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The Grand National, a premier horse racing event, is on the horizon at Aintree, with Jagwar emerging as a top contender. Trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, Jagwar has demonstrated remarkable attributes that make him a strong candidate to claim victory.At just seven years old, Jagwar has youth on his side and has only had eight starts over fences, indicating room for further improvement. His recent performance at Cheltenham, where he finished half a length behind Johnnywho in the Ultima Handicap Chase, showcased his potential. Jagwar's ability to appreciate the additional mile on Saturday could give him an edge over his competitors.While Jagwar does tend to make occasional mistakes, the current fence design is more forgiving than in previous years, mitigating this concern. His stable companion, Iroko, had a similar profile before last year's National but ran a fine race in fourth; however, his recent form has been less convincing.Other contenders, such as Gorgeous Tom and Stellar Story, have shown promise but may not offer the same level of appeal as Jagwar. Mark Walsh, riding for JP McManus, will be in the saddle on Saturday and could be poised to sign off his time with the green-and-gold by securing a major victory.Aintree's racing schedule also features other promising horses: Hold The Serve at 1.20, Scorpio Rising at 1.55, and Leave Of Absence at 2.30, all of whom have potential for strong performances.

The 2026 NFL draft is shaping up to be an interesting one, with a mediocre quarterback class and a lack of standout players at skill positions. However, amidst the uncertainty, several under-the-radar prospects have emerged as potential game-changers. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State, is a one-year starter with impressive athleticism, but his throwing mechanics need refinement. He could be a late-round pick with potential as a developmental quarterback or a do-everything offensive weapon.Chris Bell, WR, Louisville, is a big, physical receiver who excels on short routes and has the ability to create after the catch. Despite concerns about his injury history and penalty issues, Bell has the talent to make an impact outside the top 50 picks.Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State, is a mammoth tackle with exceptional size, athleticism, and strength. Despite being a relative newcomer to football, Iheanachor has shown promise and could sneak into the first round if teams bet on his raw talent.Caleb Banks, DL, Florida, is a disruptive defensive lineman with a rare combination of size, speed, and power. However, his persistent foot injuries and relatively muted production raise concerns about his durability and potential impact.Uar Bernard, DL, NFL International Player Pathway Program, is a 21-year-old Nigerian prospect with extraordinary athleticism, but it's unclear if he can translate his skills to the football field. Teams will likely take a chance on him in the seventh round, given his roster exemption and potential for development.

Compiling a definitive Top 10 of superhero movies proves as elusive as “herding thunder through a spreadsheet.” Critics must decide whether to prioritize cinematic craftsmanship, cultural influence, or the raw emotional resonance that these films generate.Over the past two decades the genre has diversified dramatically, spanning crime‑driven Batman sagas, family‑friendly adventures like The Incredibles and Guardians of the Galaxy, political allegories such as Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Black Panther, and experimental visual feats exemplified by Spider‑Man: Into the Spider‑Verse. This breadth makes any hierarchical ranking inherently subjective.Influence remains a key metric. Richard Donner’s Superman (1978) demonstrated that audiences would pay to see a man fly, paving the way for half a century of cape‑wearing blockbusters. Similarly, Iron Man reshaped the modern blockbuster formula, launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe and redefining franchise economics.Emotional impact also matters. Logan stands out as a bruised, mournful western that subverts the genre’s usual invincibility myth, presenting a weary Wolverine confronting mortality. Its rawness offers a rare catharsis rarely found in superhero narratives.Event status cannot be ignored. Avengers: Endgame turned its opening weekend into a cultural ritual, with multiplexes resembling revival tents where audiences collectively cheered, gasped, and celebrated. Even a “colder” analysis must acknowledge that the film transformed anticipation into a generational sacrament.Visual innovation is another hallmark. The Oscar‑winning animation Spider‑Man: Into the Spider‑Verse made comic‑book ink feel alive, delivering a sensory overload that redefined what animated superhero storytelling could achieve.Cultural relevance caps the discussion. Black Panther emerged as a modern myth that forced critics to confront race, identity, and heritage within blockbuster fantasy, expanding the perceived centre of the superhero universe beyond the traditional Batman, Superman and Spider‑Man triad.While outliers like Alex Garland’s Dredd and Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army deserve mention, the critic’s final Top 10 list reflects a balance of influence, artistry, and cultural weight:1. The Dark Knight2. Spider‑Man: Into the Spider‑Verse3. Superman (1978)4. The Incredibles5. Spider‑Man 26. Dredd7. Spider‑Man: No Way Home8. Avengers: Endgame9. Spider‑Man10. Logan

