Imagine calling yourself part of the Dingle family when you can’t even spot an easy scam.

Emmerdale’s Caleb Milligan (William Ash) is having this exact existential crisis. He got caught out easily by a scammer using a fake version of his daughter Steph’s voice to ask him for £5,000. He paid it without question, and now he’s embarrassed himself and is an embarrassment to the Dingle name.

The scammer also now knows he’s an easy target. That is one bruised ego and he should hang his head in shame. Caleb decides to call the police and vows revenge on whoever has done this to him.

As Caleb tries to figure out how this happened, Ruby (Beth Cordingly) mentions that the scammer seemed to know a private detail about Laurel and Ross, suggesting who ever it is, is close.

What Caleb doesn’t know and what makes it all the worse, is that he’s being scammed by a teenager – Jai Sharma’s (Chris Bisson) son Archie (Kai Assi). He’s been outsmarted by a kid, Jai’s kid.

Kerry discovers what Archie is doing and despite a crisis of conscience, decides to encourage him. They’re thrown off course when Pollard (Chris Chittell) catches them and threatens to call the police, but some fast talking from Kerry gets him to back down.

Caleb’s pride is dented and he needs to come up with a fix. Having seen Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton) with a counterfeit purse, it gives him an idea.

Caleb plans to start selling knock-off goods to get his head back in the game. He has a depot and haulage vehicles, the perfect platform for his crime.

He feels that doing this will give him back his edge, but he must keep it secret from Jai. But he can’t do it alone, so pulls in Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) to be his right-hand man. He trusts Billy – he was the one he gave his bank account details to, to transfer the money.

Billy is reluctant, but it’s not long before Caleb is piling on the pressure and Billy agrees to make the drop. Their new counterfeit business is up and running.

Another point he doesn’t know, is that after telling Jai about the whole swindling situation, Jai starts putting two and two together, realising his son is somehow involved.

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He corners Kerry and demands to know what she’s done, but will Kerry rat on the lad?

MORE: Emmerdale’s Kerry plays with fire as she scams Caleb – with shock accomplice

MORE: All Emmerdale spoilers for next week as legend horrifically attacked

MORE: Emmerdale ‘confirms’ who wipes the grin off Dr Todd’s face – and it’s not Charity or Jacob

In the past, World Cup hosts have tended to give Fifa what they want – and that includes easy access for officials and supporters.

It has been the case with two of the most divisive World Cups, in Russia and Qatar.

Indeed, Russia positively rolled out the red carpet in 2018, removing any need for a visa.

All supporters required was a valid passport and personalised card known as a ‘Fan ID’ to prove they were travelling for the football.

In Qatar, fans needed a Hayya card – serving a dual purpose as a pre-screened travel entry document and an entry pass to games.

That is not the case in the United States, with claims that barriers have consistently put fans off making the trip.

“You’re supposed to be welcoming fans from around the world,” Thomas Concannon, who leads the FSA’s England fans’ group, told BBC Sport in April.

“And I think at this stage, fans couldn’t feel less welcome.”

It is not even as though Trump inherited the tournament from another administration. It was endorsed and backed by his presidency, with the intention to bid lodged a few months after he took office in 2017.

What has changed is the sheer extent of the immigration crackdown.

Trump is happy to take the plaudits for the glitz and the glamour of the World Cup, but it will not distract from that key aim.

It is not just Artan who cannot get into the United States. Supporters of Iraq, which is not on the banned list, have described how they have given up trying to get into the country.

Iran, meanwhile, on Tuesday said its allocation of tickets for the group stage has been revoked, because of a decision taken by US authorities.

Infantino’s words seem hollow. It is clear that this Trump administration has placed immigration above anything else – including this World Cup.

The next test will come on Sunday, when Iran are due to fly into the United States for the first time.

Iran has accused the US of denying visas to 15 “integral” members of their backroom staff.

The squad are permitted to fly in and out of the country from Tijuana in Mexico within 24 hours for each match – but this has yet to be tested.

If a team cannot attend their own game, it would be another unprecedented twist.

“Never have we seen so many World Cup coaches, team operations, fans and even senior administrators within Fifa member associations, subject to so much interrogation and exclusion,” Fare’s Powar added.

