Weaver's News Spin
February 1998
A review of events and their interpretation.
Saturday, 28 February
Uproar in the book trade as Harper Collins publishers is accused of censoring a forthcoming book by Chris Patten. Patten, the last govenor of Hong Kong before its forcible absorption into China last year, had written almost half his book before his contract with the publishers was terminated. They claim that his work was substandard; his case is that he's been gagged in order to protect Rupert Murdoch's interests in the Asian - and Chinese - television markets. Murdoch owns Harper Collins, Star TV and a number of other media outlets in his News International group. A number of other leading authors, and Jeffrey Archer, have threatened to leave Harper Collins over this matter.
The British government expressed optimism over the Ulster peace process. Northern Ireland minister Paul Murphy said that the talks were moving at an increasing pace to a settlement. A referendum could be held as early as May 7.
Celtic go clear in Scotland; they beat bottom placed Hibs to go 2 points clear of Hearts and 4 points clear of Rangers. The latter two sides played to a 2-2 draw today.
South of the border, Manchester Utd streched their lead to 11 points with a 1-0 win at Chelsea. Chris Sutton strengthened his claim to an England recall by hitting a hat-trick in Blackburn's 5-3 demolition of Leicester. Aston Villa capped a turbulent week by beating Liverpool 2-1, Derby took Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 and Barnsley moved off the foot of the table, beating Wimbledon 2-1.
Sunderland missed the chance to close the gap on the inactive First Division leaders by drawing 2-2 with Ipswich. Wolves lost 3-1 to Birmingham. In the 3rd division, second placed Macclesfield inflicted only the fourth defeat of the season on leaders Notts County.
And in the Test. The West Indies were bowled out for 352 - Chanderpaul 118 - as the last 7 wickets fell for 57 with Croft and Headley taking three wickets each. In reply, England captain Atherton fell for a duck as the side
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Friday, 27 February
European Monetary Upheaval came one step nearer as 11 major and minor economies released figures purporting to show that they had all met the targets to merge their currencies at the end of this year. Yet project leader Germany admitted its total public debt was 61.4%, above the legal ceiling of 60%. Similar book-cooking allows nine of the other nations to gain admission to the later stages of this project, which mixes a federal Europe with a currency weaker than most of the ones that will be absorbed into it.
The World Court today ruled that it was competent to decide where any trial over the Lockerbie bombing should take place. In summary: the US and UK want their prime suspects extradited from Lybia to either Scotland, where the wreckage of the plane landed, or the US, where the plane originated. Lybia counter claim that they are entitled to hold any trial under the 1971 Montreal Convention. The US/UK disagrees, and have been implementing economic sanctions against Lybia since April 1991. In all this, some facts have been overlooked. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility the day after the bombing. German police mounted a prima facie case against two Palestinians. The Lybians were only mentioned as suspects in September 1990, when the US was mounting Arabic support for Gulf War I.
The 4th Test began in Bourda, Antigua. The day started well for England, with opening batsmen Campbell and Williams both out with the score on 38. An innings of 93 from West Indies captain Lara and an unbeaten 100* from Chanderpaul - the first century of the series - turned the match the home side's way. At the close, the score was 271/3.
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Thursday, 26 February
More CJD hysteria as the Government reviews 33 types of blood product on the theoretical grounds that they may carry the degenerative brain disease. This was enough grounds to make selling beef on the bone illegal last year, and is similar to the specious reasoning behind the illegal world-wide ban on British beef and other cow exports. The simple fact is that beef in the food chain has never been totally safe, but the consumer should simply be given the facts and allowed to make their own choice. This is the attitude in Amarillo, Texas, where Oprah Winfrey won her libel battle against beef producers who had blamed her for a drop in the futures market for beef.
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Wednesday, 25 February
From war in the Gulf (match postponed...) to rambling in the country. A new white paper from the Government suggests that landowners should allow access to most of their land voluntarily, within two years, or laws will be brought in. This is the latest attempt by an unashamedly urbanite Labour government to foist its values on a rural population that knows just how half-baked those concepts are.
