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China announced Saturday that its Shenzhou 21 spacecraft successfully docked with the country’s space station, completing the process at a record speed with its latest three-member crew. The docking took about 3.5 hours, roughly three hours faster than previous missions, according to the China Manned Space Agency. Shenzhou 21 lifted off as planned at 11:44 p.m. local time Friday from the Jiuquan launch center in northwestern China. The crew is scheduled to enter the Tianhe core module of the space station following the dock. The team includes pilot and mission commander Zhang Lu, who previously flew on the Shenzhou 15 mission two years ago. The other two astronauts, Wu Fei, 32, an engineer, and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, are on their first spaceflight. Wu is China’s youngest astronaut to join a space mission, while Zhang Hongzhang previously worked as a researcher in new energy and materials. Zhang Lu said the crew aims to turn the station into a “utopia,” practicing tai-chi, gardening, and appreciating poetry aboard Tiangong. Like prior crews, they are expected to stay for roughly six months. During their mission, the astronauts will carry out 27 scientific and applied projects covering biotechnology, aerospace medicine, materials science, and other fields. For the first time, China is sending mice to its space station. Four mice — two males and two females — will be monitored to study the effects of weightlessness and confinement on behavior, said Han Pei, an engineer at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Quiet supersonic travel nears reality as NASA tests X‑59 jet “This will help us master key technologies for breeding and monitoring small mammals in space and assess their emergency responses and adaptive changes,” Han said. The mice were selected from 300 candidates after over 60 days of training, according to Xinhua News Agency. They are expected to remain in space for five to seven days and return to Earth aboard Shenzhou 20, China National Radio reported. China’s space program, a source of national pride, reflects the country’s technological advances over the past two decades. Since launching its first crewed mission in 2003, China became the third nation after the Soviet Union and the United States to send humans into space. Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency, said the agency is progressing steadily toward sending astronauts to the moon. “Our goal of landing a person on the moon by 2030 is firm,” he said. The Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” space station is entirely Chinese-built, following the country’s exclusion from the International Space Station over U.S. national security concerns. The program is managed by the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of China’s ruling Communist Party. In collaboration with Pakistan, China is training two Pakistani astronauts, with plans to send one on a short-term mission as a payload expert — the first visit to the space station by a foreign astronaut. Source: AP 

YouTube TV subscribers have lost access to Disney-owned networks, including ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, and the Disney Channel, after the two companies failed to reach a new content distribution agreement. In a blog post late Thursday, Google’s YouTube TV confirmed that Disney had followed through on its warning to pull its programming from the platform amid stalled negotiations. The blackout is expected to affect coverage of major sporting events this weekend, including college football, NBA, NFL, and NHL games. YouTube TV, the largest internet-based TV provider in the U.S. with over 9 million subscribers, said the dispute centers on pricing. Disney, which owns Hulu, the second-largest provider with roughly half as many subscribers, is accused by YouTube of using the threat of a blackout to pressure for higher fees — a move that also benefits Disney’s competing services, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. “We know this is frustrating and disappointing for our subscribers,” YouTube said in a statement. “We continue to urge Disney to work with us constructively toward a fair deal that restores their networks to YouTube TV.” YouTube added that it would issue a $20 credit to users if Disney’s channels remain unavailable “for an extended period.” The service’s standard monthly plan costs $82.99. Disney, meanwhile, accused YouTube TV of refusing to pay fair market rates for its channels, arguing that the platform’s stance deprives subscribers of popular programming — particularly with several top college football teams playing this weekend. “With a $3 trillion market cap, Google is using its market dominance to stifle competition and undercut industry-standard terms we’ve successfully reached with every other distributor,” Disney said, adding that it remains committed to finding a resolution quickly. The standoff highlights ongoing tensions between major content owners and streaming distributors as both sides battle for dominance — and subscriber loyalty — in the crowded online TV market.

