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Cheltenham, the home of National Hunt racing, has made the unprecedented decision to cancel its three remaining meetings this season to address significant drainage problems on its home straight. The move impacts a combined total of nearly 25,000 spectators who were expected to attend the April and May fixtures.The issues came to light in January when a hole appeared in the home straight during the Trials meeting, delaying a race by 29 minutes. Subsequent assessments, including ground-penetrating radar surveys, led to the decision to undertake major drainage works over the summer.Jon Pullin, clerk of the course, emphasized that while drainage improvements are typically carried out at the end of each season, the scale of this project and Cheltenham's particularly dry summers necessitated bringing the work forward. The focus of the repairs is where the hole was discovered, which has caused challenges in other track areas.The next card at Cheltenham will be the first afternoon of the two-day Showcase fixture on October 23. Four races from the April meeting will be relocated to Market Rasen, Warwick, and Sandown, with the hunter-chase fixture on May 1 being staged at Warwick on the same evening.Guy Lavender, Cheltenham's chief executive, stated that the decision was made with careful consideration, highlighting the importance of giving the racing surface time to recover and allowing the grounds team to prepare for the next season.

The United Kingdom's prohibition on single-use vapes, implemented last June as part of efforts to address environmental concerns and curb youth vaping, is showing mixed results. 5.4 million adults in Great Britain now vape daily or occasionally, according to official figures, making these devices an inescapable part of modern British life.The ban, which carries penalties including fines up to £200 for initial violations and potential jail time for repeat offenders, was designed to tackle two significant issues: the environmental impact of millions of plastic devices with lithium-ion batteries ending up in landfills, and the rising popularity of vaping among young people.Recent data from the recycling campaign group Material Focus indicates that 6.3 million vapes and pods are still being discarded weekly, representing a nearly 25% decrease since the ban's implementation. While this suggests some impact, waste management companies report that the devices remain a major problem, with their batteries frequently causing fires in disposal facilities."It is quite a small reduction, really," said Sarah Marsh, the Guardian's consumer affairs correspondent and former vaper. "What we are hearing from Biffa and other waste companies is that they still have a massive problem with the waste, and that has not really changed. There are still fires and people still dump rechargeable vapes and the pods."Waste companies emphasize that the ban has not adequately addressed their concerns, noting that rechargeable vapes remain too inexpensive and appear disposable to many users. The lack of sufficient effort toward changing consumer behavior has limited the ban's effectiveness."If you introduce a ban like this but you don't put the support in place to achieve your goals, like making it easy for people to recycle, the ban isn't necessarily going to work," Marsh explained. "A ban in isolation is ineffective."The environmental challenges persist alongside concerns about youth vaping. The World Health Organization has warned that e-cigarettes are driving a new wave of nicotine use among children, who are nine times more likely than adults to vape. At least 15 million children vape globally according to WHO figures.While the UK government is conducting a large-scale study on vaping's impact on children, with a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds having tried vaping, there is not yet clear evidence on whether the disposable vape ban has affected youth usage patterns."In short, disposables have driven the surge in youth vaping, and banning them should bring numbers down, but it won't fix everything," Marsh noted. "Big tobacco companies are already set up to adapt fast and keep the next generation using nicotine. It won't be easy."Waste management companies are calling for more comprehensive solutions, including potential deposit reward schemes and changes to vape design and pricing that would discourage disposal. The UK government maintains that the ban was necessary to address the environmental blight and youth nicotine addiction caused by single-use vapes.

Egypt's national team director, Ibrahim Hassan, has issued a warning to Mohamed Salah against making a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) when he departs Liverpool at the end of the season. Salah has been with Liverpool for nine successful years, during which he won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.Hassan expressed his preference for Salah to stay in Europe, mentioning potential offers from top clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Italian league clubs. He believes a move to MLS would put Salah out of the spotlight, drawing a comparison with Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023.“I would prefer him to stay in Europe,” Hassan told On Sport. “I have heard about offers from Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league. A move to MLS? He would be far too out of the spotlight. You won’t remember Salah any more than I remember [Lionel] Messi now; I don’t even try to watch him.”As an alternative, Hassan suggested that the Saudi Pro League could be a suitable option for Salah if he chooses not to stay in Europe, citing the presence of big names like Cristiano Ronaldo.Salah is currently sidelined by injury and away from Egypt's training camp as they prepare for the World Cup in North America. Egypt face Spain in a friendly in Barcelona on Tuesday after a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Friday. The seven-times African champions are in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran at the World Cup.

