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Baz Luhrmann's Romeo+Juliet has stood the test of time, remaining a vibrant and captivating film thirty years after its release. This modern retelling of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy, set in a fictional Verona Beach with Mexico City as its backdrop, was a critical and commercial success upon its debut.The film's irreverent and questioning approach to the classic tale resonated with audiences, offering a fresh take on the star-crossed lovers' story. Luhrmann's vision, co-scripted with Craig Pearce, preserved the original text while infusing it with a sunburst of energy and a unique blend of style and substance.The cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet, delivered memorable performances that brought depth and nuance to their characters. The supporting cast, featuring Harold Perrineau as Mercutio and Paul Rudd as Paris, added to the film's richness and complexity.Luhrmann's direction and the film's lurid 90s crime-chic design have aged remarkably well, with the movie's themes of love, transgression, and tragedy remaining as relevant today as they were upon its initial release. Romeo+Juliet is a testament to the enduring power of Shakespeare's work and Luhrmann's innovative vision.The film's re-release in UK cinemas on March 27 offers a new generation of audiences the opportunity to experience this joyful tragedy on the big screen, and it is sure to continue to captivate and inspire viewers for years to come.

Dash Crofts, the renowned musician from the soft rock duo Seals and Crofts, has died at the age of 85. His passing was announced by the duo's producer, Louie Shelton, on social media. Crofts succumbed to complications following heart surgery, as confirmed by a family member. Crofts and his musical partner, Jim Seals, crafted some of the most iconic hits of the 1970s, including 'Summer Breeze' and 'Diamond Girl'. Their 1972 album 'Summer Breeze' reached the top 10 in the US and featured the hit single 'Hummingbird'. The duo's gentle musical style, characterized by breezy soft rock, became a staple of the decade. The duo faced controversy with their 1974 album 'Unborn Child', which reflected their Bahá’í faith. The title track sparked a backlash and was banned by some radio stations following the landmark Roe v Wade ruling. Despite this, their music continued to resonate with audiences, and they remain celebrated for their contributions to the soft rock genre. After the duo disbanded in 1980, Crofts pursued a quieter life in Nashville, focusing on country music. Yacht rock, the genre they helped define, has seen a recent resurgence in popularity, with a 2024 HBO documentary highlighting its importance. Crofts' legacy continues to inspire new generations of music lovers.

A jury in the United States has ordered social media giant Meta to pay $375m for harming children's mental health and making them vulnerable to sexual exploitation.The verdict, handed down in New Mexico after a six-week trial, marks the first time a US state has successfully sued Meta over child safety issues. State authorities accused Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, of failing to protect minors.Jurors sided with state prosecutors who argued that Meta prioritized profits over safety and violated parts of New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act. The jury agreed with allegations that Meta made false or misleading statements and engaged in 'unconscionable' trade practices that unfairly took advantage of the vulnerabilities and inexperience of children.The case involved testimony from 40 witnesses, including employees-turned-whistle-blowers, and reviewed hundreds of documents, reports, and emails. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez called the verdict 'a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta's choice to put profits over kids' safety.'Meta has stated that it will appeal the verdict, with a spokesperson saying, 'We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal. We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content.'A second phase in New Mexico's proceedings against Meta is scheduled to begin in May, when a judge will hear the state's claim that the company should be ordered to pay additional penalties and make specific changes to its platforms and company operations.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has urged for the expulsion of the Israeli Football Association (IFA) from all international institutions after a recent FIFA report revealed multiple breaches of its anti-discrimination obligations.PFA chief Jibril Rajoub stated during a news conference in the occupied West Bank city of el-Bireh that the IFA's actions, including alleged racist behavior and criminal activities by some officials, justify a ban.The FIFA report fined the IFA 150,000 Swiss francs ($190,700) for the breaches, which Rajoub described as a significant but insufficient penalty.Rajoub cited several reasons for the proposed ban, including the IFA's 'racist nature', alleged criminal activity by some Israeli sports officials, and the inclusion of football clubs from Israeli West Bank settlements in the Israeli federation.The report highlighted the IFA's failure to address 'persistent and well-documented racist behaviour' by Beitar Jerusalem, which Rajoub described as an extreme example of racism, fascism, and discrimination prevalent in Israeli football.Rajoub also mentioned instances of players killed during the conflict in Gaza and the destruction of sports facilities, stating that 1,007 athletes and coaches were killed and 265 sports facilities damaged since the war started in October 2023.At least five football clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are members of the IFA, which is part of UEFA, European football's governing body.

