WHAT HAPPENED ON 22nd January 2001?

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.

22nd January 2001

POLICE AIMING TO TACKLE RACIAL TENSION

Police across the UK are being told to draw up plans to prevent racial tension and violence spreading between asylum- seekers & local communities. An Association of Chief Police Officers manual obtained by BBC Radio Five Live warns of "significant public disorder" unless action is taken. Racial abuse towards refugees has become "common currency" it says. The British Refugee Council says harassment has become a daily problem.

22nd January 2001

ARRESTA 21-year-old man has been

arrested in connection with a break-in at the constituency office of Foreign Secretary Robin Cook in Livingston earlier this month. APPEAL Radio One's DJ Spoony is to appear on BBC1's Crimewatch on Wednesday in an appeal for information on the murder of Damilola Taylor. OCTOPUS Florence the octopus based at Fakenham Garden Centre Norfolk has had eight babies. Staff are expecting another 30 births if all the eggs laid before Christmas hatch.

21st January 2001

BRITISH-IRISH COUNCIL MEETING POSTPONED

Tuesday's British-Irish Council meeting in Dublin has been postponed Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble has said. He told the Northern Ireland Assembly the British & Irish governments had made the decision. It was felt the meeting would be a "distraction" to talks on resolving the deadlock over decommissioning he added Mr Trimble rejected claims that the Good Friday Agreement was in crisis.

22nd January 2001

POLICE AIMING TO TACKLE RACIAL TENSION

Police across the UK are being told to draw up plans to prevent racial tension and violence spreading between asylum- seekers & local communities. An Association of Chief Police Officers manual obtained by BBC Radio Five Live warns of "significant public disorder" unless action is taken. Racial abuse towards refugees has become "common currency" it says. The British Refugee Council says harassment has become a daily problem.

22nd January 2001

SKILLS SHORTAGE "REACHES RECORD LEVELS"

Shortages of skilled workers have reached record levels in parts of British industry a new report claims. More than two out of three firms were being hit by a shortage of skilled staff according to a survey of 550 organisations by employment group Reed. The service sector reported record levels of skills shortages. The survey said firms in the Thames Valley East Anglia Northern Ireland and the Midlands were the worst hit.

21st January 2001

MURDER PROBE AFTER PENSIONER'S DEATH

Police have launched a murder inquiry after the discovery of a pensioner's body in Kirkcudbright yesterday. Archibald Jeffrey 82 was found on a riverside path just a few hundred yards from his home. Police have not said how he died but a post mortem examination has confirmed he had been assaulted. Mr Jeffrey's body was found on a path beside the River Dee on the outskirts of Kirkcudbright close to where he is thought to have lived..

22nd January 2001

POLICE AIMING TO TACKLE RACIAL TENSION

Police across the UK are being told to draw up plans to prevent racial tension and violence spreading between asylum- seekers & local communities. An Association of Chief Police Officers manual obtained by BBC Radio Five Live warns of "significant public disorder" unless action is taken. Racial abuse towards refugees has become "common currency" it says. The British Refugee Council says harassment has become a daily problem.

22nd January 2001

STUDENTS Oxford University has banned five students from attending lectures and sitting exams after refusing to pay their tuition fees. The five claimed the fees were "elitist & unfair". BOMB Police have warned animal & farm workers to handle mail with care after a pet supplier in Northumbria was sent a letter bomb. The bomb has yet not been linked to other incidents. PIPE Comedian Russ Abbot has followed luminaries such as Eric Morecambe & Dave Lee Travis by receiving the 2001 Pipesmoker of the Year award.

21st January 2001

INTERNET FIRMS RECEIVE ADOPTION WARNING

UK internet service providers have been warned they may be prosecuted if they carry material breaking adoption laws. Health Minister John Hutton has written to providers warning that only local authorities & approved agencies may advertise children for adoption. It comes after a UK couple paid £8 000 to adopt US twins over the internet. Lawyers say it would be impossible for service providers to check all the material on their websites.

22nd January 2001

POLICE AIMING TO TACKLE RACIAL TENSION

Police across the UK are being told to draw up plans to prevent racial tension and violence spreading between asylum- seekers & local communities. An Association of Chief Police Officers manual obtained by BBC Radio Five Live warns of "significant public disorder" unless action is taken. Racial abuse towards refugees has become "common currency" it says. The British Refugee Council says harassment has become a daily problem.

22nd January 2001

GOVT DENIES MANDELSON PASSPORT CLAIMS

The Government has denied that Peter Mandelson "pulled strings" to help an Indian tycoon gain a UK passport. Tories have demanded an explanation over the Northern Ireland Secretary's involvement in Srichand Hinduja's case. He got a passport soon after loaning #1m to the Millennium Dome which Mr Mandelson was in charge of at the time. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Mr Mandelson had merely referred Mr Hinduja's claim to the Home Office.