Dec 23 (Reuters) - South Korean satellite launch company Innospace on Monday launched the first commercial rocket from Brazil's Alcantara Space Center, a milestone for the firm and Brazilian aerospace

Innospace's rocket crashes in first commercial launch in Brazil; shares tumble

A long-awaited change in drug policy by President Donald Trump could bring scientists one step closer to understanding the harms and benefits of marijuana.

Cannabis reclassification could 'open the floodgates' for research, scientists say

We just got a great up-close look at a SpaceX Starlink satellite that recently suffered an anomaly in orbit, thanks to Vantor's WorldView-3 spacecraft.

Doomed SpaceX Starlink satellite photographed from orbit

Food and Drug Administration's approval of an oral version of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy could potentially expand access to millions of patients and give the Danish company a much-needed fillip in the red-hot market. The first GLP-1 pill specifically for ​obesity, also branded as Wegovy, is a 25-mg oral formulation of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the blockbuster injectable version.

Explainer-What Novo Nordisk's weight-loss pill approval means for company, patients

Dec 23 () - The weight-loss drug market is surging, with biotech firms racing to win share in a sector dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Analysts forecast the industry will generate about $150 billion in annual sales in the next decade.

Factbox-Weight-loss drug developers line up to tap lucrative market as competition heats up

Another 35 people were injured in the explosion during evening prayers in the city of Maiduguri, police say.

Bomb blast in packed Nigerian mosque kills five

Turkish President Erdogan denounces the Israel-Greece-Cyprus meeting and vows Turkey will not allow violations of its rights in the Mediterranean, while continuing to support Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday denounced the trilateral meeting between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus earlier this week, discussing issues concerning security in the eastern Mediterranean, including the Gaza Strip.

Turkey's Erdogan denounces Israel-Greece-Cyprus trilateral summit, affirms support for Gaza

Preliminary investigations revealed the motive could be linked to illegal mining turf wars, police said.

Eleven arrested over mass shooting in South Africa tavern

President Isaac Herzog shared that he feels "deep pride in Israel's Christian communities," reaffirming that Israel will continue to protect freedom of worship for people of all faiths. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the Franciscan Sisters at the St.

‘Integral part of our nation’: Herzog visits Franciscan Sisters in Jerusalem ahead of Christmas

More than a dozen countries, mostly from Europe, on Wednesday sharply criticized the Israeli Cabinet's approval of the construction of 19 new settlements in the West Bank and called on Israel to reverse the decision. The group includes Germany, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom They condemned Israel's actions, saying they "not only violate international law but also risk fueling instability," a joint sta

Many European nations want Israel to cancel 19 new settlement plans

Britain, Canada, Germany, and other nations condemn Israel's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to stability. Countries including Britain, Canada, and Germany, and others on Wednesday condemned the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the West Bank, saying they violated international law and risked fuelling instability.

UK, Canada, Germany, others condemn Israel's West Bank settlement plan

Moscow's mayor said the drones were repelled over a period of about 17 hours. Russia says more than a hundred Ukrainian drones were launched.

Russia downs 16 drones heading for Moscow, mayor says

Dec 23 () - A patient who was being treated with Pfizer's hemophilia drug, Hympavzi, as part of a ​long-term study died after experiencing serious side effects, the ‌company said. The individual died on December 14 after suffering a stroke followed by ‌a brain hemorrhage, according to the European Haemophilia Consortium, a patient support group.

Pfizer says patient dies after receiving hemophilia drug in trial

A boat belonging to an Egyptian pharaoh is being assembled in full view at the Grand Egyptian Museum’s exhibition hall.  The assembly of the 42-meter (137-foot) -long vessel, which sits next to its already-assembled twin that has been on display, is expected to take around four years, according to Issa Zeidan, head of restoration at the Grand Egyptian Museum.  King Khufu ruled ancient Egypt more than 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Ancient Egyptian pharaoh's boat is being reassembled in public at the Grand Egyptian Museum

In recent years, a major ocean current changed its path in two crucial ways. Now parts of the sea are rising, other parts are falling, ocean temperatures are breaking records — and Japan’s iconic fishing industry is in trouble.

Why the weirdest sea level changes on Earth are happening off the coast of Japan

Nadine was a top student at her high school in eastern Congo. Then, in April, she was gang-raped by four men as she was gathering firewood for her family. The 17-year-old set off on a frantic search for help - first to her local clinic, where there were no rape kits left, and then to the hospital, where she was told that none of the medication she needed was available. It took her several days to scrape together enough money to travel the few miles to neighboring Uganda for medical care.Subscrib

Congolese rape survivors search in vain for medicine after USAID cuts

A Japanese H3 rocket suffered an anomaly during the launch of a navigation satellite on Sunday night (Dec. 21), resulting in the loss of the spacecraft.

Japanese H3 rocket fails during launch of navigation satellite (video)

France will build a new aircraft carrier with a capacity for 30 fighter jets and 2,000 sailors, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday in what he described as "the display of our nation's power in the service of freedom on the seas and amid the turbulence of our times.”  This is why, in line with the last two military programming laws, and after a thorough and careful review, I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier.  The new vessel is planned to be ready in 2038, re

France will build a new aircraft carrier as it increases defense spending

France is set to begin construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday. "In times of aggression, we must be strong to be feared.

