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Liverpool's impressive second-leg performance against Paris Saint-Germain ultimately proved insufficient, as they were eliminated from the Champions League with a 4-0 aggregate defeat. Ousmane Dembélé's late double dashed Anfield's hopes of another European comeback.Manager Arne Slot expressed his disappointment, lamenting Liverpool's inability to capitalize on their numerous scoring chances. He credited his players and fans for their efforts, stating, 'I have to give a lot of credit to the players for how hard they worked and to the fans for helping us execute our gameplan by always getting behind us.' Slot also acknowledged that the team's future looks bright, despite the current setback.The match took a concerning turn with Hugo Ekitiké's suspected achilles injury in the 27th minute. Slot described the situation as 'really bad' but noted that further assessments are needed to determine the full extent of the damage. This injury adds to Liverpool's concerns, particularly given the limited minutes Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Ekitiké have played together this season.Slot reflected on the team's performance, saying, 'We are very disappointed because there were parts of the second half where you could feel, ‘If we could just score now, this could become a very special night.’ Creating chances is one thing, though; scoring is another.' He also praised his team's dominance against PSG, noting that not many teams can create as many chances as Liverpool did.

"Bloody unacceptable" – those were the words of UN humanitarian chief Denise Brown as she condemned the failure to halt a war that has now entered its fourth year. The conflict, which began with rival generals overthrowing Sudan’s civilian leadership, has eclipsed global crises in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran, yet remains largely ignored. The Berlin‑hosted international conference aims to inject urgency into a situation where tens of thousands have been killed, four million have fled abroad, and millions more are internally displaced. Roughly 30 million Sudanese – more than half the population – now face acute food insecurity, and large swathes of Khartoum lie in ruins. Violence has not abated. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have established a rival administration in western Sudan. In the siege of El Fasher, an estimated 10,000 civilians were massacred – a UN mission described the atrocity as bearing the hallmarks of genocide. Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Gen. Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan have deliberately targeted civilians, carried out summary executions, tortured detainees and increasingly employed drones to devastate urban areas. Gen. Burhan, whose government enjoys international recognition, refuses any compromise, insisting the RSF must first disarm and retreat to camps before any national dialogue. The RSF, meanwhile, demands a new federal system and the removal of Islamist elements – a stance that directly challenges Burhan’s coalition. In September, a US‑led mediation team that included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt outlined a tentative roadmap: a humanitarian truce leading to a cease‑fire and subsequent political talks. Yet the United States has shown little appetite to prioritize Sudan, and the plan sidestepped the most contentious issues. The deeper scandal, according to diplomats and analysts, is the role of external actors in sustaining the war. Despite denials, the UAE is widely reported as the principal backer of the RSF, while Saudi Arabia and Egypt back Burhan’s forces. Recent Yale research points to Ethiopian collusion with the RSF, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration. European states, which previously funded Sudanese security to curb migration, have inadvertently strengthened the RSF and supplied weapons now used on the battlefield. The ongoing Iran‑Israel conflict further hampers relief efforts, inflating costs and limiting aid deliveries. Community kitchens that once fed countless families are disappearing – more than 40 % have closed in the past six months. The Berlin delegates must therefore boost support for Sudan’s grassroots mutual‑aid networks, but humanitarian assistance cannot replace a durable peace. Pressure on the UAE and other geopolitically motivated actors is essential if the international community hopes to halt the suffering of millions of Sudanese.

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan, has stated that a potential downturn in the $3tn private credit market would not pose a significant threat to the stability of major banks. According to Dimon, while there are areas of weakness in the unregulated private credit industry, it does not present a 'systemic' risk to the financial system.Dimon made these comments during an earnings call on Tuesday, where he also noted that the actual credit quality had not deteriorated significantly, with only 'pockets' of weakness. He emphasized that very large losses in private credit would be needed before major banks were affected.The private credit market has faced growing concerns over potentially risky loans arranged by firms that lend to companies using investor money, outside the traditional regulated banking system. This has led to a multibillion-pound surge in withdrawals from some private credit funds, such as Blue Owl, which have had to cap the amount of money clients can withdraw.Despite these concerns, Dimon expressed that he is 'not particularly worried' about the impact on major banks. JP Morgan reported a 13% jump in first-quarter profits to $16.5bn, with revenues rising 10% to $49.8bn.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that peace talks between the US and Iran could potentially resume in Islamabad within the next two days. He expressed his appreciation for Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing him as doing a 'great job' in facilitating the negotiations.Trump made these comments while speaking to a New York Post reporter who had been in Islamabad for the initial round of ceasefire talks over the weekend. The president suggested that the talks could take place in Islamabad, stating, 'You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there.'The possible resumption of talks comes after a period of heightened tensions, including a US naval blockade on ships using Iranian ports in the Gulf. This move was a response to Iran's near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz to ships using other Gulf ports. The blockade led to a spike in oil prices, which later dipped to about $95 per barrel following reports of potential new negotiations.Meanwhile, US Vice-President JD Vance has expressed openness to further talks, emphasizing the need for Iran to show more flexibility. Vance noted that Iran had shown some flexibility in Islamabad but 'didn't move far enough' on key issues, such as a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment.An Iranian official accused the US delegation of making 'maximalist demands' at the Islamabad talks, asserting that Iran would not surrender its positions either on the battlefield or at the negotiating table. The sticking points include Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and its demand for a shorter moratorium on uranium enrichment.Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, is set to embark on a regional tour to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar to garner support for the peace process and discuss proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, his trip may be shortened if negotiations resume promptly.

