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Liverpool's recent performances have been under scrutiny, particularly their slump in form following a promising start to the season. Manager Arne Slot's tactics and team selection have come under fire, with some questioning his ability to lead the team to success.Slot's romantic connection with Paris Saint-Germain is well-documented, with the manager often citing the French club as an inspiration for his playing style. Liverpool's upcoming match against PSG in the Bigger Cup has generated significant interest, with Slot's team looking to bounce back from a disappointing FA Cup loss to Manchester City.In the midst of this turmoil, Slot's past performances against PSG have been recalled, including a thrilling match last year that ended in a penalty shootout. Slot's passion for the game and his desire for an open and entertaining match have been praised, but his team's recent form has raised concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level.The pressure is on Slot to turn things around and lead Liverpool to a strong finish in the season. With a 20th league title already secured, the team's focus now shifts to the Bigger Cup and a chance to make a statement against one of Europe's top clubs.

The nursery I visited, with its free croissants and Scandinavian-style furniture, seemed like a luxury, but it was just one example of how private equity has quietly infiltrated our daily lives. These firms now own a vast array of essential services, including water companies, apartment blocks, student accommodation, care homes, and children's homes.The problems arise when profit-driven fund managers prioritize returns over social welfare. Nurseries backed by private equity have reported profits up to seven times greater than non-profit nurseries, while spending up to 14% less on staff and experiencing higher staff turnover rates. This model is unsustainable and can leave parents without childcare and workers without jobs.Private equity's business model, which often involves leveraged buyouts and loading debt onto companies, can have disastrous effects on public services. The industry's lack of transparency and accountability makes it difficult to track the flow of money and hold fund managers accountable.The rise of private equity reflects a broader shift in capitalism, where debt-driven speculation has become a dominant route to building wealth. This has led to a zero-sum game where some individuals' gains come at the expense of others. As capitalism evolves, it's clear that those on top have discovered a new formula for building wealth: buying up essential services, loading them with debt, and passing the consequences on to the public.

Amid growing international focus on the Iran‑Israel conflict, Israel is pressing ahead with a systematic annexation of the West Bank, centred on the contentious E1 settlement project. The plan envisions the construction of 3,400 new homes on Palestinian land, a move designed to split the territory and undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly condemned the annexation drive, labeling the E1 scheme illegal. Although the war in Iran and Israel’s military actions in southern Lebanon have delayed the release of construction tenders, officials confirm that the tenders will be issued on 1 June. Criticism from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy has so far failed to deter the Israeli government, which appears accustomed to rhetorical rebukes without concrete repercussions. As former EU officials note, the Union has yet to leverage its economic and diplomatic weight to stop the settlement expansion. The British Prime Minister has reaffirmed the stance of the International Court of Justice, declaring the 1967 occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank unlawful. This follows the United Kingdom’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine last year, alongside France, Canada and Australia. Given its historic ties and recent diplomatic recognitions, the UK is uniquely positioned to galvanise European and Commonwealth partners. Experts propose a three‑pronged approach: first, issue a clear warning that any contractor involved in designing, building or financing the E1 settlement jeopardises its commercial interests with the UK; second, impose a comprehensive ban on UK trade in goods, services and investment linked to the settlements; and third, suspend the trade concessions granted under the UK‑Israel trade and partnership agreement for breaching its human‑rights provisions. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urged to embed these measures within a broader strategy to strengthen European cooperation, champion equal rights, and secure mutual security for Israelis and Palestinians. Without enforceable consequences, the illegal settlement programme is likely to expand, heightening the risk of further violence. Vincent Fean – former consul‑general in JerusalemDavid Hannay – former UN ambassadorAnn Grant – former high commissioner to South AfricaEmyr Jones Parry – former UN ambassadorDavid Manning – former US ambassadorDavid Richmond – former FCO director generalPeter Westmacott – former US ambassadorJeremy Greenstock – former UN ambassadorFrances Guy – former Lebanon ambassadorPeter Millett – former Jordan ambassadorDerek Plumbly – former Egypt ambassadorEdward Clay – former Kenya high commissionerTony Brenton – former Russia ambassadorWilliam Patey – former Afghanistan ambassadorColin Budd – former Netherlands ambassadorAnthony Cary – former Canada high commissionerAlan Charlton – former Brazil ambassadorEdward Chaplin – former Iraq and Jordan ambassadorPeter Collecott – former Brazil ambassadorRichard Dalton – former Iran ambassadorMichael Hone – former Iceland ambassadorNicholas Hopton – former Iran ambassadorPeter Jenkins – former UN (Vienna) ambassadorRupert Joy – former EU ambassador to MoroccoRobin Kealy – former Tunisia ambassadorRobin Lamb – former Bahrain ambassadorAnthony Layden – former Morocco ambassadorRichard Makepeace – former UAE ambassadorMark Matthews – former Chad ambassadorRichard Northern – former Libya ambassadorChristopher Segar – former Iraq ambassadorAdrian Sindall – former Syria ambassador

