Final preparations are underway for NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission around the Moon for more than 50 years. Four astronauts, three men and one woman, will spend 10 days aboard the Orion spacecraft, going further into space than any other humans as they orbit the Moon and return to Earth.

Issues caused by a fuel leak while testing the Space Launch System rocket used for the mission meant launch windows in February and March were missed. Now NASA is targeting early April for launch.

The mission is the next step of the Artemis programme, which plans to land astronauts back to the Moon by 2028. China has its own programme targeting a full crewed mission to the lunar surface by 2030.

In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast we speak to Scott Pace, director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University about why NASA is sending people back round the Moon. Pace worked in space policy for the George W. Bush Administration, followed by a stint at NASA before his appointment as the executive secretary of the National Space Council during the first Trump administration, where he worked on the launch of the Artemis programme.

No human has set foot on the Moon since Gene Cernan climbed back aboard Apollo 17 in 1972. Pace says that once the Americans had beaten the Russians to the Moon “the geopolitical reason for continuing those missions really wasn’t there”.

Today, Pace believes the “geopolitical purpose for being on the Moon is to be there a lot”. He compares the Moon to Antarctica, arguing that the US and its allies have influence over Antarctica in part because they put 3,000 people on the ice every summer. “Rules are made by people who show up,” he says. It matters to him if China beats the US back to the Moon, “if China drives all the standards and the operating norms”.

For Pace, this means it’s important to up the flight rate to the lunar surface by building capacity to send more than one crewed mission a year. He thinks Artemis’s partnerships with commercial space partners will be crucial to achieving this.

“What we’re seeing now with Artemis is NASA and industry learning how to fly to the Moon, and then making a decision about what will be a sustainable future for doing this,” says Pace. “That is a current debate that will shape what happens after Artemis II.”

Listen to the interview with Scott Pace on The Conversation Weekly podcast and read an article based on the interview here. This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood and Gemma Ware. Mixing by Eleanor Brezzi and theme music by Neeta Sarl.

Newsclips in this episode from WTKR News 3, ABC News, International Astronautical Federation, CBS News,Space Policy and Politics and NBC News and British Movietone/AP.

Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available via the Apple Podcasts or Spotify apps.

A humpback whale that was stranded in shallow water off the north German coast has been set free by rescuers.

The whale had been stranded for several days on the Timmendorfer Strand, a popular resort town on the Baltic Sea coastline, with several rescue attempts made amid fears the marine mammal was going to die.

The 39 to 49ft-long whale was spotted on Monday, but the first attempt to free it was unsuccessful.

Experts gathered on Tuesday morning on the beach to find a way to get the whale off the ground, German news agency dpa reported.

Sven Biertumpfel, of the Sea Shepherd marine conservation group, told Sky News the Baltic Sea is not a humpback’s natural habitat, adding “maybe he followed some fish or some food”.

The whale, which weighs several tonnes, got entangled in nets, the conservationist said.

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Rescuers initially managed to turn the whale so its head was pointing towards deeper water. But the animal then turned back to its previous position.

Boats from the coastguard and the fire department created large waves in the hope of freeing the animal – but it remained stuck, German public broadcaster NDR reported.

The whale could not actively be pulled back into deeper water because it could be seriously injured in the process, experts said.

Attempts on Thursday to dig a channel with heavy machinery were finally successful, and the whale was able to swim out into the sea overnight.

It was slow work, with rescuers trying to get the animal used to the noise of the machinery so as not to upset it.

By Thursday evening, the whale, which had been getting closer to its normal state, started to make its way slowly through the channel.

The rescue team tried to encourage it to keep going with lots of noise, with the animal reportedly responding with a humming sound.

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Early on Friday morning, the whale was on its way out of Lubeck Bay, one researcher said.

Stephanie Gross, of the Institute of Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, said the mammal, which was nearly 1,000 feet off the coast, was being accompanied by a coastguard ship and several other vessels.

The whale must now make its way on a complex route past the Danish islands, out into the North Sea, before finally passing into the Atlantic Ocean.

Labour says the SNP have “serious questions to answer” after the former leader of North Lanarkshire council was found guilty.

John Swinney has been urged to “come clean” on claims complaints about convicted sex abuser Jordan Linden were ignored.

Linden, the former SNP of North Lanarkshire council, was convicted on Thursday of 10 separate offences after a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court, including five sexual assaults.

