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Pope Leo XIV has embarked on a significant visit to Cameroon, a country grappling with sectarian conflict. During his three-day trip, he delivered a powerful speech calling for peace, justice, and an end to corruption. The Pope's message resonated with the nation's struggles, as he urged leaders to 'examine our conscience and take a bold leap forward.'The Pope's visit to Cameroon is part of a 10-day tour of Africa, which began in Algeria. His itinerary includes a 'peace meeting' in Bamenda, a city in the northwest that has been engulfed in fighting from separatist forces. In a notable gesture, the separatist forces have announced a three-day pause in hostilities during the Pope's visit.However, the Pope's message of peace and coexistence has not been universally well-received. US President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the Pope, accusing him of being 'weak on crime' and too close to the political left. The Pope has responded diplomatically, stating that he has 'no fear' of the Trump administration and will continue to advocate for peace and criticize war.The Pope's visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers earlier in the week highlighted the importance of tolerance and unity in a world plagued by conflict. He emphasized that despite differences in beliefs and ways of worship, people can 'live together in peace.'

Barcelona’s aspirations for a Champions League title were extinguished for the second consecutive season when they fell 2‑1 to La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid in the quarter‑finals, losing 3‑2 on aggregate.Coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the disappointment, noting that the squad believed it could progress: “It’s tough because everyone really believed that we could make it happen today,” he said after the match.Despite the exit, Flick remains optimistic that the experience will accelerate the development of the club’s young core, which includes teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, midfielder Frenkie de Jong, and forward Pedri. The starting XI’s average age is under 25, positioning Barcelona as one of Europe’s most youthful line‑ups.Defensive frailties were starkly exposed. Barcelona conceded 20 goals in 12 Champions League matches and failed to keep a single clean sheet. In both legs of the tie, defenders were sent off for fouls that led directly to Atletico’s goals – Pau Cubarsi in the first leg and Eric Garcia in the second – highlighting the risks of Flick’s high defensive line.Financial constraints limit the club’s ability to splash on marquee signings. Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski is out of contract at 38, and the future of on‑loan winger Marcus Rashford remains uncertain. Additional questions loom over the contracts of Ferran Torres, Ronald Araujo and defender João Cancelo beyond the summer.Nevertheless, Barcelona’s domestic form remains strong. They sit nine points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga and retain the confidence that a league title is within reach, even as the quest for a sixth Champions League crown continues.De Jong emphasized the positive trajectory: “We’re growing every year. We have a young team, with a lot of talent and a lot of quality that can already compete for every competition.”Looking ahead, Flick hopes that a year of added experience will see Yamal, Pedri and Cubarsi return as battle‑hardened leaders capable of taking Barcelona further in Europe.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, calling for closer and stronger strategic coordination between Beijing and Moscow. The meeting took place in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where Xi emphasized the need to firmly defend their legitimate interests and safeguard the unity of Global South countries.Xi described the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations as particularly precious in an international landscape marked by change and chaos. This comes as the world faces growing fears over the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, which could trigger a global food crisis as critical fertiliser and fuel exports are blocked.Lavrov told a news conference after meeting Xi that Moscow could compensate for China’s energy shortages as shipping through the strait remains choked. China and Russia are not formal military allies but maintain extremely close economic and political ties, with Xi signing a 'no limits' strategic partnership with President Vladimir Putin in 2022.The visit by Lavrov to Beijing this week also included meetings with other leaders, such as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Vietnamese leader To Lam. In talks with Sanchez, Xi warned that the world was facing 'chaos and turmoil' and 'a contest between justice and force', urging closer cooperation.

The US Congress is embroiled in a heated debate over the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a law that grants the US government sweeping powers for warrantless surveillance. The law is set to expire on April 20, and lawmakers are divided over whether to reform it or extend it without changes.A coalition of progressive Democrats and far-right Republicans is pushing for reforms, while others are advocating for an 18-month renewal with no changes, in line with Donald Trump's demands. House GOP leaders delayed a procedural vote on a clean extension of Section 702 after the chamber's rules committee approved the measure, amid dissent from privacy advocates within their own party.Section 702 allows national security agencies to collect and review texts and emails sent to and from foreigners living outside the country without a warrant. If Americans are communicating with a non-American target living abroad, their communications can also be swept in. The law includes a provision that notes it will expire without periodically being reauthorized.Intelligence agencies have argued that a warrant requirement would be too burdensome, while privacy advocates argue that the law has been abused and that a warrant requirement is necessary to protect Americans' rights. The FBI has made 7,413 queries about Americans under Section 702 last year, according to the Department of Justice.The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has expressed concerns about compliance problems with the FBI's querying procedures under Section 702, stating that they have been 'persistent and widespread.' The court's concerns highlight the need for greater oversight and reform of the law.The renewal of Section 702 comes as the Trump administration appears to be widening its surveillance arsenal, with the FBI resuming its purchase of sensitive location data to bypass warrant requirements. Privacy advocates are pushing for a warrant requirement, citing concerns about mass surveillance and the potential for abuse of power.

