Air quality has improved dramatically in some of the world’s biggest cities, a report has found, with Beijing (main picture), London and Paris among those leading the way. 

The research, conducted by campaign group Breathe Cities, identified 19 metropolises that have slashed air pollution by between 20% and 40% in just 15 years. Nearly half were in Asia, where improvements came despite rapid economic development. Nine were in China. 

An embrace of cycling, the introduction of clean air zones and a switch to electric vehicles were among the leading drivers of air quality improvements, the report found. However, there’s much work to be done. Separate research shows that only 14% of cities globally met the World Health Organization’s pollution guidelines in 2025.  

Air pollution is the world’s leading environmental health risk, driving respiratory and cardiovascular disease, asthma, and premature births, with lower-income communities most affected. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. 

“The pathway to cleaner air has been tested at scale – now it’s about enabling more cities to follow it,” said Cecilia Vaca Jones, Breathe Cities’ executive director.

The cities identified in the report are: Brussels (Belgium); Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Wuhan and Zhenjiang (China); Paris (France); Berlin and Heidelberg (Germany); Rome (Italy); Amsterdam and Rotterdam (Netherlands); Warsaw (Poland); London (England); and San Francisco (US).

Related: 10 ways that future urban living will be greener

Image: Kristi Blokhin

ISLAMABAD (AP) — As fears of a wider regional conflict escalate following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February, Pakistan has emerged as an unexpected mediator, offering to help bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table.

Islamabad isn’t often called on to act as an intermediary in high-stakes diplomacy, but it’s stepped into the role this time for a number of reasons, both because it has relatively good ties with both Washington and Tehran and because it has a lot at stake in seeing the war resolved.

Pakistani government officials have said that their public peace effort follows weeks of quiet diplomacy, though they have provided few details. They have also said that Islamabad stands ready to host talks between representatives from the U.S. and Iran.

Here’s what to know about Pakistan’s mediation effort:

Pakistan helped US deliver 15-point plan to Iran

Pakistan’s role in Iran-U.S. negotiations surfaced only days ago following media reports. Officials in Islamabad later acknowledged that a U.S. proposal had been conveyed to Iran.

It remains unclear who has served as Iran’s point of contact in the indirect talks. Iran has maintained it has not held such talks and dismissed the U.S. proposal, but Tehran has acknowledged responding with its own proposals.

According to Pakistani officials, U.S. messages are being passed to Iran and Iranian responses relayed to Washington, though they did not specify how the process is being handled or who is directly communicating with whom. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said this week that Turkey and Egypt are also working behind the scenes to bring the sides to the negotiating table.

Abdullah Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, said that Pakistani’s mediation efforts may be contributing to relative restraint in the conflict. He noted that U.S. President Donald Trump has delayed his threats of large-scale attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure citing diplomatic progress, and Iranian responses toward U.S. interests in the Gulf have been measured in what may be an effort to preserve space for diplomacy.

Ties with both US and Iran set Pakistan up for new role

Previous US-Iran negotiations have been facilitated mainly by countries in the Middle East, including Oman and Qatar, but as they come under Iranian fire during the war Pakistan has stepped into the role.

Analysts say Pakistan’s geographic proximity to Iran — it’s one of its neighbors — coupled with its longstanding ties with the U.S., gives it a unique position at a time when direct communication between the two sides remains constrained.

Islamabad has good working relations with most of the key parties in the war, including both the U.S. and Iran. It has close strategic ties with Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, with which it signed a defense cooperation agreement last year. However, Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel because of the lingering issue of Palestinian statehood.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan have improved since last year, with increased diplomatic engagement and expanding economic ties. Pakistan also joined Trump’s Board of Peace, which aims to ensure peace in Gaza, despite opposition from Islamists at home.

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to the Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, whom Trump has publicly described as his “favorite Field Marshal.” Analysts say he’s a player who enjoys good ties with both the Iranian and U.S. militaries.

Pakistan has a lot at stake in ceasefire talks

The conflict poses some of “the biggest economic and energy security challenges” in Pakistan’s history, said Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Mohammad Ali.

The country gets most of its oil and gas from the Middle East — and, he said, the five million Pakistanis working in the Arab world send home remittances each year roughly equal to the country’s total export earnings.

