British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces what looked to be the final blow for his premiership as two senior ministers resigned after trying to apologise for his administration's latest scandal.
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May 28, 2020 - 'Minor' breach of lockdown by PM adviser
British police say Johnson's senior adviser Dominic Cummings may have breached coronavirus lockdown rules by driving 26 miles to a castle with his wife and son, though they said they would take no further action.
April 28, 2021 - Probe on apartment refurbishment
Britain's electoral commission opens a formal investigation into the financing of the refurbishment of Johnson's Downing Street apartment, citing grounds to suspect an offence may have been committed.
May 10, 2021 - Foreign travel reporting probe
Parliament's standards watchdog investigates Johnson over how he reported his private foreign travel.
Oct. 26, 2021 - Lawmaker guilty of paid lobbying
Conservative lawmaker and former minister Owen Paterson faces a 30-day suspension after parliament's standards committee found he had committed an "egregious case of paid advocacy".
Nov. 3, 2021 - Government changes rules to save lawmaker
Johnson's Conservatives are accused of corruption after they vote to halt Paterson's suspension and force through an overhaul of the process of investigating lawmakers.
Nov. 4, 2021 - U-turn on Paterson
After unhappiness in his own party and newspaper headlines accusing Johnson's administration of sleaze, the government U-turns on the plans and Paterson quits parliament.
Nov. 22, 2021 - Peppa Pig speech
After losing his place during a speech, Johnson regales business leaders with an anecdote about visiting a Peppa Pig children's theme park, prompting some to raise concerns about his leadership.
Nov. 30, 2021 - Lockdown Christmas party report
The Mirror newspaper publishes the first of many media reports about Christmas parties in government departments, including Johnson's Downing Street office, in December 2020, when such gatherings were banned under COVID-19 restrictions.
Dec. 7, 2021 - Video of staff joking about party
Hours after Johnson says he is satisfied no COVID rules were broken, ITV publishes a leaked video showing his staff joking about a Downing Street gathering during a mock news conference.
Dec. 8, 2021 - Johnson apologises, aide resigns
Johnson apologises for the video, saying he is furious. Allegra Stratton, most recently Johnson's COP26 spokeswoman but his press secretary at the time of the footage, resigns.
Dec. 9, 2021 - Conservatives fined over apartment refurbishment
The Conservatives are fined 17,800 pounds ($23,500) by the electoral watchdog for failing to accurately report a donation that helped fund a luxury refurbishment of Johnson's official residence.
Dec. 14, 2021 - Conservative lawmakers rebel
More than 100 Conservatives vote against new coronavirus restrictions, dealing a blow to Johnson's authority.
Dec. 17, 2021 - The Conservatives lose a parliamentary seat
Johnson's Conservatives lose an election to fill Paterson's vacant seat, substantiating fears among some that the party's reputation and electoral prospects are suffering.
Dec. 17, 2021 - Lead investigator steps down
Britain's top civil servant, Simon Case, steps down from leading an investigation into the alleged parties after it emerges an event was held in his own office. Senior civil servant Sue Gray takes over the inquiry.
Dec. 18, 2021 - Brexit minister resigns
Brexit minister David Frost, an architect of Johnson's tumultuous Brexit strategy, resigns, saying he is disillusioned with the government's direction.
Dec. 19, 2021 - Garden party photo published
The Guardian newspaper publishes a photograph of Johnson and more than a dozen others drinking wine in the Downing Street garden that it said was taken during lockdown on May 15, 2020.
Jan. 12, 2022 - PM says he attended lockdown gathering
Johnson says he attended a gathering in the Downing Street garden on May 20, 2020 but believed it to be a work event.
Broadcaster ITV say the senior aide who organised the event signed off an invitation email "bring your own booze". Read full story
Jan. 14, 2022 - PM apologises to Buckingham Palace
Johnson's office apologises to Queen Elizabeth after it emerged staff partied in Downing Street on the eve of her husband Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, when mixing indoors was banned.
Jan. 24, 2022 - Report of Johnson birthday gathering
ITV says up to 30 people attended a June 2020 event at which Johnson was presented with a cake while his wife led staff in singing 'Happy Birthday'. Johnson's office confirm staff gathered briefly after a meeting but dispute it was a party.
Jan. 25, 2022 - Police investigation
Police say they are investigating lockdown events that took place in Downing Street and other government departments after receiving information from Gray's inquiry.