MPs in the UK have rejected a proposal to ban under-16s from using social media for the second time, as the Prime Minister summoned tech bosses to demand tougher action on internet safety. The House of Commons sided with the government against a Lords amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill that imposed a new age limit on using social media platforms. The vote, which was 256 to 150, a majority of 106, against the change, marks a significant setback for campaigners who have been pushing for greater urgency in tackling online harms. The government is now pushing ahead with its own consultation into an under-16s ban and potential restrictions on social media platforms, which closes next month. The consultation will consider raising the age limit on social media from 13 to 16 and addressing the addictive nature of social media platforms by restricting features such as infinite scrolling. The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is set to meet senior leaders at social media companies, including TikTok, X, YouTube, Snapchat, and Meta, to demand swifter progress on internet safety. Campaigners and bereaved parents have urged the government to take tougher action to protect children online. Esther Ghey, mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, said the government consultation was 'delaying' action against online harms. 'We know that social media is addictive, we know about the things young people are accessing online,' she said. The Molly Rose Foundation, an internet safety charity, said the solution was not a ban but a commitment to strengthening the Online Safety Act. 'It's time to look beyond this false sense of safety and for the Prime Minister to decisively commit to strengthening regulation to make unsafe and addictive design a thing of the past,' said Andy Burrows, MRF's chief executive.

FIFA, the global governing body of football, is under growing pressure to ask U.S. President Donald Trump for a blanket halt to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids during the 2026 World Cup. The request, sourced from anonymous contacts cited by The Athletic, would be presented to FIFA president Gianni Infantino for direct delivery to the White House. According to the report, Infantino is weighing a formal appeal that would seek a "full moratorium on ICE raids across the United States during the World Cup" – a tournament set to kick off on June 11 in eleven host cities spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico. The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown, tightening legal pathways and expanding deportation efforts. Critics warn that such policies could target the tournament’s massive international audience, undermining the event’s reputation as a celebration of global unity. When asked by Al Jazeera about any negotiations with FIFA, the White House declined to comment but praised the upcoming competition, with spokesperson Davis Ingle stating, "Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, right here in the United States of America." He added that the event is expected to generate billions of dollars in economic impact and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Despite the administration’s enthusiastic rhetoric, officials have hinted that immigration agencies could be present at match venues. In February, ICE acting director Todd Lyons told a House committee that the agency would be on the ground for the World Cup, emphasizing that ICE is "a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup" and would not pause operations. Previous incidents have fueled the concern. During last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, reports surfaced of ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers at stadiums, although the administration denied any enforcement actions took place. Vice President JD Vance recently warned that visitors must adhere to visa terms, suggesting that those who overstay could be subject to the authority of then‑Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem, who was dismissed in March, had overseen a controversial crackdown in Minnesota that resulted in two civilian deaths and drew accusations of human‑rights violations. FIFA executives see a potential immigration moratorium as a public‑relations win for both the sport’s governing body and the Trump administration. The proposal is also viewed as an opportunity for Infantino to leverage his personal rapport with Trump – a relationship that has attracted scrutiny after Infantino awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to the president in December, prompting a rights‑group complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee. With the World Cup fast approaching, fans and human‑rights advocates remain uneasy about whether the United States will provide a "safe and welcome" environment for the influx of international visitors.

An overwhelming majority of Israelis oppose the US-Iran ceasefire deal announced last week, with 61% of respondents in a recent poll expressing their disapproval. The poll, conducted by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), also found that 73% of respondents expect fighting with Iran to resume within the next year.The ceasefire deal, which was negotiated without Israel's direct involvement, has been met with skepticism by many Israelis who feel that it does not address the root causes of the conflict with Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised a final showdown with Iran, but the deal has left the Iranian government still standing.The Israeli public's disappointment with the ceasefire deal is reflected in the 69% of respondents who support continued military action in Lebanon, despite talks between the Lebanese and Israeli governments. Israel has continued to attack Lebanon, killing over 300 people in the past week.Analysts say that Netanyahu's problem is that he had oversold the war's objectives, promising regime collapse and the destruction of Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles. However, these goals were unrealistic, and the ceasefire deal has exposed the gap between Netanyahu's rhetoric and the reality on the ground.The opposition to the ceasefire deal is not limited to Netanyahu's critics, with opposition leaders like Yair Lapid also expressing their disappointment. Lapid has accused Netanyahu of turning Israel into a protectorate state that receives instructions from the US on matters of national security.Despite the backlash, Netanyahu has given public support to the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that Israel and the US are in constant coordination. However, analysts say that Israel is unlikely to break with the US while it is leading negotiations with Iran.

