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The Artemis II mission has reached a critical phase, entering the moon's 'sphere of influence' where the lunar gravity dominates over Earth's. This development occurred four days, six hours, and two minutes into the mission, at a distance of about 39,000 miles from the moon and 232,000 miles from Earth. The crew is set to perform a lunar flyby later on Monday, which will take them to the far side of the moon, a region that has not been explored by humans in over 50 years. This mission aims to break the record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by humans. NASA's Artemis II mission is a significant step towards re-establishing a human presence on the moon, building on the legacy of the Apollo program, which last sent astronauts to the moon in 1972. The current crew has already observed new sights of the lunar surface, including the Orientale basin, also known as the moon's 'Grand Canyon,' which has been photographed before by orbiting cameras but never seen with human eyes. The mission will also test the Orion spacecraft's capabilities, including its life support systems and manual piloting. The data collected will be crucial for future missions, such as Artemis III in 2027 and the lunar landing planned for Artemis IV in 2028.

Sha’Carri Richardson, the Olympic 100m silver medallist and world‑ranked sixth‑fastest woman, delivered a thrilling victory at the 144th Stawell Gift on Easter Monday, crossing the finish line in a record 13.15 seconds to claim the $40,000 top prize.The 26‑year‑old American entered the historic Australian event – the nation’s oldest and richest running race – as a scratch runner, meaning she started from the zero‑metre mark while rivals enjoyed handicaps based on prior performance.In the women’s final, Richardson edged out Charlotte Nielsen (13.20s) and Chiara Santiglia (13.36s) after a false start by 17‑year‑old Grace Crowe forced the latter to move her blocks back a metre, effectively shortening Richardson’s target.Her semi‑final had been a nail‑biter; Richardson eased up at the line and won by a razor‑thin seven thousandths of a second over Halle Martin, prompting her coach Dennis Mitchell to stress the need for a stronger finish.“I think I realised I was going to win right past 90 metres,” Richardson said post‑race, adding, “The love, the support, the true enjoyment that I had on the track … you all made this moment happen. Thank you.”Richardson’s triumph makes her the third woman ever to win the Stawell Gift from scratch, underscoring the event’s growing international stature and the lucrative incentive for elite sprinters.In the men’s 120‑metre final, Australian Olufemi Komolafe – a 21‑year‑old medical student – secured victory in 11.93 seconds from a five‑metre handicap, with Jake Ireland second in 12.07 seconds. Komolafe expressed disappointment at not facing his idol, fellow American sprinter Christian Coleman, who failed to qualify for the final, finishing fifth in his semi‑final off scratch.Coleman reflected, “I gave it everything I got. You give them that much of a margin, it’s pretty tough. I hope everybody continues to watch and support athletics. I’m looking forward to a strong season and improving my 40‑to‑100 metre transition.”

