Today The World is Welcoming the Birth of a New Country

9th July 2011 will be remembered by the people of South Sudan as they officially declared their independence from Sudan and become the 193rd UN Recognised Country.

The independence of South Sudan came after referendum in January in which 99% of the people of the south voted to be separated from the north.

Both territories have been at war for decades with the casualties of some 2.5 million people.

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Space Shuttle Atlantis Begins Final Mission

On the 8th of July, 2011, at 11:29 a.m. local time, NASA successfully launched the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

This launch is historic because it marks the end of NASA's Space Shuttle Program after being started 30 years ago.

After the mission the shuttles will be placed in museums throughout the country and the journey to the ISS will become a commercial endeavor.

The shuttle Atlantis which is on its 12-day mission will arrive at the ISS on Sunday.

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