The Belfast Telegraph
Royal wedding postponed: The wedding between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles has been moved to Saturday as the prince will now attend the Pope's funeral on Friday morning.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/
YOUR BUSINESS IN THE HEADLINES
This year I am delighted to welcome bmi as sponsors of the sixth annual Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Business Awards. From its Northern Ireland base at Belfast City Airport, bmi, like the Belfast Telegraph, provides an excellent service to the local business community and is an ideal partner for us in these awards.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/businessawards2005/
Two million mourners expected at biggest ever state funeral
By John Phillips in Vatican City
04 April 2005
At least two million people, and what is expected to be a record showing from heads of state, are likely to make the late Pope's funeral this week the largest ever ceremony of its kind. Vatican officials organising the solemn and highly elaborate ceremony do not believe it can be held before Thursday.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=626223
Omagh relatives back sisters
By Andrea Clements
04 April 2005
Relatives of people killed in the Omagh bomb today said they would fully support any move by the McCartney sisters to lodge a civil legal action against their brother's killers.
The family of father-of-two Robert McCartney say they may take civil proceedings similar to the case against the Omagh bombers if it proves impossible to bring his murderers to court.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=626224
Crackdown on night life violence
By Michael McHugh
04 April 2005
A fresh crack down on anti-social and violent behaviour in Fermanagh's night-spots is being planned by local authorities, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
The night-time strategy, to be unveiled next month, will focus on weekend crowds in Enniskillen and is aimed at cutting alcohol-related disputes, assaults and vandalism.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=626235
Domestic killers 'must do more time'
Mothers of victims demand tough line
By Jonathan McCambridge
04 April 2005
The mothers of two murdered women will today lobby the Government to increase prison sentences for violent offenders who kill their partners.
Angela Snoddy and Nichola Dickson were murdered by their partners at their homes in Whiteabbey and Ballycarry.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=626332
Waste plant fuels health worries
Incinerator planned near the border
By Michael McHugh
04 April 2005
Serious concerns for human health in border areas would be raised by the construction of a waste incineration plant in Co Meath, a local authority warned today.
Newry and Mourne District Council has made a formal objection to Indaver Ireland's proposed plant at Carranstown in the Republic, close to the Battle of the Boyne site, amid fears that the release of chemicals known as dioxins during combustion would have medical implications.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=626319
How to become a genius
They claim to hold the key to brilliance, and have made millions teaching their techniques to others. Can they unlock your inner Einstein? Clare Rudebeck meets the biggest brains around
04 April 2005
Mark Brown
In Mark Brown's eyes, we all fall into one of two categories: the dinosaurs and the dolphins. The dinosaurs are those who are stuck in their ways and will eventually become defunct. The dolphins are creative and imaginative beings on a fast track to success.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/features/story.jsp?story=626286
New call centre brings 300 jobs
By Paul Dykes
bustel@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
01 April 2005
Belfast could gain up to 750 new jobs as a leading UK operator opens a new call centre in west Belfast.
LBM, the UK's largest privately owned direct marketing company, is setting up a new contact centre that is expected to create 300 new jobs in the medium term, and potentially as many as 750.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/business/story.jsp?story=625383
42% lift for hotel chain
By Laurence White
bustel@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
31 March 2005
Turnover in the Malmaison Hotels chain - which now includes a hotel in Belfast - rose by 42% in the last six months.
Highlights of the financial returns for the chain, which was founded in 1994, included:
Occupancy levels rose by 5% to 80%.
The average room rate increased to almost £100 a night.
Turnover at £21.5m was 42% over the comparable period a year ago.
The chain opened its first hotel in Belfast last December and Brian Myerson, chairman of MWB, owners of Malmaison Hotels, said: "There will be an additional boost (in revenues) from the addition of the new Belfast hotel. The early signs are very encouraging".
The 64-bedroom hotel at Victoria Street was formerly branded as McCausland's. The property was originally two warehouses built for rival seed merchants in 1850.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/business/story.jsp?story=625112
The New York Times
U.N., Lebanese leaders meet after pledge
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Syria's pledge to withdraw all its troops from Lebanon by April 30 and end a 29-year military presence there will meet U.N. Security Council demands, a U.N. envoy said Monday as he met with pro-Syrian Lebanese leaders.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Lebanon%20Syria
Next Pope Faces Concerns Over Poverty, Islam and Technology
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: April 4, 2005
The next pope faces challenges so urgent that many church leaders and analysts worry that even a pope with the charisma and capacity of John Paul II will have to resort to a strategy of triage.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/international/europe/04challenges.html?hp&ex=1112673600&en=d44e5c329e2331dd&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Creditors Can't Seize I.R.A.'s, High Court Rules
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 4, 2005
Filed at 10:48 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that creditors may not seize Individual Retirement Accounts when people file for bankruptcy, giving protection to a nest egg relied upon by millions of Americans.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Scotus-Bankruptcy.html>
Guns for Terrorists
… The Government Accountability Office examined F.B.I. and state background checks for gun sales during a five-month period last year. It found 44 checks in which the prospective buyer turned up on a government terrorist watch list. A few of these prospective buyers were denied guns for other disqualifying factors, like a felony conviction or illegal immigration status. But 35 of the 44 people on the watch lists were able to buy guns.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/opinion/04mon1.html?hp
Mail and Guardian
Mandela pays tribute to the pope
The world is undoubtedly a better place for the legacy and the teachings Pope John Paul II has left behind, former president Nelson Mandela said on Monday.
