Mars Orbiter Sends Breathtaking First Color Image

After two years of maneuvering, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is finally in position to start its primary science mission, and it began by sending back an incredible photo of the Martian surface.

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  • UK to quarantine visitors from nations with high COVID-19 risk, Daily Mail says

    Travelers from Brazil and South Africa, and neighbouring countries, will be met on arrival and escorted to hotels to quarantine, under plans being discussed by UK ministers, the Daily Mail said. Johnson favoured a more targeted approach than making all air passengers go into quarantine, said the report, which added that the quarantine decision would be taken on Monday.

  • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 'besotted' with new puppy that has helped them get over death of Lupo

    When their beloved cocker spaniel, Lupo, died last month, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were heartbroken. But their grief was tempered by the arrival of a new puppy, with whom the whole family is said to be “besotted.” The new cocker spaniel, whose name has not yet been revealed, was given to the family by the Duchess’s brother, James Middleton, before Lupo died. And ensuring it remains a family affair, the puppy is Lupo’s niece. Mr Middleton, 33, bred his first litter of puppies from his dog Ella in 2011. He kept one, called Luna, but gave her brother Lupo to the Duchess in early 2012 after the Duke deployed for six weeks to the Falkland Islands while serving as an RAF search and rescue pilot. Last summer, Mr Middleton, who at the time was staying with his parents at their Berkshire home, bred another litter of six puppies with Luna as their mother. The Cambridges, along with their children Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two, are said to have had the pick of the litter.

  • Tory who likened violent attack on US Capitol to second Brexit referendum campaign is new Welsh leader

    Andrew RT Davies faced calls to quit Senedd altogether just weeks ago - after widely-condemned tweet

  • Tougher travel restrictions on the way, Matt Hancock warns

    ‘The new variant I really worry about is the one that’s out there but hasn’t been spotted’

  • Global report: France warned of third lockdown, as Dutch protests turn violent

    Global report: France warned of third lockdown, as Dutch protests turn violent. Italy threatens legal action against Pfizer over vaccine supply; Israel to close all airports to most flights

  • Nicola Sturgeon taunts Boris Johnson as row blows up over SNP ‘roadmap’ to new Scottish independence vote

    A new poll says 49 per cent of people in Scotland back independence compared with 44 per cent against

  • Vaccinated people could still spread virus, warns Van-Tam

    The number receiving the first dose of the vaccine across the UK has passed 5.8 million.

  • Trump wants to set up ‘MAGA party’ to challenge Republicans who voted to impeach him, says report

    Fight likely to consume GOP’s energies for months – if not years

  • Scientist advising Government urges tougher lockdown

    Professor Susan Michie said current lockdown measures are ‘the problem’ and not people who aren’t sticking to the rules.

  • Dustin Poirier stuns Conor McGregor with emphatic UFC 257 stoppage win

    ‘The Diamond’ gained revenge for his brutal defeat by the same opponent in 2014, producing a barrage of heavy punches to force a surprise stoppage in round two of the eagerly-anticipated rematch on the UFC’s Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. With nearly 2,000 socially-distanced fans watching on at the brand new Etihad Arena, Poirier wore down McGregor with some painful calf kicks and absorbed everything the powerful Irishman had to throw at him before unleashing a volley of thundering strikes. McGregor was initially disorientated by a stunning right hook from his lightweight rival, who did not let up as he forced ‘The Notorious’ - fighting for the first time since destroying veteran Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone inside 40 seconds 12 months ago - to the mat and the referee rightly intervened with just over two-and-a-half minutes on the clock in round two.

  • COVID-19: Vaccinated people must stick to lockdown rules as they may spread coronavirus, says Jonathan Van-Tam

    Getting your COVID-19 vaccination does not mean you can liberate yourself from lockdown or other restrictions.