President Donald Trump confirmed early Sunday that a U.S. airman missing after his F-15E fighter jet was downed in Iran had been recovered, describing the operation as one of the most daring in American history. The rescue, which reportedly involved a heavy exchange of fire, concluded after the pilot, a colonel‑rank weapons systems officer, was extracted from the mountainous terrain of southwestern Iran. For roughly two days, both Washington and Tehran scrambled to locate the missing serviceman. Iranian officials even appealed to local residents, offering a $60,000 reward and urging the public to hand over the airman, a move that analysts said could have yielded a propaganda victory for Tehran. According to statements from the White House, the mission required the deployment of dozens of aircraft armed with lethal payloads. While the rescue was ultimately successful, the pilot sustained injuries; however, officials assured that his condition would improve. Experts highlighted the broader strategic implications. Amin Saikal, a professor at the Australian National University, noted that the operation demonstrated the U.S. military’s commitment to never abandon personnel behind enemy lines, while also freeing President Trump to pursue his stated 48‑hour deadline for Iran to negotiate access to the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict, now in its 37th day, has already caused 2,076 deaths and injured 26,500 people across Iran since the initial strikes on February 28, which targeted senior Iranian leadership. The war has expanded into a regional confrontation, with Iranian forces striking Gulf states that host U.S. military and commercial assets. Details of the downing indicate that Iran’s “new advanced air‑defence system” succeeded in shooting down the F‑15E, marking the first loss of a U.S. aircraft in the war and the first such incident since the 2003 Iraq invasion. An accompanying A‑10 Warthog was also hit, though its pilot ejected and was rescued. Initial rescue attempts saw a Black Hawk helicopter damaged but remaining airborne. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) cordoned off parts of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‑Ahmad province, where the crash occurred, and reported that local nomadic groups, armed with rifles for livestock protection, joined the search. State media released footage of Iranian forces firing at U.S. helicopters, and the IRGC claimed to have destroyed two C‑130 transports and two Black Hawks during the operation. Trump’s announcement emphasized continuous monitoring of the pilot’s location by senior defense officials and a rapid response once the rescue window opened. He also referenced the ongoing disinformation campaign aimed at misleading Iranian search efforts. While Tehran has not officially confirmed the firefight, reports from Al Jazeera suggest that nine individuals were killed in related strikes, though the connection to the rescue remains unclear. Iranian authorities also claimed that another U.S. C‑130 aircraft was downed, a claim the United States has not addressed. Overall, the successful extraction underscores the heightened stakes of the U.S.–Iran confrontation and may influence forthcoming diplomatic overtures concerning the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional stability.

The White House announced on Truth Social that the United States has retrieved the second airman from the two‑person crew of an F‑15 fighter that Iran said was downed by its air defenses. The rescued officer, identified as a colonel, was described by President Donald Trump as a "brave Warrior" who endured injuries but is expected to recover fully. Trump’s post highlighted the operation as a "miraculous" rescue, adding that it followed a prior successful extraction of the first crew member the day before. He emphasized that the missions were carried out without any American fatalities or injuries, underscoring his claim of "overwhelming air dominance" over Iranian skies. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that a U.S. aircraft searching for the missing officer was shot down in the southern province of Isfahan. According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the downed plane was a C‑130 transport, destroyed by the Faraj Rangers, a police commando unit. The agency posted images of thick smoke rising from the crash site and accused the U.S. of attempting to conceal a defeat. Iran has not officially confirmed or denied the rescue of the second pilot, though Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran noted continued air strikes over the area where the fighter was downed. The rescue effort, which involved dozens of U.S. military aircraft, faced “fierce resistance” from Iranian forces, according to reports from Washington. U.S. officials, cited by Al Jazeera, said the downed airman evaded Iranian units for roughly two days before special‑operations troops engaged in a daylight firefight that lasted several hours. The operation, typically conducted under cover of darkness, was unusually prolonged. In a separate incident, an A‑10 Warthog crashed after being hit over Kuwait, with the pilot ejecting safely; details on injuries remain unclear. Trump concluded his statement by asserting that the dual successes—rescuing both pilots without casualties—demonstrated the United States' "air superiority" in the region.

Manchester City dominated Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarterfinals at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick to lead his team into the semifinals for an eighth successive season.Haaland's impressive performance came after a slow start from City, with Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah missing key opportunities. Haaland's first goal came from a penalty in the 39th minute, converted after a clumsy trip by Virgil van Dijk on Nico O'Reilly.The Norwegian striker doubled City's lead on the stroke of halftime with a superb header from a Rayan Cherki cross, making a perfectly timed run in front of Ibrahima Konate to beat Giorgi Mamardashvili.Liverpool's woes continued as Antoine Semenyo scored the third goal five minutes after the interval, capitalizing on a pass from Cherki to sprint past Van Dijk and clip a deft finish over Mamardashvili.Haaland completed his treble in the 57th minute, drilling home via the underside of the bar after O'Reilly teed him up 11 meters from goal.The win piles pressure on Liverpool manager Arne Slot, whose team has just two wins in their last seven matches in all competitions and is fifth in the Premier League. Slot's side faces Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.Haaland praised his teammates for recovering from a difficult opening period, saying, “Honestly, in the first half, we struggled a bit, but after 30 minutes, we kept going, and in the end, it was an amazing game at home.”

