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The Gaza conflict continues to escalate, with devastating consequences for civilians. Since October, 677 Palestinians have been killed and 1,800 injured in Israeli strikes across the territory. The attacks have averaged about 10 per day over the past five months, leaving a trail of destruction and despair.Abed Elrahman Hamdouna, a 31-year-old father of two and volunteer ambulance driver, was killed in a reported drone strike west of Gaza City. His death is a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by healthcare workers in the conflict zone. Hamdouna's family had been worried about him the most during the war, given his role in helping injured people.The Israeli military's actions in Gaza have been widely criticized, with UN experts accusing Israel of 'medicide' and deliberately targeting healthcare workers and facilities. The destruction of Gaza's healthcare system has had a catastrophic impact on the population, with over 1,500 healthcare workers killed in the war.The conflict has also had a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of those affected. Hamza Nabhan, a medical student, described the despair and hopelessness that has become a daily reality for many in Gaza. 'I think about how to wake up, charge my phone, fill my water container. I don’t think about tomorrow.'The international community has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with Amnesty International accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. The organization has called for an end to the violence and for those responsible to be held accountable.

A 90-year-old woman was left without her original phone number for three months after BT told her she needed a temporary number while Openreach carried out broadband work. This caused significant distress and disruption to her daily life, as she relies on her phone to stay in touch with family, friends, and medical professionals.The issue began when the woman was sent home from hospital to die at the end of last year and needed broadband installed so a personal alarm could be fitted. BT provided a temporary phone number, but failed to restore her original number, which is crucial for her hospital appointments and communication with her GP.Despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue, BT was unable to restore her original number for three months, citing "system errors" and "procedural issues". The woman's family had to spend a significant amount of time trying to resolve the issue, which added to their stress and frustration.BT eventually restored the woman's original number and apologized for the inconvenience caused. The company also offered a goodwill gesture to compensate for the distress caused. This incident highlights the importance of reliable customer service, particularly for vulnerable individuals who rely on their phone for essential communication.

Raheem Sterling's much-anticipated move to Feyenoord has yet to yield the desired results, as he struggled to make an impact in the highly anticipated De Klassieker against Ajax. Despite having a chance to attack Ajax's right-back Lucas Rosa, Sterling failed to capitalize, and his performance was marred by a lack of match fitness.The 31-year-old English forward, who joined Feyenoord on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the season, has had a difficult start to life in the Eredivisie. With Feyenoord currently sitting in second place, albeit far behind league leaders PSV Eindhoven, the pressure is on Sterling to deliver results and help the team secure a Champions League spot.Feyenoord's coach, Robin van Persie, acknowledged Sterling's struggles, stating that the player's fitness levels and on-field impact need to improve. Van Persie emphasized the importance of winning matches during this period of Sterling's acclimation, highlighting the need for the team to deliver results.Sterling's performance in De Klassieker was a microcosm of his challenges at Feyenoord so far. Despite showing glimpses of his former self, including a smart first-time ball and some earnest tracking back, he failed to leave a lasting impact on the game. His substitution in the 59th minute was a testament to his underwhelming display.The clock is ticking for Sterling to turn his form around, with Van Persie expressing optimism about the player's potential to improve. However, with only a few months left on his loan deal, Sterling needs to quickly adapt to the Dutch league and prove his worth to Feyenoord and potential suitors.

Irish actor Barry Keoghan, known for his roles in various films and upcoming projects, has candidly shared the negative impact of online abuse on his life. In a recent interview with SiriusXM host Ben Harlum, Keoghan disclosed that the relentless online abuse about his appearance has reached a point where he “doesn’t want to go outside” anymore. Despite having left social media in 2024 to escape the harassment, Keoghan admitted that the abuse continues to affect him significantly. He expressed concern about how this online hate might influence his career and personal life, particularly his role as Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles tetralogy. Keoghan acknowledged that while many fans are supportive, there is a “nasty side” to online interactions. He mentioned that he often finds himself “shying away” from public events and feeling the urge to “hide away” due to the constant abuse and hate. This situation has become so severe that it’s affecting his willingness to continue acting, which could be disappointing to his fans. The actor also expressed worry about the potential impact on his three-year-old son, Brando, who may encounter these negative comments in the future. Keoghan emphasized the need to protect his child from the harsh realities of online abuse. Keoghan has been open about his difficult past, including his time in foster care and his mother’s struggles with drug addiction. Recently, he has been involved in projects such as Netflix’s Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man and The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, where he stars alongside Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, and Joseph Quinn.

