NASA: The spacecraft will intentionally smash into the moonlet Didymos on Sept. 26, 2022, to see if this method of asteroid deflection --known as the kinetic impactor technique -- would be a viable way to protect our planet if an asteroid on a collision course with Earth were discovered in the future. read more
NASA is foregoing a launch opportunity Tuesday, Sept. 27, and preparing for rollback, while continuing to watch the weather forecast associated with Tropical Storm Ian. During a meeting Saturday morning, teams decided to stand down on preparing for the Tuesday launch date to allow them to configure systems for rolling back the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Engineers deferred a final decision about the roll to Sunday, Sept. 25, to allow for additional data gathering and analysis. If Artemis I managers elect to roll back, it would begin late Sunday night or early Monday morning. read more
Tesla is recalling nearly 1.1 million cars in the US because the windows might close too fast and pinch people's fingers. read more
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a surprise prisoner swap involving nearly 300 people, the largest since Moscow's invasion began nearly seven months ago. read more
Former President Donald Trump wants the government to split the cost of a special master, but the Department of Justice thinks he should foot the bill. Trump's team proposed "to split evenly the professional fees and expenses of the Special Master and any professionals, support staff, and expert consultants engaged at the Master's request." read more
The fate of the Soviet Union was finally sealed on 25 December 1991 with the resignation of its President, Mikhail S. Gorbachev.12 One day earlier, on 24 December 1991, the Permanent Representative of the USSR to the United Nations, Ambassador Y. Vorontsov, transmitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations a letter from the President of the Russian Federation, Boris N. Yeltsin, stating that:
the membership of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the United Nations, including the Security Council and all other organs and organizations of the United Nations system, is being continued by the Russian Federation (RSFSR) with the support of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In this connection, I request that the name `Russian Federation' should be used in the United Nations in place of the name `the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'. The Russian Federation maintains full responsibility for all the rights and obligations of the USSR under the Charter of the United Nations, including the financial obligations. I request that you consider this letter as confirmation of the credentials to represent the Russian Federation in United Nations organs for all the persons currently holding the credentials of representatives of the USSR to the United Nations.13
The Secretary-General thereupon circulated Mr. Yeltsin's request with Ambassador Vorontsov's cover letter among the UN membership, adding that he had `informed the President of the General Assembly and of the Security Council of these letters, as they relate to matters of interest to all organs and organizations of the United Nations system...'14
In the absence of any objection, the delegation of the Russian Federation took over the Soviet seat in the UN General Assembly, in the Security Council and in other organs of the United Nations, with the appropriate changes of the name-plates and flag having been undertaken by the UN Secretariat.
www.ejil.org
So there's that...
The predicted "above normal" hurricane season didn't materialize
I find that in itself rather interesting. Ian buzzed Venezuela and the ABC islands on the way... that is rather unusually far south.