250th Birthday

• NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory released a series of cosmic images featuring red, white, and blue phenomena to celebrate the United States' 250th birthday. • The "Space photo of the week" collection showcases high-energy X-ray data from various celestial objects to mirror the colors of the American flag. • This initiative highlights the agency's ability to capture the extreme physics of the universe while engaging the public through a patriotic theme.

In a speech at Mount Rushmore on Friday evening, the US president claimed a resurgent ‘communist menace’ posed a severe threat the countryDonald Trump has kicked off America’s 250th birthday weekend with an extraordinary partisan attack on what he called the “communist menace” in America, framing its supporters as “the enemy of July 4th, 1776”.The US president spoke for half an hour on Friday night at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the latest stop on his tour celebrating the milestone anniversary of the US declaration of independence from Britain. Continue reading...

New York mayor’s remarks at city hall to come just hours before Trump is set to deliver address at Mount Rushmore Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, is expected to deliver a speech on Friday morning to mark America’s 250th birthday.The address, scheduled to begin at 10am local time and streamed live, will be delivered from behind George Washington’s desk in New York city hall. Mamdani will be surrounded by recently naturalized citizens. Continue reading...

• Major entertainment entities are planning a wide range of celebrations to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. • The festivities will include a variety of events, ranging from special TV programming to live celebrations at theme parks. • These events are expected to feature top-flight performers to mark the historic milestone.

• Princeton University professor and author Eddie Glaude has released a new book examining the historical connection between political turmoil and Fourth of July celebrations. • The text illustrates how tensions surrounding the nation's founding have historically reached a boiling point during independence day festivities. • This analysis is particularly timely as the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th birthday, a milestone Glaude suggests coincides with a period of significant national instability.