Mexico sues Google over Gulf of Mexico naming dispute
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Türkiye has launched one of the most ambitious restoration projects in decades at the Hagia Sophia, aiming to reinforce its iconic dome against structural risks in a region prone to earthquakes.
The work, which began this week, will focus on addressing weak points identified during recent seismic simulations, experts said on Monday. The project follows over a decade of restoration efforts across other parts of the 1,486-year-old monument.
Originally constructed as the largest cathedral of the Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sophia stood as the world’s largest church for nearly 900 years before its conversion into a mosque in 1453 under Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. In 1934, Türkiye’s secular republic turned the site into a museum, but it was reconverted into a mosque by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2020.
“It is truly a structure full of surprises,” said Byzantine art historian Asnu Bilban Yalçın. “You plan for one thing, but once you open up the structure, new needs emerge.”
The dome will be carefully covered before its existing lead layer is removed, explained Ahmet Güleç, a specialist in cultural property conservation. The team will then begin structural reinforcement based on prior modelling of earthquake scenarios.
Hasan Fırat Diker, a professor at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University, said the full extent of damage or risk may only become clear once the cover is lifted.
Despite the complexity of the task, the site will remain open for both worship and tourism throughout the project — a factor that complicates the work further.
Officials have not given a timeline for completion, citing possible delays from weather or unexpected restoration needs.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
Discover every major VE Day 80 event in Britain, 5‑8 May 2025—from London’s parade and fly‑past to street parties, concerts and museum exhibitions.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has announced it will no longer sell goods directly from China to U.S. customers, shifting instead to U.S.-based sellers amid the closure of a long-criticized customs loophole.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
A new rose has been named after Catherine, Princess of Wales, to promote the healing benefits of nature.
A fragment of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched in 1972, is expected to crash back to Earth between 9 and 10 May, according to space agencies monitoring its re-entry.
FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
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