Morning Briefing: March 31, 2024

By Faruk Zorlu

Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including Peruvian police raiding the president’s home in a corruption probe, a car bomb attack in the northern Syrian city of Azaz, and the latest on Israel’s months-long Gaza offensive, including casualties, protests, and calls for a cease-fire.

TOP STORIES

• Peruvian police raid president’s home in corruption probe

Peru's National Police raided the residence of President Dina Boluarte as part of a continuing corruption investigation, according to sources.

Police, accompanied by prosecutors, entered the residence in the capital Lima, reportedly searching for luxury watches that were allegedly not declared.

Officials have yet to provide information on the approximately five-hour search.

• Car bomb kills 4, injures 20 in Syrian northern city of Azaz

At least four people were killed and 20 injured in a car bomb attack that rocked a bustling market in the northern Syrian city of Azaz, according to local sources.

The attack in the heart of Azaz's vibrant marketplace was in an area controlled by opposition forces.

Initial assessments are treating the explosion as a terrorist attack.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Thousands of Jordanians protested near the Israeli Embassy in Amman to show solidarity with the Gaza Strip.
• The Gaza Health Ministry said the Israeli army detained 107 patients in one of the buildings of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in the western Gaza Strip.
• Thousands of people protested across Israel against the current government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding a hostage swap deal with Palestinian group Hamas.
• Egypt, Jordan, and France voiced opposition to any potential Israeli attack on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.
• A hostage crisis in a cafe in the Netherlands ended after all the captives were released.
• The Israeli army bombed the headquarters of the Bureij and Al-Zawaida municipalities in Central Gaza, according to officials in the Gaza Strip.
• At least 82 more Palestinians were killed and 98 injured in the last 24 hours, as Israel continued its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, the territory's Health Ministry said.
• The death toll from Cyclone Gamane in Madagascar rose to 18, according to official figures.
• A flight from Tel Aviv made an unscheduled landing in New York due to high winds and turbulence, with seven passengers suffering minor injuries, officials said.

SPORTS

• Sevilla condemn racist abuse of their player, head coach

Sevilla condemned the racist abuse of their Argentine left-back Marcos Acuna and Spanish head coach Quique Sanchez Flores during their 1-0 win in a Spanish LaLiga match Saturday at Getafe.

"We condemn the racist and xenophobic abuse suffered by Marcos Acuna and our coaching staff during #GetafeSevillaFC," Sevilla wrote on X.

The referee paused the match in the 68th minute due to racist chants allegedly voiced by Getafe fans.

• Borussia Dortmund shock Bayern Munich 2-0 in Der Klassiker for 1st win in Munich in 10 years

Borussia Dortmund stunned Bayern Munich 2-0 on Saturday to take their first Der Klassiker win in Munich in 10 years.

Second in the German Bundesliga table, Bayern Munich, the home team of the Der Klassiker showdown, allowed Bayer Leverkusen to lead by 13 points with seven games to go.

Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen, who have 73 points after beating Hoffenheim 2-1 earlier Saturday, need three wins to secure their maiden German league title, and they are not set to face Bayern Munich in the remainder of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign.