JD Vance is expected to travel to Pakistan Tuesday to lead the American delegation in the second round of peace talks to end the war in the Middle East, less than 24 hours before a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is set to expire.

The new round of talks in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has been thrown into doubt as Iran has not publicly committed to taking part.

It comes amid an impasse between the U.S. and Iran over marine traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump has insisted on keeping the blockade of Iranian ports while Tehran has reasserted military control over the crucial waterway.

Vice President Vance was expected to leave Washington for Islamabad Tuesday, according to reports, along with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the President’s son-in-law Jared Khushner. All three were present in the previous round of talks.

However, it remains unclear if anyone is flying to Islamabad from the Iranian side.

On Monday night, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “so far” Tehran had “no plans” to attend the talks.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was concerned about “unconstructive and contradictory signals from American officials” amid a “deep historical mistrust” of the U.S.

He said the talks so far have amounted to an effort to seek the country’s surrender. “Iranians do not submit to force,” he said.

But there were still hopes of Iranians attending the talks as one senior official told Reuters that Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation. Two Iranian officials also told the New York Times that the delegation could be headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iranian parliament, who led the last round of negotiations. He will leave if Vance does.

There were signs of preparations for the talks in Islamabad, which held the first round of negotiations on 12 April, which failed to win the concessions the U.S. sought from Iran over its nuclear program.

The city’s Serena hotel, where the previous talks were held, has been shut down for guests who were asked to leave for preparations for high-level meetings, and high security was back in the streets ahead of the arrival of foreign delegations.

Some of the roads were closed by the police with some 20,000 personnel as well as hundreds of elite commandos, including snipers, taking positions across Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi city.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Monday that preparations for talks have been completed. He added “foolproof security arrangements have been made for foreign delegations”.

A senior Pakistani government official told Reuters that they were confident it could get Iran to attend the talks.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Ghalibaf said Iran has “prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield” as Tehran would not accept negotiations under the shadows of threats.

“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table – in his own imagination – into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” he wrote.

The talks – if they take place – will happen as Trump has refused to lift its blockage of Iranian ports till a deal is reached with Tehran.

Trump said the U.S. was winning the conflict “by a lot” and the blockade of the key waterway was “absolutely destroying Iran”.

A Pakistani security source said Pakistani mediator, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had ‌told Trump the blockade which began a week ago was an obstacle to talks.

U.S. forces have directed 27 vessels from the strait since the blockade began, forcing them to turn around or return to Iranian ports.

The U.S. also intercepted an Iranian-flagged commercial tanker and seized it for the first time since the conflict began, in what Tehran has called an “act of piracy” and a violation of the temporary ceasefire between the two countries.

Trump is eager for a deal that would help avoid another surge in oil prices and plunge in stock markets while Iran hopes to leverage its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel for global energy supplies, to get an agreement that prevents a resumption of the war, and allows financial relief fromlong-running sanctions and some breathing room for its ⁠nuclear program.

An investigation has been launched by military cops into claims that a teenage soldier was subjected to a sex attack in his barracks.

A rookie Scots soldier aged 17 has been sexually assaulted by two fellow squaddies who filmed the attack just weeks into his basic training.

Two soldiers in their 20s have been arrested after the young man, from Fife, was attacked last week at Catterick Army base in Yorkshire.

It’s alleged that the assault took place while the 17 year old was asleep in his barracks.

One of the two recruits is said to have carried out the sex attack while the second soldier filmed it.

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SNP shadow defence spokesperson Dave Doogan MP said: “These reports are extremely concerning and my thoughts are with the victim of this alleged attack.

“The army has an indisputable duty of care to new recruits and especially so when these recruits are children at Catterick.”

Another trainee soldier is thought to have overheard the two suspects in a toilet area discussing what they had done.

He then alerted senior officers and the two men, both in their mid 20’s, were arrested by the Royal Military Police and detained in custody. It’s understood that their mobile phones were also seized and examined.

The 17 year old was taken to hospital for an examination and has since returned to training.

A source said:”Everyone is shocked by what is said to have happened and the allegations against the two men.

“It is not known at this stage what will happen to the two soldiers who have been charged.

“They are currently being held in custody in Catterick.

“The allegations are particularly serious given the age of the victim.”

The 17 year old and the two accused were part of a platoon taking part in basic training.

After eleven weeks the recruits are assigned to an infantry regiment and then their training continues for another 14 weeks.

Once the training is completed the soldiers join their regiment after their passing out parade.