A supersonic jet plane designed to make very little noise took flight for the first time this week, cruising over the southern California desert just after sunrise in what could be the first step toward much faster commercial travel, according to NASA. NASA and the U.S. weapons and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin successfully tested a jet Tuesday that is capable of traveling faster than the speed of sound. Aircraft have been capable of flying at supersonic speeds since the 1940s. The problem is that ultra fast planes are banned for commercial travel over land because they make an explosive — and frightening — “sonic boom” that disturbs the public. The supersonic aircraft Concorde, operated through British Airways and Air France, made transatlantic flights starting in the 1970s. But those were halted in 2003 after a fatal crash three years earlier tanked demand for the expensive service. If NASA and Lockheed Martin can successfully lower the volume, the new jets could slash travel time between places like New York City and Los Angeles roughly in half, opening up an entirely new air travel industry. The X-59 is capable of flying faster than the speed of sound with what Lockheed Martin described as only a “gentle thump." Tuesday’s test flight was still slower than the speed of sound and was intended primarily to test the plane's structural integrity. Still, it was celebrated as a significant step toward the widespread use of supersonic travel. The compact, 100 foot (30 meter) plane launched from the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, about 60 miles (100 km) north of Los Angeles, coasted over the desert and landed near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center about 40 miles (64 km) away. The first airplane to move faster than the speed of sound — or 767 mph (1,235 kph) — took off nearly 80 years ago in 1947, according to NASA. But flights at that speed were banned over land in the United States soon in response to polling. Residents complained that the noise reverberated through large cities, rattling windows and startling the public. NASA and Lockheed Martin have for years been working on a solution that would circumvent the noise and lead to regulatory change, in large part to make commercial supersonic travel within the United States possible.

The United States will provide South Korea with advanced technology to help it build a nuclear-powered submarine, President Donald Trump announced Thursday on social media following his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. During their talks on Wednesday, President Lee emphasized the need to modernize the U.S.-South Korea alliance, noting plans to boost Seoul’s defense spending to ease Washington’s financial burden. Lee clarified that there had been some misunderstanding in their previous conversation in August, saying that South Korea was seeking nuclear fuel for submarine propulsion, not nuclear weapons. He explained that South Korea’s current diesel-powered submarines are limited in tracking other nations’ undersea operations, while nuclear-powered submarines could strengthen both South Korea’s defense and U.S. military efforts in the region. Unlike diesel-powered submarines that must surface often to recharge batteries, nuclear-powered ones can remain underwater for extended periods, offering greater endurance and stealth. Trump added in a separate post that the submarine would be built at the Philly Shipyard, which was acquired last year by South Korea’s Hanwha Group. Details about the project’s scale and cost were not immediately clear, but South Korea has pledged to invest $150 billion in U.S. shipbuilding facilities as part of ongoing defense cooperation. North Korea hails cruise missile tests as Trump arrives in South Korea U.S. nuclear submarine technology is among the country’s most closely guarded military secrets. Even under the AUKUS partnership with the United Kingdom and Australia, Washington has avoided directly transferring such sensitive know-how. Trump’s announcement comes ahead of his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country operates nuclear submarines, and months after North Korea revealed its own nuclear-powered submarine under construction — a development seen as a potential threat to both Seoul and Washington. Meanwhile, as Trump visited South Korea, Pyongyang said Wednesday it had successfully test-fired new cruise missiles, underscoring its growing military strength. Pentagon officials have yet to comment on Trump’s statement about sharing nuclear submarine technology with Seoul. Source: AP 

Elon Musk has rolled out Grokipedia, a crowdsourced online encyclopedia he says is designed to challenge Wikipedia with a stronger commitment to truth and accuracy. Announcing the launch on social media, Musk said Grokipedia.com is “now live,” adding that its mission is “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” The billionaire has long accused Wikipedia of carrying “propaganda” and previously urged people not to donate to the nonprofit platform. In September, he revealed that his artificial intelligence company, xAI, was developing the alternative service. Grokipedia currently features a minimalist interface centered around a search bar and lists a database of more than 885,000 articles — still far behind Wikipedia’s 7 million-plus English entries. Like Wikipedia, it offers information on a range of topics, from global figures like Taylor Swift to major sporting and historical events. However, it remains unclear how articles are compiled. Reports suggest the platform is powered by the same xAI technology behind Musk’s Grok chatbot, while some entries appear to draw from Wikipedia content. The Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, said Tuesday it is still trying to understand how Grokipedia functions. Wikimedia noted that Wikipedia has been widely used to train major AI chatbots, including Grok, ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. “Even Grokipedia needs Wikipedia to exist,” it said, describing Wikipedia’s “human-created knowledge” as essential to AI. Wikipedia has recently faced political scrutiny in the United States, with Republican lawmakers alleging partisan manipulation in the editing process that they claim may influence both the site and the AI systems trained on its content. Unlike Wikipedia’s rigorous sourcing requirements — where unverified statements may be removed — some Grokipedia articles are lightly referenced. For instance, its entry on the Chola Dynasty includes just three citations, compared with more than a hundred linked sources and numerous academic references on Wikipedia. Grokipedia’s entry on Wikipedia accuses the platform of “systemic ideological biases,” particularly a “left-leaning slant” on political subjects. Responding to such criticism, the Wikimedia Foundation said Wikipedia’s strengths lie in its transparent editorial policies, strong volunteer oversight and focus on informing global audiences “without promoting a particular point of view.” Source: AP

