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The highly anticipated fifth season of the Cork-set comedy The Young Offenders premieres on BBC One at 9:30pm. The new season kicks off with Jock, played by Chris Walley, breaking out of a Colombian prison and reuniting with Conor, played by Alex Murphy, back in Ireland. Their adventures quickly take a turn as they find themselves in a hostage situation with an elderly couple while wearing floral dresses.Elsewhere on television, Rob Beckett brings his unique brand of humor to Sky One with his show Giraffe at 9pm. The comedian takes viewers on a stream-of-consciousness journey through topics like poshness, parenting, and pubes, often pushing the envelope with his audience.On Channel 4, The Last Leg continues its 34th series at 10pm, featuring presenters Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe, and Alex Brooker. This week's guests include Josh Pugh, Lorraine Kelly, and Steve Bracknall.In addition to these shows, BBC One also airs Extraordinary Portraits With Bill Bailey at 7:30pm, highlighting the story of Eddie, the 'Iron Gran', who became the oldest British woman to complete an Ironman triathlon at 72. Meanwhile, Beyond Paradise airs at 8pm, with Humphrey solving a series of burglaries in Shipton Abbott.For film enthusiasts, The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is broadcast on BBC Two at 10pm. This financial crime caper is based on the memoir of stockbroker Jordan Belfort and features memorable performances from Matthew McConaughey and Margot Robbie.

A plush toy designed by eight-year-old Lucas Ye from California has become an unlikely participant in NASA's Artemis II mission, the agency's first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The toy, named Rise, serves as a zero-gravity indicator and was included in the mission after Lucas won a global competition.Rise is a smiley-faced plush toy wearing a baseball cap with a star-spangled visor and a crown resembling Earth's surface. Lucas's design was chosen from over 2,600 entrants in a competition presided over by NASA and Freelancer, a crowdsourcing company.The Artemis II mission, which launched on Wednesday, aims to send astronauts farther from Earth than any humans in history. The crew will travel over 250,000 miles into space and back over a period of 10 days. If successful, the mission will pave the way for future lunar exploration, including the 2028 scheduled mission to place humans back on the moon.Rise's journey is not without precedent; similar zero-gravity indicator objects have been part of space missions in the past. Lucas's achievement is a significant milestone for the young space enthusiast, who aspires to work at NASA or become an astrophysicist.The Artemis II mission also marks a historic moment for diversity in space exploration, with a woman, Christina Koch, and a person of color, Victor Glover, flying between Earth's orbit and the moon for the first time.

The increasing congestion of Earth's orbit with satellites is raising concerns about the environmental impact of space activities. A recent UN report highlighted the urgent need for sustainable practices to manage potential orbital congestion and environmental impacts.One of the most pressing issues is the risk of space debris, also known as 'space junk', which includes discarded rocket stages and defunct satellites. The surge in orbital activity has created a significant collision risk, and there have already been a handful of crashes. In 2007, a Chinese anti-satellite weapon test intentionally blew up a weather satellite, creating a dangerous cloud of space debris.Researchers fear that the impact of space activities on the ozone layer, which shields the planet from radiation, could be significant. A study found that roughly 10% of particles in the stratosphere contain metals that originated from space activities such as rocket launches.The Guardian has launched an interactive project to visualize the tens of thousands of human-made objects spinning around the globe. The project reveals a significant problem which, if left unchecked, could disrupt some of humanity's most important services such as the internet and weather prediction.As a global society, we rely on satellites constantly, not only to help us navigate around using Google Maps, but also to provide internet access and, critically, predict the weather. Space-based monitoring of the Earth also allows researchers to track deforestation, desertification, glacier and ice-cap melt, and the spread of oil spills.

In Barcelona, anti‑tourism demonstrators have added a culinary twist to their demands, chanting “Stop brunch!” alongside the more familiar “Ban Airbnb” as they protest soaring rents and the loss of local character.The rise of generic brunch venues—identical hipster cafés with the same menu, décor and background music—has become a symbol of overtourism, pushing out neighbourhood bars and eateries that once served the resident community.In response, Albert Molins, a journalist for La Vanguardia, launched a simple Google Maps list in autumn 2020. The list quickly evolved into a city‑wide movement to resurrect the Catalan tradition of esmorzar de forquilla (literally “fork breakfast”).This hearty mid‑morning meal, historically a 19th‑century labourer’s fuel, typically includes a main dish, wine, bread and coffee, and can be enjoyed for under €15. It is now served in modest, no‑frills taverns that showcase authentic Catalan flavours.Signature dishes differ sharply from the typical brunch fare. Patrons can savour trinxat—a pan‑fried potato and cabbage hash topped with crisp pancetta—fricandó (stewed veal with mushrooms), bacallà amb samfaina (fried cod on stewed vegetables), and the richly spiced botifarra sausage. For off‑al lovers, options such as callos (tripe stew), peus de porc (pigs’ feet) and the indulgent cap i pota (veal head and feet stew) are on offer.The original map has since been redeveloped into the functional EsmorzApp, uniting a growing community of “fork‑breakfast enthusiasts” and attracting younger diners alongside long‑time local patrons.Restaurant owner Gerard Llopart notes that his establishment in Barcelona’s Eixample district now welcomes a broader, more diverse crowd, proving that the revival resonates beyond its traditional base.While the movement does not single‑handedly solve overtourism, it demonstrates how locals can reclaim cultural space and invite tourists to partake in genuine culinary heritage. As Molins puts it, the fork breakfast is “our history,” and visitors are encouraged to download the app and ask for un cap i pota, si us plau?

