The Guardian · 11 Apr, 05:00
Lawyers for victims of the Southport attack say the UK government is failing to learn lessons from the attack and allowing violence-obsessed teenagers to remain a threat to society. An official inquiry into the July 2024 attack is expected to criticize failings by agencies, including the counter-terrorism programme Prevent.
The Southport attack, which occurred on July 29, 2024, resulted in the deaths of three girls: Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine. The attacker, Axel Rudakubana, was referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme three times but was not deemed a threat partly because he did not express a clear ideology. Despite promises to improve the programme, a Guardian analysis found that barely one in 10 of the 3,400 cases highlighting concerns in children and teenagers received anti-radicalisation support in the year to March 2025. A 17-year-old who was 'obsessed' with Rudakubana was recently convicted of planning a copycat attack but avoided jail.
Why it matters: The failure to address the threat posed by violence-obsessed teenagers without a clear ideology is significant because it leaves society at risk of further attacks. The lawyers for the victims argue that the current system is 'not fit for purpose' and needs fundamental changes to reduce serious risks to society. The issue highlights the need for a 'serious shake-up' in the system to ensure that a lack of ideology does not protect perpetrators over their victims.
3,400: the number of cases highlighting concerns in children and teenagers in the year to March 2025; 300: the number of Prevent referrals of children of primary school age with an intense interest in brutality but no clear ideology; 3,000: the number of referrals over the same concerns made about teenagers; 336: the number of referrals related to an obsession with extreme violence; 11%: the proportion of referrals that were deemed suitable for further work with the counter-radicalisation programme Channel; 34%: the proportion of right-wing extremism referrals taken on by Channel; 26%: the proportion of Islamist extremism referrals taken on by Channel; July 29, 2024: the date of the Southport attack; March 2025: the end of the year for which referral statistics were reported.
Chris Walker, solicitor for the families of the three murdered girls, said: 'It seems to us that those with an ideological component to their crimes are treated more severely – and monitored more closely with greater involvement from state agencies. And those without an ideology component to their violence or intended violence are given lesser sentences despite their clear meticulous planning and mass murder fantasies.'
The Guardian · 11 Apr, 05:00
Scientists warn that the increasing popularity of SUVs in Britain is exacerbating the country's pothole problem due to their heavier weight, which contributes to road wear and tear. Despite this, many drivers are choosing SUVs partly due to concerns about road conditions.
Researchers have found that the growing number of SUVs on British roads is contributing to the worsening of potholes. SUVs made up over half of the 2 million new cars sold in the UK last year, and a growing proportion of the 7 million second-hand cars sold. The increasing weight of these vehicles, with SUVs typically 200-300kg heavier than hatchback or sedan cars, is putting additional stress on road surfaces. The primary cause of potholes remains the freezing and thawing of rainwater, but the cumulative effect of heavier vehicles is a significant contributing factor.
Why it matters: The significance of this issue lies in the impact it has on road maintenance and the safety of drivers. The cost of fixing all potholes and local roads across England and Wales has reached a record £18.6 billion. Furthermore, the condition of roads is influencing people's choice of vehicle, with many opting for SUVs that can better navigate damaged roads, but this choice is also contributing to the problem.
2 million: new cars sold in the UK last year, with SUVs making up more than half. 7 million: second-hand cars sold, with SUVs making up a growing proportion. 200-300kg: the typical weight difference between SUVs and hatchback or sedan cars. 5 times: the force exerted on the road by a typical SUV compared to a typical passenger car. 3%: the proportion of cars on the road in England that were SUVs 20 years ago, now over 30%. £18.6 billion: the cost of fixing all potholes and local roads across England and Wales.
The typical SUV exerts around five times more force on the road than the typical passenger car. The dramatic shift to SUVs in the past 20 years – from 3% of cars on the road in England to over 30% – is expected to have played some role in increasing wear and tear damage. - Prof Anna Goodman
The Guardian · 11 Apr, 03:54
The Artemis II spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a record-breaking moon flyby mission. The mission marked the first time humans have traveled to the moon and back since 1970.
The Artemis II spacecraft, carrying four astronauts - Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen - completed a 9-day, 1-hour, and 32-minute journey around the moon and back to Earth. The spacecraft traveled 694,481 miles and reached a distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, a new record. The astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on Friday night.
