HOUSTON (AP) — Now more than halfway to the moon, the Artemis II astronauts prepared for their historic lunar fly-around to push deeper into space than even the Apollo astronauts.

On the downside, their toilet is on the blink again.

The three Americans and one Canadian are set to reach their destination Monday, photographing the mysterious lunar far side as they zoom around. It is the first moon-bound crew in more than 53 years, picking up where NASA’s Apollo program left off.

“The Earth is quite small, and the moon is definitely getting bigger,” pilot Victor Glover reported.

Until the Orion capsule’s bathroom is fixed, Mission Control has instructed the astronauts to break out more of the backup urine collection bags. The so-called lunar loo malfunctioned following Wednesday’s liftoff and has been hit-and-miss ever since. A version of the Artemis II toilet was tested on the International Space Station several years ago.

Engineers suspect ice may be blocking the line that is preventing urine from completely flushing overboard. The toilet is still open for No. 2 business.

Debbie Korth, NASA’s Orion program deputy manager, said the astronauts have also reported a smell coming from the bathroom, which is buried in the floor of the capsule with a door and curtain for privacy.

“Space toilets and bathrooms are something everybody can really understand .. it’s always a challenge,” she said, noting that the space shuttle toilet was also often on the fritz.

John Honeycutt, chair of the mission management team, said it is human nature to be interested in the space commode, and even though it is “in a good state right now,” he’d like it to be working at 100%.

“They’re OK,” he said of the astronauts. “They trained to manage through the situation.”

Artemis II is poised to set a distance record for humans, traveling more than 252,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon and heading home without stopping or entering lunar orbit. The record is currently held by Apollo 13.

The Canadian Space Agency celebrated the country’s role in the mission, speaking from Quebec with astronaut Jeremy Hansen as he headed toward his lunar rendezvous. Hansen is the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon.

“Today he is making history for Canada,” Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell said. “As we watch him taking this bold step into the unknown, let his journey remind us that Canada’s future is written by those who dare to reach for more.”

In the live televised linkup, Hansen said he has already witnessed “extraordinary” views from NASA’s Orion capsule.

Hansen, Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch are the world’s first lunar astronauts since Apollo 17’s crew of three in 1972. Koch and Glover are the first female and first Black astronauts to the moon, respectively.

Their nearly 10-day mission — ending with a Pacific splashdown on April 10 — is the first step in NASA’s bold plans for a sustainable moon base. The space agency is aiming for a landing by two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2028.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

The warning extends from Harrogate to Robin Hood’s Bay on the coast, including Knaresborough, Ripon, Malton, Thirsk, Easingwold, Sutton on the Forest, Whitby and Staithes.

The Met Office has warned that the storm is bringing very strong southwesterly winds across the north, and in some areas, gusts of up to 70 mph.

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Winds are expected to be at their strongest at around 11pm tonight.

In Staithes, these will reach to 39mph at 12am on Easter Sunday (April 5).

The storm will be less intense but still disruptive in Thirsk and Ripon, with winds reaching their peak at 28mph at approximately 12am.

An amber weather warning will be in place from 7pm tonight (April 4) (Image: Met Office)

Over in Harrogate and Knaresborough, these will be roughly 31mph.

The amber warning is due to begin at 7pm and will last until 3am tomorrow morning.

It comes after a separate yellow weather warning for wind was placed on York and North Yorkshire, which will last until 7am tomorrow.

The Met Office has warned the public that driving in high winds may be dangerous and has urged motorists to be mindful of high-sided vehicles, caravans, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Some travel disruptions are to be expected, along with delays, closed roads and bridges, and power cuts.

A statement from the Met Office read: “A spell of very strong southwesterly, then westerly winds is expected across north Wales, northern England and southern Scotland on Saturday evening and overnight before easing early on Sunday.

“Gusts of 60-70 mph are possible widely with some coastal or exposed locations seeing gusts of around 80 mph.”

The Press will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest weather news this afternoon.

Sixteen people were injured, five critically, after a vehicle struck parade participants at the Louisiana Lao New Year celebration in New Iberia.

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A vehicle has crashed into a parade in the United States, leaving 16 people injured.

According to local news outlet WBRZ2, 16 people were hurt – five of them critically – after a car struck parade participants in New Iberia, Louisiana.

