Beijing, China | AFP | Two Chinese astronauts entered the country’s new orbiting space laboratory for the first time on Wednesday, state media reported, as Beijing works towards having its own space station. Mission commander Jing Haipeng was first to float into the Tiangong-2 (“Heavenly Palace”) lab, the official Xinhua …
Read More »UNESCO adopts controversial Jerusalem resolution
Paris, France | AFP | The UN cultural agency on Tuesday adopted a controversial Arab-sponsored resolution condemning Israel’s actions at a flashpoint holy site in east Jerusalem that has sparked fury in the Jewish state. The UNESCO resolution on “occupied Palestine” was drafted by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar …
Read More »Scientists launch unprecedented Antarctic research mission
London, United Kingdom | AFP | More than 50 researchers from 30 countries are to carry out the first scientific full circumnavigation of Antarctica in an attempt to measure pollution and climate change, with the official launch held on Monday. The international team will cruise on Russian research vessel Akademik …
Read More »Austria to tear down Hitler birth house
Vienna, Austria | AFP | The house in Austria where Adolf Hitler was born is to be torn down to stop it from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine, authorities said Monday after years of bitter legal wrangling. “The Hitler house will be torn down. The foundations can remain but a new …
Read More »Trump attacks, Clinton lies low as last debate nears
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump fired off an erratic new broadside at Hillary Clinton on Sunday, making more explosive claims that American media and a conspiracy to commit voter fraud are rigging the presidential election against him. Amid the latest Twitter blasts from the Republican White House …
Read More »Retaking Iraq’s Mosul: a complex offensive
Paris, France | AFP | A complex offensive is taking place to recapture Mosul, the Islamic State group’s last major stronghold in Iraq and the country’s second city. Questions of timing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced Monday that operations to liberate Mosul had begun after already calling an operation to …
Read More »Xi warns of globalisation backlash at BRICS summit
Benaulim, India | AFP | Chinese President Xi Jinping said Sunday a rising tide of protectionism and anti-globalisation was endangering the world economy’s still fragile recovery as BRICS leaders vowed to forge closer business and trade ties. At a summit in the Indian tourist hub of Goa, host Prime Minister …
Read More »China to launch manned spacecraft
Beijing, China | AFP | China will launch a manned space mission on Monday, official media said, as the Asian giant works towards setting up its own space station. Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong will be on board the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft as it blasts off from the Jiuquan …
Read More »Now, Trump challenges Clinton to drug test
Portsmouth, United States | AFP | Donald Trump on Saturday challenged his rival Hillary Clinton to a drug test before their next debate, suggesting the Democrat was “pumped up” on performance-enhancing drugs in a stunning new twist to the brutal White House race. The unsubstantiated attack from the Republican nominee …
Read More »Google adds fact-checking to news articles
Washington, United States | AFP | Google is adding “fact check” tags to its news articles, introducing the feature amid a US presidential race roiled by heated disputes over the accuracy of information. The move, announced Thursday, will allow readers on Google news applications and websites to click on links …
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