■ United States
Sears plotter on trial
A man accused of leading a group that authorities said was plotting to blow up Chicago's Sears Tower wanted to create a distraction so he could free Muslim prisoners at a nearby jail, Assistant US Attorney Jacqueline Arango said in Miami on Friday. Narseal Batiste, 32, who is accused of leading the group, was recorded as he spoke to an FBI informant who was posing as an al-Qaeda operative, Arango said. Authorities have said the men never had explosives or contact with al-Qaeda. US Magistrate Judge Ted Bandstra heard arguments on Friday on whether to release Batiste and five co-defendants on bond. The judge adjourned the hearing until Wednesday so the defense could finish questioning law enforcement agents.
■ United States
Hubble camera back on
A balky camera on the Hubble Space Telescope has been restarted and will begin taking pictures again this evening, NASA officials said on Friday. The Advanced Camera for Surveys, which consists of three electronic cameras that can detect light from ultraviolet to near infrared wavelengths, malfunctioned on June 19. Engineers quickly suspected a problem with the power supply, but spent a week and a half investigating to be certain. "Everything worked out great," said NASA spokeswoman Susan Hendrix.
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