WHAT HAPPENED ON 23th January 2001?

22nd January 2001

BARAK WANTS OLD CITY "JOINTLY MANAGED"

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Barak has said he wants to give Palestinians joint management of the daily running of the Old City of east Jerusalem. But he added that Israel would retain sovereignty over the occupied area. Mr Barak on an election visit to Tel Aviv said the Wailing Wall Mount of Olives & City of David would also remain under Israeli control. His comments came as negotiators held a third day of peace talks in Egypt.

23th January 2001

JOB FEARS AS COMPANY CALLS IN RECEIVERS

There is concern over the future for 129 workers at a Glasgow buiscuit maker after the firm said it had called in receivers. Gray Dunn said difficult trading conditions & the loss of a major European customer has forced the move. The firm which has been making biscuits in the city for more than 145 years has had to shed 86 jobs. It is hoped that a buyer can found for the business which includes well known brands like Blue Riband.

23th January 2001

STOCK EXCHANGE APPOINTS FEMALE CHIEF

The London Stock Exchange has appointed the first female chief executive in its 200-year history. Canadian-born Clara Furse a 43-year- old businesswoman will take on the role the Stock Exchange confirmed. She will take charge of the Exchange after a period of turmoil. The post ` considered the toughest job in the City ` fell vacant in September when the Exchange abandoned a merger with its German counterpart.

22nd January 2001

ITALIAN POLICE SEIZE SUSPECT BEEF

Police in southern Italy seized 330kg of beef & other meat in a clampdown after the first cases of BSE there. They said that the papers accompanying the consignment had been fradulently altered to suggest that the meat originated in Italy instead of France. Italy had previously banned imports of beef from France after several cases of Mad Cow Disease were reported there. The clampdown also led to the seizure of 1 600 tons of sheep feed found to contain banned animal bonemeal.

23th January 2001

JOB FEARS AS COMPANY CALLS IN RECEIVERS

There is concern over the future for 129 workers at a Glasgow buiscuit maker after the firm said it had called in receivers. Gray Dunn said difficult trading conditions & the loss of a major European customer has forced the move. The firm which has been making biscuits in the city for more than 145 years has had to shed 86 jobs. It is hoped that a buyer can found for the business which includes well known brands like Blue Riband.

23th January 2001

CONSORTIUM HAS EYE ON ITV NEWS CONTRACT

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB is to form part of a consortium which will bid to challenge ITN for the contract to supply news to ITV. It is joining forces with N Ireland independent TV contractor UTV US broadcaster CBS & Bloomberg & the Chrysalis group it has been announced. Each partner will take a 20% stake in the company bidding for the contract. They intend to approach the ITC & have asked ITV for an early meeting.

22nd 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.

23th January 2001

JOB FEARS AS COMPANY CALLS IN RECEIVERS

There is concern over the future for 129 workers at a Glasgow buiscuit maker after the firm said it had called in receivers. Gray Dunn said difficult trading conditions & the loss of a major European customer has forced the move. The firm which has been making biscuits in the city for more than 145 years has had to shed 86 jobs. It is hoped that a buyer can found for the business which includes well known brands like Blue Riband.

23th January 2001

GAY COUPLE LOSE "EU RIGHT" TO BE FAMILY

A gay couple have lost a High Court battle to live in Britain as "a family" under European law. Belfast-born Nigel McCollum challenged the Immigration Service's refusal to let his Brazilian partner Renato Lozano into the UK as his same-sex spouse. His lawyer said this impeded Mr McCollum's right of free movement. Mr Justice Turner refused a judicial review. He said neither UK nor EU law made the couple a family.

22nd 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.

23th January 2001

JOB FEARS AS COMPANY CALLS IN RECEIVERS

There is concern over the future for 129 workers at a Glasgow buiscuit maker after the firm said it had called in receivers. Gray Dunn said difficult trading conditions & the loss of a major European customer has forced the move. The firm which has been making biscuits in the city for more than 145 years has had to shed 86 jobs. It is hoped that a buyer can found for the business which includes well known brands like Blue Riband.

23th January 2001

DIABETES PREVENTION BREAKTHROUGH HOPES

Scientists say they are on the brink of a landmark discovery in preventing the onset of a type of diabetes. A team from Glasgow Royal Infirmary has discovered that drugs used to reduce the risk of heart attacks actually prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that patients given pravastatin had a 30% reduced chance of developing diabetes. Type 2 diabetes often occurs in people over 45 & who are overweight. Scots are among the most likely to be hit.

22nd January 2001

SUPERMARKET CHAIN TO CREATE 870 JOBS

Supermarket giant Asda has announced plans to create 870 jobs by providing photo optician & pharmacy services at dozens more of its stores. Asda plans to more than double its tally of 36 dispensing chemists adding the service to 58 more stores. It also wants to increase the number of photo centres from six to 50 while 50 stores will get an ophthalmic service. The schemes mirror the approach of Asda's US owners Wal-Mart.

23th January 2001

JOB FEARS AS COMPANY CALLS IN RECEIVERS

There is concern over the future for 129 workers at a Glasgow buiscuit maker after the firm said it had called in receivers. Gray Dunn said difficult trading conditions & the loss of a major European customer has forced the move. The firm which has been making biscuits in the city for more than 145 years has had to shed 86 jobs. It is hoped that a buyer can found for the business which includes well known brands like Blue Riband.

23th January 2001

EXECUTIVE FACING ROADS REBELLION THREAT

A meeting of Labour MSPs has broken up without agreement on the row over road maintenance contracts. The Transport Minister Sarah Boyack is trying to head off a backbench revolt by up to 25 MSPs. They are angry over a move to award contracts valued at £350m to two private firms. Local councils have complained that the bidding system was not fair ` & that thousands of roads workers will lose their jobs.

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.

23th January 2001

JOB FEARS AS COMPANY CALLS IN RECEIVERS

There is concern over the future for 129 workers at a Glasgow buiscuit maker after the firm said it had called in receivers. Gray Dunn said difficult trading conditions & the loss of a major European customer has forced the move. The firm which has been making biscuits in the city for more than 145 years has had to shed 86 jobs. It is hoped that a buyer can found for the business which includes well known brands like Blue Riband.

23th January 2001

HUNT Three fox hunt workers have been found not guilty of attacking saboteurs after an alleged incident involving the Quorn Hunt in Leicestershire last year. ENERGY Designers of new commercial buildings will have to ensure they are energy-efficient in their insulation and heating under changes to building regulations the Government has said. BAND Irish band the Corrs have called off a royal gala concert in London next Monday in front of Prince Charles as singer Andrea Corr has an ear problem. Six other shows have been rescheduled.