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Cameron Boozer earned the Associated Press men’s college basketball Player of the Year honor, marking the fifth time a freshman has captured the award and the second consecutive year a Duke freshman has done so. The 6‑foot‑9 forward was a cornerstone of a Duke squad that posted 35 victories, topped the AP Top 25 poll, secured the No. 1 overall seed for March Madness and advanced to the Elite Eight. Boozer’s versatility—scoring against physical defenses, stretching the floor with perimeter shooting, and facilitating the offense—proved decisive throughout the campaign. Joining the ranks of Cooper Flagg (2025), Zion Williamson (2019), Anthony Davis (2012) and Kevin Durant (2007), Boozer joins a short list of freshmen who later became top‑two NBA draft picks. He noted, “It’s not just about me; the team’s success amplifies these recognitions.” In the AP voting, Boozer secured 59 of 61 votes, with the remaining two cast for BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa, who averaged a national‑best 25.5 points per game. Statistically, Boozer averaged 22.5 points (ninth in Division I) and 10.2 rebounds (twelfth), while dishing out 4.1 assists. His shooting efficiency stood at 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from three‑point range**, and he tied for the national lead with 22 double‑doubles. These numbers underscore his readiness for the professional level. Highlights of his season include a career‑high 35 points against Arkansas, a 29‑point effort versus defending champion Florida, and a dominant 18‑point, 15‑rebound performance against Michigan State. Even in Duke’s season‑ending loss to UConn, Boozer contributed 27 points despite a swollen right eye from an early‑game blow. Duke associate head coach Chris Carrawell praised Boozer, saying the program has been “fortunate to have two of the best freshmen ever play back‑to‑back,” and placed him “right up there” with the sport’s recent legends. In related honors, Fred Hoiberg was named AP Coach of the Year after guiding Nebraska to a breakthrough 28‑win season.

The weekend's sports action kicks off with FA Cup quarter-final matches and the start of the county cricket season. In the FA Cup, Manchester City hosts Liverpool at the Etihad, with both teams seeking to advance to the semi-finals. Chelsea takes on Port Vale at Stamford Bridge, while Southampton faces Arsenal at St Mary's. In county cricket, Nottinghamshire begins their title defense against Somerset at Taunton. The season's early rounds will also see Surrey, the 2022, 2023, and 2024 champions, in action with a strong lineup including Alec Stewart, Ollie Pope, and Jamie Smith. Additionally, the 197-year-old Boat Races on the Thames between Oxford and Cambridge will take place, with the women's race followed by the men's. This event has moved to a new TV home on Channel 4 as part of a five-year broadcast deal. On Sunday, a bumper Easter Sunday schedule features multiple FA Cup matches, including West Ham vs Leeds and Livingston vs Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Channel 4 is poised to shake up the traditional Boat Races with its debut coverage of the event, bringing a fresh perspective and new talent to the table. The network has acquired the broadcasting rights from the BBC, signaling a significant change in the event's media landscape. The Boat Races, a storied competition between Oxford and Cambridge universities, has been a staple of British sport since 1829. This year's event promises to be exciting, with Oxford's Heidi Long, a bronze medalist in the women's eight at Paris 2024, leading the charge against Cambridge's dominant women's team. Clare Balding, previously the face of the BBC's coverage, will continue as presenter, joined by newcomers Jamie Laing, a reality TV star and Radio 1 DJ, and Ade Adepitan, a TV presenter and Londoner. The on-screen team aims to bring a new dynamic to the event, appealing to a younger demographic. The production company, FilmNova, brings four years of experience from BBC broadcasts and has planned several innovations, including relatable comparisons and humanizing the rowers. One highlight is a 'fantasy boat' featuring well-known sportspeople, such as Serena Williams and Frankie Dettori. The Boat Races also shed light on pressing issues like Thames Water's mismanagement and sewage pollution in Britain's waterways, adding a layer of depth to the event. As Channel 4 takes the reins, the athletes can focus on their goals, with Long and her Oxford teammates striving to end Cambridge's eight consecutive wins. Heidi Long's remarkable story, balancing rowing with medical studies and personal loss, exemplifies the dedication and resilience of the athletes. Her leadership and experience are seen as key factors in Oxford's bid for victory.

