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When the traditional photo of the world’s top 16 was taken outside Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Friday, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump were conspicuously absent. Their failure to attend the press event—required by player contracts—cast a shadow over the opening weekend of the World Snooker Championship.Organisers have not explained the duo’s absence, but the snooker community worries it could trigger disciplinary measures. Financial penalties are unlikely, yet the mood shift was palpable among players and journalists.Defending champion Zhao Xintong arrives as the clear favourite, with bookmakers offering odds reminiscent of Stephen Hendry’s dominance in the 1990s. The tournament’s long‑term deal with the Crucible is no longer the headline; instead, the focus is on whether Zhao can break the “Crucible curse” that has plagued first‑time champions.World No 8 Shaun Murphy, a 2005 champion, voiced his disappointment: “It’s become normal that they don’t turn up for these things… It’s a real shame, and they could have done more to promote the game.” Murphy stressed that the absence reflects on the players themselves rather than on snooker as a whole.Beyond the headline names, the championship showcases a historic record 11 Chinese players in the 32‑man field, underscoring China’s growing influence on the sport. Zhao’s 2025 triumph marked the first world title for a Chinese player, and his presence continues to boost the game’s profile in Asia.At the same time, fresh British talent is emerging. Nineteen‑year‑old Stan Moody of Halifax and twenty‑year‑old Liam Pullen from York have qualified for the first time, while Antoni Kowalski, aged 22, becomes Poland’s inaugural Crucible competitor. World No 14 Mark Allen praised the “strength in depth” these youngsters bring, and Murphy echoed the sentiment, suggesting that visible success could inspire a new wave of UK players.All eyes will eventually turn to O’Sullivan, who is slated to begin his campaign on Tuesday against qualifier He Guoqiang. Until then, the tournament balances the allure of established stars with the promise of a new generation poised to seize the spotlight.

At a damp morning meeting in Sandy Park, Exeter Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe outlined the club’s next chapter: a potential sale to an American investment group that will be decided by the club’s 700‑plus members at an extraordinary general meeting on 7 May.Rowe, now 77, has steered the Chiefs for more than three decades, guiding the team from a modest county‑ground side to Premiership champions in 2010. Yet he admits that “romance doesn’t pay the bills” in today’s professional rugby, and a well‑funded owner could finally provide the financial muscle the club needs.The proposed buyer is described as a “mega‑wealthy multi‑sport investor” already active in British football. If the vote passes, the investor would inject fresh capital, allowing Exeter to compete for top talent such as marquee player Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso and to pursue broader ambitions.Rowe argues that English club rugby must look beyond nostalgia. “We’ve got to wake up and smell the coffee,” he said, emphasizing the need for an owner with deep pockets. He warned that the club’s current shareholder structure, which “has no money,” limits growth.The takeover is part of a wider trend of foreign money entering English rugby, following recent investments in Newcastle Red Bulls and Bath. Rowe believes a cash‑rich owner will position Exeter to help expand the Premiership from its current ten clubs to twelve, and eventually fourteen, with a view to incorporating Welsh sides.He suggested that adding “two Welsh clubs” could revitalise Welsh rugby, which he described as “on its arse,” and noted that travel logistics would not be a barrier for English clubs making weekend trips to Wales.Financial pressures remain acute. Rowe cited a £25 million loss from Covid and the post‑pandemic mini‑recession, compounded by a government grant that was later converted into a loan and a Rugby Football Union (RFU) contribution that covered only half of the promised support.He also criticised a £200 million 2018 deal that gave private‑equity firm CVC Capital Partners a 27 % share of the club’s commercial rights. “We should never have sold those shares,” Rowe lamented, adding that CVC has done little to boost sponsorship or “razzmatazz” for the sport.Looking ahead, Rowe stresses the importance of attracting a younger, millennial fan base, noting that “our future supporters are millennials” and that they will be the financial lifeline of the club.Despite the uncertainties, Rowe remains optimistic. He confirmed he will stay on under the new ownership, describing the investors as “long‑term” and “understanding of the sport.” He warned the new owners must respect Exeter’s Devonian heritage, likening the club’s future to a bus that needs a fresh fuel supply to reach “even greater success.”

