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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
After an emotional hiatus, Savannah Guthrie made her much-anticipated return to the Today Show on Monday, marking her first appearance since the unsettling disappearance of her mother, Nancy, who went missing on February 1st.
Guthrie donned a yellow dress for the broadcast, a poignant choice as yellow has become a symbol of hope and solidarity for the Guthrie family and their supporters during the ongoing search for Nancy. The 84-year-old grandmother from Arizona vanished after being last seen by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, who dropped her off at her home in Catalina Foothills late in the evening on January 31st.
Greeting viewers, Guthrie said, “Good morning, welcome to ‘Today’ on this Monday morning. We are so glad you started your week with us, and it is good to be home,” sharing the moment with co-host Craig Melvin. The sentiment of unity and support was echoed by her colleagues, some of whom also wore yellow, while yellow flowers adorned the set, underscoring the collective hope for Nancy’s safe return.
“Good morning, welcome to ‘Today’ on this Monday morning. We are so glad you started your week with us, and it is good to be home,” Guthrie stated alongside fellow co-host Craig Melvin. Some of Savannah’s colleagues on the show also wore yellow, and there were yellow flowers on the set.
BACK ON SCREEN: Savannah Guthrie returns to the “Today” show, two months after her mother was taken from her Tucson, Arizona home. Savannah wore yellow in support of her mother.
“Good morning, welcome to ‘Today’ on this Monday morning. We are so glad you started your week with… pic.twitter.com/0f41lzyXys
Claims have surfaced suggesting that graduates are exploiting the student loan system, potentially costing it billions, as officials admit they’ve lost track of a substantial number of borrowers.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) has acknowledged that it lacks information on the employment or financial circumstances of over 370,000 individuals, who collectively owe nearly £13 billion in loans.
A significant portion of these borrowers includes EU students who have returned to their home countries, as well as British graduates who have relocated overseas.
Some individuals might be unemployed, receiving government assistance, or earning below the threshold required to start repaying their loans.
Experts caution that this outflow of graduates from the repayment system could ultimately burden taxpayers with the financial shortfall.
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), said: ‘These large numbers show a huge potential leak from the student loan system.
‘We have seen in recent weeks how angry graduates are at having to pay so much for their own education, but someone will also eventually have to pick up the tab for those who go entirely missing from the system.’
Mr Hillman went on to advise that policymakers ought to ‘look at New Zealand’ where ‘severe late payments’ are imposed for those failing to reimburse the money owed.
Graduates are ‘scamming’ the student loan system out of billions as officials say they have lost track of hundreds of thousands of customers, it has been claimed (file image)
Rupert Lowe said: ‘I believe there is an industrial scam ongoing in which foreigners, particularly from Romania, take loans with the intention of never repaying them’
Independent MP Rupert Lowe, who obtained the figures in a written parliamentary answer, argued an investigation was necessary to establish whether the university loans system was being ‘scammed’ by foreign students who would fail to repay the money.
Mr Lowe said: ‘I want to know exactly how many of these lost students are foreign nationals.
‘I believe there is an industrial scam ongoing in which foreigners, particularly from Romania, take loans with the intention of never repaying them.
‘I am urging Government to launch a full investigation and then restrict the eligibility of student loans to UK nationals only.
‘Billions and billions gone. Who’s accountable? Who’s been sacked? Where is the investigation?
‘This is gross incompetence at best, industrial fraud at worst. There must be severe consequences.’
Richard Fuller, a Tory education spokesman, told the Telegraph he feared the taxpayer could face a ‘colossal tab’.
He added: ‘Every penny of taxpayers’ and every additional loan made in the name of our taxpayers should be handled with the same seriousness and care as our citizens take with their own household finances.’
Earlier this week, it emerged Keir Starmer ‘could hand EU students cut-price tuition fees’ (file image)
As of December last year, the total value of all outstanding loans to be repaid was £226billion.
Therefore, the £12.8billion worth of loans where graduates’ income could not be verified represented just under 5.7 per cent of the total.
