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Pakistan is set to host high-level talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, with a modest goal of getting the two nations to find common ground to continue negotiations. The talks, which will be held in a 'proximity format' with Pakistani officials shuttling messages between the two teams, follow a Pakistan-mediated two-week ceasefire agreed upon by the US and Iran.The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, and the Iranian team, expected to be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will meet at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. Despite the significant differences between the two nations, experts and sources close to the mediation effort have expressed little expectation of a major breakthrough.Pakistan's goal is to secure an agreement for the US and Iran to continue dialogue, with the aim of building on the truce that led to a collective sigh of relief globally. The talks will focus on finding a lasting peace deal, with key issues including verifiable restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme and full sanctions relief.The talks are taking place against a backdrop of escalating tensions in Lebanon, with Iran framing Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a direct challenge to the ceasefire. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that continued attacks would render negotiations meaningless.Despite these challenges, there are tentative signs of easing tensions ahead of the talks, with US Vice President JD Vance expressing optimism about the negotiations and Saudi Arabia's foreign minister speaking with his Iranian counterpart for the first time since the war started.

The European Parliament's decision to block the extension of a law that permits big tech firms to scan for child sexual exploitation on their platforms has created a legal gap that child safety experts say will lead to crimes going undetected. The law, which was a temporary measure allowing companies to use automated detection technologies to scan messages for harms, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), grooming, and sextortion, expired on April 3.Google, Meta, Snap, and Microsoft have expressed disappointment over the EU's decision, stating that they will continue to voluntarily scan their platforms for CSAM. In a joint statement posted on a Google blog, the companies said, 'We are disappointed by this irresponsible failure to reach an agreement to maintain established efforts to protect children online.'Child protection advocates had warned that allowing the legislation to lapse would probably trigger a steep fall in reports of child sexual abuse. They point to a similar legal gap that occurred in 2021, when reports of such material from EU-based accounts to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) fell by 58% over a period of 18 weeks.The EU's decision to prohibit scanning will have ripple effects in other regions around the world, child safety experts said. Many internet crimes are cross-border, with perpetrators sending illegal images to people or targeting children in other countries. 'The offender can be anywhere in the world, but they could have unfettered access to minors in Europe now that there's legal uncertainty around those safeguards and protections to identify when a child is being groomed,' said John Shehan, vice-president at NCMEC.In 2025, NCMEC received 21.3m reports that included more than 61.8m images, videos, and other files suspected of being related to child abuse, from around the world. About 90% of these reports are related to countries outside the US.

Vice President JD Vance warned Iran that jeopardising the US‑Iran ceasefire over Lebanon would be "dumb", emphasizing that the United States expects the truce to remain intact despite Tehran’s frustrations. Pakistan, which brokered the two‑week ceasefire, publicly stated that Lebanon is part of the agreement. Vance, speaking to reporters in Hungary, countered that the United States does not consider Israel’s ongoing strikes on Lebanon as covered by the ceasefire. "If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart – in a conflict where they were getting hammered – over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that’s ultimately their choice," Vance said, adding, "We think that would be dumb, but that’s their choice." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed Pakistan’s position, highlighting Lebanon in his repost of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement and asserting that the ceasefire terms are clear: the US must choose either a ceasefire or continued war via Israel. President Donald Trump and the White House, however, maintain that Lebanon was not part of the deal. Vance dismissed the contradictory messages as a "misunderstanding" and "bad faith propaganda," suggesting the Iranians mistakenly believed Lebanon was included. The lack of a clear explanation from US officials leaves observers questioning how such a misunderstanding could arise amid high‑stakes diplomacy. Israel’s track record of breaching ceasefires dates back to the November 2024 truce with Lebanon. On Wednesday, Israeli air strikes in Lebanon killed at least 254 people and injured more than 1,100, marking one of the deadliest assaults in the 15‑month conflict. Vance indicated that Israel has signaled a willingness to temper its operations in Lebanon, stating the Israelis have "committed to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon" to ensure the US‑Iran negotiations stay on track. The broader conflict intensified in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets in retaliation for Israeli attacks and the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah now faces internal pressure from rival factions accusing it of dragging Lebanon into war on Iran’s behalf. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stark warning: if Israeli aggression against Lebanon does not cease immediately, the IRGC will deliver a "regretful response" to what it called "evil aggressors" in the region.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15‑year‑old sensation for Rajasthan Royals, was lauded as “amazing” and “fearless” after an audacious display against Indian pace ace Jasprit Bumrah during an IPL clash. Facing the 32‑year‑old Mumbai Indians bowler for the first time, Sooryavanshi launched a six over the wide long‑on fence on his very first ball. Bumrah smiled, but three deliveries later the teenager repeated the feat with a pull shot that cleared deep backward square leg. Continuing his blitz, Sooryavanshi amassed 39 runs from just 14 balls, forming an 80‑run opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who contributed an unbeaten 77. The duo steered Rajasthan to a 27‑run victory in a rain‑shortened 11‑over contest at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium. Rajasthan captain Hardik Pandya described the innings as “fascinating,” emphasizing the youngster’s fearlessness and range of shots. “Amazing to see the way he bats, the kind of fearlessness he has,” Pandya said. Sooryavanshi also took on New Zealand pacer Trent Boult, dispatching an attempted yorker for a boundary over backward square leg. His momentum was halted by a spectacular catch in the deep by Tilak Varma, taken off a big hit off Shardul Thakur. Visibly upset after his dismissal, Sooryavanshi covered his face and let out a scream before trudging back to the pavilion, while a watching Jaiswal expressed admiration for the teenager’s approach. “The way he has been playing, it’s tremendous,” Jaiswal, who earned player‑of‑the‑match honors, added. “He works hard, motivates me, and I’ll keep giving him positive messages – play freely.” Last season, Sooryavanshi announced his arrival with a 35‑ball century, the second‑fastest in IPL history. Former spin legend Anil Kumble has already urged that the prodigy be fast‑tracked into India’s senior side. His pedigree extends to the youth level, where he smashed 175 runs off 80 balls in the Under‑19 World Cup final against England, cementing his reputation as a future star.

