The International Space Station&nbsp;(ISS) has been&nbsp;leaking&nbsp;air&nbsp;in above-normal volumes since September 2019.

The crew on the ISS have been searching for the air leak since August, but they finally found it&nbsp;using floating tea leaves which led them towards a scratch near the walls from which air was escaping.

To detect the&nbsp;elusive air leak, a cosmonaut called Anatoly Ivanishin released tea leaves to float freely in the station's Russian segment and let them be their guide.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-reports-non-standard-air-leak-on-space-station-but-theres-no-danger-to-crew-331274">Russia reports 'non-standard' air leak on space station. But there's no danger to crew</a>

The crew members sealed the chambers by closing hatches and observed the tea leaves as floated around in microgravity.

Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, said in a statement that after analysis and a search for the leak "it was established that the spot is located in the Zvezda (star) service module, which contains scientific equipment."

The leak has been fixed&nbsp;temporarily by patching it with <a href="https://www.vesti.ru/article/2474302?utm_source=yxnews&amp;utm_medium=mobilebile">Kapton tape</a> but it may not hold for long.

Usually,&nbsp;the leak is identified by a machine used to measure the amount of&nbsp;nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the station.&nbsp;The process is something that has been taught to the crew members during their training and is considered to be in the&nbsp;on-board documentation.

The incident came&nbsp;after astronauts in 2018 found a hole in the wall of a Russian-made Soyuz space capsule docked onto the ISS.

The International Space Station (ISS) has been leaking air in above-normal volumes since September 2019. The crew on the ISS have been searching for the air leak since August, but they finally found it using floating tea leaves which led them towards a scratch near the walls from which air was escaping.

The International Space Station (ISS) has been leaking air in above-normal volumes since September 2019. The crew on the ISS have been searching for the air leak since August, but they finally found it using floating tea leaves which led them towards a scratch near the walls from which air was escaping. To detect the elusive air leak, a cosmonaut called Anatoly Ivanishin released tea leaves to float freely in the station's Russian segment and let them be their guide. Also read: Russia reports 'non-standard' air leak on space station. But there's no danger to crew The crew members sealed the chambers by closing hatches and observed the tea leaves as floated around in microgravity. Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, said in a statement that after analysis and a search for the leak "it was established that the spot is located in the Zvezda (star) service module, which contains scientific equipment." The leak has been fixed temporarily by patching it with Kapton tape but it may not hold for long. Usually, the leak is identified by a machine used to measure the amount of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the station. The process is something that has been taught to the crew members during their training and is considered to be in the on-board documentation. The incident came after astronauts in 2018 found a hole in the wall of a Russian-made Soyuz space capsule docked onto the ISS.

International Space Station finds elusive air leak using floating tea leaves

A first-of-its-kind near-Earth mission launched by US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will briefly touch down an asteroid called Bennu on Tuesday.

The American spacecraft is going to lower itself and manoeuvre for a 'high-five' and deliver a squirt of gas to stir up the surface.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="426" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gtUgarROs08" width="756"></iframe>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-osiris-rex-all-set-to-grab-a-piece-of-asteroid-bennu-336579" hreflang="en">NASA's Osiris-Rex all set to grab a piece of asteroid Bennu</a>

It can be watched live on October 20 at around 3:12 p.m. on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/">NASA TV</a>&nbsp;and will also post it on the agency's website.

Lockheed Martin, who had built the&nbsp;robot explorer will also stream the daring mission live.

The main goal collect of the mission is to carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years.&nbsp;

It is also expected to&nbsp;shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide.

The&nbsp;first-of-its-kind near-Earth asteroid mission had blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 8, 2016.

A first-of-its-kind near-Earth mission launched by US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will briefly touch down an asteroid called Bennu on Tuesday.

A first-of-its-kind near-Earth mission launched by US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will briefly touch down an asteroid called Bennu on Tuesday. The American spacecraft is going to lower itself and manoeuvre for a 'high-five' and deliver a squirt of gas to stir up the surface. Also read: NASA's Osiris-Rex all set to grab a piece of asteroid Bennu It can be watched live on October 20 at around 3:12 p.m. on NASA TV and will also post it on the agency's website. Lockheed Martin, who had built the robot explorer will also stream the daring mission live. The main goal collect of the mission is to carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years. It is also expected to shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide. The first-of-its-kind near-Earth asteroid mission had blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 8, 2016.

NASA's Osiris-Rex poised to grab a piece of asteroid Bennu: How to watch live

In a first, NASA's van-size asteroid chaser Osiris-Rex probe&nbsp;is going to attempt the audacious task of grabbing a piece of asteroid Bennu.

