Steve Thompson, the champion of the Rugby World Cup, claims he was put on suicide watch

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Steve Thompson, the champion of the Rugby World Cup, claims he was put on suicide watch

As he battled early-onset dementia, Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson says he was “placed on suicide watch.”

Thompson, a former England hooker, is one of a group of former players who are suing the game’s governing bodies for negligence.

They claim that continuous hits to the head caused their dementia.

Sometimes I think that killing myself would be the least selfish thing I could do. That’s what this has the potential to do to me, “Thompson told the Daily Mail about it.

Thompson said after he went to a railway station “in a state” that he had been placed on suicide watch.

“You know, I’m more afraid of the highs than the lows,” he added. When I’m high, I feel amazing, but then I have to disappoint everyone because I can’t deliver on my promises.

Thompson made 195 appearances for Northampton before joining Brive in France.

In a nine-year international career, he earned 73 caps for England and three for the British and Irish Lions.

In December 2020, the front-row forward said he couldn’t recall any of the games he played in during England’s 2003 World Cup victory.

Thompson has stated that he will donate his brain to brain damage researchers.

Thompson was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probably chronic traumatic encephalopathy—the term used to denote brain deterioration presumably caused by repeated head trauma—by neurologists at King’s College, London, before speaking out in 2020.

World Rugby announced in January that 2022 would be the year of player welfare in the sport.

In 2021, the world governing body unveiled a new concussion welfare plan that included help for ex-players as well as a restriction on full-contact training to avoid injuries.

Concussion made news again in February when a head injury organisation questioned whether Wales prop Tomas Francis should have been allowed to continue playing following a collision during a Six Nations match.

Ukraine War: According to Zelensky, the country requires $7 billion a month in aid

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Ukraine War: According to Zelensky, the country requires $7 billion a month in aid

Ukraine’s president has informed world finance ministers that his country requires $7 billion (£5.4 billion) per month until the summer to stay afloat.

He was speaking via video link from Kyiv to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank conference. According to the World Bank, Ukraine has suffered physical damage worth over $60 billion.

Mr Zelensky further stated that Russia should be promptly excluded from international financial institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and others.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has stated that Russia should be held responsible for some of the costs associated with rebuilding Ukraine following the war.

It occurred as some countries demanded that seized Russian assets be used to help rebuild the country.

Ms Yellen did warn, though, that using confiscated Russian central bank deposits in the US to reconstruct Ukraine would be a “major step” that would necessitate consultation and agreement with international partners.

Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s prime minister, who spoke at the conference in person, claimed the country’s economic production might drop by as much as 50%, with direct and indirect losses totalling $560 billion thus far.

According to the World Bank, that number is more than three times the size of Ukraine’s gross domestic product (GDP), which was $155.5 billion in 2020.

Mr Shmyhal added that Ukraine will require a reconstruction plan akin to the Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Europe after WWII.

Meanwhile, World Bank President David Malpass estimated that Russia’s invasion had caused $60 billion in damage to Ukraine’s structures and infrastructure, and warned that the sum would climb if the battle continues.

Mr Malpass stated that the first estimate of “limited” damage costs does not account for Ukraine’s expanding economic impact.

On Thursday, the US placed new restrictions on Russian ships, while the UK imposed import bans and higher tariffs on luxury commodities such as caviar, silver, and diamonds.

However, the Biden administration echoed Germany’s concerns about the European Union’s haste in imposing new sanctions on Russian energy, warning that it could end up costing Europe more than Russia.

Actors launch campaign against AI ‘show stealers’

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Actors launch campaign against AI ‘show stealers’

According to a union, artificial intelligence (AI) threatens actors’ livelihoods unless legislation changes. Equity, the union for performers, has launched a new campaign called “Stop AI Stealing the Show.”

AI may create content using samples of an actor’s voice or visage, including so-called “deep fakes.”

According to Equity, actors’ voices and likenesses can be exploited in a variety of ways. For example, actors may collaborate with AI companies to develop systems that may generate artificial voice-overs or assist them in creating digital “avatars.”

AI can also be used to create “synthetic” performances, allowing for the appearance of deceased performers in films in specific situations.

While AI-generated performances can be a beneficial creative tool, the union is concerned that actors may not always be able to control how their image is used, or that their likeness may be exploited without their agreement or for insufficient compensation.

Celebrity “deep fake” videos created by AI are becoming increasingly popular on the internet.

According to the union, most actors who work with AI businesses are unaware of their rights, and many are forced to sign non-disclosure agreements.

The organisation discovered that 93 per cent of audio artists believed AI posed a threat to their employment opportunities in a survey of 430 members.

According to the company, Equity is particularly concerned about the advancement of digital voice technology for automated audiobook production.

In 2018, the Canadian voiceover artist recorded roughly 10,000 phrases of audio for the Chinese Institute of Acoustics, a government-backed scientific organisation, to use in translations.

Ms Standing said, however, that her voice was later used by TikTok in a feature that turned writing into speech, which could then be played over videos posted to the app, often to humorous effect.

The union claims that current copyright laws do not adequately protect performers because AI “reproduces performances without making a recording or a copy.”

Equity wants the government to defend performers’ rights and change copyright rules to “keep up with technological development.”

However, there may be fears that modifications to copyright laws may impede innovation or have a harmful influence on free expression.

Watching TV in self-driving cars will be permitted under the Highway Code

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Watching TV in self-driving cars will be permitted under the Highway Code

According to planned changes to the Highway Code, those who use self-driving cars would be able to watch television on built-in screens. The government says the reforms will require drivers to be ready to regain control of their vehicles when requested.

The initial applications of self-driving technology are anticipated to be on highways at modest speeds, such as in heavy traffic.

However, it will remain unlawful to use a cellphone while driving.

Self-driving cars are not currently permitted on UK roads, but the Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that the first self-driving vehicles could be available later this year.

The anticipated code changes are expected to be implemented this summer.

The changes, which were recommended after public consultation, are defined as a temporary solution to encourage early use of the technology, with a full legal framework expected to be in place by 2025.

They will also state that users of self-driving cars will not be held liable in the event of a collision.

According to the Department for Transport, insurance companies, not people, would be liable for claims.

In April of last year, the government stated that hands-free driving in vehicles equipped with lane-keeping technology would be permitted on congested highways.

Automated lane-keeping system technology allows a vehicle to travel up to 37 mph (60 km/h) in a single lane while maintaining the ability to return control to the driver when necessary.

Motorists should be prepared to take control of an automated system when instructed, such as when approaching a highway exit, according to the new guidelines.

According to the Department of Transport, the current technology is “assistive,” which means drivers should always maintain control.

When the driver needs to resume control, experts recommend that a vehicle disable built-in screens that display material unrelated to driving.

According to Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, a motoring research organisation, driverless cars “offer a future where death and injury on our roads are dramatically reduced.”

However, he predicted that there would be a “long period of transition” during which drivers would maintain “most of the responsibility for what happens” when driving.

British composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle has died at the age of 87

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British composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle has died at the age of 87

Sir Harrison Birtwistle, a well-known composer, died at the age of 87, according to his publisher.

The Triumph of Time, a 1972 orchestral composition, as well as the operas The Mask of Orpheus, Gawain, and The Minotaur, are among his best-known works.

He died on April 18th at his home in Mere, Wiltshire, according to publishers Boosey & Hawkes and agency Rayfield Allied. 

He was dubbed a true musical giant by the Royal Philharmonic Society. Sir Harrison had an “extraordinary degree of detail,” according to Martyn Brabbins, music director of English National Opera.

In Europe, the United States, and Japan, his music has been performed at major festivals and concert series, attracting prominent conductors such as Daniel Barenboim and Sir Simon Rattle.

The Triumph of Time was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered in 1972. It is based on a painting by Pieter Bruegel, a 16th-century Flemish artist who depicts Time riding in a cart surrounded by skeletons.

The Royal Philharmonic announced that he had won five of the orchestra’s honours, saying: “His music shook the entire world.” Every note he wrote was full of intensity and potency. For decades to come, we will be awestruck by his works. 

Sir Harrison studied composition and clarinet at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he met contemporaries such as Peter Maxwell Davies, Alexander Goehr, John Ogdon, and Elgar Howarth. He was born in Accrington, Lancashire, in 1934.

After selling his clarinets in 1960, he accepted a composition fellowship at Princeton University in the United States, where he wrote the opera Punch and Judy. Along with Verses for Ensembles and The Triumph of Time, this composition cemented Sir Harrison’s reputation as a key figure in British music.

He became musical director of the Royal National Theatre in London in 1975 and remained there until 1983.

In 1988, he was knighted, and in 2001, he was appointed Companion of Honour.

