Sunita Williams Embarks on Her Third Journey into Space
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Sunita Williams Embarks on Her Third Journey into Space

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is all set for her third space mission and is ready to write another chapter in her illustrious career. The much-awaited launch, which was supposed to test Boeing's Starliner and was originally scheduled for earlier this month, was pushed back because of technical difficulties. But now that the problems have been resolved, the mission is scheduled for sometime between June 1 and June 5. 58-year-old Williams brings an extensive amount of experience to the project. She has already completed two space trips and is familiar with the complexities and requ

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Germany’s Jenny Erpenbeck Wins International Booker Prize
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Germany’s Jenny Erpenbeck Wins International Booker Prize

German author Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann won the International Booker Prize for the novel "Kairos," a turbulent love story set in the final years of communist East Germany. They will split the £50,000 ($64,000, €59,000) award that was chosen from 149 entries. "Kairos" portrays a young woman's damaging relationship with an elderly man in East Berlin during the 1980s. The work has been described as "a richly textured evocation of a tormented love affair, interwoven with the personal and national transformations of East Germany" by Eleanor Wachtel, chair of the prize pa

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Saudi Arabia’s All-Women Rock Band Seera Redefines Cultural Norms
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Saudi Arabia’s All-Women Rock Band Seera Redefines Cultural Norms

In the capital of Saudi Arabia, Nora screamed out loud, leaning against the microphone. During a recent gig, she performed a set with her bandmates. It would have been impossible to imagine a performance by the all-female psychedelic rock band Seera combining traditional Arabic melodies and the psychedelia of bands like Tame Impala years ago. Seera is a symbol of how women in Saudi Arabia, a country long associated with strict gender segregation and ultraconservative Islam, are finding their voice and expressing themselves through the arts as the country liberalises certain areas of its so

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Indian Gopi Thotakura Becomes First Indian To Go To Space As Tourist
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Indian Gopi Thotakura Becomes First Indian To Go To Space As Tourist

India-born Gopi Thotakura made history by being the first and second Indian to travel into space as a space tourist. He joined Blue Origin on its NS-25 mission, which marked the successful completion of the programme's 25th flight and its seventh human spaceflight. Thotakura, an Andhra Pradesh native, travelled with Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and retired Air Force Captain Ed Dwight as one of the six members of the crew. Senior Vice President of New Shepard Phil Joyce expressed gratitude to the astronaut clients for advancing Blue Origin's goal of const

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Reintroduced Bison Herd in Romania could Offset CO2 Equivalent to 2 Million Cars
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Reintroduced Bison Herd in Romania could Offset CO2 Equivalent to 2 Million Cars

A herd of 170 European bison reintroduced to Romania’s Țarcu Mountains could significantly mitigate CO2 emissions, equivalent to removing 43,000 US cars annually. Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania brought back European bison in 2014, after being extinct in Romania for more than 200 years. Currently, there are over 170 of these animals in one of the largest free-roaming populations in Europe. Using a model created by the Yale School of the Environment and supported by the Global Rewilding Alliance, the study calculates how the bison affects ecological interactions that store carbon in soi

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Japan Starts Energy Talks To Balance Supply Risks With Net Zero Goal
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Japan Starts Energy Talks To Balance Supply Risks With Net Zero Goal

Japan's industry ministry has started talks to develop the country's next basic energy plan, which will be in line with the ambitious objective of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. This action follows a significant policy change by PM Kishida in 2022 when he emphasised the need to quickly restart nuclear units to address energy issues, some of which were a result of the situation in Ukraine. Approximately 70% of Japan's electrical generation currently comes from fossil fuels, on which the country is largely dependent. Japan's government updates its energy policy on average every three to

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Serena Williams Will Host The 2024 ESPYs In July
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Serena Williams Will Host The 2024 ESPYs In July

Serena Williams will serve as host of The ESPYS, which is an annual sports awards programme on ESPN, scheduled for July. The 23-time major winner, who is now retired, will take the lead for the fourth time as the event honours the achievements, athletes, and noteworthy moments of the previous year. On July 11, a live broadcast of the ceremony from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre will take place. Expressing her excitement, Williams stated, "This is a long-held aspiration for me, and I am thrilled for the opportunity." She emphasised an exceptional year in sports as well as the outstanding acco

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Giant Blue-Grey Sei Whales Returns After Disappearing For Over 100 Years
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Giant Blue-Grey Sei Whales Returns After Disappearing For Over 100 Years

The giant blue-grey sei whales have reappeared off Argentina's Patagonian coast after over a century of absence due to intense hunting during the 1920s and 1930s. Over the past century, as a result of worldwide prohibitions on commercial whaling, their population has been gradually increasing. The astonishing comeback of sei whales, who breed every two to three years, is evidence of the effectiveness of conservation measures. Researchers implanted some whales with satellite trackers to trace their migration patterns in response to recent sightings, which revealed the whales' return to once

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Abu Dhabi Department Of Health And M42 Launched The Largest Hybrid Cord Blood Bank In The Region
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Abu Dhabi Department Of Health And M42 Launched The Largest Hybrid Cord Blood Bank In The Region

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (DoH) and M42 have launched the Abu Dhabi Biobank, the region's largest hybrid cord blood bank, at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2024. Through this partnership, Abu Dhabi will be established as a leading hub for life sciences, which will improve the accessibility and effectiveness of healthcare. With the goal of personalised healthcare, the Abu Dhabi Biobank functions as a fundamental bioasset that supports therapeutic interventions, research, drug discovery, and disease prevention. Stem cells from cord blood offer promise in treating

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Nepalese Mountaineer Summits Mount Everest For The 29th Time
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Nepalese Mountaineer Summits Mount Everest For The 29th Time

Nepal's renowned mountaineer, Kami Rita, has scaled Mount Everest for the 29th time, surpassing his own remarkable achievement, confirmed expedition organisers. Taking advantage of the wonderful weather, Kami Rita and the Sherpas from Seven Summits Treks accomplished this achievement early on Sunday morning. Posting on Instagram from base camp last week, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to fulfil his dream once again. When Kami Rita successfully climbed Everest twice in a week last year, he set the first record. With 27 summit ascents to his credit, fellow Sherpa guide Pasang

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