The UK is leading the world's efforts to gather funds to help those victims of the Asian tsunami. Charities have reported that up to £1m per hour is being donated. The confirmed British death toll now stands at 29 (23 in Thailand, 3 in Sri Lanka and 3 in the Maldives). (BBC).
British charities raise an 'unprecedented' £20m from public donations in appeals for the victims of the Asian tsunami. £5m had already been raised before yesterday's TV and radio appeal was broadcast. By this morning the total had reached £20m, with the appeal website struggling to cope. (BBC)
The Equal Opportunities Commission claims that women are still being held back in terms of career development because of inflexible work practices and outdated attitudes. (BBC)
Proposals to control the size of the wild deer population are published by the government. (BBC)
South Africa hold out in the final day of the second Test against England to secure a draw, bringing to an end England's eight-game winning streak. The final score: England 139 & 570-9 dec, South Africa 332 & 290-8; bad light stops play with 15 overs remaining. (BBC)
With one day's play remaining in the second Test, South Africa are set a target of 378 to win against England. At close of play on Wednesday, their score is 21-1. (BBC)
The list of British casualties in Sunday's earthquake currently stands at 13 (nine in Thailand, four in Sri Lanka and 3 in the Maldives) as the first survivors begin to arrive home. There are no Irish casualties currently reported, although concerns are growing about two Irishwomen missing in Thailand. (BBC)(RTÉ)
The probation officer's union has said that they believe the use of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) will have to be reviewed because in some cases the penalty for breaching the order exceeds the penalty for the original offence. (BBC)
Leading trade union Amicus, which represents 1.2m workers in the UK, has threatened to publish a list of companies that fail to effectively tackle bullying. (BBC)
The number of visits to national museums has risen by 75 percent in the three years since admission charges were abolished. (BBC)
At least 15 Britons have been reported dead, including 10 in Thailand, and thousands more are stranded in the aftermath of Sunday's earthquake in south-east Asia. (BBC)
Police are to trial a scheme in seven areas of the UK which will allow them to impose on-the-spot fines for vandalism and underage drinking. (BBC)
Two men have been arrested in connection with an incident where a man died after being stabbed at a Christmas party in London. (BBC)
Cricket - South Africa close their first innings with a score of 339. England start their second innings and reach 30/0 by the close of play. (scorecard)
In the second Test match between England and South Africa, a ninth successive English victory looks unlikely as they collapse to a score of 139 all out in their first innings. (BBC)
HM Queen Elizabeth II sends her annual Christmas Message to the UK and the Commonwealth. Her theme is cultural and religious diversity, and the benefits of a tolerant society. In a break from tradition, Her Majesty also sends a special radio Christmas Message to the UK armed forces. It is the first time she has made a separate radio broadcast. (BBC)(BBC)
Employees at nearly 300 main post offices stage a strike from lunchtime today to protest against requests by management to work until 1600 GMT instead of the customary Christmas Eve closing time of 1230 GMT. (BBC)
A 30 year old man is arrested in connection with yesterday's London knife attacks. The man, who has not yet been charged, has a history of mental health problems. A 58 year old man died in the attacks and one of the remaining five victims is described as having life-threatening injuries. (BBC)
Police release serial numbers for £1.5m of the £22m stolen from the Northern Bank's headquarters in Belfast. The serial numbers run from BC8500001 to BC8550000, BC9100001 to BC9150000 and BC9350001 to BC9400000. (BBC)
A murder hunt is started by police in north London today after a man dies and four others are injured in a series of knife attacks. (BBC)
A pilot scheme involving Community Support Officers is to be extended to the rest of England and Wales. The force, set up to assist the police, has been given new powers to detain suspects for a period of 30 minutes. (BBC)
Opponents of the foxhunting ban passed using the Parliament Act 1949 say that they will challenge the legitimacy of the Act in order to overturn the ban. They also say that should this challenge fail, they would seek an injunction to temporarily postpone the ban. Prime MinisterTony Blair says that he would not seek to stop such an injunction. (BBC)
The Conservative party claims that government offices in Whitehall have doubled the rate at which they are shredding documents ahead of the new year, when the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will take effect. The Act gives the public access to files that would have previously been closed for 30 years. (BBC)
