Seat shortage ends space trips
The Russian Space Agency says that the retirement of the Space Shuttle will mean the end for space tourism, as there will be no room for tourists travelling to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Soyuz spacecraft. Cosmonaut training chief Sergei Krikalev explained that the permanent crew at the ISS has expanded to six, so all positions in the three-seat Soyuz will be needed for crew transport. "When there was a spare place, the space tourist could fly together with the main crew and return back with them," he said. "Now that we have switched to a six-person crew, there is no spare room."
Rome to road-test honesty
A new taxi company has hit the streets of Rome, promising to end the city's reputation for shameless rip-offs by launching a system that allows passengers to pay their fare online before the cab arrives - thus denying dishonest drivers the opportunity to think of a number, add a zero and double it. "We want to change the public's perceptions about Rome taxi drivers," said Loreno Bittarelli, chairman of the cab co-op Radiotaxi 3570. Let us know if your prepaid taxi actually arrives.
Check in at Paddington
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Holidaymakers catching flights from Heathrow can now check in and print boarding passes at Paddington station before boarding the Heathrow Express. At present, the check-in service - using touch-screen machines similar to those at the airport - is limited to passengers taking flights on Delta Air Lines, Iberia and United Airlines, but it is promised that big-name carriers such as British Airways and Virgin will soon be added.
Atitlan choked by toxic scum
Hotels and businesses around the Guatemalan tourist attraction of Lake Atitlan are facing ruin after the once clear water became choked with a dense carpet of foul-smelling toxic algae. The cyanobacterial layer, caused by a combination of agricultural pollutants and the untreated sewage from settlements on the lake shore, produces toxins that have harmful effects on fish, crustaceans, aquatic plants and humans who come into contact with the polluted water. Locals and tourists are being warned to stay away from the lake.