New Zealand joined the exclusive space-race club on Thursday with the successful launch of a Rocket Lab test craft named Electron. The rocket blasted off from the company’s facility at Mahia, on the east coast of the North Island, to end three days of launch attempts aborted because of the weather. “Made it to space. … Read more
A tongue-in-cheek action movie about a Trump-era civil war between redneck Texans and East Coast liberals will feature in the Director’s Fortnight sidebar at next month’s Cannes film festival, organisers said Thursday. “Bushwick” — which is set in the newly-hip district of Brooklyn of the same name — is one of five US films in … Read more
North Korea has failed to launch a missile on its east coast, South Korean and US military officials say, a day after Pyongyang warned the US amid rising tension in the region. The US said a ballistic missile exploded within seconds of the launch. Hours earlier, North Korea paraded what appeared to be long-range ballistic … Read more
North Korea has attempted to launch a missile on its east coast which is believed to have failed, South Korea’s military says. It comes a day after the state warned the US that it was “ready to hit back with nuclear attacks” amid mounting tension in the region. On Saturday, a military parade was held … Read more
The US Navy said Saturday it had sent a carrier-led strike group to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against North Korea’s “reckless” nuclear weapons programme. The move will raise tensions in the region and comes hard on the heels of a US missile strike on Syria that was widely interpreted as putting … Read more
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday blasted an agreement to rein in Baltimore’s notorious police department, saying it would lead to more crime. He criticized a federal judge’s approval of a consent decree that requires Baltimore police to implement sweeping reforms. The agreement — which followed riots in the East Coast city after the … Read more
Nuclear-armed North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, South Korea and the US military said, days after Pyongyang warned of retaliation if the global community ramps up sanctions. South Korea’s defence ministry said the missile had flown some 60 kilometres (about 40 miles). “The military is keeping a close … Read more
Nuclear-armed North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s defence ministry said, days after Pyongyang warned of retaliation if the global community ramps up sanctions. “At 06:42 am (2142 GMT Tuesday) today, North Korea fired a ballistic missile from Sinpo area into the Sea of Japan,” the ministry … Read more
A commuter train derailed at New York’s Penn Station on Monday, lightly injuring four people in the second such incident in 10 days, officials said. The train from Trenton came off the tracks at 9:00 am as it pulled into the bustling transport hub in Manhattan at low speed causing four minor injuries, a spokesperson … Read more
South Korea, Japan and the US held a joint naval exercise Monday aimed at countering missile threats from North Korean submarines, Seoul’s defense ministry said, amid mounting concerns over the hermit state’s weapons programme. Pyongyang is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and … Read more
Floodwaters were still rising in eastern Australia on Sunday as emergency workers battled to restore water and electricity supplies in regions hardest hit by a powerful tropical cyclone. At least two people are dead and several missing after torrential rain inundated large areas of Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) states, flooding homes and forcing … Read more
Flooded rivers were still rising Saturday in two Australian states with two women dead and four people missing after torrential rains in the wake of a powerful tropical cyclone. Queensland police warned that the Logan River, which runs through Beenleigh south of Brisbane, would not hit peak flood levels for several more hours while the … Read more
A woman’s body was found Friday and tens of thousands of people were evacuated from towns in two Australian states after torrential rain caused by a powerful tropical cyclone. Category four Cyclone Debbie hit northeastern Australia on Tuesday between Bowen and Airlie Beach in Queensland state, ripping up trees, washing boats onto land and causing … Read more
Gangsta rappers N. W.A’s seminal debut, David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” album and the signature song from “The Wizard of Oz” will be preserved for posterity by the US Library of Congress. The world’s largest library selected another 25 titles Wednesday for its National Recording Registry, which preserves original copies of works found to have historical … Read more
Australia’s Gold Coast is prepared to host back-to-back Commonwealth Games, the city’s mayor said Wednesday, after scheduled 2022 host Durban was dumped for failing to meet “key obligations”. Mayor Tom Tate stopped short of nominating the east coast tourist hotspot as a 2022 replacement but said if called upon to do so the Games could … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he had agreed to allow Chinese surveillance ships into Filipino waters, contradicting his defence minister who described their presence as “very concerning”. Duterte also told reporters he did not want to have a “fight” with China over Benham Rise — waters recognised by the United Nation as indisputably Philippine … Read more
Nearly half the United States was caught in an icy blast on Monday, with much of the East Coast bracing for what could be the worst winter storm of the year. Spring may be around the corner after an unusually warm winter throughout much of the region, but a powerful nor’easter called Winter Storm Stella … Read more
The rap world paid tribute Thursday to one of its defining figures, The Notorious B. I.G., 20 years after he died in a still-murky shooting. Diddy, a fellow New York rapper who was one of the slain rapper’s proteges, marked the anniversary with an Instagram call for fans to recite their favorite Notorious B. I.G. … Read more
Chinese survey ships have been entering waters recognised by the United Nations as Philippine territory, Manila’s defence secretary said Thursday, in a move he described as “very concerning”. Delfin Lorenzana said the ships were seen last year near Benham Rise — a Philippine territory 250 kilometres (155 miles) off the east coast of the main … Read more
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president visited South Africa for talks with officials as government hinted that the country may not be able to host the 2022 games due to financial constraints. Louise Martins “travelled to South Africa earlier this week for further high level meetings and we continue to make every effort to engage … Read more