allegedly lured away from home by a man they met on the online game Roblox.
Police rescued two girls, ages 16 and 10, from Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, 700 miles away from their home.
Police allegedly lured two missing girls from their home in Mexico Credit: Comisaria General de Seguridad Ciudadana/FacebookGirls rescued by police 700 miles away from home Credit: Comisaria General de Seguridad Ciudadana/Facebook
Police found the pair, who had been missing for 10 days, at a major bus terminal in Mexico City.
The investigation into child traffickers using online games to trap minors has begun, shrouding this matter in mystery.
The girls’ parents tried to call them when they first realised they were missing, but their phones were off.
An elderly woman was found ‘unconscious’ and placed in a wheelchair 200 miles away from her home.
blaze horror
23 people killed, including children, in explosion in packed supermarket
Within hours, an alert was issued about missing persons, raising concerns about their safety.
Authorities learnt that the sisters had been talking to a man in Campeche using the chat feature of the online game Roblox.
Police reached the place where the girls were expected, but they were nowhere to be found.
The search went cold for several days as authorities mobilised their resources to locate the minors.
a success from Family Officers were dispatched to Mexico City’s Eastern Bus Terminal, where they found the girls ready to board a bus early Saturday morning.
They had reportedly arrived at the terminal after returning from Campeche.
Personnel from the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Mexico immediately returned them to their parents.
It has not yet been confirmed who convinced him to run away.
Police said in a statement that they believe his absence was voluntary.
But authorities are investigating whether a network of child traffickers is using online games to trap minors.
Roblox has more than 111 million users worldwide, and an estimated 40 percent of them are minors.
What is Roblox?
Roblox is a huge online gaming platform with over 111 million users worldwide
Users can design, share, and play millions of games.
There is a huge variety of game genres, from pet adoption to tycoon games.
Messaging features allow it to function as a social media space where users chat, play, and create online communities.
Many games also involve interaction with strangers.
You can choose to allow or prohibit chatting with other players in the game’s privacy settings.
Roblox is available on multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles like Xbox.
A police cybersecurity expert said, “They first make contact through the game’s chat and then invite them to talk on Discord.”
Perpetrators who infiltrate the platform may use friendly avatars, offer virtual gifts and build trust before convincing the children to flee.
Officials issued a series of recommendations to promote safe, healthy, and responsible video game use among children.
These include limiting usage, creating a schedule, choosing age-appropriate content, and monitoring their activities.
The girls were immediately reunited with their parents Credit: Comisaria General de Seguridad Ciudadana/FacebookPolice arrive at the eastern bus terminal in Mexico City Credit: Comisaria General de Seguridad Ciudadana/Facebook
Gold and silver prices hit record highs but stock prices fell on Monday as investors reacted to Donald Trump’s threat as US President to impose new tariffs on eight European countries in protest over his proposed annexation of Greenland.
On Monday, gold prices hit $4,689.39 (£3,499) an ounce, while silver rose to a peak of $94.08 an ounce.
Precious metals are considered safe haven assets in times of uncertainty, and the prices of both gold and silver have risen over the past year.
But stock markets in Europe fell as investors were worried about the latest increase in geopolitical tensions.
On Saturday, Trump announced 10% tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, which will take effect on Feb. 1 but could later rise to 25%—and will last until an agreement is reached on Greenland.
Reports suggest the EU is considering responding with a €93bn (£80bn) package of tariffs on US imports.
Concerns over the Greenland dispute led to another rise in gold
Concerns over the Greenland dispute led to another rise in gold and silver prices as investors turned to “safe haven” assets.
Last year, the price of gold rose by more than 60% due to concerns about global tensions and economic uncertainty.
However, there are other factors behind the rise, including expectations of more interest rate cuts, central banks adding hundreds of tonnes of gold to their reserves, and – with respect to silver – China announcing a ban on exports of the metal.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at the Wealth Club, stated that gold’s shine has propelled it to new record highs.
“The precious metal holds even more attraction as a safe haven as concerns spread about the consequences of aggressive US trade and geopolitical policies.”
However, despite the recent strong performance of gold and silver, stocks experienced a decline.
London’s FTSE 100 index closed down about 0.4%, while the FTSE 250 – which has more domestically concentrated companies – closed 0.9% lower. Financial companies and industrial stocks were mixed lower, but shares of gold miners Fresnillo and Endeavour rose after the latest rise in precious metals prices.
Shares of automotive, technology, and luxury goods companies across Europe fell sharply.
In Germany, the DAX index fell 1.3%, with car companies BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW all falling about 2-3%.
In France, the CAC 40 index was down 1.8%, with luxury brands LVMH and Hermes among the losers.
However, European defence stocks rose, with Germany’s Rheinmetall and France’s Thales both trading higher.
America’s markets remain closed on Monday due to a public holiday.
“Fears that a tough trade deal between Europe and the US could now be scrapped have led to a significant decline in European indices,” said Danny Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.
However, the US Supreme Court is set to rule on whether President Trump overstepped his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose certain tariffs, a decision that could come as soon as Tuesday.
Hewson said “there could be another major reversal” if the court strikes down Trump’s tariffs.
The latest forecast from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicates that trade tensions pose a significant risk to global economic growth.
In its latest World Economic Outlook – prepared before the latest tariff threat emerged – it described the global economy as “stable” but said risks to growth included the end of the AI boom and a “flare-up” in trade tensions.
Britain is facing another major winter onslaught, as dramatic new weather maps reveal a powerful Atlantic storm is set to hit the UK with snow, heavy rain, and strong winds, leaving only a handful of counties spared. The latest ECMWF forecast chart, produced by WXCharts and valid for Tuesday, January 27, at 6 p.m., shows the storm rapidly descending from the Atlantic.
A map produced on January 19, showing instantaneous rainfall rates, clouds, temperature, and pressure, shows that large parts of the UK are covered at 6 p.m., with blue and purple stripes indicating widespread snowfall and green and yellow stripes indicating heavy rain. Parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and the Midlands are shown under heavy snow, especially on higher ground. Wales and central and southern England, including London and the south-east, are being hit by prolonged downpours, with winter rainfall also adding to the chaos.