The event marks a potential boon for science, exploration, and the comprehension of the solar system.

It can be watched live on October 20 at around 3:12 p.m. on <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/">NASA TV</a> and will also post it on the agency's website.

The American spacecraft is going to lower itself and manoeuvre for a 'high-five' and deliver a squirt of gas to stir up the surface.

The main goal collect of the mission is to carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years.&nbsp;

It is also expected to&nbsp;shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide.

The&nbsp;first-of-its-kind near-Earth asteroid mission had blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 8, 2016.

The robot explorer has been built by Lockheed Martin to carry out the seven-year, $1 billion mission to and from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

In a first, NASA's van-size asteroid chaser Osiris-Rex probe is going to attempt the audacious task of grabbing a piece of asteroid Bennu. The event marks a potential boon for science, exploration, and the comprehension of the solar system.

In a first, NASA's van-size asteroid chaser Osiris-Rex probe is going to attempt the audacious task of grabbing a piece of asteroid Bennu. The event marks a potential boon for science, exploration, and the comprehension of the solar system. It can be watched live on October 20 at around 3:12 p.m. on NASA TV and will also post it on the agency's website. The American spacecraft is going to lower itself and manoeuvre for a 'high-five' and deliver a squirt of gas to stir up the surface. The main goal collect of the mission is to carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years. It is also expected to shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide. The first-of-its-kind near-Earth asteroid mission had blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 8, 2016. The robot explorer has been built by Lockheed Martin to carry out the seven-year, $1 billion mission to and from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

NASA's Osiris-Rex all set to grab a piece of asteroid Bennu

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his country will remove&nbsp;Sudan&nbsp;from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as soon as Khartoum sets aside the $335 million it has agreed to pay to American victims of militant attacks and their families.

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GREAT news! New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 MILLION to U.S. terror victims and families. Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1318251010595303424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The move is being considered&nbsp;a landmark boost for the civilian-backed government as it turns the page on the nation's decades as an international pariah.

Sudan&nbsp;is one of four nations branded by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism, along with Iran, North Korea, and Syria, severely impeding economic development, with few major foreign investors willing to run afoul of US laws.

Sudan's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism dates to its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir, who had welcomed Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden as he imposed a brand of political Islamism on the country.

Many in&nbsp;Sudan&nbsp;say the designation, imposed in 1993 because Washington believed Bashir was supporting militant groups, has become outdated since he was removed last year and&nbsp;Sudan&nbsp;has long cooperated on counterterrorism.

The conflict-ridden nation experienced a historic shift last year as Bashir was ousted in the face of youth-led street protests and a civilian-backed transitional government was later installed.

Trump's announcement marks "the strongest support to&nbsp;Sudan's transition to democracy and to the Sudanese people," said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a reform-minded economist and face of the government that will rule until 2022 elections.

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his country will remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as soon as Khartoum sets aside the $335 million it has agreed to pay to American victims of militant attacks and their families.

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his country will remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as soon as Khartoum sets aside the $335 million it has agreed to pay to American victims of militant attacks and their families. GREAT news! New government of Sudan, which is making great progress, agreed to pay $335 MILLION to U.S. terror victims and families. Once deposited, I will lift Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. At long last, JUSTICE for the American people and BIG step for Sudan! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 19, 2020 × The move is being considered a landmark boost for the civilian-backed government as it turns the page on the nation's decades as an international pariah. Sudan is one of four nations branded by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism, along with Iran, North Korea, and Syria, severely impeding economic development, with few major foreign investors willing to run afoul of US laws. Sudan's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism dates to its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir, who had welcomed Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden as he imposed a brand of political Islamism on the country. Many in Sudan say the designation, imposed in 1993 because Washington believed Bashir was supporting militant groups, has become outdated since he was removed last year and Sudan has long cooperated on counterterrorism. The conflict-ridden nation experienced a historic shift last year as Bashir was ousted in the face of youth-led street protests and a civilian-backed transitional government was later installed. Trump's announcement marks "the strongest support to Sudan's transition to democracy and to the Sudanese people," said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a reform-minded economist and face of the government that will rule until 2022 elections.

US to delist Sudan from state terrorism sponsors list in exchange of $335 million

Millennials are&nbsp;dissatisfied with democracy&nbsp;and more disillusioned than at any other time in the past century, the latest study by Cambridge University has revealed.

Millennials, or those born between 1981 and 1996, are more disillusioned than Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1981, or Baby Boomers born between 1944 and 1964 and the Interwar Generation of 1918-1943.