Rising tensions have already contributed to higher global oil prices, forcing Pakistan to increase fuel prices by about 20% and putting pressure on the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The war is also adding to domestic turmoil, even as Pakistan has been grappling for months with its own conflict with neighboring Afghanistan. Islamabad has accused the country’s Taliban government of tolerating militant groups that are behind attacks in Pakistan.

Earlier this month, protests erupted across the country following U.S. strikes on Iran, with demonstrators clashing with security forces in several cities.

A day after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, clashes erupted in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi and in parts of the north, leaving at least 22 people dead and more than 120 injured nationwide.

At least 12 people were killed in and around the U.S. Consulate in Karachi after a mob breached the compound and attempted to set it on fire.

Khamenei was a central religious and political figure for Shiites worldwide, including in Pakistan.

Pakistan has a record as a mediator

While Pakistan rarely serves as a mediator, its record does include playing a role in some very high-profile talks.

Pakistan’s then-President Gen. Yahya Khan facilitated backchannel contacts that led to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to China. That paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic ties between Washington and Beijing in 1979.

Since then, Pakistan has played a role in several other complex regional conflicts, most notably during the 1988 Geneva Accords that paved the way for the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Acting as a frontline state and key interlocutor, Islamabad participated in U.N.-brokered negotiations while working closely with the United States and other stakeholders and helped increase pressure on Moscow to pull out its forces.

More recently, Pakistan facilitated contacts between the Afghan Taliban and Washington that led to talks in Doha that culminated in a 2020 agreement and set the stage for the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO troops and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

___

Castillo reported from Beijing.

Parents should limit screen time for children under five to no more than one hour a day, according to new government advice.

Bedtime and mealtimes should also be free from screens, families will be advised, while they should be avoided entirely for under-twos, other than for shared activities encouraging interaction.

The new guidance comes as ministers consider Australia-style measures to limit or ban social media for under-16s, amid growing concerns about the impact technology has on the wellbeing and development of children.

Sir Keir Starmer promised the new guidance would help families keep children safe and build healthy habits.

“Parenting in a digital world can feel relentless,” he said. “Screens are everywhere, and the advice is often conflicting. My government will not leave parents to face this battle alone.”

He also suggested that ministers were prepared to put up a fight on the issue in the months ahead. “There will be some who will oppose us doing this. But whether it’s navigating technology, tackling the cost of living or balancing the demands of family life, I will always stand on the side of parents doing their best for their children,” he said.

Between the ages of two and five, families will be urged to try music, games, stories and colouring at bedtimes and mealtimes.

The guidance also advises watching screens with children and discussing the content with them.

Parents will also be warned away from fast-paced social media-style videos, as well as toys or tools that use AI.

When it comes to under-twos, screens should be avoided other than for shared activities encouraging interaction, which could include video-calling friends and family or looking through photos together.

Ministers have previously said that around 98 per cent of children watch screens daily by the age of two.

The guidance was developed by a panel led by children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and children’s health expert Professor Russell Viner.

The panel found long periods of time on screens can impact activities which are important for good development such as sleep, physical activity, creative play and interaction with parents.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I know how hard it is to navigate parenting in a world full of screens.

“They’re unavoidable, but it often feels impossible to tell whether you’re getting the balance right.

“That’s why we’re giving parents the clear, trusted support they’ve asked for – so families can make informed choices, and children can have the childhood they deserve.”

Infants with the most screen time are significantly less likely to regularly be read to or go on trips outside, the Education Policy Institute has found.

The panel also recommended in its report that parents should think about their own screen use in the presence of their children, and consider screen-free periods of the day for the whole family.

James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said it welcomed the guidance.

“Navigating an increasingly digital world where screens are everywhere can be a real challenge for parents, and school leaders are increasingly concerned about the impact of excessive screen use by young children,” he said, warning it can cause “real issues”.

“Whether you want to save your legs or just enjoy the ride, the Zoo Express is the perfect way to get around.”

Belfast Zoo has shared a first look at its brand-new accessible train, ready to make visits even easier and more enjoyable.

