Click the link below the bottom picture

.

The Artemis II moon mission might have come to an end after a 10-day voyage around the moon and back. But thankfully, the mission’s crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—as well as NASA’s cameras on Earth and in space, captured their daring journey from start to finish.

In fact, the mission was largely communicated to the world in photos, especially those from Monday’s capstone lunar flyby. From the moment the Orion spacecraft left the launchpad last Wednesday, each milestone was made timeless with stunning, perspective-shattering visuals that were beamed down to Earth via the Orion spacecraft’s novel laser-based communications system.

Here’s a look at twelve of our favorite photographs from the mission, including the moon photos that have inspired billions to gaze at the night sky anew.

1. Launch Day

Thousands of people trekked to Florida’s Space Coast on Wednesday, April 1, to watch the lift off of the first crewed moon mission since 1972. The launch went smoothly, and within a few hours the astronauts were in a controlled orbit, positioning themselves for a maneuver to put them on course for the moon the next day.

NASA

2. Spaceship Earth

On Tuesday, April 2, the Orion spacecraft burned 6,700 pounds of fuel to lurch out of Earth orbit and toward its distant target. The astronauts gazed out the capsule’s windows at an ever-shrinking Earth, committed to their long journey.

.

NASA

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the bottom picture

.

Tucker Carlson has called Donald Trump a “slave” who “can’t make his own decisions,” in the latest escalation of the feud between the two former allies.

“I’ve always liked Trump and still feel sorry for him, as I do for all slaves,” Carlson told Newsmax Friday. “He’s hemmed in by other forces. He can’t make his own decisions. It’s awful to watch.”

His remarks came shortly after Trump posted a lengthy Truth Social rant, which took aim at several MAGA acolytes who have split from the president in recent months over the ongoing conflict in Iran.

In the post, Trump described Carlson, as well as other right-wing commentators Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens, as well as conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, as all having “Low IQs.”

“They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too! Look at their past, look at their record. They don’t have what it takes, and they never did!” he fumed.

“They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some “free” and cheap publicity.”

Both Carlson and Trump have recently ramped up their rhetoric and actions against one another.

In response to Thursday’s social media tirade from the president, Carlson has launched a new line of merchandise, including baseball caps bearing the phrase “LOW IQ,” in reference to the insults.

“Calling all nut jobs, troublemakers, and third-rate podcasters! New merch just dropped,” The Tucker Carlson Network posted Friday, advertising the new apparel.

.

Tucker Carlson has called Donald Trump a “slave” who “can’t make his own decisions,”

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the bottom picture

.

By Tyler Pager

Tyler Pager is a White House correspondent. He traveled with Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad, Pakistan.

April 12, 2026Updated 2:45 p.m. ET

After more than 16 straight hours of closed-door meetings that stretched into early Sunday morning, Vice President JD Vance ambled into an ornate ballroom in Pakistan and let out a sigh. When he arrived at the lectern to speak to the press, he grimaced.

He talked about “shortcomings,” “bad news,” and not being “able to make headway.” The United States and Iran did not reach any agreement.

Exhausted and frustrated after 21 hours on the ground, Mr. Vance provided few details, took three questions, and departed. He did not address whether the two-week cease-fire with Iran would hold, or what would happen to the Strait of Hormuz or if President Trump would now follow through with his threat to wipe Iranian civilization off the map.

It was a remarkable conclusion to a high-stakes diplomatic trip for Mr. Vance, who made his opposition known to a full-scale war in Iran. America’s allies and adversaries alike were pinning their hopes on Mr. Vance to find a way out of a conflict that has upended the global economy, frayed alliances, and expanded to the wider region.

Instead, he left with nothing. He blamed Iran for the failed talks, saying the United States sought a commitment that Iran would not seek a nuclear weapon, and it refused.

That it was Mr. Vance who found himself in this position was extraordinary in itself. The man inside Mr. Trump’s inner circle most opposed to the war was tasked with leading the highest-level talks between the United States and Iran in nearly 50 years. Mr. Trump, for his part, was thousands of miles away at the Kaseya Center in Miami, watching a U.F.C. fight alongside Marco Rubio, his secretary of state and national security adviser.

