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☆ Astronauts are banned from drinking alcohol at work, but this hasn't stopped them sneaking everything from communion wine to cognac into space
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NASA and other space agencies have banned alcohol in space because it can damage equipment. But astronauts have found ways around this and smuggled alcohol onto spacecrafts for decades. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup. The space agency has since banned astronauts from drinking 12 hours before they fly. Others would hide alcohol in thick books that were hollowed out by removing the pages inside.

Persons: Daniel G Huot, NASA's, Buzz Aldrin, Aldrin, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Igor Volk Organizations: NASA, Service, NASA's Johnson Space Center, BBC, Guardian, Webster Presbyterian Church, Soyuz, Metro, Russian Locations: Wall, Silicon, Houston, Russia

☆ Russian court bans UBS, Credit Suisse from subsidiary disposals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logos of Swiss bank Credit Suisse and UBS are seen in Geneva, Switzerland, June 7, 2023. The Russian bank joined an agreement to provide a syndicated loan to Luxembourg-based agricultural firm Intergrain, for which Credit Suisse was the credit agent, the document showed. In November 2021, Zenit transferred $20 million to Intergrain, but after Western sanctions were imposed on Zenit, Credit Suisse notified the Russian bank that it would not transfer payments to it from Intergrain. Credit Suisse and UBS, which bought its smaller rival in June, declined to comment. The court documents showed that Zenit Bank had filed for interim measures, asking the court to seize funds belonging to UBS and Credit Suisse, and prohibiting the disposal of shares.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Laws, Goldman Sachs, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Alexander Smith Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, Zenit Bank, Zenit, Intergrain . Credit Suisse, Otkritie Bank, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Moscow, Russian, Luxembourg, Intergrain ., Ukraine, Detsky Mir, U.S

Moscow's actions have deprived many foreign investors of the ability to trade in Russian securities, including depositary receipts. Investors are worried about future copycat actions by other governments who might look to reduce foreign influence over their leading companies. Depositary receipts, or DRs, are certificates issued by a bank representing shares in a foreign company traded on a local stock exchange. But events in Russia have forced many investors to write down the value of depositary receipts of Russian companies to zero, given their inability to trade them. CONSEQUENCESLoss of confidence in DRs could drain needed foreign capital from firms in emerging economies, for instance.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Peter C, Earle, Christopher Day, Michael Ashley Schulman, Goldman Sachs, III, Detsky Mir, Goldman, Otkrytie, Schulman, Grzegorz Drozdz, Malcolm Dorson, Sinead Cruise, Carolina Mandl, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Global, American Institute for Economic Research, Reuters, Citigroup, Companies, Citi ., Reuters Graphics, DR, Investors, Doliver Advisors, Running, Capital Advisors, Conotoxia, Russian, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Brazil, China, Russia, GDR, GDRs, United States, Britain, London, Carolina, New York

☆ Russia's Moon Mission and the New Space Race
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Wsj Staff | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Americans and Russians, as well as astronauts from other countries, have been regularly living and working together in space, first in the Shuttle-Mir program and now on the International Space Station (pictured). The future of U.S.-Russian cooperation in space, however, is less certain following the invasion of Ukraine. Roscosmos/Associated Press

Organizations: Mir, Space, Associated Locations: U.S, Ukraine

Pakistan paid for its first Russian crude cargo in Chinese yuan. "How will it pay other lenders and how will it finance trade with China if it uses the low yuan reserves to pay for Russian oil?" However, Urals quality is a deterrent, as Pakistan's refineries cannot get as much gasoline and diesel out of Urals crude as they produce from Saudi and UAE crudes. Kpler's Katona expects Pakistan's liquidity issues and technical challenges to weigh on its appetite for Russian crude. "Russian imports into Pakistan will not grow into anything bigger than one cargo per month," he said.