Jan. 31, 2022 - Gray publishes initial findings
Gray publishes a limited report, curtailed by the ongoing police investigation. It condemns some of the behaviour in government as "difficult to justify" and says some of the events should not have taken place. Johnson says sorry.
Jan. 31, 2022 - Jimmy Savile accusation
Johnson falsely accuses opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, of failing to prosecute late sex offender Jimmy Savile.
Feb. 3, 2022 - Johnson clarifies remarks about Savile
Following calls from opponents and some of his Conservatives to withdraw his Savile remarks, Johnson says he wants to clarify them. His head of policy quits, saying the Savile barb was a "scurrilous accusation".
Feb. 7, 2022 - Starmer hounded by protesters
Starmer is confronted by angry protesters, some of whom reference Savile, prompting fresh pressure on Johnson to withdraw his claim.
July 1, 2022 - Conservatives suspend lawmaker
Johnson's Conservatives suspend lawmaker Christopher Pincher, who became embroiled in accusations of sexual misconduct.
July 5, 2022 - Finance and health ministers quit
Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Minister Sajid Javid resign, taking aim at Johnson's ability to run an administration that adheres to standards.
July 5, 2022 - Accusations of lying about minister
A former top Foreign Office official accuses Johnson's office of lying over whether the prime minister knew about sexual misconduct complaints against Pincher.
The Farmer’s Dog, the Cotswolds pub owned by television presenter Jeremy Clarkson, has been added to a list of over 600 UK businesses deemed undesirable by an animal rights group. The former Top Gear host, who also stars in Amazon’s Clarkson’s Farm, has faced criticism from campaigners for his alleged support of fox hunting and opposition to badgers.
Pub featured in Clarkson’s Farm finale
The Farmer’s Dog, located in the Oxfordshire countryside, opened in late August 2024. Its launch was documented in the final episode of Clarkson’s Farm Season 4, which aired recently. The pub is housed in a 15th-century vaulted barn with panoramic views of the Cotswolds and was previously known as The Windmill.
Despite the scenic location and fan interest, the pub’s early days were marked by controversy. Two hospitality consultants hired to assist with the launch reportedly resigned after a few days, citing problems including a leaking roof, under-resourced staff, and a lack of toilet facilities. They claimed the venue was not fit for business.
Animal rights group lists Clarkson’s pub
The pub has now been added to a list compiled by Blood Businesses, a campaign group that tracks venues linked to hunting and animal cruelty. The group describes The Farmer’s Dog as owned by “pro-hunt and anti-badger celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson,” and includes it on its public database of UK businesses it views as promoting or enabling animal harm.
Clarkson has previously stated that the pub loses £10 for every customerInstagram/ Farmersdog
Blood Businesses said Clarkson’s association with fox hunting and comments about badgers contributed to the pub’s inclusion. They also highlighted the presenter’s previous links to the controversial Heythrop Hunt, which has faced criticism for animal cruelty.
Ongoing criticism from campaigners
Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery has previously been targeted by animal rights activists after allowing a hunt onto his land, some of whose members had reportedly been fined for related offences. The presenter has also made headlines for statements criticising badger protection policies, which some farming groups blame for the spread of bovine tuberculosis.
The addition of The Farmer’s Dog to the Blood Businesses list adds further scrutiny to the public figure’s farming and hospitality ventures. The list includes over 600 venues across the UK, spanning landowners, retailers, pubs, and online platforms.
Pub remains popular despite controversy
Despite criticism and its inclusion on the undesirable list, The Farmer’s Dog continues to attract visitors. Since opening, fans of Clarkson’s Farm have travelled to the pub, even amid reports of high prices. A viral photo of a receipt for a Sunday roast recently reignited debate about affordability and value for money.
Clarkson has previously stated that the pub loses £10 for every customer, though no detailed financial figures have been released. The recent developments may further discourage animal welfare supporters, but the venue remains a point of interest for the presenter’s followers.
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Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.
INDIAN and US negotiators reported progress after four days of closed-door meetings in New Delhi on Tuesday, focusing on market access for industrial and some agricultural goods, tariff cuts and non-tariff barriers, according to Indian government sources.
"The negotiations held with the US side were productive and helped in making progress towards crafting a mutually beneficial and balanced agreement including through achievement of early wins," one of the sources said to Reuters.
The US delegation, led by senior officials from the Office of the US Trade Representative, met Indian trade ministry officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal.
