Difference between revisions 8891318 and 8899742 on enwiki

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'''Time''': {{CURRENTTIME}} [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;
'''Date''': [[{{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}]]

''This page deals with current events in the English-speaking nations of Europe. These are the [[United Kingdom]], [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Isle of Man]], [[Jersey]], [[Guernsey]] and [[Gibraltar]].''
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===Deaths in December===
* [[26 December|26]] [[Angus Ogilvy|Sir Angus Ogilvy]], 76
* [[18 December|18]] [[Anthony Sampson]], 78, [[journalist]]
* [[15 December|15]] [[Sidonie Goossens]], 105, [[Great Britain|British]] [[harp]]ist [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3393369.stm]
* [[December 14|14]] [[Harry Bowcott]], 97, [[Rugby Union]] player for <br>[[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] and [[London Welsh]]
* [[9 December|9]] [[Peter Emery|Sir Peter Emery]], 78, [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician
* [[3 December|3]] [[Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Duke of Leinster|Gerald FitzGerald]], 8th [[Duke of Leinster]]
* [[2 December|2]] [[Alicia Markova|Dame Alicia Markova]], 94, ballerina
* [[1 December|1]] [[Bill Brown]], 73, former [[goalkeeper]]<br>for [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] and [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]

===Ongoing events===

===Future events===
[[2005]]: [[UK general election, 2005]]<br>

===Upcoming holidays===
[[28 December]]: [[Bank holiday]]<br>
[[1 January]]: [[New Year]]'s Day<br>
[[3 January]]: [[Bank holiday]] <br>
[[4 January]]: [[Bank holiday]] (Scotland only)<br>
[[6 January]]: [[Epiphany (feast)]]<br>
[[20 January|20]]-[[24 January]]: [[Eid ul-Adha]]<br>
[[25 January]]: [[Burns Night]]<br>

===Upcoming Sports Events===
====[[Cricket]]====
[[South Africa]] v [[England]] Test Series<br>
2nd Test Match. 26-30 [[December 2004]]<br>
3rd Test Match. 2-5 [[January 2005]]<br>
4th Test Match. 13-17 January 2005<br>
5th Test Match. 21-25 January 2005
====[[Football]]====
[[FA Cup]] - 3rd Round. [[January 8]] [[2005]]

===Related pages===
[[2004 in the United Kingdom|2004 in the UK]]<br>
[[2004 in Ireland]]<br>
[[Wikipedia:How the Current events page works|About this page]]<br/>

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==[[28 December]] [[2004]]==
*The list of British casualties in [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|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]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4127447.stm (BBC)] [http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1228/quake1.html (RTÉ)]
*The [[probation]] officer's [[union]] has said that they believe the use of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBO) will have to be reviewed because in some cases, the penalty to breaching the order exceeds the penalty for the original offence. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4129237.stm (BBC)]
*Leading [[trade union]] Amicus, which represents 1.2m workers in the UK, has threatened to publish a list of companies which fail to effectively tackle [[bully]]ing. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4129277.stm (BBC)]
*The number of visits to national [[museum]]s has risen by 75 percent in the three years since they abolished admission charges. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4129301.stm (BBC)]

==[[27 December]] [[2004]]==
* At least 15 Britons have been reported dead, including 10 in Thailand, and thousands more are stranded in the aftermath of [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|Sunday's earthquake]] in south-east [[Asia]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4127447.stm (BBC)]
* [[Police]] are to trial a scheme in seven areas of the UK which will allow them to impose on-the-spot [[fine]]s for [[vandalism]] and underage drinking. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4126013.stm (BBC)]
* Two men have been [[arrest]]ed in connection with an incident where a man died after being [[stabbing|stabbed]] at a Christmas party in [[London]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4127053.stm (BBC)]
*[[Cricket]] - South Africa closed their first [[innings]] with a score of 339, England started their second innings and reached 30/0 by the close of play. [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/NEW/LIVE/frames/ENG_RSA_T2_26-30DEC2004.html (scorecard)]

