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Liverpool FC's Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has announced that he will be leaving the Premier League club at the end of the season. The 33-year-old forward confirmed the news in a video message on social media, marking the 'first part' of his farewell.Salah will depart on a free transfer despite having 12 months remaining on his contract. The reasons behind his departure are not explicitly stated, but earlier in the season, he mentioned having a nonexistent relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot.The fan favorite accused the club of making him a scapegoat for their poor start to the Premier League season. Speculation about his next destination has been ongoing, with links to several clubs around the world.Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, stated that no decision has been made about his future. The Saudi Pro League, particularly Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, have been mentioned as potential destinations. A move to the MLS in the United States is also a possibility.Liverpool has respected Salah's wish to announce his departure early, celebrating his achievements and memorable moments with the club. Salah is one of the most decorated players in Premier League history, with 255 goals in 435 appearances and numerous awards, including three PFA Player of the Year titles and four Premier League Golden Boot awards.

Barcelona have taken a commanding 6-2 lead over rivals Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League quarterfinals, putting them on the brink of the semifinals. The Catalan side dominated the match, with Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts scoring within the first 13 minutes.Despite Linda Caicedo pulling one back for Real Madrid, Irene Paredes quickly restored Barcelona's two-goal lead. Pajor and Vicky Lopez added to the tally in the second half, with Caicedo scoring again for Madrid. Alexia Putellas sealed the win with a late penalty.Barcelona, now unbeaten in 25 games across all competitions, are on the verge of their eighth consecutive semifinal appearance. They have won all four matches against Real Madrid this season, scoring 16 goals to Madrid's two.Real Madrid face a tough task to progress, needing only their second-ever victory against Barcelona in 23 encounters. The second leg will take place next week, with Madrid also set to face Barcelona in Liga F at the weekend.

Oil prices have climbed higher amid fading hopes of deescalation in the Iran war following Tehran’s denial that talks with the United States are under way.Futures for Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose nearly 2 percent on Thursday to top $104 per barrel after Tehran dismissed reports of direct negotiations with US President Donald Trump’s administration.The rise comes after oil prices eased on Wednesday following reports that Trump had shared a 15-point plan for ending the war with Iran.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with state media aired on Wednesday that Tehran was not engaged in direct talks with Washington and has “no intention of negotiating for now”.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned on Wednesday that Iran would be “hit harder” than ever before if Tehran did not accept military defeat.Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for one-fifth of global oil supplies, and its attacks on energy facilities across the Middle East have prompted a surge in energy prices worldwide.Oil prices are up more than 40 percent compared with before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting numerous countries to implement fuel rationing and other energy conservation measures.Market-watchers say prices are likely to rise further until shipping is free to traverse the strait, despite efforts by countries to bolster supply by tapping emergency stockpiles in coordination with the International Energy Agency.While Tehran has repeatedly claimed that the strait is open to ships that are not aligned with its enemies, daily transits have all but collapsed since the start of the conflict.Four vessels were tracked transiting the waterway via their automatic identification systems on Tuesday, down from an average of 120 daily transits before the conflict, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.

Nantes Women's Football Team is creating a stir in French football, with a remarkable season that's putting them in contention for a top-four finish and a potential Champions League spot. Under the guidance of head coach Nicolas Chabot, the team has adopted a unique playing style focused on combinations and teamwork, which has yielded impressive results.The team's success can be attributed to a combination of experienced players and new recruits, including Imane Saoud from Morocco, Mélissa Bethi from Algeria, and Léa Khelifi, a France international. The team's 7.5 million euro budget is dwarfed by other top teams, but they've managed to punch above their weight.Nantes' recent 3-0 win against Strasbourg showcased their skills, with a notable goal that involved eight players and took only 18 seconds to score. The team's 17,491-strong crowd for a match against Marseille also broke their attendance record.With four matches remaining, Nantes are well-positioned to secure a top-four finish and qualify for the playoffs. A second- or third-place finish would guarantee them a spot in the Champions League. The team's success has not gone unnoticed, with fans and the club's men's team taking notice.

Coco Gauff has reached the Miami Open final for the first time in her career with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova. Despite Muchova's recent form, which included winning her first WTA 1000 title in Doha last month, Gauff's dominant performance was too much for her opponent.Gauff, only 22 years old, showcased her immense defensive skills, tracking down every ball and mixing up the pace and trajectory of her shots. This strategy left Muchova, known for her volleying skills, struggling to find her rhythm. Muchova's 0-5 record against Gauff continued, with Gauff taking full advantage of being on the winning side of this lopsided matchup.Earlier in the week, Gauff had expressed uncertainty about competing in Miami due to an arm injury. However, she opted to play and has since drawn on her mental strength to navigate through four three-set matches. Her recent wins against Belinda Bencic and Muchova have been particularly impressive, considering her remodelled serve and poor form this year.Gauff's next challenge will be to lift the trophy in the final on Saturday against the winner of the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, two of the best players in the world.

