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Ballon d’Or prospects are wider than ever after more than a decade dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This season’s Champions League quarter‑finals could tip the balance as the 103‑day run‑in to the World Cup final approaches. Harry Kane leads the conversation, having netted 54 goals across club and country – a tally that includes Bayern Munich’s recent 2‑1 win over Real Madrid. A Champions League triumph with Bayern and a World Cup victory with England would make him the first English Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen in 2001. Other candidates include Kylian Mbappé, currently the top scorer in both the Champions League and La Liga, and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, whose creativity for Barcelona and Spain adds a different flavour to the race. The field remains open enough that a surprise performer – perhaps an Arsenal double‑winner or a PSG‑Portugal combo – could leapfrog the traditional favourites. Folarin Balogun’s USMNT future is under scrutiny. The 24‑year‑old Monaco striker has scored in five consecutive Ligue 1 matches, highlighted by a spectacular chip against Marseille that showcased his peak form. Yet head coach Mauricio Pochettino opted to start Christian Pulisic at centre‑forward in the final warm‑up against Portugal, limiting Balogun’s chance to cement his role. While Pulisic displayed moments of flair, his hold‑up play was described as “more like a winger than a No 9”, underscoring the coach’s dilemma. Balogun’s club form, however, argues that the United States already possess a striker capable of leading the line. Roberto De Zerbi faces a seven‑game deadline at Tottenham Hotspur. Signed on a five‑year deal, the Italian tactician inherits a side that struggled to adapt to his possession‑based philosophy under previous managers. Tottenham rank 12th for touches inside the opposition box and 14th for big chances created (Opta), indicating a lack of the creative outlets De Zerbi favours. He achieved his first win at Brighton after six games and impressed at Marseille with four wins in five, but both successes came after a full pre‑season and targeted transfers – luxuries Tottenham lack at the moment. The upcoming Sunderland clash will be his first real test of whether his style can be implemented quickly enough to steer the club away from relegation danger. In summary, the next three months will decide not only who lifts the 2026 Ballon d’Or, but also whether Balogun can secure a starring role for the USMNT and if De Zerbi can reverse Tottenham’s fortunes before his contract’s short‑term clause expires.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has called on his team's fans to play a pivotal role in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. The Reds are seeking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Paris.Slot acknowledged that his team were in survival mode during the first leg, but he believes they can still progress to the semi-finals with the help of their home fans. Luis Enrique's PSG side dominated the first leg, with goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia putting them in command of the tie.Slot highlighted the importance of Anfield's atmosphere, stating: 'We will need to have a better performance and we definitely need our fans to help us create an atmosphere where we can rise to a better level than we did today.'The Liverpool manager drew inspiration from their previous Champions League comeback against Galatasaray in the last 16, and he is confident that his team can repeat the feat with the support of their fans. 'Our fans do make a big difference for us,' he added.Luis Enrique, the PSG coach, expects his team to 'suffer' at Anfield but remains committed to their positive approach. 'We are going there to win and to qualify,' he said.

The question of which team has gone furthest in Europe while being relegated in the same season was posed, sparked by Tottenham's Champions League participation despite a relegation battle. Teams like Nottingham Forest and Fiorentina are currently in similar situations.Celta Vigo went from fourth in La Liga in 2002-03 to 19th the next year but reached the Champions League round of 16, where they lost to Arsenal. Perugia reached the last 16 of the Uefa Cup in the same season they were relegated, losing to PSV Eindhoven.Juventus was relegated due to the Calciopoli scandal after reaching the Champions League quarter-finals. Villarreal earned zero points in their Champions League group in 2011-12 and were relegated.Several teams have been eliminated early in European competitions while being relegated, such as Real Zaragoza, Alavés, and Espanyol. In England, Blackburn Rovers, Bradford City, and Ipswich Town experienced similar situations.The article also touches on teams that were unbeaten in European competitions but still eliminated, such as Espanyol in 2006-07, who went 15 games without defeat but lost on penalties in the Uefa Cup final.Teams that were unbeaten and eliminated include Feyenoord, AEK Athens, AC Milan, Valencia, Chelsea, Montpellier, Arsenal, and RWD Molenbeek, among others.

