Israel has passed a law making the death penalty by hanging the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis.

The UK, Germany, France and Italy said the move was “de facto discriminatory” and “Israel risks undermining its commitments to democratic principles”.

A joint statement called the death penalty “an inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterrent effect”.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper posted the statement on X, adding: “The death penalty is wrong and we oppose it around the world.”

Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who wore noose-shaped lapel pins in the run-up to the vote, has campaigned for tougher punishments for Palestinians convicted of nationalistic offences against Israelis.

“We have made history,” Mr Ben-Gvir said, in a post on X. “Any terrorist who goes out to kill should know – he will be sent to the gallows”.

He was also scathing about criticism from the European Union, adding: “We are not afraid, we do not yield”.

The Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs said the law “constitutes a decision to carry out institutionalised extrajudicial killings according to racist standards”.

“The ministry affirms that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land and that Israeli laws do not apply to the Palestinian people,” it added.

Opponents of the bill, under which executions should be carried out within 90 days of sentencing, said it was racist, draconian and unlikely to deter attacks by Palestinian militants.

Critics include Israelis and Palestinians, international rights groups and the UN, some of whom fear the death penalty could be applied solely to Palestinians convicted of murdering Jewish citizens of Israel.

The sentence will be applied by a military court to anyone convicted of murdering an Israeli “as an act of terror”.

Such courts try only West Bank Palestinians, who are not Israeli citizens. The bill says military courts can change the penalty to life imprisonment in “special circumstances”.

Israel’s courts, which try Israeli citizens, including Palestinian citizens of Israel, can choose between life imprisonment or the death penalty in cases of murder aiming to harm Israeli citizens and residents or “with the intent of rejecting the existence of the state of Israel”.

‘Discriminatory by design’

Amichai Cohen, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute’s Centre for Democratic Values and Institutions, said the distinction is discriminatory as it means, in effect, Jews “will not be indicted under this law”.

In addition, the West Bank is not sovereign Israeli territory, so under international law, Israel’s parliament should not be legislating over it, Mr Cohen said.

The Association of Civil Rights in Israel said it had petitioned the country’s highest court to challenge the law, calling it “discriminatory by design” and “enacted without legal authority” over West Bank Palestinians.

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Israel has the death penalty on its books, but the country hasn’t put anyone to death since Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.

The bill will not apply retroactively to any of the militants Israel currently holds who attacked the country on 7 October 2023.

Keir Starmer’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been dealt another major blow after a judge ruled that islanders expelled in the 1960s have the right to live there.

The landmark court ruling is a further setback to the beleaguered prime minister, whose efforts to resolve the future of the Chagos Islands, which houses the crucial US-UK airbase on Diego Garcia, have been turned against the government, undoing almost six decades of previous legal judgements on the islands.

The deal was already in trouble because of opposition from Donald Trump after a row over whether the US could use the airbase for attacks on Iran, but now, the judgment handed down by Justice James Lewis, the judge for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) Court, could finish off the deal altogether.

The case was brought after four Chagossians occupied one of the islands earlier this year in a bid to reclaim their homes, and the BIOT governor attempted to have them removed.

One of them, Louis Misley Mandarin, who said he was elected first minister of the Chagossian government-in-exile last December, told the court: “We are Chagossians… We have long wanted to return, and we had sought permits to visit, but no one answered us, so we have come here to prove we would still like to return.”

In his judgement, Justice Lewis overturned a 2004 law for the islands brought in by Tony Blair’s government to prevent a return to the islands by Chagossians. He has also reversed previous rulings by the Law Lords on their original removal in the 1960s and 1970s.

He concluded that the government’s previous case that there could not be a return to the islands on national security or defence grounds no longer applies because the proposed deal with Mauritius means that the government now accepts the islands can be populated.

He also stated that the cost to the UK taxpayer of the Mauritius deal, which he estimates to be £51bn – higher than any other previous estimate of £35bn over 99 years – means that the argument that it is too costly to enable Chagossians to return has also been invalidated.

Justice Lewis drew on the UK’s United Nations obligations to conclude that the islanders have a “right of abode” on their homeland, which makes it almost impossible to give the islands to Mauritius.

