WHAT HAPPENED ON 27th January 2001?

26th January 2001

AIR CONTROLLER NUMBERS TO RISE BY 50%

The number of air traffic controllers being recruited each year is to rise by 50% from June it has been announced. National Air Traffic Services will raise its intake of trainee controllers from 120 to 180 a year. The service which is shortly to be part-privatised said the rise was to meet the continued growth in air travel The move follows concerns from MPs & controllers that workloads were becoming dangerously heavy.

27th January 2001

DUP MAY STEP ASIDE IN CRUCIAL SEATS

The Democratic Unionist Party says it may not contest several constituencies held by opponents of the Good Friday peace agreement at the General Election Deputy leader Peter Robinson said to oppose the MPs in West Tyrone Belfast South & North Down may split the vote and elect pro-agreement candidates. The seats are held by William Thompson Martyn Smyth & Robert McCartney. A deal may be made in Fermanagh & South Tyrone where Ken Maginnis is retiring.

27th January 2001

BRITAIN SENDS RELIEF SUPPLIES TO INDIA

Three flights bound for the earthquake hit area of Gujurat in India are due to leave Britain carrying relief supplies including hundreds of large tents. The International Development Secretary has said £10m of Government funds is being used to support the relief effort Clare Short said the 69 UK rescuers now in India are from Greater Manchester Lancashire Lincolnshire & Chester. She told MPs they had already rescued four survivors from the quake rubble.

26th January 2001

MEN SHOT IN LEGS IN N IRELAND ATTACKS

Three men are being treated in hospital for gunshot wounds after paramilitary- style shootings in Northern Ireland. A 28-year-old man was bundled into a car in Rathcoole Belfast and driven to New Mossley where he was shot in both legs. A second man was abducted by two men in a car in Carrickfergus & shot in the lower leg. And a 19-year-old youth was shot in both legs in north Belfast.

27th January 2001

DUP MAY STEP ASIDE IN CRUCIAL SEATS

The Democratic Unionist Party says it may not contest several constituencies held by opponents of the Good Friday peace agreement at the General Election Deputy leader Peter Robinson said to oppose the MPs in West Tyrone Belfast South & North Down may split the vote and elect pro-agreement candidates. The seats are held by William Thompson Martyn Smyth & Robert McCartney. A deal may be made in Fermanagh & South Tyrone where Ken Maginnis is retiring.

27th January 2001

COINS

A museum attendant who stole rare coins worth £160 000 to pay for his heroin habit has been jailed for six months. Douglas Wilson 37 of Perth admitted stealing from Perth Museum. SHOOTING One man has died & another is critically ill after a shooting outside Chicago's nightclub in Peckham south London at about 4.15am. Five men are being questioned by police. JOBS The Taiwanese computer company Acer has announced it will set up a multi-lingual call centre in Belfast creating more than 140 jobs.

26th January 2001

KABILA TO TAKE DR CONGO OATH OF OFFICE

Joseph Kabila is to take the oath of office to become the new president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He succeeds his father Laurent Kabila who was assassinated last week. The swearing-in follows the state funeral of his father yesterday witnessed by thousands of Congolese in the capital Kinshasa. General Kabila inherits a regional war that has split the country in two & sucked in neighbouring nations.

27th January 2001

DUP MAY STEP ASIDE IN CRUCIAL SEATS

The Democratic Unionist Party says it may not contest several constituencies held by opponents of the Good Friday peace agreement at the General Election Deputy leader Peter Robinson said to oppose the MPs in West Tyrone Belfast South & North Down may split the vote and elect pro-agreement candidates. The seats are held by William Thompson Martyn Smyth & Robert McCartney. A deal may be made in Fermanagh & South Tyrone where Ken Maginnis is retiring.

27th January 2001

What People were saying on

"I think of you like a dentist. Drill away do what you have to do. For deep inside yours is important work in a democratic society."

President George W Bush talking to journalists. It can't be long before the rustic theme park village introduces Ye Olde Video Shoppe complete with a dodgy owner who looks as if he could introduce you to a cheap hitman."

Playwright & comedian Arthur Smith.

26th January 2001

CAMPAIGN GROUPS GAIN SUPPORT OF TORIES

A "means test" for the elderly has angered campaign groups. Louis Howson of the Conferderation of Scotland's Elderly said: "A lot of us feel they are going to dance about ` until after the general election." Age Concern Scotland said: "People's expectations were raised over the past eight weeks only to be dashed." Critics were joined by the Tories who complained the Health Minister's plan meant care was now a lottery between old people in Scotland.

