47% | 13820.0 | 6908.0 | Unilever | 4849.0 | +0.29% | 5542.1 | 3044.0 |
| Cadena | 154.5 | -1.12% | 220.3 | 151.4 | Lilyards Bk Da | 103.8 | -0.54% | 117.9 | 77.4 | United Utilities | 1419.0 | +0.50% | 1497.0 | 1072.0 |
| Coca-Cola & Impac | 7840.0 | -0.70% | 8545.0 | 6240.0 | London Metric Prop | 190.8 | +0.21% | 218.2 | 175.3 | Weldstone | 118.0 | -1.17% | 131.1 | 83.4 |
| Coca-Cola M&C | 4442.0 | -1.64% | 5139.0 | 3170.0 | Lon Stock Ex | 8542.0 | +0.28% | 10140.0 | 6694.0 | Weir | 2750.0 | +4.09% | 3580.0 | 2254.0 |
| Compass | 2259.5 | -1.24% | 3581.5 | 2000.0 | M&S | 342.4 | -1.33% | 387.1 | 247.9 | Whitewood | 2430.0 | -1.54% | 3362.0 | 2098.0 |
| Compasscenter | 5045.0 | +0.40% | 5103.0 | 2234.0 | M&S | 376.4 | -2.11% | 418.3 | 302.1 | |||||
| Comedoc | 225.6 | -1.37% | 259.3 | 193.0 | Melrose Ind | 476.3 | -2.47% | 589.0 | 409.9 | |||||
| Crude Mill | 3339.0 | +1.98% | 5352.0 | 2417.0 | Melvin Energy | 4132.5 | +0.61% | 4448.1 | 2843.8 | |||||
| DCC Energy | 6375.0 | +0.16% | 8740.0 | 4188.0 | National Grid | 1180.5 | +0.84% | 1428.5 | 1000.0 | |||||
| Diageo | 1723.5 | +2.01% | 2142.0 | 1255.5 | Nat Med Group | 677.6 | -0.65% | 726.0 | 500.2 | |||||
| Diploma | 7135.0 | +0.42% | 7783.0 | 4970.0 | Next | 15045.0 | -2.27% | 15300.0 | 11230.0 | |||||
| Embassner Mining | 4490.0 | +2.07% | 5620.0 | 2430.0 | Pearson | 1184.5 | -2.05% | 1537.0 | 876.6 | |||||
| Exxon | 596.8 | -1.52% | 915.8 | 500.4 | Pending Square | 3648.0 | -1.38% | 5066.0 | 3636.0 | |||||
| Experian | 2666.0 | +1.44% | 3987.0 | 2203.0 | Pendemon | 1143.1 | -1.55% | 1552.0 | 947.4 | |||||
| F&L Live Trust | 339.8 | -0.53% | 1332.0 | 525.8 | Polar CapTech | 637.0 | -1.55% | 743.5 | 364.0 | |||||
| Fresnillo | 3168.0 | +2.69% | 4472.0 | 1617.0 | Prudential | 1012.0 | -1.08% | 1238.0 | 565.2 |
Markets
| FTSE 100 | 10748.16 | -0.04% |
|---|---|---|
| FTSE 250 | 24508.7 | -0.55% |
| FTSE All Share | 5734.5 | -0.02% |
| FTSE Eurofirst300 | 2600.9 | -0.11% |
| Dow Jones* | 53058.0 | -0.76% |
| S&P 500* | 7682.9 | -0.33% |
| Nestleq* | 26068.00 | -1.00% |
| DAX | 25983.0 | -0.41% |
| CAC 40 | 8453.1 | -0.57% |
| Hang Sone | 25698.5 | +0.80% |
| Nikkei | 66216.8 | +1.36% |
$1.1671
EURO/POUND
$1.3636
DOLLAR/POUND
$4,524.4
GOLD
Per trey ounce. London pm fix
$93.72
OIL
Brent crude per barrel.
RETAIL
JD puts its foot on discounting pedal
JD Sports has downgraded its profit outlook after posting a 3.1 per cent year-on-year fall in quarterly sales. It said pressure on consumer spending had hit its footwear sales, particularly trainers, and that it had been forced into "heavy discounting". The retailer now expects its full-year pre-tax profits to be between £700m and £900m, down from £750m to £850m.
REFORM UK
Rebate pledge for apprentice wages
"Apprenticeship wage credits" paid for by taxpayers would be brought in under a Reform UK government in its bid to "deliver a skills revolution", the party has said. Firms would receive a 30 per cent wage rebate on apprentices aged between 16 and 18, with Reform setting a five-year target of 600,000 new workers at a cost of up to £2bn.
AGRICULTURE
Northern Ireland farming profits up
Northern Ireland farming profits surged by 36 per cent last year, reaching more than £1bn for the first time, as beef prices rose to record levels. Profits are calculated by taking the value of output and subsidies (up 12 per cent to £3.6bn) and subtracting the cost of production and finance (marginally up at £2.2bn).
OPTICIANS
Specsavers pays parent firm £12m
Specsavers has paid a £12m dividend to its Perkins family parent company after its annual pre-tax profits rose to £429.7m, with sales up by 7 per cent year on year to £4.3bn. The group, founded in 1983, operates nearly 3,000 outlets globally, including more than 1,200 in the UK, through hundreds of independent partners.
FOOD & DRINK
Matthews to close Derby factory
Bernard Matthews Foods is closing its factory in Derby due to "significant financial losses". The food group, known for its owner's "bootiful" catchphrase before his death in 2010, will shut its processing facility on Shaftesbury Street by the end of this year – two years after it closed its headquarters in Great Witchingham, Norfolk, where Matthews built his empire.
RECRUITMENT
Hays falls into red on A1 hiring shift
Hays has swung to a full-year loss of £54.5m – against a £1.5m profit last year – amid a shift towards A1 hiring and an uncertain global outlook. With like-for-like net fees slumping by 8 per cent, the group said it was "facing global changes on an unprecedented scale and pace, with the jobs market transforming alongside it".
CHARITIES
Future of Oxfam shops uncertain
There can be "no guarantees" on the future of Oxfam shops, the charity has said, with its warehouse business also under review. The warning comes amid dwindling donations and stiff competition from second-hand online sellers. No closures are yet planned but insiders said up to 100 of its 500-plus UK outlets were "no longer viable".
MANUFACTURING
Export order books improve
UK manufacturing order books have improved sharply this month on overseas demand. The Confederation of British Industry said that export order books had returned to "normal" for the first time since June 2022. But although declining output volumes have slowed, the CBI added that firms are "braced for tough times ahead".
the markets
The FTSE 100 closed yesterday up by 4.81 points, or 0.04 per cent, at 10.748.16. The biggest risers were engineering group Weir, up 1.08p at 2.750p, and miner Fresnillo, up 83p at 3.168p. The biggest fellers were retailer JD Sports Fashion,
down 13.38p at 80.08p, and bank investor, down 26.0p at 63up. In France, the CAC40 fell by 0.57 per cent, while the DAX ended 0.41 per cent lower in Germany. The price of Brent crude oil rose to $93.72 a barrel.
***
The pound gained ground on both the dollar and euro, rising by 0.28 cents to be worth $1.3636, and by 0.11 cents to be worth $1.16/1, at the close of trading in London.
MONY 2-20
OPINION 16-22
TH 28-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONET 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST 2020
47
EDUCATION
'I left school with few qualifications but it didn't matter'
Not every boss asks about exam results, as Dave Fishwick found to his benefit
If you're in a class of 40 kids and what's going on outside the window looks a lot more interesting than what's inside, it's easy to get left behind. I sat a few of my GCSE exams but for most of them, I just didn't bother turning up.
It's something I think about a lot at this time of year, when thousands of young people across the country are eagerly awaiting their results and wondering what comes next.
And for anyone who is feeling disappointed or worried after getting their results, know this: I am living proof that you can leave school with zero qualifications and not let it stop you.
The summer before I left school, my parents could tell things weren't going well. My dad spoke to a man he knew who ran a business
that did building, plastering and slating and asked if there were any apprenticeships going. After that, I spent the six weeks' holidays helping him as a labourer.
And finally, I felt like I belonged somewhere and like I could learn something. When I finished school later that year, he offered me a job. He wasn't interested in my exam results, he cared that I turned up every day and got stuck in.
Back then, I just believed it was my fault that I hadn't done well at school; maybe I just wasn't smart enough. I didn't realise that some people just learn better in different ways. And I didn't realise there were other options.
Andy Burnham is keen for more young people to get apprenticeships and gain technical skills and I couldn't agree more. Too often,
Roofers are safe for now from the risk of robots taking away their jobs GETTY
young people find themselves left behind, with no career options and thinking they're to blame. There needs to be another way.
From the building site I went from buying cars to buying vans and then buses to being the largest supplier of minibuses in the UK – someone who owns six businesses here and in America and has been awarded an OBE.
I've employed a lot of people over the years and never once asked what qualifications someone has. Instead, I ask: what are you bringing to the party? What can
you do that no one else can? The Government should encourage builders, plasterers, mechanics and all manner of businesses to take on more young people.
This could be done with tax incentives and grants. It should be taken into account when granting tenders how many apprenticeships the bidding companies are offering.
Schools need to provide more career advice and support. Bring speakers in from all sorts of workplaces and get them to explain the different career paths available.
Parents need to help their
I thought it was my fault I hadn't done well at school. I didn't realise some people learn in different ways
children work out what they're passionate about and how they can harness it.
And we need to change attitudes about apprenticeships and trade careers, many of which are undervalued. Young people need to know that these are crucial skills that are vital to society. And while a robot might soon be able to take over a lot of jobs, we're a long way from having one that can retile a roof or rewire a house.
