29/05/2025

THURSDAY | MAY 29, 2025

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SpaceX Starship spins out of control STARBASE: SpaceX’s Starship rocket roared into space from Texas on Tuesday but spun out of control about halfway through its flight without achieving some of its most important testing goals, bringing fresh engineering hurdles to CEO Elon Musk’s increasingly turbulent Mars rocket programme. The 122m-tall Starship rocket system, the core of Musk’s goal of sending humans to Mars, lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase, flying beyond the point of two previous explosive attempts earlier this year that sent debris streaking over Caribbean islands and forced dozens of airliners to divert course. For the latest launch, the ninth full test mission of Starship since the first attempt in April 2023, the upper-stage cruise vessel was lofted to space atop a previously flown booster, a first such demonstration of the booster’s reusability. But SpaceX lost contact with the lower-stage booster during its descent before it plunged into the sea, rather than making the controlled splashdown that the company had planned. Starship continued into suborbital space but began to spin uncontrollably roughly 30 minutes into the mission. Musk was scheduled to deliver an update on his space exploration ambitions in a speech from Starbase following the test flight but instead posted on X, touting Starship’s scheduled shutdown of an engine in space, a step previous test flights achieved last year. He said a leak on a primary fuel tank led to its loss of control. – Reuters Judge allows suit against DOGE WASHINGTON: A US judge has allowed a group of 14 states to move ahead with a lawsuit challenging Elon Musk’s efforts to slash federal spending as the head of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), rejecting the Trump administration’s effort to dismiss the case. However, district judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed the states’ claims against Trump himself, saying her court would not try to interfere with “the performance of his official duties” as president. The lawsuit could proceed against Musk and DOGE because it made a plausible claim that Musk’s cost-cutting activities were “unauthorised by any law“, according to Chutkan’s ruling. The attorneys-general of New Mexico, Oregon and 12 other states filed their lawsuit in February, alleging that Trump has given Musk “unchecked legal authority”without authorisation from the US Congress. – Reuters

Harvard students protest against Trump offensive

o Billions of dollars in federal grants frozen with multi-million dollar contracts cancelled

CAMBRIDGE: Harvard students protested on Tuesday after the US government said it intends to cancel all remaining financial contracts with the university, President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to force the prestigious institution to submit to unprecedented oversight. Hundreds of students gathered to oppose Trump’s widening offensive against the university that has drawn his ire for refusing to give up control of curriculum, admissions and research. Trump recently upended the status of Harvard’s international students by summarily revoking the university’s accreditation to the country’s Student and Exchange Visitor programme. A judge issued a restraining order pending a hearing on the matter scheduled for today, the

show him that “Canada is not alone in this fight”. Carney has vowed to oversee the biggest transformation of Canada’s economy since the end of World War II to enable it to “stand up” to Trump. Charles said Canada would “build new alliances” and seek out “reliable trading partners and allies around the world“ while reinvesting in its military and Arctic defence. “Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international cooperation and the free and open exchange of goods, services and ideas.“ – AFP extensive legal challenges against the Trump measures, which legal experts say are likely to be overturned by the courts. Separately, alumni plan to file a lawsuit against Trump on June 9, filmmaker Anurima Bhargava told a virtual meeting staged by grassroots alumni group Crimson Courage, which held a mass webinar to raise awareness and a fighting fund from former students. The cutting of contracts, estimated by US media to be worth US$100 million (RM424 million), would mark the slashing of business ties between the government and a university that is the country’s oldest and a research powerhouse. Amid a broad campaign against seats of learning that Trump accuses of being hotbeds of liberal bias and antisemitism, Trump has singled out Harvard for particular punishment. In the last few weeks, the elite educational powerhouse has seen billions of dollars in federal grants frozen and millions of dollars of federal contracts torn up. The university has sued to block the revocation of its option to recruit and sponsor foreign students, as well as to overturn the withdrawal of federal funding. A legal expert suggested that Harvard could file a lawsuit to overturn the latest contract cuts as part of existing legal action. “The case is so strong that the court system is not going to step to the side and allow this to go forward,” said Albany Law School professor Ray Brescia. He said the Trump administration assault on Harvard is so flawed that a higher court would likely strike down the campaign against the university if the Trump administration were to challenge it on appeal. On Monday, Trump vowed he would prevail in the increasingly public struggle, claiming that foreign students at Harvard included “radicalised lunatics, troublemakers”. – AFP

same day as the university’s commencement graduation ceremony. The White House doubled down on its offensive, saying public money should go to vocational schools that train electricians and plumbers, instead of Harvard. “Trump is more interested in giving that taxpayer money to trade schools and programmes and state schools, where they are promoting American values and educating the next generation based on skills that we need in our economy and our society,” said Karoline Leavitt on Fox News.

Tuesday’s protest unfolded as news helicopters hovered overhead and graduating students in academic attire and their guests were at a reception on the lawns of Harvard Square nearby. A history of medicine student from Britain said the policies pursued by Trump would make US universities less attractive to international students, even if the courts overturn the most damaging measures. Foreign students “who are here do not know where they stand, those overseas do not know if they will be able to get back in”. Harvard itself has filed

A student wearing a stole with the US and El Salvador flags taking part in the rally to support and celebrate international students at Harvard University. – REUTERSPIC

King Charles praises Canada as ‘strong and free’ OTTAWA: King Charles III hailed Canada as “strong and free” as he delivered a major speech to open parliament in Ottawa against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s threats to take over the country. accompanied by Queen Camilla. The King has never publicly commented on Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st US state but his language was closely watched for veiled references. Supreme

Trump on Tuesday posted on Truth Social about annexing Canada by offering protection from his proposed “Golden Dome”missile defence system. “I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost US$61 billion (RM259 billion) if they remain a separate, but unequal, nation, but will cost zero dollars if they become our cherished 51st state,“ he said, adding that“they are considering the offer”. There was no immediate response from Canada to Trump’s claims. Charles’s speech was delivered in the Senate with past prime ministers,

Court and indigenous leaders in feather headdresses in attendance. “You see the enthusiasm for our institutions. Our sovereignty is strong,” said Carney, pointing to crowds that awaited the King. Charles’s speech was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century. It was delivered by Charles’s mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 and 1977. “In terms of symbolism, it is extraordinary,“ said University of Quebec politics professor Felix Mathieu, adding that Tuesday’s event was a message to Trump to justices

In addition to his annexation threats, Trump has also launched tariff wars, particularly targeting Canada. “The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing,“ said Charles. “We must be clear-eyed. The world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since World War II.”

“Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values that Canadians hold dear, and ones that the government is determined to protect,“ he said, adding that Canada is facing a “critical moment”. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the 76-year-old British monarch to the capital,