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In a remarkable display of solidarity, people in Indian-administered Kashmir are donating gold, jewelry, and household items to support civilians in Iran affected by the ongoing US-Israel conflict. The donations, which include cash, livestock, bicycles, and even piggy banks broken open by children, reflect the deep cultural ties between Kashmir and Iran.The bond between the two regions dates back over six centuries, with Sufi scholar Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani introducing religious practices, art forms, and Persian literary traditions to Kashmir in the 14th century. This historical connection has led to Kashmir being referred to as 'Little Iran' or 'Iran-e-Sagheer'.Masrat Mukhtar, a 55-year-old woman from Budgam, handed over gold earrings gifted to her by her father on her birthday, saying, 'We give what we love. This brings us closer to them.' Her cousins and other families in the region have also contributed items of personal value, including copper utensils, livestock, and portions of savings.The scope of donations is significant, with estimates from local authorities placing the value of contributions at up to six billion rupees ($64m). The Iranian embassy in New Delhi acknowledged the contributions, thanking the people of Kashmir for their 'humanitarian support and heartfelt solidarity'.However, Indian authorities have raised concerns about potential misuse of funds, citing examples of collections being allegedly funnelled towards rebel groups in the past. Authorities have asked volunteers to maintain records to ensure compliance with fundraising regulations.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that she and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are working to break the link between gas prices and electricity costs in the UK. Currently, under the marginal cost pricing model, gas prices almost always set the price of electricity. Speaking in Washington, Reeves explained that when gas prices are high, electricity costs increase even though the cost of producing electricity doesn't change. The goal is to delink these prices, especially as renewable energy makes up a larger part of the UK's energy mix. Renewables have already reduced the time gas sets the wholesale price of electricity by about a third since the early 2020s, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The head of Energy UK, Dhara Vyas, noted that decoupling electricity prices from gas will occur gradually with the transition to clean power. Reeves also discussed encouraging investment in North Sea oil and gas tiebacks, which involve using existing infrastructure to exploit larger areas of oil and gas. This approach is seen as the quickest way to bring more oil and gas online. Greenpeace has proposed moving gas plants into a regulated asset base to make gas a strategic reserve and reduce its impact on market prices. The organization argues that this could save billions annually and benefit from cheaper, homegrown renewables.

Eddie Howe finds himself under unprecedented pressure as April brings a familiar sting: Newcastle United sit 14th in the Premier League with only six games left to convince the board that his tenure should continue. The club’s hierarchy, led by sporting director Ross Wilson and chief executive David Hopkinson, faces a stark financial reality. To stay within European and Premier League spending rules, Newcastle will likely need to sell at least one, possibly two, of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento before the September transfer window. If the team fails to qualify for Europe, all three may demand exits. Last summer’s transfer activity has drawn criticism. The £125 million received from Alexander Isak’s sale to Liverpool was funneled into a £220 million spending spree on Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey. Yet all four starters began the season on the bench, and Newcastle have lost 25 points from winning positions this campaign, including a 2‑1 defeat to Crystal Palace. Adding to the woes, Woltemade – a £69 million acquisition – appears ill‑suited to Howe’s preferred 4‑3‑5 formation. Despite scoring ten goals, his size and pace make him more of a deep‑lying No 10 than a traditional centre‑forward, forcing him to operate in midfield. Howe’s tactical rigidity is also under scrutiny. His high‑pressing, counter‑attacking 4‑3‑3 system, which delivered Champions League spots and a Carabao Cup triumph in previous seasons, now seems predictable. Opponents have adapted, and Newcastle have kept only three clean sheets in their last 25 league matches, often burning out after the 75‑minute mark. Critics point to a lack of fresh ideas within the coaching staff. Howe’s long‑standing backroom team, headed by assistant Jason Tindall, has remained largely unchanged since their Bournemouth days, potentially fostering a “group‑think” mentality. Former defender‑turned‑analyst John Anderson argues that “a fresh pair of eyes” could rejuvenate the squad, citing Sir Alex Ferguson’s practice of periodically bringing in new coaches. The club’s Saudi owners, already displeased by recent defeats to promoted Sunderland, may be reconsidering the level of autonomy granted to Howe and his nephew Andy Howe in player recruitment. The upcoming match against Bournemouth holds added significance, as Howe has never beaten his former club in a league encounter. Ultimately, Howe’s future hinges on two factors: his willingness to cede some control over recruitment and his ability to embrace new coaching perspectives. Even a short‑term revival in the next six games could restore boardroom confidence, but a failure may end his five‑year spell at St James’ Park.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Thursday that Iran’s energy infrastructure is "not destroyed yet," but the United States is "locked and loaded" to finish the job. Speaking from the Pentagon podium, Hegseth framed the press corps as the modern equivalent of the Pharisees who plotted against Jesus, suggesting that media criticism was driven by hostility rather than facts.The remarks coincided with the launch of a naval blockade of Iranian ports that began earlier this week. Hegseth urged Tehran to accept a nuclear agreement, warning that refusal would bring further attacks on the country’s remaining power‑generation and energy facilities."We are reloading with more power than ever before, and with better intelligence," Hegseth said, emphasizing the United States’ enhanced surveillance capabilities.He added that Iran’s missile launchers are dwindling and cannot be replenished: "You are digging out your remaining launchers and missiles with no ability to replace them. You can dig out for now. Can’t reconstitute, but we can."Offering a stark choice, Hegseth said, "We prefer to do it the nice way, through a deal led by our great vice‑president and negotiating team, or we can do it the hard way." He also pledged that the War Department would ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, and has been in effect for more than 24 hours. Over 10,000 sailors, marines and aircrew are enforcing the restriction. Since its inception, the U.S. Navy has transmitted a "do not attempt to breach the blockade" warning to vessels 13 times, with none of the ships boarded.During his address, Hegseth invoked a biblical sermon, likening the press to the Pharisees who, according to the Gospel of Mark, plotted to destroy Jesus after witnessing his miracles. He claimed the media’s “hardened hearts” were calibrated only to “impugn.”Hegseth also criticized the press for what he called a distorted portrayal of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, citing the phrase "the greatest airlift in American history"—a line originally used by President Joe Biden and later echoed by right‑wing commentators and politicians.Concluding his remarks, Hegseth admitted, "Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what side some of you are actually on," underscoring the tension between the Pentagon and the media.

