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Europe told to aim for a moon mission

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

BRUSSELS — The European Space Agency should boost its human and robotic exploration quickly if it expects to keep pace with global rivals, a group of experts said Thursday, pushing capitals to zone in on a lunar mission.The 12-strong independent advisory group includes ex-ministers, a comic book artist and leading consultancy CEOs, all led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Danish premier and NATO secretary-general. “A bold mission would galvanize and revolutionize the whole European economy, well beyond the space sector, and inspire a generation of Europeans to build the future,” their report published Thursday says.The group was given a brief last summer to define Europe’s strategic priorities for space, for which building out the capacity to launch astronauts and new uncrewed missions should be a critical priority, according to the report.Of the more than 100 lunar missions that have been announced by agencies and companies for the years running to 2030, Eu...

UK Parliament bans TikTok from its network

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

LONDON — U.K. lawmakers will be blocked from using TikTok on any parliamentary networks and devices.It follows the social media app being banned on all U.K. government devices last week and came just as TikTok’s boss, Shou Zi Chew, began a crunch Congressional hearing in the U.S.An email sent to MPs at 2pm today said: “Cyber security is a top priority for us all and we believe that this is a necessary step to ensure our parliamentary digital devices remain as secure as possible.”The ban means no one will be able to access the app on a parliamentary iPad or iPhone or while using parliamentary Wi-Fi. A TikTok user in Parliament would still be able to access the app on their personal device using their own network’s coverage, but the email advised them to use the web browser version, rather than downloading the app.The ban applies to both the House of Commons and Lords.The Scottish government also announced Thursday afternoon that it had decided to ban TikTok on official de...

Startup’s 3D-printed rocket delivers stunning night launch but fails to reach orbit

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

(CNN) — Startup Relativity Space sent what it’s calling the “world’s first 3D-printed rocket” toward space on Wednesday, vaulting it into the upper reaches of the atmosphere. Though, it suffered an engine issue after launch and failed to reach orbit.Terran 1, a 110-foot-tall (33.5-meter) vehicle designed to haul lightweight satellites into orbital space, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida’s eastern coast at just before 11:30 pm ET. The rocket, powered by super-chilled methane and oxygen, burned a bright blue-green against the night sky.After the first stage of the rocket — the bottommost portion of the rocket that gives the initial thrust at liftoff — expended its fuel, it detached from the rocket’s upper stage. But the engine meant to propel that portion appeared to ignite only briefly, leaving the rocket without enough power to reach orbit.The mission, nicknamed “Good Luck, Have Fun,” lofted what the ...

Manhattan DA’s office slams House GOP inquiry, says it was motivated by Trump creating ‘false expectation’ of imminent arrest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

(CNN) — The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused House Republicans of launching an “an unprecedent inquiry into a pending local prosecution,” while defending the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged hush money payments to an adult film actress during the 2016 campaign.In a new letter to Republican lawmakers who earlier this week had sought information about the probe, Leslie Dubeck, the general counsel for the district attorney’s office, told the GOP House committee leaders that they lacked a “legitimate basis for congressional inquiry” and she noted that their requests for information “only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene.”Dubeck called the Republicans’ claims that the probe was politically motivated “unfounded.”She added that, “regardless, the proper...

New Hampshire House tables parental rights bill

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The latest effort to codify parental rights in state law failed in the New Hampshire House on Wednesday, but the issue is far from settled.Many states with Republican-controlled legislatures have enacted “parents bill of rights” or similar measures fueled by some parents’ frustration with schools that boiled over during the coronavirus pandemic. The New Hampshire House tabled a bill Wednesday after it narrowly failed to pass. But it has yet to act, however, on a Senate-passed bill that opponents say poses an even greater danger to transgender youth.The Senate version would require school officials, when asked by parents, to disclose that a child is using a different name or being referred to as being a different gender. The House version lacks that provision but specifies that teachers and other school officials could be disciplined for encouraging children to withhold information from parents. Opponents argue both would harm vulnerable...

Former police detective convicted of killing wife

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A former Massachusetts police detective has been convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death nearly five years ago of his wife, which was originally ruled a suicide.Former Westfield Detective Brian Fanion was sentenced Wednesday in Hampden Superior Court to a mandatory term of life in prison after being found guilty by a jury of killing Amy Fanion, 51, in May 2018.The prosecutor said Brian Fanion was having an affair and did not want to share his pension with his wife. Authorities said in court that the detective used his work computer to look up the effect of divorce on a pension, and also made internet searches about gunshot residue, which were not related to any investigations he was involved in.“Mr. Fanion’s behavior was calculating and shockingly cruel,” Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. “I commend the members of the jury who saw through his defense and held him accountable. This result illustrates that no matter...

Grand jury in Trump probe of hush money payment to Stormy Daniels set to reconvene Thursday but no indictment vote expected

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

Molly Crane-Newman | (TNS) New York Daily NewsThe Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence against Donald Trump is due to return to court Thursday, two sources told the Daily News — but the panel is not expected to hear evidence in the investigation into Trump’s hush money deal with porn star Stormy Daniels, according to a report.That means the vote on whether to indict Trump will not land until at least next week, according to Business Insider.It wasn’t clear whether the grand jurors will hear about anything related to Trump Thursday. Investigative grand juries like the 23-person panel hearing the hush money case — which a source told The News will meet at noon — sit longer than regular ones.They may be hearing about multiple unrelated investigations by the DA’s office, which take longer to explain and require more witnesses.The recent testimony of Michael Cohen, who said he thought he was the final witness, and a lawyer representing Trump’s interests, Robert Costello, has fueled spec...

Stocks roar, recover nearly all of steep loss from prior day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rallying Thursday to recover almost all of their steep loss from a day before, when markets tumbled into the close. The S&P 500 was 1.6% higher in morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 412 points, or 1.3%, at 32,442, as of 10:54 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 2.3% higher. A day earlier, stocks fell sharply after the Federal Reserve indicated that while the end may be near for its market-rattling hikes to interest rates, it still doesn’t expect to cut rates this year. Markets lost momentum after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that, along with an insistence that it could keep raising rates if inflation stays high. But traders on Thursday were still largely betting the Fed will cut rates later this year. Such cuts can act like steroids for markets, juicing prices for stocks, bonds and other investments. They would relax the pressure on the economy, but they could also give i...

Police block off area around Princess of Wales Theatre due to ‘suspicious package’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

Toronto police have blocked off an area around the Princess of Wales Theatre downtown after a suspicious package was found late-morning on Thursday.The Emergency Disposal Unit was called in just before 11 a.m. to the area of King Street West and John Street.Police say the package was located outside “between buildings.”The intersections of Pearl and Dundas streets, as well as Pearl and John streets, have been shut down.Police tell CityNews they are considering evacuating nearby buildings as a precaution.

12-year-old boy charged in attempted stabbing, robbery in Pickering

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:36:44 GMT

A 12-year-old is facing several charges after he allegedly tried to stab and rob people on separate occasions in Pickering.Officers responded to a fight in the area of Kingston and Liverpool roads around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday.Police allege a male suspect was armed with a knife and was trying to stab another male. The suspect was arrested at the scene and officers seized a knife and brass knuckles from him.The victim escaped with minor injuries.After further investigation, it was revealed the same suspect tried to rob someone at knifepoint a day earlier.In Monday’s incident, police allege the suspect tried to steal a computer from a male near Pickering Town Centre. Security was able to intervene and the suspect fled the area.The victim was not injured.Durham Regional Police have charged a 12-year-old boy from Pickering and charged him with assault with a weapon, carrying concealed weapons, weapons dangerous, and robbery.Anyone with additional information is being asked to contac...