UK to have European space centre

The European Space Agency (ESA) is to open a research centre in Britain. The facility, which 1) would will would be will be is based on the Harwell innovation campus in Oxfordshire, will concentrate on space robotics and climate change science. The UK has been the only major ESA member not to host one of the agency’s technical or administrative centres.

The agreement to open the facility 2) is are was were have announced in The Hague where European science ministers have been meeting to approve agency policies and funding. Senior ESA executive Daniel Sacotte told reporters the agreement was a 3) turning symbolic flagship royal landmark moment:

"It shows renewed interest for Britain to be part of ESA, to be involved in space activity; and we welcome that. It’s a new development in our 4) attitude merger dialogue relationship communication with this very important member state."

Negotiations to open the centre have taken a number of years to complete, and became tied up with financial commitments which ESA asked the UK to make on some of the agency’s other activities, in particular in the realm of Earth observation. Britain was able to make those commitments here and sign the documents that will give the green light to the establishment of the new centre. Its precise remit has 5) yet already always often possibly to be fully worked out, but with the UK being a major player in ESA’s flagship space robot programme, the ExoMars rover, it 6) seems true is rational makes sense is probable sounds right that the centre should focus on such expertise. Mr Sacotte, the special advisor to ESA’s director general, explained:

"We have been identifying a few sectors of possible activity, including robotics of course; because in the development of the ExoMars programme, the industrial role of Great Britain is to develop the robot that will 7) go be gone have gone going be going and searching for life on the planet Mars."

How the climate element is incorporated into the centre is still to be defined. ESA already has a centre dedicated to Earth observation in Italy, but Britain has clear expertise in climate science and the agency is 8) keen motivated interested enthusiastic excited to exploit that. Lord Drayson, the UK science minister, told reporters:

"I think it reflects the recognition within the United Kingdom of the growing importance of space research. We are the fourth 9) large larger more larger largest most largest contributor to the European space programme and we’ve been selective in those areas that we’ve contributed to, to enable us to develop real focus and a world lead in certain areas," he told BBC News. "It’s now time to capitalise on that lead, to get more of the 10) capital investment finance profit money that we’ve made in ESA actually spent here in the UK."

Second Bangkok airport shut by Thai anti-government protesters

Bangkok was effectively cut off today as the city’s second airport was closed 11) after while during before though it was stormed by anti-government protestors who are already laying siege to the main international air hub in the Thai capital.

Don Muang airport, the former international terminus, now mainly handles domestic flights. But it has also recently played host to the Thai prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, who 12) will would was is had set up temporary offices there after demonstrators invaded the compound of his Government House headquarters three months ago.

The double airport 13) closing closure closed closes close has left thousands of international travellers stranded for a third day after all flights at Suvamabhmni airport were halted as People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protestors, 14) which that who whose where are calling for the government to quit, continued their occupation. The blockade of Don Muang was an apparent attempt to stop ministers flying to meet the prime minister, who has summoned his cabinet to the northern city of Chiang Mai to discuss the mounting tensions that bring the threat of another military coup ever closer. Somchai’s flight home from an overseas trip was diverted to Chang Mai.

A government spokesman said Somchai 15) mustn't had to could couldn't didn't have to decide to declare emergency rule to evict the protestors, but when his predecessor tried the same tactic in September it had no tangible effect as the army said it was not prepared to act. Somchai has dismissed advice by the army chief, Anupong Paochinda, to dissolve parliament and call snap elections as a way to resolve the crisis that is crippling Thailand’s vital tourist industry just at the start of the high season. PAD leaders have themselves 16) followed obeyed applied ignored forgotten the army’s order to leave Suvamabhumi airport, saying they will not leave until Somchai steps down unconditionally.

Airport authority officials are 17) thinking looking regarding considering reflecting using the Thai airbase of U Tapao, 90 miles south of Bangkok. This already received a number of diverted flights, but passengers had to wait for six hours on arrival because of a 18) surplus shortage congestion blockage retraction of customs, immigration and baggage handling staff.

British embassy diplomats have received anxious calls from those whose flights were cancelled and fear they may 19) leak lack run out of waste come up with money with no resolution of the stand-off in sight. Thousands are being put up in hotels around Bangkok and the resort town of Pattaya, with their accommodation bill footed for the time being 20) from with via by on their airlines or the Thai government.

Family of man killed in Wal-Mart stampede sue over store advertising

The family of the Wal-Mart worker who died in a stampede by shoppers has 21) accused alleged complained blamed suspected in a lawsuit that the retailer’s advertising contributed to his death.

Wal-Mart is accused of engaging in "specific marketing and advertising techniques specifically to attract a large crowd and create an environment of frenzy and mayhem and was otherwise careless, reckless and negligent" in the wrongful death lawsuit, which was 22) filed judged ordered organised sued in the US yesterday.

The retailer and its partners are also accused of failing 23) provide providing to provide have provided to be provided adequate security for a pre-dawn crowd estimated at 2,000 at the New York store where Jdimytai Damour, 34, was knocked over and crushed early last Friday. Damour died of asphyxiation when the crowd 24) broke off broke up broke into broke down broke out of the electronic doors in frantic pursuit of bargains.