Persons: Shahbaz Ashraf, Aadil Nakhoda, Nakhoda, Viktor Katona, Zahid Mir, Mir, PRL, Kpler's Katona, Ariba Shahid, Charlotte Greenfield, Florence Tan, Sonali Paul Organizations: Pakistan, United, FRIM Ventures, Karachi's Institute of Business Administration, Saudi, Pakistan Refinery Ltd, Reuters, Thomson Locations: KARACHI, Pakistan, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Islamabad, Moscow, China, PORT, Oman, Saudi Arab, Saudi, UAE, Karachi, Sudarshan, Singapore

☆ BRICS group: Russia proposes joint research module on space station for China, India, Brazil and South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The head of Russia’s space agency has extended an offer to Moscow’s partners in the BRICS group – Brazil, India, China and South Africa – to participate in the construction of a joint module for its planned orbital space station, state media reported Monday. Construction of the planned space station follows Moscow’s decision last year to end its decades-long partnership with NASA and withdraw from the aging International Space Station – one of the last remaining channels of cooperation between Russia and the United States. The offer to broaden cooperation on the project to include BRICs partner nations was made by Yuri Borisov, the director-general of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, during a meeting Monday in Hermanus, South Africa. Yuri Borisov, director-general of Russian space agency Roscosmos, on September 7, 2020. The International Space Station, which has been continuously occupied for more than 22 years, was originally a collaboration between the US, Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency.

Persons: Vladimir Kozhevnikov, Yuri Borisov, “, Borisov, Omar Sanadiki, Mir Organizations: CNN, South Africa –, NASA, Russian Orbital, BRICS, Space, European Space Agency Locations: Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Russia, United States, Hermanus, Soviet Union, Japan, Canada

☆ Opinion: In tough times, Russia turns to a Cold War comrade
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Opinion Jeremi Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —After decades of somewhat distant relations, Russia and Cuba are working closely together again — this time, as part of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, meet in Havana on April 20, in a show of deepening ties between the countries. In addition to deepened connections with Russia, Cuba has allowed China to build a secret espionage facility on the island. Washington will respond to Russian military escalation in Cuba with its own escalating force, as it already has done with the recent deployment of a nuclear submarine. Military escalation around Cuba is a dangerous temptation for Russia and a difficult trap for the US.

Persons: Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown, America’s, Vladimir Putin’s, Jeremi Suri Korey Howell, Nikolai Patrushev, Igor Sechin, Rosneft, Sergey Lavrov, —, Manuel Marrero Cruz, Putin, Alvaro Lopéz Miera, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, ” Shoigu, ”, Gerardo Peñalver, Bruno Rodriguez, Ramon Espinosa, Miguel Diaz, Canel, Obama, White, Nikita Khrushchev, John F, Kennedy, Khrushchev, Biden, — Khrushchev Organizations: Leadership, Global Affairs, University of Texas, History Department, LBJ School, Democracy, CNN, Russian Security Council, Cuban, Russian, Cuba's, Foreign Affairs, Russian Foreign, Getty Images, year’s, Russian Navy, Caribbean Military, Trump, Biden, Soviets, Pentagon, US, USS, Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Navy, West, Washington, Hulton, Getty, White, Republican, Russia, Ukraine, Twitter, Cuban Missile Locations: Austin, Russia, Cuba, Ukraine, Russian, Havana ., — Venezuela, Nicaragua, Moscow, Caribbean, Washington, Havana, Getty Images Cuba, America, China, Lourdes, USS Pasadena, Guantanamo, American, Soviet, West Berlin, Europe, Putin, Florida, Afghanistan, Turkey

☆ A Yiddish Haven Thrives in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Natasha Frost | More About Natasha Frost | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

“Mir kumen on, mir kumen on! Un fest un zikher undzer trot!”Late on a recent Friday night, dozens of voices joined in this Yiddish anthem — “We are coming, we are coming! And our step is firm and true!” — and soared from a conference center among gum trees and kookaburras outside Melbourne, Australia. Today, Yiddish is most commonly used in ultra-Orthodox communities in places like Brooklyn or Jerusalem. But in Melbourne, snatches of it can be heard on certain streets, around multigenerational dinner tables, on stages and in classrooms.