A second ECMWF map for 6pm on 27 January, prepared on 19 January, shows vast areas of the UK in orange and red, indicating that stronger winds are on the way. The Atlantic-facing coasts of Ireland, western Scotland and northwestern England are shown to be under the most extreme shade, with gusts in excess of 100 mph. Deep orange and red hues blanket much of England and Wales, indicating widespread gusts of 70 to 90 mph, even in inland areas.
Extreme wind gusts appear as the most dangerous feature on the map in the lower left corner, where the storm reaches extreme intensity over the Atlantic. These gusts can reach up to 110 mph; however, they are likely to lose power by the time they reach land.
They were mostly spared rain or snow.
Despite the widespread impact, the chart shows only 10 counties—concentrated in south-west England and western Wales—that were largely out of green, blue, or purple at the time, meaning they were mostly spared rain or snow.
England
cornwall
devon
dorset
topsy-turvy
Wiltshire
gloucestershire
wales
pembrokeshire
carmarthenshire
Ceredigion
Powys
The Met Office’s long-term forecast for the period 24 January to 2 February reads: “The UK will likely sit in the battleground between Atlantic weather systems attempting to move in from the west but will tend to stall in the vicinity of the UK as high pressure is encountered to the north and northeast.
“As such, there is a possibility of occasional rain or showers, which may be heavy and persistent, particularly in the south and west, with no dry intervals in the far north and northwest. While mild conditions will occasionally encroach on the south and west, it is likely to become somewhat colder during this period, bringing the risk of some snowfall, particularly over the hills of Scotland and northern England.
In relation to its long-range forecast, the Met Office warns, “When looking more than five days into the future, the chaotic nature of the atmosphere begins to play a larger role – small events currently occurring over the Atlantic can have a potentially significant impact on our weather in the UK and Ireland over the timescale of several days.”
Andrew Rosindale has resigned from the Conservative Party and joined Reform UK.
The former shadow minister and MP for Romford said the Tories were “irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments” and unwilling to take “meaningful accountability” for poor decisions.
He said he had spoken to Nigel Farage on Sunday evening before agreeing to join his party. The Reform UK leader called him “a great patriot” who “will be a great addition to our team..”
A Conservative source said Rosindale’s departure was a prime example of Farage doing a “spring cleaning” of Badenoch and that Reform was “welcome” to him.
Rosindale’s move comes after Robert Jenrick joined Reform on Thursday, hours after he was sacked from the shadow cabinet by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused him of plotting a defection.
The 59-year-old, who was a shadow minister for foreign affairs before his resignation, said in a statement on Twitter that “the views and concerns of constituents like me in Romford have been consistently ignored for too long.”
“Our country has endured a generation of managed decline,” he said. “Radical action is needed now to reverse the harmful decisions of the past and chart a new path for Britain.”
Rosindale becomes Reform’s seventh MP and the third sitting Conservative MP to join the party, following Danny Kruger and Jenrick.
This week’s defections mean that – setting aside independent MPs, who do not vote in a block – Reform UK now has the joint fifth-largest party group in the Commons with Sinn Féin, which does not send any of its seven MPs to Westminster.
She is two MPs behind the fourth largest party, the SNP.
Nearly 20 former Tory MPs have switched their allegiance to Reform UK, including former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who did so a week ago.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Jenrick said it was “very good news” Rosindale had joined Reform and added, “If other Members of Parliament were in a similar position, I’m sure Nigel [Farage] and the party would welcome him.
“But he has said very clearly that you need to make up your mind quickly because the recovery is accelerating.”
Shadow Welsh Secretary Mims Davis told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour that Conservative MPs defecting over reform were “selfish and completely wrong.”.
He said, “I find it very confusing that these people who are saying they want to correct things want to be right-wing, but ultimately there is a lot in the reform that is very left-wing and frankly populist.“
“I really don’t think it helps people to argue that Britain is failing. People want to know that, yes, things are wrong but the people they elected are willing to roll up their sleeves and put themselves into the work that needs to be fixed rather than looking selfish.”
Rosindale has held the Romford seat in east London since 2001, although his majority dropped from 17,893 to just 1,463 at the last general election.
After switching to Reform, he cited the Labour government’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and “the Conservative Party’s failure to actively hold the government to account on this issue both while in government and more recently in opposition” as one of the reasons for his defection.
“This sovereign British territory has been handed over to a foreign power by both the government and the opposition,” he stated.
Farage said, “The Tories’ lies and hypocrisy over the betrayal of the Chagos Islands have pushed her over the edge, and we are delighted to welcome her into our ranks.”
The move comes hours after the reform leader insisted that his party was “not a rescue charity for every frightened Tory MP.” And there will be no Conservative Party 2.0.
He wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Reform will not accept any more defectors after local elections on May 7.
A Conservative source said Rosindell “has been threatening to defect for months and as recently as Saturday was denying that it was happening”.
He added, “We are not going to be deterred from holding this disastrous Labour government to account.”
Labour Party chair Anna Turley said, “The stench of a failing and dying Tory party has now engulfed Reform.
“Nigel Farage is now unconditionally trying to improve his disastrous record,” he said. “The public won’t be fooled: the Tories failed Britain and the Reformers want to do it again.”
A Liberal Democrat source said the defection was “a turn for a career politician who was anxious to get a P45”, adding, “The public is fed up of hearing how Britain is broken by the same people who broke it.”
Generic held a press conference where he announced his defection to reform That the Tories “broke” the country and “betrayed its voters”, Britain is now “in decline”.
He later told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the country needed a “new and exciting” leader who “had not been part of that failed consensus.”
Badenoch called it a “good day” for the Conservatives and said Generics is “Nigel Farage’s problem now.”.
In the Telegraph, he expressed his belief that the reform would fail due to its acceptance of “toxic individuals” who have the ability to “destroy organisations”.
