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Al Jazeera reporter has described ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran as 'crucial talks' at the meeting venue. The nature and specifics of these talks have not been detailed, but they are being closely watched by international observers.

The Artemis II mission has achieved a historic milestone with a successful Pacific splashdown, marking the first time humans have traveled to the moon in over 50 years. The mission's dramatic conclusion followed a voyage that unveiled previously unseen expanses of the lunar far side, a total solar eclipse, and a celestial display of planets. The four astronauts – commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen – surfaced from their floating capsule into daylight off San Diego's coast. The lunar explorers' journey was a significant step towards establishing a permanent human presence on the moon. The Orion capsule, named Integrity, executed its entire descent automatically, striking the atmosphere at Mach 33 – 33 times the speed of sound – a scorching velocity unseen since the Apollo era. The capsule endured thousands of degrees during re-entry, with the heat shield performing crucially during this phase. The successful mission paves the way for NASA's planned moon landing by another crew in two years, followed by establishing a permanent lunar base within the decade. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the crew, saying, “These were the ambassadors from humanity to the stars that we sent out there right now, and I can’t imagine a better crew.” NASA's Mission Control erupted in celebration, with hundreds pouring in from the back support rooms. “We did it,” NASA’s Lori Glaze rejoiced at a news conference. “Welcome to our moonshot.”

Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism announced on Friday that it will increase tariffs on Ecuadorian goods to 100 percent, up from 30 percent. This move is a direct response to Ecuador's decision to impose a 100 percent tariff on Colombian imports a day earlier.The trade dispute between the two South American countries has been escalating, with Ecuador citing a trade deficit and accusing Colombia of not doing enough to combat drug trafficking. However, Colombia has denied these accusations, pointing to its military operations aimed at intercepting illicit drugs, including a significant seizure last November.The diplomatic tensions have also been fueled by disagreements between the two countries' leaders. Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has clashed with Colombia's President Gustavo Petro over issues including the imprisonment of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, whom Petro has called a political prisoner.Colombian Trade Minister Diana Morales stated that her country had exhausted all diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue with Ecuador. She emphasized that the decision to increase tariffs was made to protect Colombian businesses and communities.

High-profile Iranian officials, including Tehran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have arrived in Pakistan's capital Islamabad for crucial ceasefire talks with the US. The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, who expressed optimism about the negotiations before departing for Pakistan.Vice President Vance stated, “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend an open hand.” This development comes as tensions in the region continue to escalate, with Israel pounding Lebanon in a separate incident.The talks are seen as a significant step towards de-escalation, with both sides seemingly willing to engage in dialogue. The outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching implications for the region and global stability.

The online prediction market platform Polymarket has seen a surge in users betting on global events, including war and politics. With over $500,000 staked on whether Russia will capture Kostyantynivka, Ukraine, and millions more bet on the US-Iran conflict, the platform's influence is growing.Users, often anonymous and operating in groups on messaging apps like Discord, debate and strategize on how to profit from these events. Some critics argue that this gamification of war is immoral and can lead to manipulation of broader markets.Polymarket views itself as a source of truth, providing data on the future by allowing the public to bet on it. The platform has gained attention from major investors, including the Intercontinental Exchange, which has invested up to $2bn.However, concerns arise about the platform's decision-making process, which relies on an anonymous group of people holding a cryptocurrency token called UMA. This has led to disputes over the outcome of events and accusations of corruption.Experts warn that Polymarket's influence could extend beyond the platform, potentially manipulating larger markets and affecting institutions and pension funds.

The proposed gold mine in Northern Ireland's Sperrins area has become a contentious issue, with environmental concerns clashing with the promise of economic benefits. The mine, valued at £21bn, is backed by US-owned Dalradian Gold and could bring hundreds of jobs and significant tax revenue to the area.Fidelma O'Kane and Cormac McAleer, a retired social worker and community worker, are leading the opposition to the mine. They argue that it would desecrate an area of outstanding natural beauty, pollute local rivers, and harm the health of their children. The couple has been rallying support from other locals, with over 50,000 letters of objection submitted to the planning process.Dalradian Gold claims the mine will be carbon neutral and support a supply chain worth £1bn. The company says it will create 1,000 jobs and contribute £3bn in taxes. However, opponents dispute these claims and point to the potential risks to local wildlife, including otters, pine martens, and freshwater pearl mussels.The public inquiry into the mine's planning application will begin on April 13, 2026, and will run until early June. The inquiry's outcome will be crucial in determining the fate of the mine and the future of the Sperrins area.