Launching this Friday, March 27, the hop-on, hop-off Zoo Express train is set to be available for all and follows a £75,000 investment.

Announcing the news, a Belfast Zoo spokesperson said: “Hop on at the once you leave the Visitor Centre and travel in comfort to the Penguin Habitat or Treetop Tea Room and back again! You can hop on and off throughout your visit, so exploring the Zoo just got a whole lot easier.

READ MORE: Belfast Zoo to get new hop-on, hop-off accessible trainREAD MORE: Sad day for Belfast Zoo as two of world’s rarest Barbary Lions pass away

“Whether you want to save your legs or just enjoy the ride, the Zoo Express is the perfect way to get around.”

Welcoming the move earlier this week, SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte described the investment as “an important step in making the attraction more inclusive for visitors”.

Cllr Whyte said: “For years, people have quite rightly pointed out that the steep nature of Belfast Zoo can make it difficult to fully enjoy.

“This investment is a really important step forward. It means that in future, everyone, including families with young children and prams, people with disabilities, and older visitors will be able to experience everything the zoo has to offer through a fully accessible hop-on, hop-off service.

“With the worst of the winter weather behind us, now is a brilliant time to visit Belfast Zoo. It’s home to a wide range of endangered species, all cared for by highly trained animal experts who are doing vital conservation work every day.

“This new addition will help ensure that even more people can enjoy and support that work.”

Tickets for train will be priced at £3.50 per adult | £2 per child. Available to book at admissions on arrival (first-come, first-served).

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The Dutchman, who on Thursday ejected a journalist from his news conference because he was unhappy about a question that was asked at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was behind Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, Williams’ Alex Albon and the Haas of Oliver Bearman.

Earlier in the day, Russell led Antonelli by 0.026secs in the first hour’s session.

And Mercedes’ apparent superiority was underlined on the race-simulation runs late in the second session, with Antonelli leading the way from Russell and no one else within within 0.5secs on average.

Both Ferrari drivers seemed to be struggling for grip. Leclerc suffered some wobbles through the Esses and ran off track at Spoon Curve later on, while Hamilton complained he was “slow because I’ve got no confidence in the car”.

Norris’ early problem was a hydraulics failure, which McLaren fixed after half an hour.

He was far from the only driver to have problems. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad took no part because of a gearbox problem that required a new part, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto spent nearly three-quarters of the session in the garage with an unspecified technical problem.

And Cadillac’s Sergio Perez also missed about half the session while the team repaired floor damage caused by a collision with Albon in the first session.

Fernando Alonso had his first taste of Suzuka this year in the second session, after American reserve driver Jak Crawford drove in the first.

The veteran Spaniard, who arrived late in Japan following the birth of his first child, was 19th fastest, two places and 0.355secs ahead of team-mate Lance Stroll.

Honda F1 boss Koji Watanabe said both performance and reliability should be improved for the company’s home race this weekend.

Watanabe said: “We are focused on how we can improve the situation of vibration, mainly damage to battery area, but also this time for Suzuka we have improved energy management situation for more driving performance.”

Customers will be able to buy Mulino’s “staple” biscotti

An Italian baking duo known for their pop-up restaurant will be opening their first physical bakery soon. Mulino Cambridge Kitchen, run by Sasha Gatti and Chiara Bertoletti, has been providing authentic Italian baked goods for businesses across Cambridgeshire since 2023.

Sasha and Chiara had been working at different bakeries and restaurants before deciding to open their business. Mulino Cambridge Kitchen started at local farmers markets where the pair would sell fresh pasta and produce before it branched out into catering and a pop-up restaurant at Barbarella in Cambridge.

Mr Gatti said: “Recently, we had a very good opportunity come through to move and scale up our production in a bigger site closer to Cambridge and we decided to go with it. Now we will have a bigger place and we have some space for our own shop.”

Mr Gatti said being able to open their own shop feels “amazing” and the pair have been “fantasising” about it for a long time. The shop will start off slowly by being open only one day as week, with Mr Gatti wanting to expand the business if there is demand for it.

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The bakery will feature a range of “staple” products with both sweet and savoury options as well other essential products and cosmetics, subject to planning permission. Customers will be able to buy biscotti, sweet rolls, cookies, cakes, and pizza bread, which will all be homemade.

