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    Two rookie astronauts, cosmonaut blast off to ISS 

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    Flights between Russia and Egypt to resume in February: Moscow 

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    Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces in Gaza clashes: health ministry

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    Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to marry on May 19: palace

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    Crisis boosted confidence in Lebanese economy: central bank

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    May hails 'important step' after EU leaders unlock Brexit talks

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 12:37

    EU leaders approve start of next phase of Brexit talks: Tusk

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    Ryanair pilots suspend strike in Italy: union

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    Russia ex-economy minister gets 8 years in penal colony over bribe

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    Child soldiers awarded $10 mn damages from Congolese warlord

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    Luxembourg appeals EU order to recoup 250 mn euro Amazon tax bill

  • Millas (France) (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 10:53

    French school bus crash toll rises to 6: police source

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    Russian ex-economy minister guilty of taking bribe: court

  • London (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 09:24

    Ryanair says may recognise unions amid strike threat

  • Tokyo (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 00:56

    Japanese business confidence hits 11-year high: survey

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 23:54

    Putin, Trump discussed North Korea in phone call: Kremlin

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 21:58

    EU leaders say position on Jerusalem 'unchanged': Tusk

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 21:02

    Polish PM expects EU to impose rare punishment over rule of law

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 20:27

    EU leaders agree to roll over Russia sanctions: Tusk

  • Geneva (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 19:39

    'Golden opportunity missed' at Syria peace talks: UN mediator

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    US regulator orders rollback of 'net neutrality' rules

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    Iran says US evidence on Yemen missiles is 'fabricated'

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    Huthi missile fired at Saudi was 'made in Iran': Haley

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    UN mediator on Syria 'undermined' by his Putin appeal: Damascus

  • Perpignan (France) (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 18:02

    Three dead as school bus, train collide in France: police source

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    May 'disappointed' by UK vote but 'on course to deliver Brexit'

  • Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 15:04

    ECB expects inflation to hit 1.7% in 2020, still below goal

  • Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 14:52

    ECB ups eurozone growth forecasts for 2017-2019

  • New York (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 14:45

    Delta orders 100 Airbus planes in blow to Boeing

  • Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 13:50

    ECB leaves key interest rates unchanged

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    Putin says Russians do not want Ukraine-style 'coup'

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    Israel drug giant Teva announces 14,000 job cuts over two years

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    Disney says to buy parts of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 bn

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    Bank of England holds interest rate steady at 0.5%

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  • Santiago (AFP) - 12/17/2017 - 12:17

    Polls open in Chilean presidential election

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/17/2017 - 10:42

    26 dead from landslides after Philippine storm: officials

  • Quetta (Pakistan) (AFP) - 12/17/2017 - 09:23

    At least five killed in suicide attack on Pakistan church: officials

  • Baikonur (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - 12/17/2017 - 08:28

    Two rookie astronauts, cosmonaut blast off to ISS 

  • Libreville (AFP) - 12/16/2017 - 21:29

    Two Danish nationals wounded in Gabon knife attack: minister

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/16/2017 - 20:47

    UN council weighs measure rejecting US Jerusalem decision

  • Vienna (Austria) (AFP) - 12/16/2017 - 16:53

    Austrian far-right get interior, defence, foreign ministries

  • Vienna (AFP) - 12/16/2017 - 16:48

    New Austrian government rules out referendum on EU membership

  • Johannesburg (AFP) - 12/16/2017 - 16:21

    Zuma admits S.Africans 'not happy' with ruling ANC party

  • New Delhi (AFP) - 12/16/2017 - 06:47

    India's Rahul Gandhi takes over as president of Congress party

  • New York (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 22:07

    Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records as US tax cut plan advances

  • Vienna (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 21:20

    Austrian conservatives, far-right announce coalition deal

  • Jakarta (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 18:38

    6.5 quake rocks southern Indonesia: USGS

  • The Hague (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 18:00

    Unilever selling magarines for 6.8 bn euros to US giant KKR

  • Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 17:41

    Palestinian dies of wounds after attacking Israelis: health ministry

  • Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 17:22

    Third Palestinian shot dead in clashes northeast of Jerusalem: health ministry

  • The Hague (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 17:19

    Dutch police open fire on man with knife at Schiphol airport

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 16:58

    Tillerson says US will keep channels open with N.Korea

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 16:40

    Flights between Russia and Egypt to resume in February: Moscow 

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 16:29

    Second Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces in Gaza clashes: health ministry

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 15:59

    Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces in Gaza clashes: health ministry

