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The Manx shearwaters have made their way back to the Isle of Man, a journey of 10,000km from their wintering quarters off Brazil and Argentina. The birds, which are named after the island, were spotted on the Langness peninsula on St Michael's Isle, a regular haunt for the species.The return of the Manx shearwaters is a significant event, especially given the challenges the species has faced in the past. A large shearwater colony on the Calf of Man, an island off the south-west corner of the Isle of Man, was devastated by rats from a shipwreck. However, after a rodent eradication programme by the Manx Wildlife Trust, numbers have rebounded to more than 1,500 breeding pairs.The Manx shearwaters are special birds for many, with their distinctive sweeping flight making them a prized sighting for birdwatchers. The birds will occupy their nest burrows on the Calf, raise a single chick, and then leave it in July or August to make the epic journey back to the southern hemisphere.

Venezuela's main opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has stated she has 'no regrets' about presenting her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump in January. The presentation took place at the White House, shortly after Trump ordered a military operation aimed at removing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power.Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her efforts to restore democratic rights in Venezuela, expressed her admiration for Trump's actions, saying that he 'risked the lives of his country's citizens for Venezuela's freedom.' This move was seen as a 'wonderful gesture of mutual respect' by Trump, who has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize.The Norwegian Nobel Committee clarified that the prize itself is nontransferable and cannot be revoked or shared. Machado's decision to give the medal to Trump was met with mixed reactions, with Trump questioning her standing in Venezuela and instead backing Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, as the country's interim leader.Machado, who has been coordinating her return to Venezuela with Washington, emphasized the importance of US support for a democratic transition in her country. She also noted that she is working with the US government 'with mutual respect and understanding.' However, her relationship with other international leaders is complex; she recently declined a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, citing his hosting of a progressive leaders' summit.

Dan Skelton is already set to be crowned the United Kingdom’s champion trainer over jumps for the first time this season, yet he still has several objectives left as the campaign reaches its climax.Earlier this month Skelton made history by becoming the first trainer to surpass £4 million in prize money during a British jumps season. With a 320‑mile journey to Ayr scheduled for Saturday, he will field five runners and hopes to chip away at the £200,000 needed to break the £5 million barrier.His yard has already recorded victories at 39 of Britain’s 41 jumping tracks this season. The only venues still without a win are Perth and Plumpton, where Skelton entered twenty runners – including several favourites – but fell short. Two of his horses will contest Plumpton’s Sussex Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle on Sunday.“It’s never been done before, so we’re going to give it our best shot,” Skelton said on Friday. “We just can’t quite seem to get over the line at Plumpton, but maybe Sunday will be the day that we do.”The Scottish Grand National has become a pivotal fixture in the trainers’ championship over the past two years. With Willie Mullins already out of contention for the title, his stable will field only one runner at Ayr as he attempts a third consecutive Grand National double – winning at Aintree and then at Ayr.Patrick Mullins, who rode unshipped from Grangeclare West at Aintree last weekend, will take the reins on Road To Home. The horse was narrowly beaten in the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month and will carry six pounds more on Saturday.Among the local contenders, King Of Answers (currently 3.35 odds) trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore appears a strong bet at about 7‑1. The horse was a runner‑up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and will be only three pounds heavier for the four‑mile test at Ayr.Other notable entries include Traprain Law for Patrick Wadge, who previously won the course‑and‑distance race, and Diamond Dealer, whose front‑running style could prove decisive if the horse settles into its usual rhythm.In the broader betting market, Gibbs Island (2.20) and Twistthenightaway (2.55) are also highlighted as potential performers, while Pride Of Arras (2.35) aims to repeat its Dante success.Overall, Skelton’s pursuit of the £5 million season total adds extra intrigue to an already high‑stakes Scottish Grand National, promising a decisive showdown for the jumps championship.

Equity’s Choreographers and Movement Directors Network (CMDN) says that theatre’s physical storytellers are still marginalised by awards bodies and should receive dedicated recognition.At the recent Olivier Awards, Fabian Aloise secured the best theatre choreographer prize for "Evita" at the London Palladium. While the network welcomed the visibility, it pointed out that the movement directors behind the nominated productions were omitted from any specific category, sparking a broader debate about the language used to credit theatrical creation.CMDN highlighted several movement directors whose work shaped this season’s most impactful shows, naming Leanne Pinder ("Punch"), Sarah Golding ("Kenrex"), Imogen Knight ("Dead Man Walking"), Jenny Ogilvie ("Into the Woods"), Sung Im Her ("The Glass Menagerie"), Lucy Hind ("Inter Alia") and Kloé Dean ("The Boy at the Back of the Class").Movement direction, the network explains, is not always dance but is essential to a production’s physical language, characterisation and dramatic flow. "If we celebrate the impact of physical storytelling, we must also evolve how we acknowledge the artists behind it," CMDN said.The network praised the Black British Theatre Awards for expanding their choreography category in 2022 to include movement direction, but noted that the UK Theatre Awards and Critics’ Circle Awards still lack dedicated categories for either choreography or movement direction.Founded in 2023 by movement director and choreographer Polly Bennett, CMDN now counts over 200 members. In a 2025 interview, steering‑group member Ellen Kane asked, "Why aren’t there Oscars or BAFTAs for choreography? Why aren’t we being credited?"Last month, more than a hundred theatre professionals signed a petition urging the Olivier Awards to create a separate video‑design category, arguing that the current system lumps video designers with other disciplines. This year’s Olivier winners illustrate the overlap: Tom Pye (set) and Ash J Woodward (video) shared the best set‑design award for "Paddington: The Musical", while Aideen Malone (lighting) and Roland Horvath (video) shared best lighting‑design for "Into the Woods".

