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John Higgins on old nemesis Mark Williams, Crucible shock and commentary nerves

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John Higgins on old nemesis Mark Williams, Crucible shock and commentary nerves
John Higgins won the Tour Championship in style last season (Picture: Getty Images)

John Higgins is in Manchester to defend his Tour Championship title this week, taking on a player he has been battling it out with for 36 years.

The Wizard of Wishaw brilliantly won the event last year, beating Mark Selby in the final and he is back to face Mark Williams in his opener this time round.

The Scot is not just wielding his cue, but also a microphone as he is on commentary and punditry duty for Channel 5, but defending his title is priority number one.

Just the top 12 on the one-year rankings make it to the Tour Championship, which Higgins says is a key aim at the start of any season.

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‘I think if somebody says to you at the start of every season that you’ll be competing in the Tour Championship, it means it’s a good season,’ Higgins told Metro. ‘That’s your aim and I’d have bitten your hand off, really.

‘It would have been pretty poor coming down, commentating on it and speaking about it and you’re not in the event to defend your title.

‘I can’t wait to get out there and obviously playing your old nemesis, Mark Williams. It can’t be any bigger or better than playing Mark.’

2026 Players Championship - Day 6
Higgins finished runner-up to Zhao Xintong at last month’s Players Championship (Picture: Getty Images)

Two of the three legendary members of the Class of 92 first met professionally in 1994, but their rivalry goes back even further.

Asked for the first time he met Williams, Higgins said: ‘I’m sure it must have been the Home Internationals at Prestatyn in 1990, I was 15. That was the first time I’d met any players from out of Scotland.’

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35 years on from that first meeting, the pair met in the 2025 World Championship quarter-final, which Williams dramatically won 13-12 on the final black.

Higgins feels he ‘owes him one’ for that painful defeat, but it is now a friendly rivalry that has lost the edge it once had.

‘I think it’s a lot better than it was,’ the Scot said of his relationship with the Welshman. ‘It’s only natural as well, I think, when you see the boys nowadays, the likes of Judd [Trump] and Kyren [Wilson], you just get a feeling that they really feel as if they’re rivals and they want to keep their distance from each other. It was probably exactly the same [for us].

‘Back in the day when me, Mark and Ronnie were playing, you were vying against each other for the same titles. As well it’s been well-documented when I’d left the management stable with Ian Doyle and Mark was still under that banner, there was a bit of rivalry there.

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Halo World Snooker Championship 2025 - Day Eleven
Higgins and Mark Williams played out a Crucible classic last year (Picture: Getty Images)

‘But nowadays you’re basically smiling walking into these events, knowing that you’re still playing against these guys and still competing. You’ve got to give yourself a pat in the back that you’re still doing it.

‘Listen, we’re dads now, we’re nearly grandads. I think everybody’s got a different outlook on life.’

Higgins felt his meeting with Williams in Sheffield last year was likely their last at the Crucible, but the odds of there being another have been improved this week after the announcement that the World Championship is set to stay at the venue – with a significant revamp – until 2045.

The four-time world champion was thrilled with the news and admits he was stunned by it, feeling a departure from the Crucible was likely when the previous contract was due to end in 2027.

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‘I couldn’t believe it,’ he said. ‘I could not believe it how they got it over the line, especially for the amount of years. Incredible, incredible news.

‘I really thought it was going to be moving, I just didn’t think the Crucible was going to be be big enough for the event. I think it’s great news that it’s going to get upgraded because it certainly needs that.

‘I think obviously you don’t want to lose the uniqueness of the playing arena, which makes the Worlds that special. But behind the scenes it probably hasn’t moved with the times. Now it’s going to get the upgrade and it brings it up to the present day, and it should be a great, great venue going forward.’

Before the Crucible comes Manchester Central and Higgins will be in the commentary box, hoping that the ‘first day of school’ nerves of his Players Championship debut last month will have eased.

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‘In the commentary box I really felt the nerves there,’ he said. ‘Dave [Hendon] was great with me, but that was like being back on the first day of school.

‘In the studio it felt okay because obviously you go into the studio after matches anyway and you’ve got somebody like Katie [Shanahan], who I think is really good, so it was all good. I really enjoyed it.