"Black Friday", the day after the American Thanksgiving holiday, is traditionally the 25) busy busier busiest more busy most busiest shopping day of the year in the US.

Wal-Mart, the adjacent Green Acres Mall, a realty company that manages the property and a security company hired to patrol the property were all named as 26) criminals defendants prosecutors lawyers judges in the lawsuit. The retail company has issued a statement saying it would cooperate with local law enforcement officials to develop stronger safety measures for the future :

"We have been in communication with members of his family to do what we 27) will would may can might to help them through this difficult time. Our associates know that when incidents like this occur, we 28) take care occupy concern compensate look after of our own," Wal-Mart added.

Lawyer Jordan Hecht, who is acting for Damour’s family, said he was a temporary worker and had only been in his job at Wal-Mart about a week when he died. US authorities suspect the 6ft 5in Damour was placed at the entrance of the store to assist with crowd 29) damage protest control stampede demonstration because of his size.

At least four other people 30) are were could be would be will be treated at hospitals after the incident, including a woman who was eight months pregnant. The National Retail Federation has said it believes Damour is the first store worker to die on the job in the post-Thanksgiving shopping rush.

Shops face ban on tobacco displays

The open display of tobacco in shops and supermarkets will be banned in an attempt to reduce smoking 31) around between among including concerning children and adults, the health secretary, Alan Johnson, said today.

He acknowledged concerns that the ban would 32) hit strike beat crash collide small businesses and said it would begin with the big supermarkets, who would be required to sell cigarettes under the counter. The measure will be introduced as part of a 33) large broad huge massive wide-ranging health bill in the new year. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said businesses would be given "ample time" to adjust to the move.

Medical experts and anti-smoking groups welcomed the ban but the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association warned that the change would hit corner shops hardest 34) due to because despite for so they would lose out on "opportunity sales" of chocolate bars and newspapers.

Chris Ogden, the group’s chief executive, said: "We are in the grip of a recession and it is hardly the time to knock small businesses by measures 35) so same such like similar as these. It [tobacco] is a legal product and it allows consumer choice and competition between manufacturers and retailers."

Johnson said corner shops would need to diversify anyway 36) because so for as while smoking rates dropped, and stressed that the government’s overriding priority was to reduce smoking, which he called "the biggest public health risk".

He said the primary aim was to 37) increase raise decrease reduce avoid smoking among 11-15-year-olds in England and Wales, an estimated 200,000 of whom were 38) usual regular often addicted reluctant smokers in 2007. The experience of other countries where the open display of tobacco has been banned showed that it helped to reduce smoking among young people, said Johnson.

He 39) said told reported announced interviewed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the "overwhelming evidence and support" in the government’s consultation on smoking was for such a ban. "When they [children] see a point of sale display and as a result of seeing of it they 40) take on take out take up take down take off why 200,000 11-15 year-olds are smoking," said Johnson.

Hope for malaria vaccine within five years

A vaccine against malaria, which kills more than one million people every year, 41) can could have to must would be available within five years after extensive trials have shown that it provides significant protection for infants and young children.

The vaccine, known only by its codename RTS,S, is the 42) more promising more optimistic most promising most optimistic fastest to emerge from 20 years of research and has already demonstrated its efficacy in adults and babies in the Gambia and Mozambique.

The latest trials, in Kenya and Tanzania, have shown for the first time that the vaccine can be administered as part of the standard immunisation programme, 43) by through without including stopping interfering with vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and meningitis, and still provide protection. This will make delivering it much easier and 44) more fewer much less most costly across Africa and has boosted researchers’ hopes of developing an effective weapon against one of the world’s worst killer diseases. A final trial 45) including covering instisting consisting involving thousands of children across Africa is planned for next year, if regulatory approval can be obtained.

About 500 million episodes of malaria occur every year, mostly in the developing world. The disease 46) causes is causing has caused is caused was caused by a parasite transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito and is the 47) leading significant most majority frequent killer of children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the Tanzanian trial, the vaccine reduced infection with malaria over six months by up to 65 per cent in babies under one, who are most 48) acute available dangerous vulnerable accessible to disease. A total of 340 infants were included who each received three doses at eight, 12 and 16 weeks. In a separate trial involving almost 900 older children in Kenya and Tanzania, aged five to 17 months, a slightly different version of the same vaccine reduced cases of malaria requiring hospital 49) cure prescription treatment operation residence by 53 per cent.

The results were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans and 50) included broadcast advertised distributed published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Heathrow next, warn activists who caused Stansted chaos

Environmental campaigners last night vowed to step 51) up down out in on direct action against British airports after protesters breached the security fence at Stansted airport and closed its runway, resulting in scores of cancelled flights and 52) crowding congestion disturbance disruption blockage for thousands of passengers.

Members of a group called Plane Stupid, which campaigns against climate change and air travel, chained themselves to a makeshift barrier close to the airport’s runway after cutting 53) out of through in into on the perimeter fence in the early hours of yesterday.

