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It's been six months since a ceasefire agreement was brokered between Israel and Hamas, but the reality on the ground in Gaza remains dire. The agreement, which was intended to mark a turning point towards ending the war and initiating a recovery phase for Gaza's population, has failed to deliver tangible improvements in humanitarian or security conditions for Palestinian civilians.The ceasefire has been plagued by ongoing Israeli attacks, with over 700 Palestinians killed since the agreement came into effect. The Israeli army has continued its military operations, raising questions about the fragility of the ceasefire and the role of mediators in enforcing its terms.The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with food and aid supplies below minimum requirements. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that only 4,999 aid trucks entered Gaza out of 23,400 planned, and only 625 people out of 7,800 were allowed to travel through crossings. This has led to widespread malnutrition and famine-like conditions in the region.The ceasefire has also failed to address the issue of Israeli control over Gaza. The Israeli army has established a so-called 'Yellow Line' as a separation boundary, dividing Gaza into zones of control. Israel maintains effective control over roughly 50-55% of the Strip, including large areas of Rafah, Khan Younis, and northern Gaza.In conclusion, six months on, the ceasefire in Gaza has not produced a sustainable transformation and remains closer to a temporary truce than a final settlement. The situation on the ground is one of 'neither war nor peace,' with over two million people continuing to face deep uncertainty and a lack of meaningful political or humanitarian stabilization.

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.

Zohran Mamdani celebrated his 100‑day anniversary as New York City’s mayor amid a backdrop of frigid crowds at City Hall and a historic milestone: the city filled 100,000 potholes in just over three months. The 32‑year‑old Democratic socialist, the first Muslim mayor of the United States’ wealthiest city, framed his early tenure as a test of whether a platform built on affordability could be translated into concrete governance. His administration’s headline achievement is the launch of a universal childcare initiative. Partnering with Governor Kathy Hochul, the mayor secured $1.2 billion from the state’s 2026 budget—funds drawn from existing revenue streams rather than new taxes—to add 2,000 daycare seats in low‑income neighborhoods. Sign‑ups for two‑year‑old slots will open in June, with allocations announced by August. “One in four New Yorkers lives in poverty, and after housing, childcare costs are pushing families out of the city,” Mamdani told Al Jazeera, underscoring the program’s role in curbing a citywide affordability crisis. Parallel to the childcare rollout, the mayor’s pothole‑filling campaign has become a symbolic win. By early April, crews had patched the 100,000th pothole, a move Mamdani described as proof that the city can handle “the smallest tasks in New Yorkers’ lives” before tackling larger challenges. However, the administration faces criticism on several fronts. Snowstorm responses earlier in the year exposed gaps in emergency planning, prompting Mamdani to acknowledge the need for better tools to manage “bus stops, sidewalks, and crosswalks.” A newly released cost‑of‑living index revealed that 62 % of New Yorkers cannot afford basic expenses, with families on average falling nearly $40,000 short of a sustainable budget. The burden is especially acute for communities of colour—77 % of Hispanic and 65 % of Black residents are financially strained. Fiscal conservatives, such as Manhattan Institute adjunct EJ Mahon, argue that New York already imposes the highest tax rates on millionaires in four decades, warning that further “tax‑the‑rich” rhetoric could drive wealth out of the city. Local commentator Aria Singer echoed this concern, suggesting that aggressive tax hikes might prompt billionaires to relocate, undermining job creation. Housing remains a central battleground. Rents have risen roughly 25 % since 2019, and while Mamdani’s proposal to freeze rents would affect only about half of the rental stock, his administration is pushing an aggressive construction agenda to increase supply and stimulate competition. Political dynamics add another layer of complexity. The mayor’s ability to raise taxes or fund ambitious projects hinges on Governor Hochul’s approval, as the city lacks autonomous authority over most tax levers. Moreover, initiatives like free city buses require cooperation with the state‑run Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Strategist Adin Lenchner of Carroll Street Campaigns cautioned that sustained grassroots pressure will be essential for Mamdani to translate his agenda into lasting policy, noting that even former President Barack Obama struggled to maintain such momentum. Beyond policy, Mamdani has confronted a surge in xenophobic incidents targeting Jewish and Muslim communities, including a vehicle attack on a Brooklyn Jewish centre and an alleged ISIS‑inspired explosive device outside his Gracie Mansion residence. He condemned the violence, emphasizing that “such acts are antithetical to who we are.” As the 100‑day mark passes, the mayor’s focus has shifted from the symbolic cold of his inauguration to the practical heat of governing a city that demands tangible results. While potholes may seem minor, Mamdani argues they are a litmus test for public trust: “If we can’t fix the pothole you hit every day, how can you trust us with bigger challenges?”