“The disruption is such that one has to ask who is running the World Cup. Is it Fifa or is it the US government with its racially charged immigration policies?”

As Fifa cannot get all of its referees into the country, it feels like the US government is in control.

Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister has appealed for “calm” following the “barbaric” Belfast knife attack.

Speaking at a press conference at Stormont, Naomi Long said: “I think all of us were horrified at what we witnessed unfolding last night in North Belfast. And I understand that many people in that community this morning will be traumatised, they will be fearful, and they will be angry at what unfolded on their doorstep, and they have every right to be so.”

The leader of the Alliance Party appealed for people “to remain calm, to allow the police to do their work in terms of their investigation”.

Ms Long added: “Allow the justice system to hold the individual responsible to account for what was a shockingly barbaric attack on our streets. We do not want police resources and other people to be caught up in what could become a very heated situation.

“We want the police to be able to focus on this investigation and deliver the justice that the victim and his family and the wider community deserves.

“We also know that there are many in our community today who are fearful, who are afraid because they fear that others will associate them with the person who was involved in this attack.

“We need to reassure them too that their safety, along with everyone else’s safety, is our primary concern.”

“You will share your enthusiasm for the outdoors and passion for the countryside.”

An incredible job opportunity has come up at two of Scotland’s most popular beauty spots, and it would be ideal for anyone who has ever dreamed of working outside amidst the country’s spectacular scenery. It offers a chance to spend your days in lush surroundings across this summer and beyond.

At the moment, the National Trust for Scotland is looking to hire a ranger at Corrieshalloch and Inverewe Garden in the Scottish Highlands. The job is permanent and full time, with the successful applicant working 40 hours per week, while it comes with a salary of £31,055 pro-rata per annum.

The ranger will be based at both the Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve and Inverewe Garden. The former is home to what is considered to be one of the most beautiful gorges in the UK, while the latter benefits from a unique warm microclimate thanks to the effects of the Gulf Stream.

The successful applicant will patrol walking trails and ‘pinch points’ such as the scenic Fowlers bridge that has a capacity of just six people, as well as act as an ambassador for the National Trust for Scotland. They will also inform members of the public how to protect and enjoy the stunning landscapes.

READ MORE: Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the World Cup

READ MORE: The creepy abandoned Edinburgh train tunnel that was used as an air raid shelter

Specific responsibilities of the ranger position include carrying out regular site monitoring checks and record keeping in order to help the National Trust for Scotland evaluate performance and plan conservation activities, as well as habitat and species surveys and weather gauge observations. The ranger will also get involved with footpath maintenance, fence repairs, and litter clearance.

The role will involve participating in estate patrols to engage with visitors, outdoor activity enthusiasts, and campers, championing a ‘leave no trace’ culture and providing practical advice based on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The ranger will be expected to greet tourists in a friendly and knowledgeable manner, and answer any questions they have.

Additionally, other tasks include recruiting and supervising volunteer roles and assisting with the leadership of group volunteering activities, as well as building positive relationships with the local community. You will also be expected to look for ways to generate sustainable sources of income for the National Trust for Scotland.

Those applying for the job should have a qualification in a relevant field or experience working as a ranger, as well as experience working in a busy countryside setting. A good knowledge of natural history and conservation is important, as is being a competent hillwalker and having the ability to work alone or with minimal supervision.

Other attributes you should have are experience of working in a team and with volunteers, the ability to be flexible and adaptive to change, and experience using Microsoft Office software. Additionally, a first aid certificate and a license to drive trailers are desirable but not needed.

The job listing states: “Our ranger plays a crucial role in ensuring that our conservation ambitions go hand in hand with welcoming our local community and visitors from across the globe to this well-loved place. You will share your enthusiasm for the outdoors and passion for the countryside with the walkers, campers and sightseers who come to explore Corrieshalloch Gorge and Inverewe Garden during the busy summer season.”

It adds: “You’ll leave those you meet with a desire to respect, protect and enjoy this special natural environment and an understanding of how they can help do this. You will work on your own and with other staff and volunteers, on a variety of practical conservation tasks to help us achieve the high presentation and habitat management standards expected of a National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation, National Scenic area and Geological Conservation Area.