“A movement based on grievances and serial infidelity is bound to fail, and they will soon confront each other.”
Correction – Earlier in this story, the breaking news version incorrectly stated that Rosindale was the seventh Conservative MP to join Reform UK. He is actually the third sitting Conservative to switch allegiance, taking the number of UK Reform MPs to seven.
Antonio Guterres informed the BBC that some individuals hold the belief that the law of power should supplant the authority of law.
The UN chief told the BBC the US is acting with impunity and believes its power outweighs international law.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today show,
António Guterres said Washington had a “clear conviction” that multilateral solutions were irrelevant.
What matters, he added, is “the exercise of power and influence by the United States, and sometimes by the norms of international law in this regard.”.
His comments came just weeks after the US invaded Venezuela and seized its president, and they were made in the context of Donald Trump’s repeated threats to annex Greenland.
Guterres said he believes the founding principles of the United Nations – including the equality of member states – are now threatened.
President Trump has been sharply critical of the United Nations in the past as well.
He used his address to the General Assembly last September to question its purpose, claiming that they “ended seven unavoidable wars on their own” and that the UN “did not try to help any of them.”
Presented with this devastating assessment, Guterres acknowledged that his organisation was struggling to get members to follow the international laws set out in the UN Charter.
He stressed that the United Nations is “deeply engaged” in resolving major global conflicts. “But the UN lacks influence, as the major powers exert a significantly stronger influence.”
He questioned whether that additional leverage was being used to find real and lasting solutions to those conflicts or merely as a quick fix. “There is a huge difference between the two things,” he said.
Guterres also said his organisation needed reforms to deal with the “dramatic problems and challenges” facing its 193 members.
The UN chief stated, “There are those who believe that the law of might should replace the power of law.”
“Indeed, the US’s current policy shows that multilateral solutions are irrelevant, and that the US’s power and influence, and sometimes the application of international law, are what matters.”
He suggested that the UN Security Council – which was created to maintain international peace and security – no longer represents the world and is “ineffective”.
Any of the council’s permanent members – France, China, Russia, Britain or the US – can currently veto resolutions. Both Russia and the US have used this power to thwart global efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Guterres claimed that the veto was being used to advance the interests of individual members and criticised the fact that “three European countries” were permanent members.
He called for changes to the structure of the Council—to “gain legitimacy” and “give voice to the whole world”—and to limit veto powers to avoid unacceptable “obstructions.”
reuters
Guterres, whose term as secretary-general is ending, met Sir Keir Starmer in London last Friday
Guterres – a former Portuguese prime minister – took over as UN chief in 2017 and will leave the role at the end of this year.
In his annual comments to the General Assembly, which are traditionally used to identify the organisation’s priorities, he warned of a world in anarchy, “full of conflict, impunity, inequality and unpredictability”, and identified “blatant violations of international law” as one of the greatest challenges facing the global order.
Guterres highlighted Gaza as a crucial current conflict for the United Nations.
It was prevented from distributing aid to the Gaza Strip for large parts of the war, as Israel blocked international humanitarian organisations from bringing it to the area.
At one point, Israel even supported an outside contractor – the Gaza Humanitarian Organization – to do the work the UN had traditionally done for decades. Hundreds of Palestinians were killed trying to get food at GHF sites.
When asked if he saw the United Nations as powerless in Gaza, where it should have made a difference, he said, “Of course, but to be clear.
For a long time, Israel blamed the UN’s inability to deliver aid for the lack of humanitarian assistance. Whenever Israel forbade entry into Gaza, we were unable to enter. And then there was a ceasefire, and there was a giant flow of humanitarian aid.”
He insisted, “We were ready, provided we had the conditions.”
A few days earlier, Guterres told the UN General Assembly that “problem-solving in 1945” will not solve 2026 problems, referring to the organisation’s founding structure.
The challenges keep coming, with the US-forced leadership change in Venezuela, the killing of thousands of protesters by regime forces in Iran, and Donald Trump’s stated aim to annex Greenland.
Questions continue to grow about the death of multilateralism and the failure of some world leaders to defend the rule of international law.
But António Guterres told me he remains positive.
“I think people are sometimes reluctant to confront the powerful. But the truth is that if we don’t confront the powerful, we will never be able to create a better world.”
Sienna Rose has nearly three million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Sienna Rose is having a fantastic month.
The song has been played more than five million times.
Three of his dark, jazz-infused soul songs are in Spotify’s Viral Top 50. The most popular, a dreamy song called Into the Blue, has been played more than five million times.
If she continues on this path, Rose could become one of the hottest new stars of the year.
Streaming service Deezer, which has developed tools to deal with AI music, told the BBC that “many of its albums and songs on the platform have been identified and marked as computer-generated.”.
Look closely and you’ll see signs of an AI artist. Rose has no social media presence, he’s never played a show, he doesn’t have any videos and he’s released an incredible number of songs in a very short period of time.
Between September 28 and December 5, she uploaded at least 45 tracks to streaming services. Even Prince, the artist known for his restless creative frenzy, would have struggled to match that figure.
His Instagram account, which is currently inactive, featured a strangely symmetrical series of headshots, all showing the blurry, unrealistic lighting that is characteristic of an AI image generator.
tide
On the streaming service Tidal, Rose is also credited with albums of folk and ambient music that were uploaded last year, which featured various singers in the artwork.
Then there is the music. Songs like Into the Blue and Breathe Again are graceful next to Norah Jones or Alicia Keys, filled with jazzy guitar lines and buttery smooth vocals.
But several listeners have noticed what they identified as “AI artefacts”.
Play Under the Rain or Breathe Again and you’ll hear an audible whisper throughout the track.
This is a common trait of music produced on apps like Listen and Udio —partially because of the way they start with white noise and gradually refine it until it sounds like music.
It is this quirk that enables Deezer to mark AI songs.