Acadian Ambulance confirmed that ten ambulances and two air ambulances were deployed to the scene of the devastating incident, reports the Mirror.

Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department has launched an investigation after the vehicle ploughed into a crowd attending a festival in New Iberia.

The gathering had assembled for a parade near Captain Cade and Melancon Road in the town of approximately 30,000 residents.

KPEL reported that the event was the Louisiana Lao New Year celebration in Iberia Parish.

Two casualties were airlifted to hospital, while a further 11 patients were taken by road ambulance to nearby medical facilities in the aftermath.

Footage and photographs circulating on social media captured the chaotic scenes that followed, showing emergency responders attempting to manage visibly distressed crowds at the event.

The Louisiana Lao New Year Festival is a well-established cultural event held annually in Iberia Parish. The three-day celebration, which got under way on Friday, honours Lao traditions, food, music, and community heritage.

It remains unclear what caused the collision or whether it was deliberate, and local authorities are yet to release information regarding the driver or any potential charges.

The full extent of the victims’ injuries is still being assessed as emergency crews continue to work at the scene.

A common mistake could have bad results

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Oven cleaning is arguably among the most neglected chores in kitchen maintenance. And after a busy day at work, it’s the last thing on our minds.

However, when we do tackle this awful chore, some of us are likely doing it incorrectly – and this could result in our oven door shattering unexpectedly.

According to Which?, although bicarbonate of soda can be used for oven cleaning, it’s not about the product itself, but the method. It explains: “No matter what you use, you’ll need decent scrubbing brushes or sponges with scourers. An old toothbrush can help you get grease out of any nooks and crannies.

“Don’t use scourers on a glass oven door, though. These can introduce tiny scratches on the surface of the glass, which could leave it vulnerable to shattering in the future.”

If you want to clean your oven with bicarbonate of soda safely, try the following steps.

1. For a natural cleaning option, use everyday bicarbonate of soda
2. Make a paste by mixing equal parts of bicarbonate of soda and water
3. Apply to greasy or burnt-on spots and leave for a few hours
4. Scrub off to reveal a clean surface

To make the job more manageable, the consumer champions say that you should “clean little and often”. It advises: “Wipe down your oven at least once a month. If you’ve cooked something that you know has splattered everywhere (such as a roast or a bubbling casserole), you should wipe your oven down once it has cooled.”

If you smell something burning while the oven preheats, it’s usually leftover food from a previous spill. After the oven cools, wipe it clean to prevent residue from sticking.

Additional methods to prevent extra kitchen chaos include using a cover or foil to avoid bubbling and splashing. You should also place dishes on a baking sheet rather than directly on the oven shelf to catch any drips.

He told the Press Association: “The SNP is campaigning all out to win this election and to win with an overall majority, and the public are responding positively to the key messages we’re setting out about delivering improvements to the National Health Service, where we’re reducing long waits for treatment, just as I promised would be the case, and by the SNP offering the support in relation to the cost-of-living challenges that people face in Scotland.

Several people were injured when a vehicle struck revelers at a parade celebrating the Lao New Year on Saturday in rural Louisiana, authorities said.

The driver was quickly arrested and charged with impaired driving, police said.

Video shared on social media showed multiple people on the ground at the annual event in Broussard and New Iberia. The videos showed firefighters tending to one person trapped beneath the car, which wound up in a ditch along the parade route.

Around 15 people were hurt, some seriously, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” said a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, Rebecca Melancon.

Acadian Ambulance, a private ambulance company, said on social media that it responded to the emergency around 2:30 p.m. and sent 10 ambulances and a helicopter to aid the injured. Two patients were airlifted, it said.

The Louisiana State Police said the driver, who is 57 and lived in Jeanerette, appeared impaired when police arrived and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level. He was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

The parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration set in the Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia with hundreds of families, and near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram.

It features Southeast Asian food, live music, a parade and other family-friendly activities attracting thousands each year.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement about the incident. “Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene,” he said.

The festival’s organizers issued a statement on Facebook saying they were “profoundly saddened” by the incident.

“We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” it said.

Afternoon and evening events were canceled, but the festival planned to hold religious services on Sunday, the organizers said.

The rail company said it looked into “everything from walking trails and nearby gardens to the variety of flowering plants and how easy it is to reach each village from the nearest train station” when making the list.