The word 'marmalade' has a rich history that spans across cultures. It originates from the Portuguese fruit 'marmelo' (quince), which was used to make a sweet jam that was exported to England at the end of the 15th century. Over time, the English adopted the term 'marmalade' and applied it to orange jam, making it their own.Mónica Joyce Moniz, a Portuguese-British citizen, shares her perspective on the matter, highlighting the connection between her two countries. She notes that in Portugal, marmalade is still known as quince jam.Tony Batcup, a reader from Chile, suggests that marmalade should be correctly named as 'bitter orange marmalade', given its origins from Citrus x aurantium. He humorously proposes that the EU and UK can save their differences for more important issues.Mark de Brunner jokingly remarks that Brexit represented 'jam tomorrow', which has surprisingly come true in a literal sense.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed confidence that his team can go 'toe-to-toe' with Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, despite a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final.Slot warned that his team will suffer another emphatic defeat if they switch off against PSG, but believes they can save their season by competing with the European champions. He acknowledged that PSG have improved since winning their first Champions League title last season and will punish any lapses from Liverpool.The pressure on Liverpool and Slot has intensified following the defeat to Manchester City, with Virgil van Dijk criticizing the team's performance. However, Slot and Florian Wirtz have emphasized the importance of character and mentality in overcoming setbacks.Liverpool have won only once in five matches, but Slot and Wirtz have expressed confidence that the team can turn their form around. Slot highlighted that Liverpool have a good record of standing up in tough moments and competing with top teams in Europe.Alexander Isak is expected to be named among Liverpool's substitutes after four months out injured, and Slot may make changes in personnel and formation in response to the City defeat.

Kemiah Bob, a Texan standup comedian, has been working tirelessly to create a space for femmes of colour in comedy. In 2018, Bob launched FOC It Up, a comedy club that has grown into a platform for numerous comedians. The club has hosted mixed-bill comedy nights, a podcast, and shows at the Edinburgh fringe.Bob's latest venture, FOC Fest, is a full-day celebration of comedy, workshops, masterclasses, and networking opportunities, culminating in a comedy show at Soho Theatre in London on April 18. The event aims to provide a safe space for femmes of colour to showcase their talents and for industry professionals to network.The festival features sessions such as a standup masterclass for trans and queer people, a workshop on navigating difficult emotions through comedy, and industry panels with guests including Nana Hughes and Julia McKenzie. While the workshops are open to everyone, Bob encourages white audience members to 'check their privilege at the door'.Despite the challenges of securing funding, Bob remains committed to creating a platform for underrepresented voices in comedy. The goal is for FOC Fest to become an international institution, showcasing talent from around the world and providing support for comedians to fund their own work.FOC Fest is a testament to Bob's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the comedy industry. With its unique blend of comedy, workshops, and networking opportunities, this event is set to make a lasting impact on the comedy world.