Meanwhile, a lot of degrees aren't worth the paper they're written on – and it's getting young people into tens of thousands of pounds of debt.
Apprenticeships are brilliant. I started on a Youth Training Scheme and got £27 a week and an extra five for working Saturdays. But it's not about the money, it's about the real life skills you learn.
We need to invest in the youth because they are everything. They are the ones who will pay the taxes, who will pay the pensions for older generations, and who will keep the country running by driving trains and buses, building houses and fixing cars and educating the next generation.
It's time we let them in on the secret: it's not all about exams. I'm proof of that.
Explore Summer
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Today's Weather
Cloudy with sunny spells for most of the UK. Rain showers in northern and western regions. Southern and eastern areas remain mostly dry.
Today's high
21°
Today's low
9°
Moon Place
0
Sunrise
05:55
Sunset
20:10
Around Britain
| City | Temp (per average) | Rain (mm) | Sun (ms) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 34 | R | 36 | 4.5 |
| Aberporth | 36 | SH | 32 | 7.6 |
| Aberystwyth | 18 | SH | 4.8 | 6.0 |
| Avonmore | 12 | SH | 9.9 | 1.3 |
| Bethel | 18 | C | 8.2 | 3.7 |
| Birmingham | 18 | SH | 3.6 | 6.6 |
| Bournemouth | 21 | SH | 1.9 | 9.6 |
| Bridlington | 26 | SH | 13.1 | 4.0 |
| Bristol | 20 | C | 12.9 | 9.7 |
| Cardiff | 20 | C | 4.3 | 10.1 |
| Cromer | 19 | R | 3.6 | 6.9 |
| Durham | 15 | SH | 32.8 | 2.8 |
| Eastbourne | 19 | SH | 20.8 | 8.4 |
| Edinburgh | 15 | SH | 10.1 | 3.6 |
| Edinburn | 34 | C | 20.2 | 2.4 |
| Glasgow | 18 | C | 10.1 | 2.6 |
| Highfield | 26 | SH | 10.7 | 5.7 |
| Hove | 20 | SH | 7.3 | 8.6 |
| Hull | 16 | R | 18.7 | 4.9 |
| Huntingdon | 20 | SH | 0.8 | 6.9 |
| Ipswich | 18 | C | 4.4 | 6.9 |
| Isle of Man | 34 | C | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| Isle of Night | 20 | SH | 2.1 | 9.3 |
| Kilnichness | 13 | SH | 5.8 | 3.1 |
| Kirkwall | 13 | SH | 1.2 | 3.5 |
| Leeds | 34 | R | 20.2 | 5.1 |
| Lehards | 13 | SH | 1.9 | 3.6 |
| Loudhark | 15 | C | 5.6 | 3.7 |
| Lincoln | 18 | R | 7.3 | 5.7 |
| Liverpool | 16 | SH | 10.3 | 5.3 |
| London | 23 | SH | 9.2 | 8.2 |
| Manchester | 16 | SH | 20.5 | 4.4 |
| Margate | 20 | C | 3.6 | 9.3 |
| Milford Haven | 18 | C | 1.0 | 8.3 |
| Monroeville | 15 | R | 10.3 | 3.8 |
| Newcastle | 15 | C | 28.3 | 2.9 |
| Norwich | 20 | R | 6.1 | 6.4 |
| Nottingham | 16 | C | 5.1 | 6.2 |
| Okehampton | 16 | SH | 8.0 | 6.5 |
| Oxford | 21 | SH | 4.2 | 7.1 |
| Plymouth | 20 | R | 1.6 | 8.0 |
| Portland | 19 | R | 0.8 | 11.0 |
| Portsmouth | 20 | SH | 1.6 | 9.1 |
| Prestwick | 16 | C | 5.1 | 3.5 |
| Rhyl | 16 | SH | 10.5 | 5.9 |
| Sheffield | 34 | SH | 7.3 | 5.6 |
| Shriveshury | 17 | R | 3.6 | 8.2 |
| Stephens | 18 | R | 7.4 | 6.1 |
| Southend | 19 | C | 0.4 | 8.2 |
| Stoke | 16 | R | 7.7 | 5.5 |
| Sturravasey | 12 | SH | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| Swansea | 18 | R | 2.3 | 8.2 |
| Three | 34 | C | 1.7 | 4.7 |
Global
| City | Temp (in °C) | Cond | City | Temp (in °C) | Cond |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alby Shute | 40 | S | Miami | 34 | S |
| Alloya | 25 | F | Milan | 31 | TH |
| Allicante | 34 | F | Moscow | 19 | F |
| Amsterdam | 33 | TH | Mumbai | 31 | SH |
| Athens | 32 | S | Narwich | 25 | SH |
| Bangkok | 32 | TH | New York | 29 | S |
| Berkshire | 31 | F | Nice | 29 | TH |
| Boying | 25 | F | Pajima | 26 | F |
| Berlin | 25 | F | Paris | 34 | C |
| Brussels | 22 | C | Prague | 25 | C |
| Budapest | 21 | S | Reykjavik | 10 | C |
| Chicago | 20 | F | Rex | 32 | S |
| Delhi | 33 | S | Rome | 32 | F |
| Dakar | 33 | S | Stockholm | 20 | C |
| Dublin | 16 | SH | Streathburg | 25 | C |
| Framford | 23 | F | Sydney | 33 | F |
| Geneva | 24 | SH | Toronto | 29 | S |
| Helsinki | 17 | R | Tokyo | 32 | S |
| Hong Kong | 24 | TH | Toronto | 25 | F |
| Istanbul | 31 | S | Vancouver | 22 | F |
| Johannesburg | 25 | S | Vienna | 31 | F |
| Lisbon | 25 | C | Warsaw | 23 | F |
| Los Angeles | 25 | F | Washington | 31 | S |
| Madrid | 20 | F | Wellington | 31 | F |
Key: CoCloudy, SWsBrizzle
Fisher, FSoflog, Hinkes, MuMod, Rollers
SuSunny, SHsShowers, SLsSliver, SNsSnow,
SSsSandstorm, THsThunderstorm
Air Pollution Index
Air pollution levels low (0.1) by high (10) up on (6.6%) per air
| Region | Today | Tomorrow |
|---|---|---|
| Highlands | 2 | 2 |
| North East Scotland | 2 | 2 |
| Central Scotland | 2 | 2 |
| Scottish Borders | 2 | 2 |
| Northern Ireland | 2 | 2 |
| North West & Mersey | 1 | 2 |
| North East | 2 | 2 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 2 | 2 |
| North Wales | 2 | 2 |
| West Midlands | 2 | 2 |
| East Midlands | 2 | 2 |
| South Wales | 2 | 2 |
| South West | 2 | 2 |
| South East | 2 | 2 |
| Eastern | 2 | 2 |
| Greater London | 2 | 2 |
GENERAL SITUATION
A low-pressure system influences the UK today, bringing diverse weather across regions. Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England experience rain, mainly in northern and eastern areas. Meanwhile, London and south-east England enjoy dry, sunny conditions. Wales and south-west England see showers with variable cloud cover. Winds are generally light, though stronger gusts occur along some coastal areas. London, SE Eng, East Anglia, Channel Is: The day will start with sunny spells and some cloud, with temperatures remaining mild. By afternoon, expect sunny intervals to
persist, though there is a threat of light rain, especially in the most western areas. Evening will see winds picking up slightly from the south, remaining mostly dry. Max temp: 25C. Tonight, clear, chilly breeze. Min temp: 10C. Con'S England, SW England, Midlands, S Wales, N Wales: The day starts with mostly cloudy skies and scattered sunny spells. Showers are expected, particularly in northern parts, with cooler breezes. As the day progresses, western areas will see rain showers, while the afternoon brings brightness in the east. Winds remain gentle. Max temp: 39C. Tonight, scattered showers. Min temp: 10C.
SE Scotland, NE Eng, E Eng:
The morning is expected to begin cloudy with some drizzle expected later. In the most northern parts, temperatures will feel cool under the grey skies. By afternoon, mostly cloudy with occasional sunny spells in the most eastern parts. Evening will remain cloudy with a light breeze throughout. Max temp: 10C. Tonight, light rain, breezy. Min temp: 10C. NW Eng, SW Scotland, N Ireland, Republic of Ireland, IoM: The morning is forecast to begin with mostly cloudy skies and some sunny spells. Cooler temperatures will prevail with a breeze from the west. As the day progresses,
there is a threat of light rain showers, particularly in the most northern parts. By evening, expect drier conditions to develop. Max temp: 10C. Tonight, clear with winds. Min temp: 9C. NW Scotland, NE Scotland, W Isles, N Isles: The day will start cloudy with the threat of light rain throughout. Morning temperatures will be cool, gradually increasing by afternoon. The most northern parts can expect brisk winds with a cooler feel, while the most western areas will have a cloudier afternoon. Evening brings more cloud cover. Max temp: 35C. Tonight, light rain, breezy. Min temp: 10C.
Key:
1024
Isolates air pressure
in milliliters
▲▲
Warm Front
▲▲
Cold front
▲▲
Occluded front
SYNOPTIC PRESSURE: A low-pressure system over East Anglia impacts much of the UK, bringing showers to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales. Meanwhile, a high-pressure ridge extends from the Western Isles, maintaining dry conditions there. Northend winds persist across many areas, especially in southern regions.
HIGHS AND LOWS
(Wednesday, up to 13pm)
Warmest: Teddington, Bluddy Park, Richmond upon Thames, 35C
Coldest: Achnagart, Ross and Cromarty, 8C
Wellest: Carlisle, Cumbria, 40.8mm.
