General

In a remarkable achievement for space travel, SpaceX successfully transported a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) in just 15 hours, marking another milestone in modern space exploration. The crew, consisting of four astronauts from the United States, Japan, and Russia, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on August 2, 2025, and docked at the ISS, where they were warmly welcomed by their colleagues already stationed there.

The new arrivals include NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov. Each of these astronauts had originally been assigned to different missions but found themselves making this swift journey to the ISS due to a series of adjustments in mission schedules. Cardman and another astronaut were initially pulled from a SpaceX flight last year to accommodate NASA’s two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who had their stay on the ISS extended from one week to over nine months. Meanwhile, Fincke and Yui transitioned to SpaceX after their planned Starliner mission was delayed until 2026 due to ongoing technical issues.

In a significant turn of events regarding President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship, lower courts have effectively stalled its implementation, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that seemed to open the door for enforcement. The order, signed on January 20, 2025, titled “PROTECTING THE MEANING AND VALUE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP,” sought to deny citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully present or in the country temporarily. However, a series of judicial decisions have thwarted the administration’s efforts to put this policy into practice.

In a shocking incident just days before her highly anticipated Cowboy Carter tour stop in Atlanta, unreleased music by Beyoncé was stolen from a rental vehicle. The theft, which occurred on July 8, involved hard drives containing not only unreleased songs but also crucial show plans and set lists for her performances. The vehicle was parked by her choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue, who had briefly left to grab a bite at a nearby food hall.

International fans of the iconic animated series South Park were left in dismay last week following the show’s removal from the streaming service Paramount+. This unexpected development stems from an ongoing licensing dispute between creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Paramount Global, the parent company of Comedy Central.

According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, the international license for Paramount+ to stream South Park episodes expired, leading to the show’s abrupt exit from the platform. Paramount+ is available in various English-speaking territories, including Canada, Australia, the U.K., and Ireland, as well as in several European countries, Japan, and Latin America.

In a landmark ruling, a federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered the Trump administration to cease its indiscriminate immigration raids that have targeted communities across Southern California. Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued her order following a lawsuit that accused federal agents of conducting unconstitutional arrests based solely on race and appearance.

Since early June, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Border Patrol, and other federal agencies have been conducting raids in Los Angeles and its surrounding counties, leading to thousands of arrests. Civil rights attorneys, who filed the lawsuit, described these actions as an “extraordinary campaign” that relies on racial profiling rather than reasonable suspicion of illegal status, in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment.

In a significant development for public health, Moderna announced on Monday that its experimental mRNA-based flu vaccine has demonstrated a stronger immune response compared to currently available flu shots in a late-stage trial. This promising outcome paves the way for the vaccine’s potential approval and the advancement of a combination shot targeting both influenza and Covid-19.

Earlier this year, in May, Moderna made the strategic decision to withdraw its application for the combination vaccine. The company indicated that it would resubmit this application after gathering additional efficacy data from the phase three trial of its stand-alone flu vaccine. This decision followed discussions with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is currently undergoing significant changes under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his skepticism towards vaccines.

On June 26, 2025, a classified briefing held in the Capitol sparked a significant divide among senators regarding the impact of recent US military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. The briefing followed a surprise attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and as senators emerged, it became evident that there were starkly different interpretations of the strikes’ effectiveness.

Republican senators largely echoed the sentiments of President Donald Trump, asserting that the strikes had delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions by years. Some, like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, expressed skepticism about the administration’s claims, suggesting that the strikes may have only set back the program by months. This discrepancy highlights the broader debate over the effectiveness of military intervention in foreign affairs and the complexities involved in assessing the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

ATLANTA — A significant shift is underway in the United States vaccine advisory landscape as the newly formed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., prepares to reevaluate childhood vaccination protocols. The committee’s mandate includes a critical examination of the cumulative effects of the current vaccine schedule and a reassessment of hepatitis B immunization recommendations, raising concerns among public health experts about potential impacts on established immunization practices.

In recent years, China has emerged as a global leader in electric vehicles (EVs), with almost half of all cars sold in the country last year being electric. This transformation from a nation dominated by bicycles to one where EVs are commonplace is a remarkable feat, driven by a combination of strategic government planning, substantial financial investment, and a burgeoning domestic market.

At a charging station on the outskirts of Guangzhou, private hire driver Lu Yunfeng shares his reason for choosing an electric vehicle: “I drive an electric vehicle because I am poor.” His sentiment is echoed by fellow driver Sun Jingguo, who emphasizes the cost savings and environmental benefits of driving an EV. This perspective starkly contrasts with many Western countries, where electric vehicles are often seen as luxury items.

In a significant move that has caught the attention of gamers and industry watchers alike, Sony has announced an increase in the recommended retail prices (RRPs) for its PlayStation 5 consoles across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. This decision, which takes effect from April 14, 2025, is attributed to a challenging economic landscape characterized by high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.

According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, the new pricing structure will see the PS5 Digital Edition in Europe priced at €500, while the standard PS5 with a disc drive will remain unchanged. In the UK, the PS5 Digital Edition will now retail for £430, with the standard version maintaining its current price. Down under in Australia, the standard PS5 will be available for AUD $830, while the Digital Edition will cost AUD $750. New Zealanders will see the standard PS5 priced at NZD $950 and the Digital Edition at NZD $860.