It added: “We also considered how each village comes to life in spring, from bursts of colour to those picture-perfect moments you’ll want to linger in a little longer.”

Downham flies the flag for Lancashire, and LNER has shed light on some key stops you should make in the village on your visit – let’s take a look.

Downham village named among best to visit in the UK this spring

LNER said: “If you’re looking for somewhere that feels a step away from the everyday, Downham is a good place to start.

“Family-owned for generations, the village has kept things simple, no road signs, no aerials, just open views and a quiet sense of history.”

What was filmed in Downham?

The Lancashire village has also been a popular filming spot, with LNER saying “it’s easy to see why”.

It added: “It’s been used as a backdrop for films and TV over the years, including Whistle Down the Wind and The Secret of Crickley Hall.”

The Lancashire village has featured in various TV shows and films (Image: Getty)

Born and Bred, a BBC drama, was also filmed in the village, according to Visit Lancashire.

If you’re looking for some food stops while in Downham, LNER recommends “a scoop of local Lancashire ice cream from the village shop” and a trip to “the award-winning Assheton Arms” which is an “18th-century gastropub” that “sits at the highest point of the village, serving up seasonal plates alongside tranquil countryside vistas that make the modern world feel miles away.”

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Visitors are also advised to “head to the banks of Downham Brook” for “a perfect spot to sit and listen to the water as the village wakes up for spring.”

The “quiet and unspoiled” village is “one of the loveliest villages in Lancashire”, according to Visit Lancashire.

Have you been to Downham? Let us know in the comments below.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A smoky wildfire in southern California that broke out a day earlier and prompted evacuation orders was mostly under control Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.

Encompassing roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) in Riverside County, about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, the Springs Fire was no longer growing and at least 75% percent contained Saturday, said Terra Fernandez, public safety information specialist for the Riverside County Fire Department. It was 25% contained on Friday.

Fire officials also lifted evacuation orders for a large swath of neighborhoods Saturday morning. Fernandez said she expected the rest will be lifted by the end of the day.

“It’s pretty much under control,” Fernandez said.

The fire was fueled by strong Santa Ana winds with gusts predicted to get up to 45 mph (72 kph) on Saturday. But winds had “dissipated a bit” since Friday, helping the efforts of fire crews, Fernandez said. Natural equestrian trails around the area also helped firefighters make access to the fire and build effective containment lines around its perimeter, she said.

So far, no structures have been damaged or destroyed.

Crews began early Saturday dropping water and retardant all around the fire by air. About 260 personnel are battling the blaze, including crews from around the region who are building and strengthening the containment lines and laying hose, she said.

A handful of zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders. It was not immediately known how many households were affected by the orders.

The fire is located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County that is a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

While Center Parcs is a great family choice, it’s certainly not the cheapest. So, could a short journey to Europe actually save you money? We compared the price of a break in the school holidays at the two holiday parks

Center Parcs may be famous for its massive swimming pools, endless family activities, and beautiful lodges, but it’s also notorious for being a bit expensive, especially once you hit the school holidays.

Despite its prices, the five Center Parcs in the UK and one in Ireland has no trouble attracting families. But if you’re on a budget, you might be wondering if it’s possible to enjoy the Center Parcs experience without the premium prices.

One option that many families with school-aged kids will be looking at is staying in a European Center Parcs.

Although it is run by a different company, there are 28 Center Parcs holiday parks across Europe, and they can be found on the Belgian and Dutch coast, deep in Germany’s forests, and even close to Disneyland Paris, so there are lots of locations to choose from.

While accommodation prices are lower than those at Center Parcs in the UK, I was curious whether, once travel costs were included, it would still be a cheaper option.

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Which is cheaper?

Firstly, I looked at a short break in May half-term week, from Monday, May 25, for four nights. I priced this up as a family of four with two school-aged children and looked for the cheapest options.

In the UK, the cheapest park seemed to be Whinfell Forest, Cumbria, and the least expensive accommodation was a two-bedroom Woodland Lodge, which comes with a dishwasher, private patio, and pretty much everything you need for a family staycation.

This came in at £1,349 and the price includes entry to the famous subtropical swimming pool, adventure playgrounds, and cycle routes.

It does sting a little that the same break a week before is £599, showing just how dramatically the price differences can be for the school holidays.