"Across the world, younger generations are not only more dissatisfied with democratic performance than the old, but also more discontented than previous generations at similar life stages," the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/system/files/youth_and_satisfaction_with_democracy.pdf">Cambridge study</a> found.

The condition&nbsp;is specifically&nbsp;bad in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, France, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

But satisfaction has increased in Germany, South Korea, and many of the post-Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The main reason behind the disillusion with democracy among young people is inequality of wealth and income, the report said, citing figures showing that&nbsp;Millennials make up around a quarter of the US&nbsp;population but hold just 3 per cent&nbsp;of the wealth. Baby Boomers held 21 per cent&nbsp;of the wealth at the same age.

The study suggested that the populist challenge to mainstream, "establishment" politics could actually help improve democratic engagement by shocking moderate parties and leaders into reversing the decay.

The Cambridge Centre for the Future of Democracy delved into data from over 4.8 million respondents collected across 160 countries between 1973 and 2020.

Millennials are dissatisfied with democracy and more disillusioned than at any other time in the past century, the latest study by Cambridge University has revealed.

Millennials are dissatisfied with democracy and more disillusioned than at any other time in the past century, the latest study by Cambridge University has revealed. Millennials, or those born between 1981 and 1996, are more disillusioned than Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1981, or Baby Boomers born between 1944 and 1964 and the Interwar Generation of 1918-1943. "Across the world, younger generations are not only more dissatisfied with democratic performance than the old, but also more discontented than previous generations at similar life stages," the Cambridge study found. The condition is specifically bad in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, France, Australia, and the United Kingdom. But satisfaction has increased in Germany, South Korea, and many of the post-Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The main reason behind the disillusion with democracy among young people is inequality of wealth and income, the report said, citing figures showing that Millennials make up around a quarter of the US population but hold just 3 per cent of the wealth. Baby Boomers held 21 per cent of the wealth at the same age. The study suggested that the populist challenge to mainstream, "establishment" politics could actually help improve democratic engagement by shocking moderate parties and leaders into reversing the decay. The Cambridge Centre for the Future of Democracy delved into data from over 4.8 million respondents collected across 160 countries between 1973 and 2020.

Study shows millennials' dissatisfied with democracy

A&nbsp;globe-shaped bar from&nbsp;Adolf Hitler's personal yacht&nbsp;Aviso Grille&nbsp;is up for sale after being kept in a barn for 70 years.

The aluminum structure with Art Deco brass faucet is expected to fetch $250,000 in an auction to be held on October 29 by&nbsp;Alexander Historical Auctions.

A spokesman at the auction house said ''The bar, fittingly, resembles the "world" which Hitler hoped to conquer.''

''This is simply a fantastic relic, symbolic of the false grandeur and excesses of Hitler's 'Hundred Year Reich','' he added.

The hemispheres are arranged in such a manner that the bar guests see the Earth cross-cut by longitudinal and latitudinal lines.

The bar was used by&nbsp;Hitler to host Italy's leader Benito Mussolini, German military chief Hermann Goering, Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, and his deputy Rudolph Hess.

It comes along with five bar stools with padded seats, each is 33 inches in height.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;bar set comes with a notarized Letter of Provenance from the owner who describes the circumstances of its purchase.&nbsp;

Previously, the sale of Nazi or Hitler-related products proved to be controversial because of which leading auction house Sotheby's and online site eBay had curbed or cancelled the sale of such memerobilia.

A globe-shaped bar from Adolf Hitler's personal yacht Aviso Grille is up for sale after being kept in a barn for 70 years. The aluminum structure with Art Deco brass faucet is expected to fetch $250,000 in an auction to be held on October 29 by Alexander Historical Auctions.

A globe-shaped bar from Adolf Hitler's personal yacht Aviso Grille is up for sale after being kept in a barn for 70 years. The aluminum structure with Art Deco brass faucet is expected to fetch $250,000 in an auction to be held on October 29 by Alexander Historical Auctions. A spokesman at the auction house said ''The bar, fittingly, resembles the "world" which Hitler hoped to conquer.'' ''This is simply a fantastic relic, symbolic of the false grandeur and excesses of Hitler's 'Hundred Year Reich','' he added. The hemispheres are arranged in such a manner that the bar guests see the Earth cross-cut by longitudinal and latitudinal lines. The bar was used by Hitler to host Italy's leader Benito Mussolini, German military chief Hermann Goering, Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, and his deputy Rudolph Hess. It comes along with five bar stools with padded seats, each is 33 inches in height. The bar set comes with a notarized Letter of Provenance from the owner who describes the circumstances of its purchase. Previously, the sale of Nazi or Hitler-related products proved to be controversial because of which leading auction house Sotheby's and online site eBay had curbed or cancelled the sale of such memerobilia.

