Worse, like the British car industry in the Seventies, our best-selling models overseas are approaching obsolescence: the Clapton, the John, the Collins, the Stewart. Rivals are the Russian couples Usova and Zhulin, and Gritschuk and Platov. The report forecasts a global rise in the price of some foodstuffs which may hurt some African countries dependent on food imports. I simply have the instincts of a dedicated gossip, and that's what I'm best known for. And expect a Select Committee for Northern Ireland - a long-held and arguably integrationist aspiration of the Unionists - before too long.In the meantime, senior and junior ministers, particularly from the right of the party, were deployed with varying degrees of success to woo the rebels. The Tipperary trainer again saddles the grey which gave him victory then, Blitzkreig.'He's in great form,' said O'Grady, whose subsequent words suggested the horse had hardly been laid out for the handicap. 'There'll be four courses and some of the nicest wines you could hope to drink,' adds Kennard.This sort of exercise would turn any self-respecting Ironmonger pale: the loving cup passing - no doubt the wrong way - through the hands of estate agents on a jolly.

Early in the proceedings, a dignified letter from Mrs Alliss was read out, explaining that she hoped the trust would manage to buy the wood, and that her husband's name would live on in the district - a message which was received sympathetically.James Underhill, local fund-raising officer of the Woodland Trust, then explained how his organisation would manage Penn Woods if it got the chance. What we needed to do was find out how much things cost and to improve efficiency, not to equate treating patients with selling baked beans.' Professor Bob Williamson, head of genetics at St Mary's Hospital, made a major contribution to the discovery of the cystic fibrosis gene and is a pioneer of gene therapy. Every now and again an Atherton or a Crawley comes along, and there's also the matter of tradition.Ah, tradition. The Kidderminster manager, a lifelong Blues supporter, lived a keeper's punt from the ground and was reared on the dashed hopes of the second city's perennially second club.This time, though, it was the 44-year-old Brummie who was doing the dashing, his accomplished, counter-attacking Kidderminster harrying Birmingham to the Cup upset of the day.It wasn't much of a shock really, though three divisions separate the sides. But the NRA will bring on heavier guns, so to speak, when Mr Clinton's attention turns to subjecting the ownership of firearms to formal licensing and then to a total ban. Now breakaway Fatah groups are ignoring Mr Arafat's 'ceasefire', launching their own attacks.

EXTENSIONS to the UK electricity network and tight cost control helped the National Grid Company, which transmits electricity throughout England and Wales, to increase historic pre-tax profits by 9.1 per cent to pounds 285.3m in the first half of the year, writes Mary Fagan. Sylvanus Olympio's son, Gilchrist, emerged as a leading opponent until he was badly wounded in an assassination attempt by troops loyal to Gen Eyadema, according to an international inquiry. Meanwhile, a reader of the Independent who wishes to remain anonymous, has offered to buy Mr Parsons another piece of land where he can be allowed to settle and re-create his kingdom.. BSkyB is covering five tournaments this season and when the BBC's contract runs out at the end of the year Schofield said the pie in the Sky would be 'considerably extended'.Benson and Hedges, who have sponsored golf for 23 years, have already said that if the Tour goes with Sky they will reconsider their position. If we lose, the fans will only be happy if Benfica lose on the same day, but if we lose and they win, it's war.'How many matches has George Graham lost this season - 12? If I'd lost that many I wouldn't be here I'd be out of a job.

That was his point.'The fellowship lasts two years and gives a salary of pounds 12,000 a year, plus a room in college and a flat. It is actually getting to the stage where I am wondering if I can carry on like this.' Ms Jones is 26 and opted for a life as a traveller three years ago, sharing a converted bus with her partner, Paddy, and their two children, Krishna, six, and Charlie, nearly two.The move - after only eight days on Sir Andrew's field - brings her added problems. His biographies of Charlie Patton and Jelly Roll Morton, for example, temper the tragedies of their lives with a sympathetic wit, and are among the best work he has ever produced. 'As soon as we start thinking about championships, we tend to lose focus on what we're doing week by week,' he said. HOUSTON - The warm-up last night was the Republicans' one remaining superstar, Barbara Bush, writes Rupert Cornwell.