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The recent surge in violence in Palestine has resulted in a significant escalation of tensions, with at least 18 people killed in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. The majority of those killed were victims of Israeli air strikes in Gaza, while a combination of settler and army shootings killed three people in the West Bank.The violence comes as Israel continues to restrict worship at Palestinian holy sites, ostensibly due to the threat of Iranian attacks. The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been closed to Muslim worshippers since late February, with authorities extending the state of emergency until mid-April. Additionally, Israeli forces prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied East Jerusalem to perform Palm Sunday mass.A global backlash, including soft criticism from United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, led to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising “a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days”. In Gaza, the week brought a surge in Israeli air strikes and artillery fire, often targeting police forces – a campaign Israeli officials describe as aimed at degrading Hamas’s control over the territory.However, the prospect of reaching the plan’s promised second stage – when reconstruction can begin – appears remote. Instead, the months-long status quo of repeated Israeli strikes on Palestinians in Gaza continues. At least 705 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the October “ceasefire”, according to the Palestinian state news agency Wafa.Amid heavily restricted aid and stormy weather flooding the tents of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians, humanitarian conditions also continue to deteriorate in Gaza. The Ministry of Health warned on Sunday that fuel and parts shortages for hospital generators threatened to halt medical services entirely.

Qesser Zuhrah, a young pro-Palestine activist from the UK, has been arrested again just weeks after being released on bail. The 21-year-old was taken from her home in Watford, near London, on Monday morning by masked police officers.According to footage shared on social media, Zuhrah was handcuffed and placed into a car destined for prison. Her supporters claim she was arrested due to an Instagram story she posted, which allegedly encouraged people to take 'direct action'.Hertfordshire Police confirmed that a 21-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging a crime and the encouragement of terrorism. However, they did not disclose her identity.Zuhrah is part of a group known as the 'Filton 24', who are alleged to have raided an Elbit Systems UK factory in Filton, near Bristol, on August 6, 2024. The group, Palestine Action, aims to counter Israeli war crimes and British complicity in them by targeting weapons manufacturers.Zuhrah had previously spent 15 months on remand without a conviction before being released in February. During her time in prison, she went on a hunger strike for almost 50 days to protest against the UK's ban on Palestine Action and the conditions in jail, which she described as inhumane.Her supporters argue that her arrest is part of a continuation of active repression targeting pro-Palestine activists in the UK. They also claim that the use of terrorism legislation to police social media posts relating to activism overreaches these powers, raising concerns about freedom of expression and the criminalization of political dissent.

A devastating gang attack near Petite-Riviere in Haiti's Artibonite region has claimed the lives of at least 70 people and injured 30 others, according to the Defenseurs Plus human rights group. This grim toll significantly exceeds official estimates, which put the death count at approximately 16.The violence erupted in the early hours of Sunday and continued into Monday, with gang members storming rural communities around Jean-Denis, setting homes ablaze, and displacing an estimated 6,000 people, as per Defenseurs Plus. The United Nations reported that over 2,000 individuals had fled their homes in the preceding days following nearby raids by armed gangs.The attack is attributed to the Gran Grif gang, with its leader, Luckson Elan, allegedly stating that it was a retaliation for assaults on their base in Savien by a rival armed group. This incident marks another in a series of massacres in the area, largely attributed to Gran Grif, which has been designated as a 'terrorist' organization by the United States.The Artibonite region, a crucial agricultural area, has witnessed some of Haiti's worst violence. Despite increased policing efforts and promises of foreign support for Haiti's security forces, gang conflict has spread beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince. The Haitian National Police has launched an operation to apprehend the fleeing gang members.This surge in violence is part of a larger crisis, with close to 20,000 people killed in Haiti since 2021, according to a recent UN report. The situation has worsened an economic crisis and access to food, with over 1.4 million people, or about 12 percent of Haiti's population, displaced by the conflict with armed gangs.

