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Majdi Aslan, a 54‑year‑old WHO driver, was killed on Monday when Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle carrying World Health Organization staff in eastern Khan Younis. Several other passengers, including a WHO doctor, sustained injuries.The incident occurred near the so‑called yellow line on Salah al‑Din Street, an area that has seen near‑daily Israeli strikes since a fragile ceasefire was brokered in October. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 700 Palestinians have been killed in the renewed wave of violence.According to Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, Israeli forces fired indiscriminately at people and vehicles traveling along the road. A civilian commercial vehicle was followed by a car transporting WHO personnel; the WHO driver was hit in the head and later pronounced dead at Al‑Aqsa Hospital, while roughly seven others were wounded.WHO did not immediately confirm the victim’s employment but issued a statement saying a “critical security incident” had occurred and that medical evacuations from Gaza via the Rafah crossing were suspended with immediate effect. The organization has been coordinating limited patient transfers through Rafah since the crossing reopened earlier this year.The suspension comes as Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid entry and has repeatedly closed the Rafah crossing, especially as the broader U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran draws international focus. The halt threatens the already strained access to life‑saving treatment for thousands of injured Palestinians.Elsewhere on Monday, a Palestinian man with special needs was killed by Israeli soldiers in southern Khan Younis, a drone strike in Gaza City claimed a 36‑year‑old civilian, and two more Palestinians died in drone attacks on the Yarmouk and Shujayea neighborhoods. Hospital sources say eight Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes outside areas under Israeli control since Sunday.

At Augusta National, Justin Rose’s name appears twice on the bronze winner’s list beside the victories of Sergio García (2017) and Rory McIlroy (2025) – both wins coming after playoffs that Rose lost. Only Ben Hogan shares the dubious distinction of losing two Masters playoffs, though Hogan later won the tournament twice outright.Rose’s record also includes a second‑place finish in 2015, four strokes behind Jordan Spieth. The only player with more runner‑up finishes without ever winning is Tom Weiskopf, who was second four times in seven years.Now 45 years old and entering his 21st Masters, Rose cannot predict if he will ever get as close again as he did last year, when McIlroy’s birdie putt on the 18th sealed a one‑stroke playoff defeat.“When you realise you’re that close, you can taste the victory,” Rose says. “I lived it as if I’d won, but without the real positive emotion – I sensed everything.” He acknowledges the mental rehearsal of the “what‑if” scenario while maintaining that he “did everything he could” and can live with the result.Rose explains his mental formula: “You can’t make a major win too important in the moment,” because a career inevitably includes “a little bit of heart‑ache and heartbreak.” He believes that to win, a player must also be prepared to be on the losing side.Despite the setbacks, Rose feels he has already demonstrated the necessary skill set. “I’ve pretty much done what it takes to win. I just haven’t walked over the line,” he asserts, emphasizing that he does not feel the need to change his approach.Recent form offers optimism. Earlier this year Rose set a new course record at Torrey Pines and became the first player in 71 years to win the Farmers Insurance Open wire‑to‑wire. He notes that eight players have captured the Masters after finishing second the previous year, suggesting his odds improve when the field is considered.Rose is also mindful of external narratives. “People are wishing me well and thinking it’s my year,” he admits, adding that he must manage expectations and craft his own story rather than buying into others’ predictions.