Adolf Hitler's globe-shaped bar is up for sale

October 20 in history: China ignites Sino-Indian war, opening of the Sydney Opera House and more

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is allegedly&nbsp;mulling to resign after six&nbsp;months due to low salary.

According to British daily tabloid '<a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-plans-resign-next-22863780">The Daily Mirror</a>', Johnson earns approximately&nbsp;$1,95,000, that is,&nbsp;£1,50,400 and he plans on resigning to leave office as soon as he gets Brexit done and navigating his country through the coronavirus pandemic.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-boris-johnson-unhappy-with-his-salary-336534/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The United Kingdom&nbsp;trying to forge a rudimentary free trade agreement with the European Union before the end of the year.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-to-change-provisions-in-internal-market-bill-to-bind-brexit-treaty-336313" hreflang="en">UK to change provisions in Internal Market Bill to bind Brexit treaty</a>

Some&nbsp;unnamed Tory MPs believe that the prime minister finds his salary underwhelming even in comparison to his previous occupation.

The article also suggest that&nbsp;Johnson believes that he cannot get past his predecessor Theressa May who resigned after the Brexit treaty got rejected.

Johnson is apparently jealous of May who has earned&nbsp;£1 million ($11,75,695)&nbsp;on the lecture circuit since quitting as the prime minister&nbsp;last year. He believes he can&nbsp;pull in at least double that.

He had earned $206885 in just two lectures&nbsp;two speeches in one month shortly before he became prime minister.

Previously, Johnson had a steady income of $30,000 per month and $355584 annually as a Daily Telegraph columnist.

He needs to pay ex-wife Marina Wheeler a significant part of his income as alimony and his 7-year-old son Wilfred still needs financial support.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is allegedly mulling to resign after six months due to low salary. According to British daily tabloid 'The Daily Mirror', Johnson earns approximately $1,95,000, that is, £1,50,400 and he plans on resigning to leave office as soon as he gets Brexit done and navigating his country through the coronavirus pandemic.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is allegedly mulling to resign after six months due to low salary. According to British daily tabloid 'The Daily Mirror', Johnson earns approximately $1,95,000, that is, £1,50,400 and he plans on resigning to leave office as soon as he gets Brexit done and navigating his country through the coronavirus pandemic. The United Kingdom trying to forge a rudimentary free trade agreement with the European Union before the end of the year. Also read: UK to change provisions in Internal Market Bill to bind Brexit treaty Some unnamed Tory MPs believe that the prime minister finds his salary underwhelming even in comparison to his previous occupation. The article also suggest that Johnson believes that he cannot get past his predecessor Theressa May who resigned after the Brexit treaty got rejected. Johnson is apparently jealous of May who has earned £1 million ($11,75,695) on the lecture circuit since quitting as the prime minister last year. He believes he can pull in at least double that. He had earned $206885 in just two lectures two speeches in one month shortly before he became prime minister. Previously, Johnson had a steady income of $30,000 per month and $355584 annually as a Daily Telegraph columnist. He needs to pay ex-wife Marina Wheeler a significant part of his income as alimony and his 7-year-old son Wilfred still needs financial support.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson mulling resignation due to low salary

Australia&nbsp;will take part in a large-scale military drill off the coast of India next month that will bring together a quartet of countries concerned by rising Chinese influence.&nbsp;

Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds late Monday said the exercise was about "demonstrating our collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific",&nbsp;a well-used allusion to countering China's authoritarian power.

Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-a-potential-force-to-counter-china-needs-to-move-beyond-symbolism-333019">Quad: A potential force to counter China needs to move beyond symbolism</a>

The drill comes at a time of diplomatic tensions between China and Australia, economic tensions between China and the United States and military tensions between China and India.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-countering-the-dragon-how-an-indo-pacific-alliance-is-taking-shape-336531/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

India, which holds the annual drills called Malabar with the US&nbsp;and Japanese navies each year, had&nbsp;invited Australia for next month's exercise in the Bay of Bengal, it said, in a sign of cooperation between the "Quad" countries.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-can-become-a-system-to-ensure-freedom-of-navigation-indias-chief-of-defence-staff-general-bipin-rawat-325051">Quad can become a system to ensure freedom of navigation: India's chief of Defence staff General Bipin Rawat</a>

"As India seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain and in the light of increased defence cooperation with Australia, Malabar 2020 will see the participation of the Australian Navy," the defence ministry said in a statement.

Australia will be returning to the joint manoeuvres after its participation in 2007, which drew criticism from China at the time.

