Stephen Castle
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Correspondent in London bureau of New York Times, formerly IHT bureau chief in Brussels, ex-political editor Independent on Sunday
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Articles by Stephen Castle
Their home was once called ugly. Barbican residents think a new tower is worse
Loved by fans, loathed by critics, the Barbican housing complex has divided opinion since it rose from the bombed-out ashes of central London after World War II. When architects first proposed the high-density, concrete development in the mid-1950s, the brutalist design was radical, with raised pedestrian walkways, triangular towers and serrated balconies. In 2003, respondents in one survey voted the complex the country’s ugliest building.
El rechazo a los centros de datos de IA ha llegado a un rincón tranquilo de la Inglaterra rural
GREAT TORRINGTON, Inglaterra — Enclavada en la exuberante y montañosa campiña del norte de Devon, en el suroeste de Inglaterra, la casa de campo de Giles Atton es un "lugar mágico para vivir", según él mismo afirma. De día, Atton, de 36 años, contempla desde su jardín los campos donde pastan las vacas. De noche, el cielo se tiñe de un negro intenso y su hogar queda sumido en el silencio. Todo eso podría estar a punto de cambiar.
The A.I. Data Center Backlash Has Reached a Quiet Corner of Rural England
One of Samsung's most popular phones is now getting stable One UI 9 with Android 17 The Galaxy A36 5G joins the list of Samsung phones with stable One UI 9. Add Android Authority on Google: Preferred SourceGoogle Discover The Galaxy A36 5G might not be the best mid-range smartphone, but it’s still one of the most popular Samsung phones. That could be because of Samsung’s promise of …
The A.I. Data Center Backlash Has Reached a Quiet Corner of Rural England
The A.I. Data Center Backlash Has Reached a Quiet Corner of Rural England Plans to build one of Europe’s largest data centers in Devon have been met by strong opposition from residents, as environmental concerns grow. Daisy Snow, right, Ann Shuttleworth, left, and others protesting the proposed data center in Bideford, England, last month.Credit...Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Oct.
Las novelas de Sally Rooney ya no se venderán en el Reino Unido
Rooney y su editorial dijeron que ya no podría recibir regalías de las ventas británicas porque se comprometió a donar los ingresos de los libros a Palestine Action, que está prohibido en el Reino Unido. Sally Rooney y su editorial informaron el miércoles que sus novelas ya no se venderán en el Reino Unido debido a su apoyo a un grupo de protesta propalestino que el gobierno británico prohibió el año pasado por considerarlo una organización terrorista.
Las novelas de Sally Rooney ya no se venderán en el Reino Unido
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Las novelas de Sally Rooney ya no se venderán en el Reino Unido Rooney y su editorial dijeron que ya no podría recibir regalías de las ventas británicas porque se comprometió a donar los ingresos de los libros a Palestine Action, que está prohibido en el Reino Unido.
Sally Rooney says her novels will no longer be sold in Britain
LONDON — Novels by bestselling Irish writer Sally Rooney will no longer be sold in Britain because of her financial support for a pro-Palestinian protest group that is banned as a terrorist organization by the British government, Rooney and her publisher said Wednesday. The publisher, Faber, said in a statement that “current legislation” meant it could no longer pay royalties from the United Kingdom to Rooney.
Sally Rooney Says Her Novels Will No Longer Be Sold in Britain
Sally Rooney Says Her Novels Will No Longer Be Sold in Britain Ms. Rooney and her publisher said that she could no longer receive royalties from British sales because she pledged to donate book revenues to Palestine Action, which is banned in the U.K. Sally Rooney in Dublin in 2021.Credit...Ellius Grace for The New York Times Oct.
The Fight for Britain’s Right: Are the Conservatives Ready for a Reboot?
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. The Fight for Britain’s Right: Are the Conservatives Ready for a Reboot? Attendees at the party’s annual conference have been buoyed: both by leader Kemi Badenoch’s rising poll ratings and a mock Bayeux Tapestry. But the challenge from Reform U.K. remains. The Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch in Birmingham on Sunday.Credit...Hannah Mckay/Reuters Oct.
Britain’s New Prime Minister Prepares for U.N. Spotlight
Britain’s New Prime Minister Prepares for U.N. Spotlight Andy Burnham appears likely to promote support for Ukraine and hold to tough lines on Israel and the war on Iran. Andy Burnham was just over a month into his tenure as Britain’s prime minister when he visited Kyiv, Ukraine, last month. The U.N. General Assembly will be his first major meeting of world leaders. Credit...Pool photo by Henry Nicholls Sept.
