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Trump taps Michelle Bowman to be US Fed vice chair for supervision
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Jury deliberates US pipeline case with free speech implications
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European star-gazing agency says Chile green power plant will ruin its view
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Carney says Canada 'too reliant on US' on UK, France trip
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Starbucks ordered to pay $50m for hot tea spill
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Talks on divisive deep-sea mining resume in Jamaica
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Astronauts finally to return after unexpected 9-month ISS stay
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Trump veers towards courts clash over migrant flights
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M23 shuns DR Congo peace talks at 11th hour after sanctions
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Man Utd defy fan groups with five percent season ticket rise
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Huthis report new US strikes after major rallies in rebel-held Yemen
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UN chief meets rival Cyprus leaders ahead of talks
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Messi out injured as Argentina seek to seal World Cup place
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New blow to German auto sector as Audi announces job cuts
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New Canada PM meets King Charles and Macron after Trump threats
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Conan O'Brien tapped to host Oscars again
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Hong Kong property tycoon Lee Shau-kee dies aged 97
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EU vows 2.5 bn euros to help Syrians after Assad ouster
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'Anti-American'? US questions UN agencies, international aid groups
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Trump claims Biden pardons of his opponents are void
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N.Macedonia mourns 59 killed in nightclub blaze
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West Ham's Antonio '100 percent' sure he will play again after car crash
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Major rallies in rebel-held Yemen after deadly US strikes
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Webb telescope directly observes exoplanet CO2 for first time
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Trump to visit top US arts venue after takeover
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McIlroy wins second Players Championship title in playoff
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Stench of death as Sudan army, paramilitaries battle for capital
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Trump and Zelensky's stormy ties: From impeachment to truce proposal
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McIlroy wins Players Championship title in playoff
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'More and faster': UN calls to shrink buildings' carbon footprint
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Plastic pellets spotted in water after North Sea ship crash
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US retail sales weaker than expected as consumer health under scrutiny
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After ending Man Utd goal drought, Hojlund admits struggles
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African players in Europe: Brilliant Marmoush strikes for City
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Liverpool face uncertain future even as Premier League glory beckons
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Court upholds £3 bn lifeline for UK's top water supplier
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New Canada PM seeks 'reliable' Europe allies after Trump threats
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Putin, Trump to discuss Ukraine Tuesday
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OECD lowers global growth projections over tariffs, uncertainty
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N.Macedonia mourns dozens killed in nightclub blaze
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EU warns Trump's freeze of US-funded media risks aiding enemies
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Russians speak of nerves and hope for peace as they shelter in Kursk
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Yemen's Huthis claim US aircraft carrier attacks
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At least 40 killed in weekend US tornadoes
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Peruvian farmer demands 'climate justice' from German energy giant
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From determination to despair: S.Africa's youth battling for work
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Designer Jonathan Anderson leaves Spanish brand Loewe
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UK energy minister in Beijing seeks to press China on emissions
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South Korea coach takes swipe at Bayern Munich over Kim injury
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Gauls on tour: Asterix does Portugal for 41st comic

Musk says Starship to depart for Mars at end of 2026
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Saturday its massive Starship rocket would leave for Mars at the end of 2026 with Tesla humanoid robot Optimus onboard, adding that human landings could follow "as soon as 2029."
"Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely," Musk said on his X social network.
Musk, who is also the Tesla CEO, brought out the company's Optimus robots at an event last year.
He said the dancing robots would one day be able to do menial tasks, as well as offer friendship, and expected them to retail for $20,000 to $30,000.
Starship -- the world's largest and most powerful rocket -- is key to Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars.
Standing 403 feet (123 meters) tall -- about 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty -- Starship is designed to eventually be fully reusable.
NASA is also awaiting a modified version of Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade.
But before SpaceX can carry out those missions, it must prove the vehicle is reliable, safe for crew, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling -- critical for deep space missions.
- Setback -
SpaceX faced a setback this month when its latest test flight of the Starship prototype ended in a fiery explosion, even as the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test.
It was a near replay of the previous attempt.
Minutes after liftoff and booster separation, a live video feed showed the upper stage tumbling uncontrollably before the signal abruptly cut.
Dramatic footage circulating online showed red-hot debris raining down over the Bahamas.
It marked its eighth uncrewed orbital test.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said SpaceX will be required to conduct an investigation before it can fly again.
Despite the setback, SpaceX's "fail fast, learn fast" approach has helped it become the world's dominant launch services provider.
But Musk's status as one of President Donald Trump's closest advisors, and his influence over federal regulators, are raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
During Joe Biden's presidency, Musk frequently clashed with the FAA, accusing it of over-regulating SpaceX over safety and environmental concerns.
Trump vowed in his inauguration speech in January "to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars."
C.Cassis--PC