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Ipswich Town chairman and chief executive, Mark Ashton, has issued a public apology for the distress and hurt caused by Nigel Farage's visit to Portman Road earlier this week. The visit, which included Farage holding up an Ipswich No 10 shirt with his name on it, was widely criticized by fans on social media.The club has stated that it remains 'apolitical' and that the visit was not endorsed by the club. However, fans described the visit as 'shameful' and 'embarrassing', leading to a significant backlash on social media.In a statement, Ashton said: 'I unreservedly apologise for any hurt, pain or distress that's been caused'. He acknowledged that mistakes were made and that the club would reconsider its approach to engaging with local politicians and political parties.The controversy has come at a critical time for Ipswich Town, who are currently third in the Championship table and fighting for a return to the Premier League. The unwanted distraction has added pressure to the team's promotion bid, with eight games remaining in the season.Ashton emphasized the importance of moving forward together, stating: 'We are better when we move together as one and there is lots to fight for on and off the pitch'. The club will now review its policy on engaging with politicians and political parties to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume, bringing with it a mix of lucrative opportunities and controversy. England's Jos Buttler is among those looking to make an impact, having struggled with form at the recent T20 World Cup. Buttler, who plays for Gujarat Titans, is England's most successful export to the IPL, with seven hundreds in 121 games for three different teams.Buttler's teammate Kevin Pietersen has shared his own experiences of playing in the IPL, revealing that the league saved his career by allowing him to build lasting relationships. Pietersen, who played 36 IPL matches, expressed his joy at the riches enjoyed by modern players, saying, "If you got paid $50m tomorrow to go and play cricket in Saudi Arabia, I'd be so happy for you."The IPL has also been marred by controversy, including political tensions between India and Pakistan. The tournament's impact extends beyond the field, with 12 England players set to participate. However, the event is also overshadowed by the tragic crowd crush at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru last June, which resulted in 11 deaths.In related news, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been sold for £1.33 billion to a consortium featuring private equity group Blackstone. The team will begin the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, with Buttler and his teammates aiming to make a strong impression.

Thomas Tuchel, the England head coach, voiced his disappointment with the Wembley crowd's reaction to Ben White's return to international football during the 1-1 draw with Uruguay. White was booed upon his substitution in the 69th minute, a reaction Tuchel found disheartening.The game was marked by controversy, including a painful tackle by Ronald Araújo on Phil Foden that escaped a red card and an injury to Noni Madueke. Tuchel was also critical of the refereeing, particularly the decision to award Uruguay a penalty for a soft foul by White.“I heard that he was booed,” Tuchel said of White. “It cannot be the majority. There were some boos and some mixed reception for him which I’m disappointed about because of course we protect our players. He was excellent in camp and he deserved to come on. He got us almost a winner.”Tuchel praised his side's effort but focused his anger on the German referee Sven Jablonski, expressing confusion over the VAR's inconsistent application. The draw was a mixed result for England, who were without several regular players and are preparing for the World Cup this summer.

The notion of governments controlling prices has long been considered taboo in modern economics. However, with the resurgence of inflation and its far-reaching consequences, this stance is beginning to shift. Politicians are now exploring the possibility of intervening in the market to regulate prices, a move that would have been deemed unthinkable just a few decades ago.The Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek had argued that governments lacked the necessary information to make informed decisions about prices, leading to inefficiencies in state-run economies. Nevertheless, as market economies have struggled to provide affordable essentials like energy and housing, interest in state-regulated prices has begun to grow.Examples from Mexico and Spain demonstrate the effectiveness of government intervention in controlling prices. In Mexico, the left-wing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his successor Claudia Sheinbaum have capped the prices of essential goods, while in Spain, the centre-left government of Pedro Sánchez has implemented a national rent freeze and energy price cap.In the UK, Zack Polanski of the Green party has advocated for a wider price reset, while Andy Burnham, a possible Labour leadership candidate, has also called for more state involvement in the economy to reduce prices. Burnham's experiences as mayor of Greater Manchester, where he has brought buses back under public control, have informed his arguments.The pressure for the UK to adopt similar measures is mounting, with a majority of British voters supporting nationalizations to get prices under control. As inflation continues to rise, it remains to be seen whether the UK government will follow the example of countries like Spain and Mexico.

