WHAT HAPPENED ON 9th December 1996?

8th December 1996

STALKER GUILTY OF CAUSING BODILY HARM

A 51-year-old man accused of stalking a middle aged woman has been found guilty of causing her actual bodily harm through mental trauma. At one stage in his four-year campaign Peter Smith sent his victim a miniature cardboard coffin the court heard. Smith of Wickham Kent will be sentenced at London's Knightsbridge Crown Court in January. The judge said he faced a substantial prison sentence.

9th December 1996

PRO-EU DYKES ATTACKS CABINET WAVERING

Tory MP Hugh Dykes has accused the Government of failing to heed warnings about fanatical anti-EU backbenchers. The chairman of the European Movement said ministers had been warned their conduct would lead to turmoil. Mr Dykes said the Tories were reaping the whirlwind for this "unbelievable abdication of authority". He spoke of vacillation & appeasement and the only minister he mentioned in favourable terms was the Chancellor.

9th December 1996

UK BLAMED FOR SHELTERING TERROR BOMBERS

A former French interior minister has accused Britain of harbouring militant Islamic groups blamed for a recent bomb on a commuter train in Paris. Charles Pasqua also said Belgium & Germany were being complacent over the threat posed by terrorists. The death toll from last Tuesday's bomb has risen to four. The latest victim was a 28-year-old Moroccan student who died of injuries suffered in the blast.

8th December 1996

DEATH Police have appealed for a lorry driver to come forward to help in the hunt for a hit-and-run driver who left cyclist Alan Linn for dead on the A90 south of Edinburgh on Thursday. CHARGES The trustees of the British Museum have decided not to introduce admission charges for the time being but said they may come in the future. ASSAULTA woman police officer was attacked by two 14-year-old girls while investigating reports of criminal damage in Gloucester city centre. The two teenagers were arrested.

9th December 1996

PRO-EU DYKES ATTACKS CABINET WAVERING

Tory MP Hugh Dykes has accused the Government of failing to heed warnings about fanatical anti-EU backbenchers. The chairman of the European Movement said ministers had been warned their conduct would lead to turmoil. Mr Dykes said the Tories were reaping the whirlwind for this "unbelievable abdication of authority". He spoke of vacillation & appeasement and the only minister he mentioned in favourable terms was the Chancellor.

9th December 1996

GUERRILLAS MASSACRE 30 ON BUS IN INDIA

Speparatist guerrillas have shot dead 30 bus passengers & injured 24 others in the Indian state of Nagaland. Police said the Naga tribesmen were armed with guns & hand grenades. They stopped a bus carrying over 60 passengers & asked Naga tribesmen to get off the vehicle before opening fire on the rest. All the victims in the attack 65 miles from the state capital of Kohima were from the pro-India Kuki tribe.

8th December 1996

AT WESTMINSTER DURING THIS WEEK MONDAY Welsh Secretary William Hague said all "possible means" of preventing the further spread of meningitis at Cardiff's University of Wales were being taken. Mr Hague said he would wait for the health authority report before deciding whether to undertake an inquiry. TUESDAY John Major confirmed that the Tories would go into the next election not having ruled out the possibility of joining a single European currency.

9th December 1996

PRO-EU DYKES ATTACKS CABINET WAVERING

Tory MP Hugh Dykes has accused the Government of failing to heed warnings about fanatical anti-EU backbenchers. The chairman of the European Movement said ministers had been warned their conduct would lead to turmoil. Mr Dykes said the Tories were reaping the whirlwind for this "unbelievable abdication of authority". He spoke of vacillation & appeasement and the only minister he mentioned in favourable terms was the Chancellor.

9th December 1996

BARINGS' EXECUTIVE WALZ CASE SETTLED

Disciplinary proceedings against former Barings executive Mary Walz have been settled according to the SFA. Britain's Securities & Futures Authority the financial markets regulator said that the matter had been resolved. But the regulator had no details of the agreement. "Until a board notice & further press release is issued the SFA & Ms Walz have agreed not to comment on the terms of the settlement " the SFA said.

8th December 1996

CHARLES KENNEDY

(Lib Dem Ross Crom Skye) Q Which people do you most admire? A Those who give freely of themselves in charitable causes. Q Which MP outside your party do you most admire? A Apart from the late John Smith ` Sir Edward Heath for his consistent Europeanism. ``````````````````````>>>>

9th December 1996

PRO-EU DYKES ATTACKS CABINET WAVERING

Tory MP Hugh Dykes has accused the Government of failing to heed warnings about fanatical anti-EU backbenchers. The chairman of the European Movement said ministers had been warned their conduct would lead to turmoil. Mr Dykes said the Tories were reaping the whirlwind for this "unbelievable abdication of authority". He spoke of vacillation & appeasement and the only minister he mentioned in favourable terms was the Chancellor.