“When [software] has all the layers and devices it connects, it introduces errors,” explains Gabriel Meseguer-Brocal, senior research scientist at the streaming company.
“They’re not perceptible; we can’t hear them, but they’re easy to identify if you do some mathematical operations.”
Meseguer-Brocal says the errors work like fingerprints, with a “unique signature” that means it’s possible to trace which piece of software was used to create any given piece of music.
sienna rose
The mystery surrounding the singer raises big questions around AI-generated music
For casual listeners, there are other telltale signs: inconsistent drum patterns, monotonous lyrics, and a singer who never strays from the melody or lets loose with the final chorus.
That “normal” sound has been Sienna Rose’s biggest clue to some listeners.
“I was like, ‘I like this,’ but there was something there that was very ‘uncanny valley’,” TikTok music critic Elosi57 said.
“So I went to see [at her profile] And I said, ‘It’s AI.'”
another user Posted on x: “Started listening to Olivia Dean (fantastic). Within two days Spotify recommended Sienna Rose, who has a similar sound but is more generic. It took me a few songs to realise she was an AI.”
Broadcaster Gemma Cairney told BBC Radio 4, “Her pictures seem a bit surreal… and after listening to the music, is there a part of her soul missing?”
To be fair, many other people have become fans of Rose’s songs.
They also include pop star Selena Gomez, who used Rose’s track “Where Your Warmth Begins” as the background of an Instagram post about Sunday’s Golden Globes.
The song was later removed when questions about Rose’s identity spread online, but Gomez’s post brought interest in Rose and her identity to a new level.
And many listeners playing Rose’s music were disappointed when they learnt he no longer existed.
“Please tell me he’s real.” Pinned one on threads.
“I’m disappointed because some of their songs came out and the music is not bad.” Another nod on BlueSky. “[But] someone said, ‘Once you know it, it seems soulless,’ and I agree.”
AI music ban
Of course, it’s entirely possible that everyone misunderstood the situation, and Sienna Rose is a genuine singer who remains hidden from the spotlight. Maybe he’s in witness protection. Perhaps she is a real singer, embroiled in a contract dispute with her label and releasing music under a pseudonym.
If so, I’m sorry. It would be crushing to have your music labelled soulless “slop”. But it’s indicative of the problem the entire music industry is facing right now.
AI software is becoming so sophisticated that cloned artists are competing with real musicians.
One song was chart-topping in Sweden this week banned from charts When journalists discovered that the artist behind it, Jacob, did not exist.
There are many people – both in tech companies and on the business side of the music industry – who want to see AI succeed.
The costs of launching an act like Sienna Rose are practically zero, but her music is earning an estimated £2,000 per week in royalties.
Compare this to the K-pop industry, where labels invest an average of $1 million (£750,000) per year per member of a girl or boy group, and you can see the attraction.
Interestingly, many of Rose’s tracks are credited to US indie record label Brock – who have a track record of turning viral artists like bbno$ and Ndotz into chart stars.
If you visit their website, Rose is not listed as one of their signees – but British dance act Heaven is.
If that name rings a bell, it’s because they got into trouble late last year for creating a song using an AI clone of Jorja Smith’s voice.
Their song was ‘Run’. Removed from streaming services After the track was issued a takedown notice by record industry bodies, alleging that the track infringed copyright, it was re-recorded with human vocals and entered the UK top 10 two weeks later.
The BBC has contacted Brock to ask about his relationship with Sienna Rose but has not yet heard back.
The BBC has also contacted another label, Nostalgic Records, which lists Rose on its website.
The Nostalgic Records biography claims she is “London-based” and says she is “not just an artist, but a storyteller at heart”.
reuters
Pop star Ray says fans prefer real, heartfelt music rather than computer-generated emptiness
Deezer says that 34% of songs uploaded to its streaming service – about 50,000 per day – are AI-generated.
“Eighteen months ago, it was about 5% or 6%,” says Meseguer-Brocal. “It’s kind of shocking how fast it’s growing.”
Still, Deezer hasn’t gone as far as online music store Bandcamp, which announced this week that it was banning all AI-generated music.
In a statement, Spotify defended the presence of artists like Rose on its playlists.
A spokesperson said, “It is not always possible to draw a simple line between ‘AI’ and ‘non-AI’ music.” “Spotify does not produce or own any music and does not promote or penalise tracks created using AI tools.”
Meanwhile, the backlash against AI music is growing.
Last year, artists including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, the Pet Shop Boys and Annie Lennox released a “silent album” protesting against companies that train their AI models on copyrighted works without permission.
Speaking at the Ivor Novello Awards in 2024, pop star Ray told me he believes fans will always choose real music over algorithm-generated filler.
“There is no reason to feel threatened,” he said. “I don’t write because I’m trying to be the best writer. I write because I’m trying to tell my story.
“I’m trying to lift some of the weight I’ve been carrying or I’m trying to express myself and feel better.”
At the same event, Koje Radikal said that he was not worried about AI, while he also did not trust his washing machine to start on time.
“Why is everyone trying to scare me with robots?” He laughed.
The Artemis II crew consists of Christina Koch (rear), Victor Glover (pilot, front), Reed Wiseman (commander, right), and Jeremy Hansen.
The first manned Moon mission in more than 50 years could be launched by NASA in the first week of February.
On Saturday, in preparation, NASA plans to move its giant Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket and Orion space capsule from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to the launch pad.
The Artemis II mission, which will last about 10 days, could take its astronauts further into space than ever before.
Its goal is to set the stage for the eventual human landing on the lunar surface, the first since the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s.
When will Artemis II launch?
Saturday’s planned four-mile trip on Crawler-Transporter-2 will take 12 hours. Once there, engineers will begin a series of launchpad preparations, including connecting ground support equipment such as power lines, fuel environment control system ducts, and cryogenic propellant feed.
In late January, NASA will conduct a wet dress rehearsal, a prelaunch test for fuelling the rocket. If there are any problems, NASA can return SLS and Orion to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional work before launch.
