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Paris Saint-Germain dominated Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, securing a 2-0 victory at the Parc des Princes. The gulf in quality between the two teams was evident throughout the match, with PSG creating numerous scoring opportunities.The hosts took the lead through a fortunate deflected strike from Désiré Doué, which looped over Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian goalkeeper made a vital contribution to prevent further damage at halftime, producing a fine save to tip away a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot that was heading towards the bottom corner.PSG extended their advantage in superb style through Kvaratskhelia, who held off Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, rounded Mamardashvili, and converted into an unguarded net. The win leaves Liverpool facing a tough task to overturn the deficit in the second leg.

Harlequins have confirmed the acquisition of England full‑back George Furbank, securing the 29‑year‑old on a lucrative contract as they aim to revitalise a squad that finished second‑bottom of the ten‑team Premiership.Furbank, a long‑time stalwart of league‑leading Northampton Saints, arrives after two injury‑hit seasons but remains a 14‑cap England international and a strong contender for the World Cup roster. He described the move as a chance to step out of his comfort zone and “take my game to a new level” under a fresh coaching staff.Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore praised the signing, calling Furbank “someone we’ve admired for a long time.” The club hopes his experience will deliver an immediate uplift to a side battling relegation threats.Saints’ director of rugby Phil Dowson acknowledged the financial reality that forced the departure: “We wanted to keep George, but the broader context – especially our limited budget – meant we couldn’t match the offer. There was no animosity, just hard decisions.” He likened the situation to Sir Alex Ferguson’s strategy of reshaping squads when necessary.The transfer adds to a growing exodus from Northampton, which has already seen the likes of David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Courtney Lawes and Teimana Harrison depart in recent years. Saints are also contending with the challenge of retaining other England internationals as emerging talents such as Henry Pollock seek pay rises.Meanwhile, Saints are set to field fit‑again England half‑backs Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell for their Champions Cup semi‑final against Bath, while fly‑half Jamie Benson has opted to join Ulster next season.

Evelyn Araluen has been named among the six finalists for the 2026 Stella Prize with her second poetry collection, The Rot. This marks her second appearance on the shortlist, four years after becoming the first poet to win the award as an Australian woman and non‑binary writer. The $60,000 prize will be contested alongside five diverse titles: Geraldine Brooks’ memoir Memorial Days, Miranda Darling’s novel Fireweather, Lee Lai’s graphic novel Cannon, Marika Sosnowski’s hybrid nonfiction 58 Facets: On Violence and the Law, and Tasma Walton’s novel I Am Nannertgarrook. Each shortlisted author receives a $5,000 advance. Earlier this year, Araluen’s The Rot captured the top prize and a $125,000 award at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, praised for its exploration of grief and collective anxiety amid the global coverage of the Gaza conflict. The collection was sparked by an incident at Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2024, where Araluen was heckled for describing the Israeli bombardment of Gaza as genocide. She told Guardian Australia that the poems aim to document a "panicked, distressed window of time" that future readers might view with horror and regret. "I wanted the book to clearly record what we knew and did not stop," Araluen said. "If it reads as naive, let it still serve as a record of an uncomfortable truth we all must face." Araluen, a Goorie and Koori poet, first won the Stella Prize in 2022 for her debut collection Dropbear. This year’s shortlist was selected from 212 submissions, underscoring the depth of contemporary Australian women’s and non‑binary writing. Chair of judges Sophie Gee praised the list, noting that the books “move us to the core through language, the truth of their emotion, and the honesty of what it means to be human, across time and space.” The winner will be announced on 13 May 2026. Last year’s prize went to Michelle de Kretser for her novel Theory and Practice.

The United Kingdom’s cyber‑defence agency has issued a stark warning: Russian‑affiliated hackers are targeting everyday internet routers to conduct espionage operations. By compromising these edge devices, attackers can steal user credentials, redirect traffic to fraudulent sites, and potentially infiltrate other connected gadgets such as smartphones and computers. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the campaign appears opportunistic, casting a wide net before filtering for high‑value intelligence targets. This mirrors a broader trend where threat actors focus on hardware that bridges users to the cloud, often overlooking the security of routers and network cameras. Professor Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey emphasized that routers are frequently forgotten, becoming weak points in home and small‑business networks. "If a router is compromised, attackers can reroute users to fake banking sites, establish persistence on the network, and probe connected devices for further vulnerabilities," he explained. The NCSC attributes the activity to the notorious group APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, which is almost certainly linked to Russian intelligence services. APT28 previously orchestrated high‑profile attacks, including the 2015 breach of the German parliament that exposed confidential emails and legislators' schedules. In a parallel move, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has prohibited the sale of all consumer‑grade routers manufactured outside the United States, citing "unacceptable risks to national security." The FCC warned that foreign‑made routers have been exploited to facilitate espionage, disrupt networks, and steal intellectual property. While most routers are produced in China or Taiwan, exceptions like Elon Musk’s Texas‑made Starlink devices are unaffected. Privacy specialists caution that a blanket ban will not resolve existing vulnerabilities, especially for legacy routers that no longer receive security patches. Woodward urged small businesses and individuals to keep firmware up to date and monitor network activity for anomalies. The article also revisits the 2016 Bangladesh central bank heist, where hackers siphoned $80 million by exploiting cheap, second‑hand routers that were exposed to the internet. Investigators believe a North Korean state‑linked group was behind that attack, illustrating how compromised routers can serve as gateways to critical financial systems. Overall, the NCSC’s alert underscores a growing geopolitical cyber‑threat landscape, where state‑sponsored actors leverage everyday hardware to gather intelligence and disrupt adversaries.

