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BP's new chief executive, Meg O'Neill, has told staff that the oil giant is operating in a world of significant complexity, marked by geopolitical tensions, conflict, rapid technological change, and shifting global energy demand. In her first message to employees, O'Neill promised a clear direction and consistency after a tumultuous period for the 117-year-old fossil fuel company. This period has seen BP pivot away from a failing green strategy and experience leadership changes. O'Neill, BP's third CEO in under five years, takes the helm during a critical time, with the ongoing Iran war triggering the global industry's biggest supply shock. She emphasized the company's role in delivering energy safely, reliably, and efficiently. The company previously aimed to cut its oil production this decade, which put BP at a financial disadvantage compared to other large oil companies like Shell when wholesale prices surged after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. O'Neill is expected to focus on making disciplined investments in new fossil fuel projects to revive BP's market value. This strategy comes as the Iran war has driven oil prices to near $118 a barrel and gas prices are at historic highs across Asia and Europe. BP's share price has reached an almost 16-year high amid the current geopolitical tensions. However, it saw a nearly 3.5% slump on Wednesday as Brent crude prices fell below $100 a barrel. In her memo, O'Neill expressed her excitement about BP's next chapter, highlighting the company's strength, remarkable people, and world-class assets. She emphasized BP's vital role in supplying energy to customers worldwide, underpinning economic growth and human development.

Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank organized public demonstrations to voice opposition to Israel's newly introduced death penalty law. The protests, which unfolded in several towns and refugee camps, reflected deep‑seated concerns over the legislation's implications for human rights and regional stability. Organizers emphasized that the law, seen by many as a punitive response to security incidents, could exacerbate existing grievances and further strain relations between Israeli authorities and the Palestinian population. Participants carried placards and chanted slogans demanding the repeal of the measure and calling for broader legal reforms. While the scale of the demonstrations varied, the core message remained consistent: a call for the international community and local leadership to reconsider the use of capital punishment in a context already marked by prolonged conflict. Observers noted that the protests could influence diplomatic dialogues and potentially impact future policy decisions regarding security and justice in the region.

President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a request for Arab countries to fund the U.S.–Israel war on Iran, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. Leavitt said the president is "quite interested" in calling on regional partners to share the expense.The idea mirrors the financing arrangement of the 1990‑91 Gulf War, when a coalition of Arab and Western nations covered roughly 88% of the $61 billion cost, leaving the United States to foot only about 12%.Trump also hinted that, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, other export‑dependent partners should manage the crisis. The strait carries about 20% of the world’s oil and LNG shipments; its shutdown has pushed Brent crude to **$116 per barrel**, up from pre‑war levels near **$65**.Iran, meanwhile, has demanded that the United States pay reparations to Iranian victims as a precondition for any cease‑fire.So far, there is no clear commitment from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members—countries that have themselves been hit by Iranian strikes—to finance the conflict. Analysts estimate the total bill could run into tens of billions of dollars, though exact figures remain uncertain.Experts note a shift in regional attitudes: GCC states opposed the war before it began and continue to call for diplomacy, according to Zeidon Alkinani of the Arab Perspectives Institute. He added that Israel appears to be the primary driver pushing the United States into the confrontation.History shows the United States has repeatedly sought external funding for wars it leads. During the Gulf War, Saudi Arabia contributed $16.8 billion (27% of total costs) and Kuwait $16 billion (26%). Japan, Germany, the UAE and South Korea also supplied sizable sums.Post‑World War II, the U.S. administered the Marshall Plan, providing over $13 billion to rebuild Europe, while Germany and Japan paid reparations and later funded the upkeep of U.S. bases—about $1 billion annually each.In the ongoing Ukraine war, the United States once delivered the largest aid package—€114.64 billion (≈$134 billion) by mid‑2025. Since Trump returned to office in 2025, he has withdrawn **99% of U.S. support**, shifting the financial load to European allies and turning the U.S. into a major arms supplier, with weapons sales reaching a record **$318.7 billion in 2024**. Recent deals, such as a $10 billion weapons package for Ukraine financed by European partners, illustrate this new model.These precedents underscore a pattern: when U.S. leadership faces costly overseas engagements, it often looks to allies—especially those with strategic interests—to share or assume the fiscal burden.