But if all systems go well, the earliest possible launch date would be Friday, February 6. The moon must be in the right location as the rocket is ready, so sequential launch windows are selected accordingly.
In practice, this means a week at the beginning of each month during which the rocket is pointed in the right direction, followed by three weeks where there are no launch opportunities.
So the possible launch dates are:
6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 February
6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 March, and
1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 April
Who are the Artemis II crew members, and what will they do?
Artemis II’s crew of four includes NASA Commander Reed Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch. A second mission specialist, Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, will also be on board.
The mission includes the first crewed flight of the SLS and Orion.
Once they are safely in orbit, the astronauts will test how the Orion spacecraft handles. This will involve manually flying a capsule in Earth orbit to practice steering and line up a spacecraft for a future moon landing.
They will then fly to a point thousands of kilometres away from the moon to test Orion’s life support, propulsion, power and navigation systems.
The crew will also act as medical test subjects, sending back data and imagery from deep space.
They will operate in a small cabin in weightlessness. Radiation levels will be higher than at the International Space Station, which is in low Earth orbit, but still safe.
Upon returning to Earth, the astronauts will experience a bumpy return through the atmosphere and splashdown over the US west coast in the Pacific Ocean.
Will Artemis II land on the Moon?
No, this mission is to prepare the ground for a lunar landing by astronauts in the Artemis III mission.
NASA says the Artemis III launch will not occur before 2027. However, experts believe that 2028 is the earliest possible date.
The final choice of spacecraft to carry crews to the lunar surface has not yet been made. This will either be SpaceX’s Starship lander or a craft designed by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
The new spacesuits made by American company Axiom are also not ready.
When Artemis III finally takes off, the astronauts will head toward the moon’s south pole.
The aim is then to maintain a continuous human presence on the Moon.
Artemis IV and V will begin construction of Gateway, a small space station orbiting the Moon. This will be followed by more landings on the Moon, additional segments added to the Gateway and new robotic rovers operating on the surface. More countries will be involved in preventing people from living and working on and around the Moon for long periods of time.
When was the last moon mission?
The last crewed Moon mission was Apollo 17, which landed in December 1972 and returned to Earth at the end of the same month.
In total, 24 astronauts visited the Moon during the Apollo program, and 12 of them walked on its surface. Of the 24 who went to the Moon, only five are still alive.
The US first moved to defeat the Soviet Union in the 1960s primarily to assert its geopolitical and technological dominance. After achieving that goal, political enthusiasm, public interest, and funding for future moonshots waned.
The Artemis program evolved from a desire to return humans to the moon, but this time it was built around new technology and commercial partnerships for a long-term presence.
Are other countries planning to send astronauts to the Moon?
Several other countries have ambitions to send people to the Moon in the 2030s
European astronauts are set to join subsequent Artemis missions and Japan has also reserved seats.
China is building its own spacecraft, aiming for the first landing near the moon’s south pole by 2030.
Russia continues to talk about flying astronauts to the surface and building a small base between about 2030 and 2035. However, sanctions, funding pressures and technical setbacks mean the timetable is overly optimistic.
India has also expressed its ambition to see its astronauts walk on the Moon one day.
Following the success of Chandrayaan 3’s landing near the Moon’s south pole in August 2023, India’s space agency aims to send astronauts to the Moon by around 2040. This will be part of its efforts to take the human spaceflight program beyond low Earth orbit.
Kevin Church provided additional reporting on this topic.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester United’s match against Manchester City in the Premier League.
Something about Manchester United’s derby day was different, but it felt right.
When Bryan Mbeumo scored his goal, the Stretford End roared. The Stretford End roared not only because Bryan Mbeumo scored a timely goal in a dominant United display, but also because it represented what the Old Trafford faithful had explicitly or implicitly been longing for.
United galloped forward, led by Bruno Fernandes, flanked by Patrick Dorgu and Amad. They were fearless, front-footed, and familiar. It was an attacking style that United has become accustomed to.
Although the 2-0 scoreline does not accurately represent United’s control of the game, their season-high number of offsides, which led to three disallowed goals, reflects a modified style that maximised the effectiveness of United’s attacking options.
Mbeumo, who has made the most runs behind the defence this season in the league per 90 minutes, proved to be a masterstroke when played down the middle. Fernandes, the league’s chief creator, fittingly returned to an advanced No 10 role and scored his ninth goal of the season.
“United’s DNA” has been questioned this week. Is it real? Should United base their whole plan on what feels like folklore? Should United move away from Sir Alex Ferguson-ball? Sir Alex was in the director’s box smiling all afternoon long, but why was he smiling? Carrick effectively simplified the situation by returning to what United is best at, in the most effective manner, and at the most opportune moment. William Bitibiri
From European glory to relegation chatter
Please use Chrome for a more accessible video player.
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from West Ham’s win against Tottenham in the Premier League.
Tottenham are drifting towards a conversation they should never be part of.
The 2-1 defeat to West Ham wasn’t just another London derby loss to shrug off. It was a warning flare. Spurs are currently priced at 50/1 for relegation, which may seem improbable, but it nonetheless presents an unsettling narrative. They are now just 10 points above the Hammers in the drop zone.
And that, in itself, is the most damning indictment of all for Thomas Frank.
Tottenham, a club in the Champions League and a holder of a European trophy, is better than this.
Form is the driver of this narrative and it is ugly. Just four wins from the last 18 matches gives Frank a win percentage of 22 per cent. That is relegation form. Spurs are leaking goals, losing control of games they should dominate and looking short on belief when momentum turns against them.
There was a time when Tottenham pulled the trigger quickly in moments like this. Nuno Espirito Santo learnt this lesson the hard way. The irony will not be lost on Spurs supporters that the man now sitting in the West Ham dugout – having just beaten them – was dismissed with a 53 percent win rate, more than double what Frank has delivered across the last 18 games.
The appointment of Frank aimed to stabilise and advance the club. The opposite is happening. Lewis Jones
The city has a Haaland problem.
