Space dragons and talk of Turkish coups: Non-coronavirus news you might have missed

The first Nasa astronauts to head to space from the US since 2011 are set to blast off tonight

Technicians work on the SpaceX Crew Dragon, attached to a Falcon 9 booster rocket, as it sits horizontal on Pad39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reuters

Astronauts Doug Hurley, foreground, and Bob Behnken in SpaceX's flight simulator. AP

A life-size test mannequin and a stuffed toy are seen inside the capsule as it launches into orbit en route to the International Space Station, arriving 27 hours after take-off. AP

The SpaceX Falcon 9 sits on Launch Pad 39-A. AP

The rocket sits on the launch pad. AFP

The rocket is raised into position. AP Photo

Crews work on the SpaceX Crew Dragon. Reuters

Photographers set up remote cameras for Nasa's first manned flight since 2011. Reuters

Workers prepare the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. AFP

Final preparations are made. AFP

The sun sets behind the Vehicle Assembly Building. Reuters

NASA broadcast technicians make preparations for coverage at the Kennedy Space Centre. AFP

SpaceX to launch historic Nasa astronaut mission 

Nasa and Elon Musk's SpaceX are scheduled to make history early on Thursday morning with the launch of two astronauts into space from the US for the first time since 2011.

Robert Behnken, 48, and Douglas Hurley, 53, will travel to the International Space Station at 4.33pm Eastern time on Wednesday, which is 12.33am on Thursday UAE time, from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Unlike previous astronaut launches that were run by Nasa, SpaceX will be in charge of mission control and the Crew Dragon capsule has been built by billionaire entrepreneur Mr Musk's company.

Read full story here

Daily briefing 

Muslim woman becomes Britain’s first hijab-wearing judge

A woman in Britain who has become the first judge in the western world to wear a hijab hopes to be an inspiration to young Muslims.

Raffia Arshad, 40, who grew up in Yorkshire, north England, has wanted to work in law since she was 11.

Ms Arshad, a barrister, was last week appointed a deputy district judge on the Midlands circuit.

Raffia Arshad, 40, who grew up in north England has wanted to work in law since she was 11. St Mary's FLC

She said her promotion was great news for diversity in the world’s most respected legal system.

Ms Arshad said the judicial office was looking to promote diversity, but when they appointed her, they did not know that she wore the hijab.

‘It’s definitely bigger than me,” she told Metro newspaper. "I know this is not about me.

"It’s important for all women, not just Muslim women, but it is particularly important for Muslim women."

Ms Arshad, a mother of three, has been practising private law dealing with children, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other cases involving Islamic law for the past 17 years.

Read full story here

Last day of Eid

Iraqi families are seen at a recreational park after its reopening during Eid Al Fitr, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, in the city of Najaf, Iraq. Reuters

A vendor walks on a nearly empty beach during Eid Al Fitr holidays amid the coronavirus pandemic in Ule Lhuee beach, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA

A boy rides a horse near the Citadel of Aleppo on the third day of Eid Al Fitr holiday as coronavirus restrictions are eased amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in northern Syria. AFP

Fatih municipality workers disinfect the Suleymaniye Mosque before its reopening on the last day of the Eid Al Fitr in Istanbul. AFP

Muslims celebrate the Eid Al Fitr holiday on the beach as authorities ease coronavirus disease restrictions, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Reuters

A mascot dressed as a Smurf hands balloons to children during the Eid Al Fitr holiday as part of a local awareness campaign to encourage hand-washing, hygiene, and social distancing as part of protection efforts against the coronavirus pandemic, in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli, in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province. AFP

A picture shows a dragon sculpture decorating an empty fish sandwich boat and the Galata Tower in the background in Istanbul on the third day of Eid Al Fitr. AFP

Young men sit at a cafe after its reopening during Eid Al Fitr following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, in the city of Najaf, Iraq. Reuters

Erdogan backers peddle rumours of another coup in Turkey

Pro-government supporters in Turkey have recently revived talk of another coup attempt in what critics said was an effort to target opponents and distract from domestic concerns compounded by the coronavirus outbreak.

Nearly four years after a failed coup, followed by widespread purges of the military and other state institutions, the suggestion of another takeover attempt was met with scepticism by observers.

“It’s really confusing because who is there in the military to mount anything like that?” said Ahmet Evin, a political scientist and a senior fellow at the Istanbul Policy Centre think tank.

Since the attempt to remove President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2016, nearly 19,500 members of the military, including many senior officers, have been dismissed in purges targeting the religious sect said to be behind the plot.

“There’s a tradition in Latin America that the army is the only institution that has its own ways and means,” said Mitat Celikpala, deputy rector at Kadir Has University in Istanbul. “However, under the current circumstances, I don’t see any environment in which a coup could happen.”

