A glance at the week that was
We now know
A 10-year-old Canadian girl has become the youngest person to discover a supernova
Global food prices rose to a record high in December, according to the UN’s food price index
British pubs will be able to serve a smaller beer after relaxing rules on pub glass sizes
A big dig-out
Burglars in Argentina tunnelled their way into a bank vault and emptied more than 100 safety deposit boxes, police say. Though alarms were triggered several times, police took no action after seeing that the doors of the bank were shut.
The robbery was discovered only when staff returned to the bank, in Buenos Aires, after the New Year weekend. It’s believed the thieves rented a neighbouring building and spent six months digging a 30m tunnel with lights and ventilation to get to the right spot.
"Contrary to media speculation, I can confirm that I have not had a stroke"Ireland mananger Giovanni Trapattoni scotches press reports following recent surgery on his carotid artery
The numbers
€50bnThe estimated value of Facebook following investment by Goldman Sachs
75The percentage of coal mines closed in Queensland, Australia after extensive flooding
569Wednesday's record number of patients on trolleys in Irish hospital emergency departments
I demand a refill
A pilot’s spilled cup of coffee has been blamed for the accidental activation of a hijacking alert that saw a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Frankfurt diverted to Toronto. The pilot “inadvertently squawked” the emergency code after spilling the drink on radio equipment during light turbulence on Monday, according to Transport Canada.
Canada’s defence department was alerted, but United Airlines dispatch staff promptly confirmed the incident to be a communication issue and not a hijacking, allowing the plane to land safely.
