World

▪️ Eritrea's participation in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has been thrown into doubt following the disappearance of seven locally-based footballers from the national team. The incident occurred after Eritrea's aggregate 4-1 victory over Eswatini last month, which secured their place in the group-stage qualifiers for the continental tournament. This development threatens to undermine the team's upcoming matches in the qualification process.

▪️ The death of activist Vigario Luis Balanta, whose body was found with signs of extreme violence in a swampy area about 30 kilometers outside Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, at the end of March, has triggered widespread protests and accusations against the country’s military rulers. Witnesses told AFP that the body was “covered in blood,” “wounded all over with a bladed weapon,” and had “two bullet holes in the head.” Balanta, a 35-year-old teacher, was a leading figure in the civil society movement Po di Terra (Dust of the Earth) and a prominent critic of the military leadership that seized power in a coup four months earlier, ousting outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

The Lebanese government has declared a national day of mourning following a wave of Israeli attacks that killed at least 254 people and injured more than 1,165 in a single day. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated he is mobilizing "all of Lebanon's political and diplomatic resources to stop the Israeli killing machine," highlighting the escalation of conflict and the threat of war spreading in the region.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long leveraged his passion for football as a political instrument, both domestically and internationally. Despite polls predicting potential election defeat, Orbán continues to consolidate power through sport. The pre-election rally addressed by JD Vance in Budapest was held at the Groupama Arena, home to Hungary's most successful club Ferencvaros, which opened in 2014 after Fidesz MP Gabor Kubatov became the club's president.

Iran has commenced a series of nationwide mourning ceremonies marking the 40th day since the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The memorial program, organized by the Coordination Council for Islamic Propagation, will continue until April 10.

U.S. President Donald Trump launched a sharp critique of NATO allies following a closed-door meeting with Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, posting on social media that "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again." This came after the U.S. and Israel conducted attacks on Iran, with NATO members not actively participating, highlighting deepening fissures within the transatlantic alliance.

Uzbek chess grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov commented in an interview with Chess24 on his game in the ninth round of the Candidates Tournament in Canada against German grandmaster Matthias Bluebaum, where he missed a winning variation. According to Sindarov, his decision was influenced by the tournament standings and a desire to play more reliably. He noted that at the start of the tournament, he could have shown more courage.

Jasveen Sangha, known as the 'Ketamine Queen', has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in supplying illegal drugs that contributed to the death of actor Matthew Perry. Sangha, 42, appeared in court on Wednesday, expressing regret for her actions and stating, "I take full responsibility for my actions. These were horrible choices that ultimately proved tragic."

Prosecutors in Florida are planning to issue a subpoena to obtain copies of all prescription medication records for legendary golfer Tiger Woods from Lewis Pharmacy in Palm Beach, Florida, from the start of the year through the end of last month, a week after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a vehicle crash. According to documents in an online court docket, prosecutors in Martin County want details including the times prescriptions were filled, the number of pills, dosage amounts, and any instructions such as warnings about driving while taking the medication.

▪️ US Vice President JD Vance, departing from Hungary, warned Iran that it would be "dumb" to jeopardize a two-week ceasefire with Washington over Israel's attacks in Lebanon. Vance emphasized that the truce agreement does not include Lebanon, stating, "If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart – in a conflict where they were getting hammered – over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that's ultimately their choice."

United States President Donald Trump has purportedly announced immediate 50% tariffs on all goods imported from countries supplying military weapons to Iran. This threat was made via social media just hours after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire with Tehran, though Trump did not specify which legal authority he would invoke to impose such tariffs.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) delivered a commanding 2-0 victory against Liverpool in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. The match, held in Paris, saw the home side take a significant step in their title defence, showcasing superiority on the pitch with a performance that left Liverpool struggling to respond.