==[[26 December]] [[2004]]==
*In the second [[Test match]] between [[English cricket team|England]] and [[South African cricket team|South Africa]], a ninth successive English victory looks unlikely as they collapse to a score of 139 all out in their first [[innings]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4115483.stm (BBC)]

==[[25 December]] [[2004]]==
*[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] sends her annual [[Queen's Christmas Message, 2004|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, the Queen also sends a special radio Christmas Message to the UK armed forces. It is the first time she has made a separate radio broadcast.  [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4125011.stm (BBC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4125193.stm (BBC)]

==[[24 December]] [[2004]]==
*Employees at nearly 300 main [[post office]]s 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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4122873.stm (BBC)]
*A 30 year old man is [[arrest]]ed in connection with yesterday's [[London]] knife attacks.  The man, who has not yet been [[charge]]d, 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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4122913.stm (BBC)]
*[[Police]] release serial numbers for [[pounds_sterling|£]]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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4121407.stm (BBC)]

==[[23 December]] [[2004]]==
*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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4120649.stm (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]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4119011.stm (BBC)]
*Opponents of the [[fox]] [[hunting]] ban passed using the [[Parliament Act|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 Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] says that he would not seek to stop such an injunction. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4119855.stm (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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4119823.stm (BBC)]
*Police indicate that they have narrowed down the suspects of Monday's [[bank]] [[robbery]] in [[Belfast]] to three [[paramilitary]] groups and two groups involved in [[organised crime]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4119731.stm (BBC)]

==[[22 December]] [[2004]]==
*[[PSNI|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. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1221/northviolence.html (RTÉ)][http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1222/northviolence.html (RTÉ)]
*[[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[President of Ireland|president]] [[Mary McAleese]] refers the Health (Amendment) (No 2) Bill to the [[Irish Supreme Court]] to have its consitutionality tested, after advice from her [[Irish Council of State|Council of State]]. The bill seeks to retrospectively legalise automatic [[pension]] deductions from pensioners in state care. [http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/4706814?view=Eircomnet (Irish Times - eircom.net)] [http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/4706498?view=Eircomnet (2)]
*After talking to troops in [[Baghdad]], British [[Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] continues his tour of the [[Middle East]], visiting [[Israel|Israeli]] Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]].  The leaders discuss Israel's likely withdrawal from the [[Gaza Strip]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4116709.stm (BBC)]
*[[Police]] are given new roadside powers to test drivers they suspect of being under the influence of [[drugs]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4116779.stm (BBC)]
*[[Detectives]] are examining the burnt out remains of a [[automobile|car]] which may have been used as a part of Monday's [[bank]] [[robbery]] in [[Belfast]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4116695.stm (BBC)]
*The inquiry by Sir Alan Budd into former [[Home Secretary]] [[David Blunkett]]'s conduct over a "fast tracked" [[visa]] application has failed to clear him of abusing his position. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7150693 (Reuters)]

==[[21 December]] [[2004]]==
*[[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 [[The Eleven Kingdoms|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]]. [http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/4698401?view=Eircomnet Irish Independent - eircom.net]
*The [[Scottish Executive]] buys the [[Skye Bridge]] back from its private sector owners, terminating the  collection of tolls. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4112085.stm (BBC)]
*An estimated 30 million [[Pound sterling|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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4114219.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=641911 (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". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4112985.stm (BBC)]
*Two inquiries into the conduct and events leading to the resignation of former [[Home Secretary]] [[David Blunkett]] are today due to report on their findings. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4112109.stm (BBC)]
*UK charity [[Save the Children]] are to withdraw staff from Darfur after two of the agencies staff are killed in attacks. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4112109.stm (BBC)]
*[[English cricket team|England]] complete a record-breaking eighth successive [[Test match|Test]] win, taking 35 minutes to score the 49 runs required to beat [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] on the final day of the match. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4113837.stm (BBC)]