When asked what products are his favourite, Mr Gatti had a few choices. He said: “My personal favourite product is bread. I love bread but I would recommend the biscotti because I like having them with wine. Some of our biscotti are very good with white or red wine. They’re a bit sweet and the bitterness of the wine complements the sweetness of the biscotti.”

The pair have already received lots of support about the opening of the bakery. Mr Gatti said: “We experienced a very positive response from our public and friends as well. Everyone was very supportive even though the pop-up is ending and we can no longer do that anymore. They were a little bit sad because, at the end of a project, it’s always a little bit sad. But everyone was very supportive and very happy about the new project.”

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Mulino Cambridge Kitchen’s bakery will be open on Saturdays from 9.30am to 2.30pm from mid-April. The bakery can be found at the Running Horse in Burrough Green.

Ewan McKenna, 19, has unveiled soaring first hit ‘Like Us’ and, like his own story, there’s a little bit of magic to it.

An Airdrie teenager who got his big musical break supporting fellow home town singer Nathan Evans at The Hydro has released his debut single.

Ewan McKenna, 19, has unveiled soaring first hit Like Us and, like his own story, there’s a little bit of magic to it.

Bored at home in Airdrie during lockdown, Ewan picked up the guitar his uncle lent him and “mucked about on it ‘til it started sounding alright”.

His family’s considerable vinyl collection gave him plenty of inspiration and, if he got stuck, he’d find performances on YouTube and work out what they were doing by “copying their fingers”.

At 15, Ewan joined a band as lead guitarist and, when the singer left, he stepped up, saying. “I’d never really sung before, but nobody else wanted to do it, so I gave it a bash.

“The more I did it, the more confident I got.”

A stint at music college was “too much like being at school,” so, needing to earn some money, Ewan went around the local pubs seeing if they would give him a gig.

READ MORE: NHS Lanarkshire supporting campaign to highlight positive impact of 20-year Scots public smoking ban

He added: “If they had a gap when the usual singer was off, they’d give me a try and usually I’d end up getting a regular slot.”

Soon afterwards, he was playing seven gigs a week, three or four hours a night, and posting covers to a growing following on TikTok.

When Ewan heard about a search for a new artist to support Airdrie musician Nathan Evans at Glasgow’s 14,000 capacity Hydro Arena, he was reluctant to enter because “people like me don’t win these things, do they?”

But, of course, he did win and said: “If nobody had filmed it, I don’t think I would believe I was there.”

He’d put the hours in, though, so the crowd got a great show, like he was meant to be on the big stage.

In fact, it helped put Ewan on the shortlist for ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at this year’s Scottish Live Music Awards.

READ MORE: Airdrie to host GeekFest 2026 in aid of Diamonds in the Community charity

Ewan’s first release Like Us shows why there’s such a buzz around his voice and song writing but new fans shouldn’t expect him to over-share about its meaning.

Ewan said: “I try to make my songs as real as possible but what they’re actually about doesn’t really matter.

“Hopefully people can get their own meaning out of them.

“I just want to be able to do this as a job.

“Everyone comes out of school and wants to get a trade or whatever. I’ve found mine and I’ve put a lot into it.

“I don’t want to stop now.”

READ MORE: Duo team up to transform their lives side-by-side and scoop Slimming World award

Ewan is also set to once again support Nathan Evans, and Wishaw’s Saint PHNX Band on their European tour, with dates in Paris and Amsterdam this weekend, April 28 and 29, and three gigs in Germany in August.

You can follow Ewan on TikTok and Instagram, while his single Like Us is available to download or own now.

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Emergency services were called to Forton Services on the M6 in Lancashire after the body of Lancaster University student Michele Chung was sadly found – with an inquest now underway

A university student was tragically found dead at a service station on a busy motorway, a court heard.

Emergency services were called to Forton Services on the M6 in Lancashire on February 19 after the body of Lancaster University student Michele Chung was found. The 21-year-old, who was born in Wales, was a second year earth and environmental science student at the time of her death.

An inquest into Michele’s death was opened and adjourned at Preston Coroners’ Court on Thursday March 26. Area Coroner Emma Mather confirmed that Michele’s body had been identified by Detective Inspector Mark Green using her ID card.