Sunnest: Almondsbury, Cloud soundstime, 9.2hrs.
HOURS OF DARKNESS
Aberdeen 20.35-05.49 Birmingham 20.20-06.01 Bristol 20.20-06.07 Cardiff 20.22-06.09 Glasgow 20.39-06.01 Hull 20.17-05.52 Inverness 20.44-05.54 Liverpool 20.27-06.03 London 20.10-05.57 Manchester 20.24-06.00 Shamoway 20.55-06.03 Swansea 20.26-06.12 York 20.20-05.54
Fire-day outlook
SATURDAY The day will be mostly dry with sunny spells, particularly in southern regions, while northern areas experience more cloud cover.
SUNDAY Southern and eastern regions enjoy sunny skies, while northern and western areas experience clouds with sunny intervals.
MONDAY Northern regions mostly dry with sunny spells, southern regions cloudy with rain, breezy in western areas, east remains mostly cloudy.
TUESDAY Rain showers across the UK, with eastern regions experiencing cloudier conditions and southern regions having mild temperatures
WEDNESDAY Rain across northern and southern regions with cloudy spells in western areas, sunny intervals in eastern regions.
49
Weather
50
SPORT
RACING
Kalpana 'gets the job done' as she holds off Sparan Nua's charge
By Ashley Iveson & Josh Luckhurst
King George heroine Kalpana just held on to land the Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks at York after a mighty scare from Sparan Nua.
Aidan O'Brien's outsider Sugar Island was immediately sent to the front and Ronan Whelan quickly distanced himself from the field, extending the advantage to 20 lengths turning for home.
But as the main players began to eat into that lead, Colin Keane sent Kalpana to give chase over three furlongs out, hitting top gear two furlongs from home, only for Jim Bolger's Sparan Nua - who got a little squeezed at one stage - to make up plenty of ground and close the gap. The line just came in time for the 10-11 favourite to hold on by a short head, giving Keane, Andrew Balding and owners Juddmonte a second Group One in the space of 24 hours, after Item had landed the showpiece Juddmonte International on Wednesday.
"You knew after going a couple of furlongs it was going to be messy and passing the three (furlong marker) I thought the pacemaker was gone," said Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon. "Colin had
to commit probably a bit sooner than he wanted. When he saw himself the pacemaker was gone he had to chase her down a little bit, so she was always going to be vulnerable to something closing late, but she's gutsy and knows where the line is.
"She put her head down and got the job done. It's not pretty, but she got the job done and that's the main thing. Fast ground, slow ground, 12 furlongs - you wouldn't even be afraid to drop her back to 10.
"She's just very versatile and the ultimate pro now. She's fully matured now at five years of age and keeps answering all the questions, so it's wonderful."
Connections must now consider how to split their aces, with either Kalpana or Item likely to get a shot at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Should Item be given the green light to head for ParisLongchamp, Kalpana - who finished seventh in last year's Arc - will almost certainly bid to win the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot later in October.
Mahon added: "We have the horse from yesterday too, so whether he'll go to the Arc and we wait for Ascot with this filly - we have to sit down in a week or two and discuss all that."
Kalpana, ridden by Colin Keane (left), holds off Sparan Nua at York PA
CYCLING
Wiebes' sprint wins are inevitable, claim rivals
By Laura Howard
IN BLACKPOOL
Lorena Wiebes has become such an inevitability that rival teams have stopped even trying to beat her in a sprint as she dazzled once again in front of Blackpool's glitterball.
The Dutch SD Woxx-Protime rider made it two stage victories from two on a disrupted day at the Lloyds Tour of Britain to retain the green jersey and points classification lead.
With a total of nine stage victories at the British leg of the UCI Women's WorldTour, Wiebes' dominance is turning the peloton to alternative tactics.
"We cannot win the sprint so why should we wait and see if Lorena wins anyway," said Uno-X Mobility's Katrine Aalerud, the day's most combative rider.
"She is the biggest sprinter and most of the time she will win the sprint so we just have to try and race our way, so why not just try the breakaway and see if it will succeed?"
"Also, we succeeded in that action in the Tour de France Femmes (TdFF), so why not in other races?"
The Norwegian team were at the heart of two breakaway attempts, first through Dane Rmille Alberte Greve, before Aalerud made a sustained effort off the first climb.
She was ahead by 40 seconds when the stage was delayed mid-course due to a road traffic accident ahead of the convoy, causing it to be rerouted at 17.5km and the second Queen of the Mountain climb cancelled.
While Aalerud was caught on this occasion, it is becoming a characteristic of Uno-X, after Norwegian compatriot Sigrid Haugset took a
stage victory at the TdFF after riding ahead and alone for 90km.
And they appear to be right in their assessment that it is the only way to beat Wiebes outside of the mountains, who eased away from the leadout trains to cross the line first.
"I take quite some confidence when it goes to a sprint," said the 27-year-old. "But today was also quite hard because it was pretty much straight to the finish with 10km to go, so there was a bigger risk of getting bored in.
"That's why I started the sprint early at the end because I was afraid to get bored in, but it was enough so I'm happy with it because there was a lot of beadwind into the finish."
British Cycling is inspiring riders and fans across the country through the Lloyds Tour of Britain, celebrating cycling's biggest free-to-spectate event. Visit britishcycling.org.uk
Sporton TV
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ITV4, 30am
Test cricket: England v Pakistan
Sky Sports Cricket, 10.15pm
Golf: Nexo Championship
Sky Sports Golf, 12.30pm
Golf: BMW Championship
Sky Sports+, 3.45pm
Tennis: ATPiWTA Cincinnati
Sky Sports Tennis, 4pm
Gymnastics: European
Championships
BBC Two, 3pm
Football: Arsenal v Coventry
Sky Sports Premier Lge, 6.30pm
Athletics: Diamond League
Lausanne
BBC Two, 7pm
Rugby league: Wigan v Wakefield
Sky Sports Action, 7.30pm
Results Service
FOOTBALL
UEFA EUROPE CONFERENCE LEAGUE QUALIFYING
FLAT-OFF ROUND FIRST LEG
Goal: 0 Hibernian 10 0
Hearts (1) 3 Rapid Flexion 10 2
Race Ten (2) 3 Wisber 50 International 75
Lincoln Rednepe (1) 0 Larva (1) 2
17/9/45 85 17/9/45 90
McDonnell (1) 1 Freiburg (1) 3
Charles-Crest 2 Gentler (2) 10 (pen)
Rangers (1) 1 Jablons (1) 0
Stalzer (1) 1 Jablons (1) 0
Hammock Powers (1) 1 KuPS (1) 5
Tennessee (1) 0 Pennzook 85
Trenton (1) 0 Brighton (1) 0
SKY BUY LEAGUE ONE
Shelf West (1) 0 Bradford (1) 5
Blackpool (1) 5
CRICKET COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP - DIVISION ONE
Yorkshire Champions, The New Road, Yorkshire
173 (0-2 overs, 6-7, 6-8, 6-9, 4-7, 5) Hampshire 60-6 (36 overs)
Leicestershire: Glamorgan, Leicester Leicestershire
153-7 (0-2 overs)
Somerset: Glosse, Taunton Somerset 268-9 (36 overs, 27 Thomas 133, H M Nicholls 68, T B Abell 102)
Hertinghamshire: Glamorgan, The Old Road
Hertinghamshire (0-6, 6-10, 6-10, 6-11, 6-12) Hertsford: Gillette
Herts, T Leaver 5-4 (1 Surrey 13-5 (3 overs))
Sussex v Warwickshire, Edgbaston: Sussex 99 (0-2 overs)
DIVISION TWO
Durham v Derbyshire, Derby, Durham 102-8 (20 overs, 4-2 Leav 3 overs)
4-2 Leav 3 overs
Gloucestershire v Worcestershire, Cheltenham
Gloucestershire 107-9 (4-1 overs, T W Boultman 3 overs)
Northamptonshire v Lancashire, Old Trafford
Northamptonshire 6-6 (16 overs)
Kent v Middlesex, Northwood: Kent 359-6 (16 overs, 5-7, Northwood 85, Z Chomsky 85)
GOLF
NESO CHAMPIONSHIP TRUMP INTERNATIONAL
GOLF LINKS, AERIOIDENHORE, First round (3-0-6, 10 overs)
unions stated for '22 89-14 (Celtic) (Goal 89-6 Baker 1) Neso (7-5, 8-7, 6-8) Gendle (2-0-6, 6-10) Goker
