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Martin Ho arrived at Tottenham in July, inheriting a side that had slumped to 11th place the previous season. Within months the club has risen to fifth in the Women's Super League, just three points shy of matching their record 32‑point tally from 2021‑22. With three league games remaining, Spurs are set to face Chelsea in an FA Cup quarter‑final, while a recent League Cup exit saw them lose 2‑1 to Manchester United. Ho, who began coaching at 17 after an unfulfilled stint at Everton’s academy, describes the campaign as a success so far, noting the progress from a “rudderless” squad to a more cohesive unit. He acknowledges the boldness of such a claim before the season ends, especially after consecutive 5‑2 defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal, but stresses that the club’s trajectory is positive. Only two new signings – Norway forward Cathinka Tandberg and Japan defender Toko Koga – joined the roster in the summer, a deliberate move by Ho to assess the existing squad first. "I needed to see the players with my own eyes and apply my coaching methodology," he explained. Ho’s approach draws on his experience as an assistant at Manchester United under Casey Stoney and Marc Skinner, and his earlier head‑coach role at Norwegian side SK Brann. He spent time learning the club’s culture, fanbase and values before implementing changes. Key to the transformation was a psychological reset. Ho told his players that the team must look forward and abandon the disappointment of the previous season. "We asked them to play bravely, press higher and accept that mistakes are part of growth," he said. The 5‑1 loss to Manchester City early in the season became a catalyst. Ho observed that the squad’s response demonstrated a shift in mentality, prompting him to reinforce belief and challenge the players to improve. Consistency has been elusive – three wins from eight league matches – but the side has shown signs of potential, and January brought additional reinforcements. Looking ahead, Ho warns against over‑inflated expectations. "If we promise Champions League football now and fail, it harms everyone," he cautioned, noting that European competition would be premature for a club still building its foundation. He emphasizes the need for steady, sustainable progress rather than a flash‑in‑the‑pan surge. "We must evolve the squad, staff, processes and investment together," Ho said. With a limited pool of elite talent, attracting and retaining players remains a challenge. Ho stresses creating an authentic environment that offers clear development pathways, saying, "When players see their value and a clear route forward, they stay and improve." Born in Liverpool to a Chinese father and English mother, Ho credits his upbringing for his holistic coaching philosophy. He often remarks that coaches are like thieves, constantly borrowing ideas from one another, and strives to adapt those influences into a style that reflects his own vision for Tottenham Women.

The film 'All the President's Men', directed by Alan Pakula and starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, premiered 50 years ago on Saturday at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The movie is based on the 1974 book of the same name by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, which chronicled their investigation into the Watergate imbroglio that led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning eight Oscar nominations and winning four, including best adapted screenplay for William Goldman and best supporting actor for Jason Robards as Ben Bradlee, the Post editor. The movie is widely regarded as a classic of American cinema and a landmark in the genre of journalism films. Jane Alexander, who played the role of Judy Hoback, the 'Bookkeeper' of the Committee to Re-elect the President, recalls her experience filming the iconic scene with Hoffman and Redford. She praises Pakula's direction and the attention to detail that went into recreating the Post's newsroom. The film's accuracy and attention to detail were indeed a hallmark of its production. Woodward and Bernstein worked closely with the filmmakers to ensure that the story was told accurately, and the production team went to great lengths to recreate the Post's office and the Washington D.C. of the 1970s. The article also touches on the impact of the film on the careers of its stars and the journalists it portrayed. Redford and Hoffman spent months researching and rehearsing their roles, and their performances are widely praised. Woodward reflects on the film's portrayal of him and its impact on his personal life. The anniversary of the film comes at a time when the media is under attack and the Washington Post, now owned by tech billionaire Jeff Bezos, has recently undergone significant changes. The film's themes of investigative journalism and the importance of a free press remain as relevant today as they were 50 years ago.

