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Deep in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a tireless conservationist is working to safeguard the future of the critically endangered Grauer's gorilla. Dominique Bikaba, founder and executive director of Strong Roots Congo, has dedicated his life to protecting these majestic creatures and their habitats.Bikaba's journey into conservation began in 1992, driven by a desire to mediate tensions between park authorities and displaced communities. His work is deeply personal, rooted in his own experiences growing up near Kahuzi-Biega national park, where his family was displaced in the 1970s. The park, a sanctuary for Grauer's gorillas, elephants, and a rich array of wildlife, is a landscape of immense biological wealth and political fragility.The Grauer's gorilla, the largest subspecies of primates, can weigh up to 250kg (39st). However, their numbers have drastically declined due to conflict, slash-and-burn agriculture, and hunting for bush meat. Before the conflicts, there were approximately 17,000 Grauer's gorillas; by 2016, that number had dwindled to around 3,800.Bikaba's organization, Strong Roots Congo, aims to create a biodiversity corridor linking Kahuzi-Biega national park with Itombwe nature reserve. This ambitious project seeks to secure 1m hectares of land for wildlife and Indigenous communities, formalizing customary land rights and promoting coexistence. So far, Strong Roots has helped establish 23 community forests, covering about 600,000 hectares.Bikaba emphasizes the importance of community-led conservation. "What we are doing is putting communities back together, so they can thrive together as they have done for centuries," he says. His approach contrasts with traditional conservation models that often cast local people as threats. Bikaba believes that humans are part of nature and that there is much wisdom to be learned from communities living in forests.Despite the challenges posed by ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, Bikaba remains committed to his work. "If there is one thing we should avoid in life, it's war," he says. "If there is a way we can stop war in this region, we should do it. No matter the cost."

Ipswich Town secured a vital 2-1 victory over Birmingham City on Easter Monday, propelling them into the automatic promotion places in the Championship. The win came courtesy of a decisive goal from Kasey McAteer, his first since joining the club last summer.The match was played against the backdrop of controversy surrounding Nigel Farage's visit to Portman Road on March 23. Farage, the leader of Reform UK, was seen wearing an Ipswich shirt with the number 10 on it, sparking division among fans and a heated debate about the club's apolitical stance. The club's chairman, Mark Ashton, later apologized for any hurt, pain, or distress caused by the incident.On the pitch, Ipswich dominated proceedings, with McAteer scoring the winning goal after Birmingham's Carlos Vicente had given them a surprise first-half lead. The hosts' full-backs played a crucial role in securing the draw and ultimately the win, with Darnell Furlong's cross leading to Ben Johnson's equalizing goal.The second half saw Birmingham push for an equalizer, with Ibrahim Osman's introduction making a significant impact. However, despite some nervy moments, Ipswich held firm, and McAteer's goal sealed the win and sent the home fans into raptures. This victory moves Ipswich into second place on goal difference above Millwall, with Middlesbrough still to play their evening game.

Lincoln City secured a long‑awaited return to the Championship, overcoming Reading 2‑1 in a match that featured an early strike, a late equaliser and a dramatic winner in added time. Needing only a point, the Imps surged ahead in the fifth minute when Ryan Oné finished from a Reeco Hackett‑Fairchild free‑kick, prompting jubilant cheers from the 2,884 travelling supporters. Reading fought back and, after a sustained pressure, levelled the score in the second minute of stoppage time via a precise Lewis Wing free‑kick, briefly reviving the Royals' playoff hopes. Just four minutes later, Jack Moylan seized the decisive moment, netting from close range in the 96th minute to seal Lincoln's promotion – the club’s first appearance in the second tier since 1961. The victory was mirrored by a cascade of results across the English Football League. In League One, Peterborough United drew 1‑1 with second‑placed Cardiff City, while Bradford City rallied to beat Wycombe Wanderers 2‑1, keeping their playoff ambitions alive. Meanwhile, a 2‑2 stalemate between Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County effectively ended both clubs' chances of automatic promotion, and Stevenage edged Blackpool 1‑0 thanks to Harvey White’s 66th‑minute strike. Further down the table, Luton Town maintained their playoff push with a 3‑0 win over AFC Wimbledon, Wigan Athletic moved closer to safety after a 3‑1 triumph at Northampton Town, and Exeter City broke a 15‑match winless run by thrashing Doncaster Rovers 3‑0. In League Two, MK Dons were held to a 1‑1 draw by Oldham Athletic, Notts County surged into the top three with a 3‑1 victory over Newport County, and Swindon Town overturned a deficit to beat Walsall 2‑1. Across the divisions, the final‑day results reshaped the promotion race, tightened relegation battles and set the stage for an exciting start to the next season.

