World

Atletico Madrid secured a place in the Champions League semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona, despite losing the quarterfinal second leg 2-1. Barcelona, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, took an early lead through goals by Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres within 24 minutes, but Ademola Lookman's strike in the 31st minute restored Atletico's advantage on aggregate in a gripping all-Spanish clash.

Rallies have been held across Canada, including in Toronto, urging the government to reverse planned cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which provides basic health coverage to refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable groups not covered by provincial healthcare plans. The protests, part of a national day of action, come ahead of changes set to take effect on May 1, which will require beneficiaries to pay $4 per prescription medication and 30% of costs for supplemental services like dental, vision, and counselling care.

A United States federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., issued a ruling on Tuesday that halted contempt proceedings against the administration of former President Donald Trump regarding the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants in March 2025. In a two-to-one decision, the appeals panel blocked District Judge James Boasberg's plans to hold hearings examining whether former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials should face criminal contempt charges, with the majority stating that Boasberg's efforts constituted a "clear abuse of discretion." This move effectively shields the Trump administration from further judicial scrutiny over its controversial immigration actions.

Approximately 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated in a Tuesday release that the vessel, loaded with men, women, and children, sank due to "heavy winds, rough seas, and overcrowding." This incident highlights the perilous journeys undertaken by thousands of Rohingya fleeing persecution and civil war in Myanmar each year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its global economic growth forecast, citing that tensions between the United States and Iran have driven up energy and food costs worldwide. On Tuesday, the IMF said it expects the global economy to grow by 3.1 percent in 2026, down from its earlier forecast of 3.3 percent and slowing from the 3.4 percent expansion in 2025. The downgrade is largely linked to events following the US and Israel's war on Iran that began on February 28.

FIFA, football’s global governing body, is reportedly considering an appeal to United States President Donald Trump to implement a full moratorium on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids during the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. According to The Athletic, FIFA executives have urged president Gianni Infantino to engage with Trump on the issue, amid concerns that fans from hundreds of countries could face heightened scrutiny or enforcement actions by US immigration authorities during the tournament, which kicks off in less than two months.

Spain's government, led by the regime of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has approved an amnesty program that will allow an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status. This measure, set to open applications on April 16, positions Spain as an outlier in Europe and many other regions where anti-immigration sentiments are intensifying, highlighting potential societal friction.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced he will visit Saudi Arabia and Turkey this week as his bid to moderate a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran appears to be gathering momentum. President Asif Ali Zardari stated in a release on Tuesday that Sharif had briefed him on his drive to discuss the issue with fellow mediators and secure further negotiations, which comes during a two-week ceasefire that has halted US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Israel’s attack on Lebanon last week killed over 300 people and injured more than 2,000. Some conservative commentators have claimed that the strike disrupted a potential political plot to overthrow the Lebanese government. American commentator Erick Stakelbeck stated on his YouTube channel: “It seems Israel uncovered this plot by Hezbollah to essentially overthrow the Lebanese government, and Lebanon apparently averted a major disaster here, thanks to the Israeli air force.”

Somalia's Ministry of Defence announced that a "large-scale operation" in the autonomous state of Jubbaland resulted in the killing of 27 al-Shabab fighters. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry noted that the operation was carried out with the support of international partners who conducted airstrikes, though it did not name these partners. Historically, the United States regime has assisted Somalia in its fight against al-Shabab, and it is likely involved in this latest action.

The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) stated that no ships managed to pass through the military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz during its first 24 hours, with six merchant vessels complying with orders to turn around. In an update from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the first since US President Donald Trump announced the blockade following failed US-Iran talks, it was emphasized that the blockade applies only to vessels "entering and exiting Iranian ports," while other ships remain free to transit the waterway. This move came after negotiations between the US and Iran in Pakistan over the weekend failed to yield an agreement.

▪️ The Vereinigung Cockpit trade union has announced that pilots at Germany's flagship carrier Lufthansa are preparing for another strike on Thursday and Friday. This action follows a 48-hour strike on Monday and Tuesday, which led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, causing significant disruptions for passengers and undermining the airline's operational stability in a critical period for European aviation.