9 h. ago Nasa moon rocket creeps to its launchpad in preparation for astronaut flight

First journey around moon with astronauts in more than 50 years could blast off in FebruaryNasa’s giant new moon rocket has moved to the launchpad in preparation for astronauts’ first lunar fly-around in more than half a century. The trip could blast off in February.The 98-metre (322ft) rocket began its 1mph (1.6km/h) creep from Kennedy Space Center’s vehicle assembly building at daybreak. The trek of 4 miles took until nightfall. Continue reading...

Technology

25 h. ago Kennedy Center hit with another cancelation after MAGA takeover

Historic performing arts center has faced a deluge of cancelations from artists amid Donald Trump’s controversial takeover

Events

31 h. ago NASA's new moon rocket heads to the pad ahead of astronaut launch as early as February

NASA's giant new moon rocket is on its way to the launch pad

Technology

43 h. ago Trump appoints Blair, Kushner and Rubio to Gaza ‘board of peace’

White House says seven-strong board, chaired by Trump, will steer Gaza through next phase of reconstructionDonald Trump has appointed the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and former British prime minister Tony Blair to a newly created Gaza “board of peace”, a body he claims will steer the next phase of reconstruction and governance in the war-ravaged territory.The White House said the seven-strong “founding executive board” will also include Trump’s special envoy, the property developer Steve Witkoff; the World Bank president, Ajay Banga; and the president’s son-in-law and long-time adviser Jared Kushner. Trump himself will serve as chair, with further appointments expected in the coming weeks. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Typically it takes years for a president to get their name on buildings – Trump has done it while still in office

Since returning to the Oval in January, the president has already seen multiple buildings and federal initiatives named and renamed after himself

Politics

5 d. ago Fella caught trying to board flight with dead wife as guards realise 'she's cold'

Tenerife south airport security stopped and arrested an 80-year-old man who attempted to board a flight with his wife, who he claims had sadly died just hours before

Events

5 d. ago An Australian writers’ festival cut a Palestinian author in the wake of a terror attack. Then it fell apart

Randa Abdel-Fattah, who is Palestinian Australian, has faced criticism for controversial comments on Israel, including alleging Zionists had ‘no claim or right to cultural safety’When the board of a South Australian festival cut a prominent Palestinian Australian author from its lineup, citing her “past statements” in the context of the deadly Bondi terror attack, it no doubt braced itself for controversy.What it may not have foreseen, however, is an implosion. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Adelaide festival did not dump Jewish columnist from 2024 program despite request from Randa Abdel

Palestinian academic rejects accusations of hypocrisy, saying board resisted attempts to remove Thomas Friedman, while cancelling her invitation this yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Adelaide festival board did not dump a Jewish columnist from its 2024 lineup at Adelaide writers’ week, despite being lobbied by a group of 10 academics – including Randa Abdel-Fattah – to do so.On Saturday South Australia’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, claimed that the board had dumped the New York Times pro-Israel columnist Thomas Friedman in 2024, and reiterated his support for the festival board’s decision on Thursday to remove Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian Australian academic, from this year’s program. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Washington National Opera leaving the Kennedy Center in latest upheaval since Trump takeover

After WNO announced their departure, the Trump Kennedy Center claimed the decision was due to a ‘financially challenging relationship’

Politics

8 d. ago Washington National Opera to move out of Kennedy Center after Trump ‘takeover’

Artistic director of US’s national opera also cites ‘shattered’ donor confidence and box office revenueThe Washington National Opera (WNO) announced on Friday it is moving its performances out of the John F Kennedy Center, where it has been performing since 1971, according to a New York Times report.Francesca Zambello, WNO’s artistic director, had said in November that the move was a possibility as a result of the “takeover” of the center by Donald Trump. Trump declared himself the chair of the institution in February and quickly thereafter fired and replaced its board and leadership. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Yet another musician cancels their Kennedy Center performance after Trump’s attempt at name change

The Mexican American artist was scheduled to give two concerts for young people on February 7

Politics

9 d. ago Sonia De Los Santos cancels Kennedy Center shows, citing unwelcoming climate

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos has canceled her upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington

Politics

1 week ago ‘We want performers who aren’t political’: Trump’s Kennedy Center boss takes aim at another musician over canceled concert

Grammy-winning banjo player Béla Fleck said that performing at the Kennedy Center has become ‘charged and political’

Politics

1 week ago 'King' Trump declares himself 'greatest salesman in history' as tariffs make $650billion

US President Donald Trump has once again called himself the 'King' as he bragged that he is Boeing's greatest ever salesmen during his speech to House GOP members at a retreat at the Kennedy Center

Economics

2 w. ago ‘Their first instinct was to loot’: how Trump’s acolytes are plundering the Kennedy Center

Sheldon Whitehouse, an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board, remains undeterred and determined to press on with his investigation“That’s the tactic they use,” said Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island senator, pondering whether Donald Trump might attach his name to the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “You float stuff and you float stuff and you float stuff until people get inured to what a stupid or outrageous thing it is that has been floated and then you pull the trigger.”Whitehouse was sitting in his Senate office and speaking to the Guardian at 11am on Thursday 18 December. Two hours later, his words proved prophetic. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, announced on X that the Kennedy Center board had “voted unanimously” to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump administration terminates lease for Washington's 3 public golf courses

The Trump administration has ended the lease agreement for three public golf courses in Washington

Politics

2 w. ago Kennedy Center reportedly changed rules before vote to add Trump’s name

Bylaws that would limit voting to Trump-appointed trustees appears to reveal long-held renaming planThe Kennedy Center reportedly adopted bylaws earlier this year that would limit voting to Donald Trump-appointed trustees – a controversial move that appears to reveal the long-held plan to install Trump’s name to the center.The bylaws, in a possible breach of the institution’s charter, were revised in May and specified that board members appointed by Congress, known as ex-officio members, could not vote or count towards a quorum, according to the Washington Post. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago All the things Trump has named after himself in 11 months as his team defends renaming blitz

Washington has many buildings and monuments named after presidents, but that has traditionally occurred well after they have left office

Politics

2 w. ago Kennedy Center president claims ‘legacy media’ is encouraging artists to boycott performances over Trump name change

Leadership at the Washington, D.C. arts mainstay has been fuming over a series of recent artist cancellations in protest of the president and his allies attempting to rename the center after himself

Politics

2 w. ago More musicians drop out of Kennedy Center shows after Trump name change

The Cookers on Monday pulled out of a New Year’s Eve jazz gig at the controversially renamed ‘Trump-Kennedy’ centerA second jazz band has pulled out of performing at the controversially renamed “Trump-Kennedy” center in Washington DC, giving just two days notice before their New Year’s Eve gig was set to take place.The Cookers, described as a Grammy-nominated, all-star septet of legendary post-bop jazz musicians, have not given an explicit reason for their decision but in a statement posted on their website said: “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice.” Continue reading...

Politics