Why it matters: This mission is significant as it marks a major step towards NASA's goal of returning humans to the moon by 2028 and establishing a sustainable presence on the lunar surface. The success of this mission demonstrates NASA's ability to send humans safely to and from cislunar space and will inform future missions, including the planned crewed moon landing in 2028.
694,481 miles: distance traveled by the Orion spacecraft; 252,756 miles: maximum distance from Earth reached by the spacecraft; 9 days, 1 hour, and 32 minutes: duration of the mission; 2028: scheduled year for crewed moon landing; $20 billion: planned cost for moon base to be built within a decade; 24: number of humans who have traveled to the moon and returned safely to Earth; 4,067 miles: closest approach to the lunar surface.
This is not a once in a lifetime, which you hear sometimes around here. No, it’s not. This is just the beginning. We are going to get back into doing this with frequency, sending missions to the moon until we land on it in 2028 and start building our base. - Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator
Ars Technica · 11 Apr, 01:21
NASA's Orion spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, successfully returned to Earth after a voyage around the Moon, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday.
The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, re-entered the Earth's atmosphere at over 30 times the speed of sound and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday. The spacecraft experienced temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit and a temporary loss of communication with Mission Control during re-entry. The crew was recovered by a US Navy ship in the Pacific Ocean southwest of San Diego.
Why it matters: This mission marked humanity's first voyage to the Moon in nearly 54 years, and its success paves the way for future lunar missions. The safe return of the astronauts demonstrates the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the progress made in space exploration.
30 (times the speed of sound), 5,000 (degrees Fahrenheit), 54 (years), 10,500 (square feet, area of each main chute), 8:07 pm EDT (Friday splashdown time)
Ars Technica · 11 Apr, 03:24
The Artemis II mission has successfully concluded with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking a return to deep space for humanity after over 50 years. The mission carried four astronauts on a 700,000-mile journey around the Moon.
The Artemis II mission concluded with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. The mission involved a spacecraft carrying four astronauts on a 700,000-mile journey around the Moon. This mission marked a significant milestone for NASA and its international partners, as it signified a return to deep space exploration for humanity after a hiatus of over half a century.
Why it matters: The successful conclusion of the Artemis II mission is significant because it demonstrates NASA's capability to undertake complex deep space missions. It also paves the way for future exploration of the Moon and beyond. The mission's success is a crucial step towards re-establishing a human presence in deep space.
700,000 miles (distance traveled around the Moon), over 50 years (time elapsed since last deep space mission)
Ars Technica · 10 Apr, 19:07
Formula 1 is addressing issues with its new hybrid power units introduced in 2026, with technical representatives from teams and the FIA meeting to discuss solutions. The new power units combine a 1.6 L turbocharged V6 engine with an electric motor-generator unit.
Formula 1 has introduced new hybrid power units this year, which include a 1.6 L turbocharged V6 engine running on carbon-neutral gasoline and an electric motor-generator unit (MGU) with a 4 MJ (1.1 kWh) battery pack. However, the new system has presented challenges, prompting the FIA and technical representatives from each team to meet and discuss potential fixes. The meetings aim to address issues with the hybrid power units, which have shown promise but require refinement.
Why it matters: The new hybrid power units are a significant part of Formula 1's efforts to improve sustainability and performance. Fixing the issues with these units is crucial for the competitiveness and success of the sport, as teams like Aston Martin, Cadillac, and Williams look to catch up with the championship favorite, Mercedes.
1.6 L (engine size), 400 kW (536 hp, engine output), 350 kW (469 hp, MGU output), 4 MJ (1.1 kWh, battery pack size), 11 seconds (battery discharge time)
NPR News · 10 Apr, 22:48
The four astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission have successfully splashed down on Earth after visiting the moon.
The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, completed its journey with a splashdown on Earth. The mission had included a successful visit to the moon. The astronauts plunged through the atmosphere toward Earth. Details of the mission's duration and specific activities are not provided.
Why it matters: This marks a significant milestone for NASA's Artemis program, demonstrating the capability to safely return astronauts from a lunar mission. The success of Artemis II paves the way for future lunar exploration missions.
NPR News · 10 Apr, 17:22
Summary not available.
NPR News · 10 Apr, 20:01
Summary not available.