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British and American oil workers kidnapped off Nigeria — by Conrad Murray — last modified 02-11-2006 09:17

A British and an American oil worker have been kidnapped from an oil ship off the Nigerian coast, security officials have reported.

Most Ground Zero rescue workers now suffer from toxic exposure — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 16-09-2006 07:10

The majority of the 40,000 rescue and recovery workers who responded to the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York could be suffering health problems as a result of toxic exposures.

Worker deaths prompt calls to end asbestos contaminated ships export — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 15-09-2006 09:38

An international NGO coalition called for a halt to the export of toxic ships for dismantling in developing countries after it emerged that work-related incurable diseases and deadly accidents affect thousands of Indian shipyard workers.

Judge orders BP chief to testify in Texas City plant explosion case — by Conrad Murray — last modified 29-08-2006 06:42

A Texas judge has ordered BP Group Chief Executive John Browne to give a video deposition and be available to testify at trial in a lawsuit brought by victims of the 2005 Texas City plant explosion that killed 15 people and injured more than 100.

Forty Britons airlifted from Lebanon as Royal Navy flotilla assembles for 'largest evacuation since Dunkirk' — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 18-07-2006 06:31

Forty Britons have been airlifted out of the Lebanese capital Beirut to Cyprus, the Foreign Office said, using helicopters which were used to ferry diplomats and crisis negotiators in. A defence ministry spokeswoman said 3,500 to 4,000 British families comprising 12,000 people and a further 10,000 dual nationals were registered in Lebanon. Many have family ties to the region and it is not known how many wish to leave.

Lebanon: Evacuation of British nationals nears as carrier and assualt ship approach coast — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 17-07-2006 08:36

Two Royal Navy ships, aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and assault ship HMS Bulwark, are sailing across the Mediterranean to undertake the evacuation of British nationals.

Holiday injury and illness: holidaymakers unaware travel insurance invalid without European health insurance card — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 08-07-2006 21:24

Two thirds of holidaymakers are unaware that travel insurance cards have replaced the traditional E111 forms that covered them for medical treatment on the Continent, says new research.

Holiday injury: Queensland multiple death hostel operators will not face charges — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 08-07-2006 16:08

The father of a backpacker who died in an arson attack at an Australian hostel has criticised the authorities for failing to prosecute its operators. A Queensland coroner has ruled that the hostel operators will not face any charges.

Asbestos: Indian authorities to inspect French liner for toxic materials prior to breaking — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 06-07-2006 11:39

A team of Indian environment officials will inspect a former French ocean liner, the Blue Lady, to discove what toxic material it contains. The liner, which entered Indian waters last week, is anchored off Pipavav port in the western state of Gujarat.

Shell contests $1.5bn Nigerian fine — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 22-05-2006 17:49

Oil giant Shell says it has appealed against a Nigerian court ruling that it pay $1.5bn to residents of the country's oil-producing region. The high court had given Shell until 1200 local time (1100 GMT) on Monday to pay the fine but Shell says it will not comply until the appeal is heard. The ruling against a Shell subsidiary was to compensate the Ijaw community for environmental damage in the region.

Afghan hijackers win court challenge — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 10-05-2006 15:29

Nine Afghan asylum seekers who hijacked a plane to Britain have won a High Court challenge to the government's failure to grant them refugee status. The ruling relates to the Afghan hostage drama at Stansted Airport in 2000 which led to a four day stand-off. A total of 78 people from the plane went on to make formal applications for asylum in the UK.

German cannibal guilty of murder — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 10-05-2006 08:22

A German man who killed and ate an apparently willing victim has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of murder. Armin Meiwes, 44, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison in 2004 after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Bernd Juergen Brandes. But a judge ordered a retrial after ruling the sentence was too lenient.

German cannibal verdict expected — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 09-05-2006 10:15

A verdict is expected in the retrial of a German man who killed and ate an apparently willing victim. Armin Meiwes, 44, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison in 2004 after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Bernd Juergen Brandes. But a judge ordered a retrial after ruling the sentence was too lenient. State prosecutors argued Meiwes was guilty of murder. If he is found guilty, Meiwes could face a life sentence.

Basra crash victims named by MoD — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 09-05-2006 07:12

The first British servicewoman to die in action in Iraq was among five military personnel killed in Saturday's helicopter crash in Basra. Flt Lt Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill, 32, died with Wing Commander John Coxen, Lt Commander Darren Chapman, Captain David Dobson, and Marine Paul Collins. Wing Commander Coxen, from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, is the most senior British officer to be killed in Iraq.

