A volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is sacred to spiritual practitioners and treasured by astronomers:
The future of astronomy on Mauna Kea will be decided by the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, which is taking over from the University of Hawaii. It will determine whether to renew the university’s lease for the summit lands, due to expire in 2033. The existing lease requires dismantling the telescopes and restoring the land if not renewed. The potential loss of Mauna Kea astronomy would be catastrophic, with a tremendous loss of knowledge and opportunities for Hawaii’s astronomers.
German government plans extra aid for civilians in and from Gaza – spokesperson:
The German government announced on Thursday that it will provide an additional 20 million euros ($22.5 million) in humanitarian aid for civilians in and from Gaza, following the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas. The aid will be used to support the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other humanitarian organizations.
Pakistan court says military trials can resume for 103 supporters of Imran Khan:
Pakistan’s top court on Thursday allowed military courts to resume trials of over 100 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who were charged with attacking military installations during violent demonstrations in 2021. Khan, currently serving three sentences, was removed as prime minister in April 2022. He is accused of inciting violence but is not facing a military trial.
US and UK impose additional sanctions on Hamas officials:
The US and UK on Thursday imposed additional sanctions on several Hamas officials and entities, accusing them of being responsible for the recent rocket attacks on Israel and undermining the prospects for peace. The sanctions target the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas military wing Al-Qassam Brigades, and the Hamas media outlet Al-Aqsa TV.
The pope says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica, not in the Vatican:
Pope Francis revealed on Thursday that he wants to be buried in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, not in the Vatican, where most of his predecessors are interred. He said that he feels more connected to the basilica, which is the cathedral of the bishop of Rome, a title he holds. He also said that he does not want a funeral with pomp and ceremony, but a simple one.
Thai MP jailed for six years on royal insult charges:
A Thai MP from the opposition Move Forward Party was sentenced to six years in prison on Thursday for insulting the monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in jail under the country’s strict lese majeste law. Rangsiman Rome was convicted of posting online comments in 2017 that allegedly defamed the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his successor King Maha Vajiralongkorn. He denied the charges and said he will appeal.
Do BJP’s new CMs signify the exit of the elites in politics?
The recent appointment of new chief ministers in four BJP-ruled states has sparked a debate on whether the party is moving away from the elite and upper caste leaders and giving more representation to the backward and marginalised sections of the society. The new CMs of Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh belong to the OBC, SC, ST and Dalit communities respectively.
One of the attackers recced Budget session; handler fled with phones:
One of the five individuals arrested for the Parliament security breach had visited the premises during the Budget session earlier this year and had taken pictures of the entry and exit points, sources said. The mastermind of the attack, Lalit Jha, had fled with the mobile phones of the attackers and had switched them off to avoid detection, they added. He is suspected to have links with some political parties and NGOs.
Krishna Janmabhoomi case: Allahabad high court approves survey of Mathura’s Shahi Idgah Mosque:
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday approved a survey of the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, which is adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, to ascertain whether it was built over a Hindu shrine. The court also allowed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct the survey and appointed a committee to oversee the process.
Parliament security breach well-planned: Fifth suspect detained from Gurugram, 6 accused knew each other for 4 years, say cops:
The Delhi Police on Thursday said that the Parliament security breach was a well-planned conspiracy and that the six accused knew each other for four years. They said that the fifth suspect, Lalit Jha, was detained from Gurugram and that he had provided the visitor passes to the others. They also said that the accused had links with some political parties and NGOs.