The British Military, including army, have the power to prosecute cases up to murder at a Court Martial and impose prison sentences up to life.

Crimes involving British armed forces personnel are usually handled by the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA).

However cases can also be passed passed to the civilian authorities.

The Infantry Training Centre at Catterick trains all the Army’s Infantry soldiers and Royal Armoured Corps troops.

The British Army has come under fire in recent years over allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

Five years ago 19 year old soldier Jaysley Beck was found dead in her barracks in Wiltshire after a Christmas party.

An inquest concluded that she died by suicide, finding that the Army’s failure to properly handle her report of sexual assault and harassment by a superior officer contributed to her death.

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In 2020, Dominic Moore, a former Captain in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards was dismissed from the Army after being convicted of sexually assaulting a young female cadet at a formal military dinner in Scotland.

Last year a record £3.2million was paid to compensate victims of rapes and other sexual assaults by military personnel, including £2.3m relating to Army staff.

In September 2024 officials paid compensation to a former soldier who claimed she was raped by a colleague while a teenager and then groomed into a sexual relationship with an officer meant to be looking after her welfare when stationed in Gibralter.

The Ministry of Defence recently announced a £500,000 boost to its sexual violence support unit after a survey revealed 67% of women in the military had experienced sexualised behaviour at work, and had suffered sexual assault.

More than 500 women who served in the British Army have come forward and alleged they were sexually abused while undergoing medical examinations during recruitment.

Wiltshire Police is carrying out a nationwide investigation relating to medical checks carried out between the 1970s and 2016.

Detectives say the alleged offences took place at multiple recruitment sites across the country and may involve several perpetrators.

A Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) spokesperson said:”Two members of the Armed Forces have been arrested following an investigation by the DSCC.

“As the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, we will not comment further.”

The deferred Hospital Parking Charges Act was passed by the Stormont Assembly before its collapse in 2022 and would scrap charges for patients, staff and visitors at public hospital sites in the region

MLAs have backed a three‑year deferral of legislation on free hospital parking.

If the change is put on hold until May 2029, it would come into force seven years after it was approved by the Assembly.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said making hospital parking free is a “legitimate and a compassionate aim” but the financial situation facing the health and social care sector has “changed significantly”.

The Hospital Parking Charges Act was passed by the Stormont Assembly before its collapse in 2022 and would scrap charges for patients, staff and visitors at public hospital sites in the region.

It was originally intended to be introduced in May 2024 but was deferred for two years after a request from former health minister Robin Swann due to budgetary pressures.

It has been estimated that providing and maintaining car parking services after charges end will cost the health service about £7million annually.

Mr Nesbitt told MLAs during debate on the new Bill’s final stage that the move to defer is “not a reversal of principle, nor does it reflect any lack of readiness on the part of the Health and Social Care Trust to implement the Act”.

“The purpose of this deferral is to protect frontline services from the immediate and unmanaged loss of income which the abolition of parking charges would have entailed, removing approximately £7million each year of trust budgets,” he said.

“In the current financial environment that loss would inevitably have to be offset through reductions elsewhere, directly affecting services provided to patients and to families.”

He added: “The reality of the budget proposals published by the finance minister is that the funding available for health services in Northern Ireland in the coming years will be relatively lower than in England, Scotland or Wales, but it’s been confirmed time and time again – need here is higher.

“That means difficult and responsible decisions are unavoidable, and in that context, proceeding with the abolition of parking charges at this time would simply be unaffordable.”

The minister clarified that the Bill allows for deferral for up to three years, with May 2029 acting as a backstop, and during this period staff parking permits will remain free of charge alongside a needs-based system.

“If financial sustainability is achieved sooner than expected, the legislation allows the 2022 Act to come into operation at an earlier date,” Mr Nesbitt said.

Sinn Fein MLA Phillip McGuigan said his party would not support the deferral because the “delay also has a cost, a cost felt by patients attending appointments, a cost felt by families sitting at bedside, and a cost felt by staff turning up day after day to keep our health service going”.

“I think if the health minister was to look deeply into the budget, he would find other examples where costs can be cut,” he said.

“So millions can be lost to delay and overruns and mismanagement, and yet, the solution offered here today through this Bill is to keep charging families to park at our hospitals? I don’t think that’s credible.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable that patient staff and families are being asked to plug gaps created elsewhere within our health system.

“So being honest with what’s in front of us today, the Bill doesn’t stop charges. It prolongs them. It asks people to keep paying for longer, despite this Assembly already agreeing that those charges should go.”

DUP MLA Diane Dodds said she was aware of “so many issues that cannot be resolved because of a lack of money”, but quoted research from Young Lives Versus Cancer showing 62% of young cancer patients still have to pay for parking despite needs-based concessions.

“Young families who have a child diagnosed with cancer go through an enormously traumatic experience,” she said.

“They spend their lives devoted to that child in hospital. Their income suffers remarkably as a result – we shouldn’t add to their burden.”

Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said the 2022 Act was a “positive initiative” but “impacting issues” have come to light.

“While there are other issues to raise in terms of how sustainable and fit for purpose the budgeting models of our current system are, I can still understand that difficult decisions are having to be made and this is clearly one of them,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition, SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole, said the move to defer further was “Kafkaesque”.

“The last legislative act when we left this chamber in 2022 was to pass this Bill; the first act when we came back, other than a routine budget Bill, was to delay it,” he said.

“That is preposterous, and it’s not acceptable, and it needs to be called out.”

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said waiting for the alleviation of hospital charges is “like waiting for Godot – it’ll never come”.

“If you look up ‘hames’ in the dictionary, you can see a picture of this Bill and how this has been handled by this minister, previous minister and the Executive on the whole,” he said.

In his concluding remarks Mr Nesbitt said he had written to the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to request they expedite royal assent to bring the Bill into force, to “avoid the potential disruption from car parking charges being abolished temporarily on the 12 May”.

“In the event car parking charges are abolished temporarily, I would ask members to support the trust as they seek to minimise the inevitable disruption that may follow,” he said.

The Bill was passed 42 in favour, 25 against.

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Few actors have had a career as eclectic as Sheridan Smith, but she’s gearing up for the most radically different role she’s ever played.

The Gavin & Stacey star, 44, is currently preparing for the new ITV drama Two Birds, where she stars as a troubled police officer in Australia.

Smith is already on a strict eating plan and has signed up for a £2,350 bootcamp programme to play Constable Izzie Cronwell, who flees the UK for a new life Down Under after the death of her husband.

At a screening for her surprisingly charming new thriller The Cage attended by Metro, Smith spoke about the biggest gamble of her career, pointing to her next ambitious project, which is filming in the Outback.

‘I’m not very good at gambling, but the job I’m doing next is the most different to me,’ she said.

‘I’ve got to do gun training, combat training, and learn to ride a motorbike, which I’ve fallen off twice already, in Australia. That might be a gamble.’

But it will never be a bigger gamble than that of her character in The Cage, Leanne – a desperate single mum who sees an opportunity to swipe piles of cash from the casino she works at to support her kids and her grandma, who is deteriorating with dementia.

Leanne discovers she’s not the only staff member sneakily squeezing the casino for all it’s worth.

This is England’s Michael Socha stars as Matty, who is in an equally precarious financial situation. When his debts pile up, he finds himself unwillingly having to shift a stack of cocaine to make ends meet – which quickly turns into disaster.

Written by Tony Schumacher, the Liverpudlian talent behind the Bafta-winning police drama The Responder, The Cage is a fast-paced thriller packed with adrenaline and drama.

Comparisons to Netflix’s drug heist series Ozark are inevitable and flattering, but if anything, The Cage has much more heart.

‘The tone of the show was something we thought about a lot, actually,’ said Michael. ‘The main thing that comes through with Tony’s writing is the heart and the warmth. We didn’t want to make it gritty, we didn’t want to make it dark, we wanted to make it warm.

‘There are two sides to Tony’s writing that are both amazing. One is the realism; you believe in the characters, you believe in the world, but then at the same time, he’s able to heighten that reality into something a little bit more escapist.’

Sheridan agreed: ‘What Tony does amazingly is that he just writes amazing characters. On the page, straight away they’re flawed, they’re complicated, they’re funny, but there’s sad moments too.

‘Tony’s writing is fun to play as an actor because that’s what life is, we’re all – especially me – flawed. He’s just a genius [to be able to] do the heavy stuff and then make it funny, and pull the rug from [under] the viewer.’

The Cage launches Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.

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Peter will take centre stage at the Albert Halls in the town centre in July, where he will perform four shows.

It is a venue he last performed at in 2003, recording the iconic Peter Kay: Live at the Bolton Albert Halls, which to this day is the biggest-selling stand-up DVD of all time in the UK.

A young Peter Kay

Peter, who is one of the nation’s favourite comedians, said: “I can’t believe it’s 23 years since my Albert Halls shows, so I reckon it’s about time I came back.

“I’m really looking forward to it.

“The shows are a thank you to the people of Bolton for their support over the years, but especially Bolton Hospice, which is an amazing charity and would not be able to provide the help it does without donations.”

(Image: NQ)

The surprise Bolton shows will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (July 9 to 11) at 7.30pm, as well as a matinee on Saturday (July 11) at 2.30pm.

Peter has been playing his sold-out UK live comedy tour, Better Late Than Never, since late 2022 to huge arena crowds.

The July shows will be an intimate version of his latest tour’s material and an unexpected treat for people from Bolton (and parts of Bury) only.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, April 24 at 10am and are limited to fans who live at a BL postcode.

 All profits will be donated to Bolton Hospice.

Poster (Image: Agency)

Chair of Bolton Hospice, Judith Bromley, said: “What a fantastic surprise this is – we can’t thank Peter enough for his ongoing support of the hospice.

“The money raised from these shows in Bolton will make a huge difference to all the local people who use our vital services.”

(Image: Newsquest)

Tickets will only be available via Quay Tickets: https://tix.to/PKBolton quaytickets.com/boltonalberthalls

Last September, Peter took part in a sell-out ‘in conversation with’ Sara Cox for Bolton Hospice and the Crescent Foodbank Bolton.

Sir Ian McKellen also chose the Albert Halls to celebrate his 80th birthday and to raise money for charity.

The Hallmark Channel has faced criticism following the announcement of its new original romcom All’s Fair in Love and Mahjong, which features a majority white cast.

Set to premiere May 9, the movie stars Fiona Gubelmann, Paul Campbell, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Tamera Mowry-Housley and Melissa Peterman, and follows a school nurse who turns her love of the Chinese tile-based game Mahjong into a new path, according to a logline. Invented in China in the mid-to-late 19th century, Mahjong was developed from older Chinese card and domino games and features 144 tiles, each marked with Chinese symbols representing currency, numbers and cultural values.

While Lowe, 45, is half Chinese, the network is being criticized on social media for not having greater Asian representation in its main cast and “appropriating” Chinese culture.

“This slap-in-the-face Hallmark movie is coming out during AAPI Heritage Month,” one person wrote on Threads, adding that “the whitewashed tiles and cast are not surprising from the studio.”

“Lord what in what in the West Caucasia is this,” someone quipped on Instagram, with a second similarly echoing: “No because seriously, what in the colonization is going on?”

“Ah yes, nothing says Happy AAPI Month like appropriating Asian culture,” a third commented.

“Because when I see a picture of these women, I think Mahjong,” a fourth joked.

“Why don’t yt [sic] ppl just stick to their culture instead of profiting off of others?” a fifth questioned, with another adding: “There was always a choice to NOT greenlight this film #justsaying.”

The Independent has contacted Hallmark for comment.

The day before the movie’s latest promotional post on Instagram, the e-commerce website Miss Mahjong revealed that it was partnering with Hallmark to release Miss Heirloom, a special purple, green and white Mahjong set featuring non-traditional symbols — the same set used in the movie.

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“Yall couldn’t even use a traditional mahjong set or what? Or work with an Asian owned company?” one person questioned. “Are there Asian writers on your team? How much of the cast is Chinese, and is it a Chinese leading story? Cause this poster is giving yall didn’t put thought into this.”

The backlash comes years after the network upset conservatives by releasing its first original Christmas movie focused solely on an LGBT+ love story.

At the time, former Hallmark darling Candace Cameron Bure, who left the network for the “more conservative” Great American Family network, addressed the 2022 LGBT+ movie, telling the Wall Street Journal that GAF would likely not follow suit and instead keep “traditional marriage at the core.”

In the same interview, the Full House star addressed her departure from the network, saying: “It basically is a completely different network than when I started because of the change of leadership.”

Following her comments, Mean Girls actor Lacey Chabert defended Hallmark, saying she “found a real home.”

“Any shift I’ve felt has been embracing our creative ideas, and it’s my responsibility to the audience who continue to tune into my movies that I give the best I have to offer,” Chabert said in an interview with Vulture. “That’s always my mission.

“I’ll never abandon what Hallmark means for me, which is that everything is centered around the heart. I don’t think there are any plans for that to change anytime soon.”

Doctor Amir Khan is known for sharing all sorts of health tips with his followers, but he recently urged Brits to complete a simple task before bed to aid sleep

Most of us wish for a good night’s rest, and there’s an easy method to help you get back to sleep if you keep waking up at night. However, if you want to try and get a good night’s sleep in the first place, it turns out you may need to complete a simple task before bed.