The Reykjavik Open, a prestigious nine-round chess tournament commencing at the Harpa Conference Centre, carries significant historical weight as it takes place near the site of the legendary 1972 Bobby Fischer versus Boris Spassky match. First established in 1964 with Mikhail Tal as the inaugural winner, this year's event has attracted a substantial field of 422 players.The top seed is Iran's Amin Tabatabaei, the sole 2700-rated competitor in the tournament, followed by Romania's Bogdan-Daniel Deac (2655) and veteran Ukrainian Vasyl Ivanchuk (2654) as the fourth seed. England has dispatched a contingent of over 20 players, though most are amateur competitors. Grandmaster Matthew Wadsworth (2522) is seeded 21st, while Grandmaster Simon Williams (2443) holds the 39th position. Notably, 11-year-old Women's International Master Bodhana Sivanandan is pursuing her second Women's Grandmaster norm.In the opening rounds, the English trio secured victories, including Williams' impressive 20-move triumph. Sivanandan drew against a 2484-rated Chinese International Master in the second round.For the author, any chess event in Reykjavik evokes memories of 1973, when Fischer was anticipated to return to competitive play following his victory over Spassky. The author recounts an ambitious plan to organize a match involving Fischer, which included a two-game match against British champion William Hartston and an eight-board simultaneous exhibition against England's junior players. Despite personal connections to Fischer—including participation in a BBC-recorded consultation game in 1960—the proposed event never materialized after a negative response from Fischer's representatives.The author speculates that had the match occurred, it would have significantly advanced English chess, with Fischer likely prevailing 6-2 to 7-1 against the promising English juniors who would later achieve grandmaster status.The article concludes with a chess puzzle solution for position 4017, demonstrating the tactical complexity that characterizes high-level chess competition.

The weekend's sporting calendar features major events across Formula 1, football, and the Women's Super League, with fans treated to a diverse range of high-profile competitions.On Saturday, the action begins early with Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix qualifying at 6am GMT. Mercedes and Ferrari have emerged as the early favorites after adapting best to Formula One's most radical changes in power and chassis in over a decade. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have won the first two races, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have consistently finished third and fourth. The Suzuka circuit presents a different challenge with its figure-eight layout, narrow twisting sections, and limited passing opportunities. Philip Cornwall will provide live coverage of qualifying, with Giles Richards reporting from Suzuka.Football fans can follow Matchday live from 8am-12.15pm as Billy Munday brings updates on international and domestic action. The coverage will include follow-up from Friday's England international against Uruguay at Wembley, managed by former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, and Scotland's World Cup warm-up against Japan. The day also features three significant Women's Super League derby matches.The first WSL derby kicks off at 1.30pm with Manchester United facing Manchester City. Andrée Jeglertz's pacesetters enter the match on a high after a 5-2 victory over Spurs, featuring Khadija Shaw's record-setting quickest hat-trick in WSL history. Manchester United, meanwhile, secured three points against Everton but suffered a 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final first leg. Xaymaca Awoyungbo will host the live blog, with Tom Garry reporting from Old Trafford.At 5pm, Scotland hosts Japan in an international friendly. This match provides Steve Clarke's side with an opportunity to fine-tune their squad before their World Cup campaign in North America, where they will face Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti in Group C. With only club games remaining before the squad announcement in May, numerous players are eager to impress. Scott Murray will host the live blog, with Ewan Murray reporting from Glasgow.The second WSL derby of the day follows at 5.30pm with Arsenal taking on Tottenham. Renée Slegers' Arsenal side sits fourth in the table, unbeaten in the league since October, and coming off victories over Chelsea and West Ham. Tottenham, managed by Martin Ho, have lost their last two matches and have beaten Arsenal just once in their previous encounter. Rob Smyth will manage the live blog for this north London derby, with Sophie Downey reporting from the Emirates.Sunday's action begins with the Japanese Grand Prix live coverage at 6am BST. Oscar Piastri has raised hopes of a non-Mercedes victory after setting the fastest time in Friday's practice. McLaren has struggled since winning last season's drivers' championship, failing to even start the Chinese Grand Prix due to technical issues. This race is particularly significant as it will be followed by a five-week break before the next F1 event in Miami on May 3rd. Joey Lynch will provide lap-by-lap coverage, with Giles Richards again reporting from Suzuka.Football coverage continues with Matchday live from 8am-12pm as Emillia Hawkins brings updates on Sunday's action and previews England's upcoming World Cup warm-up against Japan. The blog will also cover buildup to three WSL fixtures, with breaking news and match reports. Fans can email [email protected] with their views.The weekend's WSL action concludes at 12pm with Chelsea facing Aston Villa. This match between third-placed Chelsea and an Aston Villa side that recently beat Leicester promises to be particularly compelling. Chelsea has struggled in the title race and suffered Champions League defeat to Arsenal, while also dealing with injuries including Aggie Beever-Jones. There is the possibility of Sam Kerr's return after the Asian Cup. Daniel Harris will host the blog for this fixture.

