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Union Berlin has strongly condemned the sexist online abuse directed at Marie-Louise Eta, the club's newly appointed interim head coach. Eta made history by becoming the first woman to take charge of a men's Bundesliga team.Eta was appointed to lead the men's first team for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart. Despite her significant achievement, her appointment has been met with derogatory and sexist comments on social media.The club has publicly pushed back against these comments, with Horst Heldt, Union's director of men's professional football, expressing full confidence in Eta. “We have 100 percent confidence in Loui, with complete conviction. I find it crazy that we have to deal with this in this day and age, that we have to justify ourselves,” he said.The club's communications director, Christian Arbeit, highlighted Eta's pragmatic approach to coaching, stating, “Marie-Louise Eta has a very pragmatic approach to all of this. She’s very conscious that it’s something special, but for her, football is in the foreground. She wants to work with the team, and she wants to be on the field.”Union Berlin's response to sexist comments on social media has been resolute. The club posted, “The Union family has her back.” They also labeled certain comments as sexist, including one that suggested players would not take a woman's instructions about tactics seriously.The decision to appoint Eta has received praise, including from Kai Wegner, Berlin's Mayor, who called it “a strong signal for professional football and for women in elite-level sports.”Eta will lead the team for the last five games of the season as Union aims to secure their spot in the Bundesliga for next season. Her long-term role at the club remains open, with Heldt not ruling out her continuing with the men's team beyond this season.

The stage is set for a thrilling encounter at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, as Bayern Munich hosts Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal matchup. The German side holds a 2-1 aggregate lead, making Real Madrid's task even more daunting.Real Madrid's season has been a rollercoaster, with the team struggling to find consistency. Despite their recent 1-1 draw against Girona in La Liga, which has effectively ended their title hopes, they must now focus on overcoming Bayern Munich. The Spanish giants have had a remarkable history in the Champions League, having won the competition 14 times, a record in the tournament.Bayern Munich, on the other hand, has been in stellar form, extending their lead to 12 points at the top of the Bundesliga table with a 5-0 win over St Pauli on Saturday. Their star striker, Harry Kane, is expected to return after sitting out the league match due to a minor injury.The most pressing concern for Real Madrid is the facial injury sustained by Kylian Mbappe in training. However, given his importance to the team and the significance of the match, it's likely that he will be patched up to play. Mbappe has been in exceptional form, leading the Champions League scorers' list with 14 goals this season.In terms of team news, Bayern Munich will be without Lennart Karl and Sven Ulreich due to injuries, while Serge Gnabry has a minor knee problem but is expected to be available. Real Madrid will be without Thibaut Courtois, Rodrygo, and Aurelien Tchouameni due to injuries and suspensions.This matchup between two European giants is the most played fixture in Champions League history, with 29 meetings between the sides. Real Madrid has won 13 matches, while Bayern Munich has emerged victorious on 12 occasions.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has been marked by a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with 14 million people forced to flee their homes and tens of thousands reported missing. As the conflict enters its fourth year, the UN's top official in Sudan, Denise Brown, has expressed her concern over the apparent lack of political urgency to end the war.Brown described the situation as 'bloody unacceptable,' stating that it seems the world focuses on other crises and fails to find solutions for Sudan. The conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army has killed at least 150,000 people and left 33 million in need of assistance.New research by Islamic Relief reveals that almost half of Sudan's vital community kitchens have closed in the past six months, exacerbating hunger and the threat of famine. Other studies corroborate the food crisis, with millions surviving on a single meal a day. The conflict has also led to the deliberate targeting of Sudan's health infrastructure, with 37% of hospitals deemed 'non-functional' and over 200 documented attacks on health facilities.The war has set Sudan's economy back more than 30 years, according to a detailed assessment by the UN Development Programme and the Institute for Security Studies. If the conflict continues until 2030, an additional 34 million people could be pushed into deprivation. Investigators are attempting to track down tens of thousands of civilians reported missing or forcibly disappeared since the start of the war.Cases of missing persons recorded by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan stand above 11,000 – an increase of more than 40% during the last year – with the true figure believed to be many times higher. The ICRC helped 62,000 families track down relatives who had gone missing last year.The issue of funding has become increasingly critical, with overall funding for Sudan's humanitarian plans now only 16% met this year. The UN agency for children, Unicef, noted that even the modest amounts forthcoming are becoming less impactful due to increasing transport costs.