Tour Championship draw and schedule

Monday March 30

1pm
Barry Hawkins vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Judd trump vs Mark Allen

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7pm
Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
Wu Yize vs Chris Wakelin

Tuesday March 31

1pm
Mark Williams vs John Higgins
Barry Hawkins vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

7pm
Mark Williams vs John Higgins
Wu Yize vs Chris Wakelin

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Wednesday April 1

1pm
Neil Robertson vs Hawkins/Un-Nooh
Shaun Murphy vs Trump/Allen

7pm
Shaun Murphy vs Trump/Allen
Zhao Xintong vs Wu/Wakelin

Thursday April 2

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1pm
Neil Robertson vs Hawkins/Un-Nooh
Mark Selby vs Williams/Higgins

7pm
Mark Selby vs Williams/Higgins
Zhao Xintong vs Wu/Wakelin

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‘I wasn’t really wanting to talk too much on commentary. But then again, when you listen to the other commentators, they maybe speak a little bit more, so then you think to yourself, am I speaking enough? So, I think it’s just trying to get a balance.

‘I don’t go on any social media, so I don’t know how well I would have been received with it, which is maybe a good thing in a way. So I’m only really going by listening to my wife or my brothers. They thought I’d done okay. So I don’t really know what the wider world’s thinking about it.’

The Wizard of Wishaw will be working on his words of wisdom when the Tour Championship kicks off on Monday afternoon, with his latest clash with his old rival coming up on Tuesday.

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Armed police rush to Cambridge street after teenager found with hammer

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Cambridgeshire Live

Armed police were sent to the scene

A teenager was arrested in the centre of Cambridge after being found with a hammer. Cambridgeshire Police were called to Christ Pieces, King Street in Cambridge, at around 8.05pm on Friday, May 29.

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It had been reported that there was a male with a knife. Armed police were sent to the area and found a male with a hammer on his person.

A 17-year-old boy, who is from Godmanchester, was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon. He has since been released on police bail to return on August 28.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We were called at about 8.05pm on Friday, 29 May, with reports of a male with a knife at Christ Pieces, King Street, Cambridge. Armed police were deployed and a male was found to have a hammer on his person.

“A 17-year-old boy from Godmanchester has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon. He has been released on police bail to return on 28 August.”

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Dementia Risk Factors May Have A Sleep Change In Common

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Dementia Risk Factors May Have A Sleep Change In Common

Researchers think heart conditions, chronic stress, and depression may all be linked to a higher risk of developing dementia.

Thankfully, many of these risk factors are “potentially modifiable,” per a standing review from medical journal The Lancet. Treating high cholesterol, staying physically active, and not smoking can all help, for instance.

But a new review published in Science suggested that one thing might link multiple dementia risk factors: how well our brain is able to clear waste while we’re sleeping.

What part of sleep may affect dementia risk factors?

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Researcher and neuroscientist Professor Maiken Nedergaard from the University of Rochester Medicine (URM) tried to look at sleep in terms of brain chemicals such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.

These “neuromodulators” affect our mood, attention, how awake we feel, and even how well we learn.

Her research noted that “neuromodulators” behave differently during sleep. They run in slow cycles that turn roughly every minute in a manner believed to affect everything from breathing to brain activity.

These sleep changes are also linked to changes in blood vessels called vasomotion, which works independently of our hearts’ pumping motion. One effect of this process is pushing fluid through the brain, helping to clear waste products such as amyloid-beta and tau proteins.

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Amyloid plaques come from the buildup of abnormal protein fragments, while tau can turn into stringy proteins that lead to tau tangles. Amyloid plaques and tau tangles have been compared to the “trigger and bullet” of dementia progression.

This paper argued that changes to vasomotion, which happen when we age, face stress, experience some heart conditions, experience poor sleep, or take certain medications, might connect various dementia risk factors.

“Many disorders that increase dementia risk also disrupt the brain’s sleep rhythms”, Prof Nedergaard told URM.

“Our work suggests these may not be separate phenomena. They may be connected through the brain’s ability to clear waste during sleep”.

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The researchers hope this will lead to earlier dementia detection

This paper also mentioned heart rate variability, or the variation of time between heartbeats, as a possible sign of sleep-related brain health.

