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The conflict between the US and Israel against Iran has entered its 31st day, with overnight strikes hitting Tehran and other cities, targeting power infrastructure in the Iranian capital and causing a blackout that has since been restored. US President Donald Trump has stated that he wants to "take the oil in Iran", while Tehran has accused Washington of plotting a ground attack despite publicly pushing for a negotiated deal. Trump also mentioned that he is "pretty sure" a deal with Iran will be made. In a diplomatic effort, Pakistan is set to host meaningful talks in the coming days, with the Pakistani Foreign Minister stating that regional foreign ministers discussed ways to bring an early end to the war. The conflict has spread to other regions, with Saudi Arabia intercepting five ballistic missiles heading towards its Eastern province, and Kuwait reporting an attack on a service building and electric power plant, resulting in the death of an Indian worker. The economic impact of the conflict is significant, with Brent crude prices rising 2.98% to $115.93 a barrel, and Asian markets experiencing a decline, including Indonesia's main stock index and Malaysia's FTSE Bursa Malaysia Top 100.

The BBC has been accused of creating 'glossy propaganda films' for Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has raised concerns about the corporation's impartiality and potential damage to its reputation.BBC Storyworks, the corporation's commercial arm, has entered into a partnership with PIF to produce a series of films and written articles lauding Saudi Arabia's progressive attitude towards women and eco-friendly credentials. These content pieces are hosted on a mini-site bearing BBC branding, but are not accessible in the UK unless users employ a VPN.Critics argue that this partnership is inappropriate, especially given Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The BBC's reputation as an unbiased news outlet is at risk, according to former Baghdad bureau chief Patrick Howse: 'The BBC's existence depends on its reputation as an unbiased and reliable news outlet that is beholden to no one and pursues the truth without fear or favour.'The partnership comes as the BBC seeks alternative funding sources due to a dwindling number of licence fee payers, with a loss of about £50m in revenue. Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil exporter, is also promoting its green credentials through a BBC Storyworks piece funded by PIF, despite significant investments in fossil fuels.Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have criticized PIF's investments as tools of Saudi soft power and influence, aimed at whitewashing government abuses. They argue that businesses should avoid activities that bolster the reputation of government entities or officials accused of serious abuses.In response, a BBC Studios spokesperson stated that 'BBC News maintains clear separation between its commercial and editorial departments' and that journalists continue to report impartially and without fear or favour.

Egypt's national team director, Ibrahim Hassan, has issued a warning to Mohamed Salah against making a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) when he departs Liverpool at the end of the season. Salah has been with Liverpool for nine successful years, during which he won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.Hassan expressed his preference for Salah to stay in Europe, mentioning potential offers from top clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Italian league clubs. He believes a move to MLS would put Salah out of the spotlight, drawing a comparison with Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023.“I would prefer him to stay in Europe,” Hassan told On Sport. “I have heard about offers from Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league. A move to MLS? He would be far too out of the spotlight. You won’t remember Salah any more than I remember [Lionel] Messi now; I don’t even try to watch him.”As an alternative, Hassan suggested that the Saudi Pro League could be a suitable option for Salah if he chooses not to stay in Europe, citing the presence of big names like Cristiano Ronaldo.Salah is currently sidelined by injury and away from Egypt's training camp as they prepare for the World Cup in North America. Egypt face Spain in a friendly in Barcelona on Tuesday after a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Friday. The seven-times African champions are in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran at the World Cup.

Arsenal manager Thomas Tuchel has defended Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka over their withdrawals from the England squad, citing '100% trust' in their integrity. The players were absent due to discomfort after the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.Rice and Saka reported for training but continued to feel discomfort, prompting them to stand down. Tuchel emphasized that the pair wanted to be involved but were clearly uncomfortable. He understands the optics of multiple Arsenal players being unavailable or withdrawing from international duty but stressed his trust in Rice and Saka's honesty.The withdrawals come amid a busy schedule for Premier League clubs, which Tuchel sees as a threat to England's World Cup hopes due to player fatigue. He noted that scans on Noni Madueke's knee were 'slightly better than his feeling but he will be out for some days'.Jude Bellingham will not play against Japan as he recovers from a hamstring injury, while Jordan Henderson is unlikely to feature after following an individual program.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games have announced that 1 million tickets will be available for $28, with a presale for residents in qualifying areas of Los Angeles and Oklahoma City beginning on April 2. General public ticket sales will start on April 9. According to LA28, roughly 5% of the Olympic tickets will cost over $1,000, while more than 75% of all tickets, including finals, will be under $400 and nearly 50% of all tickets will be under $200. This pricing strategy aims to make the event more accessible to a wider audience. “Tickets are comparable to and in many cases well under what we see for other professional sporting and major entertainment events in the US,” said Allison Katz-Mayfield, LA28’s senior vice-president of Games delivery revenue. This statement highlights the organizers' effort to balance revenue goals with fan affordability. To address ticket security concerns, LA28 has named a group of verified resale platforms, including AXS, Eventim, Ticketmaster, and Sports Illustrated Tickets. The verified multi-platform resale programme will open in 2027, providing fans with multiple points of access to verified tickets. The announcement comes as organisers prepare for the first ticket drop and seek to warn fans against buying from unauthorised sellers. LA28 emphasized that primary tickets will only be sold through its official ticket service providers, AXS and Eventim.

Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening to "obliterate" its power stations and fresh water plants if a peace deal is not reached soon. This comes as the US and Israel's joint war against Iran enters its second month, with Tehran remaining defiant in the face of US peace proposals.The conflict has already had significant repercussions, including a record monthly rise in oil prices and concerns over a potential US ground operation to seize Kharg Island. Trump's threat to destroy civilian infrastructure, such as power and water facilities, has been condemned by human rights groups as a potential war crime.The White House has also suggested that Arab countries may be asked to help foot the bill for the war, adding a new dimension to the conflict. "It's an idea that I know that he has," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.International pressure is mounting, with Spain closing its airspace to US planes involved in the conflict and the UK's prime minister reiterating that "this is not our war and we are not going to get dragged into it". Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has called on Trump to end the war, warning that "no one will be able to stop the war in our region".The conflict threatens to plunge the global economy into recession and trigger shortages of food and pharmaceuticals. The International Monetary Fund has warned that "all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth worldwide" if the conflict continues.

The recent meeting of foreign ministers from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey in Islamabad signals the emergence of a new four-nation bloc in the Middle East. This bloc aims to promote a ceasefire in the region and curb the dominance of Iran and Israel.The group's primary goal is to persuade all sides to stop the escalation and agree to a ceasefire. According to Yasmine Farouk, a Gulf specialist at the International Crisis Group, the group will meet more frequently to achieve this goal.The meeting in Islamabad made some progress, including an Iranian agreement to allow vessels operating under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The group will also act as a primary interlocutor with Iran, keeping indirect negotiating channels open between Tehran and the US.Turkey is seen as the most committed member of the group, with Hakan Fidan, Turkey's foreign minister, and İbrahim Kalın, the director of Turkish intelligence, urging Gulf states to consider the wider context of the war and the risks of encouraging an outcome in which Israel emerges stronger.The bloc's emergence is significant, as it brings together countries with different interests and perspectives on the conflict in the Middle East. The group's success will depend on its ability to navigate these complex relationships and promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Liverpool is optimistic that Mohamed Salah will return from injury in the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on Saturday. The Egypt international has been sidelined with a muscle problem sustained during the Champions League match against Galatasaray.Salah, who announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of the season, was also forced to miss Egypt's friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Spain. However, he has responded well to treatment, and there is confidence he will be involved at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.This potential return comes as Liverpool prepares for a crucial sequence of fixtures that could define their season. Arne Slot's side will be looking to make a strong impression, especially with the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain approaching.In other injury news, Alexander Isak may also be available for the first time since fracturing a leg at Tottenham in December, although his comeback is expected to be more realistic for the Champions League match. The £125m British-record signing is expected to resume team training this week.On the other hand, Alisson, Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper, is still nursing a hamstring injury and remains a major doubt for the trip to Parc des Princes. The 33-year-old has experienced repeated hamstring injuries in recent seasons.Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz has claimed that he has become a stronger player as a result of the problems he encountered after moving to Liverpool. The Germany international joined for a then club-record £116m from Bayer Leverkusen last summer but has struggled to impose himself in the Premier League.

A powerful and unusual weather pattern has unleashed severe thunderstorms across parts of the Middle East, battering countries including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The Arabian peninsula, typically dominated by arid desert climates, received up to 150mm of rain in just a few days.The deluge was caused by an abnormally strong jet stream, which helped a deep area of low pressure to develop north of Saudi Arabia. This, in turn, drew moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean and triggered intense storms.In Oman, hailstones as large as tennis balls fell during Wednesday evening's storms, alongside torrential rain. Doha, Qatar's capital, experienced flooding the same day.Further thunderstorms developed on Thursday evening, with a more organised line crossing the UAE and hitting densely populated areas such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Gusts of up to 80mph, large hail and intense lightning were reported, as heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding.A weather station on Jebel Yanas in northern UAE recorded 244mm of rainfall, with many others exceeding 100mm in just a few days, far surpassing typical annual totals of 60-100mm. The event reflects a broader global trend of storms bringing more intense rainfall as the climate warms.Attention is shifting to the Mediterranean, where a developing low-pressure system south-east of Italy is expected to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms to Greece, Turkey and other countries in south-east Europe this week.