According to a new United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) briefing, the global food commodity price index climbed 2.4% in March, marking the second straight monthly increase and the first rise in five months for the broader basket of grains, meat, dairy, vegetable oils and sugar.The surge is largely attributed to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed up energy prices and freight rates worldwide. The report highlighted that vegetable oil prices jumped 5% and sugar rose 7% during the month.Analysts warn that the war could trigger a broader wave of food inflation, as higher fuel, fertiliser and electricity costs increase the expense of transporting, processing and cooking food. About one‑third of global fertiliser production passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that has been effectively closed since hostilities began.UN projections suggest that, if the crisis endures, global food prices could be 15%–20% higher in the first half of 2026 than pre‑conflict levels. The FAO noted that “price indices across all commodity groups rose to varying degrees, reflecting both market fundamentals and responses to higher energy prices linked to the conflict escalation in the Near East.”Specific commodity trends showed global wheat prices up 4.3% in March, driven by deteriorating crop conditions and drought concerns in the United States, as well as reduced planting in Australia due to soaring fertiliser costs. Better weather in Europe and strong export competition provided some offset.In the United Kingdom, the Food and Drink Federation – representing 12,000 manufacturers – now forecasts a **minimum 9% rise in food prices by the end of 2026**, a sharp increase from the 3.2% forecast made before the Middle East conflict. This outlook assumes the Strait of Hormuz reopens within weeks and that major energy facilities return to normal within a year – both uncertain outcomes.British producers are already feeling the pressure. The British Tomato Growers’ Association warned that consumers could see higher prices for tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers within six weeks as gas‑heated glasshouses become more expensive to run.Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently met with leaders of major retailers—including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Lidl—to discuss measures that could ease the cost‑of‑living squeeze and strengthen supply chains.Nevertheless, a Bank of England survey of over 2,000 chief financial officers revealed that firms expect to raise their prices by an average of 3.7% over the next year, up from 3.4% in February. Expectations for overall economy‑wide inflation also rose from 3% to 3.5%.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns about a potential global food crisis due to its impact on fertiliser supplies. The strait is a critical passage for 20% of global natural gas shipments and a third of the global trade in raw materials for fertiliser.The head of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, has warned that the situation is a 'food security timebomb', with the window to avert a massive global hunger crisis rapidly closing.Fertiliser prices have already risen by more than 60% in Egypt, reaching $780 (£586) a tonne, up from about $484 in late February. The Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO), the world's largest single site for urea exports, has been offline for almost a month.The Middle East is the source of about 45% of the global trade in sulphur, a key raw material for fertiliser manufacture. Iran is the fourth-largest global exporter of urea, the most widely used nitrogen fertiliser.A prolonged transport shutdown could disrupt production and increase costs, leading to higher food prices and exacerbating global hunger. The world's poorest countries are among the most vulnerable to fertiliser price rises.

Spain's hopes of hosting the 2030 World Cup final have been dealt a blow after a friendly match against Egypt was overshadowed by racist and Islamophobic chants from a section of the Spanish fans. The chants, which included "Whoever doesn't jump is Muslim," were heard twice during the 0-0 draw in Barcelona on Tuesday, prompting an investigation by Spanish police and widespread condemnation from authorities, football officials, and players. Lamine Yamal, Spain's star winger and a Muslim whose father moved from Morocco to Spain, issued a damning statement on Instagram, condemning the chants as "disrespectful and intolerable." He emphasized that using a religion as a mockery on the field "makes you ignorant and racist people." The incident has highlighted the ongoing issues of structural racism in Spanish society, particularly against Muslims and immigrants from Morocco. Analysts and experts have pointed to a rise in far-right sentiment and xenophobia, as well as a lack of awareness and action to combat racism in various sectors, including sports and education. The Spanish Football Federation, La Liga, and many leading footballers have condemned the chants, while efforts to combat racism in sports have been acknowledged as improving in recent years. However, the incident has also sparked a political debate, with some far-right leaders downplaying the significance of the chants. The incident comes as Spain, along with Morocco and Portugal, is bidding to host the 2030 World Cup, with the final destination yet to be decided by FIFA. The anti-Muslim chants have raised concerns about Spain's ability to host a successful and inclusive tournament.

Al Jazeera presents an in‑depth look at Mohamed Salah, exploring the intertwining of his football achievements, personal faith, and the evolving public narrative surrounding elite athletes. The piece highlights how Salah’s on‑field success—marked by record‑breaking goal tallies and pivotal titles—has become a platform for discussing broader cultural themes. His openness about his religious beliefs offers a rare glimpse into the personal convictions that shape his professionalism. By examining Salah’s influence beyond the pitch, the article underscores a changing perception of sports figures: no longer seen solely as entertainers, but as individuals capable of driving social dialogue and challenging stereotypes. Through interviews, match footage, and commentary from peers, the feature illustrates how Salah’s story resonates with fans worldwide, fostering a deeper appreciation for the role of faith and identity in modern football.

