Only 39% of Generation Z correctly linked the celebration to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence Nearly half of Americans do not know what the country’s 250th anniversary is actually celebrating, despite overwhelming majorities saying they are proud and grateful to be American, according to the Cato Institute. The milestone commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when the 13 American colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The think tank published its Fourth of July national survey on Thursday, saying the poll of 2,253 US adults was conducted by Morning Consult on June 25-26. It found “civic ignorance” about US history and the system of government, with 46% of Americans not knowing what the country’s 250th anniversary commemorates, while 53% correctly identified it as the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. ...
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As the French parliament votes in favor of the legalization of euthanasia, the president’s decade in power solidifies its gloomy symbolism After France became, in 2024, the first country on Earth to ‘enshrine’ abortion in its Constitution, French MPs have now passed a bill to legalize euthanasia. The bill still needs to get the approval of the Senate, but at this stage it is probably a simple formality, as only some Catholic associations are protesting and well, you know, summer time is always a great time to pass controversial laws. With the usual French habit of twisting concepts in order to better market them, they coined euthanasia as “aide à mourir” (help to die), while the most famous French outlet Le Monde wrote about a “compassion law” whose goals is to “conciliate individual freedom and fraternity.” How characteristically French. We w...
The CDU leader has become the least popular German chancellor in almost 30 years, according to a fresh poll A total of 84% of Germans are dissatisfied with the performance of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, including 51% of supporters of his own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, an ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll has suggested. Merz’s ratings dropped by another 3% in June, reaching a record low of 13%, according to the results of the study published on Thursday. The findings make the CDU leader the least popular chancellor since the Infratest Dimap research company began carrying out monthly polls on behalf of German broadcaster ARD in 1997. Germans are mostly concerned by the country losing its attractiveness for business (78%), the negative effects of climate change (66%), and the migrant influx under Merz (51%), the study suggested. If an election were held now, the Union, an alliance between the CDU...
Team Melli arrived home unbeaten after a campaign overshadowed by US travel restrictions Iran’s national football team has returned home to a hero’s welcome after being knocked out of the World Cup without losing a single match despite immense political pressure and logistical challenges fueled by US visa restrictions. Hundreds of supporters gathered at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Wednesday, waving flags, chanting players’ names, and applauding the squad as it came back from one of the most politically charged campaigns in tournament history. Team Melli finished third in Group G after it drew 2-2 with New Zealand in its opening match, followed by a goalless draw against Belgium and a 1-1 draw with Egypt in its final group game. Iran came close to reaching the knockout stage for the first time, but a late goal against Egypt was ruled out for offside. The team’s hopes then end...
The lab-made ‘SpudCell’ has replicated several key functions of living organisms, researchers at the University of Minnesota say Scientists in the US have built a synthetic cell from non-living chemical components that can feed, grow, replicate its DNA, and divide, marking a major advance toward creating artificial life, according to researchers. The lab-made cell, dubbed SpudCell, is not considered alive but demonstrates several key behaviors associated with living organisms. Researchers at the University of Minnesota unveiled their work on Wednesday. Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist and professor at the university, called the synthetic cell “an incredibly wimpy organism” that currently does little more than “eat and occasionally make a daughter cell.” However, Adamala described the result as “proof of principle,” saying molecules can recreate behaviors previousl...
In the past month at least four UAVs have crashed in the area on the Black Sea coast, hundreds of kilometers from the combat zone A Ukrainian attack drone carrying explosives has crashed into a tree and exploded in a rural area of Türkiye’s Black Sea coast, local media outlets have reported. No casualties or major damage have been reported. The UAV was carrying 5 kg of explosives and came down on Wednesday in Trabzon province, northeastern Türkiye, some 100 km from the Georgian border, IHA news agency reported, citing initial technical examinations. Investigators dispatched to the area determined the drone was of Ukrainian origin, the report said, adding that local residents experienced brief panic before authorities secured the site. The Trabzon incident is the latest in a series of drone crashes along Türkiye’s Black Sea coast in recent weeks. According to local media reports, ...