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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has faced a fresh wave of controversy after it overturned Senegal's 1‑0 victory over host nation Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, recording a 3‑0 win for Morocco and stripping Senegal of the championship.Speaking in Rabat, CAF President Patrice Motsepe categorically rejected the Senegalese government's accusations of corruption. “If anybody wants to initiate legal action alleging that there is corruption in CAF, I don’t only welcome that, I encourage them,” he said.Motsepe emphasized the federation’s respect for the legal frameworks of Africa’s 54 member nations, adding, “There’s nothing to hide. We respect enormously the judicial and legal sovereignty of every single one of our 54 nations on the African continent.”He also affirmed that CAF will abide by the outcome of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), stating, “I’m confident that whatever the decision of CAS will say, we will respect it and we will implement it.”The dispute stems from the January 18 final, when Senegalese players, coach Pape Thiaw and staff walked off the pitch after Morocco was awarded an added‑time penalty – a chance that forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed. CAF cited regulations on abandoning the field to justify a 3‑0 forfeit in Morocco’s favour, a ruling announced on March 17.In response, the Senegalese Football Federation has lodged an appeal with CAS, while Senegal’s government has called for an international investigation into alleged corruption within CAF.Motsepe’s remarks come at a tense moment for the governing body, which must now navigate legal scrutiny, the appeal process, and mounting pressure from a disgruntled Senegalese public.

Tyson Fury, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, has asserted that he 'still has it' as he prepares to face Arslanbek Makhmudov in a highly anticipated bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. This fight marks Fury's return to the ring after a 15-month hiatus.The 37-year-old Fury, with a record of 34-2-1 and 24 KOs, will be facing off against the 36-year-old Russian-born heavyweight Makhmudov, who boasts a record of 21-2 with 19 KOs. During a pre-fight news conference in London, Fury emphasized his focus on the upcoming fight, stating, 'I don't want to mention names when I've got a dangerous fighter in front of me. The rest can get a hiding but I need to give Makhmudov a hiding first.'Fury also touched on his future plans, hinting at potential fights against Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in 2026. His last fight was a loss to Usyk in December 2024, which led to his initial retirement. However, citing the inspiration from Joshua's recent car crash and the death of his friends, Fury decided to make a comeback.Makhmudov, known for his formidable strength, shared a video of himself wrestling a 2.9m bear in the woods outside Moscow. He described the experience as 'very terrible' but believes it helped him confront fear and prepare for the fight.Despite concerns about Fury's recent lack of competitive ring time, Makhmudov expressed confidence that Fury's experience would be an advantage. Fury's father, John Fury, had previously suggested that his son's grueling fights against Deontay Wilder had left him 'past his best'. However, Tyson Fury countered, 'I've never lost my speed of reactions. I've still got it. 100 percent.'

NASA's Artemis II mission is nearing its final stage, with the Orion spacecraft set for a high-speed return to Earth and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The mission is a critical test for systems that the space agency plans to use in future crewed moon landings, including Artemis III.The splashdown, scheduled for April 11 at about 00:07 GMT (8:07pm ET on April 10), will mark the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972 that NASA and the Department of Defense are recovering a crewed spacecraft returning from the moon. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by the crew, will re-enter the atmosphere and splash down off the San Diego coast.NASA has set strict 'go' conditions for splashdown, including wave heights below six feet (1.8 meters), winds under 28.7mph (46 km/h), and no rain or lightning within a 30-nautical-mile radius. Clear visibility is also essential for tracking Orion and safely recovering the astronauts.The Orion spacecraft will come hurtling back to Earth, hitting the atmosphere at about 34,965 feet (10,657 meters) per second, roughly 23,800mph (38,300km/h), fast enough to travel from New York to Tokyo in less than 20 minutes. The spacecraft's heat shield, a critical component, will protect it from temperatures of up to 2,700 degrees Celsius (4,900 degrees Fahrenheit).The mission has raised concerns about the heat shield's performance, with some experts questioning its safety. However, NASA officials say they are confident in the shield's ability to protect the crew and have adjusted the re-entry path to limit stress on the shield.The splashdown and recovery will be broadcast live on NASA+, the NASA app, and YouTube channel. A detailed timeline for the final stages of the mission has been outlined, including the crew wakeup, cabin configuration, trajectory correction, module separation, atmospheric entry, communication blackout, and splashdown.

