Category: World

PARIS: The European Space Agency says it was “blown away” by the record number of applicants — more than 22,000 — hoping to become the continent’s next generation of space travelers, including more women than ever and some 200 people with disabilities (Special Persons).

In releasing the results of a new recruitment drive aimed at more astronaut diversity, the agency acknowledged Wednesday that it still has work to do on gender balance. Just 24% of the applicants were women, up from 15% at the last hiring drive in 2008.

The hiring campaign didn’t specifically address ethnic diversity, but stressed the importance of “representing all parts of our society.” The agency received applications from all 25 member nations and associate members, though most came from traditional heavyweights France, Germany, Britain and Italy.

ESA specifically sought out people with physical disabilities, for a first-of-its-kind effort to determine what adaptations would be necessary to space stations to accommodate them.

The competition is fierce. Just four to six people will be chosen as Europe’s next astronauts, with a reserve team of about 20. The candidates will undergo intensive screening over the next year, with a final decision expected in late 2022.

“We’ve all been astonished” at the number of applicants, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told a news conference. “It’s a very strong expression of interest and enthusiasm that people have across Europe for space.”

The European agency has sent only two women into space to date — Claudie Haigneré and Samantha Cristoforetti — but wants that number to grow.

While 5,419 women applied for the new ESA program, “the numbers also show there is more to be done to achieve gender balance in the space sector,” said David Parker, its director of human and robotic exploration.

Globally, 65 of the more than 560 people who have explored space were women, most of them Americans.

ESA this week signed an agreement with the European Union that will see the 27-nation bloc deepen ties with and increase its funding for the space agency

 ABIDJAN: An Ivory Coast court on Wednesday sentenced former prime minister and rebel leader Guillaume Soro to life imprisonment in absentia on charges of plotting a coup against President Alassane Ouattara.

Soro, who is in exile in Europe, was charged with conspiracy and an attempted attack on state authority. His lawyers have previously condemned the charges as politically motivated and said there was no evidence to show he was guilty.

The case has raised tensions in a country still recovering from a brief civil war a decade ago, during which Soro led the rebels that swept Ouattara to power after a disputed election.

Soro went on to serve as prime minister and speaker of parliament under Ouattara, but the two men later fell out as the president made clear he would oppose Soro’s own presidential ambitions.

JERUSALEM,: Dozens of Israeli settlers on Thursday forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, according to a Palestinian agency. The Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem said in a brief statement that 76 settlers broke into the flashpoint compound under the protection of Israeli police. More settlers are expected to enter the site later in the afternoon. Israeli settlers storm the complex every day except on weekends; Friday for Muslims and Saturday for Israelis. Israeli police began allowing the settler incursions in 2003, despite repeated condemnations from the Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world”s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the “Temple Mount,” claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, in a move never recognized by the international community.

NEW DELHI: A rogue elephant has killed at least 16 villagers in the past two months in central India after likely being expelled from his herd “for bad behaviour”, a wildlife official said Thursday. The mature male, believed to be 15 or 16 years old, has been on the rampage in the tribal Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand state ever since he was separated from the herd of 22 elephants. “It”s likely he was in heat and was expelled because of his bad behaviour or sexual rivalry with other males,” Satish Chandra Rai, regional divisional forest officer, told media. “We are studying his behaviour and a team of 20 officials is constantly trying to track him because our first priority is to protect the animal. ” The elephant, which is now on its way back seeking to reunite with the herd, has managed to outwit officials with his sheer speed and unpredictability. On Tuesday, the tusker lifted an elderly couple with his trunk and battered them to death when they had ventured out before dawn. Rai said the elephant was only killing people who accidently got in its way, got too close, or who tried to provoke it and take pictures. “He has not been breaking into houses or deliberately attacking people,” Rai said. “We want to see if he is accepted back in the herd. If he is not it will be proved he is a bad boy.

MOSCOW: Moscow has been hit by a historic heatwave this week, with temperatures reaching a 120-year record due to the effects of climate change, Russia`s weather service said on Tuesday.

On Monday the temperature in the Russian capital hit 34.7 degrees Celsius, according to Roshydromet, matching the record for a June day in 1901.

The weather service, which has kept records since 1881, is forecasting temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday. `The increase in temperatures recorded in Moscow for these days is unprecedented in 120 years, Roshydromet meteorologist Marina Makarova said. `This is because of global climate change.

The highest-ever recorded temperature in Moscow more than 38 degrees Celsius was recorded in July 2010 when much of western Russia was hit by a massive heatwave and huge fires.

Russia`s second city Saint Petersburg, some 600 kilometres northwest of Moscow, has also seen a heatwave this month, with temperatures hitting 34 degrees Celsius, the highest since 1998.

Heatwaves have become more likely due to climate change, scientists say. As global temperatures rise over time, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent and intense, and their impacts more widespread.

The Taliban captured Afghanistan’s main border crossing with Tajikistan, officials said on Tuesday, with security forces abandoning their posts and some fleeing across the frontier.

The seizure of Shir Khan Bandar, in the far north of Afghanistan, about 50 kilometres from Kunduz city, is the most significant gain for the Taliban since the US began the final stage of its troop withdrawal in May.

“Unfortunately this morning and after an hour of fighting the Taliban captured Shir Khan port and the town and all the border check posts with Tajikistan,” said Kunduz provincial council member Khaliddin Hakmi.

Separately, an army officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP: “We were forced to leave all check posts […] and some of our soldiers crossed the border into Tajikistan.

“By the morning, they (Taliban fighters) were everywhere, hundreds of them,” he added.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the insurgents had seized the crossing, across the Pyanj River.

“Our Mujahideen are in full control of Shir Khan Bandar and all the border crossings with Tajikistan in Kunduz,” he told news agency.

Amruddin Wali, another provincial council member, said officials “lost contact” with the area on Monday night.