The study authors hope that tracking this might serve as a non-invasive way to monitor the brain’s waste-clearing systems, potentially helping to spot dementia risk earlier.

“Sleep is not a quiet or inactive state,” Prof Nedergaard said.

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“During sleep, the brain shifts into a coordinated rhythm that appears to support one of its most important housekeeping functions.”

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Former homeless man thriving as chef with Centrepoint support

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Former homeless man thriving as chef with Centrepoint support

Cameron was 16 when he first experienced homelessness. He initially sought help from the council but said delays and complex paperwork made it difficult to access support.

During this period, he stayed with his aunt while trying to navigate the process of getting support. He said, “I found the process really difficult as a young person, especially when it’s [feels] so overwhelming”. He also had to complete forms linked to parental responsibility arrangements, which he said added more pressure during an already unstable period.

Then, aged 17, he moved into Centrepoint’s supported accommodation, which he described as a turning point.

Alongside housing support, he received education and employment help, including tutoring in maths and English to complete qualifications. His key worker, Lee, helped him develop budgeting, planning and goal-setting skills to prepare him for living independently.

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He said this guidance helped him stay focused during difficult periods. “You can’t stop now, can you,” he recalled being told, adding that the encouragement from Centrepoint staff kept him motivated and positive during times of uncertainty.

He was already working in restaurants and continued to build experience while studying, often balancing long shifts with learning sessions and coursework commitments.

In 2021, he received a Centrepoint Award, which he said recognised his progress and boosted his confidence. “I won the Career Progression Award, since I was able to overcome everything and not let anything affect me,” he said, describing it as an important milestone in his journey and future aspirations.

He now lives in his own flat and says the stability has been life changing, describing it as “a destination where I can come back and recover after work.”

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Now working full-time as a chef, he continues to refine his skills in professional kitchens, learning from colleagues and experimenting with new techniques. He feels the job helps drive his long-term ambitions. One of these ambitions is to create budget-friendly vegan and gluten-free cookbooks for low-income households. He said he wants to make cooking more accessible and enjoyable for everyone by sharing simple, creative recipes using affordable, healthy ingredients.

Reflecting on his journey from homelessness to stability, he said, “Don’t rush into anything – you need to create a list of what you need to do and what you want to do. Without that you’ll become overwhelmed and think that you might never be able to do it. If you put your mind to it, you can always achieve it,” crediting the support he has received along the way.

Retired civil servant finds new purpose volunteering with Centrepoint

A woman who began volunteering with youth homelessness charity Centrepoint after taking early retirement says the role has given her renewed purpose and direction.

Centrepoint(Image: Centrepoint)

Gill, a former civil servant who specialised in HR, started volunteering with the charity four years ago after stepping back from work, saying she wanted to use retirement to do something meaningful for others.

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“I was fortunate enough to be able to take early retirement, and I knew that I wanted to do something worthwhile,” she explained.

Gill also had a personal connection to Centrepoint, as her husband Patrick had been a long-term supporter before he passed away unexpectedly 10 years ago, just a few weeks after receiving a terminal diagnosis. He was deeply moved by one of their campaign posters he saw on the way to work and began donating regularly. Gill decided to “continue his support in his memory.”

Drawing on her professional and HR experience, Gill has coached and mentored young people through key life decisions, including helping one young asylum seeker choose the right engineering course that suited him best. “He said he would always remember my support, so that meant a huge amount to me,” she explained.

She said volunteering has added a new path in retirement and encourages others to consider it as a rewarding way to gain experience, meet people and make a difference.

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‘We Can’t Do This Alone’

Last year, over 118,000 young people faced homelessness. That’s one young person every four minutes. At a time of life when most of their peers are trying new things and taking their first steps into adulthood, these young people found themselves alone and afraid, and unsure where to turn.  

It doesn’t have to be like this, with the right support at the right time, these young people can escape homelessness or avoid it altogether.  

At Centrepoint, provide more than a bed for the night. We provide a safe place to rebuild, support into education and work, and the confidence to believe in a better future.  

Youth homelessness is not inevitable. With the right help at the right time, it can be prevented and it can be ended.  

