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Israel's parliament has passed a law that makes the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed acts of terrorism by a military court.The legislation, initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who warned it would mark a significant escalation in Israel's penal policy and potentially breach international law.According to the bill, those sentenced to death will be held in a separate facility with no visits except for from authorised personnel, with legal consultations conducted only by video link. Executions will be carried out within 90 days of sentencing.Israel has rarely used the death penalty, applying it only in exceptional cases. The Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was the last person to be executed, in 1962.The measure will allow courts to impose the death penalty without a request from prosecutors and without requiring unanimity, instead permitting a simple majority decision. Military courts in the occupied West Bank will also be empowered to hand down death sentences.For Palestinians under occupation, the bill closes off avenues for appeal or clemency, while prisoners tried inside Israel could have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.The legislation has been condemned by UN experts, the EU's diplomatic service, Amnesty International, and several countries, including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, who expressed 'deep concern' over the legislation.The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the legislation as a breach of international law and a doomed bid meant to intimidate Palestinians.

The Pentagon is gearing up for weeks of limited ground operations in Iran, potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials. These plans, which fall short of a full invasion, may involve special operations and conventional infantry troops.The operations would expose US personnel to Iranian drones and missiles, ground fire, and improvised explosives. The plans have been discussed within the administration over the past month, with objectives under consideration including the seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Gulf.According to officials, the objectives would likely take weeks, not months to complete. The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment, and Iran has yet to respond to the report.The developments come as Pakistan mediates between Washington and Tehran, hosting talks with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran is prepared to respond to any ground attack, stating that the enemy's plans for a ground attack are being met with readiness from Iranian forces.Iran's navy chief, Shahram Irani, also warned that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier would be targeted if it comes within range. The situation remains tense, with Iran posing a credible threat in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which lies between Yemen and Djibouti.

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.

Mexico's Navy and the United States Coast Guard are conducting a search for two missing sailboats that were part of a humanitarian convoy to Cuba. The vessels, which departed from Isla Mujeres in Mexico on March 20, were expected to arrive in Cuba on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. Nine people were on board the two sailboats, which were organised by the Nuesta America Convoy. The convoy has accused the US government of 'strangling' Cuba by cutting off fuel, flights, and critical supplies for survival. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed anxiety about the fate of the boats, stating that Cuba is doing everything possible to search for and rescue those on board. The US Coast Guard initially reported that the boats had been located, but later retracted the statement. Search efforts are currently being led by Cuba and Mexico, but the US Coast Guard has stated that it is prepared to provide support if requested. The convoy comes in response to worsening humanitarian conditions in Cuba, which has largely been cut off from foreign oil supplies since January. The US has imposed an oil blockade on Cuba, which has led to a humanitarian crisis on the island. The blockade was tightened by the Trump administration, which has signalled its desire for regime change in Cuba. Mexico and other countries have increased their humanitarian aid to Cuba amid the crisis, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sending ships laden with supplies. The Nuestra America Convoy initially sent several ships to Cuba last Friday, with one arriving safely in Havana on Tuesday with 14 tonnes of food and medicine.

The US Treasury Department has taken a strong stance against the Financial Times (FT), formally requesting a retraction of a report that suggested Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had discussed increasing oversight of the Federal Reserve in a manner similar to the Bank of England's model. In a detailed email to senior editors at the FT and its parent company, Nikkei Inc., Treasury officials disputed multiple claims in the story, criticizing the headline as misrepresenting the underlying reporting. The FT had reported on March 26 that Bessent had discussed adopting practices similar to the Bank of England, including regular communication between the Fed governor and the US Treasury Secretary over inflation targets. Treasury officials denied that Bessent had endorsed such views or discussed adopting similar practices in Washington. They also took issue with the headline, which stated that Bessent had 'praised' the Bank of England model for tighter oversight, a claim that did not appear in the text of the story. “The Secretary has never made any of the above statements in public or private,” Elliott Hulse, the acting assistant secretary for public affairs, wrote in the email. “At no time has the secretary ‘discussed tightening the US Treasury’s oversight of the Federal Reserve by adopting elements of the Bank of England’s model in a step that would shake up the central bank’s relationship with government.’” The FT responded by stating they were confident in the accuracy of their story, including US Treasury responses in the article. This incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding the Federal Reserve's political independence, especially following Donald Trump's repeated threats to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not reducing borrowing costs as requested. Investors prioritize the Fed's independence in making policy decisions, as political pressure could lead to rapid inflation and subsequent sharp rate increases. The Treasury's actions mark an effort to discredit the FT report, with Bessent himself denying the claims on social media.

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.