Both sides also considered ways to expand bilateral digital trade through improved customs and trade-facilitation measures, the sources added, noting that “negotiations will continue” with an eye on a quick conclusion of the initial tranche.
Interim pact expected soon
president Donald Trump and prime minister Narendra Modi agreed in February to finalise a bilateral trade agreement by autumn 2025 and to more than double two-way trade to $500 billion by 2030. Officials now expect to seal an interim deal by the end of this month, before Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs expires, including a possible 26 per cent levy on Indian goods.
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal, who is in Switzerland for talks with European counterparts, said India is ready to settle “simpler issues” first. Subsequent rounds could handle more complex matters, with the goal of signing the first tranche by September or October, the officials said.
India turned down US requests for wider access to wheat, dairy and corn while offering lower tariffs on US almonds, pistachios and walnuts. New Delhi also asked Washington to remove its 10 per cent baseline tariff, a step the US side opposed, pointing out that Britain accepted the same duty in its recent deal. India further sought relief from a 50 per cent duty on steel exports.
A 26 per cent tariff on Indian rice, shrimp, textiles and footwear—about one-fifth of India’s merchandise exports—could dent shipments and weigh on foreign investment, the sources warned. India has pledged to increase purchases of American liquefied natural gas, crude oil, coal and defence equipment.
India’s exports to the US climbed 28 per cent to $37.7 billion in the first four months of 2025, while imports rose to $14.4 billion, widening India’s surplus, US data showed.
US voices backing on terrorism fight
Separately, the State Department said the US “reaffirmed its strong support” for India’s fight against terrorism during last week’s visit to Washington by an Indian all-party parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
Deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau met the group as part of New Delhi’s outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched after the 22 April Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that a Pakistani parliamentary team headed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also met officials, including under secretary for political affairs Allison Hooker. “So that meeting occurred,” Bruce said.
Hooker reiterated US support for the current “– as you might imagine, thank God – between India and Pakistan,” Bruce added, referring to the cessation of on-ground hostilities.
Asked about possible Pakistani assurances on action against militants, Bruce declined to share details. On whether Trump might “mediate” on Kashmir, she said: “Well, I – obviously, I can't speak to what's on the mind or the plans of the President. What I do know is that I think we all recognise that President Trump in each step that he takes, it's made to solve generational differences between countries, generational war."
“So, while I can't speak to his plans, the world knows his nature, and I can't speak to any details of what he might have in that regard… But it is an exciting time that if we can get to a point in that particular conflict..,” Bruce said, adding that it is a “very interesting time.”
India has maintained that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an “integral” part of the country and has rejected any outside mediation.
Suppose your coffee break doesn't merely take you out of work mode—it takes you out of the century. Welcome to the Time Librarians' Lounge, where every break in a work shift can deposit you in a Roman atrium, a Martian greenhouse, or a quantum crystal chamber. These aren't your typical staff rooms. They're carefully curated sanctuaries for time guardians—intended to allow them to relax, recharge, and temporarily forget the weight of keeping history intact over millennia.
Here, lounges are pieced together by threads of time. They're adorned by fashions that don't simply cut across timespaces—they merge them. Visualize steampunk coffee houses alongside Zen-like teleportation rooms, or Egyptian sunlit niches lined up with energy domes from the future. These are spaces where Cleopatra's chaise longue can be found alongside a holographic jukebox playing Beethoven reimagined by synthwave. And with Dreamina's AI image generator, you don't require a time machine to construct it—you require imagination, images, and some clever tools.
Where time-travelers sip and reset
Each Time Librarian requires a space where they can reflect, whether having just returned from 1890s Vienna or coming back from a mission to spy on some civilization in the year 4012. Their break rooms should not be attached to any period or style. These lounges need to have the feel of pockets of everywhere and nowhere—a pause button on the universal timeline.
There might be minimalist versions with nods to Japanese tea houses but subtle implications of robot staff. Others could be maximalist: constellation-coated ceilings, shelves lined with long-lost civilizations' texts, and machines vending treats from alternate realities. These lounges don't involve maintaining a fidelity to a design aesthetic. They're about cross-mingling comfort, wonder, and chrono-diplomacy of styles.
How, then, do we give life to these lounges—design and artwise? Dreamina presents a spectacular sandbox to do it in.
Relaxation turned into relics
These Time Librarians' Lounges are not merely design exercises but artifacts. They each reveal a story about how individuals stop, think, and indulge regardless of the time period. And now that you've incarnated them, what do you do with them?