The government has already lodged an appeal against the judgment, which has been granted and will be heard by the BIOT Court of Appeal.

The original decision to negotiate a deal with Mauritius came from a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which was not binding on the UK, but stated that the islands belonged to Mauritius.

However, this ruling was based on Mauritius being the former colonial administration centre for the islands. Other parts of the British Empire that had been administered from Mauritius gained independence because they were populated.

James Tumbridge, the lawyer acting for the Chagossians, has told The Independent: “Once a population is established on the islands, it changes the entire legal status and means that they should be looked at as their own entity.”

The return of the Chagossians to the islands came in an expedition funded by Reform’s biggest donor, Christopher Harborne and led by former Tory MP and Reform defector Adam Holloway.

But in his ruling, Justice Lewis appears to be critical of Nigel Farage and others from Reform, specifically stating that they do not have the right to go to the islands. Mr Farage had tried to join the four Chagossians last month.

In response to the court’s ruling, Mr Mandarin said: “Today justice has finally begun to catch up with history. For generations, we have lived with exile, with loss, and with the denial of our most basic rights. This judgment restores not just a legal principle, but our dignity as a people.

 “We have returned peacefully to our homeland. We ask only to live, to remember, and to belong. Today, the law has recognised what we have always known, that our connection to these islands cannot be erased.”

Mr Tumbridge added: “This judgment shows justice works when people are given the chance to be heard. The decision to forcibly remove British subjects from British land, for the Crown to take away the right of abode, should never have been allowed. Today we can start to right that wrong.”

Claire Bullivant, chief executive of the Great British PAC, which has led the campaign supporting the Chagossians, said: “This is a historic victory. For decades, Chagossians have been denied the most basic right, the right to live in their own homeland. Today’s judgment confirms that the legal basis for that exclusion cannot stand.

“It is hard to overstate the importance of this moment. The government’s entire approach to Chagos, built over more than twenty years, has been fundamentally called into question.”

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel MP said: “Keir Starmer’s £35 billion Chagos Surrender is a complete betrayal. And throughout the process, he has sought to sideline the Chagossian people, treating them as nothing but an inconvenience.

“Chagossians, many of whom have no desire to see the islands handed over to an ally of China, ended up taking matters into their own hands. And now this latest humiliation has further undermined the government’s case.

“Starmer needs to face reality and abandon this appalling deal cooked up by Peter Mandelson and Jonathan Powell.”

Ammanford moved to within two games of top‑flight football after a convincing 5–1 win away at Treowen Stars in the JD Cymru South.

An own goal, added to finishes from Chris Bell, Dan John, Matt Delaney and Matthew Fisher, who marked his 400th appearance for Town, secured a vital three points.

The hosts, unbeaten at Bush Park since October, threatened inside the opening minute. A defensive slip on the right allowed a shooting chance which forced Luke Martin into a fingertip save, pushing the ball over the bar.

After absorbing that early spell, Ammanford had a golden opportunity to strike first when Gavin Jones was brought down by Cael Jones in the box. The striker dusted himself off to take the penalty, but slipped on contact and touched the ball twice.

Undeterred, Jones went close seconds later when Dan John released him, only for his fierce drive to thunder off the post.

He remained at the heart of the action, latching onto a long pass before being brought down by the Stars goalkeeper. The referee showed a straight red, and with no replacement keeper available, Macsen Evans was forced to take over between the posts. To his credit, he dealt well with his first test, gathering Callum Thomas’ free‑kick.

Ammanford’s numerical advantage lasted only 15 minutes. Gavin Jones received a red card shortly before the break for kicking out at an opponent.

Town struck almost immediately afterwards. Owain Davies’ free‑kick deflected off Craig McDonnell and rolled into the bottom corner. The lead was doubled just two minutes after the restart when Thomas’ delivery was glanced on by Bell and straight past Evans.

The Stars continued to push forward, but a midfield marshalled by Adam Orme and Delaney held them back before Dan John combined neatly with Thomas before slotting home his 15th of the season.

McDonnell made amends for his earlier own goal by nodding in a cross from the right to give his side a consolation.