Onto France, and for a short break, most parents would likely opt for somewhere without too long a journey. Center Parcs Les Bois-Francs is about two hours from Le Havre ferry port or three-and-a-half hours from Calais. For the same four nights in a Premium Cottage, the price is €440 (about £380), for about the same grade of accommodation as the UK.

Of course, you then also have your travel costs. A ferry from Dover to Calais can be found on those dates for four plus a car at £164, if you don’t mind driving in France. Fuel costs can vary a lot, especially with the current global situation, but a quick calculation shows the journey to and from Calais in my car would cost about £70 in fuel.

This puts the cost of a Center Parcs break in France for four at £614, including accommodation and travel, nearly half the cost of the UK. If you don’t live near the south coast, then your travel times could vary, but if you’re close to a ferry port and enjoy the adventure of exploring a new country, it could be a fun break.

Next, I looked at a longer break in the six-week holidays, which are notoriously expensive wherever you go. I wanted to see how a seven-night break would compare in Center Parcs UK versus Europe on these premium dates.

I chose breaks starting Friday, August 7, in the middle of the summer holidays, and again looked at prices for a family of four. A Woodland Lodge in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, is priced at £2,378 for a week.

But would the cost of a European break be any less painful on your pocket?

One of the cheaper European options for this week is Le Lac d’Ailette in the Picardy region of France. This pretty lakeside park is big on indoor and outdoor water activities, and being at the heart of the Champagne region means adults can enjoy stocking up on bottles to take home.

A Comfort Cottage is €1872 for the week (about £1,634) plus the cost of fuel to and from Calais, which is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive. A return ferry from Dover to Calais on these dates comes in at about £241 for four people in a standard car, so again, it’s cheaper than the UK option, but involves a longer journey.

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In conclusion

While my basic calculations show that a Center Parcs holiday in Europe could be cheaper, it’s worth also bearing in mind the additional costs of travel abroad such as passports. And for families short on time and annual leave, the UK parks are likely a better option simply because it’s a shorter drive.

Food in supermarkets also tends to be more expensive in France than the UK, apart from the wine, although you can often eat out more affordably thanks to prix fixe menus.

However, if you’re a Center Parcs fan and fancy a change, or don’t mind the extra time spent on a ferry and in the car, you might want to consider trying one of the parks on the continent for your next break.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

John Fury made headlines by claiming son Tyson has not been the same since his trilogy of fights against Deontay Wilder, but the same can be said of the American.

Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight world champion, has not beaten a ranked opponent since Luis Ortiz in 2019, losing four of his last six fights. Three of those were knockout defeats, and though The Bronze Bomber knocked out Tyrrell Herndon last June that contest was a glorified warm-up.

By contrast, Wilder’s opponent Derek Chisora has defied the odds, his age, and his slugging style of boxing to topple Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin in his last three fights.

Chisora claims that tonight’s bout at London’s O2 Arena will be his last as a professional boxer, but the 42-year-old has said that previously before returning to the ring.

Wilder and Chisora have been in the top 10 of the heavyweight division for years but this is the first time they will touch gloves.

By coincidence, it is both men’s 50th professional fight. Chisora’s record reads 36-13, 23KOs, while Wilder’s reputation for destruction is reflected in a record of 44-4-1, 43KOs.

Chisora weighed in at a career-heaviest 19st, some 40lb more than Wilder who tipped the scales at 16st 17lb.

Ordinarily, you would say the heavier man would be disadvantaged by a fight becoming a test of stamina in the late rounds, but Wilder has won just one fight by decision in his career.

It is said the American has focused on becoming a more technical fighter behind his jab, though some observers have concluded that is a sign of hesitancy. Chisora is lion-hearted and not afraid to take a blow.

This is how the card for the night looks:

Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder (heavyweight)
Viddal Riley vs Mateusz Masternak (cruiserweight)
Denzel Bentley vs Endry Saavedra (vacant WBO interim middleweight title)
Ashton Sylve vs Raul Antonio (super-lightweight)
Matty Harris vs Franklin Ignatius (heavyweight)
Amir Anderson vs Jordan Dujon (middleweight)
Dan Toward vs Misael Da Veiga (super-welterweight)
Jermaine Dhliwayo vs Jake Morgan (super-featherweight)
Abner Teixeira vs TBA (heavyweight)