WHAT HAPPENED ON 3th February 2001?

29th January 2001

BARAK ENDS PEACE CONTACT UNTIL ELECTION

Israeli premier Ehud Barak has ended all peacemaking contacts with Yasser Arafat's Palestinian administration until Israel's leadership elections. Palestinians had predicted a summit in Stockholm on Tuesday but peace contacts now await the poll on February 6. Earlier both sides said they had never been nearer reaching an agreement after talks in Taba Egypt. Opinion polls say Mr Barak will lose to right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon.

3th February 2001

ISRAEL HOPEFUL BANKS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS

Opposition leader Ariel Sharon has been brushing up his Russian in his bid to become Israel's next prime minister. Mr Sharon has been using his Russian at election meetings to woo the one million emigres from the former Soviet Union who are now Israeli citizens. He told Russian TV that his grandmother spoke the language but that his own abilities were more modest. "It is difficult for me to speak Russian but I do understand it " he said in his grandmother's tongue.

3th February 2001

BARAK ELECTION PLEA TO ISRAELI ARABS

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has appealed to Israeli Arabs for support as the first overseas votes were cast ahead of Tuesday's leadership election. A right-wing government led by Mr Barak's rival Ariel Sharon would be unfavourable towards Arabs he said. Mr Barak is trying to narrow a huge gap in opinion polls favouring right-wing leader Mr Sharon. Earlier today chaired his last cabinet meeting before the ballot.

29th January 2001

BARAK ENDS PEACE CONTACT UNTIL ELECTION

Israeli premier Ehud Barak has ended all peacemaking contacts with Yasser Arafat's Palestinian administration until Israel's leadership elections. Palestinians had predicted a summit in Stockholm on Tuesday but peace contacts now await the poll on February 6. Earlier both sides said they had never been nearer reaching an agreement after talks in Taba Egypt. Opinion polls say Mr Barak will lose to right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon.

3th February 2001

ISRAEL HOPEFUL BANKS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS

Opposition leader Ariel Sharon has been brushing up his Russian in his bid to become Israel's next prime minister. Mr Sharon has been using his Russian at election meetings to woo the one million emigres from the former Soviet Union who are now Israeli citizens. He told Russian TV that his grandmother spoke the language but that his own abilities were more modest. "It is difficult for me to speak Russian but I do understand it " he said in his grandmother's tongue.

3th February 2001

PORTILLO PROMISES SAVINGS TAX CUTS

Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo has promised tax cuts on pensioners' savings if the Conservative Party wins the next election. Only those with incomes over £32 785 in the 40% tax bracket would pay tax on interest from building society & investment accounts he said. But a Labour spokesman said the Tories' sums did not "add up".

29th January 2001

ISRAEL TO RETURN TO MIDDLE EAST TALKS

Israel is expected to resume Middle East peace talks with the Palestinians in the Egyptian resort of Taba. The latest round of talks comes two days after Israel halted negotiations following the killings of two civilians near the Palestinian town of Tulkarm. Ehud Barak decided to resume talks after meeting senior officials. The two sides are hoping to reach a framework peace deal before the Israeli prime ministerial poll on February 6.

3th February 2001

ISRAEL HOPEFUL BANKS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS

Opposition leader Ariel Sharon has been brushing up his Russian in his bid to become Israel's next prime minister. Mr Sharon has been using his Russian at election meetings to woo the one million emigres from the former Soviet Union who are now Israeli citizens. He told Russian TV that his grandmother spoke the language but that his own abilities were more modest. "It is difficult for me to speak Russian but I do understand it " he said in his grandmother's tongue.

3th February 2001

IRAN The Supreme Court has denied an appeal from 10 Iranian Jews convicted of spying for Israel after judges ruled it to have no legal basis state-run warfare exercise off the Sicilian coast next week involving 12 countries seven submarines eight surface ships and 17 maritime patrol aircraft. USA South Carolina woman who kept her dead housemate in a freezer for a year while she lived in his house & used his money has pleaded guilty to fraud. 19:05/27# 1/7 %IRANThe Supreme Court has enied an &appeal from 10 Iranian Jews

29th January 2001

BARAK ENDS PEACE CONTACT UNTIL ELECTION

Israeli premier Ehud Barak has ended all peacemaking contacts with Yasser Arafat's Palestinian administration until Israel's leadership elections. Palestinians had predicted a summit in Stockholm on Tuesday but peace contacts now await the poll on February 6. Earlier both sides said they had never been nearer reaching an agreement after talks in Taba Egypt. Opinion polls say Mr Barak will lose to right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon.