And the 376,410 graduates whose income was unverified equated to one in 15 or 6.64 per cent of the 5.7 million students or graduates with outstanding loans to be repaid.
The SLC denied all unverified customers were missing – insisting they may not be required to repay their loans.
It was admitted, however, they may also be abroad.
The organisation said customers must inform SLC if they would be abroad for three months or more – meaning some graduates may be within this three-month period.
Earlier this week, it emerged Keir Starmer ‘could hand EU students cut-price tuition fees’.
The Prime Minister was warned UK universities would suffer a £580million hit if he allowed a discount for under-30s from the EU who study in Britain.
Since Brexit, EU students in the UK have been charged higher international fees, of between £11,400 and £32,000 a year, compared to the lower domestic rate for British students of £9,535 a year.
But the EU is pushing for the Government to lower tuition fees for EU students in the UK as part of a proposed youth mobility deal.
Sir Keir has agreed to the ‘youth experience scheme’ as part of his Brexit ‘reset’ deal, which will allow 18 to 30-year-olds from the EU to live, work and study in the UK.
Negotiations over the reciprocal agreement, which will also allow young Britons to live, work and study in the EU, have stumbled over the issue of tuition fees.
Labour will be wary of granting a discount for EU students while British graduates continue to struggle under a mountain of debt from student loans.
New polling by YouGov shows more than four in 10 (44 per cent) of Britons think the Government should write off some or all of student debt.
The survey also showed three-quarters (76 per cent) of respondents see interest rates of 6 per cent on some student loans as too high.
Two-thirds (68 per cent) said £9,000-a-year tuition fees charged for domestic students in England as too high, according to the poll.
When people hear the word dementia, memory loss is often the first symptom that comes to mind.
This condition, impacting 7 million individuals in the United States, is largely characterized by forgetfulness, memory challenges, and shifts in personality.
The root of these issues, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease—the most prevalent form of dementia—lies in the buildup of amyloid proteins. These proteins target the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory, causing neuronal damage.
In the initial phases of dementia, however, the signs might be much more understated, with noticeable memory lapses taking months or even years to appear.
Dementia encompasses over 100 different subtypes, which means that the symptoms can vary widely, especially in the early stages, prompting experts to caution against expecting uniform signs.
Other lesser known forms of dementia include frontotemporal dementia (FTD), vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia, all of which cause non-memory symptoms.
And the number of Americans affected by dementia is expected to nearly double by 2050, leaving millions anxious to catch it early.
Below are three of the early signs of dementia beyond memory loss.
Risky decisions are common in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with in 2023. He is pictured above with wife Emma Heming in 2019
Risky decisions
Making impulsive, irrational decisions could be an early sign of brain damage caused by dementia.
Along with the hippocampus, dementia damages the frontal lobe and orbitofrontal cortex, regions of the brain responsible for judgment, inhibition, planning and evaluating risks.
That damage can result in money mismanagement habits such as impulse shopping or signing up for unneeded credit cards.
One 2020 study from Johns Hopkins University of more than 81,000 older adults on Medicare found those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia worsened their credit scores up to six years before receiving formal diagnoses.
Researchers with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York also recently found that in the five years before a dementia diagnosis, patients were more likely to miss regular bill payments.
Risky decision-making is particularly common in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Accounting for about one in 20 dementia cases, or 50,000 to 60,000 Americans, FTD is caused by nerve cell loss in the frontal and temporal lobes, affecting personality and decision-making before memory.
Social withdrawal
Along with trouble remembering words or their friends’ names, patients with dementia may also become more withdrawn.
The disease causes atrophy, or wasting, of the brain’s Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, found in the frontal and posterior temporal lobes, respectively.
Damage to these areas affects how speech is articulated and language is comprehended, which can make it difficult for patients to communicate with loved ones.
The Alzheimer’s Association also notes forgetting names, faces or memories can lead to embarrassment and patients avoiding social interactions out of fear of being judged.
Social withdrawal is most common in Alzheimer’s and FTD, though it can also occur in vascular and Lewy body dementia.