The United States has a long history of threatening to carpet bomb countries, with President Donald Trump recently warning Iran that he would bomb the country 'back to the stone ages.' This rhetoric is not new, as US leaders have made similar threats in the past.During his prime-time address to the nation, Trump said, referring to Iran: 'We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks, we're going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong.' Trump also said 'discussions are ongoing,' adding that the conflict could end over the same period.The current war on Iran began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched their attacks. Tehran hit back, targeting Israel and Gulf countries. More than 2,000 Iranians have been killed in the war so far. Thousands of civilian sites, including hospitals, schools, universities, and pharmaceutical factories, have been attacked by Israel and the US.Janina Dill, a global security professor at the University of Oxford, told Al Jazeera that if Trump's 'stone ages' threat implies that the US will destroy structures and buildings that characterise a modern society, 'then this would be illegal because it implies directing attacks against civilian objects.'The phrase 'bombing back to the stone ages' is widely associated with US Air Force officer Curtis LeMay, in the context of US threats against North Vietnam in LeMay's 1965 book, Mission with LeMay. LeMay wrote: 'We're going to bomb them back into the Stone Age.'The US carried out intensive bombing in South Vietnam, as well as in Cambodia and Laos, claiming to target enemy bases and supply routes. Overall, millions of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded in the war.In January 1991, the US led a global coalition to force out Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Former US Secretary of State James Baker threatened that the US would bomb Iraq 'back to the Stone Age' if it did not withdraw from Kuwait.During World War II, the US carpet bombed Japanese cities, as well as cities in Asia that were controlled by Japanese forces. During the Korean War, the US carried out heavy bombing in North Korea, which some officials said destroyed almost every town.

Despite a United Nations-led ceasefire in Yemen, which largely reduced hostilities four years ago, nearly 1,200 children have been killed or injured due to shelling, gunfire, landmines, and other explosive remnants of war. According to Save the Children, since the truce brokered on April 2, 2022, at least 339 children have been killed and 843 injured, with some suffering life-altering injuries.The United Kingdom-based humanitarian organization found that 511 child casualties, nearly one in two, were due to landmines and explosive remnants of war. Data from the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project (CIMP) suggested that children were more than three times more likely than adults to be killed or injured by explosive remnants. Save the Children attributed this to a lack of mine risk awareness and increased exposure due to child labor.“These figures are a reminder that beyond the front lines, the war on children continues in their homes, schools and areas where they play and help their families tend to land,” said Rishana Haniffa, Save the Children’s country director in Yemen. “Amid escalating wider regional tensions, there is a real risk of triggering a wider confrontation in Yemen and the Red Sea that could undermine hard-won progress to reduce armed violence in the country in the past four years, exposing children to even more harm.”The conflict in Yemen has also led to significant psychological distress in children, with blast injuries causing permanent disabilities, including injuries to the spine, amputation of limbs, and loss of sight and hearing. Children have experienced difficulty sleeping, daily fear, and anxiety, with some, like Kamal, undergoing life-changing surgery.

