World highlights

• European scientists launched a satellite yesterday to seek out Earth-like planets beyond the solar system and to explore the interior of stars. The French project, dubbed COROT, sent into orbit a telescope capable of detecting planets smaller than those currently known, some maybe just a few times the size of Earth and rocky rather than gaseous.

• Russia and Belarus raised the temperature in their gas dispute yesterday, with Minsk threatening to stop Russian gas transit to Europe and Moscow saying it was no Santa Claus and would give no more "presents". The row is likely to revive unpleasant memories of gas cuts to Europe last year when Russia was locked in a similar pricing row with Ukraine. But smaller volumes cross Belarus to Europe and Russia said Europe was safe as its gas monopoly Gazprom had stockpiled extra gas in Germany.

• The Algerian government has sought to play down rebel bomb attacks on police stations and foreigners, saying the situation is under control after years of bloody violence. The US has urged its citizens in the North African country to be vigilant and review their security after a bus carrying foreign oil workers was bombed on December 10 in the first attack on Western expatriates in many years.

• Five labour unions representing workers at Alitalia are threatening a second 24-hour strike in just over a month on January 19 if the Italian government does not meet with them to discuss the airline's privatisation. "On January19, there will be no flying because the government continues to stay away from meeting with the unions," Andrea Cavola, head of the Sult union, said.