INTERNATIONAL NEWS in brief

Satellite likely to hit Earth in unpopulated area

BERLIN (AP):

The European Space Agency said that one of its research satellites that ran out of fuel will most likely crash to Earth into the ocean or polar regions.

Yesterday, the agency said the crash is expected to occur between 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. between Sunday and Monday.

Spokeswoman Jocelyne Landeau said the satellite, GOCE, would mostly disintegrate as it comes down, and "we will have only a few pieces which could be 90 kilograms at the most."

ESA said Friday that humans were 250,000 times more likely to win the lottery than to get hit by the debris.

GOCE was launched in 2009 to map the Earth's gravitational field.

Texas party 'not rowdy' before gunfire; 2 dead

HOUSTON, TEXAS (AP):

A burst of gunfire at an 18-year-old girl's birthday party Saturday night left two dead, another two critically injured and dozens hurt in a chaotic scene where people jumped from second-floor windows to escape the shooting at a suburban Houston home.

More than 100 people, mostly 17- to 19-year-olds, had gathered at the home in Cypress, the Harris County sheriff's office said. Partygoer Shaniqua Brown told The Associated Press it "was not rowdy at all," and many people were dancing when they heard the shots, which police said were fired between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.

Authorities say they're seeking two gunmen.

A man and woman died, one at the scene, and another at a hospital. They have not been identified by name. As many as 22 were hurt, with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to twisted ankles by those fleeing in panic.