Major upsetes abound in the Cup replays. Favourites Man Utd fall out 3-2 to struggling Barnsley; West Ham account for Blackburn on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Wolves come from behind to put out Wimbledon 2-1, and Arsenal become the new favourites after accounting for Crystal Palace 1-0. In Scotland, wins for Celtic and Hearts give them a 2 point advantage over Rangers, who could only draw. |
| The death of John Archer, 23, near his home in Ambridge, Borsetshire. The elder son of Pat and Tony Archer, John was the hard-working man about Bridge Farm, specialising in pig farming. After a brief affair with Sharon Richards, John found happiness with Hayley Jordan; their relationship soured after Sharon's brief return late last year. John's death, in a tractor accident, has shaken the whole community, including the BBC radio documentary crew stationed in Ambridge to file their daily reports.
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Tuesday, 24 February
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War pendulum: 0%: in the cupboard. 100%: down your chimney.
Today's Score: 3% Well, that's just about the end of the crisis. The pendulum now goes back into my cupboard of news-related props. Hopefully, I won't have to bring it out again for some years, and it'll need a lick of paint by then.
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| A man has been jailed for the Heathrow mortar bomb attacks. No-one was injured when 12 devices landed on London's leading airport over a 5 day span during March 1994, but the danger and disruption was massive. Michael Gallagher will spend the next 20 years in jail.
Brian Little, the Aston Villa boss, resigned. The shock announcement comes with the side just 7 days away from a UEFA cup quarter final match in Madrid. The side are, however, 15th in the Premier League.
The MCC voted against admitting women to its membership. The 200 year old former governing body of cricket now faces a bar on lottery money for its facilities. The cash will instead be diverted to sports where Britain stands no chance of ever beating anyone. |
Monday, 23 February
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War pendulum: 0%: shore leave. 100%: sure war.
Today's Score: 19% With Blair supporting the plan, Clinton will be acting without any major support, and I can't see him doing that at all.
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| A cautious welcome for Annan's deal from Western governments. Although nothing's been published yet, key points seem to be; free access to all sites with no time limit; better co-operation from both sides; inspections to be completed within a reasonable - but unspecified - time period. Sadaam is spinning this as the US backing down; the US is spinning it as Iraq retreating. Both sides have made some concessions, but the US-led side has the whip hand of bombs here.
Unrest in Ulster as a car bomb explodes in Portadown. Unionists blame Republican elements, and hint at IRA involvement. The IRA denies responsibility, and calls for the group responsible to own up. Overlooked in all this is the blessing that no-one was hurt.
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Sunday, 22 February
And he's pulled it off! Kofi Annan is near concluding a deal to end the Iraq crisis. The pact, with the blessing of the US, UK, and other Security Council members, is set to be signed tomorrow. Annan said he was very close to a resolution after conversing with Sadaam Hussein for three hours. |
War pendulum: 0%: it's relaxation. 100%: action stations.
Today's Score: 37% It looks promising, but there's nothing signed and accepted by the US yet...
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| Scottish Nationalists accused Labour of blocking a knighthood for Sir Sean Connery. Labour MPs have apparently abused a 1964 quote in which it appears Connery, best known for his role as James Bond, condones domestic violence. The SNP's spin is that this is retribution for Sean's advocacy of full Scottish independence; the flip of this is that Labour are saving the honour until the first honours list following devolution in 18 months in order to cement the union.
The Millennium Dome looks set to have a baby. Already featuring an 8-times full size human body, with a real car as a toy, the domelet would seat 6000 people for entertainment purposes. This just goes to show that the Millennium Commission has way too much money to splash on this exhibition.
Greg Rusedski, the British #1, wins the tennis tournament in Antwerp, beating Marc Rosset in four sets. Leeds and Newcastle share a 1-1 draw. And the Winter Olympics end in Nagano; Germany head the medals table, with Britain in 22nd equal position, with a bronze in the 4-man bobsleigh.
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Saturday, 21 February
UN secretary General Annan is still optimistic of peace after talking with Iraqi deputy premier Tariq Aziz. Sources suggest the negotiations are happening in a constructive spirit. Demonstrations again in London against the military build-up. |
War pendulum: 0%: as vicious as a dandelion parachute. 100%: as calm as a rottweiler.
Today's Score: 59% Annan's visit captures the headlines, and while the demonstrations aren't attracting many people, the steam seems to have gone out of the dash to war.
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| William Hague urged the Conservative party to treat local democracy better than they have previously. The party will grudgingly support the proposed London mayor, as this is only available with a new single authority for the city. That's something that Mrs Thatcher got rid of in 1986.
