Fast craft to Pluto on way at last
A spacecraft is on its way to Pluto for the first time, after the successful launch last night of Nasa’s New Horizons mission after a two-day delay.
The last unexplored frontier of the solar system will not be giving up its secrets for some time yet, however: the probe will take 9½ years to reach the ninth planet, even though it is the fastest spacecraft built.
New Horizons, which is the size of a grand piano, blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 2pm Eastern Time (7pm GMT) yesterday, aboard an Atlas V rocket travelling at a record speed of 36,000mph.
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Comatose girl may survive
Springfield: A comatose 11-year-old girl is responding to stimuli and breathing on her own, officials said, a day after Massachusetts’ highest court ruled that the state could remove life support. Jason Strickland, Haleigh Poutre’s stepfather, has been charged with beating her and could face a murder charge if she dies. He wants to keep her on life support, but he lost a judgment on Tuesday. (AP)
Nomadic conflict
Lodwar, Kenya: A battle for livestock between Ethiopian and Kenyan nomads has left 38 people dead in drought-stricken northern Kenya, an official said. Dongiro warriors crossed into Kenya last week and attacked Turkana herdsmen. (AP)
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Student spy anger
Los Angeles: James Rogan, a former Republican congressman, has resigned from the board of an alumni group at the University of California after learning it is offering students money to provide evidence of left-wing views among professors. (AP)
Military unrest
Madrid: José Bono, the Defence Minister, denied unrest within the armed forces after a second officer attacked a proposal for greater Catalan autonomy. José Mena Aguado, head of the Spanish Army, was dismissed this month after criticising the plan. (AP)
Tito widow plight
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Belgrade: Jovanka Broz, 81, the widow of Tito, the former Yugoslavian dictator, lives in a decrepit state-owned house without central heating, Rasim Ljajic, Serbia-Montenegro’s human rights minister said. He pledged to help to repair the house after a visit. (AP)
Obscene yoghurt
Seoul: The Supreme Court has upheld a fine of 5 million won (£2,900) levied on a dairy executive after an “obscene” event meant to promote his company’s yoghurt. Three naked models were caked in flour before squirting each other clean with yoghurt. (AP)