5 h. ago Michael Johnson admits Grand Slam Track cannot pay its athletes until new investors are found

Johnson says he has to ‘own’ the failings of his new athletics championship

Economics

10 h. ago Michael Johnson admits Grand Slam Track on hold until 2025 debts are paid

Johnson says athletes owed millions in prize moneyLA finale cancelled after promised funding fell throughUpstart series’ 2026 season on hold until debts clearedGrand Slam Track will not take place in 2026 unless athletes receive their prize money for this year, says founder Michael Johnson.The four-time Olympic sprint champion confirmed the upstart track circuit has been unable to pay millions in appearance fees and prize money from its inaugural season and will not move forward until those debts are cleared. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Indian Super League in turmoil with domestic game on brink of collapse

Dispute between governing body and commercial partner has forced top-flight clubs to suspend player salariesCrystal Palace may be disappointed the court of arbitration for sport ruled against them on Monday but at least they now know their fate. Imagine if all Premier League clubs were waiting for a court decision that would, in effect, determine whether the season would go ahead at all. That is the situation the 14 Indian Super League (ISL) teams find themselves in. The whole of football there has been waiting for a ruling from the supreme court. It was expected in mid-July but has still not arrived. The season is due to start in September. Or at least, it was.The ISL, formed in 2013, has grown from eight teams to 14, becoming the top tier along the way. Football Sports Development Ltd (FSDL) runs the competition but put the 2025-26 season on hold on 11 July. At the time, despite the shock, most stakeholders felt it would go ahead but confidence, trust and bank balances have taken ...

Sport

48 h. ago As Ukraine battles to hold lines, Trump may find Putin difficult to persuade

Despite huge numbers of casualties, Russian leader believes he is slowly winning war – so he can afford to string talks outFor Ukraine, the break in the frontline is unfortunately timed. Lightly armed Russian saboteur groups – three on one count – cut though Ukrainian positions in the Donbas countryside east of the key junction at Dobropillia. Though one group has been eliminated, as of Tuesday two were thought to remain at large – and although their numbers are small for now, perhaps 20 to 30, the breach is significant.At the beginning of the year it was safe to visit Dobropillia, which had become a bustling market centre busy with soldiers and locals, nearly 15 miles north of the frontline in Pokrovsk. But since then the town, where once busy supply roads from Pokrovsk to Kramatorsk split, has come under sustained attack with glide bombs, while FPV (first person view) drones strike targets on the move. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Asian hornet’s unique buzz may hold secret to containing invasive species

Researchers say distinct frequency is ‘great news’ as it will allow their nests to be located with greater easeAsian hornets buzz at a unique frequency that could be the key to controlling their spread, scientists have found, as the invasive species experiences a record year in the UK.Researchers have said this is “great news”, as the hornet nests can now be more quickly found and distinguished from those of other species, meaning their threat to bees and other pollinators could be contained. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Sarah Ferguson hefty debts paid off by late Queen Elizabeth II, claims book

Sarah Ferguson, also known as Fergie, is alleged to have spent wildly on holidays, parties, flowers and staff during her marriage to Prince Andrew.

Politics

1 week ago Siobhán McSweeney tells a truly surreal tale: best podcasts of the week

What is a ‘zombie vibe’? And what does it mean when it crops up on your Carribbean-bound cruise ship? The Derry Girls star tells all, while Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty digs deep into allegations against Kanye WestFor this spin-off of the BBC World Service’s unusual life stories series, Derry Girls and Amandaland actor Siobhán McSweeney narrates the tale of a crew who found themselves confined to a Caribbean-bound cargo ship during the Covid pandemic in 2020. It takes a little while to warm up but, once it gets going, the tale of ship cook Giulia and the “zombie vibe” that she encountered at sea becomes increasingly surreal. Hannah J DaviesWidely available, episodes weekly Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Lionesses to hold victory parade after historic Euro 2025 win

Lionesses to hold victory parade after historic Euro 2025 win  BBC

Politics

4 w. ago Kerr and Lyles offer London Diamond League stardust despite withdrawals

Threat of rain and absences of Hodgkinson, Hassan and Ingebrigtsen are blows but record tilts will enthrall fansOne of the major issues athletics faces is the relative lack of importance that the overwhelming majority of events hold. It is one of the reasons why Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track is yet to catch alight: the pay is great for the athletes, but a win or loss counts for little in the overall scheme of a season or career.The much-maligned Diamond League has fought against such (ir)relevance throughout its existence. In such a context, it is a notable achievement that the London leg of athletics’ premier season-long competition is a 60,000 sellout for what could turn out to be a thunderstorm-threatened Saturday afternoon. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago James May admits to major 'failure' in life after The Grand Tour ended

The Grand Tour star James May has insisted he has 'failed' at retirement as he has been busier this year than he has in 'about a decade' as he has 'not had a day off in months'

Events