Four months after Australia introduced its under‑16 social‑media ban, Sydney teenager Noah Jones says his online experience has been largely unchanged – he has not been removed from any platform.Jones recounts a brief hiccup on Instagram that he quickly resolved, and notes a friend who temporarily lost access to Snapchat but managed to circumvent it. "That’s pretty much my whole experience of the ban," he says.Despite his personal continuity, Jones is now a plaintiff in a High Court challenge mounted by the Digital Freedom Project, which argues the ban infringes the implied constitutional right to political communication.The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman‑Grant, recently disclosed that more than 5 million accounts have been deactivated since the policy’s rollout, yet over two‑thirds of teenagers remain active on the ten targeted platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, Twitch, Kick, Threads and Reddit. Young users are reportedly bypassing facial‑age estimation tools, especially when they are within two years of turning 16.Further eSafety findings reveal that 66 % of parents say platforms did not request age verification, and when ages of 14 or 15 were detected, platforms often prompted users to undergo facial‑recognition checks and simply adjust the displayed age rather than enforce deactivation.Communications Minister Anika Wells has urged the commissioner to "throw the book at" non‑compliant services, noting that fines could reach up to $49.5 million per breach in federal court. However, any penalties are likely to be considered only after the High Court decides the law’s validity.Wells also pledged new legislation imposing a digital duty of care on platforms, obliging them to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The bill is slated for parliamentary debate later this year.The Digital Freedom Project, led by NSW Libertarian MP John Ruddick, contends that banning under‑16s from holding accounts effectively silences their participation in political discourse, as logged‑out viewing does not permit meaningful engagement.Legal scholars are divided. Prof. Sarah Joseph of Griffith University warns that an ineffective law could breach the implied freedom of political communication, while Monash University’s Prof. Luke Beck argues that the law’s purpose is to compel platforms to enforce age restrictions, not to achieve 100 % compliance.Beck points out that most legislation is not perfectly effective – citing murder laws and age‑restricted media – and that courts typically assess whether a law is a proportionate means to a legitimate aim.The government acknowledges that the age limit imposes a burden on political communication but maintains the measure is justified to mitigate risks from algorithmic recommendation systems, endless feeds, and other features that can amplify harm.Jones will turn 16 in August, at which point the ban would no longer apply to him. His mother, Renee Jones, says she faced online backlash for opposing the ban, with some critics even suggesting her children be taken away."It’s my right to choose how I raise my children in a digital world," she asserts, emphasizing strict household rules: no devices in bedrooms, phones locked at night, and shared passwords for parental oversight.Jones acknowledges the downsides of social media – bullying and explicit content – but stresses that his generation relies on these platforms for news and forming opinions, more so than traditional media.Both Jones and his mother argue the legislation was rushed and is failing to address the core concerns about harmful content, leaving many teens, like Noah, to navigate the digital landscape largely unchanged despite the ban.

European airports have issued an urgent warning that jet fuel shortages could materialise within the next three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.Airports Council International (ACI) Europe addressed a letter to EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, stating the bloc is only three weeks away from a systemic shortage.The threat is linked to the ongoing US‑Israel conflict with Iran, which has effectively shut the strait—a key shipping lane for Gulf oil exports—pushing Brent crude to around $96 per barrel, up from roughly $72 before the hostilities.ACI warned that without a stable resumption of traffic through Hormuz within three weeks, a “systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.”Jet‑fuel prices have more than doubled year‑on‑year, reaching $1,650 per tonne according to IATA data. Europe’s price surge stands at 138%, while Asia has seen a 163% increase.Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary highlighted that the United Kingdom, heavily dependent on Kuwaiti supplies, is the most vulnerable market in Europe.Shipping data from Vortexa shows the last Gulf‑origin jet fuel cargo for Europe is due in Copenhagen tomorrow, following a partial delivery to Rotterdam earlier this week. The final tanker bound for the UK arrived in Kent on Tuesday.More than 60% of Europe’s jet fuel traditionally comes from Gulf refineries, with over 40% shipped via the Hormuz corridor. The blockade forces European buyers into direct competition with Asian carriers for alternative cargoes.Australian investment bank Macquarie notes that jet fuel lacks the pipeline alternatives available to crude oil, making the market especially vulnerable. Even if shipments resume, the refined‑product market could take two to three months to normalise, lagging behind crude markets.Airlines have already begun trimming schedules and raising fares, a trend that will feed into broader inflationary pressures. A genuine shortage could force travelers and businesses to postpone trips and shipments, deepening economic damage.ACI called for proactive EU monitoring and action, warning that the peak summer travel season—critical to many economies—could be hit hard if fuel supplies falter.IATA director‑general Willie Walsh cautioned that even with the strait reopened, restoring adequate supply will take months due to disrupted refining capacity in the Middle East. IATA had previously projected a 4.9% year‑on‑year growth in passenger traffic for 2026.