Norwich City's Oscar Schwartau scored a crucial goal off the bench to secure a 2-1 win against Millwall, dealing a significant blow to their promotion hopes and boosting Ipswich's chances.The match saw Millwall take the lead through Mihailo Ivanovic but Norwich City equalized with a long-range rocket from Pelle Mattsson and Schwartau's winner in the 76th minute.In other matches, Middlesbrough earned a precious point from a 2-2 draw at Swansea, with Tommy Conway scoring a second-half penalty equalizer.Charlton manager Nathan Jones reported that Conor Coady was taken to hospital after being knocked out during the 1-1 draw at Watford.Portsmouth drew 2-2 with Oxford United in a relegation dogfight, with Andre Dozzell scoring an 87th-minute equalizer.Bristol City secured a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United thanks to Radek Vitek's inspired goalkeeping performance.Derby earned a 2-0 home win over Stoke, with Jaydon Banel and Carlton Morris scoring the goals.QPR drew 1-1 with Preston, with Thierry Small scoring an unfortunate own goal.Leicester drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday, with Jordan Ayew scoring a late goal to deny the hosts their first home league win of the season.

The 2026 football calendar has been unusually fragmented, with international fixtures squeezed into March for World Cup qualifying play‑offs, leaving only a handful of matches over the weekend. This odd scheduling created a three‑week lull in the domestic title race, a pause that proved advantageous for cup competitions.Manchester City’s Carabao Cup victory offered a tactical showcase for Pep Guardiola, reminding fans that silverware cannot be taken for granted after last season’s disappointment. The win set the stage for a weekend of high‑stakes FA Cup action.In the FA Cup quarter‑finals, Southampton defeated Arsenal in a match steeped in nostalgia, as the hosts wore a pale yellow‑blue kit echoing their 1976 triumph. The result highlighted the competition’s ability to generate drama beyond league narratives.One of the most compelling stories came from Ross Stewart, Sunderland’s former striker now with Southampton. After a career hampered by a ruptured Achilles in an FA Cup tie three years earlier, Stewart returned to the competition and scored against Arsenal, the very side that had previously exposed his hamstring woes. At 29, his goal not only propelled Southampton forward but also secured him a place in the upcoming FA Cup semi‑final at Wembley.The weekend also featured Manchester City’s dominant display against Liverpool, intensifying speculation over Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s future, and a gritty penalty shoot‑out win for West Ham over Leeds, underscoring the unpredictable nature of knockout football.For Arsenal, the loss raises serious concerns. The Gunners entered the break on a 14‑match unbeaten league run, only to suffer consecutive defeats and display uncharacteristic nervousness after half‑time against City. The return of goalkeeper David Raya, whose distribution could alleviate Arsenal’s pressing issues, may help, but the team’s injury list and erratic passing remain problematic.Overall, the weekend proved that the FA Cup remains a vital pillar of English football, capable of elevating unsung players like Stewart and delivering moments that resonate far beyond the Premier League title chase.

The UK Prime Minister's recent comments on seeking closer relations with the EU are a step in the right direction, but a piecemeal approach to repairing the damage done by Brexit is unlikely to succeed.A more ambitious plan would be for Labour to announce a referendum on whether the UK should open negotiations on re-entry to the EU, promising a general election to secure a mandate to implement the proposal should the British public vote in favour. This would allow the government to seize the initiative and provide it with an issue around which to rally a broad base of electoral support.This approach would also expose the increasing reluctance of Reform UK and the Conservatives to defend Brexit and silence accusations of the betrayal of British voters.Ultimately, it would provide a practical route for restoring Britain to its rightful place within the EU, at a time when shifts in the global order make that task more urgent than ever.

