News

The shuttle Discovery successfully launched into orbit yesterday carrying seven astronauts and the key unit of the Japanese Kibo research module to the International Space Station.

While the otherwise picture-perfect launch at Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, was marred with video evidence of several chunks of foam shedding off Discovery's external fuel tank, a top NASA official said it did not endanger Discovery.

"We saw maybe five pieces of foam break away ... We don't consider this a big thing," said Bill Gerstenmeier, NASA associate administrator for space operations.

Queensland will become the first state in Australia to ban children and teenagers from having surgery for purely cosmetic reasons.

Premier Anna Bligh last October flagged changes to laws after speaking about a trend of doctors reporting an increase in adolescent patients asking about and demanding cosmetic surgery.

She told state parliament on Thursday there had been an "overwhelming response" to the first round of consultation on the issue, with 82 per cent of 300 respondents very concerned about unnecessary cosmetic surgery for people aged under 18.

"I appreciate this can be a difficult time, especially in a young woman's development, but to resort to a surgeon's blade is an adult response best left until one is an adult," Ms Bligh said.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants a plan to create universal parent and child care centres across Australia debated at this weekend's 2020 summit in Canberra.

Mr Rudd says a successful national child care program would be of great benefit to individuals and the nation.

"This proposal builds on the extensive research which has already been done on the critical impact of a child's early nurture, care and positive engagement and learning on every aspect of that child's later life," he told the Sydney Institute.

"We have already set ourselves the goal of introducing universal preschool services for all four-year-olds by 2013 - that's a commitment from the Government that I lead.

A three-day trial over an unauthorised Harry Potter encyclopedia has ended with a flash of anger from JK Rowling.

The best-selling British author returned to the witness stand and told a judge that if he allows the fan-written lexicon to be published, it will clear the way for countless rip-offs of her books, as well as the work of other popular authors.

"I believe the flood gates will open," Rowling said, her voice rising. "Are we the owners of our own work?"

Rowling was testifying for the second time in the trial at a federal court in Manhattan where a judge will decide whether to grant Rowling's request to block publication of The Harry Potter Lexicon, a guide to the characters, places and spells in her novels, written by a passionate Potter fan.

A 50-year-old high school librarian, Steven Vander Ark, compiled the material from a website by the same name that he had been operating for years.

An Australian-made documentary on convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby will screen first in the US before being seen here.

Ganja Queen was shot during Corby's 2005 trail in Indonesia with the cooperation of the drug smuggler's family, News Ltd said.

Produced by Sydney-based documentary maker Janine Hosking and her partner Steve Hosking, the 112-minute international version is due to be shown on HBO in the US on August 18.

News Ltd said it understood the documentary has not been seen by the Corby family.