Northern Ireland News for September 2004

UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
Son of UK hostage appeals again to kidnappers
The son of UK hostage Ken Bigley has made a direct appeal to the militant kidnappers to release his father, following on from Al Jazeera's broadcast yesterday of new footage which confirmed that Mr Bi...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
Two-year-old twins die in home accident
Two-year-old twins have died following an accident at a house in Winkfield, Berkshire, on Monday afternoon. William and Betsy Woodbridge were seriously injured when a chest of drawers they were play...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
Second British soldier killed in Basrah is named
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has named the second British soldier who was killed by militants in the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Basrah on Tuesday. Gunner David Lawrence, 25, from Walsal...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
UK population to pass 60 million next year
The UK population is expected to pass the 60 million mark next year, and top 65 million by 2031, according to new figures released today. The projections for the UK and its constituent countries, ma...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
Lambeg Coca-Cola factory to close
Around 500 jobs look set to go after Coca-Cola announced it is to close its plant in Lambeg. The company also plans to close its Dublin facility with the loss of up to 600 jobs after it announced its...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
Low-paid workers boosted by new wage rates
Up to two million workers stand to gain from a pay rise from tomorrow as new rates for the National Minimum wage come into force. For the first time 16 and 17 year olds who are no longer of compulsor...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
Russia's backing of Kyoto Protocols welcomed by UN
The head of the UN environment agency has welcomed the Russian government’s endorsement of the Kyoto Protocol regulating emissions linked to climate change. Moscow’s ratification would bring the pac...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
U2's Bono urges Blair to focus G8 on plight of Africa
The U2 singer Bono has made an impassioned plea to the Labour Party conference in Brighton and urged Tony Blair to seize the opportunity of Britain's presidency of the G8 and EU to come to the aid of ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
Gun and ammunition find linked to shooting
A man who was found with a bullet wound to his head in Co Londonderry on Wednesday has been named. Darren Thompson, 22, from Harkness Gardens in the Waterside, was found lying at the roadside in Wood...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2004
UN envoys to update world body on Darfur crisis
The UN's top human rights official and its expert on genocide will brief the Security Council today on the findings of their weeklong mission to the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur. High Commissio...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
Co Antrim families evacuated after building collapses
A building has partially collapsed in Co Antrim resulting in 25 families being evacuated from their homes. Part of Ambler's Mill in the Taylor's Avenue area of Carrickfergus collapsed at around 10pm ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
Additional flu vaccines to be made available
Over 60,000 flu vaccines will be available to GPs in Northern Ireland next week, to help treat those groups most at risk from catching the flu. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Sa...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
NI PR system is flawed, claims academic
Northern Ireland’s PR voting system – known as Single Transferable Voting (STV) - needs to be reformed because it does not treat all voters equally, a leading University of Ulster academic has claimed...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
Don’t make burglars a present of your property, says University
The University of Ulster is stepping up its campaign to help students living in south Belfast to protect themselves against burglars. Plans are in place to issue text messages, e-mails, leaflets and ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
Sanchez recalls Doherty into NI squad
Lawrie Sanchez has recalled Bristol City captain Tommy Doherty to the Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Austria. Fan favourite Doherty was axed from ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2004
Queen’s link up with Chinese university
One of China's top universities will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Queen's University Belfast to help bring about closer working relationships. Wuhan University is a key university d...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
New footage of UK hostage is released
Footage of the British hostage Ken Bigley has been broadcasted by the Qatar-based news agency Al Jazeera today. During the short sequence, the 62-year-old engineer is sitting squat in a mesh cage. He...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
MoD releases identity of British soldier killed in Basrah
One of the British soldiers killed in an ambush in southern Iraq yesterday has been named today by the MoD. Corporal Marc Taylor, 27, from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, served with the Corps of Royal E...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
New merger creates UK's biggest commercial radio group
Capital Radio and GWR have agreed a merger deal today which will see the creation of the UK's leading commercial radio group. If regulatory approval is granted, the merged group will own one national...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 29, 2004
Man found with bullet wound to head
A man has been found with a bullet wound to his head in Co Londonderry this morning. He was found lying at the roadside in Woodburn Park in the Waterside area of Londonderry at around 7.30am and was ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 29, 2004
Assets Recovery Agency freeze £300k worth of property
Northern Ireland’s Assets Recovery Agency has frozen an estimated £300,000 worth of property following a court order. A range of properties and other assets believed to belong to a gang were frozen a...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
New laws proposed to combat religious discrimination
New laws to combat discrimination on the grounds of religion will be introduced by the government, the Prime Minister has announced. It is hoped that the measures will help put an end to religious di...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
Global action needed to prevent childbirth deaths
With at least one woman in developing countries dying in childbirth every minute - more than half a million annually - the UN health agency has launched a drive to train health workers to help prevent...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
More women going to chemists for morning after pill
The number of women getting the 'morning after pill' from chemists, pharmacies, walk-in centres and minor injuries units has risen by more than a sixth in three years, according to statistics released...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
Security stepped up ahead of Afghan elections
With only 11 days remaining before Afghans go to the polls to elect a president for the first time in their history, authorities are stepping up security as there may be increased violence around the ...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2004
Water companies have improved efficiency, says Ofwat
Water companies in England and Wales have "invested substantially" in infrastructure and quality improvements over the past four years while "continuing to improve their efficiency", according to the ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 29, 2004
Two policemen injured by stone-throwers
Two police officers have been injured following an attack on their patrol car in Co Antrim last night. The officers were travelling through the village of Loughguile at around 10pm on Tuesday when a ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 29, 2004
Murphy discharged from hospital
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Paul Murphy has been discharged from hospital after collapsing at the Labour Party Conference on Tuesday. Mr Murphy was about to make his speech, later handed out ...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 29, 2004
Police appeal after van forced from road
Police have issued an appeal for witnesses after a van was forced across a central reservation and attacked close to the Hillsborough roundabout on Monday. The incident began close to the Sprucefield...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 29, 2004
Business park extension to create 90 jobs
Around 90 new jobs are to be created in Co Tyrone thanks to a £1.2 million business park extension. Strabane Enterprise Agency announced the decision to extend its premises at Orchard Road Industrial...