Israel's parliament has passed a law that makes the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed acts of terrorism by a military court.The legislation, initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who warned it would mark a significant escalation in Israel's penal policy and potentially breach international law.According to the bill, those sentenced to death will be held in a separate facility with no visits except for from authorised personnel, with legal consultations conducted only by video link. Executions will be carried out within 90 days of sentencing.Israel has rarely used the death penalty, applying it only in exceptional cases. The Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was the last person to be executed, in 1962.The measure will allow courts to impose the death penalty without a request from prosecutors and without requiring unanimity, instead permitting a simple majority decision. Military courts in the occupied West Bank will also be empowered to hand down death sentences.For Palestinians under occupation, the bill closes off avenues for appeal or clemency, while prisoners tried inside Israel could have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.The legislation has been condemned by UN experts, the EU's diplomatic service, Amnesty International, and several countries, including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, who expressed 'deep concern' over the legislation.The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the legislation as a breach of international law and a doomed bid meant to intimidate Palestinians.

Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, the company behind the popular online game Fortnite, has issued an apology after facing backlash for laying off an employee with terminal brain cancer. The layoff not only resulted in the loss of income for the employee's family but also meant they would lose their life insurance. The controversy began when Jenni Griffin, the wife of Mike Prinke, a laid-off employee, shared their story on social media. She revealed that her husband was fighting terminal brain cancer and that the layoff meant they would lose his life insurance. Griffin expressed her concerns about the financial burden they would face, including the cost of a funeral and burial. Sweeney responded to Griffin's post, apologizing for not recognizing the situation earlier and promising that Epic Games would solve the insurance issue for the family. He stated that the company would provide a solution to ensure the family receives the necessary support. Epic Games announced the mass layoffs on March 24, citing a downturn in Fortnite engagement and a need to make major cuts to keep the company funded. Sweeney justified the layoffs by saying that the company was spending significantly more than it was making. Affected employees were offered a severance package, including at least four months of base pay, along with other benefits tied to tenure at the company. The layoffs have sparked controversy, with many questioning the decision to let go of over 1,000 employees despite the company's annual profits of $4 billion. Fortnite is the world's fourth most-played PC game, and the company's financial situation has raised concerns about the impact of the layoffs on employees and their families. Griffin's post, which included a picture of her husband's brain scan, quickly went viral, prompting Sweeney to respond and offer support to the family. The incident has highlighted the human impact of corporate decisions and the need for companies to consider the well-being of their employees.

