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FIFA's failure to agree on a blanket tax exemption with the US government has left more than half of the World Cup-qualified countries facing additional costs and potential losses. The tax burden will disproportionately affect smaller national associations without a tax treaty with the US.Of the 48 World Cup qualifiers, only 18 countries have signed a double taxation agreement (DTA) with the US, exempting them from federal taxes. These countries are mostly from Europe, with a few exceptions like Australia, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.Smaller countries like Curaçao and Cape Verde, making their tournament debut, will face a larger tax liability compared to teams from countries with DTAs, such as England and France. The US federal corporate tax rate stands at 21%, and higher-rate taxpayers, including international footballers and coaches, face an income tax rate of 37%.“The teams that come from more advanced, sophisticated jurisdictions that have a tax treaty with the US, such as England and Spain, will have much lower costs than smaller countries,” said Oriana Morrison, a tax consultant.The situation is further complicated by varying state taxation levels in the US, with no state tax in Florida, 10.75% in New Jersey, and 13.3% in California. Canada and Mexico have granted tax exemptions to all associations, benefiting teams with group games in those countries.FIFA has declined to comment but sources indicate they are working with national associations to provide help and assistance on tax issues.

The author's poignant essay explores the intricacies of family relationships, particularly the painful silence that can accompany estrangement. Years of strained relations between two sisters ultimately led to a difficult decision: not to inform the estranged sister about their terminally ill sister's condition.The author recounts a meeting with her two sisters, V, who had been living with cancer for 15 years, to discuss her wishes for a peaceful death at home. The absent sister, who lived abroad, was not invited. The author chose not to disclose V's condition to their estranged sister, citing the potential for additional pain.As the author navigated the complex web of family dynamics, she communicated with the estranged sister about their mother's illness, but kept V's condition private. This decision, though made out of love and respect for V's wishes, left the author with a profound sense of sadness.The essay is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges of family estrangement and the difficult choices that can arise during times of loss. The author's reflections on her own experiences serve as a backdrop for a broader discussion on the complexities of human relationships.Circle of Wonders, by Kathryn Heyman, is a novel that likely delves deeper into these themes.

When asked before Arsenal’s win over Everton how the upcoming international break might affect his squad, Mikel Arteta stressed the club’s “good communication” with national team coaches and promised to make “the right decisions” after assessing each player’s condition. That cautious optimism was quickly shattered. Following the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, a cascade of withdrawals began. William Saliba pulled out of France’s squad with a left‑ankle injury, and Jurriën Timber missed the Netherlands call‑up due to a lingering groin problem. Within 24 hours, Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil) and Leandro Trossard (Belgium) also withdrew, while Eberechi Eze was forced out of England duty because of a calf strain that kept him out of the cup final. Captain Martin Ødegaard, still recovering from a previous ankle‑ligament injury sustained on international duty, did not feature in the final and subsequently withdrew from Norway’s squad. Arsenal’s injury list continued to grow on Friday when Noni Maduke (England) and Piero Hincapié (Ecuador) limped out of their respective friendlies. Both are doubtful for the FA Cup clash with Southampton at St Mary’s, though the club hopes they may return sooner. Mid‑week, Martín Zubimendi became the eleventh Arsenal player to pull out of an international roster, citing pain in his left knee. The Spain midfielder has logged more Premier League minutes than any Arsenal player this season, edging out Declan Rice and Jurriën Timber. Despite the setbacks, Viktor Gyökeres showed full commitment to Sweden, scoring a hat‑trick in the play‑off against Ukraine and later netting the decisive goal against Poland. By contrast, Riccardo Calafiori returns to London after Italy’s 120‑minute defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a match that highlighted Italy’s ongoing World Cup qualification woes. Arteta’s dilemma mirrors the challenges faced by Sir Alex Ferguson in the early 2000s, when the Manchester United legend famously limited his players’ international minutes. The modern Arsenal squad, arguably one of the deepest in Premier League history, now faces a delicate balancing act: preserving player fitness while competing on three fronts – the league, the FA Cup, and the Champions League quarter‑final against Sporting Lisbon next week in Portugal. With the club already having contested over 50 matches this season and potentially adding another 15 if they reach both cup finals, the psychological impact of another major‑trophy loss could be significant. Arteta will need his remaining fit players to step up and deliver, or risk seeing the season’s ambitions slip away.

