Saturday 16 June 2012

China launches 1st manned space flight, with woman astronaut

Three Chinese astronauts, including China's first female astronaut, blasted off in the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft today in the country's first manned space flight.
Launching the first manned space docking mission in China, and including the country's first ever woman astronaut, the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft launched successfully at 10:37 GMT from Jiuquan launch center in north-west Gansu province.
China has now moved one step closer to becoming the second nation in the world performing regular space flights... read more and watch video.

Deadly legacy of Agent Orange spreads to Japan

U.S. veterans have told the Japan Times that the Marine Corps buried a massive stockpile of Agent Orange at the Futenma air station in Okinawa, Japan. 

This buried stockpile has possibly poisoned the base's former head of maintenance and is potentially contaminating the ground beneath the base, as well as nearby residents... read more

Water in Gaza not fit for human consumption say charities

Save the Children and Medical Aid for Palestinians say that the water in Gaza is unfit for human consumption, as it is contaminated with fertilizers and sewage.

After five years of the blockade, the sanitary conditions have now reached a crisis point. The only source of running water in Gaza is too dangerous for humans to consume. 

In a new report, the charitable organizations have called on Israel to immediately lift its blockade so that crucial sanitation equipment can be sent into Gaza... read more

Will Julian Assange be handed over to U.S. after Sweden?

Now that Julian Assange's appeal against extradition has failed, fears are that he will then be shipped on from Sweden to the U.S.A.
Digital Journal reported on June 14 that Assange's appeal to the U.K. Supreme Court to reopen his extradition case had been denied.

He is due to be extradited to Sweden in two weeks, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of sexual assault and rape. 

It is feared that once in Sweden, he is likely to then be sent on to the U.S.A.The U.S. Government has apparently issued a secret, closed indictment against Assange. Because of this he will be branded a terrorist and a fair trial seems very unlikely should he be sent to the U.S.A.... read more