Evan Williams, a 55-year-old horse racing trainer from Wales, has been jailed for three years for attacking a dog walker, Martin Dandridge, 72, with a hockey stick on his land in Llancarfan, south Wales, in December 2024.Williams, who has had significant success in horse racing, including winning the Welsh Grand National with Secret Reprieve in 2020, repeatedly struck Dandridge, causing him serious injuries, including a fractured arm. The incident led to Williams being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent by a unanimous jury at Cardiff Crown Court in March.The judge, Recorder Angharad Price, criticized Williams for taking the law into his own hands, stating, “It is never acceptable to take the law into your own hands. This sentence will be a lesson to you that it is always better to call the police if you think a crime is being committed.” Williams had previously experienced a threatening incident with poachers on his land six weeks before the assault.Williams's barrister, David Elias KC, noted that “If he isn’t there, there is no business,” suggesting that Williams's imprisonment could jeopardize his training business. Williams established Evan Williams Racing in 2003 and has been one of Wales's most successful trainers, achieving top-four finishes in five consecutive Grand Nationals at Aintree between 2009 and 2013.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains optimistic about his team's chances despite mounting injury concerns, particularly with star player Bukayo Saka sidelined with an achilles issue.Arteta insists he has 'zero fear' that Arsenal could end the season without silverware, but admits there are significant doubts over Saka's return. Saka has not played since the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City last month and Arteta is uncertain when he will be back.'Hopefully it's going to be a matter of days and not weeks,' Arteta said. 'But he has to see when he's loading more, how he responds to that kind of progression.'Arsenal are also facing doubts over Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and captain Martin Ødegaard for their Champions League match against Sporting. Additionally, Arteta will make a late call on Declan Rice's fitness after the England midfielder missed training on Tuesday.Despite recent setbacks, including a home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League, Arteta remains positive. 'Fire. I'm on fire. I'm on fire,' he said. 'Nothing else. I'm dreaming so much. I've done so much to be in this position because I know how this club was. I just see beauty, opportunity, and I want to get it done for all these people that have been in this journey with us.'

The European Union is set to implement a sweeping reform of steel import duties from July, doubling tariffs and halving duty‑free quotas in an effort to stem a surge of low‑priced Chinese steel. EU lawmakers approved the measures after late‑night negotiations, targeting a 47% reduction in quota allowances. While exact country allocations remain pending, the policy will apply to all non‑EEA members, leaving Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein exempt. EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné hailed the deal as the "strongest ever" safeguard for European steel, framing it as a victory for domestic mills, workers and industrial sovereignty. European steel lobbyist Axel Eggert of Eurofer argued the steps will create space for EU producers to add 15 million extra tonnes of steel to meet local demand, thereby pulling the sector "back from the brink". Recent import data underscore the urgency: steel inflows rose to a record 9.9 million tonnes in the final quarter of 2025, up from 7.4 million tonnes a year earlier. The new regime will cap total EU steel imports at 18.7 million tonnes annually, with quotas to be negotiated across 28 product categories. For the United Kingdom, the timing is critical. The EU remains the UK's largest steel market, absorbing roughly 1.8 million tonnes of British steel each year—about 10% of the new quota. UK Steel, the industry body, warned that a failure to secure reciprocal quota access could cripple export flows. Britain is preparing its own counter‑measures, announcing a 50% tariff on third‑country steel imports from 1 July and a 60% cut to its own quotas, a stricter stance than the EU’s 47% reduction. Union representatives echo the alarm. The Community union described the EU quotas as an "existential threat" to British steel and urged the Labour government to guard against a potential "tide of diverted steel" entering the UK market. Both sides acknowledge the deep integration of their steel sectors. Eurofer’s deputy director Karl Tachelet called for preferential treatment for the UK, emphasizing that the two industries share a common interest in avoiding punitive measures. As negotiations unfold, the outcome will shape not only the future of European steel production but also the broader post‑Brexit trade relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom.

