China Launches Astronauts on Month-Long Mission to Experimental Space Station

China’s space program took another small step towards parity with the Russian and American efforts today, when the Chinese space agency launched two astronauts on the country’s longest mission yet—a month-long residency aboard a nascent space station.

Astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong left Earth at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, the Associated Press reports, departing for orbit aboard a Shenzhou 11 space capsule launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. On Wednesday, the two will rendezvous with the Tiangong 2 space station, which was launched last month, where they will spend 30 days conducting medical and technological experiments, according to Wu Ping, deputy director of the country’s manned space agency.

The mission marks the sixth manned trip to space for China’s space program, which is a relative newcomer to the stellar scene, having first launched people into space in 2003. Still, in an era when government-backed space travel seems largely in the doldrums, China is pushing forward with an ambitious agenda of exploration; in addition to the aforementioned larger space station, the Chinese have stated they intend to send a rover to Mars by 2020, and have expressed interest in launching a manned mission to the moon by 2025 or so.

The Tiangong space station is a temporary orbital outpost designed as a testbed for a larger, more complex station China intents to open in 2023, known as Tianhe-1. The Tiangong is also, for lack of a better term, a fishbowl in space: at 34 feet long, 14 feet wide, and 60 tons of mass, it’s a fraction of the size of the International Space Station and less than half as big as the Skylab station NASA lofted into low Earth orbit in 1973.

The Shenzhou spacecraft used by the astronauts is somewhat similar to the Soyuz capsule that has served as the mainstay of the Russian space program since the mid-1960s. The orbital module, which connects to the Tiangong, adds about 280 cubic feet of space to the station while attached. And if those two names seem oddly familiar to you, that might well be because you remember the spacecraft and station from the end of the 2013 film Gravity.

Pope Francis leads a Canonization Ceremony

Pope Francis canonized Argentina’s “gaucho priest” Sunday, bestowing sainthood on the poncho-wearing pastor with whom the first Argentine pope shares many similarities, from a taste for mate tea to a dedication to bringing the ministry to even the most isolated people.

Francis honored Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero along with six others in a Mass before a crowd of 80,000 in St. Peter’s Square, saying the new saints, “thanks to prayer, had generous and steadfast hearts.”

“The saints are men and women who enter fully into the mystery of prayer. Men and women who struggle with prayer, letting the Holy Spirit pray and struggle in them,” the pope said.

Also made into saints were two Italian priests, Lodovico Pavoni and Alfonso Maria Fusco, French martyr Salomone Leclercq, French nun Elisabeth of the Trinity, Spanish bishop Manuel Gonzalez Garcia and Mexican layman Jose Sanchez del Rio. (AP)

Tens of thousands march in Paris against same-sex marriage

The protesters ended up at Trocadero Plaza, near the Eiffel Tower. Police estimated the crowd at 24,000, while organizers gave a figure of 200,000.

They were also protesting Sunday against the use of assisted reproduction techniques and surrogate mothers to help same-sex couples have babies.

Assisted reproduction is allowed in France only for infertile heterosexual couples and surrogacy is banned.

The group organizing the march presents itself as promoting the traditional family model of "one mother and one father." It hopes to influence the debate before the presidential election next year.

None of the major candidates in the election attended the march.

A small group of bare-breasted Femen demonstrators briefly showed up Sunday during the march to protest against what they call "homophobia." The half-dozen Femen protesters were removed by police.

The 2013 law allowing gay marriage exposed deep divisions in French society, prompting big protests for and against such unions.

Brad Pitt Sees His Children for the First Time Since Angelina Jolie Split

Brad Pitt has finally reunited with some of his children, ET can confirm.

The monitored visit took place on Saturday, Oct. 8, but not all children were present for the reunion. This marks the first time the 52-year-old actor has been able to see his children since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce last month.

Jolie and Pitt came to a temporary custody agreement on Sept.30, which is in effect until Oct. 20. The two volunteered to participate in individual counseling, and Pitt also agreed to undergo drug and alcohol testing, though he was not required to.

Federal authorities are still looking into child abuse claims, the FBI tells ET they are "continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued." A source previously told ET that the abuse claims were "exaggerated or untrue" and there was "no inappropriate physical contact."

The Maleficent star asked for physical custody of their six children in her divorce filing -- 15-year-old Maddox, 10-year-old Shiloh, 12-year-old Pax, 11-year-old Zahara, and 8-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox -- and listed their date of separation as Sept. 15.

"She is only concerned with the health and safety of her children, that is how she feels at this moment," a source close to the situation says of 41-year-old Jolie.

Thailand King is Dead

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is dead.

GUARDIAN UK reports that the King Adulyadej's death throws politically turbulent Thailand into uncertainty. His son and heir apparent, the 63-year old Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, is expected to become Thailand's new king.
The cause of the King's death was not stated in a statement released by the Palace. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was 88 at the time of his death and had ruled over Thailand for 70years.

UPDATE: Kim Kardashian's Robbery

 

Kim Kardashian West's terrifying robbery in Paris will have some major lasting consequences for the 35-year-old reality superstar, a source close to Kim tells ET.

Kim's already taken a noticeable step back from social media since the incident on Sunday, and has yet to break her silence. And as for some people's criticism that she's been too public in the past when it comes to displaying her wealth -- such as from Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld -- the source says Kim is definitely paying attention.

Clinton, Election Likely to be Won or Lost in October

 

Each night, Hillary Clinton's data experts head to a conference room on the 11th floor of her Brooklyn headquarters, to start counting votes.