A 2025 analysis of more than 600,000 participants also found that loneliness increased the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 14 percent, vascular dementia by 17 percent and cognitive impairment by 12 percent.
Experts believe this is because loneliness induces harmful inflammation in the brain due to the lack of stimulation.
Vision problems
Visual disturbances and impairments are commonly reported in Lewy body dementia and posterior cortical atrophy (stock image)
Along with parts of the brain responsible for memory and personality, dementia can target areas associated with vision.
This may be due to atrophy and cell damage of the occipital and parietal lobes, which process vision, interpret visual information from the eyes and judge spatial awareness.
The brain also gradually loses its ability to judge depth perception and long distances in dementia.
In Lewy body dementia in particular, damage to the visual cortex can cause the brain to create images that are not there, resulting in hallucinations.
People with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a type of dementia characterized by the degeneration of the brain’s gray matter, often report visual impairments before other symptoms such as memory loss.
A 2023 review found visual impairments were also associated with a 60 percent higher risk of developing dementia or other cognitive impairments. The researchers suggested additional research may show if wearing glasses or having vision surgery could prevent dementia later in life.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has warned against storing petrol and diesel at home.
His comments came after there was a 30 per cent spike in demand for fuel over the Easter break.
Fuel Demand Surges by 30% Over Easter as Australia Bolsters Supply
During the Easter holiday, Australia experienced a significant surge in fuel demand, with consumption rising by a third. To address this, the country has secured additional supplies of petrol and diesel, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen.
Minister Bowen announced on Monday that while existing supplies were expected to last until mid-April, the government has successfully arranged for more fuel to ensure availability through May.
“We now have secured our fuel supply not only through April but extending into May,” Bowen stated during a press briefing in Sydney. “However, we are aware of the challenging international conditions and the potential risks to supply chains, particularly with the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Energy Minister also noted that fuel companies reported a 30% increase in demand compared to the previous Easter, highlighting the heightened need for fuel during the holiday period.
“If you’re storing fuel at home, that’s very dangerous,” he said.
“It’s not recommended and it doesn’t help the situation, it makes the situation worse for all of us.”
Bowen said 3.7 billion litres of different types of fuel were on their way to Australia.
Higher prices expected for months
Consumers are being warned to expect higher prices at the supermarket checkout and the bowser for months to come.
Relief has started to flow after the federal government temporarily halved taxes on petrol and diesel, while states agreed to pass on an expected GST windfall because of higher takings on sales.
But the combined savings, worth more than 30c per litre, have not offset the full impact of high global oil prices due to the trickle of ships carrying supplies coming through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed by Iran.
It would take a while for supply chains to be restored to their pre-war states even after the US-Israeli conflict with Iran ended, University of Sydney associate economics professor David Ubilava said.
“The market disruption and the war has dragged on long enough that its effects will be felt for months to come,” he said.
“Not only will the price of fuel go up, but so will transportation costs and, as a result of fuel surcharges, deliveries, groceries and restaurants will become more expensive as those costs are passed onto the consumer.”
United States President Donald Trump has flagged that strikes on Iran could end within weeks, recently saying core objectives were nearing completion.
Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite on Sunday said the flow-on effects on fuel prices and inflation would have a long tail.
“If [the war] ended tomorrow, there’d still be effects in the coming months, but we’re planning for that,” he said.
Ubilava said while the volatile situation made forecasting difficult, it was hard to see the crude oil price — currently close to $159 per barrel — returning to pre-war levels of about $101.
Footage from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office body camera captures the swift response of officials to a shark bite incident involving a young girl. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
A brave 9-year-old girl, who survived a shark encounter in Florida, revisited the beach as a step in her recovery journey.
The incident occurred on June 12, 2025, near Boca Grande, a location on Florida’s southwestern coast close to Fort Myers.
During a family snorkeling adventure, Leah Lendel, then 9, suffered a severe shark bite that nearly severed her hand.
“Returning here is part of my healing,” Leah shared with WZVN-TV. “Sometimes, I even forget I was bitten by a shark.”