Major League Baseball has handed down seven-game suspensions to Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López after a heated brawl during a game between the two teams. The suspensions, announced by MLB's senior vice-president for on-field operations, Michael Hill, also come with undisclosed fines. Both players are appealing their suspensions, which were set to begin on Wednesday but are currently on hold.The incident occurred on Tuesday night when Soler homered off López in the first inning, and later was hit by a 96mph fastball from López. The situation escalated when López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch, prompting Soler to charge the mound. The two players began throwing punches, leading to a brawl that involved players and coaches from both teams.Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss described the situation as a 'big man' on a 'warpath,' saying he had to intervene to prevent Soler from hurting someone. Soler and López were teammates during the second half of the 2024 season with the Braves.The Braves went on to win the game 7-2, with Soler's two-run shot in the first inning contributing to the victory. Soler has impressive stats against López, going 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles.Both players expressed regret over the incident, with López stating there was 'never any intent to hit him' and Soler criticizing López for missing 'way too high and close to my head.'

Footage captured on the streets of Tehran shows small groups of citizens gathering around Enghelab Square – a historic rally point for pro‑regime supporters – some waving Iranian flags, others draped over their backs. The atmosphere is far from uniform; debates and arguments erupted shortly after the ceasefire announcement, reflecting a spectrum of emotions from shock to tentative hope.The video, posted by Majid Nouri – son of former prison official Hamid Nouri – includes his running commentary. He notes that the discussions began around 3 a.m. and continued into the morning, with participants expressing both anger and disbelief. "In no way do we trust America," Nouri declared, echoing a sentiment he says is shared by virtually every Iranian.Pro‑government demonstrators were heard chanting "Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!" and burning U.S. and Israeli flags, according to the Associated Press. The chants persisted despite attempts by organizers to calm the crowd, underscoring the depth of anti‑Western feeling among hardliners.While the ceasefire halted active hostilities, the war has already claimed at least 1,900 lives in Iran. With internet services largely blacked out, gauging the broader public mood is challenging, but pockets of Tehran reported subdued celebrations in the early hours of Wednesday.Local resident Ali, a 31‑year‑old, summed up the prevailing uncertainty: "Most people here don’t trust the US and still don’t know exactly what is going to happen, so they are unsure whether they should be happy or worried." He warned that the ceasefire’s two‑week duration offers no guarantee of lasting peace.Business owners are beginning to test the waters. Hamid, a 43‑year‑old shopkeeper whose grocery and cleaning‑supplies store closed after the February bombings, said, "Today feels like there is no war," and he has reopened his shop, hoping to recover lost income for his family.Iranian officials are framing the pause as a diplomatic victory. Former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati posted on X that the conflict has reshaped the global power balance, positioning Iran within a new multipolar order. President Masoud Pezeshkian praised the ceasefire as the fruit of the blood of Iran’s “great martyred leader” and the collective will of the people.Strategically, the ceasefire highlights Tehran’s ability to disrupt the vital Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments. Analysts note that this leverage could bolster Iran’s negotiating stance, even as former U.S. President Donald Trump previously warned that a full‑scale clash would threaten "a whole civilisation." As sunrise illuminated the capital, daily life resumed with shops reopening and traffic returning to the streets, yet the prevailing mood remains a blend of exhaustion, cautious optimism, and lingering mistrust of the United States.

Pakistan's diplomatic efforts have yielded a significant breakthrough, securing a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran. The development comes after intense negotiations led by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir.The crisis had escalated to a point where Pakistan's government and military were deeply concerned about the potential consequences for the country's economy, defense, national security, and sectarian harmony. A defense pact with Saudi Arabia meant that if Riyadh entered the war, Pakistan would be drawn into it as well.Behind the scenes, Munir and Asim Malik, the country's head of army intelligence and national security adviser, played a crucial role in mediating the ceasefire. Munir's strong personal rapport with US President Donald Trump and his longstanding relationship with Iran's Revolutionary Guards were instrumental in brokering the deal.China emerged as a key player in the negotiations, with Pakistani officials claiming that Beijing directly encouraged Iran to accept a ceasefire, promising to act as a guarantor of Iran's safety in any talks. This included assurances that Iranian leaders would not be assassinated if they traveled for negotiations.The ceasefire deal was secured by 4am in Islamabad, with both the US and Iran agreeing to a temporary and fragile truce. Michael Kugelman, south Asia fellow at the Atlantic council, described it as Pakistan's 'biggest diplomatic win in years'.Pakistani officials have expressed concerns that Israel and the United Arab Emirates could still try to sabotage the peace process. However, the successful brokering of the ceasefire has been hailed as a 'shining moment' in Pakistan's history and a 'first step' towards peace.