A final inquest is due to be held at Preston Coroners’ Court on June 25 before Area Coroner Kate Bisset, reports Lancashire Live.

In a tribute posted online after Michele’s death, Lancaster University said: “The University deeply regrets to report the death of Earth and Environmental Science student Michele Chung. The University was notified of Michele’s death on Thursday 19 February, and has since sought to reach out to those closest to her to offer direct support.

“Michele was a Lonsdale College member who was in the second year of her degree, having joined Lancaster in 2024, and was also a member of the Pokémon and Doctor Who societies. The cause of Michele’s death has not yet been confirmed. This will be a very difficult time for all who knew her, and the thoughts of the University community are with all her friends and family.”

On Michele’s LinkedIn profile she described herself as “creative and curious”. She wrote: “Throughout my life, I have been interested in the combination of both science and the arts. There is an art in anything and everything we do. I want to help make our planet better for its species, wildlife and people whether that is in air, land or sea or even space.

“This is our planet – Earth we live on and it’s our duty of care to protect where we live. My experiences have taught me the impacts different people have on different environments and vice versa and raising awareness about these impacts and actions we can take are fundamental.

“Our Earth keeps changing for better or for worse. We need to know how our planet will change in the future as well as learning from our past, knowledge which could resolve the biggest environmental issues. There is magic in the environment and the connections between everyone and everything are so full of life which I want to help protect.

“I am currently searching for work experience in the Earth and Environmental Science field. Within this broad sector, I am interested in research in aquatic, marine and glacial life and environments and hydrology. I’m a creative, curious and determined individual who can adapt in new environments and would like to develop my skill set within the Earth and Environmental Science sector.”

Philip Parrish, aged 39, pilfered the items from addresses in the Bromley Cross area on February 6.

Parrish, who is of Pole Street, Tonge Moor, broke into the garage of one property before pinching the bottle of milk from outside another while making off from the scene.

Gaby McGrath, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court on March 24 that he entered the garage of the first property at around 4am on the day in question.

She said: “The occupiers of the address were at home at the time of the burglary.

“They said that the garage door had been locked that evening when they went to bed. CCTV places the defendant in the area, walking towards the address.

“He was caught on Ring doorbell footage at the offence location. He was seen leaving the garage at 4.10am with a bicycle and a bag in hand.”

The stolen bicycle was worth £1400, with a Dewalt drill worth £140 and a ratchet worth £20 also being stolen.

The court heard that the ratchet was recovered, but that the other items were not.

He was then seen on further doorbell footage at 4.29am, “stealing a bottle of milk” from another address nearby.

Parrish was identified by police from the footage and arrested the following day.

At interview he said that he “did not remember the last week”, following “multiple overdoses” of various drugs.

When shown the footage he said: “If it was me, I am sorry.”

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

Parrish pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling and theft at a previous date.

He had 30 previous convictions for 74 offences, many of which were theft-related.

A victim who was in the house when Parrish burgled it said how he felt “spooked and angry” that someone had entered his property, while the person whose milk was stolen said that, while it was of a small monetary value, that “it is the principle” and that “nobody should be able to get away with any theft”.

Defending, Rachael Woods said that he recognises that these were “serious matters”, but described his offending as “pretty unsophisticated”.

She said: “The defendant had relapsed due to a personal crisis, his cousin, who he regarded as a brother, had passed away 10 days previously.”

Ms Woods said it “hit him very hard” and he began using alcohol, diazepam and other drugs, suffering “three overdoses”, before committing the crimes.

But she said that Parrish has been doing “very well” in prison, being substance-free and having a “trusted position” in the kitchen.

Sentencing, Judge Abigail Hudson reflected on how the burglaries were “extremely distressing” to the victims.

She reflected on his “wealth of previous convictions”, saying that the mandatory minimum sentence was triggered, but acknowledged that he was suffering “significant distress” following his bereavement.

Judge Hudson also recognised his relapse into drugs, but said: “The reality is, that relapse made you a danger to those around you and a risk to the general public.”

She said that only custody was appropriate, giving him 29 months imprisonment.