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Russian forces have launched deadly strikes on two Ukrainian cities, killing at least four people and wounding over a dozen others. The attacks, which hit Odesa and Kryvyi Rih, damaged residential areas, a maternity hospital, and an industrial site.In Odesa, one person died in hospital from injuries sustained in the strikes, according to Serhiy Lysak, head of the city's military administration. He reported that 11 people were wounded, including a child, and that the strikes caused damage to a maternity hospital roof, high-rise buildings, and homes in several districts.In Kryvyi Rih, two men were killed and two wounded in a morning strike that hit an industrial site, said Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipro regional administration. He reported that fires erupted at the facility.The latest deadly strikes come as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and reach a ceasefire deal remain entangled, dimming hopes of a quick resolution. There are currently no talks underway between Russia and Ukraine.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of lying about US demands, and voiced openness to diverting weapons to Kyiv to support the joint US-Israel attack on Iran. Zelenskyy had claimed that the US is pressing Ukraine to give up the eastern Donbas region to Russia before finalizing any post-war security guarantees to Kyiv.Rubio denied these claims, stating that security guarantees are not going to kick in until there's an end to the war, and that there was no condition attached to giving up territory.

Issa Diop's international debut for Morocco has added a new twist to the ongoing dispute between Senegal and Morocco over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The Fulham defender, born in France, had his application to switch nationality to Morocco approved by FIFA on Thursday and was immediately drafted into the starting lineup for Morocco's 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Madrid on Friday.Diop's switch is seen as a public relations coup for Morocco, who have been actively courting players with links to the country to improve their national team. The 29-year-old, whose father is Senegalese and mother is Moroccan, had previously rejected overtures from both countries to play for them while holding out hope he might represent France.Diop said he was happy to play in a team with good players and thinks he's made a good choice. He had talks with Morocco's new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, and Moroccan Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa, who explained their vision to him and welcomed him with open arms.The dispute between Senegal and Morocco centers around the AFCON final, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. Senegal was subsequently stripped of the title and Morocco declared winners. Senegal has formally contested the decision and referred the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Senegal continues to assert its claim to the title, with the team holding a news conference before a friendly match against Peru, featuring a banner that read 'Champions of Africa'. They are also expected to display the Cup of Nations trophy to supporters before the match.

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, held crucial talks with senior US officials in Washington, DC, as tensions escalate in the Gulf region due to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.The meetings, which included US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary Scott Bessent, focused on strengthening the "close strategic cooperation" between Doha and Washington, particularly in defense partnerships given the current regional challenges.Both sides emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainability of energy supplies and maintaining the flow of liquefied natural gas from Qatar to global markets, supporting global energy security.Vance praised Qatar's active role in promoting regional stability and enhancing global energy security, highlighting the robust strategic partnership between the two nations.The Gulf region has been under heightened tension since February 28, when the US-Israeli war on Iran began, resulting in over 3,000 deaths across the region, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.Iran has since launched drone and missile attacks on Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states, prompting regional leaders to urge Iran to cease these attacks to protect civilians.Earlier this month, Qatar reported that Iranian missile attacks on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, the country's main gas facility, caused "significant damage."The conflict has led to an unprecedented global energy crisis as Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes.On Thursday, Sheikh Mohammed also met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington, focusing on developing defense and security collaboration amid regional challenges.The Qatari Cabinet has condemned Iranian attacks on Qatar and its neighbors, calling for an immediate halt to these actions.