The traditional No 9 striker, once a cornerstone of football, is becoming increasingly obsolete. The partnership of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke at Manchester United in the late 1990s exemplifies a bygone era when strikers were the main goal-scoring threats. Today, the Premier League's leading scorers are more likely to be wingers, No 10s, or false 9s.Data from Opta shows that strikers scored 41.6% of the Premier League's goals two decades ago, compared to 25.9% this season. The decline of traditional center-forwards is further evidenced by the decrease in standout individual striker performances. Between 2007 and 2012, there were four seasons with 10 or more hat-tricks by center-forwards; in the past nine seasons, this threshold has been met only once.The England national team faces a significant challenge with Harry Kane, their all-time leading scorer, approaching retirement. Beyond Kane, the options are limited, with Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin failing to impress. The lack of quality strikers raises concerns about England's future prospects.Experts attribute the decline of the No 9 to the redefinition of the role and the increased emphasis on possession-based football. Emile Heskey notes that the traditional striker's job has changed, with more focus on creating space for other players. René Meulensteen argues that specialized striker training is essential to develop No 9s, but such training has been neglected in favor of more generalized sessions.However, there is hope that a successful team utilizing a lethal strike partnership could revive demand for traditional No 9s. Dean Whitehouse believes that if a manager starts winning trophies with paired strikers, other teams will follow suit, and the demand for No 9s will return. The abundance of technically gifted players, fostered by initiatives like Gareth Southgate's push for smaller-sided games at youth level, may yet lead to a resurgence of the traditional No 9.

Japan's economic strategy has inadvertently created a Japanese century in global finance, driven by the yen's role as a cheap and reliable funding currency. The Bank of Japan's loose monetary policy has suppressed yields on public debt, effectively creating a publicly subsidized funding pipeline for bankers.By borrowing cheaply in yen and investing in higher-return assets, such as US equities, global investors have profited tens of billions of dollars from the 'yen carry trade'. This trade surged after the pandemic, with speculators betting $435bn in the two years to 2024 out of the estimated $1.7tn worth of yen supplied.Despite Japan's first rate hike since 2007 in March 2024, the carry trade remains popular. However, a persistent fear exists that the BoJ may aggressively raise rates, risking a global financial shock. A stronger yen would increase the cost of repaying yen-denominated debts, and heavily leveraged hedge funds could face significant losses.Japan's economic success has created an external dependency on the carry trade to manage internal crises. The country's reflationist prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is committed to fiscal expansion, which may continue to stabilize the private sector but not necessarily drive growth.Economic analysis suggests that Japan's growth constraints are rooted in its macroeconomic prices, including profit, exchange rate, interest, wages, and inflation. While Japan has seen recent real wage growth, wages have historically been flat or falling, and the country's firms lack a reliably competitive exchange rate and viable profit rate to drive demand and reform.

Last week, a coalition of more than 120 Christian leaders sent an open letter—published by The Guardian—to Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge‑fund manager who partly owns GB News. The letter accused the channel of spreading climate misinformation and called for full disclosure of any personal investments in fossil fuels, as well as transparency from GB News presenters and guests. Instead of addressing those transparency demands, Sir Paul replied in a Guardian letter, asserting that the “net‑zero consensus is crumbling.” This claim runs counter to multiple public‑opinion surveys that show a robust majority of Britons still favour decarbonisation efforts. What has shifted, analysts note, is that two of the United Kingdom’s major political parties now oppose a legally binding net‑zero target. Their stance does not appear to reflect public sentiment, prompting observers to question the motives behind the growing anti‑net‑zero rhetoric. Critics warn that as the nation’s reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuels persists, the country edges closer to dangerous climate tipping points while households grapple with soaring energy costs. Rev Dr Darrell Hannah, chair of Operation Noah, described the situation as “curious and disheartening,” suggesting that GB News is intent on preserving an unsustainable status quo. London‑based commentator Judith Russenberger added that Sir Paul and his outlet ignore a wealth of scientific and economic evidence. She emphasized that the planet is heating faster than ever, not merely undergoing a “gradual warming phase,” and that the UK’s high electricity prices stem from a pricing system that ties power costs to the price of gas, rather than the cost of wind or solar generation. These challenges highlight a broader clash between media narratives, political positioning, and the public’s clear appetite for decisive climate action.

Brighton pulled off a major upset in the Women's FA Cup quarterfinals, defeating Arsenal 2-0 at Borehamwood. The win extended Arsenal's wait for their first Women's FA Cup title in over a decade. Fran Kirby, a former Chelsea forward, played a crucial role in the victory, providing two assists.Madison Haley opened the scoring shortly after halftime with a superb finish into the top corner, and Caitlin Hayes sealed the win with a header from a deep Kirby corner. Arsenal, who had recently knocked out Chelsea in the Champions League, looked disjointed and below their best.In another match, Liverpool secured a semifinal spot with a scrappy 115th-minute goal from substitute Zara Shaw against Charlton Athletic. Shaw's goal came after a scramble in the box, marking her return to competitive action after a 12-month knee injury.Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor praised Shaw's determination, saying, 'What a story, Zara Shaw, eh? The way people speak about her at the club, it couldn’t have happened to a better person.'Charlton's head coach, Karen Hills, expressed pride in her team's performance, stating, 'I’m so proud of the group. The way they performed today, they were outstanding.'