Sir Harrison is survived by his three sons and six grandchildren after his wife, Sheila Duff, died in 2012.

Pakistan: Widow alleges police harassment for moving court in her husband’s encounter case

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Pakistan: Widow alleges police harassment for moving court in her husband’s encounter case

The widow of a man killed in an alleged false encounter in Pakistan’s Jhang city claims that the police are harassing her for filing a murder complaint against them, including a sub-inspector involved in the fake encounter case.

According to Dawn newspaper, citing Bibi’s appeal to Jhang magistrate Kamran Khalid, her husband, Ghulam Jaffar, was arrested while taking a bath at hamlet Bela Bangash by satellite police sub-inspector Amanullah Qamar and other police officers, according to Bibi’s appeal to Dawn.

Her competitors accompanied the police when they came to arrest him, she claimed, and her husband was later slain in the phoney encounter. She further claimed that the police searched her home and harassed her to prevent her from submitting the petition.

These charges are false, according to Sub-Inspector Amanullah Qamar, who also stated that a judicial investigation is underway. According to Dawn, he also stated that he would record his statement before the inquiry officer.

In the last few days, the number of criminal cases in Pakistan’s Punjab province has increased.

Approximately 1,900 metric tonnes of wheat were recently captured from accused smugglers who were attempting to transfer it from Faisalabad to other districts in contravention of the ban.

According to Dawn, Faisalabad Commissioner Zahid Hussain claimed that seven cases have been filed against the smugglers and that they have conducted 216 searches across the division to stop the unlawful transportation and hoarding of wheat.

A new case was filed in Kamalia yesterday, in which a man was allegedly poisoned to death by his wife.

The deceased, Asif Jehangir Mughal (35), was transported to Kamalia Tehsil Headquarters Hospital early in the morning, where doctors directed him to the DHQ (District Headquarters) hospital, according to Kamalia City police. At the hospital, he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Mughal’s wife, Nahid Bibi, was accused by the deceased’s relatives of poisoning him. According to Dawn, the culprit has been captured.

Ukraine War: L’Occitane makes a U-turn and closes its Russian stores

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Ukraine War: L’Occitane makes a U-turn and closes its Russian stores

Just days after defending its decision to continue trading, L’Occitane announced the closure of its Russian stores and online.

The decision was made in response to “enormous human suffering and rising military action in Ukraine,” according to the corporation.

Last Monday, L’Occitane announced that it would keep its stores open to safeguard employees from “retaliation.”

Customers have criticised the corporation’s choice and have called for a boycott of the company.

Its products are offered in over 3,085 retail shops around the world, with sales of €1.5 billion (£1.3 billion) last year.

The company said last week that it had debated closing its Russian stores “at length” but had decided against it because it wanted to safeguard its employees from “retaliation.”

The cosmetics company, which has spas and stores in Russian cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, initially stated that it could not afford to close its locations.

On the other hand, L’Occitane said in a statement issued Friday evening that the decision to close its Russian operation had been accepted by the company’s board of directors.

Hundreds of international brands, including L’Oreal and Estee Lauder, have already shut their stores and stopped selling online in Russia in protest of the Ukrainian conflict.

Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of Yale University’s School of Management lists a handful of companies as still operating in Russia.

Since Russia’s invasion, some 600 major corporations, including Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, and Apple, have moved out or halted operations in the country.

Other foreign retailers who remain operating in Russia have stated that they are unable to close stores due to intricate franchise agreements that restrict them from doing so. The hotel chains Marriott and Accor, as well as Burger King, are among the companies whose operations are constrained by these agreements.

Over a week after the sportswear giant announced it was temporarily suspending all of its stores in Russia, several independent Nike stores were discovered to remain open on Tuesday.

Professor Vanessa Burbano of Columbia Business School in the United States believes that for businesses with operations in Russia, consistency between promises and deeds is critical.

Barcelona drew 2-2 with Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4 agg) to advance to the semi-finals

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Barcelona drew 2-2 with Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4 agg) to advance to the semi-finals

Eintracht Frankfurt upset Barcelona with a 3-2 win at the Nou Camp, advancing to the Europa League semi-finals against West Ham United.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Germans stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second leg and appeared to be in control until two late goals from Barcelona.

After Filip Kostic’s penalty and Rafael Borre’s spectacular shot, Kostic added a third goal after the break.

The efforts of Sergio Busquets and the penalty of Memphis Depay, though, set up a suspenseful conclusion.

