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Saudi Arabia has withdrawn its bid to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup as a result of the Public Investment Fund's (PIF) new financial strategy, prioritizing projects with potential returns. The country's sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, had expressed interest in bidding for the tournament last year, but no expression of interest was submitted to World Rugby.The PIF's 'value realization' phase of its Vision 2030 economic plan, published recently, has led to the decision to put rugby aspirations on hold. This shift in focus will impact various projects, including LIV Golf, which will see its funding withdrawn next year.While Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, had considered a joint bid, it has not materialized. World Rugby's bidding process is ongoing, with countries like Argentina, Japan, and Spain having submitted initial expressions of interest.The decision to step away from the Rugby World Cup bid was made before the conflict in Iran began, and the PIF governor, Yasir al-Rumayyan, confirmed that all spending projects are being reviewed. The PIF will continue to invest in sports but will focus on domestic projects, such as infrastructure related to the 2034 football World Cup and the Formula One track near Riyadh.

Lionel Messi has officially taken ownership of UE Cornella, a Barcelona‑based club competing in Spain’s fifth division, after finalising the purchase earlier this week.The Argentine legend, who spent two decades at FC Barcelona amassing multiple La Liga titles, Champions League trophies and Ballon d’Or awards before departing in 2021, is now venturing into club ownership.In a statement the club described Messi’s arrival as “the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history,” emphasizing a long‑term vision and a strategic plan that blends ambition, sustainability and a deep connection to its working‑class neighbourhood roots.Founded in 1951, UE Cornella has previously nurtured talent such as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba, the latter of whom currently shares the pitch with Messi at Inter Miami.Now 38‑year‑old Messi is also focused on representing Argentina at the 2026 World Cup in North America, where the Albiceleste will defend their title.The club announced the deal on Thursday but did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Fuel‑price protests have erupted across the Republic of Ireland, described by observers as the most serious civil unrest since the state’s founding in the 1920s. Demonstrators, largely farm contractors and hauliers, have staged "go‑slow" convoys on motorways, blocked ports and even targeted the country’s sole oil refinery at Whitegate, County Cork. The unrest mirrors France’s Yellow Vests movement in its focus on carbon taxes and fuel duties, but unlike the French case it is being triggered by an external shock: the closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran in late February 2026. The strait carries roughly 20% of global oil and LNG shipments, and its blockage has precipitated a sharp rise in fuel costs in Ireland – diesel up about 28% and petrol by 25%. By the weekend, around 40% of Irish petrol stations were empty, leaving many motorists stranded. In response, the Dublin coalition government ordered the army to clear blockades and authorised the police (An Garda Síochána) to make arrests, though the total number of detainees has not been disclosed. To quell the crisis, the government unveiled a package of concessions worth nearly $600 million. The measures include a 10% discount on diesel and petrol and a postponement of a planned carbon tax, aimed at both motorists and the broader food‑production sector (farming and fishing). The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have appealed for an end to the protests and urged dialogue through representative bodies. Public sentiment is split. A poll by the Sunday Independent found that 56% of respondents initially backed the protesters, but growing disruption – such as the cancellation of scheduled surgeries and travel difficulties for the elderly – appears to be eroding that support. Analysts highlight deeper structural issues in Ireland’s agri‑economy. Patrick Bresnihan of Maynooth University warned that the protests expose “deep inequalities and contradictions” in a system dominated by export‑oriented dairy and beef production, where many workers face precarious, seasonal contracts. While the protests have not ignited a comparable far‑right surge seen in parts of Europe, commentators caution that the unrest could provide fertile ground for populist narratives. Right‑wing groups in Germany, Spain and France have previously linked agricultural grievances to broader anti‑EU sentiment, though such movements remain marginal in Ireland. In Northern Ireland, planned blockades largely failed to materialise. Minor “go‑slow” convoys caused brief diversions, but no major infrastructure was seized and only a handful of fines were issued. Experts, including Queen’s University Belfast anthropologist Dominic Bryan, suggest the limited turnout reflects a lack of cohesive demands and organizational capacity north of the border. Political fallout in Dublin includes a confidence vote survived by the coalition after Sinn Féin’s challenge, and the resignation of junior minister Michael Healy‑Rea, who was cheered by protesters outside Leinster House. Overall, the fuel‑price protests underscore how a regional conflict in the Middle East can cascade into domestic unrest in Europe, intertwining energy security, rural economics and political stability.

England has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 after Lauren Hemp's early goal secured a 1-0 win over defending champions Spain at Wembley Stadium in London.The victory marked England's third successive win, moving them above Spain to the top of group A3. Only the winners from each of the League A groups will earn direct passage to next year's tournament in Brazil.The match saw England take the lead in just three minutes as Alessia Russo set up Hemp, who scored past Cata Coll. Spain threatened an equaliser, with Irene Paredes heading just over, but Hannah Hampton's crucial saves preserved England's lead.The win also celebrated Keira Walsh's 100th England cap and honoured Euro 2022-winning goalkeeper Mary Earps in an international retirement ceremony.In other matches, Norway thrashed Slovenia 5-0 and Germany remained unbeaten with a 5-1 victory over Austria. The Netherlands took the lead in Group A2 with a 2-1 win over France, while Denmark took control of Group A1 with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Sweden.