Leah Lendel, who survived a shark attack at Boca Grande nearly a year ago, returned to the site as part of her healing process.(GoFundMe)
The attack occurred 10 months ago, and Leah still vividly remembers the moment.
“You see, like, the black stuff in the water? That’s where he was,” Leah said, according to WZVN.
Police body camera captured witnesses rushing to help save her life. The girl was airlifted to undergo emergency surgery.
Leah Lendel was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital following the shark attack, where she underwent surgery that lasted hours while doctors worked to save her hand.(WTVT-TV)
Surgeons were able to successfully reattach her hand following the attack. Leah, now 10, is still working to regain her strength day-by-day.
“I can’t really play piano now, and I can’t pick up more than 8 pounds, but me and my therapist are working for me to get my wrist strength back,” Leah told WZVN.
Doctors at Tampa General Hospital worked to save the 9-year-old’s hand.(WTVT-TV)
The girl’s parents expressed how proud they are of their daughter’s resilience throughout a painful experience.
“We thought, you know, it’s going to be 100% amputation. And so that we were just praying. Of course, we, you know, we were hoping. But when you see something this bad, you just understand reality hits. You’re like, this is what it is,” Nadia Lendel told WZVN.
First responders give medical attention to 9-year-old Leah Lendel after she was bitten by a shark.(Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Despite the traumatic experience, Leah dreams of getting a snorkeling license, and her mom remains nervous but supportive.
“She’s not afraid. She’s fearless,” Nadia said.
Leah encouraged others to not let fear stop them from fulfilling their dreams.
“It’s really rare the sharks even attack a person and I would recommend not swimming in murky water,” Leah said.
Headline: U.S. Military’s Successful Rescue of Airman from Downed Jet in Iran Raises Questions
The recent rescue operation of a U.S. airman from a downed fighter jet in Iran underscores the unmatched skill and dedication of the American armed forces. This operation, highlighted in the April 5 report, serves as a testament to the military’s unwavering commitment to bringing their personnel home safely.
As a veteran of the Korean War who served with the Navy, I am reminded of similar heroic rescues from past conflicts. The consistency and precision of these operations, both then and now, highlight the enduring excellence of our military.
However, a pressing concern arises from this incident: How did Iran acquire what appear to be advanced heat-seeking missiles? These weapons were not previously in their arsenal, raising questions about their sudden availability. There are calls for decisive action, with some suggesting that a strong military response could deter future threats.
Richard Ketay
Newark, NJ
You’re all over yourself saying that since the United States rescued an airman in Iran under difficult circumstances, it means we will win the war. Come to your senses and get a grip; rescue missions have no connection to winning wars.
Dan Cohen
Burlington, Vt.
Having come of age in the era of President Jimmy Carter, I remember previous wreckage, skeletal military debris and, sadly, some human carnage in parts of the seemingly godforsaken Persian desert.
But this time, whoa; what a crucial insertion and rescue operation by Trump. Even if he’s not your cup of tea, he is the free-world’s actual defender and is in it to win it.
R.H. Bredin
Toronto, Ontario
Our government should not be telling everyone how the crew member was rescued, nor should you be printing it. What happened to discretion and common sense?
Gary Layton
Interlaken, NJ
The pilot, despite injuries, was a man of steel, determined to escape capture.
He made it up a ragged 7,000 foot mountain to put himself in a place to be rescued. With bravery, intestinal fortitude and sheer determination, he is a beacon of true grit!
Arthur French
Wainscott
While the end result of the Iran War is yet to be determined, one thing is certain: Trump’s recovery of Americans trapped in Iran was far more successful than Carter’s.
John Cain
West Palm Beach, Fla.
It was an Easter and Passover miracle that our outstanding military was able to save our American warrior from Iran.
Most Americans are ecstatic with the news, except for the Democrats who were on the Sunday shows. Their Trump Derangement was evident in their call for the 25th Amendment. They truly hate America.
J.J. Levine
Miami Beach, Fla.
The Issue: Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s husband being exposed as a cross-dresser.