Willie Mullins has made the seemingly impossible look easy, securing his third consecutive win at the Grand National with I Am Maximus. This victory not only cements Mullins' reputation as a master trainer but also etches his name in the history books alongside Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain with his fourth Grand National win.The road to victory was far from straightforward. I Am Maximus, ridden by Paul Townend, faced significant challenges, including being blocked multiple times during the race. However, Townend's calm and strategic riding ultimately paid off, allowing I Am Maximus to secure a thrilling win.This achievement is all the more impressive given the challenging conditions. Mullins noted that this winter was the wettest he had experienced in 40 years, which made preparing his horses particularly difficult. Despite these obstacles, Mullins' team successfully primed I Am Maximus for the big event.The victory also marks a significant milestone for owner JP McManus, who has now secured his fourth Grand National win, a record. McManus expressed his admiration for Mullins and Townend, while also hinting at ambitions to equal Red Rum's legendary three consecutive National victories.Mullins, who will turn 70 in September, shows no signs of slowing down. He emphasized his passion for racing and his desire to continue building on his successes. With a clear focus on creating more history-making moments, Mullins and his team are already looking ahead to the next challenge.

The US State Department has taken a significant step in its ongoing efforts to crack down on individuals with ties to the Iranian regime, revoking the green cards of three Iranian nationals. This move comes as part of a broader strategy to prevent foreign nationals with connections to anti-American terrorist regimes from residing in the United States. The individuals affected include Seyed Eissa Hashemi, whose mother was a key figure in the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, known as 'Screaming Mary' for her role as a leading propagandist for the violent Islamists. The State Department also revoked the green card statuses of Hashemi's wife and son. According to the department, Hashemi entered the US in 2014 on a visa and was granted lawful permanent resident status in 2016 through the diversity immigrant visa program, which the Trump administration has since ended. The arrests and green card terminations are part of a series of actions against those the State Department deems to have ties to the current or former government of Iran. This is particularly significant given the ongoing tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, with Washington DC and Tehran recently reaching a two-week ceasefire agreement. The US has been waging war against Iran since late February, and these actions are seen as part of the US efforts to counter Iranian influence. Recent actions also include the arrest of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian military general assassinated by the US in 2020, and her daughter. The State Department has also revoked the green card status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of former Iranian national security council secretary Ali Larijani, and her husband. The situation remains complex, with US Vice-President JD Vance dispatched to Islamabad to broker peace talks, though Iranian leadership has stated they will not participate until Israel agrees to stop bombing Lebanon. The international community remains watchful as diplomatic efforts continue to navigate the intricate landscape of US-Iran relations.

Brian Cox’s latest live show, ‘Emergence’, draws its spark from Johannes Kepler’s 1609 treatise ‘The Six‑Cornered Snowflake’. Cox explains that Kepler’s wonder at the symmetry of snowflakes, written during a Prague snowstorm, embodies the modern scientific quest to understand the origins of patterns we observe.He says the show explores three realms: what we know, what we don’t know, and what may remain unknowable. This framework sets the stage for his reflections on the biggest unanswered questions in science.If he could answer any scientific mystery, Cox would choose the existence of life beyond Earth. He points to current missions—two spacecraft heading to Jupiter’s moons and the James Webb Space Telescope probing exoplanet atmospheres—as promising avenues that might soon reveal a biosignature.When asked about the future of technology, Cox warns that the trajectory of artificial intelligence is still opaque, making it both thrilling and potentially hazardous. He adds that quantum computing is another frontier with wildly divergent timelines—some experts see breakthroughs within five years, others doubt they’ll arrive in a lifetime—highlighting the revolutionary yet unpredictable nature of these tools.Cox also reflects on his shifting stance toward social media. He admits moving from early optimism about its democratizing power to a more critical view of its noise and misinformation, while acknowledging its complex impact on politics and public discourse.On personal advice, Cox stresses the importance of following one’s passion: “Do what you most enjoy,” he says, recalling his own journey from a teenage musician to a celebrated astronomer, supported by parents who encouraged his interests.He shares a memorable fan encounter: at an ELO concert, a man introduced himself as Paul McCartney after asking a question about Saturn’s moon Enceladus—an encounter that left Cox “overwhelmed” as a lifelong Beatles fan.When asked about a pop‑culture stance, Cox admits he is largely out of touch, but notes that musical innovation seems to have plateaued since the 1980s, contrasting the rapid evolution of earlier decades.One of his favorite astronomical facts is the staggering number of observable galaxies: about two trillion. He highlights how, within a century, humanity moved from debating whether other galaxies existed to quantifying an immense cosmos, also measuring its age at roughly 13.8 billion years.Brian Cox will tour ‘Emergence’ across Australia from 5 to 30 May 2026.