The play's creator, Gregory Burke, was inspired by the tragic events at Camp Dogwood in Iraq and the story of three soldiers from the Black Watch regiment who were killed by an IED. Vicky Featherstone, founding artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, commissioned Burke to write the play.The production was a collaboration between Burke, director John Tiffany, and movement director Steven Hoggett. The set, designed by Laura Hopkins, featured a pool table that transformed into a tank, symbolizing the transition from a pub to a war zone.The play's success was not limited to its initial run. It went on to tour for seven years, performing in numerous countries, including the United States. The play's impact was profound, with audience members often moved to tears and applause.Black Watch also had a significant impact on the careers of its cast members, including Emun Elliott and Brian Ferguson. The play's influence extended beyond the theatre world, with its themes and messages resonating with audiences worldwide.

Iranian officials have urged young people to form human chains around the country's power plants, as tensions escalate with the US and Israel. The call to action comes as US President Donald Trump threatens massive strikes on civilian infrastructure if Iran doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz.Iranian media showed people gathering outside electricity stations, waving Iranian flags and holding up banners. In Dezful, people gathered on a 1,700-year-old bridge. The country's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said 14 million people had signed up to fight for their country and declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives in defence of Iran.The US and Israel carried out waves of preparatory strikes that appeared to knock off course the chances of a last-minute ceasefire deal before Trump's 8pm ET (1am BST) deadline for Iran to reopen the strait. Attacks on civilian infrastructure amount to war crimes, legal experts say.Alireza Rahimi, identified by Iranian state television as the secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, issued a video message calling on young people to form human chains around power plants. He asked them to gather on Tuesday at 2pm around the power plants, which he described as national assets and capital.Iran has formed human-chain demonstrations, also known as human shields, in the past around its nuclear sites at times of heightened tensions with the west. A man in Tehran said his household had collected basic necessities and equipment to charge their mobile phones, in preparation to flee the capital if necessary.The indirect negotiations between the US and Iran are continuing, largely by passing messages through Pakistan. However, the intermediaries said they feared that Israel was bombing the chances of reaching an agreement.

