National Space Club

To mark World Space Week, Al Jazeera has published an overview of which countries have sent people into space. The piece highlights how the club of human spacefaring nations has grown beyond the early US and Soviet programmes, with astronauts from Europe, Japan, China, India and other countries having flown on various missions. Readers are being invited to compare national achievements in human spaceflight.

The Rutland Free Library has started a book club focused on banned books, giving readers a space to read and discuss titles that have been challenged or removed elsewhere. The move comes amid ongoing national debate over book bans in schools and libraries, with librarians and free-speech advocates pushing back against removal efforts.

A speaker at the Valdai Club, an international affairs forum, argued that the central challenge facing states is to preserve the capacity to cooperate despite disagreements. They stressed holding political space open when military options exist, and maintaining the line between civilian and military spheres as new technologies blur it. The remarks touch on United Nations principles and international law, and are drawing attention in discussions about conflict and diplomacy.