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Our mission is to end youth homelessness – and you can help us.  

Whether it’s running a marathon or holding a sleep out, you, your friends, family and co-workers can join our movement to end youth homelessness and give vulnerable young people a brighter future. 

To find out more, donate or get involved, please visit our website http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/newspaper

‘A Permanent Base Changed Everything’

Housing insecurity left Adam, now 20, without a stable home through his late teens and early adulthood, as he moved between sofa surfing and temporary arrangements.

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Centrepoint(Image: Centrepoint)

He said first-time housing with a friend was costly and unsuitable, with limited income making long-term stability impossible. He was constantly moving and unsure where he would sleep, saying, “I started sofa surfing and [moving between] accommodations.” He often carried a suitcase to work while trying to keep his job. Colleagues assumed he was travelling or on holiday, unaware he was homeless. He said the suitcase masked his situation, making it less visible to others.

Finding affordable accommodation was also challenging he explained, “Finding a place in London as an 18-year-old, [when you are] not making that much is impossible. Some places wouldn’t allow an 18-year-old to live there – finding a place was really difficult.”

Not knowing where to turn he confided in a colleague who suggested Adam contacted Centrepoint. The youth homelessness charity secured a space in one of its Independent Living homes, where rent is capped at a third of tenants’ income. Since moving in 18 months ago, he has improved his finances and even begun to plan a holiday – something that once seemed out of reach. He now works in marketing and says a permanent base has helped him focus on his job and ambitions.

Looking ahead, Adam is seeking a role that offers challenge, progression, and collaboration, adding that stability has given him the space to think about his next steps.

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Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Monday, June 1)

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Wales Online

A body has been found in the search for a missing man, police have said. Lee Butler, 36, was last seen at his home in Staffordshire on May 26. A major search was launched by South Wales Police who said they believed Lee had travelled to Wales.

Ogmore by Sea residents reported on Sunday that a helicopter and drones were being used to assist with the search, with others saying they had seen RNLI lifeboats searching the coast.

Friends of Lee Butler had travelled from the midlands in England to Ogmore by Sea to help in the search. They have since posted on social media that their next steps will be to bring Lee home to Staffordshire where he can be laid to rest.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “A body has been found in the search for Lee Butler, from Staffordshire, who was last seen on Tuesday, May 26.

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“While formal identification has not yet taken place, Lee’s next of kin have been informed.

“Our thoughts are with them.”

South Wales Police had issued an appeal after 36-year-old Lee went missing(Image: South Wales Police)

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Malaysia enforces social media ban for children under 16

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Malaysia enforces social media ban for children under 16

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from having social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users.

The rules require social media platforms with at least 8 million users including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, to implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts.

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission said Monday that age verification for existing users will be rolled out progressively over the next six months.

Users identified as under 16 will have a month to download or transfer their data, including photos and videos, before any restrictions, suspensions, or other actions are applied, it said in a statement.

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Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million). But parents whose children manage to bypass the law will not be penalized.

The government said the measures are aimed at protecting children from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features designed to encourage excessive use.

Other countries including Australia,Brazil and Indonesia have introduced or announced age-based restrictions or requirements for children’s access to social media. Countries including Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are also studying or developing similar approaches.

The regulator said the rules are not intended to prevent children from accessing digital technology.

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“These measures help strengthen the protection of children in the online environment, while providing added reassurance to parents in navigating increasingly complex digital risks,” it has said.

Platforms are required to improve user safety, discourage excessive use and take action against underage accounts and harmful content.

Technology companies have yet to detail how they will comply with Malaysia’s new requirements.

Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia’s blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.

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She said Meta has launched “teen accounts” for those under 18 that limits contact, screen time and exposure to inappropriate content.

Malaysia’s curbs come as governments face growing pressure to address concerns about social media’s impact on children’s mental health and online safety.

In March, a U.S. jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions of dollars in damages in a case alleging that platform design features contributed to harm suffered by a young user.

How two Malaysian families see the changes

Kuala Lumpur parents Saravanan Ganasan and Jayaradha Veerasamy — whose children are 12 and 15 — approve of the changes. They already banned their kids from using social media, believing minors lack the psychological capacity to cope with it.

