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Bath Rugby demonstrated their impressive squad depth with a thrilling comeback victory against Sale Sharks. Despite resting several key players, including Finn Russell and Ben Spencer, Bath conjured up two tries in the final quarter to clinch a bonus-point win.The match, played in difficult, windswept conditions, was an entertaining affair that could have gone either way. However, it was Alfie Barbeary's late try that sealed the win for Bath, putting his side only a point behind the leaders, Northampton.Kepu Tuipulotu, a 20-year-old hooker, was instrumental in the win, breaking on the left touchline and sending a delightful kick downfield for Bernard van der Linde to gather and score in the 62nd minute. This try was converted to level the scores at 26-26.Tuipulotu's performance was praised by Bath's head of rugby, Johann van Graan, who described him as “one of the most explosive players I’ve coached” with “huge potential”.Sale Sharks, missing several key players due to injury, were unable to capitalize on their strong start. Their director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m crestfallen. I’m just gutted for the amount of effort that the lads put in”.The win keeps Bath in contention for a top-four spot, while Sale Sharks' hopes are all but extinguished. Bath will now look ahead to their Champions Cup last-16 home tie against Saracens on Saturday.

Issa Diop's international debut for Morocco has added a new twist to the ongoing dispute between Senegal and Morocco over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The Fulham defender, born in France, had his application to switch nationality to Morocco approved by FIFA on Thursday and was immediately drafted into the starting lineup for Morocco's 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Madrid on Friday.Diop's switch is seen as a public relations coup for Morocco, who have been actively courting players with links to the country to improve their national team. The 29-year-old, whose father is Senegalese and mother is Moroccan, had previously rejected overtures from both countries to play for them while holding out hope he might represent France.Diop said he was happy to play in a team with good players and thinks he's made a good choice. He had talks with Morocco's new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, and Moroccan Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa, who explained their vision to him and welcomed him with open arms.The dispute between Senegal and Morocco centers around the AFCON final, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. Senegal was subsequently stripped of the title and Morocco declared winners. Senegal has formally contested the decision and referred the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Senegal continues to assert its claim to the title, with the team holding a news conference before a friendly match against Peru, featuring a banner that read 'Champions of Africa'. They are also expected to display the Cup of Nations trophy to supporters before the match.

For British runner Josh Kerr, the moment that makes the hairs on his neck tingle every time he watches it is Roger Bannister's historic achievement in 1954 – becoming the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier. Now, Kerr intends to stand on the shoulders of track and field's giants by attempting to break the world mile record himself at the London Diamond League in July."This record needs to be brought home," Kerr declares. "This is a British record. This is a British distance. And so it would be doing a disservice to the UK to not be doing it at home. It's why I can't do it anywhere else."The 28-year-old faces a significant challenge. The world record of 3:43.13 was set by Hicham El-Guerrouj in July 1999, while Kerr's best is a shade over two seconds slower. However, with focused training, a new shoe from sponsor Brooks, the support of his 16-strong entourage and 60,000 fans at the London Stadium, Kerr believes he can break the long-standing record."People [say:] 'The sport needs more rivalries,'" Kerr explains. "I don't agree. I think the sport needs more moments. We need a reason to watch. And so that's where this comes from. This is the time to go after these big moments. I have a big target of what time I want to hit. I think it's going to be pretty special."Kerr's credentials are impeccable. He is a world 1500m champion and an Olympic silver and bronze medalist over the same distance. Last weekend, he further demonstrated his form by winning the world indoor title over 3,000m for a second time."I've been in shape to run the record multiple times over the last couple of years," Kerr states. "And so there's specific key sessions, we will have KPIs [key performance indicators] going into it."To achieve his goal, Kerr plans to focus on running between 55 and 56 seconds pace for each of the four laps. "There's a lot of muscle memory with stuff, and so we'll do a lot of training at pace," he explains. "We're three or four months in deep into the mental training of it. There's a lot going on behind the scenes already. The whole season is towards this."While Kerr has his pacemakers "signed, sealed and delivered," he insists this will be a proper Diamond League race rather than a time trial. "There will be some restrictions," he says coyly when asked about potential rivals. "I'm not scared to race people. I think certain athletes will have obligations elsewhere. But it's not going to be a closed-off race."A crucial factor in Kerr's favor is the quality of his support team. "Danny's the mastermind behind everything," Kerr says of his coach Danny Mackey. "He's my head coach and team leader. Then you've got Julian, who's an assistant coach, and my wife, who helps with everything."The team also includes Kerr's mother as head physio, a "super-manager and assistant" called Nicole, a chiropractor, massage therapist, two strength and conditioning coaches, a performance and mental coach, a nutritionist, a full-time chef, and a videographer and social media assistant. Race agent Ray Flynn and management company Forte complete the 16-strong squad."I have a lot of respect for this record," Kerr concludes. "But I believe that I have the ability and the people around me that will help me get there. This record is one of the most important we have in track and field. The time is now. It's time for that record to be renewed."

