Katy Perry Participates In Historic All-Female Spaceflight Mission
Pop sensation Katy Perry is now the most well-known member of an all-female band that will launch into space on one of billionaire Jeff Bezos's rockets on Monday. The “Firework” and “California Gurls” singer lifted more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) above the Earth’s surface in a vessel from Blue Origin, the space company owned by the Amazon founder. Five other...
Harvard Faces $2.2bn Funding Freeze After Defying Trump’s Demands
Harvard University faced a $2.2 billion freeze in federal funding on Monday after it declined to comply with a series of broad demands from the White House aimed at combating anti-Semitism on campus. The call for changes to its governance, hiring practices, and admissions procedures expands a list Harvard received on April 3, which ordered officials to shut diversity offices...
Hamas Reviews Ceasefire Proposal, Likely To Respond Within 48 Hours
A top Hamas official stated on Tuesday that the Palestinian Islamist organisation anticipates reacting to an Israeli ceasefire proposal it received through mediators in less than 48 hours. “Hamas will most likely send its response to the mediators within the next 48 hours, as the movement is still conducting in-depth consultations,” the official told AFP. Hamas said Monday it had received...
Iran On Verge Of Producing Atomic Bomb – UN Official
In an interview with Le Monde published on Wednesday, hours before a visit to Tehran, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog was quoted as saying that Iran is not far from possessing an atomic bomb. International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi stated that Iran still had a way to go before acquiring the bomb but added, “They’re...
Putin Meets With Freed Russian-Israeli Hostage
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with a Russian-Israeli man who had been held captive by the Palestinian militant group Hamas for over a year and pledged to assist in securing the release of other hostages. The Kremlin leader thanked Hamas for releasing the man and said it was the result of Russia’s strong relations with the Palestinian people. “Thank God you...
US Supreme Court Blocks Trump-Era Deportations Of Venezuelans
The Trump administration's deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members under an 18th-century law was halted by the US Supreme Court on Saturday. US President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA) last month to begin rounding up Venezuelan migrants accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang before expelling them to a maximum security prison in El...
Russian Forces Resume Attacks Across Ukraine As Easter Truce Ends
As a brief Easter ceasefire came to an end, Russia launched a volley of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. Russian forces launched 96 drones and three missiles on eastern and southern Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force reported on Monday. The swift return to major hostilities following a pause declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin comes as the United States struggles to persuade...
Pope Francis Dies At 88
The sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff passed away on Easter Monday at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta within Vatican City. Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta on Monday morning. Farrel said the...
Harvard Sues Trump Over US Federal Funding Cuts
Harvard filed a lawsuit against President Trump's administration on Monday for cutting its funding and attempting to enforce external political oversight. Trump has sought to bring several prestigious universities to heel over claims they tolerated campus anti-Semitism, threatening their budgets, tax-exempt status, and the enrolment of foreign students, but Harvard has refused to bow. “This case involves the Government’s efforts to...
Pope’s Death: Italy Declares Five Days National Mourning
In response to Pope Francis' passing, the Italian government has proclaimed a five-day period of national mourning. The flags in front of public buildings are flying at half-mast. Strict security measures are in place in the Italian capital ahead of the funeral services and burial on Saturday. Top-level dignitaries from all over the world are expected to attend. At his own request, Francis,...