“You will contribute to the long-term sustainability of Corrieshalloch’s and Inverewe’s ranger service through income generated at our car park, memberships and donations inspired by our work, growing our capacity through volunteers and cost-effective use of resources.”

More information about the job listing can be found on the National Trust for Scotland.

Sir Keir Starmer and police have called for calm after a stabbing attack condemned as “sickening” by the prime minister sent shockwaves through Belfast.

Officers have declared a critical incident in response to the attack, which took place on Monday night on Kinnaird Avenue, a residential part of the city.

Horrifying video circulating online, which is too graphic to publish in full, appears to show a man with a knife pinning another man down on the ground and repeatedly stabbing him.

Bystanders intervened, hitting the attacker over the head with a hurling stick, in an act which police say “undoubtedly saved the man’s life”.

A man in his 30s, who police say is Sudanese asylum seeker, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. Police believe the suspect had leave to remain in Northern Ireland after arriving in the UK from Dublin.

Read all the latest updates on the investigation in here

The victim, a man in his 40s, has been left with “significant injuries” to his eyes, face and back and remains in a serious condition after he was attacked with a kitchen knife, police said.

Responding to the attack, Sir Keir said in a statement: “The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening. I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.

“My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said it was the police’s understanding that the suspect had been granted leave to remain, having travelled from Sudan to Paris at dates unknown, before flying to Dublin. He then travelled from Dublin to Belfast by bus on 10 February 2023 and claimed asylum on that date.

“There is no trace of this suspect on any of our national security databases, and he was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland,” he said.

He warned people against being influenced “from afar through social media” amid calls for protests in response to the attack from far-right agitators such as Tommy Robinson. He called for the public to allow police to work “unfettered and undistracted by wider concerns there may be about disorder”.

“We understand the community concern, but this is a time for calm heads to allow the police to do their job, it is not a time for protest. Bringing disruption on to the streets and into communities will serve no purpose. …As a community we must stand united against hatred and against violence,” he added.

In an update to the investigation on Tuesday, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said there was no evidence of a terror link at this stage but detectives were keeping an open mind over the motive behind the “brutal” attack. He said detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing.

He said he shared the “public revulsion” over the nature of the attack but issued an appeal for order after calls for protests.

“I understand that last night’s attempted murder will leave people feeling a range of emotions from fear to anger,” he said, before adding that there should be no repeat of disorder previously seen in the city.

“No one needs to see a repeat of this. This only causes damage to the community, and unfortunately, young people often get caught up in that disorder, so I appeal for calm and the safety of all of our communities in response to this.

“All of our focus must be on a criminal justice investigation.”

Downing Street also said “it is time for calm”, adding: “It’s important that police have the time and space to investigate appropriately”. Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn said it was “innocent people who suffer” when political leaders failed to reduce tensions.

Speaking in the House of Commons earlier on Tuesday, Mr Benn praised the actions of those who had intervened to try and halt the attack before police arrived.

Referring to the video, he said: “Members of the public did not walk on by, instead a number of them stepped forward and at immense risk to their own safety they intervened to pull the assailant away and protect the victim until the police arrived.

“I would like to say this: you showed the very best of humanity and you have the gratitude of this entire house.”

Mr Henderson also praised those who intervened.

“Our officers were on the scene within minutes and we wish to acknowledge the members of the public who strived to save the man from further attack. Their willingness to step forward to help another person shows incredible bravery and community spirit,” he said.

Political representatives expressed the shock felt in the local community.

Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the person responsible for the attack “must face the full force of the law” and urged the public not to jump to assumptions about the suspect’s immigration status.

She added: “My message today is one of calm and don’t allow those people that don’t care about people here to incite hatred, to incite fear.

“Don’t allow those people who are faceless to orchestrate campaigns on the streets.”

North Belfast MP John Finucane said his thoughts were with the victim. He said: “I am shocked following a horrific attack in north Belfast last night.

“My thoughts are with the individual who has been taken to hospital following serious injuries, and I hope they make a full recovery.”

Local DUP councillor Jordan Doran said he was “left shocked and deeply concerned” by footage circulating online following the stabbing.

“Many residents have contacted me expressing concerns about community safety and seeking reassurance following this incident,” he said.

