Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls alleged scamming of EU agricultural funds ‘a turning point’ The Greek prime minister has vowed to tackle what he has called a “deep state” he says is plaguing the country, as he sought to address a burgeoning political crisis over a farm fraud scandal that has forced the resignation of multiple government ministers. In a speech, aired on national TV, Kyriakos Mitsotakis attempted to limit the damage, describing the revelations as “a turning point” that had turbo-charged his commitment to rooting out entrenched corruption. Continue reading...

Mary Evans, Aidan Walker and Ruth Baker on Simon Jenkins’ suggestion for how to deal with the US president Phoebe Merrick and John Spencer on religion and war, Rev Canon John Longuet-Higgins on Trump’s expletive-laden threat to Iran, and Diana Francis on US bases in Britain Simon Jenkins is perhaps a little overoptimistic in arguing for what is essentially a waiting game about the politics of Donald Trump and his administration (To a world at a loss as to how to handle Trump, I say this: the only answer may be to wait him out, 2 April). Trump and those alongside him have effectively diminished or abolished central tenets of the legal and civic structure of the US. Not least to have disappeared in this bonfire is that political cliche about the checks and balances over political power. That basic tenet of every political handbook about the US has proved to be a vain hope. Waiting for the downfall of one individual surely suggests that we should ask two questions. First, will others, perhaps less personally flawed but nevertheless of the same politics, simply take his place? Second, if the country (and a lot of the rest of the world) wishes to go in another direction, when can we see the plan? Continue reading...

Alisdair McNicol recalls proposals in the 1970s for secure sites with proper accommodation for drivers, which were sadly dropped before the plans took off Your long read (35,000 pints of stolen Guinness, 950 wheels of pilfered cheese: can the UK’s cargo theft crisis be stopped?, 31 March), which discusses the work of Mike Dawber, the UK’s leading detective in cargo crime, and Michael Yarwood, managing director for loss prevention at the global cargo insurer TT Club, refers to “a shared dream: a truck stop with perimeter fencing, full CCTV coverage, 24-hour guards”. This particular dream was actually proposed to be fulfilled in the early 1970s, when the government published a design specification that had all of the features referred to, plus a good deal more besides, with a view to establishing a nationwide chain of such facilities. Continue reading...

This bold step would provide a practical route for restoring the UK to its rightful place within the EU, says Prof Philip Murphy The prime minister’s comments about seeking closer relations with the EU are to be welcomed as a step in the right direction (Starmer calls for ‘ambitious’ new UK-EU ties as Trump threatens to quit Nato, 1 April). Yet a piecemeal approach to repairing the damage done by Brexit is unlikely to succeed. A genuinely “ambitious” plan would be for Labour to announce a referendum on whether the UK should open negotiations on re-entry to the EU, promising a general election to secure a mandate to implement the proposal should the British public vote in favour. It would allow the government to seize the initiative, providing it with an issue around which to rally a broad base of electoral support. Continue reading...

Lincoln up with five games to spare after 2-1 win Bolton draw with Stockport leaves Imps’ result moot Lincoln celebrated promotion to the Championship with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at the playoff chasers Reading as they returned to the second tier after 65 years. Lincoln, needing only a point, made a bright start and went ahead in the fifth minute through Ryan Oné and seemed destined for a 1-0 win, only for Reading to level in the second minute of stoppage time from a Lewis Wing free-kick. However, Jack Moylan snatched the winner four minutes later, seconds after promotion had been secured by Bolton v Stockport finishing in a 2-2 draw, meaning neither could catch the Imps. More to follow Continue reading...

Eco-aware family planning and economic degrowth are two of the wiser social paradigms trying to emerge to replace the ecocidal norms of the past, writes Barbara Williams Your article linking the decreasing birthrate with our housing crisis was infuriating to anyone familiar with the escalating global ecosystems collapse (Want to boost the UK’s birthrate? Fix the housing crisis, research suggests, 1 April). Recent research funded by Population Matters confirms that a sustainable global human population would be 2.5 billion. The Earth Overshoot website reveals that Britain is overpopulated by nearly 50 million. Growth economics, wealth inequality, patriarchy, colonialism, military supremacy, nationalism and pronatalism are all unwise behaviour patterns in global ecosystems collapse. These can all be categorised as a “fluency” response from our limbic system. Our limbic response is the reason that these unwise behaviour patterns persist; they bypass our critical thinking. Continue reading...