Inside the Breakdown of U.K.-Israel Relations Over West Bank Settlements
Inside the Breakdown of U.K.-Israel Relations Over West Bank Settlements British officials believed Israel had said it would hold off on moving ahead with construction in E1, a piece of land viewed as vital to a future Palestinian state. Israel said it promised no such thing. Land in the E1 area, a strategically important patch of land east of Jerusalem, near the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim. Plans by Israel to build there, long postponed, have gained momentum lately.
British Police Expand Investigation Into Reform U.K. After Undercover Sting The Metropolitan Police are investigating Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist party after footage appeared to show party officials arranging secret contributions from a foreign donor. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform U.K., with his security team during the party’s annual conference in Birmingham, England, on Saturday.Credit...Isabel Infantes/Reuters Sept.
In England — Yes, England — Tea and Cantaloupe Grow as the Climate Warms
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. In England — Yes, England — Tea and Cantaloupe Grow as the Climate Warms As British farmers confront intense heat waves tied to climate change, some are cultivating new crops rarely grown in their country.
In England — Yes, England — Tea and Cantaloupe Grow as the Climate Warms
Now Niger is already facing an increasingly unpredictable weather. Now, El Nino could bring more disruptive rainfall, drought and flooding — raising fresh concerns for farmers, livestock herders.
Britain Accuses Israeli Settlers of ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ in Parts of West Bank
Britain announced significant trade restrictions on settlements in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday and accused extremist settlers of perpetrating “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians,” as it acted with Canada and France to toughen policies toward the Israeli government. Britain’s package of measures, including a trade ban on goods produced in the settlements, was announced Tuesday in Parliament by Ed Miliband, who became foreign secretary in July.
Britain Set to Ban Trade With Israeli Settlements in West Bank
Britain Set to Ban Trade With Israeli Settlements in West Bank A longtime ally of Israel, the U.K. has condemned plans to expand the settlements, which are widely considered illegal under international law. Palestinian villagers harvesting olives in the village of Turmus Aya, with Israeli settlements in the background, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank in 2025.Credit...Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times Sept.
An Exposé Jolts Reform U.K. and Sidelines the Man Called Farage’s Brain James Orr, who has ties to Peter Thiel and JD Vance, was suspended from Reform U.K. after he was filmed apparently arranging contributions from a man posing as a foreign donor. James Orr was the head of policy for Reform U.K. until his suspension on Friday.Credit...Dominic Gwinn/ZUMA Press Wire, via Reuters Sept.
Starmer, No Longer Prime Minister, Says He Will Leave Parliament
LONDON — Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation as Britain’s prime minister in June, said Tuesday that he would leave Parliament, signaling an end to his domestic political career. Starmer, who became a member of Parliament in 2015, made the announcement to a local newspaper in the north London electoral district that he represents. Andy Burnham succeeded him as prime minister and as Labor Party leader in July.
Starmer, No Longer Prime Minister, Says He Will Leave Parliament
Starmer, No Longer Prime Minister, Says He Will Leave Parliament Keir Starmer, who was pushed out of Downing Street by his party, said he would quit his parliamentary seat to focus on international affairs and defense. Keir Starmer delivering a farewell speech after stepping down as prime minister of Britain in July.Credit...Dan Kitwood/Getty Image Sept.
What does Harry and Meghan’s return to England mean for their children?
Prince Harry and Meghan are leaving the dry scrub of sunny Southern California for the drizzly pastures of England, and for their children, it could mean trading hoodies for blazers, and Lincoln and Grant for Disraeli and Gladstone. The couple have not disclosed where Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, will attend school in Britain.
Prince Harry and Others Told to Pay Daily Mail Publisher $13 Million
Posted Saturday, August 22, 2026 9:23 am Prince Harry and six other high-profile figures in Britain were ordered on Friday to make an initial payment of £9.54 million, about $13 million, to the publisher of The Daily Mail, after they lost a privacy case against the company.
What Does Harry and Meghan’s Return to England Mean for Their Children?
1 day ago It's unclear where the Sussexes will be living, but multiple options have been suggested ahead of their big change. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world by announcing their impending move back to the U.K. on Wednesday, August 19. The couple will be relocating to Britain for an extended …
What Does Harry and Meghan’s Return to England Mean for Their Children? One effect of moving back is that Archie and Lilibet now have the opportunity to be schooled as Britons. Here’s what that might look like. A view of Eton College, the boarding school that both Harry and his brother, William, attended.Credit...Andrew Testa for The New York Times Aug.