But the scoring wasn’t done. A second penalty was awarded to Wyn Thomas’ side when Dan John was brought down again. This time there was no reprieve, as Delaney hammered his effort straight down the middle to restore the three‑goal cushion.

The gloss was added in stoppage time when Fisher lashed the ball into the net.

Police have warned visitors against blighting the landscape

Police have issued a warning to visitors of a popular beauty spot following a rise in reports of vehicles causing damage to the landscape. Over recent weeks, a branch of Dyfed Powys Police have noted an increase in visitors to the Elan Valley area, particularly those using 4×4 vehicles, quad bikes, and motorcycles.

The increase in reports have sparked concern amongst those in the force, particularly because the area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). At this time of year the landscape is home to many ground-nesting birds, making it especially vulnerable to disturbance.

While members of off-road and motor groups can use designated green lanes and byways responsibly, officers said unlawful activity won’t be tolerated. Concerns have been raised about drivers failing to adhere to regulations, causing damage to common land and rivers, and showing a disregard for the natural environment.

The force further confirmed that they are currently investigating reports of criminal damage at Rhayader Golf Course and on common land in the Pont yr Elan area. They stated that efforts are underway to identify those responsible, with legal action expected to follow. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter

Visitors to the Elan Valley and surrounding areas are being urged to familiarise themselves with where they are permitted to drive or ride before setting out. Officers stressed that there will be no excuses for those found to be breaching the rules.

Further advice on how to navigate green roads, can be found here.

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The bins will be for food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables such as glass, metal and plastics, and general non-recyclable rubbish.

In some areas, paper and card may still be collected with other dry recyclables, reducing the number of bins to three.

Ministers say this will provide different local authorities with the flexibility to deliver services that work best for their communities.

From 31 March 2026, bin collections across England will change.

The goal is good: more recycling, less landfill.
The risk is real: more bins, new rules, new schedules.

Simpler in theory. Overwhelming in practice.

This account is here for one thing: less confusion at home.

— Bintime | Bin-day reminders (@Bintimeapp) March 1, 2026

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New rules in England mean up to 4 bins in use for households

Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: “We are ending the bin collections postcode lottery and making it easier for people to recycle wherever they live.

“Simplifying these rules will cut out carbon, clean up our streets, and help bring pride back into our communities.

“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with local areas to deliver these changes and ensure there’s more recycled content in the products we buy.”

The new system is part of the government’s wider efforts to build a circular economy, keeping resources in use longer and reducing waste.

Previously, local authorities set their own rules around bin types and what materials could be collected, leading to a patchwork of different systems across the country.

The government now aims to standardise collections to ensure more high-quality material can be processed domestically for reuse by manufacturers to make new products.

Officials say the changes could also cut carbon emissions by reducing the amount of rubbish that gets burned.

To help councils roll out the new scheme, the government has provided £340 million in funding.

Can you get fined for putting bins out early?

How to check your local bin rules

To support some local authorities with area-specific delivery challenges, the government said additional support will be provided, such as agreed transitional arrangements, allowing a later implementation date.

Households can check how and when the new rules will apply in their area by visiting the government’s website.

Enter your postcode to check the rules for your area.

More than £78 billion has been allocated to councils in England for this financial year, including funding for introducing weekly food waste collections for all households.

The government has introduced an extended producer responsibility scheme, which requires packaging producers to cover the costs of recycling or waste management.

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Deposit return scheme coming to supermarkets in 2027

It also plans to launch a deposit return scheme in 2027.

This will see shoppers pay a small deposit when buying drinks in plastic bottles or metal cans, which they will receive back when returning the empty containers to retailers.

What do you think about the new bin rules in England? Let us know in the comments.

The promoter took in Wales’ Six Nations victory over Italy ahead of signing Henry Pollock to his talent agency

Promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken about the experience of watching Wales’ Six Nations victory over Italy earlier this month, saying the patriotism surpassed anything he’d seen in a big sporting event.

Steve Tandy’s side ended their three-year wait for a victory in the tournament, finishing the campaign with a 31-17 win over the Italians. Hearn was in Cardiff watching that day, prior to signing England international Henry Pollock to his Matchroom Talent Agency.