The city council of Milpitas, a suburb north of San Jose, California, has approved a program to provide free doorbell cameras to residents. The initiative aims to enhance public safety and help police collect video evidence. The program will offer one camera per household on a first-come, first-served basis.City councilmember Evelyn Chua emphasized that public safety is her top priority, and this door camera initiative is about strengthening crime prevention at home. The program is intended to build a stronger connection between the community and law enforcement to help deter crime and protect neighborhoods.Milpitas police plan to share a link for residents to voluntarily upload doorbell footage and organize community events where residents can sign up to participate in the program. The police department will not have access to any residential footage unless it is shared with them.The program has raised concerns about surveillance, with some critics arguing that doorbell cameras, especially Amazon's Ring, help law enforcement surveil neighborhoods. However, the police department has stated that all video received through the program is 100% voluntarily shared by residents.While Milpitas city council members have said the program aims to improve public safety, the city plans to distribute cameras that provide similar or equal capabilities to Ring cameras, but without the need for subscription services.

UConn’s last‑second victory over Duke – a freshman buzzer‑beater by Braylon Mullins – will be replayed for years, but the post‑game scene stole the headlines. Coach Dan Hurley approached referee Roger Ayers and touched the official’s forehead while staring intently at him, an act some social‑media users labeled a “head‑butt.”Ayres later told ESPN the incident was “absolutely nothing,” and officials chose not to assess a technical foul that could have given Duke two free throws with 0.4 seconds left. Hurley later claimed he believed Ayers was trying to “chest‑bump me to celebrate.”This was not Hurley’s first brush with controversy. Earlier in March he was fined for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after confronting an official during a game against Marquette, and he has previously taunted opponents and warned Baylor players after a loss to Florida.While many fans describe Hurley as “passionate” or “fiery,” the episode raised a broader question: would a Black coach receive the same leniency? Tennessee State’s Black head coach Nolan Smith responded to a video of the incident on Instagram, joking, “I’ll never try this. I’ll be coaching in Pelican Bay,” and then noting that a Black coach would likely be labeled out of control or even handcuffed.The concern is not hypothetical. In 2025 Tuskegee coach Benjy Taylor was handcuffed by police while trying to calm a heated situation, an outcome many argue would have been unlikely for a white counterpart. Similarly, veteran white coach Rick Pitino survived a major scandal involving an assistant’s escort‑paying scheme and continues to coach at a high‑profile program, a trajectory that would be far less probable for a Black coach in the same circumstance.These examples illustrate what the author describes as a systemic double standard that extends beyond the basketball court, echoing broader societal patterns of white privilege. The piece juxtaposes the flawless public image demanded of Black leaders like Barack Obama with the comparatively permissive treatment of white figures such as Donald Trump, whose legal and personal controversies have not barred him from the highest office.By linking these disparate cases, the article argues that the rules governing behavior and accountability differ for Black individuals across American institutions, including college sports, and that this disparity continues to shape careers and public perception.

Palantir’s senior UK representative has warned ministers against yielding to ideologically motivated campaigners as they explore the possibility of terminating a £330 million NHS contract for the company’s Federated Data Platform (FDP).The FDP, an AI‑enabled system intended to unify patient information across the health service, is part of a broader portfolio that includes contracts with the Ministry of Defence, several police forces and the UK’s financial regulator.Louis Mosley, executive vice‑chair of Palantir UK, told The Times that abandoning the deal would jeopardise patient care and hinder progress on the NHS’s most pressing challenges. He highlighted that the platform is projected to generate £150 million in benefits by the end of the decade, delivering a £5 return for every pound spent.According to the Financial Times, senior officials have begun informal discussions about activating a break clause that would allow the FDP’s operation to be transferred to an alternative provider once the system becomes fully operational next year.Palantir, a US‑based data‑analytics firm with ties to the Israeli and US militaries and former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts, has faced sustained opposition from the British Medical Association, which has long criticised the use of its technology in patient‑care settings.Health officials acknowledge the reputational risk, noting that the controversy now extends beyond traditional Labour‑left and Green Party critics. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson emphasised that the FDP is designed to improve care coordination, accelerate cancer diagnoses and increase treatment capacity, while maintaining strict data‑security safeguards.Health Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking on the Guardian Politics Weekly podcast, recognised public unease about Palantir’s political affiliations, referencing founder Peter Thiel’s right‑wing connections. He reassured listeners that Palantir does not have direct access to patient data, stating, "The platform is operated by us; Palantir never sees the data."Adoption of Palantir’s technology within the NHS has risen from 118 to 151 organisations since June, though it remains short of the government’s target of 240 organisations by year‑end. Labour backbencher Clive Lewis noted that the issue is becoming a visible concern for voters, reflecting broader anxieties about AI and foreign‑owned infrastructure in critical public services.