After a decade of becoming a staple of Augusta National’s gift shops, the beloved 14‑inch ceramic Masters gnome may be facing retirement at the 2026 tournament. While the club has declined to comment, collectors are already scrambling to purchase the final batches before the item potentially disappears from the merchandise lineup.First introduced in 2016 as a hospitality giveaway, the gnome was opened to the public in 2018 and quickly turned into a hot‑ticket collectible. The 2020 “Santa” edition, released during the pandemic‑shifted November Masters, has become especially prized, with complete sets now fetching upwards of $20,000 (£15,000) on the secondary market.According to sporting‑auctions specialist Ryan Carey, a 2016‑era gnome could command around $10,000 at auction, despite its original retail price of just $49.50. Resale platforms routinely list the figures at several multiples of cost, prompting owners to guard their gnomes as if they were cash.The demand is so intense that estimates suggest roughly 1,000 gnomes are stocked each day, yet they sell out within an hour. Fans line up for hours before the gates open, eager to secure the item that can dramatically boost their pension pots. Because attendees may re‑enter the course, many purchase the gnome, park it in their vehicle, and return later, turning the shop into a high‑stakes arena each Masters week.While the gnome trade thrives in a quasi‑black‑market environment, Augusta officials appear unconcerned about the financial implications. The tournament generates an estimated $70 million in annual merchandising revenue, and the removal of the gnome would likely elevate its underground value even further.For 2026, the gnome arrives with a functional umbrella—a whimsical nod to the fair weather forecast—but critics argue that the relentless “gnome‑hunting” may be eroding the overall patron experience. Limits on the number of gnomes an individual can purchase have done little to curb the frenzy.If Augusta decides to discontinue the gnome, its brief but spectacular lifespan will have left an indelible mark on golf culture, turning a simple ceramic figurine into one of the sport’s most coveted memorabilia.

Chelsea FC Women have advanced to the Women's FA Cup semi-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur Women. The Blues' manager, Sonia Bompastor, expressed relief and pride in her team's performance, despite the grueling schedule they have faced. The match at Kingsmeadow was an intense, end-to-end battle, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Sam Kerr opened the scoring in the 40th minute, heading Keira Walsh's cross past Lize Kop. However, Tottenham responded well, and Eveliina Summanen equalized seven minutes after halftime with a free-kick that floated over the Chelsea defense. The game seemed destined for extra time, but Veerle Buurman's stunning, rising strike with just four minutes of normal time remaining secured the win for Chelsea. This goal sparked wild celebrations among the home fans and Buurman's teammates. Bompastor praised her players' resilience and highlighted the importance of communication with national team coaches to manage the players' workload effectively. With their Women's Super League title hopes all but extinguished and the League Cup already won, Chelsea is now focused on securing a domestic cup double. Tottenham's manager, Martin Ho, was pleased with his team's performance, noting that they showed character and grit despite the defeat. He emphasized that the team can take positives from the match as they look to bounce back in their next game against Manchester United.

Courtney Lawes, the 37‑year‑old former England captain, is slated to return to the English Premiership after completing two seasons with French club Brive. His departure will be announced at the close of the 2025‑26 season.Lawes, who retired from international rugby following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, moved to France after helping Northampton Saints clinch the 2023‑24 Premiership title. During his 17‑year tenure at Saints, he secured two Premiership championships and two European Challenge Cup trophies.While the specific English club he will join remains undisclosed, the move would render him eligible once again for England selection. Brive’s management expressed support for his decision, noting the club’s appreciation for his contributions.Brive president Thierry Blandinières praised Lawes, stating: “We are very proud to say that Courtney Lawes will have been a Brive player for two seasons. He arrived here with humility and ambition and has shown the full extent of his talent since his first day in Brive.” The club added that Lawes is “one of the legends of world rugby and one of the best back‑row forwards of his generation.”Lawes’ international résumé includes 105 caps, three Six Nations titles, and participation in four Rugby World Cups. He was part of the England side that finished runner‑up in 2019 and secured third place in 2023.Reflecting on his time in Corrèze, Lawes said: “I’m having an experience in Brive that I’ll never forget, both on and off the pitch. I’m going to give it my all until the end of the season to finish this adventure with CAB in the best possible way. My family and I have been very warmly welcomed in Corrèze and we will always have Brive at heart.”