WHAT HAPPENED ON 9th January 2001?

8th January 2001

CHINA The BBC's global TV channel BBC World has for the first time been granted a licence to broadcast in the country. The deal will also allow BBC World to be shown in many hotels. INDIA Millions of pilgrims are heading for the northern city of Allahabad for the most important festival in the Hindu calendar. The Kumbh Mela takes place once every 12 years. PAKISTAN At least eight people died & up to 70 were injured when a passenger train derailed near the southern town of Hyderabad.

9th January 2001

BROWN "MAY BRING IN TARGETED TAX CUTS"

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said the Government could introduce "targeted tax cuts" over the coming year. His comments on the BBC's 10 O'Clock News come as the Conservatives are planning a campaign to rubbish Labour's economic record in power. Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said Labour would have to put up taxes because it had spent too much money. But Mr Brown insisted his policies were for the long-term good of the economy.

9th January 2001

ITV NEWS TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH BBC

ITV has announced it is moving its nightly news programme back to 10pm from January 22 & is looking forward to going "head-to-head" with the BBC. Called ITV News at Ten it will be the first time ITV & the BBC have aired flagship news shows at the same time. Sir Trevor McDonald will host the show ` to run Mondays to Thursdays ` with a "degree of flexibility" say ITV chiefs The move back to 10pm was necessitated after criticism by TV watchdog the ITC.

8th January 2001

IRAN AMENDS LAW ON WOMEN'S STUDY ABROAD

Iran's parliament the Majlis has passed a controversial bill allowing unmarried Iranian women access to state grants to study in foreign countries. Before it passes into law the bill has to be examined by an Islamic committee to ensure it does not contradict the tenets of Islam or the constitution. The new bill amends a law from 1985 which denied unmarried women state funds to pursue their studies abroad. The bill has been a bone of contention between reformists & conservatives.

9th January 2001

BROWN "MAY BRING IN TARGETED TAX CUTS"

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said the Government could introduce "targeted tax cuts" over the coming year. His comments on the BBC's 10 O'Clock News come as the Conservatives are planning a campaign to rubbish Labour's economic record in power. Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said Labour would have to put up taxes because it had spent too much money. But Mr Brown insisted his policies were for the long-term good of the economy.

9th January 2001

BACK DEFENCE SYSTEM HAGUE TO TELL GOVT

Conservative leader William Hague is to challenge the Government to support the United States's controversial "Son of Star Wars" missile defence system. The US believes the system could guard against attacks by rogue states. The system could not work without the use of the Fylingdales early warning base in North Yorkshire. Mr Hague would commit a Tory government to the plan and accuses Labour of refusing to decide one way or the other

8th January 2001

BLOOD CLOT WARNINGS GIVEN OUT ON PLANES

BA passengers are to get travel health information leaflets following the scare over "economy class syndrome". The leaflets also to be sent to GPs' surgeries will include tips on reducing the risk of fatal blood clots on long-haul flights. The airline said this was not connected to recent air passenger deaths. "It is about well-being in the air and we have always talked about well-being in the air " a spokeswoman said.

9th January 2001

BROWN "MAY BRING IN TARGETED TAX CUTS"

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said the Government could introduce "targeted tax cuts" over the coming year. His comments on the BBC's 10 O'Clock News come as the Conservatives are planning a campaign to rubbish Labour's economic record in power. Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said Labour would have to put up taxes because it had spent too much money. But Mr Brown insisted his policies were for the long-term good of the economy.

9th January 2001

AIR PASSENGERS TO GET CHEAPER BA FARES

British Airways is to cut many of its long-haul economy & business class fares from the start of April. The move follows a change in the way it pays travel agents to sell its tickets. Subsequent savings can then be passed on to passengers the firm claims. Some long-haul economy fares could be cut by up to £110 the BBC understands. But the move means a rise in short-haul tickets of about £2. Tickets bought on BA's web site will get a £5 discount.

8th January 2001

CONSERVATIVES PLEDGE TAX CUTS OF £8bn

Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo has said a Tory government would cut tax by #8bn without damaging public services. Cuts in social security spending & schemes such as the New Deal would mean taxes could be reduced by this amount within three years he told the BBC. He said Tories agreed with Labour that education & health spending must rise Chancellor Gordon Brown's raising of public spending by more than average growth is "extremely unwise" he added.

9th January 2001

BROWN "MAY BRING IN TARGETED TAX CUTS"

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said the Government could introduce "targeted tax cuts" over the coming year. His comments on the BBC's 10 O'Clock News come as the Conservatives are planning a campaign to rubbish Labour's economic record in power. Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said Labour would have to put up taxes because it had spent too much money. But Mr Brown insisted his policies were for the long-term good of the economy.

9th January 2001

EU MUST TAKE THE HELM FOR GROWTH: BROWN

The Chancellor has urged the EU to take the lead in world economic growth as America enters a "necessary" slow-down. At a meeting in Brussels finance ministers were upbeat that the region would likely avoid a similar situation. But Gordon Brown said entrenching low inflation & sustainable public finances was not the only solution. He said the EU should adopt a more "radical & realistic" timetable for achieving economic growth targets.

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.

9th January 2001

BROWN "MAY BRING IN TARGETED TAX CUTS"

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said the Government could introduce "targeted tax cuts" over the coming year. His comments on the BBC's 10 O'Clock News come as the Conservatives are planning a campaign to rubbish Labour's economic record in power. Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said Labour would have to put up taxes because it had spent too much money. But Mr Brown insisted his policies were for the long-term good of the economy.

9th January 2001

HAGUE CALLS BLAIR "THE GREAT PRETENDER"

Tory leader William Hague has branded Tony Blair the "great pretender" & attacked the Government's new crime initiative launched today as gimmicky. Earlier Home Secretary Jack Straw said his new street crime crackdown would target thieves who steal mobile phones. But Mr Hague dismissed the scheme & called for more police on the streets during Prime Minister's Question Time. Mr Blair countered by saying police numbers were rising due to investment.

8th January 2001

TORY POSTERS ATTACK LABOUR TAX RECORD

William Hague has fired the first salvo in what Tories expect will be a four- month election campaign. The Tory leader has launched a poster campaign with the slogan "You've paid the tax so where's all the money gone" Tories claim Labour has increased tax but failed to improve teacher numbers railways & hospital waiting lists. Mr Hague called Tony Blair the "great pretender" for saying taxes had not risen but increasing them by stealth.

9th January 2001

BROWN "MAY BRING IN TARGETED TAX CUTS"

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said the Government could introduce "targeted tax cuts" over the coming year. His comments on the BBC's 10 O'Clock News come as the Conservatives are planning a campaign to rubbish Labour's economic record in power. Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said Labour would have to put up taxes because it had spent too much money. But Mr Brown insisted his policies were for the long-term good of the economy.

9th January 2001

INDIAN CRICKET STARS FACING TAX PROBE

Five Indian cricketers including ex- skipper Kapil Dev have huge amounts of undeclared income & could face prison the Indian Express said. The newspaper said the players had been sent notices to declare their earnings over the past 10 years. It said Kapil Dev who was last month cleared of match-fixing had more than #350 000 in undeclared earnings. The cricketers could face prison terms of up to seven years.