“Those concerns are entirely understandable. People deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities, regardless of where they live.”

The scene outside an apartment complex off Kinnaird Avenue in the lower Antrim Road area remained cordoned off on Tuesday, with markers visible on the ground where the attack had taken place.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage has been urged to contact police.

Serena Williams rolled back the years at Queen’s with a winning performance on her comeback to tennis after 1,375 days away from the sport.

Fans with the hottest ticket in town packed out the Andy Murray Arena on Tuesday evening to watch one of the greatest players of all time return to action.

Playing doubles alongside Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, the 44-year-old American didn’t look a touch out of place as the pair won 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to upset third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

Williams “evolved away” from tennis in 2022 after winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles in her 27-year career.

Excitement about a possible return grew last year when her name appeared on the list of players registered for the drug-testing pool, and again when it was put on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reinstatements list in February.

But her comeback was only confirmed last week when it was announced she would be joining 19-year-old Mboko for doubles at London’s iconic Queen’s Club.

A whirlwind nine days followed, with Williams saying she “had nothing to prove” and that the main motivation was the prospect of her daughters seeing her play.

Eight-year-old Olympia and Adira, who was born in 2023, watched on from the stands with their father and cheered on as their mother rediscovered some of the shots that has made her a legend of the sport.

Williams’ first strike of the ball left fans wondering if the all-time great had lost her touch as she planted a volley from close range into the net.

But those doubts had been quashed 92 minutes later as her serve – once considered her greatest weapon – wrapped up her first match win since the 2022 US Open.

The building is being redeveloped to include student accommodation and restaurant space

A former Cambridge restaurant has been demolished to make way for new student accommodation. The plans by Downing College will see a city centre site next to Parker’s Piece redeveloped into 26 student rooms with restaurant space.

Several buildings located at 19-35 Regent Street have been demolished to some extent for the redevelopment of the site. These include the former Cuba Libre restaurant and bar.

Downing College Developments Ltd submitted plans to redevelop the buildings on Regent Street. These were approved by Cambridge City Council in September 2024.

CMP Architects, who designed the project, said that the site was “occupied by poorly maintained buildings, which had been heavily and incoherently manipulated over the years”.

The planned layout will see a retail unit on the ground floor, as well as a restaurant space intended to serve both residents and visitors.

The plans include a retail unit on the ground floor, intended to provide a restaurant serving both residents and visitors. Above this, the student accommodation will feature 26 en-suite rooms

Student accommodation above the retail unit will include a total of 26 en-suites. A council officer said the development would see a “modest reduction” in market housing but would provide more “much needed” student accommodation.

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An application from The Dubliner to expand its bar area into its first floor has been approved by City of York Council.

The Irish bar’s plans stated the refurbishment would refresh the bar and help support the building’s long-term commercial viability.

But a neighbouring business objected over live music at the bar which they said could be disruptive and council public protection officers said other noise complaints had been lodged.

Council planning officers ruled the expansion would support York’s evening economy but barred the venue from staging live performances or playing recorded music on the first floor.

Plans from the bar, in Tanner’s Moat, are set to see the internal partitions separating the rooms in the first floor landlord’s accommodation demolished.

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The four-bedroom flat previously served the venue when it traded as The Maltings pub which closed prior to The Dubliner opening there in December 2024.

A new bar, seating, toilets and food preparation area are set to be created on the first floor following the demolition works.

Plans also include removing the existing ground floor kitchen and changes to the current bar to allow coffee to be served there.

Works to improve accessibility, including putting new disabled and unisex toilets on the ground floor, are also planned.

Men’s toilets on the ground floor are set to be moved to the first floor to free up room for the changes.

The Dubliner, in Tanner’s Moat, York (Image: The Dubliner)

The venue’s application stated the works would not alter the outside appearance of the building which dates back to the 19th Century.

They added the changes would help made the building’s continued use as a pub and live music venue viable.

Plans stated: “The alterations involve a significant change to extend the licensed public drinking area.

“The comprehensive internal alterations, including the crucial change of use on the first floor, are sympathetic to the building’s character, as they are contained within the existing structure.”

An objector based in neighbouring officers said they could already live bands when they play on the bar’s ground floor, though only in their kitchen and breakout rooms.