Mircea Lucescu, Romania's 80-year-old football manager, is defying his physical limitations to pursue his country's World Cup aspirations. Lucescu has been hospitalized three times since December but remains resolute in his mission to lead Romania to their first World Cup in 28 years. Lucescu's determination is rooted in his passion for football and his sense of duty to Romanian football. He believes that his team has a chance to qualify for the World Cup and is focused on preparing them for the playoff semi-final against Turkey. Despite his advanced age and health issues, Lucescu's energy and love for the game have not diminished. He has a long and illustrious career in football, having played for Romania at the 1970 World Cup and later managed the national team to several successful campaigns. Lucescu's approach to coaching emphasizes the importance of mental preparation and motivation. He believes that his players must be strongly motivated and able to control their emotions in order to succeed. The buildup to the Turkey game has not been easy for Lucescu, with injuries to key players Ionut Radu and Marius Marin. However, he remains focused on the task at hand and is determined to lead his team to victory. Lucescu's legacy in football is undeniable, with over 30 trophies won throughout his career. His second stint as Romania manager began shortly after the 2024 European Championship, and he is eager to make a lasting impact on the team. As Lucescu prepares for the playoff semi-final, he is also mindful of the broader context of Ukrainian football, having left a legacy in the country after 12 years at Shakhtar Donetsk and three with Dynamo Kyiv. He keeps in touch with his former players and friends in Ukraine, who are facing a difficult situation due to the ongoing conflict. Lucescu's ultimate goal is to help Romania qualify for the World Cup, not for personal glory but for the benefit of Romanian football. He hopes that his players will treat this game as a moment to mark a before and after, defining a generation and achieving an extraordinary feat for Romania.

The Football Association (FA) is standing firm in its decision to host the 2035 Women's World Cup final at Wembley Stadium, despite lobbying from Manchester United to have the event held at a rebuilt Old Trafford.Manchester United's chief executive of New Stadium Development, Collette Roche, publicly expressed the club's aspirations to host the 2035 final, but the FA remains committed to staging the showpiece occasion at Wembley.The FA had named Wembley as its preferred venue for the final when submitting its official bid for the tournament to Fifa last November, and this position will not change even if Manchester United succeeds in building a new 100,000-seat stadium before the finals.The ultimate decision on the venue for the final will be taken by Fifa, but it would be a huge surprise if they overruled the wishes of the governing body that is leading the bid. The FA is fronting a joint bid from the home nations to stage the Women's World Cup for the first time in what would be the biggest sporting event ever staged in the UK.The current Old Trafford is one of 22 proposed stadiums in the bid book – 16 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland – but will be replaced by the new stadium if it is built on time. Manchester United are still in the process of securing funding for a project that could cost over £2bn, while the club also needs to purchase land from the haulage company Freightliner.

Coco Gauff has proven her mental toughness once again by battling through to the semi-finals of the Miami Open, despite facing significant challenges. The American tennis star has been dealing with an unfamiliar arm injury and has been under pressure to revamp her serve, but she has shown remarkable resilience. Gauff's latest victory came against Bencic, where she won 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in a hard-fought match. This marks her best result at her hometown tournament, and she continues to defy expectations. Her ability to overcome adversity and push through difficult situations is a testament to her fighting spirit. In a candid interview, Gauff discussed her struggles with imposter syndrome, revealing that she sometimes feels like she doesn't belong at the top level of tennis. “I think I have to believe that I belong where I am,” she said. “Sometimes I can get imposter syndrome and even when they’re saying my accomplishments during the warm-up, it doesn’t feel like me.” Gauff's serve has been under intense scrutiny recently, but she managed to deliver a solid performance against Bencic, firing down six aces and committing just five double faults. Her determination to believe in herself and her abilities has been key to her success. Next, Gauff will face Karolína Muchová, the 13th seed, in the semi-finals. Despite Muchová being one of the in-form players on the tour, Gauff leads their head-to-head 5-0, giving her a significant advantage.

The London Marathon is in advanced talks to host a two-day event in 2027, dubbed the Double London Marathon, which could see a record 100,000 amateur runners participate over the weekend of April 24-25. The proposed event, if approved, would allow 50,000 runners to take part each day. The elite men's and women's races would be staged on separate days, showcasing both top-level and grassroots sport. Last year, a record 56,540 finishers raised £87.3m for charity, making London the world's largest annual one-day fundraising event. The goal for 2027 is to raise more than £130m for charity and deliver a significant boost to London's wellbeing and economy. The plan has garnered support from the mayor's office and could provide a unique opportunity to promote unity and community across the country. Over 1.1m people entered the public ballot to run in 2026, with many left disappointed due to the event's soaring popularity. The London Marathon's chief executive, Hugh Brasher, stated: “The TCS London Marathon is the world's most popular marathon, and we are always exploring innovative ways to enable more people to take part and to deliver positive benefits for London.”

According to a report by IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring firm, Pakistan was the world's smoggiest country in 2025 with concentrations of hazardous fine particles known as PM2.5 up to 13 times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO's) recommended level.The report, which sourced data from 9,446 cities in 143 countries, regions and territories, found that only 13 countries and territories managed to keep their average fine particulate levels below the WHO guideline, an increase from seven in 2024.Pakistan's PM2.5 level was 67.3 microgrammes per cubic metre, significantly exceeding the WHO standard of 5 microgrammes per cubic metre. In comparison, Pakistan's average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 was 73.7 microgrammes.Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to higher likelihoods of neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.Bangladesh and Tajikistan ranked second and third on IQAir's list of the most polluted countries while Chad, statistically the smoggiest country in 2024, was in fourth place in 2025.The report also noted that Loni, a city in northern India, was identified as the world's most polluted city in 2025 with average PM2.5 levels of 112.5 microgrammes per cubic metre.Globally, only 14 percent of cities met the WHO air quality standard in 2025, down from 17 percent a year earlier. The report highlighted that wildfires, driven by climate change, were a key factor behind worsening global air quality in 2025 as record levels of biomass burning in Europe and Canada released about 1,380 megatonnes of carbon.