London Celebrates with Style
Millions of revellers have welcomed in the New Year with celebrations in towns and cities across the UK. An estimated 200,000 people gathered in central London to usher in 2006, The skies above the capital city was lit up by a dazzling array of fireworks as midnight arrived. At midnight, a 10-minute volley of fireworks was sent into the sky against the backdrop of the London Eye and Big Ben, to cheers from delighted spectators. Thousands of people descended on the Embankment and surrounding areas to watch the spectacular display. More..

Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy Resigns
Charles Kennedy has resigned as Liberal Democrat leader 7th January 2006. In a statement at Lib Dem HQ, Mr Kennedy said he had been "inundated" with support from party members since admitting having a drink problem. But he had decided to quit immediately because it had become clear he did not have strong enough support among MPs.

Whale in the River Thames
An amazing rescue operation was mounted in the middle of London [20th January 2006]— to save a WHALE. Marine experts fought a desperate battle to help the 18ft creature as it wallowed in the muddy River Thames. Thousands of spectators watched as divers, emergency boats and bare-chested volunteers tried to shepherd the lost whale back downriver towards the sea. The whale — dubbed Wally — delighted the crowd lining both banks by surfacing and spouting jets of spray into the air.

Two Large Ships Collide in English Channel
In this handout picture from the French Navy, Marshall Islands-registered chemical tanker, loaded with 10,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid, is seen in the after colliding with a cargo ship early January 31, 2006.

At Sea in the English Channel. A British coastguard boat and Royal Air Force helicopter evacuated the tanker's 22 crew members to a hospital on the British island of Guernsey with no reports of serious injuries. The tanker which sank in the English Channel with its 10,000-tonne load of phosphoric acid is leaking fuel oil. The Ece had about 80 tonnes of fuel on board when it sank on 1st February 2006 while being towed to Le Havre. The vessel had been badly damaged following a collision with a cargo ship off the north west coast of Guernsey early on the 31st January 2006. The alarm had been raised at about 0220 GMT on Tuesday when the Ece collided with the freighter General Grot-Rowecki about 50km (30 miles) north-west of Guernsey.