Europe’s attention is fixed on Hungary’s parliamentary election scheduled for April 12, a contest many analysts view as a litmus test for the bloc’s cohesion on foreign‑policy, defence, energy and migration. Since coming to power, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has consistently blocked EU initiatives: he has refused to join a common asylum framework, opposed a joint defence scheme, resisted the shift toward renewable‑energy independence while still importing Russian hydrocarbons, and vetoed both Ukraine’s accession talks and a proposed €90 billion low‑interest loan package for Kyiv. These actions have made Hungary the most disruptive member state in the Union, prompting observers to argue that the election’s outcome will reverberate far beyond Budapest’s borders. Greek conservative MP Angelos Syrigos warned that the EU is plagued by “fanatically Trump‑like and pro‑Russian” governments, naming Hungary and Slovakia as examples. He told Al Jazeera that the constant threat of an Orban veto forces other capitals to seek ad‑hoc compromises rather than genuine consensus. Opposition leader Peter Magyar of the Tisza party is campaigning on a pro‑European platform, pledging a binding referendum on Ukraine’s membership, a crackdown on corruption, the release of billions in frozen EU funds, and a reversal of Hungary’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. Current polls give Tisza roughly 50 % of the vote, a ten‑point lead over the ruling Fidesz, though the political landscape remains fluid. Even a Magyar victory would not automatically resolve the EU’s structural challenges. Other illiberal leaders—such as Slovakia’s Robert Fico and the Czech Republic’s Andrej Babiš—could step into a vacuum of obstructionism. Nevertheless, some scholars argue that Orban’s habit of breaking consensus has forced the Union to become more pragmatic. At a December 2023 summit, EU leaders temporarily excluded Orban to secure unanimous approval of Ukraine’s candidate status, later offering Hungary a €10 billion release of blocked funds as an incentive. Professor Katalin Miklossy of the University of Helsinki explained that the EU has shifted from a rigid, rule‑bound approach to a more flexible, problem‑solving mindset, saying, “We were weak when we clung to the book; now we act more practically.” Should Orban remain in power, the bloc is considering a workaround: issuing 26 bilateral loans to Ukraine from member states, bypassing any single‑country veto. Historical precedent exists. In 2010, when Greece’s debt crisis threatened the euro, EU members created the Greek Loan Facility—an ad‑hoc series of bilateral loans that compensated for the lack of a common rescue fund. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that delays in funding could leave the Ukrainian army under‑resourced, underscoring the geopolitical stakes of the Hungarian vote. The EU’s inability to move from unanimity to qualified‑majority voting—an ambition thwarted by failed French and Dutch referenda in 2005—has amplified Orban’s leverage. Yet the Union continues to evolve, having launched a common bond in 2020 to revive the pandemic‑hit economy and, since Russia’s 2022 invasion, channeling resources into a nascent European defence union. Orban’s recent reversal on the €90 billion Ukraine loan—after Kyiv refused to repair the Druzhba pipeline damaged by a Russian bomb—illustrates the volatility of his stance. He initially agreed to the loan in December, on the condition that Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic would not be required to co‑sign, only to withdraw support a month later. Even if Magyar secures a parliamentary majority, the promised loan may not materialise immediately. Cambridge‑based expert Victoria Vdovychenko notes that a decision made in December 2025 to disburse funds from January 2026 has already stalled, with the next realistic window possibly in June. Academics stress that a Tisza victory would deliver a psychological boost to the EU and its trans‑Atlantic partners, injecting confidence into a system battling “stealth creep of illiberalism” and economic disenfranchisement. Professor SM Amadae of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk warned that while a change in Hungary could energise citizens, the entrenched gerrymandering and patronage networks of Fidesz present formidable obstacles to lasting reform. In sum, the April 12 election is more than a domestic contest; it is a pivotal moment that could reshape the EU’s decision‑making architecture, determine the flow of critical aid to Ukraine, and signal the future trajectory of populist politics across Europe.

SpaceX has submitted paperwork for an initial public offering that could debut as early as June or July, targeting a capital raise of $75 billion. If the market pricing aligns with analysts’ forecasts, the launch could lift the company’s valuation to nearly $1.5 trillion, roughly double its worth in December. Such a valuation would place founder Elon Musk on a clear trajectory toward becoming the planet’s first trillionaire, a milestone that would eclipse the $25.6 billion record set by Saudi Aramco’s 2019 IPO. Renaissance Capital’s data analyst Angelo Bochanis told Reuters that, much like Tesla, SpaceX’s market price will hinge on investor confidence in Musk’s long‑term vision. "Investors are clamouring for any exposure to SpaceX," he added. Despite Musk’s controversial public persona and his involvement in multiple high‑profile ventures, industry experts remain bullish. Kat Liu, vice‑president at IPOX, noted that SpaceX is "operationally mature, technologically ahead in several key areas, and profitable," providing a solid foundation for a public listing. The company’s recent merger with Musk’s artificial‑intelligence startup xAI and the continued dominance of its Starlink satellite network—now the world’s largest satellite communications platform—have reinforced investor interest. SpaceX’s ambitious roadmap includes a lunar base and a crewed Mars mission, though timelines remain uncertain. Musk has previously admitted a "50‑50 chance" of delivering an uncrewed Starship to Mars by the end of 2026. Financial data firm Pitchbook estimates the IPO could nearly double the company’s market cap, underscoring the scale of potential investor demand. If realized, the offering would not only reshape the space‑tech sector but also set a new benchmark for public market fundraising.

A team of FBI agents has arrived in Cuba to launch an independent investigation into a deadly shootout between local border patrol officers and a Florida-tagged speedboat. The incident occurred on February 25, when 10 Cuban nationals attempted to enter Cuba by speedboat, armed with nearly 13,000 rounds of ammunition, 13 rifles, and 11 pistols.The shootout resulted in the deaths of five people, with the others being wounded and taken into custody. The Cuban government has stated that the assailants were Cuban exiles who came from the US with the intent to sow chaos and attack military units.The US embassy in Havana announced the FBI agents' arrival, stating that the trip was part of a "thorough and independent investigation" into the incident. An embassy official said the US would verify Havana's version of events, adding that the US would make decisions based solely on US interest, US law, and the protection of US citizens.Tensions have been high between the two nations since January, when US President Donald Trump imposed a virtual oil blockade on the island. The incident has sparked concerns about the escalating tensions between the US and Cuba, with the FBI's investigation expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the deadly shootout.