Think about taking your favorite lounge designs and turning them into a series of digital collectibles. From floating meditation mats to chronos-consoles, these pieces can be standalone art objects. If you'd like to tote them around or gift them as badges of temporal cool, turn them into physical works of art via a sticker maker. Upload your Dreamina pictures and print out holographic sticker sheets packed with teacups from 3020, sundial-shaped chairs, and lunar-phase dimming chandeliers. They're cool, sci-fi mementos from nonexistent break rooms—break rooms they should have had.
How to generate images with Dreamina
Before furniture is rearranged in space-time, it begins with one thing: an idea. Or better yet, a precise visual prompt. This is where Dreamina comes in to transform timelines into texture.
Step 1: Create a rich text prompt
To start, go to the "Image generator" tab on Dreamina. This is where the blueprint of your break room is created. You’ll need to craft a prompt that doesn’t just describe the space but evokes it. Think beyond appearance—capture mood, light, emotion, and purpose. For instance, a prompt like “an interdimensional break room with Art Deco lighting, ancient scrolls, kinetic furniture from the future, and a transparent wall showing shifting galaxies” can spark incredible results. Add sensory details like temperature, materials, or sound to breathe more life into it. This is where your Time Librarians will begin to seem very real.
Step 2: Tune parameters and render
Having set your prompt, it's now time to dial in Dreamina's visual knobs. Select a model suited to your intent: maybe you'll go for a painterly feel for a more fantastical lounge or high-definition, photorealistic model for a space that's real to the touch and the eye. Then choose your aspect ratio—wide if you're imagining expansive, panoramic areas, or square when you're thinking about collectible sticker sheets or plush areas. Select your image size and resolution based on how much detail you desire. Once everything feels perfect, click "Generate," and your temporal break room will pop into existence in seconds.
Step 3: Customize and download
After your image is created, it's time to shape it even more. Employ the inpaint tool from Dreamina to add a temporal kettle onto an aged marble counter, or expand the borders of your lounge to expose more timelines and furnishings. Want to erase an eye-jarring detail? Employ the remove tool to tidy it up. Retouch enables you to tweak lighting, textures, and highlights until it emits both coziness and anachronism. Once you’re satisfied—once the chaise longue from Atlantis and the glowing tea pods from Pluto harmonize perfectly—click the “Download” icon and save your masterpiece. You’ve now captured a quiet corner of infinity.
Designing identity beyond time
Suppose your designs take off—you launch a zine, share it on social media, or create a web gallery for hypothetical rest stops for travelers through time. What you require next is an emblem—a that defines this genre-crossing idea of pause and being present. By employing Dreamina's AI logo generator, you can design a mark that blends hourglasses with neon spirals, or gears entwined in ivy, embodying both time's stiffness and the comfort of resisting it.
This logo won't simply brand your project—it'll ground your look. And as you blow out the possibilities of your Time Librarians universe into merch, story seeds, or virtual exhibitions, the logo will be a time-stamped badge for everything restful, warped, and radically creative.
No clock strikes too close to midnight
There is no one style of breaking out the break room that spans time. You can take inspiration from the past, fantasy, science fiction, or dreams. A lounge could have a jukebox that plays centuries non-sequentially. Another could include a garden filled with plants that have gone extinct alongside those in the future that are hybrids. You're not trending to design—you're writing a new one, a genre known as "temporal comfort."
These rooms aren't merely about couches and clocks. They're about what resting means when time has no distinct meaning. They're rooms where the weight of memory is tolerable, where history can be paused, and where design is as malleable as time itself.
So go ahead—make a pot of ancient-future tea, open Dreamina, and create a break room for the ages. The Time Librarians await.
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The move marks the first commercial spin-off from the Smartless podcast
The hosts of the popular Smartless podcast, actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, have launched a new mobile phone service in the United States. Called Smartless Mobile, the service offers a budget-friendly alternative to traditional phone plans and is aimed at users who spend most of their time connected to WiFi.
The move marks the first commercial spin-off from the Smartless podcast, which is known for its celebrity interviews and humorous tone. The new venture was announced in early June 2025 and has already begun accepting sign-ups across the US mainland and Puerto Rico.
What is Smartless Mobile
Smartless Mobile is a digital-only mobile phone provider that offers plans ranging from 15 to 30 US dollars per month. Unlike many traditional mobile plans that offer unlimited data, Smartless Mobile offers what it calls “data sane” packages. These are tailored to the habits of users who rely heavily on WiFi and do not require large mobile data allowances.
