​ Trump claims victory following rescue, but dangers to US mission in Iran persist. Seven hours ago. Bernd Debusmann, Jr., reporter for the White House. Images from Getty. US President Donald Trump quickly claimed victory following the recovery of the second F-15 fighter jet crew member shot down over Iran, asserting that the bold and successful rescue operation inside Iranian territory “proves, once again, that we have achieved overwhelming air dominance and superiority.” Analysts, however, offer a more nuanced view of its implications for the US in Iran. Although the mission succeeded, recent incidents—including two aircraft downed and at least one helicopter struck by gunfire—underscore ongoing dangers to US aircraft and personnel, despite weeks of intense US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s military facilities and the president’s assertions that Tehran had “no anti-aircraft equipment” remaining. Trump issues expletive-filled threat to Iran over Hormuz Strait blockage. Stay tuned for live updates. How a downed US F-15 pilot was rescued within Iran. Multiple Washington sources speaking to the BBC suggested that the downed aircraft and the intricate pilot recovery mission might deter Trump from launching a ground operation to seize Iran’s vital oil export terminal at Kharg Island, other Gulf locations, or deeply buried highly enriched uranium sites. Military planners had outlined these high-risk options for the president, noting their complexity and the threat from Iran’s residual defenses, such as elusive man-portable air-defense systems (Manpads)—shoulder-fired missiles that excel against low-altitude planes. Conversely, the successful U.S. troop incursion into hostile territory—establishing a forward airfield and refueling hub right under Iranian noses, holding it for hours while destroying stranded aircraft and deploying replacements—could encourage him. This might reassure the administration that airborne or amphibious strikes on Iranian targets are feasible. The signal would resonate strongly with U.S. pilots operating over Iran amid ongoing hostilities and troops gearing up for possible action. Trump has issued conflicting signals on next steps, telling reporters via Sunday phone calls that a “deal” with Iran is imminent. Should that flop, he’s reiterated on Truth Social that his self-set deadline looms for targeting Iranian power plants and bridges. In a profanity-filled Sunday post aimed at Iran’s leaders, he warned that failure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would mean they’re “living in Hell.”  

​ Hungary claims there was a plot to sabotage a gas pipeline before the election. Fifteen hours ago. Nick Thorpe, Budapest correspondent. Getty Images via AFP. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called an urgent session of the National Defence Council following the discovery of explosives near a pipeline carrying Russian gas into Hungary. The find occurred in a border region of neighboring Serbia, at a time when Orban’s party is significantly behind in polls before key elections next Sunday. Opposition leader Peter Magyar labeled it “panic-mongering” driven by “Russian advisers,” shortly after security analysts flagged a potential “false flag” plot attributable to Ukraine. Orban, a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has defied EU pressure to halt Russian energy imports since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine. In recent weeks, Hungarian security specialists have suggested a possible staged incident—on either Hungarian or Serbian soil—designed to generate sympathy for Orban, boost his Fidesz party’s election chances, or provide grounds to declare a state of emergency and delay or scrap the vote. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a key Orban ally, notified the Hungarian leader of the find on Sunday morning. Serbian forces discovered two backpacks containing explosives and detonators near the village of Tresnjevac in the Kanjiza district, roughly 20km (12 miles) from where the TurkStream pipeline enters Hungary. “Our units found an explosive of devastating power,” Vucic stated in an Instagram post. I informed Prime Minister Orban that we would continue to update him on the investigation. Hungary imports five to eight billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually via the TurkStream pipeline, on which both Hungary and Slovakia rely for their Russian gas supplies. Balint Pasztor, president of the Vojvodina Hungarian Association and a major Orban ally, wrote on Facebook: “If the investigation shows we weren’t the main target after all, but Hungary’s supply lines were, it becomes even clearer: the terrorist attack was designed to topple Viktor Orban.” Fidesz has turned hostility toward Ukraine into a key pillar of its election campaign. At rallies, Orbán has told supporters that Hungary’s low heating and fuel prices are feasible only due to inexpensive Russian oil and gas, which arrive via pipelines—oil through Ukraine and gas via the Balkans. Orbán claims a “Kyiv-Brussels-Berlin” alliance is plotting to cut off Hungary’s access to cheap Russian energy in order to install their “puppet” prime ministerial candidate, Magyar, in the coming election.  