Scientists have confirmed that March 2026 was the hottest March on record in the United States, underscoring the urgency of the climate crisis. Yet, a weekend gathering in a hotel basement near the White House, organized by the climate‑denying Heartland Institute, celebrated a very different narrative.The audience—predominantly middle‑aged men in suits—cheered the claim that the world is finally “waking up” to the idea that there is no climate crisis. Heartland Institute president James Taylor described the atmosphere as “wonderful” and declared that “the truth is winning out.”The event’s headline speaker was Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator—a figure also rumored to be under consideration for the role of attorney general. Zeldin framed the conference as a day of “vindication,” accusing a “cabal of elites” of using climate science to push a political agenda.Booths and banners, sponsored by groups such as the CO2 Coalition, displayed slogans like “CO2 is a lifesaver” and “There is no climate crisis.” Pamphlets touted fossil fuels as the “greenest energy source” and dismissed net‑zero targets as unfounded.While some attendees denied the existence of global warming outright, others conceded that temperatures were rising but insisted it was not a human‑caused emergency. Taylor later clarified that “humans have played a role in climate change, but that is not the same as a ‘climate crisis.’”Harvard historian Naomi Oreskes noted that think tanks like Heartland portray themselves as underdogs, even though they receive substantial backing from powerful interests. The institute has historically been funded by major oil companies—including Shell and ExxonMobil—and by the Mercers, a prominent Republican donor family.When asked about current funding sources, Taylor dismissed the inquiry as “curious and disappointing,” insisting that the organization is supported by individuals who value “freedom and affordable energy.” He added that the institute has not received oil money for nearly two decades, though he would “gladly accept” it again.Under the Trump administration, groups such as the Heartland Institute, the CO2 Coalition, and the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) have secured unprecedented policy influence. Their agenda includes the repeal of the EPA’s “endangerment finding,” a legal basis for most U.S. climate regulations. During Zeldin’s introduction, CFACT president Craig Rucker announced the rollback to a cheering crowd.CFACT’s lobbying helped cancel a California offshore‑wind project, while the CO2 Coalition’s founder helped establish a White House committee that questioned climate science during Trump’s first term. Most recently, the coalition succeeded in placing an ophthalmologist with no air‑pollution expertise on a key EPA advisory panel.Despite the deniers’ confidence, polling consistently shows that a **vast majority of Americans**—including 42 % of young Republicans—acknowledge climate change and view it as a pressing issue. Taylor countered by citing a 2019 survey indicating limited willingness to pay higher electricity bills for climate action, but the broader data suggest strong public concern.Younger activists disrupted a youth‑focused panel, arguing that the conference’s “geriatric white‑male” audience was out of touch with the climate realities that will affect their generation. One protester shouted, “There’s no such thing as fossil‑fuel‑caused climate change!” before being removed.The clash highlighted a growing divide: while right‑wing think tanks are consolidating power within the federal government, public opinion and scientific consensus continue to affirm the reality and urgency of global warming.

The UK government's ambitious plans to create 400,000 green jobs by 2030 seem to be failing to deliver for young people in England's coastal communities. Despite being surrounded by offshore windfarms, 44% of the UK's offshore windfarms are located in the east of England, areas like Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth are struggling with high unemployment and limited job opportunities.Jake Snell, a 19-year-old from Lowestoft, is a prime example. With high grades in maths and physics A-levels, a distinction in BTEC engineering, and work experience at an engineering company, he seemed like the perfect candidate for a role in the green energy sector. However, out of his 14-person cohort, only two people ended up with apprenticeships, and only one of these was in engineering.Rachel Wilde, a social anthropologist at University College London, notes that the term 'green jobs' is nebulous and that there is little concrete evidence of what these jobs actually are. She argues that there is a gap between politicians and policymakers promoting green jobs and people on the ground trying to talk to young people about job opportunities.Avril Keating, a professor of youth studies at UCL, suggests that the focus on high-profile roles in green energy is misleading and that more investment in continuing careers support for people in coastal and economically deprived areas is urgently needed.The government has announced plans to establish five technical excellence colleges that will focus training around the green energy sector, which could provide hope for the next generation of young people in these areas. However, for now, many young people like Snell are struggling to find employment and are feeling frustrated and disillusioned with the lack of opportunities.