US Vice President JD Vance has departed for Pakistan to engage in crucial talks with Iran, seeking to bring an end to the ongoing US-Israeli war. Vance expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating that he expects 'positive' results from the discussions.Vance's trip comes at a critical juncture, with the conflict showing no signs of abating. The US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28, which has resulted in significant damage to Iran's nuclear sites. President Donald Trump has given Vance clear guidelines for the meeting, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution.The talks in Pakistan will involve Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. However, it remains unclear if any representative from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will attend. The format of the negotiations and whether the US and Iranian officials will speak face-to-face or through intermediaries have not been disclosed.Trust issues remain a significant hurdle in the negotiations. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht Ravanchi, expressed wariness about the talks, citing concerns that they could be used as a deception to cover renewed escalation in fighting. Iran seeks an agreement with guarantees that it will not be attacked again.The negotiations in Pakistan are seen as a critical step towards resolving the conflict. Both sides appear to be miles apart, with tremendous amounts of mistrust. However, according to Ali Vaez, the Iran project manager at the International Crisis Group, every option possible has been tried, and both sides have ended up in a lose-lose scenario. Vaez emphasized that it is essential for both sides to be practical and realize that concessions at the negotiating table are necessary to avoid further conflict.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Spain will no longer take part in the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre, labeling Madrid’s actions as a diplomatic assault on Israel.In a video posted on X, Netanyahu warned that Israel will not stay silent when faced with what he described as attacks on its legitimacy.Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed the prime minister’s sentiment, condemning Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for allegedly spreading "blood libels" against the Israeli Defence Forces.Saar added on X that Spain’s persistent anti‑Israel stance under Sánchez has rendered it incapable of contributing constructively to the U.S. President’s peace initiative and the operations of the coordination centre.Relations have deteriorated since Israel’s October 2023 offensive in Gaza, after which Spain recognised a Palestinian state and repeatedly criticised Israel’s conduct. Sánchez’s government also opposed the U.S.–Israel campaign against Iran and even closed Spanish airspace to U.S. warplanes involved in that conflict.The Civil‑Military Coordination Centre (CMCC), a U.S.–led facility created under former President Donald Trump’s 20‑point plan, serves to monitor the declared ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave.Despite the formal ceasefire, Israel continues to conduct near‑daily strikes in Gaza, and significant constraints on aid shipments remain in place.

The United States team landed in Islamabad on Friday, gearing up for Saturday’s planned cease‑fire talks with Iran aimed at pausing the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran conflict.New friction erupted on Friday when senior officials from both sides exchanged conflicting accounts of a 10‑point Iranian proposal that underpinned Tuesday’s temporary pause in hostilities.Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on X that two critical measures—a cease‑fire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets—remain unfulfilled, insisting they must be addressed before negotiations can proceed.Ghalibaf, who is slated to attend the summit alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, echoed the Iranian military’s joint command warning that its “fingers are on the trigger” after what it described as repeated “breaches of trust” by the United States and Israel.Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric, telling the New York Post that the U.S. is loading ships with the “best weapons ever made” and will employ them “very effectively” if a deal is not reached. In subsequent Truth Social posts, he dismissed Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz as a “short‑term extortion” and claimed the Iranians are “alive today only to negotiate.”The Trump administration credits Tuesday’s cease‑fire agreement with averting a larger U.S. escalation, yet it has not disclosed the exact framework agreed upon, noting it differs from Iran’s published 10‑point plan.Analysts point to substantial gaps between the parties on several fronts: Iran’s future control of the Strait of Hormuz, the status of frozen Iranian assets, the trajectory of Iran’s nuclear program, and Israel’s ongoing offensive in Lebanon.U.S. and Israeli officials assert that a Lebanese cease‑fire was never part of the deal, contradicting Iran and Pakistan’s position. Nonetheless, President Trump told an Israeli reporter that he urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make Israeli operations against Hezbollah “more low‑key” ahead of the talks.Israeli strikes continued, killing at least 300 people nationwide on Wednesday—the deadliest day of the offensive—while Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported no slowdown in southern Lebanon’s fighting. Kuwait also reported intercepting seven drones launched from Iran into its airspace within 24 hours.Despite the heightened rhetoric, U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism, stating he expects a “positive” outcome from the negotiations and that he has received “pretty clear guidelines” from President Trump. Vance emphasized that the United States is ready to extend an “open hand” to Iran if it negotiates in good faith, but warned that any attempt to “play us” would meet a “non‑receptive” negotiating team.Vance’s leadership reflects a non‑interventionist strand of the Trump administration, stepping in as Iran’s trust in special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner has eroded. Witkoff and Kushner previously headed two rounds of indirect talks on Iran’s nuclear program, both of which collapsed—first after Israel launched a 12‑day war on Iran in June 2025, and again after the latest war erupted on February 28.