27th January 2001

DUP MAY STEP ASIDE IN CRUCIAL SEATS

The Democratic Unionist Party says it may not contest several constituencies held by opponents of the Good Friday peace agreement at the General Election Deputy leader Peter Robinson said to oppose the MPs in West Tyrone Belfast South & North Down may split the vote and elect pro-agreement candidates. The seats are held by William Thompson Martyn Smyth & Robert McCartney. A deal may be made in Fermanagh & South Tyrone where Ken Maginnis is retiring.

27th January 2001

MANDELSON TO STAND IN GENERAL ELECTION

Labour bosses in Peter Mandelson's Hartlepool constituency have confirmed that he will stand as their candidate in the forthcoming General Election. The announcement by constituency Labour Party chairman Ray Waller followed a 90-minute meeting at the MP's home. "Mr Mandelson has confirmed that he will be our candidate for the General Election " he said. "We are all working on the assumption he will be re-elected " Mr Waller added

26th January 2001

ARAFAT AND BARAK IN "LAST CHANCE" TALKS

The Palestinian leader & Israeli Prime Minister will meet in Stockholm next week to try to advance peace talks before the Israeli elections. Yasser Arafat & Ehud Barak are to meet for a last-minute chance to agree on a final statement of the issues Palestinian officials said. It follows five days of talks between officials in the Egyptian town of Taba. Both sides say these have made progress but that an agreeement is not expected.

27th January 2001

DUP MAY STEP ASIDE IN CRUCIAL SEATS

The Democratic Unionist Party says it may not contest several constituencies held by opponents of the Good Friday peace agreement at the General Election Deputy leader Peter Robinson said to oppose the MPs in West Tyrone Belfast South & North Down may split the vote and elect pro-agreement candidates. The seats are held by William Thompson Martyn Smyth & Robert McCartney. A deal may be made in Fermanagh & South Tyrone where Ken Maginnis is retiring.

27th January 2001

BUSH SUPPORTS MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM

President George W Bush has reaffirmed his commitment to deploying a missile defence system capable of protecting the US & its allies. He stressed the importance of reducing the country's nuclear arsenal. But that had to tally with the US's ability to keep the peace he said. Mr Bush's stance could jeopardise the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty signed with the former Soviet Union which banned nationwide missile defences.

26th January 2001

NEW WORKPLACE GUIDELINES FOR NHS STAFF

Health minister Susan Deacon has announced plans to make NHS managers deliver family-friendly policies & crack down on workplace bullying. The minister explained six new guidelines to improve working conditions for NHS employees during a conference in Edinburgh. The guidelines included proposals to improve training & strengthen equal opportunities policies. They seek to develop facilities for unions & monitor staff performance.

27th January 2001

DUP MAY STEP ASIDE IN CRUCIAL SEATS

The Democratic Unionist Party says it may not contest several constituencies held by opponents of the Good Friday peace agreement at the General Election Deputy leader Peter Robinson said to oppose the MPs in West Tyrone Belfast South & North Down may split the vote and elect pro-agreement candidates. The seats are held by William Thompson Martyn Smyth & Robert McCartney. A deal may be made in Fermanagh & South Tyrone where Ken Maginnis is retiring.

27th January 2001

BUSH SUPPORTS MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM

President George W Bush has reaffirmed his commitment to deploying a missile defence system capable of protecting the US & its allies. He stressed the importance of reducing the country's nuclear arsenal. But that had to tally with the US's ability to keep the peace he said. Mr Bush's stance could jeopardise the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty signed with the former Soviet Union which banned nationwide missile defences.

26th 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.

27th January 2001

DUP MAY STEP ASIDE IN CRUCIAL SEATS

The Democratic Unionist Party says it may not contest several constituencies held by opponents of the Good Friday peace agreement at the General Election Deputy leader Peter Robinson said to oppose the MPs in West Tyrone Belfast South & North Down may split the vote and elect pro-agreement candidates. The seats are held by William Thompson Martyn Smyth & Robert McCartney. A deal may be made in Fermanagh & South Tyrone where Ken Maginnis is retiring.

27th January 2001

TRIMBLE ISSUES NEW WARNING TO SINN FEIN

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has threatened to step up sanctions against Sinn Fein if the IRA fails to decommission weapons. Mr Trimble said his ban on Sinn Fein ministers meeting Irish counterparts would also stay in place. The Northern Ireland First Minister issued his warning following a meeting achieve devolution & decommissioning.