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Sir Craig Reedie, who has died aged 84, was a pivotal figure in London's successful bid to stage the 2012 Olympics. As a member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games from 2005 to 2013, he formed a highly effective partnership with Sebastian Coe, the bid leader, doing crucial work behind the scenes to secure the Games for London.Reedie's diplomatic skills and influential presence within the Olympic and Paralympic movement were instrumental in winning the support of British politicians and marshalling the votes of Olympic delegates. Coe credited Reedie with playing a vital role in London's bid success, saying that without his efforts, London might never have won the right to host the 2012 Games.Reedie's commitment to drug-free competition was unwavering. He was a founder board member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in 2000 and served as its president from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure, he clashed with the then IOC president Thomas Bach over Russia's state-sponsored doping regime, ultimately leading to Wada banning Russia from all international competition in 2019.Reedie's sports career began as a leading badminton player. He later became president of the International Badminton Federation and successfully campaigned for the sport's inclusion in the Olympics. His administrative work in badminton led to his appointment as chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and later as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he served as vice-president from 2012 to 2016.Throughout his career, Reedie was known for his tough but charming demeanor, earning him respect from his peers. He was knighted in 2006 and elevated to knight grand cross in 2018. The Sir Craig Reedie Badminton Centre in Glasgow was renamed in his honor in 2014.

President Donald Trump announced on Fox Business that he will dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell if the central‑bank chief does not vacate the post by the statutory end of his term on May 15. “I’ll have to fire him, OK, if he’s not leaving on time,” Trump said, adding that he had previously held back the decision to avoid controversy. Powell, who has just over a month left in his tenure, has repeatedly been criticized by Trump for what the president calls a “bad job” and for refusing to lower interest rates despite Trump’s repeated demands since his return to the White House in January 2025. In January, Trump nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to replace Powell. Warsh, known for his criticism of the Fed’s relatively high rates, is expected to align more closely with Trump’s push for rate cuts. His confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee is slated for April 21, but the outcome remains uncertain. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a member of the banking committee, has signaled he will block Warsh’s nomination until the Department of Justice concludes its criminal investigation into alleged misconduct surrounding the Fed’s headquarters renovation in Washington, D.C. Tillis described the probe as “reaching the point of absurd,” yet insists the investigation must be resolved before moving forward. The probe appears active: prosecutors made an unannounced visit to the construction site this week, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, underscoring the seriousness of the inquiry. During the same interview, Trump dismissed the investigation’s relevance, claiming the project was “probably corrupt, but what it really is is incompetence,” and questioned whether a $25 million renovation could balloon to a $4 billion expense. Powell responded in January with a rare public rebuke, labeling the investigation a “pretext” aimed at pressuring the Fed to lower rates. He warned that political intimidation could jeopardize the Fed’s ability to set monetary policy based on economic evidence. The legal backdrop adds another layer of uncertainty. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on Trump’s authority to fire a Fed board member without cause—a question that resurfaced after the president’s attempted removal of Fed governor Lisa Cook last summer. Justices appeared skeptical of such unilateral action during oral arguments in January. With the Fed’s independence at stake, the coming weeks will determine whether Trump’s threat translates into action, whether Warsh can secure Senate confirmation, and how the renovation investigation will influence the broader debate over political interference in U.S. monetary policy.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old Indian cricketer, has been making waves in the cricket world with his impressive batting skills. During a recent Indian Premier League match, Sooryavanshi faced off against Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as one of the world's top bowlers. Sooryavanshi hit Bumrah's first ball over wide long-on and his third over deep-backward square, outperforming the world's best batters by nearly 1,900%.Sooryavanshi's talent has sparked debate about whether he could be cricket's next superstar. However, David Court, head of player identification at the England and Wales Cricket Board, cautions that it's too early to tell. Court emphasizes that mental toughness and adaptability are crucial for a player's success, and that Sooryavanshi still has a long way to go.Sooryavanshi's impressive performance in the Under-19 World Cup, where he scored 439 runs with a strike-rate of 169.49, has drawn praise from coaches. Paul Adams, a former South African wrist-spinner turned coach, notes that Sooryavanshi's unique style and ability to hit big shots will be tested as top bowlers start to figure him out.The article highlights the challenges young players like Sooryavanshi face in today's cricket landscape, where social media fame and pressure to perform can be overwhelming. With 3.8 million followers on Instagram, Sooryavanshi's fame has outpaced his cricket achievements, and he will need to navigate these challenges to reach his full potential.

