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Muslim worshippers gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Friday to perform their first communal prayers since the site's reopening. The mosque, a significant religious site for Muslims, had been closed for an undisclosed period.The Friday prayers mark a notable return to normalcy for the Muslim community, allowing them to once again utilize the mosque for their religious practices.

Senegal's Prime Minister has made a bold statement, publicly denouncing Donald Trump as an 'agent of global destabilisation'. This criticism comes at a time when global tensions are high, and the international community is closely watching the actions of major world leaders. The Prime Minister's comments reflect a growing concern about the impact of Trump's policies and actions on global stability. While specific details about the context of these remarks are not provided, they underscore the significant influence that individual leaders can have on international relations. As the world navigates complex geopolitical challenges, statements like these from prominent figures can shape public perception and influence diplomatic discourse. The international community remains vigilant, seeking stability and cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.

During the Jewish festival of Passover, thousands of Israeli settlers converged on natural springs in the occupied West Bank, areas that were previously used by Palestinian communities. Videos circulating on settler chat groups show settlers wading and splashing in the same natural pools where Palestinian children once swam. Their parents barbecued nearby, expressing elation and crediting the 'hilltop youth' – young settlers carrying out systematic violence against Palestinians – for making this possible.The celebrations come as 1,727 Palestinians from 36 communities in the West Bank were displaced in the first three months of 2026 due to settler violence and access restrictions, according to the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This already exceeds the highest annual figure recorded in any of the previous three years.For Palestinians like Haitham al-Zayed, 24, who was forcibly displaced from Shallal al-Auja by Jewish settlers, watching the videos was 'very hard to see' but unsurprising. He described the escalating violence and intimidation his community faced, including armed settlers on all-terrain vehicles funded by the Israeli government, chasing livestock and children, and raiding homes to interrogate or detain residents.Allegra Pacheco, chief of party of the West Bank Protection Consortium, described the videos as more than provocation, potentially evidence of the celebration of the intentional use of violence by Israeli settlers to forcibly displace Palestinians – a serious violation of international law. 'The praising of ethnic cleansing carried out by these settler youth,' she said, 'it’s really showing both the impunity and the lack of accountability we are seeing right now.'The displacement and violence have left many Palestinians, like Muhammad from Hammam al-Maleh, refusing to leave their homes despite the danger. 'I was born here. I was raised here. I am not willing to leave. Even if I die here – I will die happy, because I stayed on my land,' he said.

Argentina's glacier law has been in effect since 2010, and was the first legislation in Latin America to protect glaciers. It has been a point of contention for mining companies and provincial authorities ever since.The law bans 'any activity' that can affect the 'natural condition' of a glacier or the periglacial frozen land surrounding it, or that results in 'its destruction, movement or interferes with its advance'. That includes the construction of infrastructure not for scientific purposes and any industrial activity. Mining companies, including Barrick, have previously sought to have the law deemed unconstitutional, but the supreme court rejected the challenge.However, a recent reform to the glacier law driven by the far-right government of Javier Milei will relax restrictions, paving the way for mines in high-altitude areas blanketed with ice and snow, which are sources of water. The new law, approved on Wednesday by 137 votes to 111, with three abstentions, will enable provincial authorities to decide which glaciers are protected and which are open for development based on whether they represent a 'relevant water function'.Environmentalists and community members such as Zeballos, a 51-year-old accountant turned activist, have long alleged that Veladero, owned by Canada-based Barrick Mining Corporation and China's Shandong Gold, is operating illegally in an area considered off-limits by Argentina's Ley de Glaciares – or glacier law. The reform has sparked a wave of protests, with Greenpeace activists staging a demonstration on the steps of the National Congress.'What is at stake is the protection of key water reserves in Argentina,' says Andrés Nápoli, a lawyer and executive director of the Foundation of Environment and Natural Resources (Farn), an environmental and human rights NGO. 'Saying that you have to destroy glaciers to guarantee the energy transition is an oxymoron.'About 7 million people, 16% of the population in Argentina, live in areas that depend on glaciers, according to environmental organisations. Glaciers don't just feed rivers; they balance fragile ecosystems hit hard by a heating planet. In Argentina's northwest, scientists say they have shrunk by 17% in the past 10 years.

San Francisco‑originated coffee chain Philz Coffee announced a policy shift that will see Pride flags removed from all California locations. CEO Mahesh Sadarangani framed the change as a step toward a "more consistent, inclusive experience" across its stores, emphasizing that the company’s support for the LGBTQIA+ community remains unchanged.The announcement has ignited a rapid consumer backlash. By Friday morning, a petition on Change.org had amassed more than 4,000 signatures, urging Philz to retain the flags that staff and patrons view as symbols of safe, welcoming spaces. Critics argue that the move threatens to alienate a core segment of employees and loyal customers who associate the brand with LGBTQ+ advocacy.Philz operates 17 stores in San Francisco alone, many of which have historically displayed Pride décor and hosted annual fundraisers for LGBTQ+ organizations. The company has not disclosed when the flag removal will take effect, and reports from the San Francisco Chronicle indicate that Pride decorations remain in place at downtown and Castro locations, the latter proudly displaying a sign that reads, "Welcome to the Queerest coffee shop in town. Period."While Philz pledges to continue its allyship through fundraising and other initiatives, the controversy arrives amid a broader national climate of increasing hostility toward LGBTQ+ symbols, exemplified by recent federal actions such as the removal of a Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument.Analysts suggest that the backlash could have tangible financial repercussions. Consumer sentiment surveys show that brand alignment with LGBTQ+ causes can drive patronage, especially in progressive markets like San Francisco. A sustained boycott or negative publicity could erode foot traffic and impact sales, prompting the chain to reassess the timing and communication of its decor policy.For now, Philz remains under pressure to balance its stated commitment to inclusivity with the operational decision to standardize store aesthetics, a dilemma that highlights the delicate interplay between corporate branding and sociopolitical expectations in today’s market.

