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Australia's first domestically built rocket to attempt orbital launch crashed just 14 seconds after liftoff, though the company still declared the mission a success for igniting all engines and leaving the launch pad. The Associated Press reports: The rocket Eris, launched by Gilmour Space Technologies, was the first Australian-designed and manufactured orbital launch vehicle to lift off from the country and was designed to carry small satellites to orbit. It launched Wednesday morning local time in a test flight from a spaceport near the small town of Bowen in the north of Queensland state. In videos published by Australian news outlets, the 23-meter (75-foot) rocket appeared to clear the launch tower and hovered in the air before falling out of sight. Plumes of smoke were seen rising above the site. No injuries were reported. The company hailed the launch as a success in a statement posted to Facebook. A spokesperson said all four hybrid-propelled engines ignited and the maiden flight included 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight. "Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this," wrote CEO Adam Gilmour on LinkedIn. Gilmour said in February that it was "almost unheard of" for a private rocket company to successfully launch to orbit on its first attempt. "This is an important first step towards the giant leap of a future commercial space industry right here in our region," added Mayor Ry Collins of the local Whitsunday Regional Council.

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Walking the purple carpet, the cast all wore dramatic gothic-inspired ensembles in keeping with the series' theme.

Emma Bunton and Tom Fletcher shared emotional tributes to stage school pioneer Sylvia Young, following her death at the age of 86.

Earlier this month, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise settled its antitrust case with the U.S. Justice Department, "paving the way for its acquisition of rival kit maker Juniper Networks" for $14 billion. According to Axios, the deal was heavily influenced by national security concerns and a desire to bolster American competition against China's Huawei. The outlet reports that the U.S. intelligence community "intervened to persuade the Justice Department that allowing the merger to proceed was essential to helping U.S. business compete with China's Huawei Technologies, among other national-security issues." From the report: "In light of significant national security concerns, a settlement ... serves the interests of the United States by strengthening domestic capabilities and is critical to countering Huawei and China." The official said blocking the deal would have "hindered American companies and empowered" Chinese competitors. A Justice Department spokesman added that DOJ "works very closely with our partners in the IC [intelligence community] and always considers their views when deciding how best to proceed with a case." The merger was back in the news this week with reports that two senior enforcers in the DOJ's antitrust division were fired Monday amid infighting over the department's settlement greenlighting HPE's $14 billion acquisition of Juniper. Attorney General Pam Bondi had conversations with top intelligence officials that convinced her there was a strong national interest in not driving allies to Chinese technology, a senior administration official tells us.

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Before Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty made the shock decision to end their marriage, they purchased a derelict house in Hampstead, north London for £5million in 2023.

Sayed Hussein Makke has mourned members of Hezbollah and attended the funeral of the terrorist group's leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The comedian, 37, reportedly had a short-lived romance with model Selina Christoforou, and she gave birth to a son named Rudi in January 2024.

Danville City councilman Lee Vogler, 38, was set alight while at his office at Showcase Magazine at around 11.30am on Wednesday.

A shocking discovery near Cuba has led many people to believe the lost city of Atlantis has been found, but the findings are being completely ignored.

Henry Cole, 61, told how he now has 20 sheds crammed with hundreds of items including petrol pumps, vintage motorbikes and even a partially restored helicopter.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday she would not run for governor of California.

A Scottish MP has been condemned for 'despicable' comments justifying Hamas holding innocent Israelis hostage as it's 'the only bargaining power' the terror group has left.

LIVE UPDATES: One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off Russia's Far East Wednesday, sending tsunami waves into Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: In a rare move, Google has confirmed it will sign the European Union's AI Code of Practice, a framework it initially opposed for being too harsh. However, Google isn't totally on board with Europe's efforts to rein in the AI explosion. The company's head of global affairs, Kent Walker, noted that the code could stifle innovation if it's not applied carefully, and that's something Google hopes to prevent. While Google was initially opposed to the Code of Practice, Walker says the input it has provided to the European Commission has been well-received, and the result is a legal framework it believes can provide Europe with access to "secure, first-rate AI tools." The company claims that the expansion of such tools on the continent could boost the economy by 8 percent (about 1.8 trillion euros) annually by 2034. These supposed economic gains are being dangled like bait to entice business interests in the EU to align with Google on the Code of Practice. While the company is signing the agreement, it appears interested in influencing the way it is implemented. Walker says Google remains concerned that tightening copyright guidelines and forced disclosure of possible trade secrets could slow innovation. Having a seat at the table could make it easier to bend the needle of regulation than if it followed some of its competitors in eschewing voluntary compliance. [...] The AI Code of Practice aims to provide AI firms with a bit more certainty in the face of a shifting landscape. It was developed with the input of more than 1,000 citizen groups, academics, and industry experts. The EU Commission says companies that adopt the voluntary code will enjoy a lower bureaucratic burden, easing compliance with the block's AI Act, which came into force last year. Under the terms of the code, Google will have to publish summaries of its model training data and disclose additional model features to regulators. The code also includes guidance on how firms should manage safety and security in compliance with the AI Act. Likewise, it includes paths to align a company's model development with EU copyright law as it pertains to AI, a sore spot for Google and others. Companies like Meta that don't sign the code will not escape regulation. All AI companies operating in Europe will have to abide by the AI Act, which includes the most detailed regulatory framework for generative AI systems in the world. The law bans high-risk uses of AI like intentional deception or manipulation of users, social scoring systems, and real-time biometric scanning in public spaces. Companies that violate the rules in the AI Act could be hit with fines as high as 35 million euros ($40.1 million) or up to 7 percent of the offender's global revenue.

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The US president also hints at an extra penalty for New Delhi over trade with Russia

world war fee  Just as signs pointed to a slight easing in global trade tensions, US President Donald Trump opened a new front in his trade offensive, this time with a 25 percent tariff on goods from India.…

The US President made the comments on Air Force One as he travelled back to Washington DC following his five-day visit to Scotland.

It looks great paired with some blue jeans!

The children tragically lost their lives after getting into trouble while swimming in the water off Llarga beach in Salou, Tarragona, on Tuesday night.

Newly released footage captured a figure moving in the woods of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which featured a dome-shaped head and 'moved too smoothly to be human.'

As images of starving children in Gaza flood the news and the death toll climbs, Melania Trump has pushed President Trump to reject Israel's denial of a hunger crisis.