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 15:35

    Belgian trial delayed for Paris attacks suspect Abdeslam: court

  • The Hague (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 15:29

    Dutch-Ethiopian man gets life for 'Red Terror' war crimes

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 14:49

    France, Germany want joint eurozone reform plan by March: Merkel

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 14:31

    EU to start 'exploratory contacts' with UK on post-Brexit ties: Tusk

  • London (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 14:13

    Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to marry on May 19: palace

  • Beirut (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 13:51

    Crisis boosted confidence in Lebanese economy: central bank

  • London (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 13:23

    May hails 'important step' after EU leaders unlock Brexit talks

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 12:37

    EU leaders approve start of next phase of Brexit talks: Tusk

  • Rome (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 12:36

    Ryanair pilots suspend strike in Italy: union

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 12:05

    Russia ex-economy minister gets 8 years in penal colony over bribe

  • The Hague (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 11:34

    Child soldiers awarded $10 mn damages from Congolese warlord

  • Luxembourg (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 11:11

    Luxembourg appeals EU order to recoup 250 mn euro Amazon tax bill

  • Millas (France) (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 10:53

    French school bus crash toll rises to 6: police source

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 09:54

    Russian ex-economy minister guilty of taking bribe: court

  • London (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 09:24

    Ryanair says may recognise unions amid strike threat

  • Tokyo (AFP) - 12/15/2017 - 00:56

    Japanese business confidence hits 11-year high: survey

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 23:54

    Putin, Trump discussed North Korea in phone call: Kremlin

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 21:58

    EU leaders say position on Jerusalem 'unchanged': Tusk

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 21:02

    Polish PM expects EU to impose rare punishment over rule of law

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 20:27

    EU leaders agree to roll over Russia sanctions: Tusk

  • Geneva (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 19:39

    'Golden opportunity missed' at Syria peace talks: UN mediator

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 19:21

    US regulator orders rollback of 'net neutrality' rules

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 18:40

    Iran says US evidence on Yemen missiles is 'fabricated'

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 18:21

    Huthi missile fired at Saudi was 'made in Iran': Haley

  • Geneva (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 18:13

    UN mediator on Syria 'undermined' by his Putin appeal: Damascus

  • Perpignan (France) (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 18:02

    Three dead as school bus, train collide in France: police source

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 15:57

    May 'disappointed' by UK vote but 'on course to deliver Brexit'

  • Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 15:04

    ECB expects inflation to hit 1.7% in 2020, still below goal

  • Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 14:52

    ECB ups eurozone growth forecasts for 2017-2019

  • New York (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 14:45

    Delta orders 100 Airbus planes in blow to Boeing

  • Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 13:50

    ECB leaves key interest rates unchanged

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 13:40

    Putin says Russians do not want Ukraine-style 'coup'

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 13:30

    Israel drug giant Teva announces 14,000 job cuts over two years

  • New York (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 13:14

    Disney says to buy parts of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 bn

  • London (AFP) - 12/14/2017 - 13:12

    Bank of England holds interest rate steady at 0.5%

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Two rookie astronauts, cosmonaut blast off to ISS 

AFP / Shamil ZHUMATOV On board the Soyuz MS-07 are NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

A three-man space crew featuring American and Japanese rookie astronauts as well as an experienced Russian cosmonaut blasted off on Sunday for a six-month mission at the International Space Station.

Scott Tingle of NASA, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency powered into the sky in a Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:21 pm (0721 GMT), according to footage aired by the Russian space agency.

While most flights to the ISS now take around six hours, the trio are taking the more circuitous two-day route due to the lab's position in space at the time of the launch.

Docking is expected on Tuesday before 0900 GMT.

Both Tingle, 52, and Kanai, 40, are first-time flyers but flight commander Shkaplerov, 43, is an experienced hand.

The former Russian military pilot has spent exactly a year in space over two missions and will mark his birthday in orbit for the third time in February next year.

Shkaplerov told journalists at a pre-flight press conference on Saturday that he intends to vote from space in Russia's March presidential election, which incumbent Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win.

"We (cosmonauts) like all conscientious citizens of Russia, participate in the presidential elections," he said.

Kanai is the youngest astronaut in the history of the Japanese space agency, and the last of a trio of Japanese astronauts who were certified for travel to the ISS back in 2011.

US Navy captain Tingle is a graduate of Purdue University in Indiana, which also counts space legend Neil Armstrong among its alumni.

The space travellers will join Russia's Alexander Misurkin and NASA pair Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba currently aboard the ISS.

The ISS laboratory, a rare example of American and Russian cooperation, has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000 kilometres per hour since 1998.

photo-cr/am/hmw

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Two rookie astronauts, cosmonaut blast off to ISS 

AFP / Shamil ZHUMATOV On board the Soyuz MS-07 are NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

A three-man space crew featuring American and Japanese rookie astronauts as well as an experienced Russian cosmonaut blasted off on Sunday for a six-month mission at the International Space Station.

Scott Tingle of NASA, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency powered into the sky in a Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:21 pm (0721 GMT), according to footage aired by the Russian space agency.

While most flights to the ISS now take around six hours, the trio are taking the more circuitous two-day route due to the lab's position in space at the time of the launch.

Docking is expected on Tuesday before 0900 GMT.

Both Tingle, 52, and Kanai, 40, are first-time flyers but flight commander Shkaplerov, 43, is an experienced hand.

The former Russian military pilot has spent exactly a year in space over two missions and will mark his birthday in orbit for the third time in February next year.

Shkaplerov told journalists at a pre-flight press conference on Saturday that he intends to vote from space in Russia's March presidential election, which incumbent Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win.

"We (cosmonauts) like all conscientious citizens of Russia, participate in the presidential elections," he said.

Kanai is the youngest astronaut in the history of the Japanese space agency, and the last of a trio of Japanese astronauts who were certified for travel to the ISS back in 2011.

US Navy captain Tingle is a graduate of Purdue University in Indiana, which also counts space legend Neil Armstrong among its alumni.

The space travellers will join Russia's Alexander Misurkin and NASA pair Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba currently aboard the ISS.

The ISS laboratory, a rare example of American and Russian cooperation, has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000 kilometres per hour since 1998.

photo-cr/am/hmw

AFP / Shamil ZHUMATOV On board the Soyuz MS-07 are NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

A three-man space crew featuring American and Japanese rookie astronauts as well as an experienced Russian cosmonaut blasted off on Sunday for a six-month mission at the International Space Station.

Scott Tingle of NASA, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency powered into the sky in a Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:21 pm (0721 GMT), according to footage aired by the Russian space agency.

17 Dec 2017

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