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Aisling Bea, 42, finally steps onto the solo stand‑up circuit with a 75‑minute show titled “Older Than Jesus.” The title, a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to the mid‑life milestone of outliving the biblical figure, hints at the personal reflections that anchor the performance. Although Bea is best known for TV hits and a stint on Taskmaster, this is her inaugural headline tour. The material draws heavily on her recent “accidental pregnancy” and the ensuing transition to motherhood, offering a candid look at the chaos and comedy of late‑stage parenthood. True to her reputation, Bea’s humor remains delightfully reckless. She riffs on childhood memories of crafting DIY Dairylea spreads with second‑hand “bodies of Christ,” reenacts a disastrous Take That movie wrap‑party, and even masquerades as a dad in her sister’s antenatal class. Each anecdote is delivered with a cartoonish egotism that celebrates her own absurdity. Physical comedy spikes the night: a deliberately over‑the‑top “slut drop” followed by a playlist curated for her own C‑section. These moments juxtapose the glamour‑obsessed persona she projects on Instagram with the far less polished reality of a new mother, underscoring the show’s central tension. In the closing segment, Bea pivots from pure silliness to a more earnest commentary, using pregnancy and parenthood as lenses to critique entrenched gender expectations. The moral—delivered with a sincere, if slightly unexpected, earnestness—offers a satisfying resolution to a set that otherwise revels in delightful immaturity. The premiere took place at De Montfort Hall in Leicester on 8 April, with the tour set to continue across the UK in the weeks ahead.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced on Saturday that Iraqi ships are free to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit for global energy supplies. This decision exempts Iraq from all restrictions in the strait, with controls only applying to 'enemy countries'.The announcement reflects Iran's easing of its stranglehold on the strait, which has been effectively blockaded since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28. Despite this, maritime traffic has seen an increase in recent weeks, with 53 transits recorded last week, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence.Iran's military command emphasized its 'profound respect for Iraq's national sovereignty' and praised Iraq's struggle against the US. This move comes in response to US President Donald Trump's demands for Tehran to make a deal or relinquish control of the waterway, warning that 'all hell' would ensue within 48 hours otherwise. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters rejected Trump's demand, calling it a 'helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action'. The blockade has significantly impacted global energy markets, pushing up fuel prices and prompting emergency energy conservation measures in many countries. Brent crude has hovered above $109 a barrel, with predictions of further price surges if the strait remains blocked. Iraq's oil production, which provides most of Baghdad's revenues, has been particularly affected, falling to 1.2 million barrels a day from 4.3 million barrels.

The historic Artemis II mission is on track to reach the far side of the moon on Monday, with NASA reporting satisfaction with the progress made since the team's launch on Wednesday. The crew, comprising three Americans and one Canadian, will break the record for maximum range from Earth.The astronauts, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen, are the first to bound for the moon in over half a century, picking up where the Apollo program left off in 1972. The mission aims to establish a permanent lunar base, with NASA targeting a landing by two crew members near the lunar south pole in 2028.During their journey, the crew has reported persistent issues with the Orion capsule's toilet, which has been malfunctioning since liftoff. Despite this, morale remains high, with the astronauts describing their experiences and sharing images of the moon's surface.The next significant milestone is expected overnight Sunday into Monday, when the astronauts will enter the lunar sphere of influence, where the moon's gravity will have a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. If successful, the Artemis II crew will have traveled further from Earth than any human before.The mission promises breathtaking views of the moon's far side, which was too dark or difficult to see for the 24 Apollo astronauts who preceded them. The crew will observe the celestial body with their naked eyes and cameras onboard during the flyby, which will last approximately six hours.