Harrods has faced criticism over its decision to close a compensation scheme for survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the luxury department store's former owner Mohamed Al Fayed. The scheme was set up in March last year and was due to close on March 31 this year.Kingsley Hayes, partner at KP Law, which is representing nearly 280 survivors, questioned why the scheme was being closed before Harrods had completed an internal investigation into what happened and who knew about it. Hayes stated that the decision appears to be driven by financial considerations rather than what is fair and appropriate for survivors.The scheme provided an alternative resolution for survivors who did not wish to pursue litigation, offering general damages of up to £200,000 and a work impact payment of up to £150,000 as well as payments for 'wrongful testing' and treatment costs. Harrods said more than 220 people had now engaged with the redress scheme, which it said had been designed in consultation with specialist barristers, survivors and their legal representatives.Harrods' decision to close the scheme has been criticized as 'neither fair nor just', with Hayes calling on Harrods to 'do the honourable thing' and delay the closure of the redress scheme and commit to publishing the findings of its long overdue internal investigation into what happened and who knew. Survivors are being asked to make life-altering decisions without access to the full picture.The Metropolitan police said last year that 111 women had made allegations against Fayed; the youngest is thought to have been 13 at the time. Harrods 'apologises unreservedly' for the sexual abuse survivors suffered and 'wants everyone who is eligible to receive this compensation'. A spokesperson for Harrods said the company 'recognises the remarkable bravery of survivors who come forward and continue to shed further light on this dark chapter to our history'.

Dayton Webber, a quadruple amputee cornhole champion, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after allegedly shooting and killing his friend, Bradrick Wells, in a suburban Washington DC area. Webber's ex-girlfriend, Tori Mattingly, claims he had a 'dark side' and was prone to anger and control during their four-year relationship.Mattingly shared a video with TMZ that allegedly shows Webber shouting at her and demanding she leave his property. She also made allegations of abuse and claimed she was not surprised by the murder charge against him.According to the sheriff's office in Charles county, Maryland, Webber was driving three passengers in his car on the night of March 22 when he began arguing with his front-seat passenger, Wells, and shot him twice in the head. Webber allegedly asked his other passengers to help him remove Wells's body from the car, but they refused and fled the vehicle.Police later found Wells's body in a local yard and tracked Webber down about 150 miles away in Virginia, where he had allegedly sought treatment at a hospital for an unspecified medical issue. Webber faces charges of murder, assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.Despite his disabilities, Webber became a budding wrestler and football player, then became a champion in the sport of cornhole, recording numerous tournament wins in the American Cornhole League (ACL). His former doubles partner, Mike Hoffman, expressed shock and sadness at Webber's arrest, saying 'If the allegations are true, he's made some terrible decisions'.

On Palm Sunday, Israeli police restricted access to Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre, a site considered holy by Christians worldwide. A priest was prevented from entering the site, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.The Holy Sepulchre, located in Jerusalem's Old City, is a key pilgrimage site for Christians, marking the place of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is a significant event in the Christian calendar.The incident has raised concerns about religious freedoms and access to holy sites in Jerusalem, a city considered sacred by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Israeli police's actions have been criticized by some as an infringement on religious rights, while others may view it as a security measure to maintain order in the sensitive area.