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Atlético Madrid pulled off a remarkable 2-0 victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou, dealing a significant blow to the home team's Champions League aspirations. The match's turning point came just before halftime when Barcelona's Pau Cubarsí received a red card for tripping Giuliano Simeone, and Julián Alvarez curled in a spectacular free-kick from the resulting spot, giving Atlético a crucial lead.The visitors doubled their advantage in the second half through Alexander Sørloth's header, which was set up by a beautifully worked move initiated by Antoine Griezmann. Despite being a man down, Barcelona pressed hard for a goal but were thwarted by Atlético's defense and the impressive form of goalkeeper Juan Musso.This win puts Atlético in a strong position ahead of the second leg at the Metropolitano, where they will look to secure a spot in the Champions League semifinals. For Barcelona, the defeat leaves them with a difficult task to overturn the deficit in six days' time.

The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to target Palestinians has sparked widespread concern. This technology, increasingly being utilized in various sectors, has been reportedly used to enhance surveillance and monitoring capabilities. Sources indicate that AI-powered tools are being employed to gather and analyze data on individuals and communities within Palestine. This has led to fears about the potential for biased and discriminatory outcomes, exacerbating existing tensions and human rights issues. Critics argue that the use of AI in this context undermines privacy and freedom, potentially leading to a disproportionate impact on Palestinian communities. The integration of AI into surveillance systems raises questions about accountability and transparency in the use of such technologies. As AI continues to evolve and become more pervasive, the need for robust regulations and safeguards to protect human rights has become increasingly apparent. The situation highlights the importance of ensuring that technological advancements are developed and implemented in a manner that respects and upholds universal human rights standards.

Who: FC Barcelona vs. Atletico MadridWhat: UEFA Champions League quarter‑final, first legWhere: Camp Nou, Barcelona, SpainWhen: Wednesday, 21:00 CET (19:00 GMT)How to follow: Live text commentary starts at 16:00 GMT on Al Jazeera Sport. The Spanish giants are set to clash again after a grueling schedule that has seen them meet five times in just two months, including three matches within a ten‑day span. Barcelona entered the encounter fresh from a dramatic 2‑1 victory over Atletico in La Liga on Saturday, a win that pushed them seven points clear at the top of the table. Robert Lewandowski netted a late winner after Marcus Rashford had equalised, while Atletico midfielder Nico González received a second yellow card just before halftime, leaving the visitors with ten men. With the league title largely secured, Diego Simeone opted to rotate his squad for Wednesday’s match, focusing his energy on the European tie. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick echoed the sentiment, noting that players typically give “5‑10 % more” in Champions League fixtures. Both managers highlighted the importance of the upcoming game. Flick described the fixture as “very difficult” and urged his side to take it “step by step, match by match.” Midfielder Dani Olmo called the tie “all or nothing,” stressing the need to avoid a repeat of their recent Copa del Rey disappointment. Simeone praised Barcelona as “the best attacking team in Europe,” while Atletico forward Ademola Lookman warned that the clash would be “special” and demanded thorough preparation. How the clubs reached the quarter‑finals Barcelona earned their spot with a commanding 7‑2 aggregate win over Newcastle United, highlighted by a fourth‑minute strike from Raphinha and a second‑half surge that saw Lewandowski score a brace. Atletico advanced after a 7‑5 aggregate triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, despite a 3‑2 loss in the second leg. Their early dominance in the first leg, a 5‑2 home win, set the foundation for progression. Head‑to‑head snapshot Across 250 meetings, Barcelona have claimed 115 victories, Atletico 78, with 57 draws. The most recent ten encounters feature a mix of league and cup results, the latest being Barcelona’s 2‑1 La Liga win on Saturday. Team news and predicted line‑ups Barcelona injuries: Raphinha, Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen are sidelined. Ronald Araujo is expected to start after missing the weekend match. Predicted XI: Joan Garcia; Koundé, Cubarsi, Martín, Cancelo; Eric Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Lewandowski. Atletico injuries: Pablo Barrios out with a thigh problem; José Giménez and Johnny Cardoso are doubtful. Jan Oblak, Marc Pubil and Rodrigo Mendoza have returned to training and could feature. Predicted XI: Jan Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Baena; Simeone, Griezmann, Lookman; Álvarez. The stage is set for a high‑stakes European duel, with both sides eager to translate domestic form into continental success.