Your article on the kinky proclivities of Kristi Noem’s husband leaves the obvious connection unsaid (“Kristi’s kink hub pleasure chest,” April 1).
At the same time he was indulging himself by acting out bizarre sexual fantasies, his wife was allegedly parading herself as a sex partner with Corey Lewandowski. Both profited from titillation, but she did it on the taxpayers’ dime.
Alan Saly
Brooklyn
Bryon’s been busted. While Kristi was out working, he was flirting with his deviances.
It never ceases to amaze me how someone can be “happily” married and live with their partner not knowing who they really are and what they’re up to.
Ronald Frank
West Orange, NJ
In the Trump administration, if your husband is outed as a cross-dresser, you are qualified for endless embarrassment from the mainstream media. In the Biden administration, it qualified you to be a deputy assistant secretary in the energy department.
Jack Kaufman
Naples, Fla.
Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
The beloved cast of “Malcolm in the Middle” has come together for a new limited series, although one significant member is noticeably absent from the lineup.
Erik Per Sullivan, remembered for his role as the youngest son Dewey in the iconic sitcom, declined a highly lucrative offer to join the four-episode revival.
At 34, Sullivan is currently immersed in his studies at Harvard University, where he is pursuing a degree in literature, opting to prioritize his academic pursuits over a return to the entertainment industry.
In an interview with The Guardian, Jane Kaczmarek, who portrayed the formidable matriarch Lois, shared that Sullivan is deeply engaged in his studies, particularly Dickens, and is excelling as a student. “They offered him a substantial sum to reprise his role, but he politely declined,” Kaczmarek explained.
With Sullivan stepping away from the spotlight, actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark has stepped into the role of Dewey for the Disney+ series, titled “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.”
Sullivan currently has no public social media accounts and hasn’t appeared on screen since taking a small part in the 2010 crime thriller Twelve.
Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle, turned down ‘buckets of money’ to return for the show’s reunion
It comes after Malcolm in the Middle star Justin Berfield resurfaced after spending years out of the spotlight.
Berfield portrayed Malcolm’s older brother Reese in the hit sitcom, but left the acting world after the series ended in 2006.
Now 40, the actor recently broke his silence in his first interview in almost 20 years and revealed why he stepped away from Hollywood stardom.
‘I fully just stopped acting,’ he told The Joe Vulpis Podcast, adding that he started working behind the scenes as a writer and producer.
‘I just never reached that level where I was that in demand, I guess,’ he continued.
‘I had no intention of ever becoming like Leonardo DiCaprio. Like, that guy, he’s huge. He starred in TV, did comedy, and then he exploded but that was never my intention as an actor.’
Berfield described himself as ‘low key’ and admitted that he’s spent the last several years as a stay-at-home dad to his two children, whom he shares with wife Liza Almeida.
When asked why he hasn’t done interviews in almost two decades, Berfield admitted that it was because he never had any projects to promote.
Sullivan has been replaced by actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who is portraying Dewey in the Disney+ series, Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair
The hugely popular sitcom ran from 2000 to 2006, and centred around child prodigy Malcolm (played by Frankie Muniz) as he navigated life within his dysfunctional family
‘I’ve always said no because I wasn’t working on anything. I’m just a stay-at-home dad so why am I gonna do a podcast?’ he said.
‘I’m just chilling at home with my kid,’ he added.
Despite exiting the spotlight, Berfield is making a comeback in the four-episode revival of Malcolm in the Middle.
Titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, the limited series reunites the original cast as they celebrate Lois and Hal’s wedding anniversary.
‘After shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party,’ the official synopsis reads.
Bryan Cranston, Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek and Christopher Kennedy Masterson are all back for the new series.
The hugely popular sitcom ran from 2000 to 2006, and centred around child prodigy Malcolm (played by Muniz) as he navigated life within his dysfunctional family.
On a night illuminated by the moon’s glow, the Artemis II astronauts embarked on a historic lunar flyby, offering them unprecedented views of the moon’s far side. As they gazed upon landscapes unseen by human eyes, they also set a new record for the furthest distance traveled by humans from Earth.
