The only man charged in connection with the attacks on the US on September 11th last year has requested that his trial be televised live.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has expressed deep concern about the condition of Afghanistan's civilian population after a week of US and British air strikes.

Irish manufacturing has contracted for the second month in a row in tandem with the performance of the sector across the EU where output levels have dropped to a record low.

Foreign Minister Brian Cowen is due to meet New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani later this evening to thank him for helping the Irish-American community in the wake of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Centre.

Delta Air Lines is to suspend flights from JFK to Dublin and Shannon from November 1st until March 15th next year.