Dyson Daniels, the Australian guard for the Atlanta Hawks, is poised to make a significant impact in the NBA playoffs. Daniels has emerged as a key player for the Hawks, who are considered a dark horse in the Eastern Conference bracket.Daniels had a taste of the playoffs two years ago with New Orleans, but enters the 2026 post-season as a key protagonist in one of the first round's marquee match-ups against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.“It's going to be fun, it's going be a lot, the Garden's going to be popping,” he says. “But these kinds of opportunities you live for and you dream for, and the only way to prepare for it, really, is to just trust your work, trust yourself.”The Hawks have played into form since trading All-Star guard Trae Young in January, led by forward Jalen Johnson and off-season acquisition Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Yet perhaps no player on the roster has the potential to turn a playoff series like Daniels, after his prominence in the team's 28-win, 15-loss run to close the season.Daniels may not have the touch of the league's finesse shooters, but he has found a way to contribute on offence to complement his defensive strengths. Measuring the Australian's contribution by his impact on the scoreboard when he is on the floor compared to when he is off it, he – alongside veteran guard CJ McCollum – is the Hawks' most important player, according to advanced stats site Cleaning the Glass.The New York Post recognised Daniels' influence this week when covering the challenge he will pose for the Knicks' floor general and leading scorer, Jalen Brunson, describing him as a “defensive stopper”. No player has guarded Brunson more in the past two seasons than Daniels.

Dan Skelton is already set to be crowned the United Kingdom’s champion trainer over jumps for the first time this season, yet he still has several objectives left as the campaign reaches its climax.Earlier this month Skelton made history by becoming the first trainer to surpass £4 million in prize money during a British jumps season. With a 320‑mile journey to Ayr scheduled for Saturday, he will field five runners and hopes to chip away at the £200,000 needed to break the £5 million barrier.His yard has already recorded victories at 39 of Britain’s 41 jumping tracks this season. The only venues still without a win are Perth and Plumpton, where Skelton entered twenty runners – including several favourites – but fell short. Two of his horses will contest Plumpton’s Sussex Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle on Sunday.“It’s never been done before, so we’re going to give it our best shot,” Skelton said on Friday. “We just can’t quite seem to get over the line at Plumpton, but maybe Sunday will be the day that we do.”The Scottish Grand National has become a pivotal fixture in the trainers’ championship over the past two years. With Willie Mullins already out of contention for the title, his stable will field only one runner at Ayr as he attempts a third consecutive Grand National double – winning at Aintree and then at Ayr.Patrick Mullins, who rode unshipped from Grangeclare West at Aintree last weekend, will take the reins on Road To Home. The horse was narrowly beaten in the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month and will carry six pounds more on Saturday.Among the local contenders, King Of Answers (currently 3.35 odds) trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore appears a strong bet at about 7‑1. The horse was a runner‑up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and will be only three pounds heavier for the four‑mile test at Ayr.Other notable entries include Traprain Law for Patrick Wadge, who previously won the course‑and‑distance race, and Diamond Dealer, whose front‑running style could prove decisive if the horse settles into its usual rhythm.In the broader betting market, Gibbs Island (2.20) and Twistthenightaway (2.55) are also highlighted as potential performers, while Pride Of Arras (2.35) aims to repeat its Dante success.Overall, Skelton’s pursuit of the £5 million season total adds extra intrigue to an already high‑stakes Scottish Grand National, promising a decisive showdown for the jumps championship.

Britain is bracing for its most severe economic contraction in decades, a side‑effect of the United States’ escalating conflict with Iran and the resulting shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. The British Treasury and the IMF warn that the nation’s growth could be crushed, public confidence in the government is eroding, and the prime minister’s position may become untenable. The original aim of sanctions was to punish hostile states and force leaders like Vladimir Putin to change course. Yet, data shows that in the years following the sanctions, Russia’s growth outpaced that of the United Kingdom. Similarly, the 2010s sanctions on Iran, intended to halt its nuclear programme, appear to have accelerated it, and current measures aimed at toppling the ayatollahs show little prospect of success. The United States now enforces economic restrictions on around 30 countries, including North Korea, Myanmar, Belarus and Afghanistan. Despite the breadth of these measures, the targeted regimes have largely remained in power, indicating a systemic failure of sanctions to destabilise entrenched governments. Beyond their limited impact on regime change, sanctions have unintentionally bolstered the Sino‑Russian trade bloc and driven many nations toward the BRICS alliance, positioning it as a counterweight to the G7. This realignment underscores the counter‑productive nature of the policy. Academic research, such as Nicholas Mulder’s The Economic Weapon, reinforces the historical pattern: except for very small states, trade restrictions are easily circumvented, and authoritarian regimes insulated from democratic pressures are largely immune. Mulder concludes that “the history of sanctions is a history of disappointment,” a sentiment echoed by critics who warn that each new round of sanctions repeats the same mistakes. One of the most damaging side‑effects is the exodus of skilled professionals. Iran, for example, has seen a diaspora of over four million people as of 2021, many of whom belong to the educated middle class that could have fueled internal reform. The brain drain weakens any potential opposition and inadvertently benefits Western economies that absorb this talent. Russia experienced a similar talent flight after the 1990s, when a vibrant civil society briefly flourished. Today, the remaining dissenters face both Kremlin repression and Western ostracism, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of McCarthy‑era loyalty tests. Given these outcomes, the article argues that the West must abandon blunt economic coercion in favour of nuanced, soft‑power strategies. Supporting opposition groups through academic, cultural, and diplomatic channels could nurture the very alternatives that sanctions have helped to erode. In sum, sanctions have proven illiberal and counter‑productive, reinforcing authoritarian borders while draining the human capital needed for genuine change. Restoring constructive relationships with societies like Iran and Russia, rather than relying on punitive trade measures, may offer a more viable path to long‑term stability.