The company promises that its pricing is locked for life, meaning customers will not see price hikes once they subscribe. The service uses the existing 5G network operated by T Mobile in the US and functions through eSIM technology, allowing users to activate service without needing a physical SIM card.
Customers bring their own phones and transfer their existing number by scanning a QR code in the Smartless Mobile app. There are no retail stores or contracts, and the service is managed entirely through the app.
Who is behind it
In addition to the three podcast hosts, Smartless Mobile is being led by Paul McAleese, a veteran in the telecommunications industry, who serves as the company’s chief executive officer. His wife, Jeni McAleese, is the chief brand officer. The venture is backed by Thomvest Asset Management, a Canadian investment firm with interests in the tech and communications sector.
- YouTubeYouTube/ Jimmy Kimmel Live
The founders say their aim is to simplify mobile service, eliminate hidden fees and avoid confusing contracts, something they believe resonates with everyday users who are frustrated with large telecom providers.
Celebrity phones: Trend or gimmick
Smartless Mobile is not the first example of a celebrity entering the telecom space. Actor Ryan Reynolds previously co-founded Mint Mobile, a low-cost phone provider, which was later acquired by T Mobile in a deal worth more than one billion US dollars.
While Mint Mobile has been praised for its affordability and marketing, some critics have questioned the motives behind similar ventures. Commentators have suggested that celebrities moving into utilities, such as phone services, may be more about branding and less about actual service improvements.
However, the Smartless team has leaned into their comedic brand. Promotional materials for the launch include tongue-in-cheek videos in black and white, poking fun at the complexity of other mobile providers while promoting Smartless Mobile as a simple and honest option.
Is it a good deal
Smartless Mobile may appeal to users looking to save money on mobile plans, especially those who already use WiFi most of the time and do not need unlimited data. The app-based service model also allows for a modern, streamlined experience that avoids store visits and paperwork.
That said, critics have raised questions about whether the limited data plans would meet the needs of average users. Others have expressed scepticism about whether the celebrity founders themselves use the service they are promoting.
Still, the company has been transparent about its infrastructure, openly acknowledging its use of T Mobile’s network. This sets it apart from some other mobile virtual networks, which often do not disclose their partnerships.
A new player in the market
Smartless Mobile has officially launched and is open for sign-ups across the US. With a growing number of users seeking affordable and flexible phone plans, the service could carve out a niche, especially among fans of the podcast and cost-conscious consumers.
Whether it becomes a long-term success or joins the list of short-lived celebrity ventures remains to be seen. For now, Smartless Mobile represents an unusual crossover between entertainment and telecoms, offering a product that blends humour, simplicity and low-cost access.
ELON MUSK’S Starlink has received a licence to launch commercial operations in India from the telecoms ministry, two sources told Reuters last Friday (6), clearing a major hurdle for the satellite provider that has long wanted to enter the south Asian country.
The approval is good news for Musk, whose public spat with president Donald Trump threatens $22 billion (£16.3bn) of SpaceX’s contracts and space programmes with the US government. Starlink is the third company to get a licence from India’s Department of Telecommunications, which has approved similar applications by Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio to provide services in the country.
Starlink and the Department of Telecommunications did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The sources declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Musk met prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit in February to the United States, where the two discussed Starlink’s launch plans and India’s concerns over meeting certain security conditions.
Starlink has been waiting since 2022 for licences to operate commercially in India, and although it has cleared a major hurdle, it is a long way from launching commercial services.
It still needs a separate licence from India’s space regulator, which Starlink is close to securing, said a third source with direct knowledge of the process without giving details.
Starlink will then need to secure spectrum from the government, set up ground infrastructure and also demonstrate, through testing and trials, that it meets the security rules it has signed up for, one of the two sources said.
“This will take a couple of months at least and will be a rigorous process,” said the person, adding that it can only begin selling its equipment and services to customers once it gets an all clear from Indian security officials.
Indian telecom providers Jio and Bharti Airtel, in a surprise move in March, announced a partnership with Musk to stock Starlink equipment in their retail stores, but they will still compete on offering broadband services.
Musk and billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio clashed for months over how India should grant spectrum for satellite services. India’s government sided with Musk that spectrum should be assigned and not auctioned.
India’s telecom regulator in May proposed satellite service providers pay four per cent of their annual revenue to the government for offering services, which domestic players have said is unjustifiably low and will hurt their businesses.