Asda's executive chair, Allan Leighton, has urged the UK government to take immediate action to support farmers and ease fuel costs, as the conflict in the Middle East threatens to drive up food prices. Leighton warned that food prices would inevitably rise as a result of the conflict, citing pressure on farmers from higher fertiliser, energy, and fuel costs.While Asda has so far received only a trickle of requests for cost price increases from suppliers, Leighton expects the pace of cost increases to be volatile and vary across different commodities. He also warned of temporary shortages at petrol stations as supplies are squeezed by the conflict, with the average price of unleaded petrol in the UK rising to 150p a litre.Leighton accused the government of benefiting from £3bn of income from fuel duties as prices rise and called on them to ease these duties or support farmers on energy or other costs. He suggested that tax from fuel duty should be redistributed to support farmers in some form.The Asda boss's comments come after Simon Wolfson, CEO of Next, suggested that clothing prices could rise by 4-10% if the conflict in the Middle East extends into the autumn and factories are hit by higher fuel and fabric costs. Daniel Ervér, CEO of H&M;, also warned that a prolonged conflict could have a significant impact on consumer spending and cause inflation.Asda's underlying profits dropped by a third to £764m last year, with non-fuel sales sliding 3.3% to £21bn. However, the company reported its first month of underlying sales growth in stores in almost two years in March, after resolving IT problems linked to a switch away from services provided by its former owner Walmart.

Iran's national football team made a poignant statement before a friendly match against Nigeria in Turkey on Friday. As their anthem played, the players held up school bags and wore black armbands, a powerful gesture of protest against the killing of schoolgirls in a recent US-Israeli strike.The friendly match, held in the resort town of Belek, comes as Iran's participation in the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada hangs in the balance due to the ongoing conflict. The team's actions were a clear reference to the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school, which Tehran claims resulted in the deaths of over 175 people, including children and teachers, on the first day of joint US-Israeli strikes.An Iranian team spokesperson confirmed that "the players are holding the school bags close to their heart in remembrance of the 165 girls the Americans killed in an Iranian school." This dramatic gesture underscores the team's stance on the issue and highlights the human cost of the conflict.The incident has sparked significant controversy, with some members of Iran's women's football team refraining from singing the national anthem during an Asian Cup match earlier this month. State TV in Tehran responded by labeling them "traitors."Iran's football federation had sought to have their national team's World Cup games relocated from the US to Mexico, but this request was rejected by Fifa. The team, which lost Friday's game 2-1 to Nigeria, is set to play Costa Rica in another friendly match in Turkey on Tuesday.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – For over a decade, Sanjeet, a business consultant from India, considered Malaysia his home. Having grown comfortable with the country's climate, people, and lifestyle, he had begun planning long-term investments, including property purchases.However, recent government initiatives to reduce Malaysia's reliance on foreign workers have abruptly disrupted these plans for Sanjeet and thousands of other expatriates. Starting June, minimum salary requirements for foreign workers will increase by up to 100%, while their maximum permitted stay will be limited to five or ten years."What was surprising was that this came out of the blue," Sanjeet, who requested to use a pseudonym, told Al Jazeera. "It does leave room for doubt in terms of long-term plans, which include things like buying a house or car here."Malaysia has long been an attractive destination for foreign labor, with approximately 2.1 million documented foreign workers currently in the country. While many take on manual labor at the minimum wage of 1,700 ringgit ($430) monthly, a smaller but significant pool of around 140 highly-paid expatriates contributes substantially to the economy.In 2024, Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution revealed that these high-salaried expatriates injected about 75 billion ringgit ($19 billion) into the domestic economy annually while contributing approximately 100 million ringgit ($25 million) in taxes.The government's latest five-year national strategy, released in 2025, warns that Malaysia's "continuous reliance" on low-skilled foreign workers has hampered technological adoption and created "ripple effects" in the labor market, including wage distortions and slow productivity growth.To address these concerns, authorities aim to reduce the foreign workforce proportion from 14.1% in 2024 to just 5% by 2035. This ambitious target is supported by new minimum salary requirements that will see thresholds increase from 10,000 to 20,000 ringgit ($2,500 to $5,000), 5,000 to 10,000 ringgit ($1,260 to $2,520), and 3,000 to 5,000 ringgit ($760 to $1,260) for different work permit categories.UK native Thomas Mead, a 28-year-old wealth manager who recently purchased property in Kuala Lumpur, expressed shock at the sudden policy changes. "However, the jump from RM10,000 to RM20,000 was quite a shock," he said, noting that some expatriates are already considering relocation options despite their reluctance to leave.The policy changes are also raising concerns among businesses. Douglas Gan, a Singaporean founder of a venture capital fund with Malaysian portfolio companies, warned that the new rules would drive up costs and make it challenging to recruit specialized talent. "If salaries increase to 10,000 ringgit, companies definitely won't bring them here," he said, advocating for a more tailored approach rather than a "blanket solution."Leonardo, an Indonesian professional working in Malaysia's computer games sector, faces downgrading to a lower employment pass category under the new rules, potentially jeopardizing his plans to bring his mother to live in the country. "My mum is alone and living in Indonesia. There was a thought that if I could settle here, I could bring her over," he said.Economic analysts caution that the success of these policies depends on Malaysia's ability to develop its local workforce. "The long-run gain depends less on blocking expats and more on whether Malaysia can actually supply the skills," said Wan Suhaimie, head of economic research at Kenanga Investment Bank. He emphasized that foreign workers on mid-tier employment passes are not extravagant hires but "core managers, engineers and specialists."Anthony Dass, CEO of FSG Advisory, noted that while the measures align with strengthening the local talent pipeline, their effectiveness will depend on complementary reforms in capability building and industry upgrading.As these policies take shape, expatriates like Sanjeet are already considering alternatives. "If Malaysia pursues these policies without a comprehensive rationale, then people like me will look for alternatives such as Vietnam, Thailand and elsewhere, which have favourable policies for expats," he concluded.