As newspapers rushed to follow up the News of the World exclusive late on Saturday night, Malcolm Rifkind, Secretary of State for Defence, defended Sir Peter, saying he had ‘total confidence in the professional abilities of his Chief of the Defence Staff’.
Less than 24 hours later – a lot sooner than in the case of some ministers, but as soon as the extent of the News of the World material became known – he had no option but to quit over the relationship with Lady Buck, ex-wife of a former Navy minister.Sir Peter, 60, had reached the pinnacle of his career through sheer hard work and single-minded devotion He was named Chief of Defence Staff in May 1992 With it went the rank of Marshal of the RAF. Ever since Kleinwort Benson ousted its last chief executive, Jonathan Agnew, six months ago it has been plain as a pikestaff that the bank would be better off abandoning its search for a replacement and sticking with the double act of Lord Rockley and Simon Robertson at the top

Yesterday Kleinwort rightly did just that. SELAHATTIN Yatman, a prominent Turkish restaurateur, was attacked by 10 men as he returned to his north London home, in the early hours of 16 October. It has been selected by Time Warner to develop in-home terminals for a ‘full service network’, comprising digital video, audio and telephone, in Orlando, Florida. Yet, despite the Taif agreement, Syrian troops remain in Beirut and Lebanese ministers make a ritual, almost weekly journey to Damascus for ‘consultations’ – instructions, according to Syria’s critics – with their neighbour.Over the years, the Arab struggle against Israel – with democratic Israel, at least so far as its Jewish citizens are concerned – became the excuse for domestic oppression. Merit Cup had failed to give its position yesterday afternoon with the other yachts because its computer system had faltered in the heat and was therefore notionally 27 miles behind the American boat and would have been ranked seventh.Spain’s Galicia 93 Pescanova, who had taken over the Whitbread 60 lead in third place early yesterday, was trailing both Winston and the Japanese Whitbread 60, Tokio, in fifth.WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE First leg (Southampton to Punte del Este, Uru) Leading positions, with miles to finish: 1 New Zealand Endeavour (Maxi) 3,021; 2 Merit Cup (Swit, Maxi) 3,053; 3 Winston (US, W60) 3,026; 4 Tokio (Japan, W60) 3,031; 5 Galicia 93 Pescanova (Sp, W60) 3,033; 6 La Poste (Fr, Maxi) 3,048; 7 Intrum Justitia (Europe, W60) 3,052; 8 Yamaha (Japan, W60) 3,067; 9 Dolphin and Youth (GB, W60) 3,132; 10 Brooksfield (It, W60) 3,207; 11 Hetman Sahaidachny (Ukr, W60) 3,205; 12 US Women’s Challenge (W60) 3,229; 13 Uruguay Natural (Maxi) 3,242; 14 Odessa (Ukr, W60) 5,134.. Nigerians talk of dash, the word both for a tip and a bribe (I doubt if the distinction has much force in Lagos) while a Russian official might hint at his desire for a podarok, a present.

election and cancel the transition to elected civilian rule,’ said a State Department spokesman, Michael McCurry.Nigeria has been plunged into uncertainty by the decision of President Ibrahim Babangida to annul the elections, leaving his regime in power indefinitely but short of support both inside Nigeria and internationally.The decision announced by the National Defence and Security Council, the country’s most powerful body, shocked Nigeria, its trading partners and aid donors. The Bank of England stamped on hopes of an immediate interest rate cut yesterday, but the pound still dropped to its lowest for a month and share prices rose. ‘Women should volunteer for everything, go for everything, and think about the consequences later.’ She has never questioned her own importance, never thought of herself as ‘only a woman’.'It may sound arrogant, but it’s what I’d like other women to say. The Russian military, though deeply split, is still ingrained with the habits of the Red Army, which pledged and delivered unwavering loyalty to the Communist Party and, apart from a brief spasm during the 1991 coup, stayed out of politics.

In adapting, men will be helped by demography.With a rapidly ageing population young people of both genders will be in strong demand The best retailers will be swift to adapt to this. Much has changed since then, with unemployment in the South-east not just growing faster but overtaking rates in Midland and northern areas traditionally associated with declining smokestack industries.
The new map, scheduled for April, will probably cover a smaller total area, so success by southern applicants will be at the expense of those in the north. Ministers have run up against serious legal difficulties in their proposals to make student union membership voluntary. With the construction industry flat on the floor, ministers are arguing that building and infrastructure projects must be protected to avoid worsening the recession – but are acknowledging that unpalatable decisions to cut social security benefits and other current expenditure will be needed to achieve that.The desire to preserve capital as against current spending in part explains ministers’ determination to screw down public sector pay – a message underlined yesterday by John MacGregor, Secretary of State for Transport, who said some public sector pay demands were ‘wholly unrealistic’.'There has to be restraint on public sector pay. HYDRANGEAS don’t just come in blousy pinks or watery blues. Mr D’Alema, noting that Giulio Tremonti, the Finance Minister, faced litigation with tax authorities and that Cesare Previti, the Defence Minister, had worked for a large defence contractor, added: ‘It seems everyone has had the right Cabinet post to take care of his own affairs.’ Other figures held included Felice Vitali, director-general of one of Italy’s biggest holding companies, Gemina, which controls the authoritative Corriere della Sera newspaper.