Amazon announced on Tuesday that it will cut around 14,000 corporate positions as the company accelerates spending on artificial intelligence while reducing overall costs. CEO Andy Jassy, who has pursued cost-cutting since taking the helm in 2021, had previously said generative AI could shrink Amazon’s corporate workforce over the coming years. He noted that more than 1,000 AI services and applications are already in progress or built, but that figure represents just a small portion of the company’s long-term plans. Amazon is investing heavily in AI and cloud infrastructure, committing about $10 billion each to data center projects in Mississippi, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina. A $10 billion campus in North Carolina is also planned to expand its AI and cloud computing capabilities. The company is competing with other tech giants, including OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, to meet rising demand for AI-powered products. Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, said the job reductions are part of efforts to reduce bureaucracy and shift resources toward the company’s biggest strategic priorities. Affected employees will be notified Tuesday, given 90 days to seek internal positions, and provided severance pay, outplacement services, and continued health benefits if they cannot find new roles. Amazon Cloud outage highlights internet’s hidden weak spots Amazon employs about 350,000 corporate staff within a total workforce of 1.56 million. The cuts, roughly 4% of its corporate workforce, follow a major reduction of 27,000 jobs in 2023. Analysts said the layoffs are a strategic “cleaning” of Amazon’s corporate structure to focus on technological growth while maintaining profitability. The company will release its quarterly financial results Thursday. Its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, reported 17.5% growth in the most recent quarter. Source: AP 

China’s effort to compete with Boeing and Airbus through its domestically produced C919 passenger jet is encountering serious headwinds, as U.S.-China trade tensions and export restrictions threaten to derail production and delay deliveries well below this year’s targets. Built by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 is designed to rival the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Beijing promotes the jet as proof of the nation’s growing technological capability and industrial independence, even though it still relies heavily on Western-made components. However, escalating trade frictions are straining COMAC’s ability to source crucial parts for the program, which has long been supported by large government subsidies. “COMAC faces high risks in today’s volatile political climate,” said Max J. Zenglein, Asia-Pacific senior economist at the Conference Board. “Its supply chains remain exposed to export restrictions and retaliatory measures between the U.S. and China.” According to Bank of America analysts, 48 of the jet’s major suppliers are from the United States—including GE, Honeywell, and Collins Aerospace—while 26 are from Europe and only 14 from China. Recent U.S. threats to tighten export controls on advanced aviation software followed Beijing’s decision to restrict exports of critical rare earth materials. “These choke points are now being used as political leverage between governments,” Zenglein added, warning that such dependencies are likely to remain key bargaining tools. Production Lags Behind Ambitious TargetsThe C919, which completed its first commercial flight in 2023, is central to Beijing’s plans to meet massive domestic demand for new aircraft and expand internationally. Yet COMAC has delivered just seven jets so far this year, after delivering 13 in 2024, far below its plan to produce 30 aircraft by 2025, according to aviation consultancy Cirium. Currently, only China’s three largest state-owned airlines — Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern — operate the roughly 20 C919s in service. Dan Taylor, head of consulting at IBA, said trade tensions have “directly affected” delivery schedules. The U.S. temporarily suspended export licenses for the jet’s LEAP-1C engines in May, only reinstating them in July, disrupting COMAC’s production timeline. The LEAP-1C, jointly produced by GE Aerospace (U.S.) and Safran (France), requires U.S. export authorization, making the program “highly sensitive to political shifts,” Taylor said. He added that COMAC’s reliance on Western avionics and engine technology leaves it vulnerable to foreign policy decisions. Zenglein noted that geopolitical challenges are not the only factor slowing production. COMAC is also taking a cautious approach to ensure quality and safety, while simultaneously working to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers—a process analysts say will take years. China’s alternative engine project, the CJ-1000A, being developed by the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), remains in testing and is not yet ready for commercial deployment. Limited Global Reach and Certification ChallengesInterest in the C919 has grown among foreign carriers such as AirAsia, but the aircraft cannot yet operate internationally because it lacks certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) — approvals that may take several more years. “For the C919 to succeed globally, it must combine competitive economics, strong product support, and international certification,” said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory. “Having just one of these isn’t enough.” Competition IntensifiesAccording to Airbus, China will need nearly 9,600 new passenger aircraft between 2025 and 2044, over 80% of them single-aisle jets like the C919. Yet COMAC faces stiff competition as Airbus expands its own production in China, with a second A320 assembly line set to open in 2026. Analysts expect COMAC to gain ground mainly within China’s domestic market and perhaps expand to nearby regions by the late 2020s, but they see little chance of it breaking the Boeing-Airbus duopoly soon. In the meantime, the lack of international certification and continued volatility in export policy are expected to delay COMAC’s entry into Western markets and limit global growth for the C919 program, Taylor said.

