News 04/04/26

Following reports an American fighter jet was shot down in Iran, Iranian outlets say one of two crew members ejected and may have landed in the south of the country.

US officials say the pilot has been rescued, while the missing crew member is a weapons systems officer. State affiliated channels have urged citizens to capture the pilot alive, with reports of rewards of around fifty thousand pounds being offered.

The age at which millions can claim the state pension is starting to rise to sixty seven from Monday, as payments also increase.

The current age of sixty six will rise in stages over the next two years. Those born between the sixth of April and the fifth of May nineteen sixty will be first affected, waiting an extra month. The change reflects longer life expectancy, with further increases still under review.

Nasa has released the first high resolution images of Earth taken by the Artemis Two crew as they pass the halfway point to the Moon.

Commander Reid Wiseman captured the images after a final engine burn set their course. At seven o clock BST, the Orion spacecraft was one hundred and forty two thousand miles from Earth and one hundred and thirty two thousand miles from the Moon. Astronaut Christina Koch said the crew shared a moment of joy at the milestone.

Five Metropolitan Police officers have been removed from front line duties after a bag containing firearms and a Taser was found on a London street.

The bag was discovered by a member of the public on Tuesday evening outside the home of the Mayor of London. Police believe it was misplaced by officers a short time earlier. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is reviewing the incident.