Israel stands as the sole nation where overwhelming public support exists for the conflict with Iran, despite the profound impact on daily life. At least 15 people have been killed and hundreds injured by Iranian missiles since the war began in February, with school closures and missile warnings becoming routine. Polling indicates that more than 90% of Jewish Israelis back the war, a figure that sharply contrasts with international sentiment.The global perspective reveals a dramatically different picture. Nearly a month into the fighting, polling shows that 60% of the US public opposes the war with Iran, and just one in four Americans backed the initial strikes. In the Gulf, Europe and Asia, the conflict is widely unpopular as severe economic consequences begin to manifest.According to Emma Graham-Harrison, The Guardian's chief Middle East correspondent based in Jerusalem, many Jewish Israelis view themselves as under siege in a hostile world since the October 2023 massacre. This perception has led many to conclude that an aggressive security policy is the only way to ensure safety, regardless of international reaction.There's a prevailing sentiment in Israel that short-term suffering will lead to long-term security, despite security experts questioning whether Israel has a clear strategy to convert tactical achievements into lasting security. Life in Jerusalem remains restricted, with many working from home and limitations on businesses from cafes to gyms.The public support for the war has not translated into improved political fortunes for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who currently lags in polls for the upcoming general elections. While there is majority support for Netanyahu's decision to launch the war and his handling of it, even among those who don't want to give him another term, his coalition faces challenges in securing enough seats to return him to power.Some Israeli supporters of the war worry that Netanyahu's push to attack Iran has jeopardized the country's crucial relationship with the United States. Historically, Israel's foreign policy has been based on bipartisan ties, but Netanyahu has effectively abandoned that approach to cultivate an extremely close relationship with Trump.Israel's isolation is becoming increasingly apparent as the conflict continues. Unlike historical precedents where Israel achieved security through negotiated agreements with Jordan and Egypt, the current approach emphasizes military power above diplomatic solutions. This isolation is reflected in the fact that Israel may be the only place in the world with broad support for this war, with populations in Lebanon and Iran experiencing the conflict as horrific.

The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Snapchat over concerns that the social messaging app is putting children at risk of grooming, sexual exploitation, and other criminal activities. This probe is part of the EU's efforts to enforce its Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to protect European society from a wide range of internet harms, including child safety provisions to combat cyberbullying, exposure to adult content, and illegal products.In a separate decision, the commission also accused four pornographic websites - Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos - of failing to prevent minors from accessing adult content, which could lead to mental health issues, negative gender attitudes, and increased tolerance of violent sexual behaviors.The investigations follow a landmark ruling in a Los Angeles court that found two social media companies, Meta and YouTube, had deliberately created addictive products that harmed a young user. The EU is now considering whether to follow Australia and ban social media for under-16s.Snapchat reports 94.7 million monthly users in the EU and is hugely popular among teenagers and young people. However, EU regulators believe the company is failing to ensure its age limit of 13 is respected, and users are not given adequate guidance on privacy and safety features.The commission's tech spokesperson, Thomas Regnier, described the situation as 'quite terrible' in EU member states, citing statistics on the prevalence of minors accessing pornographic websites. The companies may now examine the findings and mount a defense, before any final decision is taken. If the complaint is upheld, the four websites could be fined up to 6% of global annual turnover.

Prem Rugby is set to introduce a significant change to its financial structure by implementing a minimum salary floor of £5.4m for each club next season. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance competitiveness within the league. The decision was made by the Rugby Football Union Council last month, which also included the decision to ringfence the existing 10-team Prem until the 2029-30 season.The introduction of the salary floor is a key component of Prem Rugby's growth plan, which includes expansion windows every four years. This means that up to two new clubs could join the league, provided they meet the required minimum financial and sporting standards. The first tender process for new clubs is slated for 2027, with potential new members possibly joining Champ Rugby the following season and moving up to Prem Rugby in 2028-29 if they reach the playoffs.Prem Rugby's chief executive, Simon Massie-Taylor, emphasized that the league's vision is to become the best league in the world. However, this does not mean exceeding the financial capabilities of other leagues and creating wage inflation. The new salary floor is £1m lower than the current cap, which will remain unchanged for next season. Massie-Taylor highlighted that any future increases to the salary cap will be based on a formula as part of financial control measures.As part of its growth strategy, Prem Rugby also aims to host several 'Big Games' to appeal to a wider fanbase. The ambition is to have 10 Big Games by 2030, including the final and potential neutral playoffs. One example of this initiative is England's game against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool this summer, which could set a precedent for future events.

Raoul Peck's documentary about George Orwell and his enduring relevance takes as its keynote the heretical masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four and its famous scene about the state compelling people to believe whatever it says is the truth: that two and two make five. This Orwellian anti-arithmetic of tyranny has become a political meme often repeated in social media debates.The simple experience of hearing Orwell's prose, both from his published work and letters and diaries, read aloud by Damian Lewis, is invigorating and refreshing. There's an interesting emphasis on Orwell's physical frailty, with him effectively composing his masterwork in the shadow of death. Peck amusingly juxtaposes Orwell's sickness with Winston Smith being made to do exercises and the infatuation of tyrannical regimes with public displays of physical fitness.Peck cites various movie and TV adaptations of Nineteen Eighty-Four and includes footage of Jura, where Orwell went to live, and archive photo records of Orwell's childhood and early working life as a policeman in Burma. The film also shows how Orwell predicted the rise of AI in propaganda and in soulless bread-and-circuses for the masses.The film falls down in not focusing on actual theocracies of the present day and the Orwellian qualities of Isis and Hamas. The question of how far Orwell renounced his own earlier antisemitic tendencies is not entirely addressed in this film.Orwell was disliked by some on the left for daring to write Nineteen Eighty-Four and disliked still more with the revelation 30 years ago that in 1949 he had handed over to British authorities the names of 38 public figures he considered 'crypto-communists' – a fact from which this film averts its eyes. But Orwell's complications don't compromise his genius for truth-telling.