Following a VAR malfunction, Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka was also sent off for a second yellow card for what appeared to be a soft foul on Luuk de Jong for the spot-kick.

In front of their over 30,000 travelling supporters, Frankfurt, who are currently ninth in the Bundesliga and won this cup in its earlier incarnation in 1980, pulled off a stunning triumph in front of their home crowd.

The fact that so many away fans were able to obtain admission to the stadium was criticised by Barcelona manager Xavi after the match.

Barcelona, who had been on a roll since Xavi took over as manager, couldn’t cope with Frankfurt’s clinical counter-attacks, and Frankfurt could have had more.

Xavi described the scenario with the fans as a “miscalculation,” as his team’s 15-game unbeaten streak came to an end.

Frankfurt’s Kostic scored the game’s first penalty after Eric Garcia was fouled, but Borre scored the game’s game-winning goal with a long-range strike into the roof of the net.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed over in the first half before failing to connect with Ousmane Dembele’s low cross in the second.

In additional time, Busquets had a goal disallowed for offside before igniting a frantic conclusion with a well-taken goal, but the hosts ran out of time as Depay’s penalty just crawled over the line.

It means Frankfurt will face David Moyes’ Hammers in the semi-finals.

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. admits to forcibly kissing a waitress.

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Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. admits to forcibly kissing a waitress.

Cuba Gooding Jr., an actor, has acknowledged forcibly kissing a woman as part of a plea deal that is anticipated to terminate his criminal case.

In 2018, the Oscar winner admitted to forcibly kissing a waitress in a bar, pleading guilty to a misdemeanour crime.

He must attend six months of counselling to avoid any subsequent arrests.

If he does, he has the option of withdrawing his plea and pleading guilty to a lesser charge of harassment. He could be sentenced to a year in prison if he does not comply.

Gooding Jr., 54, received an Oscar for his part in Jerry Maguire in 1996 and has previously appeared in films such as Boyz N the Hood and Men of Honour.

More than 20 women have accused him of groping and inappropriate touching, with three of the allegations leading to criminal proceedings.

According to his lawyer, the plea deal means all three charges will be dropped. He was accused of molesting the two women who submitted the additional complaints in 2018 and 2019.

At the end of this, his lawyer, Frank Rothman, told the AFP news agency, “If he stays out of trouble for six months, that charge [to which he pled guilty] will be removed, and he will have no criminal record at the end of this.”

“I apologise for making anyone ever feel inappropriately touched,” the actor said in court on Wednesday.

“I am a well-known figure, people come into contact with me. I never want them to feel belittled or in any way uneasy.”

One of the two other women testified in court on Wednesday, saying Gooding Jr. grabbed her breast “as if I were a piece of meat for dinner that night,” according to the Associated Press.

She said, “I’m really sorry and unclear of what I can do.”

Legal action has been filed against Gooding Jr. by a woman who claims he raped her twice in 2013, which he denies.

Fantastic Breast 3: For Chinese audiences, the film’s gay dialogue has been eliminated.

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Fantastic Breast 3: For Chinese audiences, the film’s gay dialogue has been eliminated.

For Chinese viewers, Warner Bros. eliminated references to a lesbian connection from the latest Fantastic Beasts film.

Six seconds of the third instalment, The Secrets of Dumbledore, were deleted because they hinted at Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s amorous past.

In 2007, JK Rowling, the creator of the Harry Potter series, revealed that Dumbledore was gay, but the films had never explicitly stated his sexuality until recently.

Warner Bros., the film’s producers, stated that the “spirit of the film” survives.

In the Chinese version of the film, the lines “because I was in love with you” and “the summer Gellert and I fell in love” were deleted from the exchange between Jude Law’s titular character and Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald.

The remainder of the movie stayed the same, including the realisation that the characters have a close relationship.

Warner Bros. said in a statement to Variety that it was “dedicated to maintaining the integrity of every film we release,” which included making “sensitively nuanced trims” for particular regions.

For more than two decades, homosexuality has been legal in China, and the Chinese Society of Psychiatry stopped classifying it as a mental disease in 2001.

However, same-sex marriage is not recognised, and some LGBT people continue to face discrimination, particularly from close family members who have traditional expectations.

According to a 2016 survey by the United Nations Development Programme, only about 15% of LGBT people in China come out to their close family members.

Xie Xiao, a member of CINEMQ, a queer movie collective based in Shanghai, said in 2020 that “some people who have already come out successfully are proud.”