54) Despite Because Though However For this reason 57 protesters were arrested - several as they tried to leave the airport - a spokeswoman for the group said it intended to repeat the action at Heathrow, where controversial plans are under consideration to build a third runway. Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, will announce next month 55) when why whether about concerning the proposed runway will go ahead.

There were 56) disaster catastrophic controlled chaotic crisis scenes through the morning at Stansted, as disgruntled passengers surged around ticket desks and clamoured for information, after the runway was closed between 5am and 8.15am and Ryanair, one of the 57) airline important significant business major operators at the airport, cancelled its first 52 flights.

Passengers, many of 58) whom which whose those hundreds had been at the airport since 4am, pressed against each other in large crowds after the queuing system broke down at one Ryanair ticket desk, where five airline staff struggled to deal with the mass of customers. Armed officers shouted directions to move back, 59) hoping to aiming for targetting with the aim to in the hope of avoiding a crush, and later stepped in to assist airport staff in moving the queues into more orderly lines.

In October the government overturned a refusal by Stansted’s local planning authority to allow expansion of the airport, following an appeal by BAA. The government go-ahead means passenger numbers at Stansted 60) would increase will increase can increase are increasing have increased from 25 million to 35 million annually.

Tea and classical music to soothe late-night drinkers

Late-night drinkers are 61) give giving given to give to be given tea and biscuits as part of a taxpayer-funded scheme to cut rowdy behaviour at closing time. Bars will also play classical music after last orders in 62) a trial an attempt a regulation a test a target to soothe patrons before they spill out into the street.

The pilot scheme is part of a £30,000 package of 63) rules plans measures strategies tactics designed to counter anti-social behaviour at a late night trouble spot in north west London. A spokesman for Brent council said that the "quirky" new approach had been shown to work in American towns.

"There is research that shows if you can calm people down before they leave the premises there is 64) more most much many very less chance that they will fight in the streets," he said. "We are not certain it’s going to work but it has been used in certain US cities and it has been reasonably 65) useful useless effective ineffective user-friendly ."

Bars and pubs in the Neasden Circle area will fund the tea, coffee, biscuits and other snacks, which 66) intend inteded is intended are intended have intended to stagger the closing time surge for cabs home, but the council will contribute to extra staffing costs. Other measures to be adopted by the council include 67) increasing raising decreasing falling rising police patrols and targeting shops selling booze to under-age drinkers.

Councillor Hayley Matthews, lead member for crime and community safety at Brent council, said: "We 68) improve improved will improve would improve had improved things in this area, hopefully though persuasion, but if necessary we are prepared to get 69) strict tough hard soft lenient things in this area, hopefully though persuasion, but if necessary we are prepared to on both retailers and drinkers."

This is the 70) current last later latest actuel in a series of creative new tactics adopted by councils tu curb late night rowdiness. Drinkers in Bolton will be given free bubble blowers by police to stop them getting into fights, while police in Devon plan to hand out flip flops to help drunk women walk home.

Rome carriage horses to get ’black boxes’ for a more stable life

Horses pulling carriages around Rome are to be 71) furnished stocked installed equipped attached with "black box" devices to track their working patterns after one collapsed outside the Colosseum last week and had to be put down in front of a crowd of tourists.

Under plans drawn up by Rome city council, all horses will be required to have pedometers. Fabio De Lillo, the head of environment for the council, said that it was "the equine 72) equality equivalent similarity same identity of a taxi meter, which will also work as a kind of black box. It will tell us how many hours a horse has worked and whether the obligatory breaks 73) are aren't have been haven't been would be observed".

Italian animal rights activists have called for the carriages to be scrapped, alleging that the 90 horses that pull the carriages are overworked in often dangerous traffic and are sent to the knackers yard 74) when while for during despite they have outlived their usefulness. Drivers are required to give their horses a 30-minute break after every trip and are banned from using them between 1-5pm from July to September to 75) prevent ignore avoid neglect disregard the heat. Campaigners maintain that the rules are often flouted.

Mr De Lillo said that checks by inspectors would be increased 76) from by since for on once a year to once a month, and twice a month in the summer. Horses would also be fitted with microchips recording the animal’s identity, age and history. He said that a majority of drivers 77) also in addition both the same as well as animal welfare associations supported the plan.

Last week a 17-year-old bay called Birillo fell and broke a leg on a cobbled street near the Colosseum when it panicked after being grazed by a lorry that failed to stop. Veterinary surgeons gave the horse a 78) final deadly poisonous killing lethal injection after it had been on the ground in agony for four hours, watched by a horrified crowd. Another horse died after being struck by a car in June.

ENPA, the Italian Society for the Protection of Animals, has asked the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, to 79) exchange convert rewrite trade substitute horse-drawn carriage licences into taxi licences. Carlo Rocchi, the head of ENPA, said that drivers often left their horses locked up in dark and humid communal stables for weeks when it rained. The drivers insist that they look after their horses, "as if they were our 80) individual proper biological own former children."