==[[20 December]] [[2004]]==
*The [[House of Commons]] gives the [[British national identity card|Identity Cards]] Bill a [[second reading]], voting in favour by a margin of 385 to 93. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4109681.stm (BBC)]
*The fight to re-route part of the planned [[N3 road|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 [[National Roads Authority|NRA]] and others say that the route originally preferred by an environmental impact assessment would not adequately serve traffic needs. [http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/4689937?view=Eircomnet (Irish Times - eircom.net)]
*The [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[President of Ireland|president]], [[Mary McAleese]], convenes a [[Irish Council of State|Council of State]] meeting for Tuesday to discuss the Health Amendment (2) Bill. The debate, only the third such meeting under McAleese, will discuss the proposals to legalise the deduction of up to 80% of [[pension]]s for those in state-owned [[nursing home]]s. The Council will declare as to whether the bill is [[Bunreacht na hÉireann|constitutional]] in their view. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1219/health.html (RTÉ)][http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/4690078?view=Eircomnet (Irish Independent - eircom.net)]

==[[18 December]] [[2004]]==
*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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4107437.stm (BBC)]
*[[Andrew Strauss]] becomes the first [[cricketer]] to score centuries in his first test against three countries as [[English cricket team|England]] move to 227 for 1 in reply to [[South African cricket team|South Africa]]'s 337 in the first [[test match|test]] in [[Port Elizabeth]], [[South Africa]]. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/DEC/132240_RSAENG2004-05_18DEC2004.html (Cricinfo)]
*Campaigners gather in [[Edinburgh]] to protest against plans to merge [[Scotland]]'s regiments. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4106465.stm (BBC)]
*Senior members of the legal profession in [[Jersey]] suggest that Jersey should consider declaring independence from Britain. [http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/news1.html (Jersey Evening Post)]

==[[17 December]] [[2004]]==
*The Reformed Formal Inquiry into the [[1974]] loss of the deep sea [[trawler]] [[FV 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]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1376442,00.html]
*[[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. [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14990460%26method=full%26siteid=50143%26headline=carr%2d%2dlet%2dme%2ddisappear-name_page.html (Daily Mirror)]
*[[The Beatles|Beatle]] [[George Harrison]]'s [[guitar]] sells in [[New York]] for £294,000. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4104777.stm (BBC)]
*[[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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4105483.stm (BBC)] [http://www.chronicle.gi/ (Gibraltar Chronicle)]
* Three suspected [[Irish Republican Army|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. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4103515.stm (BBC)] [http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=127656802&p=yz76575x8&n=127657562 (Ireland Online)]

==[[16 December]] [[2004]]==
* [[Newcastle United]] go into the last 32 of the [[UEFA Cup]] after a 1-1 draw with [[Sporting Lisbon]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/default.stm (BBC)]
* The [[Scottish Assembly]] votes to condemn "any cuts and mergers" that may result from a major restructuring announced by British [[Secretary of State for Defence]] [[Geoff Hoon]] today in the [[House of Commons]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4103071.stm (BBC)]
* The [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[Irish Government|Government]] passes legislation through the [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]], to legalise automatic [[pension]] deductions from [[pensioner]]s in publicly funded [[nursing home]]s. 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 Éireann|Seanad]]. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1215/health.html (RTÉ)] [http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1216/health.html (RTÉ)]
* The [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[Taoiseach]], [[Bertie Ahern]] is to meet with [[United Kingdom|British]] [[British Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] in [[Brussels]] today on the fringes of an [[EU]] summit. The main issue will be the governments' next move to try and resolve the stalemate in the [[Northern Ireland]] [[Northern Ireland peace process|peace process]] over photographic evidence of [[Irish Republican Army|IRA]] decommissioning. [http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/4659874?view=Eircomnet (Irish Times - eircom.net)]
* The [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Supreme Court]], the [[Judicial functions of the House of Lords|Law Lords]], rule that the suspension of ''[[habeas corpus]]'' for foreign nationals detained under the [[Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001]] is illegal, being incompatable with the [[European Convention on Human Rights]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4100481.stm (BBC)]
*[[British]] [[Secretary of State for Defence]] [[Geoff Hoon]] announces a major restructuring of the Army, which will see four battalions cut and regiments merged. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4098917.stm (BBC)]

