Plus: Inside the courtroom as Assange was set free, and 'my friend, the emperor' ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
| Hello. Boeing's Starliner hasn't returned from the International Space Station on schedule. Pallab Ghosh explains why. Back on Earth, a tiny island in the Pacific played host to courtroom drama, as Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was set free. Jonathan Head describes the scene - and I'd encourage you to click through for Jonathan's poignant observations of his previous trip there, with the former Japanese Emperor Akihito. We also have a fascinating tale about the emperor's successor, Naruhito, who has been revisiting old haunts in the UK. | |
|
|
|
|
|
QUESTIONS ANSWERED | The glitch delaying the astronauts' return |
|
| | Nasa has stressed the astronauts are neither stranded nor in danger. Credit: Nasa | Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were due to return to Earth on Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft on Wednesday. But instead they remain on the International Space Station to allow for investigations into technical issues with the vessel, which had developed problems ahead of the test flight. |
|
| | Pallab Ghosh, science correspondent |
|
| What went wrong? | Starliner was launched on 5 June despite there being a small leak of helium gas. Helium is used to push propellent to the thruster systems used for manoeuvring in space and slowing down to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The leak was extremely small and engineers believed that it would not affect the mission. | How have things gone since? | Four further helium leaks developed during the mission and five of its 28 manoeuvring thrusters cut out during the approach to the space station, four of which were restarted. The return date was postponed as engineers investigated the issues. Nasa had earlier stated in a blog post that the leaks posed no safety risk to the astronauts because: "Only seven hours of free-flight time is needed to perform a normal end of mission, and Starliner currently has enough helium left in its tanks to support 70 hours." | So, why the delay? | Nasa stated that flight engineers wanted to study the spacecraft to get to the bottom of the faults before it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. That's because while the crew capsule will parachute to the ground, Starliner’s faulty lower "service module" will burn up upon re-entry, meaning the loss of some information on what went wrong. | | Watch: Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore arrived at the International Space Station on 6 June - and made quite the entrance. Starliner: Want to know more about the spacecraft? Read our guide. In case you missed it: Read science editor Rebecca Morelle's InDepth analysis of the new space race to claim a piece of the Moon. | |
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands |
|
| Sleepy Saipan witnesses history | | The Wikileaks founder didn't speak to reporters as he left court. Credit: Reuters | Julian Assange has spent his first night in Australia since admitting a charge related to publishing secret military information as part a deal to set him free. He had entered his guilty plea in the Northern Mariana Islands, at the furthest district court from Washington. |
|
| | | The sleek, marble district courthouse in Saipan could be anywhere in the US, but for the officials who welcomed us in their bright, flowery shirts. Warm ocean breezes coming off the Pacific rustled the leaves of the flame trees whose flowers blaze against soft green grass. Inside the courtroom though it was all business. Even Assange, whose appearance has taken some wild turns over the past 14 years, had smartened up, tightening his rumpled brown tie and sporting a black jacket.
Judge Ramona Manglona, who was hearing what must have been the biggest case of her career, would not be rushed. She picked over each detail of the deal the Wikileaks founder had struck with US government prosecutors to end their long legal battle, repeatedly checking that he was happy with what he had agreed. At times looking a little nervous he responded firmly to every question that yes, he was happy. There was little of the bravado he had shown in his former years. Both Julian Assange and the prosecutors appeared worn down by their long feud, and anxious to get to the end of the hearing. |
|
| | Press conference: After their reunion on Australian soil, Assange's wife, Stella, said he had wanted to be there to thank supporters but needed time to recuperate. | Policy shift: Australia turned its back on Assange. Time made him a martyr, writes Tiffanie Turnbull, from Sydney. |
|
|
|
|
THE BIG PICTURE | My college friend, the Japanese prince |
|
| | | Keith George (right), now a lawyer in West Virginia, has stayed in touch with the now emperor (second left). Credit: Kyodo | Many of us look back on our student days with fondness: a time of freedom and friendship. Emperor Naruhito has stepped down memory lane by visiting his old haunts at Oxford University on his state trip to the UK. One of his close college friends tells us what life was like next door to the young prince. |
|
| |
|
|
FOR YOUR DOWNTIME | History, rewritten for TV | The tale of Lady Jane Grey has inspired a new series but it's more fantasy than fact. | |
|
| |
|
|
And finally... in the UK | On Worthy Farm in the English countryside, the gates have been thrown open for the world-famous Glastonbury Festival, which runs for the next few days. It's known as much for its madness as its music. So it seems apt that Canadian country legend Shania Twain wants to borrow one of the farmyard animals on which to make a big entrance for her Sunday set. | |
|
|
|
|
|
Medal Moments | Your daily newsletter guide to the Paris Olympics, from global highlights to heroic stories, throughout the Games. | |
|
| |
|
|
MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS | The Essential List: The week's best stories, handpicked by BBC editors, in your inbox twice a week. Subscribe. | In History: The past comes to life through the BBC's unique audio, video and written archive, each Thursday. Subscribe. | US Election Unspun: Cut through the noise in the race for the White House, every Wednesday. Subscribe. | |
|
|
|
Thanks, as ever, for reading. Send us what you think of this newsletter. We read everything, even when we don’t have the time to reply. And feel free to send it to your friends and family, who can subscribe by clicking this link. Also, you can add newsbriefing@email.bbc.com to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading!
– Andy | | | | |
|
| | You've received this email because you've signed up to the BBC News Briefing newsletter. Click here to unsubscribe To find out how we use your data, see the BBC Privacy Policy. BBC Studios Distribution Limited. Registered Number: 01420028 England Registered office: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FA, United Kingdom | |
|
|
|
|
|
|