Nevertheless, Mr Erdogan’s backers insisted the threat remained.

Read full story here

Swarms of locusts arrive in India 

Long read: Russia appoints special Syria representative to address 'incompetence'

President Vladimir Putin has elevated Moscow’s ambassador in Damascus to become his special representative for Syria as signs emerge of unruliness in the alliance between the two countries, undermining Russia’s drive to consolidate its gains.

Loyalist media in Damascus and Moscow reported on Monday that Alexander Efimov has been appointed Special Representative of the Russian President for the Development of Relations with the Syrian Arab Republic.

Mr Efimov will be pulling on behalf of his boss a short-of-bewildering array of strings tied to the country’s complex societal mix-up and the regional and international powers involved in the nine-year conflict.

An Arabic speaker, the 62-year old diplomat will also be managing Russia’s surrogates in Damascus. But the Syrian regime has been adept at making the most of its position as the meeting point between Russia and Iran and playing on contradictions between the two countries.

Some Russian media outlets have lately accused Syrian officials of incompetence. The criticism prompted public denunciations of Russia in Syrian regime areas for the first time since Moscow intervened militarily to prop President Bashar Al Assad up in late 2015.

Read full story here

Twitter labels Trump tweets with warning for the first time

Twitter labelled two Donald Trump tweets "unsubstantiated" and accused him of making false claims on Tuesday, a first for the social network which has long resisted calls to censure the US president over truth-defying posts.

The move drew a furious response from Mr Trump, who used the platform to accuse Twitter of "interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election."

"Twitter is completely stifling free speech, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen!" he tweeted.

The social media giant targeted two tweets the president posted on Tuesday in which he contended without evidence that mail-in voting would lead to fraud and a "Rigged Election."

Read full story here

Beyond the Headlines 

'We want to breathe freely' - Afghan ceasefire holds as Taliban prisoners released

Taliban prisoners wait for their release at a government prison north of Kabul. 900 prisoners were released throughout Afghanistan on Tuesday, the last day of the Islamic festival of Eid Al Fitr and the last day of the three-day ceasefire. Stefanie Glinski for The National

A soldier speaks to a Taliban prisoner. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Prisoners sit in a bus taking them to Kabul, from where they are free to take public transportation home. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Taliban prisoners wait for their release at a government prison north of Kabul. 900 prisoners were released throughout Afghanistan on Tuesday, the last day of the Islamic festival of Eid Al Fitr and the last day of the three-day ceasefire. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Taliban prisoners wait for their release at a government prison north of Kabul. 900 prisoners were released throughout Afghanistan on Tuesday, the last day of the Islamic festival of Eid-Al Fitr and the last day of the three-day ceasefire. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Taliban prisoners wait for their release at a government prison north of Kabul. 900 prisoners were released throughout Afghanistan on Tuesday, the last day of the Islamic festival of Eid Al Fitr and the last day of the three-day ceasefire. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Taliban prisoners wait for their release at a government prison north of Kabul. 900 prisoners were released throughout Afghanistan on Tuesday, the last day of the Islamic festival of Eid Al Fitr and the last day of the three-day ceasefire. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Released Taliban prisoners depart a government prison outside Kabul near Bagram Airbase. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Government soldiers accompany the prisoners until they have been dropped off at a bus station in Kabul. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Abdullah Wasi, 27, (here, fingerprinting a form) said after his release, he would do “whatever God asks of me.” Prisoners sign or fingerprint a declaration saying that they won't return to the battlefield once freed. Each one receives 5,000 Afghani ($65) for food and their journey home. Stefanie Glinski for The National

Taliban prisoners wait for their release at a government prison north of Kabul. 900 prisoners were released throughout Afghanistan on Tuesday, the last day of the Islamic festival of Eid Al Fitr and the last day of the three-day ceasefire. Stefanie Glinski for The National

"We needed this quiet time,” explained Marwa Faizi (left). Stefanie Glinski for The National

The men stood silently in the hot sun, having left behind prison cells – often shared by another 20 inmates – that many called home for years, decades even.

At the Parwan Detention Facility, a prison next to the US’s Bagram Airbase, about an hour’s drive north of Kabul, 525 Talibs lined up to be released; their shoes and clothes shiny and new, their bodies quickly shoved into buses that would take them to the capital’s bus stations – and from there to their home provinces, their freedom. The only strings attached: the fighters have promised not return to the war.

When the Taliban announced a ceasefire for the Eid Al Fir holidays, the government quickly reciprocated, with President Ashraf Ghani saying he would order the release of a further 2,000 prisoners immediately. A total of 1,000 inmates have already been released over Eid with more releases planned.

Over the holiday, violence subsided throughout the country, offering a glimpse of hope after decades of war.

Read full dispatch here