Online betting platform Polymarket has come under fire for allowing users to wager on the fate of US pilots shot down in Iran. The platform has since halted the bets and promised to investigate how they were allowed to happen. The controversy began when US Representative Seth Moulton publicly denounced the practice, calling it 'DISGUSTING' that people were betting on the pilots' rescue while search efforts were still underway. Moulton, a veteran of the US Marine Corps, expressed his outrage on social media platform X. The incident involved an F-15E Strike Eagle jet shot down by Iranian military forces, with one pilot rescued within seven hours and the other rescued on Sunday, as announced by Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. Polymarket initially allowed users to bet on the timing of the rescues, with most wagers predicting they would occur by Saturday. However, after Moulton's criticism, the platform quickly removed the market, stating it did not meet their integrity standards and vowed to investigate. Moulton did not stop there, calling on Polymarket to deactivate hundreds of other war-related wagers, accusing the company of having 'severely lacking' integrity standards. He also mentioned that Donald Trump Jr, the president's oldest son, is an investor in Polymarket, which Moulton referred to as a 'dystopian death market'. This incident is not the first time Polymarket has faced scrutiny. In March, some users generated international headlines by sending threatening messages to an Israeli journalist after betting on a missile strike near Jerusalem. The controversy surrounding prediction markets like Polymarket has drawn congressional attention, with lawmakers introducing proposals to ban betting on certain topics, including sports, government actions, and events 'ripe for rigging'. US Senator Chris Murphy stated that such markets risk 'corrupting the soul of America' by turning life-and-death events into financial products.

Chelsea FC Women have advanced to the Women's FA Cup semi-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur Women. The Blues' manager, Sonia Bompastor, expressed relief and pride in her team's performance, despite the grueling schedule they have faced. The match at Kingsmeadow was an intense, end-to-end battle, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Sam Kerr opened the scoring in the 40th minute, heading Keira Walsh's cross past Lize Kop. However, Tottenham responded well, and Eveliina Summanen equalized seven minutes after halftime with a free-kick that floated over the Chelsea defense. The game seemed destined for extra time, but Veerle Buurman's stunning, rising strike with just four minutes of normal time remaining secured the win for Chelsea. This goal sparked wild celebrations among the home fans and Buurman's teammates. Bompastor praised her players' resilience and highlighted the importance of communication with national team coaches to manage the players' workload effectively. With their Women's Super League title hopes all but extinguished and the League Cup already won, Chelsea is now focused on securing a domestic cup double. Tottenham's manager, Martin Ho, was pleased with his team's performance, noting that they showed character and grit despite the defeat. He emphasized that the team can take positives from the match as they look to bounce back in their next game against Manchester United.

The B Corp certification, a coveted ethical status for companies, has undergone its biggest overhaul in 19 years. B Lab, the organisation behind the certification, has raised the standards required to qualify, putting dozens of companies at risk of losing their status. Previously, companies could make up for poor performance in one area by scoring highly in another. However, the new system requires companies to meet 'non-negotiable' standards in every one out of seven categories, with attainment verified by a third-party audit. The overhaul has been partly motivated by changes to EU law that require companies boasting of any ethical standard, including B Corp status, to be rubber-stamped by an external organisation. Sources familiar with the process said that some of the 10,000 companies that have the status will need to improve ethical standards to recertify, which they must do every three years. Analysis by the Guardian of the publicly available B Corp database suggests hundreds are already at, or close to, the 80-point threshold required, even under the old, less onerous system. Of more than 2,000 UK B Corps, more than 60 score exactly 80 points, including the Kent-based digital marketing agency Sleeping Giant Media and VoucherCodes, a website that provides details of discount offers from leading brands. Larger companies will face more extensive requirements under the new standard, including declaring their tax policies and setting science-based emissions targets across all areas of the business. One source said the changes could even affect companies that now score highly, such as the private bank Coutts, which has a score of 107.6 and does not have to recertify until 2028. B Lab UK said: 'Our goal is not for every business to become a B Corp, but for every business to behave like one.'