His victims were five young men and boys aged 15 to 22.

During the trial, a councillor who made complaints about Linden said: “Everywhere I went for help in the SNP I was ignored or it was downplayed.”

The man said he contacted the police in 2023 because he “did not feel confident” the reports he had made to the SNP would be dealt with appropriately.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “These are despicable crimes, and it is right that this vile individual is held fully responsible for his crimes.

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“However, there are also serious questions for the SNP to answer.

“During the trial, one of the men targeted by Linden said that when he went for help from the party, he was ‘ignored or it was downplayed’.

“John Swinney must come clean and explain why that was allowed to happen, and he must also set out what the SNP has done to root out this behaviour within his party.

“We have previously seen the SNP’s attempts to evade accountability when Derek Mackay was found to have groomed a teenager, and they tried to halt publication of the story.

“And we saw their willingness to allow Patrick Grady to return to the party fold at Westminster, despite having admitted to sexually harassing an SNP staff member.

“Enough is enough. John Swinney must make clear what he will do to end this sleazy and abhorrent conduct within his party and explain why the party has consistently chosen cover-up rather than telling the truth.”

Linden, 30, was also convicted of directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers, the youngest aged 14.

They included photos of himself in a bath and shots of his genitalia.

The offences took place over a 10-year period from 2011 until 2021.

The jury reached their verdict after less than four hours following a seven-day trial.

Linden rose to become North Lanarkshire council leader in 2022.

He resigned from the post a few weeks later when the allegations emerged and was arrested in 2024.

An SNP spokesperson said: “We hope today’s verdict brings some justice to those who have bravely come forward and shared their experiences – their courage in speaking out cannot be overstated.

“As proceedings remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Linden is due to be sentenced at Falkirk Sheriff Court on May 5.

The Republic of Ireland suffered penalty heartache in their World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia on Thursday night after throwing away a two-goal lead in Prague

Republic of Ireland fans have taken to social media to demand an investigation into a ‘siren noise’ during their penalty shootout loss against Czechia. The Boys in Green lost the shootout in Prague following a 2-2 draw.

Things had started in the perfect way for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men took an early 2-0 lead through Troy Parrott and an own goal from Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar. However, goals from Patrik Schick and Ladislav Krejci saw the hosts level the game.

With extra time unable to separate the two teams, it was down to a penalty shootout. While Parrott, Adam Idah and Robbie Brady scored their penalties, Kovar made up for his earlier own goal by saving spot kicks from Finn Azaz and Alan Browne.

Four of Czechia’s five penalty takers found the back of the net, seeing their side through to the play-off final. The loss dashed Ireland’s hopes of featuring in this summer’s World Cup finals.

Taking to social media during and after the penalty shootout, Ireland supporters pointed out a loud siren noise that could be heard during the shootout, with some suggesting it was even a deliberate ploy from the home side to put their players off. One wrote: “So the ambulance siren only happens when we’re taking our penalties?!?!!!!”

READ MORE: Sammie Szmodics health update as Ireland star taken to hospital after being ‘knocked out’READ MORE: Liverpool legend John Toshack hits back at son after claiming he has dementia

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“I’m not a bitter man, but I hope the Czechs and their police siren guy have a miserable miserable experience in the second round. Also, that they meet a referee who is willing and able to book them,” a second said.

A third fan posted: “FIFA need to investigate the Czech v Republic game. Every time an Ireland player stepped forward for a pen a siren of some kind went off. Absolute farce.”

“So when’s the investigation going to be done into the siren that Czech fans kept setting off when Ireland were taking their penalties??” wrote a social media user.

There were more demands for FIFA to look further into the incident, with another fan posting: “There has to be an investigation into that penalty shootout, the Czechs playing a loud siren every time the Irish took their pen is disgraceful!”

“Can’t believe we’ve lost that. The better side overall with by far the better chances,” a sixth fan wrote. “Should be an investigation into that siren during the Ireland penalties too.”

A seventh said: “The Czech cheated, pausing before the pens were kicked to see where the goalie was going and then blaring a siren when Ireland were taking their pens to distract them.”

Czechia will take on Denmark in their World Cup qualifiers play-off final on Tuesday night, with the winners of the game booking a spot for the finals of the tournament in North America.