9th December 1996

EURO-SCEPTIC MP TABLES REFERENDUM BILL

Tory Euro-sceptic Teresa Gorman is planning to present a Bill calling for a referendum on Britain in Europe. She says the public should be given the right to choose between renegotiating a free trade area or opting for full European integration. Her Bill is likely to be introduced in the Commons on 21 January under the 10-Minute Rule. She denied she had any plans to join Sir James Goldsmith's Referendum Party.

8th December 1996

GOVERNMENT LAUNCH NEW SAVINGS SCHEME

OEICS are the Government latest investment vehicle in addition to Tessa & Pep schemes. The first OEIC is expected to be operating in January or early February. Treasury Minister Angela Knight said she was expecting "quite a significant demand" among investors. Some unit trusts are also expected to convert into OEICs. Parliament approved Treasury regulations on OEICS last month.

UK WEATHER REPORT FOR 7 Dec

location	sun	rain	min	max	weather
city	hrs	ins	C	C	weather
Aberdeen	-	0.41	-1	6	Sleet-am
Aviemore	-	0.09	-3	7	Sleet-am
Belfast	-	0.03	3	8	Rain-pm
Bir'ham	-	0.01	0	3	Fog
Bognor'R	-	0.01	3	6	Drizzle
B'mouth	-	-	0	6	Dull
Bristol	-	0.01	2	5	Dull
Buxton	-	-	-1	3	Dull
Cardiff	-	-	-	-

C=	-4	0	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36
F=	25	32	39	46	54	61	68	75	82	90	97

9th December 1996

PRO-EU DYKES ATTACKS CABINET WAVERING

Tory MP Hugh Dykes has accused the Government of failing to heed warnings about fanatical anti-EU backbenchers. The chairman of the European Movement said ministers had been warned their conduct would lead to turmoil. Mr Dykes said the Tories were reaping the whirlwind for this "unbelievable abdication of authority". He spoke of vacillation & appeasement and the only minister he mentioned in favourable terms was the Chancellor.

9th December 1996

GUNS AMNESTY AT CENTRE OF ULSTER BILL

A "tightly defined" amnesty for the surrender of illegally-held weapons has been proposed by the Government to pave the way for Ulster arms decommissioning Secretary of State Sir Patrick Mayhew outlined the plans to be introduced in the event of an IRA ceasefire. The amnesty would initially last for a year but would not mean a general amnesty for other offences he stressed The measure would affect England Scotland & Wales as well as Ulster.

8th December 1996

almost over at the age of 63. Tough.

Under the Tories the only career that thousands myself included have known has been one of re- re- re-training & long-term unemployment. Perhaps Sir Nicholas might consider re- training. He will be eligible until he reaches 64 ` who knows it might even lead to a new career. David Crawford Bathgate West Lothian

9th December 1996

PRO-EU DYKES ATTACKS CABINET WAVERING

Tory MP Hugh Dykes has accused the Government of failing to heed warnings about fanatical anti-EU backbenchers. The chairman of the European Movement said ministers had been warned their conduct would lead to turmoil. Mr Dykes said the Tories were reaping the whirlwind for this "unbelievable abdication of authority". He spoke of vacillation & appeasement and the only minister he mentioned in favourable terms was the Chancellor.

9th December 1996

ASHDOWN SCORNS MAJOR'S CALL FOR UNITY

John Major has "given up" on the Euro- sceptic wing within the Conservative party Paddy Ashdown has said. "It now remains to be seen whether they have given up on him " the Liberal Democrat leader added. Mr Ashdown told the BBC Mr Major's call for unity yesterday was "one of his periodic attempts to lead his party". But the "virus of the Tory civil war was unstoppable" & Mr Major could govern neither Britain nor the Tories.

8th December 1996

FISHING DEBATE SET TO TEST GOVERNMENT

The Government faces a severe test after losing its majority when MPs hold their annual vote on fisheries policy. Debate will be held in the last week before the Christmas break with a vote probably on December 17 or 18. In the vote last year the Government lost as Tory Euro-sceptics rallied around disgruntled British fishermen. Labour says this year Tories might try to dodge a vote by ending the debate with a motion to adjourn the House.

9th December 1996

PRO-EU DYKES ATTACKS CABINET WAVERING

Tory MP Hugh Dykes has accused the Government of failing to heed warnings about fanatical anti-EU backbenchers. The chairman of the European Movement said ministers had been warned their conduct would lead to turmoil. Mr Dykes said the Tories were reaping the whirlwind for this "unbelievable abdication of authority". He spoke of vacillation & appeasement and the only minister he mentioned in favourable terms was the Chancellor.

9th December 1996

EURO-SCEPTIC MP TABLES REFERENDUM BILL

Tory Euro-sceptic Teresa Gorman is planning to present a Bill calling for a referendum on Britain in Europe. She says the public should be given the right to choose between renegotiating a free trade area or opting for full European integration. Her Bill is likely to be introduced in the Commons on 21 January under the 10-Minute Rule. She denied she had any plans to join Sir James Goldsmith's Referendum Party.