NEWS LITE : BALLOONISTS TO ATTEMPT VOYAGE AROUND WORLD.No more trial balloons for Richard Branson Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950 in Shamley Green, Surrey, England), is a British entrepreneur, best known for his Virgin brand of over 360 . Branson, tycoon of the Virgin Group empire, arrived in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Sunday to begin his long-delayed attempt to break the record for a round-the-world balloon trip. He and co-pilots Per Lindstrand Per Lindstrand (born September 8, 1948, Sweden) is an aeronautical engineer, pilot and adventurer who has lived in Oswestry, England, since 1978. He is particularly known for his series of record-breaking trans-oceanic hot air balloon flights and, later, attempts to be the first and Rory McCarthy Rory McCarthy (born 4 September, 1975) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club St. Martin's and with the Wexford senior inter-county team. He plays in the half-back line. Early life Rory McCarthy was born near Piercestown, County Wexford in 1975. hope to set out today or Wednesday in the Virgin Global Challenger This article has multiple issues: * It needs sources or references that appear in third-party publications. * Its notability is in question. and float around the world in 18 days. Branson, 46, postponed the voyage in February, saying the balloon risked being ripped apart by thunderstorms thunderstorms a storm characterized by thunder and lightning caused by strong rising air currents; identified as agents of animal disease because of their involvement causing (1) spasmodic colic; (2) lightning strike; (3) injuries of cattle acquired in stampedes initiated by storms. . The balloon picks up the jet streams needed to cross the Pacific at speeds of up to 240 mph. Two pilots must remain at the controls of the 174-foot, $3 million helium-hot air balloon See Balloon. a balloon for aërial navigation. See also: Air Balloon at all times during the flight, which will reach altitudes of over 32,000 feet. The balloon is to fly over the Middle East, Iran, India, the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean, third largest ocean, c.28,350,000 sq mi (73,427,000 sq km), extending from S Asia to Antarctica and from E Africa to SE Australia; it is c.4,000 mi (6,400 km) wide at the equator. It constitutes about 20% of the world's total ocean area. , the Pacific, the United States and the Atlantic before touching down in Europe or North Africa. In 1987, Branson and Lindstrand were the first to cross the Atlantic in a hot-air balloon. They were the first to cross the Pacific in 1991. `Today' host gets early trial This must be the ``Today'' show version of hazing the new guy. Matt Lauer's first official duty Monday as Bryant Gumbel's replacement was to referee a loud argument about O.J. Simpson. ``Matt, welcome aboard,'' Geraldo Rivera, a participant in the segment, said with a wry smile when it was done. Lauer, 39, a news-reader and occasional guest host on ``Today'' during the past three years, admitted to some nervousness on opening day. ``A couple of times during the show, just remind me to breathe,'' Lauer told co-host Katie Couric at the program's opening. The Simpson segment also featured prosecutor Christopher Darden and Simpson friend Leo Terrell discussing photos of Simpson's shoes. It taxed Lauer's television traffic cop skills, with Terrell dominating the conversation. ``The more you interrupt him, the more he continues to go on,'' Lauer said later. ``I figured my tack is to let him get his say to the best of his ability and then cut him off as opposed to constantly trying to interrupt him.'' West Bank's skies clear It wasn't even close to an encounter. Thousands of Israelis crowded Tel Aviv beaches early Monday, watching for extraterrestrials whose arrival was predicted by self-proclaimed Israeli psychic Helinor Harar. As the theme music from the TV show ``The X-Files'' resounded from loudspeakers, she shouted: ``Israel will be the center for UFO UFO: see unidentified flying objects. (United Functions and Objects) A programming language developed by John Sargeant at Manchester University, U.K. landings.'' Crews set up cameras across the country in hopes of filming the visitors, who Harar predicted would arrive Sunday night. But the only object she spotted was a plane. Harar, who predicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upset election victory, later told Israel TV she had a new date for a landing - Feb. 14. And she ventured another prediction: ``Until they fly over Hebron, there will be no agreement.'' Israel and the Palestinians are negotiating a troop pullout pull·out n. 1. A withdrawal, especially of troops. 2. Change from a dive to level flight. Used of an aircraft. 3. An object designed to be pulled out. Noun 1. from the West Bank city. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1) Co-pilots Per Lindstrand, Rory McCarthy and Richard Branson wave from their capsule in Morroco. (2) Rosie O'Donnell and ``Today Show'' host Katie Couric serenade serenade [Ital. sera=evening], term used to designate several types of musical composition. Opera and song literature yield numerous examples of the serenade sung or played by a lover at night beneath his beloved's window; outstanding is ``Today Show'' host Matt Lauer after Lauer completed his first broadcast Monday. Associated Press |
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