A few minutes into using ChatGPT Atlas, OpenAI’s new internet browser, I quickly encountered significant limitations. Unlike widely used browsers such as Google Chrome, which holds about 60% of the market share, Atlas revolves entirely around a chatbot interface designed to navigate the web through conversation. Messages such as “Messages limit reached”, “No available models support the tools in use”, and “You’ve hit the free plan limit for GPT-5” repeatedly appeared. While OpenAI promises a more seamless and efficient online experience, the platform’s full capabilities are tied to paid subscriptions, highlighting the company’s push to monetize its 800 million users. Rethinking web browsing OpenAI positions Atlas as an opportunity to “rethink what it means to use the web”. At first glance, it resembles conventional browsers like Chrome or Safari, but its defining feature is the sidebar chatbot. On a train-booking website, for instance, Atlas could suggest deals or compare prices. However, functions such as booking a train were limited to paying users. Even basic tasks, such as locating a previously read article, demonstrated both the browser’s promise and its current restrictions. Early impressions suggest that while Atlas could transform how people navigate the internet, it will remain a premium product requiring a subscription to unlock its full potential—a significant shift in user habits accustomed to free web browsing. Revenue, data, and competition OpenAI’s original mission was to develop artificial general intelligence, an AI capable of human-level reasoning. A browser may not directly advance this goal, but it offers a path for revenue generation. With billions invested by venture capitalists, OpenAI is under pressure to deliver returns. Traditional ad-based monetization carries risks, as user experience could suffer, according to Stephanie Liu, senior analyst at Forrester. Currently, only about 5% of ChatGPT users subscribe to paid plans, highlighting the challenge of convincing users to pay for Atlas. Beyond revenue, the browser could provide OpenAI with vast amounts of user data, essential for improving AI tools. As Liu notes, the potential privacy risks may deter users who value anonymity. Challenging the tech giants Atlas also faces stiff competition. Google Chrome dominates global browsing, prompting scrutiny over potential monopolistic practices. Microsoft has integrated its Copilot AI into Edge, while Google has rolled out Gemini AI within its search engine. Early expectations positioned ChatGPT as a “Google killer,” but that scenario remains distant. Some experts, however, see potential. Erik Goins, founder of app developer Flywheel Studios, suggests Atlas could disrupt traditional search models by eliminating the middleman. Instead of sifting through search results, users could ask the chatbot directly, streamlining the process. Whether users will pay for this convenience on a large scale remains uncertain, and dethroning Google will be a long-term challenge.   Source: BBC

Japan’s space agency on Sunday successfully launched its new flagship H3 rocket, carrying an unmanned cargo spacecraft on its first mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The HTV-X1 supply ship lifted off aboard the No. 7 H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed. The spacecraft later separated from the rocket and entered its intended orbit. If the mission proceeds as planned, the craft will reach the ISS within the next few days. Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, currently stationed on the orbiting laboratory, is expected to capture the cargo ship using the station’s robotic arm early Thursday. The HTV-X is the successor to JAXA’s previous H-II Transfer Vehicle, known as Kounotori (or “stork” in Japanese), which completed nine ISS resupply missions between 2009 and 2020. The upgraded spacecraft can carry larger payloads and provide power during transit, allowing safe transport of cell cultures and other sensitive laboratory materials requiring cold storage. Once docked, the HTV-X can remain attached to the ISS for up to six months to deliver supplies and collect waste. After departure, it will conduct additional technical missions for around three months while in orbit. Pakistan announces ‘Army Rocket Force’ after operation Sindoor The H3 rocket replaces Japan’s long-running H-2A as the country’s main launch vehicle. Designed to be more cost competitive in the expanding global space industry, the H-2A made its final flight in June. Japan considers a reliable and commercially viable launch capability vital to its space strategy and national security. The H3 has now completed six straight successful flights, following a failed first launch in 2023 when the rocket was destroyed along with its payload. Source: AP 