1 Neso (7-5, 8-7, 6-8) Gendle (2-0-6, 6-10) Goker (3-0-6, 6-10) Goker (4-0-6, 6-10) Goker (5-0-6, 6-10) Goker (6-0-6, 6-10) Goker (7-5, 8-7, 6-8) Goker (8-7, 8-7, 6-8) Goker (9-7, 9-7, 6-8) Goker (10-7, 10-7, 6-8) Goker (11-7, 11-7, 6-8) Goker (12-7, 12-7, 6-8) Goker (13-7, 13-7, 6-8) Goker (14-7, 14-7, 6-8) Goker (15-7, 15-7, 6-8) Goker (16-7, 16-7, 6-8) Goker (17-7, 17-7, 6-8) Goker (18-7, 18-7, 6-8) Goker (19-7, 19-7, 6-8) Goker (20-7, 20-7, 6-8) Goker (21-7, 21-7, 6-8) Goker (22-7, 22-7, 6-8) Goker (23-7, 23-7, 6-8) Goker (24-7, 24-7, 6-8) Goker (25-7, 25-7, 6-8) Goker (26-7, 26-7, 6-8) Goker (27-7, 27-7, 6-8) Goker (28-7, 28-7, 6-8) Goker (29-7, 29-7, 6-8) Goker (30-7, 30-7, 6-8) Goker (31-7, 31-7, 6-8) Goker (32-7, 32-7, 6-8) Goker (33-7, 33-7, 6-8) Goker (34-7, 34-7, 6-8) Goker (35-7, 35-7, 6-8) Goker (36-7, 36-7, 6-8) Goker (37-7, 37-7, 6-8) Goker (38-7, 38-7, 6-8) Goker (39-7, 39-7, 6-8) Goker (40-7, 40-7, 6-8) Goker (41-7, 41-7, 6-8) Goker (42-7, 42-7, 6-8) Goker (43-7, 43-7, 6-8) Goker (44-7, 44-7, 6-8) Goker (45-7, 45-7, 6-8) Goker (46-7, 46-7, 6-8) Goker (47-7, 47-7, 6-8) Goker (48-7, 48-7, 6-8) Goker (49-7, 49-7, 6-8) Goker (50-7, 50-7, 6-8) Goker (51-7, 51-7, 6-8) Goker (52-7, 52-7, 6-8) Goker (53-7, 53-7, 6-8) Goker (54-7, 54-7, 6-8) Goker (55-7, 55-7, 6-8) Goker (56-7, 56-7, 6-8) Goker (57-7, 57-7, 6-8) Goker (58-7, 58-7, 6-8) Goker (59-7, 59-7, 6-8) Goker (60-7, 60-7, 6-8) Goker (61-7, 61-7, 6-8) Goker (62-7, 62-7, 6-8) Goker (63-7, 63-7, 6-8) Goker (64-7, 64-7, 6-8) Goker (65-7, 65-7, 6-8) Goker (66-7, 66-7, 6-8) Goker (67-7, 67-7, 6-8) Goker (68-7, 68-7, 6-8) Goker (69-7, 69-7, 6-8) Goker (70-7, 70-7, 6-8) Goker (71-7, 71-7, 6-8) Goker (72-7, 72-7, 6-8) Goker (73-7, 73-7, 6-8) Goker (74-7, 74-7, 6-8) Goker (75-7, 75-7, 6-8) Goker (76-7, 76-7, 6-8) Goker (77-7, 77-7, 6-8) Goker (78-7, 78-7, 6-8) Goker (79-7, 79-7, 6-8) Goker (80-7, 80-7, 6-8) Goker (81-7, 81-7, 6-8) Goker (82-7, 82-7, 6-8) Goker (83-7, 83-7, 6-8) Goker (84-7, 84-7, 6-8) Goker (85-7, 85-7, 6-8) Goker (86-7, 86-7, 6-8) Goker (87-7, 87-7, 6-8) Goker (88-7, 88-7, 6-8) Goker (89-7, 89-7, 6-8) Goker (90-7, 90-7, 6-8) Goker (91-7, 91-7, 6-8) Goker (92-7, 92-7, 6-8) Goker (93-7, 93-7, 6-8) Goker (94-7, 94-7, 6-8) Goker (95-7, 95-7, 6-8) Goker (96-7, 96-7, 6-8) Goker (97-7, 97-7, 6-8) Goker (98-7, 98-7, 6-8) Goker (99-7, 99-7, 6-8) Goker (100-7, 100-7, 6-8)
Bacia (3.35, York)
Blizzard One
opposition in
the Palace of
Hollywoodhouse at
Royal Ascot. Three
picking against him
will say that was
only a handicap but
it was run in a faster
time than the Group
One King Charles III
Stakes was over the
same trip earlier in
the week.
YORK GOOD TO GIFT
AL BASTI EQUINORLO-SUBAS GINCEACK STAKES
GROUP 3 (CLASS 1) (YTD 2) (YTD 3) (YTD 4) (YTD 5) (YTD 6) (YTD 7) (YTD 8) (YTD 9) (YTD 10)
AGGAD AGGAD (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
AGGAD AGGAD (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (5) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (7) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (8) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (9) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (10) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (11) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (12) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (13) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (14) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (15) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (16) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (17) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (18) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (19) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (20) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AGGAD AGGAD (21) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WEST 2-35
OPINION 16-22
TV 26-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONDAY 44-47
FEBRUARY 50-56
FRIDAY 31 AUGUST 2026
51
The Sport Matrix
The day's action at a glance
ATHLETICS
Hunt enjoys the silence after four gold medal haul
TENNIS
Stale Sabalenka checks out in Cincinnati
RUGBY LEAGUE
Walters rallies St Helens with three-year deal
A crew in a demanding yachting race
staged an impromptu wildlife rescue when an exhausted barn and made a bid to join the team. The bird's arrival aboard the British Soldier 70 miles off the Norfolk coast during the Round Britain and Ireland Race sparked a coordination effort as the British Army crew pressed on toward the Cowan finish. The tiny passenger was christened "Little Reg" before having to be renamed "Little Regina".
British sprinter Amy Hunt craved silent time after her historic European quadruple in
Birmingham. The 24-year-old (above) became the first athlete to win four gold medals at the same European Championships with two sprint titles and two relay triumphs
Hunt is back in action tonight in the 200m at the Lausanne Diamond League and is learning how to recover from the attention that followed Birmingham.
"The last two days I've been like, 'I don't want to talk to anybody, I don't want to open my mouth, please don't talk to me,'" Hunt said, "But it's all part of what we do."
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out of the Cincinnati Open after a straight-sets loss to Sara Bejlek.
The Czech ousted Sabalenka 7-6(7), 6-4 in the fourth round, her first win over a top-seeded player. She will face Madison Keys in the quarter-finals after the 2009 champion beat Wang Xiyu 7-6(3), 6-4.
The defeat continued a poor run for Sabalenka, who has not reached a final since March, and the Belarusian faces losing her top ranking ahead of the defence of the US Open title at the end of the month.
Elena Rybakina reached the last eight with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Diana Shnaider and can overtake Sabalenka by making the final in Cincinnati this weekend.
St Helens have named Kevin Walters as their new head coach on a three-year deal. Walters (left) is the
current head coach of Australia and will take charge at the Brewdog Stadium following the conclusion of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup which begins in October.
St Helens have been searching for a new head coach after Paul Rowley stepped down in July and have moved to bring in Walters who guided Australia to a 3-0 series whitewash over England last year.
Walters, 58, said: "Success is creating the right environment where the players and staff enjoy coming to training and working."
Puzzle solutions
Dominoes
Journey Finder
Making Tracks
Number Square
Idoku
Kakuro
Wijuko
Binary
ABC Logic
Zygolox
LEFT TO RIGHT: cope, threat, dean, goat, deal, threat, steal, nick, neck, steam, peck, cream, nibble, vapour, pack.
Daily Quiz
- The World Tonight
- Quoots
- Spain
- Stevie Wonder
Word Ladder
Sudoku
Jigsawdoku
Number Hexagon
Thursday's Codeword 4590
Word Wheel
NINE-LETTER WORD SHAMBOLIC
OTHER WORDS abolish, bash, blah, bash, cash, charmos, chaos, chasm, clash, catch, hail, hails, halo, hams, holism, holm, lash, loach, loch, macho, mash, milch, mocha, mosh, ohmic, sahib, schmo, shalom, sham, shim, shmo, shoal.
Number Pyramid
Killer Sudoku
Minesweeper
Number Pyramid
Calcudoku
Word Square
Knight's Tour
Pathfinder
Chain Link
Futoshiki
Hexalex
Word Fit
Cells
Battleships
Bridges
Word Search
Five-Cine Cryptic Crossword
Across: 3 Brie-fly, 5/6 Out in the cold* Down: 1 Bro-O-ch, 2 Lett-u-c-e, 4 Lon(don)-Ely
52
SPORT
FOOTBALL CHELSEA
Enzo Fernandez was booed by some Chelsea fans during pre-season
Alonso 'happy' but Fernandez future is unclear
By Robert O'Connor
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said Enzo Fernandez has shown a good attitude in training since returning for pre-season, but would not confirm whether the midfielder has told him he wishes to stay.
Fernandez reported for training at the start of last week having had extra time off following Argentina's run to the World Cup final, and was booed by some supporters during Saturday's friendly win over Real Sociedad.
The club placed a £120m price tag on Fernandez at the end of last season after he stated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge, but after Chelsea's deadline for acceptable bids passed last Friday, their position is that he is not for sale during this window.
Manchester City are known to retain an interest in signing the 2022 World Cup winner and could still bid, particularly after Rodri's move to Barcelona was completed this week.
'Enzo is a Chelsea player, a top, top player,' said Alonso. 'He's training really well since he started 10 days ago, very integrated.'
'He's training really well, I see him with a good attitude and that's what we want.'
Chelsea still have around 40 senior players on their books after making nine first-team signings this summer, with Liam Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo and Nicolas Jackson among those training separately from the main squad this week.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Carrick keen to 'strengthen' as push for Baleba gathers pace
By Simon Peach
Michael Carrick says Manchester United are busily working to strengthen his squad as attention turns to tomorrow's Premier League opener at promoted Hull.
The former Red Devils midfielder, captain and coach earned the permanent manager's role by leading the side to a third-placed finish last term to earn a return to the Champions League.
United bolstered their squad this summer with the signings of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Karl Darlow, but no first-team arrivals have followed
that mid-July flurry. They have this week stepped up a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba and a deal is understood to be close, but there are still gaps, such as another left-back, that needed to be filled.
'I just think we're looking to strengthen the squad,' Carrick (left) said when particular areas were put to him.
'We're working towards that and making the most of the situation we have, and trying to improve things and trying to move forward. Certainly trying to make most of the opportunities to finish the window stronger than we went into it, and I think we're in a good way to doing that so far.'
