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Taybeh, a small hilltop town in the heart of the West Bank, is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. After increasing attacks from Israeli settlers it now feels itself under siege and is fighting for its very existence.The town’s ancient Greek name was Ephraim where, according to the gospels, Jesus hid with his disciples from the Jewish religious hierarchy, the Sanhedrin, before making his final fateful trip to Jerusalem.A church was built here in the fifth century, and the entirely Christian community survived the crusaders, conquest by Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub or Saladin, the Ottoman empire, the British empire, and three Arab-Israeli wars, but its inhabitants say its long-term future is in question.There are four substantial Israeli settlements around Taybeh, and countless unofficial outposts have also sprung up on the steep hills overlooking the Jordan valley. They have been set up by messianic Jews who send their young people, the “hilltop youth”, to harass and intimidate local Palestinians in the surrounding countryside.The relentless land grabs and intimidation is a pattern repeated up and down the West Bank in a campaign the UN has called ethnic cleansing, which has been driven by hardline members of the ruling coalition, the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, and the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.“First they kicked the Bedouin out in the last three years and put up their caravans and bring their cows and sheep. They are using the land without any permission from the owners and from ourselves,” said Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, the parish priest of Christ the Redeemer church.Over the past year, the pressure has been turned up further. In July last year, settlers set fire to the grounds of the fifth–century Byzantine church, St Peter’s. Since then, bands of hilltop youth have raided the town four times, setting fire to cars, slashing tires and smashing windows.The church, part of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, supports small business ventures to provide jobs and builds affordable housing, but the community is still haemorrhaging. Fifteen families have left in the past two years, leaving the current population at about 1,100.After the attack on St Peter’s church in July, the US ambassador, Mike Huckabee, visited the town to condemn what he called “an act of terror” and to appeal for prosecutions.No prosecutions have been reported, and Huckabee has not spoken out over any of the subsequent attacks on Taybeh. A Southern Baptist minister, the ambassador is a fervent supporter of Israel’s territorial claims to the West Bank and beyond, which he argues are divinely ordained.In the West Bank however, the Christian population has shrunk from 5% of the total population in 1967 to roughly 1% today, about 45,000 people.The fierce religious nationalism that the Israeli government has cultivated in recent years has largely been directed at Palestinian Muslims but there has been a rising tide of anti-Christian incidents.Jad Isaac, the director general of the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem, which tracks the Israeli takeover of land and resources on the West Bank, said: “When Netanyahu says we are the only country which is taking care of the Christians, he’s a liar. He said that in Palestinian Christian communities in the West Bank “the strategy is to make life intolerable”.

Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman has stated that the possibility of alien life is a crucial factor in planning the agency's space missions. In a recent interview with CNN's Meet the Press, Isaacman emphasized that investigating the existence of alien life 'goes to the heart of many things that we do at Nasa.'Isaacman's comments come as Nasa's Artemis mission to circumnavigate the moon is underway, marking the first lunar mission since 1972. The mission aims to explore the moon's far side and could potentially lay the groundwork for a moon base on the south pole, equipped with telescopes to aid in the search for extraterrestrial life.While acknowledging that he has not encountered any aliens during his own space travels, Isaacman expressed optimism about the likelihood of discovering life elsewhere in the universe. 'With 2 trillion galaxies out there, who knows how many star systems within each of them? I would say the odds that we will find something at some point to suggest that we are not alone are pretty high,' he said.The Artemis mission has also faced challenges, including a malfunctioning $30 million toilet on the Orion spacecraft. However, Isaacman assured that the issue has been addressed, and the crew is prepared for any eventuality.

Last week, a coalition of more than 120 Christian leaders sent an open letter—published by The Guardian—to Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge‑fund manager who partly owns GB News. The letter accused the channel of spreading climate misinformation and called for full disclosure of any personal investments in fossil fuels, as well as transparency from GB News presenters and guests. Instead of addressing those transparency demands, Sir Paul replied in a Guardian letter, asserting that the “net‑zero consensus is crumbling.” This claim runs counter to multiple public‑opinion surveys that show a robust majority of Britons still favour decarbonisation efforts. What has shifted, analysts note, is that two of the United Kingdom’s major political parties now oppose a legally binding net‑zero target. Their stance does not appear to reflect public sentiment, prompting observers to question the motives behind the growing anti‑net‑zero rhetoric. Critics warn that as the nation’s reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuels persists, the country edges closer to dangerous climate tipping points while households grapple with soaring energy costs. Rev Dr Darrell Hannah, chair of Operation Noah, described the situation as “curious and disheartening,” suggesting that GB News is intent on preserving an unsustainable status quo. London‑based commentator Judith Russenberger added that Sir Paul and his outlet ignore a wealth of scientific and economic evidence. She emphasized that the planet is heating faster than ever, not merely undergoing a “gradual warming phase,” and that the UK’s high electricity prices stem from a pricing system that ties power costs to the price of gas, rather than the cost of wind or solar generation. These challenges highlight a broader clash between media narratives, political positioning, and the public’s clear appetite for decisive climate action.