The conflict in the Middle East is having far-reaching effects beyond the region, impacting UK mortgage rates and consumer confidence. In response to surging oil prices and inflation fears, lenders have pulled hundreds of mortgage products, replacing them with more expensive deals.According to Halifax, average UK house prices fell by 0.5% in March, with demand affected by higher mortgage rates. The Guardian wants to hear from individuals who have lost mortgage deals or been affected by rising interest rates.Share your experience by completing a short form or messaging the Guardian on WhatsApp at +447766780300. Responses can be anonymous, and submissions will be kept secure.The Guardian is seeking stories from people who have:Lost recent mortgage dealsBeen affected by rising interest ratesChanged housing plans due to the current economic climateAll submissions will be reviewed and potentially published, with the option to remain anonymous.

Crispin Odey, the former hedge fund manager, has dropped his £79m libel claim against the Financial Times over its reporting of sexual misconduct allegations against him, his lawyers have said.In 2023, the FT published several articles from 20 women alleging sexual assault and harassment against Odey, covering a period of five decades. He has previously denied the allegations against him.On Friday, lawyers for the former hedge fund tycoon, 67, said he had been “forced to accept” that the newspaper was “likely to succeed in establishing” its public interest defence.Odey’s decision to drop his claim follows a three-week hearing in which he challenged a decision by the Financial Conduct Authority, the City regulator, to ban him from the financial services industry.The FT’s editor, Roula Khalaf, said: “This is a vindication for investigative journalism and for the victims whose stories of abuse we reported. The FT was always confident in its reporting. This is a case that should have never been brought.”In March 2025, Odey was provisionally banned from working in financial services and fined £1.8m by the UK regulator for a “lack of integrity”. The FCA said at the time that Odey had attempted to “frustrate” a disciplinary process into sexual harassment allegations against him, and his conduct proved he was “not a fit and proper person to perform any function”.

The US inflation rate experienced a significant surge in March, rising to 3.3% over the year, with prices increasing by 0.9% compared to the previous month. This spike is largely attributed to the escalating conflict with Iran, which has resulted in a substantial increase in energy prices.The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for energy rose by 10.9% in March, primarily driven by a 21.2% increase in gasoline prices. This increase accounted for nearly three-quarters of the monthly all-items increase. Airfares also saw a notable rise, increasing by 2.7% in March and 14.9% higher than a year earlier.Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose at a more modest 0.2% over the month and was 2.6% higher over the year. The annualized inflation rate has not exceeded 3% since summer 2024.The conflict with Iran has driven the American economy into deeper uncertainty, adding to the precariousness that began with Donald Trump's tariffs last year. The war has also led to a rise in oil prices, with US crude oil priced 10% higher than before the conflict and nearly 30% higher since the start of the year.Recent data shows that prices are affecting producers, with the gross domestic product (GDP) for the last quarter of 2025 revised down from an initial 1.4% to 0.5%. The prices index in the Institute for Supply Management's survey of managers saw its largest one-month increase in 13 years, rising from 63 in February to 70.7 in March.Consumer confidence is also falling, with the University of Michigan's closely-watched consumer confidence survey recording a 10.7% drop to its lowest level on record. Survey director Joanne Hsu noted that many consumers blame the Iran conflict for unfavorable changes to the economy.Despite the challenges, the labor market appears resilient, with employers adding 178,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate falling to 4.3%. However, the Federal Reserve faces a tricky situation in adjusting interest rates amid the conflict, as raising rates could help curb inflation but risk destabilizing the labor market and increasing unemployment.

