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The BBC has been plunged into a new crisis after sacking Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills over allegations about his personal conduct. Mills, who hosted Britain’s most popular radio breakfast show, was blindsided by the decision to take him off the air last Tuesday.The corporation has opted to terminate his contract after claims made against him. According to a report in the Mirror, the allegations relate to a 'historic relationship' more than 10 years ago.This dismissal is the latest crisis to hit the BBC over the alleged behaviour of one of its leading figures. The broadcaster has repeatedly said it is trying to create a culture where no one is unaccountable, after allegations against prominent presenters such as Huw Edwards and Tim Westwood.The departure took place in Tim Davie’s last week as the BBC’s director general. He announced his resignation at the end of last year after he was worn down by a series of crises including over the conduct of some BBC presenters.The BBC said: “While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted and has left the BBC.”Replacing Mills is now likely to become one of the first big personnel decisions for Matt Brittin, the former Google executive chosen to replace Davie as director general.Mills, 53, took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January 2025. Under his stewardship, the show’s audience increased to 6.5 million listeners, making it the UK’s most popular breakfast show.

A recent survey conducted by the Football Supporters' Association has revealed that 91% of football fans believe the game is better off without Video Assistant Referees (VAR). The survey, which polled over 7,000 fans, found that the vast majority of respondents are dissatisfied with the VAR system, which has been in use for over eight years.The survey results show that only 2% of fans agree that VAR makes football more enjoyable, while 3% said it improves the experience of attending a match. In contrast, 81% of fans prefer watching matches without video technology. The survey also found that 96% of fans disagree with the statement that VAR decisions are generally resolved in a reasonable amount of time.While some fans approve of the introduction of in-stadium communication from referees to explain VAR decisions, other extensions of the VAR protocol were largely unpopular. For example, only 21% of fans agreed that VAR should adjudicate on whether corner kicks are awarded, a system set to be trialled at this summer's World Cup.The survey results may not necessarily influence the game's decision-makers, as competition organisers and big clubs are committed to the use of VAR. However, the International Football Association Board (Ifab) has announced a two-year review into the system's performance, which may lead to changes in how VAR is used.

Recent air strikes on Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) have resulted in the deaths of three PMF fighters and two Iraqi police officers. The attacks, which occurred near northern Iraq's Kirkuk Airport, also left two fighters wounded and six Iraqi soldiers injured.An Iraqi security source revealed that the double-bombing was part of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, which has been spilling over into Iraq's eastern border. The PMF, a coalition now integrated into the regular Iraqi army, accused the US and Israel of a 'treacherous Zionist-American' attack.In a separate incident, Reuters reported that two members of the Iraqi police were killed in an air strike targeting the PMF in Mosul, approximately 105 miles northwest of Kirkuk. This development has contributed to the escalating tensions in the region.Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque reported from Baghdad that Iraq is becoming an 'expanding battleground' in the crisis. The conflict began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and now threatens to engulf the region in a protracted conflict.The PMF, formed in 2014 to fight ISIL (ISIS), has been targeted by pro-Iran armed groups within the coalition. These groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and beyond.Haque noted that the PMF takes its orders from Baghdad, but some factions are loyal to Tehran. This complex dynamic makes it challenging for Baghdad to manage the different factions effectively.Iraq finds itself 'on a tightrope' between the US and Iran, said Haque, due to its economic and security ties with both countries. The government must balance its relationships with its biggest neighbor, Iran, and the United States.In related incidents, two drones targeted an airbase serving as a hub for US and coalition forces near Erbil airport in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The US C-RAM air defence system successfully intercepted the drones.French President Emmanuel Macron described the increased attacks in Iraq as a 'worrying development' after speaking to Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdish region.