In a heartwarming story of turning grief into passion, a German couple, Inka and Ralph Orth, have transformed their sorrow into a thriving patisserie, Patisserie Johanna, named after their daughter Johanna, who tragically passed away in a flood disaster.Johanna, a 22-year-old with a passion for baking, had completed her training as a certified master patissière and was about to open her own shop when her life was cut short in the 2021 Ahr valley flood in western Germany. The disaster claimed over 220 lives, and Johanna's body was found two days later in a parking garage.The Orths, who ran a residence for senior citizens that was destroyed in the flood, were left with unbearable grief. However, Inka found solace in baking, enrolling in a pastry academy and discovering a new passion. She met Marcel Reinhardt, a talented fellow student, and together they formed a business partnership that would become Patisserie Johanna.The patisserie, located in Hamburg's Unesco-listed warehouse district, has become a sensation, with an expanding team and a growing customer base. The shop is adorned with portraits of Johanna, and the couple's daughter is present in every aspect of the business. A lifesize bronze sculpture depicts Johanna with her beloved cat, and the shop's logo features a butterfly, a symbol associated with their daughter's enduring presence.Patisserie Johanna has become a pilgrimage site for parents who have lost children, with many visiting to deposit flowers or simply to connect with the Orths. The couple's story serves as a testament to the power of turning grief into something positive and celebrating the life of their beloved daughter.

The Sydney Kings secured their sixth NBL championship after a dramatic 113‑101 overtime victory over the Adelaide 36ers in the decisive fifth game of the series.In front of a record‑breaking crowd of 18,589 spectators at the Sydney venue on Easter Sunday, Kings guard Kendric Davis delivered a stellar performance, tallying 35 points and 14 assists, which earned him the series MVP honor.Adelaide’s star guard Bryce Cotton matched Davis with 35 points, fueling a fierce duel that defined the series and kept the 36ers within striking distance until the final minutes.The 36ers entered the last quarter of regulation holding a seven‑point lead and appeared poised to capture their first title since 2002. However, Davis sank a crucial basket with 30 seconds left, and Tim Soares’s tip‑in forced a 95‑95 tie with six seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.During the extra period, Davis set the tone by stealing the ball early and adding seven more points, while 36ers forward Nick Rakocevic fouled out after a contested play. The Kings built a decisive 13‑point advantage, highlighted by Makuach Maluach’s emphatic dunk in the final minute.The triumph also marks the first championship for the Kings since legendary coach Brian Goorjian returned to revitalize the club last season, fulfilling expectations after a season highlighted by a record‑breaking 44‑point Game 1 win.For Adelaide, the loss ends a heart‑breaking campaign that saw the 36ers rally from a heavy Game 1 defeat to level the series twice, only to fall short of ending their 24‑year title drought.

Rangers seized a 4-2 win against Dundee United, lifting them to the summit of the Scottish Premiership for the first time in more than two years. Goals from Ryan Naderi, Dujon Sterling, Thelo Aasgaard and substitute Bojan Miovski proved decisive, while Dundee United replied through Amar Fatah and Zac Sapsford. Manager Danny Rohl, who took charge in October when Rangers were 13 points adrift of Hearts, praised his squad’s mindset, urging them to stay "on the front foot" as the season enters its final stretch. With six games remaining, Rangers now lead Hearts on goal difference, though the Jambos can reclaim the lead when they travel to Livingston on Sunday. Celtic, five points behind, face Dundee later the same day. Rohl emphasized that the club must remain "the hunter" despite the newfound top‑spot, insisting that a consistent run of six wins will secure a trophy. He also warned that the upcoming away match at Falkirk will be "very, very difficult" and that the team must take the season "step by step". In a parallel storyline, Hibernian thumped Kilmarnock 3-0 at Easter Road, moving within three points of fourth‑placed Motherwell. Early strikes from Owen Elding and Felix Passlack set the tone, with substitute Ante Suto adding a late goal. Meanwhile, St Mirren secured a 2-0 victory over Aberdeen, with Jonah Ayunga opening the scoring and Alex Gogic heading home the winner, keeping the Dons three points clear of the relegation‑playoff zone. At Fir Park, Falkirk earned a historic top‑six finish by beating Motherwell 3-2. Early header by Barney Stewart set the pace, and despite a volley from Elliot Watt that levelled the match, Falkirk restored their lead before halftime and held on for the win, marking their first top‑half finish in 31 years. These results tighten a fiercely contested title race and underline the volatility of the Scottish top flight as the campaign heads into its decisive phase.