Prince Harry and Others Told to Pay Daily Mail Publisher $13 Million
Prince Harry and Others Told to Pay Daily Mail Publisher $13 Million Harry and six other high-profile figures lost a privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers. They may eventually have to pay more than twice the initial sum, a judge said. Prince Harry leaving the Royal Courts of Justice in London during his trial against Associated Newspapers in January.Credit...Henry Nicholls/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Aug.
Their home was once called ugly. They think a new office tower is worse
LONDON — Loved by fans, loathed by critics, the Barbican housing complex has divided opinion since it rose from the bombed-out ashes of central London after World War II. When architects first proposed the high-density, concrete development in the mid-1950s, the brutalist design was radical, with raised pedestrian walkways, triangular towers and serrated balconies. In 2003, respondents in one survey voted the complex the country’s ugliest building.
Their Home Was Once Called Ugly. They Think a New Office Tower Is Worse.
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Loved by fans, loathed by critics, the Barbican housing complex has divided opinion since it rose from the bombed-out ashes of central London after World War II. When architects first proposed the high-density, concrete development in the mid 1950s, the Brutalist design was radical, with raised pedestrian walkways, triangular towers and serrated balconies.
Their Home Was Once Called Ugly. They Think a New Office Tower Is Worse.
LONDON -- Loved by fans, loathed by critics, the Barbican housing complex has divided opinion since it rose from the bombed-out ashes of central London after World War II. When architects first proposed the high-density, concrete development in the mid-1950s, the brutalist design was radical, with raised pedestrian walkways, triangular towers and serrated balconies. In 2003, respondents in one survey voted the complex the country's ugliest building.
More than 170 migrants rescued from burning boat in English Channel
More than 170 people were rescued Tuesday after a fire broke out on the small boat they were using to attempt a dangerous crossing from France to Britain, which has become a popular route for migrants from elsewhere and a contentious political issue. French authorities said all those on the vessel, which had left France on Monday, had been rescued in the English Channel by French and British emergency responders after its motor caught fire.
More Than 170 Migrants Rescued From Burning Boat in English Channel
More than 170 people were rescued on Tuesday after a fire broke out on the small boat they were using to attempt a dangerous crossing from France to Britain, which has become a popular route for migrants from elsewhere and a contentious political issue. The French authorities said all those on the vessel, which had left France on Monday, had been rescued in the English Channel by French and British emergency responders after its motor caught fire.
Dozens Evacuated as Firefighters Battle Wildfire in Eastern England
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Dozens of people were evacuated from homes and vacation parks in eastern England on Thursday as fire crews tackled a wildfire around four miles from a nuclear power plant. The blaze began on Wednesday afternoon and engulfed almost 250 acres of land at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, a scenic area of protected heathland on England’s eastern coast.
As Wildfires Plague Europe, Scotland Races to Save a Cherished National Park
17 hours ago A wildfire that has burned for two weeks in the Cairngorms National Park has left an "apocalyptic" scene of devastation, say park bosses. The fire has destroyed about 10 sq miles (25 sq km) of moorland and forestry near Aviemore since Wednesday 15 July. Malcolm Smith, farming advisor to the …
As Wildfires Plague Europe, Scotland Races to Save a Cherished National Park
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Smoke billowing above rocky hilltops. Acres of vegetation left blackened and charred. And the sound of a helicopter hovering overhead, ready to water bomb the flames.
Dozens Evacuated as Firefighters Battle Wildfire in Eastern England
LONDON -- Dozens of people were evacuated from homes and vacation parks in eastern England on Thursday as fire crews tackled a wildfire about 4 miles from a nuclear power plant. The blaze began Wednesday afternoon and engulfed almost 250 acres of land at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, a scenic area of protected heathland on England's eastern coast.
As Wildfires Plague Europe, Scotland Races to Save a Cherished National Park
LONDON -- Smoke billowing above rocky hilltops. Acres of vegetation left blackened and charred. And the sound of a helicopter hovering overhead, ready to water bomb the flames. Those scenes are increasingly familiar to parts of southern Europe, but many visitors to Britain's largest national park, the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands, would be more prepared for rain than wildfires, even in summer.
Slain British Politician Was Hit 21 Times With a Hammer, Prosecutors Say Original
Ann Widdecombe, the right-wing British politician whose killing this month sent shock waves through the country’s political establishment, was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during the fatal lunchtime attack, prosecutors said in a London court on Tuesday. The suspect, Joshua Kerry, 28, made a brief appearance at Westminster magistrates court, confirming his name and address in the city of Rotherham in the north of England.