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The attack was on 68-year-old Richard Root, who was a leading American infectious disease specialist who had travelled to the African country of Botswana in order to help tackle the country’s HIV crisis

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A leading American infectious disease specialist who had travelled to the African country of Botswana in order to help tackle the country’s HIV crisis was killed in front of his helpless wife when a massive crocodile pulled him from a canoe and into a river.

68-year-old Richard Root had been invited of behalf of Botswana’s Ministry of Health to work at a hospital in Gaborone, the county’s capital.

Root, who had been the chairman of medicine at the prestigious Yale University, as well as several other major organisations across the States, was tasked with training young doctors and providing care for patients, and had been working in Botswana a matter of weeks when the attack took place.

On a rare weekend off, back in 2006, both he and his wife Rita travelled across the country in order to visit a remote clinic in an area known as Tuli Block, and decided to rent some canoes and explore the famous Limpopo river.

The pair were in separate canoes, and both were accompanied by an experienced guide, although nothing could have prevented what happened next.

According to reports at the time, the attack came out of nowhere, with the guide barely able to shout ‘croc’ before Root was pulled out of his vessel.

In a statement released by a spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania, where Root worked at the time, the attack was over nearly as suddenly as it had begun.

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“Root was in a canoe in front and Rita in another one behind him,” she said.

“They just heard one of the guides shout ‘croc’ and then a crocodile appeared, pulled Root out of the canoe and took him straight down under. He was never seen again. It is believed that the crocodile was about 4.5m in length.”

Nobody else was harmed.

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Botswana Police Deputy Commissioner Thebeyame Timako later confirmed the doctor’s remains had been found “not far from where the crocodile had pulled him into the river”. His body was recovered four days after the attack.

Timako said there were no known records of similar fatal attacks in that specific area, noting that such incidents were more commonly associated with other local rivers such as the Okavango and Chobe.

Colleagues described Root as being totally driven by a desire to help curb the devastation caused by HIV and Aids in a country where infection rates are among the highest in the world.

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“He wanted to help and he had a lot to offer,” one doctor who worked with Jones said. “How could someone who was doing so much good be taken away so tragically? It is so unfair.

“He was always teaching the doctors and encouraging them to stay in Botswana and not to leave for other countries.”

She added simply: “The whole programme is stunned by his death.”

Disabled individuals relying on the Motability scheme are facing significant cost increases as the programme aims to offset £300 million in new taxes introduced following last year’s Budget.

The company has announced adjustments to mileage allowances, the introduction of charges for exceeding mileage limits, and new fees for taking vehicles overseas.

Users could also see advance payments rise by as much as £400 when starting a new lease agreement.

These changes emerge amid fierce political scrutiny of the scheme, which enables some recipients of disability benefits to allocate part or all of their payments towards leasing a new car or an accessible vehicle.

The scheme, which is only eligible for those with an entitlement for the higher or enhanced rate of the mobility component of disability benefit, is used by around 890,000 people.

However, the breadth and cost of the programme has led to significant criticism.

Last month, Reform UK said it planned to make sweeping changes to Motability to “end the abuse” of the scheme.

In last year’s autumn budget, the Chancellor announced that the scheme would no longer use “luxury cars” such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Rachel Reeves also announced the Government would introduce VAT to advance payments for the scheme, and apply insurance premium tax to leases from July 2026.

Motability said this will hit the business with £300 million of additional taxes.

On Thursday, chief executive of Motability Operations, Andrew Miller, told people on the scheme that it will introduce changes to deal with the cost.

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“Together, these tax changes mean it will cost significantly more to run the scheme,” he said in a letter.

“If we did nothing, the average cost of a new lease would increase by around £1,100.

“It was clear to me that simply passing all these costs on to customers was not an option.

“We had to carefully consider how to reduce the tax impact as much as possible but also, focusing on changes that reflect how most customers already use their vehicles.”

He outlined plans to reduce the annual mileage allowances, increase excess mileage fees, change tyre replacement limits and introduce a charge for taking cars abroad.

It is understood that customers taking new leases after July 1 will see an average increase to advance payments of between £300 and £400.

Nevertheless, many new vehicles on the scheme will not require an advance payment.

Vladimir Putin has asked oligarchs to donate to Russia’s budget to stabilise the country’s finances as he presses on with the war in Ukraine, according to Russian media.

The Russian president held a closed-door meeting with leading businessmen on Thursday, The Bell online outlet reported.

