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A group of 19 UN experts has denounced Israel's attack on Lebanon, which occurred a day after the US and Iran agreed on a ceasefire, as illegal and a blatant violation of the UN Charter. The experts are calling on UN member states to halt all arms transfers to Israel while there is credible evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.The condemnation comes as Israel continues to pound areas of southern Lebanon, resulting in at least 16 deaths, including four paramedics, according to Lebanese state media. The experts also expressed concern over the forced displacement of over 1.2 million people and the targeted destruction of homes, particularly in predominantly Shia areas of the south, which they described as a form of collective punishment that points to ethnic cleansing.The UN experts emphasized that Israel's actions constitute crimes against humanity and urged Israel to cease all military operations in Lebanon. The situation has been a point of tension in US-Iran negotiations, with Tehran pushing for Lebanon to be included in the ongoing ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to target Hezbollah wherever required, despite diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire.

Argentina’s justice system has reopened the case surrounding the death of football icon Diego Maradona, with prosecutors branding his medical team as “a bunch of amateurs” who missed a critical window to save him.The trial of seven healthcare professionals—doctors, psychologists and nurses—resumed on Tuesday in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires, after the original proceedings were annulled when a presiding judge was found to have participated in a documentary about the case.Maradona, who died in November 2020 at age 60 while recuperating from surgery for a brain clot, is alleged to have suffered from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema two weeks post‑operation. Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari asserted that the patient began to deteriorate 12 hours before his official death and that a timely transfer to a clinic could have prevented the fatal outcome.According to the indictment, the defendants’ decision to keep Maradona at home rather than in a hospital, coupled with a series of “omissions” described as “cruel,” constitutes homicide with possible intent. If convicted, each could face prison terms ranging from eight to 25 years.The new proceedings, expected to conclude by July at the earliest, will hear testimony from roughly 120 witnesses. Among the accused, former team doctor Leopoldo Luque and other staff members will be scrutinized for their role in the athlete’s care.Maradona’s family—daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana, and former partner Veronica Ojeda—attended the hearing, urging the courts to deliver “justice for Diego” and allow the legend to “rest in peace.” Outside, about 50 supporters waved Argentine flags and signs demanding accountability for the beloved “D10s.”Defense counsel Vadim Mischanchuk argued that the former star’s death resulted from a “progressive decline in his health” rather than medical malpractice, emphasizing that the condition was natural and unavoidable.Legal analyst Fernando Burlando, representing the Maradona family, highlighted the absence of a stethoscope on the legend’s chest during the critical two‑week period, using the instrument as a stark symbol of alleged negligence.The case revives national grief that first erupted when Maradona’s body lay in state at the presidential palace, drawing tens of thousands of mourners amid the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian leader and senior figure in President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, has been subjected to a series of violent assaults while serving a life sentence in Israeli prisons since 2002.According to his lawyer, Ben Marmarelli, Barghouti experienced three assaults over March and April, indicating a pattern of escalating violations. On April 8, he was severely beaten in Ganot Prison, left to bleed, and denied medical attention.On March 25, Barghouti was assaulted while being transferred from Megiddo Prison to Ganot. A day earlier, guards stormed his cell with a dog, forcing him to lie on the floor, and then the dog repeatedly attacked him.The conditions of his captivity have been described as harsh and inhumane, with Marmarelli and Barghouti forced to communicate through a glass partition. Despite this, Barghouti remains sharp-minded, focused, and fully engaged in following events outside the prison.Barghouti, regarded as a likely key player in the creation of a Palestinian state due to his ability to unite various political factions, is serving five life sentences for alleged attacks during the second Intifada.His treatment has raised concerns, particularly with a new Israeli law approving the one-sided use of the death penalty targeting Palestinians, which has sparked fears of a mass execution of captives held on 'terror' charges.

Israel has intensified its military campaign in southern Lebanon, conducting deadly strikes on several towns, resulting in significant casualties. The attacks occurred just a day after Lebanese and Israeli envoys held rare talks in Washington, DC, facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. These talks marked the first direct contact between the two countries in decades.According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA), Wednesday's attacks killed at least 13 people, including a family of four in the town of Jbaa. The strikes also targeted other towns, including Ansariyeh, Qadmus, Saadiyat, and Jiyeh. The escalation has sparked anger among the Lebanese population, with many questioning the government's decision to engage in diplomatic talks with Israel while attacks continue.Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, noted that residents are demanding an end to the attacks and expressing frustration over the government's handling of the situation. The Lebanese government has faced criticism for its concessions and perceived weakness in dealing with Israel. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah accused the government of squandering Lebanon's political and military strength and criticized its decision to withdraw the army from the south.The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned group, has resulted in over 2,000 deaths in recent weeks. The situation remains volatile, with ceasefire talks being a key point of contention. Hezbollah is seeking a comprehensive ceasefire, while Israel has ruled out discussions on a ceasefire in the latest war.

