Birmingham Post

World Prays and Weeps for the Dead

Traditional New Year festivities across the world were overshadowed by grief as millions remembered the plight of tsunami- ravaged Asia. Prayers and tears for the estimated 150,000 dead replaced celebrations for many people around the globe at the dawn of 2005.

Poignant Night of Celebration

Birmingham joined the world in remembering the victims of the tsunami disaster as the city welcomed in the New Year. The celebrations of thousands of revellers in the shadow of Millennium Point came to a pause at 11pm as a one-minute silence was held to remember the dead and missing.

Two Die in Hit-and-Run

Police last night were hunting a hit-and-run driver and his passenger after a car crash in Birmingham city centre left two people dead. The victims - a man and a woman - were in a car which collided with a Mercedes at about 3pm in Icknield Street at the junction with Pitsford Street in the Jewellery Quarter.

City Tram a Step Nearer After Council and Firms Resolve Dispute

The case for street-level trams in Birmingham city centre has been boosted after a 16-month wrangle between the city council and bus operators was resolved. Birmingham City Council officers have recommended spending pounds 500,000 on widening the city's controversial bus mall near the Bullring shopping complex to a two-way dual carriageway.

Grief Halts the World Party ; Subdued World Shows Its Grief

A Thai mourner outside a shopping mall in Phuket holds a candle and a white rose during a candlelit vigil for the tsunami victims Thais and foreigners put candles on a long tray during a vigil for the tsunami victims in Phuket province

Birmingham Celebrates New Year ; It Was a Night for Celebration and Compassion. Neil Connor Joined the Thousands in Birmingham's Millennium Point As They Welcomed in the New Year and Mourned the End of 2004

From left, Emma Blakeway, Hana Jadayel, Gabi Willis (all aged 14), Chloe Large and Hannah Thompson (both 15) enjoy the fun at Millennium Point Above, Joseph Hyett, aged three, with dad, also called Joseph. Below, Ken Evans shares a joke with friends at Millennium Point

Wilson Government Thought Id Cards Would Be 'Ineffective'

Harold Wilson's Labour Government rejected the introduction of identity cards in the aftermath of the Birmingham pub bombings, according to official files made public today. In November 1974 Wilson was under pressure to act after the bombings at the end of another year of appalling terrorist violence.

We Beat Cancer, Now Help Us Raise Pounds 100,000

Health ReporterTwo Warwickshire women, who have beaten breast cancer, are leading a campaign to raise money for vital equipment at a new pounds 4.7 million oncology unit. Cancer patients served by Warwick Hospital have to travel to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry to access some treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Cadbury's Dairy Milk 100 Years Young

Britain's best-selling chocolate is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. Cadbury's Dairy Milk, which is produced at the company's factory in Bournville, Birmingham, was launched in 1905 in a bid to challenge the Swiss and French dominance of the milk chocolate market.

Police Question Man Over Amy Murder

A 27-year-old man was being questioned yesterday about the murder of pregnant teenager Amy Williams. The suspect, who comes from the Telford area of Shropshire, was arrested on Thursday afternoon on suspicion of murdering the 14- year-old.

Pounds 25.7m Spent On Pets' Presents

Pet owners in the West Midlands spent pounds 25.7 million on presents for their furry friends over the festive season, a study has shown. But the figures, collated by Churchill Insurance, reveal the region's animal lovers were less generous than most Britons. This year, 66 per cent of West Midlanders bought their pets a present compared to 73 per cent nationally. Just 26 per cent prepared their pet a special festive meal, which is seven per cent less than the national average. And 88 per cent...

Dumped Kitten Rescued From Wheelie Bin

A ten-week-old kitten is recovering after being discovered tied up in a plastic bag and abandoned in a wheelie bin. The cries of the black-andwhite tabby were heard by a woman on Upper Church Street, Oswestry, Shropshire.

Bishop Questions Hunt Ban Plans

A bishop from one of the Church of England's most rural dioceses has asked the Government for reassurances about workers who risk losing their livelihoods when the hunting ban comes into effect. The Bishop of Hereford, Anthony Priddis, wrote to the Minister for Rural Affairs, Alun Michael, to point out that kennel workers face losing their jobs and their homes because of the legislation.

Yugoslav Police Did Beat Up Keegan

Ex-England football boss Kevin Keegan was 'undoubtedly roughed up' by Yugoslav police at an airport in 1974. He was left with bruises and had blood pouring from his nose after being questioned for 30 minutes by officials in Belgrade.

Plans to Build Concorde Nearly Scrapped

Harold Wilson's Labour Government was on the brink of scrapping plans to build Concorde in 1974, believing the jet would be too expensive, according to newly released documents. Mr Wilson told Jacques Chirac, then French prime minister, that his new Cabinet had been reconsidering the Anglo-French project, which it was estimated would cost pounds 1,070 million to develop and British Airways pounds 26 million a year.

Why Anne Did Not Punch Gunman

The Princess Royal looked into the face of a gunman and told him his plan to kidnap her was not 'bloody likely' to work, official Government documents reveal today. She then argued with Ian Ball and refused to get out of the royal car which he ambushed as it travelled along The Mall late one night in March 1974.

How Idi Amin Offered to Solve the Ulster Troubles

It may go down as the most unlikely attempt ever to broker a settlement to Northern Ireland's Troubles. In the middle of 1974, one of the worst years of the conflict, Uganda's notorious dictator General Idi Amin stepped in with an offer to mediate between the two sides.

Lord Chancellor Fears Rush Judgment On New Act

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, appealed today to the public not rush to judgment on the new Freedom of Information Act. The Act, which is intended to open up vast swathes of official information to the public, finally comes into force today, more than four years after it entered the Statute Book.

Man Kills Daughter and Then Himself

A quantity surveyor killed his five-year-old daughter and then hanged himself just days after Christmas. Martin Bennett, aged 41, choked or smothered daughter Vicky at their home in a London suburb before taking his own life.

Disco Fire Kills 174 in Argentina

Fire roared through a Buenos Aires nightclub packed with youngsters attending a rock concert killing at least 174 people and injuring 410 in one of Argentina's worst disasters in decades. Investigators said they were looking into survivor accounts that some people found the building's emergency exit doors locked as more than 1,500 people tried to flee the blaze.