President Donald Trump posted a terse three‑sentence message on Truth Social, giving Iran a 48‑hour deadline to either negotiate a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international traffic. The post, which omitted any reference to the ongoing hunt for a U.S. pilot believed to have ejected after an F‑15 fighter crashed in Iranian airspace, reignited diplomatic friction. Iran’s central military command responded within hours. General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi dismissed the ultimatum as a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action,” warning that the “gates of hell will open” for the United States. Earlier this week, Tehran claimed to have shot down an A‑10 Warthog near the Hormuz Strait, casting doubt on Trump’s earlier assertion that the United States has established dominance over Iranian airspace. The current threat follows a 10‑day deadline announced on March 26, which required Iran to open the strait or face the “destruction” of its energy facilities. That deadline expires on Monday, prompting Trump to write: “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!” In Tehran, the Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters echoed Aliabadi’s criticism, labeling the message as reckless and unbalanced. Trump’s rhetoric this week has also targeted Iranian infrastructure more broadly. He has threatened to strike power plants, oil facilities, and even “possibly all desalinization plants,” and in a recent national address warned he would bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages.” More than 100 international law experts have warned that such attacks on civilian infrastructure could violate the Geneva Convention and constitute war crimes. Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran stays open to negotiations but rejected a “15‑point” plan from the Trump administration as “unreasonable.” The United States, meanwhile, views Iran’s demand for sovereignty over the Hormuz Strait as a “non‑starter.” Pakistan has pledged to continue supporting cease‑fire talks despite the “obstacles.” While Trump has not publicly addressed the missing pilot, NBC News reported that he told the network the incident would not affect negotiations: “No, not at all. No, it’s war.” Experts caution that if Iran captures the pilot, it could give Tehran a powerful bargaining chip and undermine U.S. claims of air‑space dominance. Marina Miron, a researcher at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that the F‑15 shoot‑down demonstrates Iran’s ability to target U.S. aircraft, contradicting statements from Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about complete U.S. control of Iranian airspace. She noted that Iran’s likely use of man‑portable air‑defence systems makes locating and neutralising them “much more difficult.” Miron warned that any U.S. rescue attempt could risk additional casualties and further escalation. “It’s a race for time,” she said, noting a critical window of up to 72 hours during which both sides are scrambling to secure the pilot for military and political purposes.

Monica Barbaro, known for her Oscar-nominated portrayal of activist Joan Baez in James Mangold's A Complete Unknown, is now preparing for her stage debut in the National Theatre's revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Barbaro, 35, will play Madame de Tourvel, a role previously taken on by notable actresses such as Juliet Stevenson and Michelle Pfeiffer.During an interview, Barbaro joked about her accent, saying, "I feel like I'm imitating an American accent, but it really is mine." She switches to an English accent for rehearsals, where she is working on the play's 18th-century French aristocracy setting. "I feel it's best to use my own voice," she explained.Barbaro expressed apprehension about speaking aloud in a theater for a large audience, a significant departure from her previous work in film. "Speaking aloud in a theatre for this big of an audience is new for me," she said.Her preparation for A Complete Unknown was intense, involving months of studying Baez's voice and music, learning guitar, and wearing prosthetic teeth to capture the singer's distinctive look. "We filmed it only a year and a half ago, and it was put out within months," she reflected. "It was really intense. It took a long time for me to land afterwards and feel more like myself again."Barbaro also discussed her connection to Baez, citing their shared mixed identity (Barbaro is a quarter Mexican) and Baez's activism. "I'm just like: 'Then she marched with Martin Luther King, are we clear on that? Do people know that?' It was really nice to hear from a lot of people who watched the movie that they were intrigued to find out more about her."She met Baez in person last year and described the experience as "so trippy." "It was so strange to hear in person the voice I'd been obsessing over for so long. There's a worship quality to it; I felt in complete awe of her," Barbaro said.Regarding her Oscar nomination, Barbaro called it "totally surreal" but something she tried to process in advance. "It seemed embarrassing to want it, or celebrate it, and I needed to confront that it was something I'd love to have. Then, when it happened – unbridled joy. It was a big shift for an actor who went into the film fangirling over the rest of the cast and the director."Barbaro is currently rehearsing for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, where she will work with director Marianne Elliott. The play explores themes of power, corruption, and manipulation among the aristocracy, resonating with modern issues such as the Epstein files. "It was about the corruption of a certain class who could operate with impunity, and fuck over anyone they wanted," she said.Barbaro reflected on the enduring power of the play, saying, "As a modern woman with autonomy and independence, the thing I fear most in the world is dying of heartbreak." She emphasized the relevance of the play's themes, particularly systemic abuse and corruption.