For Mr. Vance, the trip represented the highest-profile assignment of his tenure, which has largely been marked by domestic politics. White House officials had hoped he would be spending the months leading up to the midterms traveling the country to boost the Republican Party. Instead, he spent the early part of the week in Hungary campaigning for Prime Minister Viktor Orban and concluded it in Pakistan, trying to negotiate the end of a messy and complicated war.

The United States and Israel have spent more than five weeks bombing Iran. They have assassinated the supreme leader and other senior officials, hit 13,000 target,s and, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, killed more than 1,700 civilians. Iran responded by launching attacks at countries across the region, including U.S. military bases, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.

.

Vice President Vance is arriving for a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad on Sunday. Credit…Pool photo by Jacquelyn Martin

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

https://www.nytimes.com

.

__________________________________________

Hmmmm … Really Tasty!

Click the link below the bottom picture

.

• Asparagus cooks quickly, so make sure to have all your ingredients ready by the stove. It’s best served warm or room temperature; ice-cold asparagus is unpleasant.

How to Buy and Store Asparagus

Asparagus comes in different shades and sizes, and each has its strengths. Here are some tips on how best to choose, clean, and store it.

What does asparagus’s color mean?

There are three colors of asparagus: green, purple, and white.

Green asparagus is by far the most common and is available year-round in American supermarkets. You’ll find thin, medium, and fat green spears in almost any market. Whatever its thickness, green asparagus should be cooked al dente.

White asparagus is more common in Europe. It is white because the plants are covered in mulch to prevent them from developing the chlorophyll that gives plants their green color. White asparagus must be completely peeled from tip to tail, and, unlike green, should be well-cooked. It is a mistake to cook green and white asparagus together.

Purple asparagus has a beautiful violet skin that turns dark green when cooked. Its taste is similar to that of green asparagus.

What about its thickness?

Asparagus usually comes in three sizes: pencil-thin, medium, and jumbo. The thickness of the asparagus does not indicate its maturity; a thin asparagus spear does not grow into a fat one. What you’ll choose is based on personal preference and what you’re cooking. Some describe thin spears as grassy or thicker ones as meaty.

• Thin asparagus is great for stir-fries and sautéing.

• Fat asparagus is good for roasting or grilling, and best when you want to serve whole spears, even simply steamed.

• Medium spears work in almost any cooking method.

How should I store asparagus?

Store your asparagus in your crisper drawer, wrapped in a damp paper towel and then in a plastic bag, no longer than three days. Do not clean it first. Or you can store asparagus upright in a container with an inch of water. Place it in the fridge, uncovered.

Preparing the Asparagus

Before you begin cooking, take a minute to snap or cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus. If you have nice fat spears, peel their tough skin away too. We’ll show you how.

How to Snap Off the Ends

Snapping off woody asparagus bottoms gives you spears of slightly different lengths, but guarantees no tough ends when you sit down to eat.

To snap, hold a spear with both hands and find the natural bending point near the bottom of the stalk. Then snap. Make sure your hands really are near the bottom, or you risk discarding too much; a stalk will snap in the middle if you’re not careful. The spear should break at a point where the asparagus has started to lose its moisture.

Cutting your spears is fine as long as you take care to avoid the woody ends. (But please, don’t use the discarded ends to make anything but compost.)

How to Peel Asparagus

The skin on larger asparagus spears doesn’t soften with cooking, which is why it’s best to peel the lower stalks of medium or fat spears, both green and purple. Always peel white asparagus.

To peel, place the spear flat on your work surface. Using a vegetable peeler, preferably one with a swivel blade, peel the asparagus from about halfway up the spear toward the root end. Never peel the tips. Use a light hand, or you’ll peel off too much of the sweet core.

Asparagus can be peeled a few hours ahead of time, wrapped, and refrigerated.

How to Roast Asparagus

Roasting asparagus allows for a slight caramelizing of the vegetable’s skin. It’s luscious and a fast way to get delicious asparagus on the table without standing at the stove.

