PORTRAIT OF THE WEEK
The unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable.
John Major, the Prime Minister, said once more that he thought the end of the recession was in sight, and his Government approved pay-rises above the inflation rate for more than 1.3 million public servants, thus avoiding strikes over pay in the run-up to the general election. Peter Brooke, the Northern Ireland Secretary, called a sum- mit of Northern Ireland politicians to dis- cuss the escalation of terrorist activity in the Province. Polls showed the electorate supported Paddy Ashdown despite revela- tions of his past adultery with a secretary, Patricia Howard. A man who is a Conserva- tive Party member and a woman were charged with burglary and handling stolen goods in connection with the revelations of Mr Ashdown's extra-marital activities. Ford UK announced that it will cut 2,100 jobs. Company insolvencies and bankruptcies were found to have risen by 63 per cent in 1991 compared to 1990. David Mayhew, stockbroker at City firm Cazenove, was told that he did not have to face trial in the Guinness prosecutions after new evidence came to light. The trial of the remaining defendants Roger Seelig and Lord Spens, the corporate financiers, was interrupted on its 68th day when the judge discharged the jury from giving a verdict because Mr Seelig's deteriorating health had made it impossible for him to conduct his defence.
Peter Clowes, former head of Barlow Clowes, was found guilty on charges of a £410 million fraud and was jailed for ten years. Michael Heseltine, the Environment Minister, announced that the office envi- ronment choscn by his department in the past was so bad that demolition was the best solution. The kidnapper of the Birm- ingham estate agent Stephanie Slater, who gained £175,000 through his crime, wrote to the police and the media to explain that he would suffer longer than she would. Dan Maskell, the Wimbledon tennis commenta- tor, decided to retire. Barbara Mills was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions. An old lady asked nurses whether the fact that her 76-year-old husband had, for 50 years, locked her in a coal shed every time he went out constituted abuse, and being told that it did, returned to him anyway. Edward Rayne, 69, the Queen's shoemaker, died in a fire at his home.
MIKE TYSON, the former world boxing champion, was found guilty of raping an 18- year-old Miss Black America contestant. France offered £350 million in aid to Rus- sia while President Yeltsin visited Paris. Demonstrators marched againgt him in Moscow. Operation Provide Hope began, airlifting tons of aid into the old USSR. Russia began an investigation into former members of the Politburo, including ex- President Gorbachev, who may be prose- cuted for involvement in the transfer of £120 million of state funds to foreign Com- munist parties. Albert Reynolds was chosen as leader of Fianna Fail and Prime Minister of Ireland in place of Charles Haughey. Algeria declared a state of emergency fol- lowing clashes between fundamentalists and security forces. Islamic fundamentalists killed eight policeman in an attack in the Algiers casbah as police tried to clear a mosque. Five died from a Basque separatist ETA bomb in Madrid. Pakistan admitted that it could put a nuclear bomb together if it wished. Both India and Pakistan moved thousands of troops into the disputed region of Kashmir as demonstrators pre- pared to face death by marching over the line of control into Indian territory. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited India. A plane crashed in Senegal, killing 31, mainly French holidaymakers. The future of Katrin Krabbe, German world sprint champion, was in jeopardy after the unfavourable results of a drug test. South Africa announced plans to give 60,000 council houses to residents of Soweto. The father of Julie Ward, murdered in Kenya, announced his plan to sue that country for its alleged attempt to cover up the killing.
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