Ghana's football association announced on Monday that they have terminated the contract of head coach Otto Addo, effective immediately. This decision comes just 72 days before the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup.The termination follows a recent friendly match loss to Germany, which was Ghana's fifth successive loss in friendlies. The team also suffered a 5-1 defeat in Austria on Friday.Otto Addo, a German-born former Borussia Dortmund player, was appointed for a second stint in March 2024. He previously led the Black Stars' campaign at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Ghana exited in the group stage.Under Addo's leadership, Ghana secured a spot at the upcoming World Cup in North America, where they will face Panama on June 17 in Toronto. They are placed in Group L alongside Croatia and England.The four-time Africa Cup of Nations champions failed to qualify for the 2025 edition in Morocco, marking their first absence from the regional competition in 21 years.

Tottenham Hotspur has officially announced the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach, signing him to a five-year contract. The Italian manager, renowned for his daring and aggressive possession-based approach, faces a significant challenge as he takes over with the club precariously positioned just above the relegation zone.Spurs are set to play seven matches to end the season, with their next fixture scheduled against Sunderland on the upcoming Sunday. Notably, De Zerbi's contract does not include any break clause in the event of Tottenham being relegated.De Zerbi expressed his delight in joining the club, stating, “I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world. In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters.”The appointment of De Zerbi comes after Igor Tudor, the interim manager, parted ways with the club by mutual consent. Tudor had taken over temporarily following the departure of Thomas Frank on February 14.De Zerbi previously managed Brighton & Hove Albion, where he achieved significant success, leading the club to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and qualification for the Europa League. His tenure at Marseille also yielded impressive results, with a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and Champions League qualification.Despite his successes, De Zerbi is also known for his volatile personality and has had public disagreements with players and clubs in the past. The immediate concern for Spurs will be whether De Zerbi can adapt quickly and lead the team to avoid relegation.

British hedge‑fund billionaire Chris Rokos has announced a £190 million endowment to the University of Cambridge to create a new, eponymous school of government. The pledge, comprising an initial £130 million and a further commitment of up to £60 million that the university will match, is believed to be the largest single donation ever made to a UK university. The Rokos School of Government is slated to open in temporary facilities this autumn, offering PhD and master’s programmes focused on public policy, leadership and governance. In the longer term it will relocate to a purpose‑built campus within Cambridge’s West Innovation District, positioning itself as a direct rival to Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, which was launched in 2010 with a £75 million gift. Rokos, 55, rose from a state primary school to a scholarship at Eton and a mathematics degree at Oxford before co‑founding the hedge fund Brevan Howard and later establishing Rokos Capital Management, which now employs over 350 staff. He is listed on the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated net worth of £2.6 billion and is among the UK’s biggest taxpayers. Speaking about the donation, Rokos said, "I was fortunate to be given an education that transformed my life, and I would like to give something back to Britain. My hope is that, in time, the influence of the Rokos School of Government across the world becomes an important element of that soft power, which has been a great asset to the UK." University officials framed the new school as a response to “growing turbulence in domestic and international politics, increasing polarisation of political opinion, and long‑term structural changes in the economy.” The institution aims to provide a “unique forum for radical and remarkable thinking,” leveraging Cambridge’s tradition of scientific innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Vice‑chancellor Prof. Deborah Prentice added, "Tackling the enormous challenges facing our world requires radical new ways of thinking and approaches to leadership. Cambridge’s strengths across all disciplines and its convening power make it uniquely positioned to drive this innovation. Thanks to Chris’s generous support, the Rokos School will become a place where current and future leaders, together with experts from across our institution, generate the insights and solutions needed for a rapidly changing world." The school’s establishment also reflects a broader trend of private wealth shaping public‑policy education in the UK, echoing similar high‑profile gifts such as Leonard Blavatnik’s £75 million donation to Oxford. By creating a dedicated hub for governance studies, Rokos hopes to cement Cambridge’s role as a training ground for future world leaders and to reinforce Britain’s international influence. Rokos Capital Management recently made headlines when talks to appoint former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson as an adviser were terminated following renewed scrutiny of the Epstein scandal, underscoring the complex interplay between finance, politics and public perception. The £190 million endowment not only marks a milestone for UK higher‑education philanthropy but also signals a strategic investment in the development of policy expertise that could shape global governance for decades to come.

