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Formula One drivers and leading figures have urged immediate action to address safety concerns in the sport following a massive crash involving Oliver Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix. The incident, which Bearman described as 'scary,' has highlighted the potential dangers of the sport's new regulations, which allow for large closing speeds between cars.Bearman, a British driver, was involved in a huge accident at the Japanese Grand Prix after he had to swerve to avoid hitting Franco Colapinto's car, which was going relatively slowly. The crash resulted in a 50G impact and could have had severe consequences. However, Bearman escaped with only bruising.The Haas team principal, Ayao Komatsu, agreed that Bearman had a lucky escape, stating, 'Yes, it could have been a lot worse.' He emphasized that safety should always be top of the list and that the incident cannot be ignored.The world champion, Lando Norris, had previously warned that the new regulations posed a risk to the sport. His McLaren team principal, Andrea Stella, had also highlighted the potential danger before the season began during testing.After the accident, Carlos Sainz of Williams was unequivocal that action had to be taken, stating, 'We've been warning them about this happening.' He emphasized that the current regulations create massive closing speeds and a safer way of racing is needed.The FIA has confirmed that the regulations will be reviewed before the next round in Miami in five weeks. A number of meetings are scheduled in April to assess the operation of the new regulations and determine whether any refinements are required.

The US Men's National Team (USMNT) faced a daunting challenge as they welcomed Belgium to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for an international friendly, but the match ended in a 5-2 drubbing for the home side.Coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad, still finding its footing under his leadership, struggled to contain Belgium's offense, conceding five consecutive goals after taking an early lead. The loss exposed significant gaps in team chemistry and cohesion, particularly in defensive sequences.Pochettino acknowledged that his team's performance was disjointed and uneven, with players visibly unsure of their responsibilities on the field. He noted that when his team matched Belgium's intensity, they were 'even, in some moment, we were better,' but couldn't sustain that level throughout the 90 minutes.The match saw several US players, including Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic, struggle to adapt to their roles, while Belgium's Jérémy Doku proved particularly troublesome for the US defense. The scoreline flattered Belgium, but Pochettino emphasized that it was a valuable learning experience for his team.With only one friendly remaining against Portugal before naming his squad for the 2026 World Cup cycle, Pochettino faces a challenging task in fine-tuning his team's performance and chemistry. The March window has turned into a 'hell week' for the USMNT, with Tuesday's match against Portugal being the last chance to iron out kinks before the grand stage.

Caster Semenya, the South African two-time Olympic 800m champion, has expressed strong disapproval of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to reinstate sex verification tests for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Semenya, who has been a symbol of the struggle for hyperandrogenic athletes, described the move as 'a disrespect for women'.The IOC's new policy, announced on Thursday, limits eligibility for female category events to biological females, determined through a one-time SRY gene screening. This move effectively bans transgender athletes and a large number of intersex athletes from women's sports.Semenya, who has male XY chromosomes, is a well-known athlete with a difference in sex development (DSD). She has been a vocal advocate for the rights of athletes like herself, who are often subjected to sex verification tests and scrutiny.The IOC's decision has been met with criticism from Semenya and others, who argue that such tests are ineffective and discriminatory. Semenya stated, 'For you as a woman, why will you be tested to prove that you fit? You know, it's like now we need to prove that we are worthy as women to take part in sports. That's a disrespect for women.'The new policy is set to be implemented starting with the 2028 Olympics, and will be carried out through a saliva sample, cheek swab, or blood sample. This move has sparked controversy, with many arguing that it undermines the rights and dignity of transgender and intersex athletes.

Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, dominated the Japanese Grand Prix to become the youngest driver to lead the Formula One world championship at just 19 years, six months, and 28 days old. Antonelli's victory was marked by a confident drive, where he overcame a difficult start to secure a second consecutive win. He started from pole but dropped to sixth at the start, only to regain the lead after a well-timed safety car period gave him a free pit stop. Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished second, 13.722 seconds behind, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari taking third place. Meanwhile, George Russell, Antonelli's teammate, had a challenging race, finishing fourth but now trails Antonelli by nine points in the championship standings. The race was not without incident; a major crash involving Oliver Bearman resulted in a safety car deployment, which proved pivotal in Antonelli's victory. Bearman, who was lucky to escape uninjured, suffered a 50G impact and was taken to the medical centre with a right knee contusion. Antonelli's performance not only secured his second win of the season but also marked a significant milestone in his career, as he broke Lewis Hamilton's record as the youngest driver to lead the championship since 2007.

The UK television landscape has undergone a significant change this Easter, as new regulations banning junk food advertising before 9pm have taken effect. For the first time, viewers will not be subjected to a barrage of advertisements for chocolate eggs and hot cross buns during their Easter celebrations.The regulations, which came into force at the beginning of the year, aim to tackle rising childhood obesity by prohibiting products high in fat, sugar, and salt from appearing in TV ads before 9pm. This move has resulted in a sugar-free viewing experience for UK audiences during Easter.The impact on the advertising industry has been notable, with TV advertising spending by confectionery and snacks brands almost halving year-on-year between October and February. Overall TV ad spend is down at least 15% year-on-year.Industry bodies and broadcasters have argued that the ban is more political PR than an effective policy, with the chief executive of ITV, Carolyn McCall, and former Channel 4 boss, Alex Mahon, pointing out that the government’s own research showed that the number of calories saved would be 1.7 a day, about a third of a Smartie.Campaigners argue that big food companies are compensating for the ban by upping marketing budgets on other media, such as outdoor media and radio. A battle is already brewing over the likely introduction of further restrictions, with the government launching a consultation on adopting a newer nutrient profiling model that would deem a far wider range of products too high in fat, salt, and sugar.

The UK vape industry is sounding the alarm about the proliferation of fake vapes on the market, which can pose serious health risks to users. These counterfeit devices are often sold in high street shops and can look identical to legitimate products, making them difficult to spot.According to the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), around 5m illegal devices have been seized over the last three years, with a street value of £39m. These devices often lack safety features, such as circuit protection to prevent overheating, which can cause them to catch fire.John Dunne, head of the UKVIA, warns that fake vapes may cause damage to people's health as they have not undergone the same testing regime as legal devices. 'Where the packaging might look similar and the product itself may look similar, these companies may not have the same safety features built into the device, because the copycats tend to try and make the product as cheap as possible,' he says.So, how can you spot a fake vape? One of the key telltale signs is if the box does not have a UK distributor's address on it. Other signs include poor-quality packaging with low-resolution photos or labels, and missing nicotine warnings and ingredient lists. The device name or labelling may also be written in a foreign language.If you suspect that you have bought a fake vape, you can file a report through the UKVIA or contact your local Trading Standards office. You can also check whether a brand has been registered with the MHRA through its website.

Max Verstappen, the Dutch Formula One driver and four-time world champion, expressed his frustration with his Red Bull car after qualifying 11th for the Japanese Grand Prix. The car has been struggling with new regulations that split power 50-50 between conventional and electrical sources.Verstappen described the car as 'undriveable', citing issues with turning mid-corner and oversteering on entry. 'The car never turns mid-corner, but at the same time this weekend, it's just oversteering a lot on entry. It's really difficult, unpredictable,' he told Sky Sports F1.In contrast, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes secured pole position with a fastest lap of 1min 28.778sec, followed by teammate George Russell and McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Antonelli, 19, became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China and has now secured back-to-back poles.Russell, who leads the early championship standings, was 0.298sec behind Antonelli and acknowledged struggling with his car during qualifying. 'I've been really comfortable with the car this whole weekend, it's just in qualifying something didn't quite feel right,' he said.The Japanese Grand Prix promises to be an exciting race, with Mercedes showing dominant form in dry conditions at Suzuka. Verstappen, who has won at Suzuka for the past four years, will look to bounce back from a difficult start to the season.