The future of the LIV Golf series hangs in the balance after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) signaled a possible withdrawal of its multi‑billion‑dollar support. Executives were summoned to a high‑stakes meeting in New York this week, a development that follows growing speculation that the rebel tour could be shut down. While the fifth season’s sixth event in Mexico City is set to proceed on Thursday, the tournament is being eclipsed by reports that PIF intends to cut the tour’s funding. The tour has already faced challenges securing a merger with the PGA Tour despite a three‑year “framework agreement,” and the funding pull would exacerbate its financial strain. According to the PIF’s newly released five‑year economic strategy, the fund is prioritising sustainable domestic investments and has omitted sport from its seven key focus areas. This shift signals a move away from the “free‑spending, disruptive internationalism” that characterised the launch of LIV Golf in 2021. Since its inception, PIF has poured over $5 bn into the tour, but this year prize money and bonus payouts have already been slashed. High‑profile players such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Sergio García and Bryson DeChambeau initially defected from the PGA and DP World Tours, yet recent defections back to the PGA—including Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed—highlight the tour’s precarious position. DeChambeau has yet to sign a new contract. A source familiar with the Saudi Ministry of Sports confirmed that the fund is redirecting its sports budget toward football and esports, with golf no longer a priority. The same source noted that PIF is ending its partnership with the Women’s Tennis Association, and the three‑year WTA Finals deal in Riyadh will not be renewed after its November expiry. The rumours ignited on Tuesday after journalist Ryan French posted on X that multiple sources warned of a “bombshell announcement” on LIV’s future, later suggesting the tour might be shutting down. LIV officials and players have not received any formal update. In Mexico, Sergio García told reporters they have only heard the same message from PIF chief Yasir al‑Rumayyan at the start of the year: that the project is a long‑term commitment, and that rumours are inevitable. Technical glitches, including an alleged power failure at the venue, forced the cancellation of pre‑tournament press conferences on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the pro‑am competition resumed on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. local time, indicating that day‑to‑day operations continue despite the uncertainty. The outcome of the New York meeting could determine whether LIV Golf survives as a viable alternative to traditional tours or becomes another casualty of shifting Saudi investment priorities.

The literary world was recently abuzz with the news that critically acclaimed author Helen DeWitt had declined a $175,000 Windham-Campbell prize due to its onerous promotional requirements. The prize, which aims to give recipients the financial freedom to focus on their work, came with obligations that DeWitt found unsustainable, including six to eight hours of filming.This decision has ignited a fierce debate about the pressures of self-promotion in the publishing industry and the challenges faced by authors who are unable to meet these demands due to disability, chronic illness, or other personal circumstances. DeWitt's stance has been praised by some as a principled refusal to play the self-promotion game, while others have criticized her as entitled or spoiled.The Windham-Campbell prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards, recognizing eight writers each year for their life's work. This year's winners include Gwendoline Riley, an author known for her nuanced explorations of family relationships. Riley's win is a testament to the prize's ability to shine a light on talented writers who may have been overlooked.The controversy surrounding DeWitt's decision highlights the precarious nature of a literary career. With average author earnings plummeting and the industry becoming increasingly professionalized, many writers are finding it difficult to make a living from their work. The emphasis on self-promotion can be particularly challenging for authors who are neurodivergent or have disabilities, as it can exacerbate existing difficulties.DeWitt's experience has sparked a wider conversation about the need for greater inclusivity and support in the publishing industry. As one author noted, the art world is ahead of publishing in terms of facilitating access and assistance for artists with disabilities. The industry must adapt to accommodate writers with diverse needs and ensure that opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of their abilities.In a surprising twist, DeWitt has since announced that she has received a $175,000 grant from a conservative university thinktank with no strings attached. This development has raised questions about the role of philanthropy in supporting literary talent and the complexities of author promotion in the modern publishing landscape.

