News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Rosetta’s historic mission underway

The European Space Agency Rosetta spacecraft has successfully detached a robot in an historic mission to land on a comet. Mission directors gave the go-ahead for the Philae lander robot’s seven hour descent to the comet despite a last-minute problem with its landing system. Confirmation of whether the robot’s landing has succeeded is expected around 5pm Central European Time this evening. Monica Grady is one of the research scientists involved in the Rosetta mission: “It’s the first time a space agency has done anything like this. Comets are left over from the start of the solar system. They are primitive building blocks. They might have brought water to the earth. They might have brought organic molecules to the earth. That is what we are going to try and find out.”

China and the US agree climate goals

China’s president Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama have agreed new targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions at talks in Beijing. China and the US between them produce about 45% of the world's carbon dioxide. Obama has set a new goal of reducing US levels by around 27% by 2025, compared with 2005 levels. China said its emissions would peak by 2030. Obama, describing the agreement as historic, said he hoped it would encourage other counties to set ambitious goals at the global climate talks next year.

Rebels in Aleppo face siege

Syrian government forces are reported to be encircling the last rebel held areas of the city of Aleppo. Rebel fighters in eastern districts of Aleppo are also battling Islamic state militants. Around 300,000 civilians are in the districts now under Syrian army siege.

Escalation in east Ukraine conflict

In Ukraine, heavy artillery fire is reported from the eastern city of Donetsk, which is held by pro-Russian rebels. There are also reports of fighting around the rebel-held city of Luhansk. Meanwhile Nato's top commander, US General Philip Breedlove, has accused Russia of moving forces he said were "capable of being nuclear'' to Crimea.

Russia to build more Iran reactors

Russia has signed a deal with Iranian officials to build two more nuclear reactors in Iran. The deal comes less than two weeks ahead of the deadline of November 24th for Iran to sign an agreement on its nuclear program with six world powers.

Top banks fined over Forex

Financial regulators in Britain and the United States have fined five of the world’s leading banks around 3 billion dollars over their traders’ attempted rigging of foreign exchange markets. The regulators say traders at different banks shared confidential information about clients to try to manipulate markets to their own and their banks’ advantage.

The Weather

Generally mild with föhn winds and a few sunny spells. Cloud and scattered showers in the south. Top temperatures 9 to 20 degrees.

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