War, energy crises and supply‑chain disruptions are eroding confidence across Europe, driving up energy costs and exposing dependence on fossil fuels and critical minerals. These challenges highlight the continent’s structural vulnerabilities.At the same time, coordinated European action—such as the joint effort to protect Greenland’s sovereignty—demonstrates how a united front can expand political and security options. Despite turbulence, Europe remains a highly attractive place to live and work.Germany’s next step, according to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, is to secure a sovereign future that is not rooted in nationalism but in collective European strength. He stresses that Europe’s resilience depends on its ability to act independently of external pressures from the United States, China or Russia.The government is launching a €500 bn investment fund aimed at modernising infrastructure and delivering high‑quality public goods. Coupled with a recent amendment to the “debt brake,” this financing will enable upgrades to the armed forces and deeper NATO engagement.Klingbeil also points to Europe’s talent drain, noting that many start‑ups relocate to the United States due to limited capital. To counter this, he advocates accelerating the single European capital‑markets union, giving firms easier access to financing.Germany’s traditional system of collective bargaining—linking unions, employers and the state—offers a strategic advantage during crises. Building on this, the proposed tax overhaul aims to raise disposable incomes for roughly 95 % of households while asking the wealthiest to contribute more.With a part‑time employment rate close to 40 %, one of the highest in the EU, and half of women working part‑time, the reform agenda targets structural labour‑market barriers. Current measures, such as income‑splitting for married couples, can discourage higher earnings because of benefit withdrawal thresholds.Investments in childcare facilities and the expansion of all‑day schools are also on the agenda, intended to ease family life and support higher labour‑force participation.Affordability measures will focus on reducing energy, transport and housing costs while improving education and childcare provision.The ongoing conflict in Iran reinforces the need for a decisive energy transition. Klingbeil calls for expanded wind and solar capacity, larger electricity‑storage solutions, and modernised grids, warning that any push to revive nuclear power threatens Germany’s sovereignty.Europe must continue to champion open trade, as illustrated by recent EU agreements with Australia, Mercosur nations and India. Yet, to guard against unfair competition, the bloc should consider local‑content rules and “Buy European” policies in strategic sectors, and tighten investment‑protection standards to ensure foreign takeovers deliver tangible economic and technological benefits.Public officials must lead the charge, but businesses are also urged to prioritize community and employee welfare over short‑term profit motives.These domestic reforms and external alliances are presented as two sides of the same coin: a confident, democratic Europe that acknowledges its weaknesses, embraces bold change, and sets its own terms on the global stage.Upcoming progressive leaders’ meetings in Barcelona (April 17‑18) will serve as a platform to cement this vision, positioning a reformed Germany as a cornerstone of a stronger Europe.In Klingbeil’s words, “strength is freedom; sovereignty is not about walls, but about having the power to keep them down.”