The United States is brokering a historic round of direct, high‑level talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, D.C., marking the first bilateral engagement between the two countries since 1993. Lebanese officials aim to secure a ceasefire, whereas Israel’s primary objective is the disarmament of the Iran‑backed Hezbollah militia. Hezbollah’s leadership has publicly dismissed the negotiations as a "futile" ploy, with Secretary‑General Qassem Naim urging the Lebanese government to withdraw from the talks. The group argues that negotiating under fire amounts to a surrender and insists that any disarmament can only occur after a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The talks are scheduled for Tuesday at the U.S. Department of State headquarters, beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (15:00 GMT). Key participants include Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, and State Department Counselor Michael Needham, all acting as facilitators. The U.S. frames the meeting as a necessary response to “Hezbollah’s reckless actions,” emphasizing that "Israel is at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon, so there is no reason the two neighbours should not be talking," a senior State Department official said. Escalating violence has set a grim backdrop: Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed at least 2,080 people, including 165 children and 87 medical workers, and displaced more than 1.2 million residents. Overall, the conflict has claimed over 3,768 Lebanese lives since October 2023. Israel has refused to discuss a ceasefire, insisting instead on a plan to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal. According to Israeli media, the proposal would divide southern Lebanon into three security zones: Zone 1 (0‑8 km from the border) under a long‑term Israeli military presence; Zone 2 (up to the Litani River) where Israeli forces would gradually hand control to the Lebanese army; and Zone 3 (north of the Litani) to be managed solely by the Lebanese army for disarmament purposes. Israeli officials have also floated reinstating a “buffer zone” in the south, a policy abandoned decades ago. Beirut, represented by Culture Minister Ghassan Salame, describes the Washington meeting as a preliminary step to pause hostilities and reassert state authority, while acknowledging Lebanon’s limited leverage. The Lebanese government has previously announced plans to disarm Hezbollah under U.S. pressure, a move Hezbollah denounced as a surrender to Israel and the United States. The broader diplomatic context includes a recent U.S.–Iran ceasefire agreement that nominally covers Lebanon, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected its terms and pushed for direct talks, receiving backing from U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. European leaders, however, have urged that Lebanon be fully incorporated into any ceasefire framework. Hezbollah’s objections are multifaceted: negotiating while under bombardment, lack of national consensus, the demand to disarm its weapons—deemed a “Lebanese internal matter”—and accusations of governmental betrayal. The group has unequivocally stated it will not honor any agreement reached in Washington. Analysts caution that an immediate ceasefire remains unlikely. A U.S. official noted Israel’s focus on disarmament and skepticism about Beirut’s capacity to deliver. Meanwhile, the battle for the strategic southern town of Bint Jbeil is seen as a potential barometer for the talks: if Israeli forces capture the town, they may harden their demands; if Hezbollah holds, it could bolster Lebanon’s negotiating position. For now, Hezbollah remains defiant, with Qassem Naim declaring, "We will not rest, stop or surrender; the battlefield will speak for itself."

Swiss ice‑hockey head coach Patrick Fischer has publicly acknowledged that he travelled to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics using a fabricated COVID‑19 vaccination certificate. In a statement, Fischer described the act as a “serious mistake” and expressed regret for disappointing fans and officials. Fischer explained that he was caught in a personal dilemma, refusing vaccination yet unwilling to let his team miss the Games. "I was in an extraordinary personal crisis because I didn’t want to be vaccinated," he said, adding that he did not want to let his squad down. Swiss public broadcaster SRF presented evidence that Fischer had been fined nearly 39,000 Swiss francs (about $50,000) in 2023 for document forgery after purchasing the counterfeit certificate on social media. The coach disclosed his admission shortly after SRF’s confrontation. Despite the controversy, Fischer remains at the helm of the Swiss national team until after the World Championship scheduled next month, after which he is set to step down. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has stated that it considers the matter closed. Fischer, who has led the team since 2015, is among Switzerland’s most successful hockey coaches, guiding the squad to three Olympic appearances and securing three silver medals at the World Championships. Under his leadership, Switzerland reached the quarterfinals at the 2022 Olympics, a tournament that required strict COVID‑19 testing and saw the NHL abstain due to pandemic concerns. China imposed some of the world’s toughest COVID‑19 protocols for the Beijing Games, mandating vaccination or a three‑week quarantine for all athletes—a rule that Swiss snowboarder Patrizia Kummer chose to follow. The International Olympic Committee has not yet commented on the incident.