Over the last few decades, China has tried to significantly increase influence in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, prompting acute concern in New Delhi.

The United States has been pushing for a deeper collaboration with Japan, India and Australia as a bulwark against China's growing regional influence.

Australia will take part in a large-scale military drill off the coast of India next month that will bring together a quartet of countries concerned by rising Chinese influence.

Australia will take part in a large-scale military drill off the coast of India next month that will bring together a quartet of countries concerned by rising Chinese influence. Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds late Monday said the exercise was about "demonstrating our collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific", a well-used allusion to countering China's authoritarian power. Also read| Quad: A potential force to counter China needs to move beyond symbolism The drill comes at a time of diplomatic tensions between China and Australia, economic tensions between China and the United States and military tensions between China and India. India, which holds the annual drills called Malabar with the US and Japanese navies each year, had invited Australia for next month's exercise in the Bay of Bengal, it said, in a sign of cooperation between the "Quad" countries. Also read| Quad can become a system to ensure freedom of navigation: India's chief of Defence staff General Bipin Rawat "As India seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain and in the light of increased defence cooperation with Australia, Malabar 2020 will see the participation of the Australian Navy," the defence ministry said in a statement. Australia will be returning to the joint manoeuvres after its participation in 2007, which drew criticism from China at the time. Over the last few decades, China has tried to significantly increase influence in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, prompting acute concern in New Delhi. The United States has been pushing for a deeper collaboration with Japan, India and Australia as a bulwark against China's growing regional influence.

Eyeing China, Australia accepts India's invitation to rejoin 'quad' drill naval exercises

High-level U.S. officials traveled recently to Syria for rare talks with the Assad government in an attempt to secure the release of American citizens held prisoner there, a high priority for the Trump administration, but there has been little apparent progress so far, officials said.

The secret US&nbsp;mission to Damascus in August focused on Austin Tice, a freelance journalist who was seized while reporting on the Syrian civil war in 2012, and Majd Kamalmaz, a psychotherapist who was taken in 2017. The trip was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by two U.S. officials with knowledge of American operations in the Middle East, including a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The senior official cautioned that the attempt was still in its early stages, and that the U.S. government did not have any recent proof that Tice, 39, was still alive. The Syrian government has not publicly acknowledged holding either him or Kamalmaz, 62, who is diabetic and requires regular medication, according to his family and the U.S. government.

Previous contacts by the United States about prisoners held by President Bashar Assad’s government have fizzled out, but his regime — which would like to see economic sanctions lifted and U.S. troops withdrawn from Syria — has much to gain, potentially, from improved relations with Washington. The Trump administration has secured the release of people held in several other countries in the Middle East, a goal of particular interest to the president.

In August, Kashyap Patel, the senior counterterrorism director at the National Security Council, and Roger D. Carstens, the State Department’s special envoy for hostage affairs, went to Damascus to meet with Ali Mamlouk, the head of Syria’s National Security Bureau intelligence service, U.S. officials said.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been minimal since the United States closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012 and ordered the closure of the Syrian Embassy in Washington in 2014. The U.S. has long labeled Syria, considered a pariah state by much of the world, as a sponsor of terrorism, and has imposed sanctions on the country and its officials for human rights violations before and during the war that began in 2011.

But in 2017, Mike Pompeo, then the CIA director, called Mamlouk to open back-channel communications on Tice. Washington then sent an intermediary to see Mamlouk, the officials said. They met for hours and the intermediary delivered an unsigned letter from the U.S. government.

But the effort was put on hold the next year, when the Syrian government launched a chemical attack on a rebel-held area, and the United States responded with missile strikes on Syrian targets. Weeks later, French authorities issued international arrest warrants for Mamlouk and other officials, in connection with torture, killings and war crimes.

In August 2018, the CIA sent a top agency official with expertise in the Middle East to meet Mamlouk in Damascus, where the official raised the case of Tice.

A year ago, Trump ordered the withdrawal of most of the U.S. troops in Syria, in effect ceding back to Assad territory that had been captured from the Islamic State. Critics questioned why the administration had not demanded anything from Syria in return, like the release of prisoners.

Tice, a Marine Corps veteran, was attending law school at Georgetown University when he decided to cover the war in Syria, where he wrote articles for several news organizations. His family has been outspoken about maintaining interest in his case and seeking his release, and said as recently as 2018 they were confident he was still alive.

“For years we have pushed for engagement between the U.S. and Syrian governments to help bring our son safely home, so we hope recent reports are accurate,” his parents, Marc and Debra Tice, said in a statement released Monday. “We are deeply grateful to everyone working for Austin’s safe return, and his continued absence shows there is more to be done.”