Persons: “ Mir kumen, — Organizations: Australia Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Brooklyn, Jerusalem, Sof, Eastern Europe

☆ A married woman searched YouTube to find a route into India to be with a lover she met on a popular video game: 'She was not impressed by his work, but by his PUBG skills,' police said
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Pakistani woman took her four kids and made a dangerous trek to India to be with her lover. The woman met the man through the popular video game PUBG, NYT reported. In about a month, their cross-border love briefly put them in jail, The New York Times reported. Haider met Meena in person for the first time in Nepal without her children in March, the Times reported, citing police officials. The couple was caught on Tuesday after a lawyer notified authorities, the Times of India reported.

Persons: Seema Ghulam Haider, Sachin Meena, Haider, Meena, Ghulam Haider, There's, Sudhir Kumar, Haider's, Mir Jan Jhakrani Organizations: Service, New York Times, Hindustan Times, BBC, Times, Indian Express Locations: India, Wall, Silicon, PUBG, Delhi, Saudi Arabia, Pakistani, Pakistan, British India, Nepal, Greater Noida, New Delhi

☆ Marquez says commitment to Honda is 'maximum' amid exit rumours
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 22 (Reuters) - Honda rider Marc Marquez said he is committed to the Japanese manufacturer and already has an eye on next year's project after a disappointing season. "If I'm here, my commitment with Honda is maximum. I want to work with them to improve for the future, improve our project," Marquez told the MotoGP website ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix. "At the moment, of course I'm here to work with them for the future, which means next year's project. It's important to be here because two of the main Honda riders are injured - Mir and Rins.

Persons: Marc Marquez, Marquez, Joan Mir, Alex Rins, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Honda, Ducati, MotoGP, Thomson Locations: Germany, Bengaluru

☆ The Gear You Need to Hit the Trail
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Stephanie Pearson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

City WalkShoesHard surfaces require a supportive, comfortable shoe with some grip, but not a heavy, chunky tread. It also has a lightweight, yet tough rubber outsole with a minimalist tread and 100 percent recycled liners and mesh uppers. Fitness TrackerApple’s Series 8 watch (from $399) handles the rigors of travel well with its crack-, water- and dust-resistant body. PackIn a city it’s nice to have a small, secure, body-hugging pack. Its full hood protects your head from a downpour and two roomy zip pockets stash keys, cash and credit cards.

Locations: MIR

Ms. Hanif’s family history illustrates how Bangladeshi Kensington came to be. While the corner is often a male-dominated space, she and other Bangladeshi American women have carved out their own places there. Ms. Saeed wants to buy a house, but real estate in Kensington has become far too expensive. Ms. Saeed also faced opposition as she was growing up, from relatives on her mother’s side who frowned upon dance. With other public spaces so dominated by men, Ms. Ferdous sees it as vital that women gather to keep their traditions alive.

Persons: Shahana Hanif, Hanif’s, Hanif, Radhuni, Ms, Mir Hossain, Hossain, “, ”, Sala Miah, Rubel, Tarek Aziz, Uddin, Farojan Saeed, Syed Rehan, Saeed, Annie Ferdous, Ferdous, Eid, Mr, Mahmud Organizations: Young, City Council, Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts, Bangladeshi Institute of Performing Arts, McDonald Locations: Kensington, Bangladesh, Pakistan, “, United States, America, Bengal, Noakhali, Chittagong, Sandwip, Brooklyn, East, South America, Colombia, Panama, Dhaka, Bangladeshi, Manhattan, East New York, Jackson Heights, Ozone, New York, Motiul, Philadelphia, Jessore District, Jamaica, Queens

☆ Croatia's little-visited coastline above Dubrovnik
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Mary Novakovich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

There’s even Kornati National Park, one of Croatia’s most compelling natural spaces, spread over 89 islands. Meanwhile, Trogir – whose old town occupies its own little island – is a magical place protected by UNESCO World Heritage status. In just one square within the walled old town you’ll be immersed in centuries of history. Primošten’s old town is on its own little island connected to the newer town by a causeway. Look out for a little promontory just to the north of the old town, where you’ll see pebbly beaches backed by pine trees.