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.

The Artemis II mission is set to make a profound impact on the world, inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The crew's journey represents a significant milestone in space exploration, uniting people across the globe in their quest for knowledge and discovery.As the world watches, the Artemis II mission is poised to ignite a sense of wonder and curiosity about the vastness of space and the possibilities that lie beyond our planet. By pushing the boundaries of human exploration, the crew is embodying the spirit of adventure and cooperation that defines humanity's pursuit of excellence.

In an era where pop stardom is measured by a patchwork of streaming figures, award nods and high‑profile support slots, Holly Humberstone has built a credible résumé without ever cracking the singles chart. The 26‑year‑old from Lincolnshire has leveraged a Brit Rising Star award, a coveted opening for Taylor Swift, and four million monthly Spotify listeners to cement her place in the contemporary pop landscape.Her second album, ‘Cruel World’, marks a decisive shift from the gothic melancholy that defined her debut, Paint My Bedroom Black. The new record embraces an 80s‑inspired synth‑pop palette brimming with ear‑catching hooks, delivering lyrics that are both earnest and conversational, reminiscent of Swift’s confessional style.Highlights include the sun‑soaked breakup anthem ‘To Love Somebody’, which builds to a stadium‑ready pre‑chorus, and the irresistibly catchy ‘White Noise’, a nostalgic nod to disco that channels the energy of early‑2000s Kylie Minogue. Even the cheeky, self‑aware line on “Drunk Dialling” – “I’m gonna shake my nonexistent ass to this shitty song” – showcases Humberstone’s willingness to blend humor with polished production.The album’s production is consistently confident, featuring a surprising happy‑hardcore breakdown on the closing track “Make It All Better.” Combined with Humberstone’s knack for crafting crowd‑pleasing melodies, these elements suggest she is poised for a long‑term pop career that can thrive in both traditional and modern market models.

The International Monetary Fund has cautioned that the US‑Israel war on Iran could ignite a new wave of global inflation, jeopardising the outlook for world growth even if the current cease‑fire endures. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva announced on Thursday that the Fund will lower its growth projection for the global economy at next week’s IMF‑World Bank Spring Meetings, stating that the conflict has turned a potential upgrade into a growth downgrade. Earlier this year the IMF had lifted its forecast to 3.3 % growth for the 191‑member economies. That optimism evaporated after the war erupted on 28 February, driving up oil and natural‑gas prices, damaging energy infrastructure such as refineries and tanker terminals, and disrupting fertilizer shipments essential for global agriculture. Georgieva warned that the conflict is eroding business and consumer confidence and urged member nations to “get your house in order” as heightened defence spending adds further strain to the world economy. She also expressed confidence that the IMF will secure U.S. congressional approval this year for a 50 % increase in quota‑based lending resources, unlocking more of its roughly $1 trillion lending capacity. The United States, the Fund’s largest shareholder, would thereby provide crucial financial reassurance amid uncertain future developments. In a newly released report, the IMF estimated that countries directly involved in armed conflict typically see output fall by about 3 % at the outset, accumulating to roughly 7 % losses over five years. However, the study noted that economies like the United States may avoid severe economic damage because the fighting does not physically affect their own territory. Central banks are also on alert. Georgieva emphasized that “the central bank cannot afford to let inflation spiral out of control,” a statement that precedes the U.S. Federal Reserve’s two‑day policy meeting scheduled for 28–29 April, where interest‑rate decisions will be made amid political pressure from President Trump to lower rates. Other monetary authorities, including the Bank of Mexico, warned that the Middle‑East turmoil could push inflation higher in Latin America’s second‑largest economy, underscoring the broader spill‑over risks of the conflict.