Female athletes are on the verge of a major breakthrough in insurance coverage, addressing critical gaps in support for pregnancy, contraception, menopause, and health conditions that disproportionately affect women. This development stems from the Carney review, an independent assessment of women's football led by former England international Karen Carney.The Women's Football Taskforce, established by the government to implement the Carney review's recommendations, has collaborated with Loughborough University and leading insurance providers to ensure female athletes receive appropriate insurance coverage. Loughborough University, ranked the world's No. 1 university for sports-related subjects for a 10th consecutive year, played a pivotal role in driving these changes.The changes aim to address 'blind spots' in insurance policies, particularly concerning pregnancy, contraception, menopause, and conditions like Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (Red-S), a complex syndrome caused by low energy availability. Red-S can lead to metabolic, hormonal, and physiological changes, with indicators such as stress fractures and disruptions to the menstrual cycle.Karen Carney praised the development, stating, “Seeing the recommendations being taken seriously and resulting in tangible improvements is always amazing.” She emphasized the importance of the report and thanked those involved in making these changes a reality.Stephanie Peacock, the minister for sport and chair of the Women's Football Taskforce, welcomed the positive change, highlighting the collaborative effort with insurers and Prof Jo Maher of Loughborough University.The British Insurance Brokers’ Association is working with major brokers like Aon, Willis, and Marsh to revise policies. Aon has already extended its personal accident policies to include miscarriage as a result of a sporting accident as standard. Axis and Association for British Insurers are also reviewing their products to better support female athletes.Prof Jo Maher noted, “Developing products for female athletes marks an important step in ensuring we drive world-class and equitable standards in women’s sport.” She emphasized the collaborative effort to level the playing field and support the growing success of women's sports.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games have announced that 1 million tickets will be available for $28, with a presale for residents in qualifying areas of Los Angeles and Oklahoma City beginning on April 2. General public ticket sales will start on April 9. According to LA28, roughly 5% of the Olympic tickets will cost over $1,000, while more than 75% of all tickets, including finals, will be under $400 and nearly 50% of all tickets will be under $200. This pricing strategy aims to make the event more accessible to a wider audience. “Tickets are comparable to and in many cases well under what we see for other professional sporting and major entertainment events in the US,” said Allison Katz-Mayfield, LA28’s senior vice-president of Games delivery revenue. This statement highlights the organizers' effort to balance revenue goals with fan affordability. To address ticket security concerns, LA28 has named a group of verified resale platforms, including AXS, Eventim, Ticketmaster, and Sports Illustrated Tickets. The verified multi-platform resale programme will open in 2027, providing fans with multiple points of access to verified tickets. The announcement comes as organisers prepare for the first ticket drop and seek to warn fans against buying from unauthorised sellers. LA28 emphasized that primary tickets will only be sold through its official ticket service providers, AXS and Eventim.

The recent half-billion-dollar bet on oil prices just before Donald Trump's announcement of 'productive talks' with Iran has raised eyebrows. It appears that some traders had prior knowledge of the event, allowing them to make a profitable wager. This incident is not an isolated case. Suspiciously timed trades have been observed on Polymarket, an online prediction market, before major events like the US attack on Iran and the Venezuelan coup. A single account made over $400,000 in a short period, sparking concerns about insider trading and conflicts of interest within the Trump administration. The White House denies any wrongdoing, but the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures and $1.5 billion in earnings during Trump's second term have fueled speculation. The lack of regulation in betting markets, which use cryptocurrency and are decentralized, makes it difficult to track and shut down these activities. The article highlights a broader cultural shift towards monetizing everything, including politics, and the glorification of being one's own boss. This environment has created a culture of unscrupulous greed, where politicians and influencers promote dubious investment platforms and side hustles. The author suggests that Trump's actions represent an acceleration of existing dynamics, rather than a new phenomenon. The blurring of lines between politics and entertainment has turned politics into a global get-rich scheme. While we may never know if Trump directly benefited from these suspicious trades, it is clear that he is well adapted to this deregulated, rapacious, speculative culture.

The UK government is poised to fully nationalize British Steel within weeks, a significant move that would mark a major shift in the country's steel industry. British Steel, which employs 3,500 people at its Scunthorpe plant, has been under government control since last April, when the Chinese owner, Jingye, threatened to shut down the site. The steelmaker operates the last two remaining blast furnaces in the UK, crucial for producing steel from scratch. The government's decision to nationalize the company is driven by the need to maintain domestic steel production, which is considered vital for national security and economic growth. Ministers had offered Jingye £100m for British Steel earlier this month, but the offer was rejected. The Chinese company had initially demanded over £1bn. The government may now set Jingye a deadline to reach a deal or proceed with nationalization. The cost of keeping British Steel running has ballooned to £377m by the end of January, with projections suggesting it could exceed £1.5bn by 2028 if current trends continue. The National Audit Office has highlighted the need for a swift resolution to the ownership issue. Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, has expressed support for nationalization, stating it would provide vital certainty for the workforce, customers, and supply chain. The sector has seen significant interest from potential buyers, including Miami-based investor Michael Flacks. The UK government's move to protect the steel industry comes as part of broader efforts to counter cheap Chinese imports. Earlier in March, ministers announced plans to double tariffs on imported steel and reduce the amount of steel that can be bought from abroad.