It was just days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans when four of the officers responded to a report of police coming under fire. Witnesses say they arrived at the scene and began shooting without any warning. In defence, one officer said he'd been paralysed by fear over reports of widespread crime following the hurricane. The jury convicted all four of civil rights violations but not of murder. They now face life in prison. Alongside another former officer, they were also found guilty of

covering up

their actions by falsifying reports and handing in faked evidence.

A billion-dollar mission of exploration to Jupiter has begun with the launch of an unmanned solar-powered spacecraft called Juno from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

"Three, two, one, ignition and lift-off of the Atlas V with Juno on a trek to Jupiter - a planetary piece of the puzzle on the beginning of our solar system."

The project's chief scientist said Jupiter held the secret to understanding how all the planets including Earth were formed.

A representative of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has been released after being held by police in the Nepali capital Kathmandu. His supporters say he was detained for seven hours. Thinley Lama was arrested after holding a news conference. He became the head of the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in June. He's called on the Nepali government to

safeguard

the rights of Tibetan refugees in the country. About 20,000 Tibetan refugees live in Nepal.