Satellite 'light pollution' hindering space telescopes: study

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- An exponential increase in the number of satellites placed in low-Earth orbit has brought advances in telecommunications including broadband access in rural and remote areas worldwide. It also has caused a surge in light pollution in space that imperils the work done by orbiting astronomical observatories. A new NASA-led study focusing on four space telescopes -- two currently operational and two planned - estimates that a large percentage of images obtained by these obse

Dec. 4, 2025

Israel to reopen Gaza crossing into Egypt

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel received remains of what could be one of the last hostages in Gaza on Wednesday and said it will begin allowing Palestinians to leave the war-torn territory through a border crossing with Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an attack by militants earlier in the day that wounded four Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza was a violation of the ceasefire and that Israel “will respond accordingly.” The remains found by militants in northern Gaza were returned t

Dec. 4, 2025

Germany's president gets royal welcome

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s King Charles III and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier put on a show of Anglo-Saxon unity Wednesday as their countries expand cooperation to fend off threats to European security, combat climate change and bolster economic growth. Charles and Steinmeier — the first German head of state to make a formal state visit to Britain in 27 years — exchanged toasts during a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle, celebrating the historic ties between their nations even as they ack

Dec. 4, 2025

Trump meets Nvidia CEO Huang: source

US President Donald Trump met with chip giant Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang on Wednesday to discuss export controls, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Huang was in the US capital meeting with lawmakers, where he told them that state-by-state US regulations would slow the progress of AI development, he told CNBC. Nvidia had also opposed a separate proposed piece of legislation that would have required it to offer to se

Dec. 4, 2025

White House tours resume in time for Christmas

WASHINGTON (AP) — US president Donald Trump’s decision to build a big ballroom where the East Wing once stood has significantly altered the visitor experience at the White House. Tourists enter through a different door now, and the tour is shorter because there are fewer historic rooms to see. But some people who took the self-guided tour on Wednesday were just happy to glimpse the White House all decked out in its Christmas glory by first lady Melania Trump. Tours resumed Tuesday after being su

Dec. 4, 2025

Print of Blake 'Tyger' poem blazes path to auction record

London (AFP) -- A print of English poet William Blake's most famous poem "The Tyger" sold at auction for 228,600 pounds ($304,519) Wednesday, British auction house Christie's said. The "exceptionally rare" print comes from the first issue of Blake's "Songs Of Experience," dating from around 1794. The fee far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of 80,000-120,000 pounds and set a new record at auction for a Blake print, Christie's said. It was snapped up by an anonymous buyer after more than two minute

Dec. 4, 2025

Doctor in Matthew Perry overdose case gets 2-1/2years in prison

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- A California doctor was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison Wednesday for illegally supplying "Friends" sitcom star Matthew Perry with ketamine, the powerful sedative that caused the actor's drug overdose death in 2023. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 44, who operated an urgent-care clinic outside Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in federal court in July to four felony counts of illegal distribution of the prescription anesthetic. He surrendered his medical license in September. He co

Dec. 4, 2025

[Graphic News] Seoul ranks 5th among world’s richest cities

Seoul has ranked fifth among the world’s richest cities for 2025, according to CEOWorld magazine, with Tokyo topping the list at a gross domestic product of $2.55 trillion, narrowly ahead of the New York metropolitan area at $2.49 trillion, based on a survey of 300 major metropolitans worldwide. Tokyo’s strength comes from decades of technological innovation, automotive engineering and precision manufacturing. The city combines innovation with infrastructure, making its transportation, networks

Dec. 4, 2025

Trump says any country trafficking drugs into US could be attacked

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said any country trafficking illegal drugs into the US could be attacked. "Anybody that's doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack," Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House, after raising the issue of cocaine from Colombia. Colombian President Gustavo Petro shot back at Trump in a post on X, arguing the South American nation destroys a drug-producing laboratory every 40 minutes -- "withou

Dec. 3, 2025

Peru presidential hopeful bloodied but safe

LIMA, Peru (AFP) -- Peruvian presidential hopeful Rafael Belaunde escaped bloodied but not seriously hurt Tuesday from an attack by gunmen on his car south of the capital Lima, police said. Gunmen on a motorbike fired several shots at the SUV the 50-year-old politician was driving. Bullets shattered the front window, leaving Belaunde with blood stains on his face and shirt from cuts caused by broken glass, according to TV images. In a statement on X, police said Belaunde was not badly injured in

Dec. 3, 2025

Pope Leo XIV shares his thoughts on the conclave, reflects on spirituality and future travels

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) -- Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday shared for the first time what he was thinking when the votes started going his way during the conclave that elected him, saying he resigned himself to the inevitable and put the rest in God's hands. "I took a deep breath. I said 'Here we go Lord. You're in charge and you lead the way,'" Leo told reporters during a wide-ranging airborne press conference coming home from his inaugural trip to Turkey and Lebanon. Leo fielded questions for a ha

Dec. 3, 2025

US to expand travel ban after shooting

The Trump administration is expected to expand its travel ban to include around 30 countries, a bid to more aggressively curtail migration to the US following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington. A list of the countries being added to the ban is expected to come soon, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. The administration already has in place a full block on travelers from 12 countries, with partial restrictions on seven others. Meanwhile, the US Citizen

Dec. 3, 2025

Israeli forensics experts examine remains handed over in Gaza

Israel on Tuesday said it had received remains handed over by Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Red Cross. They were believed to be one of the two hostages still in the territory: an Israeli and a Thai national. Israel’s government said the “findings” were taken for forensics testing. Palestinian media said they were discovered in Gaza’s northern town of Beit Lahiya. The remains of 26 hostages taken in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war have already been returned since

Dec. 3, 2025

HK leader: Fire probe 'must uncover truth'

Hong Kong will set up an independent committee headed by a judge to determine the cause of a deadly high-rise fire that shocked the city and to recommend changes to prevent a future tragedy, its leader said Tuesday. John Lee, the chief executive of the southern Chinese territory, pledged to overcome vested interests and bring about systemic change in the construction industry. Police said Tuesday afternoon that more bodies had been found, raising the death toll to at least 156 with about 30 peop

Dec. 3, 2025

Crystal Faberge egg crafted for Russian royalty shatters record and sells for $30.2 million

LONDON (AP) -- A rare crystal and diamond Faberge egg crafted for Russia's ruling family before it was toppled by revolution shattered records Tuesday as it sold at auction for 22.9 million pounds ($30.2 million). The "Winter Egg," which was compared to the iconic Mona Lisa, was just one of seven of the opulent ovoids remaining in private hands, Christie's London auction house said. The 10-centimeter tall egg is made from finely carved rock crystal, covered in a delicate snowflake motif wrought

Dec. 3, 2025