This six-hour journey marks NASA’s first return to lunar exploration since the iconic Apollo missions. The crew, comprising three Americans and one Canadian, is taking a significant leap toward the goal of landing near the moon’s south pole within the next two years.
This image provided by NASA on April 6, 2026 shows the moon, the near side (the hemisphere we see from Earth) visible at the top half of the disk, ID’d by the dark splotches.NASA via AP
The mission provides not only a landmark achievement but also a moment of pride for the Artemis II team. As the spacecraft began its fly-around, focusing on intensive lunar observations, the astronauts surpassed the previous distance record of 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers), a milestone set by the Apollo 13 mission in April 1970.
Continuing their voyage beyond this historic benchmark, the Artemis II crew journeyed even further from Earth. By the mission’s conclusion, they were expected to surpass the old record by over 4,100 miles (6,600 kilometers), cementing their place in the annals of space exploration.
They kept going, hurtling ever farther from Earth. Before it was all over, Mission Control expected Artemis II to beat the old record by more than 4,100 miles (6,600 kilometers).
“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed ahead of the flyby. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”
PHOTOS: Artemis II’s moonbound astronauts capture Earth’s brilliant blue beauty
Moments after breaking Apollo 13’s record, the astronauts asked permission to name two fresh lunar craters already observed. They proposed Integrity, their capsule’s name, and Carroll in honor of commander Reid Wiseman’s wife who died of cancer in 2020. Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.
“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.
Some peaks were so bright, pilot Victor Glover noted, that they looked as though they were covered in snow. Besides photographing the scenes with high-powered Nikon cameras, the astronauts also pulled out their iPhones for some impromptu shots.
Wiseman, Glover, Hansen and Christina Koch started the momentous day with the voice of Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who recorded a wake-up message just two months before his death last August. “Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also flew on Apollo 8, humanity’s first lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”
The moon is seen from a camera outside the Orion Spacecraft after the Artemis II astronauts surpassed the farthest distance ever traveled by humans from Earth on April 6, 2026.NASA via AP
They took up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon, and showed it off as the crucial flyby approached. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” said Wiseman. “Let’s go have a great day.”
Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.
Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stopping-to-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial figure-eight that will put the astronauts on course for home, once they emerge from behind the moon Monday evening.
The Artemis II astronauts were on track to pass as close as 4,066 miles (6,543 kilometers) to the moon, as their Orion capsule whips past it, hangs a U-turn and then heads back toward Earth. It will take them four days to get back, with a splashdown in the Pacific concluding their test flight on Friday.
NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
Their expected speed at closest approach to the moon: 3,139 mph (5,052 kph).
Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.
Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles (950 kilometers) across.
Other sightseeing goals: the Apollo 12 and 14 landing sites from 1969 and 1971, respectively, as well as fringes of the south polar region, the preferred locale for future touchdowns. Farther afield, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn – not to mention Earth – will be visible.
Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.
“People all over the world connect with the moon. This is something that every single person on this planet can understand and connect with,” she said on the eve of the flyby, wearing eclipse earrings.
Artemis II is NASA’s first astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.
While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s first lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.
Glover said flying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.
“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.
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.
Background: The Breathitt County Justice Center in Jackson, Ky. (Google Maps). Inset (left): Fairley Napier (Kentucky River Regional Jail). Inset (right): Joanie Campbell-Smith (Deaton Funeral Home).
In a chilling case out of Kentucky, a man has been convicted of murdering Joanie Campbell-Smith, the mother of his children. The motive behind the crime, as revealed by their daughter, was disturbingly simple: he was “tired of looking at her.” This tragic revelation came to light during the trial of Fairley Napier, who was found guilty on April 1 of murder, corpse abuse, tampering with evidence, and criminal mischief.
Joanie Campbell-Smith, aged 45, was reported missing on January 4, 2024. Napier, 49, was the last known person to have seen her alive. The couple had shared a tumultuous past, including two children. It was their daughter who recounted to Kentucky State Police the chilling confession from her father that he had grown weary of seeing her mother “lying in the log yard and looking at her.”