Jeepney driver Arturo Modelo of Manila says his daily earnings have collapsed to roughly one‑third of the usual 600 pesos after fuel costs surged, leaving him unable even to afford his child’s lunch money.Modelo joined a two‑day transport strike on Thursday and Friday, hoping to make a “deaf government” listen to the plight of drivers who can no longer earn a living on the road.The iconic jeepney, born from repurposed U.S. military vehicles after World War II, remains the most affordable commuter option in the Philippines, yet its operators are now bearing the brunt of a global oil shock.Last week, jeepney owners walked out, and this week the protest expanded to include bus, taxi, minibus and motorcycle‑taxi drivers. Nearly a dozen national transport groups marched to the Presidential Palace demanding price caps on petrol and diesel, the removal of fuel taxes, and stricter regulation of the oil sector.Organised under the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition, the demonstrators also blamed “American aggression” against Iran for the domestic economic distress, with union chair Jerome Adonis likening the impact to “a bomb dropped on us”.In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency on Tuesday night – the first such declaration in the country’s history. The emergency, set to last one year, grants the government powers to accelerate fuel procurement, curb hoarding and curb profiteering.Fuel prices remain among the highest in Southeast Asia: diesel is now about $2.3 per litre and petrol close to $2 per litre in the Philippines, versus $2.7 and $2.35 respectively in Singapore, while Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand report roughly half those prices.To alleviate the burden, the administration has introduced a 5,000‑peso ($83) subsidy for motorcycle‑taxi drivers and other public‑transport workers, and disbursed 2.5 billion pesos (≈$414 million) in fuel subsidies to roughly 300,000 transport employees. Unions claim the sector employs about two million people, leaving many without aid.During the strike, picket lines appeared at 85 commuter terminals, and jeepneys were scarce on Manila’s usually congested streets. Authorities, however, argued that the action did not cripple the city’s transport network.Union leader Mody Floranda of the Piston group accused President Marcos of favouring oil companies, saying the president could issue an executive order to cap prices but has yet to act decisively.Energy officials note that 98 % of the Philippines’ crude oil is imported and that the country’s high 12 % value‑added tax, excise duties and a deregulated market – shaped by the Oil Industry Deregulation Law of 1998 – amplify price volatility. Professor Krista Yu of De La Salle University highlighted the nation’s limited refining capacity as a structural weakness.Chief economist Emmanuel Leyco warned that the law allowing industry‑driven price adjustments “is the main culprit”, especially as “half the population is poor”.Amid mounting pressure, Marcos signed legislation permitting the temporary suspension of fuel excise taxes when crude oil prices exceed a set threshold. Opposition lawmaker Renee Co urged that the 12 % VAT also be removed, calling both taxes “regressive” burdens on ordinary Filipinos.Co and other lawmakers have also filed a resolution demanding an immediate end to the U.S.‑Israel‑Iran conflict, linking regional geopolitics to the domestic fuel crisis.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has successfully thwarted a plot to assassinate prominent Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani, co-founder of the activist group Within Our Lifetime. According to authorities, a suspect, Andrew Heifler, 26, was taken into custody for allegedly planning to throw Molotov cocktails at Kiswani's home in New York City.Kiswani, 31, was informed by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force on Thursday of a threat against her life. The arrest was the result of an undercover law enforcement operation. Heifler was reportedly part of an offshoot of the far-right Jewish Defense League (JDL), an extremist group known for violent attacks against Arab American activists during the 1970s and 1980s.New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the incident, stating, 'We will not tolerate violent extremism in our city. No one should face violence for their political beliefs or their advocacy.' Heifler had planned to flee to Israel after carrying out the attack. Authorities recovered eight Molotov cocktails from his residence during a search.The incident highlights the increasing harassment and surveillance faced by Palestinian rights activists in the US, both from government authorities and far-right pro-Israel groups. Kiswani had previously reported receiving threats, stating that 'Zionist organizations like Betar and politicians like Randy Fine have encouraged violence against my family and me' for several months.This foiled plot is part of a broader pattern of heightened tensions and threats against Muslim and Palestinian communities in the US, with advocates noting an increase in hateful rhetoric from US lawmakers.