LIVERPOOL
We will show fans we want to fight for badge - Van Dijk
By Carl Markham
Virgil van Dijk has insisted Liverpool do not start the season with a point to prove after the disappointing defence of their Premier League title last term resulted in the sacking of head coach Arne Slot.
Twelve months ago they opened with five successive wins but the nature of the performances papered over cracks which were severely exposed once injuries started to kick in and they lost six of their next seven top-flight games.
That form brought disharmony within the squad, Mohamed Salah publicly falling out with Slot after claiming he had been made the scapegoat.
Liverpool lost 19 of 56 matches (34 per cent) and 12 of 38 in the Premier League, only one fewer than they lost in the previous three seasons.
Salah, Ibrahima Koraté and Andy Robertson have left - with Curtis Jones' move to Inter Milan pending - but most of the squad remain, with
only Spain winger Victor Munoz and Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet signed and Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo in on loan.
New head coach Andoni Iraola has been tasked with restoring the high intensity football which disappeared under Slot and is likely to need further reinforcements.
'Last year was unacceptable. We have an opportunity to turn that around,' Van Dijk (left) said ahead of Sunday's opener at Newcastle United.
'We know how tough that will be but if you're not up for the challenge, you're not at the right place. Everyone is up for the challenge. I'm looking forward to this season and
I don't think we have a point to prove. We have to show how much we care, how much we want to fight for this badge and how privileged we are to be playing for Liverpool.
'If we keep working, believing, showing our quality, we can be very excited. We need a squad which is able to compete on all four fronts.'
ARSENAL v COVENTRY CITY
By Philip Duncan
Mikel Arteta has insisted he would rather be 'hunted than the hunter' as Arsenal start their defence of their Premier League crown.
The Gunners host promoted Coventry City this evening, 94 days after Manchester City's draw at Bournemouth allowed the north Londoners to end their 22-year wait for the title.
Arsenal enter the new campaign armed with two significant signings - in Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tsolis for a combined £109m - and a third is imminent, with the expected capture of England defender Eeri Konus from Aston Villa for £5lm.
Arteta's side start as the favourites to repel their rivals and land back-to-back Premier League titles for the first time in Arsenal's history.
But, asked if he believes his side have a target on their backs, Arteta said: 'Today, no, because we start
from scratch, from zero, and we're going to have to prove we are at the level to go back to that position again.
'We need to show that desire, and the ambition to be better than what we were last season, a month ago, a week ago.
'In the last three seasons, at some point we were first, and at some point we were chasing. And you never know what is better.
'But if you give me the choice, I want to be first, I want to be hunted, and I want to be in control of our future, rather than depending on somebody else.'
With a stronger squad than last season, the pressure of ending a two-decade wait for the title now over, and Manchester City preparing for life after Pep Guardiola, Arteta was pressed on whether he sees a dressing room that can now go on to dominate the league.
'That is what we want, and I guar-
All change: New rules to tackle time-wasting
By Jamie Gardner
The 2026-27 Premier League season kicks off tonight when champions Arsenal take on newly-promoted Coventry City.
The iPaper looks at the new law changes - and some alterations we saw at the World Cup which will not be used in English football.
Time-wasting
The eight-second rule for goal kicks out of hand was well received last season and efforts to cut time-wasting and disruption have now
been applied to other areas of the game for the new campaign.
Referees have been instructed to start a five-second countdown where they believe players are taking too long over throw-ins and dead-ball goal kicks - if the five-second limit is exceeded, throw-ins are reversed and a goal kick becomes a corner.
Player injuries which force a stoppage in play will require
the player to leave the field for at least one minute - up
from 30 seconds. This will not apply where the challenge which led to the injury resulted in a yellow or red card, or in other, exceptional circumstances.
English football is also trialling an initiative designed to stop teams from taking tactical time-outs when goalkeepers go down claiming injury. Where
this happens, a manager must immediately nominate an outfield player who will come off for at least one minute after play restarts.
Substitutions will be limited to 10 seconds - where a player takes longer than that to come off, his replacement will be denied entry to the field for a minimum of one further minute.
Second yellow cards
Video Assistant Referees will now also be able to check second yellow cards and overturn them if they have clearly been shown in error.
They cannot intervene to suggest a second yellow is awarded when not given originally on-field, however.
Set-pieces
VAfts can now intervene where an attacking foul is spotted prior to a set-piece being taken which leads to a goal, a penalty or a disciplinary sanction, and order that the set-piece be retaken.
Premier League football principles
In addition to the laws of the game that apply worldwide, the league has its own framework governing how it wants its officials to interpret those laws. That includes maintaining
10 Teams will have 10 seconds to complete a substitution of 1.6 or 2.0m takes longer to come off. The law demands this to what a minute
NEW 2-36
OPINION 18-22
TV 28-31
FRIDAY 37-43
MONDAY 44-47
SPORT 50-56
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2025
53
“We have the ability to improve, to evolve, and that’s what I sense and feel around the club
antee you with my life that that’s the case,” he replied. “But we need to show that on the pitch, as to whether we can do that or not.
“We also need to breathe because it’s going to be a long marathon. We have the ability to improve, to evolve, and that’s what I sense and I feel around the club, especially around the players.”
Arsenal could yet bolster their attacking options during the final 11 days of the transfer window - with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez still on their radar - while a number of players are expected to leave.
Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira are all likely to be moved
on. Gabriel Martinelli’s future is dependent on whether a left-sided forward arrives. Ethan Nwaneri is set to be loaned out, but Arteta ruled out fellow 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly leaving.
“One hundred per cent,” said the Spaniard when asked if Lewis-Skelly - linked with both Chelsea and Manchester United in recent weeks - will remain at Arsenal beyond the 1 September deadline.
Guimaraes is expected to be fit for the visit of Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues tonight, despite the Brazilian being substituted with a right thigh problem in Arsenal’s impressive 3-0 win over City in the Community Shield in Cardiff last Sunday.
Jurrien Timber remains sidelined with a long-term groin problem and William Saliha is another absentee as the centre-back continues his rehabilitation from a back injury sustained at this summer’s World Cup.
Lampard: We’ll need to be ready for tough times
Frank Lampard admits his Coventry City side need to be ready for “tougher times” this season ahead of their Premier League curtain-raiser against champions Arsenal tonight.
The 48-year-old is in charge of his third club in the top flight. He previously had two spells with Chelsea either side of a stint as Everton manager when he guided the club to safety in 2022.
The Sky Blues earned promotion to the top flight last season as champions where they earned 95 points, 11 points in front of Ipswich Town who joined them as runners-up.
Lampard says his previous experience in the Premier League puts him in a good position to deal with some tough times that might come his side’s way this season as they return to the top-flight after 25 years away.
“We will go through tougher times this year for sure, because of the competition we’re up against now,” the head coach (below) said. “So we’ll need resilience in moments, calmness in moments.
“An important part of my role is to have that balance and through having a long playing career, through having a managerial career where I’ve had some really great moments and some difficult moments.
“But as a club we will need to stick together in those moments, but I don’t want to sound too negative before something’s happened. It’s just a reality that we need to be ready for.
“My second spell at Chelsea wasn’t great for me, from a PR point of view. But having been through the challenges for good and bad in my managerial career, it puts me in a better spot to deal with - don’t get too high, too low - continue and focus on your job and I’m better at that than I was.”
a high threshold for penalising challenges - though referees’ chief Howard Webb does want officials to take a firmer stand on grappling and holding at set-pieces.
The league also wants to maintain a high bar for VAR intervention - there were 0.28 interventions per match in the Premier League last season, compared to 0.51 in the Champions League.
And what we will not see
Fifa used the mistaken identity VAR protocol to remove yellow cards for fouls and reassign them to players for diving at the World Cup - most controversially in showing a second yellow to Switzerland’s Breal
Embolo in the quarter-final with Argentina. The game’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board, since clarified that the offence itself cannot be reviewed or changed under the protocol, only the identity of the offender.
The three-minute hydration breaks will thankfully also not feature - Premier League matches will only pause for a cooling break where the temperature before kick-off exceeds 30C.
The Premier League is also not taking up the option for VARs to review the awarding of corners, or for red cards to be shown to players who cover their mouth when confronting an opponent.
Any other business?
In a push for further transparency, selected conversations between referees and players recorded on Ref Cam will now be permitted to feature in match broadcasts. Supporters will also be able to see judgements from the Key Match Incidents Panel, which assesses whether referees and VARs got the big calls right. The panel’s findings will now be published on the Premier League’s website, around 10 days after each match round.
The PL Match Centre account on X will now also feature direct quotes from referees and VARs to clarify big decisions and overturns made during matches.
CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Ibrahim Osman impressed for Brighton in a stalemate in Norway GETTY
Tromso stalemate leaves Seagulls with a tricky home test
By Jim van Wijk
Brighton & Hove Albion had to settle for a goalless draw from the first leg of their Conference League play-off at Tromso last night.
The Seagulls, who finished eighth in the Premier League last season and open the new Premier League campaign at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, created several chances but could not find a way past Jakob Haugaard. Ibrahim Osman - on his Brighton debut after three loan spells - was lively during the first half, while Yasin Ayari also later forced another stop from Haugaard.
Tromso almost snatched a late winner, but Isak Vadebu sent his shot wide as the tie went into next Thursday’s second leg at The Amex Stadium all square. Luka Vuskovic started in Brighton’s defence following his 5.40m move from Tottenham Hotspur, while fellow arrivals Zadok Yohanna, Pascal Struijk, Costinha and Michael Svoboda all began on the bench. Carlos Baleba, linked with Manchester United in recent weeks, has an ankle injury and was not involved, with Yanleaba Minleh, a target for Liverpool, also absent.