France to build new nuclear aircraft carrier, Macron says

Russian troops have abducted around 50 Ukrainians from a village in the north-eastern border region of Sumy and taken them to Russia, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets reported on Sunday. In a post on Telegram, Lubinets, citing preliminary information, said Russian forces had captured residents of the village of Hrabovske right on the border with Russia on Thursday.

Ukraine: Russians abduct 50 Ukrainians from border village in Sumy

By Kantaro Komiya, Yuka Obayashi and Katya Golubkova NIIGATA, Japan, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The Japanese region of Niigata is expected to endorse a decision to restart the world's largest nuclear power plant on Monday, a watershed moment in the country's pivot back to nuclear since the 2011 ​Fukushima disaster. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located about 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo, was among 54 reactors shut after a massive earthquake and tsunami crippled the ‌Fukushima Daiichi plant in the worst n

Japan prepares to restart world's biggest nuclear plant, 15 years after Fukushima

The trilateral partnership took shape some 15 years ago after Israel’s ties with Turkey deteriorated, even if it was initially framed in the language of energy cooperation and regional diplomacy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will host his Greek and Cypriot counterparts in Jerusalem on Monday as part of a trilateral partnership that has steadily changed character.

Turkey key underlying issue as Israel, Greece, Cyprus hold summit

Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. plans to scale back public health recommendations for most childhood vaccines and propose fewer shots, aiming to align with Denmark's immunization model, the Washington

U.S. to drop childhood vaccine recommendations as it looks to Denmark, Washington Post reports

Two men say they experienced the kind of abuse highlighted in recent reports on Israel's treatment of prisoners, which Israel denies.

Palestinians tell BBC they were sexually abused in Israeli prisons

Poland’s lower house of parliament has again approved a contentious cryptocurrency bill, reviving a regulatory push that President Karol Nawrocki blocked only weeks ago They are setting the stage for another confrontation over how tightly the country should police its digital asset market.In a vote held on Thursday, the Sejm ...

Poland Crypto Bill Clears Sejm Again, Defying President — Will “Restrictive” Rules Stick?

As December's chill settled over Gaza, the family's nylon tent offered little refuge.  Until Wednesday night, when 29-day-old Saeed, his tiny body wracked by the cold, did not respond.  The infant, who had been born prematurely and very underweight, became the second baby to die of hypothermia in recent days at Nasser Hospital, doctors said Thursday.

Hypothermia claims newborn in Gaza and more babies are at risk, doctor says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday described the billions in further funds approved by the European Union as a "great victory" for his country, even though allied leaders in Europe failed to agree on using frozen Russian assets to help Kiev. The approval of the funds in the early hours of Friday was positive news for the Ukrainian people and at the same time a signal to Russia that a continuation of the war is not worthwhile, Zelensky said in Warsaw after meeting Polish President K

Zelensky sees win for Ukraine as EU finally reaches funding deal

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it has found no evidence of the pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah rearming since a ceasefire with Israel came into effect. "Since the ceasefire agreement came into effect last year, we have not seen south of the Litani river evidence of new weapons entering, of new non-state military infrastructure being built, or of military movements by non-state actors," UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel told dpa on Friday.

UN mission says no evidence Hezbollah rearming in southern Lebanon

Huge crowds form honorary paddle-out at iconic Australia beach, following tragic shooting deaths during Hanukkah celebrations.

Photos: Hundreds Gather at Bondi Beach After Deadly Attack

Germany's foreign intelligence service is to be given far more scope for taking decisive action in threatening situations under plans of the office of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to media reports on Thursday. The proposals would allow sabotage operations to weaken hostile forces, according to public broadcasters WDR and NDR as well as the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, citing a new draft law on the country's Federal Intelligence Service BND.

Reports: Germany plans expansion of foreign intelligence powers

For decades, Belgium has been at the beating heart of the European Union.  The headquarters of the 27-nation bloc’s main institutions and NATO are based there.  EU leaders meet in the capital Brussels at least four times a year.

Under pressure at home, Belgium's leader treads a tight rope with EU partners over funds for Ukraine

The initiative is part of a broader effort to deter Turkey’s military and strategic activities in the eastern Mediterranean. Senior officials from Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are discussing the possibility of establishing a rapid-response force composed of units from the armed forces of the three countries, three people familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post.

Israel explores creation of int'l force with Greece, Cyprus to deter Turkey

The European Union is postponing the signing of a free trade deal with four Mercosur countries until January, an EU official said on Thursday. The agreement between the EU and Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, which has been in the making for over 25 years, was scheduled to be signed at a summit in Brazil on Saturday.

EU delays signing of Mercosur free trade deal

Negotiators from EU countries and the European Parliament have agreed on new safeguards for imported agricultural products under the pending Mercosur free trade agreement, despite persisting divisions over the approval of the deal with four Latin American countries. The controversial free trade deal is intended to boost trade between the European Union and the four Mercosur countries — Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay — but is still viewed critically by some in the EU.

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