England's women's football team is on a roll, maintaining a 100% record in their World Cup qualifying group after a win against Spain. While their target is to win a first world title, the journey is long, and several players have enhanced their prospects of selection. Eight players from the recent match against Spain look set to be in the first-choice XI for the World Cup, including Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, and Lauren Hemp. Senior players like Leah Williamson and Ella Toone will also be key when they return from injuries. Three players who started against Spain have significantly boosted their chances. Centre-backs Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy were exemplary, helping England keep a clean sheet against the world champions. Morgan, 25, and Wubben-Moy, 27, have had to be patient during Sarina Wiegman's tenure but did not look out of place. Morgan said she was proud of the team's concentration and organisation, while Wiegman praised them, saying, 'They showed up today. It says a lot about them. They should be proud of themselves.' Another player who impressed was Lucia Kendall, the 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder tasked with taking on Barcelona's Patricia Guijarro. Despite a quiet evening, Kendall worked hard and nearly scored from close range. Wiegman also displayed trust in Laura Blindkilde Brown, who came on as a 72nd-minute substitute to help close out the victory. Her contributions to Manchester City's likely title success will enhance her chances for 2027. The upcoming match against Iceland will provide further opportunities for players like Jess Park, who has been in inspired form for Manchester United. New faces Erica Meg Parkinson and Keira Barry have received their first senior call-ups and will look to make an impression.

The EU's new entry-exit system (EES) has caused significant delays at several European airports, with travellers waiting up to three hours at border checks. The system, which came into effect on Friday in the Schengen countries, requires passengers from non-EU countries to register their personal information and biometrics at the border.Passengers in airports in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Greece are experiencing several hours of waiting at border checks, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) body. Olivier Jankovec, the director of the ACI European division, warned that the situation will be "simply unmanageable" in the coming weeks and peak summer months.The EES has been gradually introduced since October and has already caused long delays at some airports. On Sunday, the BBC reported that more than 100 passengers were unable to board an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester before it took off due to delays at passport desks.Airport representatives and the European Commission held a meeting to discuss problems with the system on Tuesday. The ACI has asked to extend existing exemptions and the power to fully suspend the new checks. Jankovec told the FT that the ACI needed the ability to "fully suspend EES registration whenever there are excessive waiting times at border control that are just unmanageable".A spokesperson for the European Commission said that the system is working well, with an average registration time of 70 seconds per passenger. However, the ACI has claimed that it can take up to five minutes. The commission said that there were a "few member states where technical issues have been detected" but that they "are being addressed".The EES has registered more than 52m entries and exits, as well as more than 27,000 refusals of entry, since its introduction in October. Almost 700 people were identified as posing a security threat.

The United States is grappling with unprecedented levels of income and wealth inequality. The average household income in New York City stands at $131,000, yet this figure belies the stark reality that a small elite captures a disproportionate amount of wealth, leaving millions struggling to make ends meet. This extreme inequality has far-reaching economic, political, and social consequences, eroding trust in institutions and leading people to believe that the system is rigged. The issue is not unique to the U.S., as nearly one-fifth of the world's super-rich live in New York, but it is more pronounced in the U.S. than in almost any other advanced economy. A recent global inequality report found that between 2000 and 2024, the richest 1% captured 41% of all new wealth, while the bottom half of humanity received just 1%. The concentration of wealth is staggering, with billionaires now owning 16% of global GDP, up from 3% in 1987. The main driver of this trend is the failure to effectively tax the super-rich. Research has shown that in the 1960s, the 400 richest Americans paid about 50% of their income in taxes, but today they pay around 24%. This pattern is not unique to the U.S., as similar trends have been observed in Europe and other countries. Experts argue that a progressive tax system is necessary to address this issue. A minimum tax of 2% on the wealth of the super-rich has been proposed as a straightforward way to ensure they meet their obligations to society. Several countries, including Spain and Brazil, have committed to implementing this tax, and other nations are considering similar measures. In the U.S., there are signs of a paradigm shift. California voters will consider a tax on billionaire wealth this November, and Washington state has approved a 9.9% income tax on million-dollar incomes. In New York, there are calls to increase taxes on the rich and large corporations to fund essential public services. The authors of the article, Joseph E. Stiglitz, Zohran Mamdani, and Gabriel Zucman, emphasize that the idea of billionaires paying higher tax rates than working people is not radical, but rather a necessary step towards restoring a basic social principle: that those with the most should contribute their fair share so that everyone can live with dignity.

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.

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.