Amid growing international focus on the Iran‑Israel conflict, Israel is pressing ahead with a systematic annexation of the West Bank, centred on the contentious E1 settlement project. The plan envisions the construction of 3,400 new homes on Palestinian land, a move designed to split the territory and undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly condemned the annexation drive, labeling the E1 scheme illegal. Although the war in Iran and Israel’s military actions in southern Lebanon have delayed the release of construction tenders, officials confirm that the tenders will be issued on 1 June. Criticism from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy has so far failed to deter the Israeli government, which appears accustomed to rhetorical rebukes without concrete repercussions. As former EU officials note, the Union has yet to leverage its economic and diplomatic weight to stop the settlement expansion. The British Prime Minister has reaffirmed the stance of the International Court of Justice, declaring the 1967 occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank unlawful. This follows the United Kingdom’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine last year, alongside France, Canada and Australia. Given its historic ties and recent diplomatic recognitions, the UK is uniquely positioned to galvanise European and Commonwealth partners. Experts propose a three‑pronged approach: first, issue a clear warning that any contractor involved in designing, building or financing the E1 settlement jeopardises its commercial interests with the UK; second, impose a comprehensive ban on UK trade in goods, services and investment linked to the settlements; and third, suspend the trade concessions granted under the UK‑Israel trade and partnership agreement for breaching its human‑rights provisions. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urged to embed these measures within a broader strategy to strengthen European cooperation, champion equal rights, and secure mutual security for Israelis and Palestinians. Without enforceable consequences, the illegal settlement programme is likely to expand, heightening the risk of further violence. Vincent Fean – former consul‑general in JerusalemDavid Hannay – former UN ambassadorAnn Grant – former high commissioner to South AfricaEmyr Jones Parry – former UN ambassadorDavid Manning – former US ambassadorDavid Richmond – former FCO director generalPeter Westmacott – former US ambassadorJeremy Greenstock – former UN ambassadorFrances Guy – former Lebanon ambassadorPeter Millett – former Jordan ambassadorDerek Plumbly – former Egypt ambassadorEdward Clay – former Kenya high commissionerTony Brenton – former Russia ambassadorWilliam Patey – former Afghanistan ambassadorColin Budd – former Netherlands ambassadorAnthony Cary – former Canada high commissionerAlan Charlton – former Brazil ambassadorEdward Chaplin – former Iraq and Jordan ambassadorPeter Collecott – former Brazil ambassadorRichard Dalton – former Iran ambassadorMichael Hone – former Iceland ambassadorNicholas Hopton – former Iran ambassadorPeter Jenkins – former UN (Vienna) ambassadorRupert Joy – former EU ambassador to MoroccoRobin Kealy – former Tunisia ambassadorRobin Lamb – former Bahrain ambassadorAnthony Layden – former Morocco ambassadorRichard Makepeace – former UAE ambassadorMark Matthews – former Chad ambassadorRichard Northern – former Libya ambassadorChristopher Segar – former Iraq ambassadorAdrian Sindall – former Syria ambassador

For Konstantin, a 53‑year‑old resident of St Petersburg, the war in Ukraine has become a literal scent in the air. Over the past fortnight he has repeatedly detected the acrid odor of burning crude, fuel and chemicals drifting from Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s two largest Baltic oil terminals. The facilities at Ust‑Luga and Primorsk together handle about 40% of Moscow’s seaborne oil exports and roughly 2% of global oil supply, according to the International Energy Agency. Both ports lie within 150 km of St Petersburg, making the smoke visible – and smelt – to locals. Ukrainian drones have flown more than 1,000 km from the front lines to strike storage tanks and loading infrastructure, igniting fires that have burned for days. The smell, described by Konstantin as a mix of diesel exhaust, burning plastic and rotten eggs, first appeared in late March. These attacks are a key element of Kyiv’s strategy to erode Russia’s “unexpected windfall” from oil exports, a revenue stream that has surged as the US‑Israel campaign against Iran pushed global oil prices higher. Satellite imagery shows extensive damage at both terminals, with Ust‑Luga’s sprawling processing complex blackened by fire. As a result, both ports are currently unable to dispatch cargo, forcing traders to reroute oil to smaller Baltic and Black Sea ports that lack the capacity to absorb the displaced volume. Financial analysts estimate that the disruption has already cost Moscow roughly $1 billion in lost export earnings, according to Bloomberg data released on March 31. Moreover, every $10 rise in global oil prices translates into about $1.6 billion of additional monthly income for the Kremlin. Russian officials have blamed European nations for allegedly facilitating the drone overflights, but Ukrainian experts dispute this claim. Andrey Pronin, a pioneer of Ukraine’s drone warfare, emphasized that the strikes are meticulously planned to stay within Russian airspace, bypassing air‑defence systems. Since the campaign began, Ukrainian forces have targeted 13 oil sites, seriously damaging at least eight refineries from the Baltic coast to the Volga region. The attacks are timed to coincide with the heightened profitability Russia enjoys from the Iran‑related oil price surge, according to researcher Nikolay Mitrokhin of Bremen University. Beyond the immediate economic impact, Kyiv views the strikes as leverage in negotiations with Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has floated the idea of a temporary moratorium on attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure in exchange for concessions, though the strategy also inadvertently benefits Iran by sustaining higher oil prices. On the tactical side, Ukraine now relies heavily on FP‑1 drones produced by the domestic Firepoint company. These unmanned aircraft can carry up to 120 kg of explosives and travel roughly 1,500 km, enabling strikes deep inside Russian territory. For civilians living near the conflict zones, the nightly “fireworks” of explosions have become a grim routine. Abdulla, a Tatar resident of Crimea, described the constant shelling as a new normal, while analysts note that President Vladimir Putin remains resolute, using the ongoing talks with the White House as a diplomatic façade. Overall, the Ukrainian drone campaign illustrates how modern warfare increasingly intertwines kinetic attacks with strategic economic disruption, reshaping the dynamics of the Russia‑Ukraine war and its broader geopolitical reverberations.

