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The IMF has cautioned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel, poses a substantial risk to global economic stability. The fund's half-yearly fiscal monitor report highlights that global debt levels are on track to increase due to the war's impact on energy and food prices, higher government borrowing costs, and slower economic growth.Against this volatile backdrop, the IMF has warned that governments may be forced to choose between cushioning the cost of living shock and maintaining sound public finances. The fund's report notes that global debt levels have already risen to almost 94% of GDP and are projected to reach 100% by 2029, a level not seen since the aftermath of World War II.The IMF emphasizes that any energy support schemes to shield households and businesses from the impact of higher energy prices should be targeted and temporary, focusing on those most exposed and least able to absorb price increases. The fund also cautions against using further borrowing to cushion the blow, suggesting that governments should instead reallocate spending within existing limits and prioritize crisis-related spending.The report highlights the risks associated with higher debt and interest costs, which could eventually force governments to make tougher choices or destabilize debt markets. The IMF points to the UK's experience with Liz Truss's 2022 mini-budget as an example of how market confidence can be lost when fiscal policies are perceived as unsustainable.

A former Alabama defensive lineman, Luther Davis, who helped the Crimson Tide win the 2010 national championship, is preparing to plead guilty to a multi‑million‑dollar loan fraud that hinged on impersonating NFL athletes. According to a criminal information filing by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Davis and his associate CJ Evins obtained at least thirteen fraudulent loans totaling $19,845,000. The defendants chose to waive a grand‑jury indictment and will enter guilty pleas at a hearing scheduled for 27 April. The scheme targeted lenders that specialize in financing athletes, notably Aliya Sports and All Pro Capital Funding, with loan brokerage services provided by Sure Sports. Three of the loans are detailed in the filing: $4.025 million was secured for a fictitious company linked to Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku. $4.35 million was obtained for a sham entity tied to Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney. $3.3 million was borrowed for a fabricated venture associated with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Investigators say the duo created shell companies with names resembling the players’ initials, opened bank accounts, and fabricated email addresses and driver’s licenses. Davis then attended virtual loan closings in disguise—often wearing wigs, makeup, or a durag—to pose as the athletes and convince notaries to certify the fraudulent documents. One closing on 22 January 2024 for the Njoku loan involved Davis presenting a counterfeit Georgia driver’s license that displayed the player’s photo alongside a number belonging to an unrelated Savannah resident. Similar deceptions occurred for the McKinney and Penix loans, with forged Florida and Georgia licenses respectively. The fraud mirrors a separate case in which First Farmers Bank & Trust sued an insurer after a $5.265 million loan, also brokered by Sure Sports, was discovered to have been signed with a fake Njoku identity. While it is unclear whether that loan is part of the thirteen identified in Georgia, the modus operandi aligns closely. Both Davis and Evins face charges of aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, offenses that carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Their attorneys declined to comment on the pending pleas. Beyond the courtroom, the case underscores vulnerabilities in niche financing markets that cater to professional athletes, highlighting how forged identities and shell corporations can be leveraged to extract substantial capital from lenders.

Bournemouth have entered advanced talks with German manager Marco Rose to succeed Andoni Iraola as head coach, with a deal expected to be finalised before the week ends.The club also evaluated Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town, but his contract contains a buyout clause that prevents any approach until the Championship season concludes.McKenna, who is focused on guiding Ipswich back to the Premier League, is likely to be retained by the club, which is expected to resist any premature poaching.Rose’s immediate availability makes him a simpler option. Tiago Pinto, Bournemouth’s head of football operations, is pushing for a swift appointment as the club prepares to move on from the Iraola era, following the Spaniard’s decision not to extend his contract beyond the current campaign.Since being dismissed by RB Leipzig in March 2025, Rose has been out of work. He previously led Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, overseeing talents such as Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham. Known for a high‑intensity pressing style, Rose’s philosophy aligns with Bournemouth’s desired playing identity. His résumé also includes successful spells at Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Salzburg.