Image: A dejected Erling Haaland looks on from the substitutes’ bench.
Erling Haaland is Manchester City’s greatest derby goalscorer of the Premier League era, but you would not have known it watching the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford. His performance was a pale imitation of the machine-like striker that has devastated United on so many occasions.
Pep Guardiola pulled him off once it was clear the game was over, soon after Patrick Dorgu crashed in United’s second. The striker had 14 touches, three successful passes, and not a single shot on target. The city was lost without his goal threat.
The fact Haaland was brought off for an 18-year-old midfielder, Divine Mukasa, with 15 minutes of prior Premier League experience shows how sparse the current attacking options are for Guardiola. Omar Marmoush’s return from AFCON can’t come soon enough.
Image: Erling Haaland only had 14 touches before his 80th-minute withdrawal
The city manager cautioned that Haaland was fatigued before the derby, and his declining performance underscores the issue. The striker has gone seven games without a non-penalty goal, his longest drought since joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
City has already signed winger Antoine Semenyo and is set to bring in centre-back Marc Guehi, but they could use a striker to ease the burden on Haaland. Strength in depth has been a crucial factor behind Arsenal pulling away in the title race.
There is still time to catch the Premier League leaders, although City’s four-game run without a win does not instill confidence. Unsurprisingly, this coincides with Haaland’s struggles in front of goal.
A title twist is only conceivable if Haaland is fully fit and performing at his peak. He looks like he needs a rest, and thankfully for City, they have a rare off week before a home game against the Wolves.
City faces a significant challenge until Haaland rediscovers his form. Zinny Boswell
Did Arteta get it wrong on Saka?
Please use Chrome for a more accessible video player.
Here are the highlights from the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta has talked up the importance of rotation as Arsenal compete in four different competitions. They are on a gruelling streak of four consecutive away games. But it still seemed strange that his most influential attacker was named on the bench against Nottingham Forest.
There seemed no obvious need for it, given Bukayo Saka had started only two of Arsenal’s last four fixtures. This was especially true considering the significant opportunity created by Manchester City’s slip-up. What followed at the City Ground put the decision under even greater scrutiny.
Arsenal laboured until Arteta’s triple change early in the second half, after which Saka, on for Noni Madueke, looked by far the most likely player to make the breakthrough. He very nearly did, denied by Matz Sels at full stretch when his header was bound for the corner.
The draw is far from disastrous. Arsenal have added to their lead at the top of the table. But Arsenal supporters are entitled to wonder whether the outcome would have been different had Saka started the game rather than come into it late. Nick Wright
Kerkez is finally kicking on
Please use Chrome for a more accessible video player.
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool’s draw against Burnley in the Premier League.
Full-backs at Liverpool will be judged harshly. The legacy of previous players looms large over you. But Milos Kerkez has stopped looking like a player learning his surroundings and started performing like one shaping them. Liverpool didn’t get the result they wanted against Burnley, but there were more positive signs that Kerkez is starting to look like the player they signed from Bournemouth.
His game is built on intensity, but what has impressed most over recent weeks is control.
After being likened to a youth player earlier this season by Gary Neville, there is a calmness to his positioning now, a deeper understanding of when to go and when to stay. Early-season exuberance has been refined into efficiency. He provided a real thrust down the left against Burnley and more assurance in his decision-making. No player created more chances (6) than him as he continually penetrated with conviction down the left flank.
He looks stronger, sharper, and more attuned to the demands Slot wants. It bodes well for the future. Lewis Jones
Sanchez is strong, despite criticism.
Please use Chrome for a more accessible video player.
Here are the highlights from the Premier League match between Chelsea and Brentford.
Chelsea won a game in which the spotlight once again shone firmly on Robert Sanchez – but this time, he stood up to it.
The Chelsea goalkeeper has spent much of the last few seasons under constant scrutiny, with questions raised about his decision-making and reliability. On another afternoon, that pressure could easily have told. Brentford created enough chances to punish Chelsea, particularly in transition, and Sanchez was tested early and often.
This was not a flawless Chelsea performance, but two things stood out.
Firstly, Sanchez’s response to pressure was noteworthy. The Spaniard produced several crucial saves, most notably racing off his line to deny Kevin Schade when the Brentford forward was clean through, moments that could easily have shifted the momentum of the game. Those interventions held significant importance for a player facing doubts about his confidence.
Secondly, Chelsea’s increasing proficiency in handling dangerous situations was evident. Even when Brentford threatened to force their way back into the contest, Chelsea remained composed enough to see the game out, with Sanchez providing a calm presence behind a defence that has never looked settled.
There will still be debate around Chelsea’s long-term solution in goal, but on this occasion, Robert Sanchez delivered when it mattered, and Chelsea took full advantage at the other end.
Sometimes survival is just as important as style. Sam Cohen
Crystal Palace is facing a challenging situation.
Please use Chrome for a more accessible video player.
Oliver Glasner hit out at Crystal Palace’s hierarchy after his depleted team were beaten by Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Crystal Palace is struggling. While there have been indications of poor performance and results for some time, the past 36 hours have significantly escalated the situation.
First, there were the revelations that both Oliver Glasner and Marc Guehi were heading for the exit. Rumours about both Oliver Glasner and Marc Guehi had been circulating for some time and were perhaps not surprising, but the manner in which the Austrian manager delivered this news was unexpected.
Usually a calm character, Friday’s news conference and Glasner’s bombshells pointed towards a shift at the club – one that, just nine months ago, was basking in FA Cup glory.
And after a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland, in which Glasner says he was unable to bring on any substitutes to help the team, the manager took aim at the club’s hierarchy over the timing of Guehi’s departure.
“We’ve been completely abandoned,” he told Sky Sports. Glasner asserted that he would not abandon his players, positioning himself and his team against Steve Parish and the club hierarchy.
This statement directly challenges the chairman: either support me or dismiss me. So far, by Glasner’s calculations, Parish hasn’t backed him, and managers who have challenged the club this season have often been ousted soon after.