Islamabad has re‑emerged as a pivotal conduit between Washington and Tehran, delivering a U.S. 15‑point cease‑fire proposal on March 25, 2026, as the US‑Israeli campaign against Iran enters its second month. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Pakistan is transmitting the proposal, with Turkey and Egypt offering additional diplomatic backing. Chief US negotiator Steve Witkoff later verified Pakistan’s role as a messenger, and President Donald Trump announced a 10‑day pause on planned strikes against Iranian power plants, citing a request from Tehran. Iran has denied direct talks, yet the pause marks the second deferment of Trump’s original threat, underscoring Pakistan’s function as a key diplomatic facilitator in a high‑stakes conflict. The pattern is not new. In August 1969, President Nixon tasked Pakistan’s military ruler Yahya Khan with opening a channel to Beijing. Two years later, a secret flight carried U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger from Islamabad to China, paving the way for Nixon’s historic 1972 visit and the eventual U.S. recognition of the People’s Republic of China. Analysts note that Pakistan’s unique position—maintaining working ties with both Washington and Beijing—made it the only trusted intermediary capable of handling such a sensitive mission, a view echoed by former ambassador Masood Khan. Beyond the Cold‑War episode, Pakistan has repeatedly leveraged its geography and Muslim‑world connections. It served as the primary conduit for U.S., Saudi and Chinese support to the Afghan mujahideen in the 1980s, helped broker the 1988 Geneva Accords that ended the Soviet occupation, and hosted the 2015 Murree talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. During the 2020 Doha Agreement, Pakistani pressure on the Taliban was cited by U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad as instrumental, though the rapid U.S. withdrawal and subsequent Taliban takeover left Pakistan’s long‑term interests ambiguous. Efforts to mediate Saudi‑Iran tensions have been less fruitful. In 2016, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s shuttle diplomacy failed to produce a formal agreement, and a 2019 outreach by Prime Minister Imran Khan, prompted by President Trump, yielded no concrete outcome. When China facilitated the 2023 Saudi‑Iran rapprochement, Pakistan’s foreign office claimed it had laid the groundwork, but analysts still view the result as a Chinese‑led success. Pakistan’s brief 2005 overture to Israel, led by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, similarly collapsed under domestic opposition, illustrating the limits of its diplomatic reach when internal politics intervene. Since the launch of Operation Epic Fury—the US‑Israeli air campaign that began in late February 2026 and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—Pakistan’s leadership has intensified back‑channel activity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held multiple calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke directly with President Trump. Both officials have also visited Saudi Arabia, where Pakistan signed a mutual defence pact in September 2025. Former ambassador Naghmana Hashmi observes that Pakistan’s diplomatic narrative is often eclipsed by conflict, yet a “quieter, more consistent thread” persists: the state’s effort to turn its strategic location and Muslim‑world ties into a lever for peace. Whether the current cease‑fire talks will yield a durable settlement remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Pakistan enjoys a rare blend of trust from Washington, Tehran and Gulf capitals—a leverage few regional actors possess.

Speculation surrounding Igor Tudor's position at Tottenham Hotspur has led to Sean Dyche being linked as a potential replacement. However, Dyche has quashed these rumors, stating he is not in talks with the club.During an appearance on talkSPORT, Dyche laughed off the speculation, saying he was having a pint in a London pub when someone approached him about potential talks with Spurs. He responded, 'I’m sat next to you having a pint of Guinness, so it’s unlikely – unless you work for Spurs!'Dyche did, however, praise Tottenham as a 'brilliant club' and acknowledged the pitfalls of being asked about potential jobs while being a manager. He mentioned that when you're a manager, you know you'll get asked about potential positions, and you try to be respectful, especially when it comes to a massive club like Tottenham.Tudor is currently dealing with the death of his father Mario, and Spurs are without a fixture until April 12. The team has struggled recently, with five defeats in seven matches under Tudor, placing his job at risk.

