Actor Kevin Spacey charged with criminal charges in sexual assault case and 28 people killed in Kabul in attack by gunman
First pictures of Emirati princess released
The photographs of the Emirati princess, missing since March, have been released in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, daughter of the Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, went missing in March after she was allegedly seized by armed men off the Indian coastCf.
The UAE had denied all such reports saying that the princess was safe at home.
Its foreign ministry Monday released a statement and three low-resolution photographs of the princess with Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. This is the first time in the last 10 months that a photograph of the Dubai princess has been released.
The photos were dated 15 December and were said to have been made public with the consent of duo.
The UAE’s foreign ministry mentioned that it had sent a communique about princess to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of Special Procedures. The ruling family in Dubai requested the UNHCR for a visit in order to clarify the allegations.
“The documents respond to and rebut false allegations that have been made about Her Highness, providing evidence that she is alive and living with her family in Dubai,” the statement said.
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey charged with criminal charges in sexual assault case
Actor, singer, and producer Kevin Spacey has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenager at a bar in Massachusetts, BBC reports. The incident occured in July 2016, where Spacey allegedly tried to grope television news presenter Heather Unruh’s 18-year-old son.
Unruh publicly accused Spacey in November 2017.
On Monday, Spacey posted a video on his YouTube channel denying all accusations. “I’m certainly not going to pay the price for the things I didn’t do. You wouldn’t rush to judgments without facts,” he has said in the video.
Spacey has to appear in court on 7 January.
This is not the first time that Spacey is being investigated for sexual assault. According to the BBC, UK police is also investigating several allegations during the time when Spacey was an artistic director at London’s Old Vic theatre.
China launches satellite to provide global satellite internet
China has launched a satellite into low-earth orbit, which will provide global satellite internet to those who still do not have reliable access, reports Quartz.
The satellite Hongyun -1 or rainbow cloud was launched Saturday from China’s national launching site Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
With the help of the satellite, nearly 3.8 billion people will be connected to the internet, particularly those from the rural areas, the report says.
Astronaut calls NASA’s human mission to Mars ‘stupid’
Bill Anders, one of the first men to orbit the moon, has said that it’s stupid to plan human missions to Mars, reports BBC.
Anders’ statement comes as NASA is planning new human missions to the moon. It also wants to develop the technology to enable a future human landing on Mars.
Talking to BBC Radio 5 live, Anders also said that sending crews to Mars was almost ridiculous.
Questioning the missions, the 85-year-old said, “I don’t think the public is that interested”.
Gunmen raid in Kabul kills dozens
At least 28 people have been killed in the Afghan capital Kabul after gunmen raided a government building Monday, reports Al Jazeera.
The attack, which lasted seven hours, was initiated by a suicide bomber, who blew up his car outside the building of the National Authority for Disabled People and Martyrs’ Families.
“They opened fire on the people and killed them and then made their way to the ministry,” eyewitness Awal Khan Amiri told ToloNews.
The attack has turned out to be the biggest in Kabul since 18 November when the Taliban detonated a vehicle bomb outside the compound of British security firm G4S, which killed at least 10 people.
China will now be the second largest contributor to the UN budget
Starting from 2019, China will be the second largest contributor to United Nations regular budget, reported Xinhua News.
China rises to 2nd largest contributor to UN budget, surpassing Japan https://t.co/EzFZ1O1s8z pic.twitter.com/hHlcDSDQD8
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) December 24, 2018
According to the new resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly Saturday, for the 2019- 2021 period, China’s contribution will increase to 12.01 per cent.
From 2016-18 China’s contribution was 7.92 per cent. This will also result in the increase of its share from 10.24 per cent to 15.22 per cent. China will now surpass Japan, as Tokyo’s contribution will fall from 8.96 to 9.68 per cent.
The top contributor for the next three years will be again the United States.