Demonstrators took to the streets of cities across the United States for the first 'No Kings' protest since the joint US and Israeli war against Iran began one month ago. The protests, which mark the third round of nationwide 'No Kings' demonstrations, saw over 3,300 events planned across all 50 states, with large crowds expected in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.The main event was scheduled for the Minneapolis-St Paul area in Minnesota, known as the Twin Cities, which became a focal point for Trump's hardline immigration crackdown in December. More than 3,000 federal immigration agents descended on the Twin Cities, leading to accusations of excessive force during deportation raids.In January, agents shot and killed two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, prompting nationwide outrage and calls for reform. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed as a result of the operation, which was wound down in February.Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders addressed attendees, and rock icon Bruce Springsteen performed at the event, along with folk singer Joan Baez. Actor Robert De Niro told the crowd in Minnesota in a pre-recorded address, 'You've shown bravery in the face of armed attack by government thugs, and you stood together and ran them out of town'.The previous two 'No Kings' marches took place in June and October and drew millions of people. Trump responded to the October protest by posting an AI-generated video depicting himself dumping faeces on the protesters. The US is currently in the midst of campaigns for its pivotal midterm elections in November, which will see Trump's Republican Party seek to defend its majorities in both chambers of Congress.Democrats are hoping to gain seats as Trump's popularity droops. Sanders was among the speakers who reminded protest attendees of the importance of the upcoming vote, saying, 'We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy. In America, we the people will rule'.

For the second consecutive year, US Vice President JD Vance has emerged as the leading candidate in the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a prominent right-wing gathering in the United States. The poll, which is not necessarily an accurate predictor of the Republican nominee, saw Vance secure 53 percent of the votes from nearly 1,600 attendees. This significant lead highlights Vance's strong support within the conservative base. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another senior official under President Donald Trump, showed a notable improvement from last year's poll, where he tied for fourth place. Rubio garnered 35 percent of the vote, indicating a rising popularity among CPAC attendees. The straw poll results were announced on stage at the conference, which took place over four days and featured speakers such as Senator Ted Cruz, Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, and Eduardo and Flavio Bolsonaro, sons of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro. CPAC's annual conference tends to attract attendees from the political right, and this year's event was no exception. The poll results come at a critical time for the Republican Party, with less than eight months until the midterm elections in the US. The party is hoping to defend its congressional majorities amid challenges such as the ongoing war in Iran and rising gas prices. Vance, a veteran and former single-term senator from Ohio, is seen as representing a more isolationist branch of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) base. He has been critical of US involvement in foreign conflicts but has defended Trump's decision to join Israel in joint strikes on Iran. Rubio, on the other hand, has a longer political resume and is viewed as more hawkish towards regime change, particularly in Cuba. Both Vance and Rubio had previously criticized Trump before joining his administration. While the CPAC straw poll has historically shown a realignment in the Republican Party around Trump's politics, it is not always an accurate predictor of future election outcomes. The party's consolidation around Trump's agenda has led to the marginalization of moderate and critical voices.

The Denver Summit made history on Saturday by drawing a crowd of 63,004 fans to their match against the Washington Spirit at Mile High Stadium, shattering the previous National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) attendance record of 40,091.The previous record was set last season at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, during a match between Bay FC and the Spirit. This significant milestone highlights the growing popularity of women's soccer, with fans like Karmryn Eversole expressing their enthusiasm: 'This is a big deal, and it’s very important… We want more women’s sports, and we’re here supporting it.'The Denver Summit, established as the 16th NWSL franchise in January 2025 for a reported expansion fee of $110m, played their first home game in Colorado after starting the season with three away matches, going 1-1-1. The match against the Spirit ended in a scoreless draw.Fan Nicole DeLue emphasized the significance of having a professional women's soccer team in Denver: 'If you look at the amount of Denver women’s players that have gone to the World Cup, made the national team… So to finally have a home base here is just incredible.'The Summit will play future home games at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and later move to a temporary stadium while awaiting the completion of a new women's soccer stadium in downtown Denver, expected to be finished by the 2028 season.