Ten die in Afghan chopper crash — by Conrad Murray — last modified 08-05-2006 07:02

Ten US soldiers have been killed after their helicopter crashed in Afghanistan late on Friday night, officials from the US-led coalition said. The CH-47 Chinook came down in Kunar province near a "mountaintop landing zone" 240km (150 miles) east of Kabul. The soldiers were reportedly involved in operations against the Taleban, although military officials said the crash was not caused by enemy fire.

Iraqi, 15, 'drowned after soldiers forced him into canal' — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 03-05-2006 07:25

An Iraqi teenager drowned after four British soldiers forced him into a canal at gunpoint to "teach him a lesson" for suspected looting, a court martial heard yesterday. The soldiers watched as Ahmed Jabar Karheem, 15, who was unable to swim, began to struggle when he was ordered into the Shatt al-Basra canal in May 2003. After the boy disappeared below the surface, the soldiers drove away. His body was recovered two days later.

Fire dog honoured for rescue work — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 02-05-2006 08:41

A Lincolnshire rescue dog will receive a bravery award for her role in saving earthquake victims in Kashmir. Holly, a three-year-old black Labrador, is being honoured on 14 May for her work in the aftermath of the earthquake last October.

Payout for Nazi art theft family — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 02-05-2006 07:36

The UK government is to compensate the heirs of an art collector whose drawings were stolen by the Nazis before ending up in the British Museum. Relatives of Dr Arthur Feldmann are to receive £175,000 after a special panel decided they had "firm evidence" that the works had been seized in 1939. The family says the Old Master drawings can stay in the British Museum.

Devon man injured in Egypt blasts — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 26-04-2006 11:19

A Devon man has been seriously injured in a triple bomb attack in Egypt that killed at least 23 people on Monday. Henry Luce, 42, from Cadhay, near Ottery St Mary was in the resort of Dahab when the bombs went off. He was with his wife who was uninjured.

Cambridge crash man a stowaway who was 'dragged under wheels' — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 25-04-2006 14:41

A suspected illegal immigrant was killed when he cut his way out of the back of a lorry on the A14 in Cambs and was dragged along under its wheels. The 46-year-old German driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol. The M11 was closed from junction 10 to Fenstanton on the A14 for nearly seven hours while police examined the scene.

IRA victims launch class action against Libya in American courts — by Conrad Murray — last modified 24-04-2006 09:11

Victims of IRA violence have launched a multi-billion pound law suit against Libya in the American courts. They claim Colonel Gaddafi's Libyan regime helped the IRA by supplying them with money, Semtex and other weapons.

Hunger strike for Bhopal victims — by Conrad Murray — last modified 15-04-2006 06:50

Six campaigners for victims of the 1984 chemical disaster at Bhopal have started an indefinite hunger strike in the Indian capital, Delhi. The protesters, three of them survivors of the disaster, are demanding health care and social support for victims. Thousands of people were killed after poisonous gas leaked from Union Carbide's chemical plant in the city. Last month, 46 activists walked 800km (500 miles) from Bhopal to Delhi to demand compensation.

Cockler widows and orphans left with huge debts — by admin — last modified 25-03-2006 07:04

Fifteen-year-old Xu Bing had never heard of Morecambe Bay until two years ago, but he was orphaned by its waters. On Feb 5, 2004, he watched with growing unease television reports saying some Chinese had drowned picking cockles in northern Britain. His worst fears were confirmed when police told his aunt that his father's body had been found next morning.

Guilty cockler gangmaster interviewed — by Hsiao-Hung Pai — last modified 25-03-2006 06:53

Lin Liangren vividly recalls the moment he became aware of the impending tragedy. The gangmaster, who was yesterday convicted of unlawfully killing 21 Chinese cockle pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, remembers seeing a light flashing in the distance. Then his phone rang. It was Tian Long and Lin Lishui, two of the cockle pickers caught in the rapidly rising waters. "The tide is coming up," they told him. "I realised now there was a problem. Immediately, I called the police, but I didn't say anything because I couldn't explain myself and I was really nervous."

Gangmaster convicted of manslaughter for 21 cockler deaths — by admin — last modified 25-03-2006 06:52

A Chinese gangmaster was today convicted of the manslaughter of a group of cocklers who drowned after becoming trapped by rising tides at Morecambe Bay. Lin Liang Ren, from Liverpool, was found guilty of the unlawful killing of the 21 cockle pickers who died on Warton Sands in the Lancashire bay in February 2004. The victims were all illegal immigrants who had been lured to the UK from poorer provinces in China to work in the lucrative cockle trade in the north of England.