With reference to Iain Sharp's letter (2 March), it is not the reputation of astrology that is at issue but merely that of the astrologer who made the predictions referred to. Astrology has good and bad practitioners and should not be judged by those foolish enough to make such predictions in public.

A comet is about to take on the superheroes, report Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest

Stephen Vines on why a new boss makes a monkey of Patten

There is a hint of a new season in the night sky this month, with the appearance of Leo, the most prominent constellation of spring, in the east. It will move to centre-stage high in the south during March and April.

January sees the stars putting on their finest display of the year. The really brilliant constellations of Orion, Gemini and Taurus will be riding high in the south. You'll also spot Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, appearing to flash all the colours of the rainbow. This is nothing to do with the star itself, but an effect caused by seeing it low in the sky through countless layers of our churning atmosphere.

Currently there seems to be a raft of books concerned with bridging the generations.

Armistice Day next week finds several countries still mired in devastating civil wars.

Every success story experiences a backlash. And now it is the turn of the management gurus to be lambasted in the way that members of the Royal Family have long been familiar with.

November 5th will once more see The Guy burned in effigy, despite recent attempts at his rehabilitation by Antonia Fraser. It will also be Election Day in the United States, as it is on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years. With Clinton's 20-point lead in the polls, Hillary will not be conjuring the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt to divine the winner.

The Venezuelan President did not like his horoscope. It said he was going to die next spring.

The money men are seeing stars, says Michael Drewett (Sagittarius)

A forward-thinking hotel in Country Durham is taking a punt on inflation rising steeply over the next few years. The Redworth Hotel and Country Club near Darlington has started selling "end of the millennium" party tickets for 31 December 1999.

They can't be seen, yet bodies orbiting other stars have finally been found. But what are they? By

The First Lady's tribulations have driven her to find solace on the other side, says David Usborne