The Democratic National Committee's recent meeting in New Orleans ended with little to celebrate for supporters of Palestine and an end to the genocide in Gaza. Despite 77% of Democrats agreeing that 'Israel is committing genocide' in a Quinnipiac Poll last summer, and an NBC poll finding that registered Democrats are more sympathetic toward Palestinians than Israelis by a margin of 67-17%, the DNC refused to give any ground.The party's resolutions committee quickly discarded a pair of resolutions critical of Israel, one urging 'an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory' and the other opposing 'military actions that endanger civilians or exacerbate repression' in Iran. These resolutions were shunted aside to a Middle East working group, which has scarcely met since its announcement last August.Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, praised the DNC's 'rejection of two resolutions related to Israel', calling them 'out of step with the policies of the Democratic party'. This stance has been criticized as out of touch with the party's base, with Kirsten Gillibrand's claim that 'nine out of 10 Democrats are pro-Israel' being met with skepticism.The DNC's actions have been seen as a manifestation of an 'anachronistic time warp', with party leaders severely out of touch with what most Democrats currently believe about Israel. This disconnect erodes the Democratic base and indicates a level of 'moral incompetence' among decision-makers.Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to Barack Obama, identified a 'fatal blind spot within American liberalism, a devaluation of human life itself' that aptly describes the foreign policy mentality atop the Democratic party. The DNC's actions have been criticized for ignoring the views of Democratic voters on Israel, potentially harming the party's base and alienating many.

The latest film from director David Lowery, 'Mother Mary', is a visually stunning yet narratively flawed exploration of the pop star world. Anne Hathaway stars as Mother Mary, a former music A-lister attempting a comeback after a mysterious event has left her haunted and struggling to find her fashion sense.Mother Mary seeks out the help of fashion designer Sam Anselm, played by Michaela Coel, who is both distantly glacial and imperious in her interactions with the pop star. Despite their complicated past, Sam agrees to create a new stage costume for Mother Mary, leading to a series of surreal and stylish moments.The film features stunning visual moments that blend Dalí-esque surrealism with the high-tech gloss of the modern pop stage. However, the narrative often feels incomprehensible, with overly earnest performances from the lead actresses. The script's lack of self-awareness and coyness about its central queer relationship also detract from the overall experience.Despite these flaws, 'Mother Mary' is worth watching for its strong performances and visual spectacle. The film's $100m budget is evident in its arena spectacles, which are some of the best in recent cinema. With a bit more self-awareness and depth, 'Mother Mary' could have been a cult classic.

Amazon disclosed on Tuesday that it will acquire satellite operator Globalstar for $11.57 billion, a strategic step to expand its fledgling Kuiper broadband system and directly confront Elon Musk’s Starlink network. The transaction grants Amazon immediate control of Globalstar’s low‑Earth‑orbit constellation of roughly two dozen satellites, bolstering a platform that currently competes with Starlink’s fleet of about 10,000 satellites in orbit. Under the agreement, Globalstar shareholders may elect to receive either $90 in cash per share or 0.3210 shares of Amazon common stock for each share they own. Amazon aims to launch about 3,200 Kuiper satellites by 2029, with roughly half required to be operational by the July 2026 regulatory deadline. The company already manages a network of more than 200 satellites and plans to roll out its satellite‑internet service later this year. In contrast, Starlink presently serves over 9 million customers worldwide. Louisiana‑based Globalstar, known for powering Apple’s “Emergency SOS” feature, operates the current constellation and expects to expand to 54 satellites under an Apple‑backed development program that includes a few backup units. Beyond voice and data, Globalstar provides asset‑tracking solutions to enterprise, government and consumer markets. Simultaneously, Apple—having invested roughly $1.5 billion in Globalstar—has signed an agreement with Amazon to continue supporting satellite‑based safety functions such as Emergency SOS and Find My for iPhone and Apple Watch users. The acquisition is slated to close in 2027, subject to regulatory approval and the achievement of specific satellite‑deployment milestones by Globalstar.