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin warned that Italy’s ability to co‑host Euro 2032 with Turkiye is in jeopardy because many of the nation’s football venues rank among the worst in Europe. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ceferin said, “Euro 2032 is scheduled and will take place, of that there is no doubt. I just hope that the infrastructure in Italy will be ready. If that’s not the case, the tournament will not be held in Italy.” He added that the core issue lies in “the relationship between the football authorities and politics,” suggesting that political interference has hampered stadium development. By October, Italy must submit a list of five stadiums for the tournament, choosing from eleven candidate cities: Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Genoa, Bari, Naples, Turin, Cagliari and Palermo. Work on any new or renovated venue must commence by March 2027 to meet UEFA deadlines. At present, only Juventus’s Allianz Stadium in Turin meets UEFA standards for Euro 2032 matches. Meanwhile, Inter Milan and AC Milan have acquired the San Siro site and aim to deliver a new 71,500‑seat arena on the same footprint by 2031, but the transaction is under investigation for alleged bid‑rigging. In Rome, local authorities have approved a new stadium in the city’s eastern district, while Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi Stadium is undergoing redevelopment. Naples unveiled a €200 million renovation plan for the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, which includes removing the surrounding running track – a project the mayor says is essential “regardless of 2032.” The UEFA warning follows a historic setback for Italian football: the Azzurri, coached by Gennaro Gattuso, were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a 4‑1 penalty defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UEFA playoff final, marking the first time a former champion has missed three consecutive World Cups. Should Italy fail to upgrade its venues, UEFA has indicated that the tournament could proceed without Italian venues, preserving the event’s schedule but stripping Italy of the prestige and economic benefits of hosting matches.

The United States is reportedly contemplating a daring military operation to confiscate Iran's reserves of highly enriched uranium, a move that experts warn would be fraught with significant challenges and risks.Ensuring Iran does not possess nuclear weapons or the capability to produce them using enriched uranium has been a primary objective for the US during negotiations with Iranian officials over the past year. This goal was also cited as a justification for the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities during last year's 12-day war with Israel and for initiating the ongoing conflict in February, despite ongoing talks with Iran at the time.Iran possesses approximately 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent, a level at which it becomes considerably easier to reach the 90 percent threshold required to produce a nuclear weapon. This amount theoretically could be used to produce more than 10 nuclear warheads, according to International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.Iran asserts that its nuclear program is exclusively for civilian energy purposes, despite enriching uranium far beyond the required threshold. Iranian officials have expressed openness to discussing a reduction in the level of enrichment during past negotiations but have refused to dismantle the country's nuclear program entirely, citing national sovereignty concerns.In 2015, the former Obama administration negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and other nations, under which Iran agreed not to enrich uranium to high levels and to undergo frequent inspections. However, Trump withdrew the US from this agreement during his first term as president.Challenges in Accessing and Transporting the UraniumAny military ground operation to extract the uranium would face substantial chemical, logistical, and tactical hurdles. Isfahan, where about half of the enriched uranium is believed to be stored, is over 480 kilometers (about 300 miles) inland, far from the nearest US naval ships. This would necessitate transporting US forces, possibly alongside Israeli troops, over a long distance through an active warzone, accompanied by heavy equipment.Securing a substantial perimeter around the site and holding that territory for the duration of the operation would be required, all while mitigating the risk of constant fire from Iran. Experts describe this as a risky and infeasible operation.Storing and Handling the UraniumIf the US were to successfully extract the uranium, it would likely be stored in the form of hexafluoride gas, which is difficult to handle and reacts with water to produce extremely toxic chemicals. The uranium hexafluoride must be stored in small, separated canisters to prevent neutrons from multiplying out of control.Any damage to these canisters could trigger the release of toxic chemicals, posing a radiological hazard. An alternative would be to destroy the cylinders on the spot using Army Nuclear Disablement Teams, but this would result in chemical contamination and environmental hazards.Previous Operations and Potential AlternativesIn 1994, US forces undertook a secret operation dubbed Project Sapphire to remove weapons-grade uranium from Kazakhstan. A similar operation for Iran is being considered, but it would require coordination with Iranian authorities and the IAEA, and a cessation of hostilities.A less risky approach would be for the US to negotiate a deal with Iran, resulting in the stockpile being left in place but under international oversight, being downblended, or being removed with Iranian agreement.