US President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on the 7th local time, further tightening birthright citizenship policies and formally targeting the practice known as “birth tourism.” The move comes after the US Supreme Court ruled in June that his previous attempt to restrict birthright citizenship through executive action was unconstitutional.

Under the new orders, the US government will expand the categories of people who may not qualify for birthright citizenship, including foreign nationals suspected of entering the US with the purpose of giving birth. Immigration officials have also been instructed to deny visas to individuals believed to be seeking birth tourism. The citizenship rights of children born in the US to foreign government officials, as well as those classified as “enemy aliens,” would also be restricted.

Trump said some people had built an industry around birthright citizenship and were effectively “buying citizenship,” arguing that the system had moved away from its original purpose. He claimed the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, introduced after the Civil War, was intended to protect the children of freed slaves rather than allow foreign nationals to obtain citizenship by giving birth in the US.

However, the 14th Amendment has long been widely interpreted to mean that anyone born in the US and subject to US jurisdiction automatically receives citizenship, with limited exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats and occupying enemy forces. The Supreme Court has previously reaffirmed this interpretation, meaning Trump’s latest executive orders are expected to face further legal challenges.

Commentary:

In recent years, China has been considered one of the major sources of birth tourism to the US, with the industry once becoming well established. Trump has repeatedly criticised Chinese families for using birthright citizenship to obtain US status. Therefore, the latest restrictions are seen not only as part of his broader immigration crackdown but also as an extension of his tougher stance toward China.

However, the focus should be on preventing fraudulent visa applications and abuse of the system, rather than judging people primarily based on nationality. The government also needs clearer and more transparent visa rules to define what constitutes “birth tourism” and avoid affecting legitimate travellers, while balancing national interests with fairness.

A piece of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket debris is believed to have accidentally crashed into the Moon recently, reigniting concerns about the growing problem of space junk. However, for scientists, the unexpected collision also provides a rare research opportunity to better understand the lunar surface and potential risks for future space missions.

The rocket’s upper stage weighed around 4,000 kilograms and was launched in January last year carrying US and Japanese lunar landers. After completing its mission, the rocket component was left in orbit between Earth and the Moon. Astronomers tracking its movement calculated that the influence of Earth and Moon’s gravity, along with solar radiation, eventually pushed it onto a collision course with the Moon. It struck near the Einstein crater at a speed of around 8,700 kilometres per hour.

Although no immediate images have confirmed the impact, NASA and other astronomical organisations are analysing data and may use lunar orbiters to capture images of the impact site in the future. Scientists say that because the rocket’s size, speed and impact location are known, the event acts as a “natural experiment” that could help researchers study crater formation, dust distribution and lunar vibrations, improving the design of future lunar bases and landers.

However, the incident also highlights the growing issue of space debris. Since 1959, humans have left around 3,000 artificial objects on the Moon, while large amounts of debris have accumulated in Earth’s orbit. As a new space race develops, experts are calling for stronger space management to prevent humanity from repeating the environmental mistakes made on Earth.

Commentary:

The SpaceX rocket debris impact may appear to be an accident, but it reflects a larger challenge facing humanity as a new era of space exploration begins: are we turning space into another dumping ground?

Over the past decades, humans have left numerous artificial objects on the Moon. As countries such as the United States and China expand lunar exploration, and private companies increase space launches, the problem of space debris is becoming more serious. While this impact caused no immediate danger and even provided scientists with valuable research data, it serves as a reminder that space resources cannot be used without limits.

Currently, there are still no globally binding rules for managing space debris. Whether involving government space programs or private commercial launches, clearer responsibilities are needed, including how to handle retired satellites and rocket remains.

A notorious feral cat given the name “Nine Lives” because it eluded trappers for three years has been caught and killed in New Zealand, ending its devastating rampage against one of the country’s rare duck populations.

Nine Lives was first spotted on the Purerua peninsula in Northland in 2023. The cat, a large grey tabby, is estimated to have killed dozens of New Zealand’s rarest mainland duck – or 1% of its population – plus a host of kiwi chicks, native geckos and other native wildlife during the three years it was known to be roaming the Purerua peninsula, near the top of the North Island. It was killed at the end of July after the team of Pest Free Purerua successfully lured it with traps and bait.

“We don’t take for granted that we’ve had this success because it had us baffled for so long,” said Andy Mentor, the project manager for Pest Free Purerua, a conservation project.

In November, the government announced feral cats would be added to the country’s world-leading Predator-Free 2050 strategy. Mentor said moving from the suppression of cats to an elimination strategy will be a “real step up” for the peninsula and the team may restart introducing pāteke once more.

Nine Lives will form part of that debate long after its death, with its body set to be taxidermied for use as a tool to educate the community about the devastating impact of feral cats on native species. Some on social media were horrified that Nine Lives had been shot, believing it deserved to live, while others said its capture was “a fantastic result”.