NASA set to launch spacecraft to Jupiter

bbc.co.uk - The American space agency, NASA, is planning to launch a new mission to Jupiter today.

The unmanned solar-powered spacecraft, called Juno, will take five years to reach the planet -- the largest in the solar system.

Once there, it will make thirty polar orbits in a bid to discover how much water is in Jupiter's atmosphere and whether the gas giant has a solid core.

The chief scientist on the project (Scott Bolton) said Jupiter held the secret to understanding how all the planets, including Earth, were formed.

Thailand's first woman PM approved

bbc.co.uk - Parliament in Thailand has approved the country's first woman prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, whose party won a decisive victory in July's general election.

Ms Yingluck is the sister of the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who has lived in exile since his removal in a military coup.

The BBC correspondent in Bangkok says Ms Yingluck faces many challenges, including convincing critics she is a leader in her own right.

There's a widespread perception that Mr Thaksin is involved in selecting ministers and shaping policy, although he and his sister deny this.

China orders security clampdown in Xinjiang

english.aljazeera.net - Announcement by public security minister follows a series of violent attacks on civilians in country's western region.

The Chinese government has ordered a sweeping security clampdown in the western Xinjiang region, the country's top police official has said, in the aftermath of deadly attacks last weekend.

"Those criminals who dare to test the law and commit violent terrorist acts will be shown no leniency, no appeasement and no soft heart," Meng Jianzhu, the public security minister, said.

Meng's comments on Thursday came nearly a week after ethnic Uighur assailants stormed a restaurant in the city of Kashgar, killing the owner and a waiter, and then hacking four people to death on a nearby street.

Romeu swaps Barcelona for Chelsea; Jeffren joins Sporting Lisbon

(CNN) -- English club Chelsea have completed the signing of Oriol Romeu from Spanish and European champions Barcelona.

The 19-year-old is currently playing for Spain at the World Under-20 Championships in Colombia and has signed a four-year deal with last season's Premier League runners-up.

The deal is worth $7 million and includes a buy back clause, set at $14 million after the first year and $21 million after the second.

Romeu started his career at Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol before joining the Camp Nou academy in 2004.

Former Japan star Matsuda dies aged 34

(CNN) -- Naoki Matsuda, a former Japan defender who played for his country when they co-hosted the 2002 World Cup, has died after suffering a suspected heart attack during a training session on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old's death was confirmed by his club, third-tier side Matsumoto Yamaga, on Thursday after he had been rushed into hospital two days ago having collapsed.

Matsuda, who also had a 15-year spell with Yokohama Marinos between 1995 and 2010, represented his country on 40 occasions and was part of the Blue Samurai squads which won the Asian Cup in 2000 and 2004.