Anti-abortion pregnancy centers across the United States are rapidly broadening their medical offerings, aiming to become an alternative source of care for women who might otherwise seek abortion services. The shift, which includes adding sexually transmitted infection testing, treatment and even primary health care, has been underway for years. It accelerated after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, enabling states to impose abortion bans. That growth may gain further traction as Planned Parenthood closes clinics and considers shutting more due to Medicaid funding changes. Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest abortion provider, also delivers a wide range of reproductive health care, including cancer screenings and STI services. “We ultimately want to replace Planned Parenthood with the services we offer,” said Heather Lawless, founder and director of the Reliance Center in Lewiston, Idaho. She noted that about 40% of their patients visit for non-pregnancy reasons, and some rely on the center’s nurse practitioner for primary care. Pregnant farmworkers face rising health risks as heat intensifies in the US Abortion-rights groups have sharply criticized the trend, arguing the centers lack proper oversight and rarely provide contraception. They caution that most centers only conduct limited ultrasounds that cannot detect fetal anomalies and are increasingly offering the medically unproven “abortion-pill reversal” treatment. Because most facilities do not accept insurance, they are not bound by federal patient-privacy laws such as HIPAA, though some say they voluntarily comply. Meeting broader care standards required by insurers or Medicaid is also not mandatory, but those offering specific medical procedures generally employ licensed medical directors. “There are really bedrock questions,” said Jennifer McKenna of Reproductive Health and Freedom Watch, “about whether this industry has the clinical infrastructure to provide the medical services it’s currently advertising.” Post-Roe environment fuels expansion Often linked to religious organizations and historically known as “crisis pregnancy centers,” many expanded services such as baby supplies and counseling even before the 2022 Dobbs decision. “These centers are preparing to support their communities for the long-term,” said Moira Gaul of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of SBA Pro-Life America. In Sacramento, California, Alternatives Pregnancy Center has added primary care physicians, a radiologist and a high-risk pregnancy specialist over the past two years. For some patients, it has become their exclusive health provider. One patient, Jessica Rose, who detransitioned after years of hormone therapy and surgery, said the center was the only place offering care aligned with her values. “APC provided me a space that aligned with my beliefs as well as seeing me as a woman,” she said. Clinic closures heighten reliance As of 2024, more than 2,600 anti-abortion pregnancy centers operate nationwide, according to data from University of Georgia researchers. Guttmacher Institute figures show only 765 clinics offered abortions last year, a decline of over 40 from 2023. At the same time, Republican-led states have boosted public funding for pregnancy centers. Texas allocated $70 million to them this fiscal year, while Florida provided more than $29 million. This comes as Republicans have blocked Planned Parenthood from Medicaid reimbursements under the tax and spending law signed by President Donald Trump in July. Planned Parenthood has warned that up to 200 clinics could be shut. Already, some affiliates have halted abortions in Wisconsin or dropped Medicaid services in Arizona. Independent providers in Maine have stopped primary care altogether, raising concerns about growing healthcare deserts. Kaitlyn Joshua of the group Abortion in America said closures leave many women with only pregnancy centers as an option. “Those centers should be regulated,” she said, adding that patients deserve accurate information rather than “just getting a sermon that they didn’t ask for.” However, Thomas Glessner of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates insisted that oversight is in place through medical directors. “Their criticism,” he said, “comes from a political agenda.” Limited services remain a point of contention Choices Medical Services in Joplin, Missouri, which expanded into STI treatment two decades ago, now devotes much of its work to non-pregnancy care, according to director Karolyn Schrage. The center does not provide contraception, instead promoting what it calls “sexual risk elimination,” a stance public health experts say conflicts with accepted best practices. Still, supporters like Hayley Kelly, who sought care there in the past and later continued to use its services during difficult circumstances, describe the organization as invaluable. “It’s amazing place,” she said. “I tell everybody I know, ‘You can go there.’” Source: AP