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Gout Gout has claimed the 100m national junior title in impressive fashion, crossing the line in 10.21sec with a legal tailwind of +0.5m/s at the Australian athletics junior championships in Brisbane.The 18-year-old athlete took time to find his rhythm before settling into his stride and overtaking the early leaders to secure the win. Gout left a significant gap between himself and the rest of the field, with Zavier Peacock finishing second in 10.35sec and Uwezo Lubenda third in 10.37sec.Gout expressed his satisfaction with the performance, stating, 'I didn’t have the best start, but I came out for the W [win], and I wanted to put on a show for the rest of the people watching.' He emphasized the importance of having fun and running as fast as possible.Following his victory, Gout is set to head overseas for his first senior athletics campaign, which includes a highly anticipated meet against Letsile Tebogo, the 200m Olympic champion, in a Diamond League event in Oslo. Additionally, Gout will train with Noah Lyles, the reigning 100m Olympic champion, in America.Gout's performance comes on the heels of Lachlan Kennedy becoming the first Australian to break the 10-second barrier for the 100m on home soil. Gout, however, chose not to target this milestone in the junior final, instead easing up 30 meters from the line.The Queenslander has a personal best of 10.00sec over 100m, set in a low-key season opener in February. He and Kennedy are both eyeing the national record of 9.93sec, held by Patrick Johnson since 2003.

Protesters in Ireland and Norway have escalated demonstrations against rising fuel costs, turning major highways into blockades and prompting a convoy of lorries to converge on Oslo’s parliament. The unrest is linked to the broader spike in oil prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. In Dublin, hauliers, farmers and other groups have shut down motorways for the fourth consecutive day, causing fuel shortages, traffic chaos and warnings that essential supplies—food, clean water and animal feed—are at risk. The Irish police force, An Garda Síochána, described the blockades as unlawful and warned that continued defiance could lead to arrests. The Irish government has placed the army on standby to clear the obstructions, while the justice minister accused outside actors, including far‑right figures such as Tommy Robinson, of exploiting the protests for political gain. Fuel prices have surged dramatically: Irish diesel has risen from roughly €1.70 per litre to €2.17, and petrol from about €1.74 to €1.97. In Norway, despite a recent fuel‑tax cut on 1 April, diesel prices jumped 23.6 % from February to March, with overall fuel and lubricants up 17.9 %. Statistics Norway noted this as the steepest month‑on‑month increase on record, comparable only to the post‑Ukraine‑invasion spike of spring 2022. Irish Prime Minister Mícheál Martin warned that blockades of the Whitegate refinery and key depots in Galway and Foynes were pushing the country to the brink of turning away oil shipments. He called the situation “unconscionable and “illogical.” In response, Dublin unveiled a €250 million relief package that includes a temporary excise duty cut, an expanded diesel rebate for hauliers and bus operators, and an extended fuel allowance. Nevertheless, industry leaders remain skeptical about the measures’ ability to quell the unrest, and many protesters demand direct talks with ministers. Across the North Sea, Norwegian demonstrators—part of the “Dieselbrølet” (diesel roar) movement—marched a convoy of 70‑80 trucks toward the Storting. Their banners read “nok er nok!” (enough is enough). While only a few vehicles were permitted into Oslo, the show underscored hauliers’ demand for more predictable, lower fuel prices despite Norway’s status as an oil producer. Other nations have taken emergency steps: the Philippines declared a national energy emergency, and France authorized fuel tankers to operate on weekends and holidays until 11 May to stave off shortages. Back in Ireland, the blockade of the sole refinery and depots has left dozens of petrol stations empty, prompting a rush of motorists to fill up before supplies run out. Emergency services report slower response times, and the Irish Medical Organisation warns that delayed care could jeopardise patient health. Courier firm DPD has halted deliveries, and protesters have vowed to remain in Dublin for weeks, with spokesperson John Dallon stating, “If it takes a month, we are prepared to sit here.” The crisis has also forced the Irish Taoiseach to postpone a trade mission to Canada, highlighting the domestic political fallout of the fuel‑price turmoil.

World Athletics has announced the postponement of the Doha Diamond League, citing concerns for athlete and spectator safety as the US-Israel war on Iran continues to impact the Middle East. The event, originally scheduled for May 8, has been rescheduled for June 19, pending a favorable safety and security situation in the region.The decision to postpone the event was made in the interest of ensuring a safe and secure competition for athletes, media, and spectators. World Athletics has been closely monitoring the situation in Doha and working with local organizers, Qatari authorities, and other stakeholders to assess the risks.The escalating tensions in the Middle East, including missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, have prompted the postponement. Despite a two-week ceasefire deal between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan, the region remains volatile.The Doha Diamond League will now take place at the Khalifa International Stadium, a temperature-regulated venue with air cooling vents, which previously hosted the World Athletics Championships in 2019 and the FIFA World Cup 2022.The event is part of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League season, which will begin in Shanghai on May 16 and conclude with the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 5. The Doha meeting will be the eighth leg of the season, falling between the Bislett Games in Oslo on June 10 and the Meeting de Paris on June 28.

French giants OL Lyonnes have booked their place in the Women's Champions League semi-finals, where they will face Arsenal. This comes after a convincing 4-0 win over Wolfsburg in extra time, securing a 4-1 aggregate victory. The result ensures a repeat of last season's semi-final, which Arsenal won 5-3 on aggregate. OL Lyonnes, the record eight-time European champions, will enter the match with confidence after their impressive display against Wolfsburg. Despite Wolfsburg holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, OL Lyonnes fought back with Lily Yohannes's early deflected strike drawing the teams level. The French side dominated the game, forcing 19 corners, but had to wait until the 102nd minute for Melchie Dumornay to score the decisive goal. Damaris Egurrola's header and Tabitha Chawinga's late finish further solidified OL Lyonnes's control over the game, reflecting the 4-0 victory on the night. In another match, Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid 12-2 on aggregate, showcasing their strong form ahead of the semi-finals. They will face Bayern Munich, who eliminated Manchester United, in the next round. The first legs of the semi-finals are scheduled between April 24 and 26, with the second legs taking place between May 1 and 3. The final will be held in Oslo on May 23.

The typical car has grown significantly in size over the years, with SUVs now accounting for 46% of global new car sales. While they offer more space and a higher vantage point for occupants, they pose significant risks to pedestrians, particularly children, who are 77% more likely to die if struck by an SUV compared to other cars.London Mayor Sadiq Khan is taking steps to address these concerns, including a review of SUVs' environmental impact and potential policy proposals such as higher charges for SUV owners. This move is in line with public sentiment in other cities, where residents have shown support for measures like tripling parking fees for SUVs in Paris and higher parking charges in Cardiff.The UK government can learn from cities like Helsinki and Oslo, which have achieved significant reductions in road deaths and serious injuries. London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) has also led to significant air quality improvements since its rollout in 2023. However, the government needs to address the issue of SUVs' large carbon footprints, including their manufacture, which consume about 20% more oil than medium-sized cars.The conversation about the UK's growing number of giant cars needs to accelerate, and Ministers should re-examine the tax system for new SUVs, which are currently taxed far less heavily than in many European countries. By taking bold action, the government can make the city cleaner and safer for its residents.