Two days following her disappearance, Campbell-Smith’s charred remains were discovered inside a burned-out vehicle, identified as one she frequently drove. The vehicle was located on property owned by Napier, who subsequently surrendered to authorities on January 7, 2024.
During the trial, detailed by The Jackson-Breathitt County Times Voice, Napier recounted his long history with Campbell-Smith. The two had known each other since childhood and maintained an on-and-off relationship from 1994 until 2022. Napier claimed their final encounter took place at a Jiffy Mart, where they allegedly discussed breaking a window in Campbell-Smith’s vehicle—she reportedly wanted an excuse to drive a Chevy Tahoe she acquired with her new husband.
Napier’s testimony concluded with the assertion that the last time he saw Campbell-Smith was during their meeting at the Jiffy Mart. Despite his claims, the jury found his actions indefensible, sealing his fate with a guilty verdict on all charges related to this harrowing case.
Prosecutors, however, had evidence that pointed to a different story. The Commonwealth’s Attorney General Miranda King told the court that Napier shot Campbell-Smith at the second location, the parking lot. He bought a mattock — a sharp tool used to loosen up soil — to break into the vehicle after the doors became locked.
Napier then drove the vehicle to its final location, where he dismembered and mutilated Campbell-Smith’s body with the mattock inside the vehicle before setting it on fire. Investigators said they found body tissue belonging to Campbell-Smith all around the scene, including on logging equipment known to belong to Napier.
After the former couple’s daughter told Napier that she could not get hold of her mother, Napier offered to help find her.
King told the court that Napier’s motive to kill Campbell-Smith was jealousy that she remarried, even though Napier was also seeing someone new. According to courtroom testimony, Napier’s new girlfriend showed him pictures of Campbell-Smith with her new husband. King said Campbell-Smith and her husband tried to keep the marriage a secret from Napier because they knew it would make him angry.
In the days after Campbell-Smith went missing, Napier changed vehicles four times and purchased a burner phone. Napier, who told people he was “in a bad frame of mind” after being accused of a crime, eventually admitted to killing Campbell-Smith to a friend and then to his daughter.
In the phone call to his daughter, Napier confessed to burning the dead body of his former common-law wife after saying “he had gotten tired of seeing her lying in the log yard and looking at her.”
Napier and his defense attorney rejected a plea deal in February. On April 1, he was convicted of murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and criminal mischief. The jury recommended concurrent sentences that added up to a total of 45 years in prison.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta National Golf Club, home to the most prestigious event in the golfing world, is synonymous with legends like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Their remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on this hallowed ground, and their absence is already felt by devoted fans and patrons alike.
One attendee expressed their sentiments, stating, “Yes, I’m very disappointed about that. Especially with Tiger not being able to be here. But I want him to get well, recover, and be able to come back.”
Another echoed this sentiment, adding, “A little disappointed. But hopefully he’ll be back.”
Throughout their careers, Woods and Mickelson have delivered some of the most memorable moments in Masters history, captivating audiences with their skill and charisma.
“I mean, it’s a disappointment because they’re such stars in the golf world,” remarked a fan, capturing the collective sentiment of those who have followed their storied journeys.
A two-time champion taking time to send good wishes.
“Anybody that’s struggling with anything, I feel for him because I’ve went through a lot of mental stuff. So yeah, I always pull for him,” said Bubba Watson.
“It’s unfortunate that they’re not here. But they’ve got personal issues. Hopefully they’ll be back.”
But no Tiger, no Phil doesn’t mean no fun at The Masters. Patrons we talked to say there are plenty of things to see and plenty of other players to root for here.
“Scottie Scheffler’s high on the list.”
“Chris Gotterup. Because he went to Oklahoma and so did I.”
“Rory McElroy, of course.”
Who knows? Maybe watching all these other golfers will help improve your game.
“I’m a beginner golfer. So I’m definitely going to be looking at some swings.”
Missing two all time greats while soaking it all in on a Monday at the Masters.
“Because it is our first time here. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
