Successful debut flight for Europe’s Vega-C rocket
Watch Vega-C leave the launch pad at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana Europe has given a successful debut to its new Vega-C rocket. The medium-lift vehicle was sent up from French Guiana to deliver seven satellites to orbit, the largest of which will test Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Vega-C has enormous importance for […]
Economy slips into recession after interest rate hikes
Getty Images New Zealand’s economy has fallen into recession after the country’s central bank aggressively raised interest rates to a 14-year high. Its gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.1% in the first three months of the year, official figures show. That followed a 0.7% contraction in the previous quarter, which means the economy is […]
Lord Moynihan wants Royal and Ancient to accept women members
The Royal and Ancient has continued to remain men-only although Augusta National, one of the most famous clubs in the United States which hosts the Masters each year, decided to accept women members for the first time in its 80-year history in August., external Moynihan added: “It is remarkable that Augusta has changed, but the […]
The cost of speaking up against China
Women who made allegations last month of rape and sexual abuse in Chinese detention camps have been harassed and smeared in the weeks since. Rights groups say the attacks are typical of an aggressive campaign by China to silence those who speak up. Jeremy Meek/BBC Qelbinur Sedik at her home in the Netherlands this week […]
Would you eat chicken grown in a lab?
BBC With the world’s population likely to reach 11 billion by the end of this century, there will be increasing pressure on farmers to maximise their use of agricultural land, and also on scientists to contribute to ensuring we all get enough nutrition. The sci-fi food of the future could change the way we eat […]
‘If a comet hits Earth, life will turn to pain’
“When – not if – it happens, the effects could will be catastrophic.” For Jay Tate, the danger of a comet or an asteroid hitting the Earth is an ever-present threat that too few people take seriously. He is the director of the Spaceguard Centre, near Knighton, in Powys, a working observatory which tracks “near-Earth […]
Welsh farmers to be paid more for protecting nature
Getty Images Could farmers do more to help tackle climate change? Wales is to plough ahead with major reforms to agriculture that would see farmers paid to help protect nature and fight climate change. The Welsh government said its long-awaited Agriculture Bill marked an “historic” moment. Industry leaders added that the new legislation would “define […]
Winter Olympics: Where might China’s medals come from at Beijing 2022?
Freestyle skier Eileen Gu – or Gu Ailing as the 18-year-old is known in China – is set to be the face of her home Games and with good reason. She is the world champion in halfpipe and slopestyle and also has a medal chance in big air. The American-born teenager, who began representing China […]
UFU Chief says draft agriculture policy ‘sitting on shelf’
House of Commons Wesley Aston appeared before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Wednesday Plans for a new agriculture policy for Northern Ireland are “sitting on a shelf” as there is no minister in place, the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has said. Chief executive Wesley Aston made the comment while giving evidence to the Northern […]
Winter Olympics: Jamaica’s women’s bobsleigh coach Sandra Kiriasis quits
The Jamaican women’s historic Winter Olympics bobsleigh debut is under threat after their coach quit and threatened to take the team’s sled. German Sandra Kiriasis, an ex-Olympic champion, claims she was forced out when her role was changed, and that she is legally responsible for the sled. Kiriasis wants payment for it but the Jamaica […]