Online betting platform Polymarket has come under fire for allowing users to wager on the fate of US pilots shot down in Iran. The platform has since halted the bets and promised to investigate how they were allowed to happen. The controversy began when US Representative Seth Moulton publicly denounced the practice, calling it 'DISGUSTING' that people were betting on the pilots' rescue while search efforts were still underway. Moulton, a veteran of the US Marine Corps, expressed his outrage on social media platform X. The incident involved an F-15E Strike Eagle jet shot down by Iranian military forces, with one pilot rescued within seven hours and the other rescued on Sunday, as announced by Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. Polymarket initially allowed users to bet on the timing of the rescues, with most wagers predicting they would occur by Saturday. However, after Moulton's criticism, the platform quickly removed the market, stating it did not meet their integrity standards and vowed to investigate. Moulton did not stop there, calling on Polymarket to deactivate hundreds of other war-related wagers, accusing the company of having 'severely lacking' integrity standards. He also mentioned that Donald Trump Jr, the president's oldest son, is an investor in Polymarket, which Moulton referred to as a 'dystopian death market'. This incident is not the first time Polymarket has faced scrutiny. In March, some users generated international headlines by sending threatening messages to an Israeli journalist after betting on a missile strike near Jerusalem. The controversy surrounding prediction markets like Polymarket has drawn congressional attention, with lawmakers introducing proposals to ban betting on certain topics, including sports, government actions, and events 'ripe for rigging'. US Senator Chris Murphy stated that such markets risk 'corrupting the soul of America' by turning life-and-death events into financial products.

As Easter celebrations unfold in the UK, religious and political leaders are highlighting the urgent need for peace in the Middle East, a region plagued by conflict and violence. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, in her first Easter sermon, called for an end to the violence and destruction in the region, emphasizing the importance of “peace, justice, and freedom.”The conflict in the Middle East, which began at the end of February, has entered its sixth week, resulting in thousands of deaths and significant disruptions to global shipping routes, including an effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This has led to soaring fuel prices and concerns about the impact on the global economy.In her Easter message, Mullally prayed that all people in the region receive the peace, justice, and freedom they long for, stating, “This week, our gaze and our prayers have been turned towards the land where Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. Today, as we shout with joy that Christ is risen, let us pray and call with renewed urgency for an end to the violence and destruction in the Middle East and the Gulf.”Prime Minister Keir Starmer also addressed the conflict in his Easter message, noting that it is causing “real anxiety” for people. He described Easter as a celebration of hope, new life, and renewal, and highlighted the important role of churches and Christian communities in supporting families and neighbors.Starmer emphasized the need for unity and community in the face of challenges, stating, “Our country is at its best when we choose community over division, kindness over indifference, and service over self-interest.”

Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a space scientist and CEO of Science Innovation Ltd, says the one item she would take to the lunar surface is a hand‑sewn purple‑cloth alien crafted by her daughter during a GCSE textile project. The tiny creature, made on a loom, embodies her child's love and would serve as a reminder of family ties at the farthest point from Earth. Sheila Hancock, acclaimed actor and writer, would use the trip as a cultural boot‑camp. She plans to study the complete works of Shakespeare, the epic novel War and Peace, and the full symphonies of Mahler as interpreted by Claudio Abbado, hoping the immersion will "strengthen her weakening brain" and deepen her appreciation of human genius. Michael Akadiri, a stand‑up comedian and resident doctor, imagines a lighter itinerary: a stack of old birthday cards to revisit heartfelt messages, an old‑school notepad for real‑time reflections, and a handful of puff‑puff (Nigerian doughnuts) – a cheeky nod to his fitness‑obsessed friends. Michael Rosen, children’s author and broadcaster, would bring three nostalgic comforts: giant yellow Chilean raisins from W Martyn’s shop in Muswell Hill, an oval brown pebble from the alleyway of his teenage flat, and the “furry” blanket his wife gave him during his 2020 COVID‑19 ventilator stay, each item a tactile link to his past. Athena Kugblenu, writer and comedian, opts for practicality and humor. She would pack a pair of Crocs for comfort, the guidebook Contact by Carl Sagan as a potential alien‑communication manual, and a jar of shito sauce – a Ghanaian shrimp‑tomato condiment – to introduce extraterrestrials to Ghanaian flavor before they learn English profanity. Nels Abbey, writer and broadcaster, frames his selection as a morale‑boosting toolkit. He would carry excerpts from Gil Scott‑Heron’s "Whitey on the Moon" and stand‑up routines by Paul Mooney, using their cynical wit to cope with the psychological challenges of space travel. Collectively, the panel’s choices illustrate how personal history, artistic heritage and even culinary curiosity can anchor humanity during the most extraordinary voyages. Their whimsical yet heartfelt lists underscore the idea that, even beyond Earth, we remain tethered to the stories, flavors and objects that define us.