The tidy Swiss want to clean up space. Scientists from the Alpine nation said yesterday they plan to launch a "janitor satellite" designed to get rid of orbiting debris known as space junk.

'Black-hole' resorts where mobiles are banned and the internet is anathema are set to be huge this year

China has released plans for a five-year space programme, including building a space station and manned missions.

First witnesses describe how gang of white youths 'collided' with black teenager near bus stop

Mario Balotelli is producing fireworks on and off the pitch after finally being accepted by his team-mates at City. By Ian Herbert

Small garden birds whose numbers were depleted by the long, harsh winter a year ago appear to have made a comeback this year, the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch has revealed.

A US store is offering would-be satellite television customers a free gun.

The UK is "dangerously dependent" on GPS satellite navigation systems, a report by engineers warns.

When it blasted off 20 years ago, few thought it would succeed. But it showed us a universe we didn't know existed, says Nick Harding

We don't know very much about the US Air Force's X-37B, and its sudden appearance has surprised many space watchers. It is certainly unusual for a spacecraft that is supposed to be on a "technology development mission" to materialise in an orbit that is normally reserved for spy satellites. And while the amateur space watchers who spotted it did so with relative ease, the layman could be forgiven for wandering exactly what else might be up there that we don't know about.

Fourth satellite to be launched in armed forces' communications system

Their head honcho Gary Hetherington is convinced that Leeds' lousy form going into the World Club Challenge has nothing to do with skipping warm-weather training this year.

Sgurr nan Ceannaichean downgraded from Munro status after falling 3ft short

Celtic Crusaders' problems have deepened with the news that they are under investigation by the UK Borders Agency for visa irregularities. All the overseas players at the club are having their visas checked.