NASA managers give OK for shuttle launch

NASA managers giveOK for shuttle launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA gave the green light Monday night for a Fourth of July shuttle liftoff despite worries about a piece of foam that popped off Discovery's external fuel tank while the spacecraft sat on the launch pad. The decision was sure to stir more debate about whether the space agency was putting its flight schedule ahead of safety. The 3-inch triangular piece of foam that appeared to come from a 5-inch-long crack late Sunday or early Monday is far smaller than the foam chunk that brought down Columbia, killing seven astronauts in 2003. But NASA managers spent most of Monday pondering whether to go ahead with the launch. Some outside experts said they were uncomfortable with going ahead.
Conservative claimsvictory as Mexican leader
MEXICO CITY -- Conservative Felipe Calderon claimed an insurmountable lead Monday in Mexico's closest presidential race in modern history, but his populist rival, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, began exploring plans for a potentially lengthy challenge. Nevertheless, the air of crisis, which had reigned late Sunday when both candidates declared themselves victorious in fiery speeches, seemed to ease as nearly complete but unofficial returns showed Calderon clinging to a victory margin of almost 400,000 votes -- a 1 percent advantage. Mexico's financial markets returned their best performance since May, with the Mexico City stock market rising 4.8 percent and the peso rising 2.2 percent against the dollar.
Palestinian militantsgive ultimatum to Israel
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Militants gave Israel 24 hours starting Monday to begin releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, implying they would kill an abducted Israeli soldier if their demands were not met. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected any negotiations with the militants, and the army pressed ahead with its Gaza offensive. Privately, though, some officials said the government had not ruled out any options to win Cpl. Gilad Shalit's freedom. After Shalit was seized in a June 25 raid on an army post that left two comrades dead, his captors demanded Israel free all imprisoned Palestinian women and minors in exchange for information about him. They later increased their demand to include the release of 1,000 more prisoners.
Witnesses: Spanish trainsped up before derailing
VALENCIA, Spain -- A subway train accelerated, shuddered and flipped off the tracks Monday in the Mediterranean port of Valencia, killing at least 41 passengers and injuring 47 in one of Spain's worst rail accidents, officials and witnesses said. Regional authorities and a witness said the train was going too fast and one of its wheels broke into pieces, derailing the first car, which overturned. Victims were strewn in the tunnel. Officials did not say if the second car derailed. Authorities ruled out terrorism but have not determined the cause of the crash.
Supreme Court issuesstay on San Diego cross
SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Supreme Court put on hold Monday an order to remove a monumental cross that sits on public land, giving hope to supporters just weeks before it was to be taken down. A lower court judge had ordered the city of San Diego to remove the cross or be fined $5,000 a day. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, acting for the high court, issued a stay while supporters of the cross continue their legal fight. Lawyers for San Diegans for the Mount Soledad National War Memorial said in an appeal that they wanted to avoid the "destruction of this national treasure." And attorneys for the city said the cross was part of a broader memorial that was important to the community. The 29-foot cross, on a scenic hilltop perch in the upscale La Jolla area, was contested in 1989 by Philip Paulson, a Vietnam veteran and atheist. A judge declared the cross, a symbol of Christianity, was an unconstitutional endorsement of one religion over another.
Combined dispatches