Utah has enacted a law that effectively shields fossil fuel companies from legal accountability for climate damages. The legislation, signed by Republican Governor Spencer Cox, limits the ability of residents to sue these companies for their role in contributing to climate change. The new law is part of a broader effort by the fossil fuel industry and its allies to secure legal immunity in statehouses and Congress. This push is aimed at countering a wave of litigation filed by states, subnational governments, and individuals who claim that fossil fuel companies knew their products would cause climate damages but sold them anyway. Critics argue that the law prioritizes profits for the biggest polluters over communities already suffering from climate impacts. The law requires challengers to provide 'clear and convincing evidence' that damage or injury has resulted directly from a violation, making it virtually impossible to successfully sue polluters for climate damages. The legislation was sponsored by Republican Representative Carl Albrecht, who has received funding from oil and gas interests. Albrecht's ties to the industry have raised concerns about the bill's motivations. The law closely mirrors a model policy called the Energy Freedom Act, circulated by the conservative group Consumers Defense, which has financial ties to a group linked to Leonard Leo, a key figure in the far-right takeover of the Supreme Court. The passage of Utah's law comes as climate lawsuits against big oil companies are inching closer to trial. Seventy cities, states, and individuals have sued energy majors for allegedly deceiving the public about the climate crisis. New York and Vermont have also passed climate 'superfund' laws requiring major polluters to pay for damages caused by their past planet-heating pollution. Lawmakers and advocates have amassed evidence that oil companies intentionally covered up the climate harms of their products. Climate science continues to warn that fossil fuels are the primary cause of dangerous global warming. Critics argue that the fossil fuel industry is pushing for immunity because it knows it cannot win on the merits of its case.

Two weeks after the United States and Israel entered a direct conflict with Iran, the White House faced mounting criticism that the war would drive up fuel costs and anger voters. Former President Donald Trump attempted to calm concerns on Truth Social, noting that the United States is the world’s largest oil producer and that higher prices translate into higher revenues for American companies. Now, five weeks into the hostilities, the reality is becoming clear: defense contractors and oil companies are the primary beneficiaries of the escalating energy market. The Department of Defense announced that Boeing will partner with Lockheed Martin to triple U.S. production of missile seekers, a move that sent Lockheed Martin’s stock up 25% since the start of the year. The announcement also lifted Boeing’s share price, underscoring how wartime procurement is boosting aerospace valuations. At the same time, Iran’s continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one‑fifth of global oil and gas flows—has pushed U.S. crude from $65 to over $110 per barrel in just a month. Pump prices have mirrored this surge, breaking the $4‑a‑gallon barrier for the first time since 2022. Oil majors have responded with sharp stock gains; ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron have each risen more than 20% year‑to‑date. According to market‑research firm Rystad Energy, U.S. oil producers stand to earn an additional $63 billion as barrels trade above $100. “Oil prices in March have been materially higher than anyone expected, delivering a windfall for the vast majority of U.S. energy companies,” said Leo Mariani, senior analyst at Roth Capital Partners. The last comparable price shock occurred in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when U.S. gasoline peaked at $5 per gallon and inflation surged to 9%. That episode generated $916 billion in global oil‑and‑gas profits, with U.S. firms accounting for $281 billion. Chevron’s subsequent $75 billion stock‑buyback program—seven times its prior year’s amount—illustrates how quickly companies can translate price spikes into shareholder returns. Research by economists Gregor Semieniuk and Isabella Weber revealed that in 2022, 50% of oil‑company profits went to the top 1% of Americans, while the bottom half of the wealth distribution captured just 1% of those gains. Analysts warn that the current conflict could generate even larger windfalls because it has damaged actual production capacity in the Middle East, not merely reshuffled supply. “You’re benefiting a lot more from higher prices than you are from lost production,” Mariani noted, emphasizing the outsized profit potential. Even if hostilities cease, restoring pre‑conflict output in the region may take months, prolonging the supply crunch. As senior fellow Clay Seagle of the Center for Strategic and International Studies explains, the current situation differs from 2022: “Now we’re dealing with a much more severe supply event because the oil has been actually removed from the market.” Prolonged high prices could eventually curb demand, as consumers and businesses seek alternatives—a shift seen after the 1970s oil shocks when the U.S. moved away from oil‑generated electricity. Nonetheless, many sectors remain vulnerable: diesel, a key fuel for trucks and aircraft, has risen 40%, and airline stocks such as United and American have fallen more than 15% since the year began. Moreover, disruptions to liquefied natural gas (LNG) production threaten fertilizer supplies essential for agriculture. Semieniuk cautions that “we’re approaching the kinds of disruption levels we saw in 2022, and with that, the kinds of profits that we saw there. If this takes longer, it’s going to surpass that.”

