Scientist defends creating first gene-edited babies +++ Martial law comes into force in Ukraine amid tensions

29. Dezember 2018, 02:00

Scientist defends creating first gene-edited babies

A Chinese scientist, who created a storm of controversy earlier this week after announcing that he had created the world's first genetically edited babies, has defended his actions at a summit in Hong Kong. He Jiankui said he was proud to have altered the genes of the twin girls to protect them from contracting HIV. Other scientists have condemned the experiment. US biologist David Baltimore labelled it irresponsible. “It would be irresponsible to proceed with any clinical use of germline editing unless and until the safety issues have been dealt with and there’s broad societal consensus. Basically an open process has not happened.”

Martial law comes into force in Ukraine amid tensions

Martial law has come into effect in ten Ukrainian regions. The move follows the seizure of three Ukrainian vessels and 24 sailors by Russia off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. A court in Crimea has ordered twelve of the sailors to be detained for 12 months. US President Donald Trump says he may cancel a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as tensions continue to mount.

Crash investigators say Indonesian jet not airworthy

Indonesian investigators say a Lion Air aircraft which crashed last month in the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board, was not airworthy. An initial report says the Boeing 737 Max aircraft should have been taken out of service, after pilots reported technical problems on previous flights.

Controversial Republican wins in Mississippi

Republican candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith has won a special runoff election for the US senate in the state of Mississippi, despite causing controversy with comments praising public hangings. Mississippi has a history of racist lynchings. Hyde-Smith defeated Democrat Mike Espy who was vying to become the state's first African-American senator. She told her supporters that her victory was a triumph of conservative values. “It’s about the things that mean the most to us Mississippians, our faith, our family. I want to represent all Mississippians with these values and I will fight for it, I assure you, every single day.”

EU unveils plan to go carbon neutral by 2050

The European Union has unveiled an ambitious new climate strategy, which calls for the bloc to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by the year 2050. The EU's climate chief Miguel Arias told a news conference in Brussels that the plan was achievable and could prompt others to follow suit. The announcement comes ahead of the start of a global climate summit in Poland.

The weather

Sunny conditions have been forecast for most of Austria this afternoon with fog lingering in parts of Upper and Lower Austria and some Alpine valleys. Top temperatures will range from -2 to +7 degrees.

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