The Blue Trail, directed by Gabriel Mascaro, is a captivating and thought-provoking film that defies easy categorization. Set in the remote north-west of Brazil, the movie follows Tereza, a 77-year-old widow played by Denise Weinberg, as she navigates a dystopian future where older citizens are forced into 'colonies'. This chilling premise serves as the backdrop for a film that explores themes of rebellion, freedom, and the patronization of older people.The film's narrative is characterized by its meandering pace, reminiscent of a road movie or river movie, as Tereza encounters a series of characters who aid her in her escape. These encounters are woven together with fascinating visual compositions, showcasing the Amazonian landscape in a way that is both breathtaking and haunting.One of the most striking aspects of The Blue Trail is its exploration of gerontocide and the dehumanizing treatment of older citizens. The 'wrinkle wagon', a special prison vehicle for errant oldsters, and the humiliating, compulsory adult diapers issued to those being transported to 'colonies' are potent symbols of this theme.Tereza's journey is marked by moments of defiance and resilience, as she forms connections with a riverboat captain, Cadu (played by Rodrigo Santoro), and a woman named Roberta (played by Miriam Socarras), who becomes her friend and potential love interest.The film's use of symbolism adds depth to its narrative, particularly in the form of the 'blue drool snail', whose ecstatic visions offer a glimpse into a world beyond the dystopian reality. This blend of tones, from the bittersweet to the subversive and disquieting, makes The Blue Trail a generic mashup that is both captivating and thought-provoking.The Blue Trail is set to release in UK and Irish cinemas on April 17, making it a must-watch for fans of dystopian fiction and those interested in exploring the complexities of ageism and rebellion.

The ongoing conflict in Iran has led to a significant increase in oil prices, with the world's top 100 oil and gas companies reaping enormous profits. In the first month of the war, these companies banked more than $30m every hour in unearned profit, according to exclusive analysis for the Guardian. This translates to estimated windfall profits of $23bn for the month of March, with Saudi Aramco, Gazprom, and ExxonMobil among the biggest beneficiaries.The surge in oil prices to an average of $100 (£74) a barrel has resulted in a substantial increase in profits for these companies. If the oil price continues to average $100, the companies are expected to make $234bn by the end of the year. The analysis uses data from a leading intelligence provider, Rystad Energy, analysed by Global Witness.The excess profits come from the pockets of ordinary people as they pay high prices to fill up their vehicles and power their homes, as well as from businesses incurring higher energy bills. Dozens of countries have cut fuel taxes to help struggling consumers, but this has resulted in reduced revenue for public services.Pressure is growing for windfall taxes on the war profits of oil and gas companies, with the European Commission considering a request from the finance ministers of Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Austria. The ministers argue that this would help ease the burden on the general public and finance temporary relief measures.Aramco is expected to make a war profit of $25.5bn in 2026 if the oil price averages $100. This is on top of the huge profits habitually made by the majority state-owned Saudi company – $250m a day between 2016 to 2023. ExxonMobil, which has a long record of denying climate change, will take in $11bn in unearned war profits in 2026 if the $100 price endures.The impact of the Iran war is likely to be long lasting, with the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, describing it as the biggest shock ever to the global energy market. The UN's climate chief, Simon Stiell, warned that fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty, and replacing it with subservience and rising costs.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined the AA £4.2m and ordered the company to make payments to more than 80,000 learner drivers. The fine was imposed for not showing the full price of lessons at the time of booking, a practice known as 'drip pricing'.The CMA found that learner drivers were not shown the total price upfront when booking lessons online, which is required under UK consumer law. Instead, the driving schools were introducing a mandatory fee later in the process.Sarah Cardell, the chief executive of the CMA, stated: 'If a fee is mandatory, the law is clear: it must be included in the price from the very start – not added at checkout – so consumers always know what they need to pay.' The regulator said that the amount repaid to individual customers will vary depending on how many lessons they bought, but the average payout is expected to be about £9. The AA has cooperated with the CMA and admitted to breaking the law, which reduced the potential financial penalty by 40%.This is the first financial penalty the CMA has imposed for a breach of consumer law since being granted new powers to enable it to decide whether to take action rather than having to go through the courts.