Here’s a very simple method that just requires olive oil, salt, and pepper, but you can add other spices as well: cayenne, red pepper flakes, or smoked salt. Or try chopped walnuts, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Heat your oven to 425 degrees, and dress asparagus spears lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread them on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan in one layer and roast until lightly browned and sizzling, and just firm-tender. If you are roasting on a baking sheet, that should take 10 to 12 minutes, or about 15 minutes in a heavy-bottomed roasting pan. The trick here is getting the spears nicely colored without overcooking them, and you should always err on the undercooked side — asparagus will continue to cook off the heat.

---

Recipe: Roasted Asparagus With Crispy Leeks and Capers

Credit…Andrew Purcell for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Carrie Purcell.

---

How to Steam, Blanch, and Simmer Asparagus

Simply steamed or simmered asparagus is delicious, and you can dress the spears however you like: in a bagna cauda, with lemon juice and olive oil, or nothing at all. Any size spear will work, although medium is best. We’ll also tell you how to blanch asparagus, a useful method when incorporating the vegetable into other dishes.

How to Steam Asparagus

It’s easy to cook asparagus in a steamer. Bring 1 inch of well-salted water to a boil in a pot with a steamer insert, and place the spears in the steamer in a single layer. (If necessary, work in batches; do not pile in the asparagus or try to cook too many at a time.) Cover the pot and cook for about 3 minutes, depending upon size of spears. Err on the undercooked side — asparagus will continue to cook off the heat.

Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon or tongs and blot the excess water away with a towel.

How to Simmer Asparagus

Simmering asparagus is another easy way to cook asparagus quickly, and a good option if you don’t own a steamer.

In a wide pot, boil a few inches of generously salted water and add your asparagus. Cook at a rapid simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the size of your asparagus. Again, don’t cook too many at one time; a dozen in the pot at once is plenty. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon or tongs and blot to remove any remaining water.

Old recipes sometimes call for using twine to tie asparagus into bundles, to make it easier to retrieve them from the water. If you do, blot the cooked bundle, transfer to a platter, and snip the twine with kitchen shears.

How to Blanch Asparagus

Spring pasta dishes may call for blanching asparagus, and it’s quite simple.

In a wide pot, boil a few inches of generously salted water and add your asparagus, either whole stalks or cut into pieces. Cook at a rapid simmer for 1 minutes. Then immediately plunge the spears into a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking and to keep them green. Remove from ice

water and blot, otherwise risk waterlogged asparagus.

How to Prepare Raw Asparagus

Tender, sweet asparagus can be delicious raw and dressed simply with olive oil, lemon, and salt. And you don’t even need to turn on your stove.

Fat asparagus works best in raw preparations, like this fast recipe for a delicious asparagus salad.

Using a sharp, thin-bladed knife, slice 6 to 8 fat asparagus spears very thinly on the diagonal. (Alternatively, you can cut them on a mandoline, or use a peeler to slice them lengthwise into long, thin ribbons.) Pile them into a bowl and dress with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and a few pinches of salt. Toss and serve.

---

Recipe: Tofu and Asparagus With Frizzled Leeks

.

Christopher Testani for The New York Times

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________

Click the link below the picture

.

With Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft and its four crew nearing a splashdown off San Diego, Calif., after a spectacularly successful flyby of the moon, NASA’s plan to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years now seems almost unstoppable. But it may still be Chinese astronauts, rather than American ones, who will take the next fateful steps on the moon in the 21st century.

NASA’s Artemis II circumlunar mission has dominated the spaceflight calendar this year, with its crew reaching new heights and returning stunning views of Earth from deep space. Yet China has quietly been making its own large, if less headline-grabbing, strides toward putting its astronauts on the moon.