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The couple ban unsupervised scrolling on TikTok and Instagram. Devices are kept out of bedrooms, screen time is limited to common areas, and their son is not allowed to lock his phone with a password.

“Exposure is what we fear,” Saravanan said. “The wrong kind of exposure will do damage to the mind.”

Aadhavan Saravanan, 15, said he believes he would be addicted to social media if allowed full freedom. “Social media is like, a luxury and it’s not a necessity,” he said

The couple said the restrictions have forced their children to develop offline life skills. Instead of scrolling, Aadhavan reads books in a backyard mango tree and repairs broken household appliances, while their daughter cooks and does crafts.

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“A lot of parents are very scared that children get bored,” the kids’ mother, Jayaradha, said. “But boredom is actually very good because they start thinking out of the box.”

But Shaun Hew, who lives in the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Cheras, feels the new restrictions go too far.

Hew believes social media offers an outlet for his kids to spend time productively, as long as there is proper adult oversight. His 11-year-old son uses platforms to learn cooking and his daughter, 14, uses YouTube for exam revision.

He worries a sudden cutoff could cause teenagers to rebel and find unregulated ways to bypass internet blocks.

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Some voice concerns over privacy and safety

Some critics contend that Malaysia’s move could increase the risks of data privacy breaches and expand state surveillance.

“It is very much following the trend but in a way that is raising alarms due to requiring a government ID for age verification,” said Benjamin Loh, social science lecturer at Monash University in Malaysia.

Loh also said experiences elsewhere suggest age-based restrictions have yet to prove consistently effective. Without penalties on parents, families can easily bypass the law by creating accounts for their children, he said.

“This is a major gap that unless regulators are willing to fix, will result in the law having little effect in stopping children from using social media,” he added.

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DR Congo celebrates recovery of five nurses

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DR Congo celebrates recovery of five nurses

“It pains me to see health workers who have already died because of Ebola while serving others… this is the risk which comes with the profession, but your commitment and coming back again to serve means a lot,” Tedros told the four nurses, three men and one woman, at Sunday’s ceremony where they all received certificates recognising their recovery.

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Tube strikes: Which London Underground lines will be hit by this week’s walkouts?

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Why are Tube strikes happening next week - and how much disruption will there be?

Commuters in London are bracing for a fresh wave of disruption this week as Tube strikes grip the capital once again.

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Greece backtracks on EES border check exemption for British holidaymakers

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Greece backtracks on EES border check exemption for British holidaymakers
The ancient Parthenon temple on Acropolis hill in Athens, one of Greece’s top attractions (Picture: Getty Images)

Nobody seems to know what’s going on with Greece’s borders this summer — not even its most senior tourism officials.

Greece has rejected reports that British passport holders will be exempt from biometric screening system at its airports during peak season.

The EU’s new Entry-Exit System, or EES, began operating at Greek airports and other entry points on April 10 as part of a Europe-wide rollout, replacing passport stamps with biometric data collected through photos and digital fingerprints.

Greek officials visiting the UK had suggested the requirement would be waived this summer for travellers from Britain, an important market for Greece’s tourism industry.

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Greece’s tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said the government did not want visitors ‘burdened’ by bureaucracy and promised that Brits would be ‘fast-tracked’ through the system.

A traveller having their fingerprints taken at a scanner in airport.
Greece broke its own tourism records in 2025: 37.98 million international visitors and €22.4 billion in revenue, according to data from the Bank of Greece  (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

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The Greek Embassy went further. It said that as of April 10, 2026, British passport holders were exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossings.

Eleni Skarveli, Director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, said the move would ‘ensure a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece’ and slash waiting times.

He said that Brits would no longer need to complete extra EES procedures.

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That position even matched UK government advice.

The Foreign Office told travellers that Greek authorities would not collect biometric data from UK visitors under the new system.

Current travel guidance from the FCDO states: ‘Greek authorities have indicated that they will not collect biometric data (fingerprints and photos) for UK travellers as part of EES. Follow the advice of authorities on the ground.’