​ Are Artemis’s breathtaking Moon images scientific or just vacation snaps? One day ago. Georgina Rannard, Science Reporter. NASA is steadily releasing breathtaking images of the Moon and Earth, captured by astronauts aboard its Artemis II lunar mission. These high-definition photos, showcasing the celestial bodies from rare perspectives, are garnering millions of likes on social media. The excitement is undeniable: four astronauts are venturing farther from Earth than any humans since 1963. But do these images offer distinct scientific merit, or are they merely akin to vacation snapshots? NASA. NASA seeks the American public’s support for the mission. They’re live-streaming their 26-day journey, with the four astronauts providing regular video updates that describe their progress in triumphant tones. NASA reports the crew has been so thrilled watching Earth and the Moon pass by that the Orion spacecraft’s window got dirty, prompting instructions for the astronauts to clean it. This marks the first time digital cameras have ventured this far into space. Orion features 22,019 cameras and devices—21,968 mounted on the spacecraft and 17 handheld by the crew. According to NASA, the astronauts are using standard 10-year-old cameras like the Nikon D5, along with GoPros and smartphones. NASA’s Flickr photostream even specifies the device used for each published photo. On Friday, the first fruits of their intensive observations appeared. “Hello, World” was captured by Commander Reid Wiseman when the mission was roughly equidistant from the Moon and Earth—142,000 miles (228,201 km) from Earth and 132,000 miles from the Moon. The image depicts two auroras as Earth eclipses the Sun, with planet Venus shining at the bottom. NASA/Reid Wiseman. The Earth looks upside down in the image, showing the Sahara Desert and Iberian Peninsula on the left and eastern South America on the right. It’s a beautiful photo, but not groundbreaking scientifically. NASA’s Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite features the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) that captures such views. Launched in 2015, it often photographs Earth from nearly a million miles away—farther than Artemis II. On Saturday, NASA shared another image captioned “history in the making.” The photo depicts the Orientale basin, a massive crater on the Moon’s far side featuring a thicker crust and numerous impact craters. It was released before Monday’s lunar fly-by, when the crew will orbit this enigmatic far side, coming within 4,066 miles of the surface. NASA.  

​ In his inaugural Easter Mass, Pope Leo urges world leaders to opt for peace. 21 hours prior. Jessica Rawnsley. Reuters/Vatican Media. On Sunday, thousands of worshippers gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear Pope Leo XIV give his inaugural Easter Mass address as pontiff. Standing on the Vatican’s basilica balcony amid white roses, the pope urged “those who have the power to unleash wars” to pursue peace instead. “On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars,” he declared. The first U.S.-born pope has emerged as a outspoken critic of the Iran war, using recent speeches to condemn global conflicts and call for de-escalation. Getty Images. Pope Leo greeted the crowd in the square below with a wave prior to giving his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, which means “to the city and the world” in Latin. St. Peter’s Square was adorned with vibrant spring flowers, including rows of daffodils and thousands of purple, red, and white blooms set up for the Easter Mass. Getty Images. Reuters. “We are growing used to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent—indifferent to the deaths of thousands,” the pope said in his address. “Let those who have weapons lay them down.” May those with the authority to ignite wars opt for peace instead.  

​ Here’s what we know so far about the US fighter jet downed over Iran. 663 hours in the past. Grace Eliza Goodwin. A search continues for a missing crew member after a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday. US forces rescued one of the two crew members, but efforts to locate the second are ongoing, according to US media reports. Iranian officials stated that the aircraft was downed by their air defense system. There has been no official US comment. Where and when was the jet shot down? Iranian state media initially reported on Friday that the country’s military had downed a US jet in its southern region. Follow live updates on the US-Israel war with Iran. A search-and-rescue operation successfully retrieved the F-15E jet’s pilot, but the fate of the aircraft’s second crew member, a weapons systems officer, is still unknown. The mission reportedly involved an A-10 Warthog that was struck over the Gulf, with its pilot ejecting and being rescued. One helicopter transporting the rescued F-15E pilot was hit by small-arms fire, wounding onboard crew members, though it landed safely, according to US media. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that local nomadic tribes in the country’s mountains fired on two Black Hawk helicopters from the US rescue effort. BBC Verify verified a video from Friday depicting three armed people shooting at least two Black Hawk helicopters. Iran’s top joint military command attributed the downing of both US warplanes to advanced Iranian air defense systems, per the state-linked IRNA news agency. The precise site of the reported F-15 downing remains unverified, though Iran’s state media cited two potential provinces: Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, or Khuzestan. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, a rugged southwestern province, has over 700,000 residents, including nomads. Local nomads commonly carry rifles to defend their livestock and camps against wildlife and theft in the isolated highlands. Khuzestan province is a major hub for oil production and other industries. It has a population exceeding 4.7 million, featuring a diverse mix of Arabs, Persians, Lors, and various other ethnic groups. What is known about the jet’s purpose?