Angelina Jolie leads the new fashion‑driven drama Couture, bringing a rare level of personal honesty by confronting a storyline that mirrors her own double mastectomy performed to prevent breast cancer. While her performance is undeniably courageous, the film’s overall execution falls short of its ambitions.The plot follows Maxine, an American indie filmmaker (Jolie) who arrives in Paris to direct the opening short for a prestigious runway show. She discovers, through a compassionate doctor played by Vincent Lindon, that a recent biopsy confirms she has breast cancer, forcing her to consider postponing or abandoning her next project. Jolie conveys the shock and denial with subtlety, yet the script, penned by director Alice Winocour, often lapses into glib dialogue that undermines the emotional weight of the situation.Supporting characters include Ada, a fledgling South Sudanese model (Anyier Anei), makeup‑artist‑turned‑writer Angèle (Ella Rumpf), and the brooding first‑assistant director Anton (Louis Garrel). Their subplots—most notably Ada’s ankle injury that threatens the runway performance—remain underdeveloped, serving more as decorative set‑pieces than integral narrative threads.Visually, the film captures the glamour of Parisian haute couture with polished cinematography, yet this sheen accentuates the story’s lack of depth. The fashion world is presented with a “precious” aesthetic that feels specious, offering little insight beyond surface‑level allure.Despite these shortcomings, Jolie’s star power shines through. Her willingness to align a fictional role with a deeply personal health battle adds a layer of authenticity that the surrounding screenplay fails to sustain. ‘Couture’ will be available on digital platforms from 20 April, offering audiences a chance to appreciate Jolie’s performance even if the film’s broader ambitions remain unfulfilled.

In the heart of Belfast's urban landscape, a cherished meadow in Lower Botanic Gardens, affectionately known as 'our field', is facing a significant threat. This community garden, which has been rewilded and recultivated for a new age, has a rich history of adapting to the needs of the times. During World War II, it grew vegetables, and post-war, it provided housing in prefabricated homes.Today, the field continues to serve the local community in subtle yet transformative ways. It has been restored as a floodplain meadow, acting like a sponge to absorb rainfall and release it slowly, thereby providing a natural flood defence. The meadow is home to a variety of wildlife, including lady's-smock flowers and birds like the coal tit.The field is also a site for university research into improving carbon sequestration in crops and soil. However, despite its ecological and community value, Belfast City Council (BCC) has been debating converting it into a sports pitch, a move that has sparked concern among local residents.The potential conversion has been described as a land grab, with many feeling that it would undermine the field's ecological and community benefits. As one resident noted, the field's value extends beyond just being a green space; it provides a social and skills network for the community.With rising sea levels and increased rainfall due to climate change, the importance of preserving such green spaces cannot be overstated. The field's transformation into a sports pitch would not only destroy a unique ecosystem but also undermine efforts to enhance the city's resilience to climate change.

Beirut, Lebanon – In late March, authorities abandoned a proposed shelter for war‑displaced residents in the Karantina neighbourhood after a wave of public protest.Opponents, including local politicians and community activists, cited practical concerns such as traffic congestion near the port and health risks. However, the core of the backlash was sectarian: many Christian residents invoked demographic fears, chanting slogans reminiscent of the 1975‑1990 Lebanese Civil War to block housing for the predominantly Shia‑Muslim displaced population.The controversy resurfaced painful memories of the 1976 Karantina massacre, when right‑wing Phalangist forces expelled and killed thousands of Muslims. Historian Diala Lteif, researching the district’s history, estimates the death toll at 1,000‑3,000. She warned that the current rhetoric mirrors the “foundational logic” of that tragedy – a drive to segregate neighbourhoods.Israel’s intensified campaign against Lebanon has already forced the displacement of approximately 1.2 million people. The war, reignited on March 2 after Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket fire, has seen Israeli troops and air strikes devastate southern towns and parts of Beirut, heightening fears that hosting displaced families could draw further attacks.Amid these tensions, a 10‑day ceasefire is slated to begin, yet many Lebanese worry the violence could spiral into renewed communal conflict or even a civil war.Experts note that the association of displaced Shia communities with Hezbollah fuels anxiety. Lara Deeb, an anthropologist at Scripps College, explained that Lebanon’s sectarian political system blurs the line between a religious group and a political party, amplifying mistrust across the board.While the cancelled site remains unused, another displacement centre operated by the Lebanese charity Offre Joie continues to function in Karantina. It currently shelters about 1,000 displaced families from the south, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs.Volunteer Marie Daou described the centre’s conditions as comparatively decent, with reliable hot water and regular meals. Security forces monitor the residents’ identities, and no occupants have left despite more than 40 days of conflict.One resident, 30‑year‑old Nadine, fled her home in Burj al‑Barajneh on March 2. She now lives with five siblings at the centre, saying, “For now, we’re staying here. You can’t go back because there is danger, but nowhere is safe. We will endure.”The episode highlights how historic sectarian wounds intersect with today’s geopolitical crisis, shaping public policy and community responses in a Lebanon already strained by war and displacement.