As its forces attacked, Israel warned Palestinians to leave Gaza City for their own safety, but Gazan officials claim that nearly half of all fatalities occurred in areas where people were fleeing.
Published On 1 Oct 2025
Steven McIntoshEntertainment reporter
PA MediaAs part of a new five-year rights agreement, the BBC will no longer air the annual Boat Race on television.
Beginning in 2026, Channel 4 declared it would be “thrilled” to announce that it would cover both the Men’s and Women’s Boat Races for the next five years.
The BBC stated that it has been “proud to broadcast the Boat Race for many years” and that its decision to stop would “represent the difficult choices we need to make to ensure we get the best value for our money.”
The Boat Race will continue to be broadcast live on air, according to the BBC’s statement, and we wish everyone involved a long-long success.
Most of the last 87 years, the BBC has broadcast the race, but between 2005 and 2009, ITV lost control of the rights.
The broadcaster is “thrilled to have secured the rights to one of the most iconic amateur sports events in the British calendar,” said Pete Andrews, head of sport at Channel 4.
He continued, describing the Boat Race as the “crown jewel of the rowing calendar,” noting that the event is “rich in tradition and history and that British interest in the event has never been greater.
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2026, will host the next edition.
The coverage will continue to be produced by the specialized sports production company FilmNova.
The Boat Race Company’s chair, Siobhan Cassidy, expressed his delight at working with Channel 4 to show our unique, recognizable, and intensely British event between our two world-class universities.
We have made great strides since our first radio commentary in 1927 and television shows in 1938. We are grateful for the support of our previous broadcast partners.
After receiving a 20-minute red card in Cardiff’s win against the Lions for the United Rugby Championship (URC), centre Ben Thomas has received a three-game ban.
The 26-year-old will miss Connacht’s home game the weekend after Saturday’s game against Munster (19:45 BST) and Munster’s game at home.
His ban will be reduced to two games and he will be able to play for the derby against the Dragons in round four of the URC if he successfully completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
After 33 minutes, Taine Basham’s disallowed try for flanker Thomas was penalized for a dangerous clearout on scrum-half Nico Steyn.
Thomas “accepted” that he had committed a crime that warranted a red card, according to a URC disciplinary update.
Six weeks was the offence’s entry point, but the center had three games off because of his strong record.
The Red Bulls of Newcastle have parted ways with Steve Diamond, the rugby director.
The Red Bulls lost 39-17 at home to Saracens in the opening game of the new Prem season, according to the news.
Neil McIlroy will take over the newly created position of sporting general manager with responsibility for all rugby management on November 1 as Diamond departs.
Head coach for Scotland Gregor Townsend will work for the north-eastern club as a part-timer on strategy and philosophy, while Alan Dickins will report to McIlroy.
In January of this year, Diamond arrived at Kingston Park and helped Newcastle get through a difficult time, finishing the league with just two victories out of 25.
Semore Kurdi, the club’s previous owner, sold it in November, and Red Bull, a global energy drink, completed its acquisition of the company in August.
As Newcastle struggled financially with the rest of the league, Diamond, who has previously played prem rugby with the Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors, held the fort.
A number of local players were picked by other Prem clubs and were successful in spite of the salary cap.
Even though Diamond, who had been at Sixways when Worcester went into administration, had always insisted that would not be the case at Newcastle, there were concerns that Newcastle would behave similarly to Worcester, Wasps, and London Irish.
The 56-year-old was praised by the club for his “passion, contribution, and guidance,” but his departure is part of a wider reorganization at Newcastle.
McIlroy will have previous experience with the French rugby league teams Catalans Dragons and Clermont Auvergne, both of which have Top 14 titles.
Rumors were spread about Newcastle’s involvement in the new season before the start of the new year’s season.
He will continue to serve as an advisor to Red Bulls until the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He previously signed a new contract with Scottish Rugby.
Diamond stated on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast that there was always rumors about his position when it was all rife with rumors.
