WHAT HAPPENED ON 22nd January 2001?

21st January 2001

CALIFORNIA BLACKOUT CAUSES STOCKPILING

A second day of blackouts in California has forced businesses to close causing consumers to stockpile essential goods. Torches candles & firewood are in demand as electricity companies beset by financial difficulties continue to work well below capacity. In San Francisco the local authority began legal action against 13 suppliers alleging conspiracy to raise prices. Politicians in America's richest state are putting together a rescue package.

22nd January 2001

TOURISTS "PAY TOO MUCH FOR INSURANCE"

Holidaymakers are paying up to four times the necessary amount for travel insurance according to a study. Up to 60% of the money paid in travel insurance premiums goes to travel agents as commission financial information firm Misys found. A family of four going to the US for two weeks were quoted £256 if they bought cover at one big UK operator. But a firm which paid less commission charged £61 & offered better cover.

22nd January 2001

UK JOBS AT RISK AS LUCENT SHEDS 10 000

UK-based jobs with Lucent the world's biggest maker of telecommunications equipment are under threat after it announced it is shedding 10 000 posts. The company which has 107 000 staff worldwide lost £696m in the first three months of its financial year. A spokeswoman said about 1 000 jobs were expected to go in Europe. But it is not yet known how that will affect Lucent's staff at Malmesbury & Swindon in Wilts and Ascot in Berks.

21st January 2001

INSURANCE COLLAPSE RAISES CLAIMS FEARS

Fears have been voiced that thousands of shipyard workers suffering asbestos illnesses could miss out on cash after an insurance company collapsed. Chester Street Insurance Holdings said it could not pay claims prompting the alert over compensation. Fears were raised by Frank Maguire a lawyer representing claimants. He fears an estimated 5 000 Scots may lose out. He said the firm is provisionally liquidated & could no longer afford to pay out claims.

22nd January 2001

TOURISTS "PAY TOO MUCH FOR INSURANCE"

Holidaymakers are paying up to four times the necessary amount for travel insurance according to a study. Up to 60% of the money paid in travel insurance premiums goes to travel agents as commission financial information firm Misys found. A family of four going to the US for two weeks were quoted £256 if they bought cover at one big UK operator. But a firm which paid less commission charged £61 & offered better cover.

22nd January 2001

USA Miami couple who disciplined their

11-year-old son by ripping off his toenails dropping a sledgehammer on his feet & making him eat his own vomit have been imprisoned for life. SPAINA law has come into force which may lead to the expulsion of around 30 000 illegal residents in a bid to stem the tide of illegal immigration. JAPAN Economics Minister Fukushiro Nukaga has become the latest cabinet member to resign after admitting taking around £70 000 from an insurance company involved in a scandal.

21st 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.

22nd January 2001

TOURISTS "PAY TOO MUCH FOR INSURANCE"

Holidaymakers are paying up to four times the necessary amount for travel insurance according to a study. Up to 60% of the money paid in travel insurance premiums goes to travel agents as commission financial information firm Misys found. A family of four going to the US for two weeks were quoted £256 if they bought cover at one big UK operator. But a firm which paid less commission charged £61 & offered better cover.

22nd January 2001

NUCLEAR PLANT WORKERS VOTE FOR ACTION

Maintenance & process workers at the Dounreay nuclear plant in Caithness have voted for industrial action over a pay dispute. The workers who are members of the AEEU have rejected a 3% pay deal. The deal has already been accepted by the majority of the UK Atomic Energy Authority's workforce. The UKAEA pledged to continue talking to the union with the hope that the dispute could be concluded without the need for industrial action.

21st 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.

22nd January 2001

TOURISTS "PAY TOO MUCH FOR INSURANCE"

Holidaymakers are paying up to four times the necessary amount for travel insurance according to a study. Up to 60% of the money paid in travel insurance premiums goes to travel agents as commission financial information firm Misys found. A family of four going to the US for two weeks were quoted £256 if they bought cover at one big UK operator. But a firm which paid less commission charged £61 & offered better cover.

22nd January 2001

MOBILE PHONE FIRM OFFERS BARGAIN SHARES

Mobile phone company Orange is offering investors shares to support its stock market flotation. The firm says shares will be priced from £7.35p to £8.62p when it floats 15% of its business on the stock market in two weeks. The price values the company at up to #41bn much less than the £100bn hoped for by owner France Telecom last year. So far 600 000 people in the UK have registered an interest in the flotation