Jason Tarry, the CEO of John Lewis Partnership, which owns John Lewis and Waitrose, saw his basic pay rise by 21% to £1.2m in the year to January. This increase comes as the retailer announced significant job cuts, with 3,300 positions eliminated.Tarry's total pay package, including a £22,700 annual bonus, reached almost £1.26m. This substantial increase is part of a broader restructuring effort at the company, which has been facing challenges in the retail sector.The John Lewis Partnership, a staff-owned business, has been undergoing significant changes, including reducing its workforce from 69,000 to 65,700 employees. The company has attributed most of the reduction to natural attrition, with fewer than 0.5% of partners leaving through redundancy.Despite the job cuts, the total pay for key management, including directors, remained steady at £8m. Tarry was the highest-paid director, reflecting his combined role as chairman and CEO.The company has been exploring ways to operate more efficiently, including the use of electronic shelf labels and AI technology. However, it has not commented on potential future job cuts.In a positive note, John Lewis Partnership paid an annual bonus to workers in March for the first time in four years, following a 6% rise in underlying profits. Each worker, including Tarry, received a bonus equivalent to 2% of their salary.

Paris Saint-Germain dominated Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, securing a 2-0 victory at the Parc des Princes. The gulf in quality between the two teams was evident throughout the match, with PSG creating numerous scoring opportunities.The hosts took the lead through a fortunate deflected strike from Désiré Doué, which looped over Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian goalkeeper made a vital contribution to prevent further damage at halftime, producing a fine save to tip away a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot that was heading towards the bottom corner.PSG extended their advantage in superb style through Kvaratskhelia, who held off Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, rounded Mamardashvili, and converted into an unguarded net. The win leaves Liverpool facing a tough task to overturn the deficit in the second leg.

The planet is in the grip of an unprecedented climate emergency. The past three years rank as the hottest on record, emissions remain at historic highs and the world is edging ever closer to the critical 1.5°C threshold that scientists warned must not be crossed. In response, a trio of creators – actor Megan Prescott, filmmaker Bree Essrig and self‑described “climate narrative strategist” Jessica Riches – have launched Headline Newds, a series of bite‑size videos released through the non‑profit arm of Adam McKay’s Yellow Dot Studios. The series pairs climate data with the visual style of OnlyFans models, aiming to capture attention where traditional messaging has struggled. The concept echoes McKay’s own gamble with The Big Short (2015), where he hired Margot Robbie to explain complex mortgage‑backed securities while bathing. By swapping finance for climate, the creators hope to avoid the “long, boring explanation” that often alienates viewers. The debut episode, titled The Sun is Daddy, features Prescott gradually disrobing while arguing that solar power could satisfy global energy demand using less land than the fossil‑fuel sector. She frames the argument with the line “Daddy is a giver,” blending sensuality with a factual claim. Provocation is intentional. The Yellow Dot website admits the clips are likely to be taken down on Instagram and YouTube for breaching content policies, but they will remain accessible on OnlyFans, a platform perceived as more tolerant of adult‑oriented material. That platform may also be where the series makes its biggest splash. While mainstream users might approach the videos with a pre‑formed understanding, OnlyFans subscribers are less likely to expect in‑depth climate analysis, potentially making the stark facts about “impending global collapse” more memorable. Only the first episode is currently live, and critics note that the solar‑energy message is already widely accepted, questioning whether the series is reaching beyond basic awareness. Future installments promise sharper focus. An upcoming episode, Spank Banks, will see dominatrix Eva Oh name the banks that profit most from fossil‑fuel projects while delivering a literal spanking. Another short clip features model Sabrina Jade outlining the oil industry’s tactics to downplay its environmental impact, all within a two‑minute runtime that includes more “pelvic grinding” than typical educational content. Whether Headline Newds proves a catalyst for change remains uncertain. It has already generated the media buzz it sought, but its capacity to translate provocation into concrete climate action will likely be judged by any follow‑up series and measurable shifts in audience behaviour. Headline Newds can be watched on YouTube, Instagram and OnlyFans.