Javier Mascherano announced his resignation as Inter Miami’s head coach, ending a brief but landmark tenure that delivered the franchise’s inaugural MLS Cup. In an official club statement, Mascherano cited “personal reasons” for his departure and confirmed that his entire coaching staff would also leave the organization. Inter Miami named sporting director Guillermo Hoyos as the interim head coach, tasking him with stabilising a side that has already shown signs of strain. “First and foremost, I would like to thank the club for the trust they placed in me, every employee who is part of the organization for the collective effort, but especially the players, who made it possible for us to experience unforgettable moments,” Mascherano said. “I will always carry with me the memory of our first star, and wherever I am, I will continue to wish the club all the best moving forward.” Mascherano arrived ahead of the 2025 season with limited senior‑team experience, having only coached Argentina’s youth national sides. Nevertheless, he and former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi steered Inter Miami to a 2‑1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, securing the club’s first MLS title. The defending champions have stumbled early in the new campaign: they have drawn their first two matches at the brand‑new Nu Stadium and recorded three wins in five league fixtures. The most glaring setback came in the Concacaf Champions Cup, where Miami were eliminated by Nashville SC in the Round of 16. Off the pitch, Mascherano inherited a roster in transition. Long‑time stalwarts Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retired, while Luis Suárez has been relegated to the bench following the high‑profile signing of Germán Berterame, who has yet to find his scoring rhythm.

The Royal Opera House is set to unveil its new season, featuring a range of classic and new productions, including a new Parsifal and Un Ballo in Maschera. The season will also see the return of Richard Jones's acclaimed production of Janáček's Kát'a Kabanová.However, the company is facing challenges due to aggressive Arts Council England cuts, which have affected the national opera scene. Glyndebourne and Welsh National Opera are touring less, and English National Opera has been semi-removed from London to Greater Manchester.The Royal Opera House is committed to nurturing emerging talent, with recent successes including Philip Venables' 4.48 Psychosis and Oliver Leith's Last Days. The company is also investing in research and development to find new works that will have "audiences on the edge of their seats".The company has faced controversy in the past, including an incident where a performer unfurled a Palestinian flag during an opera curtain call. The company's director, Oliver Mears, has defended his reaction to the incident, stating that "the curtain call is not a place for an impromptu personal political protest".The Royal Opera House has also faced criticism for its decision to host Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, who has received honours from Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been photographed holding a flag of "Novorossiya", an emblem used by Russian-backed separatists.Mears has emphasized the company's commitment to being "as impartial as we can" in its approach to difficult matters, while also highlighting the importance of "big emotions and huge stories" in opera.

In a fresh University of Massachusetts and YouGov poll of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted in early April, country‑music legend Dolly Parton emerged as the most favorably viewed global figure, securing a 70% favorable rating and only 5% unfavorable, translating to a net favorability of +65%. Former President Barack Obama ranked second with a net favorability of +14% (50% favorable, 36% unfavorable). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy followed closely, posting a net favorability of +12% after 35% of respondents expressed a favorable view and 22% an unfavorable one. Other political figures fared poorly: former President George W. Bush earned a modest +5% net score, while Donald Trump and Joe Biden registered negative net favorabilities of ‑18% and ‑19% respectively. Pop star Taylor Swift managed a modest +3% net rating, and Russian President Vladimir Putin landed at the opposite extreme with a stark ‑65% net favorability. Parton’s dominance is notable not only for the size of the margin—over 50 percentage points ahead of her nearest rivals—but also because she is the only figure, aside from Obama, for whom a majority of respondents expressed a favorable opinion. Analysts attribute Parton’s success to her deliberately apolitical public persona and extensive charitable work. In a 2017 interview, she emphasized, “Everybody knows I don’t play politics,” a stance that has helped her maintain a broad bipartisan fan base. Her philanthropic impact is substantial. The Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library has donated more than 270 million books to children under five across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. Additional contributions include a $1 million gift to Vanderbilt University Medical Center that supported the development of the Moderna COVID‑19 vaccine, over $12 million to families displaced by the 2016 Tennessee wildfires, and ongoing funding for pediatric infectious‑disease research. Parton’s charitable achievements were recognized with the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022**, and she was highlighted by Time as one of the most influential philanthropists of 2025. The poll’s findings suggest a public appetite for figures who embody generosity and cultural resonance without entanglement in partisan politics, underscoring a broader trend of voters gravitating toward non‑political icons in an era of heightened polarization.