Deontay Wilder secured a split‑decision win over Derek Chisora in London on Saturday, prompting the former WBC champion to directly challenge Anthony Joshua for a long‑awaited heavyweight bout.As Wilder exited the arena, he walked past Joshua, exchanged a fist‑bump, and declared, “Let’s do it.” The American added, “I’m ready for whoever is in the heavyweight division. Call me Mr Clean because I want to clean up the whole division.”Wilder, who holds a record of 45‑4‑1 with 43 knockouts, faced a resilient Chisora who fought his 50th professional contest. The British veteran, aged 42, fell to a split decision with judges scoring the bout 115‑111, 112‑115 and 115‑113 in Wilder’s favour.Joshua, who last fought in December when he knocked out Jake Paul, has since recovered from a serious car accident in Nigeria that claimed two of his close friends. Promoter Eddie Hearn told Fight Hub TV that Joshua would have “no problem” taking the fight, noting the British boxer stared at Wilder “ice‑cold” but would accept the challenge.Historically, Wilder was the WBC champion when Joshua held the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, but a unification bout never materialised after Wilder’s loss to Tyson Fury and Joshua’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, who later unified the titles by beating Fury in May 2024.Chisora, whose record stands at 36‑14 with 23 knockouts, acknowledged the end of his fighting career after the loss. Speaking beside his son Zion, he said, “I’m tired now. I can’t do it any more… I’ve had a great career.” While he hinted he might stay involved in boxing in another capacity, he stopped short of confirming a comeback.The potential Wilder‑Joshua clash now looms as the heavyweight division seeks a new marquee matchup, with both fighters positioning themselves as the next dominant force.

James, the Manchester‑originated nine‑piece, have turned a five‑decade career into a living testament to longevity, headlining arenas while celebrating the surprise success of their 2024 album Yummy, which finally secured a UK No.1 spot 42 years after the band first formed.The group continues to defy conventional touring formulas. Frontman Tim Booth describes their shows as “crazy, idiosyncratic,” with nightly set‑list revisions and unreleased songs that often lack finished lyrics. One such piece, the eight‑minute “Nantucket,” features a wordless chorus, an electro‑violin groove and verses that proclaim a mission to inspire, embodying the band’s experimental spirit.Rather than relying solely on a greatest‑hits marathon, the two‑hour, 21‑song performance weaves in moody interludes, deep‑cut selections, and influences ranging from Brian Eno’s ambient textures to the pulsating beats of Italian house. Lyrical barbs aimed at billionaires and organized religion sit alongside anthemic warmth, creating a communal atmosphere. The opening number “Come Home” subtly nods to Booth’s Leeds roots, while trumpeter Andy Diagram sports a “No more war” T‑shirt, and Booth often reaches out to audience members, reinforcing the show’s inclusive vibe.Driving the rhythm is veteran drummer David Baynton‑Power, complemented by recent additions Chloe Alper and Debbie Knox‑Hewson, who inject fresh sonic layers. Booth, now 66, remains the band’s charismatic talisman, occasionally appearing on a balcony for “Born of Frustration” and the soaring “Say Something,” moments that feel almost ritualistic. Arena‑sized sing‑alongs erupt during “Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)” and the classic “Sit Down,” and when Booth finally dives off the stage, he is hoisted aloft by a sea of hands, underscoring the band’s unique connection with fans.The concert at P&J Live in Aberdeen on 7 April exemplified why James remains a special, brilliant force in live music, continuing a tour that proves their relevance and humanity endure across generations.

David Attenborough is set to dazzle audiences with his sparkling new series on BBC One, showcasing the wonders of wildlife living right under our noses. The series begins in Oxfordshire, where Attenborough discovers scampering voles and talking duck eggs.Meanwhile, on Channel 4, The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer challenges celebrities to conjure up mini rolls and syrup sponge puddings, with a showstopper involving recreating their best looks in choux pastry form.Other highlights include The Other Bennet Sister on BBC One, The Capture on BBC One, and Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island on BBC Two. Film enthusiasts can look forward to Being There on BBC Two at 11:50pm.For sports fans, Women’s FA Cup Football matches are scheduled on TNT Sports 1 and Channel 4.