Brighton, whose players have pledged to reimburse the cost of match tickets for the 407 travelling fans making the journey into the Arctic Circle, made a positive start on the artificial pitch at the Romssa Arena. Osman saw his effort at the back post blocked by Isak Dahlqvist.
The 21-year-old Ghanaian then went down under a challenge from Dahlqvist after getting ahead of the Tromso defender, but penalty appeals were waved away. Tromso - who dropped down from the Europa League qualifiers and sit third in Norway’s Eliteserien - threatened on the break through Troy Nyhammer and Lars Olden Larsen. Osman sparked into life again when he chested the ball down and fired in a volley, which forced a fine reaction save from Haugaard. In added time at the end of the first half, Olivier Boscagli sent a header over.
Tromso were soon on the offensive after the restart, Larsen latching on to a pass up field and racing clear, but Bart Verbruggen was out to make a smart save. Brighton settled again as Ayari’s angled strike was pushed out by another good stop from Haugaard.
Seagulls head coach Fabian Hürzeler looked to freshen up his side in the final 20 minutes as Charalampos Kostoulas and Amario Cozier-Duberry replaced Diego Gomez and Malick Yalesuyé. The substitutes combined when Kostoulas headed over from Cozier-Duberry’s cross, before Tromso broke away with three minutes left but Vadebu could not find a finish.
Elsewhere, Rangers made it two wins in a week as they edged past Czech side Jablonec 1-0 at Ibrox. Ryan Naderi’s goal early in the second half preceded a red card for Cammy Devlin with 15 minutes left.
Hearts were held 2-2 at Tynecastle by Rapid Vienna, Nikolaus Wurmbrand leveling with 11 minutes left for the Austrian visitors. Edinburgh rivals Hibernian were also held, 0-0 at Gent in Belgium. Motherwell went down 3-1 at home to Freiburg despite taking an early lead through Regan Charles-Cook, as Martin Moormann was sent off. Larne won 2-0 at Lincoln Red Imps.
Ryan Naderi’s second goal in two Gers games was enough for victory
54
SPORT
CRICKET FIRST TEST
Cool Cox grabs chance to show he is no stopgap for this England
PAKISTAN
171
ENGLAND Brook 10, Cox 73, Root 66, Lawrence 52, Usman 5-91
366-8
Chris Stocks
CRICKET CORRESPONDENT AT HEJDRNOLLY
Of the hundreds of cricketers I have interviewed over the years, there are few who have been as self-assured or confident as Jordan Cox.
I first met him after he had signed for Essex, at the club's pre-season media day in April 2024. They say there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance and Cox traversed it perilously.
Yet you were left in no doubt that he felt destined to play international cricket.
Two years earlier he had been called up by England at the age of 21 for a T20s tour of Pakistan. He did not play and it was the first of several near misses for a player who can count himself unlucky his chance did not come sooner.
Seven months after our meeting in Chelmsford, Cox was set for his Test debut in New Zealand, filling in as wicketkeeper for Jamie Smith, who had decided to miss the tour to be at the birth of his first child.
On an overcast Sunday morning in Queenstown before the final day of England's warm-up game against a Prime Minister's XI, I sat in a Portakabin with a couple of other UK journalists interviewing coach Bren-
Headingley scoreboard
FIRST TEST
ENGLAND v PAKISTAN
(Second day of Fox, England was toss) England and by 191 runs with a first-innings wicket-revised PAKISTAN – Four innings (15) (Shaheen St. Tanguay)-s4, Robinson 5-91)
ENGLAND – Four innings continued (tick downright)
| Race | 6s | 1st | 8th | Min | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Cox v Benson & Usman | 73 | 0 | 24 | 100 | 275 |
| 2nd Root (the 8 Shafsad) | 64 | 0 | 24 | 100 | 265 |
| 3rd Brook & Usman | 65 | 0 | 24 | 100 | 265 |
| 4th Lawrence v Benson & Usman | 55 | 0 | 24 | 100 | 265 |
| 5th Smith & Coot | 65 | 0 | 24 | 100 | 265 |
| 6th F. Muirman & two Usman | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 25 |
| 7th Robinson & Usman | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8th Robinson & Coot | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Extra 8s, 8s-14s | 18 | ||||
| Total for 1: 10 points | 185 |
Ref: 1-94, 1-94, 3-196, 1-102, 3-191, 1-195, 3-194, 4-191
Total: 17 Tongue Reading: Muhammad Abbas 21-2-81-1, Khurram Shafazad 19-1-101-1, Muhammad Ali 19-2-81-1, Ali Usman 21-1-101-1 Umpires: C B Gaffney (NZ) & A Faisal (SA)
Second Test: 21-19 August (Lord 1) Third Test: 9-12 September (Edgbaston)
don McCullum. The architect of Bazball was gushing about Cox and how he was the perfect fit for his team. Although he had only made 11 in the first innings of that tour match, there were high hopes for Cox in the series to come.
Seconds after we had switched our tape recorders off, England's media manager told us that while we'd been speaking to McCullum, Cox has broken a thumb batting in the nets. He was out of the tour.
Ollie Pope was instead the fill-in keeper for the series and Jacob Bethell was given a surprise debut at No 3.
You know the rest, but it was perhaps a story coming full circle when Cox got his opportunity to bat at three in this series against Pakistan, after Bethell was ruled out with a knee injury.
That Test debut did eventually come for Cox this June, when he was ostensibly the replacement for Ben Stokes against New Zealand at The Oval, after the then-captain's late-night occupation of The Rex Rooms resulted in him being suspended pending an England and Wales Cricket Board investigation.
Batting at No 7, he looked good in flashes during knocks of 27 and 25 in a match that was completely overshadowed by the Stokes saga and ended with England being hammered by 250 runs.
But on the second day of this
opening Test against Pakistan, Cox properly announced himself with a maiden half-century at this level. Eventually out for 73 after edging spinner Ali Usman behind, he will be kicking himself that he passed up a prime chance of a century.
And although this Pakistan bowling attack is one of the poorest to have hit these shores in many years, Cox, now 25, looked every inch the international player he is, even if he was lucky to survive on 57 when Khurram Shafazad dropped a simple caught and bowled chance.
The Essex batter's 150-run stand
with captain Joe Root set this match up for England, with the hosts' leading by 27 by the time Cox departed. By stumps, thanks to further half-centuries from Root, Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence, that lead had stretched to a commanding 195.
Although he may be filling in for this series, do not rule Cox out of remaining in England's XI. With opener Emilio Gay looking like he has glaring technical issues in the early days of his own Test career, Cox has the opportunity to establish himself ahead of winter tours of South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia.
He's a proper player and similar to De Villiers, claims Vaughan
By Rory Dollard
Michael Vaughan gave Jordan Cox his seal of approval as a "proper player" after his maiden half-century helped England take control of the first Test against Pakistan.
The hosts ran up a lead of 195 at Headingley, with four of their top six passing 50 as they closed a rain-shortened second day on 366 with two wickets in hand.
The world's No 1 batter Harry Brook was top-scorer with 91 off
only 93 balls, returning captain Joe Root was typically assured for 66 and Dan Lawrence battled through a mixed innings for 51 on his return.
But it was Cox, promoted to the cornerstone position at No 3 in just his second Test appearance, who caught the eye of former England captain Vaughan. The Essex man hit 73 in 100 deliveries, hitting 11 boundaries and showing an ability to go up and down the gears.
"Cox was my pick of the day. He just looked a player," Vaughan said.
"He looks like he's got all the time and he played two or three shots today that reminded me of [South African great] AB de Villiers.
"Those punches through the covers – and they're decent balls he's hitting – one or two clips through midwicket... he's a proper player."
Cox has had to wait for his opportunity on the highest stage, missing out on a scheduled debut in 2024, after breaking a thumb in training and seeing Jacob Bethell leapfrog him in the pecking order.
Jordan Cox helped England steer the game away from a feeble Pakistan
Now he has a second opportunity and appears ready to make the absolute most of it, holding himself to even higher standards rather than settling for a strong first impression in the No 3 position.
"I let myself down a tiny bit but at the end of the day you take 70-odd don't you? I'd have taken it at the start of the Test," he said.
"But it's about trying to put out your feet through that door as much as possible and bang it down. Once I got to go I moved to 60 quite quickly and I was thinking, 'there's a chance here if I can keep being disciplined, keep going ball by ball'."
"I definitely had it in the back of my mind, saying, 'you've worked so hard, don't give this opportunity up'. That's exactly what I do in county
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55
Do not write him off opening the batting come next summer's Ashes either, with Cox having previously been employed at the top of the order for Kent before his move to Essex two summers ago.
Bethell, when he returns from injury, might also be a contender for that opening spot if Gay does not prove to be a long-term pick. Then, though, England can just keep Cox where he is in this series.
He is certainly some talent, with his innings of 204 in 201 balls for Essex against Leicestershire in June resulting in him being picked by
England for that Oval Test against New Zealand. Indeed, his average in first-class cricket since swapping Kent for Chelmsford in 68.
A spell with Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year's Indian Premier League included him striking up a friendship with Virat Kohli, who he sought the counsel of before that Test debut in south London.
And a player whose destructive hitting at the crease has had him likened to South African great AB de Villiers looks destined to carry on rubbing shoulders with the game's elite for the foreseeable future.
cricket - basically look at the runs I need to score and work down from there."
Cox suggested there was a collective feeling of a missed opportunity from those who got themselves in without killing the game off, but Pakistan are already in need of a huge turnaround to get themselves back in contention.