A high-angle view of Fteri Beach cove in Kefalonia, Greece, with white sandy beach surrounded by huge cliffs, and sea that is a mix of turquoise and deep inky blue.
Fteri beach in Kefalonia, Greece, recently voted the most beautiful in Europe (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

However, European and Greek authorities later clarified that suspension of the system will be permitted only during ‘periods of high passenger traffic’.

Exemptions do not apply to any country or nationality, they added.

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‘We have not received any further update or clarification as to whether, for example, specific nationalities are temporarily exempt from the relevant procedure,’ a spokesperson for the Greek Foreign Ministry told AP.

Metro has approached the Greek Foreign Ministry, the Greek Tourism Ministry and the UK Foreign Office for comment.

Given that thousands of UK travellers arrive daily on islands such as Corfu, Crete and Rhodes, the idea of scrapping EES checks had been welcomed.

It also led some to believe other Mediterranean countries could follow suit for the busy summer period.

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Do biometric border checks put you off travelling?

Travellers already reported queues of up to two hours at passport control since EES started rolling out in some European countries late last year.

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But airline groups have warned that these waits could double to four hours as holiday traffic increases into the summer season.

Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at Abta, the travel agent and tour operator association, said: ‘What we have said to customers is that, because of the checks, you might need to prepare for delays with extra water and snacks.’

In April, holidaymakers were left vomiting and fainting in a queue from hell at Milan’s Linate airport.

Around 100 easyJet customers were stranded due to delays caused by new EU border checks.

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Passengers wait in long queues at Milan's Linate airport
Outrage erupted after passengers were left in hours-long queues at Milan’s Linate Airport in April (Picture: Will Scott/TikTok)

The airline said the disorder was ‘outside of our control’ and even delayed takeoff by almost an hour to try to give passengers extra time to board.

Still, plenty of Brits were forced to find alternative routes home after some only discovered they had missed their flight once it had taken off without them.

What is the EU’s new Entry/Exit system?

The entry and exit system (EES) is a digital system that replaces passport stamping at border control across the European Union.

People with passports from non-EU countries, including the UK, are required to use the system once it launches.

Most travellers from outside the EU, known as third-country nationals, will be required to register their passport details and biometric data when crossing into an EU country for the first time.

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Biometric data includes fingerprints and facial pictures. Borders are likely to be kitted with self-service kiosks where passengers can input this information.

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This data, as well as the entry and exit details, will be stored for subsequent visits.

Future visits will only require a verification of the biometric data, which can speed up the process.

Border officials will then also ask extra questions about accommodation, whether travellers have enough money for the trip, insurance and a return ticket.

Children are not exempt from the checks, although children under 12 do not need to give fingerprints; however they will also need to have their face scanned.

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Greenland sheds new light on underwater carbon sink

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Greenland sheds new light on underwater carbon sink

An international team of scientists has shed new light on how coastal seaweed forests help lock away planet-warming carbon.

Large seaweeds, known as macroalgae, absorb vast amounts of atmospheric CO2. Previous research estimated that between 4m and 44m tonnes of macroalgae-derived carbon sink each year to depths of up to 200 metres, where it can remain for at least a century.

Now researchers from Germany, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Denmark and the UK have tracked 8,000 seaweed rafts growing off southwest Greenland for the first time.

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Using satellite imagery, computer modelling and ocean current monitoring devices, they found that offshore currents can carry seaweed hundreds of kilometres. As surface waters cool, the floating vegetation is driven below the surface, where it breaks down and sinks, transporting carbon to the deep ocean.

“Our findings illustrate a tangible oceanic conveyor belt that links thriving coastal macroalgal forests with the deep ocean’s carbon reservoir,”said Prof Ana Queirós, marine climate change ecologist and climate change lead at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. “Recognising these natural transport and mixing pathways enhances how we understand macroalgae’s vital role in the Earth’s carbon cycle.”

Main image: Mathilde Cureau

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Euphoria viewers ‘speechless’ as finale kills off major character

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Euphoria viewers 'speechless' as finale kills off major character
Major spoilers! Approach with caution… (Picture: HBO)

Euphoria season three, episode eight, In God We Trust, spoilers ahead.

After seven years, three seasons and countless twists, Euphoria has come to an end with a ‘devastating’ finale, leaving fans shattered.

