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Manchester United Women saw their Women's Champions League campaign end in the quarter‑finals after Bayern Munich scored two late goals to win 5‑3 on aggregate.The English side led for the first 70 minutes, thanks to Melvine Malard’s opener. However, Bayern’s relentless pressure produced a Glódís Viggósdóttir header and a Linda Dallmann half‑volley, sealing a comeback that left United stunned.United’s manager Marc Skinner lamented the impact of injuries, noting that eight first‑team players were unavailable. “If we had those players, I honestly think we could have gone through tonight,” he said, emphasizing the need for a squad with greater experience and depth.Skinner’s remarks came on the same day the Football Association disclosed that six WSL clubs spent more on agent fees than United in the year to February 2026, while United’s wage bill was reported to be only half that of Arsenal. The manager added, “We need to design the squad with that depth of experience in order to reach that stage… we’ll learn what investment is really needed.”Despite a spirited first half—United dominated possession, created several chances and kept the aggregate level at 3‑3—fatigue set in. Skinner observed, “Bayern rested seven players at the weekend, and it showed in the second half. Freshness was the key difference.”The defeat means United must finish in the top three of the Women’s Super League to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Currently fourth, they face challenging away fixtures against Tottenham and Chelsea, making their qualification hopes uncertain.

British tennis star Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from next week’s Linz Open as she continues to recover from an illness she contracted in early February. This development comes on the heels of her previous withdrawal from the Miami Open as she deals with post-viral symptoms.Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has also opted out of Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia. Her last competitive appearance was in the third round at Indian Wells on March 8, where she suffered a 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Amanda Anisimova. Raducanu attributed her lackluster performance to a lack of power and acknowledged the need to regain her aggressive gameplay.Following her split from coach Francisco Roig in January, Raducanu has been working informally with Mark Petchey. Her next potential appearance is expected at the Madrid Open, which begins on April 21.

Energy crises do more than lift household bills; they can reshape an entire economy. In the 1970s the United Kingdom responded to oil shortages by expanding North Sea extraction and becoming a net energy exporter. Today, with a 10 million‑barrel‑per‑day supply deficit and a fifth of global LNG trade under strain, that strategy no longer offers security.The UK is now acutely vulnerable to volatile gas prices. Inflation expectations are rising, markets anticipate higher interest rates, and borrowing costs have surged to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. The ripple effect is already evident in food markets, where inflation hit 3.3 % in February and could climb sharply within three months.New data reveal that the hundreds of North Sea licences granted since 2010 have added merely 36 days of extra gas production. Major oil majors such as BP are re‑emphasising oil and gas to reassure investors, while Shell continues aggressive share‑buy‑backs. The reality is clear: fossil‑fuel giants cannot be the rescue plan.Gas should no longer set the price floor for electricity. As the grid leans more on wind and solar, gas must be treated as a backup resource, compensated with a fixed or regulated price rather than wholesale market volatility. Research from University College London and Common Wealth outlines a practical model for this approach.Beyond market reforms, households need a safety net. An essential energy guarantee—a capped, affordable band of consumption for every home—mirrors schemes adopted in Austria, the Netherlands and Poland after the 2022 crisis and would be more targeted than the current blanket price‑support guarantee.Similarly, a protected basket of staple foods, backed by long‑term procurement and direct support for domestic producers, could stabilise prices. France’s 2023 anti‑inflation shopping‑basket experiment offers a template, and the UK already supplies over 60 % of its own food, though it remains dependent on imports for fruits, vegetables, rice and fertilisers.The long‑term solution lies in renewable power. Record wind generation this year has already reduced gas‑fired output, while consumer interest in solar panels, batteries and heat pumps is soaring. A typical solar‑plus‑battery system can slash a household’s electricity bill to under £2 per month, and electric‑vehicle owners can save more than £1,000 annually on fuel costs.To unlock these savings, the government must back financing mechanisms such as zero‑interest loans, subscription‑style purchases for solar and heat‑pump kits, and leasing schemes for electric vehicles. On a larger scale, a dual‑interest‑rate policy—standard rates for the broader economy and preferential, low‑cost funding for clean‑energy projects—could mirror the green‑lending models already used by China’s central bank and the Bank of Japan.In short, the United Kingdom faces a decisive moment. The 1970s taught that energy shocks can remake a nation; the question now is whether the UK will seize this crisis to protect living standards and build a resilient, low‑carbon energy system for the decades ahead.

