Died this day: John Wycliffe Protestant reformer 1384 Catherine of Braganza wife of Charles II 1705 John Flamsteed first Astronomer

Died this day: John Wycliffe, Protestant reformer, 1384; Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II, 1705; John Flamsteed, first Astronomer Royal, 1719; Gustave Courbet, painter, 1877; Sir Malcolm Campbell, speedster on land and water, 1948; Rick Nelson, pop singer, killed 1985; Sam Spiegel, film producer, 1985.On this day: the Honourable East India Company was chartered by Queen Elizabeth I, 1600; Thomas Alva Edison demonstrated his incandescent lamp, 1879; the Home Guard was disbanded, 1945; the farthing ceased to be legal currency, 1960; the Central African Federation (Rhodesia and Nyasaland) was dissolved, 1963.Today is Hogmanay in Scotland and the Feast Day of St Columba of Sens, St John-Francis Regis, St Melania the Younger and St Silvester I, pope.. Human nature has a basic need to know what is around the corner, and for that reason I would never dream of starting a magazine without a horoscope.'Tabloids and middle-market papers have long embraced the stars through a colourful cast of figures, from Mystic Meg and her crystal ball in the News of the World, to the doyen of them all, Patric Walker, in the London Evening Standard and the Mail on Sunday. Robert Muldoon was the pre-eminent figure of his generation in New Zealand politics.A self-styled 'counterpuncher', his combative manner enlivened his country's drab political scene and commanded international attention - not all of it positive. It is unarguable that Enterprise has not used the most conservative accounting treatment and that reported profits have been flattered.So what next? The betting in the City is that Mr Hearne will raise the value of his offer modestly, and sweeten it by offering a bit of cash instead of those unpopular warrants.That may not be enough. It is a world of cold, disconnected figures coming briefly together when they can be of use to one another, and then returning to glacial isolation The rules of exchange undergo unpredictable alteration. But Fergus MacLeod of NatWest Securities reckons that 1993 profits, reported next Thursday, could be over pounds 900m, giving earnings of 16.7p per share.NEXT week sees the resumption of share trading in Utility Cables, a company known previously as Baillie Gifford Technology.

Mr Condon said on BBC Television's Breakfast with Frost: 'The scales of justice are weighted too heavily in favour of criminals and not enough in terms of society helping itself.'It needed to be brought back into balance 'so that as well as making sure the innocent go free, we have a reasonable chance of convicting the guilty. To rephrase William Empson, drug abuse, not death, is now the trigger of the literary man's biggest gun. As the two young couples depart, time in the restaurant splits into three strands, the play hopping from one to another. Sir Nicholas is a quiet man, who has been notable thus far for his neatly zipped lips. Confidence is highest not at Henry Cecil's Warren Place yard or Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge, where Opera House resides, but at Clive Brittain's Carlburg Stables.Brittain is often ridiculed for his role as the supreme optimist; yet often he has a point. Henderson points out that some of the most commendable ventures - Wexford, Aldeburgh, Orkney - were set up in remote locations that could only have been prompted by a streak of visionary madness.

'Or at least if you are going to make us big promises, then keep them.'Part of the problem is that the West has not delivered all the aid it has promised in the past. His home performances suggest he does not hold this against his trainer.Another gelding, Montendre (4.15), may turn the tables on Fylde Flyer, who beat him in the Cammidge Trophy a year ago but who now re-opposes on considerably worse terms.The first televised contest should go to Young Buster (3.00) if the form book is the sole consideration, but as Geoff Wragg's colt is a particularly recalcitrant partner and will have to overcome the vagaries of a three-runner race, confidence cannot be complete.Shadow Jury (4.45) also proved enigmatic towards the end of last season, but is worth persevering with as he is now competing from a low shelf in the handicap and ran well in early forays last season.At Newbury, there should be victories for the men who have been harrying Martin Pipe in the National Hunt trainers' championship this year, David Nicholson and Nigel Twiston-Davies. The figures suggest that right-wing support is divided between Mr Portillo and Mr Howard, despite Mr Portillo's having taken some of the blame for last week's messy presentation of the heating issue.A survey in today's Sunday Times finds that three out of four backbenchers want pensioners and poor families to be fully compensated for the VAT rise. Mr Hatton, who ceased to be a councillor in 1987, then told Mr Stewart, head of a development company, that the land was to be made available for retail purposes.Mr Rawley alleged Mrs Folan's committee had given Mr Stewart an option to buy the land in Stonedale Crescent against the advice of council officials that it should be offered for tender.Mr Stewart's company, Rogerson Developments, paid Settleside regular sums for 'public relations and research', Mr Rawley said. What started as a few small pits near the Cuango river has exploded into a diamond rush, a huge, organised operation involving tens of thousands of diggers. But, since he neither bleats about his setbacks nor crows about his triumphs, the past is given only a brief acknowledgement: 'I suppose the Olympics haven't been too good for me.'The disappointments go back to 1976 when Whitaker was told, at short notice, that Ryan's Son was required to jump in an Olympic trial at Hickstead. The setback also meant that Dell lacked a notebook product; these account for an estimated one in six personal computers sold today.Mr Dell said the company would build on its reputation for desktop computers, but would also move forcibly into the market for more sophisticated computers and portable machines.

Steps should have been taken to secure or jettison the pipes, the report says.It also condemns the ship's superintendent and chief engineer for failing to investigate the source of the seawater after they discovered that the fuel had become contaminated. It's a phenomenon he recognises, but cannot explain.'I don't write about Peru as a matter of principle,' he laughs 'I don't think a writer has to write about his country But somehow I had all my most neuralgic experiences in Peru. Xinhua said the situation was under 'good control' and that relief supplies arrived at the scene at midday on Saturday.Central government officials ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident and Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji has taken a personal interest in the welfare of victims. Morley again, with an effortless turn and volley five minutes from time, caused Norwich alarm until Gunn's lunging dive touched the ball past the post.The dominating influence had been the perception and accuracy of Crook's final ball, although there were occasions when Ian Culverhouse displayed that he, too, is no slouch at sending accurate, long passes into areas where the damage is done. Later he returned to bowl when bats were whirring almost as fast as Damon Hill's camshaft.