WHAT HAPPENED ON 21st January 2001?

20th January 2001

INTERNET TWINS' MOTHER MAY FACE ACTION

The mother of twins acquired by a British couple over the internet could face legal action a judge has warned. Judge Ellen Brantly is among six judges responsible for adoption in Arkansas where the twins' adoption was approved. She told the BBC that Tranda Wecker may be punished if she lied about the length of her residence in the state. The judge said she was sending material to the UK authorities to help with their inquiries in the case.

21st January 2001

SPRINTER BANNED FOR DRUGS RACES AGAIN

British athlete Dougie Walker is taking part in his first competitive race since a drugs ban over two years ago. In January 1999 UK Athletics suspended the 200m sprinter when urine tests showed traces of a banned substance ` the anabolic steroid nandrolone. That ban was later reversed only to be overturned again by the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The 27-year-old runner will race in the Scottish Indoor Championships Glasgow.

21st January 2001

MANDELSON "HELPED TYCOON GET PASSPORT"

Peter Mandelson is reported to have assisted an Indian tycoon who helped bail out the Millennium Dome in his bid for British citizenship. The Observer claimed that following the N Ireland Secretary's intervention Srichand Hinduja who faces corruption charges in India got a UK passport. Mr Hinduja's first application for citizenship had been turned down. Mr Mandelson allegedly asked the Home Office if it would accept a second one.

20th January 2001

NEW ALZHEIMER DRUGS BACKED BY WATCHDOG

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has given its backing to three new drugs which delay the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. People with mild to moderate forms of the disease should be given Aricept Exelon or Reminyl on the NHS in England and Wales the Government body said. The drugs had previously been denied to some patients on the grounds of cost. It is thought the decision could cost

21st January 2001

SPRINTER BANNED FOR DRUGS RACES AGAIN

British athlete Dougie Walker is taking part in his first competitive race since a drugs ban over two years ago. In January 1999 UK Athletics suspended the 200m sprinter when urine tests showed traces of a banned substance ` the anabolic steroid nandrolone. That ban was later reversed only to be overturned again by the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The 27-year-old runner will race in the Scottish Indoor Championships Glasgow.

21st January 2001

TEENAGER CRITICAL AFTER INJECTION ERROR

An 18-year-old leukaemia patient is fighting for his life after drugs were mistakenly injected into his spine instead of a vein at a hospital. Two doctors have been suspended from Nottingham Queen's Medical Centre following the incident on January 4. The drug vincristine can lead to slow paralysis of the body & eventual heart failure when injected wrongly. A hospital spokesman said an inquiry had started after a "serious mistake".

20th January 2001

MAN 57 KILLED IN BLAZE AT HIS HOME

A 57-year-old man has died following a fire in his home in the Pollok area of Glasgow police have said. Emergency services were alerted to the fire in a top storey flat in Brockburn Terrace just after midnight. A neighbour managed to gain access to the flat but was unable to reach the householder Thomas Henderson. Mr Henderson was taken to the Southern General Hospital where he later died. Police say there appear to be no suspicious circumstances.

21st January 2001

SPRINTER BANNED FOR DRUGS RACES AGAIN

British athlete Dougie Walker is taking part in his first competitive race since a drugs ban over two years ago. In January 1999 UK Athletics suspended the 200m sprinter when urine tests showed traces of a banned substance ` the anabolic steroid nandrolone. That ban was later reversed only to be overturned again by the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The 27-year-old runner will race in the Scottish Indoor Championships Glasgow.

21st January 2001

SEPARATION

Reformed gangster Jimmy Boyle and his wife Sarah a psychotherapist he met while in prison more than 20 years ago have confirmed their marriage is over. MERGER Leading Glasgow private schools Hutchesons' Grammar School & Laurel Park an all-girls school have agreed the amalgamate.

20th January 2001

BP "TO CLOSE 50 PETROL STATIONS IN UK"

Oil giant BP Amoco is to close 50 petrol stations in the UK the Sunday Times has reported. The 50 sites are among 5 000 stations worldwide being sold to raise £1bn for the company to pay for a rebrand. BP is removing references to its UK roots ` it was started by an Anglo- Persian firm in 1909. A green yellow and white sun will replace its shield. The firm said this would underline its expansion into international business.

21st January 2001

SPRINTER BANNED FOR DRUGS RACES AGAIN

British athlete Dougie Walker is taking part in his first competitive race since a drugs ban over two years ago. In January 1999 UK Athletics suspended the 200m sprinter when urine tests showed traces of a banned substance ` the anabolic steroid nandrolone. That ban was later reversed only to be overturned again by the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The 27-year-old runner will race in the Scottish Indoor Championships Glasgow.

21st January 2001

PHILIPPINES New president Gloria Arroyo has begun appointing her cabinet. She named former senator Alberto Romulo as finance secretary after pledging to make restoring the economy a priority. CHINA German consortium Transrapid International is to build a new high- speed rail link in Shanghai it has been announced.

20th January 2001

CAUSEWAY LEADS TO SURGE IN ISLAND CRIME

The opening of a causeway to a remote Scottish island has led to an unprecedented surge in crime. The link from the Hebridean community of Berneray to nearby North Uist was opened in April 1999. Last week thieves carried out what is thought to be the second break-in in the island's recorded history. The first took place nine months ago. Police believe the culprits used a pick-up stolen from nearby Benbecula.

21st January 2001

SPRINTER BANNED FOR DRUGS RACES AGAIN

British athlete Dougie Walker is taking part in his first competitive race since a drugs ban over two years ago. In January 1999 UK Athletics suspended the 200m sprinter when urine tests showed traces of a banned substance ` the anabolic steroid nandrolone. That ban was later reversed only to be overturned again by the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The 27-year-old runner will race in the Scottish Indoor Championships Glasgow.

21st January 2001

FEARS RAISED OVER EC PLANS FOR FOOTBALL

Up to 10 football league clubs in Scotland could go bankrupt within five years if the present transfer system is abolished a Scottish MP has warned. Labour MP for Eastwood Jim Murphy is to use a special debate at Westminster to outline the dangers of European plans. The European Commission wants football players to have the same rights as other workers including being able to end a contract by giving notice. Mr Murphy fears clubs would lose out on transfer fees & end youth schemes.

20th January 2001

UK "PLAN TO MOVE NUCLEAR SUB BY MAY"

Britain has secretly told Spain it will remove disabled nuclear submarine HMS Tireless from Gibraltar by May 19 the the sub back to Britain if its cooling system can not be repaired it says. The Ministry of Defence refused to confirm or deny the plan. It told the newspaper it expected the sub to be repaired by March & that it would leave the port after that.

21st January 2001

SPRINTER BANNED FOR DRUGS RACES AGAIN

British athlete Dougie Walker is taking part in his first competitive race since a drugs ban over two years ago. In January 1999 UK Athletics suspended the 200m sprinter when urine tests showed traces of a banned substance ` the anabolic steroid nandrolone. That ban was later reversed only to be overturned again by the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The 27-year-old runner will race in the Scottish Indoor Championships Glasgow.

21st January 2001

US ADOPTION RIVALS HIRE BANKRUPT LAWYER

A new law firm hired by the US couple at the centre of an internet adoption scandal is headed by a bankrupt a BBC Radio 5 investigation has learned. It is also in dispute with another pair who paid them thousands of dollars for an adoption which never took place. Owner Ed Webb's motives have also been questioned by other Arkansas law firms. Richard & Vickie Allen are trying to overturn the adoption of two US babies by UK couple Alan & Judith Kilshaw.