Joe Kent says he resigned as director of the US National Counterterrorism Center over opposition to the war in Iran, telling an audience at a Washington prayer event that he couldn’t “send young men and women off to die on foreign battlefields” in “good conscience.”
Josh Kerr said his post-injury return to the top of a global podium was a “family win” after he reclaimed his 3,000m title in thrilling fashion to secure Britain’s first medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.
Kerr, who won gold in the event on home soil in Glasgow two years ago, had his world 1500m title defence ruined by injury in Tokyo in September.
But, six months after sustaining a calf tear during that final, Kerr demonstrated his return to full fitness by overpowering world-class opposition as the complete line-up of Olympic 1500m medallists went head to head.
The 28-year-old, now a three-time world champion, made his move on the final lap and would not be denied as he distanced his rivals before crossing the line in seven minutes 35.56 seconds.
Kerr’s comeback from crutches to re-establishing himself at the top of the sport was aided significantly by his mum, who doubles as his physiotherapist.
“From where we were in Tokyo to right now, having another world gold medal, that’s all down to coaching, it’s all down to my physio and my mum,” Kerr told BBC Sport.
American Cole Hocker, who denied Kerr Olympic 1500m gold in 2024 and won the world 5,000m title last year, had out-kicked the Briton in their only previous meeting this season over two miles at the Millrose Games.
But Hocker had no response to Kerr’s dash for gold and had to settle for silver, with Frenchman Yann Schrub taking bronze.
However, Kerr was still not entirely pleased with how he managed the race.
“I think I created the problems myself tonight. For people watching, that is not how you win a gold medal!” said Kerr.
“I knew that I had to get that close right or else I would be having a pretty tough conversation with my coach tonight.
“I got in my own head about trying to not waste energy and there were some moves in there that made me have to show my hand a little bit.
Kerr’s rehab for his devastating Tokyo setback began immediately, with much of the initial guidance he received on that front coming from his mum, who was in the crowd on Saturday to witness the culmination of their hard work.
The grade-two calf tear he sustained originated from a “freak accident” when he overstretched at the end of his semi-final, straining the muscle which eventually gave out in the medal race.
Kerr has since admitted his decision to hobble to the finish line likely caused more damage yet his comeback has been much quicker than expected for someone who not long ago “couldn’t even walk to breakfast”.
The two-time Olympic medallist’s self-belief remained unshaken as he set his sights on beginning a new season by achieving a fifth global podium in five years – and he once again demonstrated his propensity to thrive on the sport’s biggest stages.
Kerr remained patient as he gradually moved through the field, with Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune setting the pace at the front with medal contenders Hocker and Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse following closely behind.
Positioning himself further forward heading into the penultimate lap, Kerr hit the front at the bell and proved too strong as Hocker attempted to close the gap in the closing stages.
“I was extremely fit coming into this,” Kerr added.
“I had a couple of problems coming through the British Championships, but this was always the main goal.
Dina Asher-Smith placed seventh in her first world indoor 60m final in 7.07 seconds, having equalled her British record time of 7.03 to qualify.
The 30-year-old former world 200m champion has begun a new coaching partnership with Michael Ford in Texas after a “challenging” 2025 in which she left her training set-up under Edrick Floreal midway through the season.
“It wasn’t the most fabulous final. I’m a bit disappointed but overall happy with my indoor season and how things are going with my new coach,” Asher-Smith told BBC Sport.
“I was ultimately just having fun. I haven’t been having the most fun for the past few years.
“I feel so much more stable and happy in terms of going out there and putting out these performances.
“If you’re not in an environment where you’re happy then the results aren’t going to come.”
World 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt did not progress from her semi-final after finishing fourth in her race.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s pole vault star Armand Duplantis captured his ninth global title – and a record-equalling fourth world indoor gold.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has mourned a female corps member who died in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from complications linked to an alleged abortion.