Hull FC's fans and players came together in a heartfelt display of unity and support for coach John Cartwright following the team's loss to St Helens. The emotional show of solidarity came as Cartwright's future with the club hangs in the balance after a tumultuous 10 days.The match saw St Helens secure a 24-14 victory at the MKM Stadium, but the focus was on Cartwright as the game ebbed into its closing moments. The big screen inside the stadium panned to the coach, prompting a stadium-wide round of applause from the fans, despite Hull FC heading for a fifth league defeat in eight games.At full time, hundreds, if not thousands, of fans stayed to applaud Cartwright once again as he conducted his media duties. This display of unity from Hull FC's fans towards their coach mirrored the spirited performance from Cartwright's players on the field.The reason for such emotion was clear: this had all the hallmarks of Cartwright's last stand in charge of Hull after a tumultuous 10 days. The Black and Whites confirmed last week that Cartwright would leave at the end of the season, with the club already understood to have agreed a deal to bring in Steve McNamara next year.Cartwright responded on Monday by expressing his feelings of being 'betrayed and disrespected' by the club's lack of communication over that decision. With time to consider whether an early parting of the ways is the best course of action, Cartwright may have actually coached Hull for the final time.“I honestly don’t know,” Cartwright said when asked what happens next. “I’ll let the dust settle on that. I’ve got a couple of meetings early next week and then we’ll find out. They’re very passionate fans and they’ll have their opinion on something and they’ll make it known. It means a lot to me to see it.”Despite the loss, Hull were superb in the first half, leading 12-6 by the break thanks to tries for Logan Moy and Amir Bourouh. However, St Helens, led by coach Paul Rowley, showed their resilience and navigated an emotionally charged evening to go top of the table.The final act of this night belonged to Cartwright, who, after his media duties, walked down the tunnel with his players in one last show of unity. His players have displayed how they feel; now it is down to Hull’s hierarchy to show their hand.

The government touts the British industrial competitiveness scheme (Bics) as "bold action" to sharpen the United Kingdom’s industrial edge, offering up to a 25% reduction in electricity bills for firms operating in eight "modern" sectors of its industrial strategy. Union leader Gary Smith of the GMB immediately challenged the claim, warning that gas‑intensive industries such as ceramics and brickmaking have been "shamefully ignored" and left out of the support package. At a cost of roughly £600 million a year for 10,000 companies, the scheme is widely viewed as a modest drop in the ocean. While the rollout has been broadened from the originally announced 7,000 firms and now includes a back‑dated claim period starting in April 2025, the financial scale remains limited. Eligibility is deliberately intricate: firms must belong to a "frontier" or "foundational" industry and meet strict electrical‑intensity thresholds for specific product lines. Those that qualify receive relief from three policy charges on their electricity bills, including two green levies, amounting to up to £40 per megawatt‑hour. Two broader observations emerge. First, the programme marks the clearest governmental admission to date that the UK’s business energy costs – the highest among developed economies – are eroding competitiveness. The stated ambition is to bring electricity prices for the targeted sectors in line with European averages. Second, policymakers are beginning to untangle the web of levies that inflate bills. The carbon price support mechanism, a charge on generators passed through to consumers, is slated for abolition by April 2028, after it helped phase coal out of the grid. Nevertheless, the £600 million figure underscores a deeper debate about how to fund the energy transition and new grid infrastructure. Countries such as Germany absorb a larger share of policy costs through general taxation to keep industry competitive, whereas the UK has traditionally shifted those costs onto electricity bills. The Bics announcement signals a tentative shift toward rebalancing, but the scale remains modest. In an ideal, fiscally unconstrained scenario, a broader scheme could run into the billions and target a wider swath of industry. Treasury officials, however, remain skeptical that a larger outlay would generate sufficient long‑term growth and tax revenue to justify the expense, a view reportedly shared by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Ultimately, Bics can be seen as an unsatisfactory stopgap. It acknowledges that soaring electricity prices are a structural problem but confines the remedy to a narrow slice of the economy, leaving the broader competitiveness challenge largely unaddressed.