Police in Northern Ireland investigate a suspected incendiary attack on a shop in Ballymena, County Antrim. The incident is the sixth such suspected attack in four days; a major blaze occurred at a B&Q shop on Monday. It is thought a campaign by dissident republicans may be to blame. (RTÉ)(RTÉ)
The inquiry by Sir Alan Budd into former Home SecretaryDavid Blunkett's conduct over a "fast tracked" visa application has failed to clear him of abusing his position. (Reuters)
Monaghan General Hospital in the Republic of Ireland is fined 370,000 euro for "inefficiencies" under an Irish Government policy of financially penalising or rewarding health boards according to their performance. Several incidents during the past year across the Northeastern Health Board have resulted in fatalities, due to inadequate facilities at Monaghan, and transfer of patients to Cavan. Irish Independent - eircom.net
An estimated 30 million pounds has been reported stolen from the headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast. Two members of staff and their families are reported to have been held hostage before the robbery. (BBC)(Reuters)
Neil Foster of the Birmingham Stage Company is considering the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham as an alternative venue for the Sikh play Behzti, saying the decision to cancel the play last week had been taken by "cowards". (BBC)
Two inquiries into the conduct and events leading to the resignation of former Home SecretaryDavid Blunkett are today due to report on their findings. (BBC)
UK charity Save the Children are to withdraw staff from Darfur after two of the agencies staff are killed in attacks. (BBC)
England complete a record-breaking eighth successive Test win, taking 35 minutes to score the 49 runs required to beat South Africa on the final day of the match. (BBC)
The fight to re-route part of the planned M3 motorway in Ireland away from the Hill of Tara is being brought before the European Commission. Campaigners maintain that the route through the archaeologically rich Tara-Skyne valley will irreparably damage the region's heritage, while the NRA and others say that the route originally preferred by an environmental impact assessment would not adequately serve traffic needs. (Irish Times - eircom.net)
Hundreds of Sikh demonstrators protest outside a Birmingham theatre against a play (Behzti) depicting sex abuse and murder in a Sikh temple. Some demonstrators break into the theatre, smashing windows and damaging equipment. (BBC)
The Reformed Formal Inquiry into the 1974 loss of the deep sea trawlerFV Gaul concludes that she was lost because disposal chutes were left open during heavy weather. Relatives of the lost crew, however, remain convinced that there is more to the story, probably relating to her alleged (but dismissed by the inquiry) role in espionage. [2]
Maxine Carr applies to the High Court for a Mary Bell order, that would prevent all reports (including word of mouth reports) identifying her or reporting her whereabouts or other personal details. (Daily Mirror)
Spain's main opposition party reacts angrily over plans by London and Madrid to give the Gibraltar Government influence over Gibraltar's future by having an equal say in meetings between the British and Spanish Governments. The first tripartate talks are planned for February 2005. (BBC)(Gibraltar Chronicle)
Three suspected IRA members who were accused of training rebels in Colombia flee while on bail. An appeals court overturned their earlier appeals yesterday. They had been sentenced to prison for 17 years. (BBC)(Ireland Online)
The IrishGovernment passes legislation through the Dáil, to legalise automatic pension deductions from pensioners in publicly funded nursing homes. Those who previously had deductions illegally taken will be compensated by up to €2,000, though this will not necessarily result in full remuneration for some. The Health (Amendment) (No 2) Bill should now be approved by the Seanad. (RTÉ)(RTÉ)
The captain of a Royal Navy warship has been relieved of his command and ordered to return to the UK after a complaint from a junior officer serving under him. Commander David Axon was ordered off HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, while the vessel was in port in Gibraltar, on the way back to Britain from a tour of duty in the Gulf. (Gibraltar Chronicle)
Jersey is to get a direct daily freight link to Cherbourg early next year that could revolutionise the way Islanders shop for major purchases. Jersey Evening Post
Donald Gelling MLC has been elected by Tynwald as the new Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, returning as leader of the Manx Government following the resignation of Richard Corkill MHK. (Isle of Man Guide)
British Member of Parliament and anti-war activist George Galloway wins his libel case against the Daily Telegraph, which during the invasion of Iraq had published a story suggesting that Galloway had been in the pay of Saddam Hussein. (BBC)
David Blunkett, U.K.Home Secretary, insists that he did no wrong in the controversy surrounding the alleged misuse of his position, and receives the backing of Prime MinisterTony Blair. Sir Alan Budd is appointed to carry out an independent enquiry. (BBC)