Lawyers estimate that as many as 75 women could have a claim in the $72.5 million settlement reached with Bank of America over alleged involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex‑trafficking network. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff has instructed counsel to assemble a broad list of publications by the upcoming Friday to ensure every potential victim receives notice, emphasizing that "nobody is left out." A final approval hearing is scheduled for August 27. The settlement was first disclosed in court filings on March 27 after a proposed class‑action lawsuit was permitted to move forward. In October, a plaintiff using the pseudonym Jane Doe filed the suit on behalf of herself and other alleged victims, accusing the bank of overlooking suspicious transactions tied to Epstein’s operations. According to the complaint, Bank of America allegedly benefited knowingly from its relationship with Epstein and impeded enforcement of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a federal statute aimed at combating sex trafficking. Bank of America reiterated its stance that it did not facilitate Epstein’s crimes, stating that the resolution allows the institution to move past the matter and provides "further closure for the plaintiffs." Judge Rakoff gave preliminary approval, noting that while no monetary figure can fully compensate for the magnitude of Epstein’s offenses, victims are entitled to restitution from any party that "knowingly, recklessly or otherwise unlawfully facilitated" the trafficking. This agreement follows similar settlements in 2023: JPMorgan Chase paid $290 million and Deutsche Bank settled for $75 million with Epstein victims. Rakoff previously dismissed a suit against Bank of New York Mellon; the plaintiffs are now appealing that decision. He stressed that liability should be limited to entities that knowingly assisted or profited, not to every organization that merely intersected with Epstein’s network. Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier who died by suicide in a New York City jail in 2019, was accused of preying on girls and young women for decades and maintained ties to high‑profile figures across politics, arts, and business. One of Doe’s attorneys, David Boies, believes that 60 to 75 women may qualify for the settlement, and cautions that additional claimants could emerge as the search continues.

NASA has unveiled the first photographs taken from inside the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, where a crew of four astronauts is currently circling the Moon. The images, released on Friday, were captured by mission commander Reid Wiseman through the capsule’s window, revealing a cloud‑shrouded Earth rising beyond the spacecraft. A second shot displays the full globe, complete with shimmering oceans and a faint green aurora, emphasizing the planet’s fragility from deep space. At mid‑morning on Friday, the crew was approximately 100,000 miles (160,000 km) from Earth and had another 160,000 miles (258,000 km) to travel before reaching the Moon, a milestone expected on Monday. The team—three Americans and one Canadian—will orbit the Moon in the Orion capsule before looping back to Earth without landing. The spacecraft entered its lunar trajectory after firing its main engine on Thursday night. Mission specialist Christina Koch, the first woman to travel around the Moon, told ABC News, "I knew that is what we would see, but nothing prepares you for the breathtaking view of our home planet lit up by day and the Moon’s glow at night." She added that the crew is eager to experience similar vistas of the Moon and the eventual return home. The mission is now on its third day of a planned ten‑day flight. On day six, the Orion will make its closest approach to the lunar surface, passing 4,000‑6,000 miles (6,450‑9,650 km) above the Moon. After circling the far side—the first human deep‑space journey of this magnitude in over five decades—the crew will use lunar gravity to set a course back to Earth, with a splashdown slated for April 11 at 00:06 GMT (8:06 p.m. ET on April 10) in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego. Astronaut Victor Glover reflected on the emotional impact of seeing Earth from space, saying, "From up here, you look amazing. Homo sapiens is all of us—no matter where you’re from or what you look like. We’re all one people." He called the mission a true "moonshot" that demonstrates what humanity can achieve when differences are set aside. The released images not only showcase the technical success of Artemis II but also serve as a powerful reminder of our shared planetary identity as the crew prepares for the historic lunar flyby.

UCLA secured a hard-fought 51-44 win over Texas on Friday night, advancing to the national championship game of the women's NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Bruins, with a stellar season record of 36-1, were led by Lauren Betts, who scored 16 points and made a pivotal block in the final minutes to thwart Texas's late surge.The Bruins dominated their way to another national semi-final, boasting the best season in program history. Their path to the title game had to go through Texas, the only team to beat them this season. UCLA turned the tables on Texas, shutting down All-American Madison Booker and building a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.Despite Texas's strong defensive showing, which included a 12-2 run that cut UCLA's lead to 47-44, Betts's crucial block with 20 seconds left halted the Longhorns' momentum. Kiki Rice then hit two free throws, securing the win and sending coach Cori Close's team into the title game.The grinding win earns the Bruins a spot in Sunday's title game against South Carolina, the three-time national champions who ended reigning champion UConn's undefeated season. This sets up an exciting matchup, especially after Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley had a tense postgame exchange following South Carolina's shock win over UConn in the Final Four.For Texas, Madison Booker had a tough finish to an otherwise stellar season, hitting her first shot, missing her next 17, and finishing with six points on 3-of-23 shooting.