For the first time, two preliminary pencil sketches by E.H. Shepard for the beloved children's book Winnie-the-Pooh have been made public. These unseen drawings were created before the book's publication in 1926 and showcase Shepard's early thoughts on bringing A.A. Milne's iconic character to life.The sketches, shared by Shepard's family to mark the centenary of the book, provide insight into the artist's creative process. One drawing, captioned 'Climbing very cautiously up the stream,' depicts Pooh and his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, and Owl. It was intended for Chapter VIII, where Christopher Robin leads an expedition to the North Pole.The sketch shows Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, and Owl on an adventure. Photograph: Courtesy of Peter HarringtonThe other sketch is a delicate study for Chapter III, where Pooh and Piglet go hunting and nearly catch a Woozle. According to Philip W Errington, a senior specialist at Peter Harrington Rare Books, these drawings showcase Shepard's 'absolute, vibrant creativity' and exceptional skill in rendering movement.The drawings will be exhibited at Peter Harrington Rare Books in London as part of a special exhibition starting on April 17. Errington noted that it is 'extraordinarily rare to encounter preliminary drawings of Winnie-the-Pooh that capture what might be called the first moment of inspiration.'

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has confirmed that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Silva, who joined Manchester City from Monaco in July 2017 for £43.5m, has been a key member of Pep Guardiola's team, contributing significantly to their success.During his nine-year tenure, Silva has won an impressive array of honors, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, the Champions League, and two Fifa Club World Cups. He has made 451 appearances for the club, scoring 76 goals and providing 77 assists. This season, Guardiola made him captain, highlighting his importance to the team.Silva expressed his gratitude to the club, stating, “When I arrived 9 years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things. This city and this club gave me much more than that. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart.”He also thanked the fans for their support, saying, “To the fans, your unconditional support throughout the years is something that I will never forget. My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys could feel proud and well represented on the pitch. I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life.”The club has announced that Silva will be given an official farewell. As he departs, Silva urged the fans to continue supporting the young team, expressing confidence that they will bring new memories in the future.

After Bournemouth’s 2‑1 triumph over Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday, manager Andoni Iraola celebrated with a broad smile, acknowledging the win as the third victory in four encounters with the league leaders and a clear sign that his project is gaining momentum. Having risen from administration to the Premier League under Eddie Howe, the Cherries have long been viewed through the lens of Howe’s legacy. Iconic moments such as the 2019 4‑0 demolition of Chelsea cemented that era. Following Howe’s 2020 relegation, a succession of domestic appointments – Jason Tindall, Jonathan Woodgate, Scott Parker and Gary O’Neil – produced mixed outcomes, with O’Neil’s dismissal after a respectable finish highlighting the club’s desire for a new direction under owner Bill Foley. Iraola arrived from Athletic Bilbao, where he amassed over 500 appearances, bringing a philosophy that blends Bilbao’s directness with a British‑style width. Early on, his tenure appeared rocky: the first nine league games yielded no wins and left Bournemouth in 19th place, punctuated by a heavy 6‑1 loss to Manchester City. Yet a narrow victory over Burnley sparked a turnaround, culminating in a seven‑match unbeaten run that added 19 crucial points. Statistically, the Cherries have become more than occasional spoilers. While they previously earned just 0.42 points per game against the traditional ‘big six’, under Iraola they have improved to 1.5 points per game in both the 2024‑25 season and the current campaign, recording nine wins and seven defeats against top opposition. Their current 11th‑place standing reflects a blend of competitive resilience and entertaining football built on athleticism, work rate and on‑ball daring. The club’s on‑field evolution has translated into a remarkable transfer market windfall. Key departures include Dominic Solanke to Tottenham for £55 million, Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for £50 million, Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint‑Germain for £54.5 million, Milos Kerkez to Liverpool for £40 million, Dango Ouattara to Brentford for £42 million and Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City for £62.5 million. Collectively, these sales amount to a staggering £304 million, underscoring Bournemouth’s emergence as a premier talent factory alongside clubs like Brighton and Brentford. Looking ahead, Iraola is set to depart at the end of the season, with speculation linking him to high‑profile roles at Manchester United, his native Athletic Bilbao or other continental giants. Bournemouth’s board has already identified Marco Rose – renowned for his high‑intensity approach that benefitted Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham – as a potential successor, signaling a commitment to maintain the club’s dynamic style. In the broader context, Bournemouth’s transformation illustrates how a mid‑table Premier League side can leverage strategic coaching, a clear playing identity and savvy player development to generate both on‑field success and substantial financial returns, effectively moving beyond the shadow of Eddie Howe.