China space lab being readied for Sept launch

BEIJING • China's second orbiting space lab Tiangong-2, which may enable two astronauts to stay in space for up to 30 days, has been delivered to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.

Assembly and tests on the Tiangong-2, which arrived on Saturday, will begin at the centre ahead of the space lab's launch scheduled for mid-September, said China's manned space engineering office.

XINHUA

S'pore sends Hari Raya wishes to Brunei Sultan

Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs, Dr Maliki Osman, conveyed the Hari Raya wishes of Singapore leaders to Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei during an annual Hari Raya visit.

The four-day trip, which ended yesterday, reaffirmed the close ties and warm friendship between the two countries, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement.

At least 3 flights report balloon 'disturbances'

JAKARTA • At least three flights in Indonesia reported "disturbances" on Saturday after almost coming into contact with giant balloons released into the air as part of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, a news website reported. In one case, an AirAsia pilot flying the Yogyakarta-Kualanamu route told the air traffic controller that his aircraft nearly collided with two balloons flying only 10m away at an altitude of 5,500m, news site Tempo.co reported. Another balloon was seen reaching around 9,200m.

The balloons, powered by fire and measuring 5m in diameter and 10m in height, were released by Indonesian revellers as part of wish-making rituals.

THE JAKARTA POST/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK