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At 23:18:55 GMT this evening, a Russian Proton-M/Briz-M rocket launched from Area 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the AMC-14 satellite for American communications organisation SES Americom. The rocket, operated by International Launch Services (ILS), lifted off on time, and headed towards a Geosynchronous orbit. Around forty minutes after lift-off, ILS reported that an anomaly had occurred during the second burn of the upper stage. AMC-14, which would have been operated in conjunction with Echostar was to provide direct-to

The Taichung City Stage of Tour de Taiwan 2008, approved by several executives since the first time set up in the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium last year, raced today around the Wen-shin Forest Park near Shiang-shang Road, Wen-shin Road, Da-duen 7th Street, and He-nan Road Sec. 4. It's a short-term circulation, however. But due to a few differences on land ranges, not every cyclist can keep the leading in a long-period. Finally, the "main group" with 90 participated cyclists passed the finish line, but Krzysztof Jeżowski from Meri

Members of Australia's Health Services Union (HSU) will go on strike in Victoria next week in a dispute over stalled wage and career structure negotiations. Over 5000 physiotherapists, speech pathologists and radiation therapists will walk off the job next week, effectively closing the state's 68 largest health services. The strike will force the closure of intensive care units and emergency departments across the state. It is feared the strike could continue into Easter. National secretary of the HSU, Kathy Jackson said admissions would be

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a prominent United States advocate for the right-to-die for terminally ill patients via physician-assisted suicide, stated on Wednesday that he intends to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. "We need some honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt government in Washington," Dr. Kevorkian said while announcing his bid to represent Michigan's 9th congressional district. He said more information about his candidacy would be forthcoming next week, but he will run without party affiliation. This seat is

Family First Senator Steve Fielding arrived at Parliament today, dressed as a beer bottle to raise awareness of a bill he intends to move in the Senate today. Senator Fielding will introduce a bill to establish a nationwide refund scheme for bottles and cans. A similar scheme has operated in South Australia since 1977. Family First wants a rebate of 10 cents per container, while the Australian Greens want 20 cents. Speaking to reporters outside parliament dressed as a beer bottle, the Senator said the legislation would reduce litter by 25 pe

A case is currently being tried in England over the alleged assault of a 'Goth' couple, resulting in the death of the female victim. A fifteen-year-old youth, who was one of a gang of five, is charged with having kicked and stamped the 20-year-old woman to death in Stubby Lee Park, Bacup, Rossendale in Lancashire on the 11 August 2007. The couple; Robert Maltby, an art student, 21 and Sophie Lancaster, 20; became engaged in an initially civil conversation with the drunken gang while walking in the park. The attack began with a kick to the h

Today saw the opening of the new Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall and its first show, the Taipei International Cycle Show (Taipei Cycle). Tapei Cycle runs concurrently with the 2008 35th Taipei International Sporting Goods Show (TaiSPO), showcased at Taipei World Trade Center, running from today through Sunday, March 16. This year, 288 companies are participating. Together for the first time since 1987, the TaiSPO and Taipei Cycle organizers hope that having both these shows at the Taipai World Trade Center will bring greater

An Atlas V rocket has successfully launched a classified spy satellite for the United States National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The satellite, currently known to the public as NRO L-28, or Launch 28, is believed by amateur enthusiasts to be a signals intelligence (SIGINT) spacecraft, known by the codename Trumpet. The Atlas V carrier rocket flew in the 411 configutation, with a 4 metre diameter fairing, one solid rocket motor, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. The rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex

At around 14:00 UTC today, a man climbed over the perimeter fence and made his way onto the North runway, 27R, at London's Heathrow Airport, the United Kingdom's largest airport. The man, who was carrying a rucksack, then attempted to run in front of a plane on the runway, however it is believed that he was tackled to the ground by armed police before reaching the wide runway. He was then surrounded by police and around 20 emergency vehicles and explosive experts were called in to perform a controlled explosion on a rucksack. A Metropolitan Po

There were 6 games played in the National Hockey League on March 12, 2008. Game summaries Buffalo Sabres @ Pittsburgh Penguins Tyler Kennedy put the Penguins ahead 3:30 into the first period. In the second period, Pittsburgh scored twice, first when Jeff Taffe scored his 5th of the season, then when Sergei Gonchar scored on a power play in the closing minutes of the period. In the third period, the Penguins got off to an early start when Petr Sykora scored a power play goal less than a minute into the period. Jochen Hecht put the Sabres o

Researchers involved in a study at the University of Wisconsin have discovered that the H5N1 Avian Flu virus has mutated into a strain that may make humans more vulnerable to the disease. Prior to the study, it was known that the virus could only thrive or live in a body which have temperatures of 106°F (41°C). A human's normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). This difference in the temperatures of bodies makes the virus less likely to infect a human, but the recent study suggests the virus has adapted to survive in bodies with temperatures

Wikinews held an exclusive interview with Jeremy Robinson, the bestselling American author from Massachusetts who wrote the thrillers The Didymus Contingency, Raising the Past and Antarktos Rising. Before deciding to take up the writing of fiction, Robinson was an artist and moviemaker. He says of his years before getting published, "I lived well under the poverty line.....so I could write." Although his first book, The Didymus Contingency, was self-published, the following two were released through a small press. Recently, he signed a three