Environment

China are to deploy nuclear submarines to the Pacific Ocean for the very first time, in a move that risks escalating an arms race with the U.S. Chinese military officials are refusing to comment, but it is thought they were left with no choice after the U.S. expanded its missile defence operation in the disputed South China islands region. Foxnews.com reports: The report comes days after U.S. President Barack Obama announced that he had lifted a decades-long arms embargo against Vietnam.

A British scientist has been given the go-ahead to create the world’s first genetically modified baby and has begun preparatory work following the decision.  Dr Kathy Niakan, of the Francis Crick Institute, will be allowed to genetically modify human embryos, using gene editing techniques on donated human embryos by fertility treatment patients. Telegraph.co.uk reports: Despite the approval, the start of research may still be months away due to the difficulties of obtaining sufficient embryos. The controversial project is thought to mark the second time the procedure will be undertaken.

The Dutch government has announced it will allow researchers to grow human embryos “under strict and limited conditions” for scientific research. The Netherlands will change its laws on embryonic research, which had until now only allowed tests to be conducted on leftover embryos procured from in vitro fertilisation processes. Edith Schippers the Dutch health minister said she “wants to allow the creation of embryos for scientific research – and under very strict conditions to give people the possibility of (healthy) children”.

NASA have revealed that a huge hole has appeared on the Sun, which covers a staggering ten percent of its entire surface.  Footage captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory between May 17 and 19 shows a huge black hole on the Sun’s upper half, known as a coronal hole. Express.co.uk reports: A NASA spokesman said: “Coronal holes are low-density regions of the sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona. “Because they contain little solar material, they have lower temperatures and thus appear much darker than their surroundings.

Tens of thousands of internally displaced Syrians are trapped along the Turkish border after a surprise ISIS advance through the rebel held territory in Aleppo province. Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said it was evacuating medics and patients from the Al Salamah hospital as the terrorist group neared. Human rights groups and activists reported at least 100,000 refugees trapped by Friday, after Jihadists launched an onslaught to secure their supply lines from Turkey.