Southwark’s quaint and quirky Union Theatre plays host to Phil Willmott and Annemarie Lewis-Thomas’ musical adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel Around the World in 80 Days this August, with up-beat, slapstic, musical drama on display at a riveting tempo. Produced by Sasha Regan (all Male Iolanthe; HMS Pinafore and Blondel) and directed by Brendan Matthew (Guy – the musical, My Land’s Shore and The Hired Man), this fun and fanciful musical will see audience members whisked away on a...

A two-year clinical trial in the West African country of Burkina Faso showed that the number of cases of clinical malaria was cut by 12 per cent using the new bed net

In the early hours of Thursday, August 9th, Argentina’s Senate narrowly voted down a bill to legalise elective abortion. Senators debated for more than 15 hours before voting 38 to 31, with two abstentions and one absentee, not to allow abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Women’s rights activists had been optimistic that the passing of the bill in the lower Congress in June was a sign that times were changing in the majority Catholic county. So this...

Being ever-connected via social media comes at a cost, suggest a series of studies examining how digital technology is affecting relationships

Of all of the benefits associated with EU membership the summer holiday undoubtedly showcased the best of them. With enticing exchange rates, freedom of the skies for UK airlines and seamless custom checks Benidorm became the new Blackpool as Brits flooded overseas for their annual dose of Mediterranean sun. According to stats released shortly before the EU referendum in 2016 more UK nationals than ever holidayed abroad, with a whopping 12 million visits made overseas in 2016, up 14 per...

Iain Martin, a Times columnist, took to Twitter to defend to Boris Johnson's recent comments about the Burka. The reactions to his tweet didn't go well. He battled on replying to his detractors for while, but eventually gave up, as it was relentless. Many reasons to dislike the burka, but disrespect of the deaf (who often need to see faces to follow communication) always high on the list — Iain Martin (@iainmartin1) August 8, 2018 Here is a selection of...

by Pat Levy Aeroplane food, cramped feet, bad movies, wandering the sterile walkways of Johannesburg Airport while waiting for a connecting flight…why put up with all this?  Answer: the hauntingly beautiful and supremely unspoiled Okavango delta in Botswana. Arriving at the country’s Maun airport, ferrying point for adventurers heading deep into the delta, you are greeted by smiling (yes, smiling) immigration officials whose questions seem more motivated by friendly interest than interrogative inquiry. A small herd of light aircraft waits...

The former PM has bought the luxury cabin on wheels for the garden of his Cornish bolthole

Boris Johnson has been blasted for portraying “ugly and naked Islamophobia” after controversially comparing women wearing burkas to bank robbers and letter boxes.