On the pitch, it’s now ten games and over a month without a win for Crystal Palace in all competitions. They are missing the likes of Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz, although they should return soon.
That will give the Eagles a much-needed boost but will likely do little to repair the relationship between manager and chairman. How that plays out for the remainder of the season will be an intriguing prospect. Charlotte Marsh
Can anyone stop Sunderland at home?
Please use Chrome for a more accessible video player.
Here are the highlights from the Premier League match between Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
The Stadium of Light has always been one of football’s finest grounds, and this season, Sunderland have made it their fortress.
The Black Cats remain unbeaten there in the Premier League this season, which might come as somewhat of a surprise considering they lost their last three regular season games at the ground last term.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect is their ability to rally from behind and secure points. They did so again against Crystal Palace on Saturday and never looked harangued when going behind.
Rege Le Bris praised the maturity and confidence of his team, and they certainly showed it. Especially in the second half, they remained patient before finally getting their deserved winner.
Along with Leeds, the two promoted sides are harnessing the magic of their home support to help keep them in the league. In fact, Sunderland are just three points from the top four – a European push is more likely to happen than a relegation battle.
It’s been a sensational return to the Premier League for Sunderland and it will take some performances to end their unbeaten home league run. Charlotte Marsh
Burnley’s strategic approach proved effective.
It was one of those points that felt like considerably more than a point.
Scott Parker’s masterplan to take something from Anfield didn’t involve conceding 32 shots or Dominic Szoboszlai crashing a penalty off the bar, but it did without doubt revolve around the notion of staying in the fight.
Burnley didn’t flinch when Liverpool knocked on the door in the opening half hour. They didn’t flinch when Florian Wirtz forced it open, either.
Despite their lead, it was Liverpool playing with urgency after the break. In a second it was inevitable that Burnley would break out of their low block, if momentarily, and push for an equaliser.
That part of the plan was executed to perfection. Ibrahima Konate nearly turned his ball into his own net moments before Marcus Edwards brought Burnley level.
“You never say die,” said Kyle Walker of his side’s showing on Saturday. Burnley’s rope-a-dope point at Anfield could be pivotal in the battle to stay alive in the Premier League on a day when Leeds and West Ham won. Michael Morrow
Raucous Elland Road serves as the ace in Farke’s pocket.
Please use Chrome for a more accessible video player.
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Leeds’s win against Fulham in the Premier League.
The screams of delight from Elland Road after Lukas Nmecha’s last-gasp winner were so loud that you probably could have heard them from Barnsley.
That’s been the story at home for Leeds recently. They’re now unbeaten across their last five Premier League home matches—gaining points from Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and now an in-form Fulham side—and that run doesn’t look like ending anytime soon.
Farke’s revamped side have embodied a powerful, gritty style of play that the home fans are finding it easy to get behind.
Their win today was earmarked by two 10-minute periods in which the powerful Leeds attack terrorised the frail Fulham defence. Leeds’ two best chances – Calvert-Lewin’s inexplicable miss from six yards out and Brendan Aaronson’s scuffed half-volley one-on-one with Bernd Leno – came when the home crowd was spurring them on the most and should’ve resulted in goals.
Just when the game looked gone, and Fulham’s defence grew in confidence, the Elland Road roar got Leeds back in the game, just in time to rattle Fulham into three mistimed tackles, in turn creating the winning opportunity.
“To play at Elland Road, we all know what it means. The home support is unbelievable and they make it hard for the opposition,” said opposition manager Marco Silva before the game. “It is never easy to play there.”
And so it proved, as it has for almost every opposition side of late.
With Farke’s side continuing to grind out results with the help of their home crowd, it’s hard to see any team remaining unfazed with a trip to Elland Road on the calendar. Noah Langford
More injury blows leave Silva desperate for backing
Fulham’s recent unbeaten run has been so impressive that the recent clamour for reinforcements seems to have taken a back seat.
Today’s loss at Leeds is a harsh reality check for Marco Silva and his men and demonstrates what Fulham fans know all too well – that the club will stagnate without new signings imminently.
New injuries to Sasa Lukic and Emile Smith Rowe may take the headlines, but they are the least of Fulham’s problems. The Whites had just seven touches in the Leeds United box, their fewest in a Premier League game since December 2024.
With Rodrigo Muniz out until February and Raul Jimenez having a poor game, Silva’s only option up top from the bench was Jonah Kusi-Asare, the 18-year-old Bayern loanee who is yet to score a professional goal outside the German fourth division.
There are two weeks left in the January window – despite being heavily linked with attacking reinforcements, Fulham are yet to make a signing.
“Everything we try and do this January, we are relying on it. We are completely aligned,” Silva said at a recent press conference.
“For me, it’s tougher than the summer. If you sign players, they have to make an impact. Not just short term, for the long term.”
Should they fail to bring new faces, Fulham will be left not just short of players to make a push for Europe, but also possibly short of a manager to match their ambition come the end of the season. Noah Langford
Forest echo back to last season with dogged display
Nottingham Forest had one of the best defences in the Premier League last season but clean sheets have been hard to come by this term. Saturday’s stalemate with Arsenal was just their fifth of the campaign – all of them have come under Sean Dyche.
Holding the Premier League leaders felt very much like a Nuno Espirito Santo display from last season and there was a reason for it.
This was the first game since August when Forest could start Matz Sels, Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams in a match. That was the back five that gave opposition attacks so little joy last term and it was the same for Arsenal on Saturday.
Milenkovic and Murillo made 15 clearances between them. Williams won seven duels when he was up against Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka. Out of the back four, Aina won most possessions in the defensive and middle thirds.
But in front of them was the star of the show in Elliot Anderson, winning 12 out of his 15 duels. Only William Saliba made more ball recoveries than the England international, who won the battle with Declan Rice in midfield.
Forest may have been dragged closer to the drop zone by West Ham winning but if they keep defending like this, they will be fine in terms of survival. Sam Blitz
EW Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed the biggest fine ever on an Indian carrier – Rs 22.2 crore on IndiGo for massive flight disruptions last month.
