WHAT HAPPENED ON 8th January 2001?

7th January 2001

CREW OF STRICKEN BOAT WINCHED TO SAFETY

Thirteen crew from a stricken fishing vessel have been airlifted to safety by a rescue helicopter in the Atlantic coastguards said. The UK-registered Pembroke with a Spanish & African crew lost her rudder 180 miles west of the Scillies. The rescue mission was launched after the Pembroke was reported to be taking in water Falmouth coastguards said. The Navy helicopters returned to Culdrose base near Helston Cornwall.

8th January 2001

IVORY COAST GOVERNMENT REGAINS CONTROL

An attempted coup in the west African state of Ivory Coast is said to be over Forces loyal to the government have reportedly regained control of the national radio station following heavy gunfire in the main city Abidjan. Unidentified rebels earlier broadcast a statement saying they controlled both the television & radio & gunfire was reported near the President's home. The government said two loyal officers were killed & 15 rebels captured.

8th January 2001

DRUGS HAUL FOUND IN CHINESE TEDDY BEARS

South African police have seized a shipment of Chinese teddy bears which were being used to smuggle an illegal drug South African radio reports. The bears were stuffed with a million tablets of mandrax - one of South Africa's most popular narcotics - with a street value of over £3m. Police found the bears when they raided a warehouse in the port city of Durban. Four adult men & a teenager were arrested in what is the biggest drugs bust ever in KwaZulu-Natal province.

7th January 2001

JAMES BULGER KILLERS AWARDED ANONYMITY

The killers of James Bulger have won the right to have new identities kept secret once they are freed. Robert Thompson & Jon Venables both now 18 wanted an injunction extended to protect them from publicity. Family Division President Lady Justice Butler-Sloss said she took the decision in "almost unique circumstances" to "protect the lives" of the pair. She has given newspapers leave to appeal against her ruling.

8th January 2001

IVORY COAST GOVERNMENT REGAINS CONTROL

An attempted coup in the west African state of Ivory Coast is said to be over Forces loyal to the government have reportedly regained control of the national radio station following heavy gunfire in the main city Abidjan. Unidentified rebels earlier broadcast a statement saying they controlled both the television & radio & gunfire was reported near the President's home. The government said two loyal officers were killed & 15 rebels captured.

8th January 2001

METRO MASSAGE TO SOOTHE SUBWAY STRESS

The Paris subway system is treating its passengers to a free massage to counter the stress of delays & staff strikes. The initiative in place at four stations also involves giving away health foods like seaweed crackers & green tea and putting up bright signs. "We live in a city where there are lots of nervous & stressed out people " explained masseur Christophe Basile. The massages are set to add up to 10 minutes to people's journey times.

7th January 2001

PHILIPPINES ARMY EMBRACES COMPUTER AGE

President Joseph Estrada of the Philippines has instructed army chiefs to roll out a scheme to give all army soldiers their own e-mail account. The president wants the project up & running by the end of the current year a government statement said. Mr Estrada hopes e-mail & internet access will give the soldiers closer contact with their headquarters. The president also instructed army chiefs to design web sites detailing the army's 15-year modernisation plan.

8th January 2001

IVORY COAST GOVERNMENT REGAINS CONTROL

An attempted coup in the west African state of Ivory Coast is said to be over Forces loyal to the government have reportedly regained control of the national radio station following heavy gunfire in the main city Abidjan. Unidentified rebels earlier broadcast a statement saying they controlled both the television & radio & gunfire was reported near the President's home. The government said two loyal officers were killed & 15 rebels captured.

8th January 2001

RECORD NUMBER OF POLICE BY 2004 ` STRAW

Police numbers in England & Wales will be at their highest ever level by 2004 the Government has pledged. Home Secretary Jack Straw told MPs that #454m was available for recruitment this year & in the next three years. Police numbers nationally should top the levels they were at before the 1997 election in 2002 or 2003 he said. Crime levels across the country were 10% down at the end of 1999 compared with 1997 Mr Straw added.

7th January 2001

CHINA More than 20 coal miners are reported to have been trapped in a flooded pit in the Guanxi Zhuang southern region since Friday. INDIA At least 12 people were killed and six others seriously injured when a gas tanker exploded into flames after hitting a truck in a village near the northern city of Kanpur reports say.

8th January 2001

IVORY COAST GOVERNMENT REGAINS CONTROL

An attempted coup in the west African state of Ivory Coast is said to be over Forces loyal to the government have reportedly regained control of the national radio station following heavy gunfire in the main city Abidjan. Unidentified rebels earlier broadcast a statement saying they controlled both the television & radio & gunfire was reported near the President's home. The government said two loyal officers were killed & 15 rebels captured.

8th January 2001

MAN DUE TO FACE CHARGE OVER DEATH CRASH

A man is to face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving after a mother-of-two was killed in London. Pushparani Jayamohan 34 from Greenford west London died in a head- on crash on the A312 in Hayes involving a vehicle being pursued by police. Hamid Gani 30 of Acton west London is to appear before Ealing magistrates. Mr Gani is also charged with aggravated taking of a motor vehicle & possession of cannabis.

7th January 2001

WATCHDOG "MAY NOT DETECT A NEW SHIPMAN"

A planned National Clinical Assessment Authority will not necessarily detect cases such as that of Harold Shipman the British Medical Association fears. The authority will check out patients' concerns & root out poor performance. The BMA welcomed it but said tighter controls such as monitoring the use of controlled drugs were also needed. Tony Blair said the authority & new doctor appraisals gave the "best possible chance" of avoiding a repeat.

8th January 2001

IVORY COAST GOVERNMENT REGAINS CONTROL

An attempted coup in the west African state of Ivory Coast is said to be over Forces loyal to the government have reportedly regained control of the national radio station following heavy gunfire in the main city Abidjan. Unidentified rebels earlier broadcast a statement saying they controlled both the television & radio & gunfire was reported near the President's home. The government said two loyal officers were killed & 15 rebels captured.

8th January 2001

BRANSON CONSIDERS A RIVAL TO LOTTERY

Sir Richard Branson's People's Lottery group is considering setting up a rival to the National Lottery after failing to win the seven-year franchise. Chief executive Simon Burridge said he was also considering an appeal against the Lottery Commission's decision to award the franchise to Camelot. The commission had originally indicated the Branson bid would win he added. He said any rival game would be "not- for-profit" & benefit good causes.

7th January 2001

JAMES BULGER KILLERS AWARDED ANONYMITY

The killers of James Bulger have won the right to have new identities kept secret once they are freed. Robert Thompson & Jon Venables both now 18 wanted an injunction extended to protect them from publicity. Family Division President Lady Justice Butler-Sloss said she took the decision in "almost unique circumstances" to "protect the lives" of the pair. She has given newspapers leave to appeal against her ruling.

8th January 2001

IVORY COAST GOVERNMENT REGAINS CONTROL

An attempted coup in the west African state of Ivory Coast is said to be over Forces loyal to the government have reportedly regained control of the national radio station following heavy gunfire in the main city Abidjan. Unidentified rebels earlier broadcast a statement saying they controlled both the television & radio & gunfire was reported near the President's home. The government said two loyal officers were killed & 15 rebels captured.

8th January 2001

FEARS OVER FINE THREAT FOR HOME SELLERS

Plans to fine homeowners £5 000 if they fail to provide a seller's survey could stop people putting their property on the market the Law Society has warned. The scheme would put a "substantial extra expense" on vendors said Michael Napier the society's president. He warned that this may hurt those on low incomes or with negative equity. Proposals set to be debated by MPs call for sellers to pay around £750 to produce an information pack for buyers.