On February 11, a single-stage version of China’s in-development moon rocket, the Long March 10, topped with a Mengzhou spacecraft, lifted off from a pad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the nation’s southern island of Hainan. Early in the ascent, mission controllers deliberately triggered a solid rocket system designed to rapidly pull the spacecraft away from danger in case of trouble with its launcher. Mengzhou then descended via parachutes for recovery in the South China Sea, marking a successful in-flight abort of the uncrewed spacecraft. Meanwhile the Long March 10 stage continued its flight to simulate a full orbital mission before it performed a boost-back burn and a controlled, propulsive splashdown into the waves—a feat that NASA’s current moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), simply cannot match.

These tests pave the way for the next crucial milestone: a full orbital flight of the Long March 10 and Mengzhou later this year, though most likely without crew. As is typical of China, which tends to be tight-lipped about many specifics of its space plans, the nation has not divulged when exactly this flight will take place. Candidate mission patches for the inaugural flight suggest that Mengzhou, which features a low-Earth orbit variant designed to carry six or seven astronauts and another to take three to low lunar orbit, could rendezvous with or fly alongside China’s Tiangong space station. The rocket will be the Long March 10A, a slimmed-down version of the rocket that will be meant for low-Earth orbit rather than any lunar destination.

China is not yet ready to perform a crewed circumlunar mission like the U.S., which began development of the Orion spacecraft in the 2000s and redesigned it to go with the SLS rocket in the early 2010s. But China is progressing on all the necessary hardware to reach the moon, with a stated goal of a crewed landing before 2030. Notably, the nation has already tested a key component that the U.S. is still working to bring online: the landing hardware. Last year, China demonstrated its Lanyue crewed lunar lander, performing a propulsive lunar landing and lunar launch tests in simulated moon gravity conditions. In the U.S., SpaceX and Blue Origin are both working on NASA-funded lander concepts needed to make a 2028 Artemis landing possible. Meanwhile, new launch facilities at Wenchang to host the full Long March 10 rocket are almost completed.

The full Long March 10 will use a common booster core configuration, similar to how the SpaceX Falcon Heavy is essentially a triple-sized Falcon 9. After test flights of the 10A, the next step will be bundling together three booster cores—something commercial firm CAS Space achieved in China for the first time late last month—for the larger rocket and test flights to the moon.

To get to the moon, China will use two Long March 10 rockets, one launching a crewed Mengzhou spacecraft and the other lofting the Lanyue lunar lander. These will meet up in low lunar orbit, with two astronauts transferring from Mengzhou to Lanyue for the descent to the lunar surface. It is likely that China will perform crewed low-Earth orbit and uncrewed lunar missions before progressing to an Artemis II–style mission in the next couple of years, setting up a potential crewed lunar landing attempt before the decade is out.

NASA, aiming for a landing in 2028 with Artemis IV, relies on a complex network of commercial and international partners, while China’s more centralized approach depends largely on its state-owned contractor, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

“If the Chinese can maintain a single concentrated effort, they will retain an advantage, as the U.S. is splitting its resources and seemingly making large structural programmatic changes very late in the day,” says Bleddyn Bowen, co-director of the Space Research Center at Durham University in England. “Ironically, today China’s effort resembles the 1960s U.S. Apollo moon program more, while the U.S. Artemis program resembles the Soviet Union’s competing design bureaus of the late 1960s.”

The narrative of a “race” is hard to avoid. But that depends on the point of view of the competitor. “It really is one-sided, at least in public,” says Victoria Samson, chief director for space security and stability at the Secure World Foundation. “The United States constantly cites China’s intentions for the moon as the reason why the U.S. has to get back there first, while I don’t think I’ve seen anything equivalent come from Chinese statements.” That’s not to say China isn’t invested in lunar exploration: Samson views geopolitical competition with the U.S. as a driver for the Chinese space program.

“I do see the United States getting there first but just barely, and I think that the Chinese have a better chance of getting a permanently crewed station on the moon first,” she adds.

Race or not, the two rivals will need to reach an understanding on key aspects of lunar exploration, Samson says.

“If the United States is serious about having a permanent human presence on the moon, we are going to have to figure out how to coordinate with the Chinese on matters of safety and interoperability—whether we like it or not,” she says. “People’s lives will depend on it.”

.

.

.

Click the link below for the complete article:

.

__________________________________________