The United States men's national team is gearing up for the World Cup, but their recent friendlies have left fans concerned. Over the past few months, the team has struggled, with more than six months without a win. However, this trend is not unprecedented. In 1994, the USMNT had a dismal run-in to the World Cup, winning just two games in 12 attempts, including a loss to Iceland. Despite these poor results, the 1994 team managed to survive the group stage and narrowly lost to eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16. This precedent may offer some consolation to current fans. The team's coach, Mauricio Pochettino, remains optimistic, stating that he is 'happy about the camp' and believes that 'we are not far away' from achieving their goals. Roberto Martínez, former Belgium manager, warned against reading too much into pre-World Cup results, stating that they are 'quite worthless'. This sentiment is echoed by the USMNT's history of performing well in the World Cup despite poor preparations. In 1950, the team lost their only tune-up game but stunned England 1-0 at the World Cup in Brazil. Similarly, in 2002, the USMNT made a deep run in the tournament despite losing several friendlies. The team's star player, Christian Pulisic, also remains positive, citing 'a lot of positives' from the recent friendlies. The USMNT's history suggests that their pre-tournament form may not be a reliable indicator of their performance. With the World Cup approaching, fans will be hoping that the team can defy their recent form and make a strong showing.

Washington, D.C. – In a historic session, the United States Supreme Court examined the Trump administration’s bid to curtail the long‑standing practice of granting citizenship to anyone born on American soil. The hearing drew a sizable crowd of civil‑rights and immigration advocates who decried the proposal as unconstitutional. Lawyers representing the administration argued that the 14th Amendment has been misread for over a century and that citizenship should be limited to children of parents who are legally domiciled in the United States. They contended that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” permits the exclusion of infants born to undocumented or temporary‑status parents. Opposing counsel from the ACLU and other groups countered that the amendment’s language, reinforced by the 1898 United States v. Wong Kim Ark decision and the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, unequivocally guarantees citizenship regardless of parental status. “The rule was enshrined in the 14th Amendment to keep it out of reach of any official who might try to destroy it,” ACLU attorney Cecillia Wang said. The proceedings were underscored by President Donald Trump’s unprecedented presence in the courtroom, making him the first sitting president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments. Trump left the hearing abruptly, later posting on Truth Social that the United States is “the only country in the world stupid enough to allow ‘birthright’ citizenship.” Protesters such as 21‑year‑old Luis Villaguzman of LULAC expressed personal stakes, noting that the policy would strip benefits from pregnant immigrant mothers and jeopardize their children’s future. “This hits close to home,” he said. Justices probed the administration’s claims, with Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson asking, “Who is domiciled?” while Justice Samuel Alito highlighted the repeated references to “domicile” in the Wong Kim Ark opinion. Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned why Congress had not clarified the citizenship scope in the 1952 statute, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett warned of the logistical chaos the order could create. Legal scholars warned that the executive order could affect roughly 255,000 infants annually, according to a joint analysis by the Migration Policy Institute and Penn State’s Population Research Institute, potentially creating a “self‑perpetuating, multigenerational underclass.” Outside the court, immigration advocates emphasized the broader implications: the measure could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of children, many of Latino heritage, and compound the administration’s aggressive deportation agenda. The Court has not set a date for a final ruling, but the hearing offered a glimpse into the judicial scrutiny the case will face as the nation watches a potential reshaping of a core constitutional right.