Transitioning from the bright lights of the Stade de France to the familiar surroundings of the Crumbie Stand presents a unique mental challenge for international rugby players. For England's Ollie Chessum, however, the return to domestic competition proved fruitful as he delivered another tireless performance in Leicester's 33-19 victory over Bristol.The result not only elevates the Tigers to third place in the Premiership standings but also secured what could prove to be a crucial bonus point when playoff calculations are finalized. Bristol, who had been seeking bonus points of their own, ultimately left empty-handed and remain in fifth place following a match that maintained intensity from start to finish.The significance of this fixture was evident as Chessum and Joe Heyes were asked to immediately return to action following their Six Nations commitments, with Jack van Poortvliet also coming off the bench. This selection strategy proved effective, bolstered by another influential display from fly-half Billy Searle. The final try exemplified the Tigers' growing confidence under pressure.Even head coach Geoff Parling was urging his players to take calculated risks, shouting at Freddie Steward to kick the ball from deep rather than risk turnovers. When his players backed themselves from their own half, the decision paid dividends."I've been trying for a long time to get them to play what they see and that's what they did," Parling stated afterward, while also praising Chessum's contribution. "The Six Nations is physical but there's also an emotional toll. It's always a challenge for those guys when they come back after being away for eight weeks. Ollie was outstanding. He's a big emotional leader for us."Two decisive tries within a three-minute spell midway through the first half proved pivotal. When Leicester enters the "killing zone," they appear increasingly dangerous, as demonstrated by the close-range power of Joaquín Moro and Hanro Liebenberg, which left the Bears, missing rested Ellis Genge and dealing with injuries, with no answer.Bristol, however, proved difficult to contain for extended periods. Their industrious captain Fitz Harding, the league's top tackler this season, rewarded sustained pressure with a try, while Kalaveti Ravouvou continued his habit of scoring against the Tigers, escaping past Steward and Chessum to touch down down the right wing.The Bears' other first-half highlight came from hooker Gabriel Oghre, whose cultured left boot produced a magnificent 45-metre touchfinder from a defensive lineout. Oghre's versatility raises questions about why he isn't discussed more frequently among England's hooker options.While romantic backstories don't typically secure tight victories, the return of Scotland international flanker Hamish Watson on loan from Edinburgh added emotional significance. After 14 years north of the border, the 34-year-old relished the opportunity to run out to the traditional strains of Smoke on the Water at his boyhood club.Bristol continued to press, with Harding burrowing over for his second try, bringing Jimmy Williams' conversion to make it 20-19. Leicester needed to respond, and almost did when Searle launched an attack that might have yielded a spectacular try had Moro held the final pass.Though Izaia Perese soon crossed for Leicester's third try, the Tigers couldn't fully relax until the final moments. Steward's cross-kick initiated a daring raid up the right touchline, culminating in Hamer-Webb's exuberant dive over the line to seal the victory."We wanted to take Leicester out of their comfort zone and we did that at times," lamented Bristol's director of rugby Pat Lam. "We just need to finish more of our opportunities. You have to be at your best to win here and we weren't at our best."With seven regular-season rounds remaining, the stakes continue to rise. Bristol will host Harlequins at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, while Leicester faces Gloucester at Villa Park in the latest edition of the Slater Cup.

