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The Football Association (FA) is standing firm in its decision to host the 2035 Women's World Cup final at Wembley Stadium, despite lobbying from Manchester United to have the event held at a rebuilt Old Trafford.Manchester United's chief executive of New Stadium Development, Collette Roche, publicly expressed the club's aspirations to host the 2035 final, but the FA remains committed to staging the showpiece occasion at Wembley.The FA had named Wembley as its preferred venue for the final when submitting its official bid for the tournament to Fifa last November, and this position will not change even if Manchester United succeeds in building a new 100,000-seat stadium before the finals.The ultimate decision on the venue for the final will be taken by Fifa, but it would be a huge surprise if they overruled the wishes of the governing body that is leading the bid. The FA is fronting a joint bid from the home nations to stage the Women's World Cup for the first time in what would be the biggest sporting event ever staged in the UK.The current Old Trafford is one of 22 proposed stadiums in the bid book – 16 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland – but will be replaced by the new stadium if it is built on time. Manchester United are still in the process of securing funding for a project that could cost over £2bn, while the club also needs to purchase land from the haulage company Freightliner.

The UK inflation rate held steady at 3% in February, according to official figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This stability comes before the recent surge in global energy costs triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.The consumer prices index (CPI) remained at the same level as the previous month, in line with economists' expectations. However, it still stands well above the government's 2% target. The annual rate of food inflation saw a slight decrease, driven by drops in prices of olive oil, flour, and pizza. Despite this, the Food and Drink Federation warned that this could be 'the calm before the storm'.The outlook for inflation has significantly shifted since the onset of the Middle East conflict. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route, has sent oil and gas prices soaring. As recently as last month, the Bank of England was forecasting CPI inflation to fall to the 2% target in the second quarter of the year. However, with the current situation, markets now expect the next move in interest rates to be up.Grant Fitzner, the ONS chief economist, noted that the largest upwards driver was the price of clothing, which rose this month but fell a year ago. This was offset by falls in petrol costs, with prices collected before the start of the conflict in the Middle East and subsequent rise in crude oil prices.The ONS also reported that core inflation, which excludes volatile factors including food and fuel, was higher in February than a month earlier, at 3.2%, up from 3.1% in January. Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized the government's plan to protect people from unfair price rises and support those facing higher heating oil costs.

The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has escalated with a series of attacks on Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, and other locations such as Tabriz, Isfahan, and Karaj. These attacks occurred even as US President Donald Trump claimed that Washington was engaged in productive conversations with Tehran to end the war.Iranian media reported that Israeli-US strikes targeted two gas facilities and a pipeline, hours after Trump postponed planned attacks on power infrastructure. The attacks resulted in partial damage to facilities in central Iran, including a gas administration building and a gas pressure regulation station in Isfahan.A leading scholar and professor at a science university in Tehran, Saeed Shamaghdari, was killed alongside his two children in an attack on his residence north of the capital. Iran's English-language news channel Press TV identified Shamaghdari as a teacher at the engineering department of the Iran University of Science and Technology.The head of Iran's emergency service, Jafar Miadfar, reported that 208 children have been killed since the war began on February 28, with 168 of them dying in the US missile strikes on a girls' school in Minab city. Rights groups have called for an investigation into the Minab attack as a potential war crime.More than 1,500 civilians have been killed across Iran, according to the Iranian government. The US-Israel war on Iran has expanded across the Middle East, leading to a spike in oil prices and triggering a global energy crisis.Despite the escalation of violence, Iran's Foreign Minister Abass Araghchi has held calls with several countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, and Oman, in an attempt to open a diplomatic channel. However, senior Iranian officials have denied that Iran is engaged in talks with the US, contradicting Trump's claims of productive conversations.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the need for a negotiated solution to the conflict, warning that the situation is critical for energy supplies and condemning Iran's efforts to block energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

The recent actions of Israel, the United States, and Iran have raised questions about their adherence to international law, prompting scrutiny from the global community. Allegations of violations have sparked concerns about the potential diplomatic repercussions and impact on global stability.The incident has brought attention to the complex relationships between these nations and the importance of upholding international law. International law experts are closely monitoring the situation, analyzing the implications of these actions on the global stage.The United Nations and other international organizations are likely to play a crucial role in addressing these concerns and promoting diplomatic solutions. As the situation unfolds, the international community will be watching closely to ensure that international law is upheld and that stability is maintained in the region.

Iga Swiatek, the world No 3 tennis player, has spoken candidly about her struggles after a difficult defeat at the Miami Open. The Polish player lost to her compatriot Magda Linette in a messy three-set affair, marking one of her most challenging losses in years. In a post-match media session, Swiatek broke down in tears, highlighting the emotional toll of her recent performances. She described her current situation as 'the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have,' struggling to cope with the pressure and weight of her achievements. Swiatek's issues on the court have been compounded by her mental state. Despite being a six-time grand slam title winner and one of the greatest players of her generation, she has been plagued by chronic overthinking, worrying, and second-guessing her decisions. The problems began in the autumn of 2024 after a positive test for the banned substance trimetazidine, which led to a month-long suspension. Although she proved the substance was in a permitted sleep medication, the incident affected her performance. Swiatek's inactivity in the final months of 2024 meant she couldn't regain her No 1 ranking, which has been held by her rival Aryna Sabalenka. In a bid to address her struggles, Swiatek has parted ways with her coach, Wim Fissette. Her partnership with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz has been crucial in her career, but Swiatek may need to take more ownership of her decision-making to move forward. Despite her current challenges, Swiatek remains a formidable player, known for her destructive groundstrokes, heavy topspin, and supreme athleticism. Her mental toughness has been a key factor in her success, but it has also become a source of stress in recent months.