“In the meantime, some people are terrified that their family members are aware of their sexuality.”

Fans of the Harry Potter franchise in the United Kingdom were dissatisfied in 2018 when it was revealed that Dumbledore would not be depicted as “explicitly” gay in the previous film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

However, filmmaker David Yates told Newsbeat that the characters had already “fallen in love with one another’s views, ideology, and each other.”

What’s the fuss about the Cumbria coal mine?

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What’s the fuss about the Cumbria coal mine?

The government has been given until July 7 to decide whether or not to proceed with a new coal mine in the UK.

The Planning Inspectorate has sent its final assessment on the Cumbria mine to Communities Secretary Michael Gove, who now needs to make the final decision.

Boris Johnson has previously stated that he is “not in favour of more coal.” But with Russia providing 40% of the UK’s coking coal, would the government’s stance alter as a result of the conflict in Ukraine?

The Sellafield nuclear power plant dominates the region in northwest England, and West Cumbria Mining promises hundreds of well-paid jobs.

The mine’s coal will be used primarily to support the steel-making process in the United Kingdom rather than for general energy purposes.

Using British coal could also reduce the amount of carbon emitted when it is shipped from Australia or North America; it is estimated that moving coal around the world produces 1.28 billion tonnes of carbon.

The United Kingdom, along with other nations, has vowed to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. The government’s climate advisory committee, the Climate Change Committee, is also concerned that allowing this mine to open will exacerbate the problem.

According to the report, steel companies must stop burning coal by 2035 to achieve the deadline unless they install costly technology to absorb pollutants and bury them underground.

According to the committee, 85 per cent of Cumbrian coal is already exported, and every additional tonne of coal on the global market tends to lower prices while increasing emissions.

Cumbria County Council had initially supported the new mine’s plans, but in February opted to reconsider.

Following a public hearing that ended in October, the Planning Inspectorate has officially finalised its findings on the mine.

This report was delivered to Mr Gove, who is required by planning legislation to make that judgement without consulting his colleagues. With his reputation on the line, it’s hard to believe Boris Johnson won’t find a way to point him on the correct path, whichever way he thinks that is.

China Covid Pandemic Xi praises the response as Shanghai sets a new high

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China Covid Pandemic Xi praises the response as Shanghai sets a new high

Even as Shanghai reported record case numbers, China’s President Xi Jinping hailed his country’s management of the COVID epidemic.

Mr. Xi said some athletes thought China deserved a gold medal for its attitude during an event commemorating China’s hosting of the Winter Olympics.

With infections on the rise and public outrage, China’s zero-COVID policy has come under fire.

The city of Shanghai, which has a population of 25 million people, is still under lockdown.

On Friday, the city, which serves as China’s financial centre, revealed a new high of 21,000 cases. According to an official, only one individual was assessed to be in “serious condition” out of 130,000 illnesses during the current outbreak.

Officials in Jilin City, in north-eastern China, announced that the city has reached “Social Zero COVID” after 33 days of lockdown. Residents in the area, meanwhile, have received no indication as to when the limitations will be eased.

In contrast to the rest of the world, which is attempting to live with the virus in its Omicron variant, China is one of the last remaining nations committed to eradicating COVID.

Residents of Shanghai have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with food shortages.

People in the city are restricted to their homes, and the majority must order food and water from outside sources while waiting for government deliveries of vegetables, meat, and eggs. However, the shutdown extension has suffocated delivery services, grocery store websites, and even government supply deliveries.

Meanwhile, a video of a worker dressed in hazmat gear stomping on a puppy with a shovel has sparked outrage online.

After testing positive for COVID, the dog’s owner was reportedly brought to quarantine and left the pet outside in the hopes that it would survive.

Mr. Xi noted in his speech that China’s zero COVID policy had stood up to the test of the Winter Olympics.

China’s policy does not appear to be changing. According to an editorial in the state news agency Xinhua, the country would “firmly stick” to its policy.

Mystery of alleged Chinese hack on eve of Ukraine invasion

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Mystery of alleged Chinese hack on eve of Ukraine invasion

As the recent conflict in Ukraine erupted, there have been allegations of Chinese cyber activities.

The details are exceptionally vague, but one Western intelligence officer believes the goal was espionage and that the cyber-attack was larger than previously disclosed.

According to the New York Times, on February 23, the day before the invasion, hackers allegedly headquartered in China began attacking Ukrainian websites.