Kamalmaz, who was born in Syria and grew up in the United States, had established a mental health clinic in Lebanon for refugees from the Syrian war. He went to Syria to visit family members and was taken the day after he arrived.

High-level U.S. officials traveled recently to Syria for rare talks with the Assad government in an attempt to secure the release of American citizens held prisoner there, a high priority for the Trump administration, but there has been little apparent progress so far, officials said.

High-level U.S. officials traveled recently to Syria for rare talks with the Assad government in an attempt to secure the release of American citizens held prisoner there, a high priority for the Trump administration, but there has been little apparent progress so far, officials said. The secret US mission to Damascus in August focused on Austin Tice, a freelance journalist who was seized while reporting on the Syrian civil war in 2012, and Majd Kamalmaz, a psychotherapist who was taken in 2017. The trip was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by two U.S. officials with knowledge of American operations in the Middle East, including a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The senior official cautioned that the attempt was still in its early stages, and that the U.S. government did not have any recent proof that Tice, 39, was still alive. The Syrian government has not publicly acknowledged holding either him or Kamalmaz, 62, who is diabetic and requires regular medication, according to his family and the U.S. government. Previous contacts by the United States about prisoners held by President Bashar Assad’s government have fizzled out, but his regime — which would like to see economic sanctions lifted and U.S. troops withdrawn from Syria — has much to gain, potentially, from improved relations with Washington. The Trump administration has secured the release of people held in several other countries in the Middle East, a goal of particular interest to the president. In August, Kashyap Patel, the senior counterterrorism director at the National Security Council, and Roger D. Carstens, the State Department’s special envoy for hostage affairs, went to Damascus to meet with Ali Mamlouk, the head of Syria’s National Security Bureau intelligence service, U.S. officials said. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been minimal since the United States closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012 and ordered the closure of the Syrian Embassy in Washington in 2014. The U.S. has long labeled Syria, considered a pariah state by much of the world, as a sponsor of terrorism, and has imposed sanctions on the country and its officials for human rights violations before and during the war that began in 2011. But in 2017, Mike Pompeo, then the CIA director, called Mamlouk to open back-channel communications on Tice. Washington then sent an intermediary to see Mamlouk, the officials said. They met for hours and the intermediary delivered an unsigned letter from the U.S. government. But the effort was put on hold the next year, when the Syrian government launched a chemical attack on a rebel-held area, and the United States responded with missile strikes on Syrian targets. Weeks later, French authorities issued international arrest warrants for Mamlouk and other officials, in connection with torture, killings and war crimes. In August 2018, the CIA sent a top agency official with expertise in the Middle East to meet Mamlouk in Damascus, where the official raised the case of Tice. A year ago, Trump ordered the withdrawal of most of the U.S. troops in Syria, in effect ceding back to Assad territory that had been captured from the Islamic State. Critics questioned why the administration had not demanded anything from Syria in return, like the release of prisoners. Tice, a Marine Corps veteran, was attending law school at Georgetown University when he decided to cover the war in Syria, where he wrote articles for several news organizations. His family has been outspoken about maintaining interest in his case and seeking his release, and said as recently as 2018 they were confident he was still alive. “For years we have pushed for engagement between the U.S. and Syrian governments to help bring our son safely home, so we hope recent reports are accurate,” his parents, Marc and Debra Tice, said in a statement released Monday. “We are deeply grateful to everyone working for Austin’s safe return, and his continued absence shows there is more to be done.” Kamalmaz, who was born in Syria and grew up in the United States, had established a mental health clinic in Lebanon for refugees from the Syrian war. He went to Syria to visit family members and was taken the day after he arrived.

High-level US mission to Syria sought release of American prisoners

Back in 2015, students in Maggie Samudio’s second-grade class at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette, Indiana, were contemplating an offbeat science question: If a firefly went to space, would it still be able to light up as it floated in zero gravity?

Samudio said she would ask a friend of hers, Steven Collicott, an aerospace professor at nearby Purdue University, for the answer.

“He teaches a class on zero gravity, and he would be the perfect person to answer the question,” Samudio recalled in an email.

A day later, Collicott replied, and Samudio was surprised by his answer: Instead of guessing, why not actually build the experiment and send it to space?

Blue Origin, the rocket company started by Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon, was planning to offer the ability for schools to fly small experiments on its New Shepard suborbital spacecraft for as little as $8,000.

“That is a game-changer,” said Erika Wagner, the payload sales director at Blue Origin. “Kids as young as elementary school are flying things to space.”