Mandela joined the millions of Roman Catholics around the world in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said in a statement.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=200826&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/
SA embassy not aware of mercenaries' complaints
Harare, Zimbabwe
The South African embassy in Harare denied knowledge on Monday of alleged brutal treatment of 67 citizens held in prison in that country on mercenary charges.
"These are new allegations. We have no record of such complaints," deputy ambassador Kingsley Sithole said in Harare.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=200827&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/
Mugabe plans to scrap dual elections
Johannesburg, South Africa
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe plans to scrap holding separate presidential and parliamentary elections, he said in an interview with South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television on Sunday night.
"I've never believed it was a better system to have a presidential election on its own and a parliamentary election on its own," he said following his victory in that country's parliamentary election on Friday.
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=200775&area=/zim_elections/zim_news/
Seattle Post Intelligencer
College of Cardinals convenes meeting
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VATICAN CITY -- The College of Cardinals convened Monday ahead of a secret vote later this month to elect a new pope, with the red-capped prelates planning Pope John Paul II's funeral and arranging the destruction of his papal ring.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Pope
AP poll: Next pope should pursue change
By WILL LESTER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Most Americans want the next pope to work for changes in Roman Catholic Church policies to allow priests to marry and women to join the priesthood. And they want more done to combat sexual abuse by priests, an AP-Ipsos poll found.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Pope%20AP%20Ipsos%20Poll
Moderate quake rattles eastern Japan
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOKYO -- A 5.4-magnitude earthquake rattled northeastern Japan early Monday, but no injuries or damage were reported, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The quake most violently shook Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures northeast of Tokyo at 2:57 a.m., the agency said in a statement.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Japan%20Earthquake
Indonesia earthquake destroys schools
GUNUNG SITOLI, Indonesia -- Children returning to schools Monday for the first time since last week's earthquake in Indonesia found classrooms destroyed and teachers missing.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Indonesia%20Earthquake
Sharon wants Bush commitment on Israel
By BARRY SCHWEID
AP DIPLOMATIC WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is counting on President Bush to keep his commitment that Israel can retain several large Jewish towns near Jerusalem as part of a peace accord with the Palestinians, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1151&slug=US%20Mideast>
Gaza settlers agree to meet with Sharon
By JOSEF FEDERMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
JERUSALEM -- Ending months of angry opposition, several Jewish settler leaders agreed Monday to sit down with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Israel%20Palestinians
GOP: Byrd set precedent on filibusters
By JESSE J. HOLLAND
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Republicans say their attempt to change Senate rules to eliminate judicial filibusters follows a precedent set by Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1153&slug=Filbusters%20Byrd
Envoy: Syria vows to exit Lebanon in April
DAMASCUS, Syria -- Syria plans to pull all its troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon by April 30, and a U.N. team could be dispatched to verify the withdrawal, a U.N. envoy said Sunday after meeting President Bashar Assad.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Syria%20Lebanon
A look at possible presidential candidates
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Some politicians who have been mentioned as possible 2008 presidential contenders and how they have handled recent questions about their White House ambitions. They were asked about their plans on TV talk shows, by newspaper reporters and after political events.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apelection_story.asp?category=1131&slug=Tap%20Dance%20Glance
Ex-GOP mayor of L.A. backs Dem for mayor
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
LOS ANGELES -- Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa's mayoral campaign received an endorsement Friday from former Mayor Richard Riordan, a Republican with close ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apelection_story.asp?category=1135&slug=LA%20Mayor
Sen. Brownback weighs 2008 White House bid
WASHINGTON -- Add another name to the list of potential 2008 presidential candidates: Sen. Sam Brownback. The Kansas Republican, little known outside his home state, is using a network of social conservatives and Christian activists to raise his profile in Iowa and New Hampshire, two states critical to White House hopefuls.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apelection_story.asp?category=1130&slug=Brownback%202008
Tsunami Missing Person Site
http://tsunamimissing.blogspot.com/
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