The UK's position in quantum computing has been hailed as a success story of long-term investment in fundamental science. However, the current approach to science funding, particularly by UK Research and Innovation, has raised concerns among experts. The abrupt discontinuation of the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics initiative has resulted in the loss of dozens of early-career researchers trained in a strategically important area. Moreover, there has been no clear vision for what replaces it, nor any meaningful consultation on how such crucial cross-disciplinary programmes should be organised. A similar disconnect is emerging in artificial intelligence, where many techniques driving impact were developed and deployed in fundamental research communities, such as particle physics. Undermining this base risks cutting off the pipeline of ideas and skills that the wider economy depends on. Experts stress that if the UK is serious about long-term leadership, prioritisation must be done with care, transparency, and a credible plan for sustaining the full ecosystem, from fundamental science through to application. Prof Ruben Saakyan, chair of the STFC particle physics advisory panel, emphasises the need for a well-thought-out strategy. Dr Simon Williams also highlights the importance of sustained investment in people and fundamental science, stating that ambition in quantum computing cannot succeed without it. Prof Sheila Rowan, director of the Institute for Gravitational Research, points out that the PPAN area is a training ground for expertise in various engineering and technical skills, which are in short supply and crucial for driving a bright future in quantum computing and quantum technology.

The women's college basketball landscape has witnessed a remarkable phenomenon: for the second consecutive year, the same four teams have secured their spots in the Final Four. UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina are set to battle it out for the championship, marking a historic repeat. This achievement is a testament to the dominance of these programs, with UConn being the reigning national champion. The Huskies, led by coach Geno Auriemma, have established themselves as a standard in women's college basketball, boasting 12 national championships and 25 Final Four appearances. Under Auriemma's leadership, UConn has won an impressive 1,288 games in 41 seasons. The Huskies (38-0) have been nearly unbeatable this season, with a 54-game winning streak and an average margin of victory of 37.8 points. They are led by first-team All-Americans Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, with eight players averaging at least 6.8 points per game. Strong emphasized the team's depth, stating, "I feel like no other team has a bench like us. We can have kind of anyone off the bench step up and change the whole pace of the game." UConn will face a familiar opponent in South Carolina, which they defeated in last year's title game. The Gamecocks (35-3) have reached the Final Four seven times in the past nine seasons under coach Dawn Staley, winning three national championships. They are led by second-team All-American Joyce Edwards, who averages 19.6 points per game. Meanwhile, UCLA (35-1) is seeking its first national championship under coach Cori Close. The Bruins are led by two-time All-American Lauren Betts, who averages 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 60.1% from the field. They will face Texas (36-3), which steamrolled its first four NCAA Tournament opponents by an average of 35.5 points per game. The Longhorns are led by fifth-year guard Rori Harmon and All-American forward Madison Booker.

Middlesex Cricket Club is facing a revolt from a group of former players, including Mike Gatting, the former England captain, over the club's leadership and performance. In an open letter to members, Gatting and his co-signatories, such as Desmond Haynes and Mark Ramprakash, have expressed concerns about the club's direction, highlighting a lack of transparency and cricketing knowledge among the leadership. The letter, which is a clarion call ahead of the club's annual general meeting on 15 April, states that Middlesex was once a byword for excellence in the game but now risks 'drifting towards irrelevance.' The group criticizes the club's cricket setup, describing it as 'a mess' and notes that only one person with first-class experience occupies a board position, while only two such former players appear on any of the club's committees. The club has faced significant challenges, including relegation to Division Two of the County Championship for the third straight season and financial issues, with disbursements from the England and Wales Cricket Board accounting for around 60% of their income. Middlesex is also the only first-class county not to own their own ground. The group of former players is urging members to attend the AGM and seek answers from those responsible, emphasizing the need for change to prevent the club from being left behind. This intervention is part of a broader trend, with other clubs like Sussex and Lancashire also facing pressure from former players over their leadership and performance.