Nicola Jennings, a renowned cartoonist for The Guardian, has created a thought-provoking cartoon illustrating the Artemis II mission's achievement of reaching the far side of the moon.The cartoon, published on April 6, 2026, showcases Jennings' unique perspective on space exploration and the advancements made by NASA through the Artemis program.The Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone in space travel, as it ventures further into the lunar environment, paving the way for future manned missions to the moon and beyond.

The transition from live piano accompaniment in silent cinemas to recorded soundtracks marked a turning point for movie‑goers; the Vitaphone disc system of 1926 and the optical Movietone process that followed gave films a reliable, repeatable musical identity.Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) was the first feature to have its music and sound effects printed directly onto the film strip, allowing audiences to hear orchestrated pieces by Chopin and Gounod in perfect sync with the picture.King Kong (1933) showcased Max Steiner’s pioneering use of the orchestra to drive narrative, mood and scene transitions, laying the groundwork for the symphonic Hollywood score that dominated the mid‑20th century.Citizen Kane (1941) gave Bernard Herrmann a platform to break from the lush, “Hollywood” sound, delivering a stark, atmospheric score that emphasized psychological tension and set a new standard for dramatic underscoring.Blackboard Jungle (1955) introduced Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock as the film’s musical spine, proving that popular rock could boost a movie’s commercial appeal and ushering in the era of song‑driven soundtracks.Forbidden Planet (1956) featured the first entirely electronic score, created by Louis and Bebe Barron using magnetic‑tape techniques; the pioneering use of the theremin and other electronic textures opened a fresh sonic frontier for sci‑fi cinema.Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) highlighted Henry Mancini’s “symphonic pop” style, marrying a timeless hit – Moon River – with a jazzy, contemporary score that demonstrated how pop sensibilities could coexist with traditional orchestration.2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is remembered more for its curated classical pieces than Alex North’s original score, yet the film’s bold juxtaposition of Ligeti, Strauss and Khachaturian proved that pre‑existing music could become an integral narrative force.American Graffiti (1973) assembled over 40 period songs, weaving them into the story’s fabric and proving that a soundtrack could function as a cultural time‑capsule, influencing countless later productions.Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) revived the full‑orchestra tradition when John Williams delivered a heroic, leitmotif‑rich score that re‑ignited audience love for symphonic film music and set a template for blockbuster scoring.Crimson Tide (1995) marked Hans Zimmer’s breakthrough, blending aggressive electronic pulses with a powerful orchestral choir to create the modern, hybrid sound that now defines many high‑budget action films.These ten milestones illustrate how film music has continually evolved— from live accompaniment to electronic experimentation—while retaining a core purpose: to deepen storytelling and shape audience emotion. The legacy of these scores is celebrated each April at the London Soundtrack Festival, underscoring their lasting influence on both cinema and popular culture.

Hamas's armed wing has rejected calls for disarmament, stating that discussing the issue before Israel fully implements the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza amounts to an attempt to continue the genocide against Palestinians.In a televised statement, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said that raising the issue of weapons 'in a crude manner' would not be accepted. He emphasized that the disarmament demands are an overt attempt to continue the genocide against Palestinians, something Hamas will not accept under any circumstances.The issue of Hamas relinquishing its weapons is a major obstacle in talks to implement US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, aimed at ending Israel's war on the besieged territory. Since the US- and Qatar-brokered ceasefire took effect in October, more than 705 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.Hamas has told mediators it will not discuss disarmament without guarantees that Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza. Abu Obeida urged mediators to pressure Israel to fulfil its commitments under the first phase of the Trump plan before any discussion of the second phase can take place.Israel's war on Gaza, which began after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023, has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured at least 172,000 others. Abu Obeida also addressed Israel's role in the US-Israel war on Iran, condemning it for launching strikes on Iran 'in the midst of the deception of negotiations, with full collusion and conspiracy with the United States'.

Former US President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to conclude a war effort without it being viewed as an abject failure. This development underscores Trump's approach to navigating complex geopolitical situations while maintaining a strong public image.The details of the war in question remain unclear, but Trump's strategy appears focused on extricating the US from the conflict in a manner that preserves his political standing. This approach reflects the delicate balance Trump must strike between foreign policy realities and domestic political considerations.