India has launched the world's largest census, a monumental task that involves surveying over 1.4 billion people across the country's 28 states and eight union territories. The $1.24 billion exercise, which began on Wednesday, will take place over the next year, with more than three million officials collecting data on household composition, living conditions, and access to basic amenities.The census will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, known as the House Listing and Housing Census, will focus on gathering information on household characteristics, while the second phase will involve population enumeration and socioeconomic details, including caste enumeration for the first time since 1931.The inclusion of caste enumeration has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it will help address social and economic disparities, while others fear it will exacerbate existing divisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government had initially resisted including caste questions, citing concerns about creating further social divisions.The census is crucial for policy planning and resource allocation, as it provides insights into demographic trends, housing conditions, and welfare amenities. However, experts have raised concerns about the delay in conducting the census, which has left significant data gaps and may impact the accuracy of surveys and policy decisions.There are also worries about how the census data will be used, particularly in light of the government's plans to implement a National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which have been criticized for potentially targeting Muslims and other marginalized groups.Despite these concerns, experts argue that the census is essential for understanding India's complex social dynamics and addressing the needs of its diverse population. Dipa Sinha, a development economist, emphasized that the census data will help governments plan policies and citizens claim their rights.The census is expected to conclude by March 31 next year, with the government facing pressure to ensure transparency and credibility in the data collection process.

In the northeastern Indian state of Assam, the redrawing of electoral constituency boundaries has sparked concerns about the erosion of Muslim representation in the state's legislative assembly. The move, which was implemented in 2023, has been criticized as an example of 'gerrymandering' – the manipulation of electoral boundaries to favor a dominant group or party.The changes have resulted in Muslims forming the majority in about 20 of the state's 126 constituencies, down from around 35 previously. This shift is seen as a significant blow to the political representation of Assam's 11 million Muslims, who make up more than 34% of the state's population.Critics argue that the BJP's Hindu majoritarian policies are being implemented in Assam, which could serve as a template for the rest of India. The party has been accused of using techniques such as 'cracking,' 'packing,' and 'stacking' to weaken the electoral influence of Muslims.The delimitation exercise has been defended by the BJP as a means of protecting the political rights of 'indigenous people,' a reference to Assamese-speaking individuals. However, opponents claim that the move is a thinly veiled attempt to reduce the political power of Bengali-speaking Muslims in the state.For many Muslims in Assam, the changes have left them feeling politically emasculated. As Islam Uddin, a retired teacher from Katigorah, put it, 'We have been politically emasculated.' Another Muslim voter, Nabab Mezbahul Alam, described the situation as being like having 'hands, feet, and head to move and see, but [being] muted.'

In the early hours of April 1, 2026, residents living close to Erbil International Airport reported a noticeable disturbance and subsequently inspected the site of a drone‑related impact. The incident left visible damage to airport infrastructure and surrounding property, prompting community members to document the aftermath. While official details remain limited, the presence of debris and scorch marks suggests a low‑altitude drone strike that reached the airport perimeter. Local authorities have yet to release a comprehensive statement, but the event underscores heightened concerns over aerial security in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Security analysts note that such incidents can have broader implications for regional stability and air travel confidence. The immediate response by civilians—inspecting and reporting damage—reflects a growing public awareness of the potential risks associated with unmanned aerial systems in densely populated areas. Further investigations are expected to determine the source of the drone, the extent of the damage, and any necessary measures to reinforce airport defenses.

Cuba's tourism industry, once a pillar of the country's economy, is reeling from the effects of the US oil blockade imposed in January. The blockade has led to a significant decline in visitors, with only 1.6 million tourists visiting the island from January to November last year, a drop from its 2018 peak of 4.8 million.The decline in tourism has had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of Cubans who rely on the industry for their income. Taxi driver Rainier Hernandez, 38, used to work upwards of six hours a day ferrying tourists around Havana, but now he is lucky to get one or two hours of paid work in a day.The economic momentum has sputtered in recent years, a trend accelerated by a recent spike in tensions between the US and Cuba. The blockade has pushed petrol prices up to $12 per litre ($45.36 per gallon) and led the government to cancel nearly all public transport options.Tour guides like Carlos Fariñas, 29, are struggling to make ends meet, with some considering leaving the island in search of better opportunities. 'If there is no tourism, there is no economy,' Fariñas said.The situation has become so dire that some Cubans are worried about losing their homes, as the collapse of the tourism industry could cost them the very roof over their heads. 'I would die of hunger' if I had to wait for tourists to return, said Alejandro Ricardo, 26, who manages an Airbnb in Havana.The US oil blockade has had far-reaching consequences for Cuba's economy, with the country's tourism industry accounting for nearly 12 percent of its GDP at its height in the late 2010s. The blockade has left many Cubans uncertain about their future on the island, as they struggle to afford necessities.