Just before sunset on Florida’s Space Coast, an estimated 400,000 people are expected to line the beaches and causeways to watch NASA’s Artemis II lift off at 6:24 p.m. ET, weather permitting. The launch will be the first crewed departure from low‑Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. Commander Reid Wiseman told reporters at the Kennedy Space Center that the nation and the world have been waiting “a long time” for this moment. The four‑person crew—Americans Christina Koch and Victor Glover, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and Wiseman himself—have entered quarantine ahead of the flight. During the 10‑day test flight, which will not attempt a lunar landing, Koch and Glover will become the first woman and first person of color to travel into cislunar space, the region between Earth and the Moon. Hansen will be the first non‑American to do so. The Orion capsule is expected to travel more than 4,600 miles (7,400 km) beyond the Moon’s far side on day six, reaching a total distance of just under 253,000 miles from Earth—surpassing the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles set in 1970. Beyond the historic milestones, Artemis II serves as a critical stepping stone for NASA’s broader lunar ambitions. Administrator Jared Isaacman has outlined a $20 billion Moon base program slated for completion by the end of the decade, and the mission will capture high‑resolution images of the Moon’s south‑pole region—potential sites for future landings and the base. Technical preparations have addressed previous setbacks, including a resolved heat‑shield issue from Artemis I and a helium‑leak that delayed Artemis II’s rollout in February. NASA’s final weather briefing gave the launch an 80 % chance of favorable conditions, with a five‑night launch window available should a scrub be required. Inside the capsule, the crew will spend ten days in a confined space roughly the size of a small camper van, testing life‑support systems, radiation exposure, and microgravity effects. Wiseman noted the psychological challenges of close‑quarters living, saying, “By day six or seven we’ll all be thinking, ‘I need a little space,’ but we’re a good crew.” The launch has sparked a surge of tourism in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, with hotels filling quickly as spring‑breakers add the event to their itineraries. Despite schedule delays and cost overruns—NASA acknowledges the program is “billions of dollars over budget”—the agency remains confident that Artemis II will demonstrate the capabilities needed for the next crewed landing, scheduled for Artemis IV in 2028. As Wiseman summed up, “NASA was founded to tackle the near‑impossible. This mission is the next step in America’s return to the lunar environment, and when we get there, we intend to stay.”

Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a 30-year-old human rights activist, has endured a year of solitary confinement in a Pakistani jail cell. Her unwavering commitment to the Baloch people's rights has only strengthened despite the isolation.Confined to a small, bare cell with limited access to books and exercise, Mahrang has found ways to cope. She spends her days studying politics and reading books that remind her of a world beyond her prison walls. Her resolve has been tested, but not broken.The physical toll of her imprisonment is evident. Mahrang suffers from severe back and joint pain, which has prevented her from exercising. In February, she was hospitalized and diagnosed with a slipped disc and radiculopathy. Yet, she continues to advocate for her people's rights.Mahrang's family has also been targeted for her activism. Her cousin, Salal Baloch, was forcibly disappeared, and her 19-year-old cousin, Saifullah Baloch, remains missing. Her brother faces strict monitoring and harassment from the counter-terrorism department.Despite these challenges, Mahrang remains committed to peaceful resistance. She believes that the state's violence and collective punishment will not deter her or the Baloch people from demanding their rights. The BYC has documented over 1,200 cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan in 2025 alone.Mahrang's story highlights the ongoing human rights crisis in Balochistan. Her courage and conviction serve as a beacon of hope for the Baloch people and human rights activists worldwide.

An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US said, as regional security deteriorates after the US-Israeli attack on Iran. The state department said it was working to ensure the American’s release 'as soon as possible'. “An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hezballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities,” Dylan Johnson, the assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, wrote on X. Iraq said that authorities intercepted a vehicle that overturned as they tried to flee. “Security forces were able to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime,” the Iraqi interior ministry said in a statement. The journalist was identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelancer, by media advocacy groups as well as Al-Monitor, one of the news outlets for which she worked. Kittleson is a longtime freelancer in the region, reporting extensively from Syria and Iraq. Al-Monitor in a statement said it was “deeply alarmed” by Kittleson’s kidnapping and called for her “safe and immediate release”. “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work,” the news organisation said. The US has warned Americans of rising risks in Iraq, where Iran has sway over several Shia armed groups, after the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February. Johnson said that the state department had “fulfilled our duty” to warn the journalist about threats and reiterated a warning for Americans to leave Iraq.