Slain British Politician Was Hit 21 Times With a Hammer, Prosecutors Say
3 hours ago Ann Widdecombe was hit on the head with a hammer 21 times at her home as she ate lunch in an attack that was caught on camera, prosecutors have told Westminster Magistrates' Court. Prosecutor Kashif Malik said the man charged with her murder, Joshua Kerry, arrived at her house on 8 July in a red …
Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, vows to end years of instability
By STEPHEN CASTLE, MICHAEL D. SHEAR and MEGAN SPECIA NYTimes News Service LONDON — Andy Burnham’s day began with a visit to a homeless shelter in central London. A few hours later, he shook hands with King Charles III in the gilded splendor of Buckingham Palace. Accepting the monarch’s request to form a government, Burnham, who was named leader of the governing Labour Party on Friday, became Britain’s seventh prime minister after a decade of extraordinary turbulence.
Five of the Main Challenges Awaiting Britain’s New Prime Minister Original
Five of the Main Challenges Awaiting Britain’s New Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is set to enter Downing Street on Monday, faces a long and daunting list of issues. Here are some of the most urgent. The Labour Party’s Andy Burnham during an event in June in Manchester, England.Credit...Alastair Grant/Associated Press July 20, 2026, 12:01 a.m. ET It’s the biggest job in British politics, and Andy Burnham has had relatively little time to prepare.
Burnham's Day 1 as Prime Minister: A Homeless Shelter, a Palace and Downing Street
LONDON -- Andy Burnham's day began with a visit to a homeless shelter in central London, where he chopped mushrooms and chatted with other helpers preparing breakfast. A few hours later, by now wearing a suit and tie, he shook hands with King Charles III in the gilded splendor of Buckingham Palace.
Burnham's Day 1 as Prime Minister: A Homeless Shelter, a Palace and Downing Street
LONDON -- Andy Burnham's day began with a visit to a homeless shelter in central London. A few hours later, he shook hands with King Charles III in the gilded splendor of Buckingham Palace. Accepting the monarch's request to form a government, Burnham, who was named leader of the governing Labour Party on Friday, became Britain's seventh prime minister after a decade of extraordinary turbulence.
U.K. Live Updates: Andy Burnham to Replace Keir Starmer as Labour Party Leader Original
July 17, 2026, 12:01 a.m. ET Andy Burnham in London this month.Credit...Isabel Infantes/Reuters Britain has become accustomed to shuffling through prime ministers at a rapid pace and is now poised to have its seventh leader in a decade. But the transition still requires a few steps. Last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, amid a mutiny from within his party, announced his plans to resign.
British politician was killed in ‘targeted attack,’ police say
LONDON — British counterterrorism police on Tuesday said Ann Widdecombe, a right-wing politician who was killed last week, had been the victim of a “targeted attack.” Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor, in Devon, southwestern England, on Thursday, having sustained serious injuries. A 28-year-old British man from Rotherham, a town in northern England around 270 miles away from the crime scene, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday.
British Politician Was Killed in ‘Targeted Attack,’ Police Say
British Politician Was Killed in ‘Targeted Attack,’ Police Say Counterterrorism police said that they were continuing to interview a 28-year-old man accused of killing Ann Widdecombe. Ann Widdecombe speaking at a conference for the right-wing Reform party in Redruth, England, last year.
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into UK Lawmaker’s Death
LONDON — Counterterrorism police officers have taken over the murder investigation into the death of former British minister Ann Widdecombe, in a reversal just days after British police had said they had no evidence of a political motive in the case.
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into U.K. Lawmaker’s Death
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into U.K. Lawmaker’s Death The police said new information and evidence had come to light in the murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a right-wing former lawmaker.
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into U.K. Lawmaker's Death
LONDON -- Counterterrorism police officers have taken over the murder investigation into the death of former British minister Ann Widdecombe, in a reversal just days after British police had said they had no evidence of a political motive in the case.
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Murdering Former U.K. Politician
Now The British wildcard is hoping to go all the way on Sunday, and a key component to his unexpected success is his massive upper leg muscles. Arthur Fery, the 23-year-old British wildcard, unknown to anyone outside tennis clubs two weeks ago, now finds himself on first name terms with the queen and …
Police Open Murder Investigation Into Death of Former U.K. Politician
Police Open Murder Investigation Into Death of Former U.K. Politician Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former lawmaker, was found dead with serious injuries on Thursday, the police said.
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