This raised doubts about whether they were aware of Moscow’s preparations in advance and if their purpose was to aid Russia in some way.

Hackers are alleged to have targeted a wide range of Ukrainian government and commercial organisations, including nuclear power companies.

It’s unknown how far this activity went in terms of scanning the internet for vulnerabilities and how many websites were hacked.

The New York Times referenced intelligence papers, but the Ukrainian security service denied handing over anything and sought to downplay the revelations, further confusing the situation.

Some observers questioned whether they were concerned about offending Beijing.

The Chinese embassy in the UK denied the assertion on Monday, calling the Times report “sheer reckless talk” that was “not credible at all.”

Some Western officials, on the other hand, believe the story is even more complicated. According to them, Chinese actors then went on to attack systems in Russia, Belarus, and Poland.

Other oddities include the fact that the attacks were allegedly more amateurish and “noisy” than usual, almost as if the hackers were less anxious about being found.

China has consistently denied claims of cyber-espionage and has recently pointed the finger at Western governments, mainly the United States, for hacking into its networks.

So it’s plausible that China exploited the war to spy not just on Ukraine but also on Russia, Belarus, and other nations–may be under the guise of a “false flag” operation–to lay responsibility on Western governments.

That’s one possibility, but Beijing is likely to dismiss it. It can be difficult to figure out what is truly going on in this scenario.

Shell will lose £3.8 billion as a result of its exit from Russia.

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Shell will lose £3.8 billion as a result of its exit from Russia.

Shell has stated that disposing of its Russian assets will cost them up to $5 billion (£3.8 billion) as part of plans to exit the country.

The company has stated that it will no longer buy oil, but that contracts inked before the invasion of Ukraine will be honoured.

Shell’s exit from Russia comes with a price: the termination of joint ventures with Gazprom.

When Shell bought Russian crude oil at a low price immediately after the conflict began, it was chastised.

In reaction to the outrage, the corporation issued an apology and stated that it would never again purchase oil from Russia.

The corporation estimated that severing connections with the country would cost between $4 billion and $5 billion.

Shell has not renewed longer-term contracts for Russian oil and will only do so under explicit government direction, the company said. “However, we are legally required to take delivery of crude purchased under contracts signed before the invasion.”

The status of the global oil markets remained “volatile,” according to the oil company.

Early on Thursday, Brent Crude, the global standard for oil prices, was trading at around $100 a barrel, but it has since surged to new highs due to the Ukraine conflict.

Oil prices have risen as a result of Russia’s position as one of the world’s top producers of the commodity and fears that supplies may be affected as a result of the conflict.

Even though the UK imports very little oil from Russia, it has been affected by the worldwide price spike, which has seen petrol and diesel prices reach new highs.

Shell previously stated that as part of its exit strategy, it would sell a 27.5 per cent stake in a Russian liquefied natural gas facility, a 50 per cent stake in a Siberian oilfield project, and an energy joint venture.

It will also withdraw from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project between Russia and Germany, which has been put on hold by German ministers.

Diego Maradona: Argentina legend’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt to be sold at auction

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Diego Maradona: Argentina legend’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt to be sold at auction

The Argentina shirt that Diego Maradona wore when he scored his iconic ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 World Cup will be auctioned off.

Former England midfielder Steve Hodge owns the classic blue away shirt, which is set to sell for more than £4 million.

In that game, Maradona also scored one of the best World Cup goals on route to winning the title.

Hodge stated that the shirt would not be sold after Maradona’s death in November 2020.

In December of that year, Hodge claimed that “people were banging on my door continually” and that claims that he was attempting to sell the shirt were false. “I believe it’s disrespectful and completely improper,” he said at the time. There isn’t a way to buy it. “I’m not going to try to resell it.”

Hodge, a 59-year-old midfielder who got 24 caps for England and played in two World Cups for the Three Lions, has worn the shirt since swapping it with Maradona in the tunnel following Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final triumph in 1986.

Hodge had donated the shirt to the National Football Museum for 20 years, but it will now be auctioned from April 20 to May 4 at Sotheby’s in London, with bidding open from April 20 to May 4.

Babe Ruth’s baseball jersey from the New York Yankees set the current record for a game shirt when it sold for $5.6 million (£4.4 million) in 2019.