But they added they were fearful of further disruption if live music is allowed on the first floor.

Council public protection officials said they had received complaints about live music but the venue told them it had no plans for performances on the first floor.

Planning officers stated the works were considered acceptable.

They said: “The first floor has been assessed as having sufficient sound insulation between the party walls for a busy pub or bar.”

“The applicant has advised that the live music will only be in the ground floor, where a stage is provided, and no recorded or live music will be played at first floor.”

Compared to other parts of the world, the EU on the whole has been fairly reluctant to embrace digital economic innovation. The bloc has been suspicious of cryptocurrencies, and treated them as a potential threat to a financial system where stability is paramount.

But the first half of 2026 has been full of clear risks to that stability. Wars, tariffs and shaky military alliances have changed everything.

Nato has been undermined, spending priorities have changed, and trading relationships are not as solid as they used to be. As the former Italian prime minister (and former president of the European Central Bank) Mario Draghi, recently remarked: “For the first time in living memory, [the EU is] truly alone together.”

So perhaps now is the time for the EU to grab hold of some important economic innovations – and stop being so dependent on the US.

One step towards digital economic sovereignty could involve the European Central Bank (ECB) issuing the digital euro sooner than planned (it’s currently due to land in 2029). Like the digital pound being considered in the UK, a digital euro would function as public money in digital form, complementing – not replacing – physical cash. It would be backed by the ECB and usable for everyday payments across the euro zone.

A digital euro would be used by consumers and small firms every day, and is a project which has been studied by the ECB since 2020. In China, the digital yuan is already in wide circulation.

A second step could be to modernise banking infrastructure so that European (rather than US) stablecoins could be more widely used for making payments in euros.

At the moment, almost all of the world’s stablecoins (a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value) are pegged to US government bonds. Europe should focus on creating the financial and regulatory conditions for stablecoins backed by euro bonds to run into a European digital infrastructure.

The point of a European stablecoin would be to help European firms trade more efficiently – stablecoins can be faster and cheaper than traditional fiat currencies (which are government issued). Similarly, the digital euro would aim to make retail and household payments more secure and more efficient.

Both moves would help to challenge the US dollar’s dominance when it comes to global financial transactions. And there are some very good reasons why Europe should strongly consider doing just that.

First, the EU urgently needs to prepare for the possibility that at some point, somebody in the US may consider withholding European access to the the likes of Visa, Mastercard and American Express – the systems which Europeans use to make millions of payments every day.

As a sanction, this would be extreme – but by no means impossible. It has already been imposed on some judges at the International Criminal Court who made decisions which were not liked in Washington.

Pay your own way

Another good reason to build an EU-centred payment system is that it brings autonomy for the future. For instance, Europe may become less happy about accepting a dollar-dominated trade system where Europe ends up financing the US deficit by using dollars for international transactions. Instead, it may seek to promote the euro as part of a new multi-currrency financial order.

The two innovations – European stablecoins and a digital euro – could also create an area of the global economy where Europe manages to gain a competitive advantage by looking for a third way between the US and China.

For in the US, a digital dollar issued by the FED is about to be banned by Donald Trump, partly due to concerns over privacy. And in China, national stablecoins are to be prohibited so as not to jeopardise the monopoly of the central bank.

It’s possible then, that a successful euro-pegged stablecoin market could increase international use of the euro, while also reducing the EU’s reliance on US payment systems.

Overall then, the need for stability in an increasingly unstable global economy, may be the trigger for Europe to finally embrace change. The bloc may come to view digital currencies as a vital part of its strategic infrastructure, similar to energy networks, telecommunications systems or defence capabilities.

At the very least, it should stop seeing them as a risk – and start treating them as a tool that could help to bring economic and geopolitical resilience.

Nasa has named the crew of its next Artemis mission, which it promised would be an “extraordinary demonstration of what is possible”. Artemis is the ambitious American-led effort to the return humans to the lunar surface by 2028.

However, the Artemis III mission will not travel to the Moon. Instead, the Orion spacecraft will stay in low Earth orbit and aim to dock with lunar landing vehicles launched separately by one or two space companies.

Nasa astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas and Italian European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano will carry out the mission in late 2027.