In the hallway at the Portuguese federation's base in Oeiras near Lisbon, Roberto Martínez stands with arms outstretched, embodying the warmth of welcome that has defined his coaching career. Seventy-five days before the World Cup begins, the man whose favorite goal was against Scunthorpe at Springfield Park now leads one of football's most formidable nations, with matches against Mexico and the United States serving as final preparation for the tournament.Martínez's journey to this moment defied conventional expectations. Arriving in England in 1995 as a 21-year-old unknown who didn't speak English, he recalls the cultural shock: 'You've spent your whole life learning you have to look after the ball, then you get there and the first thing they say is: 'Second ball'.' The Spanish midfielder, who would later be dubbed one of the 'Three Amigos' at Wigan, embraced the challenge with an attitude that has defined his career: 'Why not?'From his humble beginnings at Wigan, where he helped win the Third Division and Football League Trophy, Martínez has carved an extraordinary path through football. His coaching career took him through Swansea, Belgium—where he led the team to the world's No. 1 ranking—and now Portugal, where he has inherited a squad filled with exceptional talent. 'Portugal is a football school,' he explains, 'Ten million people and yet they fill the world's best dressing rooms.'Central to Portugal's World Cup aspirations is Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary forward who has given 21 years to the national team. Martínez dismisses the notion that Ronaldo's pursuit of 1,000 career goals defines his motivation, instead emphasizing the 40-year-old's unwavering commitment: 'Cristiano's attitude is always: 'I'm here for the national team, whatever you need.' The coach reveals that despite a current hamstring injury, Ronaldo's absence is merely a two-week pause before his return to action.Portugal enters the World Cup as one of the favorites, with a squad boasting captains from Manchester United, Porto, Manchester City, and four key players from European champions Paris Saint-Germain. 'Winning the Nations League was very good for us,' Martínez notes, referring to their victory against Spain, the world's No. 1 team and European champions. 'I wouldn't say there's an anxiety in Portugal to win the World Cup; I would say it's excitement, hope.'The coach's meticulous preparation extends to every detail, including playing at altitude in closed stadiums to simulate World Cup conditions. His selection process reflects both compassion and pragmatism: 'I'll choose a list of 26 and four others who know they are on standby.' This approach, he believes, creates a more positive environment when injuries occur.Martínez acknowledges the unique challenges of a 48-team World Cup spanning 50 days, noting: 'No scientific study would deny a human is changed by that.' Yet he remains optimistic, drawing inspiration from Portugal's football history and the numerological significance of 2026—sixty years since Eusébio's World Cup performance. 'It's all sixes. Let's dream. Why not?' he concludes, embodying the philosophy that has taken him from Spanish unknown to Portugal's World Cup dreamer.

Ilia Malinin, known as the 'Quad God' for his exceptional jumping skills, has won his third consecutive world figure skating championship. The 21-year-old American skater delivered a commanding performance in the free skate, scoring 218.11 points to finish with a total of 329.40 points.Malinin's victory comes just a month after his surprising eighth-place finish at the Olympics, where he struggled with errors and pressure. However, in Prague's O2 Arena, Malinin showcased his composure and skill, landing five quadruple jumps, including a quad toe-triple toe combination and a backflip.The American skater's performance was well-received by the crowd, with Malinin stating, “I definitely felt very pushed and loved from the crowd,” and that he felt their support throughout his program.Malinin's win marks a significant redemption arc, as he overcame the disappointment of his Olympic performance to reclaim his title. He finished comfortably ahead of Japanese rivals Yumi Kagiyama (306.67) and Shun Sato (288.54).The absence of Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov and other top skaters allowed Malinin to take center stage, and he responded with a confident performance. His victory solidifies his position as a top figure skater in the world.

Balendra Shah, Nepal's youngest prime minister, has been officially sworn in following his party's decisive election victory that came after months of youth-led protests which resulted in the government's collapse in September.The rapper-turned-politician was appointed prime minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel on Friday, after his three-year-old Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured 182 seats in the 275-member parliament during the March 5 election. This vote marked Nepal's first election since the anticorruption Gen Z-led demonstrations that tragically claimed 76 lives.The 35-year-old leader made a distinctive appearance during his swearing-in ceremony at the President House, wearing black trousers, a matching jacket, his signature black Nepali cloth cap, and sunglasses, in the presence of diplomats and senior government officials.A day prior to his formal appointment, the new premier, better known as Balen, released his first public statement since the historic election through a rap song shared on social media platforms. Titled Jay Mahakaali (Victory to Goddess Mahakali), the song features lyrics such as 'Nepal is not scared this time, the heart is full of red blood … Laughter and happiness will reach every household this time.' The accompanying music video, showcasing large crowds cheering during his campaign, has garnered nearly three million views.'The strength of unity is my national power,' Shah raps in the track that emphasizes his political message of national cohesion.A former mayor of Kathmandu, Shah holds the distinction of being Nepal's first Madhesi premier – representing people from the southern plains bordering India – to lead the Himalayan nation.China extended its official congratulations to Nepal on Shah's swearing-in, with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing support for its Himalayan neighbor in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.The political transition follows months of protests driven by widespread discontent over unemployment and systemic corruption in the nation of 30 million people. Approximately one-fifth of Nepal's population lives in poverty, with an estimated 1,500 citizens leaving the country daily for work abroad.Although Shah did not directly participate in the demonstrations, he publicly expressed solidarity with the largely Generation Z protesters who spearheaded the movement that brought down the previous administration.Political instability has long plagued Nepal, with 32 governments taking office since 1990, none of which have completed a full five-year term. The Nepali Congress party, the country's oldest political organization, secured only 38 seats in the recent election, placing it a distant second. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) of KP Sharma Oli, who resigned following the Gen Z unrest, now controls 25 parliamentary seats.Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki had been leading the nation through the interim period preceding the parliamentary election that brought Shah to power.

