Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:cities/belfasttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/World_hopefuls_stay_focused_before_e761

With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe's leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying.

2013-03-22T04:01:25ZAFP Global Editionby Andy Scotttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Capello_plays_down_Chelsea_link_b845

Russia coach Fabio Capello insists he has had no contact with Chelsea after being linked with a move to the Premier League club.

2013-03-21T21:29:01ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Capello_sees_Belfast_Russias_toughest_ad84

Russia's forthcoming World Cup qualifier with Northern Ireland in Belfast will probably be their toughest test, according to national squad manager Fabio Capello.

2013-03-19T13:20:42ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/15/Titanic_violin_found_attic_78ae

The violin from the band that played as the Titanic sank has been found in an attic in England, a British auction house said on Friday.

2013-03-15T16:20:29ZAFP Global Editionby Beatrice Debuttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/10/Northern_Ireland_blast_was_bomb_3b92

Northern Ireland police on Sunday said they were treating an explosion near a police patrol in Belfast as attempted murder.

2013-03-11T01:11:41ZAFP European EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/04/Irish_host_Aussie_side_8ca9

Ireland will host Australia's A side this summer after Cricket Ireland announced a four-day game at Stormont in Belfast starting June 14.

2013-03-04T15:33:30ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/02/Pair_court_over_Belfast_flag_6080

Two high-profile figures in the Belfast City Hall flag protests appeared in court Saturday charged with offences linked to the demonstrations.

2013-03-02T18:15:14ZAFP European EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/26/Ireland_police_find_rocket_launcher_b2a6

Northern Ireland police investigating dissident Republican militants on Tuesday discovered a rocket launcher and warhead during a search at a house in Belfast.

2013-02-26T23:18:00ZAFP European EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/21/Giro_dItalia_start_Belfast_next_6b95

Another of cycling's biggest races will start in Britain next year after organisers announced on Thursday that the Giro d'Italia will be flagged off in Northern Ireland.

2013-02-21T15:07:07ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/23/British_survivors_begin_recount_terror_0747

British survivors returning from the Algerian gas plant hostage crisis have told of their experiences, with the mother of one telling a Sunday newspaper that her son will have nightmares for life.

2013-01-23T13:07:05ZAFP European EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Five_kidnappers_taken_alive_Algeria_9571

Troops captured five kidnappers and found the bodies of 25 captives at a remote Algerian gas plant on Sunday, a report said, as Algiers warned the toll from a dramatic hostage crisis at the site may rise.

2013-01-21T00:17:14ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Algerians_capture_five_kidnappers_plant_f756

Algerian troops captured five kidnappers and found the bodies of 25 captives Sunday at a desert gas complex, reports said, as a minister warned the toll from a hostage crisis may rise.

2013-01-20T18:05:17ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/hostage_bodies_found_after_Algeria_b521

Algerian forces found the bodies of 25 hostages on Sunday as they combed a desert gas plant after a deadly stand-off with Islamists, and witnesses said nine Japanese captives had been executed.

2013-01-20T16:58:18ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/bodies_foreigners_found_after_Algeria_5611

Security forces found the bodies of 25 foreigners Sunday as they combed a desert gas plant after a deadly stand-off with Islamists, and witnesses said nine Japanese hostages had been executed.

2013-01-20T13:20:01ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Bodies_hostages_found_Algeria_plant_567c

The bodies of 25 hostages seized by Islamists were found on Sunday inside a remote gas plant in the Algerian Sahara desert, media said a day after special forces swooped to end a deadly 72-hour stand-off.

2013-01-20T11:51:54ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/least_dead_Algeria_desert_siege_dedb

Governments scrambled Sunday to track down missing nationals after the bloody end to a gas plant siege in the Sahara that saw Islamists kill at least 23 foreigners and Algerians, mostly hostages, as Algiers feared the toll may rise.

2013-01-20T11:18:34ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/least_dead_after_Algeria_desert_0be8

Governments scrambled Sunday to track down missing nationals after the bloody end to a gas plant siege in the Sahara that saw Islamists kill at least 23 foreigners and Algerians, mostly hostages, as Algiers feared the toll may rise.

2013-01-20T09:41:11ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/British_survivors_recount_terror_Algeria_6fef

British survivors returning from the Algerian gas plant hostage crisis have told of their experiences, with the mother of one saying that her son will have nightmares for life.

2013-01-20T09:40:27ZAFP European EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Missing_sought_after_deadly_Algeria_5450

Governments scrambled to track down missing nationals after the bloody end to a gas plant siege in the heart of the Algerian Sahara that saw Islamists kill 23 foreign and Algerian hostages.

2013-01-20T07:57:47ZAFP Global Editionby Amal Belalloufitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/19/Champions_Leinster_face_nailbiting_wait_ea66

Two-time defending champions Leinster defeated Exeter 29-20 on Saturday to stay alive in the European Cup, but they face a nailbiting Sunday which could doom their hopes of a fourth title in five years.

2013-01-19T20:32:46ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reporter