London, Apr 21 : A leading British scientist has cast doubts on claims that genetic research could provide a cure for a host of common illnesses, insisting they are "plainly wrong".

Prof Steve Jones, head of the biology department at University College London, claims that the hope has proved a "false dawn".

He has called for a complete rethink of what he calls the "scattergun" approach to genetic research, which has millions of pounds investments.

London, Apr 21 : Hollywood actor Matt Damon turned down the role of Captain Kirk in Star Trek, director J. J. Abrams has revealed.

Abrams revealed that Matt was his first choice for the starring role of Kirk - but he is glad to have been given the chance to subsequently hire little known actor Chris Pine.

"I actually approached Matt and we had some discussions, but everything happens for a reason. On the one hand, it would have been great to work with Matt - but at the end of the day, it was such a better move to cast the movie with unknowns,” The Daily Star quoted J. J., as telling Life magazine.

London, Apr 21 : Music composer James Newton Howard has been nominated twice in the best soundtrack category at the Classical Brits for his work on films The Dark Knight and I Am Legend. Co-composer Hans Zimmer is also nominated for his work in the Dark Knight, reports The BBC.

On the other hand, conductor Charles Mackerras, who recently won two BBC Music Magazine awards, is up for male artist of the year and the critics award.

Mackerras is nominated for his recording of Mozart Symphonies nos. 38-41.

London  - British physicist Stephen Hawking is expected to make a "full recovery" after undergoing a series of tests in a hospital in Cambridge, a spokesman for Cambridge University said Tuesday.

The 67-year-old scientist, who is wheelchair-bound and speaks with the help of a voice synthesizer as a result of a motor neurone disease, was rushed to hospital Monday and described as being "very ill."

London, Apr. 21: The police remand of the 10 Pakistani students detained on the suspicion of being involved in Manchester terror plots, which expires on April 22, is likely to be extended by another 14 days.

According to the Dawn, UK authorities are only sharing partial information on the progress of the investigations with Pakistan High Commission officials.

“They provided us with only partial consular access,” the Pakistan High Commission sources said, adding that the HC now knows the names of all the arrested students and their antecedents.

London, Apr. 21: Students of Pakistani origin are being granted British visas on the basis of a telephone interview, even as investigation teams probe different aspects of a crackdown involving twelve alleged Pakistan ‘student’ terrorists.

The Telegraph reports that British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has admitted that some visa applications are being decided over the telephone.