Progressive candidate Abdul El‑Sayed’s alliance with left‑wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has ignited a sharp rift within Michigan’s tightly contested three‑way Senate race, pitting establishment favorite Mallory McMorrow against a pro‑Israel coalition supporting Rep. Haley Stevens. McMorrow, backed by the Democratic establishment, the Anti‑Defamation League, the Trump administration, and prominent pro‑Israel figures, has condemned Piker as antisemitic and warned that his involvement could alienate voters still reeling from the recent Temple Israel synagogue attack. In contrast, El‑Sayed and Piker announced a joint rally last week, prompting McMorrow’s camp to label the partnership a political liability. Seven Arab American leaders interviewed by the Guardian argue that the attacks on El‑Sayed and Piker are both strategic missteps and moral blunders that repeat the mistakes that cost the Democrats in Michigan in 2024. Michigan houses the nation’s highest per‑capita Arab American population, anchored by a large Lebanese diaspora. The ongoing Israeli assault on southern Lebanon—displacing over 1 million civilians and destroying villages—has hit the community hard, with many families directly affected. "Arabs get the pressure and Israel gets compassion," said James Zogby of the Democratic National Committee, underscoring the perceived double standard. Arab American leaders contend that the Democratic focus on Israel while sidelining Lebanese and Muslim concerns could erode crucial voter support. Data from the 2024 election illustrate the risk: Kamala Harris lost Michigan by roughly 80,000 votes, with some analysts estimating that her pro‑Israel stance cost her an additional 100,000 votes. A Guardian analysis found a 22,000‑vote swing away from Democrats in the three cities with the largest Arab American and Muslim populations. National polling now shows a dramatic shift among Democratic voters: support for Israel’s war in Gaza has fallen to an all‑time low of 8%, while a majority favor an arms embargo on Israel. Piker, who commands a 3‑million‑strong Twitch audience, consistently voices sympathy for Palestinians and calls for an embargo, positioning himself as a bridge to younger, progressive voters. Despite the controversy, El‑Sayed maintains that winning requires dialogue with all constituencies, even those outside the progressive bubble, noting his recent appearance on Fox News. He warned that every dollar spent on what he calls an "illegal, unjustified war in Iran" diverts resources from schools, healthcare, and infrastructure in Michigan. As the 2028 election cycle looms, Arab American leaders caution that the Democratic Party’s handling of the Israel‑Palestine issue in this swing state could have lasting repercussions, potentially reshaping the party’s fortunes in the Midwest.

In England, 1 in 15 adults now hold blue badge parking permits, a significant increase that has raised concerns about the misuse of these permits. The blue badge scheme, which allows people with disabilities or health conditions to park closer to shops and services, has seen a substantial rise in the number of permits issued. According to the latest data from the Department for Transport (DfT), 3.07 million blue badges were held as of March 31 last year, with more than 6% of the estimated 46 million adults in England holding one. This represents a significant increase, with the proportion of adults holding blue badges rising to 1 in 15. The AA has called for councils to crack down on the misuse of blue badge permits, including the use of fake or stolen badges. The organization estimates that up to 1 in 5 badges may be used by someone other than the holder or authorized user. This misuse can include family misuse, use after death, counterfeit badges, and theft and resale of badges. The issue of blue badge misuse has significant financial implications, with the estimated cost of blue badge fraud in the UK being £46m per year in 2011. While there are no recent figures for the cost of blue badge fraud, it is likely that the issue remains a significant concern. In response to the issue, councils have reported prosecutions for blue badge misuse in recent months. For example, Croydon council in south London reported that seven offenders were ordered to pay a total of nearly £6,000 in fines, court costs, and a victim surcharge. Oxfordshire county council also reported two blue badge misuse convictions, including a man caught using his dead grandmother's badge. The Local Government Association has emphasized the importance of residents reporting suspected cases of blue badge misuse to help councils tackle the issue. A DfT spokesperson has also stated that exploitation and abuse of the blue badge scheme is completely unacceptable and a criminal offence, and that local authorities have been given improved powers to crack down on fraud and misuse.