Additionally, the airline will have to submit a bank guarantee of Rs 50 crore, the release of which is linked to, inter alia, implementing more humane flying duty norms for pilots with the aim of enhancing flight safety.
The regulator has warned senior airline executives, including CEOs and COOs. The senior VP of the operation control centre will have to be removed from his post.
The senior vice president of the Operation Control Centre will be removed from his post and will not be given any accountable posts in the future.
The aviation ministry has ordered “an internal inquiry to identify and implement systemic reforms within the DGCA.”.
The regulator late Saturday night released the key findings of the report of its four-member panel, which had probed the fall in IndiGo schedules last month.
The airline incurred significant costs due to its lack of preparation and consequent inability to implement the DGCA’s new flight duty time limit (FDTL) for pilots.
To ensure that the airline can resume flights from the second week of December, each day of exemption given to pilots of the Airbus A320 family is costing Rs 30 lakh.
This number works out to Rs 20.4 crore for 68 days between December 5, 2025, and February 10, 2026. A lump sum fine of Rs 30 lakh each has been imposed on the airline in six more cases, which together takes the fine to Rs 22.2 crore.
The six failures include failing to comply with the new FDTL rules, rest periods, “inadequate buffer margin in the roster plan… failure to strike a balance between commercial imperatives and the ability of crew members to work effectively, and failure of accountable management to ensure the overall functioning, financing, and conduct of operations as per DGCA standards.””
Between December 3 and 5, 2,507 IndiGo flights were cancelled and 1,852 flights were delayed, leaving over 3 lakh passengers stranded at airports across the airline’s network. Flights gradually resumed over the next week or so.
What is thecause of the crisis? The DGCA inquiry panel found that the main reasons for the disruption were “too much focus on efficiency, not being ready with regulations, problems with system software support, and issues in the management and operational controls at IndiGo.”
The report also mentioned that the airline’s management did not. “The airline’s management failed to adequately acknowledge the shortcomings of the scheme, maintain adequate operating buffers, and effectively implement the amended FDTL provisions.”
the report said. Action against Indigo: In addition to the fine, the DGCA inquiry panel has warned the airline’s CEO about “inadequate overall monitoring of flight operations and crisis management.”. The accountable manager and COO,
Isidre Porqueras has been warned of the “failure to assess the impact of Winter Schedule 2025 and the revised FDTL that will cause widespread disruption”.
The senior VP (Ops Control Centre) has been asked to be relieved from the post and not to be given any responsible post in the future.
Flight operations and crew resource planning have been issued warnings “for operational, supervisory, manpower planning and roster management lapses”.
Way Ahead: The DGCA has instructed IndiGo to take appropriate action against any other personnel identified in its investigation and to submit a compliance report regarding this matter.
Sources say IndiGo has been made aware of the lapses of its senior executives, especially the COO, and it is now expected that the airline will take action against them.
The report stated that the findings underscore the importance of operational planning and effective management oversight in ensuring sustainable operations, as well as passenger safety and convenience. Indigo statement:
Confirming receipt of the DGCA decision, the airline said it is “committed to taking full cognisance of the orders and will take appropriate steps in a thoughtful and timely manner…
A thorough review of the robustness and resilience of the internal processes at IndiGo is underway to ensure that the airline emerges stronger from these incidents in its pristine record of over 19 years of operations.”
The Observer headlined “Blackmail over Greenland” after US President Donald Trump announced plans to “raise tariffs on the UK and European allies until Denmark takes control of the territory.” A striking image of red and white Greenland flags waved by protesters in front of snow-capped mountains dominates the front page. “Greenland is not for sale!” Read many of his posters.
The Sunday Times has led Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s anger over Trump’s tariffs. It said Trump “blindsided his NATO allies” with the move. Meanwhile, Sir Keir’s aide Darren Jones has been accused of launching a “briefing war” against Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, Trump’s actions amount to a “trade war.” The paper highlights the Prime Minister’s comments that the tariffs are “entirely wrong” and is supported by former US National Security Adviser John Bolton in an editorial column, declaring, “This is the worst move of his presidency.” Separately, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch informed the newspaper that only the Conservatives could prevent Britain from turning into a “poodle” state.
Greenland also leads the Tariff Independent website. Trump has said the 10% trade tariffs will remain in place unless a deal to sell the Danish territory to the US is reached by early February, the newspaper reported. A photo of protesters waving Greenlandic flags in Copenhagen occupies much of the front page.
The Mail on Sunday has obtained a “secret defection memo” which it says fell into the hands of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch ahead of Robert Jenrick’s reform move. Allegations that the memo recommended Generic Shelly describe himself as the “new sheriff in town” were described by the Mail as “a bizarre conspiracy.”. In a royal exclusive, the Mail says Princess Eugenie has cut Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor out of her life.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, told the Sunday Express that he now had the right to unite behind his party after Jenrick defected. “They want to mess with the plumbing and we think it needs a brand new boiler,” Farage said of the differences between the Tories and Reform.
“I’ll be free,” writes the Daily Star, as it says murdered nurse Lucy Letby has told “fellow laggards and prison staff” that her sentence “will be quashed within months.”. Letby is currently serving 15 life sentences after being convicted of the murders of seven infants and the attempted murders of seven others, including two attempted murders on one of the victims.
The Sunday People reports that Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has had a “brain scan following her fall.” He suffered “hospital shock” “just a few days before the tour”.
A TV row gives The Sun front-page prominence on Sundays. It reports “fury at anti-Muslim posts” found in the social media feed of a contestant on BBC One’s upcoming series, The Apprentice, who has been caught up in a “race rant storm.”. Levi Hague, the contestant, has expressed regret for using “really horrible language” in a post he wrote over a decade ago. The series is produced by an independent production company and the BBC said in a statement that it had asked the company for “further assurances on their social media checks, as the process in this case has not been completed to a satisfactory standard”.
