European Mars rover’s ‘eye test’
September 26, 2009
A quarry in the south of England has been the site of an “eye test” for Europe’s planned rover mission ExoMars.
The quarry - chosen for its similarity to Martian terrain - saw cameras and image processing software tested on the ExoMars prototype rover Bridget.
The rover will be equipped with a raft of cameras and the aim is to integrate them and the data they will send back.
Live - Saturday football
September 26, 2009
Uefa probes 40 match-fixing cases
September 26, 2009
Uefa is investigating 40 cases of suspected match-fixing involving games in the Champions League and Uefa Cup.
The head of Uefa’s disciplinary services Peter Limacher said they were looking at early qualifying matches.
The games are from the last four years, with 15 in the last two years, and mainly involve Eastern European teams.
Refunds after Eurostar breakdowns
September 26, 2009
About 1,000 Eurostar passengers are to be given refunds after being stuck on two trains for several hours because of a power cut to overhead lines.
Friday’s 1932 BST service from London St Pancras to Paris and the 1934 BST to Brussels stopped outside Lille, north-east France, at around 2100 BST.
Alternative transport was eventually provided, though many passengers arrived five hours late.
Embryo mix-up woman gives birth
September 26, 2009
Carolyn Savage says she "felt violated"
A US woman who was implanted with the wrong embryo in a fertility treatment mix-up has given birth to a boy.
Carolyn Savage and her husband Sean said in a statement that the baby was delivered at St Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Mrs Savage, who had been told about the mix-up in February, said the family was “going through a very difficult time”.
Korean families in rare reunion
September 26, 2009
A group of elderly South Koreans has made a rare journey across the heavily fortified border to visit long-lost relatives in the communist North.
Two hundred families were chosen to take part in the reunions after more than half a century of separation since the Korean civil war.
Blasts rock north-west Pakistan
September 26, 2009
At least 16 people have been killed in two suicide car bomb attacks in north-western Pakistan.
Ten people are reported to have been killed and scores injured in a bombing in the city of Peshawar.
Earlier, a suicide car bomb in the town of Bannu killed at least six people, police said.
Messi signs new deal at Barcelona
September 19, 2009
Argentine forward Lionel Messi has signed a new contract at Barcelona which will keep him at the Nou Camp until 2016.
The 22-year-old, widely expected to win the Ballon d’Or in December, has penned a two-year extension to his last deal.
Messi, who helped Barcelona win an unprecedented treble of Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Cup last season, has a buy-out clause of £225m.
New Zealand 33-6 Australia
September 19, 2009
All Black fly-half Dan Carter tackles Wallaby lock Mark Chisholm
New Zealand thrashed Australia in Wellington on Saturday to finish second in the 2009 Tri-Nations table behind runaway champions South Africa.
A converted Cory Jane try and three Dan Carter penalties, to a Matt Giteau penalty and Berrick Barnes drop-goal, gave the hosts a 16-6 half-time lead.
Carter added a fourth penalty before Ma’a Nonu thundered over from the 22.
Nigeria ‘offended’ by sci-fi film
September 19, 2009
The film depicts aliens living in a South African shanty town
Nigeria’s government is asking cinemas to stop showing a science fiction film, District Nine, that it says denigrates the country’s image.
Information Minister Dora Akunyili told the BBC’s Network Africa programme that she had asked the makers of the film, Sony, for an apology.
She says the film portrays Nigerians as cannibals, criminals and prostitutes.