The sessions in the "early voter boiler room," as it's been dubbed by campaign aides, stretch into the early hours of the morning. The team pores over turnout patterns in states where advance voting is already underway, projects how many votes Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have already received, and updates crucial targeting lists of the voters she still needs.

Ford chairman met with Trump over 'infuriating' Mexico comments

Ford Motor Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. said on Wednesday he has met with Donald Trump to talk about the Republican presidential candidate's extensive criticism of the automaker's investments in Mexico.

Ford told the Economic Club of Washington that he thought Trump's criticism of the No. 2 automaker's foreign investments were "infuriating and "frustrating" because of the company's extensive investments and employment in the United States. Trump has threatened if elected to impose hefty tariffs on Ford imports from Mexico.

Kristen Stewart's Rocking Pantsuit With No Shirt

At the Certain Women premiere at the New York Film Festival on Monday night, Kristen Stewart seemed to channel Hillary Clinton at the presidential debate in a red pantsuit — with a really sexy twist.

UFC fighter Josh dead at 28

UFC fighter Josh Samman died Wednesday morning in South Florida after being hospitalized late last week. He was 28 years old.

A friend found Samman, along with roommate Troy Kirkingburg, unresponsive last Thursday evening at their Florida apartment. Kirkingburg, who was an announcer for local MMA promotions, was pronounced dead at the scene. Although there were no signs of foul play at the scene, police suspected a drug overdose. However, Samman’s mother issued a statement earlier this week refuting that heroin was involved.

Parents Found Dead After Child Tells School She Couldn't Wake Them Up

A McKeesport, Pennsylvania, couple was found dead in their home Monday evening after their 7-year-old daughter told a school employee that she was unable to wake them up that morning, according to the Allegheny County Police Department.

Georgia Teacher Sacked For Calling First Lady Michelle Obama A "Gorilla"

According to CBS News, officials with a Georgia school district have fired employee Jane Wood Allen after she described FLOTUS as a gorilla on Facebook. On Monday, Forsyth County Schools issued a statement saying, “Effective Monday, Oct. 3, Jane Wood Allen has been relieved from duty and is no longer an employee of Forsyth County Schools.” “Racism and discrimination are not tolerated in our school district.

Donald Trump's Fortune Falls From $800 million to $3.7 billion

 

Despite decades of precedent among presidential candidates, Donald Trump has

been steadfast in his refusal to release his tax returns. “You don’t learn that much from tax returns,” he said at the first presidential debate on Monday, where he claimed that he has been getting audited by the IRS almost every year for 15 years. “You will learn more about Donald Trump by going down to the federal elections,” Trump suggests, “where I filed a 104-page essentially financial statements of sorts.”

Clinton Under Pressure

 

Hillary Clinton is feeling the pressure in the race for the White House - even after a strong night in the first 2016 presidential debate.

Clinton has a huge staff advantage over Donald Trump, which should help her turn out supporters this fall.

The Electoral College is tilted in her favor, and demographics are moving in the Democratic Party's direction.

Saudi Women Demand Abolishment of Male Guardianship System

Women in Saudi Arabia are demanding an end to the country's male guardianship system. BBC reports that over 14,000 Saudi women have signed an anti-guardianship petition which has been handed to the government. The petition was delivered to the government by Activist Aziza Al-Yousef.

Tanzanian Senior Lecturer Arrested For Insulting President Magufuli on Whatsapp

 

A Senior University lecturer in Tanzania has been charged with insulting President John Magufuli in a WhatsApp message. REUTERS reports that insulting the president was made a criminal offense in Tanzania under a cybercrimes law passed last year, punishable by up to three years in jail, a fine of around $3,000, or both.
Julius Mjengi, police chief of the south-west Tanzanian town of Iringa told Reuters, "The senior university lecturer was arraigned in court yesterday, and I think he was later released on bail''.

BREAKING: Trump Leading Hillary in Key Swing States

Donald Trump is leading Hillary Clinton in the swing states of Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio, thanks to strong support from working-class white and independent voters, new polls by Fox News reveal.

Trump leads Clinton, 43 percent to 40 percent, in Nevada, which President Obama carried in the prior two elections. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has 8 percent.

Independents back Trump by 19 points over Clinton, and Johnson grabs a sizable 21 percent of indies in the Silver State.

Angela Merkel in a rare show of regret admits she lost control of Germany’s refugee crisis

Germany’s taciturn chancellor surprised the country this week with an uncharacteristically frank speech apologizing for her handing of the refugee crisis. Angela Merkel’s contrite comments came after her party suffered dismal results in state elections this month, losing support to the upstart anti-immigrant party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).

Charlotte Protest Turns Violent, Governor Declares State of Emergency and Deploys National Guard

 

A prayer vigil in honor of Keith Lamont Scott turned violent Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency, as riot gear-wearing police fired tear gas at demonstrators who threw bottles at police, blocked an interstate, threw objects at passing cars, jumped on vehicles, looted businesses, vandalized a Hyatt hotel and attacked its employees. And one of the protesters was in critical condition and on life support after being shot by another civilian.

Few Hours After Leaving Bar with an accused stalker, police found her burned body in a park.

The night of Sept. 13, Jacqueline Vandagriff wrote on Twitter that she was at a bar near her place in Denton, Tex.

“I’m glad I decided to get off Tinder and (walk) to a bar,” she tweeted at 9:44 p.m.

Around that time, Vandagriff and a man were seen on a surveillance camera leaving Shots and Crafts in Denton’s Fry Street bar district. That was the last time the 24-year-old Texas Women’s University student was seen alive.