While authorities are under pressure to keep learning, TV audience figures suggest the public have not lost interest There will never be a year when horse welfare is not an issue in the run-up to the Grand National, and that is, in a sense, a positive for the sport. It is a sign that the National retains its status as the biggest race of the year – in terms of audience, betting turnover, name recognition and pretty much any other measure you care to choose. Nearly two centuries after the first running in 1839, it still has deep roots in British culture as an annual sporting rite of spring. Within the racing bubble too there are few subjects that raise hackles and generate debate quite like the National, not least because for many racegoers and punters it is the race that first stoked their interest in the sport. Significant changes to the fences and other conditions in recent years, with the aim of minimising the risk of serious or fatal injuries, have left some fans, at least, feeling it is no longer the same race that they fell in love with several decades ago. Continue reading...

Police say 26-year-old man died at scene outside nightclub in Peckham and two others remain in hospital Four men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death and two other men were injured outside a nightclub in south-east London. The Metropolitan police said officers were called at 3.54am on Monday to reports of a disturbance involving a group of people outside a nightclub in Ruby Street, Peckham. Continue reading...

Analysis of more than 500 brain scans finds LSD, psilocybin and other psychedelics increase cross-talk between brain systems Scientists have identified a hallmark signature produced by psychedelic drugs in the human brain when users experience their mind-altering effects. The “neural fingerprint” of the psychedelic trip was spotted among hundreds of brain scans of people on LSD, psilocybin, DMT, mescaline and ayahuasca, pointing to a shared impact on the brain’s behaviour. Continue reading...

Against Birmingham on Easter Monday, Kasey McAteer gave Ipswich supporters something to talk about other than Nigel Farage – namely the growing prospect of a return to the Premier League at the first attempt. In their first game since the Reform UK leader had been allowed to parade with a “Farage 10” Ipswich shirt at the stadium and linked himself with Kieran McKenna’s job, the hosts moved into the automatic promotion places. Farage’s visit on 23 March has divided the fans, even driven some of them away. The chair, Mark Ashton, has apologised “for any hurt, pain or distress that’s been caused”, while the club said they “remain apolitical and do not support any individual party”. A handful of club officials are understood to have known about Farage’s visit beforehand but Ipswich deny that he was invited. In a video posted on Reform’s X account, Farage appears to address a message “To Mark” when signing an Ipswich shirt. Supporters have been left to make up their own minds and there is a feeling among some that they are being lied to. Continue reading...

With some misgivings, families and aviation enthusiasts bring stepladders and picnics to the perimeter fence It was a 4.40am start for the Wilkinson family. They packed their car with gear you might take on a trip to the seaside – folding chairs, blankets, a picnic. But instead of heading to the coast, they drove 80 miles from their home in Hampshire to Gloucestershire and set up camp close to the perimeter fence of RAF Fairford to watch American warplanes take off and land. “It’s definitely cheaper than a trip to a theme park,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, who was there with wife, Katie, and three sons, aged seven to 12. “The sights and sounds are impressive. But it’s a bittersweet thing. These planes are only here because of war. We have to keep that in mind.” Continue reading...

Experts weigh in on why some people have an inexplicable barrier to responding – and what they can do about it “There’s no such thing as a bad texter. They just don’t want to respond,” said influencer Delaney Rowe last year on the online talkshow Subway Takes. “People go around thinking being a bad texter is like a pathology, but it’s not. It’s a cop-out.” “I don’t believe in bad texters,” announced radio host Dan Zolot last year. “If you want to answer you will answer.” Continue reading...

Increased recognition of crime and perpetrators using technology to track victims are behind rise, say experts The number of stalking offences recorded by police has soared over the past decade, with experts saying the rise has been driven by increased recognition, and technology making it easier for perpetrators to track their victims. House of Commons library data analysed by the Liberal Democrats found more than 135,000 offences were recorded last year, up from just under 3,000 10 years ago. Continue reading...

From exposed anxieties to unexpected heroes, this weekend’s cup contests papered over a weird three-week Premier League break Sign up for our World Cup newsletter Live in a World Cup host city? Tell us your stories The soccer calendar has been particularly quirky this year. There’s always an international break in March, but because this year’s edition involved World Cup qualifying play-offs, most games were scheduled for the Thursday and the Tuesday, which meant there was very little soccer played over the weekend; barely even a smattering of friendlies. For a Saturday in early spring, it all felt very weird; it was a day for pacing the floors, wondering how on earth people who don’t like soccer fill the time. And with the Carabao Cup final falling the previous Sunday, and the FA Cup sixth round this weekend, that has meant a three-week hiatus in the title race. Which has been disorienting and, perhaps, not entirely to Arsenal’s benefit. Continue reading...