Manchester United's Harry Maguire will miss his team's upcoming match against Chelsea due to an additional one-match ban imposed by the Football Association. The ban comes as a result of Maguire's reaction to being sent off during a match against Bournemouth last month.The 33-year-old defender was shown a red card at the Vitality Stadium for a foul in the area on Evanilson, which led to Bournemouth sealing a 2-2 draw. Following the incident, Maguire allegedly made a comment towards the officials, stating they were 'a joke.'The FA's written reasons confirmed that the fourth official, Matthew Donohue, submitted an Extraordinary Incident Report Form, claiming Maguire shouted: 'You're a joke. You're all a fucking joke.' Maguire, however, claimed he said 'something along the lines of 'it is a fucking joke.''As a result, Maguire has been imposed a one-match suspension and a £30,000 fine by an independent Regulatory Commission. This suspension adds to the absence of fellow centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez, potentially leading to young players Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro lining up at the heart of defence against Chelsea.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expressed strong disapproval of LaMelo Ball's actions during Tuesday night's play-in tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets. Spoelstra stated that Ball should have been ejected for tripping Bam Adebayo, which resulted in Adebayo's injury and subsequent absence from the game.The incident occurred early in the second quarter when Ball appeared to reach out and grab Adebayo's left leg as he fell to the floor after missing a shot. This led to Adebayo falling on his back and eventually walking to the locker room under his own power, though he did not return to the game.Spoelstra emphasized that there is no place in the game for such actions, describing the play as 'stupid' and 'dangerous'. He also mentioned that it was not an excuse for the Heat's loss but highlighted the significance of Adebayo's absence.LaMelo Ball, who scored 30 points and made the go-ahead layup in overtime, apologized for his role in Adebayo's injury. He claimed he was disoriented after being hit in the head during the drive and did not intentionally grab Adebayo's leg.The play was not reviewed or penalized in real-time, with official Zach Zarba explaining that the window to review the play was closed due to the fast-paced nature of the game and the lack of an immediate whistle.The incident has implications beyond the game, with Zarba indicating that the league operations will determine if Ball should be assessed a flagrant foul in the coming days.

The UK government is facing pressure to increase its military budget to ensure national security during a period of global volatility. A Treasury minister has argued that balancing welfare and defence spending is not a zero-sum game, suggesting that it is possible to increase investment in both areas.James Murray, the chancellor's deputy, stated that the government is committed to the biggest sustained increase in defence investments since the cold war. However, he did not provide a timeline for the publication of the delayed defence investment plan.Former defence secretary and head of Nato, George Robertson, has accused the Treasury of 'vandalism' for not sufficiently boosting the armed forces. He suggested that defence should be prioritized over welfare spending, warning that the UK cannot defend itself with an ever-expanding welfare budget.The government has committed to reaching 2.5% of GDP on defence from April next year and 3% in the next parliament. However, military chiefs believe there is still a £28bn shortfall after years of the armed forces being hollowed out by successive administrations.Murray countered Robertson's views, stating that the welfare system is not a fixed entity and includes targeted measures like the removal of the two-child benefit cap, which helps hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.The debate over public spending cuts to fund defence has sparked an angry reaction on the left, with veteran MP Diane Abbott accusing Robertson of prioritizing 'guns over butter' and warning that such an approach could cost Labour votes.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to revise the trade deal between the US and UK, signed last year, citing the 'sad state' of their relations. The deal, which cut some US tariffs on cars, aluminium, and steel, was described by Trump as 'better than I had to' and 'can always be changed'.The strained relations between the two countries are largely due to sharp differences over the US approach to the Middle East, particularly the conflict with Iran. UK ministers have expressed frustration and anger over the economic fallout of the US decision to go to war with Iran, which could trigger a global recession.UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has voiced her frustration, stating that the US launched strikes without a clear idea of its objectives. Keir Starmer, the UK leader, has also expressed his concerns, saying he is 'fed up' with Trump's actions causing energy bills to rise.Trump, in an interview with Sky News, accused Britain of not being supportive during the Iran conflict, saying 'they were not there when we needed them'. He also suggested that a permanent ceasefire with Tehran could be struck before King Charles's state visit to the US later in April.The IMF's spring meetings will focus on the crisis in the Gulf, with the organisation cutting Britain's economic growth forecast due to the conflict. The Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, has stated that the UK is better placed to deal with the fallout due to its resilient banking system.

