WHAT HAPPENED ON 23th January 2001?

22nd January 2001

ITV BEATS BBC IN NEWS RATINGS BATTLE

ITV's reinstated News At Ten had almost double the viewers of the BBC's Ten O'Clock News in their first head-to- head battle unofficial figures suggest ITV had 8.1m viewers & the BBC 4.3m early figures from Barb show. The BBC claimed its longer bulletin had contained more "quality" than its rival ITV's news began late after following straight on from Who Wants to be a Millionaire? but ITV said the move was "acceptable to the regulator".

23th January 2001

DOUBT OVER SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT "SUICIDE"

Five members of the Falungong spiritual movement have set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square Beijing according to the official Chinese news agency. It said one had died & others had been taken to hospital. But a Hong Kong-based Falungong spokesman said the report was doubtful and suggested it was a government attempt to discredit the movement. Its protests have been peaceful until now the BBC Beijing correspondent said

23th January 2001

DAMILOLA'S FATHER SLAMS "MORAL VALUES"

The father of murdered 10-year-old Damilola Taylor has told the BBC "moral values" in Britain need to change. Richard Taylor branded his son's killer's parents "irresponsible people" for not giving police any information. He also told Radio 4's Today programme he thought Damilola was stabbed to death in Peckham London in November for refusing to join a street gang. Tonight's BBC1's Crimewatch features a reconstruction of Damilola's movements.

22nd 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.

23th January 2001

DOUBT OVER SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT "SUICIDE"

Five members of the Falungong spiritual movement have set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square Beijing according to the official Chinese news agency. It said one had died & others had been taken to hospital. But a Hong Kong-based Falungong spokesman said the report was doubtful and suggested it was a government attempt to discredit the movement. Its protests have been peaceful until now the BBC Beijing correspondent said

23th January 2001

FRENCH NO LONGER IMPORTANT IN TURKEY

Officials at Istanbul international airport say French businessmen can no longer use the fast-track VIP hall. The airport administration chief said only official guests of the Turkish government could now enjoy that perk. The move is a sign of Turkey's outrage over the French parliament vote to recognise as genocide the 1915 deaths of Armenians under the Ottoman empire. Turkey disputes the number of deaths and denies that the killings were part of a deliberate policy of genocide.

22nd January 2001

FALUN GONG CALLS FOR END TO PERSECUTION

Falun Gong followers have carried banners demanding an end to persecution in China in a Hong Kong protest march. The Chinese Government has banned Falun Gong which blends traditional Chinese exercise Buddhism & Taoism and have labelled it an "evil cult". The two-day rally in defiance of China began with 900 followers from around the world joining in mass meditation. Falun Gong is not illegal in Hong Kong ` though some members were denied entry

23th January 2001

DOUBT OVER SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT "SUICIDE"

Five members of the Falungong spiritual movement have set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square Beijing according to the official Chinese news agency. It said one had died & others had been taken to hospital. But a Hong Kong-based Falungong spokesman said the report was doubtful and suggested it was a government attempt to discredit the movement. Its protests have been peaceful until now the BBC Beijing correspondent said

23th January 2001

OFFICIALS RELEASE £7m "ESTRADA" CASH

Officials have released over £7m in cash seized on suspicion that it was being taken out of the Philippines by its disgraced former President. "No violations" had been committed by the two banks shipping the money from Manila Airport to Hong Kong they said. A private watchdog group had suggested former President Joseph Estrada might be trying to transfer his wealth abroad Mr Estrada was forced out of office after his trial on corruption charges.

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

DOUBT OVER SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT "SUICIDE"

Five members of the Falungong spiritual movement have set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square Beijing according to the official Chinese news agency. It said one had died & others had been taken to hospital. But a Hong Kong-based Falungong spokesman said the report was doubtful and suggested it was a government attempt to discredit the movement. Its protests have been peaceful until now the BBC Beijing correspondent said

23th January 2001

GOVT URGED TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON PEACE

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has urged the Government not to allow Peter Mandelson's resignation to distract it from the search for peace in N Ireland. Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble praised Mr Mandelson in the Commons. He said his work in Northern Ireland had been appreciated by many people. The Democratic Unionist Party said few tears would be shed for Mr Mandelson who "refused to recognise" it spoke for the majority of the unionist community.

22nd January 2001

CONGO The Angolan army is sending reinforcements to Kinshasa & the southeastern city of Lubumbashi immediately "to strengthen security" government sources have said. INDIA The Asian Age paper has published a travel guide for US President George W Bush. A map explains: "This is India. Very conveniently located. Pakistan to the left & China just above." IRISH REPUBLICThree people thought to be two women & one man have died in a house fire in Sligo. Three survivors were taken to hospital.

23th January 2001

DOUBT OVER SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT "SUICIDE"

Five members of the Falungong spiritual movement have set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square Beijing according to the official Chinese news agency. It said one had died & others had been taken to hospital. But a Hong Kong-based Falungong spokesman said the report was doubtful and suggested it was a government attempt to discredit the movement. Its protests have been peaceful until now the BBC Beijing correspondent said

23th January 2001

MIRACLE ESCAPE FOR FOUR IN PLANE ALERT

A missing aircraft has been found about five miles south of Braemar in the remote Lochnagar area of Aberdeenshire with four people on board. They all had a miracle escape but one is reported to have a broken leg. The four have been taken to hospital. A major search had been launched in the area for the Cessna after a rescue beacon was triggered from the plane. It was heading from Oxford to Inverness via Peterborough. Helicopters & rescue teams were involved.