In a statement on Saturday, the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, confirmed that a staff member was under investigation in connection with the incident.
She said the agency was “deeply saddened by the loss of a Corps Member… under circumstances that are currently being investigated.”
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and pray for the peaceful repose of her soul,” the NYSC said.
READ ALSO: Ogun Police Arrest NYSC Official Over Death Of Female Corps Member
Loss Of A Corps Member In Ogun State And The Suspected Involvement Of An NYSC Staff
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is deeply saddened by the loss of a Corps Member in Abeokuta, Ogun State, under circumstances that are currently being investigated. We… pic.twitter.com/8OtLcSbf8Z
It added that “the matter is currently under investigation by relevant security agencies, and the individual concerned has been taken into custody.
“We wish to use this medium to reiterate that the NYSC maintains a strict code of conduct for its staff and corps members and will not condone any act of misconduct or abuse of office,” it added.
The NYSC said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities to ensure that the truth is established and justice served.
It also urged the public to refrain from speculation and allow due process to take its course.
“In the meantime, management wishes to state, once again, that the welfare, safety, and dignity of our corps members remain paramount to the scheme,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the police authorities in Ogun State have arrested the Abeokuta South local government inspector of the NYSC in connection with the death of a female youth corps member.
The Command’s spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the suspect, identified as Abbas Olalekan, was taken in following the death of the lady on Tuesday.
“I can confirm to you that the man has been arrested and investigations are ongoing to unravel both the remote and immediate causes of the death,” he said.
Sources alleged that the LGI and the deceased were in a relationship, which eventually led to the pregnancy.
Watch highlights as Melvine Malard’s 94th-minute winner snatches victory for Manchester United against Everton to send them back into second place in the Women’s Super League table.
MATCH REPORT: Manchester United 2-1 Everton
Watch highlights as Melvine Malard’s 94th-minute winner snatches victory for Manchester United against Everton to send them back into second place in the Women’s Super League table.
MATCH REPORT: Manchester United 2-1 Everton
The European Union has urged member states to start early on meeting next winter’s gas storage targets after Iranian attacks on Gulf energy facilities caused prices to surge on global markets.
Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen sent a letter Saturday urging the bloc’s members to get to work “as early as possible” in the coming months to “mitigate pressure on prices and avoid [an] end-of-summer rush”, asking them to consider cutting their so-called filling target by 10 percentage points to 80 percent.
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The move came days after Iran attacked Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City complex, which provides about 20 percent of global supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The attack, which came amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, was in retaliation for an Israeli attack on the Iranian South Pars gasfield.
State-owned QatarEnergy said that Iran’s attack on Qatar, which has been targeted throughout the duration of the war, knocked out 17 percent of Doha’s export capacity and would affect exports for up to five years.
The slowdown will mainly harm Asian buyers, including China, Japan, and India, which buy some 80 percent of QatarEnergy’s LNG.
But Europe, which only sources around 9 percent of its LNG from Qatar, will nevertheless be exposed to increased competition, with tanker traffic leaving the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz throttled by the war.
Natural gas prices in the EU have risen by more than 30 percent since the start of the war on February 28, spiking after Israel’s attack on Iran’s critical South Pars gasfield and subsequent Iranian attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan.
Jorgensen said that the EU’s gas supply, which has mainly been furnished by the United States since the bloc weaned itself off Russian energy over the Ukraine war, remained “relatively protected at this stage”.
“But, as a net energy importer on global markets, the resulting high and volatile global prices may also impact the EU gas storage projections,” he cautioned.
Jorgensen warned that developments “threaten regional and global security”, urging member states to refill stores early over a longer period.
The EU requirement for member countries to maintain gas reserves at 90 percent of capacity to meet winter heating and power demand underpins the region’s energy security.
Having cut that target by 10 percent, the energy commissioner noted that, in case of “difficult conditions” and a commission assessment, the countries could deviate by up to 20 percent.