Cricket Australia (CA) has yet to secure the backing of two pivotal state bodies for its proposal to sell minority stakes in Big Bash League (BBL) franchises, casting doubt on the timeline for a major private‑investment push.Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon publicly rejected the plan on Wednesday, confirming that the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers will not participate in any valuation process overseen by CA.CA chief executive Todd Greenberg responded that the consultation with states is ongoing and that the organisation remains “open to discussing any questions or concerns” while emphasizing a “respectful and collaborative” approach.The Australian body aims to emulate the UK’s The Hundred model, where the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) auctioned franchises last year for £520 million (≈ $1 billion). CA’s proposal would allow up to 49% of each state‑run BBL team to be sold, with potential valuations of as much as $200 million per club, potentially generating a half‑billion‑dollar windfall.Proceeds would be split between an immediate cash injection to the state associations and ongoing annual payments, while a portion would seed a future development fund for Australian cricket.Germon warned that external investors could introduce goals misaligned with the existing cricket ecosystem, describing the current system as “working very effectively and very well now.” He highlighted risks of “external investors who will not have aligned goals with the states or Cricket Australia.”Meanwhile, Cricket Queensland chief executive Terry Svenson said no final decision has been made, noting the board is awaiting further clarification from CA on several points before reaching a verdict.Facing pushback, Cricket NSW is exploring an alternative financing strategy that sidesteps equity sales. The plan focuses on boosting revenue through ticket yields, attendance, commercial sponsorships, and wagering partnerships, aiming to fund the BBL’s growth without relinquishing club ownership.When asked about the increasing reliance on gambling revenue, Germon acknowledged that wagering is already part of cricket’s commercial mix and that its role will be reassessed as part of the broader funding discussion.CA’s ambition arrives amid rising competition from emerging T20 leagues in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, which are vying for players and audience attention during Australia’s traditional summer window.

The film 'Truth & Treason' presents a compelling narrative centered around Helmuth Hübener, a German Mormon teenager from Hamburg who played a significant role in the German resistance during World War II. Initially a member of the Hitler Youth, Hübener's perspective shifted dramatically after his Jewish friend Salomon Schwarz was sent to Auschwitz. This pivotal event inspired Hübener to take a stand against the Nazi regime by distributing leaflets that denounced their actions.Despite being backed by faith-based outfit Angel Studios, known for producing content that can be perceived as promoting certain ideologies, the film manages to convey its anti-fascist message effectively. The acting, particularly by Ewan Horrocks as Hübener and Rupert Evans as Gestapo officer Erwin Mussener, has been praised for its quality. A climactic conversation between Horrocks and Evans characters stands out for its intensity and persuasive dialogue.The film's portrayal of Hübener's actions and the consequences he faced is both timely and impactful, especially in today's world. With its anti-fascist message, 'Truth & Treason' feels relevant and necessary. Although considered flawed, the movie is commended for having its heart in the right place. It is now available on Prime Video from April 20th.