26 h. ago England among eight rugby nations who vow to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel Rugby 360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.Rugby 360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multi-city franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

26 h. ago England among eight rugby nations vowing to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel R360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.R360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multicity franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

7 d. ago Fifa set to dodge discussion on suspending Israel from international football

The issue of banning Israel from international competition is not on the agenda for Thursday’s Fifa Council meeting

Politics

9 d. ago Norwegian FA president calls for Israel to be suspended from international competition

A Uefa vote is expected this week on possible football sanctions against Israel

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump steps in to block Israel being banned from 2026 World Cup

The United States government and Donald Trump have stressed they will intervene if FIFA ban Israel from international competition ahead of next year's World Cup

Politics

2 w. ago West Lothian dancer set to represent Scotland at international competition in Brazil

Heather Lyon is set to take part in the prestigious Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition in Sao Paulo

Politics

2 w. ago British AI startup beats humans in international forecasting competition

ManticAI ranked eighth in the Metaculus Cup, leaving some believing bots’ prediction skills could soon overtake expertsAn artificial intelligence system has beaten scores of forecasting enthusiasts, including several professionals, in a contest to predict events ranging from bust-ups between Donald Trump and Elon Musk to Kemi Badenoch being removed from the Conservative party leadership.A British AI startup, co-founded by a former Google DeepMind researcher, has ranked in the top 10 of an international forecasting competition, which requires entrants to forecast the likelihood of 60 events over the summer. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Google DeepMind claims ‘historic’ AI breakthrough in problem solving

Version of company’s Gemini 2.5 AI model solved complex real-world problem that stumped human computer programmersGoogle DeepMind claims it has made a “historic” artificial intelligence breakthrough akin to the Deep Blue computer defeating Garry Kasparov at chess in 1997 and an AI beating a human Go champion in 2016.A version of the company’s Gemini 2.5 AI model solved a complex real-world problem that stumped human computer programmers to become the first AI model to win a gold medal at an international programming competition held earlier this month in Azerbaijan. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Spain’s PM calls for Israel to be banned from sports events after Gaza protests force end to Vuelta race

Speaking after Gaza protesters forced early end to cycle race, Pedro Sánchez says Israel should not be allowed to use sports to ‘whitewash’ its ‘barbarism’Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has called for Israel to be barred from international sports competitions for as long as its “barbarism” in Gaza continues, saying the country should not be allowed to use high-profile events to “whitewash” its offensive.Speaking a day after pro-Palestinian demonstrators forced a premature end to the Vuelta a España cycle race amid chaotic scenes and clashes with police, Sánchez said he had “a deep admiration” for all those who had protested peacefully against the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech team. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Florian Wirtz is a sure bet at Liverpool but Newcastle are gambling on Nick Woltemade | Philipp Lahm

Two of the summer’s biggest transfer moves from Germany to the Premier League are starkly contrasting prospectsWhat must a footballer who costs €80m, €100m or more be able to do and prove? He should be a promising prospect at the age of 17 to 20; occupy a clear position on the pitch; be one of the five most important players in a team; perform consistently over many years; prove himself in international competition; and be physically strong. This applies to virtually all those players in this price range: Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Ousmane Dembélé.Two German footballers moved to the Premier League for such a sum in the summer. One of them meets these criteria. Florian Wirtz’s career has been impressive. He caught the football’s attention as a teenager. It was only a matter of time before he made his breakthrough. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Pharma giant ditches £1bn London research hub and says UK ‘is not internationally competitive’

Merck, known as MSD in Europe, criticised the UK’s business environment despite the government saying it has become ‘the most attractive place to invest in the world’

Economics

3 w. ago US drugs giant pulls the plug on £1billion research centre in London as it claims Britain is 'not internationally competitive

The decision to mothball the facility in King's Cross, which had been due to open in 2027, will see 125 scientists and support staff laid off.

Economics

4 w. ago Merck warns UK is ‘not internationally competitive’ as it scraps £1bn London research centre

Merck warns UK is ‘not internationally competitive’ as it scraps £1bn London research centre  City AM

Events

4 w. ago Merck slams UK as it scraps £1bn London drug research centre

US company says country is ‘not internationally competitive’ and lays off 125 staff

Economics

4 w. ago Pensioner, 80, was trampled to death by her by horse when it became spooked and stood on her chest

Margaret Davies, 80, was knocked to the ground and stepped on, suffering massive chest injuries. The former international horse trials competitor, died in hospital just over two weeks later.

Events