The recent profanity-laden warning from US President Donald Trump to Iran has sparked renewed concerns about his behavior and the potential consequences of his actions. Trump's threats to carry out mass bombing of civilian infrastructure have been widely criticized, with many calling for his removal from office.One possible route for removal is the 25th amendment, which has been invoked by various politicians, including Senator Chris Murphy. However, the US system makes it incredibly difficult to remove a president, and it is unclear whether this method will be effective.The author suggests that if the 25th amendment cannot be used, an unconventional solution could be to replace Trump with an AI president. While AI is problematic, the author argues that it could be an upgrade from Trump's current behavior.The article also highlights the broader issues with the US political system, including the difficulty of removing incumbent politicians and the concerns about the mental acuity of some politicians, including Trump and Senator Dianne Feinstein.Ultimately, the author concludes that something needs to be done to address Trump's behavior and the potential consequences of his actions. Whether through the 25th amendment or an unconventional solution like an AI president, the author argues that the situation requires urgent attention.

Researchers at Rothamsted Research in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of food safety. By utilizing Crispr genome editing, they have successfully developed wheat that can be used to make bread with reduced levels of acrylamide, a toxic compound classified as a probable carcinogen.The innovation lies in the reduction of free asparagine, an amino acid in wheat that converts into acrylamide when bread is toasted, fried, or baked. Field trials over two years demonstrated that gene-edited wheat can have significantly lower concentrations of free asparagine without impacting crop yields. This translates into lower acrylamide formation in food products, making toasted bread safer for consumption.In tests, bread and biscuits made from the edited wheat showed substantially reduced acrylamide levels, with some bread samples having concentrations below detectable limits even after toasting. The Crispr editing targeted the gene responsible for asparagine production, achieving a reduction of up to 93% in free asparagine in dual-edited lines.Compared to conventional methods that achieved a 50% reduction in free asparagine but resulted in a 25% yield penalty, the Crispr-edited wheat offers a more efficient and effective solution. Dr. Navneet Kaur, a lead researcher, highlighted the potential of Crispr technology to deliver precise, beneficial changes in crop genetics, emphasizing the importance of supportive regulatory frameworks to unlock benefits for agriculture and food systems.The UK has become a global hub for gene editing research since Brexit, with the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act of 2023 facilitating the development and marketing of genetically modified crops. However, the future of these advancements may be influenced by negotiations with the EU over sanitary and phytosanitary agreements.Prof. Nigel Halford, who led the study, noted that low-acrylamide wheat could help food businesses meet safety standards without compromising product quality or incurring major costs, ultimately reducing consumers' dietary exposure to acrylamide.

Courtney Lawes has confirmed a one‑year deal with the Sale Sharks, a move that reignites hopes of a return to the England squad after two seasons in France’s Pro D2 with Brive.Approaching his 38th birthday in February, Lawes retired from Test rugby following the 2023 World Cup but insists he can still compete at the highest level. Sale’s director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, expressed enthusiasm about the former Northampton stalwart joining the Manchester‑based side.Sanderson emphasized that the signing was not driven by a paycheck: “He’s still got the ability and experience to play great rugby this season and possibly beyond.” He added that Lawes is “robust, dynamic around the park and hits hard, but his skill set makes him far more than a mere banger.”Lawes’ résumé includes 105 caps, participation in four World Cups, two Premiership titles, two Challenge Cup trophies, and three Six Nations championships. The veteran believes his body feels “good” and that retiring now would be a regretful decision.Speaking on his “un‑retirement” from international duty, Lawes said, “I’d love to play for England again, but first I want to perform well for Sale and see what happens afterward.”Sale, however, faces a potential manpower crunch ahead of their Champions Cup quarter‑final in Dublin against Leinster. England internationals Luke Cowan‑Dickie and Bevan Rodd are sidelined for the rest of the season, and hooker Nathan Jibulu awaits the outcome of a disciplinary hearing after being cited for biting former Harlequins teammate Will Hobson.The alleged incident occurred during Sale’s 26‑17 victory over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop. If Jibulu is suspended, Sale’s forward options will be further depleted, with brothers Tom and Ben Curry already unavailable.Despite the controversy, Jibulu remains a contender for England’s summer tour, as head coach Steve Borthwick evaluates his options ahead of the Nations Championship clash with South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July. Sanderson praised the 23‑year‑old, noting, “He’s good now, he’ll be brilliant – he has the attributes to be an international hooker.”