In other news: Moon landing attempt by US company appears doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak; Park Service retracts decision to remove William Penn statue in Philadelphia

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 10, 2024

By The Associated Press

Moon landing attempt by US company appears doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak

A moon landing attempt by a private U.S. company appears doomed because of a fuel leak on the newly launched spacecraft. Astrobotic Technology managed to orient the lander toward the sun Monday so its solar panel could capture sunlight and charge its onboard battery. The propulsion system problem was reported hours after a successful liftoff from Florida. Astrobotic was aiming to be the first private company to successfully land on the moon, something only four countries have accomplished. A second lander from a Houston company is due to launch next month. NASA gave the companies millions to build landers and make deliveries to the moon.

Park Service retracts decision to take down William Penn statue at Philadelphia historical site

The National Park Service is retracting a proposal to take down a statue of William Penn at a Philadelphia historical site as part of a renovation that touched off a torrent of criticism over the legacy of the man who founded the province of Pennsylvania. In a statement Monday, Independence National Historical Park said it withdrew the proposal it had announced quietly before the weekend about the wider renovation of Welcome Park, just blocks from the Liberty Bell. The proposal, it said, was released “prematurely” and hadn’t undergone a complete internal review. The retracted plan had also involved expanding the telling of the Native American history of Philadelphia.

3 people mistakenly eat laundry detergent in Taiwan election giveaway gone awry

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At least three people have been hospitalized after mistakenly eating colorful pods of liquid laundry detergent that were distributed as a campaign freebie in Taiwan’s presidential race. Taiwanese media reports said the victims thought the pods were candy. The pods came in partially clear packaging with photos of Nationalist Party candidate Hou Yu-ih and his running mate. Writing on the bag says each pod can wash up to 18 pounds of clothes. Those hospitalized included a man and woman in their 80s who were released after having their stomachs flushed. A Nationalist Party official apologized for the incident.