Big scores in the rugby union internationals. England ran in 8 tries in a record defeat of Wales 60-26, and France took their second win of the last 20 years at Murrayfield, beating Scotland 51-16.
Another good day for soccer leaders Man Utd; 2-0 winners over Derby as Chelsea lose at Leicester, and Blackburn succumb to Southampton. Sheffield Wednesday downed fellow relegation strugglers Tottenham 1-0. Middlesborough downed Sunderland 3-1 and went top as Notts Forest could only draw 1-1 at Stoke. Wolves lost 1-0 at Huddersfield. North of the border, wins for Rangers, Celtic and Hearts meant the three sides remain dead level at the top. Kilmarnock move into 4th, fully 19 points off the lead.
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Friday, 20 February
Sinn Fein has been thrown out of the Ulster peace talks until March 9. The two week suspension follows evidence linking the IRA to recent murders in Northern Ireland. Party leader Gerry Adams has urged his supporters to remain calm; the Unionist parties slated the ban, citing it as a slap on the wrist. Also, the trial of a man accused of the Docklands bombing that ended the IRA's last ceasefire in 1996 ended with a hung jury. He'll face a re-trial at a later date.
Olympic hockey shaken by some upsets. The USA team, eliminated at the quarter final stage, have won the gold for trashing their hotel rooms. On the ice, the Czech team eliminated the favourites Canada in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw; it's no way to decide any sporting contest, as football fans around the world will tell you. Multiple sudden-death extra time is a solution more in keeping with the spirit of the games. The Czechs will meet Russia, who downed Finland 7-4 in a remarkable game. |
War pendulum: 0%: it's the Andorran football squad's defence. 100%: it's Brazil's attack.
Today's Score: 63% No real developments today, with Annan en route to Baghdad.
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| Bizarre weather across northern Europe. In Britain, we've had temperatures of nearly 20o Centigrade (70 F). Now comes news that Finland has turned from -18C to +10. The change, linked to the El Nino phenomenon, has melted snow and caused birds and bees to think it's spring already.
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Thursday, 19 February
Bizarre events at the Commons, where a senior Freemason refused to name members linked to police scandals. Commander Michael Higham declined to tell the names unless specific allegations were made. The Home Affairs committee is expected to cite the Freemason's Grand Lodge for contempt of parliament, an offence that could result in members being imprisoned in Westminster and having to listen to Peter Meddlesome on a round-the-clock basis.
A plan to release anthrax into a major US city has been foiled by a raid at a doctor's office in Nevada. While the men are linked with a neo-Nazi group, cynics might argue that the events are being milked for all they're worth by the Clintern administration, as further evidence about the dangers of Hussein's weapons. |
War pendulum: 0%: it's Vivaldi's Spring. 100%: it's Creosote's Whooooooraaaaaagh.
Today's Score: 64% Kofi Annan sets out for Baghdad, and the pro-intervention alliance don't want to be seen to jeopardise the chance for peace. But the discovery of bio weapons in the US will help swing public opinion.
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A 1912 version of the movie Titanic has been unearthed in Berlin. The 30 minute film, in which a toy boat is sunk by an ice cube, is a reasonably accurate representation of the events of that fateful night, and features wonderful special effects for the time. A noted expert said: "The film is no great work of art", but it's still better than the trash at the cinema now. A 1943 re-make has also been discovered, after being banned on release by the Nazis. Apparently, there weren't enough gratuitous shots of Katarina Vinsome Losesome in the buff to rally the troops. James Cameron, responsible for the recent fictional tale, was left wondering why he hadn't saved his time, effort, and about $195 million by using a child's toy crashing into a frozen champagne bucket.
A telephone is to be installed at Chile's Antarctic base, some 60 years after it first opened. Engineers for Chilean Telecom apologised for the delay, and said that they would have come in spring 1964, but it was so cold out that they assumed no-one would be home.
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Wednesday, 18 February
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is to fly to Baghdad Friday to talk with Hussein on the crisis. Britain and America are talking up the possibility of failure, Annan the chance of success. Cook warns that this is just about the last chance for a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, 3 were held by police during demonstrations in Downing Street and Madeline Albright was booed during a public meeting in Columbus, Ohio. |
War pendulum: 0%: it's peace, love and harmony. 100%: it's the military equivalent of a Megadeth record.