The play Good Golly Miss Molly! is a joyous tribute to community spirit, set in the 1970s in Tunstall, where residents resisted a council plan to demolish their houses. The show, written by Bob Eaton, uses rock'n'roll standards to tell the story of a community coming together.Eaton's show has taken a hold of the audience, with its insinuatingly woven narrative of social history, pop, and politics. The story revolves around the residents of Hawes Street, who fought against the council's slum clearance programme and successfully argued for home improvements instead.The director cleverly uses music as the glue that binds the community together, telling the story through a band reuniting for a nostalgic knees-up in a social club. The play's protagonist, Molly, played by Shirley Darroch, evolves from a belligerent schoolgirl to a lead singer, NUM staffer, and residents' association chair, finding self-fulfilment along the way.The company's performance is tremendous, with doo-wopping, harmonising, and swapping instruments, making the angst and yearning of the songs a perfect expression of the working-class struggle.While the conflict could be more fully explored, the play gives a joyful sense of the music pulling the audience into the action, providing an exuberant lift to the company's 40th anniversary season.The play is showing at the New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, until 2 May.

Bafta has issued an unreserved apology for the events surrounding John Davidson's Tourette's outburst at this year's ceremony. An independent review found 'weaknesses' in the organization's planning and crisis procedures.Davidson, an executive producer on the Bafta-winning film I Swear, made headlines after involuntarily shouting the N-word during a live broadcast. The incident sparked widespread criticism and concern.The review identified 'structural weaknesses' in Bafta's planning, escalation procedures, and crisis coordination arrangements. Specifically, it noted that the organization did not fully appreciate the risks associated with a live broadcast appearance and lacked a clear operational command structure to respond effectively.Bafta's board accepted the review's conclusions and apologized to the Black community, the disability community, and all members, guests, and viewers. They acknowledged that the incident diminished and overshadowed what was supposed to be a celebratory event.The apology comes after the BBC ruled that its airing of the slur, despite a two-hour tape delay, breached editorial standards. Bafta has committed to addressing the recommended areas of improvement to prevent similar incidents in the future.

While holiday‑makers flocked to Lancashire’s coast for fresh sea air, residents of the former fishing port of Fleetwood were forced to endure a persistent, noxious odor emanating from the reopened Jameson Road landfill.The stench, identified as hydrogen sulphide – a toxic gas with a characteristic rotten‑egg smell – has been linked to the landfill’s re‑activation by recycling firm Transwaste in late 2023 after a five‑year closure.Local authorities report that the Environment Agency (EA) has received more than 20,000 complaints since the site reopened, including 6,000 complaints in the last six weeks alone. In the two‑year period ending January, the EA recorded 74 compliance breaches at the site, a third of which were classified as “significant”.Health impacts are mounting. Residents describe symptoms ranging from retching and vomiting to nosebleeds, headaches, itchy eyes and aggravated respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One resident, retired teacher Donna Davidson, reports that the smell has penetrated her home at night, describing it as “people are getting gassed in their beds”.Children are also affected; Dave McPartlin, headteacher of nearby Flakefleet Primary School, says pupils are refusing to play outside because the odor “lingers” even on sunny days. A family staying in an autism‑friendly caravan described their child’s severe nausea, calling the experience “hell”.Medical professionals are sounding the alarm. Dr. Barbara Kneale, a GP and occupational‑medicine consultant living a mile from the landfill, says the community feels “treated with contempt” by public agencies and is gathering detailed hydrogen sulphide readings to bolster a campaign for permanent closure.Local political pressure is intensifying. MP Lorraine Beavers used parliamentary privilege to label Transwaste “crooks” evading accountability, pledging to fight until the site is shut down. In response, Transwaste denied the allegations, insisting it complies with all regulations and attributing odour issues to the site’s re‑opening process.Wyre Borough Council, the landfill’s landlord, warned that legal action would only proceed if residents provide detailed diaries and allow council officers to witness the odour inside homes.Community activism has grown, with over 100 locals staging a slow march to the landfill, many using walking frames and face masks. Campaigners, including Davidson and Kneale, are also tracking the origins of waste trucks, which have been traced to locations as far as Dover, Dunfermline and Hull.The EA has pledged further enforcement, stating that “the community should not have to tolerate odours that affect their environment” and that it is pressing the operator to install permanent capping to prevent future emissions.As Fleetwood grapples with what residents call an “abomination”, the dispute highlights broader concerns about landfill management, air‑quality standards and the disproportionate impact on deprived communities with already high rates of respiratory illness.

Residents of Sidon are recalling the traumatic experience of Israeli airstrikes that targeted their area, following a recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran. The strikes had caused significant fear and destruction, leaving a lasting impact on the local community. The ceasefire has brought a sense of relief, but the memories of the intense violence and fear for their safety continue to linger among the residents. The incident has underscored the fragile nature of peace in the region and the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.