NASA's Artemis II mission marked a historic milestone as its astronauts propelled towards the moon on Thursday night, breaking the longstanding barrier of human exploration beyond Earth's orbit since the Apollo era. This pivotal moment, referred to as translunar ignition, occurred 25 hours after liftoff, with the four astronauts onboard—three Americans and one Canadian—on schedule for a lunar fly-around next week. Their Orion capsule exited Earth’s orbit and is now heading to the moon, approximately 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) away. Lori Glaze from NASA expressed her exhilaration during a press conference, stating, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am so, so excited to be able to tell you that for the first time since 1972 during Apollo 17, human beings have left Earth orbit.” The engine firing that facilitated this departure was executed flawlessly, as confirmed by Glaze.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared his experience of witnessing the departure from Earth. He described the views as “phenomenal,” indicating a profound connection to the moment as he and his fellow crewmates were captivated by the sights outside their capsule’s windows.
In political news, former President Donald Trump announced the removal of Pam Bondi from her position as Attorney General. This concluded her tumultuous tenure, during which Bondi was known for her efforts to alter the Justice Department’s culture, overseeing significant firings of career employees, and pursuing investigations against Trump's perceived adversaries. The decision to part ways followed intense scrutiny regarding the department's management of files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case and Trump’s attempts to push for criminal cases against his political opponents. Trump referred to Bondi as a “Great American Patriot” in his statement, while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was appointed as acting attorney general.
As tensions heightened in the Middle East, a fresh wave of violence erupted on Friday. Israel reported attacks originating from Iran, while Kuwait and Bahrain faced assaults as well. Iran claimed the lives of eight individuals who were celebrating the Persian New Year near a bridge that had been struck by a U.S. missile. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the attack on civilian infrastructure and stated, “Striking civilian infrastructure only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray.”
Meanwhile, in a dramatic shake-up at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the ousting of the Army’s top uniformed officer, General Randy George, along with two other generals. This dismissal came amidst ongoing U.S. military actions against Iran, following a series of similar removals executed by Hegseth during his term. The reasons behind these abrupt changes remain undisclosed, as the nation grapples with an extending timeline for the ongoing conflict.
In a response to the prolonged partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, President Trump declared his intention to sign an order that would resume pay for all DHS employees who had faced financial difficulties due to halted paychecks. This decision mirrored his earlier move to alleviate TSA issues stemming from similar circumstances. Trump emphasized the importance of taking care of the employees, declaring, “help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants.”
In economic news, Trump introduced a substantial executive order that could impose tariffs as high as 100% on patented drugs from pharmaceutical companies failing to negotiate pricing deals. The order aims to bolster U.S. national security regarding pharmaceutical imports. Industry leaders expressed concerns that this could jeopardize significant investments in the U.S. biopharmaceutical sector.
In the realm of sports, Tiger Woods found himself embroiled in controversy following a DUI arrest, during which body camera footage revealed him mentioning a phone conversation with “the president.” The interaction raised questions about his relationship with Trump, with whom Woods has connections through mutual acquaintances.
In Wisconsin, the president of the University of Wisconsin system, Jay Rothman, is facing pressure from the board of regents aimed at forcing him into retirement. Rothman’s unexpected battle to retain his position has unfolded through a series of letters exchanged with regents, revealing a contentious internal struggle within the university system.
Finally, rapper Pooh Shiesty has been charged with kidnapping and robbery, according to federal prosecutors. The allegations stem from a dispute related to a contract with rapper Gucci Mane’s label, 1017 Records, and involve an incident in Texas where three individuals were allegedly threatened at gunpoint.