Saracens host Northampton Saints at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a crucial Premiership Rugby match, with Saracens' director of rugby Mark McCall stressing that defeat is not an option for his team to stay in contention for the playoffs.The match pits two top coaches against each other, with McCall's Saracens, currently sixth in the table, eight points behind fourth-placed Exeter, looking to bounce back from a 62-15 thrashing by Bath last weekend. Northampton, table-topping and on a five-match winning streak, aims to maintain their lead.Maro Itoje and Rhys Carré return to Saracens' starting lineup, while Elliot Daly makes his 100th appearance. Northampton's director of rugby, Phil Dowson, has his team well-prepared, with players like Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, and Henry Pollock in the starting XV.Dowson praised his team's heart and passion in their recent win against Newcastle, achieved without some key players. He emphasized the importance of team spirit and togetherness as they look to continue their momentum.McCall expressed confidence in his team's character to respond to the previous defeat, highlighting Itoje's great form and the need to manage his workload carefully. The match promises to be an intense and crucial encounter in the Premiership Rugby title race.

Gianna, a 23-year-old Camden-based artist, has released her debut EP 'Behind the Wings', which blends polished boho-pop with elements of trip-hop and Balkan folk. Her music is reminiscent of early 2000s Nelly Furtado and All Saints. Gianna's songs are bright and effervescent, making a strong case for the revival of coffee-shop pop.Other notable new tracks include:Nia Archives – Danger: A UK junglist's return with a catchy playground chant acronym and swerving beats.deBasement – Aftermarket Bass (ft Nikki Nair): Fuzzed-out dancefloor bass and commanding icy vocals.Downtown Boys – No Me Jodas: Rhode Island punks return with an expanded sound, blending spit-and-sawdust squall with doom.Brennan Wedl and Waxahatchee – Six O’Clock News: A beautiful essay on outlaw love, combining Lucinda Williams and Sheryl Crow styles.Empress Of – Dream House: Sweet, shuffling R&B; offering to her family, whose home burned down in the Altadena fires.Lee “Scratch” Perry and Mouse on Mars – Rockcurry: Lee “Scratch” Perry's final sessions with a German electronic duo, producing synth-winking music.Khun Narin Electric Phin Band – Poet Wong Pt 1 (เปิดวง ตอน 1): Serene, intricate, psychedelic, and pulverising music from a marching band in northern Thailand.Subscribe to the Guardian's rolling Add to Playlist selections on Spotify or transfer it to Apple, Tidal, or other services.

Roy Hodgson has made a sensational return to management at the age of 78 with Bristol City, following the sacking of Gerhard Struber by the Championship club. Hodgson, who has been out of work since leaving Crystal Palace in February 2024, will take charge of City for the remaining seven games of the season. They are currently 16th in the Championship.Hodgson's storied managerial career in England began at Ashton Gate in 1982, after a period at Swedish club Halmstad. In total, he has managed 17 different clubs and four different international sides, including England, from 2012-16. “I have had great conversations with the board and I am really excited by the opportunity to help until the end of the season,” he said. “We will get straight to work and look for a positive performance [against Charlton] on Good Friday.”The appointment comes after Struber, who succeeded Liam Manning last summer, had grown frustrated at the club and voiced his disappointment at the January window, when City sold key players Anis Mehmeti and Zak Vyner to division rivals Ipswich and Wrexham respectively. Struber’s assistant Bernd Eibler has also departed. Results under the Austrian tailed off, with Struber winning only one of his final nine matches in all competitions.“Roy’s appointment is about more than the results of the next seven games,” said the Bristol City chief executive Charlie Boss. “Over the remainder of the season, he will help us set the standards and values at the club that we will need to be successful going forwards. Roy is a vastly experienced coach who has achieved and won at the highest level.” City are in the process of recruiting an incoming sporting director who will help appoint a permanent head coach expected to replace Hodgson at the end of the season.