Kazakhstan satellite launched

The Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan launched its first satellite into orbit Sunday in a major step forward for the country's fledgling space program.

Kazakhstan hosts the world's largest space center, the Baikonur cosmodrome built by the old Soviet Union and still used by Russia to launch spacecraft.


Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin watch the launch of Kazakhstan's first satellite at the Russia-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome on June 18, 2006.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has made building a space industry a major goal of his government and eventually wants Kazakhstan to construct a national space center of its own.

Using the country's rich oil assets, Kazakhstan has started training its native cosmonauts for future human space missions.

Sri Lanka, Tigers both claim victory in maritime battle

Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Nadu made conflicting claims of victory after a naval battle Saturday.

At least 40 people were dead or missing after Sri Lankan naval ships and Tiger patrol boats engaged each other in the waters off northeastern Mannar district.

Sri Lanka claimed to have sank eight Tiger patrol boats while sustaining damage to three of its own craft.


"Sri Lankan soldiers secure village after the land mine blast in Kabithigollewa northeast of Colombo, June 15, 2006. Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi/Reuters photo from Yahoo News.

The Tigers, however, denied losing any boats but instead claimed to have sank three Sri Lankan patrol craft.

There was no independent confirmation of either claim.

In a separate incident, three Tiger frogmen were captured just north of the capital Colombo. Two of the three fighters attempted suicide by taking cyanide pills and are were taken to a hospital.

Maoists will join interin Nepal government

Maoist leader Prachanda said that rebel leaders will form part of an interim government which will replace both the Nepal parliament and the Maoist "People's Government."

Prachanda met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and leaders of the other seven political parties in the ruling alliance on Friday.


Leader of Nepal's Maoist rebels Prachanda, second left, sits inside a car with his wife after their arrival at the Katmandu airport, Nepal, Friday, June 16, 2006 for a meeting with leaders of the ruling coalition. AP photo from Yahoo News.

The new government will create a new constitution and set the stage for a permanent government down the road.

Before that time, an interim constitution will be created and the United Nations will provide oversight of both Nepalese troops and Maoist fighters.