  • UAE cabinet approves establishment of embassy in Tel Aviv in further sting to Palestinians

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the establishment of its embassy in Tel Aviv as the US national security advisor announced that America hopes to build “on the success of Israel’s normalisation agreements” under the Biden administration. The UAE cabinet decision to approve establishing the embassy comes after they signed the Abraham Accords in September, becoming the first Gulf state to establish a full diplomatic relationship with Israel. No further details about the embassy were given in UAE media. While Israel’s government recognises Jerusalem as its capital, the international community does not, with Palestinians claiming East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Most countries base their embassies in Tel Aviv. Before the deal, Israel only had peace deals with only two Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan - where it has fortified embassies. Most Arab countries had previously refrained from recognising Israel, believing that recognition should only be granted if serious concessions are made in the Palestinian peace process. Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco later agreed to follow in the UAE’s footsteps and normalise ties with Israel under US-brokered deals.

  • Matt Hancock says 'we're a long, long, long way' from lockdown measures easing

    The health secretary warned the NHS is still under pressure from high COVID infection rates.

  • Boris Johnson first European leader to get call from President Biden

    Boris Johnson told Joe Biden his arrival in the White House was a "moment of hope in a dark time" as he became the first leader outside North America to speak to the US President. The Prime Minister is believed to be the third world leader to speak to Mr Biden after his scheduled call was brought forward by two days in what will be seen as a major boost for the special relationship between the UK and US. Mr Johnson spoke to Mr Biden in a 35 minute phone call from his office at 10 Downing Street. The pair discussed "a very wide range of subjects", sources said, describing the conversation as "very warm, friendly and wide ranging with agreement on key issues". One source said Mr Johnson welcomed the “fantastic initial announcements from the Biden administration and ‘moment of hope’ in a dark time”. Announcing the phone call on Twitter, Mr Johnson said it was "great to speak to President Joe Biden".

  • 'Mrs Brown's Boys' star Brendan O'Carroll used own savings to pay cast after tour postponement

    The 65-year-old has given the cast members an advance on the wages they would've had from the tour.

  • Coleen Nolan, 55, worries she's 'a bit too old' for 47-year-old new man

    The presenter has concerns she might start to "feel old" being with someone "so much younger".

  • Coronavirus news - live: Second jab delay may boost protection, vaccine chief says, as UK records 610 more deaths

    Follow for the latest developments

  • UK weather: 'Thundersnow' reported as heavy snow falls across large parts of country

    Heavy snow has fallen across large swathes of the UK as four vaccination centres were forced to close and a rare "thundersnow" event was reported amid the severe weather. The Met Office has issued snow and ice warnings as the flakes fell thick and fast in parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Sunday, with even London getting a rare dusting. In the far north of Scotland, 17cm (6.7in) of snow was recorded, while the hashtag "Narnia" was trending on social media as people shared images of their snowy neighbourhoods.

  • Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan air space for second day as tensions rise days into Biden term

    China ramped up its pressure on democratic Taiwan over the weekend, with an unusually large number of fighter jets approaching the island in a "test" for the new administration of US President Joe Biden. On Sunday, 12 Chinese fighter jets entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone, along with a reconnaissance aircraft and two anti-submarine aircraft, Taiwan’s defence ministry said. A day earlier, China sent eight bomber planes capable of carrying nuclear weapons and four fighter jets to the same area to the southwest of the island, as well as one reconnaissance aircraft. On both occasions, Taiwan sent up aircraft, issued radio warnings to the Chinese aircraft, and deployed air defence missile systems to monitor their activity. Beijing claims self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory, and has been angered by a show of increased US support for Taiwan during Donald Trump’s administration. In recent months, China has carried out frequent, at times daily, incursions aimed at pressuring President Tsai Ing-wen’s government to accept Beijing’s demand that it recognise Taiwan as part of China. These incursions have usually consisted of just one or two reconnaissance planes in recent weeks, rather than the warplanes seen over the weekend.

  • Animals at London Zoo enjoy snowfall

    In the flurry of excitement in London today animals at ZSL London Zoo enjoyed a change of scenery as the capital had its first snowfall of the year. Despite being closed to the public as part of the January lockdown, keepers are continuing to care for the 18,000 animals at the world-famous zoo: footage taken by the dedicated team shows Humboldt penguins waddling in the drift on Penguin Beach, Western Lowland gorillas Mjukuu, Effie, Gernot and Alika exploring the white stuff in Gorilla Kingdom, and two young otter pups born last year excitedly experiencing the snpw for the first time.