The Indo Daily: Phallic rockets and fake astronauts – the case for space with Leo Enright
They delve into the scientific merits – or lack thereof – of such missions and discuss whether media personalities like Gayle King can rekindle public interest in the cosmos.
It's a grounded conversation about what's really happening above our heads.
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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Katy Perry fined for filming video in protected Ibiza nature reserve
Last summer, the 40‑year‑old pop star shot scenes for her single Lifetimes in Ses Salines Natural Park, a Unesco‑recognised reserve spanning 40,000 acres of land and sea across Ibiza and Formentera. A permit from Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is required simply to enter the area's delicate zones, which are vital for nesting migratory birds. Authorities have confirmed Perry's production company failed to secure the necessary authorisation. As reported by the Majorca Daily Bulletin, they were fined €6,001 – a penalty that has already been paid. Officials described the breach as 'serious', albeit with no evidence of lasting damage to the ecosystem. This latest blow to Perry comes amid disappointing record and ticket sales this year. In June, she also confirmed the end of her on-off nine-year relationship with actor Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares a four-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom. In a joint statement, they pledged to focus on co‑parenting moving forward. Earlier this month, Perry was spotted out with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. Perry also courted controversy earlier this year following a much‑publicised trip to space. In April, she joined Blue Origin's NS‑31 mission – an all‑women sub‑orbital flight touted as a milestone in women's representation in space. The launch drew a firestorm of criticism, with celebrities including Olivia Munn, Emily Ratajkowski, Amy Schumer and Olivia Wilde denouncing the venture as tone‑deaf, environmentally hypocritical, and out of touch amid global economic strain. Environmental commentators and scientists added that celebrity space tourism – while glamorous – sends the wrong message, and that it undermines public motivation to act on climate change by highlighting excessive high‑carbon behaviour. In response, Perry expressed being 'disheartened' by how the mission shifted into a 'public spectacle', though she maintained she felt it was 'life‑changing' and meaningful. Among critics was Lily Allen, who later apologised, acknowledging her comments were 'unnecessarily harsh' and tied to her own internalised misogyny.
Extra.ie
31-07-2025
- Extra.ie
Justin Trudeau sings along at Katy Perry concert further fueling romance rumours
Colum Motherway 31/07/2025 Most people would think that the former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and global pop sensation Katy Perry would be living very separate lives but stranger flings have happened. Earlier this week, the unlikely duo were spotted having dinner together in Montreal and the rumour mill immediately began to spin. A communications consultant for the restaurant Le Violon confirmed that the pair spent about two hours at the fine-dining spot on Monday evening. Katy Perry reportedly split with Orlando Bloom this summer. Photo by. Both of the diners are presumed to be single at the moment, with Katy reportedly ending her seven-year relationship with Orlando Bloom earlier this month and Justin separating from his wife of 18 years in 2023. The latter's stint as Canadian Prime Minister lasted from 2015 up until March of this year, after he announced his plan to resign in January. Now, he has been recorded enjoying himself at Katy's concert at Montreal's Bell Centre on Wednesday night. Videos have been doing the rounds on social media of Justin belting out the pop star's iconic hits 'Firework' and 'Dark Horse'. Justin Trudeau singing along to 'Firework' at Katy Perry's Lifetimes Tour. — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 31, 2025 Fans have naturally already assumed that the pair have struck up a romantic relationship and have expressed their confusion and surprise all over social media. One person wrote: 'I'm honestly reconsidering my disbelief that we're living in a simulation, and whoever coded it is now throwing in random sh** to mess with us.' Another commented: 'I'm sorry what do you mean Katy Perry's rebound is Justin Trudeau.' A third added: 'The phrase 'what the hell, sure' was made for moments like these.' justin trudeau looking at katy perry like that😭 — kanishk (@kaxishk) July 31, 2025 Katy has had a busy few months after briefly going to space in earlier in the summer, a move that saw her get a fair bit of backlash online. The all-women Blue Origin flight lasted 10 minutes and 21 seconds and took off about 120 miles southeast of El Paso at 8.30 am local time. It wasn't just fans unhappy with the pop star for using a lot of money and fuel on such a short and ultimately meaningless expedition. Katy Perry kissed the ground after her 10 minute trip. Pic: Blue Origin Handout/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Emily Ratajkowski was one of the first celebs to call it out, stating on TikTok: 'That space mission this morning? That's end time stuff. Like, this is beyond parody. 'That you care about Mother Earth and it's about Mother Earth, and you're going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that's single-handedly destroying the planet?' Speaking on her podcast with Miquita Oliver, Lily Allen added: 'I just think it's so out of touch we're on the brink of a recession, people are really struggling to make ends meet, it just seems like things are hard at the moment.'
Irish Independent
28-07-2025
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: The Miami Showband Massacre – ‘They tried to wipe out the entire band'
The Irish showband scene was in full flight. The bands, who performed to thousands of people every night, brought a new lease of life both north and south of the border, creating superstars such as Dickie Rock, Big Tom and Joe Dolan. And, at the peak of their prowess was The Miami Showband, a phenomenon so beloved they were affectionately dubbed 'The Irish Beatles'. It seemed as if nothing could go wrong for them. But all that changed on July 31, 1975. Five members of the band were travelling from a gig in Banbridge, Co Down, to Dublin late that night when they were stopped by what they thought was a routine army checkpoint. What transpired shook not just the showband scene, but left a lifelong trauma on the musicians, their families and those who loved them. On today's Indo Daily, Tessa Fleming is joined by former Sunday Independent news editor Liam Collins, and Des Lee, surviving member of The Miami Showband and author of 'My Saxophone Saved My Life', as they discuss one of the darkest nights in Irish music history: the Miami Showband Massacre.