Speaking on the Big Jim Show with former Scotland international Jim Hamilton, Hearn explained that he had expected to be watching Pollock in Paris on the final day of the tournament – but ending up at the Principality Stadium instead.

“I think the day before, I looked at the Six Nations line-up of games and I thought I was probably going to England-France, because that looked like the game,” he said. “No, we’re going to Wales.

“I’ve sold that stadium out with AJ (Anthony Joshua) a couple of times. It is a phenomenal stadium and the people down there are mad for it.

“He was like, ‘Have you ever been to the Millennium Stadium for rugby?’. I’m like ‘No,’. ‘Oh you wait’.

“So I look at the league table and Wales are down the bottom. Italy are just above them. Look at the points, a victory means nothing. A defeat means nothing.

“You’re stone-dead last. I asked is this a big game? It’s always a big game. They said you know Wales haven’t won in three years in the Six Nations.

“I was like ‘is anyone going?’ It’s rammed. Go in there. The Millennium Stadium is a very special stadium because it’s right in the middle of the city.

“Everyone is kind of there and it’s starting to build up. They said wait until the national anthem comes on. I’ve done other boxing in Wales, there’s Welsh fighters and it’s always a great atmosphere. I was looking around during the national anthem and I like people watching in situations like that.

“I’ve never felt such patriotism as what I saw. I’ve been to Ryder Cups, I’ve been to Super Bowls where they play the American national anthem. But this was like tears-to-your-eyes stuff, like hairs on your arms standing up.

“I was just thinking, f**k, you guys haven’t won for three years, you’re bottom of the league. This feels like you’re about to win the Six Nations. The roar, just how pleasant it was.

“I’m looking at the customer. Corporate boxes, I get it. But down there is granddad, he’s like 95 and his son’s there and his grandsons are there. This is institutional.”

Hearn, one of the most recognisable faces in sport, also admitted that watching the match made him feel old – because the son of one of his former clients was playing.

“It’s quite mad because when I went to the Wales game the other day, (James) Botham was in the team,” he said. “I used to represent Liam Botham and his dad when I started work.

“I was 21 and that made me feel very old that it was Ian’s grandson and, worse, it was Liam’s son in the Wales team.”

Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.

Children have the least control over the planet’s future, but will also be the most affected as it changes. They may well feel the mental toll of the “futility gap”: when individual actions feel meaningless against broader societal inaction on the climate crisis.

Promoting healthy psychological agency – the belief that we are in control of our lives – is fundamental here. There are things that we can do to combat the climate crisis. Children should be supported so they don’t lose hope.

Together with our colleague Kariũki Werũ, we’ve created a guide to how adults can help support their healthy psychological development.

Our approach acknowledges the severity of climate change while grounding children in hope. We aim to transform feelings of helplessness into self-efficacy – a belief that they can take action.

At home

To protect a child’s emotional wellbeing and talk about climate facts, adults also need to learn how to talk about climate change with children. This should involve adults listening, learning together and using language appropriate to their child’s age and comprehension. Schools and communities could help parents by providing tips for these conversations.

Monitoring a child’s online activity can safeguard them from traumatic news. Parents can emphasise progress and solutions, and help their children spend time experiencing and enjoying changing weather and the environment.

At school

Schools, educational methods and children’s relationships with teachers and their classmates are core influences on the development of their psychological agency. To promote climate resilience, this could mean moving beyond traditional rote learning towards age-appropriate “critical climate education”. This means empowering students to question existing systems and imagine fundamental transformations, rather than feeling defeated by the status quo.

Nature-based outdoor learning can further strengthen this development. It can both boost mental health and transform abstract climate concepts into tangible experiences. Learning outdoors can stimulate constructive climate conversations, and directly link human actions to environmental and sustainable solutions. Outdoor observations and investigative projects bridge the gap between learning and action.

The world online

Digital climate learning is a powerful catalyst for modern education. It offers interactive and global perspectives on the climate crisis. But it must be managed to address internet “filter bubbles” – when algorithms show viewers only information that aligns with their past interests. This can risk isolating and overwhelming children with repetitive content that affects their wellbeing. When used correctly, digital tools can expand a child’s perspective on climate solutions beyond their local environment.