Former Brazilian international Oscar has been forced to retire from professional football at the age of 34 due to cardiac problems, his club São Paulo confirmed on Saturday.The attacking midfielder had to spend five days in hospital after fainting during a routine medical in November, following which he was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope, a condition caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, heart rate, and cerebral blood flow.Oscar, who had a contract set to expire in 2027, expressed his sentiments on retiring, stating, “I am ending a career here in São Paulo that has taken me practically to the four corners of the world,” in a club statement.During his career, Oscar played for prominent clubs including Chelsea and Shanghai Port. With Chelsea, he won two Premier League titles and the Europa League. In China, he secured three Chinese Super League titles with Shanghai.Oscar also had an illustrious international career, earning 48 caps for Brazil, winning the Confederations Cup, and playing in the 2014 World Cup on home soil.

In Lebanon, the war with Israel has severely impacted the traditional funeral process. Normally, the deceased are given a final procession through their hometown before burial. However, due to Israel's expanding ground invasion in south Lebanon, families are being forced to abandon these customs.In Tyre, temporary graves have been established with brief epitaphs marking the deceased. The burials are conducted using a special Islamic rite called wadiaa, which allows for the casket, but not the body, to be exhumed later. This practice is usually reserved for exceptional circumstances like war.Rabih Koubaissi, who oversees burials in Tyre, noted that people have an emotional attachment to burying their loved ones in their ancestral land, reflecting their sense of belonging and heritage. The brutality of war has made it impossible to follow traditional washing and preparation of bodies, sometimes only collecting pieces of bodies for burial.Families face the heartbreaking reality of having to bury their loved ones twice. The Israeli military's plan to occupy areas south of the Litani River indefinitely raises fears that reburials may not be possible for months or even years. This situation has left the deceased with few visitors, as most families have been forced to leave Tyre due to increased attacks.Hecham Reda, a medic, expressed his fear of not being able to rebury his friend Hadi back home, reflecting the anxiety many people from south Lebanon are experiencing. Koubaissi finds it difficult to comfort grieving families, trying to convey sympathy without revealing the harsh realities of the situation.

Mary Beth Hurt died on 28 March 2026 at the age of 79, closing a four‑decade career that blended intellectual cinema with acclaimed stage work. Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, she entered the film world with Woody Allen’s experimental drama Interiors (1978), earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer alongside Christopher Reeve.Although Interiors was a modest critical success, it proved financially profitable, grossing $10 million on a $3 million budget. Hurt’s portrayal of the directionless Joey marked the start of a career defined by thoughtful, understated performances.Her next high‑profile role came as Helen Holm, the college‑professor wife of Robin Williams’s titular character in The World According to Garp (1982). The film’s daring tonal shifts – including a shocking car‑crash scene – earned Oscar nominations for John Lithgow and Glenn Close, while giving Hurt a rare chance to play a fully sexual woman.Early setbacks included losing the lead in Joan Micklin Silver’s Head Over Heels (1979) to Jamie Lee Curtis and a troubled turn in the melodrama A Change of Seasons (1980), which suffered from production turmoil and poor box‑office returns.On stage, Hurt distinguished herself with three Tony nominations: for Pinero’s Trelawny of the ‘Wells’ (1976) opposite a debuting Meryl Streep, for a 1982 revival of Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart, and for Michael Frayn’s Benefactors (1986). She debuted on Broadway in 1974’s revival of William Congreve’s Love For Love opposite Glenn Close.Her personal life intersected with her professional world. She married fellow actor William Hurt in 1971, divorcing in December 1982, and later wed director Paul Schrader in August 1983. Collaborations with Schrader included Light Sleeper (1992), Affliction (1997) and The Walker (2007).Later film work featured a supporting turn in Karen Moncrieff’s feminist thriller The Dead Girl (2006), which earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination, and a cameo in Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence (1993). Her final screen appearance was in the small‑town drama Change in the Air (2018), filmed before a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.Reflecting on her craft, Hurt once said, "I never felt very beautiful or incredibly smart or witty, so I was always looking for something about the role that intrigued me… more fascinating than the gold‑medal moments."She is survived by husband Paul Schrader and their two children, Molly and Sam.