The last century’s space race was a competition between the world’s great powers and a test of their ideologies. It would prove to be a synecdoche of the entire Cold War between the capitalist United States and the socialist Soviet Union. The starting pistol in the race to the future was fired in 1961 when
Month: July 2021
Boris Johnson is “very confident” that the UK’s use of India-produced jabs won’t prevent Britons being able to travel abroad – as German chancellor Angela Merkel offered hope of quarantine-free trips to the EU for those who are double-jabbed. Speaking following talks at the prime minister’s official country retreat of Chequers, Ms Merkel said: “We
Hundreds of people have died as record temperatures were reached in the US and Canada this week. A “heat dome” over the US Northwest and western Canada’s British Columbia has caused temperatures to rise to more than 49C (120.2F) in a region not used to extreme heat. Many of the excess deaths are presumed to
Sir Keir Starmer has declared “Labour is back” as he told his party the Batley and Spen by-election win shows what can be achieved when it “pulls together”. The Labour leader joined the UK’s newest MP, Kim Leadbeater, in the West Yorkshire constituency on Friday following her victory by 323 votes over the Conservatives. The
US forces have left their main military base in Afghanistan – the hub for a 20-year mission against the Taliban and al Qaeda – in the clearest sign yet America’s longest war is ending. The sprawling Bagram airfield, about 40 miles north of Kabul, is being handed over to the Afghan security forces in a
One of Britain’s fastest-growing esports franchises has secured millions of pounds in funding from some of the City’s most prominent figures as it seeks to capitalise on the category’s booming popularity since the start of the pandemic. Sky News has learnt that EXCEL ESPORTS, which competes in the high-profile online battle arena League of Legends
Microbes in cows’ stomachs that can break down plastic, have been discovered by scientists in Austria. Approximately 25.8 million tons of plastic waste has accumulated on the land and in the sea, about 15% of which is made of polyesters, a kind of plastic commonly used in soft drink bottles and synthetic fabrics. The discovery
Confectionery giant Haribo has warned a shortage of lorry drivers is causing difficulties getting its sweets to shops in the UK. The German firm, whose products include gummy bears, foamy fried eggs and cola bottles, said it was working to tackle the problem. It comes after the haulage industry warned of a widespread UK delivery
Billionaire Sir Richard Branson has announced his plan to reach space nine days before Amazon boss Jeff Bezos by taking part in a test flight for his company Virgin Galactic. In a video posted on Twitter, the Virgin Group founder introduced himself as “Astronaut 001” and said he will be “evaluating the customer space flight
Labour confounded expectations and held on to its Batley and Spen constituency. Kim Leadbeater, sister of murdered former MP Jo Cox, won by the slender margin of just 323 votes. Many believed that the seat would go the same way as Hartlepool, lost to the Conservatives at the beginning of May. The result was close
A university student has designed a device that can rapidly stop catastrophic blood loss from stab wounds. The device uses pressure to prevent bleeding, targeting areas that are usually difficult to treat, such as the armpit, groin and abdomen. It is made up of a silicon sleeve and a handheld device. The sleeve – a
The wealth management firm that was set to become a co-conservator of Britney Spears’ finances has said it does not want to be part of the arrangement. Bessemer Trust had been approved as co-conservator of Spears’s $60m fortune last year. But after the pop singer told a court that the legal arrangement was abusive, the
Labour’s Kim Leadbeater has pulled off a surprise victory in the Batley and Spen by-election. Tory challenger Ryan Stephenson had been expected to defeat Ms Leadbeater, sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox, after one of the most bitterly-fought parliamentary by-election campaigns in living memory. Throughout the campaign, rival parties accused their opponents and their
A home filled with smart devices could be exposed to thousands of hacking or unknown scanning attacks in a single week, according to a report. Homes in the UK have an average of more than 10 different connected devices, from televisions to thermostats. But, while these products have benefits, they can also be a potential
US President Joe Biden has visited the families of those affected by last week’s apartment building collapse in Florida. Mr Biden’s visit came after the search and rescue effort at the 12-storey Champlain Towers South was suspended due to safety concerns. Eighteen people are confirmed dead but 145 are still missing and are feared to
The prime minister will welcome Angela Merkel to the UK later, with coronavirus travel restrictions expected to be high on the agenda for their talks. Boris Johnson will host the German chancellor at his country residence of Chequers, Mrs Merkel’s final visit before she steps down later this year. COVID-19 is anticipated to be among