Collicott, who had sent several fluid flow experiments on New Shepard launches, pointed Samudio and her second-graders to Blue Origin.

“For the small payload 4 inches square by 8 inches tall, we’re able to fly that for half the cost of high school football uniforms,” Collicott said. “So really any school district now that affords football can afford spaceflight.”

Cumberland Elementary has not been the only school to see the value of paying for an experiment aboard the New Shepard rocket. A Montessori middle school in Colorado sent up a sensor package designed and programmed by the students. An Alabama high school launched an experiment to test temperature fluctuations in microgravity. And this past December, an elementary school in Ohio sent up baby jellyfish.

On board for the latest flight, which launched last Tuesday, were 1.2 million tomato seeds, which will be distributed to students in 15,000 classes, kindergarten through high school, across the United States and Canada.

Following Collicott’s suggestion, Samudio’s children at Cumberland got to work, collaborating with Purdue students in Collicott’s classes.

“For the next two years, I had aeronautical engineers in my second-grade classroom teaching mini-lessons on basic principles of flight and propulsion as well as the basic principles of ‘firefly’ chemistry,” Samudio said.

On Dec. 12, 2017, the firefly experiment was on board New Shepard. It did not contain any actual fireflies. “It appears when scared, fireflies don’t light up,” Collicott said. “And we were concerned that the boost would scare them. And then there are also issues of I don’t know how to keep fireflies alive and keep them happy.”

Instead, the apparatus replicated the chemistry of how fireflies generate light, with syringes mixing the glow-creating substances together as the capsule reached the top of the trajectory more than 60 miles above West Texas. A tiny video camera recorded what happened in the payload box.

Collicott attended the launching, and two days later, was back in Samudio’s classroom presenting the results.

Fireflies can indeed glow in space.

“That kind of turnaround is just amazing, that spaceflight to these students is not distant,” Collicott said. “It happens fast. It’s kind of cool.”

The space experiment wrapped into a larger project undertaken by Samudio’s classes. One of her students, Kayla Xu, had noted with distress that most states had a state insect, and Indiana did not; she wanted to fix that.

That effort succeeded, too. On March 23, 2018, Gov. Eric Holcomb went to Cumberland Elementary School to sign a bill that declared the Say’s firefly, a species native to the area, the state insect of Indiana.

“Several parents told me that the simple question of asking their child what they had done in school that day exploded into amazing family conversations, extra reading and research, and the contemplation of future personal pursuits and goals,” Samudio said.

Back in 2015, students in Maggie Samudio’s second-grade class at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette, Indiana, were contemplating an offbeat science question: If a firefly went to space, would it still be able to light up as it floated in zero gravity?

Back in 2015, students in Maggie Samudio’s second-grade class at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette, Indiana, were contemplating an offbeat science question: If a firefly went to space, would it still be able to light up as it floated in zero gravity? Samudio said she would ask a friend of hers, Steven Collicott, an aerospace professor at nearby Purdue University, for the answer. “He teaches a class on zero gravity, and he would be the perfect person to answer the question,” Samudio recalled in an email. A day later, Collicott replied, and Samudio was surprised by his answer: Instead of guessing, why not actually build the experiment and send it to space? Blue Origin, the rocket company started by Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon, was planning to offer the ability for schools to fly small experiments on its New Shepard suborbital spacecraft for as little as $8,000. “That is a game-changer,” said Erika Wagner, the payload sales director at Blue Origin. “Kids as young as elementary school are flying things to space.” Collicott, who had sent several fluid flow experiments on New Shepard launches, pointed Samudio and her second-graders to Blue Origin. “For the small payload 4 inches square by 8 inches tall, we’re able to fly that for half the cost of high school football uniforms,” Collicott said. “So really any school district now that affords football can afford spaceflight.” Cumberland Elementary has not been the only school to see the value of paying for an experiment aboard the New Shepard rocket. A Montessori middle school in Colorado sent up a sensor package designed and programmed by the students. An Alabama high school launched an experiment to test temperature fluctuations in microgravity. And this past December, an elementary school in Ohio sent up baby jellyfish. On board for the latest flight, which launched last Tuesday, were 1.2 million tomato seeds, which will be distributed to students in 15,000 classes, kindergarten through high school, across the United States and Canada. Following Collicott’s suggestion, Samudio’s children at Cumberland got to work, collaborating with Purdue students in Collicott’s classes. “For the next two years, I had aeronautical engineers in my second-grade classroom teaching mini-lessons on basic principles of flight and propulsion as well as the basic principles of ‘firefly’ chemistry,” Samudio said. On Dec. 12, 2017, the firefly experiment was on board New Shepard. It did not contain any actual fireflies. “It appears when scared, fireflies don’t light up,” Collicott said. “And we were concerned that the boost would scare them. And then there are also issues of I don’t know how to keep fireflies alive and keep them happy.” Instead, the apparatus replicated the chemistry of how fireflies generate light, with syringes mixing the glow-creating substances together as the capsule reached the top of the trajectory more than 60 miles above West Texas. A tiny video camera recorded what happened in the payload box. Collicott attended the launching, and two days later, was back in Samudio’s classroom presenting the results. Fireflies can indeed glow in space. “That kind of turnaround is just amazing, that spaceflight to these students is not distant,” Collicott said. “It happens fast. It’s kind of cool.” The space experiment wrapped into a larger project undertaken by Samudio’s classes. One of her students, Kayla Xu, had noted with distress that most states had a state insect, and Indiana did not; she wanted to fix that. That effort succeeded, too. On March 23, 2018, Gov. Eric Holcomb went to Cumberland Elementary School to sign a bill that declared the Say’s firefly, a species native to the area, the state insect of Indiana. “Several parents told me that the simple question of asking their child what they had done in school that day exploded into amazing family conversations, extra reading and research, and the contemplation of future personal pursuits and goals,” Samudio said.