==[[15 December]] [[2004]]==
*[[UK]] [[Home Secretary]] [[David Blunkett]] resigns from his post in the wake of numerous controversies. He is replaced by [[Charles Clarke]], the [[Secretary of State for Education and Skills]]. [[Ruth Kelly]] takes over from Clarke as Education Secretary and becomes the sixth woman in prime minister [[Tony Blair]]'s Cabinet. Kelly is replaced as Cabinet Office minister by [[David Miliband]].[http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1164132,00.html (Sky)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4099581.stm (BBC)]
*[[Cricket]]: The [[England and Wales Cricket Board]] announces new broadcasting deals with [[BSkyB]], [[Five]], the [[BBC]] and [[TalkSPORT]]. From 2006 to 2009, all [[English cricket team|England]] home [[test match]]es and [[one-day international]]s, plus domestic competition coverage will be televised on Sky Sports, with highlights on [[Five]]. ''[[Test Match Special]]'' survives, as the [[BBC]] retains exclusive rights for radio coverage to home internationals, and non-exclusive rights to domestic county games. [[TalkSPORT]] has won non-exclusive rights to radio coverage of [[Twenty20]] games. The deals will earn English cricket £220m over 2006-9. [http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/media-releases/ecb-announce-decision.html (ECB)]
*[[Rangers]] are knocked out of the [[UEFA Cup]] after losing 0-2 at home to [[Auxerre]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4095333.stm (BBC)]
*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. [http://www.chronicle.gi/main.php# (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. [http://www.thisisjersey.com/ Jersey Evening Post]

==[[14 December]] [[2004]]==
* [[Nick Griffin]] and [[John Tyndall]], the current and previous leaders of the far-right [[British National Party]], are arrested and [[bail]]ed in relation to investigations by British police into suspicion of [[incitement to racial hatred]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4094275.stm (BBC)]
*[[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. [http://www.iomguide.com/news/index.php (Isle of Man Guide)]

==[[9 December]] [[2004]]==
* The [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Law Lords]] hold treatment of [[Czech Republic|Czech]] [[Roma (people)|Roma]] by UK [[immigration]] officers at [[Prague]] airport to be discriminatory. [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldjudgmt/jd041209/roma-1.htm (opinions)] Since the [[enlargement of the European Union]] earlier this year, free movement of EU citizens includes Czechs. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5082282-110414,00.html (Guardian)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4081473.stm (BBC)]
* [[Lord Dubs]] presents the [[Succession to the Crown Bill]] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldbills/011/05011.1-i.html (bill)] in the [[United Kingdom Parliament]]. [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5082405-107973,00.html (Guardian)]

==[[8 December]] [[2004]]==
* The [[European Union]] says it is not ready to lift its 15-year-old arms embargo on the [[People's Republic of China]], set after the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4077739.stm (BBC)]

==[[6 December]], [[2004]]==
* [[Sinn Féin]] leader [[Gerry Adams]] recommends that Sinn Féin support a [[United Kingdom|British]]-[[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] power-sharing plan for [[Northern Ireland]] that involves the public decommissioning of the arms held by the [[Irish Republican Army]]. [[Ian Paisley]] of the [[Unionists (Ireland)|loyalist]] [[Democratic Unionist Party]] may become first minister of [[Northern Ireland]], with former IRA member [[Martin McGuinness]] as his deputy. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4070739.stm (BBC)]

==[[2 December]] [[2004]]==
*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]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4061165.stm (BBC)]
* The [[European Union]] takes over from [[NATO]] in [[peacekeeping]] operations in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], largely replacing the NATO-led [[SFOR]] with a new [[Eufor]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4060739.stm (BBC)]

==[[1 December]] [[2004]]==
* [[David Blunkett]], [[United Kingdom|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 Minister]] [[Tony Blair]]. Sir Alan Budd is appointed to carry out an independent enquiry. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4056987.stm (BBC)]

== News collections and sources ==
* [[Wikipedia:News collections and sources]].
* [[Wikipedia:News sources]] - This has much of the same material organised in a hierarchical manner to help encourage [[NPOV]] in our news reporting.

[[Category:2004]]