Blended together

Effective climate education can combine digital learning with hands-on, real-world experiences. When this is supported by educators and caregivers who act as guides – while also leaving enough space for children to explore and create independently – children are able to benefit from both realistic and balanced education. Pioneering programs are blending classroom science with digital tools and outdoor experiments to turn student ideas into tangible community projects.

On a wider scale, climate education needs to bridge the gap between personal responsibility and collective power. The climate narrative should shift its focus from asking “what is wrong?” to “what can we do?” This will empower children with a sense of agency rather than climate anxiety. Social media is a key place where this change can happen.

When used with adult guidance and digital literacy, it can lead to constructive dialogues and evidence-based action. A moderated and positive use of digital tools can help children connect their own awareness to the world around them and drive action on a larger scale to truly tackle the climate crisis.

This can ultimately allow children to share their climate change knowledge and inspire actions among family and friends. They can go on to become influential at school and in their community.

In order to address the climate crisis and support wellbeing, we need to help children recognise their agency. Children can become agents of change who can counter misinformation and foster long-term psychological resilience.

Schools can work together with families, communities and leaders to create a supportive environment for learning about climate. _ Such approach could bridge the gaps between scientific climate facts and real-life experiences by providing the emotional care and practical skills needed to empower_ the climate generations to build a sustainable future together.

The force have warned members of the public to avoid the area

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Residents are being evacuated due to a security alert in Lurgan with the town centre ‘completely closed off’.

The alert has been issued in the early hours of Tuesday, March 31, just before 12.30am. It is in place in the Church Place area of the County Armagh town.

According to PSNI an evacuation operation is underway. Cordons are in place and members of the public have been asked to avoid the area.

Lurgan Town Hall has been opened for those who have been evacuated.

Carla Lockhart MP posted a statement online that said: “There is currently a serious security alert in Lurgan town centre, centred around the police station, involving a suspicious vehicle.

“The town centre has been completely closed off and is likely to remain so for a significant period of time. This will inevitably cause major disruption to the area, and we ask everyone to avoid the vicinity and follow all guidance from authorities.

“For those affected, Lurgan Town Hall has been opened to provide refuge and support for anyone who has been evacuated.

“This is not something anyone wants to see in our society today. The situation is deeply concerning, and I would strongly urge anyone who may have any information to come forward and report it to the PSNI immediately.

“I want to utterly and unequivocally condemn what has happened tonight in Lurgan. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted, and we hope for a safe and swift resolution.

“Please stay safe and look out for one another.”

A spokesperson for PSNI said in a statement posted on X: “Members of the public are asked to avoid the Church Place area of Lurgan due to an ongoing security alert, this morning, Tuesday 31st March.

“Cordons are in place, and an evacuation operation is due to get underway. An update will follow in due course.”

An unknown projectile struck the tanker’s starboard causing a fire to the vessel, UKMTO reported, with the crew accounted for and safe and no environmental impact reported

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An oil tanker has gone up in flames after being hit by a projectile off the coast of Dubai.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Monday, 30 March that an unidentified projectile had struck their tanker starboard, igniting a fire on the vessel. The incident follows Iran’s approval of a plan to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident near the strait is under investigation and it remains uncertain who executed the strike.

Vessels, particularly oil tankers, have been the target of strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, causing widespread disruptions in oil markets and at petrol stations.

The transit of tankers through the strait has been a contentious issue since the Middle East conflict began over a month ago.

US-Israeli forces targeted several key sites in Iran at the end of February, and Iran has retaliated by targeting sites across the Middle East, including vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz.

Approximately one fifth of all globally traded oil passes through the strait.

UKMTO confirmed that the crew are accounted for and safe, and no environmental impact has been reported.

The strike occurred shortly after the Iranian Parliament’s Security Commission approved a plan to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, a member of the National Security Commission declared that the plan had been approved. Among other provisions are the “safety of naval vessels”, environmental issues and the prohibition of passage for US and Israeli vessels.

The plan also incorporates a toll system and the enforcement of Iran’s sovereign role in the area.