Jessica Gilmore

Cover reveal klaxon and it literally couldn't be prettier - summer reading sorted! geni.us/LoveFirstSight

@chilternrailway What do you suggest for Princes Risborough?

Customers with tickets for Chiltern Railways service can use their tickets at no extra cost on the following rail operators: •Arriva Cross Country services operating between Birmingham New Street, Leamington Spa, Banbury, Oxford and Reading stations. •Avanti West Coast services operating between Birmingham New Street, Milton Keynes Central and London Euston stations. •Great Western Railway services operating between Banbury, Oxford, Reading and London Paddington stations. •West Midlands Trains services operating between Birmingham New Street, Coventry, Milton Keynes Central, Cheddington, Tring, Berkhampstead and London Euston stations and also between Coventry and Leamington Spa. •Transport for London (TfL) Elizabeth Line Services operating between Reading, London Paddington and Central London. •Transport for London (TfL) Bakerloo Line services operating between Oxford Circus, Paddington and Marylebone stations. •Transport for London (TfL) Central Line services operating between West Ruislip, South Ruislip and Oxford Circus stations. •Transport for London (TfL) Metropolitan Line services operating between Amersham, Rickmansworth, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Baker Street stations.

Spend the weekend curled up with this fabulous #RomanticComedy by @ChristyMcKellen #BestMistakeEver published by @BoldwoodBooks. Read the @BookishJottings review here: bookishjottings.com/2025/01/18/bes… @rararesources #BoldwoodBloggers #ContemporaryRomance #WomensFiction #BookTwitter

@rosethompso Haha so true!!

I hope you will consider signing @gregsmith_uk

1) Today I, alongside over 160 parliamentarians, have written to the England and Wales Cricket Board urging them to speak out against the Taliban's unconscionable oppression of women and girls and boycott their upcoming match against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy.

@Lucy8Pro Thank you so much, absolutely thrilled you enjoyed it.

A delightful and witty romantic escapade where mistaken affections and unexpected chemistry set the stage for a charming love story amidst the sun-soaked beauty of Sicily.

We're enormously excited & proud to be announcing tonight that @WildlifeTrusts are buying the amazing #Rothbury Estate in #Northumberland to create a national flagship for #NatureRecovery and #NatureFriendlyFarming But we now need your help to complete the deal! Details below..

I’m old enough to remember sitting cabinet minister Priti Patel meeting a foreign government off the record without her Prime Minister even knowing about it so forgive me if I don’t start salivating that the current Prime Minister met a visiting pop star after her Wembley gig.

Meet The Author - Jessica Gilmore by @ItalyWriters Podcast on Substack @yrosered open.substack.com/pub/writersret…

As a Doctor, I can confirm you can get all of these health benefits without the shooting part You’re welcome x

For one train to hit one cow on one night might be a misfortune, for a second train to hit a second cow on the next night looks like carelessness. Commuting always an adventure with @chilternrailway ...and the ladies' loos are out of order at Marylebone. Marvellous.

✖️Calling all @GillianMAuthor fans! ✖️ We have 2 proofs of Gillian's hotly anticipated next gripping thriller, #FamousLastWords, ready to give away! To enter, simply retweet and ensure you are following us and @gillianmauthor. Entries close 10th Oct 24 at 6pm. UK only. 18+. Good luck!

The Tragedy of Child Brides in Afghanistan: Poverty and Desperation Under Taliban Rule : Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the humanitarian situation has dramatically deteriorated, especially for women and girls. Among the many grave challenges is the distressing rise in the sale of young girls, often under the age of 18, into marriage for a small sum of money. This harrowing practice is driven by a combination of crippling poverty, lack of education, and social restrictions imposed by the Taliban regime. The Desperate Situation of Afghan Families ; Afghanistan has long struggled with poverty, but the economic collapse following the Taliban's return has made the situation worse. The withdrawal of international aid, frozen assets, and sanctions on the Taliban government have led to widespread unemployment and food shortages. Families are grappling with severe hunger, and for many, the choice has come down to survival. In rural areas, where poverty is most pronounced, families face heart-wrenching decisions: unable to feed their children, some parents feel they have no choice but to sell their daughters into early marriage. These transactions, which are akin to the sale of a child, often fetch a meager amount of money — sometimes as little as a few hundred dollars. The exchange offers temporary financial relief but leaves girls trapped in lives of servitude and abuse. Girls as Young as 12 Sold into Marriage ; Girls as young as 12 or even younger are being sold into marriages with much older men, who view the transaction as a straightforward exchange of wealth. While child marriage was not unheard of in Afghanistan before the Taliban's return, it has escalated dramatically as the economic situation has worsened. The girls involved in these forced marriages face a lifetime of hardship. Deprived of their right to education, they are left with few prospects for improving their lives. In most cases, they are confined to the home, subject to their husband's control, and expected to bear children while still children themselves. The Role of the Taliban ; Under the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law, the rights of women and girls have been drastically curtailed. Girls over the age of 12 are banned from attending school, and women are restricted from working in most professions or moving freely in public spaces. These policies further entrench the cycle of poverty and deprivation, leaving girls without the education or skills to change their circumstances. The Taliban claim to oppose child marriage, but in practice, they have done little to stop it. In many cases, Taliban officials themselves engage in or condone the practice. The legal and social protections that could prevent the sale of girls into marriage have been eroded under Taliban rule, making it difficult for families and communities to resist the pressures of poverty and cultural norms. Breaking the Cycle ; The sale of young girls into marriage is a symptom of a much larger problem in Afghanistan — a cycle of poverty and repression that disproportionately affects women and girls. Breaking this cycle requires a multifaceted approach, including humanitarian aid, access to education, and a commitment to gender equality. For many Afghan girls, the future remains uncertain. Until the international community finds a way to address the economic and social crisis in Afghanistan, and until the Taliban's repressive policies are reversed, countless young lives will continue to be sold for a fraction of their worth. These girls deserve the chance to grow, learn, and thrive — free from the bonds of forced marriage and the burdens of poverty. #Right_Justice_Freedom

In Monday’s Daily Telegraph we will bring you the scandal of the decade, Labour cabinet minister seen eating dinner with a group of Labour supporters. Our insider says: this isn’t what people voted for. Starmer is finished!

One day @chilternrailway will look at the weather forecast and plan for disruption. Today is (once again) not that day. Another evening, another no idea how to get home. Just forked out £4600 for this.

@rosethompso Were you travelling in today?!

My morning train in glorious second place. Although my always short formed train home deserves an honourable mention. ttps://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/busiest-train-routes-england-wales-uk-b2615505.html

That is, of course, after tax. It's an insane amount of money.

Two things stand out - one the need for DofT approval for more carriages, proving yet again how insane our transport outside London is. The second: I need to renew my season ticket. It's nearly £5000.