Renowned actor Sam Neill, known for his role in the Jurassic Park movie franchise, has joined the fight against a proposed goldmine near his vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand. The mine, backed by Australian company Santana Minerals, could potentially damage the region's pristine environment and threaten up to 650,000 native lizards.The proposed Bendigo-Ophir goldmine, located in an area legally enshrined as 'outstanding natural landscape,' has sparked fierce division between communities. While proponents claim it will create 357 jobs and boost the economy, critics argue it will dampen tourism and harm the environment.Neill, who has grown wine under his Two Paddocks label in the region for 30 years, emphasizes his connection to the land, stating, 'If this mine goes ahead... everything that you see [there] is under a claim [by the mining company]. And there will be mining all around us, and that'll be the end.'The mining industry has a history of environmental disasters, particularly with tailings dams storing toxic waste. Ian Taylor, a prominent Māori businessman, worries about the 600km-long alpine fault running down the South Island, which could lead to seismic risks.Santana Minerals claims the dam has been designed to withstand a one-in-10,000-year earthquake and denies that the mine will negatively affect tourism. A decision on the Bendigo-Ophir mine is expected by the end of the year.

Jim Jarmusch, the 73-year-old director known for his offbeat Americana films, has spent seven years crafting his latest project, 'Father Mother Sister Brother'. The film, which won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice film festival, is an anthology drama that explores the complexities of family relationships through three distinct stories set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris.Jarmusch's approach to filmmaking is characterized by his unique ability to elicit low-key performances from big stars and his focus on the quotidian aspects of life. He cites influences from filmmakers like John Cassavetes and David Lynch, but emphasizes his own humanist approach. 'I make films out of the things other people would leave out,' he notes, highlighting his attention to detail and ability to find beauty in everyday moments.The film features a star-studded cast, including Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, and Tom Waits. Jarmusch's process involves casting first and then writing the script quickly, often in a matter of days. 'I cast first then write fast,' he explains, showcasing his collaborative approach with actors.Jarmusch reflects on his career, mentioning the challenges of getting films made without compromising his artistic vision. 'It's harder every time to get a film made,' he acknowledges, but remains committed to his unique approach. The director also touches on themes of mortality and the cyclical nature of life, emphasizing the importance of living in the present.The film 'Father Mother Sister Brother' is set to release in UK cinemas on April 10, offering audiences a glimpse into Jarmusch's distinctive filmmaking style and thematic explorations.

Chelsea's Enzo Fernández is facing increased uncertainty over his future at the club after Liam Rosenior hinted at 'a few hurdles' that need to be overcome. Fernández has been serving an internal two-match suspension for comments made during the international break that appeared to court Real Madrid. Despite apologizing, Fernández will miss Chelsea's Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.Rosenior expressed hope that Fernández would be a 'massive part of the group moving forward' but acknowledged there are issues to clear up. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has stressed that Manchester City must win every game, starting with Sunday's fixture at Chelsea, to have any chance of winning the Premier League title.In other news, Mikel Arteta has praised Eberechi Eze's determination to return early from a calf injury. Eze is set to feature against Bournemouth on Saturday and has impressed Arteta with his 'obsession' with improving since joining Arsenal last summer.