HHIGH WINDS POSTPONE LAUNCH OF PLUTO PROBE

hHigh winds postponelaunch of Pluto probe
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- High winds forced NASA to scrub the launch Tuesday of an unmanned spacecraft on a nine-year, 3-billion-mile voyage to Pluto, the solar system's last unexplored planet. NASA planned to try again today to launch the New Horizons probe, although the forecast held a greater chance of thunderstorms, clouds and gusty winds that could prevent a launch. On Tuesday, winds at the launch pad exceeded the space agency's 38 mph flight restriction. "The winds picked up sooner than expected," said MIT scientist Richard Binzel, one of the mission's investigators. "Blame the meteorologists." A successful journey to Pluto would complete an exploration of the planets started by NASA in the early 1960s.
Iranian nuclear crisis
VIENNA, Austria -- Pressure on Iran intensified Tuesday, with key European countries and the United States moving ahead with plans to refer Tehran to the U.N. Security Council and Israel vowing not to let the Iranians develop nuclear weapons. But Russia and China -- Iran's past backers -- urged negotiations instead of confrontation, casting doubt on whether next month's International Atomic Energy Agency meeting will demonstrate a unified political will. A meeting Monday in London produced no agreement among the United States, France, Britain and Germany and Moscow and Beijing on whether to refer the dispute over Iranian nuclear enrichment to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Past opposition to such action by Russia and China led the Europeans and the United States to postpone referral. Russia and China have joined Europe and the United States in criticizing Iran's resumption of uranium enrichment. But both would prefer to avoid Security Council involvement and are outright opposed to sanctions.
Heating bills take a tolldespite warmer weather
WASHINGTON -- There's a bit of relief because of unusually balmy winter weather, but heating bills -- sometimes double what they were a year ago -- nevertheless are straining household budgets from New England to the Midwest and Northern Plains states. State and local agencies were scrambling to help people cope with the first round of bills in what is expected to be an expensive winter. "You send them what you can. That's all you can do," said Eileen Mallee of Chicago, who recently received a December natural gas bill of almost $500 for her three-bedroom bungalow, more than double last year. Illinois, like much of the eastern half of the country, has seen unseasonably warm weather in recent days. The bills now landing in people's mailboxes reflect heating needs in early December when Chicago suffered the coldest weather in 63 years.
Thousands of Lebaneseprotest at U.S. Embassy
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Thousands of pro-Syrian Lebanese chanting "Death to America" protested Tuesday near the U.S. Embassy against what they called American meddling in the country's affairs. Three days ago police violently broke up a similar demonstration that coincided with the visit of a key U.S. envoy to the Middle East. Tuesday's protest occurred during a visit to the Middle East by Vice President Dick Cheney, who made stops in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Students and political activists from 18 pro-Syrian groups, including the militant Hezbollah organization, chanted in unison "Death to America!" and "Beirut is free! Free! America get out!"
Third teenager chargedwith murder in beatings
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A third teenager was charged with murder Tuesday in a string of beatings of homeless men last week. William Ammons, 18, was charged with killing 45-year-old Norris Gaynor, who was bludgeoned with a baseball bat and died of head injuries. Police said Ammons shot the victim with a paintball gun. Ammons had initially been accused only of assaulting another homeless man. He was released from jail on $5,000 bail on the assault charge but was arrested again a few hours later on the murder charge.
Associated Press