Jacob Batalon recalls iconic handshake with Tom Holland

A large number of Pakistanis and Kashmiris gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London on Wednesday to mark Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, protesting against India’s August 5, 2019 decision to revoke the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. The demonstrators raised slogans in support of the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir and expressed opposition to the policies implemented in the region following the 2019 decision. Participants also chanted slogans in support of Pakistan and the Pakistan Armed Forces, while carrying banners and placards highlighting their concerns over the Kashmir issue. Addressing the gathering, speakers said that the August 5, 2019 move had affected the political identity and rights of the Kashmiri people. They urged the international community to pay attention to the situation in Kashmir and play a role in addressing the long-standing dispute. The protesters called for a peaceful and lasting resolution of the Kashmir issue and reiterated their commitment to continuing support for what they described as the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The demonstration concluded peacefully, with participants reaffirming solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

A discarded section of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is believed to have crashed into the Moon, giving scientists a rare opportunity to study the effects of a known impact on the lunar surface. The object, a 4,000-kilogram upper stage left in space after a January 2025 mission, was expected to strike the Moon at around 07:35 BST after spending more than a year drifting through space. Scientists say the rocket stage gradually shifted onto a collision course due to the combined gravitational pull of the Earth, Moon and Sun. The impact is not considered dangerous to Earth, according to NASA, which plans to analyse the event to improve its understanding of lunar geology and refine methods for tracking objects in space. Although the collision itself was too faint to be seen with the naked eye, astronomers using powerful telescopes are monitoring the Moon for signs of a fresh crater and a plume of dust created by the impact. Researchers are now comparing before-and-after images of the lunar surface to identify the exact location of the strike. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea’s Danuri lunar spacecraft are expected to capture images of the impact site in the coming days. Scientists say processing and analysing the data could take several days or even weeks before the first confirmed images are released. Experts describe the incident as a valuable scientific experiment because the size, speed and mass of the object were known in advance. Unlike natural meteor impacts, the predictable nature of the collision allows researchers to better understand how craters form and how lunar material behaves after a high-speed impact. However, astronomers also say the incident highlights the growing problem of space debris. Thousands of human-made objects now remain on or around the Moon, and experts warn that increasing congestion in space could pose challenges for future exploration missions if debris is not managed more effectively. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues its regular launch operations. The company successfully launched another Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on a separate mission carrying satellites into orbit, underscoring the growing pace of space activity as agencies and private companies expand their exploration programmes.

Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, has been confirmed as the country’s attorney general after a closely contested Senate vote. Blanche secured confirmation by 50 votes to 49, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposing his nomination. Senator Bill Cassidy provided the crucial Republican vote in Blanche’s favour after saying he believed Blanche was the strongest candidate Trump was likely to nominate. The vote ended a prolonged dispute between the Trump administration and Senate Republicans over Blanche’s appointment. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April, after Pam Bondi was removed from the position. All Senate Democrats voted against Blanche’s confirmation. Several Republican lawmakers had questioned Blanche’s record and raised concerns about his involvement in a number of controversial matters. Among them was his handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his role in developing Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The proposed fund was intended to compensate people who claimed they had been politically targeted or persecuted by the government. However, critics, including Murkowski, warned that the scheme could potentially benefit people prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. During his confirmation process, Blanche promised to abandon the proposed fund following opposition from Republican senators. Questions remain over whether that commitment would prevent the administration from introducing a similar programme under a different structure in the future. Murkowski said she opposed Blanche because she lacked confidence that he would be willing to challenge what she described as the administration’s worst impulses. She also expressed concern about the increasing politicisation of the Justice Department. Collins raised separate concerns over Blanche’s involvement in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Despite those reservations, she ultimately did not support his confirmation. Cassidy, meanwhile, said he trusted Blanche to provide Trump with independent and candid legal advice. He acknowledged that the president ultimately determines the direction of the Justice Department but argued that Senate confirmation would give Blanche greater authority to advise the administration and push back when necessary. Cassidy also said he did not want political disagreements to prevent the Justice Department from carrying out its responsibilities, particularly in combating violent crime. Blanche’s confirmation marks a significant development for the Trump administration, given his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer. He was serving as deputy attorney general when he assumed the department’s temporary leadership in April.