Austria is set to introduce a compulsory minimum age of 14 for social media use, with the government citing concerns that certain online platforms are addictive and harmful to young people. The announcement was made by conservative junior minister for digitisation, Alexander Proell, at a joint news conference.“We will decisively protect children and young people in future from the negative effects of social media,” said Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler of the Social Democrats. “We will no longer stand by and watch while these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick … The risks associated with this use were ignored for long enough, and now it is time to act.”The Austrian government plans to draft legislation by June, which will determine which platforms are affected based on their addictive algorithms and content, such as “sexualised violence”. The ban will not target specific platforms but will focus on their impact on young users.This move follows a landmark social media addiction lawsuit in the US, where a jury found Alphabet’s Google and Meta liable for $6m in damages. The case involved a 20-year-old woman who claimed she became addicted to social media apps at a young age due to their platform design. Meta plans to appeal the decision.Other nations in Europe, including France, the UK, Denmark, Spain, and Greece, are also considering or have implemented bans on social media use for children, amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks. The European Parliament has called for the EU to set minimum ages for children to access social media, although it is up to member states to impose age limits.

Manila, Philippines, is experiencing a rare phenomenon - empty streets. For years, the city's transport congestion has been notorious, ranking worst globally in 2024, according to the TomTom traffic index. However, a 26km drive from the Manila airport to the Quezon City Hall now takes just 45 minutes, instead of the typical two hours, according to Google Maps.The reason behind this sudden change is the surge in fuel prices following the United States and Israel's joint military operation against Iran almost a month ago. This has resulted in a significant decrease in vehicular traffic, with fewer buses, jeepneys, and ride-hailing vehicles plying the streets.The impact is being felt by vendors and transport workers, such as Ruben, a 27-year-old parking attendant, who earned less than half his usual collection on a typical Wednesday. Emily Ruado, a 59-year-old paper napkin vendor, also reported a decline in her daily income from $10 to $5.The financial difficulties faced by individuals like Ruben and Emily reflect a bigger headache for the Philippines, as worries of a sharp increase in prices of basic goods and sudden loss of employment for thousands of people could quickly lead to a stagnating economy. The country's GDP growth rate of 5 percent is now becoming more unlikely.The surge in fuel prices has also exposed the acute insufficiency of Manila's limited railway network, with commuters swelling during rush hour at metro stations. This highlights the need for improved infrastructure and the multibillion-dollar infrastructure corruption scandal still roiling the country.

David Chase, the creative mind behind HBO's groundbreaking series The Sopranos, recently shared insights into how the show transformed both his life and television history. The 80-year-old creator revealed that his seminal work was born from personal pain, particularly stemming from his complex relationship with his mother.While in London promoting HBO Max's UK launch, Chase reflected on how The Sopranos elevated HBO from a little-known network focused on sports and standup comedy to a powerhouse of prestige television. Despite the show's monumental success, Chase remains characteristically modest, attributing much of the achievement to luck rather than his own genius."I'd been taking network notes and eating network shit for however many years, and I was done with it," Chase explained of his decision to create The Sopranos after years working on network television shows like The Rockford Files and Northern Exposure. The creative freedom offered by HBO proved transformative, with the network providing minimal notes throughout the series' run.Chase revealed that the show's central premise—a mob boss seeking therapy—was directly inspired by his own difficult family dynamics. "In 1967 at the height of the Vietnam war, my mother said to me, 'I'd rather see you dead than avoid the draft,'" he shared. "I had to create a whole TV series to get over it."The interview also touched on Chase's complex relationship with James Gandolfini, who portrayed Tony Soprano. While acknowledging their creative tensions, Chase defended Gandolfini's commitment to the role, emphasizing that the actor never refused to perform scenes despite his struggles with the character's darkness.When asked about his legacy nearly two decades after The Sopranos concluded, Chase offered a simple yet profound reflection after a long pause: "God is in the details."Looking ahead, Chase discussed his upcoming limited series about MKUltra, the CIA's experimental program that sought to weaponize LSD. The project will explore scientists Sidney Gottlieb and Jolly West, who became consumed by their research into psychedelic substances. "They all went crazy and it became like the big party drug of the 1970s," Chase noted of the scientists' descent.The creator also expressed disappointment about a previously announced project, "A Ribbon of Dreams," about early cinema, which was ultimately shelved after HBO insisted on filming in western Canada. "I thought, 'What are you talking about? I don't even want to go into this,'" Chase recalled of the network's decision.