3th February 2001

ISRAEL HOPEFUL BANKS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS

Opposition leader Ariel Sharon has been brushing up his Russian in his bid to become Israel's next prime minister. Mr Sharon has been using his Russian at election meetings to woo the one million emigres from the former Soviet Union who are now Israeli citizens. He told Russian TV that his grandmother spoke the language but that his own abilities were more modest. "It is difficult for me to speak Russian but I do understand it " he said in his grandmother's tongue.

3th February 2001

BARAK ELECTION PLEA TO ISRAELI ARABS

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has appealed to Israeli Arabs for support as the first overseas votes were cast ahead of Tuesday's leadership election. A right-wing government led by Mr Barak's rival Ariel Sharon would be unfavourable towards Arabs he said. Mr Barak is trying to narrow a huge gap in opinion polls favouring right-wing leader Mr Sharon. Earlier today chaired his last cabinet meeting before the ballot.

29th January 2001

NIGERIA At least 40 people were killed and several more seriously injured when a speeding bus hit a stationary truck outside the south-western city of Benin yesterday. SAUDI ARABIAAn army officer has been sentenced to 70 lashes for using a mobile phone on a domestic flight. A Saudi court said he had put lives at risk by using the phone during take-off PAKISTAN Police have arrested a nephew of exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Yusuf Abbas was detained after returning from Saudi Arabia last week.

3th February 2001

ISRAEL HOPEFUL BANKS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS

Opposition leader Ariel Sharon has been brushing up his Russian in his bid to become Israel's next prime minister. Mr Sharon has been using his Russian at election meetings to woo the one million emigres from the former Soviet Union who are now Israeli citizens. He told Russian TV that his grandmother spoke the language but that his own abilities were more modest. "It is difficult for me to speak Russian but I do understand it " he said in his grandmother's tongue.

3th February 2001

BARAK ELECTION PLEA TO ISRAELI ARABS

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has appealed to Israeli Arabs for support as the first overseas votes were cast ahead of Tuesday's leadership election. A right-wing government led by Mr Barak's rival Ariel Sharon would be unfavourable towards Arabs he said. Mr Barak is trying to narrow a huge gap in opinion polls favouring right-wing leader Mr Sharon. Earlier today chaired his last cabinet meeting before the ballot.

29th January 2001

SCHROEDER SHOOTS DOWN US MISSILE PLAN

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said Russian opposition to a US missile defence plan so-called "Son of Star Wars" must be seriously considered. Russia had a vital role in lasting security in Europe he said demanding clarity from the US on the proposals. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld again said the plan posed no threat but European leaders fear a new arms race. Nato chief Lord Robertson believes the plans would not affect the alliance.

3th February 2001

ISRAEL HOPEFUL BANKS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS

Opposition leader Ariel Sharon has been brushing up his Russian in his bid to become Israel's next prime minister. Mr Sharon has been using his Russian at election meetings to woo the one million emigres from the former Soviet Union who are now Israeli citizens. He told Russian TV that his grandmother spoke the language but that his own abilities were more modest. "It is difficult for me to speak Russian but I do understand it " he said in his grandmother's tongue.

3th February 2001

SEIZED US AID WORKER FREED IN CHECHNYA

A US aid worker abducted in the rebel republic of Chechnya in early January has been released after an operation by the Russian federal security service. Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said Kenneth Gluck 38 was in good physical condition after`his overnight release. He was working for the medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres when he was seized by armed men. His kidnapping had prompted the UN to suspend aid operations in Chechnya.

29th January 2001

UNION BALLOT DUE ON AIR TRAFFIC ACTION

Air traffic controllers are due to discuss possible industrial action over Government plans for part-privatisation Controllers' union the Institution of Professionals Managers & Specialists is holding its annual conference for two days in Stockport. If a motion to take industrial action is passed delegates will examine what form it might take a spokesman said. The Government wants a public-private partnership to run air traffic control.

3th February 2001

ISRAEL HOPEFUL BANKS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS

Opposition leader Ariel Sharon has been brushing up his Russian in his bid to become Israel's next prime minister. Mr Sharon has been using his Russian at election meetings to woo the one million emigres from the former Soviet Union who are now Israeli citizens. He told Russian TV that his grandmother spoke the language but that his own abilities were more modest. "It is difficult for me to speak Russian but I do understand it " he said in his grandmother's tongue.

3th February 2001

AGENDA AT WESTMINSTER

Home Secretary Jack Straw will face MPs' questions in the Commons. Opposition Day debates include a Plaid Cymru motion on the "failure of the Government to address social exclusion poverty & job losses in Wales". A Liberal Democrat motion will lead to debate on personal care for the elderly The Lords will debate the European Union (Implications of Withdrawal) Bill and the Criminal Defence Service (Advice & Assistance) Bill. (