COVID likely originated in a lab, but agency has ‘low confidence’ in report

Washington— The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment released Saturday, pointing the finger at China, while also acknowledging that The spy agency has “low confidence” in its findings. The finding is not the result of any new intelligence, and the report was … Read more

SpaceX catches Starship booster again, but upper stage explodes

Washington— Hours after Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin completed its first orbital mission, SpaceX made headlines again on Thursday as its latest test of Starship, its Gargantuan next-generation mega rocket, resulted in a dramatic splashdown of the upper stage over the Atlantic. Ended up disintegrating. In terms of sheer excitement, Elon Musk’s company did not disappoint, … Read more

The court’s decision will help New Mexico remain the state of choice for women seeking abortions

Santa Fe, New Mexico – The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday struck down abortion restrictions by conservative cities and counties, helping ensure the state remains a preferred destination for people from other states with restrictions. The unanimous opinion, in response to a request from state Attorney General Raul Torrez, solidifies the state’s position as … Read more

World’s oldest person, Japanese woman dies at 116

Tokyo— Japanese woman Tomiko Itsuka, who was the world’s oldest person according to Guinness World Records, has died, an Ashiya city official said Saturday. She was 116 years old. Yoshitsugu Nagata, the official in charge of elder politics, said Iuka died in December. 29 In a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, central Japan. Itsuka, … Read more

Five years later, WHO urges China to share COVID origin data

Geneva- The World Health Organization on Monday urged China to share data and help understand how COVID-19 began, five years after the start of the pandemic that has swept the planet. COVID-19 has killed millions of people, shattered economies and paralyzed health systems. “We continue to call on China to share data and access so … Read more

Abortion more common in US as women turn to pills, travel

Abortion has become more common, despite bans or deep restrictions in most Republican-controlled states, and the legal and political fight over its future is far from over. It has now been two and a half years since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade opened the door for more states to impose restrictions. The … Read more

Bird flu virus likely mutated within a US patient, CDC says

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that a genetic analysis shows the bird flu virus had mutated inside a Louisiana patient, the country’s first serious case of the disease. Scientists believe the mutation may allow the virus to better attach to receptors in the upper airways of humans – a … Read more

NASA’s spacecraft passes closest to the Sun ever

Washington— NASA’s pioneering Parker Solar Probe made history Tuesday as it flew closer to the sun than any other spacecraft, with its heat shield exposed to scorching temperatures of up to 930 degrees Celsius (1,700 degrees Fahrenheit). Launched in August 2018, the spacecraft is on a seven-year mission to deepen scientific understanding of our star … Read more

France adds first nuclear reactor to grid in 25 years

Paris— France connected the Flamanville 3 nuclear reactor to its grid on Saturday morning, the first time it has been added to the country’s nuclear power network in 25 years, state operator EDF said. The reactor, which began operating in September ahead of grid connection, is coming online 12 years later than originally planned and … Read more

Japan, India launch startup to study laser-equipped satellite to deal with space debris

Tokyo- Space startups in Japan and India said Tuesday they have agreed to jointly study using laser-equipped satellites to remove debris from orbit, an experimental approach to the increasingly looming problem of orbital congestion. Tokyo-based Orbital Laser and Indian robotics company Inspatiity said they will study business opportunities for services in space such as de-orbiting … Read more