How a 2nd-grade class sent a science experiment to space

Residents of the town of Asbestos in the Canadian province of Quebec have voted to rename their community in a move to distance it from the once-ubiquitous mineral now recognized as being extremely poisonous and linked to lung and other cancers.

Asbestos, a town 100 kilometers&nbsp;from Montreal with a population of 6,700, is historically entwined with the nearby Jeffrey&nbsp;asbestos&nbsp;mine, which was active until 2012 and was the backbone of the local economy

But the town decided to change its name mostly for economic reasons, after years of losing the PR war ever since&nbsp;asbestos, fibrous crystal mineral often used as building insulation,&nbsp;was declared cancer-causing by the WHO in the 1980s.&nbsp;

"The word 'asbestos' unfortunately does not have a good connotation, particularly in English-speaking circles. It is an obstacle to the city's willingness to develop outside economic relations," the town said in November 2019 following the decision to rename itself.

The new name was unveiled at a special municipal council meeting that was streamed live on the town Facebook page.

"Not only will our town change its name, but we did it in a unique way," said Mayor Hugues Grimard.

Last week, Asbestrians aged 14 and up were asked to vote by ranking names in order of preference among six choices: Val-des-Sources, Azur-des-Cantons, Jeffrey-sur-le-Lac, Larochelle, Phenix, and Trois-Lacs.

The possible names were proposed by the residents and had to meet several criteria, such as the name had to be in French and had to illustrate "the history of the city, but without the direct&nbsp;asbestos&nbsp;connotation."

Asbestrians will officially become Valsourcians in December, once their choice has been ratified by the appropriate authorities, the mayor said.

Residents of the town of Asbestos in the Canadian province of Quebec have voted to rename their community in a move to distance it from the once-ubiquitous mineral now recognized as being extremely poisonous and linked to lung and other cancers.

Residents of the town of Asbestos in the Canadian province of Quebec have voted to rename their community in a move to distance it from the once-ubiquitous mineral now recognized as being extremely poisonous and linked to lung and other cancers. Asbestos, a town 100 kilometers from Montreal with a population of 6,700, is historically entwined with the nearby Jeffrey asbestos mine, which was active until 2012 and was the backbone of the local economy But the town decided to change its name mostly for economic reasons, after years of losing the PR war ever since asbestos, fibrous crystal mineral often used as building insulation, was declared cancer-causing by the WHO in the 1980s. "The word 'asbestos' unfortunately does not have a good connotation, particularly in English-speaking circles. It is an obstacle to the city's willingness to develop outside economic relations," the town said in November 2019 following the decision to rename itself. The new name was unveiled at a special municipal council meeting that was streamed live on the town Facebook page. "Not only will our town change its name, but we did it in a unique way," said Mayor Hugues Grimard. Last week, Asbestrians aged 14 and up were asked to vote by ranking names in order of preference among six choices: Val-des-Sources, Azur-des-Cantons, Jeffrey-sur-le-Lac, Larochelle, Phenix, and Trois-Lacs. The possible names were proposed by the residents and had to meet several criteria, such as the name had to be in French and had to illustrate "the history of the city, but without the direct asbestos connotation." Asbestrians will officially become Valsourcians in December, once their choice has been ratified by the appropriate authorities, the mayor said.

'For heaven rest us, we're not Asbestos': Canadian town chooses a new name

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