After years of wondering whether Sam Levinson’s popular – if not controversial – HBO series would return for a third season, against all the odds, it finally started airing earlier this year.

The cast – many of whom are now high-profile Hollywood stars – all returned, including Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi (Nate), Emmy winner Zendaya (Rue), Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Alexa Demie (Maddy) and Hunter Schafer (Jules).

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Set post-high school, in the new season, Rue’s past addiction caught up to her, thrusting her into the life-and-death drug cartel world; Nate and Cassie are trapped in a miserable marriage; Jules is attending art school, and Maddy is trying to make it in LA.

Up until this point, the show has already made quite a splash.

Zendaya as Rue in Euphoria
It’s been a whole season of suffering for Rue (Picture: HBO)
Nate in Euphoria
And one full of deadly twists and turns (Picture: HBO)

It’s been blasted for Cassie’s character arc as an OnlyFans creator filled with a surplus of explicit scenes and not including Labrinth in the soundtrack. Elsewhere, it shocked viewers after Nate was buried alive and ultimately killed by the bite of a venomous rattlesnake.

Now, it’s done it again with the climax of the entire season, revealing that Rue had died from an accidental overdose.

More specifically, crime boss Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), who has been terrorising every episode, gives her spiked fentanyl under the guise of a painkiller.

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After watching a dream sequence, we flash back to reality, where she’s lying dead on the sofa.

Zendaya as Rue
Unfortunately, she doesn’t get her happy ending (Picture: HBO)

It’s a tragic ending for one of the most tragic characters on TV, and in her final moments, we see her reunite with her mother and Fezco (Angus Cloud), hug her dad and see her high school sweetheart Jules, all in a poignant imaginary sequence.

Meanwhile, her longtime friend and mentor Ali (Colman Domingo) is left behind to grieve her death and take vengeance, so he grabs his gun and kills Alamo in a showdown.

Needless to say, after three seasons of rooting for Rue to get sober and reclaim power over her life, this is not the happy ending viewers were waiting for (even if some predicted it).

Fezco and Rue (Angus Cloud and Zendaya) in Euphoria season three
The late Angus Cloud makes a gutting cameo in the finale with Zendaya’s character Rue (Picture: HBO)

‘My heart is shattered into pieces…’ Moxito wrote on X.

‘Zendaya what an actor you are!!!! She managed to completely convey life leaving her body and peace of being in her father’s arms again. Come get all the awards baby girl!!!’ Bellamy Keppner shared.

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‘We watched Rue suffer nonstop, have very little good happen to her, only to pass away in the end is the definition of anticlimactic and stupid writing!

‘She should have gotten a good ending, and this is a horrible end to the show!’ Mr_Tashiduncan complained.

‘Didn’t want this ending for Rue at all. She deserved so so much better. I genuinely cannot stop crying, this isn’t fair,’ Diya echoed.

‘Rue Bennet’s dying scene has me sobbing,’ Blair declared.

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‘Rue being dead from the overdose the entire time and this scene with her mom turning out to be one last imagined goodbye before she passed away… yeah, this ending absolutely broke me,’ celebsnapz said.

‘So Rue was already dead from the overdose this whole time? And her reuniting with her mom was just her imagining one final goodbye before dying??? nah this ending completely shattered me,’ sammeyo mourned.

‘Just watched the Euphoria S3 finale “In God We Trust” and I’m speechless… Sam Levinson went full dark. Series finale vibes? Gutted but it felt earned. What a ride. Who else is processing this?’ simzo04 posted.

Euphoria Season 3 - Episode 8
There’s a lot to process this finale (Picture: HBO)

Ana agreed: ‘I’m sorry, but Rue was never making it out of this story alive. If you expected a happy ending, I don’t think we were watching the same show.’

Rue’s death comes just a week after Nate’s brutal death, a choice creator Sam defended – and his words feel eerily foreshadowing.

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‘There’s this kind of funny thing where I know what the audience wants in terms of justice or karma and with that in mind, I always think: “Well, how can I give it to them?”

‘How can I give them what they want, but make it so horrific and anxiety-inducing that by the time it happens, the audience isn’t so sure they wanted it?’ he said.

Euphoria is available to stream on NOW, HBO Max and Sky.

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