At 75, Suzi Quatro is still rocking with the same energy and passion that defined her glam era. Her signature scream, which has been thrilling audiences since she was a kid playing dance halls around Detroit, was on full display during her recent concert at Glasgow. The Suzi Q scream is a defining sound of the glam era, a holler of swallow-the-world desire that leaves the audience galvanized.While the opening hour of the concert was entertaining and well-paced, the second set was a bit of a mess, with tedious solos and drawn-out introductions of her eight-piece band. The highlight of the evening came when Quatro played Can the Can and Devil Gate Drive back to back, delivering a pure pop rush. However, the concert could have benefited from a few cuts, as Quatro seemed to struggle with pacing.Despite some minor issues, Quatro's performance was still thrilling, and her infectious energy was palpable throughout the evening. As she told the Glasgow crowd, 'I can still scream just as loud,' and she proved it with her powerful vocals.

Australian cricket selector Shawn Flegler has acknowledged that the decision to appoint Sophie Molineux as team captain may need to be reassessed if she continues to struggle with injuries. Molineux, a bowling allrounder, was handed the captaincy ahead of Tahlia McGrath and Ash Gardner despite concerns over her fitness.Molineux has played for Australia since 2018 but has been plagued by injuries, including a serious knee issue that forced her to miss the recent Ashes series. Her injury problems resurfaced during the recent multi-format series against India, where she took on the T20I captaincy.Flegler described the latest setback as 'not ideal' but emphasized that the plan had always been to take a conservative approach to Molineux's fitness ahead of this year's T20 World Cup. He acknowledged that it was 'unprecedented' for Australia to bestow the captaincy upon a player subject to such uncertainty around her fitness.Despite the concerns, Flegler has not had any second thoughts about the captaincy decision, stating that the team is 'comfortable internally that it was the right decision for this group at this time.' However, he conceded that Australia would have to remain open to change should more long-term injuries arise.Molineux will take part in upcoming training camps with the squad and is on track to be fit for the World Cup that begins in the UK in June. The team's national contract list was also revealed, featuring uncapped Chloe Ainsworth and teenage allrounder Lucy Hamilton for the first time.

The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with Tehran temporarily reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Israel has also agreed to the ceasefire. The plan, submitted via Pakistani intermediaries, includes 10 key demands, such as:The lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran.Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.US military withdrawal from the Middle East.An end to attacks on Iran and its allies.The release of frozen Iranian assets.A UN security council resolution making any deal binding.The Iranian foreign minister stated that safe passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management, with Iran and Oman charging fees on ships transiting through the strait. The US has yet to publicly state if it will attend negotiations in Islamabad on Friday.Key concerns include Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, which could have significant implications for global oil supplies and regional stability. The US is unlikely to agree to Iran's maximalist demands, but they may form the basis for talks.The ceasefire comes as Trump's approval ratings have hit their lowest level ever, with sizeable majorities of Americans opposed to the war and frustrated by the rising cost of petrol.

Arsenal bounced back from their recent domestic struggles to secure a vital 1-0 win against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarterfinals. Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal in stoppage time, capitalizing on a superb pass from Gabriel Martinelli to beat the offside trap and slot past Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva.The Gunners arrived at the Jose Alvalade Stadium reeling from successive defeats to Manchester City in the League Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Despite a lackluster performance, Arsenal's resilience and Havertz's clinical finish earned them a crucial victory.Mikel Arteta's side will be favorites to advance to the semifinals in the second leg at home on April 15. However, they will need to significantly improve their form to win the tournament for the first time. Arsenal's Premier League title hopes remain strong, with the team sitting nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City.Sporting Lisbon, seeking their first Champions League semifinal spot since 1983, were unable to capitalize on their 17-game home winning streak. The hosts created several chances, including a fierce strike from Maxi Araujo that David Raya tipped onto the crossbar and a low drive from Geny Catamo that Raya smothered.Arsenal's injury-hit squad was still without several key players, including Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka. However, the team's depth and Arteta's tactical acumen ultimately paid off, as they secured a hard-fought win in Lisbon.

Iran has put forth a 10-point peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. The plan, conveyed through Pakistan, includes key elements such as an end to hostilities in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran.US President Donald Trump described the Iranian proposal as a 'significant step' but emphasized that it was 'not good enough'. He warned that if Iran does not agree to a deal, it will face severe consequences, including the destruction of its bridges and power plants. 'If they don't make a deal, they will have no bridges and no power plants,' Trump stated.The conflict, now in its second month, has led to a significant escalation of violence, with 1.2 million Lebanese people displaced due to Israeli attacks. Iran's top university and a major petrochemical plant were hit on Monday, following Trump's threat to target power plants and bridges unless Tehran agrees to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage through which 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies pass.Human rights organizations and members of the US Congress have criticized Trump for threatening to attack civilian targets, which is considered a war crime. The situation remains dire as the deadline set by Trump for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz approaches, with Tehran rejecting the ultimatum and threatening to retaliate.