Pakistan's military leadership has been playing a crucial role in attempting to broker negotiations between the US and Iran. The country's army chief, Asim Munir, recently had a call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the conflict. Diplomatic sources indicate that the US and Iran could meet for negotiations in Islamabad as early as this week to discuss an end to the war, which began almost a month ago. While Islamabad has yet to be officially confirmed as the venue, sources suggest that Tehran prefers Islamabad. Pakistani sources mention that US Vice-President JD Vance is being considered as a probable chief negotiator from the US side, rather than Trump's Middle East envoy Witkoff or Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Vance is viewed as a sceptic of the US decision to bomb Iran and has largely kept quiet on the conflict. After the phone call between Trump and Munir, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. According to an official readout of the call, they agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy. Sources suggest that Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is likely to lead any talks from the Iranian side. However, Ghalibaf has dismissed reports of talks between the two sides as 'fake news'. An Iranian diplomatic source confirmed that talks are expected this week but expressed 'zero trust' in Washington. They stated that Iran would not accept Witkoff and Kushner as negotiators for any discussions. Negotiations between the US and Iran were ongoing when the US began its bombing campaign. The Iranian regime views these negotiations as an attempt by the Trump administration to deceive Iran into thinking it wanted a diplomatic solution while planning to attack. On Monday, Trump indicated that he would be willing to halt US strikes, claiming that 'strong talks' were being held between Iranian officials and Witkoff and Kushner. Trump told reporters that they had 'very, very strong talks' and that they had 'major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement'. The US president has given a five-day deadline to an ultimatum he gave over the weekend, threatening to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure if they did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route currently being blockaded by Iran's military. Trump's announcement of talks helped boost markets, bringing oil prices sharply down to below $100 (£75) a barrel, the lowest in days.

Ipswich Town Football Club has insisted it remains an inclusive and diverse organisation after Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, turned a tour of Portman Road into a political campaign event.During his visit on Monday, Farage filmed himself inside the home dressing room, held up a shirt with the No 10 and his name on the back, and suggested he was in the running for the manager's job at the Suffolk club in a promotional video posted online.Farage said that Ipswich, who are third in the Championship table, "are really in contention" to go back into the Premier League. "Let's hope they do it," he said, "but if they don't, I think there's the chance here, and I've had a chat with a few people, of the ­manager's job coming up next season and I'm definitely on the shortlist."The video was immediately criticised by Ipswich supporters, who described it as "shameful", "embarrassing" and "PR suicide for a family club".The club issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon distancing itself from Farage. "Ipswich Town Football Club has, over several years, hosted representatives from a range of political parties. The club remains apolitical and does not support or endorse any individual or party," the statement read."The club will continue to engage with representatives from across the political spectrum as part of its role within the community. Ipswich Town is proud to be an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming organisation that supports all members of the local and wider community. This commitment remains unchanged."It is understood that Farage was not an invited guest at the club. According to reports, the tour was booked without using Reform or Farage's name, and the printed shirt was bought from the club shop and not gifted to the 61-year-old.

The international football break has arrived, and with it, a chance for national teams to play friendly matches against a variety of opponents. The FIFA Series 2026 is a new initiative that brings together teams from different continents in a series of four-team tournaments.Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has stated that the series is 'about unlocking development potential for players, coaches and fans, while promoting football's universality and diversity through meaningful matches'. The series features a range of matches, including Puerto Rico hosting the curtain-raiser against the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa.The tournaments will be held in various locations around the world, including Rwanda, China, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan. Some of the participating teams include England, Brazil, Argentina, and Spain, who will be playing against a range of opponents from different continents.The FIFA Series 2026 aims to strengthen the game at every level and bring local communities to the global stage. As Infantino says, 'By connecting nations through competition, the Fifa Series aims to strengthen the game at every level – bringing local communities to the global stage.'

Mikaela Shiffrin is poised to make history by claiming her sixth overall World Cup title, tying the women's record held by Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Pröll. The American skier dominated the slalom event on Tuesday, securing her ninth win in 10 World Cup starts this season, a remarkable achievement that has placed her on the brink of success.Shiffrin's victory, which came with a substantial margin of 1.32 seconds over Wendy Holdener, earned her 100 points in the overall standings. Meanwhile, Emma Aicher's third-place finish kept her within striking distance, trailing Shiffrin by 85 points with only the season-ending giant slalom race remaining.Shiffrin's impressive performance has been a highlight of the season, with her ninth win in slalom events setting a new single-season record in 60 years on the circuit. Her consistent dominance in slalom has also secured her ninth career slalom season title.The final race on Wednesday presents Aicher with a challenging task: she must win to keep her title hopes alive, while Shiffrin can seal the overall title with a top-15 finish that would earn her at least 16 points. Shiffrin's odds are significantly in her favor, given Aicher's lack of experience in World Cup giant slalom events, where Aicher's best finish is fourth place.Shiffrin's achievements extend beyond her current season; her 110th career race win on Tuesday solidifies her position as the skier with the most World Cup victories, surpassing Ingmar Stenmark's record of 86 wins.“This season has been so exciting, quite like a whirlwind,” Shiffrin reflected. “I’m grateful for it.”