While the world focuses on diplomatic efforts to end the war on Iran, Israel has intensified its military actions in Gaza, resulting in a significant escalation of the humanitarian crisis. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza has drastically decreased, violating the October 2025 ceasefire agreement with Hamas. According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, there have been 2,400 military violations by Israeli forces since then, leading to the deaths of over 700 Palestinians.Recent attacks have resulted in significant casualties, including 11 Palestinians killed on Tuesday, with two being children. The intensity of these attacks spiked during peak regional tensions, with Israeli forces bombing Gaza on 36 out of 40 days between February 28 and April 8, while Israel and the US were engaged in a bombing campaign against Iran.The situation in Gaza has deteriorated to the point where economic experts describe it as an 'engineered, compounded famine'. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza is severely limited, with only 41,714 aid and commercial trucks entering over the past six months, representing just 37% of the agreed-upon 110,400 trucks. The fuel situation is even more critical, with only 1,366 fuel trucks entering out of a promised 9,200.Palestinian officials and economic experts argue that Israel is using a 'technical and commercial deception' to inflate the number of aid trucks entering Gaza. This has led to a severe shortage of basic commodities, with bread production plummeting to 200 tonnes daily, far below the 450 tonnes required to feed the population.The crisis has evolved into a complete collapse of the Palestinian economy, with unemployment soaring to 80% and the destruction of over 160,000 jobs across various sectors. The population has lost its purchasing power, forcing civilians into life-threatening situations.The international community has been urged to pressure Israel to open the crossings and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with 18,000 people still trapped, waiting for life-saving medical treatment abroad.

A new trial has begun in Argentina over the death of football legend Diego Maradona. The trial aims to determine if medical professionals and others are responsible for his death in 2020.Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, died at the age of 60 from a heart attack at his home in Buenos Aires. His family has long claimed that he received inadequate medical care leading up to his death.The trial is expected to hear testimony from medical professionals, family members, and other witnesses. Maradona's family is seeking justice and accountability for his death, which they believe was preventable.The case has sparked widespread interest in Argentina and among football fans worldwide, with many calling for greater accountability in the medical care provided to Maradona in his final days.

Israeli and Lebanese officials have engaged in historic talks in Washington, DC, marking the first direct negotiations between the two countries since 1983. The meeting, facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lasted over two hours and focused on addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.The talks come as Israel continues its military campaign against Hezbollah, which has resulted in nearly 2,124 deaths and displaced over 1.1 million people in Lebanon. The conflict has tested the fragile ceasefire struck on April 8, which paused the US and Israel's war on Iran for two weeks.Israel's ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, described the discussions as a 'wonderful exchange', highlighting points of agreement, including a push to remove Hezbollah from Lebanon. Lebanon's ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, characterized the talks as 'constructive', emphasizing the need for a ceasefire, the return of displaced people, and measures to ease the humanitarian crisis.Despite the positive remarks, heavy fighting continues in the region, with Hezbollah launching daily drone, rocket, and artillery attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon. The group also retains significant influence in parts of Lebanon, including Beirut's southern suburbs and areas in the south and east.The US Secretary of State acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that progress would take time and that the parties are working against decades of history and complexities. The talks have raised hopes for a potential ceasefire and disarmament of Hezbollah, but a near-term end to the fighting appears uncertain.

Haiti has entered a period of national mourning following a tragic stampede at the historic Citadelle Laferriere in the northern part of the country. At least 25 people lost their lives in the chaos that erupted at the entrance of the citadel on Saturday, as a mix of visitors attempted to exit and enter the site.The Ministry of Culture and Communication has taken swift action, firing two government officials in the aftermath of the disaster. One, a director at the Institute for the Preservation of National Heritage, was accused of 'serious negligence,' while the other, a Ministry employee, was criticized for 'biased passivity.'The government has stated that it believes the tragedy was the result of administrative negligence and has vowed to 'fully assume its responsibilities.' The event has sparked widespread outrage and highlights the multiple crises facing the Haitian government ahead of its general elections later this year.The stampede was exacerbated by stormy weather conditions, with heavy rain battering northern Haiti and prompting event participants to seek shelter. The inclement weather also caused flooding in other parts of the country, resulting in approximately 12 additional deaths and 900 homes being inundated.This tragedy is the latest challenge for Haiti, which has been grappling with gang violence and political instability, particularly since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. The situation has led to 16,000 deaths and 1.5 million displaced since 2022, according to UN reports.

Israeli military forces have launched a series of strikes across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, including two children, a three-year-old and a 14-year-old. These attacks occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10 last year.The violence escalated in the northern part of the Gaza enclave on Tuesday, with Gaza's Civil Defence authorities and the Reuters news agency confirming the deaths. Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence, reported that four people were killed, including the three-year-old, in a strike targeting a police vehicle in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior stated that Israeli warplanes had targeted the police vehicle, causing several deaths and injuries, with a police officer among those killed and at least nine bystanders wounded, some critically.Further violence was reported in the northern Beit Lahiya area, where another person was killed by Israeli fire earlier in the day. Later on Tuesday evening, Civil Defence reported that another Israeli strike killed several people near an intersection in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Medics at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed receiving five bodies from an Israeli drone bombing involving two missiles that hit a group of people in the Shati refugee camp.Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces continue to carry out daily strikes on Gaza, resulting in almost 760 Palestinians killed since the truce was agreed upon. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that an additional 2,111 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire was announced, while a total of 72,336 people have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of Israel's war on the territory on October 7, 2023.