Harry Brook's 91 represented his highest Test knack in 17 innings, dating back to July 2025
"There's four of us who get 50s today, so one of us could probably have kicked on.
"Every team and every player wants to score Test hundreds and there's four of us who get 50s today, so one of us could probably have kicked on," he said of a failure of any home player to reach three figures.
"Instead of making just a hundred, let's make it 150, 160, 170 and that puts us in a better position, definitely.
"I'm not [happy] quite yet! Hopefully we can get another 50, then we'll get to our work with the ball."
FORMULA ONE
Russell hit the brakes as his bid to catch Antonelli starts again
By Scott Hunt
George Russell intends to trust his instincts to drag himself back into the Formula One championship fight and overhaul team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
The British driver has been unable to match his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate in the grid's dominant car, winning just twice to Antonelli's six, cursing his luck while admitting performances have not been where he wants them.
The 28-year-old returns from the sport's summer break this weekend in Zandvoort 59 points adrift of the Italian and also nine behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.
Russell is hoping to use the opportunity for a reset to get his title till back on track.
"I fully switched off. Second half of the season will be intense for us all so really made the most of those weeks," Russell said.
"I think every race weekend will be important, you want to build that momentum. Lots of triple headers, we are only just at the halfway point of the season.
"The last three races were tough for different reasons. Looking forward to starting again and looking to get back into a good groove.
"I want to not overthink it, trust in my ability and drive a little more instinctively. That's maybe what I wasn't doing before the break."
Russell used the summer shutdown to make a major move in his personal life, getting engaged to his long-term partner Carmen.
Sat alongside his compatriot Lando Norris, Russell admitted he
George Russell returns from the break 59 points adrift of Kimi Antonelli
"I want to not overthink it, trust in my ability and drive a little more instinctively"
would love his happy news to rub off on track.
"I hope it brings a couple of tenths. Even Lando will be get-
ting engaged if it brings a couple of tenths!" Russell joked.
"Personal life is so important. I've been with Carmen for a really long time so I don't think it changes a huge amount.
"It was a really interesting process designing the ring and stuff. I couldn't get my words out though, got very nervous when I was on one knee."
I would never join anyone else, states Verstappen after signing on at Red Bull to 2030
By Alan Baldwin
Max Verstappen hopes to see out his Formula One career at Red Bull after agreeing a contract extension until 2030, the Dutchman admitting he was more likely to leave the sport than join another team.
The four-times champion had been linked to Mercedes and McLaren but played that down after the new deal was announced ahead of his home Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.
"I think I was closer to retiring than changing teams," the 28-year-old revealed.
Verstappen is no fan of the sport's new engineers and how the cars have to be driven with their greater electric component, and made clear early this season that he was weighing up his options.
He told team principal Laurent Mekies early in the campaign not to discuss the
future because he did not know if he wanted to stay in the sport.
The driver, who has been with Red Bull all his F1 career, said he had good discussions with the governing FIA and the sport's management and now looked forward to future rule changes and the possible return of V8 engines in 2030.
Verstappen (right) said he accepted current issues with the car's performance, believed in a return to the top in the future and added that it would be a great story if he saw out his career with the energy drink brand.
The team also allowed him to pursue interests outside F1, such as endurance racing, and discussed everything openly.
"I never felt that desire or need to change to another team, to try and win somewhere
else," he explained. "If I feel well within the team here, why should I?"
Verstappen reiterated Red Bull felt like a second family, a team he had been with for a decade, and he had a good relationship with Mekies, who replaced Christian Horner just over a year ago.
"I always said, and I said this when Dietrich [Mateschitz, the founder] was still alive, my goal and target is to finish my career in this team. And we are getting close to that. Of course there's a lot of years ahead, but that's still the target. So that's why I'm very proud to extend and of course try to get back to the top."
Mekies added that the extension was a real demonstration of the team's trust in their premier driver.
"He's a lot more than the fastest driver in the world for us," Mekies said. "We have been saying it many times. He's the central point of the team. He's one we always refer to for all the strategic decisions we are making.
"And to know that he's going to be with us in order to build that next winning cycle is phenomenal."
Sport
THE iPAPER
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23 AUGUST 2026
theipaper.com/sport The iPaper Sport @TheiPaperSport
TOUR OF BRITAIN Wiebes' wins leave rivals without any answers
FOOTBALL Rangers edge play-off as Brighton take scoreless draw
'I'd rather be hunted
than the hunter'
Arteta bullish before Arsenal's title defence begins tonight
10-second subs, timed throw-ins
All the new Premier League rules coming into force
PS2
Fans' groups call on Infantino to resign
By Jamie Gardner
Supporter groups worldwide have launched a petition calling for the resignation of Fifa president Gianni Infantino and for wholesale reform of the organisation.
The Swiss is under pressure after being forced to abandon plans to seek private investment in a company to run Fifa tournaments, including both the men's and women's World Cups.
Three continental confederations
accused Infantino of "deception" in an open letter last week over the manner in which the plan was devised, with European governing body Uefa still intent on boycotting Fifa events having "lost confidence" in Infantino's leadership.