 Maradona is widely recognised as one of the greatest footballers of all time, having helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

He played for Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Sevilla, and Newell’s Old Boys during his sparkling club career, but it was with Napoli between 1984 and 1991 that he cemented his reputation as the best player of his generation.

He guided them to their first and second Serie A titles, as well as the Uefa Cup, Coppa Italia, and Italian Super Cup, in 1986-87 and 1989-90, respectively.

In the midst of the economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s central bank will appoint a new governor

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In the midst of the economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s central bank will appoint a new governor

As the country grapples with its worst economic crisis in almost 70 years, Sri Lanka’s central bank is ready to appoint a new president.

P Nandalal Weerasinghe has stated that he will take over as governor of the bank on Thursday.

It happened after Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the bank’s CEO, announced his resignation on Monday, after widespread protests over rising living costs and power outages.

Mr. Weerasinghe’s appointment has yet to be officially announced by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The bank is awaiting confirmation from the country’s president, according to a spokesman for the bank.

Mr. Weerasinghe said he had been given the job and had accepted it over the phone from Australia.

However, he refused to discuss any of his ideas for Sri Lanka’s crisis-plagued economy or when a rate decision would be made.

From September 2012 to September 2016, Mr. Weerasinghe served as the bank’s deputy governor, a position he held for eight years.

Mr. Cabraal, the bank’s governor, announced his resignation on Monday, following the resignation of all of the country’s cabinet ministers.

Angry protestors have also demanded the resignation of the country’s prime minister and president.

The island nation of 22 million people is experiencing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.

Analysts had expected the bank to boost its main interest rate significantly in order to stabilise the Sri Lankan rupee and bring down the country’s skyrocketing inflation rate.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Colombo, the capital, after homes and businesses were left without power for up to 13 hours at a time.

Sri Lankans are also grappling with shortages and rising prices as a result of the country’s sharp devaluation of their currency last month in preparation for bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, are the only two members of Sri Lanka’s cabinet who have not submitted letters of resignation.

On Monday, Ali Sabry, President Rajapaksa’s former counsel and the country’s former justice minister, was sworn in as the country’s new finance minister.

According to Jacob Rees-Mogg, Boris Johnson was given incorrect information about shutdown parties

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According to Jacob Rees-Mogg, Boris Johnson was given incorrect information about shutdown parties

Jacob Rees-Mogg claims Boris Johnson was given “false information” on whether parties were held in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns.

According to the minister, the PM did not intentionally mislead MPs when he stated that all guidance had been followed.

As part of its probe into rule-breaking in and around Downing Street during the pandemic, the police have begun issuing fines.

Mr Johnson has not yet been fined, according to No 10.

People who attended a Downing Street party on the eve of Prince Philip’s burial were fined, according to sources.

The authorities are investigating 12 events, including the leaving party. At least three of the parties under scrutiny are thought to have been attended by Mr Johnson.

Mr Johnson told MPs in December 2021 that “every guidance was completely followed in No 10.”

Mr Rees-Mogg responded to a caller on LBC who asked if the prime minister had deceived Parliament: “The fact that the prime minister received incorrect information does not imply that he lied to the public.

“The prime minister claimed that the rules were followed, although this was not the case.

Downing Street argued last week that the prime minister had not lied before the House of Commons, saying that “at all times he has given out his view of events.”

No 10 indicated on Monday that the prime minister will comment after the police investigation was completed and the full report of an internal investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray was released.

Mr Johnson apologised in January for attending an event during the initial coronavirus lockdown, but maintained that the gathering “may be regarded to fall within the guidance technically.”

In other news, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart told Talk Radio that the parties were “a source of annoyance for some,” but that “the world has come a long way.”

“These words are an insult to every family who suffered under lockdown while Downing Street partied,” Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine stated in response to his remarks. Ms MacNamara has remained silent.

Prof David MacMillan gives Nobel prize money to students

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Prof David MacMillan gives Nobel prize money to students

A Nobel Laureate has disclosed that he is spending his prize money to help young Scots attend university.

Prof David MacMillan, a North Lanarkshire native, revealed that he had established a foundation in memory of his parents.

In October, the Princeton University chemist and German scientist, Benjamin List, were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

He was born in New Stevenston, near Bellshill, and graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in chemistry.

He subsequently went to the United States to pursue doctoral studies.

His collaboration with Prof. List on creating molecules that are mirror reflections of one another earned him the worldwide prize and a half-share of the ten million krona (£842,611) prize pot.