I’ve been able to participate in a process that has given me a task for the next twelve months and probably the best investor in rugby since it’s become a professional.
Meghan Markle’s half-sister has claimed their dad Thomas was left ‘trapped’ after a massive earthquake struck his new home.
Thomas, 80, who is estranged from the Duchess of Sussex, moved to the Philippines earlier this year, where he is being cared for by Meghan’s half-brother, Tom.
The province of Cebu, which Thomas currently resides in, was struck by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake last night. Samantha, Meghan’s half-sister, has claimed that their father was stranded in his apartment in a high-rise tower block after being severely critical of the Duchess.
After a massive earthquake, my father is trapped on the 19th floor of a building in the Philippines. He can’t walk and is trapped.
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She continued, “I want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has expressed concern for my father. I appreciate it.
He is “ok, and making plans to leave that building as of right now.” For the time being, they appear to be safe, with the hope that no significant aftershocks will occur. He won’t be stranded in a similar situation once more, according to changes being made. Please continue to be safe and God bless you all!
Thomas recently moved to the densely populated island of Cebu, more than 7,000 miles away from Meghan, 44, Prince Harry, 41, and his grandkids Archie and Lilibet.
The former Hollywood lighting director was pictured earlier this year relaxing by himself in the blistering heat of a supermarket close to his new home.
According to reports, Thomas has recently experienced two heart attacks and a stroke, and he now must deal with the tropical island’s punishing heat.
The regional Emmy winner was seen using a walking stick to navigate the area’s rough roads and paths, many of which are impacted by constant traffic and the unseasonable climate.
Harry’s father-in-law never spoke to him over the phone before getting married to Meghan in May 2018, and requesting his daughter’s consent.
Thomas was scheduled to walk the former Suits actress down the aisle at the Windsor Castle ceremony, but he was told how, following two heart attacks, he was hospitalized and had two stents inserted days before the ceremony.
After leaving the hospital, he watched the wedding in an Airbnb instead of the actual wedding, which was watched by an estimated two billion people worldwide.
Thomas Snr got into a row after appearing in staged paparazzi photos before the ceremony, so the medical drama was born. He has told friends that he was looking for “peace” and “kinder people” when he decided to relocate to the Philippines.
He said, “At 80, it’s time for me to move somewhere where the people are lovely and I can lead a quieter, friendlier life.” The medical system in South East Asia is excellent, living reasonably cheap, the elderly people are kind and considerate, and the food is delicious.
“Mostly, I just want peace,” I said. None of us are aware of how long we have left until we’re 80. I want to spend any amount of time peacefully without the recent drama.
The International Paralympic Committee president claims that the decision to lift the sport’s ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes will cause “a reaction” from other nations.
The athletes can compete under their own flags at upcoming international competitions like the 2026 Winter Paralympics, thanks to a vote on Saturday by IPC members to remove a partial ban.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a partial ban was put in place, allowing athletes to compete as neutrals.
IPC CEO Andrew Parsons stated that BBC Sport members have the right to object to any decision they make. However, because we are a democratic organization, our members have spoken out in the knowledge that there will be a response.
We condemn this vile action taken by the IPC general assembly, which discredits the International Paralympic Committee, and urge all national paralympic committees to deny the admission of those who violate the fundamental human right, the right to life, further.
Athletes will still need their individual sporting federations to lift their own bans in order to represent their respective nations despite the IPC vote.
For instance, the IPC decision would permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in March 2026, but the restrictions placed on them by the international organizations that control the six sports on the Italian schedule already encumbre the sport.
More than 200 members make decisions, according to Parsons, who spoke at the Para Athletics World Championships in New Delhi, India. They made the choice, and now my job is to put it into practice.
“My personal position is well known to many people. It’s not worth mentioning right now, in my opinion. I am an IPC employee, and I must adhere to the membership’s decisions.
We are sports organizations, as history will demonstrate. Only the world of sport should be responsible for trying to solve problems in politics, in my opinion, which is unfair.