According to TV star and health expert, Doctor Amir Khan, Brits need to do one thing to try and get a good night’s sleep each night. You may not have realised, but there’s something called sleep hygiene, and it’s super important if you want to dose off peacefully each night.

It comes as various people have expressed having issues with sleep. In fact, many wake up at 3am for exactly the same reason.

In a previous video shared on Instagram, he said: “Sleep hygiene refers to healthy sleeping habits, and good sleep is crucial to your mental and physical health. Now, if you don’t sleep well, try doing the following steps to see if we can improve it.

“Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Try to go to sleep and to wake up about the same time each day, even on weekends.

“This reinforces your body’s internal sleep clock, and aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Create a relaxing bedtime routine.

“This helps you unwind and get ready for sleep. 30 to 60 minutes before bed, take a warm bath or shower, do some gentle stretches or meditation, read a book, but not on an electronic device.

“Remember, avoid emotional or stressful conversations or any talk about work in the lead up to sleep. Stress is one of the most common reasons people lie awake at night.”

Doctor Amir also urged people to ask for help if they ever need it. He noted one of the biggest mistakes you can make is use electronic devices before you go to sleep.

It’s best not to have your phone near you when you’re in bed either. Keep it out of sight to avoid distractions.

He also shared some other tips too, as simple changes could make a big difference. Doctor Amir just told people to remember that they need to stick at it if they introduce these measures, as it can take two to four weeks for them to take effect.

What you need to do

While there are a few tricks you can try, taking a warm bath or shower before bed can significantly improve sleep quality. It’s reported it can also help you fall asleep faster.

Spending as little as 10 minutes doing this around an hour before bed allows your body to cool down afterward. It also signals the brain to release melatonin and trigger sleepiness.

A warm bath eases muscle tension and reduces stress, relaxing both the body and mind for deeper rest. Therefore, there are some real benefits to washing the day off before going to sleep.

If you have severe issues with sleep, contact a doctor for further advice. Always reach out to a GP if you’re worried about your health.

You can check your payments are correct online

Many DWP payments are failing to arrive in people’s bank accounts, with people missing out on £3,000 in the average case. Benefits experts have shared some helpful guidance about the worrying trend.

Thousands of pounds a year in payments are failing to arrive as they should for one simple reason: people are not claiming the support they are due. Experts at debt advice group Money Wellness warn that in their experience, people are missing out on around £3,000 a year age, the same as £250 a month. Rebecca Lamb, external relations manager at Money Wellness, said people frequently fail to apply for what they are entitled to, even when they are aware that the support exists. She said: “It’s not just awareness. There are other barriers too.

“Stigma is still a big one. A lot of people feel uncomfortable about claiming benefits, especially if they’ve worked all their lives.” For instance, those of state pension age on a low income may be eligible to claim Pension Credit.

Income boost

You may have always supported yourself financially throughout your working life and plan to continue doing so in retirement. But this particular benefit could make a big difference. The average claim is worth more than £4,000 in support, topping up your weekly income while also unlocking access to additional help.

The benefit boosts your income to up to £238 a week for single claimants and up to £363.25 a week for couples. Additional amounts may be available depending on your personal circumstances, such as if you have a severe disability or if you care for another adult.

The process can put people off

Ms Lamb warned that another problem is people being deterred by the lengthy application process. She said: “The process can also put people off.

“It can feel complicated, it’s definitely time-consuming, and it can be quite overwhelming if you’re already struggling. There’s also fear of being rejected, which stops people even trying.

“And sometimes it’s just life. People are busy, they’re dealing with bills, work, family pressures, and applying for support gets pushed to the bottom of the list.”

She urged for more action to boost awareness. The advocate said: “There’s a real opportunity for more organisations to be more proactive. At the moment, too much relies on people knowing when to check, and in reality, most people don’t.

“If the DWP or local authorities could prompt people when something changes – even just a simple message saying ‘you may want to check what you’re now entitled to’ – that could make a real difference.”

Better signposting

She suggested that service providers such as banks and utility companies could also do their bit, by directing people towards support if they are missing payments or dipping into their overdraft.

Ms Lamb said: “They’re often in a position to see the early signs first, with things like overdrafts creeping up or missed payments. That’s usually the point where a bit of signposting to benefits checks or debt advice could really help people before things get worse.”

You can get an estimate of what benefits you may be eligible for using an online calculator tool. There are several available, including the Better Off Calculator.