The retailer has been criticised over treatment of Walker Smith, 54, who worked in London store for 17 years Waitrose is under growing pressure to reinstate an employee of 17 years who was sacked after tackling a shoplifter who was trying to steal Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs. The retailer has been criticised for its treatment of Walker Smith, who described his devastation after managers fired him two days after he stopped the shoplifter taking items from the display of Easter eggs. Continue reading...

US supreme court files brief order vacating lower court ruling that had upheld rightwing media host’s conviction Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Steve Bannon, the rightwing media host and ally of Donald Trump, appears likely to have his criminal conviction dismissed. The US supreme court filed a brief order on Monday that vacated a lower court ruling that had upheld Bannon’s conviction and sent the case back to the US court of appeals for the DC circuit for “further consideration in light of the pending motion to dismiss the indictment”. The Trump administration had moved to dismiss Bannon’s conviction. Continue reading...

Chelsea’s hopes of retaining two of their three titles remain alive after Veerle Buurman’s wonderful drive and strike earned the Blues a 2-1 win in an end-to-end battle with Tottenham, securing a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Sonia Bompastor’s side needed a result after a frustrating week, having crashed out of the Champions League despite a battling 1-0 win against Arsenal in the second leg of their quarter-final tie. They were good against the Gunners, and unlucky to have had a Buurman goal incorrectly ruled out in the first leg, but they were lacking in the final third. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Seven of England’s 24 stroke centres still not providing mechanical thrombectomy 24/7 despite ministers’ pledges The NHS has not made a “life-changing” treatment for stroke available around the clock across England despite ministers repeatedly promising that it would. The health service was expected to improve stroke care by making a clot removal technique called mechanical thrombectomy available everywhere in the country 24/7 from 1 April. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Investigation finds alleged Prince Group associates were involved in unusual development in tiny nation on Australia’s doorstep, raising concerns about global spread of online fraud industry Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Guests were enticed with the promise of luxury villas overlooking aquamarine seas; a world-first crypto resort where the tech elite could commune over the latest digital innovation in opulent surrounds. The promotional material from June last year pitched a sprawling, futuristic development that would hug the coastline of Timor-Leste, one of the world’s poorest countries, and donate a percentage of profits to philanthropy. Continue reading...

Far from losing faith or questioning what kind of ‘proper’ doctor would admit they are ‘not sure’, patients seem to appreciate my vulnerability I have always thought, and still tell prospective medical students, that the most attractive part of being a doctor is there is something in it for everyone who has a thirst for knowledge. From the quiet thinker to the gregarious soul, detail-driven to big-picture person, staunch researcher to unabashed clinician, most of us will find a home in medicine, even if, in a sorry postscript, a fraction of doctors will become disillusioned and even leave for reasons that are all too familiar. Continue reading...

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The 37-year-old will be eligible for England duty again Flanker will ‘never forget’ his ‘adventure’ at French club The former England captain Courtney Lawes is returning to the Prem at the end of the season after two years at French club Brive. The 37-year-old retired from international rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup and made the move to France after winning the 2023-24 Premiership title with Northampton Saints. Continue reading...

South-east England could reach 24C as short period of settled weather replaces rain and 70mph winds Parts of the UK are set to enjoy the warmest temperatures of the year so far in the wake of Storm Dave, which caused widespread damage and disruption over the Easter weekend. London and south-east England could reach temperatures of 21C or 22C on Tuesday, rising to 24C on Wednesday, while Manchester could hit 20C, say forecasters, as a short period of settled weather replaces the rain and 70mph winds that battered parts of northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Continue reading...

Oscar Schwartau seals 2-1 comeback win for Norwich Bottle thrown after Portsmouth red card in draw with Oxford Oscar Schwartau climbed off the bench to fire Norwich to a 2-1 win against Millwall – and do their fierce rivals Ipswich a big favour. The Lions, who started Easter Monday in second, had taken the lead through substitute Mihailo Ivanovic shortly after half-time. But a long-range rocket from Pelle Mattsson and Schwartau’s winner condemned them to defeat to give the chasing pack – including Norwich’s East Anglian foes Ipswich – a major boost in the race for automatic promotion. Continue reading...

House speaker Mike Johnson face pushback from hardline Republicans, who view the Senate funding bill as a concession to Democrats’ demands Sign up for Breaking News US email alerts A reminder that the record-breaking partial government shutdown just entered its eighth week, with little end in sight. Congress is on recess, and isn’t set to return for until 13 April. Today, House lawmakers again took no action to pass a Senate bill to fund affected Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subagencies. This comes after Republican leadership in both chambers announced a compromise to fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the US Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa), but withhold funds from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and part of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Continue reading...