Today's Score: 63% In spite of the US and UK siding with the warmongers, Annan's mission looks a plausible escape for Hussein.
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There will be no new inquiry into Hillsborough, Home Secretary Jack Straw confirmed. New evidence presented did not add significantly to Lord Taylor's 1990 report, in which South Yorks police were found to be collectively culpable and incompetent, with officers deliberately misleading the inquiry.
The trousers worn by Geri Halliwell in a crisps commercial have been auctioned for 550 pounds. The charity auction also saw the original sheet music for their hit Say You'll Be There sell for 300 smackeroonies, and a guitar used by Oasis sell for a mere 1400 quid.
League Cup Semi Finals in England. Middlesborough beat Liverpool 2-0 on the night, and win 3-2 on aggregate. Chelsea also run out 2-0 victors over Arsenal, and again 3-2 overall. So, it's a re-match of the two sides who competed in last season's FA Cup final. I'm backing Chelsea to repeat their victory of nine months ago.
Steve Bull scored his 300th career goal for Wolves as they beat Bradford 2-0, to go 6th in the league. Well done Bulley!
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Tuesday, 17 February
Bellicose words from Clinton and Cook today. Foreign Secretary Cook said that his forces were prepared to hit Hussein hard; Clinton used a speech at the Pentagon to prepare Americans for such a strike. I have to say, the whole cut of the cloth is heavily reminiscent of 1990/91, when the talk was of war, war, diplomacy and war. It wouldn't surprise me if the US-led coalition had already decided to attack, and would now need huge persuasion (ie Hussain's removal from office) to back down. |
War pendulum: 0%: it's peace, tranquility and soccer. 100%: it's war, war, conflict and war.
Today's Score: 66% It looks a lot worse. Noises from Clinton, Cook and a number of other countries seems to be softening the west up for some form of attack.
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A close thing to end the 3rd Test in Trinidad. England made the 225 needed to win for the loss of 7 wickets, steered home by 25* from Mark Butcher, and defensive play from Dean Headley. The result puts England ahead 2-1 in the six match series.
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Monday, 16 February
Sinn Fein looks to be heading out of the Ulster peace talks, following a recent upsurge in violence blamed on the IRA. The UK government moved to have the group dismissed from the talks, but both the IRA and Sinn Fein protest their innocence of the charge.
Israel is denying that it is drawing up plans to assassinate Sadaam Hussein if his forces launch an attack on their country. The Jerusalem Report said that Hussein would be targeted with precision bombs. A similar tactic was used by Norman forces in the battle of Hastings over 900 years ago, when they used the most high-tech smart arrows against English King Edmund. |
New: War pendulum: 0%: it's peace, tranquility and a return to the Clintern Scandal. 100%: it's all out war.
Today's Score: 57% The hawks are gathering, but there are still reasonable chances of a diplomatic resolution.
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Dome update: BT are pulling 12 million pounds out of the dome project, claims a representative. Oh no they're not, claims Minister Without Hope Peter Meddlesome. BT is, apparently, a company of the future, "confident and vibrant" like the new Britain. That wouldn't be the new Britain that goes jumping whenever Bill Clinton shouts "Goose", then.
England's progress in the test was frustrated by rain. They ended the day on 170/4, still an agonising 55 runs away from a win. Captain Mike Atherton was out on 49, with Alex Stewart taken for a marvellous 83.
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Sunday, 15 February
A second world war bomb was detonated by army specialists in Chippenham in a controlled explosion. The 1000-pound device was buried in a field where a school will be built. Dealing with the bomb required local residents to move out of their houses for two days.
A mixed day in the 3rd Test. Dean Headley took three West Indies wickets in seven balls, finishing 4/77. Gus Fraser went 4/40 as the last two wickets saw a magnificent innings of 53 from Jimmy Adams. Set 225 to win, England openers Atherton and Stewart reached 52/0 by the close.
Deadlock in the Cup matches. Arsenal and Crystal Palace somehow shared a 0-0 draw, while Barnsley partially avenged their 7SEVEN-0 defeat at Old Trafford early in the season, by holding Man Utd to a 1-1 draw.
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This page updated Feb 14, 1998
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