NASA's Artemis II mission has reached a critical phase as the four astronauts on board have successfully fired up their spacecraft's engine to break away from Earth's orbit and embark on a trajectory towards the moon. This historic moment marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over half a century. The Orion capsule's engine blasted off on Thursday, propelling the astronauts on their 10-day mission, which includes looping around the moon. The burn, lasting just under six minutes, provided enough thrust to accelerate a stationary car to highway-driving speed in less than three seconds. The mission control team in Houston confirmed the successful burn, stating, 'Looks like a good burn, we're confirming.' The astronauts, consisting of Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen, are now on a 'free return' trajectory, utilizing the moon's gravity to slingshot around it before heading back towards Earth without propulsion. The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards establishing a permanent human presence on the moon, with the ultimate goal of landing humans on the lunar surface by 2028. This mission also marks a series of historic firsts, including the first person of color, the first woman, and the first non-American on a lunar mission. The spacecraft's crew spent their initial hours in space performing checks and troubleshooting minor issues, including a communications problem and a malfunctioning toilet. They also began their fitness routine on the spacecraft's 'flywheel exercise device' to minimize muscle and bone loss in microgravity. NASA's Artemis program has been portrayed as a competitive effort with China, which aims to land humans on the moon by 2030. The program has faced pressure from various quarters, including former President Trump, who has pushed for an accelerated pace. The mission's commander, Reid Wiseman, described the breathtaking view of Earth from space, saying, 'You can see the entire globe from pole to pole... It was the most spectacular moment and it paused all four of us in our tracks.'

NASA's Artemis II space mission has successfully launched from Florida, embarking on a historic journey around the moon with four astronauts on board. This mission marks a significant milestone in the United States space agency's plan to return humans to the moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.The 32-storey rocket rose from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, where tens of thousands gathered to witness the liftoff. The Artemis II crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are set for a nearly 10-day journey around the moon and back.“On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director. “Good luck, Godspeed Artemis II. Let’s go.”During the mission, the astronauts will spend the first one to two days in high Earth orbit carrying out extensive systems checks. They will then perform a critical engine burn known as translunar injection, which will send the spacecraft out of Earth's orbit and onto a trajectory towards the moon.The journey will take several days, during which the crew will continue monitoring spacecraft systems as they travel farther from Earth. Orion will then fly behind the moon on a free-return trajectory, a path that naturally swings the spacecraft back towards Earth using the gravity of both the moon and Earth, with minimal fuel required.After the lunar flyby, the crew will spend several days traveling back to Earth while carrying out additional deep-space tests on power systems, thermal controls, and crew operations. As Orion approaches Earth, the capsule will re-enter the atmosphere at speeds of about 40,233km per hour (25,000 miles per hour), before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the crew.

NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully launched, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The mission, which launched on Wednesday, is the first crewed mission to the moon's vicinity since the Apollo program ended in 1972.The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off at 6:35pm ET (22:35 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending the Orion crew capsule on a 10-day journey around the moon and back to Earth.The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will follow a 'free-return' trajectory that swings around the moon to prove the spacecraft can sustain a crew on future missions.The mission plan includes high Earth orbit checks, a translunar injection to propel the spacecraft towards the moon, and a lunar flyby on April 6. The spacecraft will reach its closest approach to the moon, approximately 4,000-6,000 miles (6,450-9,650km) above the lunar surface.After the flyby, the crew will conduct deep-space science and medical monitoring before re-entering Earth's atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.NASA's next mission, Artemis III, is currently planned for 2027 and will involve the Orion spacecraft docking with a lunar lander in Earth orbit.