AFP Technology

The first Russian rockets to be fired into space next year from a space centre in distant South America were Saturday to begin the long voyage to the launch site from Saint Petersburg. Two Russian Soyuz rockets, the mainstay of its space programme, were later Saturday to leave the northern city by ship bound for the French overseas department of French Guiana ahead of their expected launch next year. Packed in containers on board the French vessel Le Colibri, they will arrive 15 days later ahead of the first planned launches next year of Soyuz rockets from France's launch site in French Guiana. "We ... Read Full Story

G20 nations fell short of reaching agreement on climate finance a month before key UN talks, while pledging Saturday to maintain stimulus measures for a still "uneven" global economy. The 20 leading economies committed to work for an "ambitious outcome" at December's vital Copenhagen climate change conference, but could not achieve their goal of agreeing how to distribute funding to poor countries to tackle the problem. "We committed to take action to tackle the threat of climate change and work towards an ambitious outcome in Copenhagen" where countries will seek agreement on slashing greenhouse gas emissions, the communique said. Finance ministers also said they ... Read Full Story

Talks on a new UN climate pact headed for a wrap here Friday, leaving a roster of bitterly divisive issues to be hammered out at next month's showdown in Copenhagen. Senior officials, meeting over five days in Barcelona, made scant headway on the major problems dogging a blueprint for the December 7-18 conference, leaving activists to fear the outcome could be a deal that papers over a bad fudge. More than 190 nations are called to action under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aiming for a post-2012 accord to slash emissions from fossil fuels that trap solar heat and drive global ... Read Full Story

"Modern Warfare 2" strikes on Tuesday in a worldwide assault eagerly anticipated by lovers of the blockbuster role-playing battle videogame franchise. Videogame publisher Activision Blizzard believes that the sixth installment in the "Call of Duty" franchise could be the most powerful entertainment industry launch of the year, outshining even Hollywood blockbusters. Activision has predicted that "MW2" will be such a hit that the California-based company will see record operating margins. Pre-orders for the 60-dollar (US) videogame are the highest in the firm's history. "We're already seeing it bully other name-brand competitors into pushing their release dates back rather than risk going head-to-head in the ... Read Full Story

Forty heads of state or government have signalled they will attend the world climate talks in Copenhagen next month, UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said here Friday. "My understanding from the Danish authorities is that already, even though a formal invitation has not yet been issued, 40 heads of state and government have indicated their intention to be present at the end of Copenhagen to celebrate success," de Boer said. He said he was unable to immediately name the leaders, but described it as "really... a good spread" from rich and poor countries, and which had a wide variety of interests. He noted ... Read Full Story