Originally expected to last just a week, their mission has been extended by several months due to technical issues with Starliner, including gas leaks and thruster problems.After NASA determined it was too risky to bring them home aboard Starliner, the astronauts will return on SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, scheduled for February 2025. In the meantime, Williams and Wilmore have joined Expedition 72, taking on responsibilities that include spacewalks, ISS maintenance, and scientific research. Williams was even appointed as ISS commander in September.Despite the unexpected delay, Williams and Wilmore remain fully engaged with their duties, seamlessly integrating with the station’s crew and continuing their work in space. For Williams, this extended stay is a fulfillment of a dream — she previously expressed her love for being in space, calling it her “happy place.”

On Friday morning, NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, safely returned to Earth after a record-breaking 235 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of SpaceX’s Crew-8 mission. Their journey, which set a new benchmark for the longest U.S. crewed space mission, concluded with a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.Following the landing, all four crew members were transferred to a medical facility near Pensacola, Florida, for health evaluations— a standard procedure after extended missions. While three team members returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, one astronaut remained in the hospital under observation. According to NASA, this precaution was taken “out of an abundance of caution,” with no further details shared to respect medical privacy.NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Deputy Manager, Richard Jones, shared that the crew was in “great” health immediately following their return, noting the rigorous medical checks as part of standard protocol after prolonged space missions.The Crew-8 mission faced delays, including weather challenges and issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, pushing their return into late October. These astronauts’ commitment embodies resilience and teamwork, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of human space exploration.

The petition advocates for the protection of free speech and the right to bear arms.Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania in support of former President Donald Trump, Musk emphasized the need to spread awareness about the petition, especially given what he perceives as limited coverage by mainstream media. “Not everyone is on X, so we needed a way to get this message out,” Musk said.During the event, Musk selected an audience member to be the first recipient of the million-dollar prize, explaining that in exchange, the individual would serve as a spokesperson for the petition.This announcement marks Musk’s formal entry into the campaign efforts for Trump in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state. Musk has previously endorsed the former president and has personally contributed $75 million to Trump’s re-election efforts through the PAC. His appeal to undecided voters, particularly in key swing states, has attracted attention from both sides of the political spectrum.Additionally, Musk has offered voters outside Pennsylvania a $47 incentive to sign the petition, plus another $47 for referrals, expanding the outreach of his campaign support.

ICYMI **Authorities are investigating the cause of a partial ferry dock collapse on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, which tragically left at least seven dead and six critically injured during a cultural festival. The incident occurred at the Marsh Landing Dock on Saturday afternoon as crowds gathered to celebrate the Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of enslaved Africans. Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed that the dock collapse plunged over 20 people into the water. Investigations are ongoing, and a team of engineers is set to assess the cause. Among the victims was a DNR chaplain. This heartbreaking event occurred during Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month, turning a day of celebration into sorrow. Emergency response teams worked throughout the day, and reunification efforts were set up for families. President Joe Biden and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed their condolences, offering support to the affected community. The Gullah-Geechee community, deeply rooted in history and culture, now mourns the loss of life and injury caused by this tragic accident. As state and local responders continue to address the aftermath, the island community remains united in grief and solidarity.

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s decision means that X’s lawsuit against the nonprofit media watchdog and two staff members will proceed to trial on April 7.X, formerly known as Twitter, initially filed the suit in November after Media Matters published a report showing that hateful content on the platform appeared next to online ads from companies like Apple, IBM, and Disney.The suit claimed that those companies then paused their X advertising campaigns. Attorneys representing X claimed the Media Matters report was “intentionally deceptive” and financially damaged the company.Media Matters President Angelo Carusone, one of the defendants, said in a statement that the “frivolous lawsuit” was “meant to bully X’s critics into silence.”In a filing, O’Connor denied the nonprofit’s effort to dismiss the case, stating that the plaintiff “has properly pled its claims.” Media Matters and X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.In August, O’Connor dismissed Media Matters’ request to force Musk to list Tesla as an interested party in X’s lawsuit against the nonprofit.In a legal filing, O’Connor said, “There is no evidence that shows Tesla has a direct financial interest in the outcome of this case.”O’Connor was also overseeing X’s recently filed antitrust lawsuit against a global

On Wednesday, Yelp filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google in San Francisco federal court, accusing the tech giant of illegally abusing its monopoly in the general search market.Yelp claims Google’s anti-competitive practices harm smaller local search competitors and restrict consumer choice.Yelp’s General Counsel, Aaron Schur, emphasized that Judge Amit Mehta’s recent ruling in the government’s antitrust case against Google strengthens Yelp’s case.Schur stated, “For years, Google has leveraged its search monopoly to benefit its bottom line at the expense of consumers, innovation, and fair competition.Google’s exclusionary and anti-competitive actions have diverted traffic and revenue from competitors, increased costs, and limited consumer options.”The Department of Justice initially sued Google in 2020, alleging monopolistic practices in digital search that marginalized competitors like DuckDuckGo and Microsoft’s Bing.In early August, the court confirmed that Google monopolizes the general search text advertising market. Mehta cited Google’s exclusive agreements with companies like Apple as contributing to its dominance and ability to inflate ad prices.Yelp’s lawsuit outlines several alleged anti-competitive practices by Google, including misappropriating Yelp’s content, favoring Google’s local search results, and manipulating algorithms to steer users away from Yelp.Google, however, dismissed Yelp’s claims as “nothing new” and noted that the FTC has rejected similar accusations,

Gun, 50, from Falls Church, was arrested on August 9 outside his home while allegedly en route to the airport for a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Prosecutors claim he carried a document marked Top Secret and that additional classified materials were later found in his home. Gun maintains he was merely going on a fishing trip.Initially, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan Davis ruled that Gun could await trial under home detention, despite objections from prosecutors who viewed him as a flight risk and a potential threat to national security.However, following an appeal, U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff decided on Thursday in Alexandria that Gun should remain jailed until his trial.Gun, who has been employed as an electrical engineer at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center since September, holds a Top-Secret security clearance. He was born in Turkey and became a U.S. citizen in 2021.Prosecutors referenced an assessment from an Air Force intelligence expert, stating that the Top Secret document found in Gun’s possession involved highly technical research and development that could pose a risk to national security if exposed to adversaries. They also indicated that more severe charges under the Espionage Act could be forthcoming.Gun’s attorney, Rammy Barbari, argued that it