While birdwatching is a well-known hobby, moth-watching is gaining popularity as a fascinating and misunderstood pursuit. A recent study on birdwatching found that becoming an expert birder causes changes to the brain that may help protect against age-related cognitive decline. The study, led by Erik Wing, discovered that expert birders show more activity in brain regions linked to visual processing, attention, and working memory when identifying difficult species. The author, a self-proclaimed moth enthusiast, argues that moths are orders of magnitude more difficult to distinguish than birds, with over 2,500 species in the UK alone. The author participates in the Garden Moth Scheme, a citizen science project that has been running since 2008, and has found that moths play a vital role in the natural world, pollinating plants, providing food for wildlife, and contributing to nutrient cycling. Despite their importance, moths are often misunderstood and maligned, with many people viewing them as pests. However, the author highlights the beauty and diversity of moths, with some species having intricate patterns and colors that rival those of butterflies. The author also notes that moths are harbingers of environmental change, with many species declining in abundance due to habitat loss and climate change. The Garden Moth Scheme has revealed a troubling trend of declining moth populations, with half of UK garden moth species showing a decrease in abundance. This decline has significant implications for the balance of the natural world. The author concludes that moth-watching, like birdwatching, can be a mindful and rewarding hobby that not only promotes appreciation for nature but also supports brain health.

Nepal's new prime minister, Balen Shah, has taken office after a landslide win in the recent elections. Shah, a rapper-turned-politician, leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which is expected to have a two-thirds majority in parliament. This mandate comes with high expectations from young Nepalis who drove the 2025 Gen Z protests against corruption, poor governance, and lack of accountability.The RSP, barely four years old, and Shah, with no prior political experience except as mayor of Kathmandu, have a historic opportunity to deliver on the aspirations of young Nepalis. However, analysts and voters warn that with this opportunity comes significant risks. Political analyst Bishnu Sapkota notes that expectations are enormous, and it may be unrealistic for Shah to fully meet them.One of Shah's immediate challenges will be implementing the findings of the Karki Commission, which investigated the killings and property damage during the Gen Z movement. The commission's report, submitted on March 8, 2026, is expected to be made public and implemented quickly. This will require careful management of political reactions and potentially difficult decisions.Another challenge Shah faces is the relationship between him and Rabi Lamichhane, the founder of the RSP. Lamichhane faces allegations of fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, and has previously served jail sentences. Experts describe their alliance as a 'marriage of convenience' and note that differences could emerge later.Shah's popularity was the main factor behind the RSP's success, and analysts suggest that he may end up having a stronger grip on the party than its president. RSP leader Shishir Khanal emphasizes that Shah will lead the government, while Lamichhane will lead the party, and both will have to face challenges and manage expectations on their own respective fronts.In the first 100 days, the RSP plans to prioritize anti-corruption measures, including investigations into the wealth of senior officials and politicians since 1990. These steps respond directly to the demands of last year's Gen Z protests. Gen Z activist Yujan Rajbhandari notes that the new government must prioritize good governance and protect civic freedoms, or face pushback from the same movement that enabled its rise.Shah's critics have questioned his diplomatic skills, citing past social media posts attacking Nepal's neighbors, including India and China. However, analyst Sapkota argues that Shah's lack of political baggage could allow Nepal to pursue a more independent diplomacy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already signaled a willingness to work with Nepal's new leadership, and Shah has emphasized the importance of maintaining close relations with India.

The documentary 'Keir Starmer: Where Did It All Go Wrong?' presents a critical analysis of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership, highlighting his historically low approval ratings and the public's perception of him as 'incompetent', 'useless', and 'weak'. The program, presented by political broadcaster Lewis Goodall, explores the reasons behind Starmer's unpopularity, including his lack of clear political strategy and vision.According to the documentary, Starmer's promise of change was a key factor in his election campaign, but little has changed for ordinary citizens. A survey conducted for the program revealed that a majority of respondents believe Starmer should resign, citing his slow pace of change and lack of a clear plan. The documentary also examines Starmer's shift to the right during his leadership campaign, which may have opened up space for the Greens to attract progressive voters.The program features interviews with various politicians, including Alan Johnson and Bridget Phillipson, who defend Starmer, while John McDonnell and Kim Johnson offer a more critical perspective. The documentary concludes by questioning whether Starmer can find the qualities needed to turn his leadership around and restore public trust.However, the article suggests that the documentary may be avoiding a deeper analysis of Starmer's ideology and the potential reasons behind his actions, including the possibility that he may be intentionally maintaining the status quo. The article also notes that Starmer's dealings with Donald Trump and his stance on Iran have been presented as positive aspects of his leadership.