There are two potential landers that could fly on their separate mission to then rendezvous with the Orion spacecraft; one made by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the other by Jeff Bezos’ firm Blue Origin. They will carry astronauts down to the Moon’s surface on subsequent missions.

However, the timetable for Artemis III and the first mission to return astronauts to the lunar surface (Artemis IV) has been thrown into doubt by the recent explosion of a New Glenn rocket. This rocket is intended to launch Blue Origin’s lander, called Blue Moon.

The blast could add significant delay to the Artemis schedule and there is speculation that it could even put the US out of contention to reach the Moon before China, which is planning its own Moon landing mission for 2030.

On May 28, 2026, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which is able to carry heavy payloads, was undergoing a standard engine fire test. For reasons which are still unclear, a huge explosion destroyed the rocket and damaged Blue Origin’s only launchpad, located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

To reduce costs, Nasa’s Artemis programme relies on companies like Blue Origin to deliver key elements for lunar missions, like the landers.

Rockets capable of lifting heavy payloads into orbit will be needed for launching the building blocks of Nasa’s Moon base, which will be assembled over the next few years.

Under previous plans, SpaceX’s Starship vehicle would have been used as the lander for the first two Artemis missions to touch down on the Moon. However, Starship ran into problems during flight tests, so Nasa hatched a plan B.

This backup plan brought Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander into the mix for Artemis IV, the first mission back to the lunar surface. Now, with the explosion, even their Plan B seems to have moved out of reach.

How bad is the situation though? Blue Origin only has one launch pad that, at the moment, cannot be used. But recent updates by the company’s CEO, Dave Limp, indicated that the situation may not be as dire as it might have been. He indicated that New Glenn might even return to launch before the end of the year.

The propellant farm (which stores the rocket fuel and oxidiser that are pumped into the rocket just before launch), as well as the water tower were undamaged. So were the booster and upper stages of another New Glenn rocket held in the pad’s integration facility. The launch tower will only need to be repaired and not rebuilt.

To gain some insight into the potential impact on the timescale for a next launch, we might be able to look at a similar situation faced by SpaceX in September 2016 where a Falcon 9 rocket exploded on one of their launchpads.

They were able to continue only four months after, but from one of their alternative launch sites, none of which were fully operational at that time. But Blue Origin has no alternative site at all. SpaceX needed more than a year to start up operations again on their damaged launch site.

Kiko Dontcev, vice president of launch at SpaceX, commented on the task ahead for Blue Origin. He described the rebuild as a high precision dissection of the damaged site to help better understand the incident. “In the initial days and weeks after you’re using a scalpel not a bulldozer,” he commented on X.

This might cast doubt on hopes that New Glenn could launch again this year. Indeed, Nasa’s chief Jared Isaacman told CNBC that the launch pad might not be restored until 2028. Currently, we just do not have the full picture of the damage and work needed. So, we can only hope that New Glenn launches can resume as soon as possible.

Nasa is already trying to limit the impact of the New Glenn explosion by urging Blue Origin to look at other rockets for launching its Blue Moon lunar landers. This would allow Nasa to still meet its deadline of landing astronauts on the Moon in 2028.

But New Glenn is still needed to land hardware such as the lunar terrain vehicles for Artemis missions and a robot rover called Viper, which will scout for water ice at the Moon’s south pole.

Exploring with pride

However, with 2030 approaching fast, the knock-on effects of the explosion could lead to China beating the US to the Moon. But the Artemis programme had already been hit by delays as a result of Nasa’s dependence on government whims and variable funding. Overall, the Artemis programme has had a relatively tight budget to work with.

Space agencies like Nasa must try (as much as possible) to decouple their efforts in space from ongoing turmoil in domestic politics. It could also do well to rely less on ventures led by billionaires, who often have their own private objectives.

One could view the Chinese lunar programme as being more stable, because of their one-party state as well as their strong sense of national pride. However, there is also a lack of transparency in their space programme and a focus on propaganda.

As an outside observer, it appears that Nasa’s current timeline for landing on the Moon and establishing a permanent lunar base is slipping away. But this may not be the disaster some in the space industry think it is. Perhaps we should embrace a pride in exploring space as a community of nations working together.