A Chinese national has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined by a Nairobi court for attempting to smuggle thousands of ants out of Kenya, a lucrative trade in east Africa that was exposed last year.The insects are mostly destined for China, the US, and Europe, where they become pets and can be worth about $100 each.Ant smuggling made headlines last year when two Belgian teenagers were arrested in possession of nearly 5,000 ants, mostly stored in small test tubes. They were fined about $7,700.Zhang Kequn, who evaded capture until his arrest on 10 March, had been linked to another case involving two people, one Vietnamese and one Kenyan.More than 2,200 ants – including 1,948 prized Messor cephalotes – were found in test tubes in Zhang’s luggage at Nairobi’s international airport that was destined for China.He was initially charged with wildlife trafficking without a permit and conspiracy, which carries a seven-year sentence, his lawyer said. He pleaded guilty after latter charge was dismissed.At the court in Nairobi, the judge, Irene Gichobi, described Zhang as lacking in remorse and “not an entirely honest person”.She said he would be fined 1m Kenya shillings ($7,700) and handed down a one-year jail sentence, after a 14-day appeal. She said he would then be “referred to his home country”.“There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence,” she said, noting the “rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side-effects”.

The Brexit debate has taken a significant turn, with Keir Starmer's government now openly acknowledging the need for closer ties with the EU. This shift in approach comes as the UK faces increasing global uncertainty, including Vladimir Putin's territorial aggression, Donald Trump's geopolitical vandalism, and China's emergence as a superpower.In opposition, Starmer had pushed Brexit to the margin of debate. However, in government, he has learned that Europe is central to Britain's interests, whether discussed or not. The avoidance of painful arguments from the past has turned out to be a handicap when making plans for the future.Labour's 2024 general election manifesto had pretended that Brexit was a historical event, something Boris Johnson got 'done' in 2020. However, the relationship with the EU cannot be settled due to its evolving nature and the UK's position as an ex-member on its border.The options are now more Brexit or less, never a steady state. Johnson's Brexit deal was structured to accelerate separation over time, with the theory that divergence from EU rules would give Britain a competitive advantage. However, this Eurosceptic fantasy has been exposed as wrong, with the UK now seeking to put Johnson's divergence ratchet into reverse.Downing Street's acceptance of this logic has been flagged by a gradual change in rhetoric, with the prime minister now listing Brexit as an affliction in the same category as the Covid pandemic. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, identifies closer integration with Europe as 'the biggest prize' in a dash for growth.To facilitate a more intimate relationship, the government proposes legislation that will give ministers open-ended powers to adopt EU standards for various sectors of the economy. This 'dynamic alignment' is supposed to make it easier for businesses to move goods into the single market and make Britain a more attractive destination for investment.However, the Conservatives and Reform UK are appalled, objecting to the circumvention of future legislative scrutiny by the use of so-called Henry VIII powers. The real grievance is the old ideological one, equating any application of single market rules to colonisation by Brussels.As Starmer tries to go in this direction, he will collide with familiar Brexit obstacles. The European Commission will insist there can be no 'cherrypicking' from the single market; that non-member states wanting to enjoy the benefits of a European club can expect to pay subscription fees into European budgets.Opinion polls routinely show a clear majority of voters think Brexit has gone badly. The logic of pooling resources with continental neighbours can only grow in the light of wildfires started by Trump along the international horizon.Starmer knows these conditions permit a more assertive agenda of EU integration. However, it is hard to take bolder strides within red lines – no free movement; no single market membership; no customs union – drawn when Labour's Europe policy was defined by the preference to change the subject.

FIFA, the global governing body of football, is under growing pressure to ask U.S. President Donald Trump for a blanket halt to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids during the 2026 World Cup. The request, sourced from anonymous contacts cited by The Athletic, would be presented to FIFA president Gianni Infantino for direct delivery to the White House. According to the report, Infantino is weighing a formal appeal that would seek a "full moratorium on ICE raids across the United States during the World Cup" – a tournament set to kick off on June 11 in eleven host cities spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico. The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown, tightening legal pathways and expanding deportation efforts. Critics warn that such policies could target the tournament’s massive international audience, undermining the event’s reputation as a celebration of global unity. When asked by Al Jazeera about any negotiations with FIFA, the White House declined to comment but praised the upcoming competition, with spokesperson Davis Ingle stating, "Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, right here in the United States of America." He added that the event is expected to generate billions of dollars in economic impact and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Despite the administration’s enthusiastic rhetoric, officials have hinted that immigration agencies could be present at match venues. In February, ICE acting director Todd Lyons told a House committee that the agency would be on the ground for the World Cup, emphasizing that ICE is "a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup" and would not pause operations. Previous incidents have fueled the concern. During last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, reports surfaced of ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers at stadiums, although the administration denied any enforcement actions took place. Vice President JD Vance recently warned that visitors must adhere to visa terms, suggesting that those who overstay could be subject to the authority of then‑Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem, who was dismissed in March, had overseen a controversial crackdown in Minnesota that resulted in two civilian deaths and drew accusations of human‑rights violations. FIFA executives see a potential immigration moratorium as a public‑relations win for both the sport’s governing body and the Trump administration. The proposal is also viewed as an opportunity for Infantino to leverage his personal rapport with Trump – a relationship that has attracted scrutiny after Infantino awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to the president in December, prompting a rights‑group complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee. With the World Cup fast approaching, fans and human‑rights advocates remain uneasy about whether the United States will provide a "safe and welcome" environment for the influx of international visitors.