Cooper Lutkenhaus, a 17-year-old high school student from Texas, made history on Sunday by winning gold in the 800m at the world indoor athletics championship. He finished with a time of 1min 44.24sec, 0.14 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Eliott Crestan.Lutkenhaus, who turned 17 in December, broke the previous record for youngest champion held by Ethiopian Mohammed Aman, who was 18 years and 61 days when he won gold in the 800m in 2012.“I came into this knowing I probably wasn’t the favourite, but anytime I step into a final, I believe I have a chance to win,” Lutkenhaus said after his victory. He attributed his win to his youth, saying it gave him the confidence to make a defining move on the third lap.Crestan, who led at the halfway point, praised Lutkenhaus's acceleration, saying he is an incredible talent who could emulate the greats of middle distance running, including David Rudisha.Lutkenhaus's gold was Team USA's fifth of the championships, putting them top of the medal table ahead of Great Britain, who won four.

American musician Chappell Roan has responded to criticism from former Chelsea footballer Jorginho after he accused her security guard of being aggressive towards his stepdaughter and wife at a hotel in Brazil.Jorginho, 34, claimed that his 11-year-old stepdaughter was left crying after Roan's security guard spoke to her and his wife in an aggressive manner when they encountered Roan at a hotel in São Paulo. He accused Roan of not appreciating her fans, stating that they had been staying in the same hotel and his stepdaughter had simply smiled at Roan before walking back to her mother.In response, Roan posted a video on Instagram, explaining that she had not instructed her security guard to approach Jorginho's stepdaughter and wife. She expressed sadness over the incident, saying that the stepdaughter "did not deserve that" and emphasized that she values her fans and does not hate children or people who admire her music.The incident sparked online criticism of Roan, including from the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Cavaliere, who suggested that Roan was not welcome to perform at the city's annual Todo Mundo no Rio music festival. This criticism comes after Roan previously spoke out against "entitled" fans and their "creepy" behavior in a series of TikToks.

The decision by CAF to strip Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title has left fans and officials reeling. Senegal won the final 1-0 in extra time, but a controversial walk-off by Senegalese players in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco led to a 3-0 default win for Morocco by a CAF disciplinary panel.Senegalese fans and officials are outraged by the decision, calling it 'unjust and ridiculous'. 'This decision doesn’t give a very good image of African football,' said Alhassan Hann, a 23-year-old Dakar university student. Senegal plans to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.The CAF decision has sparked allegations of corruption and favouritism, with many pointing to the large number of incidents involving Moroccan teams in African football competitions. 'It’s corruption … when you’ve already ‘eaten,’ you have to deliver to satisfy the one who gave you the money,' said Pape Ousmane Ba, a 32-year-old entrepreneur.Senegal’s captain Sadio Mané and his teammates are determined to clear their name and have the trophy returned. 'We won with dignity, we celebrated with dignity … this is sick,' said Ba. Football is won on the pitch. That is where we beat them. Out there, 11 against 11.

Lemi Limbu, a woman with severe intellectual disabilities in Tanzania, has had her conviction and death sentence quashed after spending more than a decade in prison awaiting execution. Limbu, now in her early 30s, was convicted of the murder of her daughter in 2015.On 4 March, a court in Shinyanga, northern Tanzania, declared she can appeal. She will face a retrial, but a date has yet to be set. Lawyers and activists have condemned her sentence, saying she should not be in prison at all. Limbu, who remains incarcerated, is a survivor of brutal and repeated sexual and domestic violence and has the developmental age of a child.Under Tanzanian and international law, Limbu should not be held criminally liable, given her intellectual disability. “She was not supposed to be in prison in the first place,” said Anna Henga, executive director of Legal and Human Rights Centre, a Tanzanian human rights advocacy organisation.At her first trial, Limbu pleaded not guilty. Unable to read or write, she said she did not know the contents of a statement that police claimed she had made admitting to the murder. Her original conviction in 2015 was nullified in 2019 due to procedural errors. In 2022, she was retried and sentenced to death a second time.The court did not allow evidence to be heard from medical professionals about her intellectual disabilities or history of abuse. A clinical psychologist who evaluated her had concluded she had a severe intellectual disability and the developmental age of a 10-year-old child or younger.A coalition of 24 African and international human rights groups last year condemned Limbu’s sentence as part of an appeal to the African court on human and peoples’ rights to look at the plight of women on death row throughout Africa. In Tanzania, the death penalty is the mandatory sentence for murder, although no executions have been carried out since 1995.