The new Apple TV series 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' marks a significant milestone in Michelle Pfeiffer's career renaissance. The show, a comedy-drama created by David E Kelley, is based on the 2024 bestselling novel by Rufi Thorpe and directed by Dearbhla Walsh.Elle Fanning stars as Margo, a young woman who becomes pregnant after having a relationship with her English professor. Her mother, Shyanne, played by Pfeiffer, also got pregnant at a young age and has been struggling to make ends meet. The series explores their complex relationship and the challenges they face.Pfeiffer delivers a powerful performance, particularly in a scene where she expresses her grief and disappointment at Margo's pregnancy. “Will I love him? Of course. Just as I loved you from the moment you were born … But this life as you know it – this life that you never got to know – is over. I can’t rejoice in that.” This scene showcases Pfeiffer's talent and adds depth to the show.However, the series remains a David E Kelley production, which means it stays light and firmly on the side of the angels. The drama avoids exploring darker themes in depth, making it a cosy commentary on family and relationships.The show also stars Greg Kinnear as an Episcopalian minister and Nicole Kidman as a former wrestler turned lawyer. Despite its talented cast, the series could have been more impactful with a more nuanced approach to its themes.'Margo's Got Money Troubles' is now available on Apple TV.

In a move that has sparked widespread criticism, the Canadian government is pressing ahead with planned cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which provides basic health coverage to refugees, asylum claimants, and others not covered by other healthcare programmes in Canada. The changes, announced in late January and set to come into effect on May 1, will require people receiving IFHP coverage to pay $4 per eligible prescription medication and 30 percent of the cost of supplemental services such as dental and vision care, and counselling.Critics argue that these co-payments can be prohibitively expensive for newcomers struggling to rebuild their lives in Canada amid soaring costs. Doctors and refugee rights advocates warn that the cuts could lead to increased suffering and expenditures in the long run, as vulnerable individuals may be deterred from seeking necessary care.“We want to make sure that we have a universal healthcare system, and we also don’t want a system that punches down against vulnerable people and migrants,” Dr. Ritika Goel, a Toronto-based family doctor, told Al Jazeera at a rally in downtown Toronto. “We want to support a system that provides care to everyone.”The Canadian government claims that the changes will help manage growing demand and keep the IFHP sustainable over the long term. However, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer projects that the cost of the IFHP will continue to grow at an average of 11.2 percent annually through 2030.The cuts have drawn comparisons to a similar move in 2012, when then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper made cuts to the IFHP, prompting widespread protests and a legal challenge. In 2014, the Federal Court of Canada ruled that the curbs amounted to “cruel and unusual” treatment and violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Spain's government has approved an ambitious amnesty program aimed at granting legal status to an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants. This move, passed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's administration, is set to open the application process on April 16. By taking this step, Spain diverges from the trend in Europe and other parts of the world where anti-immigration sentiments are on the rise.The decree, which amends immigration laws, was fast-tracked to bypass parliament, where Sanchez's left-wing government lacks a majority. This measure had previously failed to gain approval from lawmakers. Under the plan, eligible migrants can seek a one-year residency and work permit if they meet certain conditions, such as arriving in Spain before January 1, living in the country for at least five months, and having no criminal record.Migration Minister Elma Saiz announced that applications can be submitted online starting Thursday and in person from April 20, with the window closing on June 30. After a year, those granted the temporary measure will be eligible to apply for other work or residency permits. Sanchez described the move as “an act of justice and a necessity”, emphasizing the demographic challenges Spain faces with an ageing society.The opposition, led by Alberto Nez Feijo of the People's Party, criticized the move as “inhumane, unfair, unsafe, and unsustainable”. However, it's worth noting that the centre-right party itself carried out mass legalizations of migrants in the early 2000s when it was in power. The government estimates that around half a million people could be eligible, though analysts suggest the figure might be higher.A union representing immigration officers has demanded more resources, warning that the government is unprepared for the challenge. Sanchez argued that “without new people working and contributing … prosperity slows”, highlighting that migrants have been crucial to Spain's economic growth, which is currently the fastest in Europe.