Iran has formally responded to the US's proposal to end the nearly month-long war, asserting its 'natural and legal right' over the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported that Iran had sent its official response on Wednesday night and was awaiting a response.The Iranian response appears to contradict US President Donald Trump's claim that Tehran was 'begging to make a deal'. Instead, Iran has laid out conditions that signal a continued hardening of its position, including an end to 'aggressive acts of assassination', compensation and war reparations, measures to ensure 'war does not recur', and an end to hostilities from 'all resistance groups that took part in this battle throughout the region'.US special envoy Steve Witkoff claimed on Thursday that Tehran was seeking an 'off-ramp', with signs that Iran had realised there was no alternative to negotiation. However, the source cited in Tasnim's report slammed the US proposal, claiming that Washington sought to 'deceive the world' by presenting a peaceful image while preparing for 'ground invasion'.Trump posted on Truth Social that he would pause attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure for 10 days until April 6, claiming Tehran requested the move amid 'ongoing' talks that were 'going very well'. He also claimed that Iran was 'begging to make a deal', saying 'We are absolutely obliterating Iran' and that Iranians were 'lousy fighters, but great negotiators'. The economic and humanitarian toll of the conflict continues to mount, with Iran effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz, leading to fuel shortages worldwide.

The recent developments in the conflict between the US and Iran have left global markets reeling. President Donald Trump's threat to attack Iran's civilian power infrastructure led to a surge in oil prices, a plummet in stock futures, and a climb in bond yields. However, the president quickly walked back his statement, announcing that talks with Iran were going well. This move, dubbed 'Taco' (Trump Always Chickens Out), was first seen during the tariffs crisis last year. The immediate market reaction was significant, with bonds and stocks recovering rapidly after Trump's statement. The S&P; 500 stock index jumped 1.5% by 9:30 am in New York, defying earlier futures contracts that signaled a 1% daily decline. However, Iran's response has shown that Trump's tactic may be losing steam. Iranian officials denied the 'productive conversations' Trump claimed had taken place, and launched missile attacks on Israel, Iraq, and other American allies in the Gulf. This has led to renewed market volatility, with oil prices rebounding and stocks giving up their gains. The article suggests that Trump no longer has control of events in Iran and that the conflict's outcome will likely be decided by Tehran. The Iranian regime has little incentive to back down, having already suffered significant losses but still capable of imposing enormous costs on the world by throttling the Strait of Hormuz and depriving the global economy of 12.5 million barrels of oil and 11.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day. As markets continue to react to the situation, it appears that Trump's 'Persian Tacos' may not be enough to calm investor nerves. The S&P; index lost 1.78% on Thursday, closing at a new low for the year, and the price of Brent crude hovered around $108.

Pakistan has confirmed that it is acting as a mediator in ongoing talks between the United States and Iran. This development comes at a time when tensions between the US and Iran have been escalating. The mediation efforts by Pakistan are seen as a crucial step in attempting to ease the strained relations between the two countries.The role of Pakistan in these talks highlights its growing influence in regional diplomacy. Iran and the US have been at odds over various issues, including Iran's nuclear program and its support for certain militant groups. These tensions have had significant implications for the stability of the Middle East.By facilitating dialogue, Pakistan aims to contribute to a reduction in hostilities and promote a more stable environment in the region. The success of these mediation efforts could have far-reaching consequences for international relations and security.

A high-stakes diplomatic effort is underway as a delegation of Russian officials has arrived in the United States for meetings with their American counterparts. This visit, which began on Thursday, marks a significant development in the strained relations between Moscow and Washington, particularly over Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed optimism about the talks, stating, 'We hope that these first tentative steps will, of course, make their contribution to the further revival of our bilateral engagement.' President Vladimir Putin has set the main directives for the trip and will be thoroughly briefed on the meeting.The visit occurs against the backdrop of US-brokered talks to end the war in Ukraine, which are currently in a state of limbo. Despite several rounds of negotiations since US President Joe Biden's administration took office, a deadlock persists, with the Kremlin ruling out compromises to halt its military campaign.Russia, a key ally of Iran, has been accused by Western intelligence officials of supporting the Iranian government as it faces a war launched by the US and Israel. A recent report alleged that Russia was close to completing a shipment of drones to Iran, which Moscow has vehemently denied, calling such claims 'lies being spread by the media.'In a related development, Russia has intensified its military actions in Ukraine, carrying out one of the largest aerial attacks since the start of the war, launching 948 drones in 24 hours. This escalation has prompted Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appeal for air defence munitions from allies, warning of a potential deficit in missiles while Washington focuses on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.