On Sunday, Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar captured his third Tour of Flanders title, matching the historic record after dropping his main rival Mathieu van der Poel with 18 km left to ride.Van der Poel had been chasing a fourth victory in the Monument, but Pogacar, fresh from a Milan‑San Remo win last month, completed a flawless spring‑classic double.The triumph raises Pogacar’s Monument tally to 12 victories, cementing his place second on the all‑time list behind Eddy Merckx. Having won all three of his races this season, a Paris‑Roubaix win next weekend would make him only the fourth rider ever to claim all five Monuments.Describing the race as “crazy” and “super‑hard”, Pogacar told Belgian TV that limited racing opportunities increase the pressure to win, but he was “more than happy” with how the day unfolded and will head to Roubaix “motivated” while trying to enjoy the cobbles.Last year’s Roubaix debut saw Pogacar finish runner‑up to Van der Poel, who secured his third consecutive victory there.Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel secured third place, ahead of fellow Belgian Wout van Aert, after more than six hours covering 278 km of Flanders’ hilly, cobbled terrain.The event unfolded as a showdown among four of cycling’s biggest stars. Pogacar’s decisive move came on the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, 57 km from the finish, where he shed all rivals except Van der Poel and Evenepoel.Evenepoel was subsequently left behind on the next climb, the Paterberg, eventually finishing over a minute after Pogacar.After riding together for roughly 40 km, Pogacar launched his race‑winning attack on the final climb of the Oude Kwaremont, gaining a six‑second edge that expanded to a comfortable margin at the line.In the women’s race, European champion Demi Vollering mirrored Pogacar’s tactics, breaking away on the Oude Kwaremont and winning by 19 seconds, with a 45‑second gap to second‑placed Pauline Ferrand‑Prévot.Vollering’s victory marks her third Monument win, adding to two Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège titles, while Lotte Kopecky finished fourth.

Virgil van Dijk openly criticised Liverpool’s performance after a crushing 4‑0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter‑final, saying the side effectively "gave up" and offering a direct apology to the club’s supporters. The Dutch defender described the loss as the most severe under manager Arne Slot, noting that the timing of the defeat makes it especially hard to rebound for the Champions League first‑leg against Paris Saint‑Germain on Wednesday. Van Dijk pointed out that Liverpool allowed four goals in an 18‑minute spell around the break, a collapse that has contributed to the club’s tally of 15 defeats across all competitions this season (excluding the Community Shield). "It’s on us," he said, expressing remorse for the second‑half display and acknowledging the mental strain of a difficult campaign. He also took personal responsibility for the penalty that gave City the lead, marking his fourth spot‑kick conceded this season after 319 appearances for Liverpool. Regarding the manager, Van Dijk stated, "Slot is responsible as the manager, but we are the ones on the pitch." He added that the team let both the fans and themselves down, especially after the penalty incident. Looking ahead, the captain warned that the upcoming match in Paris will be "very difficult", but stressed that Liverpool must fight in the remaining three games to salvage the season. Van Dijk also reflected on a perceived loss of the "togetherness" that defined his years at the club, attributing it to a major squad overhaul and a transitional period that hampers consistency.