The developers of the reality TV show "Space Hero" want to make space cool.
Why it matters: As spaceflight opportunities open up to more people who aren't professional astronauts, the space industry — which is largely insular and elite — will need to find ways to make space travel appealing to the public.
Russia is staging shows of military might in orbit as its civil and commercial space sector loses its longstandingedge.
Why it matters: These demonstrations threaten to undermine responsible behavior in space, and could put U.S. military — and possibly commercial — assets in orbit at risk.
New Zealand will open a quarantine-free "travel bubble" with Australia from 11:59pm on April 18, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Tuesday.
Why it matters: New Zealand tourism industry official Chris Roberts and Michael Barnett, an NZ Chamber of Commerce director, told Axios the plan could serve as a model for other countries.
A new Utah law requires biological fathers to pay half of women's pregnancy expenses.
Why it matters: While states like New York and Wisconsin have similar financial provisions for pregnancies, "Utah appears to be the first state to mandate prenatal child support," AP notes.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) on Monday tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms a day earlier, his office said in a statement.
The big picture: Gianforte will be isolating for 10 days as a precaution, his office added. He received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine last Thursday.
At least 76 people have been killed and thousands displaced after flash flooding and landslides struck Indonesia and the tiny nation of Timor-Leste Sunday following heavy rains overnight, per Reuters.
The big picture: Dams overflowed, inundating thousands of homes from Indonesia's Flores Island to Timor-Leste, AFP notes. Officials said Monday the disaster killed 55 people in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province and 21 in Timor-Leste. Dozens were missing.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the death toll increase.
India's Ministry of Health confirmed 103,558 new COVID-19 infections on Monday.
Why it matters: It's the first time the country has reported over 100,000 new coronavirus cases in one day. India is the second country after the U.S. to reach that milestone.