Their chemical toolset has been used to create compounds that can collect light in solar cells and develop new medications.

Prof. MacMillan, 54, said that he was giving away all of the money from his Nobel Prize, including money for talks he would give in the year after his win.

“We’re giving all of the Nobel money to charity,” he stated. In addition, all honoraria from all the talks I’ll be giving for the first year will be donated to charity.

To honour his parents’ support for his education, he established the May and Billy MacMillan Foundation.

He went to New Stevenston Primary and Bellshill Academy, and he has stated that he is “very, very proud” of his “working class” upbringing.

The Rangers supporter, who now lives in Hawaii with his wife and three children, was in Glasgow on Sunday as a guest of honour for the Old Firm encounter at Ibrox Stadium.

Prof. MacMillan previously stated that the award was his “road to Off The Ball,” which he listens to every week online from the United States and that being interviewed on the show in October was an “absolute dream come true” for him.

He also revealed that he owes $1000 to Prof. List, “the German boy from whom I took the concept.”

Covid: The head of the nurses’ union wants the NHS’s life insurance plan to be extended.

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Covid: The head of the nurses’ union wants the NHS’s life insurance plan to be extended.

The government has been chastised for terminating a UK-wide scheme that gave financial assistance to the families of pandemic-related health and social care workers.

Families of employees who contract COVID at work and die do not qualify for the £60,000 payout.

According to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), now is not the time to cease.

Ministers claim that the scheme was always meant to be temporary and that there are alternative death-in-service benefits available.

The RCN, on the other hand, has written to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, requesting that life assurance payments be extended.

Even though vaccines are helping to prevent everyone, especially NHS personnel, from severe COVID, occasional deaths continue to occur.

According to official data for England, Scotland, and Wales, 304 NHS employees have died as a result of COVID exposure at work, with 10 of the deaths occurring since the beginning of December 2021.

“Ending this scheme now is insensitive to the workers working in health and social care under pandemic conditions,” RCN chief executive Pat Cullen said.

In her letter to Mr Javid, she writes: “The overarching premise must be that no member of the nursing staff who dies this year should be treated any differently than one who dies in 2020 or 2021 in terms of respect and family support.

At a COVID death memorial service conducted last week for NHS frontline employees, the Rev Paul Nash, chaplain at Birmingham and Women’s Children’s Hospital, said staff and caregivers risked their “mental and physical health,” with many making the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.

According to a representative for the Department of Health and Social Care, “Every fatality caused by this virus is a tragedy, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one.

“The Life Assurance Scheme was created to recognise the high danger faced by frontline NHS and social care workers working during the pandemic’s peak times, and it was always intended to be temporary.”

Oil prices are falling as Vice President Joe Biden considers releasing reserves

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Oil prices are falling as Vice President Joe Biden considers releasing reserves

Oil prices have plummeted on news that the US may take further initiatives to reduce high gasoline expenses.

According to reports, the Biden administration is considering releasing up to 180 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the coming months.

If confirmed, this will be the reserve’s greatest release since its inception in 1974.

As a result of the fighting in Ukraine, fears of supply interruptions have rattled global energy markets in recent weeks.

In Asian afternoon trade, West Texas Intermediate was down 5.4 per cent at $102 a barrel, while Brent Crude was down 4.6 per cent at approximately $108.

In the run-up to the November mid-term elections in the United States, the growing cost of gasoline has become a major political issue.

The announcement of a possible large oil release by the United States came as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and its allies, including Russia, were set to meet on Thursday.

Opec+, the group of major oil-producing nations, is anticipated to continue with its existing agreement to gradually boost output.

Oil prices have risen in recent weeks, with Brent crude surpassing $139 a barrel earlier this month following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and US-led sanctions against Moscow.

Although energy prices have dropped since then, Brent Crude is still about 70% higher than it was a year ago.

Expectations that Russian oil exports could drop by as much as 3 million barrels per day have exacerbated the situation in recent weeks.

After Saudi Arabia, Russia is the world’s second-largest oil exporter.

The United States, the world’s greatest oil producer, is now producing 11.7 million barrels per day, but this is insufficient to meet global demand.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the International Energy Agency has been scheduled for Friday.

It’s uncertain whether other IEA members, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, will follow the United States in releasing oil reserves.

On Thursday, Japan announced that, as a result of the war and sanctions, it would take emergency measures to secure supplies of seven vital minerals it mainly relies on from Russia or Ukraine.

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