January 31 in the news....
- Eight people arrested by terror police in Birmingham were allegedly planning an Iraq-style kidnapping and beheading in the UK. The suspects - believed to be of Pakistani origin - were detained under the Terrorism Act after a six-month surveillance operation. Another 200 Pakistanis were arrested in areas nearby on suspicion of allegedly planning ball tampering at local cricket games this year.
- A Russian court ruled in favour of jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky today, saying it was unfair that the former head of oil company YUKOS was put in a punishment cell for 10 days in June after warders found two undeclared lemons in his cell. When reached for comment on the issue President Putin said "Modern Russia does have a sense of humour, it is just not appreciated in the West, we think our new brand of show trials have great punchlines."
