World news round-up
Dispute and delay over Hutton enquiry
The Prime Minister has promised to make a statement to MPs within hours of the report's publication, the date of which has yet to be announced. Mr Blair has still not made it clear whether he will lead the full Commons debate on the outcome, despite mounting pressure from Michael Howard to do so.
Wales hit by Tornado
A tornado several hundred feet high raced its way up the Bristol Channel last weekend, with further freak storms and floods predicted for the rest of the week.
Shipman found hanging
Harold Shipman, the former GP charged with the murder of 15 of his patients and suspected to have killed over two hundred more, apparently took his own life. He was found dead in his Wakefield prison cell on Tuesday morning, where he was serving multiple life sentences.
Developments in Iraq
Tony Blair has admitted that weapons of mass destruction may never be found in Iraq, telling BBC's David Frost that, "we'll just have to wait and see", although Colin Powell remains more confident. Meanwhile, Colonel Tim Collins, famed for his rousing speech to the British troops on the eve of the conflict and recently awarded an OBE for his services, has resigned.
Heightened security across the Atlantic
The New Civil Contingency Bill will allow for hundreds of railway carriages to be put into a national strategic reserve, in preparation for the mass evacuation of Britain's cities in the event of a terrorist attack. The move comes on the back of attempts to increase air security across the Atlantic, and to introduce visas for British visitors to the States.
Top-Up fees
Despite several concessions made to the government's reform plans last week, more than 100 Labour MPs still look set to oppose the controversial bill when it is voted upon in Parliament on January 27.
Tennis Star in drugs scandal
Greg Rusedski tested positive for low-levels of the performance enhancing drug nandroline last July, it has emerged, although he claims that the substance was present in a supplement drink actually provided by the Association of Professional Tennis Players. He is to face a hearing next month.
The nightmare continues in Iran
The shockwaves of the earthquake reverberate still, as one survivor is pulled from beneath the debris after thirteen days, only to die soon after. Meanwhile, protests are mounting at the disqualification of hundreds of reformist candidates from next month's national elections.
And finally...
Detectives were this week called in to investigate a German computer store, after a customer attempted to return a computer stuffed with potatoes for the second time that day. He had initially been given a replacement machine, but staff grew suspicious when he complained of the same problem again several hours later. It later emerged that the man had actually removed the small parts of the computers and replaced these with potatoes himself.
15th Jan 2004