A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Russian spy deported from US turns out for astronaut send-off
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan – Russian spy Anna Chapman has come out of the shadows to wave off astronauts at a launch pad in Kazakhstan, her first appearance at a public event since the United States deported her in July.
Chapman, whose glamorous lifestyle as a spy in the US turned her into a media sensation, watched a rocket blast off with two Russian cosmonauts and a US astronaut to the International Space Station.
Appearing briefly in jeans and red coat at the launch site in the Kazakh steppe, Chapman refused to answer reporters’ questions at a farewell ceremony for Russians Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka and Scott Kelly from the US.
The Russian rocket blasted off on schedule at 0511 local time on Friday.– (Reuters)
Italians march over cuts in education
ROME – Thousands of students and teachers marched in Italian cities yesterday to protest against the government's education reforms and spending cuts.
Holding banners with slogans such as "they are destroying knowledge" and "let's rebuild the university", protesters in hard hats and masks vented their anger at reforms planned by minister for education Mariastella Gelmini. – (Reuters)