Arsenal bid for Champions League second leg comeback against PSG
Arsenal’s Champions League dreams rest on overturning a 1-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain as the pair battle for the right to meet Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
The Italian club await the victor of the second semi-final in Munich later this month after prevailing across two legs and extra time in a Champions League classic against Barcelona. The first half of this encounter perhaps lacked the thrills of that tie but nevertheless proved mightily intriguing, with PSG deservedly emerging with a slender lead to take back to the Parc des Princes.
Mikel Arteta’s men are far from out of the tie, though, as they seek another famous European night. Their latest league set-back between the legs was far from ideal but showed how fully Arsenal are focussed on this affair as two sides yet to win the competition vie for a place in the decider.
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US-UK trade deal with lower tariffs on cars and steel ‘just days away’
Britain is said to be days away from to securing a trade deal with the US which would lessen the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The UK has been in talks with the Trump administration as part of an attempt to agree a carve out from tariffs, which are wreaking havoc on the global economy.
Trade negotiators have returned to Washington this week and officials told the Financial Times that the trade deal could be agreed in the next few days.
It could include quotas that would exempt a certain number of UK exports from the full impact of 25 per cent tariffs on the British car and steel industry.
In exchange, the officials claimed that the UK has offered concessions on Britain’s digital services tax, which hits major US tech firms including Meta and Amazon. The 2 per cent levy, which was introduced in 2020, raises about £800m a year for the UK.
The UK government is also said to have offered concessions on tariffs on US car exports, as well as a reduction of levies on American agricultural products.
But ministers have repeatedly insisted it will not compromise on food production standards, meaning it is unlikely to compromise on imports of chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef.
It comes just a day after US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said some trade deals – which the US is looking at signing with as many as 17 countries – could be announced “perhaps as early as this week”.
He said several countries have so far made “good offers” to the US, but declined to provide further details.
Any compromise on the digital services tax is likely to spark backlash, with Labour MPs last month warning the government to avoid a “dash to let the US tech companies off the hook”.
Left-wing Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she would be “concerned if relief was granted” to US tech firms while disabled people in the UK “pay for the revenue loss” through welfare cuts.
Meanwhile, Labour MP for Norwich South, Clive Lewis, added: “This was entirely predictable given how desperate the government is to appease the Trump administration and tech oligarchs around it.
“This is extractive politics at it worst and exactly the kind of deal the Maga [Make America Great Again movement] wants. Rather than move closer to Europe and stand together we’re allowing ourselves to be ripped off.”
On Tuesday, the UK unveiled a £25bn trade agreement with India, which has lowered tariffs on UK exports including whisky, gin and cars as well as imports of clothing from India.
The government said the deal is estimated to add £4.8 billion to GDP per year from 2040.
But ministers were forced to deny the agreement undercuts British workers, after opposition politicians criticised part of the deal that exempts some temporary Indian workers from national insurance payments.
On Wednesday, Jonathan Reynolds described the claim as “completely false”, telling the BBC: “There is no situation where I would ever tolerate British workers being undercut through any trade agreement we would sign. That is not part of the deal.”
A government spokesperson said: “The US is an indispensable ally and talks on an economic deal between the US and the UK are ongoing – but we are not going to provide a running commentary on the details of live discussions or set any timelines.
“We will continue to take a calm and steady approach to talks and aim to find a resolution to help ease the pressure on UK businesses and consumers.”
Bucket-list beaches: Crystalline waters and secret shores in Dalmatia
Dalmatia’s coastline is, quite simply, spectacular. With the lion’s share of Croatia’s 1,200-plus islands, islets and reefs, Dalmatia’s stretch of the Adriatic has some of the country’s most beautiful beaches and seascapes. Whether you’re on the mainland coast or island hopping, you’ll be wowed by towering cliffs that hover over sheltered, pine-fringed coves, and broad sweeps of beaches
The sheer variety of swimming spots means there’s something for everyone; families in search of long stretches of beach with watersports, vibing beach bars and all the facilities to romantics looking for secluded pebbly coves to revel in tranquillity.
If Croatia’s beaches weren’t appealing enough, the coastal waters have just been crowned the cleanest in Europe, beating holiday hotspots including Greece, Spain and Italy to be ranked number one. The European Environment Agency checked out more than 22,000 beaches throughout the European Union, and Croatia’s coastal waters came out on top. In fact, out of nearly 900 Croatian beaches tested, over 99 per cent got the highest rating of ‘excellent’, owing to low industrial pollution, minimal over-construction and a lack of mass commercialisation.
So, beyond being picture-postcard idylls, Dalmatia’s beaches should be your top choice for a relaxed, sustainable holiday in a protected natural environment. To get you started, here’s a selection of Dalmatia’s unmissable beaches.
A popular inclusion in ‘world’s best beach’ lists, Zlatni Rat (pictured above) – also known as Golden Horn – is a curvy, V-shaped beach of fine white pebbles flanked by vivid turquoise waters on the southern coast of the island of Brač. Watch the windsurfers in action as you bask in the sun, or take respite at one of the wood-shaded beach bars. Follow the coastal footpath to the seafront promenade of the much-loved village of Bol – and as it’s only a 20-minute walk to Zlatni Rat, this makes the perfect base for your stay.
For a more laid-back vibe and beautifully calm sea, just a few miles west of Bol is the blissful Murvica. Find a shady spot under the pines to flop after your swim and snorkel in crystal clear waters, or take in vistas of Vidova Gora, the highest peak on the island. There’s a delightfully rustic beach bar where you can grab a cold drink and a bite to eat, and while you’ll have to bring your own parasols, you can reach the beach easily from the carpark.
Punta Rata’s Blue Flag beach is used to vying for the title of Europe’s top beach, and once you set foot on its long expanse of pebbles, it’s clear why. This breathtaking idyll, north of the Makarska Riviera town of Brela, appears to go on forever – fringed with pine trees and surrounded by waters that offer fabulous snorkelling. Look out for the Brela Stone, a giant rock that rises from the sea and is found on many local postcards.
It takes a bit of effort to reach award-winning Stiniva Bay on the southern coast of Vis island, but it’s 100 per cent worth it. Take the rocky footpath downhill to this glittering bay sheltered by two curving cliffs that almost close the cove off from the sea, with only the smallest boats able to squeeze through the gap. There’s just enough room for a beachside café, with its terrace offering superb views.
Heading to the northeastern coast of Vis, and easier to access than Stiniva Bay, you’ll find scenic Stončica Beach. Its sparkling blue waters and mix of white sand and pebble beach, shaded by woods, make this truly picture perfect. The shallow waters, with a very gradual slope, are perfect for children. Stop for lunch on the covered terrace of the waterside restaurant and feast on freshly grilled fish and meat.
Tucked away on Hvar island’s southern coast is the unassuming Dubovica beach – surrounded by tumbling slopes covered in maquis and olive trees. In contrast to the sophisticated beach clubs of Hvar Town, this tiny coastal treat, set in a cove beside a 17th-century church, is perfect for relaxing, while the turquoise waters are made for sea safaris. Refresh and refuel at the beach restaurant or bar.
Back on the mainland on the Makarska Riviera, Velika Duba is a peaceful, pebbly bay backed by fragrant pines and connected to the village of Blato via a pleasantly shaded footpath. It’s all about simple pleasures here: swimming in gin-clear waters, lazing in the sun, doing a bit of snorkelling, having a cold drink in the beachside bar and falling under the spell of a Dalmatian sunset.
For more travel inspiration, information and to plan your trip visit Central Dalmatia