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday that an unidentified foreign journalist was seized by "unknown individuals" in Baghdad, though the reporter’s name was not disclosed in the initial statement.Security forces swiftly pursued the kidnappers, arresting one suspect and confiscating the vehicle used in the abduction. Authorities emphasized that investigations remain ongoing to locate all participants and secure the journalist’s release.This kidnapping comes as Iraq experiences a surge in violence linked to the broader US‑Israel war on Iran. Recent weeks have seen attacks on Iraqi security forces in Anbar province and elsewhere, underscoring a volatile security environment.The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed deep concern after media reports identified the victim as U.S. freelance journalist Shelley Kittleson. CPJ’s Middle East regional director, Sara Qudah, urged Iraqi authorities to "do everything in their power to locate Shelley Kittleson, ensure her immediate and safe release, and hold those responsible to account."U.S. State Department official Dylan Johnson confirmed that Washington is "aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist" in Baghdad. He noted that the State Department had previously issued a warning to the journalist about threats and that it is coordinating with the FBI to facilitate a swift release.Johnson also revealed that Iraqi authorities have taken into custody an individual with ties to the paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah, who is believed to be involved in the kidnapping.Press‑freedom advocates have repeatedly called on the Iraqi government to strengthen protections for journalists. Reporters Without Borders warned that journalists face "threats from all sides" amid political instability and financial pressure, noting that abductions are often employed to "terrorise and silence" media workers.CPJ has documented a series of press‑freedom violations since the war began on February 28, including a mid‑March assault on a television crew in Kirkuk allegedly carried out by fighters affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a faction of Iraq’s armed forces with Iran‑aligned elements.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared on Tuesday that Iran will fulfill its World Cup 2026 fixtures in the United States as originally planned, reinforcing the governing body’s commitment to a schedule that includes all qualified teams. The Iranian Football Federation had earlier announced that it was negotiating with FIFA to shift its group‑stage matches from U.S. venues to Mexico, citing safety concerns stemming from the war involving the United States and Israel that began on February 28. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum offered her country’s readiness to host Iran’s first‑round games if a relocation became necessary, highlighting regional solidarity. According to the tournament draw, Iran’s Group G campaign will open in Los Angeles on June 15 against New Zealand, followed by a clash with Belgium in the same city on June 21, and a final group match versus Egypt in Seattle on June 27. The war’s outbreak had cast doubt on Iran’s participation, prompting Infantino to address concerns during halftime of Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Turkey. He told AFP, “Iran will be at the World Cup… That’s why we’re here,” and praised the team’s quality. Infantino also referenced assurances allegedly given by former U.S. President Donald Trump that the Iranian squad would be welcome, though Trump later warned that the team should not travel “for their own life and safety.” Iran responded firmly, stating that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.” In a March 19 online FIFA Council meeting, Infantino reaffirmed the organization’s stance: “FIFA is committed to ensuring the World Cup proceeds as scheduled with all teams participating,” adding that football can serve as a bridge for peace even when geopolitical conflicts lie beyond its control. Iran’s recent friendly against Nigeria in Belek, Turkey, featured players wearing black armbands and carrying school rucksacks to honor victims of a tragic air strike on a primary school in Minab on February 28, which killed at least 170 people. The New York Times reported that a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile mistakenly hit the school, according to preliminary military findings. These gestures underscore the intersection of sport and geopolitics, as the global football community strives to maintain the tournament’s integrity while acknowledging the human cost of ongoing conflicts.

London, United Kingdom – Civil‑rights organisations and supporters of the Palestine solidarity movement allege that the British state is employing intimidation tactics following the recent re‑arrest of two young pro‑Palestinian activists who were out on bail. On Monday, 21‑year‑old Qesser Zuhrah was detained at her Watford home after posting on social media urging people to take “direct action”. Counter‑terrorism police charged her with encouraging or assisting criminal damage, a charge tied to the online post. She was granted bail again on Tuesday and is scheduled to appear in court on 17 April. Four days earlier, 23‑year‑old Audrey Corno was arrested in south London by plain‑clothes officers who claimed she had tampered with her electronic tag – a breach of bail conditions she denies. Corno said officers emerged from an undercover vehicle parked outside her home and that her tag had been offline for only 20 minutes, a duration she could not have caused. Both activists were previously imprisoned for alleged involvement in separate 2024 raids on military‑hardware manufacturers linked to the Israeli war effort, actions claimed by the direct‑action group Palestine Action. Zuhrah is part of the “Filton 24” collective accused of breaking into an Elbit Systems UK weapons factory in Bristol, while Corno faced charges related to a break‑in at GRiD Defence Systems in Buckinghamshire. Although a High Court ruling in February declared the UK’s designation of Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organisation unlawful, the government is preparing an appeal, meaning public support for the group remains illegal for now. Naila Ahmed, head of campaigns at CAGE International, described Zuhrah’s re‑arrest as part of an “active repression” of pro‑Palestine voices, arguing that the legislation is being used to criminalise political speech and dissent. She called for the abolition of terrorism laws, saying they have historically served as tools of political control rather than public protection. Human Rights Watch has echoed these concerns, noting a “disproportionate targeting” of groups such as climate‑change activists and Palestine protesters, which undermines the right to protest without fear of harassment. The arrests occur amid escalating tension between the Metropolitan Police and Britain’s sizable Palestine solidarity movement. A large march is slated for Saturday in London, where demonstrators are expected to chant slogans like “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”. The Met, which had paused mass arrests after the High Court decision, has recently reversed that policy, raising the likelihood of further detentions. In parallel, a court hearing is set for Wednesday involving Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Ben Jamal and Stop the War Coalition’s Chris Nineham, who face accusations of breaching protest restrictions in January 2025. Public sentiment appears to be shifting: a YouGov poll found that one in three Britons express “no sympathy at all” for the Israeli side after the conflict has claimed over 72,000 lives and devastated the Gaza Strip. Critics argue that the Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, has intensified its crackdown on pro‑Palestine activism, citing a wave of arrests and the ongoing proscription of Palestine Action as evidence of a broader strategy to suppress dissent.