Lost in space

10.03.14 ALL OCCUPANTS of international space station Alpha are feared dead after the crew module was hit by a tiny piece of space debris 		 
A nation once again

16.10.14 IRELAND is to be reunited after a referendum in Northern Ireland voted 61% in favour of joining the republic
2014
How the Met can make your face fit

14.03.14 POLICE admit that closed-circuit TV images can be doctored in order to fit an individual to a crime

Essex may ease crowds in clouds

29.10.14 LONDON airports can't cope with increasing number of travellers 		 
Men take their hats off to science

27.05.14 MEN IN HATS are queuing up at health centres for a new hair-restoring drug


Computer sacks board

11.02.14 Adam Blomfield, director of the banking group ADF, has been sacked by his own management computer

  • Genetically altered foods are being blamed for birth defects in Cornwall. A report in The Lancet claims that 'the highest incidence of babies born with cleft palates and hare lips is among families working on the ImGen corporation estate'. ImGen's generous treatment of its workers - they are given free vegetables all year round, and many have been with the company for more than 10 years - has made it easier to collect the evidence. The study claims to have eliminated herbicides and pesticides as possible causes of the defects. JB

  • The Queen decided in November to abdicate in favour of the Prince of Wales in order to spend more time with 92-year-old Prince Philip, who has been suffering from poor health. The Queen, who was 88 in April, is withdrawing from all public duties. Prince Charles will be crowned king next year.

  • Heavy demand is expected for the CVS (Computerised Vision System), the ultimate personal assistant. Those with CVS in their PCs will find a 'real person's face' and voice responding to their voice commands. The CVS will order your shopping, pass on your child's report from the Net, confirm meetings, book tickets for the theatre, arrange travel - and even make certain that you can be free to enjoy a visit from your wellbeing consultant. RD