Mr Putin discussed military funding and the continuation of the war, the Bell wrote, citing unnamed sources.

The war, which has been raging on for five years since Russia‘s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has seen the country’s defence costs soar, reaching 15.5 trillion roubles (£144bn) in 2025.

Russia is facing both falling budget revenues from energy sales and an economic slowdown. This is affecting tax income from other sectors of the economy.

The Russian government is said to be considering a possible 10% cut to all “non-sensitive” spending in its 2026 budget, with the final decision to hinge on the sustainability of the oil price rise triggered by the Iran war.

But oligarchs could now be providing the much-needed budget boost.

During the meeting with Mr Putin, billionaire Suleiman Kerimov pledged to donate 100 billion roubles (£922m), according to The Bell.

Oleg Deripaska, a metals magnate, also agreed to contribute when asked by the Russian leader, the Financial Times reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.

Read more from Sky News:
Russia attacks ‘deeply hostile’ UK decision
Are US-Iran peace talks actually happening?

Mr Putin reportedly said Russia will fight on until it captures the remaining areas of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, which are not currently under its control.

Fans have made a prediction about Theo Silverton’s future after George Shuttleworth finally discovered the horrifying truth

Coronation Street fans have made a prediction about Theo Silverton’s future as they made a plea for him to finally get his comeuppance after George Shuttleworth finally discovered the horrifying truth.

Fans were heartbroken for Todd Grimshaw earlier this week when he was forced into marrying his abusive partner after being surprised at the alter by Theo, with friends Gary and Maria Windass present as their witnesses.

As Corrie viewers have watched, the undertaker become a shell of his former self as the builder continues to mentally and physically abuse him. There was a moment in January when Todd could have been saved after his former partner, Billy Mayhew, discovered the truth, but his unexpected death, aided by villain Theo, put a stop to Todd’s escape.

While the recently split, a reconciliation this week led to Theo springing a surprise wedding on Todd in Wednesday’s (March 25) Corrie, having revealed to Gary that he’d never cancelled the registry office from when they were planning to tie the knot.

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Calling at the undertakers dressed to the nines, Theo was seen leading a blind-folding Todd into the register office, where Gary and his wife, Maira, were waiting as their witnesses. Despite Todd appearing horrified, he went ahead with the nuptials, even overcoming a wobble during the vows.

The newlyweds were then seen returning to the street, where Theo announced to those in the Rovers Return, including George, Christina Boyd, Summer Spellman and Sarah Platt, that he and Todd were married. But it wasn’t long before viewers saw Theo continuing to bring Todd down, this time by commenting on the photos from the ceremony taken by Maria.

It was then during Thursday’s (March 26) visit to the cobbles that George was seen expressing his concerns to Todd. And he was right to, as when Theo returned home, he thought Todd was in the bathroom and started hurling abuse through the door. When Todd walking through the flat door, having popped out for tea bags, George emerged from the bathroom and couldn’t bear to look at Theo, who was trying to laugh off the encounter.

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George wasn’t buying it and was even more infuriated as Theo told Todd what to say to him. After George left, Theo aggresively clapped in Todd’s face, before going for a shower, leaving Todd as terrifed as ever of his partner. Later, George sent Todd a text to tell him there was a room for him at his, leaving Todd to question whether it was finally time to leave Theo for good.

However, while Corrie fans were thrilled that George had finally discovered the truth, others were still pleading to see Todd get the justice he deserves, and wondered whether Theo has sealed his own fate, with it already confirmed he’s among five possible victims of a murder on the cobbles this April.

@sjlawson84 said: “Theo will now try and turn Todd against George big time. I truly hope it doesn’t work. But George has Chrissy, Summer and likely Sarah on his side now.” @izzygooldjones cheered: “Yes George!! Not all heroes wear capes. Brilliant episode!” @scottishdevotchka81 commented: “I was literally shouting YES!! When George walked out of the room after hearing the verbal abuse. The net is finally closing in on Theo.”

@jamp1982 posted: “At long last!!! George to the rescue! Please please please get Todd away from Theo as fast as possible, my nerves are shot to pieces!!!” @nifbean shared: “Yes! The cat is out of the bag! Theo can’t charm his way out of this one! George is on to him, and George is pissed! George won’t back down to Theo.” @wellsdazza predicted: “Theo digging his own grave.” @julie46gmb added: “It will be george that kills theo, he needs the business!”

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

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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.