Persons: Trogir, Anastasia, Danny Lehman, –, you’ll, Trg, Mary’s, Boonchet, Nikola Bašić, you’ve, Nin, Veli, it’s, Anton Petrus, there’s, Jakov, Ivan Coric, You’ll, George, Andrey Omelyanchuk, Mary Novakovich, “ Organizations: CNN, Dalmatia, UNESCO World, Kolovare, Getty, Yugoslav, UNESCO Locations: Split, Dubrovnik, Croatian, Croatia’s, Zadar, Trogir, You’ll, Šibenik, Zadar's, Donat’s, St, Mary’s, you’re, Kolovare, Bibinje, Nin, –, Sakarun, Dugi, Murter, Sibenik's, Lawrence’s, Krka, Skradin, Primošten, Čiovo, Riva

☆ Russian TV airs apparent deepfake video of Putin ordering martial law amid reports Ukraine is on the attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sam Fellman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A fake Putin declared in a video address that Ukraine's army invaded Russia and he's ordering martial law. The fake video was aired, due to a reported hacking, in border areas where anxiety is already high. Russian sources reported increased Ukrainian attacks at positions along the front lines on Monday. The message delivered by fake Putin via television and radio seemed to play to these anxieties. The timing of the fake broadcast is also notable because Russian sources reported increased Ukrainian attacks at multiple positions along the long front lines on Monday.

Persons: Putin, —, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Service, Radio Mir, Putin Russian, NATO, New York Times Locations: Russia, Russia's, Ukrainian, Washington, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk

☆ Pakistan police to search Imran Khan's home - official
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Mubasher Bukhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LAHORE, Pakistan, May 19 (Reuters) - Pakistani police plan to search the Lahore home of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, a provincial government official said, an operation that could trigger more violence as the country grapples with political and economic instability. Amir Mir, the information minister of Punjab province, said hundreds of policemen, led by the city police commissioner, would conduct the search operation later on Friday. Khan's home is located in the Zaman Park neighbourhood of Lahore, the capital of Punjab. His arrest triggered a wave of violence that saw supporters attacking military installations and other government buildings. On Thursday, Khan's aide Iftikhr Durrani allowed journalists into some areas of Khan's Lahore home to "look for terrorists".

ISLAMABAD, May 18 (Reuters) - Pakistan's powerful anti-corruption agency has summoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan for questioning on Thursday into the graft charges that led to his arrest on May 9. It was not clear if Khan, who denies the charges, would heed the summons. A spokesman for Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was not immediately available for a comment. The Supreme Court ordered Khan's release on bail last Friday, and another court on Wednesday extended his protective bail until May 31. Punjab's information minister Amir Mir said the government did not have any plans to arrest Khan as he had been given bail by court.

He said Khan had 24 hours to surrender the suspects, and that a police operation would be launched if he did not comply. The arrest of the former prime minister, who was ousted in a parliamentary confidence vote in April last year, has deepened political instability in the South Asian nation of 220 million. Thousands of Khan supporters had attacked and set on fire scores of government and public buildings, including the army's headquarters, following his arrest. Khan has previously disowned those involved in arson and attacks against the army, demanding an impartial inquiry. The military has said the May 9 attacks against the army were "pre-planned" and ordered by Khan party's leaders, which he and his party deny.

☆ Russia's VTB to launch digital bank on VKontakte social network
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, April 26 (Reuters) - Russian state-owned bank VTB (VTBR.MM) will launch a digital bank within the mobile messaging app of leading social network VKontakte, Russia's answer to Facebook, as Moscow seeks technological solutions to disrupted banking transfers. That made operations with banks abroad particularly challenging as many bank cards stopped working overseas and Russia was disconnected from global payment systems. The digital bank will enable customers to carry out everyday financial transactions such as money transfers, some bill payments and mobile phone top-ups, within the VKontakte app. VTB, which had launched banking services through Telegram in January, said it was prepared to shut down its bank on Telegram once Roskomnadzor had come to a final decision. "As of today, there has been no such decision, so the bank in Telegram works, although we have stopped actively promoting it."

