NewsInternational space station mission begins; Hamas ready for ceasefire
International space station mission begins; Hamas ready for ceasefire
Here is what the world agencies reported from Wednesday night to Thursday morning.
- The Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft, with two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut on board, reached the International Space Station late Wednesday evening, reported the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Soyuz launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and, after about three hours of flight, docked with the Russian segment of the International Space Station. Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Wagner, and NASA astronaut Donald Pettit flew to the ISS. During their mission, the Russian cosmonauts and the American astronaut are scheduled to conduct 42 scientific experiments, three of which will be conducted for the first time. Additionally, in December, Ovchinin and Wagner will perform a spacewalk during which they will install a spectrometer on the outer shell of one of the station's modules.
- The Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas declared on Wednesday that it is ready to accept a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip on terms previously presented by the USA. Negotiations for a truce have been ineffective for months, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of making new demands. On Wednesday, Hamas' chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya met with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Egypt's Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel in Doha, Qatar. Qatar and Egypt, along with the United States, are mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas. In a statement issued after the talks, Hamas reiterated its "readiness for the immediate implementation of the ceasefire agreement based on President Biden's declaration." It was emphasised that the group is not making new demands and rejects " the imposition of any new terms by any side."
- Pope Francis, while in Singapore, in his first speech in the country on Thursday, spoke of the "human genius, the dynamism of society, and the brilliant spirit of entrepreneurship" that characterise the country. He added that it is an excellent example of what humanity can achieve by working together in a spirit of fraternity. In his speech delivered at the National University of Singapore, in the presence of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the Pope expressed gratitude for the warm reception in the city-state, which he described as "a commercial crossroads of primary importance and a place where different peoples meet."
- At the age of 86, after a long battle with cancer, controversial former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori passed away. His daughter, Keiko Fujimori, shared the news of his death on social media.
- A fire has already consumed over 19,000 hectares in the Angeles National Forest in California. It is one of three major fires currently burning in the southern part of the state. The fires broke out during a heatwave in the region. The picture shows a burned car in the town of Wrightwood.
- A picture of a ship purported to deliver ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia was published by Sky News, citing Ukrainian sources. Iran denies the deliveries.
