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Dust storm turns sky orange over Athens
Skies over Athens and southern Greece turned orange on Tuesday as strong winds blew sand and dust from northern Africa.
Japan's moon lander still going after 3 lunar nights
TOKYO — Japan’s first moon lander has survived a third freezing lunar night, Japan’s space agency said Wednesday after receiving an image from the device three months after it landed on the moon.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the lunar probe responded to a signal from the earth Tuesday night, confirming it has survived another weekslong lunar night.
Temperatures can fall to minus 170 degrees Celsius during a lunar night and rise to around 100 Celsius during a lunar day.
The probe, Smart Lander for Investing Moon, or SLIM, reached the lunar surface on Jan. 20, making Japan the fifth country to successfully place a probe on the moon.
SLIM landed the wrong way up with its solar panels initially unable to see the sun, and had to be turned off within hours, but powered on when the sun rose eight days later.
SLIM, which was tasked with testing Japan's pinpoint landing technology and collecting geological data and images, was not designed to survive lunar nights.
JAXA said on the social media platform X that SLIM's key functions are still working despite repeated harsh cycles of temperature changes. The agency said it plans to closely monitor the lander's deterioration.
Scientists are hoping to find clues about the origin of the moon by comparing the mineral compositions of moon rocks and those of Earth.
The message from SLIM came days after NASA restored contact with Voyager 1, the farthest space probe from Earth, which had been sending garbled data back for months.
An U.S. lunar probe developed by a private space company announced termination of its operation a month after its February landing, while an Indian moon lander failed to establish communication after touchdown in 2023.
Solomon Islands pro-China PM Manasseh Sogavare fails to secure majority
Sogavare vies with opposition parties to form governing coalition after inconclusive election.
Athens turns orange under North Africa’s Sahara dust clouds
Winds from the south have covered the Greek capital in sand and raised the risk of wildfires.
School says 11-hour-day pilot is for pupil wellbeing
The school, with 40% of pupils eligible for free meals, says it provides a "private school service".
US Senate passes Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan bill; Biden to sign on Wednesday
US president says new weapons shipment could be on its way to Ukraine as soon as this week.
‘Vote flights’: Indian parties are wooing Gulf voters for Kerala election
As the southern Indian state votes on April 26, thousands are flying back from the Gulf to cast their ballot.
Tesla profit plunges 55%, as shares bounce on plans for cheaper vehicles
The Texas-based company reports profits of $1.1bn in the first quarter, down from $2.51bn a year ago.
Post-1948 order ‘at risk of decimation’ amid war in Gaza, Ukraine: Amnesty
Annual report from international human rights group details hypocrisy of some of the world's most powerful countries.
US Senate passes bill to force sale of TikTok, sending it to Biden
TikTok has said legislation 'would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans'.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 790
As the war enters its 790th day, these are the main developments.
Parallel economy: How Russia is defying the West’s boycott
Two years after the invasion of Ukraine prompted exodus of brands from Russia, many products are freely bought and sold.
Government cancelled plans to test free childcare rollout, says watchdog
The National Audit Office says a £35m pilot to test the expansion of free childcare in a few areas was cancelled.
Generative AI threatens voter confidence in what's real
Artificial intelligence surrounds U.S. political life, from fundraising to campaign advertising. Some lawmakers are looking to better police the use of generative content in this year’s presidential election as they say it threatens voter confidence in what is real. VOA correspondent Scott Stearns reports.
Will Israeli army intelligence chief’s resignation lead to accountability?
Major General Aharon Haliva acknowledged failure to warn of the October 7 attack.
US universities crackdown on pro-Palestine protests
University administrators crackdown on spreading pro-Palestine protests on US campuses
Five takeaways from day two of Trump’s New York hush money trial testimony
Prosecutors focus on 'catch and kill' scheme, accuse Trump of violating gag order in historic trial.
‘Attacks on UNRWA have nothing to do with neutrality,’ Lazzarini says
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said that attacks on his agency are aimed at stripping Palestinians of refugee status.
Hezbollah launches deepest attack inside Israel since Gaza war began
The attack comes after Hezbollah said Israeli forces killed one of its fighters in southern Lebanon.
Sunak promises to boost UK defence spending by 2030
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledges to boost spending to 2.5% of GDP, putting the defence industry on a 'war footing'.