WHAT HAPPENED ON 24th January 2001?

23th January 2001

DETECTIVES HAIL NEW SARAH PAYNE CLUE

Police probing the murder of schoolgirl Sarah Payne say they have a new clue. A blue & white striped curtain dotted with clowns is now being linked to the attack on the eight-year-old near East Preston West Sussex last year. Police say it had been used for another purpose or thrown out & want details about where it had been used or seen. Sarah from Hersham Surrey was found dead near Pulborough West Sussex two weeks after her July 1 disappearance.

24th January 2001

NI HOMES HIT BY GUN AND BOMB ATTACKS

Several homes in Northern Ireland have been targeted in bomb & gun attacks. In Belfast a pipe bomb was thrown into a house off the the Limestone Road in the north of the city. It exploded causing damage but no injuries. Shots were fired at another house in the Ardoyne area of the city. Again no injuries were reported. Two more pipe bombs were thrown through house windows at Kinnard Park in Garvagh County Londonderry.

24th January 2001

DNA CHECKS ON 2 000 MEN IN RAPE INQUIRY

Detectives are to take DNA swabs from up to 2 000 men in the latest attempt to find the so-called Bath Rapist. Police have isolated a DNA sample from the man they believe is responsible for at least 14 attacks on women in & around the city over the past decade. The hunt for the attacker ` Operation Eagle ` is the largest ongoing investigation of its kind in Britain. Swabs are to be taken from men whose names have come up during the inquiry.

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.

24th January 2001

NI HOMES HIT BY GUN AND BOMB ATTACKS

Several homes in Northern Ireland have been targeted in bomb & gun attacks. In Belfast a pipe bomb was thrown into a house off the the Limestone Road in the north of the city. It exploded causing damage but no injuries. Shots were fired at another house in the Ardoyne area of the city. Again no injuries were reported. Two more pipe bombs were thrown through house windows at Kinnard Park in Garvagh County Londonderry.

24th January 2001

SCHOOLS EVACUATED AFTER BOMBS FOUND

At least half a dozen improvised pipe bombs have been discovered on the roof of a primary school in a loyalist area of east Belfast. Some 160 pupils & staff from Beechfield Primary School and adjoining McArthur nursery school were evacuated to a nearby hall. Bomb disposal experts were called in when staff found one bomb on the roof. The experts then found five more apparently being stored on the roof.

23th 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.

24th January 2001

NI HOMES HIT BY GUN AND BOMB ATTACKS

Several homes in Northern Ireland have been targeted in bomb & gun attacks. In Belfast a pipe bomb was thrown into a house off the the Limestone Road in the north of the city. It exploded causing damage but no injuries. Shots were fired at another house in the Ardoyne area of the city. Again no injuries were reported. Two more pipe bombs were thrown through house windows at Kinnard Park in Garvagh County Londonderry.

24th January 2001

SCHOOLS EVACUATED AFTER BOMBS FOUND

At least half a dozen improvised pipe bombs have been discovered on the roof of a primary school in a loyalist area of east Belfast. Some 160 pupils & staff from Beechfield Primary School and adjoining McArthur nursery school were evacuated to a nearby hall. Bomb disposal experts were called in when staff found one bomb on the roof. The experts then found five more apparently being stored on the roof.

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.

24th January 2001

NI HOMES HIT BY GUN AND BOMB ATTACKS

Several homes in Northern Ireland have been targeted in bomb & gun attacks. In Belfast a pipe bomb was thrown into a house off the the Limestone Road in the north of the city. It exploded causing damage but no injuries. Shots were fired at another house in the Ardoyne area of the city. Again no injuries were reported. Two more pipe bombs were thrown through house windows at Kinnard Park in Garvagh County Londonderry.

24th January 2001

STAFF ACTION WOULD HIT SCHOOLS ` HEADS

Schools will have to send pupils home for part of the week if teachers carry out industrial action over staffing shortages headteachers have warned. New guidelines drawn up by the National Association of Headteachers say teachers should cover vacancies. But teachers' union the NASUWT has said it will ballot its London members on plans for a city-wide "no cover" action The NAHT said this would "hit the wrong target" and would damage schools.

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.

24th January 2001

NI HOMES HIT BY GUN AND BOMB ATTACKS

Several homes in Northern Ireland have been targeted in bomb & gun attacks. In Belfast a pipe bomb was thrown into a house off the the Limestone Road in the north of the city. It exploded causing damage but no injuries. Shots were fired at another house in the Ardoyne area of the city. Again no injuries were reported. Two more pipe bombs were thrown through house windows at Kinnard Park in Garvagh County Londonderry.

24th January 2001

STAFF ACTION WOULD HIT SCHOOLS ` HEADS

Schools will have to send pupils home for part of the week if teachers carry out industrial action over staffing shortages headteachers have warned. New guidelines drawn up by the National Association of Headteachers say teachers should cover vacancies. But teachers' union the NASUWT has said it will ballot its London members on plans for a city-wide "no cover" action The NAHT said this would "hit the wrong target" and would damage schools.

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.

24th January 2001

NI HOMES HIT BY GUN AND BOMB ATTACKS

Several homes in Northern Ireland have been targeted in bomb & gun attacks. In Belfast a pipe bomb was thrown into a house off the the Limestone Road in the north of the city. It exploded causing damage but no injuries. Shots were fired at another house in the Ardoyne area of the city. Again no injuries were reported. Two more pipe bombs were thrown through house windows at Kinnard Park in Garvagh County Londonderry.

24th January 2001

AGENDA AT WESTMINSTER

Questions on Northern Ireland will be followed by Prime Minister's Question Time. Commons debates will be on job losses in manufacturing & the Government's public health agenda. Manufacturing in the north complementary medicine & defence medical services will also be debated. Peers will consider constitutional changes & support to disadvantaged young men.