The 56-year-old retains support, notably in Africa and South America, but fans' organisations have urged him to step down, with a petition launched on the change.org website.
"The shameful attempt by one individual - the Fifa president himself
- to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget," a statement from the fan organisations read.
"Infantino's plan was stitched together in secret. Negotiated behind closed doors. Hidden from Fifa's own members and from the millions of people whose passion makes football what it is."
Individual fans are being encouraged to sign the petition, which already has support across all six Fifa confederations.
The private investor plan is viewed by fan organisations as the final straw, on top of Fifa's involvement in discussions around the European Super League and its ticket pricing at this summer's World Cup
"A president who repeatedly betrays football and makes a mockery of our game has lost the right to lead it," the statement continued. "For the credibility of Fifa he must resign."
The petition calls for the involvement of fans and stakeholders in decisions that shape the future of the game.
制度与权力批判深度研判：The i (2026-08-21)
▌ 本日全报思想与文化深思雷达 (Intellectual & Cultural Significance Radar)
在系统通盘梳理本期报纸所涉及的所有国际政治、经济、社会与文化报道后，以下 3 个具体事件在制度结构、权力技术与法理合法性层面最值得学者进一步深思：
-
【王室成员回归的身份界定与权力剥离】
[F8_15, F10_20, F11_21]（版面：专业栏目/王室）- 事件简述：哈里与梅根计划返回英国，但被明确界定为无需承担官方王室职责
[F10_20 🔍]，且目前并无恢复履行官方职责的前景[F11_21 🔍]。 - 制度批判切入点：分析主权象征制度如何通过“身份剥离”技术，在维持血缘纽带的同时，实现政治权力的绝对纯净化，将个体从“制度性主体”降级为“私人客体”。
- 事件简述：哈里与梅根计划返回英国，但被明确界定为无需承担官方王室职责
-
【唐宁街内部的官僚环境与权力内耗】
[F20_39, F20_40]（版面：专业栏目/政治）- 事件简述：基尔·斯塔默爵士的前任办公厅主任苏·格雷在辞职后的采访中，称在唐宁街10号工作“绝对难以忍受”
[F20_40 🔍]。 - 制度批判切入点：探讨现代行政权力中心在极端压力下的运作状态，分析当行政核心被定义为“难以忍受”时，其内部治理逻辑如何从政策导向转向情绪与权力博弈。
- 事件简述：基尔·斯塔默爵士的前任办公厅主任苏·格雷在辞职后的采访中，称在唐宁街10号工作“绝对难以忍受”
-
【议会工作人员匿名制度与申报缺失】
[F18_35, F18_36]（版面：专业栏目/经济-政治）- 事件简述：一名主导隐藏 2,000 名议会工作人员姓名的国会议员，因未能申报其雇佣妻子的事实而道歉
[F18_36 🔍]。 - 制度批判切入点：剖析“匿名化”作为一种权力技术，如何通过掩盖雇佣关系来构建一个低透明度的管理体系，以及申报制度在面对亲属关系时的结构性失效。
- 事件简述：一名主导隐藏 2,000 名议会工作人员姓名的国会议员，因未能申报其雇佣妻子的事实而道歉
▌ 精选核心专题深度思想论证 (In-Depth Dialectical Monograph)
专题一：主权象征的“例外状态”与身份剥离技术：以萨塞克斯夫妇回归为例
在哈里与梅根计划返回英国的制度安排中，我们观察到一种极具代表性的权力运作机制：通过将个体从“官方职责”中彻底剥离，从而在同一物理空间内制造出两种截然不同的法理身份。根据报道，尽管查尔斯国王将欢迎哈里及其孙辈的靠近 [F11_21 🔍]，但这对夫妇被明确告知无需承担官方王室职责 [F10_20 🔍]。这种安排在本质上是施密特“例外状态”（State of Exception）在现代王室制度中的微观实践。
从制度现实困境来看，王室面临的是一种“合法性与血缘”的结构性矛盾：一方面，血缘纽带要求家庭成员的回归以维持象征性的完整；另一方面，制度的纯洁性要求剔除不稳定的政治因素。权力在此采取了“身份剥离”的话语技术，将哈里从一个具有公共权力的“职能王室成员”降级为一个仅具有生物学关系的“私人个体”。这种操作实际上是在制度内部划定了一道无形的边界——个体可以在物理上回归，但在法理上被排除在主权象征体系之外。
进一步分析查尔斯国王的权力模式，其历史上的多次“重大转向” [F11_22 🔍]（如关于卡米拉身份及居住权的承诺违背）揭示了王室权力运作的一种路径依赖与灵活修正的辩证法。王室制度并非僵死的法律文本，而是一套基于“主权意志”的动态调整机制。在这种机制下，承诺的违背并非简单的个人诚信问题，而是主权权力在面对新现实时，通过重新定义承诺的效力来重新分配权力关系的手段。
这种制度设计向我们揭示了当代权力的一种趋势：权力不再通过简单的“驱逐”来排除异见者，而是通过“纳入但剥夺”的方式，将对方转化为一个被观察的、无权的客体。哈里与梅根的回归，在制度层面并非一次简单的和解，而是一次成功的“权力驯化”——他们被允许回归，但前提是必须接受一个被剥离了所有制度性权力的“私人”标签。
专题二：行政权力中心的异化与可见性政治的操纵
苏·格雷对唐宁街10号工作环境的描述 [F20_40 🔍]，为我们提供了一个剖析现代行政权力机器内部压力状态的样本。当一名办公厅主任将工作环境定义为“绝对难以忍受”时，这标志着韦伯意义上的“官僚制铁笼”（Iron Cage of Bureaucracy）在极端政治环境下发生了异化：理性程序不再是效率的保障，而可能演变为一种高压的心理消耗场域。
在这种制度情境下，权力的运作逻辑可能发生了转移。传统的官僚权力依赖于职级与指令，但当工作环境变得“难以忍受”时，权力行为体之间可能更多地依赖于非正式的博弈。这种异化反映了当代政治权力的一种深层危机：当正式的制度约束无法缓解内部冲突，行政中心便陷入了一种功能性失调状态。
结合议会工作人员匿名制度的争议 [F18_36 🔍]，我们可以看到一种更广泛的制度性趋势：权力倾向于通过“隐藏”与“匿名”来构建一个低监督的特权空间。一名国会议员主导隐藏 2,000 名工作人员姓名的行为 [F18_36 🔍]，其核心逻辑是通过控制信息的可见性来逃避公众监督。这种“可见性政治”的操纵，使得公共权力在形式上维持着民主的透明度，但在实际运作中却通过一套复杂的匿名技术，构建起了一个封闭的权力黑箱。
无论是唐宁街内部的行政压力，还是议会雇佣关系的匿名化，都揭示了同一个制度性悖论：在追求极致效率与控制的现代治理体系中，权力往往通过制造“信息不对称”和“制度盲区”来维持其运行，而这种机制最终会导致制度内部的信任崩塌与个体体验的极端恶化。
▌ 面向学者的制度研究开放性追问 (Open Research Horizons)
- 【关于身份剥离的法理研究】：在现代主权象征制度中，如何界定“私人身份”与“公共职责”的法理边界？当个体被剥夺制度性权力但仍保留象征性身份时，这种“半主体”状态如何影响其在法律与安全保障体系中的权利主张？
- 【关于行政权力异化的机制研究】：在高度中心化的行政权力机构中，当工作环境被定义为“难以忍受”时，这种心理与制度的压力如何转化为公共政策执行力的系统性下降？
- 【关于可见性政治的监督研究】：在民主制度下，权力如何利用“匿名化”技术构建影子官僚体系？面对这种结构性的信息隐藏，现有的申报与审计制度应如何演进以重建公共透明度？
理性与情感辩证深度研判：The i (2026-08-21)
▌ 本日全报生活世界痛感与情感政治深思雷达 (Lifeworld & Affective Significance Radar)
在系统通盘梳理本期报纸所涉及的所有报道后，以下 3 个具体事件在个体生命体验、情感撕裂与生活世界崩解层面最值得学者进一步深思：
-
【梅根的心理创伤与公众围攻】
[F14_27 🔍]（生活领域：文化与身份/心理健康）- 事件简述：在萨塞克斯夫妇计划回归英国的背景下，报道提及梅根曾表示在英国生活期间遭受的对待使其产生自杀念头，且目前正面临舆论围攻。
- 情感政治切入点：个体极端的心理痛感（自杀念头）与公共领域中将其“符号化”的恶意围攻之间的剧烈冲突，揭示了私人创伤在被推入公共视野后如何被权力话语工具化。
-
【王室回归中的关系修复与制度冷漠】
[F10_20, F11_21]（生活领域：家庭与权力）- 事件简述：查尔斯国王在被告知哈里夫妇回归时感到“措手不及”，尽管他欢迎孙辈靠近，但萨塞克斯夫妇恢复履行官方职责并无前景。
- 情感政治切入点：家庭情感的修复（祖孙关系）与制度权限的剥夺（官方职责）之间的矛盾，探讨在权力结构中，情感连接如何被制度性的“权限管理”所切割。
-
【AI 机器人与老年孤独的拟像】
[F1_1 🔍]（生活领域：健康与身体/技术伦理）- 事件简述：情景喜剧《安·卓伊德》探讨 AI 机器人缓解老年人孤独感的主题。
- 情感政治切入点：技术理性试图用“模拟情感”来替代“真实连接”，揭示了在原子化社会中，人类最深层的情感匮乏被转化为一种可消费的技术产品。
▌ 精选核心专题理性与情感辩证论证 (The Dialectic of Logos and Pathos Monograph)
专题一：【创伤的公共化与情感围攻：梅根案例中的主体性消解】
在萨塞克斯夫妇回归英国的叙事中，一个被掩盖在“王室关系重建”这一制度逻辑之下的核心是肉身痛感的不可通约性。
系统理性模型解构：从王室公关与国家礼仪的 Logos 来看，哈里与梅根的回归被简化为一套“权限管理”模型：是否履行官方职责 [F11_21 🔍]、安全安排的私有化 [F8_16 🔍]、以及与国王关系的修复 [F10_20 🔍]。在这种技术官僚式的理性中，个体被还原为“核心人物”或“私人身份”的标签，其回归被视为一种政治博弈的转向。
生活世界真实痛感的现象学深描：然而，在这一套冰冷的权限模型之下，是梅根具体的生命体验。珍妮·邦德提及的“自杀念头” [F14_27 🔍] 并非一个政治标签，而是一种极端的现象学体验——它是被孤立、被误解、被系统性排挤后的肉身崩溃。这种痛感是私密的，且在回归英国的瞬间，再次被置于公众的“围攻”之中 [F14_27 🔍]。
Logos 与 Pathos 的辩证摩擦：此处发生了剧烈的情感摩擦：系统理性将梅根的痛苦定义为一种需要被管理或被忽略的背景噪音，从而将其情感反应非理性化。但从情感政治学视角看，这种“围攻”实际上是权力通过情感操控来塑造主体性的过程。公众的厌恶与围攻并非自发，而是制度性话语将梅根定义为特定角色后的情感投射。梅根的自杀念头是对这种权力压制的最后反抗，而回归行为则在 Logos 的逻辑中被解读为“妥协”，在 Pathos 的逻辑中则是对归属感的尝试。
话语温度差与社会心理韧性诊断：制度端使用的是“私人身份”、“官方职责”等冷色调语言，而生活端则是“自杀念头”、“围攻”等热色调语言。这种巨大的温度差揭示了当代名流政治中的异化：个体越是处于权力中心，其真实的情感痛感就越是被剥夺，最终沦为公共领域中被随意揉捏的符号。
专题二：【技术理性对情感匮乏的补偿：AI 陪伴的伦理悖论】
通过对《安·卓伊德》探讨 AI 缓解老年孤独 [F1_1 🔍] 的分析，揭示了现代社会在处理“情感缺失”时的技术逻辑。
系统理性模型解构：AI 陪伴的底层逻辑是“功能性替代”。它将“陪伴”这一复杂的人类情感交互简化为一套可编程的算法：识别孤独信号 $\rightarrow$ 提供情绪价值反馈 $\rightarrow$ 维持心理稳定。在这种模型中，孤独被定义为一种可以被“修复”的系统漏洞，而 AI 机器人则是相应的补丁。
生活世界真实痛感的现象学深描：对于老年个体而言，孤独并非简单的“缺乏对话”，而是一种深层的、关于生命意义丧失的痛感。它包含对过去连接的怀念、对死亡的恐惧以及在社会结构中被边缘化的无力感。这种痛感是不可量化的，且具有强烈的个体特异性。
Logos 与 Pathos 的辩证摩擦：这里存在一种残酷的辩证法：技术理性（Logos）通过模拟情感的表征（Pathos）来掩盖情感连接的断裂。当 AI 成功模拟了关怀，它实际上是在用一种“无主体的关怀”替代“主体间的连接”。这种替代虽然在短期内缓解了孤独的症状，但从长远看，它可能导致人类进一步丧失处理真实、复杂且具有冲突性的情感关系的能力。
话语温度差与社会心理韧性诊断：技术端使用的是“缓解”、“功能”、“产品”等中性色调语言，而生活端则是“孤独”、“匮乏”、“绝望”等深色调语言。这种撕裂揭示了当代社会的某种病理状态：我们倾向于用技术手段去“管理”痛苦，而非通过重建社会连接去“治愈”痛苦。这标志着一种新型的异化——情感的外包化。
▌ 面向学者的伦理与社会心理开放性追问 (Open Research Horizons)
- 【公共领域中的创伤消费与抹除】：在高度媒介化的社会中，个体的极端心理创伤（如自杀念头）如何被公共话语迅速地从“生命危机”转化为“政治叙事”或“娱乐谈资”？这种转化如何影响受害者的心理重建？
- 【模拟情感对真实连接的替代效应】：AI 机器人缓解孤独的趋势
[F1_1 🔍]是否预示着一种新型的“情感外包”？当技术理性成功模拟了情感的表征，人类是否会逐渐丧失处理真实情感关系的能力？ - 【权力结构中的情感剥夺】：在王室等高度制度化的组织中，个体的情感需求如何被“官方职责”与“私人身份”的二分法所抹除？这种剥夺如何影响个体的心理健康与主体性认同？