Midway through the fifth day of the County Championship’s second round, Ollie Pope joined an elite group by becoming the 11th centurion in Division One this season. Five of those centuries belong to Surrey, with Jamie Smith already on two. The pre‑season favourites, despite a drawn opening match, looked formidable at the close of play, sitting at 412 for six.Leicestershire’s situation could not be more contrasting. Fresh from promotion, the side suffered a defeat to Sussex in their opener and, by the second session, appeared short on confidence, ideas and quality. Late‑stage wickets offered a brief spark, but the scoreboard told a different story.A crowd of 4,700 spectators braved a brisk early‑spring day at the Oval. With Surrey’s top six all boasting international caps, the match was inevitably examined for potential England implications. The first surprise came from Leicestershire’s own Josh Hull, who marked the second anniversary of his solitary Test appearance.Now 21, Hull has shed the rawness of his debut against Sri Lanka in September 2024, showing improved pace and reliability. He opened his season with a wicket in his first over, dismissing Dom Sibley lbw, and later produced a short ball that struck Pope’s helmet and an edge from Smith before being pulled after a brief spell.When Hull returned for a fourth spell deep in the final session, Smith repaid the effort with a brutal low‑flying pull for six, pushing his total past 150 runs. The partnership underscored Surrey’s growing dominance as the day progressed.Jamie Smith’s 166 from 240 balls marked his second century in the opening two Championship games, a knock highlighted by a patient start – one run from his first ten balls – before accelerating with a flurry of boundaries.Smith’s innings unfolded with cautious intent: after a modest 28, he unleashed three fours in as many deliveries, eventually reaching 166 before being caught by Ajaz Patel off Ben Green’s 90th over. The innings demonstrated both resilience and flair, cementing his role as a key run‑maker.For Pope, the century arrived after a seven‑month drought without a first‑class fifty and a solitary century against India at Headingley 21 innings earlier. His 24‑run start, achieved on half the balls faced by Smith, quickly turned into a commanding display as he steadied the innings.Both batsmen left the Oval with the confidence of seasoned internationals. A delayed emergence of Dan Lawrence after Pope’s boundary suggested the wicket was never in serious contention. Ben Foakes contributed a steady 62, while Leicestershire, with an average of 226 for the season, will need to conjure more surprises to bridge the gap.

In an era where pop stardom is measured by a patchwork of streaming figures, award nods and high‑profile support slots, Holly Humberstone has built a credible résumé without ever cracking the singles chart. The 26‑year‑old from Lincolnshire has leveraged a Brit Rising Star award, a coveted opening for Taylor Swift, and four million monthly Spotify listeners to cement her place in the contemporary pop landscape.Her second album, ‘Cruel World’, marks a decisive shift from the gothic melancholy that defined her debut, Paint My Bedroom Black. The new record embraces an 80s‑inspired synth‑pop palette brimming with ear‑catching hooks, delivering lyrics that are both earnest and conversational, reminiscent of Swift’s confessional style.Highlights include the sun‑soaked breakup anthem ‘To Love Somebody’, which builds to a stadium‑ready pre‑chorus, and the irresistibly catchy ‘White Noise’, a nostalgic nod to disco that channels the energy of early‑2000s Kylie Minogue. Even the cheeky, self‑aware line on “Drunk Dialling” – “I’m gonna shake my nonexistent ass to this shitty song” – showcases Humberstone’s willingness to blend humor with polished production.The album’s production is consistently confident, featuring a surprising happy‑hardcore breakdown on the closing track “Make It All Better.” Combined with Humberstone’s knack for crafting crowd‑pleasing melodies, these elements suggest she is poised for a long‑term pop career that can thrive in both traditional and modern market models.

The world economy is facing a potential threat of stagflation, a scenario where economic growth stagnates while inflation remains high. This situation can have far-reaching consequences, including reduced purchasing power, increased unemployment, and decreased investor confidence.Stagflation is a challenging economic phenomenon to address, as traditional monetary policy tools may not be effective in combating both stagnant growth and high inflation simultaneously. Economic experts are closely monitoring the situation, and policymakers are likely to face significant challenges in navigating this complex economic landscape.The possibility of stagflation has significant implications for businesses, investors, and individuals, as it can impact everything from consumer spending and investment decisions to the overall stability of financial markets. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential to stay informed and adapt to the changing economic environment.