☆ Pirro to replace Bastianini at Ducati for Americas GP
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] FTR MotoGP rider Michele Pirro of Italy (L) talks to his mechanic during a free practice session ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang October 19, 2012. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/File PhotoApril 12 (Reuters) - Ducati test rider Michele Pirro will replace the injured Enea Bastianini at this weekend's Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, the factory team said. The clinic confirmed Bastianini would still need a few more weeks to fully recover, Ducati added. Pirro, 36, last raced at the Circuit of the Americas in 2016 as a stand-in for Danilo Petrucci at Pramac Ducati, finishing eighth. The fourth race of the season is the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez on April 30.

[1/3] People gather to receive sacks of free flour, at a distribution point in Peshawar, Pakistan March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Fayaz AzizLAHORE/PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 30 (Reuters) - At least five people have been killed in recent weeks and more injured in Pakistan in stampedes at sites distributing free flour under a government-backed scheme to help families struggling with soaring costs of basic staples. The Pakistani government has launched the flour distribution programme to reach millions of families in need during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan that began last week. Another person was killed in a stampede at a distribution centre last week in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province according to records shared by the provincial food authority. "There were some unfortunate incidents of stampedes and looting," Khan Ghalib, an official at the provincial food department said.

☆ Bagnaia wins first ever MotoGP sprint at Portuguese Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

March 25 (Reuters) - Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia won the first ever MotoGP sprint with a last-lap overtake at the season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix on Saturday to earn 12 points and move to the top of the rider's standings ahead of the race on Sunday. On the final lap, Martin looked set to take the chequered flag but the Spaniard went wide on a turn, opening the door for Bagnaia to storm ahead and win the sprint. "It was fun, but it was difficult for the win," said Bagnaia, who had dropped to third midway through the sprint. Sunday's race will have the same grid order after the qualifying session with Marquez on pole. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Toby Davis and Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/2] Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, waves from the vehicle as he leaves from Lahore to appear before Islamabad High Court, in Lahore, Pakistan March 18, 2023. 'GOVT INTENDS TO ARREST ME'The court has previously issued arrest warrants for Khan in the case as he had failed to appear on previous hearings despite summons. On his assurance that he would appear on Saturday, the court granted Khan protection against arrest, but he said he feared the police and government planned to take him into custody. There were reports of fresh clashes between police and supporters of Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Lahore. (This story has been corrected to show Khan is to appear in court, not appearing in court, in the headline.

[1/6] Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan carry bamboo sticks and slingshots, as they gather and chant slogans, at the entrance of Khan's house, in Lahore, Pakistan March 17, 2023. Even though there was no police presence on Friday, witnesses said Khan's supporters, armed with batons and iron rods, remained stationed outside his home. The Election Commission of Pakistan had found him guilty and barred Khan from holding public office for one parliamentary term. Khan has said he was willing to submit a written undertaking that he would voluntarily appear before the court on Saturday, but the court said such an undertaking was insufficient. Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Khan's demands, saying an election would be held as scheduled later this year.

☆ Pakistan court postpones police operation to arrest Imran Khan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Mubasher Bukhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, carry sticks as they walk towards Khan's house, in Lahore, Pakistan March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar SoomroLAHORE, Pakistan, March 16 (Reuters) - A Pakistani high court ordered police on Thursday to postpone an operation to arrest Imran Khan for another day, defusing a surge in violence that saw supporters of the former prime minister fighting pitch battles with security forces. Khan's aide Fawad Chaudhry said the Lahore high court had extended an order to halt the police operation until Friday. The state information minister, Amir Mir, confirmed the court order. Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Khan's demands, saying the election would be held as scheduled later this year.

Summary Arrest warrant issued after ex-PM failed to attend courtCourt rejects Khan's offer to appear voluntarilyFormer cricket star denies wrongdoingSupporters battled police for two days to prevent arrestLAHORE, Pakistan, March 16 (Reuters) - A Pakistani court on Thursday rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan's plea to suspend an arrest warrant issued against him, stoking fears of a renewed confrontation between his supporters and security forces. [1/5] Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, carry sticks as they walk towards Khan's house, in Lahore, Pakistan March 16, 2023. Provincial information minister Amir Mir said there were militants among Khan's supporters outside his house. The police were unarmed, he said, adding they had to use water-cannons and teargas shells when Khan's supporters turned violent. Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Khan's demands, saying an election would be held as scheduled later this year.

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